[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: Jay.

[runningred]

"Never hurts to have family in high places. I'm sure you'll climb higher still in your own time. A judge perhaps?" He teases a little, smiling. "I'm afraid I can't offer you much in the way of advancement or I'd try wooing you myself."

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Judges are soldiers. I'm not interested in being all that close to the Empire's military," Ariana says.

She chuckles at his second remark. "A lovely sentiment, but I'm not certain it's true."

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

"Sweet lady?" He moves to one knee, looking hurt. "Would you doubt my simple love? Even after I recused you from the dreaded party and bought you libations to share in our little paradise?" He lays it on thick, trying to keep a straight face.

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Oh, stop it," she says amusedly.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

"Can't blame a guy for trying." He laughs and shrugs, "So should I get you back to the party before sneaking away with me ruins your reputation?"

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"You should. If you've pumped me for all the information you care for," Ariana says sweetly.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

Jay laughs again and holds a hand out to her, helping her up. "And you've barely asked me a thing. Don't worry, I'm not an Archarian spy. Just something looking for an edge to keep myself one step ahead of the game."

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Ariana takes his hand, rising to her feet. "You and many others here, I imagine."

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

"Sometimes that's all we can do." He nods towards the door, leading her back towards the party. "Lady Ariana, it has been a pleasure."

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"I imagine it has," she says. "Do feel free to locate me the next time you're in the area."

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

He kisses the back of her hand and bows, heading for the bar and a glass of wine.

He circles back around to find Sherral.

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral is in the midst of conversation with Ronick, but excuses himself to approach Jay, giving the other man a small smile.

"Dare I ask?" He asks, nodding towards the door where Jay and Ariana had come from.

(No, that is not the faintest tinge of jealousy hidden under a layer of deadpan, what are you talking about.)

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

Not even a tinge? Jay's eyes sparkle at that and he's tempted to tease Sherral just a little, to let him think...

No, that's just mean. Sherral's having an awful enough night as it is. "Nope, I won't bother. I suspect I can't tell you anything that you don't already know. She's an ambitious, ladder-climbing shrew with few aspirations outside her own sphere of existence. File her under of no particular interest."

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral catches that eye-sparkling, and his expression in return suggests that if it were the case he'd be taking Jay somewhere private himself to - express his views.

"Nobles," he says, with something somewhat like disgust.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

The grin Sherral gets in return implies Jay would be fascinated to here about these views. Preferably somewhere private.

"She wasn't a particularly informative distraction but she was ... entertaining in her own way." Here is the red rag being waved in front of the bull...

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Was she now," Sherral says, voice low, stepping a little closer to Jay, small smile playing on his lips.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

"You know how it is with noble women - a little flattery, a little scruffy charm and they melt like butter." It's about as far from the truth as possible but if it gets Sherral closer...

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral might realise he's being played. It's impossible to tell.

Either way, he cants his head towards the corridor and growls a brief command for Jay to follow, before heading towards it.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

Some time later, Jay santers back into the party, looking a little ruffled and a bit flushed. He heads straight for the bar and gets himself a stiff drink, looking around to see what he's missed.

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

One of the Judges - the male one with the unfortunate beard that is very disquieting for everyone around him - looks rather displeased. Perhaps he had an argument with somebody.

Amondsham's business associates have started signing autographs, too, and all look rather tipsy. Bordering on drunk, even.

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

It's worrying that that fabulous sex puts Jay in the mood for a good fight and he finds himself drifting towards the Judge with the unpleasant beard, as much out of curiosity as anything else, wanting to see what's up.

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Said Judge gives Jay a level glance, with a slight flick downwards to take in the clothes.

"Do you need something?"

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

Jay gives him a nonchalant shrug. "Another drink, possibly a fresh shirt. Other than that, I think I'm good. You?"

Re: Jay.

[fluffiest_archadian]

The Judge looks slightly sneering. "Been rutting with the soldiery, have you?"

He lifts one shoulder. "I dislike that there are so many Rozarrians here. So many Dalmascans and Bhujerbans."

Re: Jay.

[runningred]

Jay gives him a sly smile that neither confirms or denies anything.

"Quite a cross-cultural party, isn't it. Lovely seeing everyone getting on so well."