to be with you in the stars

He shook his head. He still didn't think he got grumpy, he got angry maybe, but he was very good at pretending he was unbothered by everything. He hummed, neither in agreement nor disagreement, but the frown returned when she engaged, leaning in, gauching for more information. Fuck, he'd said too much, hadn't he. Benny didn't open up. He fucked off or fucked up. He rarely made friends, and those he considered such knew very little about him.

"Cuz I'm deflecting," he said, scratching behind his ear. "Thought I liked these people, but don't feel as welcome as I thought I might." He'd really expected a nice letter.

He laughed, genuinely. "Yeah, fair. That probably does it." He grinned, looking the other over, she was cute. He thought that way too often. But no, he had to pay attention to the room tonight, he needed to know more about the letter. "You into this thing? Know the groom or the bride personally?"

ANNAKI HAD ALWAYS NATURALLY BEEN AN OPEN BOOK. Her heart had faithfully been worn on her sleeve no matter how many times it had been bruised or broken or taken advantage of, and she didn't think she was capable in navigating her life in any other sort of fashion even if she wished to not wear her emotions and thoughts so clearly for the entire world to see and dissect. Deflecting as a means against sharing how one felt was practically a foreign concept to her. "Do you do that a lot, or is it just because I'm asking too many questions? Well, I guess that's another one. I'm not really good at not asking questions." And she wasn't very good at realizing just how much patience that asked of others, either. "Not welcomed? Well that can really take someone out of the wedding mood, no wonder you have thoughts of something bad happening. We just need to find a way to restart the party spirit in you! It usually only takes a few minutes on the dance floor to do that for me." A wince cross their face at the first question he had asked back, the nail of her pointer finger meeting her teeth as they considered how to weasel out of it without admitting to her guest list crime, always coming back to spilling the truth regardless. "Well, I love weddings. Just all the love in the air; it's magical. But I don't...exactly know the bride or groom...nor do they really know I'm here. I mean, it's not really wedding crashing; I came to pick up my girlfriend, and I guess I just wanted a peek at the party. Please don't blow my cover."

Maybe she'd print just one article to say her search for the day hadn't proven futile.

When she reached the printer, however, she saw she wasn't the only one needing its use. Upon hearing the request, Opal bit her bottom lip. ❝This old thing?❞ She grimaced at the beast that was the copier. ❝In my experience, printers and copiers are monsters that know exactly when you need them to work. Have you tried kicking it? Or blowing the dust off?❞ Unless it was one of those machines that needed the dust to work - she had encountered more than one fax machine in her day that actually worked better before they cleaned it. ❝Do you see the plug anywhere? Maybe we should make sure it's turned on first.❞

"OH, MAN, IT'S OLD, TOO? No wonder I can't figure it out," they sighed dramatically, perhaps taking words more literally than they were meant with the expression, but grey hues blinked at the suggestions given, features going slack for a moment of consideration. "Are you sure I won't get arrested for like, violence against electronics, even if they're not working right?" Despite the question, their foot kicked out, giving what could best accurately be described of that of a love tap than an actual true and forceful kick, even if they probably harbored enough current frustrations with the lack of ease in the task to offer a more hearty attempt contrary to what their tiny stature suggested. It was simply against everything that Annaki who they were to act brutal against something, even if it were nonliving. After all, they never really understood why it was considered mocking when someone would say they were incapable of hurting a fly. "It's going to be really hard to handwrite a bunch of copies of these flyers and get them plastered all over town from behind bars. Or maybe that would work in my favor, do you think? Like pulling a publicity stunt to make people really pay attention instead of ignore everything." Their own logic wasn't questioned on their own part, despite the way they weaved an indirect and distracted path from point A to B with their words, halting their own line of thought to lean around the machine in a wonky fashion and coming back to standing with a cord that wasn't plugged into any outlet and a laugh. "Ha, silly me! Guess having some power would help here, right? Could you imagine if I had been standing here for even longer than twenty minutes trying to figure it out? That would've been soo embarrassing."

ANNAKI GENERALLY MANAGED TO STAND OUT amongst their surroundings. They had a general lack of awareness when it came to social cues that otherwise should have been loud and clear, they were incredibly boisterous whether or not situations called for it, and their style, both aesthetically and in mannerisms, didn't shy away from volume. Blinking, they hadn't caught on to mimic that of the much softer voice of the person they had asked for help from, as that would've been far too wise and they were generally incapable of taking a subtle hint such as that, instead they clasped their hands together in front of them at the agreement, gleeful in the "Oh, perfect! We don't use them at my job. Well, we have the printers that make the little price tags that you stick on the shelves, but they've never asked me to use it. I guess it's always taken care of before I get to work," the blonde concluded with a shrug, no further thought put into it. If it had, the true conclusion behind the lack of experience still wouldn't have been come across that it was with good reason that all machinery housed in the toy store were tasks they had never been asked to do, always instead given ones that were people-oriented instead. "I guess we can start there, but I need enough to make sure everyone in Vegas sees one. They always say when someone goes missing that someone has to know something but the flyer isn't going to work if that one someone doesn't even see it, right?" Maybe she should've tried to see if they could've afforded a billboard or big posters, but ringing up children's toys didn't exactly allow the biggest budget herself. "Oh, that's a good point. I hope I put it in there right, so they do come out how they're supposed to."

The recent breaking news of more bodies turning up in Sin City left the novice reporter with a bustling newsroom and frantic calls from a terrified public to contend with. As one of the few front-facing journalists at the station, a part of the on-air news team, it wasn't uncommon for concerned citizens to stop Willa around town with whispers of the different theories floating around, desperate to catch the killer (or killers) on the loose. Though some of the more seasoned reporters in her midst might turn their noses up at the idea of fielding these potentially false leads, the brunette didn't mind lending a listening ear whenever she could, even if the information didn't lead anywhere. After all, any and all knowledge concerning the most recent deaths could mean a break in the case. At the end of the day, she just wanted justice for the families left behind in the wake of these tragedies. So, when she spotted a young woman struggling with the copy machine, a missing persons flyer in hand, she couldn't help herself.

"Oh, I can help you with that!" Willa assured the blonde, a bright smile lighting up her features. "We have a few of these older machines down at the station. Once you get into the rhythm of working around all their little quirks, it's not too hard to get it going, I promise." As she talked, her hands moved expertly from the flyer to the buttons on the machine, barely stopping as she went through the steps of getting copies started with the swiftness of a seasoned professional, a Xerox whisperer. "I don't know about printing thousands, but this baby can definitely handle a few hundred at a time." Pressing a final button and watching on as the machine spat out the first copy, Willa presented the warm flyer to them with a triumphant flourish. "Ta-da! Now all you have to do is wait." Leaning back against a nearby table, the reporter questioned gently, "So... do you know the woman that's missing? Or are you just lending a hand?"

ANNAKI HAD ENOUGH OF AN UPHILL BATTLE with the family friend missing than also adding on top of that fighting with a copier, especially when the blonde had never been the best with technology to begin with. (Regularly, they were ruining the fragile inner workings of cassette tapes when merely trying to rewind to relisten to favorite segments of songs, and it wasn't an uncommon practice for them to be pestering their brother and roommate to present him with another one to try and fix, were it even possible.) Heejin had always been more of an elusive party, even though Annaki could frequently be considered someone who pried into each and every one of her relatives' lives and shoved their way into topics that may have been considered forward by anyone with a better understanding of social concepts, they didn't know much about her life. Still, that wouldn't stop them from having high hopes that once their flyers were out on streets, plenty of tips would come pouring in that would lead them back to her whereabouts. Smiling at the kindness offered in the form of aid, their expression changed to one of anticipation at her words. "At the station? Are you a police officer? Because I could use your help in another way, too! Although every time I go there, they keep telling me to stop coming..." Surely law enforcement couldn't be upset that they were just...attentive. Their voice lowered as if letting the other in on a secret the copier couldn't be allowed in on, grey eyes practically giving it an offensive glance. "Honestly, I think the thing has a lot of quirks, that or it just doesn't like me very much." Once it had whirred back to life, or at least working condition, their hands clapped together, almost reaching for one of the freshly printed copies but stopping themselves as to not mess up the process now that it was finally in motion. "Oh, I do! My family is so worried about. I mean, it isn't really so unlike her to kind of go off on her own sometimes, but usually we can at least contact her. I mean, maybe sometimes my calls go ignored-" As there wasn't a single person in the family who answer every single one of Annaki's many rings on the phone. "-but not everyone's."

He paused. "But I am most certainly deflecting something upon these festivities." He looked back at them, eyes slightly narrowed. "Do I look grumpy?" Because he was vain and he did have plans to not go home alone tonight.

THEIR HEAD TILTED JUST A CENTIMETER TO THE SIDE as he laughed, assuming he was entertained with their words over anything else. It would be far from the first, and safe to assume, most definitely not the last time the reason laughter had flown straight over her head, as there were plenty of times as a child (and a handful as an adult) when she fully believed she was in on the joke when in reality, she was the joke. Still, Annaki was pleased to see her suggestion was taken seriously when his knuckles rapped against the wood, a smile crossing her face as if she had singlehandedly saved the marriage the day was celebrating, before her expression twisted with a bit of contemplation. "Well...it's really the thought that counts when it comes to this stuff, right? As long as the universe knows what you mean." They were making up their own rules now, but that wasn't uncommon, either. "It's okay if you are. Everyone gets grumpy sometimes." It was said with the most pure of intentions. Interested now, though, an elbow was placed upon the table and their chin in their hand. "Well, why do you say that, about deflecting?" They didn't entirely follow but it would stop the conversation whatsoever for them, and they took the question in stride with a critical once over. "You don't look too grumpy, but you should keep your smile. I think expecting something bad makes you sound a tiny wee bit grumpy."

ANNAKI'S ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO SIMPLY SAY their greetings to the people they knew in attendance of the wedding, possibly grab a bite to eat and glass to drink, then make a polite exit with her girlfriend, considering she was technically being a wedding crasher at the current moment. How exactly they had ended up on the dance floor when the bouquet was being tossed was even a question to themself, as the topic of marriage hadn't even been broached with their girlfriend nor anywhere in the near future, so catching the bouquet wouldn't keep it's old wives' tale truth of being the next to marry should they had been the one to catch it anyway. Still, their pale hands were above their head, gleeful and eager as ever, jumping as the clump of flowers flew and unintentionally hitting a thin hip against Soleil, entirely oblivious to her even being there. Already wearing a pout when the bouquet landed in another's hands, it took all of thirty seconds for her eyes to instead turn wide as Soleil was splayed on the floor. A hand was offered as soon as the request left her mouth, apologetic. "I didn't even see you there! I guess that means you didn't catch it either. Wow, if I didn't get it, I would've wanted it to at least be someone who I know would invite me to their wedding so I got to go to another one." Not that a lack of invite stopped them, clearly. "I didn't mean to be rough; there was just so many people. I think I got caught up in how exciting it would've been to catch it, though! Doesn't seeing such a pretty wedding like this one just make you dream of your own?"

date: march 20, 1997

@boneyardstarters

IF THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO BE THERE FOR A HOT MINUTE, Annaki had figured they could at least give a brief hello to the family they had at the event, though, with the habit they had of extending every conversation far beyond what was necessary, there really was no such thing as brief when it came to the animal shelter volunteer. Plopping down in one of the vacant chairs at the table Alice was sat at with a plate of hors d'oeuvres they had managed to find—because again, if they were only going to be there for a short while then they might as well try the food, too—curls leftover from the day before tumbled to the side as their head tilted, curious about her words. "Why would you expect it to be boring? It's a wedding! That's one of the most exciting events to ever happen to a person. For the bride and groom the most, but just getting to see two people in love..." A sigh too endeared for someone who hadn't even witnessed the vows or nuptials left her mouth, their elbow placed on the table so they could rest their chin upon their palm and stare off in true hopeless romantic fashion. Once they had managed to regain a handle on their thoughts, brows scrunched as their voice dropped comically low. "What is it that everyone is whispering about? What're you writing down? I think I missed something, but I don't know what it is. It's not that obvious I'm not supposed to be here, right?" Surely they couldn't have been highlighted as a wedding crasher in the mere twenty minutes they had been there.

@ the weiss wedding @boneyardstarters

Benny looked at the note with a sour face. Not what he had expected, that was for certain. He had read it four times so far, and knew that he couldn’t say with a hundred percent certainty who the name belonged to that was mentioned there. But he did know what secret the note mentioned of his own. He wasn’t so much confident that he could get away with his secret being out in the open, as he was simply Benny: he wanted to have whomever had written this to try. His belly felt hot with anticipation, and he grinned at the idea of a fall out. Even if he knew… it wouldn’t be pretty. But his life never was.

He pushed the note into his tuxedo’s inside pocket and stood, walking to the edge of the dance floor to mingle, lips to his glass. “A beautiful ceremony like this… you simply expect something to go awry, right?”

TECHNICALLY, ANNAKI SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE. No invitation had been written in their name, and their girlfriend was already a plus one. The blonde hadn't been to many weddings, but they were pretty sure plus ones didn't get their own plus ones, but when they were enjoying a tub of Neopolitan ice cream at home alone (one they had conveniently stuffed in the back of the freezer so it wouldn't be apparent to Atticus' eyes when the door was pulled open), Kitty had called to request a ride home, and they were all too ready to play knight in shining armor to her needs, or rather, knight in sparkling pink dress. Never before had they stepped a foot in the Weiss manor, but once they had, they certainly didn't want to turn around and leave immediately, at least not without getting to appreciate all the extravagant decorations that made them feel as if they were walking through a fairytale castle. Wide-eyed and with a Shirley Temple in their hands, a gasp left left their glossed lips. "Why would you say that? You can't jinx them like that on their wedding day! Now you have to knock on wood or something to make up for it and make sure it doesn't come true! Is the table wood?" Considering his expression for a beat longer, Annaki may not have been known for their intelligence, but emotional intelligence was an entirely different field. "Are you just saying that because you're grumpy?"

"Ah, bonjour, cherie." Atticus greeted Maria at the door, anticipating her arrival as to not be tardy in answering it when his focus would lapse and discombobulate with the rest of his thoughts in an entangling spiderweb. Taking her hand and welcoming her into the home, he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Physical contact remained to be disconcerting, and yet, he was adjusting — it was easiest to branch out with one person alone, and the pace with which they were taking their standing was relaxed. Although there had been the budding excitement of what could be, as they were getting along in mutually and exclusively seeing one another, they were both new to it, and the world was their oyster.

Resolutely, he had invited her over for dinner, although he was more of a baker than a cook, but it proved to be less awkward than the pair taking up real estate in a kitchen of the Vitelli Estate that was meant to be helmed by a brigade of personal chefs and butlers than for two people to cook their own meals. The compromise that they had in mind was to cook something together at his home, as he trusted her to cover up for foible in his off-kilter culinary skills. If he was demoted to chopping vegetables and peeling potatoes, it would be for the best.

"Why don't you put down your things and I will freshen up? I already set the table and I made, ah, French apple cake for later. With those apples that we picked from the orchard the other week." Smiling at her, he carded a hand across her cheek. "My sister said she would arrive home soon from the shops but I don't think she will disturb us much during dinner..."

MOCHI WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY TUGGING upon the leash in their hand, just as eager to get home and closer to dinner as Annaki was themself, earning a chuckle falling from their lips as their key fit into the lock and allowed the duo in. "Your food isn't going anywhere, silly boy," they chided, always one to speak aloud to the canine who spent practically every waking moment at their side, grey eyes rounding and large when their head lifted to find an unfamiliar brunette there. They weren't the quickest to reach conclusions but there was only a momental hesitation before glee overtook their expression, hands clasping together in front of them once they had unbuckled her faithful service dog from the leash, dropping it on the counter. "Oh my goodness, are you the pretty girlfriend Atticus keeps telling me all about?" They squealed excitedly, rising to the balls of her feet and back down multiple times, as if their body was simply at a loss with what to do with the excitement that was budding up inside of them. "I've wanted to meet you ever since you went on your first date and I could tell from the smile on his face when he got home that it went well," they giggled, oblivious to the idea that such a fact would probably humiliate their dear brother, and yet, they were caught in the midst of a tornado of enthusiasm that nothing out of their mouth was sent through a filter, though it rarely was on their best day. "I'm Annaki, his sister. And this is Mochi, one of the best behaved dogs you'll ever meet. Do you have anything against pigs? Because I was going to let Pickles out of his crate, but he can be....a lot." Despite being oblivious to the fact that they were also a lot, the obnoxious piglet made it so obvious, it couldn't be ignored. "He'll probably just follow me to my room, though. I don't want to interrupt your date night--Did he tell you he baked a whole cake?" Their name being spoken with chagrin wasn't new, and yet innocent eyes turned upon her brother when he reentered. "I know how to introduce myself. Mochi, can you sit and offer a paw?" Ever the dutiful pup that he was trained to be, the medium-sized dog sat and raised one foot, as if he was an esteemed gentleman looking to shake hands. "Nothing I wouldn't say in front of you," they promised with a giggle that implied otherwise, offering Atticus the most innocent of smiles, not that they had any intention of embarrassing them regardless. All of their words regarding him were only flowery and complementive in their own mind, even if he could embarrassment in them. "Right, Maria? I've been on my best behavior. And not only because I really do want to try a slice of that cake later." // @bcbymaria