songerein | fourteenth shot ⊗ wedding day

Entry tags:

fourteenth shot ⊗ wedding day

Who: Eustace, Tifa, and anyone who wishes to join the wedding reception! RECEPTION IS OPEN INVITE so anyone can join in the log even if the characters don't know them!
Which: Open log
Where: Along a long stretch of the riverbank
What: It's Eustace's and Tifa's wedding and while their ceremony was private, they've invited anyone who wants some free food, drinks, and dancing to join in and have fun! For a visual reference of how things, we have an image board you can use.
Warnings: The gumdrops are lurking—

On a sunny, early afternoon of the 3rd, the ceremony takes place in a private setting at the Corgi Tree where Trahearne awaits to officiate. But by the time late afternoon hits and everyone from the ceremony and other guests arrive at the reception located at the Riverside, the area will have been completely transformed.

While there are no leaves left on the trees, they are decorated with hundreds of little glowing blue and red starflowers, and from the branches hang lanterns that flicker with firelight that give off enough warmth that it can melt away the cold beneath them. Those familiar with Tifa may recognize it as her own dreamotion magic fueling them, as well as the smaller lanterns at the center of each table. Seating is abundant at the long tables decorated in silk, and blankets are provided for people to take to keep warm if the fiery logs scattered about are not enough. Large flowery tree decorations stand tall on every table as the centerpiece, as well as plenty of flowers, courtesy of Oriphi and Isabela's Madrigal Blooms.

However, in spite of the comfortable heat that lingers, snowflakes fall from the sky and the treetops, and while they may be cool to the touch, they will melt away before they can touch the ground. Should one look up, not only will they see the snowflakes sparkling in the light, but there is a ceiling of stars that twinkle alongside them, speckled through the air and spreading outwards in all directions from wherever Tifa is.

To kick off the dancing will be the couple first, with a performance by Phantom. Everyone in attendance will be given a sparkler, and as the song reaches its climax, not only will the sparklers burst with light, but the snowflakes will shimmer a little brighter, and the hundreds of stars will erupt into thousands that spread through the Riverside and across the dance floor. Arcs of lightning and wisps of flame ripple through the crowds, some of them forming shapes in the air to paint pictures of a small rabbit and a wolf leaping between the glittering specks of light.

The rest of the night is dedicated to a good time, with the band playing a variety of different kinds of music to dance to. Alongside them will be more performances, including a song on the violin from Dohalim.

While the ceremony will be small and reserved for friends, the reception will be free to whomever would like to join or is just passing through. Seating is abundant, as is the food, so join in the festivities! Drink, dance, and celebrate! Be sure to grab the small bags of rose candy treats from the Flower Dogs.

Leave well wishes or words of advice for the couple on the GUESTBOOK (and if you have a gift, be sure to leave it there, too) before you leave! (Compiled version can be viewed here)

I. FOOD

The menu for the evening includes:

🌟 A variety of soups and stews, both meats and vegetables alike.
🌟 Freshly baked breads for dipping or to enjoy with jams, jellies, or butter.
🌟 An assortment of various meat dishes provided by Eustace and helped prepared by 76: chicken, duck, pheasant, beef, pork, deer.
🌟 Featuring a large wild boar hunted and prepared by Eustace in three different ways: braised, spicy chili barbecued, and roasted.
🌟 Stuffed potatoes, cooked greens, roasted fish.
🌟 Winter-themed desserts such as mini cakes, cookies, mousse, pies.
🌟 Special drinks courtesy of Diluc and Oriphi: S'mores coffee liqueur cocktail, Starry Night cocktail, mulled wine

Besides the delicious food that has been provided courtesy of Soldier:76, the game hunted by Eustace, a three-tiered cake baked by Sanji, as well as cocktails from At Day's End, there will of course be other treats and drinks for people to enjoy throughout the night.

S'mores stations will be set up, and people are free to use the fire pits that have been set up all around for warmth for toasting marshmallows that will change color depending on one's emotions. There is also a coffee, hot chocolate, and eggnog station set up next to it for all. Be careful, some of it might leave people feeling a little giddy after a cup or two. But don't worry, they're alcohol free, unless you'd like them not to be.

Because of the huge amount of food, there are takeout boxes available for anyone to use to take home! Please, take it. Take it.

II. ACTIVITIES

Besides dancing and general mingling, there are plenty of other things for those in attendance to enjoy at the riverside.

Thanks to the surge in dreamotion, bubbles will occasionally float from the river. If one is lucky enough to catch a glimpse into them, they will see a reflection of a happy memory, or even a hope or a wish for the future.

On the other side of the dance floor is a small photo station with a photographer who will happily take people's photos with his dreamotion camera. Preserve some memories with friends and loved ones!

Eustace has frozen over part of the river, so slip on some skates (provided) and enjoy a night of ice skating under the stars! There is plenty of snow to go around as well, so might as well make the most of it. Sculpt snowmen, snow animals, whatever your heart desires. And who knows, with enough dreamotion, that small snow rabbit or dog might come to life and prance around. Of course, it will cause no havoc, but they sure are cute. The corgis will also be around to pull around dog sleds for anyone who would like to go for a ride along the river. A perfect opportunity to practice for those sledding races.

For those looking for a quieter getaway from the festivities, there are some flowery and candlelit paths that lead down along the river should anyone need a break, as well as into the trees for someplace secretive and quiet. Anyone for a moonlight tryst, perhaps? But watch out for the singing fish. At least the white and pink gumdrops will have had a feast so they will be mostly behaving (but should they catch anyone they think might be particularly delicious, they won't hesitate–yes, this is a threat and they will not hesitate to join in on the festivities), but there are still sprigs of mistletoe for those who may want a little less "excitement"...

III. TRADITIONS

A. Flower Wreaths & Crowns. On every table beneath the flower decoration stand there is a basket of various winter flowers with a small note of instructions included inside (click the text).

"From the remote, distant snow covered islands of North Vast.

Due to the harsh climate, flowers are a rarity and the ones that manage to bloom and survive are treasured. Thus for my people, flowers are not seen as delicate but strong and persevering, providing color in an otherwise white world. They've become a symbol for the women who have had to help build and support their families.

For the wedding, the bride will gather flowers to give to all the women of the village so that they can create their own crowns and veils and join in celebration. Men can also create a token to give to their loved one, romantic or familial.

Throughout the festivities, women will take a flower and weave it into a special veil that the bride will wear once the festivities are over as a symbol of their support for her new journey ahead.

Feel free to participate or take them home for your own purposes.
Eustace."

Over by the table where Eustace and Tifa will be sitting will be a small table with the initial veil standing on display. Anyone with a flower is free to weave one in. Otherwise, as the note mentions, anyone is free to make their own flower crowns or other flower creations. There are plenty of flowers to go around (and can be readily restocked).

B. Catch a Shooting Star. Set aside is a small table with a series of glass jars of varying sizes. In front is a small card with Tifa's neat handwriting explaining what they are for (click the text):

"From Nibelheim.

At sunset, the children would be sent out to the grassy fields just outside of town to collect fireflies to bring back to the happy couple. It was never a contest, but we would always turn it into one to see who could catch the most in their jar. Emilio was quick so he usually won, but I came close once! My village was small, so there weren't a lot of chances for it anyway. Once the sun was gone, we would turn off all the town's lights and the couple would make a wish beneath the stars and set the fireflies free.

The wishes could be for good fortune or prosperity, or it could be a prayer to wish their loved ones well. We believed that, because they looked like the stars over Nibelheim, they were good luck, and could carry their wishes back to the Planet on their backs.

Unfortunately, it's a little too cold for fireflies to come out for that now, but I've taken my own twist on it. If you look up to the stars above your heads, they look a lot like fireflies, don't they? If you can spot a shooting star, catch it in one of these jars.

And, instead of giving them to me and Eustace, we'd love for you to hold onto the ones you do catch. Make a wish on them and if you want to release it with the hope that the wish will come true, then you can. Or you can keep them and hold onto that wish until the right time. The star will stay alive for as long as that wish you imbue into it does...

So whatever you do with it, hold that wish close to your heart.

- Tifa"

The stars she speaks of continue to twinkle well into the night, and while the shooting stars are fleeting, they are bountiful. They are quick, however, and sometimes, they may wind up stuck in treetops and will need help getting out, or they may land in someone's drink. As Tifa explained, should anyone catch one or several (however many they would like), they may free the stars so that the Planet may grant their wish, or hold onto that wish and bring the jar of stars home. If nothing else, they would make beautiful lights or decorations!

C. Paopu Fruit. On another table is a large bowl filled with star shaped fruits and a large pile of napkins (once you have a taste, you will see why there are so many.) There is a card for one to read in writing that is neither Tifa's nor Eustace's with a short explanation of what this is:

"Paopu fruits:

If two people share one fruit at the same time, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."

Inside the bowl are pieces of the Paopu fruit. While there weren't enough to offer whole ones for every guest, there are more than enough smaller pieces for anyone who would like to try this with their loved ones or even their friends. Destinies are not limited to significant others, after all, and should one wish to remember one another when this dream ends, that is all the reason they should need, yes?

According to Sora, the fruit should be bitten into at the same time, and they are very sweet and sour, "like a pineapple and a pear if they were fused together and made a baby." Hopefully there are enough napkins provided, as it might get a little messy!

IV. FLOATING LANTERNS

Towards the end of the night, a call is made out for everyone to gather by the banks of the river. There, tables lined with blank star and moon shaped paper lanterns can be found and everyone is instructed to feel free to decorate them with the provided flowers. There are also blank sheets of paper where everyone is encouraged to write down a wish, a hope, or dream and then insert into the small envelope already attached to the lantern. Once enough time for everyone to finish has passed, there is a final call for everyone to use their dreamotion to light them up and toss them up into the air so that they can fly high into the night sky, Eustace and Tifa releasing theirs first followed by the wedding party to lead the way. Don't worry, if anyone is unable to use their dreamotion, someone can assist.

But there's just one last "show" to cap everything off. After releasing their lanterns, Eustace will step back and raise his gun, Flamek, high into the air, small snowflakes and warm ripples of blueish white electric energy gathering around him. His voice, though quiet and low, is crystal clear as he recites the incantation.

"Flamek Thunder. Your hour is nigh. Take my heart and paint the skies. Heaven's Starfall!"
With each passing word, the wind around him billows, the distant boom of thunder rippling overhead along with flashes of light. It feels as if a storm is gathering, and yet rather than ominous it feels warmer, almost freeing. The blueish white electricity spins around Eustace as Flamek's barrel splits and opens, taking on a slightly different form as it gathers the energy around it. Pale red flames now join the electricity, and on the final word, Flamek releases it all, a blue and red beam of light blasting straight upward into the skies.

At first nothing seems to happen, but then the skies seem to ripple and shift before the once black sky is filled with wavy curtains of color, blues, whites, and reds shimmering like the northern lights found in colder climates. As the lanterns fly up higher, carried by a sudden gust of wind, they pass through the curtain, their lights flickering like stars against the colorful canvas.And slowly, gently, white starflower petals rain down like snow.

[ooc: THEY'RE MARRIED YAAAAY!! Feel free to make any toplevels and treat this like any other party mingle log. For anyone who'd like to make toasts or speeches, please include them in your toplevels!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Destiny.

[ Here comes one bridesmaid, coming up casually behind him with an answer, dressed in a matching blue to all the others. There's a smile on her face that has something of a sad quality to it. Perhaps the crowds have made her feel lonely, but isn't that just ridiculous?

She reaches past Ferran to pluck a small piece of the paopu from the bowl... and offers it to him. ]

Have you tried it...? It's sweet, but a little salty, too.

[Ferran blinks in surprise at the offer, a little taken aback. You can't just dump that on him after immediately linking it to something as deep and significant as DESTINY.]

Oh, uh... no, I haven't...

[There's a nervous, almost sardonic smile on his face, like he's not sure how to take it. And in fact, he does not take it. Yet?]

I don't know how what I think about all that, you know...? [He feels kind of ridiculous, like he's putting way too much thought into it—it's just a fruit, Ferran. ... but still.]

[ It's just a fruit. Susato waits for a while, but when Ferran doesn't take it, she pops the piece into her own mouth in a casual motion. She's too proper to speak with her mouth open, so enjoy that pause for a bit longer, Ferran.

Swallowing-- ]

Sora says it tastes like a pineapple and pear combined together. What is there to think about?

...Unless you don't like those things, I suppose.

[ A beat, before she adds in a teasing tone, ]

Or unless you don't want me in your life forever.

[With an equal amount of politeness, he simply waits for her to finish and continue speaking before any further response.

Eh... heh.]

The other way around, but I guess it's not like—

[Mmmmnope, maybe don't bring up your ever-looming mortality at a party, Ferran. He clears his throat awkwardly to cut himself off, then takes a different avenue with something of a grimace attempting to be a grin:]

I mean, that's kind of a big commitment, isn't it.

Edited (i already said that word) 2022-12-09 08:30 (UTC)

[ Other way around? So... he does want that...?

She'll grab another piece, perhaps in another attempt to coax Ferran, but as she does so, her gaze wanders to the bride and groom. ]

It's not as if we're getting married like they are, Ferran. I know you are already taken, many times over. [ Even if his girlfriends aren't here. She holds the piece of paopu out by its toothpick, still in offering, but slightly more casual than before. Going twice... ] I...... I am, too.

[Ferran pauses momentarily, mild surprise on his face. Did she think he'd been dating all of his past girlfriends at the same time?? Sure there wasRikku and Yona, but—]

Oh no, I'd broken up with most of them a long time ago, and the whole other world thing... I don't know if I'd say taken.

[He's sure those two have moved on, wherever they are. And as far as lately, he... doesn't know what to think of whatever the hell is going on between him and Hans. He hadn't really asked, even though he probably... should?

But more importantly:]

Oh? [He blinks, momentarily distracted from his existential concerns.] Hey, that's great.

[He smiles—he really does mean it.]

Have you already had one with them?

[ She was kind of focused on Rikku and Yona at the time, yes. She doesn't really know what to make of his surprise, though. Just kind of tilts her head, then glances at the piece of paopu, like she hadn't considered the fact he never knew about this.

Should she have mentioned it...? ]

Oh, um... y, yes, we did.

On... On my birthday, a couple months ago.

I missed that too? Damn.

[He clicks his tongue. This is what happens when you shut yourself off, Ferran—but he doesn't seem too unhappy. Honestly, there's a subtle sparkle to the air around him as he continues.]

Well, good—you definitely deserve someone who wants to always come back to you. Tell me about them.

[He wants the deets!!!]

. . . I, It's okay, I almost missed it myself.

[ Susato seems to speak as if putting off the request. 'Tell me about them.' Not that she's ever had any problem singing Kazuma's praises before, but she feels rather put on the spot now. Plus, it just feels different since they'd become entirely exclusive to each other; but it's not in a bad way, so she finds herself forcing a bit of a smile as she tries to comply.

The paopu piece is spinning idly on the toothpick. ]

We are childhood friends, he and I. He is the one who opened the Harvest here in Reverein.

[Ferran nods in apparent approval, completely ignoring the fruit. Sorry, Susato.]

A guy with initiative, then. And you two must know a lot about each other already, huh? [It's a good basis for a relationship, he thinks.]

It must have been nice to find out you were both here.

[... if there's something a little envious in him that causes a mild the static charge in the atmosphere despite his own unchanging smile, feel free to ignore that.]

[ Unfortunately for Ferran, she will not be ignoring that. She can kind of sense the subtle change in his demeanor, yet all she can do is pop that paopu piece in her mouth as she struggles with how to address it and what it even means. ]

It was--

[ Susato, don't chew with your mouth full. ]

... [ complicated. Those first days were complicated. ] It was nice...

[ What else can she say? ]

We don't have to talk about it. [ He doesn't have to pretend to be interested or anything? ]

[He lets out a brief laugh, though there's some confusion to it.]

Of course we don't have to. [Whether Susato has sensed his envy, he's capable of feeling more than one emotion at a time about it— and he is happy for her.] I wouldn't have brought it up if I wasn't interested.

[But her pause could be indicative of something else. Did something happen, maybe, when they met? He could imagine himself meeting his friends here... it probably wouldn't go great, to start.]

I won't force you, though.

[ Susato hums curiously. At the very least, this isn't the first time she's been on the receiving end of this sort of jealousy, and it might not be the last. She appears to relent, although she can't resist, as she claims another piece of paopu by the toothpick. ]

If I continue, will you share one with me?

[ Just asking. She won't actually clam up if he still decides not to--that'd be mean. ]

[Ferran raises his eyebrows, expression somewhat helpless.]

You're really persistent about this, aren't you?

[It's probably stupid that he's treating it so seriously. Maybe she's just trying to get him to lighten up—which is valid, honestly. It's not a big enough deal to just refuse entirely, right? It's just a superstition.

If there's anything to this, she'll come to regret it in time.

He lets out a breath through his nose, expression momentarily unreadable before it returns to amused exasperation.]

Well, fine. [He holds his hand out. She'll have to take another step in the process to finalize the decision.]

. . . Hah. [ Got 'em. Susato grins, showing no signs of this supposed regret at all as she reaches for another piece. They're all kind of jumbled together, but she has a good feeling about this one, and seems to think it comes from the same fruit as hers.

She offers it to him by the toothpick. ]

His name is Kazuma Asogi.

[Toothpick accepted; his fate is all but sealed. But he doesn't fixate on that, instead committing the name to memory.]

Kazuma, huh... maybe I'll introduce myself sometime.

[You know, just to say hello. Ask some questions. Make some promises.]

[ It seems like something innocent said in passing, though the more she thinks about it, the more vaguely threatening it is. She blinks as they each take another bite, then swallows before taking a glance over the crowd. ]

He's around here somewhere.

[ Said in a bit of a laugh. But, well, "sometime" doesn't have to be now. ]

He has a long samurai's ponytail and always carries his illustrious blade, the Karuma.

[Nom. Ferran, too, is too polite to speak with his mouth full, though there's a raise to his eyebrows as he chews that implies he's got a question before he finally says it:]

So... does that make him a samurai?

[Is that her type? Swordsmen? Hmm, noted.]

[ There's an enthusiastic nod. ]

Yes, just like his father before him. He often says that the Karuma holds his soul, the very soul of the Asogi clan.

[ She doesn't come from a samurai family, but she clearly has a lot of respect for them. She wonders if there is something else she should hold in such high regard for her own family... ]

That's a big responsibility... a little too much for me, I'd think.

[What happens if one accidentally breaks the soul of one's clan, he wonders? Nerve wracking.]

If my parents had ever expected me to carry on the family name [~~that he's literally never said to anyone in songerein~~] by becoming a lawyer or a businessman, I think I would have struggled a little. [Heh.] But it sounds like he's dedicated.

[ It is an admirable quality of Kazuma's. It helps that he enjoys being a swordsman and wanted to make his father proud...and still does. Either way, she doesn't appear to bat an eyelash at the lack of last name mentioned ~~unfortunately~~. ]

He is. But I don't mean bring up a difficult topic for you.

[ If his mother was the lawyer, does that make his father the businessman? He mentioned losing his mother. She wonders what became of his father. ]

[He dismisses her concern with a mild smile and a shrug.]

I can't avoid talking about them forever. Believe me, I tried, and it doesn't help. Besides... it would be a shame not to share things about them, right?

[He is trying very, very hard to stay in a good mood. It's a wedding, and it is healthier to talk about his family. With the way he speaks of them together, it wouldn't be odd for her to think they shared the same fate.]

Hah, that's true.

[ ......She wishes she could remember more things about her mother to share. She wishes she could have asked her father about her more... Though that only ever made things uneasy for him. ]

What were they like...? Your parents...

[He pauses for a moment, taking the slowest breath he can possibly manage. It should be easy. He'll make it that way, eventually... but for now, he'll manage to keep himself from crying when he speaks.]

Heh. [Trying to keep it light hearted.] My mom liked pranks... and doing things with her hands, being creative. My dad could be stubborn as hell over the smallest things, but... he always had me and Mom in mind, and he'd always laugh at our jokes.

[He can't look straight at Susato as he talks. Maybe the eye contact would be too much.]

They were so generous. I never had to ask for something more than once, for me or my friends. Maybe because they were always so busy, they... [huff.] Anyway.

[ Susato listens without interrupting, though she does notice that he struggles to keep eye contact. She won't force it, though she'll watch him the whole time whenever he brings himself to be able to return the favor and met her eyes. ]

...

[ They what? But he wants to move on, so she sees no reason not to do the same. She will also try to keep things lighthearted, asking with a light laugh, like one might chuckle at a joke. ]

Were you the victim of her pranks? Or... perhaps she was the one who helped you prank others.

wish

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject