Who: Cindy-lou & Leliana What: Cindy makes some important wedding decisions while they get their piggies done When: Today Where: Nail Spa Rating/Warnings: Low! Status: Complete!
Leliana was incredibly giggly.
Incredibly giggly because she was incredibly ticklish, and try holding a conversation when there was a very petite lady scrubbing the bottom of her dainty feet with one of those pumice stone things - it was nearly impossible! It was work that needed to be done, however, considering she’d been very, very busy running her errands. Some legal, some not; semantics, semantics. The spider’s appearance and persistence in using the OC as its personal stomping ground had been a wrench in her plans, and she’d finally finished playing the game of ‘catch up.’
That and, well, it was time to pretty herself up some if she was going to step into the role of lady of the night. Didn’t hurt to mix work and play every now and again, and Leliana saw it as a window to drag out her dearest babybird for some well-deserved catching up.
“We have an appointment at that boutique I told you about in an hour, which gives us plenty of time to finish this,” she said, wiggling her toes after the assault on her feet. “And maybe pick up some frozen chai - ‘tis the season for the cold drinks.”
Frozen chai. That sounded amazing; Cindy licked her lips, nearly salivating at the prospect. She was a little ticklish as well, but fortunately the massaging chair and having control of the remote to adjust speed and pressure, along with a stack of Cosmopolitan magazines managed to distract her enough so she didn’t kick the poor pedicurist in the face. Her tootsies could definitely use some scrubbing and exfoliating though, that was for damn sure. Owning a shoestore meant that modeling her wares wouldn’t happen if she was sporting ugly feet, thank you kindly.
She couldn’t wait for the massage part of this whole thing. Work your magic, spa lady.
“Seems perfect to me,” she hummed, flipping through the pages of her current periodical. Occasionally she’d have her mind flit back to business-related things too, like getting Zelda more acclimated to the world of shoes by sending her to some fashion shows, but that would come. Mostly she was here to relax. “I already have dress ideas, so I’ll be pitching those. And color ideas too. At least we basically decided on a venue? To the Normandy, and beyond.” Which would be interesting to explain to her family, and Garrus’s family.
“A wedding among the stars,” Leliana mused, dipping her feet back into those heated bubbly waters. “How romantic, actually. An excellent experience to give all your guests - I am sure the majority have not ever had the chance for something such as space travel.” It was exciting! Personally, she loved weddings. Even planned her own in her head, because why not? No shame in wanting to wear a pretty dress to make life commitment vows to someone you loved.
The idea, however, had been smothered as the years progressed and Leliana became older, more jaded, her once rose-colored view of the world darkening to a color closer to blood and cracking. Other people’s weddings it was, then, and she was quite alright with it.
“And I think I need to express how pleased I am you two did not get engaged two months after dating,” she smirked. “Otherwise I would have taken you for a nice yet blunt discussion of life choices.”
The sound of relief Cindy made, when she dipped her delicate ass-kicking feet into heated bubbles and lavender-scented goodness was close to a moan. Yes, spa day had been a great idea, especially after the very unwelcome presence of ‘giant fucking spider.’ Well. At least she got to take out her pumpkin carriage and do some patrolling on the streets, keeping things clear and helping to bring down the menace. All in a day’s work.
“Oh god, what even?” she asked, snapping back to reality like a rubber band stretched too far when Leli mentioned engagement after two months. “But no. Getting together, officially in October...yeah, it took us awhile. Which I’m good with. I sort of knew he was a keeper after he didn’t run off screaming when I told him about the crazy that is my southern, Bible-thumping family and the marriage they arranged for me before.”
She swished blonde bangs from her face, with a fond glance over at her friend and previous mentor, sparkly bluebell eyes unable to really mask the inner squee that was happening. “I don’t have a Maid of Honor yet though. It’s kind of tragic.”
Well, Garrus certainly received Leliana’s seal of approval anyway, and she did do an extensive check to make sure there weren’t any dark and dank secrets underneath that pretty face. Aside from being a bit of a cheeseball, the man passed. “Arranged marriages,” the redhead breathed in somewhat disbelief, nose crinkled. How very antique. And not to mention very rude, those old traditional beliefs that placed women in a bubble without much of a choice.
At least this one was of Cindy’s very own choosing; it was her fairytale to give a happy ending to.
Filling her cheeks with air, Leliana had been blowing on white-tipped nails to speed up the drying process when Cindy made that oh-so obvious jab. A pause, while she quirked a brow and eyed her with a degree of amused suspicion. “Very tragic. Perhaps you should get on that, no? You do need someone to make sure your bridal shower is not a gaudy wreck, or to very politely threaten the makeup artist should she make you look like a clown.”
Now, don’t get it twisted, Ms. Cendrillon (soon-to-be Vakarian, she was definitely changing her name) was no milquetoast female, nor was her head filled with ice cream and cake. But she did have squishy innards, and quite a big heart - so it was no shock that she had given her dream wedding (her dream wedding here - not the wedding in her dreams, that one sucked) a lot of thought. And along with that went the party that would be a part of this big day, of course. Having already tapped Veronica and Sharon as bridesmaids, and listening to her stepsisters nails-on-a-blackboard whines about wanting to be involved, she was fully set to choose her Maid of Honor.
“I don’t think anyone could do as good of a job at all that as you, honey,” she spoke with just a touch of peaches in that accent. “If you were interested in the job. I know you’re busy with a whole house full of animals and a hot soldier and all.” Only teasing - not like Cindy could blame her for being busy with any of those things.
Now a request like that made Leliana feel a severe case of the warm fuzzies, like her insides were melted chocolate chips within a cookie. It was her turn to mask that inner squee, all ten of her piggies wiggling in barely contained excitement.
“I could never turn down an honor such as that,” she expressed, the ladies returning to tend to their feet again - cuticles, filing, the works. Nothing that would make her break into a fit of hysterical giggles and distract from the conversation at hand, which was important. Dried, manicured fingers stretched out to squeeze Cindy’s hand. “I’ve an official babysitter for those animals,” much thanks to Neal and even Wendy, if she needed her, “and the soldier...well, he is on my payroll. He could help ease a couple errands.”
Leliana did not discuss Gale often. She sought advice from Cindy, Zee had already had a hunch, but as for those like Cassandra and Josephine, nothing had been mentioned. Not that what they had was a secret to be held from friends, but it’d been a little complicated to explain just what the two were, and she’d rather not have people she had bad blood with get a whiff that this particular bird had someone a bit special.
Cindy’s fingers were a pretty shade of deep purple, and they’d be matching her toes when it was all said and done - but since they were dried too, no danger of smudging, she returned the loving squeeze with a big ol’ smiley face splashed across her features. “Having a soldier on your payroll to run a few errands? Hmm...” She stroked her chin. “Doesn’t sound too bad to me. I’m sure I can come up with something there.”
Bravely enduring the filing and the cuticle pushing, Cinderella and her feet pressed on. In a bit here they’d get to the exfoliating massage cream, very exciting. “Things are going fine there, then?” she wanted to know, though of course Leli didn’t have to spill her guts entirely in the spa. It was mostly that Cindy just wanted to know she was happy, content, all that good stuff.
Quite the cliche moment for a bit of girl talk, but alright. Leliana would bite. “Yes,” she answered, nibbling her bottom lip. “For now, yes.” And that was the truth. Her thing with Gale had been a little odd. Unexpected, but that’s how most of these things worked, yes? There was no official label, he’d done nothing to pressure her otherwise, and feelings were involved. A whole mess of them.
“He has odd taste in women,” she expressed, somewhat fondly. And yes, by ‘odd,’ she meant herself. A liar when she thought it necessary, a killer when she had to be, but also liked cute teacups and glass birds and SPCA commercials made her tear up. Gale had accepted all that, the good and bad. “And I made sure he knows exactly what he has gotten himself into. With the disclaimer that he can leave, whenever he chooses.”
He’d said something similar along those lines, and so far she had no desire to let him go. It meant something significant, though for now she’ll lump it together with that ‘whole mess.’
If you couldn’t talk all the girlishness in a spa, then when could you? Cindy was intrigued by Leliana’s latest developments - and she had a feeling it would get there, especially since the other woman had made a point to ask for advice on the subject. If it had been no big deal, well, why bother? “I’m sure he’s aware of what he’s gotten himself into,” she laughed, eyebrow quirking up. “Like I told you before, Sensai, a relationship doesn’t have to fit definitions of ‘conventional’ for it to work out.”
As long as both parties were on the same page, and going in the same direction, then - at least to her - it really didn’t matter what the relationship was called or how it progressed. Healthily, of course, with communication. But Leli and her soldier didn’t seem to have much of an issue with that. They were...good together, after some bumps and settling in? So there you go.
“Contrary to what you may think as well, you deserve to be happy too,” she added pointedly, shifting a little in her massaging chair. Ahhh. “Grab it by the balls, honey.”
To be frank, Leliana didn’t know what was more strange. The ‘grab it by the balls’ expression or Cindy’s reference to the entire thing being an actual relationship. Maker’s breath. “This place has ruined my routine of life,” she pouted, sinking into her massage chair with lips all puckered. A mere dramatization, don’t worry - it didn’t bother her all that much. A couple adjustments had to be made to continue on, but the change of pace was actually...refreshing.
Regardless of the burdens it carried, anyway. Dreams of being the sunburst throne’s shadow, the conscience that bore every lie, every death in the name of a religious institution. That version of Leliana had broken faith, viewed life as a game of tactics and strategies, what’s the best way to blackmail a noble family? In a nutshell, she’d lost herself.
But those thoughts were for another day.
“Grabbing it by the balls, however. Is that how you caught your beaux? Very romantic of you.”
“Something like that.” Cindy had her eyes closed, but she squinted one open as a lovely smirk showed itself. “I did make the first move, though granted it wasn’t a ball-grabbing. That came later, after he turned into his alien self for Halloween. I officially fucked an alien.”
Good thing that the pedicurist lady wasn’t around to hear that! She’d gone to grab a towel or two, and now came the part Cindy liked best - the slathering with cream and the massage. Then her toes would be painted and would match her nails, and all would be well with the world. “So see, it’s kinda ruined me too - “ This place, but she wouldn’t give any of it up, “...but mostly in a good way.” There were some bad times too, remember the kidnapping and the torture? But working through it meant they could handle anything else, and she remained confident in that.
Please make note that her brows practically skyrocketed at the ‘alien fucking’ bit, because those were the last words she’d ever thought would come out of anyone’s mouth. Leliana had to double-take to assure that no one else heard Cindy’s confession, and the coast had been clear.
“Woooow,” she breathed softly, letting the fact that, in this place, it was very much possible to actually fornicate with an alien sink in properly. “I have so many questions, I do not know where to begin.”
Now with their present company detailing their toenails with delicate precision, she couldn’t be too vocal about the entire thing. Still didn’t stop her from prodding Cindy for a couple more details, voice hushed. “If you two make alien love again, what are the chances of you having an alien baby?”
Look, as a potential aunt, she needed to know. Leliana would love a little alien baby! She would not discriminate.
Make alien love? Nice job, Leliana, you almost killed Cindy. Because trying to hold in her laughter probably ruptured something, thank you kindly. “Probably pretty good?” she snorted softly, her cheeks feeling hot and she was sure they were turning red. “Then again, I can’t say for sure because I don’t think it happens much in his, uh, dreams and whatnot. Since technically his particular type of alien semen is supposed to be poisonous to humans. I just...don’t really get affected by things like that.”
Another dream perk - whatever her Fable magic was, it stopped the poison in its tracks from really causing harm to her. Which she was grateful for, because apparently nothing, at the time, was going to stop her from fucking her Turian boyfriend. “But it’d be the cutest little half alien baby, I’m sure,” she grinned.
Okay, okay, so there was the possibility that her question, although very valid, was a little silly. Inquiring minds needed to know, and she stifled her own rupture of giggles. “It most certainly would be. I would babysit quite proudly.”
Now with their toenails properly polished and coated, it was time to put them under that ultra-violet light, feet propped up with little fans blowing on them to speed the process. Soon, they’d be off to procure their frozen delicacies and off to the actual dress shopping. Perhaps ‘the one’ wouldn’t be found necessarily today, but it was time to begin the process. “What colors were you thinking of, by the way? Once we get you squared away, we must find non-hideous bridal party dresses!”
Non-hideous bridal party dresses were a go. Cindy wasn’t even that picky on it either. Wiggling her toes a little (with the convenient springy flip-flop things these places tended to give out to make the walk from ‘comfy chair’ to ‘dry-off fans’ easier), she said, “Honestly, I’ll probably just have a set color and let you all pick the design of the dress you want. Because not everyone has the same body type, you know?”
She thought it was pretty practical, anyway. Much less of a mess, might even save money, and that way people would actually like the frocks they picked out. “As for colors, I’m thinking turquoise, aqua, mint - that combo. Blues and greens I’m fond of, and it’d bring a pop of color to the whole....space backdrop, and plus, Garrus has a lot of blue going on in his armor? That was my rationale. Besides that it’s not a bad combo on the eyes.” No one would have their retinas burning, thank god.
Ooooh! Leliana liked those colors. And also liked Cindy’s sensibility when it came to dresses of choice, because if all the dresses were the same shade of color, it’d all work together fairly well. “Makes much sense, as I’ve never heard of a brightly colored spaceship - not that I have seen the vessel for myself, but it seems like a safe assumption, no?” Not to mention, deep black space. Aside from the stars and planets, there wasn’t much to brighten up the moment.
There was a bridal shower to plan, a bachelorette party to discuss. Themes and presents and food. There goes that internal squeeeeeeeeee again and her hands clapped together. “You’ll have to write me a list of ‘do not want’ in regards to shower things. As for the bachelorette, party…” And she had ideas for those. “Are you opposed to it being a surprise?”
At that, Leliana had to smirk. A bit darkly.
Oh dear. That smirk could only mean potentially scandalous things. Not that Cindy minded, of course. “Nope,” she shook her head, unable to help how tickled and purely amused she was. “Surprise away. I figure that the bachelor party on Garrus’s end will nothing short of batshit insanity, so it’s our job to make the bachelorette party the same way.”
Just hopefully not on the same night! Because that would be a lot of potential drunkenness and shenanigans all in one county, and she didn’t think that the OC had the fortifications to handle that type of thing. Especially after reeling from whatever bout of weirdness would come their way, be coming their way, or would have already smashed something. Not like she was expecting the place to behave. That would just be lunacy.
Same night would be interesting. Like some sort of bridal party turf war! That’d be a hoot, but the thought process of ‘this place could not handle that’ was the conclusion she (sadly) came to anyway. “Well, considering Neal’s the best man, I’m sure both of us would make each party rather memorable.”
Or perhaps not-so-memorable - a lot of drinking was usually involved in these kinds of things, though Leliana would make sure to take enough photographic evidence to make an embarrassing scrapbook. But she had enough ideas (involving panties, poles, and pudding), so it’d be a night to remember. In its own twisted little way.
Now with their nails properly attended to, dried and glossy, Leliana had insisted on footing the bill (a celebratory treat), and hoisted the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Now it’s time to find you a dress. I may take pictures for comparison purposes!”
Satisfied with the current state of her nails, Cindy gave them one final gentle blow with her lips puckered before standing up and slipping back into her open-toed sandals. You know, to let the glory of hers smooth, polished feet be seen by all. How sweet of Leliana to pay as well - she really didn’t have to, but Cindy would definitely be springing for frozen chai. A few times.
“Pictures, notes, diagrams, the whole shebang,” she agreed with a smile, looping her arm around her newly-appointed Maid of Honor’s as they exited the spa. “This is the most exciting part - “ Or one of them, besides the drunk reception and honeymoon, “...may as well milk it for all it’s worth. Onward, to the glorious fabrics!”