Bridal shower/party [July 25 - Gathering!]

[adifferentlife]

With her wedding less than a month away Sybil feels as if it has taken over every moment of her life. The day before the nurses she worked with had thrown her a shower, gifting her with both outrageous lingerie that she was horrified to even look at as well as the much more practical gift of dinnerware. It was an unexpected event and even with the strange underthings, it has made her look forward to this afternoon a great deal.

It was going to be a casual afternoon, or so she hoped. They had booked her favourite café, organised food and champagne and tea. There had been mention of games but Sybil isn't entirely sure what those entail, only that there seemed to be an inordinate amount of toilet paper stacked at one end of the room.

She knows from the many weddings that she's attended that she might not have much time to spend with her friends on the actual day. That's what today is for, to sit and talk and enjoy.

Comments

[pontmercyfriend]

This makes for Marius' first bridal shower, but second invitation to an event he assumed meant for only women, after Kate's bachelorette party last year. Hopefully, there won't be any interestingly shaped cookies or drinks, this time. But he supposes there's only so much he can really do about that, besides blush and fidget awkwardly again.

He arrives to the cafe that Sybil has told him of with a wrapped parcel in his arms. Feeling terribly inadequate at picking out anything that might prove useful to her at home, he arrives with several books and a gift certificate to one of the department stores, so that Sybil, who knows herself better than Marius does, can decide for herself what sort of objects for married life she might need.

Arriving at what seems to be a fairly early time, Marius goes and places his gift where he sees a pile beginning to form, before going to grab a drink and wait around for more people to arrive.

[adifferentlife]

Sybil is in a very good mood, bright and smiling and greeting all of her friends as they arrive. This is no exception, her hands going out to clasp his. "Marius, you came. I'm so pleased."

[pontmercyfriend]

"Of course," he nods with a warm smile, squeezing her hands in turn. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Everything looks wonderful, Sybil, truly."

He glances around at the room, at all the decorations and food.

"The party certainly feels like you," he tells her.

[adifferentlife]

"I'm glad, it's what I wanted the most. Can you believe some of the things they do at these sorts of things?" She has, of course, been told that there will be games, but she cannot imagine what kind of games there might be, only that they involve toilet paper.

[pontmercyfriend]

"I'm glad to hear that," he says with another smile. There is such obvious joy beyond the decorations. The other party guests seem so certain in their own happiness and Sybil herself seems to Marius to all but radiate serenity. "Well, I admit, I haven't the slightest idea of what sort of activities occur during a bridal shower," he admits.

[adifferentlife]

"Nor I, at least, I had little idea before yesterday," she admits with a smile at him. The toilet paper looms ominously on a table and she can't help but glance that way. "Apparently we're supposed to do something with that."

[pontmercyfriend]

"Did you ever attend bridal showers back home?" He asks, thoroughly curious at the prospect. He wonders if the tradition were around back during her century, though it seems much like a modern development to him.

He follows her glance to the toilet paper, lifting an eyebrow.

"What exactly are we supposed to do with toilet paper?"

[adifferentlife]

"Some sort of game, I've been told, but I don't know any more than that." She shakes her head, not sure how toilet paper could be enjoyable game-wise. "We didn't have much like this. We might have tea shortly before a wedding, but that was more for the purpose of planning things."

[pontmercyfriend]

"A game with toilet paper. Hmm." Marius tries to contemplate how anyone might make use of such a material in the name of a game, especially one fitted for a bridal party. "Sounds interesting."

"Modern marriage has many interesting, and complicated, admittedly, aspects to it," he says. "Tea sounds nice, though."

[adifferentlife]

"Tea does sound nice. I've insisted they make it properly, too." She has no idea if he has as strong feelings on tea as an Englishwoman, but hazards the chance he may have some.

"Isn't it? It's an industry here as much as anything."

[pontmercyfriend]

"By 'proper,' do you mean with tea leaves? Because I much prefer loose leaf to those bags that seem so popular these days," Marius muses. He doesn't have strong feelings about tea other than he really enjoys it. Especially when he needs warmth, or a reprieve from a long day.

"It seems wrong that something about love should be its own industry," he admits, frowning. Perhaps it is the old romantic in him speaking.

[adifferentlife]

"Yes, with leaves," she says with a smile, laughing at herself as much as his words. "When I first came here I tried to tear the bags open making tea. It was horrid."

"I agree, as does Henri. We've tried to resist it as much as we could."

[pontmercyfriend]

"Oh, good," Marius says, relief making itself obvious in the crooked nature of his smile. "Yes. I have heard many horror stories about these modern ways of making tea."

His grin widens at that. "I could not imagine Combeferre settling for anything less than proper tea."

[roughandugly]

The gift had been bought the day after the invitation had been received, and Alec had once again sought the guidance of the likable woman who owned the gift shop. He'd said no to the baking set. It was practical, which Alec could appreciate, but cooking was a chore for most people, and Alec wanted to get Sybil something that would make her happy. The lady had then suggested the gift boxed soap and hand towel sets. She'd made him smell each one, telling him to pick which scent he liked best or, preferably, which scent reminded him most of his soon-to-be-married friend. He'd quickly settled on the 'Lavender Mint', which was paired, of course, with one mint green and one lavender hand towel. The set had then been carefully wrapped in floral tissue paper.

Wearing some of his best clothes, and with the delicately wrapped gift tucked under his arm, Alec entered the door to the café where the party was being held. He didn't know what to expect from Sybil's bridal shower, but he wasn't anxious, just curious.

[adifferentlife]

"Alec," she says, smiling with delight as she crosses the room to greet him. She has had a few glasses of champagne, and is bubbly herself because of it. "I'm so glad that you came."

[roughandugly]

It had meant a lot to Alec that he had even been invited to the event, being so used to going unnoticed by others, and Sybil's enthusiastic greeting only caused him to warm to her even further, although these feelings were probably unreadable in his expression.

"This is for you." He held the gift out toward her. He was thinking about how beautiful Sybil looked, not necessarily because of her hair or clothes, but because she looked so genuinely happy.

[adifferentlife]

"Thank you," she says sincerely, the scent of lavender wafting from the package. She takes it, and takes his arm with her other hand, leading him toward a small table with gifts. "There's champagne, but also tea if you'd rather. Do you know many people here?"

[roughandugly]

Alec willingly allowed Sybil to lead him away, quickly taking in the room as they walked. There was a table for gifts and tables for food and drinks. It was quite simple, not as formal as he had feared it might be, but still very nice.

There were quite a few familiar faces, mostly nurses from the hospital. "I recognise people, but nobody I know well. I'll be all right, though."

[adifferentlife]

"Then I'll be sure to introduce you," she says, a consummate hostess. Being able to carry a conversation even when it was difficult was a skill anyone in society learned early on, and Alec was certainly not difficult. "I'll admit, we never would have had anything like this at home."

[roughandugly]

Being introduced to people hadn't exactly been Alec's plan. He'd intended on spending the party, or at least the first hour or so, in his usual way, observing from the edges of the room. But he couldn't say no to Sybil's offer. Besides, he could do with a few more friends - he didn't meet a lot of people, hiding away in the countryside.

"It's strange. There's less pressure to get married here, and yet they're a much bigger event, in a way." Alec hadn't been to an actual wedding in Darrow yet, but he had walked past the bridal gown stores and witnessed processions of wedding cars. "Not sure how I'd cope if I ever needed to do it all myself."

[adifferentlife]

"I wish I had my mother and my sisters, if I'm honest," she admits to him. Though, her family were unlikely to accept her marrying a commoner, a Catholic, and a Frenchman. "It would help with all the planning."

[roughandugly]

"You were very close with them?" he asked sympathetically. Alec often found himself feeling a touch of guilt that he didn't miss his own family more. It wasn't that he disliked them, they were good people and he was proud to be a Scudder, but he had always been such an independent person, and his family hadn't been people he could be his complete and true self around.

[adifferentlife]

"We were. We had our issues, of course. Don't all families argue and vex one another some of the time?" But Sybil knows that she was lucky in that at lest. That she and her sisters and her parents were far closer than some of the families that she knew.

[roughandugly]

It was true. With his older brother, Freddie, in particular, Alec would often disagree, but he also knew that Freddie only wanted what was best for his younger brother.

"But you'll have your own family here soon. You are getting married, after all." Alec put out a hand to gently touch Sybil's arm. He didn't want her to grow sad, thinking of her family, when she was supposed to be enjoying her party.

Games!

[adifferentlife]

Sybil had been warned there would be games at the shower, and she had reluctantly agreed. She found herself worried about the sorts of games that people might find appropriate, having heard stories that rather horrified her.

But after a few glasses of champagne, Sybil did not mind splitting into two teams to attempt to clothe poor Marius and Alec in dresses made of toilet paper. It was all in good fun, she thought, trying to fashion a bouquet of the empty rolls.

[roughandugly]

It wasn't a game Alec had ever heard of - he didn't even realise there were going to be games at the party - but it sounded like it might be enjoyable. As he understood it, all he needed to do was stand still while others wrapped his body in the white toilet paper in an attempt to replicate a wedding dress. It was probably best he be the 'wearer' seeing as he didn't know the first thing about how to make a pretty gown, and working with the materials seemed to require far more delicate hands than he possessed.

[adifferentlife]

"More of a train," Sybil calls, looping the roll that she has around Alec's arm. It was a strange game, but she found herself enjoying this and the silliness of it.

[roughandugly]

Alec smiled at Sybil as she wrapped the toilet paper around his arm. It felt nice having so many hands touching him. The uninhibited contact made him feel relaxed and free to be himself.

But it was growing increasingly more difficult to stay still.

"Oh! Sorry 'bout that!" The strip around his chest kept falling down and the piece around his shoulder had torn for a second time. Even the smallest of movements seemed to be able to make the 'dress' fall apart. Although, he realised, it probably wasn't always entirely his fault when it happened.

[adifferentlife]

One of the nurses from the hospital laughs, grabbing another roll and trying to secure the straps.

"I'm sure we should be able to use tape," Sybil insists, though she does think that would take away some of the fun. She tries to imagine Edith or Mary attempting this and fails. The one would find it too odd she thinks, and the other would find it beneath her. Then again, there was always the chance her sisters would relish the experience and throw themselves into it with abandon.

[roughandugly]

Alec had never worn women's clothing before and so he looked down to try get some idea of his appearance. All he could distinguish, though, was a wall of white and the tops of heads of the man and the woman who were working as a team to attach toilet paper bows to his shoes.

He turned instead to see what Marius' team were 'dressing' him in, but he barely had half a second to look before his attention was pulled away by someone behind him exclaiming: "Oh my god, look at how long Alec's hair is! Someone should try to braid it or put it in a little bun or something!"

[adifferentlife]

"You do it Marcy," Sybil insists, smiling up at Alec apologetically. She hopes that he doesn't mind, and Marius as well.

[roughandugly]

There were only thirty seconds left on the clock, so Marcy quickly swept Alec's hair back and put it into a small bun. Alec loved the feeling of having his hair brushed and played with, and he wished they weren't in a hurry so she could keep going.

Ten seconds to go and everyone was racing to add the finishing touches. "What happens next?" he asked Sybil, "I don't reckon I can move an inch like this."

[pylades_drunk]

Grantaire has very little idea what a "bridal shower" actually is, and when he types it into the phone he's begrudgingly starting to use as part of his life, gets a hugely pink result, which makes even less sense to him thematically. After some searching, he's finally able to tell that this is usually a sex-separated event, and that there's present giving involved. There's a brief moment of terror on his part when he drifts into someone's collection of planning photos and finds some vulgar party favors -- hilarious, to be fair, but he's not entirely sure he would survive drifting into that territory in front of Combeferre's future wife. Thankfully, that seems to be some other kind of event altogether.

He likes Sybil, but he doesn't know her very well, and so he judiciously chooses a very nice bottle of white wine for sometime in their future. He'd pondered over household goods, as advised by his phone, and settled on a pair of antique bookends with the form of Ophiuchus, god of healing bearing his serpent-wrapped staff. It's not very delicate or feminine, but he thinks that they'll both like the thought and if Sybil is anything like Combeferre in her reading habits, they'll be practical.

Still, he's not sure of himself as he steps into the cafe with his gifts and his not-particularly-formal self. He has nothing but good wishes for the two of them, but he's not sure he's the best party guest to a tea.

[adifferentlife]

Of all of his Henri's friends she knows Grantaire the least; mostly because he has been here the shortest time. That doesn't mean she greets him any less warmly, clasping his arms in greeting when he comes in. "You came. Thank you so much."

[pylades_drunk]

He smiles brightly at her enthusiastic welcome, leaning to give her a brief, polite kiss on the cheek in greeting. "Of course. Thank you for the invitation. I have to admit, I'm not sure what one does at a bridal shower," he grins self-consciously.

[adifferentlife]

"Well," she says, resting her hand in the crook of his arm and guiding him toward a table with champagne and sweet things. "We eat, and we drink and we do the same sorts of things we do at any party like this."

[pylades_drunk]

He knows at least how to proffer an arm and to walk with someone, and Grantaire smiles. It reminds him ever so slightly of Julie's dances back on the island, especially Sybil's open warmth and the way she takes his arm easily.

"I think you think I've been to more parties like this than I have," he jokes gently, "but I do know how to eat and drink, so we're at a good start. Oh, and I hope you don't find my taste too horrible," he adds with a smile, gesturing to the wrapped box. At very least if she hates the sculpted bookends, Grantaire's choice in mythological themes will be something she and Combeferre can laugh over, as it's perfectly predictable.

"I don't know what wedding planning is like in this century," he says, "but from what I can tell it's only gotten more ridiculous. I hope you two aren't going entirely mad over it."

[adifferentlife]

"It is ridiculous, and each time we say the word wedding everything becomes far more expensive and complicated." She knows that were she at Downton her wedding would have been a grand affair. But it would have been managed by her mother and Mrs Hughes and Carson would have taken care of many of the details once they'd been decided. "You've no idea the extravagance they want, and we wanted something intimate."

Sybil is curious once he mentions the gift, pausing at a table so she can set it down and peel back the paper. The sculptures are amazing, and it takes her a moment to realise they are bookends and the character upon them. When she does she nearly beams, turning to look up at him. "Oh, they're perfection."

[fightyourcorner]

Thomas eyed the stack of toilet paper at the far end of the room with a dubious arch of his brow.

The whole affair was a strange one, as far as he was concerned. Such events, to his knowledge, were exclusively for the bridal party, and though he'd agreed to stand for her, he'd assumed the shower would be a ladies duty. Apparently, he was quite wrong.

With a glass of champagne in hand, Thomas stood just a bit apart from the rest of the guests, at a comfortable distance to observe. However unsure of his place in all this, he was there for Sybil, and that was what mattered.

[adifferentlife]

It means a great deal to her that any of her friends have come today and it means more that Thomas has. She's been unsure about this entire experience, but the actual event is pleasant enough.

"Thank you for coming," she says, touching his hand and smiling. "I didn't know who or what to expect. Not truly."

[fightyourcorner]

"Well, I suppose that puts us on equal footing," Thomas said, with a faintly teasing upturn of his lips. Despite his confusion, he was pleased to be there for his friend, who deserved all the happiness in the world.

"At least tell me you're enjoying yourself."

[adifferentlife]

"I am, even if I've surprised myself in that," she says with a bright laugh. The way people have come together is lovely, and it is a pleasant reminder that she and Henri both have people here who care for them. "You wouldn't believe some of the things people suggest when they talk of events like this one."

[fightyourcorner]

"Oh really?" Thomas said, arching a curious brow. "What sorts of things?"

He could hardly imagine, since he'd never taken the time to think about such gatherings. When he'd entertained the idea of asking T.J. to marry him, he'd never considered what the actual wedding might be like.

[adifferentlife]

Her cheeks colour, and Sybil needs a sip of her champagne before she can answer them. "Bawdy games and things involving racy underthings. Apparently strippers. Male ones."

She can only hope none of these things will come to pass today.

[fightyourcorner]

"Really," he said, his brow lifting with surprise, as he gave the statement a thoughtful frown. "Well, in that case, I might enjoy myself after all."

It was a fairly innocuous joke, but he knew that it would seem terribly off color, to her. That, in itself, made it all the more amusing.

[adifferentlife]

"Thomas," she hisses, thinking of the embarassment that would come from seeing such a thing. "It would be scandalous."

[fightyourcorner]

"Perhaps you need a bit of scandal in your life, Lady Sybil," he said, using her title to tease her.

"Besides, the standards here afford us a bit more freedom than you seem to remember."