dǫçţǫŗ şɭęęƥ (shone) wrote in valloic, @ 2020-11-15 16:01:00 |
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It was perfect, Dan thought - and especially so because he really wouldn’t do well with being crammed into a room, terrible tunes spun by a DJ and assigned seats. But the perfection was in the outdoors, the stars lighting up the sky almost like magic, spun sugar spilled over black marble. The constellations were different in this world and he didn’t know them but still appreciated the art of them regardless. People were free to roam freely in the courtyard, to eat and drink or dance, and everything was just abuzz - that’s what thoughts sounded like, a drone of honeybees, everything sort of blending into the background for Dan, the Shining ebbing and flowing. There was a bit of an autumn nip in the air but it felt like a salve to him, nothing too uncomfortable - regardless, there were a few heaters for the outdoor reception, just to keep things from getting too cold, though dancing and movement definitely helped with that. He did his best to talk to everyone, wanting to greet them and thank them for coming - he wasn’t always a social butterfly, but he tried. Especially for his own wedding. That was when he found a certain cornsilk blonde; Khora was pretty striking though, it’d be impossible to not spot her. “Hey,” he greeted with a smile, approaching her with a soda in hand - there wasn’t any hard liquor available, but beer and wine were options for those who needed a little bit of liquid courage to get out there and dance. Dan may be a recovering alcoholic but he knew not everyone else was, so he tried to strike a happy medium. “Thanks for coming, Khora. It’s nice to see you.” Khora had never been to a wedding, they didn't have those back home. She had asked around, and finally decided on a below the knee light blue dress that she wasn't entirely sure if it was appropriate or not.but she tried! She smiled at Dan, a glass of water in her hand, she'd decided that drinking wasn't her thing. "That was lovely! I am grateful that you invited me. I have never been to a wedding before!" She was all smiles, she truly had enjoyed the whole thing. She had realized that people being happy made her happy. This was the ultimate in people being happy. "How do you feel?" Khora assumed it must be a little overwhelming. Well, that was a good question. Dan was sort of oscillating between giddy and overwhelmed, excited and nervous, all sorts of flip flops going on in his stomach - there was definitely a plethora of food, and he and Allison wanted guests to have their fill, but he’d only been able to sample here and there. The last thing he wanted was for it to come back up, that would just be embarrassing. However, there was always room for cake. The carrot cake Bitty made for him, a groom’s cake gift, was delicious and dangerous - he’d eat it all in one sitting if left to his own devices. “I feel - good,” he decided on. “I’ve never been married before so it’s strange but...not? I doubt much will change. I’m just glad everyone could come celebrate with us.” Finishing off the soda (he’d float away on a caffeine cloud at this point), he set down the cup. “You look nice, by the way. Do you want to dance?” he asked. Khora smiled at that - she loved seeing all the food, and drink and decorations. It made her feel like this kind of event should happen at home. It was lovely and it felt like everyone was in such a good mood. She did not know how this tradition fell by the wayside. “Good is good. Strange? Perhaps it is all the attention on you?” she cocked her head sideways, “I think that would make a good event feel a little strange for me.” she looked around then back to him, “You both are well loved - I am glad you are able to celebrate!” she blinked then smiled. “I have not danced in some time but I know how - I would love to dance.” she realized she was over explaining again, and smiled, “Sorry - I have a bad habit of explaining everything. It can be necessary at home.” “No problem,” Dan laughed a little, an easygoing sort of thing. “I always like hearing about what it’s like for other people at home anyway, if they don’t mind talking about it.” He extended his hand, and to the dance floor they went - it was a spot in the courtyard that had been marked off with poles, lanterns hung between those poles. The floor itself was wooden, but rented, set up much earlier in the day by those who moved things around for the Satinalia parties. The music was provided by a small orchestra, woodwind and brass and percussion and strings (basically one of each), and it was dreamy and ethereal. Kind of easy to sway to, so Dan kept it simple with an equally simple waltz. “I guess all the attention is what feels a little strange,” he admitted. “I’m not usually one to bask in that sort of thing.” Khora took the offered hand and smiled as she settled into the easy waltz. She was surprisingly good at it - but fighting was like dancing and she was a good fighter. Warframes were like parkour master ninjas anyway, the grace of the fight was half the fun for her. “I don’t mind talking about home - especially to a friend. Things were much less… fun? We were created to fight, me and my warframe, and there was little time for making friends or relationships. I did not know how much I missed out on until I got here.” she smiled warmly, though, “I can imagine it is a little rough - if you are not one for being the center of attention suddenly being there is a bit unsettling.” The dance was fun, and Dan tried to lead easily enough - though it helped that Khora seemed to know what she was doing; there was no feet-stepping going on here. He twirled her a little bit, just for shits and giggles. “How do you end up with a warframe?” he asked, since obviously he didn’t know anything about that sort of thing. “Is it just...how things work?” That seemed to be a raw deal, only having one purpose and not getting to experience things like friendship or love, any kind of love at all - not to mention the creature comforts in life, coffee and sweets and other delicious things. Trying to catch up must be a task, though he would try to help when he could - may as well take advantage of what Vallo had to offer, while you were here. She was smiling, this was more fun than she expected, and she was grateful she knew people like Dan. "We are plucked from our family at birth if we show a genetic disposition towards being able to control them. Then we are given our first and are sent out to fight, to find others. I, as Harper, have fifteen. But Khora and I match the best. We make the best pair so the rest will be given to New people like me." She laughed softly as he spun her, "it is a strange life, but rich in history and lore. I am grateful to be here, though, and experience so many firsts." “Plucked from your family at birth sounds - troubling,” Dan frowned over that - he didn’t know the ins and outs of her world, but it didn’t seem fair. Regardless, it seemed like Vallo attracted all kinds of people, from all different places - he couldn’t fathom having to start from scratch, not knowing what most anything was in terms of food and culture; he was lucky, in a sense, because after he died he’d ended up here and didn’t have much of a learning curve. And he twirled her again - because, hey, gotta keep her on her toes. But he tried to go for a lighter conversational topic as well; they could talk about Dark Pasts some other time. “What’s been your favorite thing you’ve tried so far, since arriving in Vallo?” he asked. She gave him a warm smile, and let him steer it elsewhere. They had all the time in the world to talk about other things. She was happy, though, that she was here, and that she got to meet all these wonderful people. It made her happy and feel like for the first time she’s felt like she belonged somewhere. “Favorite?” she paused, then smiled a bright smile, “Pie.” she said with a dreamy wistful smile, “there are so many kinds of pie, who knew? I have never had something so versatile as a food!” she laughed as she looked a little sheepish. Pie. Dan wasn’t expecting that - but then again, he wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting. Because there was so much to choose from, if you’d never had any of the options at all. “Good choice,” he grinned. “Have you been to Rose Apothecary at all, since arriving here? The guy who made the wedding cake, Bitty - he does a whole different pie menu each month. It rotates. All different flavors, some are sweet and some are savory. If you haven’t been, you should definitely check it out.” He’d be glad to take Khora too, why not. Not like Dan was ever going to turn down the deliciousness of one of his favorite desserts too. “I haven’t, no.” she said as she blinked, “I should then? I’ll make an ote of it.” she said with a bright smile. “I look forward to it - I love pie. It is… unlike anything and I need to try every kind.” she said with the enthusiasm of someone who didn’t have it at all. “Thank you, for having me today, I am grateful for your friendship.” she said after a moment, “I have heard it is traditional to give gifts, but I do not know what would have been appropriate, for that I am sorry.” Well, that sealed the deal, then. “I’ll take you for pie, if you don’t mind waiting until I get back from the honeymoon - we’re just spending a few days at the bed and breakfast by the beach,” Dan explained. “Or if you want to go with someone else in the meantime, that’s fine too.” There were a few different kinds to try anyway - so it was worth going for more than one trip. The music eased into another song, a different style of dance, perhaps - but he wouldn’t keep Khora for too long (maybe she hadn’t tried the cake yet, and he certainly wouldn’t keep her from that). “I’m glad you could come,” he said sincerely. “Don’t worry about gifts - we didn’t really ask for them anyway. But thank you for the dance, Khora - it was a pleasure.” Lots of people had come to celebrate with him and Allison, and he was incredibly grateful for all of those who did - it was a night to remember, one of the best he’d ever had. Khora smiled, “I would love to go. Just let me know when works for you and I’ll make time.” she smiled warmly, “Thank you - for the dance, for inviting me.” she gave him a little half curtsey, laughing, because she found it amusing. “It was lovely and a perfect first wedding for me to attend.” She was truly happy for her friend, and she had never experienced anything like it and would cherish this memory for a lifetime and a half, she was sure of it. |