[GP] The De Rolo Wedding Reception

[st_abby]

The calendar of "Kahl-ee-Fornea" was very different to that of Tal'Dorei. But the spring dance had been a good reminder for the Exandrians (one of them, anyway) that the Renewal Festival would take place more or less this time of year, landing always on the thirteenth day of Dulahei. It seemed a fitting time to set the 'small family dinner' in celebration of the marriage of Vex and Percy.

...Yeah, but no. Because Vax'ildan didn't mind a bit of revenge for their having done the thing without so much as telling him for several weeks, and because his sister always deserved the best of everything anyway, the garden had a whopping lot more than that for the happy couple as they opened the doors onto what first looked like pitch blackness. Until the big, white-hot spotlight snapped abruptly on to glare down on top of the pair with blinding scrutiny.

A familiar voice sang out from beyond, his ever-charming booming and crooning amplified to fill the whole of the outdoors by something called a 'microphone,' Scanlan using all his singular panache to belt out a melodic tune:

"There she is, Mrs. De Rolo
There she is, your ideal
The dreams of a million boys and girls who want to find love in Emon City
For Vex may turn out to more than Baroness of the first house of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Hunt
There he is, Mr. De Rolo
There he is, your ideal
With so much brooding and tinkering he took the town by storm
With his all-Whitestone face and form
And there they are
Walking on air, he is
Fairest of the fair, she is
There they are - Mr. and Mrs. De Rolooooooooooo~"

A resounding wave of applause, murmuring, cheers, and laughter broke out all around the newlyweds - one such unbridled merry cackle absolutely coming from the bride's brother - and Scanlan's tone changed immediately to a much more vibrant, excited, sporting-event-enthusiasm style of announcement: "Ladies and Gentlemen - it's the DE ROLO FAMILY!"

The strands of bulb lighting popped into yellow-soft brightness all at once, revealing the guests gathered around dozens of tables artfully set with dinner places enough for everyone at the Inn. Each table included flowers, linens, and garlands all matched in smart Whitestone-Blue, darker Owlbear-Blue, black and white with touches of gold accents, all thanks to Caroline's management. The outdoor area so far as one could see had been dressed in one of Lillith's illusions to mimic a beautiful forest clearing at purple-dusk with fireflies dancing, the shapes of buildings and foothills in the distance distinctly cast to look like the city and castle of Whitestone. Ignis and Emma stood by putting a few final touches on what they'd all started calling 'fancy barbecue,' an enormous buffet of haute cuisine smoked and grilled meats with artful sides, a table beside them holding up the massive layer cake Pike had tirelessly fussed into perfection. So many others had come together to help or to wish the de Rolos well - but there would be plenty of time over the evening for them to be thanked and recognized with food, drink, song - there was even an area marked out as a dance floor.

A freshly bathed Trinket in his very own bowtie lumbered up to Vex'ahlia to rumble and lick her face as the pair finally had a moment to react to the spectacle. At ground-level, a small disc-like device with a large serving spoon taped to it had been labeled with marker as Ensign Stubby, rolling its way between tables and chairs while balancing a large, many-times-stabbed basket of flower petals (with a handful left nestled in its giant spoon) on top of its flat surface like a drunken flower girl to finally bump into Vex and Percy's shoes. ...And possibly the best thing about their stunning surprise? That Peter boy had got the whole thing on VHS.

Comments

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

"This is one instance I don't need to lie." But she was right, he would have lied, or rather, not mentioned it at all if she had been horrendous at it.

"I'd love to hear you sing again, sometime, if you'd like."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

“There was this one song I almost sang instead of that one, but it’s from here and I wanted something from home,” she rotated her wrist ever so slightly and intertwined those finger, “It’s called “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.”

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

"Would you sing it for me?" Scanlan never thought he'd actually be at this point with Pike. And she was holding his hand.

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

"Two songs in one night?" She gave him a sideways glance, then looked away, "Why is singing for you alone scarier than in front of a whole crowd?"

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

He considered that for a moment, though he kind of already knew the answer. "Because I'm only one focal point. A crowd you don't know who's actually listening." But also because he had broken her trust and singing was, in part, being vulnerable, but he didn't say that part out loud.

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

“Well, maybe,” Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand just once, “But I’m fairly certain you were listening the first time, too.”

She gave a little, breathy laugh, “Plus, I don’t usually mind attention.” Most of her true thoughts were kept hidden behind a smile and away from others. “And if I can fight barbarians three times my size in hand-to-hand combat in the Crucible, I’m pretty sure I can sing in front of one, devilishly charming gnome.”

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

The fact she called him charming made Scanlan's chest warm and puff out a little because Pike called him charming and it hadn't sounded like an insult, either. "if you're nervous, though, you don't have to. We can do whatever you'd like."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

“No. I think being nervous is the exact reason I should do it.” It was something she’d learned from Grog, the benefits of just doing and not thinking too much about it. Taking a steadying breath, she started singing.

As the melody filled the air around them, her eyes found his briefly and she couldn’t help but smile.

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

Scanlan would have thought Pike's voice was fantastic even if she couldn't carry a tune. The fact that she could made his heart warm and his head feel a little dizzy. Could this woman be any more perfect? Seriously.

He listened to the song he didn't know, a warm smile on his lips and his eyes attentive the entire time. He couldn't help but look proud, even, as he listened to her sing.

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

Much like when she’d been on stage, Pike found herself not looking at Scanlan while she sang. She glanced now and then, but the look on his face threatened to break her concentration. It would do no good to think too much about the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

When the last note had faded, she cleared her throat then gave a little shrug, “It, well, it sounds better with the music.”

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

"I think it sounded fantastic." Scanlan looked at her and felt the urge to kiss her, but he reign himself in reluctantly, feeling a pang of sadness at the remembrance that she probably would sock him one if he did.

"It's a nice song, too. Did you learn it here?"

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

“Thank you,” she smiled and felt her cheeks warm, “I did. It was pretty easy to learn. It’s by a band that was apparently really popular in a lot of the worlds that are also like this one.”

Absentmindedly, she tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear, “My, um, issues with music were only with live music so I could still listen to the music that comes from the strange projection devices here.”

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

His voice lowered a little at that. "... I'm still sorry about that, Pike." He wanted to reach out to touch her, but didn't. "I'm glad you can listen to it again now."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

“It will be okay,” she nodded, “I still have to fight the urge to run a little whenever I hear an instrument but it’s definitly getting better.”

She squeezed his hand, ever so slightly, “You know, despite my better judgement, I think I actually believe that apology.”

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

He wasn't sure how many times he had to say he was sorry, but the fact she seemed to be breaking a bit in her rigidness spurred him on. It gave him hope.

"I'd like that. Then maybe I can work on building our friendship back up."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

Friendship. The word stuck in Pike's mind but didn't seem to fit for some reason. Was that what she really wanted? That kiss popped into her mind but she pushed it away. Maybe she should talk to Vex about all of this?

Clearing her throat to cover the pause, she eventually found words. "You've been doing a good job so far," Pike glanced over and gave him a little smile. "I was actually talking Sarenrae about it today during my morning meditation."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

He looked a little surprised. Not at her talking to Sarenrae, of course, but that she might be talking to her about him

"Did she.. answer back?"

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

"Well," Pike chewed her lips, "Kind of. I could feel her presence with me, of course, but her power has been a bit limited since the spring dance." It had taken her a while to pinpoint when and why, but eventually she'd come to the conclusion that the turning point had been when Sarenrae had stepped in to help Bo. And honestly, if protecting her friend meant that Pike couldn't get advice on issues of the heart for a few weeks...then that was totally fine with her. "But I've always known what she wants me to do about you. It's easy to tell that she's proud of how far you've come."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

He smiled at that. That news, that Sarenrae might be proud and that Pike thought that, made him beam. Moment like this, it was much more apparently why people believed it he gods. He got it in moments like this.

"She's helped me out a lot back home... it's nice to know she's been noticing."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

"That's lovely to hear. I'm very glad you reached out to her," Pike let herself feel a moment of pride. She had never and would never push her friends towards Sarenrae, but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't hoped that some of them would embrace her eventually. Redemption or forgiveness weren't things that could be forced and the same held true for belief in her lady. "You mentioned something about meeting her? I have to admit, I was a bit overwhelmed during that whole conversation and I don't remember that part..."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

There was so much from back home he couldn't tell anyone, but he wanted to. Sometimes he thought he could tell Pike everything, but he wasn't sure it was fair to ask her to burden it with him.

"We had to get gods to help us. Our first stop was to Sarenrae's realm. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. She was really proud of you, Pike."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

"Wow," Pike breathed as she ran her fingers over the female form of her holy symbol. She never got tired of knowing that her lady was proud of her. She'd felt the warmth of Sarenrae's approval through their connection, but how amazing must it be to hear it from her in person. "We actually went through the divine gate? I would love to hear more about her realm... if you're okay with talking about it?"

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

"Alright." Scanlan nodded. He started to describe the Island of Renewal to her. Of the pearl-like sand and how Grog was fascinated with them. Of the Crystal Palace in the middle and how simply walking to it was impossible. Only she and him had been able to find it, her more easily, and had to guide everyone else to meet her. And then Sarenrae herself. What she looked like, how she spoke to Pike. How she thanked Pike for restoring the temple in Vasselheim, all of it. And then how Pike was granted the Blessing of the Everlight.

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_ealthless]

Pike obviously knew that Scanlan was a good storyteller. After all, she'd listened to him weave tales big and small - true and false - for years. But she'd never been so enraptured in his words. She tried to keep up, to put everything into her long term memory.

"Her realm is an island," Pike smiled broadly, giggling just a little. It was more perfect than she could have expected. Her thoughts flashed back to how wonderful it had felt to escape to the sea back in Exandria, how going to the beach with Jag had pulled her back together after Scanlan's arrival.

It seemed so simple, but knowing where her lady lived meant more to Pike than knowing about the blessings she might receive one day. Without thinking, she let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. "Oh Scanlan, thank you."

Re: True Love Will Find You In The End - For Scanlan

[st_illsinging]

He paused for a moment, perhaps because he was shocked, but then wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her back. "You did all the work. I just retold it for you." He wished she could see it for herself. He knew she would at some point.