Despite her brother's asshattery, and his attempt to ruin her good time by his drunken idiocy, Scarlett Fontane had a pretty damned good night. Now, the sun is shining, the temperature is on the rise, and she's just dropped Robert off at home. Since her brother refuses to listen to her, she's going to go see the girlfriend, explain herself, drop off a present, and then be done with everyone except her baby sister. Down at the intercom at the Ravello, she stands, small box in the crook of her arm as she presses the button for her brother's apartment.
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The beautiful weather is calling to her. The apartment is spotless, all chores have been completed and now she's sort of staring out the window. Going outside is a very real possibility and finally she decides to throw caution to the wind. She'll be safe venturing out by herself. Only, as soon as Faith's hand touches the doorknob, the intercom sounds. She looks at it with a strong curiosity, as if wondering if Ivan really is clever enough to know what she's planning. Eventually she hits the little talk button on the device, slightly awkward with it since she never deals with guests. "Hello?" It's a little timid sounding, almost childlike.
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"Rose? It's Scarlett." On the off chance that the somewhat crazy-girl can't recall who she is, she adds, "Scarlett Fontane. Ivan's sister. Can I come up to talk?" Her breath is not being held, her mind made up to just leave if the other woman is at unease about it.
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She's more uneasy about this intercom than she is the arrival of a Fontane. "Ivan's not here." It's not said in a rude manner but rather matter-of-factly. "But if you want to come up, sure. Um…" Faith releases the talk button for a moment before coming back. "Oh, okay. Got it. You should be able to come up." Then the correct button is pressed, buzzing the other woman in.
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Had she come to speak to Ivan, this would be a problem. As it is, Scarlett would be exceedingly happy if she never had to speak to her brother again. With the buzz, she fumbles around with the little gift in her arms and manages to grab the door with her casted hand. Skirting through it quickly, she makes her way into the building. After taking the elevator up to the appropriate floor, Scarlett knocks on the door. She makes sure to stand directly in front of the little peep hole in the door so that Rose can verify who she is before allowing her entry into the apartment.
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There really isn't a doubt held with the other woman but she still checks the peephole. Her life has changed so much since she even entered the city that a little special precaution isn't all that bad. Rose is actually wearing the new choker that Ivan got her. It may have been just because Tripp made him paranoid but she's choosing to believe that it's an actual gift. The door opens wide at the sight of Scarlett. "Hi." If the greeting were any brighter one might think that she's a puppy glad to see her owner back from work. "Come in. I don't know if we have anything you might like to drink. Can I get you something?" Faith is actually somewhat nervous but she's not shying away.
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"I'm fine," Scarlett says, trying to feign a bit of cheerfulness into her voice. "Thank you though." See? Big, mean, evil Scarlett isn't as big, mean, or evil as she's likely been made out to be. "Since my brother refuses to listen I figured I would explain it all to you, and then get out of your lives." There is no way in the world she wants to bother to deal with Ivan ever again, and very little chance she'll forgive him for his drunken stupidity at this point.
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Blink. Awkward. "I don't know if I like hearing that." Faith isn't moving at this point but she's at least giving Scarlett plenty of room to enter and even make herself comfortable. "I mean, I think I'd lose it if Hope said that to me. I'll totally listen, though, because I wasn't there and wasn't drinking." Scarlett isn't big or bad and Rose isn't all that insane, at least not outwardly. "I mean, I'm not saying you shouldn't be angry. I can tell by his face you should have been angry. I just don't like seeing people upset."
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Whether the girlfriend likes hearing it or not, it's what Scarlett has decided to do. She's been trying to see her brother as anything but their grandfather, but at this point she just can't. The attitude is very much the same. "I don't mean to upset you, Rose." Rather than moving to the couch, she heads toward the kitchen. "Now let me start at the beginning. He was at the Grisly Bar last night in West Dallas, with some of the people he works with. He was drunk, and acting like a complete idiot." The small gift is placed on the counter as she leans against it. "He started off by hitting on me for one of his coworkers with an extremely lame pick-up line."
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There are many things in the world that she doesn't like hearing; she'll get over this. Everything works out in the end. "No, it's okay. I'm kind of not involved in this so it's not like I need to be upset or anything." For once the Queen of Crazy hasn't actually done anything in all of this. She tilts her head in that overly curious way as Scarlett speaks. "Drunk I got when I had to drag him inside. But why would he hit on you?" Faith actually looks completely confused. "For someone else. I mean, that makes no sense. But sorry. I'll ask questions later." The floor is open to Scarlett, the present not even noticed.
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"Because my brother enjoys teasing his co-workers? I have no idea. The poor man was so embarrassed that he dashed off before I could ask." Scarlett brings her green casted arm up to fiddle with a stray hair, then sighs. "Afterward, he was very publicly calling you his "wifey", and going on about how I should get him a ring, be his best man, and help him get married. Last night. When he was drunk." There is a slight pause, and a frown. "He refuses to believe me, but here." The small package is swept off the counter and handed out to Rose. "I still brought him the ring even though I'd rather not speak to him again. If he's still of a mind to do it, at least he has the proper implements."
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There's something to be said about embarrassing one of his coworkers. It isn't a witty response but it is at least something. That response never surfaces as the color drains from Faith. "He said what?" There are certain times that certain things should never be said. The first 'I love you' should never come when someone is drunk. Neither should the idea of marriage. "Ivan? He's not ready for marriage." Denial is there, plainly so, even as she takes the package. Being who she is, Rose opens it and finds staring back at her the exact same ring that Hope had. Awkward. "He really was saying that while drunk?" There's a little sound that only she can hear, and it's coming from her heart.
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Not the exact same ring, but similar enough. "He called you his "wifey", then went on about how he loved you and wanted to get married." Scarlett ensures that her words are slower this time to make sure she's not missing something. "I don't care if you believe me or not. He doesn't. There was another person there, one who helped me get Ivan here, not that you'll care to talk to him."
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"I'm not involved in that." She's very quick to point that out. "I tried to talk to her, she said that it was amicable. So unless I have a reason to, I'm not getting involved." Faith may look exactly like Hope, minus the blond hair, but she isn't her sister. She also has something bigger to talk to Hope about, she figures. All of this has been said while she's looking at the ring. When she looks back at Scarlett, she's that emotional mixture of unknown. "I have no reason to doubt you. I trust you. He just is so bad at realizing how he feels that I can't imagine…" She shakes her head, remaining calm and not being emotional. "That's not right. I'm sorry that he said that to you. And everything else." She still has no issues with Scarlett, obviously.
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"I should point out that it was a random run-in. I didn't invite Robert there, but I did appreciate his helping me get my idiotic brother home." Even though Scarlett really, really would have loved to dump Ivan in a ditch somewhere. "I thought it prudent to warn you that he said all of this, drunkenly, in front of his co-workers. Congratulations, you two are now a very public couple." Not everyone was drunk, so chances are it's the watercooler topic of the day. "You have no need to apologize for him, Rose. He's a grown man, his words were his own, and I've learned over the years that people tend to say what they feel when they're drunk."
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This is where she's torn. Loyalty to her sister versus seeing the truth for the truth. "Like I said, not my place. But you know, he got him here. It was hard dragging him in but he got him here, so thank him for me?" The meek, mild woman doesn't outwardly seem to be holding any grudges. Her breathing is getting deeper and faster, the signs of being upset. Faith looks back down at the ring and closes her eyes. "I told him that I was a mistake. He needs to focus on ways to not hurt his career." Brushing off the need to cry, Rose looks to Scarlett and shakes her head. "Call me Faith? I mean, it is my name and you've been nothing but nice to me."
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See, and this is where Ivan is completely and totally wrong. Scarlett just smiles at the girl, knowing how difficult it must be for her to be giving that part of herself to someone else. "Faith, then. I don't think you're a mistake for my brother. For whatever reason, he seems to want to be settled into a relationship with you, and as much as he thinks I'm jealous, or I hate him for it, I don't." She hates him for a few other reasons. "I am not a homewrecker, no matter what he says, and I don't need his approval for my life." After a moment's pause, she looks to the girl once more. "It was never my intention to hurt your sister either."
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If Ivan was being serious then it would be for the best for her to learn to open up to his family. Scarlett may be washing her hands of Ivan but Rose doesn't want to see things fall apart. "Yeah, but is that really what's best for him? I know he's done some bad things, like what he did last night, but he kind of grounds me when I start to go off the deep end. I don't think that's something he needs for the rest of his life." Yes, the rest of his life. She may be living in sin but Faith takes the idea of marriage seriously. "Why would you be jealous? Most people think he's stupid for it, or taking advantage." Faith has heard it all before. "Scarlett, I'm not my sister. I have no reason to judge you. Stuff kind of happens. I don't think she'd blame you either. I won't lie and say that she's completely fine because she's not; and she's a horrible liar. And blond now. And I'm rambling…"
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"Only he can tell you what's best for him." Scarlett's thoughts are that no, marriage this quickly is never something good, but like she told him last night, if he still wants to propose when sober she won't put up a fuss. "Apparently, I'm jealous because I'm unloved and I don't want him to be happy. Which is a blatant lie, but it's how Ivan feels." It is honestly taking a lot of will-power to not get all emotional super-witch, but she's keeping things under control. "I know you're not your sister, but I feel the need to defend myself against my brother's words." There's a chuckle before she adds, "Feel free to ramble. I deserve it for dumping this all on you anyhow."
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That's what he's said as well. It doesn't make her feel any better about this. "I wouldn't really say that you're unloved." She does have the attention of someone that was supposedly going to marry her twin, so that has got to count for something. "I don't know, he just gets worked up sometimes. But you guys are twins. I can't just not talk to him about this." They need to not be fighting! Faith is extremely uncomfortable at this point but not with Scarlett. The situation is so unfamiliar to her. "I'm glad you came to talk to me. I mean, I know I'm not all here and all that and some people are under the impression that I'll just up and forget everything." Vivien. Evil, evil woman. "I'm not the best at fixing things but I'm going to try."
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Scarlett wouldn't really say that she's unloved either, but that doesn't mean the words hurt any less. "I'm not telling you not to talk to him, but don't feel as though any of this is your fault. My only issue with what he was saying, was that he was saying it and wanting to act on it when he was drunk." Therefore, it's obvious to her that despite the fact that Faith is mentally unstable, if Ivan's happy, all the power to him. "You don't have to fix anything. I just came by to drop the ring off in case he was being serious in his drunken idiocy. If he wasn't? Keep it anyhow. It's a protection ring." Which was the truth of the matching one as well. A simple protection ring.
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"Everything's my fault at one time. I've learned that." Just about any major issue that she can think of her loved ones having can somehow be related to her. "I don't know if he gets that, though. Okay, sure, I'm bat shit crazy. Even I don't want to hear certain things when he's drunk, and it's kind of frustrating that he can't talk to me about it sober." It really shouldn't bother her as much as it is. Faith is the understanding one. The ring is actually placed on the kitchen counter and she's planning on leaving it there. "It's pretty." Her voice suddenly sounds distant as she's being overwhelmed by her thoughts. "Thanks. I mean, I like it, it's just awkward."
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"It's not your fault, Faith." End of discussion on that. Scarlett doesn't care to argue about it further. "Just remember that he's a little boy sometimes, and he's afraid. I don't think he's ever been in a real relationship before and he's likely scared of ruining it by saying something to you that you may not want to hear." She's still mad at Ivan, she still never wants to talk to him, but she doesn't want the girlfriend hurting because of it. "Thanks. I made it. Just like I made the other one. It's not the same one, they're just the same design."
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That's a tone she gets often. End of conversation. She doesn't believe it for one minute but isn't going to argue. "He was, once. She cheated on him. So he's guarded." That may not be Faith's place to say but she does so anyway. The young woman simply does not have a censor sometimes. "Either way, we need to talk. He probably won't like it but I think it's important." She thinks a lot of things but some of them are pure insanity. "I'll wear it. Later." Scarlett can likely understand why it's phrased as it is. "You're talented. Is it hard with your hand?" The wrist in a cast.
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A brow raises. Scarlett remains carefully quiet. "Guarded or not, spouting all of that out when in a drunken stupor in public is going to do more harm to the both of you than him manning up and telling you how he feels." A glance is given to the green, shamrocked cast on her arm and she shrugs. "Haven't been able to focus on anything new in a while. I can set the stones, but not much else." Although, she can obviously paint a cast well enough with just one hand. "I broke it on Robert's face."
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"Guarded and scared, I think. It's like, I catch him at times, you know? Like he realizes something about us and just sort of stares. But you're right." If he's trying to avoid conflict involving her this isn't the best way to do it. If he ever makes enemies, or she does, they now know exactly where to go. He's playing a dangerous game, after all: politics. "It's a shame. I was really impressed with your shop when I went." It registers in Faith then what Scarlett says. That right there speaks wonders about her relationship with Bobby. The crazy stares at her almost blankly for a moment before chuckling. "Okay, see, I wanted to go kick him or something. I think you beat me."
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Scarlett's relationship with Robert is very complicated, at best. She grins a little, then shrugs. "Not sure it was worth the price though," she says, holding the cast up again. "I'm still painting, which I can do with either hand. Weaving the right magic into the jewelry requires both hands though, so I likely won't be able to make anything new until the cast comes off in a few weeks." Two more, maybe. Depends on what they say at the check up today. "You just be careful, Faith. I don't know if he's got any enemies, and you shouldn't be caught in the crossfire."
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The talk about Robert is actually a welcome change as it gives her something else to focus on. "Next time use your legs. They're likely stronger. I know mine are. Aim for the knee or something. I saw that in a movie once." Her head tilts again as she looks at the pretty art work on the cast. "Well, just don't try hitting him again and you'll probably be fine. Not that I'm a doctor. Or trust them even." Faith can't help but shudder at this point. Evil doctors. Then it's back to Ivan and she looks away. "I've got enemies, too. Or did. Heck, I don't know. The name of the game used to be 'Pick on the Crazy'. I know he's talking to people I don't like and doing things that he -really- shouldn't." Killing Hiro for one. "I'm scared all the time, but more for him. At this point I don't even know if anything else that happens to me will bother me."
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"I… no. I've decided I'm not much of a fighter, and getting angry just gets me in trouble." Scarlett grins, then laughs. "With the exception of last night, which I swear was my last punch." Next time, she'll use her powers and that is not going to go over well at all. "Speaking of doctors, I have an appointment, and I really don't want to overstay my welcome here. Thank you for hearing me out, Faith. Feel free to stop by the studio any time. Just… leave Ivan at home."
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"I thought about being a fighter once. Had someone teach me, too. That ended poorly, but at least I didn't break any bones." Yeah, enter the world of all sorts of emotionally uncomfortable. Thankfully Scarlett's leaving so Rose doesn't have to worry about melting down in front of her. "Thank you. For coming by. And talking to me instead of around me." Like some other people. "I'll come back, I promise." She doesn't say anything about Ivan since she knows that is something for the twins to work out on their own.
