perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart

[maxxx]

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[dollywood]

You know I go all out.

( She sees through Waverly's approach (6) but also doesn't care enough to get bogged down by the details. She pulls out a flask with an accompanied ) Bam.

( She hikes up what little skirt she has to show her garter. )

In case this shindig is more drink tickets than all you can handle. Or, worse. Cash bar.

[stupetballs]

I always knew you would make a great Girl Scout.

[Always prepared, at least where booze is concerned.]

Did Dolls say he would just meet us there?

[dollywood]

( Except for selling, she couldn't sell ice to an eskimo. But, Waverly could. In another lifetime, they could've made adorable girl scout partners. )

He said exactly that. His words are as concise as he is he is abandoning. ( She slips her flask back in her garter. ) Which, ( she rolls her eyes ) I promise not to harp on. Tonight is about new beginnings or whatever ass-up reset we can get.

( she won't say she's in love, or always has been. )

[stupetballs]

Fresh starts are good things.

[She grabs her sweater and goes to follow Wynonna out the door.]

This will be fun. We'll spend some quality time without any stressful magic shenanigans.

[dollywood]

For once!

( Wynonna doesn't grab a jacket. Nobody is surprised.

The USO Masquerade is a sight for two girls from Purgatory, everyone either dressed to the nines in period clothing, or looking like they're about to ship off to war. The band is jolly, the champagne is flowing, and it is really and truly a party.

Spot checks to find their compatriots (or anyone recognizable)... Wynonna gets an (18) )

[cosmiccon]

[Dolls is present, leaning back against the bar with two faces, one familiar and one unfamiliar in tow. Aalis took pity on him, while Crash is just here to enjoy the show. And while Crash is all done up in a dress uniform that they somehow just managed to throw together, Dolls decided to keep it simple.

He's still got his baggage with the U.S. military, so while his actual dog tags are out, he's wearing a white undershirt with an open button down on top and khakis. It's giving very causal soldier, but it works.

He glances over and waves when he spots the Earps and Crash leans in to rest one elbow on his shoulder.

"I wish I had popcorn. Which one is the girl?"]

What does that even mean?

["The one that gets you all broody. You know what I mean, don't you Aalis?"]

[lengthened]

She does darken your usually sunny demeanor.

( To be clear, Dolls doesn't have a sunny demeanor. He has a quiet, taciturn, professional demeanor. He cracks a joke here and there but he is always 'getting the job done.' Wynonna Earp has shown he has glimmers of an actual personality.

"Waves. Ten o'clock. Between the chiseled chin and the witch." Wynonna squints. "He brought backup?" )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

I'm just saying. You've been in a bit of a tizzy. Now which one?

[Dolls, knowing he doesn't have a choice as they will be meeting the Earps eventually, sighs and points.

"The one on the right is Wynonna, the left is her sister, Waverly."]

Damn. She's way too hot for you.

["Excuse me?"]

I'm just saying, she's at minimum a nine and your personality puts you at a seven on a good day.

["I'm regretting bringing you, you realize."

Meanwhile, Waverly glances over at the people that came with Dolls and points out: "So did you."]

[dollywood]

I did not bring backup. I brought my sister. That's not the same thing. Dolls' entourage screams male insecurity.

( And don't discuss any of Wynonna's, thank you.

"Crash livens every party, and you asked Crash. And me. You must've wanted us here. Showing off your obsession's... assets, are we?" Even Aalis can poke fun and have a good time. )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[Dolls rolls his eyes and Crash squeezes his shoulder.]

If you're not going introduce us, I will.

[Dolls makes a grab for their shoulder (8) but Crash slips away (12), making their way over to the Earp sisters with a smile.]

Howdy. I'm Crash.

[Waverly smirks before holding out a hand to shake his. "Waverly. That's Wynonna."]

It is a pleasure to meet you both. I just have to say, I have so many questions.

[dollywood]

( "Deep breaths," Aalis says, hand on Doll's upper back before striding them both forward. It's inevitable, the twain shall meet. )

Incoming. ( So this won't be West Side Story, the Sharks and Jets are actually talking. ) So do I. Were you named after the Oscar winning film, or my love life?

( That's one of your questions, isn't it? )

[boomgoesthedynamite]

[It's close enough.]

Neither. It's after a Dave Matthews song. Do you have fun Dolls stories that we have not heard because he would consider them embarassng?

[dollywood]

A demon who possessed my sister once taunted him about men he lost on tour. ( That's not quite right. ) That's more sad than embarrassing.

( And all's well that ends well.

"Crash, what could best Dolls going undercover as a male escort," )

I have to hear that story. That's a better story!

[cosmiccon]

It's not the kind of male escort you're thinking. I took little old ladies to the theater and out to dinner to try and find the shapeshifter that was preying on them.

[So no, Wynonna isn't going to get a whole lot of juice out of that.

"Hence why I was asking about the other stories."]

[dollywood]

We don't really have better than that. He doesn't really do stories you tell at parties. He's more of the 'and then I found five dollars' guy.

( Sorry, Dolls.

"That's a story?" Aalis asks. )

[cosmiccon]

["Her point is more that in Purgatory, Dolls was the one who most had his shit together."

Which, knowing Dolls that may seem obvious, but it also wasn't a very high bar to clear.]

Thank you, Waverly.

[dollywood]

You gave him a run for his money, babygirl.

( Maybe Jeremy. Robin. Ish. Not Wynonna. )

[cosmiccon]

[Waverly seems to make a face at that because did she though? When she crashed and burned a perfect relationship after her partner made an incredibly romantic sacrifice for her?

Yeah, she's not so sure. But she doesn't contradict Wynonna in front of their new friends. "I guess."]

Next in line was probably Haught. How is she these days?

[And Waverly makes a bigger face. "She's great. Last I checked, anyway."]

[dollywood]

( Before all that, Wynonna would argue, but she always looked up to her little sister. Her little sister was the better Earp, always had been. )

Smooth move. Never ask about the ex.

( "Haught?" Alice asks, curious about the she in this equation. )

[cosmiccon]

Nicole Haught, sheriff of Purgatory.

[His face towards Waverly turns sympathetic, because he hadn't even given a thought to the fact that they might have split up. He opens his mouth to say he's sorry, and Waverly waves it off.

"Don't worry about it. You couldn't have known. Hey, why don't I go get everyone a round of drinks. Great? Great."

And after taking orders, she will dart off towards the bar, wanting to escape the awkwardness of that particular topic.]

[dollywood]

Is it just me, or is everyone just peeling out like they just hotwired a car? Think it's us? Discuss.

( Basically, this is just to Crash and Doc at this point. )

[cosmiccon]

Well, I can't speak for everyone.

[Crash has spotted Julian in the crowd, and like a magpie searching for something shiny they're off to poke at something more interesting.]

But me bringing up a breakup I didn't realize happened is probably what scared your sister off.

[dollywood]

She wasn't scared off, she's the polite sister. And the only sister that ever actually buys rounds.

( She's totally buy the round if she were ever the type to buy rounds. )

[cosmiccon]

At least that much hasn't changed.

[And politeness does not negate the fact that Waverly practically flew to the bar to get away from the conversation.]

Can I ask what happened with her and Haught?

[dollywood]

Sometimes love isn't enough.

( It's more complicated than that and she owes him more. They are closer than this. )

Girl meets girl. Girl loses girl, literally, to the garden. Girls find each other again. Girl makes ultimate sacrifice for girl.

( And it isn't enough. )

Things never got less complicated. Only more. For all of us.