Without moving her head from his shoulder the redhead issued a short, almost inaudible sigh as she ceased toying with his shirt and let her arm fall. An action which allowed her to trap the hessians own hand against her hip and caused the elemental to raise a questioning eyebrow as he glanced down at her though he made no attempt to dislodge himself. Instead he nudged the soubrette into a slow walk which would take them towards the chapel proper.

That was what they had come to see after all. It wasn't as though he was silently daring the gamine to continue her affectionate antics in a setting some might consider inappropriate. The thought hadn't crossed his mind in the least.

“You’ve learned, huh?”[/color]

Regardless though the girl still seemed eager to continue their banter, even if her voice was slightly hushed and the tone somewhat saccharine. It wasn't unappealing per say, but the small smirk which tugged at the ingénues lips rather undermined the affectation. Still it was entertaining and it moved the conversation to somewhat safer waters and so the British mercenary offered the redhead a wry grin before replying.

"Come now Miss Ralls, your profession revolves around gossip and spectacle; confidentially would be counterproductive." Even if it would be in her best interests. He doubted sharing that particular thought would achieve anything though; the girl had followed him down a shadowed alley, that said something about her preservation instinct.

“So I’m not your first?”[/color]

Zephyr's own lips twitched upwards at that, if there was one thing in the redheads favour she at least wasn't dull. He briefly let his own head rest on top of the gamines and gave his own hushed response.

"Hmm, did you want to be? I'd have thought you'd prefer someone with more.. experience."

“Umm. I’m more of a quality over quantity girl, myself.” In interviews, and reporting, of course.

They entered the church proper, her head tucked up on his shoulder, his chin tucked in her hair. Someone held the door open for them; Maxine flashed a dazzling smile in thanks.

Inside, the church looked newer than it did on its outside. The walls and columns were painted white; the stone tiled floor was polished to a warm shine. Maybe ‘newer’ wasn’t the right word; it looked well tended, and loved, and recently refurbished. The impromptu nine-eleven memorials tucked along its walls and alcoves gave a discrete explanation as to why.

All in all, it was a nice place to pretend to be in love. The red head batted her eyelashes up at her headrest.

“So what brought you to my side of the pond, Dio?”

“Umm. I’m more of a quality over quantity girl, myself.”[/color]

“You say that as though one precludes the other.” The words were quiet, and their tone well matched the wry grin amusement which tugged at the elemental lips as he guided the redhead in a meandering path through the church. There seemed to be a fair number of actual couples scattered throughout, some simply sitting silently, seeking solace in each other presence. Others wandered in much the same way the mutant pair themselves did, clearly appreciating the surrounding aesthetics

Curiously though there seemed to be a small group gathering towards one end of the church and so Zephyr absently altered their course to lead them towards the crowd. They needed to fit in after all, and what better way than to continue their affectionate affectations among others who were doing the same, albeit more genuinely.

“So what brought you to my side of the pond, Dio?”[/color]

The question came as they were passing a rather ornate floral display and so Zephyr used it as an opportunity to pause as he considered how best to answer. “A number of things; this is the land of opportunity after all.” He glanced down and met her gaze with an urbane smile as he tightened his embrace briefly. “Though I will admit a certain… fondness, for the scenery.”

“What about your-“

“Beautiful aren’t they? If you’d like I can put you in touch with the florist. I believe they deliver throughout the year, when were you thinking of holding the wedding?”[/color]

“Aww, you flirt.”

It was just as she was aiming a playful punch at his side that the church official came over. He was an older man; dressed nicely in khaki and a button-up shirt, with understated grey streaks working their way over his temples. Definitely church-officially. Maybe if she went to church, she’d even be able to think of a proper title for him.

“Oh, we haven’t picked a date yet. I am such a Spring time girl, but getting an opinion out of Dio here can be like interrogating a criminal-for-hire. I swear, sometimes it feels like I’m planning this whole thing on my own.”

She didn’t disentangle herself from the Brit; it was more like she gave the appearance of straightening herself up respectably, while entangling their arms more thoroughly. With the greatest of adoration, she fluttered her eyelashes up at him.

“Come on, honey—what time of year would your dream wedding be?”

One of the first things Zephyr had learned when he’d first begun his line of work was the importance of effectively dissembling. Being able to appear comfortable in any environment, to look as though you belonged, such a mien was often times more effective than any physical disguise and it was a skill he’d focused on cultivating.

Thus when his quiet game with redheaded soubrette was intruded upon by the somewhat officious Church representative, the elemental was put out for only the briefest of moments. His expression swiftly reverting to a mask of genial bemusement as he turned to regard the older gentleman and processed what had been said. By the time Maxine had finished delivering her extemporized backstory the hessian was already offering his hand and exchanging his own cozen pleasantries.

“Come on, honey—what time of year would your dream wedding be?”[/color]

That, was underhanded, devious and underhanded. Thankfully Zephyr was no stranger to such tactics and hardly missed a beat as he gave a good natured, long suffering sigh of exasperation before lowering his head to the gamines and briefly allowed his lips to brush against her forehead before he answered.

“We’ve had this discussion before dear, I don’t mind the ‘when’ it’s who we share it with.” He paused for a moment and allowed an expression of uncertainty to cross his features as he glanced down meaningfully at her flat stomach. “Are you sure spring would work though? Things would be rather far along by then, I’m not sure it would be good for you.”

Oh, he was good. Very good. She would give him that.

She rolled her eyes again, and addressed the helpful church man.

“You see what I mean? Always with the slick lines, never with the straight answers.” For his reward, she caught up his hand in hers, and gently set it on her flat tummy before giving a long-suffering sigh. “You know I don’t want a winter wedding. Ice would be a lot more dangerous for Willard than a maternity dress would be for your father’s sensibilities, hon. But would Fall be too soon?” She waffled. Oh, how she waffled. She bit down on her lower lip, with sincere indecision.

Abiding by his somewhat contrived and clichéd role Zephyr made no attempt to hinder Ralls as she took the arm he’d been using to embrace her and lifted it slightly, taking his hand in hers and resting the palm against her midriff with no indication of letting go. She really was getting quite possessive, he’d have to do something about that eventually. Briefly, the mercenary toyed with the idea of testing the girl’s composure. It would have been easy, and likely amusing, but was also liable to attract more attention than he currently wanted and so he dismissed the thought.

Instead the elemental simply carried on with his fond yet put upon affectation as the redhead spun yet another fabrication for their little act. He had to refrain from rolling his own eyes when he heard the name though, honestly, Willard? Had he actually cared there was a good deal the hessian would have said against such a selection. As it was though he simply continued the charade, allowing his trapped hand to wander slightly under the guise of a comforting gesture whilst feigning a warm smile for the ingénue as he once again lowered his head to hers for a quiet moment he straightened and replied.

”Are you sure you’d want something so short notice?

“I thought planning was important? Fall would be rather short notice, though I daresay it can be done. With winter though things could be dealt with inside, behind closed doors. The cold doesn’t have to be an issue.” He paused and glanced back at the church associate with a benign expression; the old man had begun to adopt a slightly disapproving countenance at their spurious display of affection, but thus far though hadn’t said anything. “This place is heated isn’t it? And insulated?”

When the greying man nodded after a seconds thought Zephyr turned back to his the redhead and offered her another faux grin and warm words as his hand continued its gradual exploration. “You see? We can do deal with this, we just need to… act, appropriately.

The redhead had been smiling with a half-indulgent, half-frazzled air as her husband-to-be spoke. That smile froze on her face. Froze, and cracked, from the outside in, piece by piece falling away as her face crumpled.

"Act appropriately?" She repeated.

"Act appropriately?" Slapped his hand away from her stomach.

"That's how you got us into this!"

Cue hormonal tears.

High school drama club, 2004-2007. Hold your applause 'til the end.

Zephyr’s entire body tensed as the rest of the church fell silent in the wake of Ralls sudden hysterical outburst and all eyes turned towards them. His genial affectation faded as a frown crossed his features and he glared irritably at redhead as she continued her performance. He hadn’t expected this particular twist and the fact that he’d been caught off guard and simultaneously placed before a far more attentive, not to mention disapproving, audience aggravated him to no small degree.

The best response would have been a combination of shock and denial, accompanied by a statement of ignorance; that he’d no idea she felt this way or wanted to get rid of the nonexistent child. In short, something which painted him as the victim and shifted the crowds disapproval over to his still sobbing companion.

Unfortunately he’d already shown some of his irritation so he couldn’t play the role of doting beau any longer. Instead he’d have to work with what he’d been given which, in all honesty, a part of him preferred; playing the villain was a simple thing after all.

Extracting himself from Ralls in a brusque, but decidedly nonviolent manner, the hessian took a short step back before staring down at the gamine with an affectation of cold anger as he replied “…my fault? As I recall, you weren’t exactly complaining at the time dear, and in case you forgot-”

“That’s enough!”[/color]

Surprisingly the cry came from the frail and reserved church associate they’d been so blithely chatting with moments before. The old man’s face had gained a noticeable tint of red as he tried his best to stare down the mutant pair who were taller than he was. “You should both be ashamed of yourselves. I don’t know what you’re differences are but I do know that the two of you came together for a reason, and if you can’t remember that reason then you have no business being here!”[/color]

It wasn’t bad rant all in all, short and sweet really; had he actually given damn the hessian might have actually been somewhat moved. As it was though Zephyr simply gazed impassively at the church associate for a moment, the old man had provided a fairly good excuse to leave if they chose to it, on the other hand he’d only just begun to warm to his role as in inglorious bastard. Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Turning to face Ralls, he spoke in a low monotone “Well dear, what do you say?”

Delegation, the true mark of leadership

Oh, his harsh tone; oh, her poor weaker sex self. His words were completely unjust, as anyone could clearly see from the indignation that showed through her tears.

"At the time, dear—" She began her scathing rejoinder.

>> " I don’t know what you’re differences are but I do know that the two of you came together for a reason, and if you can’t remember that reason then you have no business being here!”

Well that shut them up. And the rest of the church, too. Who'd have thought the old man had it in him? Maxine counted herself impressed.

She turned back to the young man in front of her. His own words were cold, but a good actress didn't need extras to carry the show. Her green eyes softened; impish lines creased at their edges, squeezing the last tears out.

"I say screw it. Let's go to Vegas."

She took her man's hand, and made to march him straight out of that church and down a rent-an-alter. Or as far as she could get him past the doors, before she burst out laughing.

Vegas? Truly?

In spite of his mood the notion nearly roused a chuckle from the elemental and he found his lips twitching upwards ever so slightly as he took in the reactions of those around him. The chapel associate in particular had adopted the mien of an overly affronted tomato yet seemed to have been rendered temporarily speechless, though judging by the low muttering which was beginning to fill the air, the man was one of the few.

Amusing as the situation had abruptly become however it was becoming rather clear they’d outstayed their welcome, thus the hessian deftly fell into step with Ralls as the redhead took the opportunity to make something of a show of storming out of the chapel under the silent and slightly mordant stares of her audience. The moment she set foot outside however the soubrette’s façade collapsed as her own amusement escaped her and peals of laughter echoed down the street.

The sound was somewhat infectious and Zephyr found an inadvertent smirk crossing his features as he began to lead the now giggling gamine away from the chapel. “You are far too fond of attention.” He told her wryly as they moved east to the waterfront. “Still, I suppose there are worse ways to pass the time. “

“That being said though, can I trust you’ll behave for lunch?” He gestured across down the street as he spoke, singling out a vintage Irish pub which advertised itself as Murphy’s.

Aww, was that? It was! She'd gotten an honest-to-goodness smile out of him.

"The shy girls go into newspaper journalism, and the ugly ones pick radio," she sagely informed him, after she'd managed to straighten back up. Outside, the day was still cheerful and bright, and entirely fitting for her mood. Who knew bad boys could be so fun? Why were there so few Hollywood movies to this effect? Truly, she was unprepared.

>> “That being said though, can I trust you’ll behave for lunch?”

...Truly, she was unprepared. But she recovered quickly, and re-kidnapped his arm in a loop of her own.

"It's a date."

Which was not a promise either way for her behavior, but her smile made it clear she would be nothing but a lady. One would expect nothing less from a young woman like herself; if the rose-colored sunglasses didn't scream of social polish, then the my little pony shirt certainly did.

As for Irish pubs: heh. She could do Irish pubs.