[OOM] The Amondsham-Telane Wedding.

[fluffiest_archadian]

It is a sorry bunch attending this wedding. The hall in Rabanastre palace where they sit is small, and there are still a handful of empty seats. Still, it's easy to tell who's who:

The garrison command, headed by a grey-haired man who gives off a grandfatherly aura, in their grey and red formal dress, along with a man and a woman dressed similarly, save that their uniform is black and charcoal with red highlights. There's a handful of soldiers who clearly aren't Archadian, too, dressed in blue and cream.

Rabanastre's merchants, dressed in a brightly coloured mismatch of patterned fabrics with hair styled elaborately and jewellery on their wrists and around their necks.

Nobles and ambassadors, by far the smallest of the group, in coloured (but not quite so neon rainbow) silk and wool. Several of them have fans. Most of them are muttering about how Liana is marrying beneath her station (and one so old). One family of four, dressed in canary yellow cloaks fashioned to look like feathers, just look charmed to be there, bar one young man who looks like he's trying to sink into his clothes and avoid the gaze of the garrison.

Business associates of the groom, who if the muttering from others is anything to go by may be celebrities. A few of them are jolly, older people, but most of them look like supermodels who have just stepped off the catwalk.


The wedding is - awkward. A man in very smart clothing with very shiny glasses runs through a set of vows, while the groom (whose shapeless robes really only accentuate the fact that he's about twenty years the senior of his bride) looks apathetic and the bride (of far more fashionable dress) looks distantly scathing, as if she's biting back about a hundred sarcastic comments.

When they are told they may kiss, the peck each other. On the cheeks. Like seagulls whose hearts aren't quite in it.


---

The reception takes place in Rabanastre Palace's expansive ballroom, a room that is opulent and glittering and has walls lined with frescoes depicting the glorious history of Dalmasca in charmingly abstract style.

There is a buffet. It has something very much like turkish delight on one end, but the yellow-cloaked family are converging on it and soon this won't be the case.

Sherral leads his visitors in with the garrison command and their guests.

"No stealing from anyone, no letting on about the magical bar, no killing anyone outside of mutually agreed upon duels," Sherral says. "Apart from that, enjoy yourself. If you see a security concern, Captain Beor," he gestures over at a large man in his twenties, "will no doubt be happy to hear of it."

Beat.

"Have fun."

Comments

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Oh. Well. Um. That was unexpected, Autor thinks concentrating very hard on sucking on his piece of toffee. And not good.

"Well, we can't necessarily perform tests on people, but we're hoping to run surveys on people learning their Quickenings," Autor begins, and then glances behind the Major. "Ah, my apologies, sir, but I suspect my friend, Captain Maduin, needs my assistance."

The boy bows to him, his hands at his sides.

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Of course. Best not to keep him waiting then. Take a toffee before you go," Ronick says, passing one over cheerfully.

A little way across the room, Sherral apparently detects that he's needed, since he looks towards the two.

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor takes it with a smile, and bids the grandfatherly man farewell. He strides over to Sherral, and raises a hand.

"I didn't learn anything you likely don't already know. He likes you. He doesn't like Vayne. And Ronick is rather perceptive--nearly shrewd," Autor says. "Toffee?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Thank you," Sherral says, taking the toffee and tossing it into his mouth. "I wasn't aware that he disliked Vayne. Although I suppose a lot of people do of late."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Well, he either dislikes Vayne or the unpleasant circumstances surrounding him, or both," Autor says, shaking his head. The boy curls his hand around his hip. "I hope I didn't get you in trouble. He asked me what I studied, and I said some lie about studying the effect of Mist on people's bodies. He seemed interested in that, so I fled."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral chuckles. "I'll be fine. Don't worry, lad."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Good," Autor says, inclining his head. "I think I'll talk to the merchants again. Thank you for inviting me to this wedding, Sherral. I'm having a blast."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"I'm glad. Aught kind of merchant you want to talk to? I can likely direct you towards one."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Hm," Autor says, tapping his chin. "Good question. If I had money to burn, I'd probably pick up some curative items. As it is, possibly someone who deals in magic? I don't know if you can equip something that teaches you spells--and I doubt I'd be able to learn them, given the lack of Mist outside Ivalice."

He furrows his brow. "So... possibly weapons? Though I don't know what I'd do with those either, and couldn't afford them if I did. Hm."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Cheerfully: "We should probably teach you how to use a sword some day. Could come in handy."

He points one finger over at a heavyset merchant. "That's Amal, he's a weapons merchant. I've spent far too long at his shop before." He points over at a blue lizard man. "That's Migelo. He can provide you with curatives. He's acquainted somewhat closer than the other merchants with Vayne, too - he was one of the main organisers for Vayne's morale event some months back." He taps his chin, then gestures at a woman in a colourful headscarf inlaid with small gems. "Yugri there does pamphlets on the use of magic, and she usually bundles in the licence for it."

Beat.

"If you want to purchase any of their wares, don't worry too much about money. Faramalia is coming up soon, you can consider them gifts from me."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Ahaha," Autor says, placing a hand on the back of his neck. "I... I have handled a sword before. Someone nearly took my arm off, through my own foolishness. Frankly, it was a poor decision overall; I could barely lift the sword without the adrenaline rush."

He still has a nasty scar, too. Autor's eyes follow where Sherral points until he makes his offer, at which point his gaze snaps back to his face. "Are you sure about that? I mean--I can absolutely reimburse you, and you can't trust me not to spend more than what you get paid in a month. I'm greedy."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Pause. "Maybe a dagger."

Sherral smiles, lifting an eyebrow. "Aye, I'm sure. I have at least middling faith in your self restraint. Besides, a captain's salary isn't bad, especially when your room, rations and clothes are free."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"... Maybe a dagger," Autor agrees, seriously considering that. Then he bows to Sherral. "Your middling faith is too much. But I appreciate it all the same."

The boy straightens. "I think I'll see Yugri. Something magical might be a good souvenier."

That said, the boy wanders over to the woman, raising a hand in greeting. "Hello! I am Autor, a scholar. Might I ask you a few questions?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Thoughtfully: "I'll see about getting one for you."

When Autor greets Yugri, she seems slightly surprised, but bows a little anyway. "Yes, of course. Please do."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor has no idea what he'll do with a dagger. Probably learn to use it.

The boy nods politely at Yugri. "I've been told that you manage pamphlets and license bundles, and I was wondering if you could give me a brief overview of how the latter work. I'm a bit confused about licenses."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"It's Archadian law," Yugri says. "Weapons and spells require a license to use. A hunter's clan will field the cost and get them for you if you belong to them, otherwise I usually just bundle them in with the tuition pamphlets."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Ah, I see," Autor says, nodding as he absorbs this. "And what is involved in the tuition pamphlets? Training on how to use the spells?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Oh, yes. Step by step guides, with diagrams and examples, practice exercises, and safety advice - like 'don't ever use spells near elementals'."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Sherral has mentioned elementals before, but not fully explained them. Autor is curious, but they're fairly self-explanatory, and he's worried that if asks Yugri about them, she'll look at him askance.

"What is your best selling spell?" he asks instead. "And how much does it cost?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Cure," she says immediately. "Basic healing spell, very easy to learn and cast. Any hunters want it, any business owner running a dangerous business, any Kiltian church running a hospital, not to mention just people who want something on hand in an emergency. Basic cost for a pamphlet is two-hundred gil, plus an extra forty gil for the license if you're not getting it through a hunter's clan."

She lifts a shoulder. "Archadia doesn't charge very high for white magick licenses. After that, it's probably Fire. The pamphlet itself is only two-hundred gil again, but I have to charge one-hundred gil on the license. Usually hunter's clans work out a deal to get them for less, since they're performing a service."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Ah, that makes sense," the boy says, cocking his head. "And all the spells work off of Mist."

It's not really a question, but it may as well be. "Do you have any items that can produce similar effects to spells? And do they require a license to use?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Ah! Yes, many items. Motes of magicite properly processed, the body parts of monsters correctly attended to, these can both produce similar effects. Their Mist is stored within, requiring no expenditure by the wielder."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, goodness--the body parts of monsters, too? That's fascinating," Autor says, his eyes widening. "Are they one-use items? And how much do those cost, usually? And do you happen to have any with you now?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Of course! Monsters absorb Mist, just like humes and other sentient beings do," Yugri says, a little excitably. "I can have items sent over the Moogling. Would you like me to bring up a stock list?"

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, please, if you would," Autor says cheerfully. "Captain Sherral Maduin has agreed to treat me to a gift for Faramalia, and these sound right up my alley."