faderift | [Open] I Look At You

WHO: Aleron Darton and Bethany Hawke, Malcolm Reed, Nathaniel Howe, The Grey Warden 2LiveCrew (even you Teren), The Seeker Trio, and YOU.
WHAT: A Noble Wedding Between Two Great Houses.
WHEN: Backdated to the first of Bloomingtide
WHERE: Endridge, outside of Kaiten in the Free Marches.
NOTES: Warnings for Exceeding Sappiness and Happiness. What is that? Why is this in this game? That's just weird.EDIT: I've put in headers if you want to tag under those, but please feel free to put in your own top levels!

It's a far distance to Endridge from most anywhere, situated five miles outside Kaiten. But the destination is well worth the journey. The roads are even and in good repair as they stretch out through gently rolling hills of green. Picturesque. Tranquil. This is precisely what Bethany had wanted for her wedding: somewhere outdoors under the Maker's sky.

The pastoral setting truly is breathtaking for anyone moved by nature. Lush pastures stretch out almost to the horizon, dotted with fleecy ewes and their bouncing new lambs. Gentle breezes dance through the trees, the rustling sending gusts of fruit blossom petals scattering to the winds. Within those branches, twittering birds in joyous song cover the backdrop of baaaaaahs arising from the sheep. Behind the birdsong, the burbling of the creek sings out as it trips along its way to the lake. The warming new summer air coaxes perfumes out of the flowers, filling the air with their mingled scent. Behind the bounteous gifts of nature looms a stone edifice, seat of the Darton family, an imposing but not ungainly castle. The house is the work of the first baron, built to be a stronghold against further Nevarran incursions and a sign to legitimize the new title.

Never let it be said that Ravonild does not know how to throw a party. She's graciously offered the house and the grounds for the wedding, but has had her hand in all the preparations. Every inch of the ballroom has been polished and shined. The great hall transformed into a banqueting hall large enough to accommodate the guests, which includes every far-flung Darton relative crawled out of the woodwork. Where she has not worked her magic as a hostess is in the location of the ceremony proper. It is arranged within the formal gardens, which were a gift from Aleron's father to his new bride on her arrival from Orlais. Holding the wedding there, instead of in the wilder walled garden with its riot of variety and colors was a conciliatory gesture to appease Mama for not having the wedding in Orlais. Regardless of the behind-the-scenes bickering beforehand, everything is now the very picture of hospitality and celebration. The music is unending, the wine is free-flowing, and the dancing will last until dawn.

The simplest portion of the wedding is the ceremony itself. The Darton and Hawke coat of arms have been placed on display within the gardens, but that is the extend of excess and showmanship. Nathaniel Howe gives the bride away, Aleron's sisters are the bridal attendants, Malcolm Reed standing guard as a groomsman. In a break from tradition, youngest sister Layla carries a bouquet in one hand and her newborn baby in the other arm. (The tiny one was fussy, you see.) Oh, and yes, the bride's maiden of honor is an elf - but considering it is Merrill of the Champion's Tale? It is given a pass for the excitement of seeing one of Varric Tethras's heroes in the flesh, next to the bride.

Beyond that, it is a traditional ceremony performed by the Revered Mother who blessed all the Darton children as babes. Portions of the Chant are sung. Vows and rings are exchanged. Though behind the flowers Aleron and Bethany are holding hands and making eyes at each other. In fact, it seems miraculous that they're able to respond as required since they appear already lost in each other and not at all attentive to the ritual they are engaged in.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Church wasn't gonna come, because he doesn't know Aleron and he doesn't know Bethany, but Christine was going and asked him to come. Gave him big ol' eyes, too. And the move to Kirkwall just depressed her, so seeing her light up about a wedding?

Yeah, he can put on his shiny duds he hasn't worn in a year or whatever and come party. For her sake. Because seeing her smile is fucking amazing.

Also amazing? This food. If you think Church was going to ignore the food and drink at this shindig, my friend, you were extremely mistaken, because it's good, and it's free for him, and it's a way to not have to mingle and smalltalk with people he's pretty sure his very existence offends. He can't offend anyone if he's stuffing his mouth with food. Unless that offends someone, in which case, they are to feel free to fuck themselves.

Which is to say, he's actually trying not to cause an international incident at a wedding as his not-girlfriend's plus-one.

Like Church, Christine is wearing a gown she hasn't worn in over a year, and it's giving her flashbacks to that soiree where she had to school Church on not causing incidents. But everything turned out fine then -- very fine considering how they spent the end of the evening -- and it's clear that since then, Church has learned to mind his words better. Not spectacularly well, but better.

She approaches him at the table and smiles fondly at the picture he makes. The food isn't spilling down his jacket, so he's not going overboard in her eyes. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she enjoys cooking, and so she enjoys seeing him eat.

"Whenever I lose sight of you in a crowd," she begins, reaching for a chocolate truffle on a silver tray, "I know I can always find you at the food."

"What can I say," after swallowing a bite of food, "always a good place to start. It's like wallflowering without actually wallflowering, and I don't say something stupid in front of rich people I don't know. Seems like it's working." He's usually pretty social enough, but...impressions. They're a thing with consequences here.

"Does he not smile much?" he asks then after Aleron. "He looks like his face isn't sure how a smile works."

Yeah, Church. It's things like that that make it hard to let you talk to rich people whose impressions will have consequences. Exactly that.

As he speak, Christine nibbles past the chocolate shell and into the delicious truffle, taking her time with it. It's a stark contrast to how Church gobbles down food, but she wants to savor it.

At least he's not saying it to Aleron, or any of these rich people within earshot. Her head lifts to look for Aleron, still surrounded by guests, but with Bethany at his side, it looks like he can endure anything.

"It used to be quite rare, yes," she answers, turning back towards the conversation. "Plus he is very reserved by nature. Not one for being the center of attention. But I can tell after working alongside him for so long that he is incredibly happy."

There's plenty left to savor, it's a party. And the prettyboy elves keep restocking. "Wow, someone's got a fetish." Wait, did he mumble that out loud? Ignore that completely!

Nope he's not looking at any prettyboy elves. He's looking at Aleron. Definitely. "That's the thing that matters. This place is full of arranged marriages for families and wealth and peace, so it's...good, to see one for love happen. You ever want that, marriage?"

"Hmm?" she asks, having not quite caught that first part. But it's not really worth mentioning because then he goes and asks a big question and her mouth drops open in surprise. It's not something she ever thought he would ask her, and she takes a minute to try and think up an answer that's honest, but doesn't imply anything, because she isn't going to be the pressuring type.

"Yes, I do. It was not something I ever believed could happen. Mages were barred from marrying. They were not allowed to hold titles or land, and were forbidden from reproducing." She sighs and her eyes trail over to Bethany once more. "The Divine's death has changed things, but I cannot say if the rules will be enforced again once a new Divine is chosen." Life among the Avvar looks more and more promising by the day.

[Open] I Look At You

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