Thanks For The Story, Tino

Things had not changed recently for Elizaveta. Which, because of the situation she was in, was something she was quite irritated about.

Roderich did not seem inclined to marry her. Then again, she would not want to be engaged at the same time as Lovino. She would prefer to wait until after his and Antonio's wedding. But Roderich was awfully stagnant. She knew very well he was head over heels for her, she had made certain of it, but as long as he had a piano he seemed quite content to simply live forever in her inn.

Which she would have been fine with, except that now there was a marriage actually happening in town and it made her yearn for a wedding gown. Of her own. Not all of the other wedding gowns she had seen back when she was a wedding planner. She and that idiot.

"What was your wedding like Tino?" Elizaveta asked as Tino was bagging her purchases. Tino stopped to look back over at her.

"Rather sudden." He smiled. "Berwald just would not take no for an answer..."

She was not sure if she should be happy for Tino or concerned for his well being. "How many times did he ask you?"

"Ah..." Tino finished putting her things in her bag. "He didn't really ask. He sort of... proclaimed it."

Elizaveta could imagine it well. "And you...?"

"I wanted to think about it, but I don't think Berwald understood that I hadn't said yes." Tino laughed as if it truly did not bother him, so Elizaveta felt better. "But after thinking about it, I couldn't imagine saying anything but yes." Okay. Not bothered with it, or brainwashed? "A lot less drama than Antonio and Lovino had."

"Then again, did any of us expect Matthew?" Elizaveta grinned. It was certainly embarrassing what mistaken ideas had been drawn when they thought Alfred was acting so weird, but Eliza could easily think back on it with amusement. "Thanks Tino."

"No problem. Oh, and Gilbert said he has been trying to catch you."

Ah, yes. Gilbert. A friend from childhood. A complete asshole. She appreciated the concern he would express about her permanent tenant, even though it was not necessary, but certainly he should have come to the realization Roderich was really incapable of doing anything that would hurt her. Honestly. If she had not known better, she would say Gilbert was jealous.

Though of which one of us~ Giggle. No, don't think that way, Elizaveta. Honestly, don't do it.

"Right. Thanks again, Tino!"

She stepped outside, ready to go home. And it was not as if she was not expecting to be spoken to (small town), but she had not expected to be full on stopped. By Lovino.

"Elizaveta?"

She turned to see him running up, turning slightly red as she did pay attention to him. It was cute and slightly sad. Then again, she had known Lovino long enough to know how he treated most people. But as a girl she seemed excluded from most of his outbursts. Still, he would get so flustered over the slightest attention she could just imagine how starved for it he used to be.

"Yes?"

Even still, she was not expecting this.

"I need your help. With... um..." His voice became quiet and she had to lean in to hear him. "Well... my... wedding."

"What do you need my help with?" she asked. Lovino stared at the ground and Elizaveta was certain if he turned any more red he would pass out.

"All of it."

"All of it!" Elizaveta laughed. "But what–" She stopped, realizing just how desperate he sounded.

Well, she had always told herself that the next and last wedding she would have anything to do with planning would be her own. But she supposed she could always make an exception.


Notes:

Believe it or not, it is how it sounds. Eliza found herself instantly drawn to Roderich before he had done more than ask for a room and board. Then again, Hearth does not often get famous musicians coming through. Or at all. Let alone anyone like Roderich. He is certainly one of a kind.

And yes, she used to be a wedding planner. Lovino knows because he happened to be at the bar one of the few times Elizaveta was treating herself to a drink. More on this later.