Soliloquy
♥Hopeless Chromatic♥
The boys managed to make it out of the gentlemen's club just before dinner and in one piece. There was thankfully a healthy balance of men who wanted to tease and torment them and those who were younger had enough sympathy to help the teenagers stay afloat. After all, young love was a rarity and needed to be protected before Fate could take it away. Ushered out of the room while the men wrapped up a discussion they'd been happening, Keagan was relieved when their paths merged with Kaylee and Charlotte who had finished up their session of being pampered.
"Hello again, beautiful," he was happy to fall into step with his beloved. "You have no idea how much of a relief it is to see you again. I knew how many uncles you had but knowing that and being in the same room as them all are two completely different things."
Charlotte united with him, letting out a big sigh of relief, as if in her paranoia he somehow would have learned about what happened before she could say it herself and left her. But he hadn’t. Not yet. And she was glad to have Keagan return to her.
Kaylee had to chuckle as took hold of Joss's hand. "Oh you get used to it," she assured Keagan before glancing to Joss as they walked. "So, how was it though? Did you guys have a good time and lots of manly discussions?"
“Lots,” Joss gave that tucked smile common among people of European descent. “More than I would want to have around your father, which is zero.”
Charlotte chuckled at that. “Sooo, what did you talk about?” She kept close to Keagan, holding his arm as if he might be blown away by a wind storm.
“Learned a lot about your parents' previous lifestyle. Apparently Oliver, Everest, Ellie and others were familiar with it,” Joss said the names and the girls pinked, knowing what he referred to. “Did you notice that kind of thing growing up?”
“Eh, well, not really,” Charlotte shrugged. “By the time I turned nine I think they stopped, but I sort of recall hearing about my parents spending the night at other people's beds. I thought that meant sleepovers.”
“Ah, I see,” Joss said. “So you guys didn’t have that as a normal part of life.”
“Well,” Charlotte hummed in thought. “I guess we did though, I mean…It still happened around us even if we weren’t fully aware. And then there’s Ryuu, who had been just as promiscuous.”
"I suppose you can't control what your parents do or those around you," Keagan accepted.
"Exactly. It's not like that's as lifestyle I'd want to take up, either," Kaylee admitted. "I don't want to share my bed with anyone else. I'm pretty sure Lorenzo ruined any possibility of that last year."
Keagan winced, recalling stories of just what she had gone through. It was understandable after that to be off-put by the idea of someone else being around your significant other. He looked down at his beloved gem, thinking back to the question they'd been asked at the Gentlemen's club. "So, after knowing your parents chose that style for awhile and all, would you say that's something that would be necessary for you in a relationship?" Immediately after asking the question, he regretted it. There were three others walking with them that may not want to know and who frankly he thought didn't need to either. "You don't need to answer that now," he hastily added.
Mocha eyes had widened and Charlotte’s cheeks were burning red. The knot that twisted in her stomach wobbled around in confusion. How did she answer that? Especially after what had happened on the holodeck. Maybe Charlotte didn’t have to give him her thoughts at the moment, but she would still have to at some point! Would it be worse to do so later? At least Charlotte didn’t whip her head around to look at Reggie’s reaction. It had been an urge she managed to consciously suppress.
Heart pounding, Charlotte discreetly slowed their pace until the others were ahead of them. All the while she had been considering her answer. “To be honest,” Charlotte spoke in a soft volume, enough for Keagan to hear, “I hadn’t thought about it before now. I don’t think it’s necessary to do. I wouldn’t sacrifice a relationship for it, but…if it didn’t risk losing someone I loved, then…I actually don’t mind exploring the idea.” She didn’t know how that made her look, but Charlotte hoped Keagan didn’t think she meant to be malicious or cruel.
Keagan was quiet for a moment, watching the others ahead of them as he dealt with his own thoughts. If this was something she was interested in, he didn't dare completely shut her down. Instead, he offered a brief nod. "Okay," was his short response.
Chewing on her lip, Charlotte felt all at once regretful for admitting her position. She felt the urge to ask Keagan what he thought of her, if he was mad, or if he wanted to leave her now. Anxiety levels shot upward at the last thought, prompting her to part her lips in an attempt to back pedal, but the arrival of giggly little girls closed her mouth.
“Bonne soirée!” Luna smiled, waving.
Hye and Kazumi walked with the littles to join the five young adults. They were normally unreadable, but tonight they appeared particularly interested in studying the older teens. They said nothing aside from greeting them.
Joss smiled, “Hey you guys, how have you been?”
Lyra smirked. “Very good! We’ve been just playing and running around with Hye and Kazi.”
"Oh that does sound like fun," Kaylee said in a slightly over-animated voice, the kind to keep kids engaged.
"Da, has been good," Zasha confirmed in a no nonsense tone that she might have picked up from her Great Uncle.
Melody did her best to try and keep up with the couple that were at the front of the pack, though she did keep sparing a glance at Reggie. "And now for dinner. Are you hungry?"
"For the delicious food in this castle? Always starving," Keagan answered for the group, clearly not completely stunned to silence after Charlotte's inquiry. It was a topic she would want to revisit when they weren't surrounded by others, he suspected, but for now it was abandoned. "Do you know what you'll eat?"
"Pasgetti!" Melody's excitement in one of her favorite dishes was evident, bouncing and throwing a small fist in the air as she said it. "With lotsa meat balls and cheese!"
“No, it’s ‘Buhsketti’,” Lyra corrected.
Luna tilted her head, “Êtes-vous sûr? I think it’s ‘uh-sketti’, non?”
Finding some way out of silence, Reggie said, “Say it how you like. It’s delicious either way, right?”
“Right,” Desi said, with some hesitancy in her voice as she was urged into action. “Reggie, my feet hurt. Hold me?”
Blinking, Reggie shrugged with uncertainty. “Um, I guess,” he said, reaching down. As he pulled Desi into his arms he bumped into Lyra. “Oo, sorry,” he said, frowning.
Putting her hands behind her back, Lyra smiled up. “It’s alright.”
“Oh my,” Luna skipped on her foot and happend to lose balance beside Charlotte. As planned, her older cousin caught her from falling.
“You guys have had a long day,” Charlotte said, glad for some distraction anyway. She pulled Luna up on her hip. The side where her phone sat in her sewn-in pocket. Zasha couldn’t reach it! And they were already at the archway.
“Yeah, long day,” Lyra huffed.
Drat! They were unable to escape immediately like they hoped. The littles sullenly shuffled into the hall by the very teens they wanted to corral elsewhere. Reggie and Charlotte sat apart, to the disappointment of the littles. The girls got down from their helpful older teen escorts. Lyra was quick to assure her conspirators that this was merely a setback. They murmured their next step from here while they took their seats. It seemed they came to a satisfying alternative to plan A and hurriedly began eating their food.
“Slow down, you’ll make yourself sick,” Inara chuckled.
“So good!” Desi offered as an excuse, mouth full.
“Listen to your mother,” Wesley said.
Ryuu, who had stayed for dinner, said, “Spoken like a man who knows not to do otherwise.”
“Lessons learned in life I will never forget,” Wesley chuckled. He greeted the teens. “How was your spa time, girls?”
"It was amazing. We were overdue for some time together," Kaylee said as she took her chair wit Joss's aid. She also acknowledged the reason they were overdue was her own doing. "A great way to spend an afternoon and even picked out some fresh dresses from it."
While Kaylee was filling in her mother on just what pampering they accepted, Zasha caught Lyra's attention just after their plates were set down. Right in front of her but hidden by the rim of the plate to anyone who wasn't directly beside her sat Lottie's phone. She had managed to stealthily swipe it out of her cousin's pocket while she was setting Luna back on her feet. Once the twins knew they were still on for their plan, she tucked it back away in her pocket and went back to eating quickly.
It felt like they adults were hardly started on their own plates when a sudden, "Done!" interrupted their chatter. Melody with spaghetti sauce from cheek to chin was already up on her knees in her seat. "Can we be a'scused, please?"
Astonished, Inara parted her lips to make the usual argument—finishing their food—when she realized that the girls had done so already. “Oh…Did you not want desserts?”
Lyra patted her belly, getting curry sauce and rice stuck on the fabric. “So full,” she said, though inside her little sweetooth suffered the descion to skip. “Maybe later!”
Kazumi came to their side with wipes. Hye started on one end and worked his way toward the middle where he and Kazumi finished off the last girl. They had seen the girls shuffle around as they cleaned them, but didn’t catch them passing the dark rectangles to avoid losing possession of the phones.
“Gonna play before cousins leave,” Desi said her line, getting off the chair with Hye’s help.
That was right, they had some time before their fun ended. The littles were going to squeeze as much time together as they could before being split up. Before anyone could stop them they were running alongside Hye and Kazumi out the doors.
“So much for being tired from a long day,” Charlotte spoffed.
“All they needed was pasghetti,” Reggie mused.
That earned a chuckle or two from those that got the reference. None of them dwells on the topic, moving to more interesting discussions about Atlantis since Ryuu was present. There was news that they were just about ready to open their newest attraction that had been in the works for a year or two now. He couldn’t say details. He did, however, promise it would be ‘magical’. Then he mentioned he and Cory were looking through applications for filling some vacant roles.
“That reminds me,” Wesley said, excusing himself for interrupting. “Girls, your mother and I decided that we should help prepare you for the world outside. Starting next year, you will get a part-time job and pay rent for the facilities you use here. There are other levels of this that we can discuss if you wish to exercise your adulthood muscles, but that is the basic plan. I am open to hear your thoughts.”
Kaylee wasn't exactly surprised that their parents had made such a decision. The fact they wanted the girls to build their own lives rather than coasting off of their parents had been said on more than one occasion. What did take her back slightly was that they'd be paying rent. "It won't be more than we can earn, right?" Though it would be completely unexpected if it were and they were evicted from their own home! "And are we working during the school year or just during summer so we can focus on our studies?"
All excellent questions. Wesley said, “The pay you get and the hours you work will be taken into account, but the idea is that the bills you pay will reflect the current market. So, it is possible that you can lose the luxury of your room for something a little more modest within the castle, to simulate a less than expensive dwelling.” That could mean something as simple and plain as a staff apartment in the lower levels of Avostoska. They’d need to downsize. But as they gained promotions or saved up, they could move back into their rooms. “You fulfilled all of the required classes and should have room in your schedule for studies and a job.”
Charlotte suddenly felt the ephemeral nature of her life as a resident of Avostoska. It hit her then that in two years time she might end up living somewhere completely different. They’d always welcome her back, of course, they did that with even just friends of the family. Yet the process of learning how to manage on her own without them tightened the knot in her stomach.
“What kind of other levels are there?” Charlotte asked.
“Taking on the responsibility of budgeting your groceries, car insurance, health insurance,” Wesley said. One finger flipped up for each time he mentioned a dynamic of adulthood. “General wear and tear of clothes and shoes, paying for entertainment—movies, makeup, clothes, etc.”
Kaylee decided not to object while they were subject to guests. It wasn't that she didn't think they needed to have some experience getting jobs or learning how to budget, however it did seem like a waste of their resources to put it toward things they were already receiving. They didn't need frivolous things covered, however paying for their own bedrooms felt silly. If anything, she would have preferred they 'take' that money each month and have it put into a savings for when they moved out.
Reggie had to keep in a snort of amusement. The reality of living without the safety net had hammered him and Joss into who they were today. Sometimes it bothered him to see or hear wealthy people talk about their lives. Reggie couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle that the Von Helsing sisters were only just going to have to deal with what he had since after Hell’s Gate.
“Okay…Well, can we make time before summer to start arranging this?” Charlotte said, patting her side for her phone. She felt only the limp, flat of her fabric. Scooting back, Charlotte bent to see if she had dropped her phone. “Damn it!”
“What is it?” Joss asked.
“I can’t find my phone,” Charlotte said, standing up.
Reggie watched them shuffling around. “I’ll call it,” he said, reaching for his own. “What the—mine is gone too.” Reggie got up and began to search his seat and the plates.
“Pascal,” Charlotte huffed.
“Yes, my Lady?” Pascal appeared.
“Can you track our phones?” Charlotte asked.
“Of course, my Lady,” Pascal inclined his head.
Green dots appeared. Three lit up over Kaylee, Joss, and Keagan. Two were out of the castle in the center of the wisteria garden maze.
Keagan frowned at the display, feeling like something had to be wrong. "When did you guys go to the gardens?" It didn't seem like they'd have had time if the girls were at the spa just now and they'd all been on the holodeck earlier that morning.
Kaylee couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, there are two phones missing and five little girls who have been behaving too good to feel true," She pointed out as she finished off her strawberry lemonade and set her glass down.
Sighing deeply, Charlotte rubbed her temples. “I just can’t with these girls.”
“Now why would they be doing that?” Ryuu tilted his head.
Jasper rolled his eyes. “They’re obsessed with Reggie and Lottie being a married couple.”
Bursting out in a chuckle, Ryuu said, “That’s still going on? Oh that’s hilarious.”
“The joke is getting old,” Charlotte grumbled, wiping her hands clean. “I’m getting my phone and I’m gonna have a stern talk with the littles. Whether I catch them there or if I have to hunt them down.”
Inara, hiding her amusement behind her drink, cautioned, “Don’t get too angry with them, they’re still learning.”
“Guess I’ll come too,” Reggie said, popping the last bite of food in his mouth before getting up.
In the heat of her annoyance, Charlotte didn’t think about the fact that Reggie would be accompanying her. She was already several frustrated steps away when he caught up. Glancing back, Charlotte felt a little nervous. She wanted to ask Kaylee or Keagan to come too.
Just before she got too far for it to be natural, Charlotte turned around and asked, “Dilrubaa? Will you go with me?”
It was evident that Keagan had been hopeful the offer had been extended to him, dark eyes watching Reggie as he rose from his seat. Still, he had a few bites left of his food that he didn't exactly want to abandon. After all, he'd likely need all the energy he could get for later if there was to be a repeat of that morning. "I'll finish and come catch up if you're okay with that, my Koh-i-noor?"
Inara gasped softly, touching her fingers to her lips in adoring delight for the nickname Keagan used. She leaned and nudged Wesley to share in her approval. He reluctantly gave in, squeezing his wife’s hand to show her he thought it was cute too.
“Alright,” Charlotte said. She managed a convincing smile. Then she turned around to follow Reggie who hadn’t slowed down for her.
On the grounds of Avostoska there were many gorgeous trails, alcoves, waterfalls, and such that a person could visit for picnics, romantic strollers, hide-and-go-seek, and other purposes. There were three garden mazes that made for a lovely experience. One in particular, on the West side, sported high lattice walls the further you got to the middle, covered in flora of the vine kind that were movable near the center to make for an interesting variety to puzzle-out. At the center stood an ornate gazebo where under a person might have staff set up a table. Wisteria trees at all but the west side gave the cream marbled structures a fanciful atmosphere. Shallow ponds carved into the ground, bordered by decorative stones and plants, made it all the more romantic.
Reggie ended up waiting for Charlotte to catch up. He had no knowledge of the grounds like she did. He trailed right behind her. This unnerved Charlotte. She kept quiet until they started winding through the beginning of the maze; shallow green hedges with ornate potted blossoms between them.
“Can you please walk beside me?” Charlotte asked.
“Why?” Reggie asked.
“Just feels weird,” Charlotte said. “Like you’re watching me.”
After a pause, Reggie spoke in a flat tone, “…I am.”
Inara gasped softly, touching her fingers to her lips in adoring delight for the nickname Keagan used. She leaned and nudged Wesley to share in her approval. He reluctantly gave in, squeezing his wife’s hand to show her he thought it was cute too.
“Alright,” Charlotte said. She managed a convincing smile. Then she turned around to follow Reggie who hadn’t slowed down for her.
On the grounds of Avostoska there were many gorgeous trails, alcoves, waterfalls, and such that a person could visit for picnics, romantic strollers, hide-and-go-seek, and other purposes. There were three garden mazes that made for a lovely experience. One in particular, on the West side, sported high lattice walls the further you got to the middle, covered in flora of the vine kind that were movable near the center to make for an interesting variety to puzzle-out. At the center stood an ornate gazebo where under a person might have staff set up a table. Wisteria trees at all but the west side gave the cream marbled structures a fanciful atmosphere. Shallow ponds carved into the ground, bordered by decorative stones and plants, made it all the more romantic.
Reggie ended up waiting for Charlotte to catch up. He had no knowledge of the grounds like she did. He trailed right behind her. This unnerved Charlotte. She kept quiet until they started winding through the beginning of the maze; shallow green hedges with ornate potted blossoms between them.
“Can you please walk beside me?” Charlotte asked.
“Why?” Reggie asked.
“Just feels weird,” Charlotte said. “Like you’re watching me.”
After a pause, Reggie spoke in a flat tone, “…I am.”
Sighing, Charlotte slowed down and turned to him. “I get that I’m leading us, but I prefer if you’re not behind me. It makes me feel vulnerable and I don’t like it.”
Silently Reggie came to stand beside her. “Better?”
“Yes…Thank you,” Charlotte said, exhaling a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The tension in her shoulders eased off as they began again when she noticed she had expected an argument that didn’t come.
“You good?” Reggie asked in a tone that conveyed he had no real intention to get an honest answer.
A part of Charlotte told her not to get into the tea she could spill; they should just get in and get out. However, so far from the castle, all alone, she felt the frustration bubble up. Especially since she felt Reggie should know better than to ask if she was good or not, when he was a part of the problem!
“Actually, no,” Charlotte said curtly. “This day is trying my patience. I have to tell Keagan—the best man I could ever ask for to be my first love—that I distracted you with a kiss to win the competition, when he was already recovering from the pretend wedding’s bridal kiss fiasco, that you gave me.”
“Oh is that all?” Reggie said, in a tone of light sarcasm that covered his anxiety; a habit he hadn’t kicked.
Snapping her eyes on him, Charlotte said, “Is that all you have to say? Keagan will be devastated! I could potentially risk losing him by being honest, which I must be to have a healthy relationship!”
Reggie cocked a brow. “I get why he’d get mad at me,” he said, knowing that Joss was right about Keagan being entitled to a punch or two, “but if Keagan leaves you because some guy pinned you down and kissed you, when you immobile, then your boyfriend’s a little bitch.”
Mocha eyes blinked in astonishment. “You’re seriously saying you can’t understand why he’d feel betrayed? Enough that he’d leave?”
Studying her, Reggie tilted his head. “Now why would he feel betrayed? Did you betray him? Did you kiss me? Or did I take advantage of the situation you couldn’t leave?” He slowed her down just as they got into the lattice part of the maze. “Charlotte, I could have shot you at any time when I had my gun. I chose to pin you down because—,”
“Yeah, yeah—You’re all upset that I lied,” Charlotte huffed, starting off again.
Reggie snagged her arm, not roughly, to stop her. “No, I did it because I wanted to. I wanted to kiss you again.”
Heat racing, Charlotte stood in shock watching him. “No,” she murmured as if to convince herself, shaking her head. “You were upset that I said it was just ‘okay’, you wanted to prove—,”
“I wanted to kiss you again,” Reggie said, tugging her over to emphasize his point without closing the gap. “I like you.”
“You hate me. I’m a Von Helsing, remember? Lord Weley Von Helsing’s flesh and blood,” Charlotte said, though she didn’t pull away.
“But I don’t. Not anymore,” Reggie said, and let go of her, seeing that she became uncomfortable. “You’ve proven right some of the points people have tried to tell me. Tysha being one. You’re a little spoiled, maybe, but you’re not a terrible person. You’re not the unfeeling ex-Hunter’s kid I believed. Keagan isn’t a terrible guy either. I owe him an apology,” Reggie stepped forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re ambitious and beautiful. You’re talented, kind, and you’re not someone who will back down from telling the important truths even if it means you will suffer…I admire you.”
“I…” Charlotte didn’t know what to say. She backed into the lattice, the vines falling on her shoulders and her braided bun. “I have Keagan.”
“I know,” Reggie said, tucking his hands in his pockets. “And I get that I’m not that great of a guy and that the reason why you kissed me was purely for survival—,”
“It wasn’t,” Charlotte felt tears fall down her cheeks. “That’s why I feel the need to use the word ‘betrayed’, Reggie. In the split second that I froze I felt torn between rejecting you because it would mean hurting Keagan and experiencing that kiss again. If I had time to say no, I would have done so, but when you made your move—after my initial rage, I melted into it.” Though, to her credit, she did mean to stab him, and did so. That part of the plan had been thought through. Wanting that kiss like she did had not been planned.
Acting on an impulse—another bad habit—Reggie moved forward. He wanted to hold her, to tempt those soft lips again, throwing caution to the wind, endangering himself and her again for the affection he craved but that always slipped through his fingers; catching smoke with a fan. He halted abruptly when Charlotte’s hand came up to stop him in his tracks, pressed against his chest. She felt the beat of his heart through his shirt; wild and pulsing.
“Lottie,” Reggie said her name, like the sky tempting a bird from the trees.
“I can’t,” Charlotte said, and she shook her head resolutely. “Keagan means more to me than your kiss.”
They stared at one another for a moment. Reggie watched her like a vampire seeing his last sunrise, ready to die to enjoy it one last time. Soon Reggie’s passion subsided. He nodded in understanding, though he did not step back just yet.
Charlotte sucked her cries, trying to subdue them. She felt her anger for how she behaved in training well up, and she felt her fury that Reggie had encouraged to stir these feelings inside her burn through her heart. Charlotte slipped her hand from Reggies chest and swiped at his face. SLAP! She let out a sob. SLAP! SLAP! Charlotte’s third hit ended with her backing up again.
“I’m sorry, Lottie,” Reggie murmured, not allowing himself to soothe the burning of his cheek. After a moment he said, “I can get our phones if you want. You can go back to Keagan.”
Shaking her head, Charlotte walked on. She didn’t speak for a long time, so Reggie could only guess why. He considered that he didn’t know this maze and that Charlotte likely didn’t want him having possession of her phone. Whatever the reason, they walked in silence for a time until they found the center of the maze.
The full moon rose up behind the marble gazebo where under a beautiful candlelit feast for two awaited them. Music began to play; soft, romantic. Little lavender petals floated on the breeze, like fragile tiny shells drifting in the foam.
“What the hell?” Charlotte furrowed her brows. Reggie was just as confused.
“Welcome!” Lyra popped out from behind a bush with the others. “Do you like it?”
“Nous avons travaillé très dur pour le rendre agréable!” Luna said with a smile, giving a curtsy.
"Da, is for your sugarmoon," Zasha said, quite pleased of the job they had done, even if it required some help from Hye and Kazumi.
Melody was quick to correct her cousin, "No, no not sugarmoon. Honeymoon!"
"Feh, different same."
Charlotte counted the long walk here as a blessing. At first she was ready to yell at the littles. Her outburst with Reggie certainly provided fuel. However, feeling tired, she sighed and said, “It looks nice. Where are our phones?”
Lyra gestured for them to come. “This way!”
Following after, Charlotte looked around and noticed a lack of proper supervision. “Where’s Hye and Kazumi?”
The littles glanced between them. Lyra answered, “They said they wanted to take a break.”
Nodding, Desi said, “They will be back.”
Coming up on the platform Charlotte found her phone sitting on one of the chairs. She snatched it up and started off down the stairs. Reggie got his phone and did the same.
“Wait!” Lyra said in slight desperation. “You can’t leave just yet! You have your desserts here!”
Luna flared her hands as if showcasing a desirable item. “Ce sont des éclairs accompagnés de chantilly à la vanille.”
"Yeh was not easy to bring," Zasha said, tapping her tiny foot on the ground in expectation of the two of them behaving. These were their plans, and they deserved for it to be appreciated.
The two had taken long enough to arrive that even on his first time navigating the maze that Keagan was coming through one of the pathways just in time to hear Zasha's disgruntled comment. His eyes moved to the center where the arrangement rose several questions. "Oh, uh. Sorry, it took me a while to find my way here," he explained as he moved toward Charlotte, eyes glancing back at the desserts. "What was it the girls were up to?"
Zasha was quite defensive, brows furrowed. "None business of yours, Teagan. Shoo! Ruin dessert."
"Uhh...okay?" Keagan turned back to Charlotte. "Did you need me to leave?"
“No, we were just leaving,” Charlotte said, taking Keagan’s arm.
“But—Your honeymoon!” Desi frowned.
“Man and wife must be together,” Lyra insisted with a huff.
Reggie made no outward objections and he didn’t leave, interested in how this would play out. He wasn’t the only one. Somewhere, not far, two guardians were eagerly seeing the fruition of the devious plans that littles had come up with all by themselves.
“Alright, this ends now,” Charlotte pulled up her phone and dialed. She pressed it to her ear. “Ryuu? Are you still here? Good. I know this is asking a lot, but can you just teleport to the center of the wisteria maze? Or fly here? I need you quickly.” She waited for his reply, adding, “I’ll explain more when you arrive.”
Curious, the littles looked between one another. What was this? Ryuu wasn’t invited either! Let alone Teagan! They had done so much to bring this together and now everyone was ruining their romantic arrangements!
A comet of fire lit up the sky to momentarily distract the girls. They were awe of the morphing shape of a wingless dragon coming right to them. In a plume of fire and smoke, Ryuu landed yards away so as not to burn anyone.
“What do you need?” Ryuu asked, taking in the sights as he walked towards the others.
“I need you to officiate,” Charlotte said, turning to Keagan. She got on one knee. “Will you fake marry me under the stars?”
A smirk washed away confusion that had been on his face. "You think you get the honor of proposing, huh? Pretty sure it's supposed to be me on my knee, gorgeous."
Standing up with a smile, Charlotte switched positions. She didn’t mind either way, but she kinda liked it like this too. She kept her mocha eyes on Keagan’s, resting her hand comfortably in his.
"Is not supposed be married because already married!" Zasha tried to argue, moving to body block Ryuu who was much taller than her but who did not intimidate her at all.
"But...we made a honeymoon with sweets," Melody's inability to grasp how Charlotte was turning it down was all over her face.
“Yeah, Charlotte, the honeymoon with sweets,” Ryuu teased, nodding to the table.
Charlotte looked over at the littles. They did work so hard. “Keagan and I will enjoy the wonderful spread you put together once we fake-marry.”
“But, Reggie is your husband,” Lyra said, coming to stand by Zasha.
“Well I’m taking another one,” Charlotte said firmly. She had better luck adding than she did subtracting when it came to this situation.
“Polyamory,” Ryuu hummed. He shrugged and explained to the littles, “That is practiced in many cultures of the world.”
"Is what?" Zasha demanded of him.
"A relationship that is more than two people," Keagan decided to keep it as breif as possible. This wasn't what he had hoped for, but he decided that if it was what she wanted, he would embrace it. Dropping to one knee, he looked up to Charlotte with lies brimming with unconditional love. "Lady Charlote Parvati Von Helsing, will you do me the immesurable honor of becoming my wife?"
"Fake wife," Melody corrected him, clearing her throat.
"Ah yes. My fake wife," Keagan repeated without taking his eyes off of her.
“I do,” Charlotte grinned.
Baffled, the littles watched as Keagan and Charlotte embraced. This certainly didn’t match with how Charlotte treated Reggie. The young man in question stood quietly aside, watching without disdain. In fact, he did Charlotte a silent favor and texted Joss and Kaylee to come to the wisteria gardens as soon as he understood what she had planned. They were probably on their way now.
“Right,” Ryuu said, distracting Zasha and Lyra with an after-image of himself made of particles of light and embers, to go around them to an aesthetically pleasing position beside a wisteria tree. “When you’re ready.”
“If you wait a minute, Joss and Kaylee will come to witness,” Reggie said.
Charlotte realized she had forgotten that her sister and her fake-brother-in-law would probably want to be apart of this. “Oh…thank you, Reg.”
Reggie shrugged one shoulder. He tucked his hands back in his pockets and grabbed a seat upon the stairs of the gazebo. Moments after he did he saw Kaylee and Joss entering from one of the few archways.
“That was fast,” Reggie said.
“We had started off when Ryuu left,” Joss said, panting a little. “What’s happened?”
"They will be married," Zasha said with a wave of her hand. It was not what she had hoped for the night, but they were told their desserts would be had regardless. Speaking of, she managed to snatch up one of the eclair's when Luna's guard was down, stuffing as much of it into her mouth as she could fit.
"Charlotte agreed to be my wife - my fake wife," Keagan corrected himself before one of the girls had to.
"Oh?" Kaylee caught her breath, still a bit surprised but deciding to accept it, she straightened up and stood beside Joss. She had spotted the romantic scene beneath the gazebo which raised more questions. "So, a wedding it is then...again?"
"Hello again, beautiful," he was happy to fall into step with his beloved. "You have no idea how much of a relief it is to see you again. I knew how many uncles you had but knowing that and being in the same room as them all are two completely different things."
Charlotte united with him, letting out a big sigh of relief, as if in her paranoia he somehow would have learned about what happened before she could say it herself and left her. But he hadn’t. Not yet. And she was glad to have Keagan return to her.
Kaylee had to chuckle as took hold of Joss's hand. "Oh you get used to it," she assured Keagan before glancing to Joss as they walked. "So, how was it though? Did you guys have a good time and lots of manly discussions?"
“Lots,” Joss gave that tucked smile common among people of European descent. “More than I would want to have around your father, which is zero.”
Charlotte chuckled at that. “Sooo, what did you talk about?” She kept close to Keagan, holding his arm as if he might be blown away by a wind storm.
“Learned a lot about your parents' previous lifestyle. Apparently Oliver, Everest, Ellie and others were familiar with it,” Joss said the names and the girls pinked, knowing what he referred to. “Did you notice that kind of thing growing up?”
“Eh, well, not really,” Charlotte shrugged. “By the time I turned nine I think they stopped, but I sort of recall hearing about my parents spending the night at other people's beds. I thought that meant sleepovers.”
“Ah, I see,” Joss said. “So you guys didn’t have that as a normal part of life.”
“Well,” Charlotte hummed in thought. “I guess we did though, I mean…It still happened around us even if we weren’t fully aware. And then there’s Ryuu, who had been just as promiscuous.”
"I suppose you can't control what your parents do or those around you," Keagan accepted.
"Exactly. It's not like that's as lifestyle I'd want to take up, either," Kaylee admitted. "I don't want to share my bed with anyone else. I'm pretty sure Lorenzo ruined any possibility of that last year."
Keagan winced, recalling stories of just what she had gone through. It was understandable after that to be off-put by the idea of someone else being around your significant other. He looked down at his beloved gem, thinking back to the question they'd been asked at the Gentlemen's club. "So, after knowing your parents chose that style for awhile and all, would you say that's something that would be necessary for you in a relationship?" Immediately after asking the question, he regretted it. There were three others walking with them that may not want to know and who frankly he thought didn't need to either. "You don't need to answer that now," he hastily added.
Mocha eyes had widened and Charlotte’s cheeks were burning red. The knot that twisted in her stomach wobbled around in confusion. How did she answer that? Especially after what had happened on the holodeck. Maybe Charlotte didn’t have to give him her thoughts at the moment, but she would still have to at some point! Would it be worse to do so later? At least Charlotte didn’t whip her head around to look at Reggie’s reaction. It had been an urge she managed to consciously suppress.
Heart pounding, Charlotte discreetly slowed their pace until the others were ahead of them. All the while she had been considering her answer. “To be honest,” Charlotte spoke in a soft volume, enough for Keagan to hear, “I hadn’t thought about it before now. I don’t think it’s necessary to do. I wouldn’t sacrifice a relationship for it, but…if it didn’t risk losing someone I loved, then…I actually don’t mind exploring the idea.” She didn’t know how that made her look, but Charlotte hoped Keagan didn’t think she meant to be malicious or cruel.
Keagan was quiet for a moment, watching the others ahead of them as he dealt with his own thoughts. If this was something she was interested in, he didn't dare completely shut her down. Instead, he offered a brief nod. "Okay," was his short response.
Chewing on her lip, Charlotte felt all at once regretful for admitting her position. She felt the urge to ask Keagan what he thought of her, if he was mad, or if he wanted to leave her now. Anxiety levels shot upward at the last thought, prompting her to part her lips in an attempt to back pedal, but the arrival of giggly little girls closed her mouth.
“Bonne soirée!” Luna smiled, waving.
Hye and Kazumi walked with the littles to join the five young adults. They were normally unreadable, but tonight they appeared particularly interested in studying the older teens. They said nothing aside from greeting them.
Joss smiled, “Hey you guys, how have you been?”
Lyra smirked. “Very good! We’ve been just playing and running around with Hye and Kazi.”
"Oh that does sound like fun," Kaylee said in a slightly over-animated voice, the kind to keep kids engaged.
"Da, has been good," Zasha confirmed in a no nonsense tone that she might have picked up from her Great Uncle.
Melody did her best to try and keep up with the couple that were at the front of the pack, though she did keep sparing a glance at Reggie. "And now for dinner. Are you hungry?"
"For the delicious food in this castle? Always starving," Keagan answered for the group, clearly not completely stunned to silence after Charlotte's inquiry. It was a topic she would want to revisit when they weren't surrounded by others, he suspected, but for now it was abandoned. "Do you know what you'll eat?"
"Pasgetti!" Melody's excitement in one of her favorite dishes was evident, bouncing and throwing a small fist in the air as she said it. "With lotsa meat balls and cheese!"
“No, it’s ‘Buhsketti’,” Lyra corrected.
Luna tilted her head, “Êtes-vous sûr? I think it’s ‘uh-sketti’, non?”
Finding some way out of silence, Reggie said, “Say it how you like. It’s delicious either way, right?”
“Right,” Desi said, with some hesitancy in her voice as she was urged into action. “Reggie, my feet hurt. Hold me?”
Blinking, Reggie shrugged with uncertainty. “Um, I guess,” he said, reaching down. As he pulled Desi into his arms he bumped into Lyra. “Oo, sorry,” he said, frowning.
Putting her hands behind her back, Lyra smiled up. “It’s alright.”
“Oh my,” Luna skipped on her foot and happend to lose balance beside Charlotte. As planned, her older cousin caught her from falling.
“You guys have had a long day,” Charlotte said, glad for some distraction anyway. She pulled Luna up on her hip. The side where her phone sat in her sewn-in pocket. Zasha couldn’t reach it! And they were already at the archway.
“Yeah, long day,” Lyra huffed.
Drat! They were unable to escape immediately like they hoped. The littles sullenly shuffled into the hall by the very teens they wanted to corral elsewhere. Reggie and Charlotte sat apart, to the disappointment of the littles. The girls got down from their helpful older teen escorts. Lyra was quick to assure her conspirators that this was merely a setback. They murmured their next step from here while they took their seats. It seemed they came to a satisfying alternative to plan A and hurriedly began eating their food.
“Slow down, you’ll make yourself sick,” Inara chuckled.
“So good!” Desi offered as an excuse, mouth full.
“Listen to your mother,” Wesley said.
Ryuu, who had stayed for dinner, said, “Spoken like a man who knows not to do otherwise.”
“Lessons learned in life I will never forget,” Wesley chuckled. He greeted the teens. “How was your spa time, girls?”
"It was amazing. We were overdue for some time together," Kaylee said as she took her chair wit Joss's aid. She also acknowledged the reason they were overdue was her own doing. "A great way to spend an afternoon and even picked out some fresh dresses from it."
While Kaylee was filling in her mother on just what pampering they accepted, Zasha caught Lyra's attention just after their plates were set down. Right in front of her but hidden by the rim of the plate to anyone who wasn't directly beside her sat Lottie's phone. She had managed to stealthily swipe it out of her cousin's pocket while she was setting Luna back on her feet. Once the twins knew they were still on for their plan, she tucked it back away in her pocket and went back to eating quickly.
It felt like they adults were hardly started on their own plates when a sudden, "Done!" interrupted their chatter. Melody with spaghetti sauce from cheek to chin was already up on her knees in her seat. "Can we be a'scused, please?"
Astonished, Inara parted her lips to make the usual argument—finishing their food—when she realized that the girls had done so already. “Oh…Did you not want desserts?”
Lyra patted her belly, getting curry sauce and rice stuck on the fabric. “So full,” she said, though inside her little sweetooth suffered the descion to skip. “Maybe later!”
Kazumi came to their side with wipes. Hye started on one end and worked his way toward the middle where he and Kazumi finished off the last girl. They had seen the girls shuffle around as they cleaned them, but didn’t catch them passing the dark rectangles to avoid losing possession of the phones.
“Gonna play before cousins leave,” Desi said her line, getting off the chair with Hye’s help.
That was right, they had some time before their fun ended. The littles were going to squeeze as much time together as they could before being split up. Before anyone could stop them they were running alongside Hye and Kazumi out the doors.
“So much for being tired from a long day,” Charlotte spoffed.
“All they needed was pasghetti,” Reggie mused.
That earned a chuckle or two from those that got the reference. None of them dwells on the topic, moving to more interesting discussions about Atlantis since Ryuu was present. There was news that they were just about ready to open their newest attraction that had been in the works for a year or two now. He couldn’t say details. He did, however, promise it would be ‘magical’. Then he mentioned he and Cory were looking through applications for filling some vacant roles.
“That reminds me,” Wesley said, excusing himself for interrupting. “Girls, your mother and I decided that we should help prepare you for the world outside. Starting next year, you will get a part-time job and pay rent for the facilities you use here. There are other levels of this that we can discuss if you wish to exercise your adulthood muscles, but that is the basic plan. I am open to hear your thoughts.”
Kaylee wasn't exactly surprised that their parents had made such a decision. The fact they wanted the girls to build their own lives rather than coasting off of their parents had been said on more than one occasion. What did take her back slightly was that they'd be paying rent. "It won't be more than we can earn, right?" Though it would be completely unexpected if it were and they were evicted from their own home! "And are we working during the school year or just during summer so we can focus on our studies?"
All excellent questions. Wesley said, “The pay you get and the hours you work will be taken into account, but the idea is that the bills you pay will reflect the current market. So, it is possible that you can lose the luxury of your room for something a little more modest within the castle, to simulate a less than expensive dwelling.” That could mean something as simple and plain as a staff apartment in the lower levels of Avostoska. They’d need to downsize. But as they gained promotions or saved up, they could move back into their rooms. “You fulfilled all of the required classes and should have room in your schedule for studies and a job.”
Charlotte suddenly felt the ephemeral nature of her life as a resident of Avostoska. It hit her then that in two years time she might end up living somewhere completely different. They’d always welcome her back, of course, they did that with even just friends of the family. Yet the process of learning how to manage on her own without them tightened the knot in her stomach.
“What kind of other levels are there?” Charlotte asked.
“Taking on the responsibility of budgeting your groceries, car insurance, health insurance,” Wesley said. One finger flipped up for each time he mentioned a dynamic of adulthood. “General wear and tear of clothes and shoes, paying for entertainment—movies, makeup, clothes, etc.”
Kaylee decided not to object while they were subject to guests. It wasn't that she didn't think they needed to have some experience getting jobs or learning how to budget, however it did seem like a waste of their resources to put it toward things they were already receiving. They didn't need frivolous things covered, however paying for their own bedrooms felt silly. If anything, she would have preferred they 'take' that money each month and have it put into a savings for when they moved out.
Reggie had to keep in a snort of amusement. The reality of living without the safety net had hammered him and Joss into who they were today. Sometimes it bothered him to see or hear wealthy people talk about their lives. Reggie couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle that the Von Helsing sisters were only just going to have to deal with what he had since after Hell’s Gate.
“Okay…Well, can we make time before summer to start arranging this?” Charlotte said, patting her side for her phone. She felt only the limp, flat of her fabric. Scooting back, Charlotte bent to see if she had dropped her phone. “Damn it!”
“What is it?” Joss asked.
“I can’t find my phone,” Charlotte said, standing up.
Reggie watched them shuffling around. “I’ll call it,” he said, reaching for his own. “What the—mine is gone too.” Reggie got up and began to search his seat and the plates.
“Pascal,” Charlotte huffed.
“Yes, my Lady?” Pascal appeared.
“Can you track our phones?” Charlotte asked.
“Of course, my Lady,” Pascal inclined his head.
Green dots appeared. Three lit up over Kaylee, Joss, and Keagan. Two were out of the castle in the center of the wisteria garden maze.
Keagan frowned at the display, feeling like something had to be wrong. "When did you guys go to the gardens?" It didn't seem like they'd have had time if the girls were at the spa just now and they'd all been on the holodeck earlier that morning.
Kaylee couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, there are two phones missing and five little girls who have been behaving too good to feel true," She pointed out as she finished off her strawberry lemonade and set her glass down.
Sighing deeply, Charlotte rubbed her temples. “I just can’t with these girls.”
“Now why would they be doing that?” Ryuu tilted his head.
Jasper rolled his eyes. “They’re obsessed with Reggie and Lottie being a married couple.”
Bursting out in a chuckle, Ryuu said, “That’s still going on? Oh that’s hilarious.”
“The joke is getting old,” Charlotte grumbled, wiping her hands clean. “I’m getting my phone and I’m gonna have a stern talk with the littles. Whether I catch them there or if I have to hunt them down.”
Inara, hiding her amusement behind her drink, cautioned, “Don’t get too angry with them, they’re still learning.”
“Guess I’ll come too,” Reggie said, popping the last bite of food in his mouth before getting up.
In the heat of her annoyance, Charlotte didn’t think about the fact that Reggie would be accompanying her. She was already several frustrated steps away when he caught up. Glancing back, Charlotte felt a little nervous. She wanted to ask Kaylee or Keagan to come too.
Just before she got too far for it to be natural, Charlotte turned around and asked, “Dilrubaa? Will you go with me?”
It was evident that Keagan had been hopeful the offer had been extended to him, dark eyes watching Reggie as he rose from his seat. Still, he had a few bites left of his food that he didn't exactly want to abandon. After all, he'd likely need all the energy he could get for later if there was to be a repeat of that morning. "I'll finish and come catch up if you're okay with that, my Koh-i-noor?"
Inara gasped softly, touching her fingers to her lips in adoring delight for the nickname Keagan used. She leaned and nudged Wesley to share in her approval. He reluctantly gave in, squeezing his wife’s hand to show her he thought it was cute too.
“Alright,” Charlotte said. She managed a convincing smile. Then she turned around to follow Reggie who hadn’t slowed down for her.
On the grounds of Avostoska there were many gorgeous trails, alcoves, waterfalls, and such that a person could visit for picnics, romantic strollers, hide-and-go-seek, and other purposes. There were three garden mazes that made for a lovely experience. One in particular, on the West side, sported high lattice walls the further you got to the middle, covered in flora of the vine kind that were movable near the center to make for an interesting variety to puzzle-out. At the center stood an ornate gazebo where under a person might have staff set up a table. Wisteria trees at all but the west side gave the cream marbled structures a fanciful atmosphere. Shallow ponds carved into the ground, bordered by decorative stones and plants, made it all the more romantic.
Reggie ended up waiting for Charlotte to catch up. He had no knowledge of the grounds like she did. He trailed right behind her. This unnerved Charlotte. She kept quiet until they started winding through the beginning of the maze; shallow green hedges with ornate potted blossoms between them.
“Can you please walk beside me?” Charlotte asked.
“Why?” Reggie asked.
“Just feels weird,” Charlotte said. “Like you’re watching me.”
After a pause, Reggie spoke in a flat tone, “…I am.”
Inara gasped softly, touching her fingers to her lips in adoring delight for the nickname Keagan used. She leaned and nudged Wesley to share in her approval. He reluctantly gave in, squeezing his wife’s hand to show her he thought it was cute too.
“Alright,” Charlotte said. She managed a convincing smile. Then she turned around to follow Reggie who hadn’t slowed down for her.
On the grounds of Avostoska there were many gorgeous trails, alcoves, waterfalls, and such that a person could visit for picnics, romantic strollers, hide-and-go-seek, and other purposes. There were three garden mazes that made for a lovely experience. One in particular, on the West side, sported high lattice walls the further you got to the middle, covered in flora of the vine kind that were movable near the center to make for an interesting variety to puzzle-out. At the center stood an ornate gazebo where under a person might have staff set up a table. Wisteria trees at all but the west side gave the cream marbled structures a fanciful atmosphere. Shallow ponds carved into the ground, bordered by decorative stones and plants, made it all the more romantic.
Reggie ended up waiting for Charlotte to catch up. He had no knowledge of the grounds like she did. He trailed right behind her. This unnerved Charlotte. She kept quiet until they started winding through the beginning of the maze; shallow green hedges with ornate potted blossoms between them.
“Can you please walk beside me?” Charlotte asked.
“Why?” Reggie asked.
“Just feels weird,” Charlotte said. “Like you’re watching me.”
After a pause, Reggie spoke in a flat tone, “…I am.”
Sighing, Charlotte slowed down and turned to him. “I get that I’m leading us, but I prefer if you’re not behind me. It makes me feel vulnerable and I don’t like it.”
Silently Reggie came to stand beside her. “Better?”
“Yes…Thank you,” Charlotte said, exhaling a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The tension in her shoulders eased off as they began again when she noticed she had expected an argument that didn’t come.
“You good?” Reggie asked in a tone that conveyed he had no real intention to get an honest answer.
A part of Charlotte told her not to get into the tea she could spill; they should just get in and get out. However, so far from the castle, all alone, she felt the frustration bubble up. Especially since she felt Reggie should know better than to ask if she was good or not, when he was a part of the problem!
“Actually, no,” Charlotte said curtly. “This day is trying my patience. I have to tell Keagan—the best man I could ever ask for to be my first love—that I distracted you with a kiss to win the competition, when he was already recovering from the pretend wedding’s bridal kiss fiasco, that you gave me.”
“Oh is that all?” Reggie said, in a tone of light sarcasm that covered his anxiety; a habit he hadn’t kicked.
Snapping her eyes on him, Charlotte said, “Is that all you have to say? Keagan will be devastated! I could potentially risk losing him by being honest, which I must be to have a healthy relationship!”
Reggie cocked a brow. “I get why he’d get mad at me,” he said, knowing that Joss was right about Keagan being entitled to a punch or two, “but if Keagan leaves you because some guy pinned you down and kissed you, when you immobile, then your boyfriend’s a little bitch.”
Mocha eyes blinked in astonishment. “You’re seriously saying you can’t understand why he’d feel betrayed? Enough that he’d leave?”
Studying her, Reggie tilted his head. “Now why would he feel betrayed? Did you betray him? Did you kiss me? Or did I take advantage of the situation you couldn’t leave?” He slowed her down just as they got into the lattice part of the maze. “Charlotte, I could have shot you at any time when I had my gun. I chose to pin you down because—,”
“Yeah, yeah—You’re all upset that I lied,” Charlotte huffed, starting off again.
Reggie snagged her arm, not roughly, to stop her. “No, I did it because I wanted to. I wanted to kiss you again.”
Heat racing, Charlotte stood in shock watching him. “No,” she murmured as if to convince herself, shaking her head. “You were upset that I said it was just ‘okay’, you wanted to prove—,”
“I wanted to kiss you again,” Reggie said, tugging her over to emphasize his point without closing the gap. “I like you.”
“You hate me. I’m a Von Helsing, remember? Lord Weley Von Helsing’s flesh and blood,” Charlotte said, though she didn’t pull away.
“But I don’t. Not anymore,” Reggie said, and let go of her, seeing that she became uncomfortable. “You’ve proven right some of the points people have tried to tell me. Tysha being one. You’re a little spoiled, maybe, but you’re not a terrible person. You’re not the unfeeling ex-Hunter’s kid I believed. Keagan isn’t a terrible guy either. I owe him an apology,” Reggie stepped forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re ambitious and beautiful. You’re talented, kind, and you’re not someone who will back down from telling the important truths even if it means you will suffer…I admire you.”
“I…” Charlotte didn’t know what to say. She backed into the lattice, the vines falling on her shoulders and her braided bun. “I have Keagan.”
“I know,” Reggie said, tucking his hands in his pockets. “And I get that I’m not that great of a guy and that the reason why you kissed me was purely for survival—,”
“It wasn’t,” Charlotte felt tears fall down her cheeks. “That’s why I feel the need to use the word ‘betrayed’, Reggie. In the split second that I froze I felt torn between rejecting you because it would mean hurting Keagan and experiencing that kiss again. If I had time to say no, I would have done so, but when you made your move—after my initial rage, I melted into it.” Though, to her credit, she did mean to stab him, and did so. That part of the plan had been thought through. Wanting that kiss like she did had not been planned.
Acting on an impulse—another bad habit—Reggie moved forward. He wanted to hold her, to tempt those soft lips again, throwing caution to the wind, endangering himself and her again for the affection he craved but that always slipped through his fingers; catching smoke with a fan. He halted abruptly when Charlotte’s hand came up to stop him in his tracks, pressed against his chest. She felt the beat of his heart through his shirt; wild and pulsing.
“Lottie,” Reggie said her name, like the sky tempting a bird from the trees.
“I can’t,” Charlotte said, and she shook her head resolutely. “Keagan means more to me than your kiss.”
They stared at one another for a moment. Reggie watched her like a vampire seeing his last sunrise, ready to die to enjoy it one last time. Soon Reggie’s passion subsided. He nodded in understanding, though he did not step back just yet.
Charlotte sucked her cries, trying to subdue them. She felt her anger for how she behaved in training well up, and she felt her fury that Reggie had encouraged to stir these feelings inside her burn through her heart. Charlotte slipped her hand from Reggies chest and swiped at his face. SLAP! She let out a sob. SLAP! SLAP! Charlotte’s third hit ended with her backing up again.
“I’m sorry, Lottie,” Reggie murmured, not allowing himself to soothe the burning of his cheek. After a moment he said, “I can get our phones if you want. You can go back to Keagan.”
Shaking her head, Charlotte walked on. She didn’t speak for a long time, so Reggie could only guess why. He considered that he didn’t know this maze and that Charlotte likely didn’t want him having possession of her phone. Whatever the reason, they walked in silence for a time until they found the center of the maze.
The full moon rose up behind the marble gazebo where under a beautiful candlelit feast for two awaited them. Music began to play; soft, romantic. Little lavender petals floated on the breeze, like fragile tiny shells drifting in the foam.
“What the hell?” Charlotte furrowed her brows. Reggie was just as confused.
“Welcome!” Lyra popped out from behind a bush with the others. “Do you like it?”
“Nous avons travaillé très dur pour le rendre agréable!” Luna said with a smile, giving a curtsy.
"Da, is for your sugarmoon," Zasha said, quite pleased of the job they had done, even if it required some help from Hye and Kazumi.
Melody was quick to correct her cousin, "No, no not sugarmoon. Honeymoon!"
"Feh, different same."
Charlotte counted the long walk here as a blessing. At first she was ready to yell at the littles. Her outburst with Reggie certainly provided fuel. However, feeling tired, she sighed and said, “It looks nice. Where are our phones?”
Lyra gestured for them to come. “This way!”
Following after, Charlotte looked around and noticed a lack of proper supervision. “Where’s Hye and Kazumi?”
The littles glanced between them. Lyra answered, “They said they wanted to take a break.”
Nodding, Desi said, “They will be back.”
Coming up on the platform Charlotte found her phone sitting on one of the chairs. She snatched it up and started off down the stairs. Reggie got his phone and did the same.
“Wait!” Lyra said in slight desperation. “You can’t leave just yet! You have your desserts here!”
Luna flared her hands as if showcasing a desirable item. “Ce sont des éclairs accompagnés de chantilly à la vanille.”
"Yeh was not easy to bring," Zasha said, tapping her tiny foot on the ground in expectation of the two of them behaving. These were their plans, and they deserved for it to be appreciated.
The two had taken long enough to arrive that even on his first time navigating the maze that Keagan was coming through one of the pathways just in time to hear Zasha's disgruntled comment. His eyes moved to the center where the arrangement rose several questions. "Oh, uh. Sorry, it took me a while to find my way here," he explained as he moved toward Charlotte, eyes glancing back at the desserts. "What was it the girls were up to?"
Zasha was quite defensive, brows furrowed. "None business of yours, Teagan. Shoo! Ruin dessert."
"Uhh...okay?" Keagan turned back to Charlotte. "Did you need me to leave?"
“No, we were just leaving,” Charlotte said, taking Keagan’s arm.
“But—Your honeymoon!” Desi frowned.
“Man and wife must be together,” Lyra insisted with a huff.
Reggie made no outward objections and he didn’t leave, interested in how this would play out. He wasn’t the only one. Somewhere, not far, two guardians were eagerly seeing the fruition of the devious plans that littles had come up with all by themselves.
“Alright, this ends now,” Charlotte pulled up her phone and dialed. She pressed it to her ear. “Ryuu? Are you still here? Good. I know this is asking a lot, but can you just teleport to the center of the wisteria maze? Or fly here? I need you quickly.” She waited for his reply, adding, “I’ll explain more when you arrive.”
Curious, the littles looked between one another. What was this? Ryuu wasn’t invited either! Let alone Teagan! They had done so much to bring this together and now everyone was ruining their romantic arrangements!
A comet of fire lit up the sky to momentarily distract the girls. They were awe of the morphing shape of a wingless dragon coming right to them. In a plume of fire and smoke, Ryuu landed yards away so as not to burn anyone.
“What do you need?” Ryuu asked, taking in the sights as he walked towards the others.
“I need you to officiate,” Charlotte said, turning to Keagan. She got on one knee. “Will you fake marry me under the stars?”
A smirk washed away confusion that had been on his face. "You think you get the honor of proposing, huh? Pretty sure it's supposed to be me on my knee, gorgeous."
Standing up with a smile, Charlotte switched positions. She didn’t mind either way, but she kinda liked it like this too. She kept her mocha eyes on Keagan’s, resting her hand comfortably in his.
"Is not supposed be married because already married!" Zasha tried to argue, moving to body block Ryuu who was much taller than her but who did not intimidate her at all.
"But...we made a honeymoon with sweets," Melody's inability to grasp how Charlotte was turning it down was all over her face.
“Yeah, Charlotte, the honeymoon with sweets,” Ryuu teased, nodding to the table.
Charlotte looked over at the littles. They did work so hard. “Keagan and I will enjoy the wonderful spread you put together once we fake-marry.”
“But, Reggie is your husband,” Lyra said, coming to stand by Zasha.
“Well I’m taking another one,” Charlotte said firmly. She had better luck adding than she did subtracting when it came to this situation.
“Polyamory,” Ryuu hummed. He shrugged and explained to the littles, “That is practiced in many cultures of the world.”
"Is what?" Zasha demanded of him.
"A relationship that is more than two people," Keagan decided to keep it as breif as possible. This wasn't what he had hoped for, but he decided that if it was what she wanted, he would embrace it. Dropping to one knee, he looked up to Charlotte with lies brimming with unconditional love. "Lady Charlote Parvati Von Helsing, will you do me the immesurable honor of becoming my wife?"
"Fake wife," Melody corrected him, clearing her throat.
"Ah yes. My fake wife," Keagan repeated without taking his eyes off of her.
“I do,” Charlotte grinned.
Baffled, the littles watched as Keagan and Charlotte embraced. This certainly didn’t match with how Charlotte treated Reggie. The young man in question stood quietly aside, watching without disdain. In fact, he did Charlotte a silent favor and texted Joss and Kaylee to come to the wisteria gardens as soon as he understood what she had planned. They were probably on their way now.
“Right,” Ryuu said, distracting Zasha and Lyra with an after-image of himself made of particles of light and embers, to go around them to an aesthetically pleasing position beside a wisteria tree. “When you’re ready.”
“If you wait a minute, Joss and Kaylee will come to witness,” Reggie said.
Charlotte realized she had forgotten that her sister and her fake-brother-in-law would probably want to be apart of this. “Oh…thank you, Reg.”
Reggie shrugged one shoulder. He tucked his hands back in his pockets and grabbed a seat upon the stairs of the gazebo. Moments after he did he saw Kaylee and Joss entering from one of the few archways.
“That was fast,” Reggie said.
“We had started off when Ryuu left,” Joss said, panting a little. “What’s happened?”
"They will be married," Zasha said with a wave of her hand. It was not what she had hoped for the night, but they were told their desserts would be had regardless. Speaking of, she managed to snatch up one of the eclair's when Luna's guard was down, stuffing as much of it into her mouth as she could fit.
"Charlotte agreed to be my wife - my fake wife," Keagan corrected himself before one of the girls had to.
"Oh?" Kaylee caught her breath, still a bit surprised but deciding to accept it, she straightened up and stood beside Joss. She had spotted the romantic scene beneath the gazebo which raised more questions. "So, a wedding it is then...again?"
Maybe we can build a popsicle cage too! XD
I think you two would get along great. Especially since you two both love Kal Ho Naa Ho. I didn’t know so many people did!
