Twenty-Love

Brook Hollow Country Club


Polished hardwood floors gleam in the light that filters in from the large windows which overlook a private patio. Expensive Persian rugs rest beneath each grouping of furniture. Two large fireplaces can be found on opposite walls, giving the club a generally warm atmosphere. To the back of this large, open room, is a bar that is continually manned by an employee.
Billiards and card tables can be found in a smaller room down the hall, as well as a separate room for shuffleboard, and another for quiet games of chess. Outdoors features a series of private tennis courts, each equipped with a trainer to help those members who have never attempted the sport before.
The most important piece of the club takes up a large portion of the outdoor acreage. A complete 18 hole golf course, featuring both water and sand traps, as well as small decorative lakes always has at least one group of club members on it.


It's been a while. A long while, since Ivan's been able to drag Scarlett out without an ulterior motive. Granted, he has one now, but it's not something that he has to ask for or anything. And so, he's somehow coaxed her to grab her tennis gear and meet him at the Country Club. At the moment? Ivan is standing outside, smoking one of the few rare cigarettes he does every once in a while, dressed athletically and…quite preppily. His tennis racket is tucked beneath an arm.

-

It's been a while. A long while since Scarlett has had a chance to play tennis. No doubt her game is a bit off. Ivan also happened to catch her in the middle of packing for a weekend getaway. So she threw on her tennis skirt, and a cutesy little top, along with the little visor cap and threw her hair into a ponytail. Once she's at the club, she gives him a look then whips out her green racket. "I haven't done this since back home. Forgot we had the memberships here. So why the sudden urge to play? Can't be the nice weather…"

-

Ivan plucks the cigarette from his lips, turning and smiling once he catches sight of his older sister. It's broad and genuine in nature. "Hey there, Scar. How's it cracking?" A few more drags, and then the mostly used up cigarette butt is deposited into the nearby ashtray, freeing up his hands. "Ah. Why the sudden urge to play? I don't know, to be honest? Maybe because we haven't in so long? Maybe because the last time I saw you…you were crying in your warehouse about your new boyfriend." He sobers then, frowning thoughtfully to her. "How is he? He's good, I presume? Still…healthy? And…"

-

Slightly older sister. By like, minutes. "Well enough. Got a flight out of the city later tonight." No mention of where though. Stretching her arms over her head, then swinging the racket out a few times she eyes him curiously. "Werewolf," she says with a shrug. "But then, I knew that was going to happen if he survived. We're dealing with it." Rather, they're not really focusing on that aspect. Just them. Which suits her fine.

-

"You're leaving the city?" Ivan sounds surprise. "For like, a vacation or something? That's cool. Where you heading off to, and how long?" He's not being nosy. Just curious. Anyway, he gestures for the nearby courts, already rolling his shoulders in anticipation of all the activity. "Ah, yeah? That's good news, then. Dealing with it, I mean. Not the werewolfness. I told you, didn't I? That it'd be okay in the end." Wandering over to his things, he picks up a tennis ball then proceeds to bounces it on his racket a couple of times, allowing her the time to warm up.

-

"Yeah, we're headed to Vegas for the weekend." Let him make of it what he will, but it really is just a reason to get out of the city and have some fun. "Maybe longer." Best to leave it open ended. That way if they want to stay, Scarlett doesn't have anyone worrying about her. Spying an empty court, she makes her way toward it. "Doubles against the machine, or you against me?" Makes the difference on whether she needs to set the ball launcher up or not. "'Okay' is probably a relative term when someone's world is turned upside down."

-

"You and him then? That's…wait. Vegas?" Shocked, Ivan blinks. But then, he lets out a laugh of genuine amusement. "Scarlett, you're not planning on eloping or anything, are you?" He teases, clearly not believing his own words. But when she inquires, he decides to pause and think genuinely of the advantages of the two playing styles… The truth is? If he's versing her? Then he doesn't have to worry about her attacking him - he'll be able to run in time. "You against me. Let's do this thing, sis." Beat. "I was…just trying to be positive. Sorry…" Jeez. Why's everyone got to be an asshole to him?

-

"Uhh, hell no." Scarlett has to remind herself to keep her language clean at the country club. "I mean, we've not been together long enough to even think about that." Hell. She cares for Hyde, but she'll argue that he's not the one. Until he says something first. "Just going to play some craps, take in some shows, maybe go see the Hoover Dam or something." Either that or hole up in the hotel room the entire weekend and get room service. "Okay, you take the other side then. Your set." Rolling her neck back and forth, she sighs. "Yeah, sorry. It's still a bit of a sore point with me. Still not sure what his reaction to it all is, and I don't want to press him."

-

Ivan grins slightly, amused. "Well…how long's long enough, do you think?" He inquires, the question sounding innocent as can be as he moves over to the other side of the court. "Anyway, that ought to be fun. I was thinking of jumping the border with Faith for a bit. Check out the beaches of Mexico and all. And…it's alright. I understand. Kind of. You just have to be there for him, you know? 'Cause…there's really not anything else we can do." And with that, he serves the first ball, prepared to jump at the return.

-

"We've only really been dating just over a month… so hell, I don't know. Marriage isn't on my brain. A year?" Shrugging, she gets her racket ready to send the ball back to him when he serves it over the net. "Cabo San Lucas?" Mexico is always nice. Scarlett did spend a bit of time there once upon a time. After college. "Well that's what I'm doing. It's not like I'm going to…" She lunges to the ball and misses horribly. Moving to the side, she grabs another ball and tosses it toward him. "… leave him due to his misfortune. I'm not that girl."

-

"What about half a year, you reckon?" Honest! Ivan's just making conversation. Nothing to see here… "Yeah. Probably. 'Cause hey - what happens in Cabo stays in Cabo, heh?" He waits for the lounge, but when she doesn't hit it he grins. "You just need to warm up, is all. And I know you're not that type of girl, Scar. You're doing right. Absolutely right. Anyway…heads up!" Here comes serve number two.

-

"Six months? I guess that depends. I think it'd take Hyde a hell of a lot longer to warm up to the idea than that." Scarlett will probably have been living with him for five years before he'd even think to ask. She's okay with that. Her biological clock isn't ticking. With a grin, she volleys the tennis ball back at him with a nice overhand move, trying for the point. Not that they're playing for score, more for just the exercise and fun as far as she knows. "Thanks, and you'd be surprised the type of girl I am, brother dearest. Jealous for one. Who'd have thought?"

-

"You think so? Doesn't seem the marrying type, huh? Well…he might surprise you, Scar. I say, don't take anything for granted." Ivan is living proof of this, although he's not quite comfortable with admitting it yet. Let her settle down first. Get in a good mood…This time, it's his turn to fail, utterly. She shoots for the point, and so he had to run to the other side of the court and swing blindly to try and save it - but he misses. And so, with a sigh, he picks up the ball and lobs it over to her. "Touche. You're a jealous girl, huh? What made you figure that out?"

-

"I never do." Though she's positive it'll never happen, and she's fine with that. "Eau du cheap tramp," Scarlett replies, catching the ball with the tip of her racket, and bouncing it back to her hand. Rolling her shoulders and popping her neck again, she moves back to serve the ball, and waits for him. Hunkering down into position to either run or hit the ball back at him. "I'm not in a hurry to get married anyhow. It'll happen if and when it happens and not before." She eyes him slyly. "So why this line of questioning?"

-

This time? When the ball flies towards his side of the court? He's quite capable of slicing it back, and the exertion leaves him grinning with pride, prepared to go for the next ball as well. "Eau de - ahaha, I see!" Beat. "Wait…on him? You don't think he's…" He's not going to do much more than that. Because the last time he said anything remotely bad about Hyde? Even when it was in a joke? Scarlett went crazy. "Ah! No reason. Just feels like everyone's getting married right now, you know?"

-

The ball bounces three times before she can get to it, and though she sends it flying back over the net, it still counts as his point. "Crap," she mutters. "I'm so out of my league here. I don't have the mayor sending me out on tennis dates," she teases with a grin. "Oh, I may have. For a few minutes. By why the hell would he throw himself at a cheap tramp when he's got me?" Preening, she moves back into position to wait for the next ball. "Uh huh. You don't have to beat around the bush. I know." What she knows? That Bobby's getting married. She saw the announcement in the paper.

-

Ivan laughs, pumping his fist into the air as a victory. "Excuses, excuses! What's wrong, Scarlett? Out of shape?" Which isn't true at all, but he can still tease her about. "Ha! Exactly! You're a Fontane, you know. We have a curse. We're incurably desirable, quite addictive, and dashingly good looking. Me being the prime example." But the, before he can serve the ball to her, he balks. "Y-you know? What the hell." Obviously, he thinks she means something else. "And…and you're cool with it?" As an afterthough, Ivan serves her the ball.

-

"Hardly," Scarlett says with a grin. No way she's out of shape. Especially since she's been working out more than ever to keep her body in shape lately. "Just haven't picked up a racket in a while." The truth. "As if. I'm the better looking out of the two of us, darling brother." When he balks, she blinks. "Well it was in the paper and everything. Why wouldn't I be cool with it?" The ball comes so fast at her it catches her on the side of the head. "Ye-ow! Aim lower!"

-

Ivan doesn't need to know about her renewed dedication to her figure, and especially not the reasoning behind said dedication. "Well…we should do this more often, then, what do you think? It's a good way to keep in top form and all. And, ha! Now I know you're lying. You might be older, but I got all the looks in the family. I..err…sorry for hitting you! You can…err…take the point." Gingerly, he scratches his head. "I…wait a second. The paper? I…" Ivan would have heard about that, right? "…Who're you talking about?"

-

"The Slugger. Getting married in August, right? Saw it in the paper." Shoulders shrug and she tosses the ball at him. "How about we just don't count that point either way. We're both a bit rusty, and I'm not going to hold it against you unless you break my nose. Then I'll sic Hyde on you." Okay, a bit of morbid humor from the female Fontane twin. "You're on. Weekly? Bi-weekly? How often you want to play tennis against me? I warn you, once I get back into it, you'll be sorry you asked."

-

Ivan coughs. "Oh…right. Yeah. He's one of them. And…okay. Awesome." Ivan scratches his head again, reaching for the ball and fumbling it. But when he does get it, he shoots a boyish grin in Scarlett's direction. "Let's try for weekly, yeah? Get something more substantial going and…IaskedFaithtomarryme." There. It's out. In one quick breath, right before he hits the ball over to her.

-

The ball comes at her before she really has time to let what he rushes out sink in. Before she hits it, it does. Then the ball is sent over with a lot of force, directly at his midsection. "YOU WHAT!?!" Scarlett decides the tennis game is on pause and hops over the net. Going right up to her brother, she grabs his shoulders and starts shaking him. "Are you out of your ever loving mind? Have you told mom and dad? I mean, I knew you were going to do it sometime but you hardly know the girl!" Mother hen mode. Full force.

-

Ivan is frozen as a result of that paralyzing scream. Terrified, really. As a result, he is greeted with one shot to the spleen. "Ugh!" He groans, bending over and clutching at his stomach area in pain - only to drop his racket when the woman assaults and shakes him to hell and back. "C-cut it out!" He calls out, clearly bothered, and stumbling out of her reach. Hopefully. Shooting her a glare, he tries to get his bearings. "No, I haven't told mum or dad yet. But that'll be okay. Mom'll love her, I know it. And, what do you mean, hardly know the girl? I know everything there is to know about her."

-

"Six months isn't enough time to really get to know someone. You're not a telepath. You don't know everything." Scarlett is already going through all the magic she knows in her head. "I could probably make you a truth ribbon, or necklace. I've never tried, but grandmother had a spell in her books that handled it. It would leave me pretty drained, but if you want it to make sure? It's yours." She shakes him a little more, then steps back. "Are you sure this is what you want?" At least she didn't attack him with her racket?

-

"A truth ribbon?" Ivan is confused. Oh so confused, oh so unsure. "What would I need a truth ribbon for?" He inquires, brows furrowing as he stares at his sister for her strange behavior. But then, he straightens himself up - standing upwards and pursing his lips grimly. "I'm - I'm sure, Scarlett. I know. I love her. I want to have a family. I want to be with her, always."

-

"Sweet Jesus," Scarlett says, leaning in to punch his shoulder. "My little brother has finally grown up. Two more to go, and I can rest easy." But the truth ribbon will be his should he ask it. "Yes. A ribbon you give to someone to get them to tell the truth? It's not really a protection spell, but I think I can handle it. It's not far off from the protection stuff, just a sideways step. I could have it to you by the solstice."

-

"Yeah…" Ivan can lick his lips then, side-stepping the endearments about him growing up and all. And even the playful punch doesn't merit more than a blink. "But who do you want me to use the truth ribbon on, Scarlett? Why do you want me to have that…what do you think I'll find?" He can't believe that she just offered such a thing at random. He can't.

-

"I don't know, but don't you want to know what your bride is really up to? Apparently grandmother used it on grandfather before they got married." Scarlett only knows what she's read in the journals. "I mean, you don't have to take it. Just offering it if you want it." She smiles at him. "I'm proud'a you, kid. Just don't expect me to try to smooth things over with anyone. This is your own mess, and since you're all growed up now, you have to take care of it."

-

Ivan purses his lips, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Would you use that ribbon on Hyde?" Ivan challenges, quirking a brow. "I trust Faith. With my life, and with my heart. I don't need to know what she's up to. She wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Just like I wouldn't her." However, he warms up as Scarlett proceeds to speak, and even congratulate him. Ultimately? He's beyond glad to have someone close to him remotely approving. "Heh. Thanks, Scarlett. I will take care of it."

-

"If I had to? Yeah, I would." Scarlett has no fear in saying that. "I trust him, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have secrets that would be good to know about before we got married. Like kids." He's got a bit of a sordid past, at least she assumes so. "She better not run out on you again. I understand why she does it, but I don't like what it does to you."

-

Ivan narrows his eyes speculatively. "…Hm. Perhaps that's why you're not getting married now. Run out on me?" He quirks his brows slightly. stretching out his arms idly. "We've talked about it already. All of that. And…and we're good. And we've been good for about a month. Believe me, I don't like it when she does it either, but I'm not really worried. Maybe I should be, but I'm not."

-

"Just don't get yourself hurt," Scarlett says, leaning in to give him a little hug. "You better call mom right away though. Don't keep that from her. She'll be happy to help you with anything. I'd offer, but that's probably not my strongest suit. Still if you need help with painting the house, you let me know." With that said, she starts back for her side of the court. "Screw this. You want to go into the club and grab a celebratory drink?"

-

Ivan is surprised. Quite, quite pleasantly surprised by how Scarlett is taking the news. And then, suddenly? He grins, eyes wide with a smile. "You know? I…thanks. Thanks, Scarlett. You know, for everything. But…yeah! Yeah, celebratory drinks sound awesome! So…you buy?" And with that, he's moving to collect his belongings, practically beaming.

-

"That's usually how it goes, kiddo." Scarlett goes to grab her racket, and slide it back into its case. "Whatever you want, on me." She may not be made of cash, but she's a Fontane. She's got enough to cover whatever he wants, even at club prices. "Call mom now if you want. I can smooth that over for you if she flips out. I'll tell her I'm dating a mechanic."

-

"I don't think she'll flip out. I really don't. I think she'll really get along with Faith, once they meet." Ivan quirks his lips proudly. "I'll…handle it later, I think. And heh. What? She wont like you dating mechanics, you think? Or…?"

-

"I never know with mom," Scarlett says with a shrug. "But can you see them getting along with Hyde? He… doesn't say much, and when he does, his defensive mode kicks in and he acts like a jerk." Thus, she doubts her parents would like her dating a mechanic. "Anyhow, let's get that drink. I need to raise a toast to my little brother."

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License