Lament

*knock knock*

'...Come in.'

'Hey, honey. How are you holding up?'

'Not very well...'

'Of course, I understand. Oh, baby, come here.'

'Why's he doing this? Does he really hate me that much?'

'Oh God, Carmella... I don't know. He's just thinking of the money, as usual.'

'But why is that more important to him? Why don't I matter?'

'Nobody matters to him. With your father it's always him who comes first.'

'I feel sick... I can't do it, Mum.'

'And you won't. Hey, listen. He said it's supposed to go ahead when you're eighteen. We'll be long gone by then. I'm going to speed things up now. Sorry about this, but I'm going to have to go to Isla Paradiso for one night to find us a house.'

'Don't leave us with him!'

'I wouldn't, but I can't take you too. It'd be too suspicious. If you want to sleep over at a friend's place, then we'll try to arrange that. Maybe at Edward's house.'

'But Dad would never allow that.'

'And he'll never find out that's where you're going. I'll ask Edward. I'm sure he'll say yes. They've got an extra room, haven't they?'

'True...What about Julius? It'd be too crowded if he went to Edward's too. Where can he sleep over?'

'Hmm. I think I might ask Nyla about that one.'

'Right.'

'He'll kick up less of a fuss about me going away if he doesn't have to watch you lot. That, and I don't think any of you really want his charming company any more.'

'No.'

'Of course, I need to book a flight first. It might not happen just yet. But hopefully we won't have to stay in Sunset Valley for any longer than a couple more months.'

'Good. Because I hate him, Mum.'

'Everyone who knows him hates him, darling. I'm sure if the voters were able to see what goes on behind closed doors they'd hate him too.'

'So those rare times he is nice... is he pretending?'

'Probably. Honestly, Carmella, I think he's pretty dead inside. See, you're a kind, sensitive girl. Hurting people wouldn't occur to you because you have a conscience. But he... well, he just doesn't. Sometimes I don't even think he's a person at all. He's wired completely differently to everyone else.'

'There's no hope for him, in other words.'

'None at all.'

'I don't think I could forgive him anyway, even if he magically was sorry. Nobody else has.'

'Nobody else will, either. Look at Edward... I'm pretty sure he'll hate him until he dies, and that's a long, long time away. Anyway, you just try to forget it for now. You won't marry this man. That's a damn promise.'

'Oh, hey Zeus! Come in.'

'Hi Raya. Sorry to drop in unannounced. I hope I'm not interrupting anything.'

'No, I've just got Ari over. You can see her too while you're here.'

'Aw, nice.'

'Zeus? Nice to see you.'

'You too.'

'Go on, sit down. I won't offer you a beer though.'

'Heh, that's okay. What were you doing?'

'Just gossiping.'

'Pretty much. Everyone else was being boring and unavailable tonight. I usually go to the pub with Stan, but tonight he's more bothered about getting laid. Fair enough, but it's not something I understand.'

'Getting laid?'

'Yeah, he and Nyla got together.'

'...Oh. That's nice.'

'You sound disappointed.'

'Oh, n-no I'm not! Good for him, I say.'

'...Hmm, you sure?'

'Aww Zeus, you can tell us.'

'Do you fancy Nyla, is that it?'

'Haha, yeah, that's it. She's pretty. P-pretty hot, that is.'

'...What? Why are you looking like that?'

'Hehe, it's nothing. That was just a bit unconvincing, that's all.'

'...So do you actually fancy Stanley instead?'

'...Shh. Don't tell him!'

'Oh believe me, I won't. He doesn't need his ego inflating any further.'

'I don't think he's bad either, Ari.'

'...Yeah, I'm definitely not saying anything.'

'Guys, I'm serious.'

'Hey, your secret's safe with us.'

'Don't worry! Aww, we all get crushes. Nothing to be ashamed of.'

'Even if it's a man?'

'Nah, you should be more worried about the fact that it's a poser.'

'Haha, well. I do like girls too, you know! Honestly. I'm bi, like Heath.'

'Boys, girls, what does it matter? We're not bothered. We believe you, though.'

'Thanks.'

'So did you come over for any reason in particular?'

'Uh, I'm afraid I'm not here for a good reason... I-it's Dad. He's done something horrible...'

'How horrible are we talking?'

'Is it an emergency?'

'Um... he's arranged a marriage for Carmella.'

'What?'

'Are you fucking kidding me?'

'Nope...'

'Oh, I'm gonna kill him.'

'Wait a minute. Let's find out all the details... Zeus, tell us all about it.'

'Okay...'

Hate button needed

'Thank you for the meal, Tate. I'm very impressed.'

'It's my pleasure.'

'And your wife and children are immaculate, as usual. Well, apart from your son's beard...'

'Oh, that. Well, you know what teenagers are like! They all go through a period of rebellion.'

'Not the girl, I hope.'

'No, no. Carmella's always been the picture of good behaviour, haven't you, darling?'

'Oh, yeah.'

'Good. You have to get them started early. I know there are those who think they should spent their youth "getting it out of their system", but I'm a firm believer in enforcing it from an early age. Some people have no respect for values any more.'

'I couldn't agree with you more.'

'So... it was nice meeting her. She'll be good, I think.'

'Huh?'

'I assure you, she will be. You'll find no complaints.'

'I did have a few things I wanted to discuss with her.'

'Such as?'

'My expectations.'

'Ah, I see... Well, you do know I haven't told her yet...'

'Why not now, then? So she'll know what's what.'

'Okay, that's a fair point.'

'What are you talking about, Father?'

'Carmella's upcoming marriage to Quinn.'

'....What?'

'What...marriage...?'

'It's been arranged for quite a while. I intended to tell her closer to the time, but now will be just as good. Carmella, you're going to marry Quinn.'

'Uh...'

'Tate? Are you serious?'

'W-when is this meant to be happening...?'

'In a couple of years, once you're eighteen.'

'I don't understand...'

'Look, I'm going to be upfront about this. Quinn is nearing forty and I still haven't found a suitable wife for him. A good few years ago, Tate and I agreed that if this happened, he'd let him have one of his daughters.'

'Excuse me?!'

'And as such, here we are.'

'Mr Fortescue has helped our family greatly over the years. It's only fair that I give back to him in return.'

'So you thought you'd sell our daughter?!'

'...Roxxi, a word outside please.'

'I must say, I hope she's a lot more agreeable than her mother.'

'You shut the fuck up! Your son's not going anywhere near Carmella!'

'I do apologise. I'm not quite sure what's gotten into her. Come on Roxxi, let's go.'

'But yes, my expectations. As a wife, there's a certain code of conduct you'll need to follow.'

'No...'

'It's your duty to fulfil his every need. No request is too much. Speak when spoken to, and significantly: don't look or behave like a tart.'

'Okay, that's enough. Don't fucking talk to my sister like that! She's not marrying your stupid son!'

'Hold your tongue, boy!'

'Boy? I'm a CEO! You don't get to shut me up. Speaking of which, has he got a tongue? Because he hasn't said a word all evening.'

'Father arranges business for me.'

'Why? Are you too stupid to do it yourself?'

'Tate speaks highly of you, Tristan. I wouldn't get too hasty here. You don't want him to be disappointed in you, do you? Because if you don't keep quiet, I'll go back on the deal-'

'Good! That's what I want!'

'Perhaps, but do you want me to rescind all of my political funding? I have the power to make things difficult. I don't think he'd be best pleased if I told him it was all your fault.'

'...We'll discuss this another time.'

'Wise move.'

'What the fuck do you think you're playing at? Damn it Roxxi, you could ruin this for me!'

'No, what are you playing at?! That's our daughter!'

'And? She needed to find a way to be useful to this family anyway.'

'How dare you! She doesn't exist to please you, you fucking asshole! There's nothing wrong with her-'

'Shut up. I made this deal with Richard a long time ago, and you will not get in the way of it. Who do you think bought this house? Because it wasn't me. You know we were still recovering back then.'

'We? Sorry, don't you mean you? I know all about how you went bankrupt, and that's nothing to do with me and everything to do with you being a sociopath!'

'That's a big word for you, isn't it?'

'Oh, go to hell. This arrangement isn't going ahead. Our daughter isn't a deal. She's never so much as kissed a boy, for fuck's sake. I'm not going to let you marry her off. That's disgusting. You're disgusting.'

'I don't see why you're objecting so much to an arranged marriage, considering ours.'

'It's hardly a marriage any more. Never was one.'

'True. But I've got what I want out of it, at least. Now when we go back in there, just fucking co-operate.'

'Fine. But this still isn't happening. He'll marry her over my dead body.'

'...You know exactly just how easily that can be sorted.'

'...I hate you.'

'Likewise. Now let's get a move on before he changes his mind.'