[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: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_artliving]

Because he was currently male and for some reason it seemed appropriate, Xavin offered a slight bow instead of a handshake to Zahra. "I try to confine myself to male and female, most of the time. It is less confusing." And being male or female depending on feeling and circumstance was generally confusing enough for most people without additional complication.

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_affofthemoon]

She hugged her cousin back readily and welcomed Xavin with a smile. She had been meaning to seek out Xavin for some time. Zahra wanted to meet all the important people in Lillith's life.

"Are there more than two options?" She raised a slight eyebrow, interested more than anything. Zahra did rather enjoy the male form at the moment. "It is nice to meet you. Lillith has told me only good things about you."

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_artliving]

"Intersex. Gender-neutral." Xavin was never neutral, he thought, always one or the other. Sometimes it wasn't important which, but it was always one. "There is a species in my home galaxy which has a third gender. It is brainless and exists merely to gestate fertilized eggs. I have heard of a species with five genders, all required biologically for reproduction and socially for stability. I have never encountered them and thus cannot describe them further. There is a great variety." He shrugged slightly. "But most species are most comfortable with two. Lillith has informed me that you are her sister in heart, and that, I think, says as much as I need to know to be pleased to meet you as well."

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_rangepalette]

This, this was one of the many things that Lillith adored about Xavin. They knew so many things that Lillith did not and spoke of them with such willing and intelligence. She learned much from the friendship.

As she had with Vex and Percy, she formed an image for Zahra of Xavin's preferred female form and showed it to her cousin. "You will see Xavin like this, also. It is simplest to call him 'he' when he looks male and 'she' when she looks female, but 'they' is also appropriate. And yes, be pleased both of you! I require it."

And then of course Lillith snickered. Because when did Lillith require anything of her cousin, or anyone, as the Baronesa she had been born to be?

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_affofthemoon]

"Well if you require it, then I will do as you bid, cousin."

It was clear her cousin was in a good mood and it made's Zahra's smile widen and warm. While it might not work out with Sunny, she wondered if maybe Xavin could be the one to hold Lillith's affection to the next level. She so desperately wanted her cousin to find love and be happy in that regard.

"Lillith has mentioned you're from the stars." A concept she understood a little better since the Space Station, though she quickly out of her mind. "I have a particular affinity to the moon. I read in Earth history people have visited it, have you ever been?"

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_artliving]

Xavin shook his head. "No, I never had a reason. Also, the moon in my universe is the domain of a people called the Inhumans, who are altered humans that moved to the moon in Earth's distant past in order to avoid interfering with non-altered humans. I had no wish to offend and, most times I passed it, no time to spend on the niceties that would negate offense." A Skrull landing out of nowhere for no reason would be taken as a spy or advance scout, without a doubt. The moon remembered the invasion attempts as well as Earth did. "It is lovely to look at from Earth, though."

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_rangepalette]

"Understand, cousin, Xavin's species is much feared. Their people have been warriors and conquerors to many, and so are loathed more even than we," Lillith explained. Her voice bloomed with pride in her friend, however, when she went on to add, "But Xavin, himself, chose a different path. He also is a white sheep among black, like you and I."

Re: Xavin and Lillith (and Zahra)

[st_affofthemoon]

Another reason, it seemed, for Zahra to like Xavin. Zahra and Lillith both knew what it was like to grow up being something that many people hated. "I can see why my cousin is drawn to you then." Apart from being rather attractive in both forms. Zahra briefly wondered what Xavin looked like as a Skrull.

"I'm sure Lillith has told you all about our kind and our particular assumed way of life." She glanced around at the illusion. "She's already able to show you a bit of our world, such as it is."