That Sacred Arrangement....

[all7seas]

Who: wise_maiden and lists_to_port; We are leaving this log WIDE OPEN. So if you are family or friends, you are invited and may mingle or gossip or be all dressed up or get drunk or do the electric slide or WHAT HAVE YOU. Are there any Wedding Crashers in Luceti? Ha!
What: Wedding
When: Monday afternoon
Where: That spot with the lilacs by the river in that meadow west of the village. You know that spot---we know you know that spot.
Summary: Jack and Raine get married, and everyone ships it hard forever.
Rating: G I expect? It's so hard to tell sometimes.



On the morning of his wedding, Jack sat bolt upright in bed and then vomited onto the floor. Several minutes after that were spent dry-heaving and gasping for breath, and then another several minutes crawling to the bathroom to put his head under the shower. Cold water---it brought back reality and rationality, and erased dreams of being a pirate and dying in some war and having a best mate and a lover who had always been forbidden him---ever since Jack Horner's lesson and the two weeks following it.

Sparrow figured it was a case of wedding nerves. Strange dreams were a new thing for him, after all--normally he slept dreamlessly and woke up alert.

Later, as he stood in the quiet meadow he and Raine had chosen for their ceremony among the fragrant lilac trees, that morning dream was forgotten. Sparrow was calm. Happy. Clean-shaven and dressed in the attire Buffy had picked out for him and eagerly waiting for his beautiful bride.

Comments

[wise_maiden]

The previous few days had been a blur for Raine--making all the arrangements to have a few days off from work after the festival, spending the weekend on finalizing details, finding just the right dress--something simple enough and yet elegant, for her.

When the morning--that morning arrived, it was after the second night of vague, disconcerting dreams--though she was no stranger to dreaming strangely. She knew that she was simply anxious for the day to come. It truly had come quickly; it was almost hard to believe that it had been a week ago since the proposal itself, looking back. Her bedroom was still very empty, as most of her personal items had already been moved to the Cullen House. An empty room, the last night she would have spent truly single, waking up to a strange emptiness. That night would be the first in a new home. She breathed, and continued to prepare for the rest of the day.

In the afternoon, now, she stands in the meadow, looking across the field to where her soon to be husband was waiting. All fears aside, Jack was there, truly there, in the clothing he had shown her just a few days ago. That was when the anxiety evaporated, as Raine tried to meet his eyes from afar--and it was all she could do to keep herself waiting properly. Patiently. Her steps toward him would be measured, even, even though her heart beat rapidly within her. Smiling, glowing -- they would finally be together.

[all7seas]

Once she appeared before him, Jack Sparrow could not look away. Now all mysterious morning dreams were firmly erased from his mind. The only thing he could see was a delicate woman who was more beautiful than starlight or the sunset over the lake or any thousand other very beautiful things.

He took a few halting steps toward her before he remembered it was customary for the groom to wait for the bride. "Hang the customs," he muttered, but forced himself to stand still. He knew Raine observed customs carefully. It was one of the things he loved about her.

[herotypical]

It was early Monday morning and Buffy told herself that she was knocking on Jack Sparrow's door because he had promised her answers. She pretended with the full might of her mind that she was not, in fact, here because today her half-brother-in-law was supposed to be getting married. She had a sister to protect and that was all.

Her knock was a distinctive one from long, long ago before Sparrow had owned this house. The same rhythm and intensity as when she used to invite the brothers out to play. It was instinctual and it startled her to hear it play out against the wooden door. Buffy frowned; now, she had experienced dreams that had directly contradicted that past. A world so wholly unlike this world. But the dreams about him hadn't been much different -- more specific, though. More real. And her mind had invented an origin story for that troublesome, smudged bird she had found on her shoulder a week ago today. Unsettling -- all of it.

[all7seas]

"Buffy?" Sparrow could not keep the surprise out of his voice when he opened the door, even though that knock had told him more than speaking could have who it was. She'd always knocked like that, after all. "Hallo, lass---is everything alright?"

He wondered, then, about what she'd shared with him at the festival: that one day she might leave his brother. He'd thought it would be far in the future, though, if it happened. Then there was the fear---had she found out about their crime together?

[fortunefail]

A wedding... It'd been a while since Yuan last attended one. He still felt a bit out of place being here, with this side of the family. Once the estranged brother, always the estranged brother. As such, he really had no right to judge Jack's Sparrow's worth, either. All he could do was show up for face value and congratulate the couple to ensure the relationship between himself and his sister didn't worsen.

He was dressed for the occasion, of course. A neat black tuxedo with dark crimson necktie. He'd also made sure not to sit too close to Mithos and Sayo, rather a few benches behind them. Especially after his last encounter with his younger brother, Yuan had no desire to risk starting more conversation with him and ruin Raine's big day.

[wise_maiden]

After the ceremony is completed, and there's an opportunity for some mingling, it doesn't take long for Raine to spot her older brother amongst the guests. She is surprised to see him there, despite being the one to deliver him the news personally. She can only suppose that it's a gesture on his part, and she certainly can appreciate that, so she'll move toward him, to greet him before he can go.

"... Yuan."

[acclimatized]

John is in attendance for his older brother's wedding of course. He wouldn't have been that much of a best man if he had skipped the whole affair and he couldn't be more proud than Jack than he is right now.

[all7seas]

"John? Today your brother becomes a real honest man." Jack sounded 99% convinced of his own words and 1% completely confused and petrified.

[memoryboxes]

Sayo wouldn't miss this for the world, of course—it's one of the things that held firmly in her memory; Jack, Raine, marriage. Even so... she feels like she's forgotten something very important. Something... Someone...

But she just writes it off as jitters from knowing her little girl's a woman now. It's hard to give her away, but... she trusts in the both of them. She's dressed up in this dress, and admires the setting they'd decided to do the wedding in.

Ah. Better check in with the bride and groom.

[all7seas]

Sayo. Jack, as always, felt a bit leery around her, not least because he had abandoned her daughter so many years ago. He approached his mother-in-law with an ingratiating smile.

"'Allo, Sayo; are you enjoying the festivities?"

[wise_maiden]

Sayo is one of the first people that Raine moves to speak to, once the small party has started.

It will be the difficult part in all of this: knowing that Mithos and Mother would be alone now, even though even Uncle Ginko had assured her that they would be all right. She and Mithos had already promised many mutual visits, and of course there were the journals. So perhaps it wouldn't be too bad. Just strange at first--and she wondered how that would be for Sayo, to adapt to such.

Nevertheless, she is bright and smiling when she sees her, moves to her side. "Mother..."

[goldenglasses]

[Vash will show up and bring some extra flowers and a gift for the newlyweds. He'll behave himself during the ceremony... but after...

He might be just a little bit drunk.]

H-HERE'S tO THe n-NEW-Newly-weds!

[Just a little bit.]

[all7seas]

There is one at every wedding, really; but Jack will go over and greet his friend with a slap on the back.

"Vash-lad; why is it that every time I see you you're in this state?"

[corrinesbell]

A few hours before the wedding, Sheena heads over to Raine's place. Someone has to make sure the woman is ready on time and doesn't forget anything. Having wedding experience of her own under her belt, Sheena realizes that alone, Raine may not be in the best position to ensure that happens.

Which is why she's going over there and knocking on the door.

[wise_maiden]

The few hours before the wedding do find Raine very not ready--not at all like how poised and prepared she seems at her appearance. Of course she has made sure that her family remains unaware of such things. She's taking very large step and must be confident around them. Strong.

Seeing Sheena, however, is a relief. The woman who was going to stand up for her as her witness. She greets her at the apartment door, showing her inside.

Placeholder while I finish this term paper, derp.

[dragoneer]

Hiccup has been there all day, of course. And where Hiccup goes, Toothless goes. He wasn't really looking forward to the standard hand-shaking and congratulations that were bound to come his way just because he was one of the sons of the bride and groom, but still, his parents were married. He could hardly be unhappy about that. It was going to be great! The lot of them, living together out in the countryside, having a wonderful time. One big happy family, together at last.

That's how it was supposed to be, right? So why did things...feel a bit off?

...It was probably those dreams he had. The ones where he was fighting a giant dragon with Toothless, where he lived with a bunch of strange men who treated him like a runt and it was cold all the time. And they...they killed dragons. The thought was completely horrible. And it's put him in a sort of funk.

No, he's here, and he's happy. And Toothless is happy, too, more or less. As long as no one tries to jump on him or anything.

WRITE THAT PAPER

[all7seas]

"Hiccup? Son! And..........dragon."

Yes, even on his wedding day, Jack can't keep his eyes off that dragon. The heist had gone relatively smoothly the other night, and he was proud of his son's participation---even if it might take another few moments more for that to register.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Well there's a familiar face. Hiccup catches Winry's eye. She smiles and approaches the boy she remembers playing with when she was young. The girl waves and hurries over, calling out to him.

"Hiccup! How've you been?"

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

When Mithos finally decides that his mother will be okay without him hovering by her side (for the moment, at least), he sets out to wander among the party guests.

He still feels that this is too sudden. Of course he's happy for his sister, and he trusts Jack to take proper care of her (and their two sons as well), but...he's never been particularly good at letting go of anything. Especially not when it comes to his precious family. He just wishes he had more time to adjust to the idea, let it sink in. There probably isn't enough time in the world to accommodate how long it would take him to be entirely okay with the idea of his sister leaving, though.

[all7seas]

"Mithos, lad. So glad you could make it." Jack approached his new brother-in-law with a courteous smile. "Perfect day, perfect bride, and a man who's perfectly capable of caring for her for richer or poorer, in sickness or health or certain doom. Lovely, isn't it."

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Ginko arrives, and on time. Sanji is with him-- and completely responsible for the fact that he looks somewhat presentable (http://bestfashionwearhouse.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_1_4.png), an achievement which required no little amount of cajoling and bribery.

He looks for his family-- and of course, he looks for the bride-to-be. It brings a strange assortment of memories, being here: not all of them pleasant. But it's one social gathering he wouldn't shirk.

[wise_maiden]

Ginko naturally is another that she seeks out immediately once there is a chance to do so. It's nice to see Sanji as well, though for the moment, her attention is all for the white haired man, as she makes her way to his side.

"Uncle..."

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

During the Wedding Winry planned to do some light mingling and simply enjoy the festivities. She didn't look too excited, but she was not in a sour mood. She... well she didn't quite like her Uncle Jack, but she did like Miss Raine. So, as it was, the girl was about neutral as she walked around in her simple sundress with a cup of water in her hand. Hopefully, she thought, this marriage would be for the best - not only for Jack and Raine, but for the kids they had too.

[all7seas]

"Niece Winry!"

Jack had not seen Winry in quite a while. He still had that habit of treating her as though she were about eight years old rather than as the young woman she had grown into.

"Not drinking anything too strong I hope?"

/so painfully late

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

In that same vein, where Hiccup goes, Taichi goes. But even if Hiccup hadn't attended the ceremony, Taichi would have on his own. After all it's not every day that his parents get married. It was a very simple wedding, which suited his needs best (his lack of attention span and all), and he couldn't help but grin after seeing how happy Raine and Jack both looked amongst the lilacs.

Still...what was going to come next? He wasn't entirely sure, hence why he chose not to say anything just yet as he observed his parents, his brother, his brother's pet and the other various guests. It was a good thing, sure, but did everyone feel that way? He hoped so.

[wise_maiden]

Both sons being present at the wedding was something Raine had been counting on--it wouldn't have been right, without either of them there.

Such as it is, she'll go looking for them one at a time; when Jack goes to talk to Hiccup, Raine finds the time to take Taichi aside.

"You're awfully quiet, over here."

@__@ /pretends she's not late

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

Unlike the man he nearly had to drag out the door to get here, Sanji is completely at ease drinking in the atmosphere, shuffling around exchanging well-wishes and pleasantries. He has a fondness for weddings and that ol' fairytale flair that seems to accompany them. It's like nothing can go wrong with this much love lifting the air.

It's once he's abandoned Ginko to the wolves (the man can handle himself for ten minutes, right?) that he branches out and looks for the bride, intent on extending her congratulations; the groom too, despite not knowing him well.

/waves

[wise_maiden]

At some point the said bride will be within reach for him to greet; she is making her way through the guests for the express purpose of thanking them, among other things. And seeing her Uncle's closest friend among the guests is certainly a good thing.