[UNRECORDED]

[illdrinktothat]

Walter's lucky enough to actually know about the team stylist's imminent arrival slightly before he actually does. Approximately a few hours ahead of time, which is more than enough time for him to wander down to the train station and wait.

He finds himself a seat on a bench in the shade, and waits. It's going to be a little bit but he doesn't mind all that much. It helps him get his thoughts together on the impeding... whatever it is. Conversation with Garak about Caro, always a fun thing. It's better than talking to Weyoun about Caro, at least.

He's fairly certain Garak is unaware of Caro's scars, and Walter really would like to make sure the stylist leaves those be, not to mention making sure his overall plan for Caro isn't objectionable. He really does like Garak inasmuch as he ever likes Capitol people. He did alright by Caro during her Games, and he even did fine by Walter. But he's also Capitol people, and Walter can't trust Capitol people as far as he can throw then.

Comments

[egarak]

Garak has had an... interesting time herding the styling team. He's had to employ a delicate balance of gentle but unyielding in regards to his vision for Caro. It's difficult getting them to really understand that they won't be... altering her. It's not unheard of to leave a younger Victor mostly alone, but Caro's of age. It might be the usual way of the Capitol, but it's neither Garak's style nor hers.

So it's with some relief that he steps off the train and into 12, as cold as it is. Caro at least will be good company, and he's actually looking forward to hearing more of her Talent. The impromptu mini-concert he heard over the phone was intriguing, but was both brief and quite some time ago. Garak's pulled from his thoughts when he spies Sullivan sitting on a bench, apparently waiting for him. Well now.

"Good morning, Mister Sullivan," Garak says pleasantly. "How have you been these last months?"

[illdrinktothat]

Walter doesn't even really give much of a fuck that it's winter in 12. He's wrapped up in his blue jacket and warmed himself with liquor, so he's right as rain. Or as right as Walter ever gets.

"Morning, Garak. Been a while." He doesn't bother to move from his bench, though. "Same as always. Capitol life treating you well?"

[egarak]

Garak is very firmly not a cold weather person. He's bundled up considerably, especially compared to Sullivan. Then again, Garak isn't accustomed to 12's winters, so he supposes it's not that odd.

"Oh, well enough," Garak replies pleasantly. "I've been delightfully busy, of course. Being a Victor's Stylist and all." He smiles at Sullivan and waits for the man to get to whatever it is that brought him out here in the cold to waylay Garak upon arrival.

[illdrinktothat]

"I'm sure." Walter actually neither knows nor really cares what the styling team does when they're not specifically on the clock. It's not something he's ever spent any amount of time considering.

He stands, finally, finding moving is slightly harder than he'd anticipated given the cold. He deals with it by crossing his arms and ignoring the fact that he can quite clearly see his breath. "I wanted to talk to you about Caro, what it is in particular you had in mind."

He leaves it unspoken that if Garak intends on altering Caro, he's going to get fed to Walter's cat.

[egarak]

Ah. "What I have in mind," Garak begins with a slightly sharper smile than before, "is simply to continue to work with the image she's already made for herself." He folds his arms behind his back and blinks up at Sullivan.

That's not a very straight answer, but Garak's not known for bluntness, really. He also doesn't think it really needs saying, but perhaps it does.

[illdrinktothat]

Walter regards Garak for a moment with his normal sort of squinty-eyed skepticism. After a little bit, he nods and frowns in a kind of approving way. "I hope you're flexible with that. She's..." He trails off for a moment as he tries to figure out a way to word this right. Eventually, he just gives up. "You'll see."

He casts a glance to the train before nodding to the exit. "Hope you don't have a lot of luggage because I sure as fuck aren't going to help you with it."

[egarak]

Garak's intrigued, but he'll see for himself soon enough. The rest of the styling team is finally emerging from the train, grumbling amongst themselves about the cold. Garak gestures Sullivan on ahead and prepares to resume herding. "Fortunately, I travel light."

He mentally makes a note to make sure he greets Caro before the team sees her. They're... prone to theatrics and may need a little coaching beforehand, depending on what it is Caro's changed.

[illdrinktothat]

Walter ambles on out of the train station without even bothering to give the rest of the styling team so much as a second glance. He knows what they look like, or what they looked like last time, and they're really not worth much attention. They're like a small swarm of fashionable insects. He's just glad it's not him they're focusing on.

He ignores them in his trudge through the snow back to the Victor's Village, though he'll later regret not at least amusing himself with their misery. It's not until he's actually at Caro's door and knocking that he realizes he has no goddamn clue what time it is. Oh, well. If it's too early he'll blame Garak.

[caroflower]

Fortunately, Caro is an early riser even when not expecting company. She's just washing the breakfast dishes when she hears a knock at the door. A little earlier than she was expecting, but that's fine. She dries her hands and heads for the door, pausing only to call into the dining room, "Weyoun, they're here. Do you mind finishing the last of the dishes? I don't think they'll let me once they get started."

She feels a tiny bit bad about making Weyoun do dishes, but not very. She really doesn't want two week old dishes greeting her when she gets back.

She opens the door to find... Walter, actually. And then Garak lurking pleasantly a little ways away. The rest of the prep team is nowhere in sight, oddly enough. "Good morning!" She smiles brightly at the both of them in a way that doesn't pull at her scars too much. She uh, might have neglected to say anything to Garak about those.

[illdrinktothat]

Walter's glad she's already up and about this...early morning, apparently. He's fairly sure it's morning. His smile's a lot more controlled than it would be if it were the two of them, but he smiles all the same. "Hey, sweetheart."

He very pointedly steps out of the way so as not to be quite so between her and Garak. He wants to see the reaction, after all.

[egarak]

Halfway to Caro's house, Garak sends the team off for coffee and griping so he can see Caro without their fluttering. The trek into the Victor's Village is rather bleak, though his opinion may be influenced by the ghastly weather. He watches with interest as Sullivan knocks on Caro's door. After a moment, she opens the door and Sullivan steps aside to give Garak an unobstructed view. He immediately understands why Sullivan was at the station to meet him, and why he was so vague and cagey. How interesting.

Garak steps forward to both greet Caro properly and get a better look at those scars. They're healed, but recently so. They're also not quite identical to her injuries in the Arena, though they are close. These are a little more elegant, fit her face a little more flatteringly. Very interesting indeed.

"Why my dear, what a delightful stylistic choice you've made here." Garak beams at her and swoops in, reaching out to grasp her chin and tilt her head this way and that. The scars have clearly been well taken care of. Good.

Caro, being quite used to Garak's personal space invading tendencies, allows this without a word. In fact, midway through the inspection she smiles up at him in a way that twists and pulls at her scars. The average Capitol citizen would probably go a bit green, but Garak only has to muffle a laugh. Finally he lets go and takes a small step back.

"Wonderfully done! Though I do wish you had told me, I might have made some slightly different choices in your wardrobe." And then he just swans into Caro's home like he's been there before, leaving Caro laughing on the doorstep.

[illdrinktothat]

Walter watches Garak with keen interest. He takes the appearance of the scars well, far better than Walter had really expected. His... general ease at invading Caro's personal space is something Walter supposes he should expect, though so long out of the Games it's not something he's thought of at all. Still, he keeps an eye on Caro, only really relaxing once it's apparent she's fine with this sort of thing with Garak.

If anything, Garak seems better than some of the other prep teams he's seen before. He invades personal space but Walter never gets that particular feeling that he's looking over a piece of livestock to be shown off. That's kind of unusual, for a stylist. The laughter catches him a bit offguard, but at this point he should really just expect Garak to be full of surprises.

Still, he's grateful when the man disappears into the house. He quickly glances about to make sure that not only is Garak not able to see them, but that the rest of the prep team hasn't arrived, then quickly steps forward to kiss her lightly on her cheekbone. On those scars, of course. "Weyoun driving you crazy with the schedule yet?"

God knows he's heard the fucking thing at least five times already.

[caroflower]

Caro's glad to see Garak. They fall back into their usual routine almost immediately, and she laughs as he wanders into her house like he lives there. She knows, however, that she'll be thoroughly interrogated later.

And then Walter's stepping back up and kissing her scars. She smiles up at him. "Nah, I think I've got him doing dishes at the moment." She waves Walter in, because it really is cold out this morning. "Where's the rest of the team?"

[illdrinktothat]

"Dishes? That's peasant stuff." Walter snorts in amusement. "Getting coffee or something. Garak sent them away for a while." He doesn't mention that's because he met Garak at the train station and kind of vaguely warned him, because that's mostly not all that important.

He steps in the house a breathes into his hands. From there it's just.... finding Garak and Weyoun. He's guessing the kitchen is a good place to start.

[caroflower]

Caro slides around Walter and heads for the kitchen. Sure enough, there's Garak being quietly amused at Weyoun doing the dishes. He sends her an amused look, but she just smiles back.

"I guess we'd better get going if we want to keep to Weyoun's schedule," she says after a moment. She's not especially looking forward to the prep team descending on her, but she's also confident that Garak will keep them under control.

"Yes," Garak agrees immediately, "especially since you'll need a little more time in makeup, I think." At her questioning look, he adds, "It will be much more dramatic to unveil your new look at a more... strategic time."

"Oh, of course." She'll have to ask about that later. If no one else has anything to add, she'll show Garak to the spare bedroom she decided to corral the prep team in.