AJ was incredibly excited. She was sitting on a bench outside the bridal shop, sipping coffee and waiting for her friends. They had the afternoon to shop, drink champagne, and gab, make plans, all of that. The only thing that made AJ sad was that her mother, grandmother and sister weren’t there to celebrate with them.
She jumped up to her feet when she saw one of her friends coming closer.
Tonks was, for once, completely on time as she waved to AJ when she saw her friend outside the bridal shop where they had arranged to meet. She had been convinced she was going to be late thanks to Mac looking far too good in bed after she had showered and dressed to leave, but it seemed luck was on her side today.
“Hey AJ” she smiled warmly in greeting, “I can honestly say I have never been this excited about a shopping trip before.”
“I’m HERE!” Deryn was running a bit late -- and she was trying to make up for it by giving the mad-dash a go for a few blocks. The diminutive blonde was still about a block and a half away -- but after spotting her pals, she felt the need to call out from a distance. Nothing had made her late; she just was.
“Hi!” AJ said, reaching forward to pull Tonks into a hug. She squeezed the other girl, and would be rather thankful if the notion of why Tonks might have been running late never came into her own head. She didn’t need to think about her brother in bed, thanks.
And AJ turned at the sound of Deryn’s voice calling out to her. She gave a laugh and lifted her arm way up over her head to wave to D. “I don’t know if you’ve met Deryn yet, have you? Anyway, you’re going to love her.”
Tonks returned the hug, having no siblings of her own she wasn’t completely sure about what counted as over-sharing so she would never actually mention anything herself and Mac got up to. Well except maybe in teasing.
She shook her head in answer to AJ’s question, “I haven’t, but I’m looking forward to meeting her” she added as she laughed lightly at the blonde hurrying towards them.
When Deryn finally got to them, she had to lean over, her hands resting on her knees as she panted to catch her breath. Her long blonde hair was a mess, and she looked a little frazzled. But as soon as she’d fixed out her lung issue, she stood up tall (well, as tall as her 5’1 allowed for) and gave the most dazzling grin she could muster. “Hi,” she said, and it was nearly a squeak. “Sorry I’m late,”
“Speak of the devil.” AJ said, giving her friend Deryn a huge hug in greeting. Well, once the girl was standing up straight. “Don’t be silly, D. This is Tonks. Tonks, Deryn.” They had really interesting names. They should start a club.
"Pleased to meet you Deryn" Tonks said smiling at the shorter woman. She seemed bubbly and fun which was always a good thing at least in Tonks' point of view.
They did have funny names, didn’t they? Deryn grinned wide again, hugging AJ, and then moved on to give Tonks a hug too, because Deryn really liked hugs, okay? “Nice to meet you too!” She said, agreeing. And then after pulling back, she gave them both a wide eyed, nearly crazy expression. “I am SO excited,” she told them in a near conspiratorial whisper.
AJ gave a laugh. “Then let’s get this party started!” She said, and ushered the two girls into the dress shop. This was one of the more high-end places, and they had a lovely little seating area with champagne and privacy, a big three-way mirror, and a platform next to the changing rooms.
The girls were given clothespins, and instructed to go into the back room and look at all the dresses. They were told to put a clothespin on the plastic bag holding whatever dress they wanted to try. AJ took a big gulp from the champagne glass she was handed, then led the way into the back to start looking at dresses with her best girlfriends.
Tonks followed AJ and Deryn, champagne glass in hand, as they started looking through the dresses. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many wedding dresses” she told the other girls with a grin, “Some are stunning” she pulled out one which looked like just one big ball of lace and fluff, “And some are less than stunning” she laughed.
Deryn was terribly excited. But then again, she always was. She knew better though -- than to go near the dresses right now, even if they were sheathed in a thick plastic. She was clumsy. She tripped when she was standing still.
So she did what every person in this situation would do -- she downed her champagne so that she could follow her friends.
“Everything is pretty! What kind of bridesmaid dress are you thinking?” She asked AJ.
AJ laughed, too. She was a bit intimidated by all the choices. She really should have done some research before showing up. "Ummm, tea length. Whatever else you like, really. I think I want mine to be tea length, and white. Classy. I don't have any other colors in mind. It's going to be at the Orchard, so sensible shoes." She stated looking through the dresses, putting her pins in the dresses she liked best.
Tonks listened as AJ described her ideas to them before she moved to the bridesmaid dresses and started to flick through them. She was lucky in that she could carry off most colors so was safe with whatever color was decided on. She started putting pins on dresses when she found one that sparked her interest.
Good thing Deryn knew what a tea length dress was! She looked around, skipping from one place to the next, shuffling through the bags and putting clips on them randomly. Yellow suited her best. She hoped that was okay.
Of course that was okay! Maybe yellow and red? Apple colors? AJ liked those colors. She moved around and found a few dresses that she liked, then moved into the other room to look at bridesmaid dresses. There were a few there she liked, too.
When she was done, she found Tonks and Deryn and ushered them into the viewing area. “Bridal gowns first, or bridesmaid dresses?” She asked, refilling her champagne glass. She still couldn’t believe this was happening! She was having so much fun!
“Bridal first?” Tonks suggested, looking over at Deryn for agreement, “Some of the dresses you picked are gorgeous and I cannot wait to see you in them” she smiled.
“Yes, yes, bridal.” Deryn urged, scooting herself back into one of the comfy chairs and giving an empathic sort of nod to show she agreed with Tonks. Plus this way she could have more champagne without worrying about spilling.
AJ nodded, then went back into the changing area and tried on the first dress. She came out onto the raised platform in front of the comfortable chairs (where she’d left her champagne glass) and gave the other girls a forced smile. She didn’t really like this one. “I think it’s got pockets,” she said, poking at the sides of the dress.
“Oh pockets are a bad idea” Tonks offered her opinion, “You’ll be far too tempted to use them, or at least I would and that wouldn’t look good. like the beading though” she gestured to the front of the dress.
Deryn was making a face, the bridge of her nose all scrunched up as considered the dress AJ had on. Finally, she shook her head as well. “It’s not fluffy enough, either,” she decided. And everyone knew that dresses -- especially wedding dresses -- had to be fluffy. Or else, what was the point?
AJ nodded, then turned back into the little changing area. She pulled off the dress, and grabbed the next one to try. She liked this one better, and came out to show it off to the girls. It didn’t feel perfect, didn’t feel just right, but she wasn’t sure why. “This one doesn’t have pockets.” She said, then gave a little spin so the girls could see her in the dress.
Tonks looked at her friend as she twirled for them, “It fits lovely around your waist” she told AJ truthfully, but there was something just not quite right about it. She just couldn’t put her finger on it, she looked over at Deryn to see what the other girl thought.
It was definitely floofier, which Deryn liked. But still. She considered it for a long moment, pulling her feet up onto her chair and tucking her knees under her chin. “It needs a lower neckline.”
“Thanks,” AJ said, giving Tonks a grin. “Yeah, I think you’re right about that. Lower neckline. I’ll try the next one.” She said, then popped back into the dressing room to try on the next one. It had a more vintage feel, and a very poofy skirt, but AJ wasn’t sure she liked the sleeves. She came out wearing the dress and fiddling with the sleeves in an uncomfortable way.
“I like the style but you’re going to be fiddling with the sleeves all day aren’t you?” Tonks said, noticing immediately that AJ wasn’t comfortable which was a shame as the dress was lovely but obviously not the one.
“It’d be perfect without the sleeves though,” Deryn said with a tiny pout even as she sipped at her champagne. “Maybe they -- uh -- alter?”
“Probably” AJ said, to Tonks’ question. “Maybe.” AJ said to Deryn’s, frowning. She shook her head, then turned to go put on one of the other dresses. This one she had high hopes for. She came back out a couple minutes, wearing another dress, one that she was absolutely in love with. It made her feel sexy, curvy, where she didn’t normally feel like she had amazing curves. It was fluffy in the right places, and she absolutely adored the space for the broach on the front. She could replace the one the dress came with with one of her Granny’s, and make it even more personalized.
“What do you think of this one??” She asked, giving a little spin. AJ had pretty much made up her mind about how much she loved this dress, though.
“Oh wow AJ” Tonks said as she came out and gave a little spin, “You look stunning. The corset style looks beautiful, really defines your shape”
“Sexy,” Deryn belted out -- probably entirely too loudly. But she liked it. It was classy and different all at the same time -- she was sure she liked the corset-y part best.
AJ laughed. She nodded, going a little pink, but turning around so that she could look in the full-length, three-way mirror. “I think I love this dress. It’s comfortable. And it makes me feel... like a princess.” She said, then spun around.
“I think I’ve found it!” She said, laughing again. “I can’t believe it, you guys! This is my wedding dress!” She was obviously thrilled.
The employee came over and gave AJ some instructions, then followed her into the fitting room to take her measurements and order the correct dress for her exact size. She was back out in a couple of minutes, beaming with happiness.
“Okay, so. Bridesmaid dresses! Any ideas where to start?” She asked, looking between her friends. Her face was getting sore from grinning.
Tonks clapped as AJ declared her wedding dress found, it really was perfect and AJ looked like a princess too.
“Damn” she said when AJ emerged, “I thought we’d have longer to be spectators than that” she teased.
Deryn was of course, terribly happy for AJ. She gave a little squee and a wiggle in her seat to show it. Because that was how she did things; simply. “Wonderful,” she said, her voice a cute whimsical. “So easy. I love it.”
---
As it turned out, if they’d thought AJ finding the perfect dress had been easy, it was easier still for Deryn. She’d picked out a cute dress of appropriate length in yellow, and it was the first she’d tried on. She rather liked it, and thought the other girls might approve, too.
“Ta-daaaa,” she said in a half giggle as she emerged from the dressing room, sporting the dress.
AJ was sitting in her seat now, waiting for the girls to try on the bridesmaid dresses they’d picked out. All she’d said was “tea length” and made the suggestions of red and yellow. Apparently, Deryn found the perfect dress right away. AJ set down her champagne and clapped. “Oh, D. That’s perfect!”
Tonks emerged after Deryn, “Oh now that dress is lovely” she told her new friend, “Wanna pick mine?” she half joked. Tonks loved shopping but generally it took her ages to find anything. The dress she was wearing was nice but she didn’t think it was really suitable for AJ’s wedding.
Yeah, probably not. Deryn tilted her head to the side, considering, even as she played with the bottom ruffle of her own dress. “Well,” she said, as if she had sage wisdom on topics like these (she didn’t. She just wore whatever was kind of cute, usually). “The color is right.”
AJ thought both dresses were lovely, and fit her friends’ personalities rather well. She wanted them to look and feel beautiful, but she didn’t care much beyond that. AJ was the anti-bridezilla. “I think they’re absolutely beautiful. Both of them.” She turned to Tonks. “But if you want... hmmm. Maybe we can find you something a little longer, with... with less lace?” That might make it more ‘wedding appropriate’?
Tonks nodded in agreement, “Yeah I think the lace is a bit too much” she agreed, “I did pick up one which might work...” she returned to the changing room, she’d picked it up thinking it might look nice and now it might also tie in with Deryn’s.
“Okay so what do we think of this one?” she asked, chewing her bottom lip. It was very comfy and she thought she looked pretty nice in it.
“Ohmygosh,” Deryn said, gasping. She obviously loved it. “It’s amazing!” And it was funny how the two dresses were similar, but still managed to get their personalities separate. Deryn’s was cute, fluffier - a little more innocent. Tonks’ was definitely on the upper side of sexy and a bit more mature while still managing cute, too.
They were perfect and beautiful, and AJ couldn’t imagine anything better for her wedding. She stood up and walked over to the girls, and wrapped both up into a huge hug, trying not to burst into tears.
Tonks grinned at Deryn and AJ laughing lightly as AJ came to hug them, “I’d say that was pretty damn successful girls” she said as she hugged them both, “That’s one big thing off the check list.”
Yessss, hugs! Deryn snuggled the both of them, always one for tactile efforts. “What’s next on the list though?” Was there an actual checklist?
“Well, we need to find a flower girl dress for my sister. Or is she a bridesmaid? Maybe a mini-bridesmaid?” AJ laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t know. Go, get your measurements taken and they’ll order the exact right size dress, then help me find something white-and-yellow for Applebloom to wear.”
AJ probably did have an actual list but it had just been a turn of phrase. Nodding at her friend Tonks returned to the changing room to remove the dress and let the assistant take her measurements.
Deryn did the same, nearly reluctantly. It was such a nice dress, she kind of just wanted to wear it every day. With combat boots. Gosh that would be so cute! She bet Sam would totally like it, too. Speaking of which...
Once she was done with all her measurements and they were searching for a cute dress for A-Bloom, Deryn turned to raise her eyebrows at the other girls. “Should I get my boyfriend a matching tie?” Okay, so. They’d never really talked about being boyfriend and girlfriend before, so she was assuming a bit. But Deryn suspected if she laid down the law on the matter, Sam would agree.
AJ nearly tripped over the carpet. “Your boyfriend??” She asked, thrilled and surprised. “You didn’t tell me he was your boyfriend! Tonks, be thrilled with me. D’s got a boy!!” She said, grinning, and grabbed Deryn’s shoulder to jump and hug her. “Tell me everything!!”
Tonks happily joined in the bouncing and hugging, "I want to hear too" since entering into her relationship with Big Mac she had wanted everybody to be as happy as she was.
“Wellllll,” said Deryn, grinning a bit stupidly, because she couldn’t help herself. Still, she wasn’t sure what to say about Sam. She didn’t know him spectacularly well yet. But she was getting there. “His name is Sam. He’s very tall. He has dimples when he smiles.”
"Tall, huh?" AJ beamed at her friend. "How tall is tall?" She asked, then gave a little aww. "He sounds so cute!"
Tonks briefly wondered if Deryn’s Sam was the same Sam Tonks herself had gone out with a couple of times, but now really wasn’t the time to bring it up. Instead she nodded in agreement with AJ, “He does” she agreed, “And tall is good. Mac’s very tall and it’s kind of nice you know?” she smiled.
“TALL,” Deryn said in capslock. Because Sam was tall. And she was so very, very short.
AJ laughed. Her friend was so short! If this Sam fellow was that tall, well, it would make slow-dancing a little awkward, right? But AJ was absolutely tickled that Deryn had found someone she liked so much. “When do I get to meet him??” She asked, sounding very excited.
Tonks grinned as she waited for Deryn to answer AJ, she thought it was pretty great that they all seemed to be in such happy and healthy relationships.
“I dunno,” Deryn said, laughing. “Soon? He stops by the ‘Market all the time.”
"Good. I'll meet him soon. And definitely at the wedding!" AJ said, bringing the topic back around. "Let's plan on having a so spa day sometime soon to celebrate!" She added, excitedly.