[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.

[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."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Yugri beams, pulling a crystal attached to something brass out of her pocket and giving the brass holder a twist. The entire device lifts up into the air, projecting several luminous screens.

They all show various items, with pictures and short descriptions, including prices in gil.

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Ooh," Autor says, not just because of the items, but the screens and their projector as well. He browses the item list, committing to memory the way this part of Sherral's world works.

Then he points to the text, 'White Fang'. Ten gil sounds much more reasonable than two hundred, and this is a dragon fang's that shoots lightning besides. Cool.

"Do you have any of those White Fangs available, please?" he asks, growing excited himself.

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Oh, yes, I do," Yugri says, and taps the crystal. She edges his face towards it a little, then as clearly as she can: "Aceline, could you send through a White Fang, please?"

"Kupo!"

There's a pause, then the crystal shakes a little and emits a flash and rings of light, depositing an item into Yugri's hand. It's very white and shiny, and a little over a palm's width in length.

"Here," she says, "see how you like the feel of it."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, my gosh, that's the Moogling?" Autor says, blinking at the sound and the flash of light. "I've never seen it in person. I'm kind of sheltered."

The boy runs his fingertips over the sharp tooth, poking the tip. It's bigger than he thought; he'll probably frame it rather than put it on a chain. He beams at Yugri. "This is perfect. Thank you. Should I get the gil from Captain Maduin now?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"You can only find it here in Rabanastre, and maybe in the Moogle cities down in Ordalia. There are Moogling stations that you can go to for quick transit around the city, but for small items, Sorbet the Moogle sells these portable Moogling crystals. You do still need a Moogle on one end, though."

She's about to answer when another voice cuts in. A woman's, not as deep as Yugri's, with a clipped Archadian accent.

"If Ms. Yugri sends an invoice through to the garrison, no doubt Captain Maduin will see it responded to," it's one of the Judges, dressed in sharp black. "Forgive my intrusion. I've never seen Moogling before either."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Ah? So you rely on the magic of these Moogles"--whatever that is--"to transport items through the crystals? Fascinating."

Autor inclines his head deeply to the Judge as she speaks, crossing his hand over his heart. "A welcome intrusion, I am sure, especially if there is business to attend to with Ms. Yugri," the boy says. "I am Autor, a scholar."

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

The Judge inclines her head in return, giving Autor a wide smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Autor. I'm - well, I don't think we need to stand on too much formality, so I'm Ives. I was just fascinated by the - well, Moogles are not altogether common in Archades."

Yugri bows her head. "Their technology is so far beyond ours. It's always been a blessing that so many of them have settled in Rabanastre."

"This is your first time in the city, Autor?" Ives asks. "I never visited before."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"It is my first time as well," Autor says, straightening. "I'd heard a bit about the city before coming, but I still didn't expect its architecture to be so lovely, or the people to be so kind. I've never seen a Moogle."

He cocks his head. "Pardon me, Lady Ives--whom do you represent, again?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"They're small," Yugri supplies. "Furry. Large ears. Crystalline balls on their heads."

"Judge Magister Zargabaath. In other circumstances, he might visit himself, but he's busy with the 12th Fleet," Ives says. "He does send his regards, though. I think he sent a gift along to the garrison, as well."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Crystalline balls? And yet they appear to be mammals? How odd," Autor remarks, picturing a tiny, fuzzy creature decked out in glittery ornaments.

No wonder Autor couldn't remember the name. "I'm glad Judge Magister Zargabaath was able to send you in his stead, Lady Ives. Are you enjoying the wedding?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"... Are we meant to be enjoying the wedding?" Ives says, all wide-eyed innocence that must be at least partly manufactured. "Because I think the bride and groom are already planning their adulterous affairs."

"Oh, um, I'm loving it," Yugri says. "It's very extravagant."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor covers his mouth to hide his abrupt snickering, though by the way his eyes crinkle, he's clearly amused. "I suppose we're not," he says, smiling. "What made each of you choose your current occupations?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Oh, it's a family business. My elder sister used to run it, but she left to open a magickery in Balfonheim. One of a chain," Yugri says.

"I'm ambitious," Ives says cheerfully. "And I can do more as a Judge than I ever could as part of the 8th Fleet. It was not easy, though. Even with a sterling record, I needed the recommendation of a Judge Magister on my record, plus several lower Judges, and my commanding officers before the Ministry of Law even considered me."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Family businesses can be incredibly useful," Autor says, nodding to Yugri.

"And ambition goes a long way, Lady Ives," Autor says, with a sharp, clearly approving smile. "Do you think you'll climb the ranks further?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"There's probably at least two dozen people who will agree with you on that," Ives says warmly. "There's not much higher I can climb, and people don't get made Judge Magister often."