#;ruth7

[defendingtheice]

//int. ruth's place - late morning after reception. @ruthellerymd

Ash had just dropped March off at the airport, feeling the weight of the world pushing down on his shoulder as reality was sinking in that he now had to deal with it all. He had been putting it off, wanting to make sure the precious time he had with March wasn't wasted on stressing about it all, but now that he was gone, it was sinking in fast. He still didn't know what to do, the entire drive back to Carroll was honestly painfully stressful, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to all the worst things that could happen. The silence was honestly too nerve-wracking because his thoughts was all he could hear, but turning on the radio was a back choice, the Tea was the first thing on and it was recapping everything from the night before, starting with his own piece of news flash, blasted out as a recap from last night. "Ugh.." Ash cringed as he changed the channel almost immediately, playing whatever music the next radio channel was playing. Even then his mind couldn't stop crashing out with stress, he wanted to not have to do this alone, he wanted his sister with him for a little bit. So when he drove, he made a turn for Ruth's.

He didn't say much at first when he appeared by her door, they didn't really need to say much to understand each other, he came in and sat with some tea, simply watching her pack for a long shift ahead at the CMC. He hadn't felt ready to talk about it all yet, but simply being in Ruth's presence was more than enough. So he lifted one of the granola bars, "..these are long expired," he simply murmured, clicking his tongue disapprovingly, putting them far away so she doesn't pack them into her back, "I don't think these are good for you for a 12 hour shift."

[ashton-ryder]

//ext. central park - day. 1st may 2026. @ruthellry

Ash sighed, jokingly grumbling to the only person he knew that wouldn't take it personally as if a damper to the mood, "I told you it's fine, it's just a tie." He just didn't mind the details of his own person, when the wedding was meant to be about the two most important people anyways. He hasn't seen Ruth all day as she was helping Aggie get prepared, thinking he would've gotten off scot free with what he was wearing, it was already a lot for him to accept wearing some other uncomfortable suit compared to the one he's always wore, but the bride begged him with those big doe eyes. Who was he to deny what she wanted on her big day?

So when he finally saw his best friend again right before the ceremony began, they shared a knowing smile seeing each other dressed up but he obviously did not pass completely in Ruth's eyes. "You look beautiful by the way, stunning, that's more important," he let her fiddle and adjust whatever that was out of place on him as he reached over to brush out a stray hair of hers, "there, not a hair out of place now, I don't know how you do it running around everywhere today." Ash looked back out of the décor, everything was set and in place, just waiting for everyone to come by and settle in. "How's the bride doing?"