benji turned his attention to his now wife, a hand extended outward towards her so that the two could dance with one another. "my raisin, will you do me the honor and come join me on the dance floor?" benji joked, lips spreading to reveal his usual toothy grin. once her smaller hand in his, benji has no issues taking the lead, eyeing her heels. "my favorite person in the entire world if you step on me, i will cry and i think we can both agree i've cried enough today, don't you think?" he jokes, hands finding their way around her waist to hold her ⸺͏͏ "i recant my statement, i think i will cry again, seeing you in this dress, being here with you, i think i've dreamt about this night since . . forever, you know, when we were in highschool? and you came to my games? i'd always kiss the bat before i swung it, kinda had this thing where i'd go, this one's for you eden, corny i know, but, here we are right?" another laugh as he draws a breath, blinking a few times to keep the waterworks back. "i love you eden warren, always have and i always will."
"how is she?" asked joey, turning to sienna's older brother who was currently on his fourth beer. "oh no, no, nope i'm not the middle man. you want to know how she is? ask her. i'm not doing this." zachary quickly replies as joey nearly rolled his eyes. "i'm serious zack." not an ounce of jest in the chef's voice as the firefighter nearly groaned. "well, she's doing the best she can given the fact that you beat the shit out of her piece of shit boyfriend. and well, you almost did go to jail if it weren't for your sister pullin' her strings." zachary points out as he offered a beer to joey who shook his head. "come on, it's just one beer and we're at our best friend's wedding, let loose." zachary even goes so far as bumping elbows with joey who stands tall in his decision. "nah, i'm not drinkin', you can drink for the both of us." is all joey responds, not that zachary knows the reason - he's sure nobody does. it's out of respect, the moment his thirteen year old sister stepped foot in their chaotic household and their mothers sat him down, explaining that eris' parents were people who couldn't differentiate a beer can from a soda, it stuck with him. and the then sixteen year old hasn't picked up alcohol since. still hasn't in his thirties, out of respect before, but, he isn't sure why now. nevertheless, he eyes sienna from his side, lips pressed together in thought as zachary groaned yet again. "go talk to her man! jesus, this is sad to watch."
"well don't you look beautiful baby girl!" camille nearly squeals, outstretched arms to take sienna into an embrace as she has her usual beaming ear to ear smile. "don't she look beautiful baby?" camille asked her husband, who rested against his cane for support. "you do." samuel added, joining the quick embrace as camille is quick to address the elephant in the room. leave it to camille, never the one to shy away. it's from the goodness of her heart - really. "how are you feelin' now si? be honest, i know things ain't as typical as the next person but, you give me the word and i'll pull joey by his ear and give him a good remindin' about who camille arlen is," a vow because truly, all of the adults in the room, were her children. biological or not. "now, cami i don't think you should be goin' 'round and makin' threats," samuel interjects as camille silences him with a mere glance, free hand raised as camille turns back to sienna. "speakin' of the devil, he's lookin' right at 'ya."
cain adjusts his tie for the millionth time, clearly uncomfortable with the environment but is putting a brave face on for his friends. tongue brushes across pearly whites, watching the scene unfold in front of him. benji's happy - so is eden, his parents and friends for the most part. they deserve it. he deserves it. it was enough with his father's close call and the transfer of power. then eris. god, eris. he wasn't sure when or how they had gotten to this point in their friendship, partnership (?), whatever it was but it stung. felt like a part of him was missing. and when his eyes survey the room and he doesn't see her - it's almost as if that tug at his chest confirmed his suspicions. but of course eris was upset with him - avoiding him, too? maybe? does he know why? not in the slightest. placing the champagne down besides him, he adjusts his blazer and turns to the corridors of the venue. he supposes seeing a glimpse of her before she ducks off into the bathroom makes the search much easier. "ris," old nickname comes forth as he uses the knuckle of his index finger to knock on the door. "ris, c'mon it's me, cain, can you tell me what's goin' on now? i want to get over whatever this is, you're my partner. you're my best friend and hell - eris just open the door, please." forehead comes to rest at the door for a moment as he draws a breath, he isn't sure why he's rambling. he isn't the type. but with recent events, he supposes it's time to live in the present and not the past. "i don't - i can't fix this, us, whatever is makin' you hate me if i don't know what i did to get you there. you are the last person on this god damn earth i'd ever want against me eris, just, can we talk please? talk to me through the door or somethin' just, talk to me please."
jackie plops himself down next to his older sister, clinking his wine glass against hers as the two take a sip. "think that'll be us one day?" asked jackie, pointing out the crowding dance floor as karisa pouted. "i ain't ever really give marriage much thought after i left nikki's dad. daniel really sucked the hopeless romantic outta me," karisa explained as jackie let's out a breath. "but you're young, i'm sure there's a lady out there that'll sweep y'off your feet jackie." he could laugh, he does, strawberry birthmark crinkles as he shakes his head. "the lady stood me up, so no, we are on the same boat kari." for a moment, karisa contemplates it before she does it. jams her heel into his foot as he yelped. "ow, ow!" karisa shrugged, taking another sip. "you are as blind as a damn bat. the lady in question is standin' at the open bar and you are to damn oblivious to see it," following his sister's line of sight, jackie could have a heart attack. he's sure he does. "winnie? winnie? no, no, she doesn't like me, no, karisa, that's - that's low. why would you sit here and make a joke like that?" and when his sister's shrugs, he loses his color. "ain't makin' a joke hunbun, it's the truth. the two of you aren't foolin' anybody. now, go take her onto the dance floor and dance with her, get the girl jackson lee walker, so help me god if i gotta do it myself," the older blonde warned and jackie's legs move for him, approaching winnie with knitted brows. "winnie - hey, oh, what - what is that in your hand?" he asked, pointing at the glass. "no, no, nevermind that. uh, dance with me? y'know how to dance right? dance with me." more confident, hand takes the drink out of her hand and leads her to the dance floor anyways.
karisa blows out some air from pursed lips, taking the last sip of wine as she surveyed the dance floor. her aunt and uncle, content as ever can be, her brother and old friend, benji and eden, zachary dancing with whomever he could get his hands on - clearly, innocent in his intentions because he was always known for trying to get everyone together and in this particular moment, he's trying to get everyone dancing. and well, there was joey and sienna. and she's sure that eris was finally giving her cousin the earful he deserved. "uh, 'risa, there's this uh, man lookin' for angel out front? thought you'd know, want me to come with?" tommy asked, eyeing karisa who was already leaping from her seat. "nope, nope i got it, you make sure nobody embarrasses themselves to much! i'll be back!" blonde waves that cascaded down her shoulders bounce with her steps as she follows the direction tommy pointed out - meeting rowan's eyes with a beaming smile. "sweetheart! you came!" @elpida !