#bnystarter

where: central park, seated watching the party unfold

when: may 1st, 2026. dusk

"wow. some vows!"

tradition was dull. she'd used to try and envision her wedding as a little girl, picturing bigger and bigger scenarios of diamonds and lace. this was the exact opposite. a more generous attendee could attribute that to the world ending two years ago. but knew the truth deep down, aggie wasn't that creative. and neither was eric. she would know from the direction or lack there of that they both gave the theater.

"how long do you think it took to write them?" she sighs, as though imagining some romantic dream. the discerning listener would be able to tell she was just wondering what her best route of entertainment for the night would be. but still, there was an edge of an act to her every movement. it couldn't all just be talking about the happy couple. but it would unfortunately have to start that way. "or is your money on total improv?"

If he stayed in his apartment any longer, he might just go crazy. While the kindness of friends kept him company, Ash has essentially been isolated in singular locations for almost an entire month. But he didn't have it in him to disobey doctor's orders on his ankle. The worst case scenario if he didn't let it heal right was that he could never walk or run again, and that thought sickened him to a very dark point. If he became rendered useless, redundant, then what's the point? He combated the thoughts through minor work, chores, goals, anything that felt productive, or really, just to feel human again. Showers, cleaning his apartment, and today, doing laundry.

It was hard to dry anything in his own apartment and he'd been somewhat updated on the changes already implemented in the building while he was gone, including a clothesline. And when Ruth brought him a crutch that the scout team actually managed to procure, it seemed like as good a time as any to face the world past his door again. Crutch in one hand, basket of clean damp clothes in the other, Ashton sucked in a breath and headed down. He rather not be seen by others, not this weak and broken, but he was curious of the shifts in the atrium, and desperate to move, so he tried to stay unnoticeable, small, invisible. It takes him slowed, cautious movements to hang what he had, mumbling to himself or anyone else in the vicinity, "so much changed.. Will these even dry here?"

Hope for once was made to dress up nicely in a sundress, exchanging out her usual wears of oversized shirts and farmwear that she's oh so carefully cultivated over the years. Basically whatever that was easy to wash. But it was a fancy occasion, as fancy as they could make it in these times, so Hope had to put in the effort to at least feel pretty again for once. She's been covered in soil and dirt for too much, even more so than when she worked at the Botanic Garden, that was manicured compared to this.

And of course, the first thing that catches her eye after the entire shebang of the important part of a wedding, the next most important part of the wedding is the food! Even more so when she's had a hand in growing the food herself. Hope glowed over the prepared food, grinning proudly as a person joined her in admiring the meal, "ooooh doesn't it look so delicious? I'm so happy with the way the fruits and veggies turn out, it was a temperamental batch to be honest."

where: post ceremony, near the arch.

when: may 1st, 2026

she hasn't had an excuse to dress up in ages, to pull back her hair and unpack what little make-up remains in her apartment. it feels nice to have such a special occasion, celebrating one of her closest friends after all this time. she's happy if aggie is happy, even if it comes at the expense of losing her roommate. it has been a challenge to pull their lives apart, but she knows it's for the best.

the pale blue of her dress shimmers as she smoothed a feigned wrinkle, watching the crowd ebb and flow with the next events of the evening. she's left with her bouquet and a moment of downtime, though she doesn't pretend to want it to last.

"what'd you think!" she's not sure which detail she's referring to, carried along by the flush of her cheeks and the little bit of champagne she'd had before the ceremony. "did i look alright up there?"

she looked around at everything that had been set up in the gazebo. there was so much decorated, it felt almost normal. some mirage of a past she'd never known and can't put together.

"do y'all do this often?" she's not been friendly by a long shot, and she's rusty at small talk. the last few months haven't led to much communication with strangers. how hard would a conversation be to put together if it couldn't begin and end on the same page. but she used to be, she knew she could try— and maybe she wanted to. "i see you got plenty of resources to spare on a party."

the cigarette smolders in between her index and middle finger, ashes threatening to spill with the slightest movement. but she's in no hurry to take another drag, letting an ember float to the highball glass she'd found behind the bar. "nothing changes around here, does it."

"i, i'm— early, am i early?" she didn't check a clock before coming down to rosie's. rather, she'd simply found herself at the entrance to it, peering in as though it was a new land— not the same place she'd frequented all these months. "i just, well was hoping for some tea bags, if we have some."

"I'm fine."

It was the first time she'd really been out of her room since everything had happened, and it looked it. Greasy, ungroomed, hardly recognizable as herself, she'd finally emerged, mostly on a mission to find someone with alcohol they were willing to donate now that her gifted case of champagne had run dry.