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

dancing

[lunaelucem]

[One look at Pyra, and her unconscious tension from waiting for this moment ebbs away. Lunafreya trusts Noctis' judgement of character, but it still eases something in her heart to see for herself what a sweet and kind looking woman Pyra is.]

I'm not certain about cool, but I do know a few dances.

[Lunafreya gives Pyra a small but warm smile, offering out her hand to the other woman.]

Most of them don't take a partner into account, but I'm sure we can make it up along the way.

[iustaegis]

[ When Pyra had first arrived in Havenwell, she had met Luna from before. Her opinion of her hasn't changed in all of this time: frankly, she is the most graceful woman she's ever met, glimmering as softly as light upon snow.

Fingers interlocking with Luna's, she guides the other woman out to the dance floor.. ]

Like improvising...? That's an even better idea! [ Easier, and far more fun, too, than going along with some strict structure of a dance. ] I wouldn't mind learning a new set of dance moves from you, either.

[lunaelucem]

Not quite. They are intended for performative rituals. But they are beautiful in their own way. It would be my pleasure to teach you.

[Having her hand held is a gesture Lunafreya is wholly unfamiliar with, but it's warm, and it brings her a small measure of comfort despite the fact that it's also Pyra who Lunafreya is somewhat anxious about. Rather, she's anxious about her first impression, rather than the woman herself, who for all intents and purposes has decided Lunafreya is good company.]

But please, allow me properly introduce myself first, if you'll indulge me.

[iustaegis]

[ Ritual dances-- she's heard of such dances before, as performed by maidens or priestesses. Torna, the kingdom from which she hails, had such traditions before it fell into the Cloud-Sea.

She brushes this thought away, replacing it with the interest in seeing a different one from another world instead. But before she can so much as comment upon it, Luna speaks again.

--Does... she know, she wonders, that she already knows who she is...? ] A--ah.... Yes, of course.

Getting to know you again... It would be my honor.

[lunaelucem]

[One day, she wants to ask Noctis and the others about what she'd done during her first visit. She has no recollection of it at all. It's good that she made a positive impression, but her current self feels so far removed from it that it feels awkward.

The solution, of course, is to just start all over again, as best as she can.]

As it would be my honor and pleasure to befriend you as well, Pyra. I am Lunafreya Nox Fleuret. [She gives the other woman's hand a gentle squeeze.] Thank you for everything you've done for Noctis.

[iustaegis]

[ For a beat or two after Lunafreya finishes speaking, Pyra stares at her with a few, scattered blinks. To be thanked for such a thing... It strikes her that it should be the opposite: for all of what Pyra knows about Luna, she's the one who should be thanked.

Often, Pyra comments that Noctis is like a light to her. To Noctis, it seems that Luna has been that light for however long he's known her.... ] Luna, that's... I should be saying that to you!

[ And so, she squeezes both of Luna's hands in hers in a show of appreciation, bringing her into a wide, free spin as they take to dancing together without structure. ]

[lunaelucem]

[Lunafreya laughs quietly, letting her body move into the spin, feeling another part of her heart unravel and lighten with the motion, with this conversation.]

I shall accept your thanks if you accept mine.

[She breaks away for a moment, doing a short twirl, and then glides back to take Pyra's hands again, swaying with her.]

It has been nothing short of amazing, to see him so unburdened. It has been my dearest wish for him since we were children, and I... [Her throat goes a little tight with emotion, suddenly so, so thankful that she can be here, that she can watch over him and Pyra, that she's alive.] I am truly grateful to you for helping him thrive. I hope our friendship can be just as wonderful.

[iustaegis]

[ Luna spins out and returns without missing a step. Pyra guides her back into the dance they’re sharing, but finds that there’s really no need to guide the Oracle when she seems to know exactly what to do next, where to go. She’s without flaw, really, but at hearing the sudden emotion in her voice, sincere and hurt, Pyra slows the dance to allow her to recover, merely swaying with her instead.

Luna is happy that Noctis is unburdened, as she says, yet it seems she hasn’t had the chance to find that joy for herself. A sudden, sharp, tight feeling manifests within her chest, and the pressure transfers to a squeeze of the woman’s hand in hers, as if it could mean to be stabilizing and reassuring both. In this moment, there’s little more than wanting Luna to be happy, too. ]

Of— of course. [ She stammers, then recovers. ] Of course. [ She repeats, looking over her, and then quickly pulls her into a warm embrace, forgetting all for these moments that they should be dancing together, not standing still. ]

Being friends with you? [ She exhales. ] Consider it so. Just wait— [ She promises with a gentle smile. ] just wait, that “amazing” thing you’ve seen for him... it’ll be yours, too.

[lunaelucem]

[Lunafreya makes a small, startled sound when Pyra brings her in for a hug, and for a moment she has no idea what brought this on. To say nothing of the fact that it's been ages since she's been embraced like this. Still, if Pyra is feeling so inclined, Lunafreya has no problem obliging, and she folds the other woman into her arms in return, hesitant but warm.

She isn't there for long, though, pulling back to stare when she hears Pyra's quiet declaration. It'll be yours, too. Her heart lurches at the surety in her tone. It cuts straight through to her, past the long nights of her early arrival spent in nightmares, the long walks through Havenwell wondering what it is that she should be doing. It's such a simple thing, and yet Pyra's words have made the future a little less nebulous, a little more tangible.

Noctis said he would do everything in his power to help her find happiness, but Pyra is the first to say, to believe, that it will come true. And perhaps that is something Lunafreya needed just as much as the freedom to pursue her desires in the first place.]

Pyra...thank you. [She brings the other woman back into the hug again, tucking a grateful smile against her shoulder.] I shall do my utmost to not disappoint such faith in me.

[iustaegis]

[ Sometimes one does not need a preternatural ability to discern the future to believe another has the power to pursue what they wish.

Pulled back into the embrace, Pyra returns it warmly, as she would (and will) from any embraces given here on out. Her belief in Luna comes from knowing the woman to be strong, as she's only heard Luna to be-- an unyielding force in the face of obstacles. That Luna might gain a little bit of inspiration or hope from Pyra's embrace in kind is the least she may give.

When the second embrace ends, Pyra's hands take Luna's back in hers, giving them a squeeze. ] Oh, you know... that's not good enough. [ She says playfully, leaning in. ] "To not disappoint such faith in me"...? [ She scrunches her nose, making an expression of mock disapproval, and then giggles fondly afterward. ] I wish you, too, could have a little more faith in yourself!

[lunaelucem]

[A thread of bashfulness slips into Lunafreya's smile. She knows her manner of speech is markedly different from most others', and she'd wager that only King Regis and Ignis might match her in it, born and bred from old, old families such as they are. Noctis was fortunate to be able to escape much of that, likely through sheer stubbornness alone.]

Before now, I only needed the strength of will for myself. Faith was reserved for others who were in need of the gods' favor. But perhaps the two are closer to each other than I thought before.

[What is strength of will, if not the unwavering faith that one would be able to see herself through whatever task she must do?]

[iustaegis]

[ Both Luna and Noctis could do with a little more faith in themselves, truly, and not for anyone else, but for themselves. If any of this conversation can help reassure her-- or better, inspire her-- she'll consider this an even better time than simply sharing a dance with her.

But these thoughts bring up another, that Luna herself inspires by being a good and strong person, even while divorced from the will of the gods in this world. ]

It tends to be like that, doesn't it? Easier to believe in others, or encourage hope or faith, than it is to do so for oneself.

But that's where friends come in. [ To be that voice of reassurance when need be, when one cannot do so alone. It's not a fault, but a strength, to be supported by others because it proves that one is good enough to be cared enough by others. ]