Alexa looked grumpy, not all that big of a surprise in Jazz's opinion, given her purchases. It looked as if Alexa, or more likely, Sonya had cleared out most of a shoe outlet and a few boutiques. The massive amount of bags strung over both of Alexa's arms didn't seem to make a dent in her stride, something the other two couldn't really claim, even with their much smaller hauls. This fact alone likely made Alexa the de facto pack mule for all three.
As Alexa got closer, Jazz took note of a sizable red mark, rapidly approaching a bruise, set into Alexa's forehead.
"Doing alright there, Spits?" Jazz asked with a small smirk.
"You're lucky I love you, otherwise I'd never deal with Sonya's shopping binges." She huffs, muscling her way past Jazz and taking their things into the living room.
"Don't get too comfortable, mom's taking us out to eat...you know 'All my babies under the same roof! I got to treat them to a nice dinner!'" Jazz's impression of Melody was damn near perfect, but Alexa found herself too distracted to fully appreciate it.
Sitting on the family's couch was a man she thought was Jazz's age, give or take. He was tall, at least Alexa's height, but far less muscular. The word scarecrow jumped to mind as she looked at him, all gangly limbs and baggy clothes. A mess of black hair sat atop his noggin and a pair of thick glasses perched on his nose.
When he noticed her staring he gave her an awkward smile and a wave. Alexa didn't return the gesture, instead her eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly set her bags down. He continued to grin, but even more nervousness came into his expression, sweat starting to break out on his lightly pockmarked forehead.
"Spits, this is Sean. Sean, this is Alexa." Jazz said eagerly, either oblivious of or ignoring the tension building between the pair.
"H-hi! Nice to meet y-you! Jazz has told me a lot!" Sean said, standing and walking towards Alexa, hand outstretched. Alexa answered by pressing her lips together, creating one thin line.
"Hi...Jazz, do you mind if I borrow your boyfriend? We need to have a...private discussion." Alexa said in a dangerous tone. Sean paled by a shade or two.
"Really Spits? Do you have to?" Jazz asked with a slight sigh.
"Yes." Alexa answered without hesitation.
"Fine." Jazz grunted. Alexa grabbed Sean by the elbow and dragged him out of the room and upstairs. Sean trudged behind her like she was leading him to the electric chair. When they finally got into the closest room, Jazz's, she shut the door behind them and turned. She found Sean looking worried, but attempting to put on a brave face. This only served to amuse Alexa to no end. He was really really bad at putting on that face. Jazz, one of the bravest people she knew, was marrying someone who frightened so easily! Still, he stood in front of her and only glanced at the door once, so maybe he was made of sterner stuff than she gave him credit for.
"Okay, when they ask you what this was all about you should probably fib and give the expected answer. Tell them whatever you want, that I threatened to castrate you with a spork or tie you, arms first to the bumper of a bus if you hurt Jazz." Alexa said, her posture relaxing slightly.
"I...um...you mean, you're not? Threatening me, I mean." Sean said, most of the tremor leaving his voice.
"Why bother?" Alexa said with a laugh "Jazz can take care of herself and Melody can go full on mama bear in a heartbeat! It's not worth my breath!"
She stepped a bit closer.
"No, I'm here to confirm a theory. Shelby said you've been looking for a place for you and Jazz for months now, and I couldn't help but notice no ring on Jazz's finger. So unless I misread the situation, it seems like both of those are connected." Alexa put her hands on her hips and stared Sean dead in the eye. She didn't know all too much about weddings, but she knew enough to know that the man was expected to shell out a lot for the ring. Her suspicions were confirmed when Sean looked down guiltily.
"I...yeah. I've been saving up for a nice one. But with student loans to pay off, rent, and the wedding to pay for... something had to be cut back." Sean mumbled.
"And you think if you can't do it yourself you don't deserve to do it, huh?" Alexa added. Sean didn't answer.
"Sean, you're a good guy, I have nothing against you marrying Jazz. But good God you're dense. A fancy ring is a talking point, but I think Jazz'll like having a roof over her head more!" She threw an arm around his shoulders and, ignoring the flinch, she gave him a rough squeeze.
"So this is what's gonna happen. I'll get ya both a ring, there's a family ring from my mom's side I think would do perfect for Jazz and a wedding band for you won't be too hard to find! Then once you got them you put that money you've been saving towards a down payment for a house!" Sean looked up, surprised.
"You'd do that?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, I got no siblings on mom's side that'll come looking for it, and you and Jazz deserve it more right now anyway!" Alexa ensured him, beaming.
"I...but...why? You don't even know me." Sean pointed out
"True, but I know Jazz, and I know that you make her happy. Which makes me very happy. Simple as that." She smiled at Sean and led him to the door.
"Just leave it to me! I'll get the rings here in a few days, and the most we'll have to do is get them refitted." Alexa turned and led a still slightly confused Sean from the room and back down to the living room. Jazz was busy snickering at something Sonya was showing her on her phone and didn't initially see them enter.
"Ah there you two are!" Jazz said, crossing the room in a few quick strides and throwing her arms around Sean. She planted a quick kiss on him. "Spits didn't say anything too bad, did she?"
"Oh just...uh...the normal stuff. Dropped off in the desert and left for dead, some very colorful uses for cutlery. Basically everything your mom said." Sean muttered lying with one of the worst poker faces Alexa had ever seen.
"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, sweetie." Melody said primly as she adjusted her purse on her shoulder. Sean flinched slightly. For someone her size, Melody could move with surprising stealth.
"Are we all ready to go?" Jazz asked. In the chorus of affirmation, Alexa was the one voice of dissent.
"Give me a moment to run back upstairs, there's something I want to grab before we go." She turned and retreated up the stairs but not before she heard Jazz snicker.
"Oh my god you got video?" Jazz giggled.
"Only of the shoes." Sonya answered with malicious glee. "Wait till you see how she got that mark on her forehead!"
Alexa groaned and made a mental note to turn Sonya's phone to scrap before the wedding.
As Alexa headed into her bedroom Luna looked up with a lazy sort of creak.
"I see you're enjoying the down time." Alexa said, giving her metal dog a scratch behind the ears before digging through her bags. She came out again with a small box that she promptly put into a gift bag. After she had zipped up the pack Luna made her way over, pressing her cold nose against the mark on her forehead.
"Oh it's nothing, a few falls while shopping for shoes." She explained. Luna responded with a few short whirrs of her motor and a woof.
"Oh quiet, you!" She lightly chuckled, giving the pup a playful shove. "You doing alright up here? Not too bored?"
Luna responded by thumping her tail against the bedpost and clicking her teeth in sequence. Alexa blinked.
"Seriously?" She asked. Luna nodded, her ears flopping. "Well more power to you."
She gave the dog's hindquarters a quick pat, gathered up her things and rejoined the group downstairs. Only Melody and Shelby were there to greet her, and almost immediately she found herself herded into Melody's car.
"So who's the present for?" Shelby asked eagerly.
"Your brother. Sorta a 'Sorry I spooked you, glad to meet ya' thing." Alexa answered, giving the bag a little shake. Shelby tried to peek, but found only a simple cardboard container meeting her gaze.
"It didn't come with a box." Alexa explained, a little cheekily.
They pulled up to a small, family owned Italian place, which happened to be one of Alexa's favorite places in the world. Melody had taken her and Jazz there many many times over the years, at least once every time the pair would visit during the Christmas season.
The moment the party entered they were greeted by the smiling face of Mr. Izzo, the owner. He was a balding man in his late 50s, what little hair he had was a mix of black and white, he was a bit bigger around the midsection than she remembered but it was still unquestionably him.
"Oh ho! Mrs. Sherman, you didn't tell me you were bringing so many new faces!" He chuckled.
"Only two, Lenny. This is my soon to be son in law, Sean, and his sister Shelby. The other three I'd hope you'd know." Melody said with a slight grin.
"I suppose Jasmine is the blushing bride, eh? Congratulations! We'll have to treat you to dessert while you're here!" He turned his attention to Sean
"Careful with her, she's got a wild streak in her!" He added with a conspiratorial wink. "Cannot count the plates this girl has destroyed! Might need to mind your head, eh?"
Jazz's face turned pink, but before he could continue sharing the embarrassments of the past he moved on to Sonya.
"Oh now I remember ya! Jazz brought you here a few times. You were the one raving about Mama's struffoli last time you were here!" It was Sonya's turn to blush.
"It was really good…" Sonya said, somewhat lamely. But Mr. Izzo had already moved on, looking up to scrutinise the face of Alexa. He frowned for three long seconds before his eyes suddenly widened.
"My goodness! That's quite the growth spurt! I almost didn't recognize little Alexa!" He laughed.
"Not exactly little anymore!" Alexa agreed with a small grin. He nodded in agreement and motioned towards the dining area.
"Mama is going to be steamed that she missed you! Had surgery on her foot some time ago, has to sit for a few more weeks. I told her 'That's what happens when you put it off for so long! You've been complaining about swollen ankles for years now!' but of course mama knows best." He rolled his eyes. Alexa grinned. The man's mother was every inch the grandmotherly type, loving and doting, but she was as stubborn as a mule about a great many things. Particularly about a growing girl like Alexa having third or fourth helpings. Mr. Izzo showed the group to their table and broke out the menus. After taking their drink orders and scurrying off Alexa finally produced her gift bag.
"I got a bit of a wedding present for you. I thought you might like this." She said as she passed the bag to Sean. Jazz's eyes flashed in Alexa's direction.
"Spits, you didn't have to do anything like that…" Jazz said with a small laugh. Alexa waved her off as Sean plucked the box from under the tissue paper.
Within seconds he had the cardboard opened to reveal two smaller plastic cases, both contained a small metal figurine and a card, one with a male figure dressed in a robe with a war helmet, the other with a female figure, the base of her statue surrounded by flowers. Sean's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"Are...are those…?" He began to say
"Jazz told me you were into Mythomagic, and I found these two at a garage sale, during my time away. I don't think the seller knew how rare they were, Hades alone is worth a pretty penny and with Persephone too, not to mention the Underworld Union card in Persephone's box…" She shook her head.
"Oh boy. Now you've done it." Shelby muttered. They could all see the building excitement in Sean's eyes. Alexa quickly buried her nose in her menu as the explosion of nerd washed over the table. If this was how he reacted to Mythomagic figures, she couldn't wait to see the reaction she'd get after she was done making their wedding rings.