Heaven Sent

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Nerves on Lucy Serrano was a shade that never quite fit. She often went quiet in turn, using few words to answer any direct questions, if she could think to answer at all. She had flight heavily ticked as her main instinct when things got too pressurised. She was prone to running; the very ailment she had to compete with when she was first trying to pursue the psychometrist she'd grown to love. In a sense, then, Lucy had outgrown the overarching desire. But this particular day was incredibly different. Unique. Completely new with no point of reference. Somewhere in an adjacent room was something she was supposed to sign, and that something was bound to change her life forever.

She was getting a hyphenated surname. She was getting married.

It was as cold as every other day at the threat of winter in downtown Burlington. She couldn't even look at Penny from the time she'd left the house this morning. She couldn't even stretch to make eye contact with the blonde who met them where they were. Now sitting in her seat now waiting, she was absolutely sure she didn't want to look at anyone. For something so seemingly minor - that was signing something and agreeing to a quick set of terms in theory - it was everything. She was nervous.

Only seconds after she sat down and her leg started to bounce, the heel of her boot never touching the ground as the movement came from her toes instead. Hands pressed themselves briefly to the material of her jeans, running the length of them before she opted to lean back in her seat and fold her arms. As far as dressing for an occasion, the ink manipulator absolutely wasn't, but at least she'd brushed the snow from her hair as she stared down the hallway aimlessly.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Burlington City Hall was hardly a place of comfort; the wooden bench she found herself sitting on made her want to shift in her seat. Unlike her constantly moving counterpart, however, she remained stiff. It was her own brand of impatience on a matter she had no control over. It was a matter of waiting. To get married. To slide a foreign name in front of her own, to make both part of her identity.

Nervous didn't even begin to cover the way in which her heart pumped blood rapidly through her veins. They waited almost a year for this - she was sure she was ready, but that didn't seem to quell her anxiety. Nor did waiting.

Having forced Lucy to further available seat, Penny found herself stuck between the antsy ink manipulator and the blonde that agreed to be their witness. Now, perhaps more than ever, Penny's overly possessive nature had kicked in. By all means Carleigh was closer with Lucy than she was herself, but she still put herself literally in between them.

Her own hands were on her lap, hands squeezed together a little too tightly as they rested over crossed legs. Despite the cold, she still managed to wear a dress, warm stockings protecting her legs. Just as she hadn't made an attempt to dress up for the occasion, Penny kept to her own usual style.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh had gotten the text this morning.

It only took five minutes for her to call into work, asking for her shift to be covered and a warning that if if wasn't, she simply wasn't going to show up. For good reason, though. People only got married once and today was that day for her wife and her counterpart. Another ten minutes and the blonde was replying to Lucy that she'd be there as soon as possible. Which translated into showing up an hour before they did.

She was dressed nice; the simple role of witness to the signing of papers didn't call for Carleigh to wear one of her nicer dresses paired with heeled boots and a long, fitted jacket. But she did anyway.

Wide eyes looked over to the pair. "Can you believe this is happening? Like, wow. It's so incredible to see two people so in love with each other getting married." She said, voice betraying the emotion and conviction within the undertones. Blue eyes glossed over with the start of tears, which she worked to surpress for the time being. "Thanks for choosing me to be the witness. It means so much to me."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Time passed slowly when waiting for something so significant. Lucy knew that already, but it was another thing entirely to put that concept into practice. Every second dragged like it harboured its own minute in the mind of the ink manipulator who could barely breathe, let alone course through a conversation. It was only a few moments and she was shifting forwards in her seat instead.

She finally forced herself to look when she heard the subtle changes in the blonde's voice. Dark eyes forced themselves to momentarily ignore the psychometrist who sat between them; if she looked, she mightn't ever stop. Surely the rest of the world deserved some of her attention for now.

Hearing someone talk about them getting married? How much they loved each other like it was a literal, tangible presence to be aware of? That was completely different given how used to ignorance she was. Her eyebrows quirked upwards in her own silence as she continued to listen, and though she didn't outwardly look at Penny she was sure she could pick out the tension in her peripherals.

"Glad you made it." The Australian replied, an ounce of sincerity in her tone, but she also worked to make the little words sound final. Like that could be the end of the conversation entirely just by the will of her tone of voice alone.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It wasn't Penny's decision to have Carleigh be their witness. However, the blonde was the person that was closet to both Lucy and herself as a unit. It made sense, but it didn't mean Penny had to like it.

Her lips pursed the moment Carleigh spoke, jaw lining with tension as she stared forward. Although Lucy might have found the means to look at the blonde, Penny refused to. However, her eyebrows quirked upward at the idea of being witness to their marriage holding a significant value to the blonde. She wasn't getting married - why did she care?

Before she could reply, Lucy did so first. Of the two of them, she sounded so much more sincere than Penny ever could. It forced her gaze over towards the Australian, tried as she had to avoid staring, just speaking captured her attention. "Thank you for coming in on such short notice." She replied still, tone flat.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Oh really, it was no problem." Carleigh waved her hand dismissively; they didn't have to know that it required a frantic phone call to Bessie's and some pleading to get the time off. "Not like I do a lot, anyway." Which made it sound like she had no life, which was sort of true to an extent.

But today was not the time to dwell on her own insecurities or worry about the problems in her life. Today was about them and their marriage. "Oh yeah, I brought you two something. I know you're not having a traditional marriage or anything but that doesn't mean I couldn't get you a gift or something. It's sort for your marriage but also as a belated housewarming gift." She paused. "There should be enough time to open it before we go in." Hopefully.

From underneath the wooden bench they sat on, Carleigh produced a square, gift wrapped box decorated with a bow. She smiled expectantly at the two of them, waiting for them to open the surprise. Once it was unwrapped, the box would reveal a new juicer. "I hope you like it because I spent half of my paycheck on it." She added with a laugh, still looking over at the pair for a reaction.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy could almost instantly feel the set of eyes that were on her. Penny was staring directly at her, and she must have known how difficult that was to ignore. Every fibre was trying to convince the Australian to catch her eyes. Like it wouldn't lead to some miraculous spiraling effect. Like it wouldn't make the air thinner. Like she wouldn't be able to see just what was running the course of the psychometrist's mind in a single glance.

Sentiments were dry from her lips, so it appeared worn against Lucy's own acclimation. But that suited them just fine. Silence would too, until it was dismantled by Carleigh again.

Her eyes were quick to drop to the gift wrapped with such pretty precision. Tension shot through her spine despite the way she leant over, and she was quicker to consider how to respond. "You didn't have to." She shot out suddenly, a poor attempt to dissolve the cheerful blonde's approach as she didn't move to take anything off her hands. But she had to smile sincerely at the thought, and the second she allowed her expression to give way she allowed herself a still look towards her counterpart. Something so short in thought grew tremendously when she realised she couldn't turn her gaze away.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny was acutely aware of the way Lucy moved, even if she forced her gaze over to the blonde who was apparently bearing gifts. Colorful paper and a bow concealed whatever was inside but her hands remained firmly on her lap rather than reach for it. Of the two she was always the one to handle foreign items. Of all days, this was the last she wanted to find herself in another person's memory - in their mind set.

Parted lips hadn't the chance to respond as quickly as Lucy managed, and instead she tried for a weak smile. More, it was just a twitch at the corner of her mouth and a small nod of thanks without having to verbalize it at all. Because really, she didn't have to, and she could only imagine what Carleigh Davidson would offer as a gift.

Still, Lucy was close, and she had yet to take the neatly wrapped package. So naturally, she looked. It was instinctual to look, and she found a familiar set of dark eyes staring back at her. Ones that had been avoiding eye contact for what felt like hours. Now that it was here? Her lips pursed tightly, a shot of tension forming through her jaw. Eyes locked, she still tried. Now was not the time to get so caught up; it was what they'd been trying to work against all day. "Lucy," she said softly though strain filtered into her tone, tilting her head towards the package.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

The gaze Lucy had carried had since landed on the psychometrist, and now it was practically glued to her. She hardly wanted to ignore the blonde who had already given so much, but getting a little lost was easy. Though the direction of her attention hadn't changed, the look behind her eyes had without practice. Softer tones to the naturally harsher way in which she liked to look at just about everything. She was mere minutes from marrying this girl, and that was a cycling thought.

And when her name left her lips, it forced her own mouth to open a fraction. Parted with every intention of offering something clever. She knew she was the very thing that bridged the two of them, and that provided pressure she could normally handle to keep things moving. But this entire situation was out of her hands.

"How 'bout I wait till we get home?" She asked, an edge of honesty to her tone as she finally tore her gaze away. Because Lucy's hands were still her own. They couldn't help the way in which they shook, and the last thing she wanted was for either of these two to pick up on that, right? In her own mind, her nerves were seemingly unscathed. But truth of the matter was anyone who knew the ink manipulator could easily tell otherwise.

The corner of her mouth cracked into a smile, breaching the controlled tones of her expression in seconds. She laughed, but at herself. Her arms unfurled from their folded state, the backs of her hands rested to her knees; "Don't think I can do much with these just this second."

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Well, I know I didn't have to but I wanted to." Carleigh corrected with a genuine smile. Relief settled on the blonde's features when Lucy smiled, and then Penny. It was a relief to know that the gift was accepted, because she couldn't think of her own use for the machine. Her room mate would probably yell at her.

Well, ex room mate. Almost ex room mate.

She was oblivious to the moment between the soon to be married couple. And even if she had noticed, it wasn't hers to be a part of. At the suggestion of opening the gift later, she perked up. "Oh yeah! I didn't really know if this was the right time to do it or not." Carleigh began to babble, "Like, is it suppose to happen before or after? Plus I don't know how much longer we have to wait.."

Carleigh trailed off, blue eyes picking up on movement from the other side of Penny. A pair of hands betrayed unnoticed nerves. Her smile softened before saying "Awww, don't even worry, this is exciting! I mean, you're both excited right?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Though she wasn't looking down at Lucy's hands, Penny was quick to catch on the nervous nature her counterpart was carrying. She was so often confident, anything less was quick to flag the psychometrist's attention. However, today it didn't surprise her; they were getting married. Anxiety was expected. She felt it herself.

She nodded at notion of opening their gift later, agreeing that it was the best course of action. At least that way, Penny couldn't hide her distaste for whatever it was Carleigh thought they would enjoy. Although the notion of giving a gift to them was sweet, Penelope was hardly traditionally accepting of anything.

But before she could reply, her attention was drawn down to the tremble of Lucy's hands. Dark eyes widened, and immediately she reached forward. Contact she'd been avoiding for the better part of the afternoon was suddenly breached as her fingers curled around Lucy's hand with a firm squeeze. Her other was quick to follow, slipping under the back of Lucy's hand to wrap around it entirely as Carleigh filled in the silence with words she could only imagine were meant to be comforting.

A short breath passed her lips; Penny was hardly one to laugh in public, if the dry humor exhale even counted as one at all. "Yes, I am." She replied in turn.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's hands were only vacant for a short series of moments. She immediately thought to squeeze them on her own; to keep the residual shake from making itself so obvious to the sets of eyes no doubt looking at her now. It was a step in an unusual direction for her to be so open, but who had the time to be so stoic?

Taken as one was, it was wrapped completely in a hold by way of familiar hands. Contact had been completely dangerous all day so far; it was gasoline on a bare fired in the privacy of their own home, but here it couldn't carry such a forward sentiment. It couldn't allow her mind to wander to the way in which that physicality could grow. For that, there was no time. She was slower to find a way to thank the act, pressing the palm of her hand to the back of the one that held hers so intently.

Her smile faltered in the best way to something equally genuine as her counterpart offered the closest thing to a laugh she was known for when in public. The ink manipulator's eyes searched her face as she gave the softest reply known for something so charmingly significant.

"Jumping out of my bloody skin." Lucy replied in turn, though she knew the tone in which she used didn't echo the sentiment in the slightest. It was almost humourous within itself how excited she didn't seem.

She shrugged her shoulders then, hoping the single action would diverge some of her nerves in turn. Just as it was - as it always would be for the Australian who rarely handled pressure well - she opted to fall to the foremost thought in her mind; "It's just paper, right? What does it really change?" She asked openly, squeezing the hand that held her own for emphasis.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Turning her head, Carleigh's gaze landed on the couple next to her. Eyes flickered between a set of entwined hands; one pair shaky and one pair firm, to the wall, and back again. "Well, it should be soon. I mean, how many people come out to get married every day? I can't imagine a lot."

Excitement manifested in different forms. Neither her best friend or soon to be counterpart exactly upheld the traditional idea of excitement. The jumping around sort of thing. Like on those reality television shows. They had to be excited though; the blonde was practically standing up at this point with how much movement was coming from her end.

Carleigh's eyebrows narrowed together. "Just a piece of paper?" She repeated, shaking her head. "No, it's not just a piece of paper. You get a piece of paper, yeah, but think of the value and significance attached. It's not just some homework assignment that you won't care about a day from now, but an actual certificate of marriage. This is huge! It shows commitment to the highest form."

"Like, think of it. Marriage is the ultimate form of commitment. It says I am ready to face the world with this one person by your side. And isn't that just romantic? Doesn't that alone speak volumes for the relationship?" She finished her rant, letting out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

All it took was a squeeze of her hands, and Penny knew crossing that dangerous distance was the best move she could have made, even if she had been avoiding it for the better part of the afternoon. Her lips pursed together tightly, though not for reason anyone might have expected, because she was nodding with the notion of marriage being a piece of paper. They both knew better, but some things were better left unsaid in a moment of high tension.

Unless, of course, Carleigh was in the room. She didn't look directly at the blonde, but she practically cringed at the way ramble she went off on. Penny never handled overwhelming moments well; the first of her usual fallbacks was unfeasible, even if the Brit considered it all the same. The second nature was growing harder and harder to fight, but Penelope Blaise refused to cry on the day she was getting married.

So she took a shaky breath, glancing towards the door they would inevitably have to go through in order to fill out the necessary paperwork. "Thank you, Carleigh." She replied, her tone bordering harsh sarcasm as she squeezed her eyes shut. With square shoulders, she glanced at the blonde in an attempt to derail the moment into something less significant. "You should care about your homework assignments, even after they're turned in." She pointed out factually.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Once the words had left Lucy's mouth, she knew she had applied the best conviction she could. Technically speaking, she was a little right. Physically, she'd only end up with a signed thing at the end of the day. What it represented in every sense of its existence was another thing entirely. She didn't have the heart to list reason, but Carleigh did.

And Lucy watched her, for the most part. She only allowed her gaze to flick to the psychometrist in a brief enough moment. She knew well enough by now what overwhelming instances could do to her, but she'd never seen Penny even potentially cry for the sake of something another person said. It was almost like it was reserved for the ink manipulator who had managed the feat a handful of times with varying degrees of quality. Some tears hadn't been prone to such sweeter reason.

Thankfully she didn't, but the ability to catch her gaze was gone. So she listened, but she looked at the blonde instead.

"No- Why would you give a shit about them once they're done? That's the dumbest idea ever." Which was probably rich coming from the individual who technically failed her senior year of high school three times. Either it was the perfect attempt at baiting her into a lighter conversation - and mood by proxy - or the entire flip was a genuine accident.

Heavy words were difficult to ignore. They were impossible to deny. Lucy was so much more than ready to proverbially stand at the world with a person beside her. "And this isn't a new thing for me. She could've asked ages before she did and I woulda said yes."