"Dulling the pre-wedding fears" (or "Your wedding day can be perfect if you listen to the portents!")
by Pacifist91w
Note and warning: This story is fiction; any resemblance between these characters and anyone is coincidental. This story contains an explicit lesbian scene and some mildly demeaning terms.
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Karmella VanWolden had done more than her share of work to ensure that her wedding plans were on track. She didn't believe that anyone who was fair could call her a Bridezilla. She had insisted on several particular details, but she hadn't been too demanding. Meeting her standards hadn't been impossible.
She had the perfect church for her wedding: St. Catherine's Cathedral. She had the perfect reception venue: the Golden Ballroom. She had the perfect ring: a 22-karat gold band displaying a 2.5-carat, VVS, grade E rock that was surrounded by twelve 0.5-carat stones. She had the perfect dress for her body: a pure white off-the-shoulder mermaid gown that would minimize her wide hips, enhance the cleavage of her average-sized bust, and provide excellent contrast for her carrot-orange hair and pale, freckled skin. She had the perfect shoes: shiny white strappy stilettos with tall heels and discreet platforms-shoes that would make her look taller than 5' 2", show off her perfectly pedicured, white-polished toes, and make her average legs look longer and more shapely. She had the perfect maid of honor and bridesmaids and all their dresses were perfect too. The groom, best man, and groomsmen had perfect tuxedos reserved. Hundreds of other details were all perfect-or as near as they could be.
Karmella would not leave anything to chance, though. As the Big Day was a mere 120 hours away, the proud bride-to-be kept her appointment with her most important advisor: Venezia Romagna. Two minutes early, Karmella arrived at Venezia's office. Ellora, the personal assistant, showed Karmella into the plush meeting room.
"Karmella, my dear, lovely to see you," said the sturdy, well-dressed, woman who waited in the room. Karmella smelled vanilla incense and Chanel #5. Venezia held out her arms. The two women embraced and air-kissed. "You have come to see if your wedding date is still suitable."
The red-haired girl looked surprised. "You're right," she said. "Everything I can think of is ready, but I need to know that I've picked a good time for the ceremony. So...check it for me."
"Of course," said Venezia. "Please sit." The small octagonal table had comfortable, overstuffed loveseats across from each other; Karmella immediately flopped onto hers.
Venezia's straight, upper-back-length glossy brown hair fell near her eyes while she seated herself and readied her deck of cards. "It was June 12th," she murmured.
"Yeah, like it always has been," said Karmella impatiently.
An acrobatic flick of her wrist and Venezia spread an arched line of cards. She moved back the other way, depositing a curved row under the first, but bent downward instead of upward. The cards on the table resembled an eye. "First, we'll see what th-"
Karmella's phone started playing a peppy pop tune. "-Wait!" she said imperiously, holding up her hand and answering her phone. "Hi, Jordan!
"Not really: no one important.
"Yeah, girl; I'm getting a facial then-probably a little soak in the mineral bath, too."
Venezia looked as though she was idly straightening cards while her client talked, but she was fuming. Karmella paid well, but the young lady had an ego big enough for twenty people. Preparing for her wedding had made her even ruder than usual. The tarot expert thought about getting up and walking away.
But maybe she could use her skills as an actress, cardsharp, and psychology student to deal with Karmella's poor manners more...creatively. Yes. Yes! It was time to see how much the ginger-haired "princess" believed in her fortune teller.
"...can't wait either! Okay, bye-bye!" Karmella hit the End button. "I told that bitch not to call me now," said Karmella, blinking her large green eyes in a way she probably thought was endearing. "Go on with the reading."
"This card will tell us how well the wedding will go," said Venezia. With a flourish, she turned over The Tower. "Oh," she said, pretending dismay.
"No!" said Karmella, truly dismayed. "Last time, you said June 12 was perfect, so what the hell is this?"
"My dear, that day is perfect," Venezia said suavely. "This card tells us about the event itself. Apparently, you will have a very trying wedding day, no matter when or where it is held."
"In what way will it be 'trying?' It's supposed to be the happiest day of my life."
"Let's see how," said Venezia. She turned over the 10 of Wands. "In many ways, I regret to say."
Karmella put her hands on the sides of her face. "No, no no no no, this can't be. It can't! Come on, find me a way out of this; I can't have a fucked-up wedding day. I don't deserve anything less than perfect!"
Thinking about what Karmella deserved, Venezia smiled broadly. "You're correct, I'm sure. Patience. We will see what we can do to change the portents."
Death was the next card.
The petite redhead let out a shriek. "That's-"
Venezia put a gentle hand on Karmella's forearm. "-It simply means an amazing reversal in this case, dearest. Death often means rebirth and a drastic change of form. The card suggests that you have not been completely true to yourself, but you must be. You must have the fortitude to embrace something new-very soon."
"I have so been true to myself!"
"I'm sure you have tried to be. Bear with me a little longer; we will see if we can learn anything more."
Karmella's beautiful green eyes were glued to the card in Venezia's hand. When it hit the top of the table: Queen of Swords. "My, my! I'm not sure I can keep going with this," said the dark-haired woman.