Topic: Faith, Hope and Love Abide - The Gathering

Captain Hawke

Date: 2010-03-08 21:11 EST
Faith, Hope and Love Abide
The Wedding of Harold & Scotty
March 9th, 2010


The Gathering of the Guests

The Chapel of Saint Brendan was lit well by natural light; it banded through the paned, clear windows, and through the skylights on the arched ceiling. It wasn't a large building, not by any stretch, but it was a beautiful one. Simple, and not particularly religious (despite being named for the patron saint of mariners), it was a more recent addition to the otherwise dilapidated dockside, built after the fires raged through during that whole zombie outbreak thing not quite three years ago.

It was a small building; it could only hold (and then likely crowded) about fifty people, but that was fine. Significantly less would be here for this simple ceremony. It was a small building and a small group, intimate and quiet, and that was perfectly fine by Harold and Scotty.

Captain Lief Hawke of the Marietta was fresh off of the sea, and even freshly shaved and well turned out, he still looked it. His hair was bleached bright blond from the sunlight of more southern regions, and his weathered face looked as though it had been wind and salt blasted. He was a handsome man, in an offbeat way; seafoam colored eyes, lean and powerful, like a sea captain should be.

He also had performed a few weddings in his day, so when he stood at the podium, looking over the text for it, he looked comfortable enough. He had not met the young men getting married, but his bosses had spoken well and warmly of them, and that was enough for Hawke.

The piper was off to the side. Handsome man, with dark hair and green eyes, he stood with his pipes in a formal stance. He was decked out in a full formal kilt, and looked good-naturedly ready to pipe in the couple. Craig MacKenzie was his name; he and Hawke and introduced themselves, had a bit of a gam, while Hawke and Lowe and d'Thalia worked on dusting the chapel ahead of its use this morning.

Said pair, of Lowe and d'Thalia, were currently doing something that they often did. Namely, they stood guard and took turns having a little patrol around the area. The former stench and the beasts that had been wandering dockside and then throughout the city warranted some sort of guard, and as natural as breathing, Harry and Maia fell into the dual role of both guest and sentry.

Currently, Maia was the one taking a short patrol, and Harry was standing at the back door. He was dressed up about as much as he was willing to be; a black suit, white dress shirt, tie, polished shoes in lieu of boots. His Browning HP was holstered at his back, out of sight. He hoped he wouldn't need it, but he wanted to be ready to defend this ceremony if need be.

Hawke nodded to himself as the guests began to arrive.

Spirited Corsair

Date: 2010-03-08 21:14 EST
Maia was dressed to kill.

She walked around the block with her left hand resting on the beautiful swept hilt of her favorite rapier, the one that had belonged to the Rogue. The matching main-gauche hung from the other side, and both had been polished to a high sheen early that morning. Maia could not conceive of walking around unarmed these days--not even to a wedding--but at least she would have the decency to carry her shiniest, prettiest blades.

The three-piece navy suit she'd ordered at the Stitch had been tailored to fit her like a glove. It was rare that she had occasion to wear it (especially outside of business), but a wedding seemed like just the thing. Beneath the jacket and the sleek waistcoat, she wore a neat white collared shirt with the top buttons open; draped around her neck were a few of the irregular strands of pearls given to her by the merfolk. Her curls were pulled back into a relatively tidy chignon at the base of her skull, and in the crisp morning breeze, some of the side-swept hairs wisped free around her face. The suit itself was sharp as the rapier and every bit as serious as the woman could be, but the softer touches (not to mention the hopeful smile in her eyes) went a long way towards feminizing Maia.

It would not be long before the pipes would sound and things would begin. At the back door of the chapel, she cast a radiant smile. Ten of ten, and all was well. Maia did not resist in the slightest as Harry slipped an arm about her waist and drew her in to kiss her. It was outwardly tender, though the way he looked at the woman told a different story. It was, perhaps, to be one of those days. How she loved those days.

"Shall we hang near the back, just in case?"

"Aye. It's small enough that we'll not miss anything."

Maia pressed her palm to Harry's, each finger was threaded between one of his. Together, they stepped inside to witness the ceremony. In the past, Maia had always rather disliked weddings, but that day, she thought that this one might not be so awful. With a smile and a nod to Captain Hawke, who returned the gesture, Maia settled carefully in beside Harry.

MontgomeryScott

Date: 2010-03-08 21:18 EST
He looked around a bit nervously, not much liking being in Dockside without his phaser, but he'd heard rumour of energy-eating monsters upon his return to the city. Thus, he'd figured it safer to not carry the thing, lest he try to use it and attract one of the monsters in question.

As such, there was a slightly more tense set to his shoulders than he would ordinarily have had while wearing anything dressier than his usual jumper and thick work pants. It couldn't have been helped, though, so he focused as much of his usual nervous energy as he could into not fidgeting and adjusting his jacket for the 239,843rd time (and yes, he did keep track of how many times he adjusted it as he made his way to the church).

He didn't immediately spot anyone he recognised upon arrival at the building? actually, he didn't spot anyone at all. For a moment he had the urge to check the date in his PADD, make sure he had the details correct, but that would have involved going all the way back to the Inn. So instead he headed over to the main entrance and slipped inside.

It's a nice place for the ceremony. Very elegant, he thought, in an understated way. He appraised the internal structure with an engineer's eye, taking the chance to admire the lines of the building, how the forms followed the function. Except he's there for a wedding, so he tore his gaze away from the architecture and instead made his way down towards the front, heavy (but spit-shined) boots preventing his movements from being entirely silent.

Scott picked a seat all the way in the front. No sense sitting further back when, knowing those two, there won't be a great many witnesses to the actual ceremony. A little nod for the officiant and piper, then he settled into his seat to wait.

It's really remarkable, he thought, the whole marriage. Especially given where it came from. That beach, what little he recalled of his few visits there, was a very transient place. Hard to believe the seeds of something permanent could have been planted there, especially between two people who, by all rights, never should have met. Except they did, in a remarkable display of the likelihood of one in a million chances. He could not think of any pair more suited to the other (although he could think of pairs equally suited, except that wasn't how the saying went).

Beyond that, he could not have said he had too many thoughts on the matter, although whether it was because he'd already thought what thoughts he could or because he's a bit of a scatterbrain is past the scope of human knowledge. He was happy for the pair, though, very happy, and quite glad he managed to make it back in time for the wedding.

Marlena

Date: 2010-03-08 23:46 EST
Marlena's new dress had been tailored to perfection, thanks to Mai's skill. She'd folded it carefully over her arm, trying to ensure the chiffon wouldn't crease before she could change into it. Her hair had been styled already; she'd change after helping Harold get ready.

From the back door of the chapel, she didn't have quite the same first impression of architectural beauty that the rest of the guests would receive upon entering. She was also, somewhat, denied the opportunity to make a grand entrance--she looked good with her hair done up for the wedding, she knew it, and she wanted to allow everyone else to see her. Still, she figured that was just as well--it was Harold's and Scotty's day.

She hadn't meant to bring Evan. She hadn't planned on inviting him. It wasn't that she didn't want to, it just hadn't even occurred to her. But when she'd asked him for the day off from work because she was in her best friend's wedding, and he'd asked if she had a date, it had seemed completely logical for her to accept his offer to accompany her. It was strange--she'd been his apprentice for months now, and had learned all there was to know about stopwatches, but the idea of an actual date with the man struck her as simply bizarre.

She wondered what he'd think of her dress.

Marlena smiled and nodded a greeting to the few guests who had already arrived. She was oddly nervous, considering she wasn't even the one getting married. She'd never been a Best Man before. She double-checked that she still had the ring--yep, it was there. Everything was going to go perfectly.

She headed toward the back rooms to find Harold.

NightRunner

Date: 2010-03-09 01:37 EST
The Gathering of the Guests
Enter Without Fear




He shouldn't have been nervous but a logical little voice in his head said that such an emotion was for a logical reason.

Renne took a breath and patted down the handsome little white coat and smiled. Cinder had sent this to him as a gift, this coat and its matching hat. The problem was, he hadn't felt he deserved to wear it until recently and even then, when was it proper? The whole outfit was a pristine thing, handsome and simple. Straightforward in the way things of the sea tended to be and he loved it.
Except he was nervous.

The demon-dogs hadn't done too much damage except perhaps an annoying soreness left in one shoulder. Honestly, being thought of as food or a chew toy wasn't appealing to him. It was just disgusting really and he'd taken another two baths to finally be rid of that stench.
Yet it wasn't the demon-dogs that had him nervous.

Renne pondered the question as he crawled in a slow, careful matter out of the Red Dragon. A small headdress was on under his matching "captain's" hat to honour the Dudes with not only the custom of the sea, but his own custom as well. He tried to appear dignified while crawling and several times, checked himself. His cutlass and brand-new Musketeer dagger hung neatly at his side. His headdress stayed as it was supposed to -- flush against his head and with the hat on, only the lower end of its intricate wire showed.

Despite getting lost a time or two, Renne found his way to the chapel and examined why he was so nervous.

It isn't the creatures. The cake? Possibly. The...?

His thoughts snapped to a halt just as he did some meters away from the building. He straightened his back, held his head up and made for himself a quiet oath. People were going to be there. He knew what he was and what he was not. People were going to be there and he was determined to honour them. It was right. It was what ought to be.

Renne took a breath. Carefully crawled a circuit or two around the building both for orientation purposes and from his own kind of guard. This was for the Dudes and for all else he knew. This was for them and even if just in this, he was a part of that.

And he was going to help protect it.

When he found the door, Renne took his hat off and quietly crawled into the building.

Vextirias

Date: 2010-03-09 01:52 EST
This was the place wasn't? Well, she hoped it was at least. She'd never really been to one of these weddings before or known much about human culture or otherwise till she came to Rhy'Din. But here she was, coming to attend a wedding of two individuals she'd grown to consider friends.

One could say she was decently dressed, her clothing always that consistent shimmering crimson of her scales as in a way it was as much a part of her as the scales. She was also carrying a small gift box that rattled every now and then as she walked, a little something for the two. Setting the gift box down on a table nearby she looked around to those gathered as she waited. She was here and hopefully everything was alright, after all she had never attended a wedding before.

Jaycy Ashleana

Date: 2010-03-09 02:09 EST
She hated weddings; he wasn?t fond of formal social events. They made a fine pair.

?Do I look alright?? she asked, turning before him once more. The red- and silver- streaked hair hung loosely in wide, wavy curls. The green and gold comb, a Yuletide gift from the pair they were celebrating today, nestled in the curls above her right ear. The tricetra pendant rested over her forest green cashmere sweater, gently nestled just below the hollow of her throat. Dark grey slacks completed her outfit, well-tailored to her petite frame. For a small and early wedding, she didn?t want to appear too formally dressed.

He sighed in exasperation, his arms folded as he leaned against the wall of their Manor bedroom. ?You look wonderful, love. Can we go now, please?? Well-attired in black slacks and a hunter green button down shirt, he straightened and dropped an arm, the other coming up to adjust the tie she?d convinced him to wear. The black- and dark green- striped tie was simple and conservative. She?d talked him out of the suit jacket, citing the time of the ceremony.

?Aye, aye, fine. I?m done stalling.? She loved Scotty and Harold and it was only her care for them that drew her out for the occasion. With a sigh, she swept from the room and down the stairs. He followed, shaking his head. Together, they moved into the carriage waiting at the Manor courtyard. Silence reigned during the trip toward the chapel.

Psly exited, smirking for a moment as he turned and extended his hand to help the Baroness down. She made a face at him but took the hand and stepped down. ?Yer lucky we ain? late,? he chuckled, his other hand tugging her closer and wrapping her arm around his. She rolled her eyes, lifting her other hand to rest on the arm. ?Aye, aye, I know.?

They stepped inside, quieting, and the pair looked around. ?Somewhere in the middle, mayhap?? she murmured, leaning in toward him. He nodded and led them toward an empty aisle, sliding within and allowing the short woman the edge so she could have a better view of the events. She glanced at him and they shared small smiles and then sat, linking hands.

CaptainTapole

Date: 2010-03-09 04:20 EST
~This joint post was done via IMs on AOL.~

The Gathering of the Guests - Strangers in a Reunion

It was mid-morning when Johnathan came back around to the docks. She knew that there was only one chapel upon this side of the city; but she never knew the name of it. Looking about the area close to the chapel, she knew where everything was; but she knew nothing of any of it.

Johnathan knew there were watchers about the dockside, but none bothered her and she never bothered them. Luckily, for her, noone suspect her for anything--for there was no reason to nowadays. The chapel, though, was simple; which is good.

Johnathan's hair was mostly down and guarded, but parts of it was braided back in a crown-like way. Her dress was flowy and of Autumn colours that nearly touched down to the ground--but it was just a few centimeters away from it and dark-brown slipper-like shoes peeked out a bit when she walked. The storm-grey cloak was a little loose since it was not that cold; but just a smidge of a chill. Looking up to the exterior of the chapel, she blinked and kept quiet.

Johnathan truly did not know why she wanted to come to this wedding of two gentlemen she knew absolutely nothing of; but it was polite to pay respects to a soon-to-be-loving-couple.

Johnathan did not understand why to enter the backway; but she only obliged. She was ready to enter the chapel; but at that point in time, a small blue creature came out to face out to the sea. She wanted to leap out and jump with joy and happiness, but she did her best to keep calm. Slowly standing beside the creature, she too looked out to the sea and kept calm. After a few moments of silence, a small croaked voice finally broke through the wall of silence.

" 'Nay-t?"

"The Oceans told I that none of us are safe 'round here. But it is only the Oceans and one creature that I ha'e complete faith in."

Johnathan was not a dream, but Renne believed she was. Keeping her calm, she knelt down beside him and finally looked over to him. She knew he could not know, but when other guests--if there were anymore--to arrive, they would see the love in her eyes that glowed as brightly as an eternal candle. With that, their embrace was warm, loving, and long. It was a reunion that only the two would truly understand the meaning of. Tears of joy, reality, and love trinkle down from eachother's eyes. The touch of warmth and hope were something both Renne and Johnathan longed for. Their silence was perfect, for any other lovers reuniting would have broken the silence long ago.

It was mere minutes--but to the both seemed like hours of them alone--it was Johnathan who unfortunately brought it back to reality. Glancing over and up to the chapel's exterior, she then looked back to Renne.

"Ye know the members of the party?"

"Eey-ess. Doo-d anhd Doo-d Two."

It was then when Renne placed up the mirage-memories of the two gents who are soon to be wed. These mirage-memories, Johnathan has seen him do before, but now understood the concept of it. It was like those film-reels that showed pictures at a rapid pace in other small cities and villages along the way to RhyDin City. She found it interesting to the names Renne chooses for People and folk, but whatever worked for him. She sighed in content as soon as the mirage-memories faded away before she looked back to Renne.

"Well, I belie'e going in would be a good thing in-order to see them join."

"Eee. Eeey-ess."

There was one last gentle caress of his hand upon her face before he turned about to face the entrance of the chapel. Slowly and regrettably letting him go, Johnathan stood up and followed Renne in.

Renne counted the pews as his hand slightly grazed them, taking in the scents once again. Johnathan kept up the pace behind him as she looked about inside and to the other guests. She knew none of them--and highly possible none of them knew her. Watching Renne take his seat and to grab the "captain's" hat that held his spot, he pointed to the spot directly beside him. Johnathan looked over to the area where the joining will be shortly held. To her, it did not matter which denomination it was; it was a custom in her elven-folk to place the left hand up and gesture it in a clockwise--counter-clockwise to self--manner as a gesture of tolerance and peace. She did so before crouching down a bit and to sit directly beside Renne.

A joining that will become of bliss and happiness, Johnathan kept quiet and proper in her seating area; but did scoot closer to Renne as she gently placed her hand directly under his.

Ayel

Date: 2010-03-09 16:25 EST
For a door through space and time, it was really more like stepping from one room into another. He had followed Harold's instructions and now was simply here.

It was a beautiful temple, all cozy weathered grey stone and the faint tang of salt that filtered past bright windows of fitted colorful glass.

It was a good sign. Water weddings were happy ones.

It was still incredible to him that he only needed to think of well-cut blues to be wearing them when he arrived. Coat, boots, shirt and slacks--nearly identical to his uniform, but the indigo color of ceremony guests and lowest-tier officials' assistants.

He glanced around, saw no one he knew. Harold had said--well, they had both said a lot of rhadheis and aeher paeti and how the hell are you, it's been so long, and then Harold's already smiling face had lit up from within, and he'd said Guess what?

Great news for great friends. He was glad to be a part of it.

Ayel was sure there would be someone here that he knew, had met before, in that place where all their futures ran together on the sand. He wasn't certain what a 'best man' was, whether it was like his own situation a lifetime ago, but Marlena Moreau would be the best one they could ask for. He had no doubt.

Marriage. Harold and Scotty were going to make it official.

He knew there was some kind of seating-custom but could not remember what it was, and hoped that 'friend' was designation enough as he took a seat, smiling.

If he focused on the scenery, he could keep from tearing up until they actually got here.