[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]

"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."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor offers each of them a crisp, respectful nod. "I wish you both luck, Lady Yugri. Lady Ives," he says. "What would you have to do to be promoted to Judge Magister at this point?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"The head of House Solidor would have to appoint me to the position, with agreement of a majority of Judge Magisters and Ministers of Law. I'd need to pass the requirements involved, too, like full use of three Quickenings."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, goodness," Autor says, blinking. "How many Quickenings do you have available to you right now?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Two. But appointing anyone to Judge Magister is never an easy decision - they are the guardians of law and order for the entire Empire, after all. There hasn't been a new one since Gabranth took the mantle."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

The boy nods, absorbing this information. "The rights and responsibilities are vast, I assume," Autor says, inclining his head. "As are the privileges. Are you a Judge Magister for life once appointed?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"That's right. Maybe even beyond life: Judge Zecht has been dead yet three years, but he still stands revered within the Order, and the edicts and recommendations of admission that he set his hand to before his demise are treated as though they came from a living Judge," Ives said.

Yugri seems moderately incredulous at this.

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"A form of immortality, eh?" Autor says, raising his brows. "I suppose it makes sense to be respected even after death, given how difficult it is to obtain the position. How many Judge Magisters are there now?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Just two. Five until recently. Judge Bergan died in battle at Mt. Bur-Omisace, Judge Drace was - she died, and Judge Ghis fell with the Leviathan."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"I'd almost posit there was a conspiracy, but that would have to be pretty far reaching," Autor says, cocking his head.

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Ives shakes her head. "Many are alarmed at the sudden fall of so many of our most honoured, yet they are unrelated. Judge Ghis' fall was an accident, the failure of an experimental skystone in the midst of jagd; and Judge Bergan's mission was a routine one that went terribly wrong due to the presence of agitators."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

"What happened to Judge Drace?" Autor asks, trying to convey the impression that she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to.

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

A muscle twitches in Ives' jaw. "She turned her sword against the Empire and was in due course executed," she says. "I knew her, and had great regard for her, but she acted - rashly when Vayne took the throne."

Re: Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor glances to Yugri, hoping to see if this is common knowledge. "A-Ah, I see," the boy says, and clears his throat. "I am sorry to hear that, Lady Ives. Did she not approve of Vayne's ascension?"

Re: Autor.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Yugri's expression might best be described as 'the most startled reindeer' - but not, it seems, at the news, so much as at the open admission of it.

"The circumstances of his ascension were - very unusual," Ives says. "To say the least."

That would be a yes.