much wedding such wow

[astralera]

♥ Who: Era & Ardbert & OTA
♥ Where: Lup's Fabulous Mansion
♥ When: Evening of December 12th
♥ What: Wedding Ceremony (invitees only) & Reception (OTA)
♥ Rating: PG-13

☘
INVITEES

{all invitees can bring a +1 if they choose}
• Lup
• Honerva
• Emet-Selch
• Ardyn
• Regis
• Noctis
• Prompto
• Ignis
• Lunafreya
• Lance

The mansion will open to all offworlders who wish to attend the reception — no invites needed for that!

THE CEREMONY (INVITEES ONLY)

Takes place in a cozy outdoor garden beneath a starry night sky. There are comfortable benches set up with enough space for everyone invited, as well as a not-insignificant number of reserved seating for people who cannot attend. The aisle is bordered by thistles, and lit by warm lanterns. At the end of the aisle is a small platform beneath an elf tree decorated with fairy lights.


Carbuncle leads the procession, acting as the 'flower girl' by shaking a basket of petals around as it trots along. It is followed by Era, who is walked down the aisle by Regis, and waiting for her at the end is Ardbert, flanked by her chocobo and his amaro, all looking very dapper in their tailored coattails and ties. She wears a long robe so deep a grey it looks almost black, and her face is obscured by a mask. She carries a artichoke bouquet.

When she steps up to meet her betrothed he lowers her hood and removes her mask. They're both smiling, clearly head-over-heels for each other. Her bouquet is handed over to Seto for safekeeping, knowing Peki would simply eat it (though Peki reaches over with his long neck and promptly eats it anyway).

There is a priest (grabbed at the last minute from the nearest temple) ready to begin the ceremony. It goes quickly and with hardly any fuss. There is no mention of gods or religion—just loyalty, commitment, and love. Hythlo, their amaro chick, is the ring bearer, and does an admirable job (even if he does run to Noctis instead of Ardbert at first).

In the end Era's vows are very simple: "I love you."

Ardbert abandons the vows he came up with earlier, following his wife's lead with an equally simple: "I love you, too."

Their first kiss is short and sweet. Ardbert has his fingers twined with hers and she can't stop blushing, looking shyly down at the ring on her finger. Familiar with her discomfort in being at the center of attention, Ardbert jovially pulls the aggro calls out:

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go eat!"

THE DINNER (INVITEES)

The meal will be held place in a second room made to look like another section of the garden from the ceremony. The dining tables are rustic picnic benches lit by warm candles in crystalline cups. Overhead is a balcony of arched branches, decorated with fairly lights and strings of crystalline beads (1).

Now devoid of her robe, Era wears a dress with flowing skirts that glitter like the night sky and a top as white as the Light that joined her and her husband together as one. Her hair is loose for once, and her auracite pendant hangs openly from her neck for all to see, as well as the scars on her back she rarely reveals.

The meal is largely made up of hearty, traditional foods like creamy lamb stew, potatoes of all kinds, myriad other vegetables, warm and buttery dinner rolls, various beverages (including both pomegranate and caelumfruit wines), etc., though if there's nothing that tickles your fancy available one of the moogle attendants will do their best to fulfill specific requests. The dinner will be served up to a maximum of nine courses, so hopefully you brought an appetite. Era sure did, and can be found stuffing her face alongside Ardbert in a way most unbefitting a bride, but very fitting for a Warrior or Light.

At the end of the meal they cut their two cakes (one apple-pomegranate and one ice cream), and when Ardbert smashes a slice of cake in Era's face he smartly chooses the non-frozen one. Despite having agreed to smashing cake in each other's faces Era is so excited to eat cake that it completely slips her mind, leaving her blinking up at Ardbert in utter confusion as bits of cake fall on top of her plated slice. (She finds it all very funny once she clues in, as does Ardbert).


**note: invitees will have their dinner first, but there will be food available throughout the reception! it just will be more of a buffet than a proper dinner.

THE RECEPTION

The main reception hall is a recreation of the main hall of Fortemps Manor, albeit a little smaller (1, 2, 3, 4). There is plenty of seating for those who wish to relax in a comfortable chair, or some peace and quiet to snack on finger-foods.

To the left of the main foyer is a medium-sized room with bright, focused lighting suitable for excellent photographs. The garden area is where one might go for that sort of background, but in this room guests can choose from a number of options - a few spots somewhere in Havenwell if they want a more grounded picture, or a different city entirely, an ocean view, a crowded party scene... plenty to choose from. Whatever is selected will be magically projected onto the opposite wall and floor where anyone can pose.

Prompto has been asked to act as the wedding photographer, though he won't be constrained to this room, so guests may have to find him or someone else to help. If they do not have a photographer handy, they can pass their camera or communicator over to one of the mansion servants who is standing by at the door, a semi-translucent floating moogle. The moogle will politely take any photo that the guests ask for until they're satisfied.


On the opposite side of the foyer is a large square area with a beautifully patterned floor, tiled and sturdy, well-suited for dancing or moving about, if guests wish to spend a little time prancing in their lovely outfits. Small cocktail tables and comfortable chairs line the outside area for when you need to rest your feet, and one corner has a band of moogles playing music, switching instruments in and out as needed between songs depending on the mood they're going for. None of them are singing, but there is a microphone if anyone feels like getting... impromptu. Just don't ruin it for everyone else... the moogles also double as bouncers on command.


A small room off to the side of the garden acts as the combination restroom/powder room, with segmented areas for privacy as well as a space to freshen up, cool down, and escape the rest of the party for a bit. It's as fancy as the rest, all marble and gleaming tile, clean and softly-lit. Imagine the nicest hotel bathroom you've ever seen, and that's about what to expect from this room.

MANSION NOTES:

• anything taken out of the mansion that was created within it will dissipate into smoke once passing through the portal, so no food, furniture, or servants can be stolen. (go ahead and try, though.)

• though only a handful will be visible and working at any given time, there are 100 servants hiding in the woodwork somewhere. anyone who causes enough of a ruckus that the bride and groom wish them to be removed will immediately be swarmed by moogles and tossed out the door.

• the mansion is active for 24 hours or until dispelled, so feel free to party as long as you want, unless the happy couple (or Lup) decides it's time for you to go the heck home already.

Comments

[shroudedsecrets]

"She would not admit as much, but such things are... clear regardless. She was more concerned about whether we as guests were enjoying ourselves than her own discomfort with the situation. She did not think her feelings should matter in that case."

And while she prefers not to speak of personal information about others in this way, Ardbert is... closest to Era.

[lunaelucem]

"It was most likely Pryna. She is more sensitive to other's feelings than her brother."

Not to say that Umbra isn't, but Pryna is a deft hand at comforting others where Umbra is more of the protective sort. She smiles faintly, looking thoughtful.

"Would Seto let me hug him? Perhaps not now, but in time?"

[lunaelucem]

Limited only by the imagination...

[Lunafreya wouldn't consider herself un-imaginative, but she certainly feels more rooted in the real and tangible, for all that she's incredibly spiritual.]

It's an incredibly impressive list of abilities. I daresay you would be able to go toe-to-toe with the best spellcasters from my world, if not outclass them entirely.

[necromanswers]

From what I've heard of your world, it doesn't have much to offer in the way of magic to begin with! No slight against you all, but it's awfully exclusive, isn't it?

[All tied up in bloodlines and gods and whatnot... that's too limiting in her mind.]

[firstbump]

"Era's always been like that... always more concerned about others to the detriment of herself," Ardbert's frown eases into a sad smile. "I was already planning to sneak the two of us out for a bit of alone time, but perhaps I should do it sooner. Thank you for letting me know."

He knows she won't want him to end the party early, but what he can do for her is to give her some space away from it. They need moments to themselves tonight anyways. It's a win-win as far as he's concerned.

... at least they'll only have to get married once.

[firstbump]

"Mostly, I can't remember because I wasn't sober," Ardbert shrugs innocently. "But animals like me, so it could've been either."

He laughs in response. "Seto loves affection; he wouldn't mind at all if you hugged him right now."

[shroudedsecrets]

"I have noticed that about her for some time. It is not words that will convince her of her own worth beyond what she perceives herself as. Although I am not certain of what else might."

She'd recalled several interactions to that regard, but with her own issues that were similar in some ways, Honerva just did not feel equipped enough to push further. Something she'd encountered with most people.

[lunaelucem]

[She inclines her head in agreement.]

It is, indeed. I've no idea to the reasons why myself, and I was privy to more of the gods' thoughts than most. Had more Eosians been gifted with magic, they might have been better equipped to deal with the dangers that plagued our world. [A wry smile.] Fortunately, there were many brave souls that would fight for everyone even without such powers.

[lunaelucem]

"If that's the case, I've half a mind to do it now, before I lose my chance later."

Lunafreya tilts her head, an inquisitive smile on her face.

"Though I suppose I should find some sort of food offering as a gift, if we are to meet for the first time..."

[necromanswers]

Gods are kinda fickle that way- I think that's the case in any world. I do on occasion admire those brave idiots who run into a fight without being able to shoot fireballs, though.

[firstbump]

For a moment, he just looks sad, not even able to smile. "The Gods know I've tried, but...."

He trails off and just shakes his head, chuckling without humor. "I knew about it going in, anyroad. Been there myself, although some of her reasons are different. She can't be convinced until she's ready to fight that battle herself—and I'll be at her side when she finally is."

[firstbump]

"A gentle touch will more than suffice," he replies, quoting an old friend that could have been. "Seto'll be with Hythlodaeus, our amaro chick, so you'll probably get to pet them both."

He shrugs and pushes himself up to his feet. "Now works well enough for me. Should probably take a break from the drink and make sure I don't go too far anyway."

[shroudedsecrets]

"She has to be ready to walk that path for herself, but reasons can become... tangled."

Which she could also understand, was not an easy mindset to change, whether it was one born of a single year or thousands upon count. But that wasn't to mean that it was impossible, either.

[firstbump]

"They can be, aye." Ardbert can't see anything he disagrees with, here. "All I can do is work to keep them as few as possible."

[unnecessaryflourishes]

If that is what you would think, far be it for me to say otherwise.

[After all, even were he able to remember his previous stay in Havenwell, he would hardly have been able to say one way or another whether or not it had truly helped her. It is not for him to know the whole of her mind, much less her thoughts. Nor should he care to - what he knows is enough, and it will do.]

And I can think of no better company to keep. Even if it should be but a single small fragment of that which I am.

[With her, that small fragment of himself will be able to travel the world. To accompany her on the adventures that he had never been able to join her predecessor on, and there's something fitting about that, he thinks. A fitting way to echo their respective paths, at the end of all things.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I shall endeavor to find something suitable, then.

[True, if all else fails it will be relatively trivial to simply create a pair. But if he should happen to not need to, so much the better.

That is, however, a consideration for later. For the time being, there's simply the briefest of nods in appreciation for the fact that Ardbert is offering both the names of his friends and the appropriate terms for the races, as he carefully files them away in the 'likely to be useful again' category this time.]

I don't doubt you had your own terms for those same powers. The various shards often did, as I recall.

[firstbump]

Good man.

[[ He wouldn't want Emet to be unprepared for that racket. ]]

Aye, we had different names for some. Some of the names did match up, and some didn't.

[[ Ardbert can feel himself slipping into too much reminiscing, and he knows it won't go down a good path if he did it in front of Emet-Selch out of all people, considering what the man is responsible for. ]]

Slivers of the world as it once was. ... we never had things like Carbuncles, but the Source doesn't have amaro. So I think I'd call it even, even if amaro are distinctly better.

[lunaelucem]

Her eyes sparkle with excitement, and she straightens up to follow him.

"I doubt anyone would find fault with you enjoying yourself, it being your wedding day. But everything in moderation."

[lunaelucem]

As do I. It is often because they aren't reliant on magic that they are much more capable of thinking on their feet, and win their battles through cleverness instead.

[necromanswers]

Or brute force and obstinance. Often a combination of multiples of the above.

["Cleverness" really doesn't factor into her usual party members, but she'll concede that her group is more... unorthodox.]

[firstbump]

"The wifey won't like the snoring if I have too much," Ardbert winks. "Gotta keep it to a minimum unless I want be sleepin' on the couch my first night of being married."

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Even had Ardbert not mentioned it, he would have assumed that there would likely have been some amount of noise. Still it is nice to have it confirmed, and with no further need to discuss that particular topic, he moves on instead to the other topic at hand.]

It wouldn't have done, no. Moden arcanima - and thus Carbuncles - was largely derived from practices that first arose in the 3rd Astral Era. And without the unique pressures of that era, it comes as little enough surprise that the practices would not also arise in the First.

Although I would agree that amaro are certainly a point in the First's favor.

[the_tailor]

"My lips are zipped. Especially if I'm gonna somehow end up suffering from her hearing that."

He doesn't know Era terribly well, so he doesn't know what the lines are to toe.

"See?" he says as they're not immediately tripping about. "Not so hard. You don't have to go all out with something like this, 'specially on your first go."

[firstbump]

[[ Ardbert doesn't like subjecting people to snoring without warning. It's just polite.

He could mention the fact their souls are... lesser, but Ardbert doesn't want to think about that around Emet. Especially since Emet doesn't truly consider them living, with perhaps a few he cares for as exceptions.

Ardbert remembers that comment about half-men after the Ladder rose once more. ]]

You'd either be insane or a terrible person to not like amaro.

'Fraid I don't know much about the Third Astral Era. What happened during it?

[[ There hadn't been time to learn much about the Source when he was brought to it, although Urianger would've easily obliged him. Even if there had been time, his dying world had occupied his mind too greatly. ]]

[firstbump]

"She'd only go red, same as I."

Era might protest, but she's polite, first and foremost. She always puts others before her. Lance would survive.

"So far, so good, but there's plenty of time to mess it up." Ardbert jokes, mostly not serious. "... not that I think I could mess something like this up."