songerein | Out of your whole life, give me but a moment!

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Out of your whole life, give me but a moment!

Who: Clive and Jill, Joshua, and all of you lovely folks
Which: Open log
Where: A venue at the flower festival
What: We cordially invite you to the wedding of Marquess Clive Rosfield and Princess Jill Warrick
Warnings: Rated R for Romance

I. Feasts and festivals - Reception
[ Of all the seasonal celebrations upon which the date of a wedding might coincide, none could feel more serendipitous or meaningful to the couple in question than a flower festival. Clive hadn’t planned for this when he’d proposed to Jill—hadn’t planned on anything, really, save that he wanted to marry the girl he’d loved since he was a teenager, who had stood by him with unflinching devotion through thick and thin.

As guests begin to arrive, they will be greeted by Torgal, who has been dressed for the occasion with a red scarf tied around his neck. He barks, tail wagging, as he leads them into the venue. The customs of Rosaria dictate that it is not the wedding ceremony itself that comes as the first order of business, but instead a welcoming feast. For what is in fact a royal wedding, the atmosphere is surprisingly casual; the venue, a blossoming meadow, has been ringed with garlands and fairy lights, while a long buffet table is laden with a variety of foods that might be found in the dining halls of Valisthea—a fine selection of roasted meats and vegetables, loaves of warm bread and pastries both sweet and savory, little cakes and bread pudding, fruit and cheese. Pitchers of water, spiced wine, juice, and tea are all available for guests to drink.

Each place setting is topped with a favor from the bride and groom: a daisy and a dandelion handmade by the happy couple from ribbons and wire, a charm that can be worn as pin or pendant. Each one is imbued with the warmth and love of the hands that crafted them. At the head table sit the lord and lady in crimson and blue, crowned with flowers and smiling with unreserved love at one another.

Once their guests have all taken their seats, Clive rises to address the those who have assembled for the occasion. There’s a softness to his voice, and yet it still projects over the crowd; he is accustomed to commanding an audience, after all, but it has never pleased him more to do so than it does now. ]

Friends and honored guests, it is with utmost gladness that I bid you welcome to our wedding feast. This is a day that my beloved and I have long hoped for, through many years of war and hardship—a day we feared may never come to pass; a day for which we are that much more grateful. We entreat you all to partake of this feast and of these gifts which we have prepared for you, to share in our joy on the eve of our nuptial celebration. May the Phoenix bless those upon whom his light shines.

[ Clive sits and Jill stands. Warmth abounds in how she carries herself; comfort, too. Both serve as an adequate cover for the excited nervousness that she feels above all else. It wasn't long ago that she struggled with guilt over wanting some bread and pies. That she's having a wedding now feels so surreal that she can't stop beaming as she speaks. ]

Even if this is but a dream, it's one we've held since we were children. Seeing it realised is everything to us. We may not have been here for very long – or had the opportunity to get to know you as well as we'd have liked – but that makes us all the more grateful that you've joined us tonight. Time makes no promises, so thank you for helping us dream with our whole hearts while it's still ours to claim, and may we one day be able to return the blessing.

[ It’s a relatively short speech, but there will be more to say later in the evening. For now, everyone is invited to eat and be merry. A delightful band of adorable NPC musicians led by Venti the Bard on his lute plays delightful music for the assembled guests, and everyone is invited to dance in the clearing. As the sun sets and the moons rise, flickering flames of Phoenix fire appear over each table, casting their ruddy light so that the guests might continue to enjoy themselves while the night grows long. ]

II. Two hearts beat as one - Wedding
[ At some point in the evening, the bride and groom slip away for a wardrobe change, and shortly before the clock strikes midnight, all the guests are ushered from their tables to a separate seating area. There is no central isle here, but Joshua stands behind a carved wooden altar in vestments of crimson and black. He smiles beatifically at the assembled people before him, lifting his hands to call for silence once it's time for the ceremony to begin. ]

Dearest friends, family, and guests, we bid you our most heartfelt welcome. Today we bear witness to the union of two souls, bound by love and guided by destiny. As we embark on this sacred journey, let us invoke the wisdom of the Founder and the resilience of the Phoenix. The Founder built our home so that we may thrive. We pray for their comfort. The Phoenix’s flames protect us, fierce and bright. We pray for their strength. The Founder paved roads so that we may grow in community. We pray for their bond. The Phoenix’s wings bear life and rebirth. We pray for their health.

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[ Guests may mingle here. All are welcome! However, the groom will promptly boot you if you decide to cause trouble, so please don't do that.

Please do enjoy the delicious food and delightful dance, however. Maybe the bride and groom will come dance a bit as well! ]

[ Once Joshua's invocation has been delivered, the sound of softly-strummed lyre strings fills the meadow as the bride and groom finally enter from the left and right of the altar, each in their full splendor, tall and regal, bearing the colors of their respective nations with pride. The love in the air between them is practically palpable, the joy easy to read on their faces.

Clive's suit is perfectly tailored to his broad form, black and deep red; a striking scarlet cape of fine silk is pinned to his shoulder with a brooch fashioned to look like a shield bearing the crest of the Rosarian royal family: a phoenix with its wings proudly spread over a stylized sword.

He freezes for a moment when he sees Jill in her bridal gown. She is, without a doubt, the most breathtaking sight he's ever beheld; it takes a good bit of self control not to rush to her and sweep her up in his arms. There's a time and place, Clive. Fortunately, he manages to keep his enthusiasm contained, reaching the altar and smiling down at her, bowing once before reaching for her hand to briefly press his lips to her fingers. It's... not part of the ceremony, no, but a man can only be expected to show so much restraint in these situations. ]

[Jill enters wearing a mermaid gown and a blue floral veil. Neither are in typical Valisthean style, but she wears both with the giddy pride of self-discovery, scaffolded by a love so bright that she glows all the more under the moonlight and the flickering flames. In lieu of a bouquet, she holds a sprig of erica flowers, and there's a snowflake brooch beneath her veil, over her heart.

When Clive freezes, the fire in her heart swells. It's been too long since she's seen him dressed in such finery, and he wears it so well that she makes no secret of how she takes it all in, equal parts fond and grateful for how he can simply be standing before her and still cause her heart to skip beats. Her smile blooms when next their eyes meet, and it grows broader still with his kiss to her fingers. She squeezes his hand, keeping hold until she can't any longer, then taking the smallest step back as she bows her head in turn. "Ready," the gesture says in one language; "I love you," in another.

The music stops, and the ceremony begins.]

[As Joshua stands behind the altar, adorned in his vestments, he grips the Rosarian ceremonial book tightly in his hands, the pages worn from countless hours of study. Back home, although he may not have been expected to perform entire ceremonies on his own, there was always the expectation that he’d be involved. First, as Crown Prince, then, eventually as Archduke. There was a plan. A roadmap of education and tradition to follow into adulthood.]

[There’s always a plan—until there isn’t.]

[There’s also a first time for everything.]

[While he may not have much experience in delivering rites, Joshua poured his heart and soul into preparing for this moment. It’s the very least he could do for Clive and Jill, and he's determined to do everything in his power to ensure his beloved family’s union is celebrated with the reverence it deserves.]

[He managed to the invocation with a steady voice, infused with the weight of tradition, the authority of a monarch, and, most of all, the sincerity of his love for the two people who now before him. It’s impossible not to smile.]

[When Clive pulls away from his little impromptu kiss to Jill’s fingers, Joshua sneaks a wink at him. Exactly how his brother encouraged him during the Blessing of the Phoenix—the last time they participated in a ceremony together, in nearly exactly the same positions.]

[Except now Jill stands before him, as well. She was always part of their family, no matter what manmade divisions wished to dictate, but to formally join the two together is the highest honor. When Joshua switches his gaze so it falls upon her, his heart swells, and he dips his head with the respect a Princess of the North commands.]

Ready?

[His question, rhetorical in all possible ways, comes in little more than a whisper before he takes a deep breath.]

Let the fire of your love burn bright within your hearts. May it be a beacon in the darkness, a source of comfort amidst life's trials, and the warmth that sustains you forever. As you stand here today, surrounded by family and friends, know that through every trial and tribulation, you shall emerge victorious, united in love and purpose.

Clive and Jill, as you stand here before each other and your loved ones, take this moment to declare your vows, the promises that will bind your hearts together for all eternity.

Let your words and actions be a declaration of the depth of your love and the strength of your commitment to one another.

Clive, would you please begin?

[Helga had no interest in going to some stupid wedding for two randos she's never met.

She insistently told herself this while pulling out the feather dress from her embarrassing "swan incident", imagining instead that it's the bridal gown for her own wedding to a certain football-headed gentleman.

And was promptly terrified when it turns her back into a swan with an obnoxious honk!

Buuuut wait, she can use this to her advantage! She can take a peep at the wedding without actually being a guest, and no one will know the difference! She can indulge in all of the romantic sentiments and none of the awkward socializing! It's brilliant! ...What do you mean she said she didn't want to go? Shut up!

So guests may notice a mute swan waddling around the reception parameters and... posing with the garland? Settling into the flowery meadow? Sighing while gazing goofily at the bride and groom? Must just be wedding décor - right? Couldn't possibly be a girl disguised as a swan, that's crazy talk.]

[ Clive is ready--has been ready for what feels like most of his life, but it's not quite so simple. He had to know himself first, and to find acceptance in that knowledge, before he could really wholeheartedly accept the love of another. He's done that work now, though, fought monsters and gods and himself above all, found peace in his own skin such that he can finally be at liberty to take this step.

He inhales. Holds his breath for a moment. ]

Jill, my beloved; from the moment of our meeting, I knew with unwavering certainty that I wanted to love and protect you so long as I lived.

[ With a rare flourish born of practicing the move until he'd perfected it, he frees his cape from the brooch at his collar, while she unpins her veil in the same moment. With a flick of his wrists he fans the cape out over her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he pins it in place with her glittering snowflake and she does the same with the veil, arranging it so it drapes dramatically from the Rosarian shield. ]

This I now swear, not on the Phoenix or the Founder, but on the blood that flows through my own heart: whether in tranquility or travail, I, Clive Rosfield, will ever be your shield.

[Even in the dim lighting, the pink blooming across Jill's cheeks as Clive delivers his vows is unmistakable, and at certain angles it's clear how the first hints of unspent tears bring a sparkle to her eyes. Five years ago, under a different moon, she would have pledged her heart to him had he been ready, but she's glad that they waited. Glad that they both had the time and the opportunity to find themselves once more. Inner peace suits him so well that she knows she'll never tire of seeing him in its embrace.]

I always used to struggle with the concept of home, but you've shown me time and again that it needn't be a place – that sometimes, it's people instead.

[Here, Jill reaches for the ceremonial blade Clive wears at his hip, unsheathing it in a grand, sweeping gesture – equally practiced – that ends with her inserting the dulled blade through the centre of her hair pin. Next come the erica flowers, all fire wrapped in snow, which she places in the empty sheath, fussing with them just a bit before stepping away. Though not before rising to press a kiss to his nose, of course.]

And for me, it's you. You are my home, my hearth, and my treasure. When e're you lay down your blade, mine will rise in its stead, and I, Jill Rosfield, will be your sword so that we might protect each other.

[Jill's always been fond of animals, so she notices the swan fairly early on into the evening. Notices, too, the way it interacts with the event in a not-quite bird-like manner. So, at some point, she'll pull herself away from the crowd and approach her, crouching down once she's near enough and offering her one of the daisy and dandelion charms.

Not that the swan can do anything with it on her own, but it is dangling from a ribbon that just so happens to be the perfect length for a bird, and Jill holds it up as if to place it over Helga's head.]

Hello. [Though she's not sure whether she's a swan-swan or a human-swan, she'll err in favour of the latter. Better to look silly than rude, she figures.] All guests get one, if you'd like.

[Steadying his expression so it remains 'just' a wide smile is an undertaking far more difficult than Joshua ever expected. He fights back laughter and tears. Lost in the moment, he reminds himself he is an outsider--a close one, but an outsider nonetheless--with the unique and special privilege to lay eyes on a scene so perfect and pristine that he fears shattering it with a sound louder than a breath or a move more drastic than a blink.]

[The moment, as all do, passes, and Joshua has his duty. So he takes that breath and allows himself to blink with a soft happy sigh. It's then that he reaches for the cord laying across the altar. Pastel blue ice contrasted with crimson and housed with a gentle gold, it's as perfect as the couple standing before him.]

[He holds one end of the cord out to Clive, meeting his brother's eye with equal parts solemnity, pride, and joy.]

Clive. You must protect Jill, for she is your soul.

[He then turns to Jill and holds out the other end of the cord for her to take. Although the smile never quite left his face, its corners uptick just a smidge higher.]

Jill. You must defend Clive, for he is your heart.

[Joshua pulls his hands away, then glances at them both. The answer to his next question is clearer than crystal, and he can't help the lilt that sneaks into his tone.]

Are you prepared to seal your vows?

[ Jill Rosfield. His heart sings at the name. All the hardships they've endured have prepared them for this moment, for this promise, even though it's simply the more official version of one they've been making to each other for a long time now.

Taking his end of the cord from Joshua, Clive wraps it around his hand. ]

If I am your home, then you are my peace. The would could crumble to dust, but so long as you are beside me, I know I can persevere, for I am sheltered by your love.

[Once Clive's wrapped his hand, Jill takes hold of his wrist. To be bound has meant many things to her over the years, few of them good, but it's only in his company that she's been bound by her own choices. There's freedom in how she wraps her end of the cord around both their hands together – a quiet sense of ownership, too, that's found her needing to eschew tradition and do this herself. It's a statement as firm as any other she's made tonight.]

Yours will always be the ties that bind me to the truth. They're a reminder, too, aren't they? That the sun always rises and you will always be here for me, whether in my arms, in my heart, or in the dreams we've dreamt together since we were but children.

[With that said, and with the wrapping done, she offers her end of the cord to Joshua as Clive follows suit.]

[Joshua dutifully takes each end of the proffered cord and weaves them together. Satisfied with the knot, he tightens it, not uncomfortably, but enough to keep it secure. It's his own silent promise: just as Clive and Jill have fought tooth and nail to make it to their wedding day, he will fight just as hard to protect their union, all it represents, and all of the wonderful things their future holds.]

[With a hand over the knot, he proclaims the next leg of the rite.]

Let the fire of your love burn bright within your hearts. May it be a beacon in the darkness, a source of comfort amidst life's trials, and the warmth that sustains you forever.

[As Joshua speaks, he allows a spark to lick the edges of the knot until it becomes a full tongue of flame, and although it glows bright, the threads don’t burn.]

As you stand here today, surrounded by family and friends, know that through every trial and tribulation, you shall emerge victorious, united in love and purpose.

[He raises his arms, palms alight with dancing fire, so that he can place them over Clive and Jill’s heads.]

Edited 2024-04-27 20:08 (UTC)

[Helga just happens to be staring at Jill for the twentieth time when she suddenly starts walking in her direction. She considers running, but that would be too obvious - she's clearly not going to her, so standing still will surely do the trick.

Still approaching... still approaching... is this guest they're seeing literally right behind hi- oh criminy, she's crouching, this is definitely directed at her. Play it cool, Helga, you're a bird, do bird things. And a bird's natural reaction to a ribbon dangling over her head would be to-

She's talking to her. The elegantly-clad, admittedly-beautiful-looking bride is talking directly to her as a guest.

And that's about the time the swan unleashes an obnoxious HONK!, flaps her wings violently, and flees from the interaction... then remembers she was offered something, so waddles back to grasp the charm with her beak. Jill is welcome to let go or not, or at least enforce more socializing.]

[ The knot around their hands is firm and secure, but this is not the tie that binds them. Clive squeezes Jill's hand as he tilts his face up slightly to be bathed in the warm light. Even though he's lost much to the flames over the years, he knows that the Phoenix's fire will never hurt him.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he thinks of all that lay behind him--all the fights and the fear and the pain--and he resolves to let them go, here and now. He did what he had to in order to survive, and that brought him here in the end. Now, he can finally be at peace; it's time to let the past go, to grasp his future. Their future.

When he opens his eyes again, they are filled with a determination to live this new life to the fullest. He's ready. ]

[Jill's never received the Phoenix's blessing before, and she's taken a bit aback by how it warms her like nothing she's ever experienced. Though Shiva still lays dormant, Jill can feel her curl up alike a cat in a sunbeam all the same. Idly, she wonders if she'd have known about her sooner had she been blessed as a girl, but it's a pointless thought, meandering in directions she doesn't want to travel down, and so she brushes it aside and basks in the warmth of rebirth's flames.

Like the sun peeking above the horizon, they speak of a tomorrow that she's eager to embrace.

At the end of the blessing, she grasps Joshua's hand in her free one and rests it atop the heart of the cord. Rosalith may not have been the home she chose, but the two brothers standing before and beside her are the family she claims, and she couldn't have asked for better.]

[For a moment, Helga does have Jill tricked, the honk-flap-flee combo working well enough to convince her that she was imagining things. But then she returns and it's back to square one – though this time, Jill's smiling, amused.

She'll let go of the charm – it's not in her nature to force things like this – but she won't give up on their feathery guest quite yet. Still crouched, she gestures over to the buffet tables.]

May I bring you something to eat? There's vegetables and fruit, pastries, bread... you need only gesture to what you'd like.

[Jill’s grip is nearly as warm as the fire Joshua embodies. When she guides his hand and allows it to rest on both hers and Clive’s, time stands still. For a few precious seconds, only the three of them exist. Just like in their childhood, dashing through the castle halls and, when Joshua could sneak out of doors, through the gardens. A time when cares were few and whatever troubles came their way were upended with games and giggles they knew would bring one another cheer. Now they have a chance to rebuild that bond. Childhood fancies lay far behind them, but those lessons remain. Their family, despite all odds, remains.]

[It’s been silent for a breath too long, and Joshua blinks himself back to the present.]

With the Phoenix’s blessing, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Blessed be your marriage, forevermore.

[He did his best, in all senses of the word. Joshua put all he had into holding back the deluge of emotion beating against his hastily built barricades. So, when the tears start falling, and a quiet burst of laughter escapes him, he allows himself some grace.]

[The little brother in him won’t allow any less than a wild grin, a pat to Clive’s shoulder, and a squeeze of Jill’s hand.]

Now go ahead and kiss!

[ With a smile that lights up his face more than any firelight ever could, Clive bows down and kisses his new wife with all the tenderness and love that he holds in his heart for her, mindful, of course, of their audience, and the fact that there is more yet to come.

When he finally pulls back, just slightly, he reaches over to pull Joshua into a one-armed hug, kissing his little brother's forehead before he turns and scoops Jill up into the crook of his arm. The knot will remain tied until dawn, so they might as well get used to navigating it now.

With that, they're off! ]

Our carriage awaits, my lady.

[ He walks them to the edge of the venue where a garden path will take them home, whistling for the chocobo-drawn carriage for two he'd arranged for the event. ]

[They've had a great many kisses since that night on the beach, kisses of all kinds, yet this one still feels new, somehow. Like the first of many dreams to come true, maybe. Or like an act of defiance and the realisation of the fate they've been crafting together for 24 years.

After pressing her own kiss to Joshua's forehead, she maneuvers herself into place at Clive's -- her husband's -- side and walks with him, her smile ever broadening as they go.]

Not only our carriage...

[Which could mean a great many things, she knows, but leaving Clive with those few moments to wonder is part of the fun. Besides, the mystery doesn't last for very long before the carriage turns the corner, led by a brilliantly white chocobo wearing a patch over one eye.]

... But your gift as well, Clive.

[ However many kisses they’ve shared (and it has been a great many, stolen at every opportunity and with all the relish of a man and woman starved for affection their entire lives) there are still many more in their future, awaiting just the right moments to spring to life between them.

One such kiss is pressed to her temple after he laughs in overjoyed delight at the sight of his faithful steed emerging from the brush, drawing a cabriolet decked with flowers to match their garlands, with ribbons of blue and burgundy and gold.

Upon spotting her master, Ambrosia cries out in equal delight, flapping her little wings and running up to meet them. She lowers her head to bump her beak gently into Clive’s waiting hand. ]

Look at you, old girl. When did you get here, eh?

[ He knows the how, of course, because… well.

After a moment spent fussing over Ambrosia, he turns to kiss Jill again before he helps her up into the carriage. There, she’ll find a large wicker basket, held shut with a blue silk ribbon. ]

And your gift as well, Jill.

[ But she’ll have to wait to open it until he’s climbed up into the cab beside her, taking Ambrosia’s reigns and urging her forward toward their new home. ]

[It's not just the kisses, it's the laughter, too, and as Clive gives in to unbridled joy, Jill's heart swells with anticipation of many moments just like this one as they embark upon this new journey together. A journey of freedom. Of ease. Of coming to know happiness as something other than a luxury.

She can't help but laugh herself at Ambrosia's enthusiastic flapping, though her focus is divided between the reunion and the cabriolet, so perfectly decorated that she can't stop staring. Their lives have, for the most part, been a series of big things, and she's liking this new normal where they get to partake of the little ones instead.

It's beautiful. Clive's beautiful. The night has been beautiful.

When Clive asks Ambrosia his question, Jill's smile grows a bit mischievous.]

A few days ago. Joshua's been minding her in the meantime. I've never kept a secret so difficult before. Every time Torgal tried to drag you away, I was sure he meant to guide you to Ambrosia.

[Jill has always been patient. She can, of course, wait a few extra moments for Clive to get settled before sparing the basket more than an eager glance, but still she finds herself feeling a little antsy, a little eager. Once their carriage is in proper motion, she leans to give him a kiss on the cheek, says her thanks, then begins working the ribbon loose with her free hand.

She doesn't need to lift the lid; as soon as the ribbon is loose enough, a fluffy snow leopard kitten does it for her, its blue eyes wide with recognition. It takes Jill a bit of time to catch on to who, exactly, is looking up at her now, but when the kitten lifts itself to place her paws on Jill's shoulders, then gives her a kiss on the nose – a heartbreakingly familiar gesture – Jill knows what Clive's done. She knows what the magic here has done. A quick examination of the kitten's collar only confirms it: this is Gnistre, the kitten she'd had to leave behind when she was taken from the North, no older that she was when Jill last saw her.

Speechless, all she can say is:]

Clive...

[Gnistre keeps trying to lick Jill's face, but Jill holds her back, staring at her like she can't believe she's real.]

[ Jill's reaction is exactly as he'd hoped it would be. Clive looks incredibly pleased with himself--incredibly pleased in general. ]

Oh? Looks like you aren't the only one who can keep a secret.

[ Although Joshua is really the one who'd kept the seret for the both of them (and he can scarcely imagine what a hassle that was) it'd been agonizing trying to keep his lips sealed when all he'd wanted to do was give Jill a gift that he knew would please her so much. He was right, at least, if her expression is anything to go by. ]

She's a feisty little thing. She suits you, I think.

[She takes the charm almost indignantly but tries to steal in a beady glance at it when (she thinks) Jill's not looking. She turns her head up in refusal at the offer for food, determined to ignore the tables...

And that's when an enormous growl erupts from her feathered stomach and she shrinks a little bit. If swans could blush, her face would be beet red right now.]

I) A day so emotional, even the cake is in tiers

[With the bustling flower festival’s atmosphere providing a sufficiently delightful ambiance, the kind that satisfies the soul as much as the more superficial aspects of happy gatherings, Joshua’s warm smile never leaves his face as he approaches each table to greet friends most treasured. Hosting is a difficult venture for a young man who’s far more used to being catered to than the other way around, and a wedding, small and intimate as it may be, is akin to throwing a fledgling out of the tallest branches of the tree it once called home.]

[This isn’t just any wedding, though, and he’s not about to provide a lackluster experience.]

[Engaging in conversation, he ensures that everyone feels welcome and comfortable, offering assistance and company as needed. Anything to remove and relieve any burden that Clive or Jill could possibly face when ‘worry’ should be the last emotion they feel.]

[He approaches your character with a beaming face and a hand on their shoulder.]

Is everything to your liking?

II) The best man for the job?

[In a quiet makeshift room, Joshua stands before a mirror, his officiant robes draped over his arm. With a slight tremor in his hands, he rehearses the lines of the ceremony, his voice soft yet determined. He pauses occasionally, reflecting not just on the significance of the ritual to come, and the deep bond between Clive and Jill, but on everything that’s led them to this point.]

[How much blood have they shed between the three of them? How much heartache did they bear? How many tears did they cry into one another’s shoulders? So many years lost between them, so many potential memories robbed, and yet here they are now. Together in a realm that has awarded an oasis of respite in the never-ending desert they traversed to save their home. Covered in grit and sweat, they somehow managed to make it through, and Clive and Jill have received their most just reward.]

[Channeling those positive thoughts into his nervous anticipation is difficult at first, but it gets easier. Years of training in ceremonial matters, however incomplete, helps. Slightly.]

[Joshua takes a deep breath, steadying his nerves as he recites the vows and blessings that will unite his brother and sister-in-law in matrimony. He’s lost in his practice, so it won’t be hard to sneak up on him.]

[WILDCARD]
[Planned or winged, it doesn’t matter! Feel free to come up with your own prompt (and feel free to PM me on this account to set something up!]

Edited (i swear i know how html works (lie)) 2024-05-06 03:03 (UTC)

[Jill can feel Gnistre purring. Can hear it above the sounds of the carriage. She can hear Clive speaking to her, too, but it takes her a moment longer to find the words to respond. In the silence, she draws the kitten into a one-armed cuddle until she starts to squirm; then, she'll slip her fingers through her collar, holding her in place else she decide to leap out of the carriage or find some other form of mischief to get into.

When Jill does speak, her voice is quiet, her tone still disbelieving.]

My father meant for her to be one of his war beasts, but he saw what you see: she's too feisty for that. He and my mother gave her to me so that we might temper each other. I... didn't quite succeed, but I didn't want to, either.

[Here, she finally looks back towards Clive, and she casts him a smile so fond it almost veers towards being shy.]

Thank you, truly. I don't know how you keep finding second chances to give me, but you always do, don't you?

[Jill smiles again, but softly. She may not be an expert on waterfowl body language – or waterfowl in general, really – but at the very least she thinks she can pick up on the vibe here. Reluctance, yes, but she hasn't fled yet, so there's something else at play.]

Shall we, then? Or would you prefer to wait over there while I bring you something?

[She gestures over to an inconspicuous point, barely touched by the firelight and tucked away amid some of the decor. She'd draw less attention there than at the buffet tables, but alas, she won't get to choose.]

[Jill takes her time getting ready, as if to savour each moment. It's been so long since she's chosen her own clothes that she can scarcely remember the feeling; even the dress she wore to the reception had been gifted to her by this place. If that's even the right word for something she was put into by a spell.

She glides the gown on at a reverent pace, adjusting it in small measures every step of the way, making sure that it hangs exactly as it's supposed to. Even the beads on her bodice are adjusted one by one until they're in perfect order. She's not usually so attentive to these kinds of details, but with the reception behind her and the ceremony not far away, she needs something meditative to soothe her nerves, and these gestures are working for her.

It isn't something she can do all alone, though; the zipper at her back ends at an awkward spot between her shoulder blades, and she needs help in getting it shut. Normally, this is the kind of thing she'd go to Clive for, but he can't see her, not yet, and so Jill slips out from her own room, making her way to where she knows Joshua is getting ready.

Staying far enough away so as not to overhear him, she knocks on a nearby wall to announce her presence.]

[Joshua doesn't quite start when he hears the knock, but the sound is enough to knock him out of his focus, leaving him mentally scrambling for a second too long as he somehow loses his words. It's an unfamiliar feeling. Uncomfortable, really. Thankfully, his otherwise sharp mind revs back into gear relatively quick and he manages to call out.]

One moment!

[Hoisting his heavy robes so they don't drag along the ground (yet), Joshua turns and approaches the source of the sound... only to find himself dumbfounded once more when he lays eyes on his dearest sister-in-law.]

J-Jill!

You look... you look stunning.

[Still obviously embarrassed, her eyes lower as if making a pout, and she starts waddling rather quickly over to the table. The sooner she can eat, the sooner she can continue stalking this lady and her wedding- er, going back home like nothing important's happening in peace.]

[Under any other circumstances Jill's focus might have shied away at the compliment, but seeing Joshua dressed in ceremonial Rosarian garb takes her similarly aback. Inner conflicts aside – or perhaps at the fore, she can't quite tell which – she's struck by all the ways they transform him, yes, but mostly by the ways that they don't. He's not every bit the boy she grew up with – the lives they lead apart has ensured that – but in this moment, she sees nothing besides her precious little brother, plucked from more peaceful times, and that warms her heart. It calms some of her nerves.]

You as well.

[She never really expected to see him dressed like this. Not since learning he was alive, anyway. That she keeps to herself, though; there's nothing to gain from dredging up those memories. At least not on today of all days.]

Those robes suit you.

[Jill's more than content to follow after her, stepping just a bit ahead when she can, then stopping when they reach the most swan-appropriate spread of food. Or what she thinks is swan-appropriate, anyway. It's not like she's spent much time in the company of waterfowl.]

You'll be needing a boost, won't you? Have you met Torgal?

[And she'll now be gesturing to the very goodest boy, who also happens to be a wolf. But the goodest wolf!]

I assure you, he's quite friendly.

[ He doesn't need her thanks, because he loves her and would do anything for her, but he doesn't deflect or downplay what he's done, just as he wouldn't wish for her to make light of her gift of Ambrosia to him. ]

If she's anything like you, then I expect we'll both have our hands full until she settles down. I think I'm prepared for the challenge, though. She'll be your companion, and never feen to soil her paws with combat the way we have. She also deserves a second chance, does she not? And we the chance to bring her up, the way we could not do for Torgal.

[ Which, in truth, is a thing he's always regretted. It's a marvel that pup would grow into such a loyal hound, even after so many years of separation.

Leaning over, Clive kisses Jill's cheek, and he would pet the kitten as well if his hands weren't otherwise occupied. There will be time for that later. ]

Our little family keeps growing. I wonder who might come along next.

If she's anything like me? Come now, was I really that much as a child?

[There's an air of indignation to Jill's tone, but it's all pretend. She may have been very young when she was brought to Rosalith, but she remembers those early years when she was still a Northern princess and the governesses oft reminded her that she had a ways to go before she would become a proper Rosarian ward.

She doesn't suppose that's really what happened. Rather, she just fell into a natural step alongside Clive and Joshua. They made it impossible not to. They still do, she thinks, as she feels her heart warm while Clive speaks of second chances for their furry friends, too.]

Though I should warn you, it won't only be a second chance she's after, but a second serving of dinner. A third as well if she thinks you distracted enough to sneak another piece of meat off your plate.

[Which is a nice problem to have. Back at the Hideaway, rations were often on the wrong side of meagre. Here, though, there's plenty of food. It'll be fine to spoil them, at least a little.

Fine to add their menagerie, too.

Where Clive wonders who, Jill knows – or, at least she thinks she does. Playfully, she bops her shoulder against his, then smiles.]

What of the... potatoes with legs, were they?

[Joshua glances down at his attire. Heavy as it may be, there's a comfort to the way the fabric hugs him in some areas while hanging loose in others. Robes that he'd only seen with the faraway promise of his own now dress his person. Granted, it's in another world while his own balances precariously on the precipice of shambles, but the occasion, joyous and wonderful, makes up for it. Rosaria's tradition. Culture. They live on in him in this moment, and he'll readily embrace that undercurrent of pride in conjunction with the happiest day of his siblings' lives.]

Thank you.

However, I am under no pretense as to who is the more sensational between the two of us.

[There's the slightest hint of a good-natured chuckle. Just a gentle huff from his nose accompanied by a smile, really.]

To what do I owe the honor of a visit from the bride?

You could have just accepted the compliment, you know.

[This time, she does look away for a moment, and the pink to her cheeks is no longer the product of rouge alone. They haven't had many opportunities to just enjoy each other's company since reuniting in Twinside, and she'd almost forgotten how this side of being a big sister felt.

It's nice, though she's going to add more fuel to Joshua's fire by acknowledging that.]

And you owe the honour to this zipper.

[Here, she turns, pulling her hair to her front to reveal the stubborn foe who's brought her to defeat.]

I can't get it any higher. Can you?

[Could he have accepted the compliment? Probably. However, Joshua knows better than to accept any instance of outshining a bride on her wedding day. That, and it’s all too fun to play the role of little brother, and he’s a professional, even if his skills have grown rusty with lack of use.]

[He won’t take any opportunity to practice for granted. Not when he knows all too well how it feels to be so completely isolated from his family.]

[With an affirmative hum, Joshua examines the battlefield and their now shared enemy. This will be a delicate operation, one with dire consequences should he fail in his task, but he won’t back down. Confidence is key.]

I should be able to, yes. Just a moment.

[He gently tugs at the ends of the fabric. Then, he slowly pulls the zipper up so that the strider can catch the wayward teeth.]

[A moment where all is quiet. A quick jiggle.]

[And success! He manages to fasten the top without any difficulty or catching of Jill’s skin.]

 There we are! Now there is nothing to stand in your way.

[Which leads to a question.]

 Do you feel ready?

[She peers curiously at the table. Plain bread and salad? What does she think she is, a b- oh, right.

She prepares to flap up - or at least how she assumes she can flap up - only to flop over when she's startled by the enormous wolf approaching. Stay cool, Helga, stay cool, it's just a giant dog, she says he's friendly-

Probably friendly with his food, too.

Nope, nope, not thinking about that, just going to suck it up and pretend it's fine by staring just a little too intensely at the canine. Yep, she's cool. Not scared at all. It can't smell her fear ~~can it?~~.]

[With the zipper finally in its proper place, Jill lets out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding in. Of their own volition, her hands move to make a few more adjustments to her dress before she turns to face Joshua again.

There's no hesitation to her answer at all.]

I don't know that I've ever not been ready.

[It's a bit of an exaggeration, of course; the very nature of their mission made thinking of a future defined by love instead of bloodshed an entirely too painful prospect, sometimes. But then again, her and Clive had fallen into step like lovers, even if it had taken them five years to make that literal. How else should she see things?]

Five years ago, when we met again, I knew that I'd never love anyone the way I loved him, because the way I loved him made everything seem possible. Even slaying god himself.

[A pause. An inward scoff. She means it, fully, but it still feels strange to say. somehow. Like it's coming from her younger self. Too innocent. Too effusive. Yet even so...]

I know how that sounds but I'm not sure how else to put it.

[With a nod, Jill whistles for Torgal, who bounds over then immediately lays in front of the swan, lowering himself to the ground as much as he can, tail wagging as he makes himself seem smaller, somehow. Less threatening.

Jill would pet him here, but alas, it's probably better not to when she's about to handle food. Sorry, Torgster. She'll just grab a small plate instead.

To him, she'll say:]

Good boy.

[And to the swan:]

Whenever you're ready, then.

[Throughout his interactions on the topic--and there have been more than usual in the past few months--Joshua has noticed one specific thing about people in love speaking about love: assuredness. Not mere confidence that only requires the self, but that undeterred belief in one's other half.]

[Now, given the man who Jill has chosen to spend the rest of her life with, Joshua could share in that assuredness wholly and with his own resolution. Clive has, since the earliest days of his life that he can recall, proven himself a man truly capable of anything he set his mind to with a heart of gold that, when dusted off, reflects the strength of character he harbors. However, despite what Clive innately represents, Jill clearly has uncovered something more. Something abstract. Something that, as Clive's brother, he sees through his love, but could never see as someone in love with him. It's an amorphous quail so beautiful, special, and precious, and there is no one better than Jill to have made such a remarkable discovery.]

[So when she says she knows how it sounds, he can agree, but only as an outsider. An outsider who cannot help the tender smile that lifts the faint creases just barely beginning to form under his eyes as they alight with warmth.]

You needn't say more.

[He places his hands on Jill's shoulders.]

You deserve today, but you've earned the rest of your lives together.

[There's still a part of Jill that grapples with what she does and doesn't deserve. Even in a dream world, fully knowing that she continues to exist in Valisthea, there's a twinge of guilt to her happiness. A sense of questioning whether it's all right for her to enjoy living in what no doubt counts as luxury compared to what she'd be facing back home in the absence of magic.

Those aren't thoughts to be having on her wedding day, though, so she accepts Joshua's assertion with a shier smile than before, moving to fix a piece of his hair, if only for the moment's distraction it provides.]

Thank you, Joshua, truly. [A shift in her smile to something just slightly more teasing.] Biased though you might be, it still means the world coming from you.

[It means everything that he can speak it at all. That he can witness this moment. That they can share in this new way of becoming a family, together.]

What of you? Are you ready? I heard you practising, though I promise I didn't listen in.

[Joshua accepts that sisterly gesture without a fuss. Why would he, when the gentle brush of Jill's fingers against his hair brings him a comfort long thought buried in their childhood?]

[The distraction works for him as well as it does, hopefully, for her. As his focus returns to the present after its split-second disappearance, his expression transitions from a congenial smile to a thoughtful glance.]

[Is he ready? Joshua has been so focused on assisting the couple where he can that he's barely paid any mind to his own state. Which is, of course, the norm. That thought clues him in on the emotions he's yet to examine.]

I've always thrived under pressure, and I can think of no better incentive to do well than serving my most treasured family.

[It's an honest response, Jill knows, but it's also befitting of a man of his station. She reads between the lines as a matter of instinct more so than any real desire to needle out what else – if anything – he might mean.

It may be her wedding. There may be rules and traditions regarding what one says or does in the bride's or the groom's presence. Jill doesn't care. If the general code of conduct dictates that the couple must be honoured at all stops throughout the day, then surely her wishes matter more than whatever her predecessors have decided best suits them.

So she zeroes in on one word, and asks about it simply.]

Pressure?

[Joshua answers the question just as simply: first with a nod.]

Aye.

[But, sure enough, further explanation follows. Even if he wasn’t a young man already drawn towards the loquacious, Jill deserves to know more. By virtue of being his sister, the bride, and someone who he made a promise to. Something as common as nerves before speaking in front of a crowd surely falls under the umbrella of sharing his burdens, loathe as he is to do so on her wedding day.]

[So, he treats his reasoning with the level-headedness it asks for.]

I want to do well. For you and Clive, that is.

I don’t doubt my speaking ability, let alone amongst friends and family, but ’tis different for something as grand as your wedding.

[Good boy. He's a good boy, she can handle this.

With a visible gulp, she flaps her wings again and manages to settle onto the dog's back. All this hassle just because she's a bird...

And the moment she thinks that, suddenly there's an 11-year-old girl on top of the dog in the swan's place, dressed in a very ornate gown.

Helga is still registering what just happened and, paralyzed with an entirely new fear, is staring very intensely at the bride as her brain desperately attempts to formulate a response.]

Edited 2024-05-27 05:51 (UTC)

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Out of your whole life, give me but a moment!

I. Reception feast - Open

II. Ceremony - Closed

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Helga Pataki | OTA

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Joshua Rosfield | OTA

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