The forest rang with music as the carved wood of wedding pews lined the lush clearing near the Alfonse family home. Before the rows of pews lay a small overhang shading a Altar carved from black stone resembling a violinist in preparation to play within an Orchestra. Each string of the statue's violin could be picked out just as ever button was distinct upon its coat , yet amidst the hundreds of details, most striking was the statue’s face. Carved like a black masquerade mask it was dotted with eight spider-like eyes that looked out into the audience. At the bottom of the odd masterpiece lay an inscription in common: Spoiler: Inscription (if you can read common) The Pursuit of Music, the pursuit of desire, the pursuit of life All life is a performance, may it fit that this wedding to be dedicated to the Patron Praise the Muse, Praise the Song, Praise the Bard Alucard stood in front of this shrine, his fingers mimicking his racing heart beat as they drummed upon the dark red of his pant leg. He stood in a red tailored suit beside his brothers, who in contrast, wore traditional black suits. All three had soft smiles holding their instruments at their sides as at the end of their line stood, Alucard and Nishi’s son, Aodhan. The ten year old Half-Elfin stood at the end of the four man line with a look of boundless energy as a wide smile decorated his Ériunin features. The four man line looked out upon the fifteen strong Toyair family. A wild mix of Cielothars, Ailors, Altalars, Maraya, Kathar, and various mixes of the five comprising the various siblings, niece, and mother of the bride. Whilst across from them sat the beaming expression of Alucard’s mother. The Ithanian sat composed her beauty and energy undiminished from those long passed days in the Ithanian Opera. Beside her sat the various friends of the groom, an odd mixture of old students and friends from Ithania, Montania, the Daendroc, and Regalia. Suddenly, Alucard’s brothers took up their instruments directing all attention toward the end of the aisle. Nishi had arrived escorted by Alucard senior who was standing in for her father. As the two walked down the aisle the Alfonse family took up violin, viola, and Bass to play the wedding music. Weaving a magical song from merely four instruments which played in perfect harmony the melody flowing as easy as breath from lungs. Nishi wore traditional white with a beauty Alucard would have once only ascribed to the lush forests of the mountains surrounding them. Spoiler: Nishi's Dress As Nishi walked closer Alucard’s playing stopped, his violin dropping to his side as his part in the performance was soon taken up by his Mother's violin. Alucard stood frozen at the altar, his dark green eyes following Nishi’s approach as he contemplated the likely inevitabity he would faint. It had happened many times before when he saw her beauty, he was just as ineloquent each time and embarrassed in the aftermath. Yet as she drew closer all he felt was peace, warmth, love his body didn’t falter or fall ass she took her place beside him. The ever present haunting of the Gestalt Consciousness faded from his broken mind as she took his hand. The ceremony was short, swift, and to the point the beacon soon indicating them to speak their vows. Nishi began, “Luca, you have been the light of my life, the blood in my veins, the beat of my heart, the most important thing that ever happened to me. You’re my entire world, the moment I met you, the moment I looked at you, I knew you were going to be something special to me, but I didn’t know just how special,” the takes a breath looking at the quartz piece she gave him when they first met. Which was now on a chain always around his neck. “When I first left my boyfriend for you, I was nervous, hesitant, as there’d be so many things I'd never done before. I’d never gone on a date, I’d never sat by the fire snuggling and drinking hot cocoa together, I’d never had anyone actually care about the little things like my favorite colors, foods, and flowers. No one except you and in that moment everything became clear to me. I knew that I wanted to marry you, to have kids with you either our own or adopted,” her eyes tears for a brief moment. before she continued, “The Moment we found our son, I knew that we would be a family. I knew you would be an amazing father and I was right. You’ve been everything I needed and more in this world. I can’t wait to be your wife. Family is eternal, our love is eternal.” Alucard seemed lost for words clearly trying to keep himself from crying, which no amount of theatrical experience could've hoped to hide. He took a breath and spoke from the heart, “Nishi when I first meet you. Most of my life had been spent following after another all in the pursuit of trying to make their life better, trying to sacrifice parts of my life in hopes of helping them. I traveled the world for a decade in pursuit of that only to end with them shattering my heart. In the aftermath, I thought it was over that my purpose, my muse would forever be gone from my life. Then I went to you and we two miserable souls talked over drinks...yet as we did I felt different. I felt for the first time, that I could appreciate someone without sacrificing a part of myself." The Ailor takes a breath wiping the tears from his eye, “Then you opened the door to me and at first I stumbled through thinking our relationship would be short...a distraction or brief rebound from misery. Then as the days when on and I saw more of the real you. More of your beauty, skill, hard work, heart, and mind I was and still am dumbfounded no man ever appreciated you as I do. In the second, you accepted all of me. I knew that I would appreciate, love, and stay with you for eternity." Giving a nod to them both, the Beacon cut their palms with his ceremonial knife holding up both their hands to let the blood flow down. As the blood flowed, the Beacon sang his voice beginning to weave the flowing streams of blood through the air. With one note, the streams united as the beacon shifted his song beginning to mold the blood over their rings. As with one final note he hardened the blood around their rings. Whistling a tune, the beacon drew a bit of blood from Alucard’s brothers and soon healed the couple’s wounds. Once done, the Beacon smiled to the gathered stepping back as he spoke, “I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Alfonse, partners within the Eternal song.” He smiled at the couple, “You may kiss now,” he noted with a smile. Before he got the words out Nishi pulled Alucard in, her silk-like hair coming to life as it wrapped around the Ailor and pulled him in closer. As the Ailor returned the kiss, recovering from his surprise, a glow of pulsing purple light shone through his clothes. The glow of the dragon wings tattooed in glyphs upon his back visible to all before fading as the kiss ended. Cheers rang out as the celebration began the Ithanian wine flowing free from the casks as the stage was made ready for the nights performances. After a time, Nishi took the stage with three other Maraya all dressed like festival dancers with the addition of white masks which covered the entirety of their faces. Nishi’s outfit was the most extravagant of the four and lacked the white mask but it still complemented the other maraya's clothes. The crowd went quiet as Nishi began to sing, the natural siren song of a Maraya soon filling the ears of all in attendance causing even the dressolini guests to relax and merely listen to the song. Soon one voice became four as they sang a simple but heartfelt love song with a almost divine perfection dancing to their song in perfect, elegant sync. As Alucard listened along he blushed every now and again at seemingly innocuous parts of her song. Seeming to recall certain fond memories she weaved into her creation. Once the song was over, Alucard took the stage taking up his oak wood, gold inscribed violin from its new iron stand. “I dedicate this piece to My Wife, to My Son, and to Eternian,” the Ailor proclaimed as he began. His voice filling the clearing with a more mortal but no less beautiful voice as he began to play the violin as he danced.Everything from Alucard’s singing, to the playing of the violin, to the dance he waved with eternal vigor had been crafted over months of work all in pursuit of the singular desire shared by all Bards of Eternian. The desire to craft, a performance which properly expresses that which it is dedicated to. Alucard sang for the women he loved, danced for the adopted son he cherished with all his soul, and played to impress the God to whom he owed his purpose. Once his song ended the Ailor collapsed into his wife’s arms with a tired smile allowing her to scoop him up. As they both went to join the celebration. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OOC Notes As this is a wedding thread please feel free to post a reply of what your character experiences unfortunately as this is a private event. Not all of regalia was invited, but anyone who was invited personally can say they bring like one-two plus ones (or in the case of noble servant. Anyone from the house you serve may come) so if anyone wants to cordinate with a friends (who wouldn't be immediately expelled for being say a wanted criminal) that is encouraged. Spoiler: For Sanguine Chrs who attend If your sanguine and are say invited or brought as a plus one. Good news, Vintaar partying is being icly used here so Your sign free boys and girls. Have fun :) For those giving the couple gifts: Make a spoiler for what you gave either as/after your reply or dm it to me.
A tall Avanthar was invited to the wedding, he'd be wearing his nicest pair of hide pants with some dark brown, leather boots... Along with a loose, white shirt, a bit out of character for the Avanthar. He'd have shown up with a black-furred, fruitbat inspired bat the size of a small dog and a long, prehensible tail on his shoulder, wrapping its tail around his neck. The bat, Horith, would also be wearing a tiny, black tie, ears perked as he looked around curiously, twitching his little bat nose. Tarron, the Avanthar, would be grumbling slightly to himself, eyes locked on the floor as he walked along. He'd mumble to Mae, his partner: "<P-E> Why did I have to come? He doesn't like me." Spoiler @Plant_Choild
A certain Maz-Allar guest sat amongst the pews- trying to remain stoic through the ceremony, and noticeably failing, tears dotting the corners of her eyes and cascading down her emerald scales. For the lovers, she cheered, and throughout the night, she danced, displaying the lessons that her teacher so carefully taught her. And when everything started winding down, Barbossa stared off to the lovebirds. "Good for you, Alucard." She murmured, hushed amongst the dying buzz of the party. "Good for you."
The seat reserved for a certain Slizzar remained empty. No one came to take it, not even a stranger. Perhaps someone wondered why he didn't come, it's not like he would've had anything better to do anyways, right? Yet no one came, no one came during or after the ceremony. No one came for the celebrations and when the party was over. Though if anyone would've turned to look at the back during the ceremony, they might've seen a stranger in a light blue robe, idly standing in the distance, watching the beautiful union from a distance, far outside of the event's area. The strange Estalar did not approach, instead he just grinned when he saw things went well. He looked at the bandage covering his right palm, chuckling. "Congratulations, my friends... my dear friends. If only it wouldn't be too risky to come, but this will have to do." The stranger also joined in on the applause when the time came, though no one heard him from that distance, neither did anyone see his solemn, longing smile. Oh how much he wanted to be there, to celebrate with his friends, to share the joy of them finding happiness... Though the actor didn't do so. Instead he just turned and walked away, like he was never even there.
A Cielothar stood beside the Avanthar dressed up in bells from her ankles to her waist, decorated with jewelry around her horns and neck that of simple chains and charms, along with leather boots and a old gown of blue. Mae, leaned her head closer to Tarron’s ear. “<P-E> Because it would be nice to see you and him finally get along.”
Ana received the invitation and wrote back. Spoiler: The Letter Alucard and Nishi, Forgive me, for I cannot attend your wedding. Personal obligations have claimed my time, and it depresses me that I cannot be there with you. In this envelope are your gifts. I hope that you find the tea enlightening. Nishi, I would like to see your dress one day. He is a lucky man. Alucard, love her well. Your friend, Ana Cervantez Inside the envelope would be two bags of tea. The first smelled fruity and had dried, brittle rhubarb shells, pomegranate seeds, and dehydrated berries; this was Nishi's. The second was powdery like fine grains of darkened black sand. Mixed inside were cocoa nibs, vanilla bean crumbles, and something that might have once been a pure white flower; this was Alucard's.
The Slumberwood sat inconspicuously in the back pew of the makeshift chapel. Though the nobleman was clothed in his usual ostentatious style, it was easily missed in Abelhard's lines of congratulatory acquaintances, his entourage of servants seeming just a usual clump of friends from the bard's travels. The nobleman remained largely an easily missed presence throughout the festivities, saving his words for the bride and groom until the celebrations had began to dwindle out like the last remains of a hearth after a family's nightly gathering. He'd approach them towards the end of their merriment giving a nod after looking the two over as a pair and offering his comments: "Thank you for extending the invitation, Alfonse. I do appreciate seeing such happiness. May you find whatever contentment you seek through your marriage. Ah, and finally: I have a gift for you." he stated seemingly having almost forgotten as he had stopped himsef during his turn to depart with his entourage. The nobleman fished crimson-sealed envelope bearing the Slumberwood crest as its mark from his waistcoat, giving a final smile, perhaps a bit more genuine than the usual practiced gesture, before turning to leave the venue moving with a finality in his steps. @bwmwags3
