The dance floor was elegant, yet simple - a string of twinkling fairy lights sectioning off a spot in the sand; there were hanging lights too, and also paper lanterns. Nothing overly fancy but that seemed to be the whole theme for this celebration - food was cooked over a fire pit (though in addition to things like mussels, clams, and vegetable kabobs there was lobster, which may have been a little fancy - Erik was all for splurging in that regard), music was playing but it wasn’t live music, and guests could wear whatever they were comfortable in. For him it was an ivory linen suit, sleeves rolled up - and he was barefoot, to add to the rather rustic ambiance of the whole thing. Very casual, but he was having fun and it was beautiful outdoors.
He loved the beach during this time - the surf often had a bioluminescence you could see even through the darkest night, and the reflection of moonlight off the water made for a picturesque view as well. It was honestly the perfect place to have a party celebrating marriage - and he wasn’t just saying that because Genosha was, ultimately, perfect to him.
By now he was well-stuffed with food and cake (and most of the s’mores were gone, though some remained - people wanted to indulge and stretch the experience out, he supposed) and thought he and Rogue ought to get a few slots filled on their dance cards. It was a leisurely dance on the sand, and he twirled her under his arm with a wry grin. “Having fun?” he asked smoothly; all of this felt almost surreal but he was happy and enjoying the glow of it. Something incredibly rare for the likes of Erik.
The simplicity was the highlight for Rogue. At one point she’d envisioned an overly grand wedding for herself, probably at the X-Mansion with the reception out on the grounds. But that dream had faded away over time, the constant changes in the Westchester estate notwithstanding. She’d been away from her own world long enough by that point that it was hardly referred to as home any longer. Home was where her daughter was and since Erik had come into their lives (again) where he was as well. The beach and being surrounded by loved ones was all she could hope for or want any longer.
It was the people who made any of it worth doing and living.
She laughed as she was twirled, enjoying the way it slightly spun out the short pale green dress she’d opted for as her wedding outfit. The belt that went with it was white as had been the cowboy boots she’d kicked off once they’d hit the beach. “How could I not be havin’ fun?” she grinned, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before looking around. Peace was something to be cherished.
Erik caught her in his arms again, his beautiful wife - and while he wasn’t always sentimental, often quiet about his true feelings (the good ones, that is - his rage and anger had simmered freely and became apparent to anyone nearby) he just couldn’t contain himself right now. He’d just prepare for schmoop, or whatever the word was.
And he kissed her in return, hands smoothing down the soft material at the waist of her dress. “Well, you look like you’re having fun - and you also look incredible,” he added. Rogue’s cowboy boots were a nice touch - he thought they’d suited her. “Tommy helped me set up, by the way. The s’mores bar? All him.”
Yes, Erik was so pleased with the alternate universe grandchildren - and getting to spend this event with those he considered family.
“I was wonderin’ who had the idea for the s’mores bar.” Because it hadn’t seemed like something Erik would pick out.
It was nice to see him interacting with the others though and building a family that she knew he had always wanted on some level. It wasn’t easy to endure having one’s family ripped away like he had several times over, but it hadn’t hardened his heart completely, and he’d allowed love back in it. Rogue knew how much that could heal if one allowed it. She’d tried cutting herself off from the world several times over throughout the years, but it never had helped, only made her miserable. It was letting the world back in again that helped her move forward.
“It’s nice havin’ them all here and gettin’ to live a life that they choose to live.” Though, she wondered when the truth would come out all around, but some things couldn’t be rushed.
Erik wondered the same thing, he thought about it frequently - since Rogue told him about how Wanda was related to Billy and Tommy, and thus by extension related to him, he knew this was a connection he wanted to explore. Because he’d felt a kinship with Wanda from the beginning as well - something special, like how he felt toward Anka Irene. And Peter, who was the only son; fatherhood continued to be one of the few things he felt he did right in his life.
“Do you not think I’d pick s’mores? I’m not that much of a grump,” he teased, twirling Rogue again. Tommy had just helped him set up the station so guests could indulge - at the very least, Erik believed that s’mores were required whenever there was some kind of campfire. Probably an unwritten rule somewhere. “But yes, I think it’s nice having them here too - I try not to worry about...disappearing.”
He’d been here awhile, though he wasn’t naive enough to believe it could never happen or that he was somehow safe from it. Rather, he just wouldn’t let the fear of it dictate how he chose to live.
“We get no say in when we come or when we go from here.” It was the one constant that she’d seen from world to world. “But we do get a say in how we decide to live our time out here while we’re here.”
And fear had never been the way to enjoy what she’d been able to build. She might not be as carefree and open to new experiences all the time or rushing into help with the battles like she had before having Anka Irene, but there were other ways to be involved in the community. She’d learned that along the way as well. Each world was different, every iteration of the people she’d known before different as well in small ways. All there was to do was roll with it and see where it led.
“And I dunno, I suppose I could see you wantin’ s’mores but the set up don’t really ring you at all.” That seemed more Tommy than Erik. The amount of toppings available only further gave credence to that for her.
“Hmm - “ Erik hummed, playfully, bringing Rogue back in close to him. “Guess we’ll just let that be a s’mores mystery.” It was also possible that being with Rogue, entering in their relationship and choosing to shake off the cobwebs and actually process the pain of losing Raven, and those who helped him establish Genosha, had allowed him to become more relaxed about things as well. He wasn’t angry all the time - and he didn’t want to keep blaming Jean for Raven’s death. He no longer desired vengeance, to even the scores - it was exhausting, and quite frankly, he was tired.
She’d perked him up though - breathed new life into him, which was why they were here today. A lot of it he’d done himself, of course - he had to do some parts himself. But eventually he’d learned that it was easier and less hurtful to just let go.
“You’re right though - we do get that say about our time here. I’m glad I made the most of my time, that I’m continuing to make the most of it.” He’d said something similar in their vows as well - how Anna was compassionate but she was also pragmatic, and that meshed well with him. That she had helped him see that he really could do good for the world, for other people - Charles perhaps overestimated him and his total inner goodness, but he was content with what he’d done here. That was enough.
There was only so much hurt anyone could hold onto before it turned them completely bitter. Rogue had witnessed how it had torn out any of the goodness that had once resided inside of her adopted mother, to the point where sometimes she wasn’t sure how to equate what Mystique had become with who she had known her to be. Vendettas only helped sustain someone for so long and once they were met, all that was left was a path of broken relationships and an emptiness that couldn’t be filled.
It was a life she refused to mimic, even more so once she’d had Anka Irene. They’d lost many people throughout the years and for awhile Rogue had allowed herself to sink into despair and wallow, but no good had come from any of it. Meeting new people, embracing the changes and seeing what could be created from the ashes of the old was the only way for her to continue to move forward. It’s what she thought her daughter deserved and what her and Erik and everyone else in their lives did as well.
“It’s only way to go about livin’ in these places,” Rogue told him as they continued to dance. “Live and love, grab hold of the things that make you happy and keep on workin’ to make those you care about happy as well. And I’m real glad I get to do that with you.”
“So wise, darling,” Erik said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head - the dancing had sort of morphed into swaying, since it was difficult to have a serious conversation while cutting a rug (did anyone actually say cutting a rug anymore? Probably not) but that was fine with him. He felt lightweight and happy, listening to the music and the percussive rhythm of the waves lapping at the sand - honestly, he loved the beach and being outdoors. It was like a cozy hug, one that evoked similar feelings to basking under a sky filled with sunshine.
The night was beautiful in its own way, how the stars glowed - out here, with no manmade city distractions, it looked as if it all just went on forever.
“Now, here’s another question for you,” he mused, that sway turning even more languid. “How long until we can sneak off to the house?” Was there a time limit or something, for how many minutes or hours you had to mingle at your own wedding celebration? It had been awhile since he’d done this, so he wasn’t exactly an expert anymore.
Rogue arched a brow, unsurprised by the question. Some time alone had definitely been earned over the last few hours. “I reckon we can start headin’ that way in another half hour.” They’d need to mingle again for a few more minutes, make sure everyone was comfortable, and then she didn’t think anyone would miss them if they headed off.
Well, except for one very small person, but Anka Irene would be taken care of for the night and they would see her again in the morning. Hopefully not as soon as the sun was up like most mornings. “You ready to start goin’ through the motions of thankin’ everyone for comin’?”
Goodness. Erik just loved her accent, the way it sounded like sipping honeyed whiskey on a cold winter’s night - he loved it ever since the first time they met in person at that bar in the city. Could say he even felt a spark of attraction then too, because he wasn’t blind, but - they’d taken their time regardless, when it came to the parts that applied to the longevity of a relationship. That was what worked for him. His more short-term, sleeping around days were over.
Obviously, since now he was married and the ring on his finger represented so many important things. “Half an hour,” he agreed smoothly, fingers twisting one of those white streaks Rogue sported around his fingers - whenever he played with her hair, he usually went here. It was essentially an old habit at this point - one that felt like it had occurred in other lifetimes, and maybe it had. “But yes, let’s go do that. I want to make sure everyone’s comfortable anyway, and that they’ve gotten enough to eat.”
Otherwise the spirit of his Jewish grandmother would come and haunt him, and they couldn’t have that.
His fingers in her hair was a habit she’d had to get used to again, one that she’d experienced before by various other versions of this man. Though the Erik in front of her seemed to enjoy the white streaks the most. For all of the similarities it was the differences that had Rogue falling in love all over again. She hadn’t known how anything would go when he had turned up on the network and that chance meeting in the bar had only led to more purposeful encounters and introducing him to Anka Irene. It had been a steady flow, one that built up one step upon the next until they had established the life they had together, adding further pieces to it every day.
Good things happened even in the craziest of circumstances.
She chuckled at his comment about eating before taking hold of his other hand to help steer him off of the dancefloor. “Let’s go get this chattin’ underway then.”
Admittedly, chatting wasn’t always Erik’s strong suit - but this was an event hosted by him and Rogue, and they both had friends and family here. He was having a good time and he hoped everyone else was too - but he figured the other guests could amuse themselves after he and Rogue slipped off. There was no set end time for the celebration - just whenever the food was gone and people left the island; he wasn’t picky.
It took almost the full half hour to go around and speak to everyone - brief conversations, thanking them for attending and Erik encouraging them to take any fruit from the trees if they wanted (he didn’t mind). Then they had made all the rounds and it was probably acceptable to sneak off?
Well. They were going to do it anyway.
With that, he scooped Rogue up in his arms - carrying her, appropriately, bridal style toward their Genoshan home. “I think this is proper protocol, isn’t it?” he asked with a grin.
She’d made sure to say goodnight to Anka Irene, reminding her that she’d be staying with friends that night and that they would see her in the morning. It wasn’t her first night away from the little girl and Rogue had learned quickly that reminding the preschooler of what to expect helped make the transition to something outside of her routine much smoother.
Rogue let out a delighted little yelp when he scooped her up, shaking her head at his grin. This more playful side of Erik’s was one she thoroughly enjoyed whenever it did come out. “I reckon this is the proper way to go about doin’ this. Even if we’ve been across that threshold a few times already.”
They hadn’t been married any of those times though so there was a newness to it all that needed to be embraced. “And I think we’re earned the time to celebrate on our lonesome now.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Erik concurred, another flicker of that shark-like smile - the one that showed all his teeth, and was as rare as a blue diamond (or rare as a hen’s tooth, like the saying went). But he’d let a few slip out during the courthouse ceremony and also tonight - that happiness, finally, he felt as if he could say was deserved.
There was no door to the house - just gauzy curtains that billowed gently in the sea breeze kissed with salt; he and Rogue had stayed here by themselves many nights before, but it seemed extra special now on the night of their wedding celebration. He made sure the curtains were closed behind them before setting her gently on the bed (and the place was warded anyway, so it wasn’t like they needed a door - anyone not on The List who got too close would get an unpleasant warning to step back).
But he wasn’t concerned with being interrupted - he was simply focusing on the here and now. “I love you,” he said, with another flip of Rogue’s hair between his fingers - then he leaned in to kiss her, figuring he could say anything else he needed to say that way instead.