Good heavens, who let her do this?

[deniabilities]

Janet Ford is nervous. She arrives in the Nexus fidgeting and unsure of herself, her body language betraying that she has no clue what she's doing. Which is wildly out of character for an FBI agent who's spent 11 years facing complicated cases and the occasional life-threatening incident. But this might be the most intimidating thing she's ever been asked to handle, as she sprawls herself on a bench in the Plaza and the stack of bridal magazines inelegantly fans out beside her.

She has a prestigious college degree. She has a commendation for exemplary service. But ask her to help plan a wedding and that's what freaks her out.

It should be said that this is not her wedding, thankfully, but it does involve two people very close to her so she wants to do everything she can for them. The groom is one of her coworkers whom she's known for her whole career and his fiancee is a superwoman who's somehow balanced a successful career with putting up with everything that the FBI can throw at a couple. Janet wants them to have a huge night since they rarely even get proper date nights. That doesn't mean she knows how to make it happen. Or knows anyone who does. So here she is in the Nexus. Someone in the multiverse ought to be able to help.

"Does anybody know anything about weddings?" she asks. "Anything other than they're expensive and way too complicated?" This second question posed as she gets up just to get herself a frappucino from the nearest coffee cart before reclaiming her seat. She thinks that she's going to be here for a while. At least until the headache stops.


[ ooc: Feel free to be as unserious with this thread as you like - I'm hoping to develop Janet's comic voice / life outside the FBI more, so anything goes! That said, please excuse me if she's a bit awkward as I'm trying to get her back after having some negative RP experiences. I'll do my best to make her work with whatever anyone else is comfortable with. ]

Comments

I prefer to be vey serious in my unseriousness, thank you.

[itmeanscourage]

Isamu glanced up from the book he was reading. “I know that they are expensive and complicated because they originated as a financial transaction meant to solidify a social contract of ownership that guarantees a man's children were truly his biological heirs. Complete with witnesses - or guests rather - to add it its legitimacy.”

In other words, so what did you want to know?

Then we'll just be very serious about this

[deniabilities]

"What?" Janet blurts, not having expected the history of the term at all. She had been looking for more practical information.

But she shakes that off. "I'm supposed to be helping put together a wedding and I don't even know where to start," she admits. "There's so much information to go through, and to be honest, a lot of it seems superficial or unnecessary. Things like colors and trends, I understand that's supposed to be fashionable, but does a wedding really have to be fashionable? Shouldn't it just be whatever people actually want?"

She could ask her mother since her mother is in the fashion business, but she's sure her mother would then provide lots of unsolicited advice that would make it even more complicated.

Seriously unserious :)

[itmeanscourage]

“I suppose it depends on your definition of necessary. But superficial? Oh, Absolutely.” Isamu noted. “Remember, a wedding was historically a transaction. Layering themselves in couture or adorning themselves with the most expensive things they own merely boosts a bride’s perceived wealth. This tradition has not changed, only modernized.”

They could all blame Queen Victoria for the white dress.

“and while they can certainly do whatever they wanted now, societal expectation has been scientifically proven to be difficult to overcome. Our brains are hardwired for heuristics, including the generalization that what is popular is good.”

[deniabilities]

"I'm pretty sure Adam and Dana don't care," Janet replied, referring to her friends who were tying the knot. She didn't socialize with them very often but she knew enough about them to know neither of them had ever been that popular. Adam in particular still felt like sometimes he was living in the 90s with how he had yet to entirely grow up.

She exhales. "We obviously don't want to blow the budget on this, especially since there's a possibility they have the ceremony in Kentucky, which means some resources have to be allocated to get everybody there. The good news is we won't have to rent a venue since they have one, so that helps. But how big is too big or not big enough?"

If she's talking about this like a mission it's because that's pretty much how her mind processes everything. She's a very logical thinker.

[itmeanscourage]

Fortunately, Janet was also speaking to a very logical mind.

“While I am admittedly no expert on event planning, whether the size of a wedding is appropriate or not would depend largely on the number of expected guests and the probability of those expected guests actually attending - especially if long-distance travel is involved. I recall reading once that about forty percent of a wedding budget is taken up by venue, food and beverages, all of which are dependent on an accurate headcount.”

[starfreckles]

"I can act as an officiant? I know a simple non-denominational ceremony and what my faith sees as pulling out all the stops..." They hum and tug on a lock of their own hair as they think. "...I'm trying to learn a little bit more on other faiths though...

A friend of yours getting married?"

[deniabilities]

Janet nods. "One of my co-workers," she explains. "He and his longtime girlfriend are finally tying the knot after like eight years together." It was more of a formality at this point, since Adam and Dana already owned a house together and had joint bank accounts. But she still wanted them to have everything that they wanted.

She rubs at her forehead. "I just have to make sense of this," she explains. "I didn't realize how much goes into planning a wedding. And there's an extra layer to it because I'm pretty sure we're going to do it out of state." Dana's family was from Kentucky, and they had yet to find a venue they liked in Washington. But Janet was an FBI agent not a wedding planner.

[starfreckles]

"That does sound rough...most of ours are planned out by the most senior clergy member. And the ritual part is as set in stone as my faith likes to get... the most that anybody else has to worry about is the guest list... " Another little hum and a tug on a lock of their hair. It's out of their depth a little, but Tar always wants to help. "Random advice on the officiant though...most people of faith are going to want to have a talk with the couple getting married. I'm told some government officials will do it if they are chosen as well, but most of the settlements near my shrine have one head priest..."

They suddenly realize they are rambling and actually make a motion with both hands like they are putting something off to the side of them. "Ah, getting to the point. They are the only ones in charge of that matter. They can't push that off onto you or anybody else. And they have to decide if they really want to be...um...out of state. Then you can help chose the location. Or that's how I've been told to advise on the matter."

[deniabilities]

"Well, if they do it in Kentucky, we know where it'll be. Dana's parents have a ranch out there." Janet had never seen it but she knew about it. She was also fairly sure that was why the couple were considering it at all - to allow more of her family to be part of the ceremony. That and no one could name a wedding venue in D.C. She certainly couldn't.

"Here's the thing." She chuckles. "He asked me to help, because he really wants to be hands-on about this, but none of us know what we're doing! I want to get involved because he's been such a good friend to me. I'm just not sure the best way how other than spending a ton of money. Which is not really helping." She had the funds to do so, but that felt like an empty gesture.

[starfreckles]

"Ah, the route of all problems. Especially if one is reluctant to use the people around them...do you know if there are any artisans in the family? Or among your friends?" Just gonna, bounce a little from nerves for her. "You sure it isn't something you can trim the fat somewhere on? Since the parents could take care of the location, that's definitely one."

[guitar_voodoo]

"To be honest I don't bloody know, love. I'm engaged and nervous as hell about the whole thing but Ziggy is everything to me so---I'm an emotional wreck regarding weddings and the like."

The guitarist scratched the back of his head before trying to think of anything helpful regarding her question. Mick being in the dark on a lot of the traditions and things regarding how Anthean weddings go. Tom would surely be the first port of call when the couple did decide to tie the knot.

"They're expensive, or can be depending on how big you want it. Dress codes, food, drink, guest lists---all that stuff. Lots to think about which does my head in just thinking about it all."

He drew on his lit cigarette and sighed. The father of the bride was definitely going to be called upon by Mick. A lot.

[deniabilities]

"Congratulations on your engagement." Janet smiled at that. She'd hoped to be married by now but it hadn't happened for her. She had no one to blame but herself, considering she had been involved in a dysfunctional on-off relationship for almost six years. But now that she had a new boyfriend who was more stable, she was hopeful that someday it would still take place.

"If it were you being invited," she asked, putting the stack of magazines aside for now, "would you mind an out-of-state wedding? That wouldn't be too much of a pain in the ass, would it? The bride is with the Washington Ballet, so her schedule's all over the place and the groom is looking at holding the ceremony when she's able to get away. It might be something that comes together pretty quickly."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal's ears perk up as he half hums and tilts her head at the question. Looking up from where she was fishing a few things out of a shopping bag which was in the back of the stroller where her wee girls were drinking from their bottles contently.

"Well, erm I know a little bit. Helped with a few friends over the years." She informs the other woman with a small sympathetic smile they could be stressful at times, to say the least. But it was important to remember they were supposed to be celebrations.

[deniabilities]

"That's where I'm at!" Janet laughs. "One of my co-workers is getting married, and he really wants to do things himself rather than hire a wedding planner. So he asked me and my best friend to help him, because he knows he doesn't have the organizational skills we do." Adam would also want to make a huge deal of it and so he was trusting Janet and Michael to rein him in - not the first time they'd done that.

"In general, how much is too much?" she asks. "I know for sure they don't want it to be a huge deal, but I'd also like it to be kind of a big deal, because they've been together a long time and this is our chance to really celebrate them after the years of them putting up with us."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal nods with a warm smile. "Ah, I see." She murmurs listening raptly. She rubs her chin half in thought. Makes a soft bemused sound."Well, at least he has the far-sightedness to see and admit such." For some folks, even the smallest thing could be like pulling teeth.

"Mmh, well I would say the extreme would be a twelve-layer cake if you don't have a ton of guests and that sort of thing.." She murmurs softly. "I suppose it can also depend on the couple and theme.." Usually going with likes and trying to blend or some middle ground was a good idea. unless say the groom only wanted a few things and was like otherwise let the bride have full reign or what have you. Though making sure all the boys were dressed to impress and there on time etc and vice versa.Could be one of the on-the-day etc stressors.

"Yes, a team is usually a good idea. So long as you all can work together well." Which didn't seem like a problem? She beams at that, she had a few friends she was half tempted some days to lock together in a closet or similarly so they could iron things out.

[deniabilities]

"We do. Adam just gets a little creative sometimes." Janet laughs softly. Her teammate had been described as having an overactive imagination, but that made him the most interesting accountant she had ever met. Whenever there was a problem he could come up with a solution. Even if that solution was strange or more complicated than it needed to be. Janet and Michael were more grounded and would keep him from spending too much or making the wedding over the top.

"I will avoid the giant cake, though. And I'm sure the bride has some suggestions on style considering that she's a ballerina and some of the people in the wedding are likely going to be from her company." They were people who looked good seemingly all of the time and she didn't expect the wedding to be any exception. It was one of Adam's running jokes that he had no idea how a woman as good-looking as Dana had wanted anything to do with him..

"I'm a little bit concerned about it being an outdoor ceremony," she admits. "I've heard horror stories about rain or wind ruining it. Should I look for a backup venue or is that a little presumptuous?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal chuckles warmly. "Aye? Nothing wrong with that so long as it doesn't escalate something in the wrong direction." She murmurs with a wee nod.


She nods softly. "Always a good idea." She murmurs, "Well any ideas from those who know her would be helpful I'm sure." To a point as some folks of could have too many options etc on things that weren't their place too perhaps.

"Mmh a back up might be a good idea. Or perhaps a venue that has say a hall or some structure you could use if say such happens and a tent will not suffice." She offers.

[suomi_thunder]

Aarne is out in the loudest pink spandex pants that he could find with make up to match. He's also had way too much coffee so he's hyperactive as a toddler despite being well over six foot tall.

"I love weddings!" After all, several of his friends would be planning weddings soon. He takes a seat beside her, more or less bounding into it and jittering a bit in place. "Are you getting married? A friend? All of my friends are starting to get married."

The tone is high and excitable until the very last part. He didn't think anyone was going to ask him to get married.

[deniabilities]

"I think it'll be a while off for me." Janet chuckles bashfully. She's certainly thought about it, and so has her boyfriend's mother. She still remembered Ginny dropping a very heavy-handed hint about how her ring would have made a perfect engagement ring.

"But no, one of my colleagues at the Bureau is finally tying the knot with his girlfriend of several years, and he's asked me to get involved to help him sort it all out. I'm in the very early stages of just taking in all the information and trying to distill it down into something we can all understand. You know? Separating the really important stuff from the noise."

[suomi_thunder]

Her response only escalates his excitement as he scoots closer. " I helped my friend pick out his engagement ring and clothes."

He's still over the moon happy that he was asked to help with something that special. Though his unbridled energy tones down for a second as he has an important question to ask. "What kind of wedding? All the religions and cultures have different weddings."

Aarne knew this well being around a lot of people with Western and Christian traditions when he didn't. That was one of the first things he noticed while helping others.

[deniabilities]

"It's probably not going to be a huge deal," Janet said. While she knew the groom would want to do something special for his future wife, there was a difference between special and turning the whole thing into a spectacle. That was why he had reached out to her and the rest of his colleagues in the first place. They could take his imagination and ground it in reality.

"But it's something that's probably a few years overdue, and so I'd like to do my part to make it as great as we can. The friend of mine who's getting married doesn't get a lot of attention nor does he have a lot of family, so I feel like he deserves it."

[ayatantreasure]

The Nexus has all sorts, of course, not just humans. One such visitor is perched up on a nearby rooftop, posed in a comfortable squat as they watch passersby and listen to the conversations around the Plaza. Their attention is diverted from a couple of reptilian quadrupeds haggling over the price of grilled elotes from a Vulcan-Mexican fusion cart, the question much more interesting than trying to guess what the final price will end up.

They drop from the edge of the roof, landing lightly on hooflike feet, and approach where Janet is seated. They bow slightly in greeting, then lift a hand, palm-up. Projected above their hand, letters in a swooping script appear, the Nexus translation field quickly converting them to something the human understands.

I've never been to one, but I know they're what you do when you want to stay with someone forever.

[deniabilities]

Janet nods slightly. "That's it exactly," she says. "And you're not missing much. I've only been to two."

Her best friend had asked her to come as his date to his colleague's wedding in Miami, and then she had gone as her partner's date to his brother's wedding all the way in England. Both were somewhat awkward since she hadn't known anybody but the person she came with but that was the point. She was there to provide support for her friends. This was different; now she was actively involved in trying to put the thing together and it all seemed so unnecessary.

"You don't realize how complicated these things are until you're reading a dozen articles about things that don't matter," she comments with a laugh. "I feel like I'm back in school."

[ayatantreasure]

They tilt their head to one side, rather like a confused dog. The text projected above their palm shimmers and changes, producing a new message.

Why is it complicated? Don't you only need someone to watch and record it?

Surely weddings can't be that tricky to plan, right? (If only they knew.)

[deniabilities]

"There are so many little details. Most of which I think are bullshit, honestly," Janet says bluntly. "If I ever get married, I'm not worrying about any of this."

She had been dating her boyfriend for a year now and marriage was still years away. Her boyfriend had commitment issues to work through first. Being a fellow FBI agent he was very concerned about being able to keep her safe from the people he investigated, even though she pointed out that her own work had its own degree of danger. But they'd agreed to let that subject drop until their relationship was much older.

"Things like picking out colors and seating charts and... I get wanting things to be perfect because of how important the day is, but there's planning and then there's too much detail."