Marie-Ange and Angelo, backdated
Jul. 26th, 2017 07:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsAngie comes to visit, having found out her cousin and Angelo's big news for herself.
Angelo was enjoying a rare bit of down time, lounging on the couch with a book and Joyita's head on his knee, when the knock came at the door.
"It's not locked!"
Marie-Ange nudged the door open, and gave the suite a quick look-around before nodding to herself. "It would not matter much if it was, really. I have a key." It was probably in her desk at work and under a pile of tarot cards but she did actually have a legitimate key. That her cousin had actually given her. While sober. And awake. And non-medicated. "Soooooooo." She drawled out.. "I have to kill my cousin." Ominous from the spy-and-assassin if it was not for the amused smile.
Angelo tilted his head back to look at her, eyebrows raised.
"What did he do this time?"
"Neglected to tell me, at all, that he had proposed." Marie-Ange sat herself down on the other end of the sofa and pulled up her feet. "I had to find out from readings." She paused. "On the other hand I am quite sure that Magneto will not crash yours. Less sure about Lorna and Alex, children rate higher than former... ah, protegee is not quite right, but I think you understand yes?"
He laughed, nudging her leg affectionately with his foot. "Well, that's good to know at least. But he really didn't tell you? He said he'd let you plan it."
"He has not yet. Perhaps he is trying to figure out if I will threaten either of you again." It was clear Marie-Ange was entertained by the whole idea. "I like to think the previous threats stand, even with rings and cake entering the situation, yes?"
Angelo grinned and said cheerfully, "I think we can take that as read. Even if it's been years now and I'm pretty sure you'll never have to make good, they can stand."
Marie-Ange reached out and patted Angelo's hand. "I threatened because I was obliged. I cannot imagine, or see, either of you hurting the other on purpose. You are too just. Jean-Philippe is too loyal. And the both of you are far too smart for that."
He squeezed her hand briefly but warmly in return, smiling. "So, since he didn't tell you, I guess I better had. We haven't done much planning yet, it was pretty spur of the moment until we got to talking about it properly."
"Now I need details." Marie-Ange said, almost gleefully. "I know there was no bended knee or poetic declaration of love, but I must. Know everything."
He laughed. "Yeah, if he'd done that I'd have had him checked for possession or something. It was after the thing with Thor, when he was getting his strength back, so I was getting as much stew in him as he could eat." Which was a lot. "We were talking while he ate." Was fed, but that was embarrassing enough for Jean-Phillipe without emphasising it. "And he said you'd be wondering when we'd make honest men of each other."
"Well, to be fair I did perhaps point out every wedding suit sale I saw the last three times he and I went shopping." Marie-Ange said, with a delighted laugh. "So I am glad he got that particular hint. Weddings are magical and lovely, for everyone who is not me."
"You'll be a part of it, right?" he asked with a grin. "Amanda's already signed on to be my best woman, and I'll find a job for Sooraya and Rachel if they want it. All the family", all the surviving family, "should be part of it."
"Of course. Jean-Philiipe's parents are not likely to come." and for that, Marie-Ange looked honestly angry. "So someone has to give him away to the groom."
"Yeah, he doesn't talk about them really at all and I guess if they'd have to be talked around, for this of all things, he wouldn't want them there." His smile turned wry. "For me, I haven't got up the nerve to find out if I've got any in this changed world, or what it means that they haven't got in touch."
"He does not talk about them because they are terrible." Marie-Ange said, a touch bluntly. "In all the ways you can probably guess. They bother me more for his whereabouts than him, which is very stupid of them." Her aunt and uncle did not know she could ruin their lives with one asked favour, but they really should know that all she would do is tell them they were awful and hang up on them. "Perhaps, perhaps with
your family, I could assist. It is not as though the world will end if you ask me to look." Literally. "And I have the resources."
"If they really wanted to mend the bridges", Angelo agreed, "that's not what I'd call reaching out to do it. At least they care if he's alive, I guess, but they could ask him how he's doing." He nodded at the latter part. "John was going to look them up for me, but then he moved to Chicago and I never asked. If... if she's alive but really different, I don't know if I want to know."
"That is why I offered to be an intermediary. If they have not reached out deliberately, you are no worse off, and if it is just that, perhaps they are mistaken about... " Marie-Ange spread her hands. "Oh, perhaps you being dead, or incarcerated or in another country, any number of things..."
He smiled slightly. "No shortage of chances for any of those to have happened, I know. And I guess if they do want to see me, if they're missing their Angelo like I... I should do something about it."
"It may require some fast talking, but, ah, I think a cover story can be arranged if need be. Witness Protection. Fear of being refused. So many possibilities, most of them are even the truth. And if nothing comes of it, you have a safe buffer and do not have to find any terrible news yourself. It would not even be a wedding present!" Marie-Ange said, almost chirping. "My wedding present to you is certainly not going to be related to my job. What sort of cousin in law would I be if I gave you something I do every day."
He laughed warmly at her growing enthusiasm. "I guess we got a deal, then. If you do find it's terrible, and I don't want to think it's possible, but look how much some people changed... You can just tell me that so I quit wondering. As for presents, you're going to be our planner, that's a pretty good one on its own."
"Oh of course that cannot be your present either, I intend to outsource at least half of the planning to Hope. She is much better at flower arrangements and finding caterers than I am. I am only good at pretending to be the caterer."
"Well hey", Angelo said with a grin, "the best planners are successful enough to pay staff anyhow, and between you and Hope we'll be in good hands. I promise to give you a couple of months at least to think about the gift."
"Which is good because I honestly have no idea what to get you. You both have most of what a couple would need, and neither of you needs nice clothes."
"There's always room for more nice clothes, though, I guess", he said lightly, "but I know you'll want it to be original and special. I could talk it over with JP, come up with some ideas?"
"Oui yes, because that is going to be the next several months of your life if you are planning anything other than a very fast wedding in Las Vegas, and that way ends with me standing on a table yelling at you for not letting me know." Marie-Ange said, with a happy but wicked smile.
He burst out laughing at that. "You and half the mansion. Like I said, I already promised Amanda she could be Best Woman... yeah, we're probably not going to go there."
"Not without at least bringing a few of us. And making sure there are no ... ah, what is the plural for Elvis?"
"Elvi?" he suggested. "Sooraya said if we tried she'd come with us. Probably go sand and hide in the luggage. But I promise, under no circumstances an Elvis chapel."
"Now, the question is, how long do I let my cousin wait it out until he tells me?" Marie-Ange asked, winking. "I think until Christmas."
Angelo grinned. "Seems fair to me! Unless you just can't resist anymore before Christmas."
"I would not bet on my willpower lasting that long, if I were going to bet on that."
Angelo was enjoying a rare bit of down time, lounging on the couch with a book and Joyita's head on his knee, when the knock came at the door.
"It's not locked!"
Marie-Ange nudged the door open, and gave the suite a quick look-around before nodding to herself. "It would not matter much if it was, really. I have a key." It was probably in her desk at work and under a pile of tarot cards but she did actually have a legitimate key. That her cousin had actually given her. While sober. And awake. And non-medicated. "Soooooooo." She drawled out.. "I have to kill my cousin." Ominous from the spy-and-assassin if it was not for the amused smile.
Angelo tilted his head back to look at her, eyebrows raised.
"What did he do this time?"
"Neglected to tell me, at all, that he had proposed." Marie-Ange sat herself down on the other end of the sofa and pulled up her feet. "I had to find out from readings." She paused. "On the other hand I am quite sure that Magneto will not crash yours. Less sure about Lorna and Alex, children rate higher than former... ah, protegee is not quite right, but I think you understand yes?"
He laughed, nudging her leg affectionately with his foot. "Well, that's good to know at least. But he really didn't tell you? He said he'd let you plan it."
"He has not yet. Perhaps he is trying to figure out if I will threaten either of you again." It was clear Marie-Ange was entertained by the whole idea. "I like to think the previous threats stand, even with rings and cake entering the situation, yes?"
Angelo grinned and said cheerfully, "I think we can take that as read. Even if it's been years now and I'm pretty sure you'll never have to make good, they can stand."
Marie-Ange reached out and patted Angelo's hand. "I threatened because I was obliged. I cannot imagine, or see, either of you hurting the other on purpose. You are too just. Jean-Philippe is too loyal. And the both of you are far too smart for that."
He squeezed her hand briefly but warmly in return, smiling. "So, since he didn't tell you, I guess I better had. We haven't done much planning yet, it was pretty spur of the moment until we got to talking about it properly."
"Now I need details." Marie-Ange said, almost gleefully. "I know there was no bended knee or poetic declaration of love, but I must. Know everything."
He laughed. "Yeah, if he'd done that I'd have had him checked for possession or something. It was after the thing with Thor, when he was getting his strength back, so I was getting as much stew in him as he could eat." Which was a lot. "We were talking while he ate." Was fed, but that was embarrassing enough for Jean-Phillipe without emphasising it. "And he said you'd be wondering when we'd make honest men of each other."
"Well, to be fair I did perhaps point out every wedding suit sale I saw the last three times he and I went shopping." Marie-Ange said, with a delighted laugh. "So I am glad he got that particular hint. Weddings are magical and lovely, for everyone who is not me."
"You'll be a part of it, right?" he asked with a grin. "Amanda's already signed on to be my best woman, and I'll find a job for Sooraya and Rachel if they want it. All the family", all the surviving family, "should be part of it."
"Of course. Jean-Philiipe's parents are not likely to come." and for that, Marie-Ange looked honestly angry. "So someone has to give him away to the groom."
"Yeah, he doesn't talk about them really at all and I guess if they'd have to be talked around, for this of all things, he wouldn't want them there." His smile turned wry. "For me, I haven't got up the nerve to find out if I've got any in this changed world, or what it means that they haven't got in touch."
"He does not talk about them because they are terrible." Marie-Ange said, a touch bluntly. "In all the ways you can probably guess. They bother me more for his whereabouts than him, which is very stupid of them." Her aunt and uncle did not know she could ruin their lives with one asked favour, but they really should know that all she would do is tell them they were awful and hang up on them. "Perhaps, perhaps with
your family, I could assist. It is not as though the world will end if you ask me to look." Literally. "And I have the resources."
"If they really wanted to mend the bridges", Angelo agreed, "that's not what I'd call reaching out to do it. At least they care if he's alive, I guess, but they could ask him how he's doing." He nodded at the latter part. "John was going to look them up for me, but then he moved to Chicago and I never asked. If... if she's alive but really different, I don't know if I want to know."
"That is why I offered to be an intermediary. If they have not reached out deliberately, you are no worse off, and if it is just that, perhaps they are mistaken about... " Marie-Ange spread her hands. "Oh, perhaps you being dead, or incarcerated or in another country, any number of things..."
He smiled slightly. "No shortage of chances for any of those to have happened, I know. And I guess if they do want to see me, if they're missing their Angelo like I... I should do something about it."
"It may require some fast talking, but, ah, I think a cover story can be arranged if need be. Witness Protection. Fear of being refused. So many possibilities, most of them are even the truth. And if nothing comes of it, you have a safe buffer and do not have to find any terrible news yourself. It would not even be a wedding present!" Marie-Ange said, almost chirping. "My wedding present to you is certainly not going to be related to my job. What sort of cousin in law would I be if I gave you something I do every day."
He laughed warmly at her growing enthusiasm. "I guess we got a deal, then. If you do find it's terrible, and I don't want to think it's possible, but look how much some people changed... You can just tell me that so I quit wondering. As for presents, you're going to be our planner, that's a pretty good one on its own."
"Oh of course that cannot be your present either, I intend to outsource at least half of the planning to Hope. She is much better at flower arrangements and finding caterers than I am. I am only good at pretending to be the caterer."
"Well hey", Angelo said with a grin, "the best planners are successful enough to pay staff anyhow, and between you and Hope we'll be in good hands. I promise to give you a couple of months at least to think about the gift."
"Which is good because I honestly have no idea what to get you. You both have most of what a couple would need, and neither of you needs nice clothes."
"There's always room for more nice clothes, though, I guess", he said lightly, "but I know you'll want it to be original and special. I could talk it over with JP, come up with some ideas?"
"Oui yes, because that is going to be the next several months of your life if you are planning anything other than a very fast wedding in Las Vegas, and that way ends with me standing on a table yelling at you for not letting me know." Marie-Ange said, with a happy but wicked smile.
He burst out laughing at that. "You and half the mansion. Like I said, I already promised Amanda she could be Best Woman... yeah, we're probably not going to go there."
"Not without at least bringing a few of us. And making sure there are no ... ah, what is the plural for Elvis?"
"Elvi?" he suggested. "Sooraya said if we tried she'd come with us. Probably go sand and hide in the luggage. But I promise, under no circumstances an Elvis chapel."
"Now, the question is, how long do I let my cousin wait it out until he tells me?" Marie-Ange asked, winking. "I think until Christmas."
Angelo grinned. "Seems fair to me! Unless you just can't resist anymore before Christmas."
"I would not bet on my willpower lasting that long, if I were going to bet on that."
