bridge_carson | Echolls Estate [Saturday Evening]

Echolls Estate [Saturday Evening]

The ballroom of the mansion is done up in the same mostly-green colour scheme as the wedding ceremony. There's no assigned seating- unless you're in the wedding party, and then you're at the head table (unless you felt like moving around, of course, because gluing people to their seats was not part of the plan)- just several small tables around the room. Off to the side there's also a table meant for wedding gifts. There is, of course, plenty of food and drink, including the most important food-item of them all: the cake Piper had crafted exactly to Xander and Bridge's specifications.

[ooc: Reception is open for business!]

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Veronica swallowed past the lump in her throat. "You too, Cam."

"I didn't mean to take so long," he said quickly, before he caught himself and rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. "How's Piper?"

"Piper's doing well," Veronica said. "Even though she's still dating Lindsey."

He almost asked if that was bad until he remembered that Veronica never really got along with him. "He must be doing something right then," he remarked.

She shrugged. "Guess so. Piper came out to DC to celebrate my twenty-first birthday with me."

He made a face and glanced away. "I forgot that, huh?" he asked. Just like he was trying to forget that it was his birthday next week.

She shrugged. "It was a lot better than my birthday last year."

When she had no idea where he was or if she'd see him again.

"Yeah," Cameron replied and he looked away before she would see his mask cracking and showing the weariness that was constantly there yet. He clenched his jaw and there was a part of him that wanted to lash out in defense, but he pushed it back.

Apparently he forgot that she was a detective, because he didn't look away quite fast enough.

Her hand extended toward him, but she hesitated, unsure what to say or do.

He reminded himself that this wasn't the time or place and slowly pulled back the emotions. "I'm glad it was better," he finally said.

Veronica worried her bottom lip, but let her hand drop to the table. "Do you have any plans for your birthday?"

"No," he replied, only now turning his attention back and noticing the motion. He glanced down and his hand fisted as he didn't seem so sure what to do either. "It's just another day."

She frowned. "Cam..."

Then she shook her head. She wasn't going to ask him questions about what happened.

"How old are you going to be, anyway?"

That seemed safe.

Strange how he actually had to think about it for a moment. "Twenty-one," he replied. "I disappear for a few years and I still can't manage to catch up with you."

"Guess I really was cradle-robbing," she joked awkwardly.

"I was mature for my age," he replied, definitely finding this awkward. He felt ten years older now. At least. "I know I've made things weird."

"I don't know what happened to you, Cameron," Veronica said softly. "And I don't know why you pushed me away. I just wish there was something I could do."

Maybe if they were somewhere else he would have explained, and maybe not because he didn't want to see that look that Angela had had when he told her. He didn't know how to deal with it and didn't know how to expect anyone to deal with him like this.

"It's a wedding," he reminded her of what she'd said earlier. "You don't have to do anything, you don't have to worry. Today's about the future." And he was the past.

There were a lot of things she could say. About how she loved him and thought that they would have a future together one day. About how much it hurt that he had pushed her away.

But she knew that he was right and this wasn't the place for it. "You know me," she said. "Worrying is what I do best."

He did, but he'd seen her date and it made him wonder. "I know, but not today?" he bargained, tilting his head and giving her a soft smile.

"Okay," she agreed, smiling back. "How about a dance?"

It seemed like a bad idea, but this wasn't about the past and he drew in a breath, nodding. "Sure."

Veronica stood up and headed to the dance floor.

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Echolls Estate [Saturday Evening]

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