View source for Tightening the Bonds to the Desert - RPLOG

=Participants=
* [[Brutus]]
* [[Cassidy]]
* [[Fenris]]
* [[Flora]]
* [[Lina]]
* [[Matthews]]
* [[Saviante]]
=Notable NPCs=
* [[Antoine Grayfeather]]
=Date=
25/6/477
=Log=
<div></div><br> <br>It's a warm evening in Shralesta, and the Megacathedral has ben reserved for an open bonding for a foreing noble... Or rather, a now-foreign noble. High Lady Longtail has pulled some strings with the church she used to visit during her youth.

The security-convoy from LongTech Industries is already present, and they make sure every being hands their weapons over for the duration of the lifebonding, before allowing all the interested parties to pass on and take their seats.

Neither of the two to-be-bonded beings has shown themselves yet, and Flora is working on the final preparations of her outfit.<br> <br>Lina tries to contain her excitement, this is a huge day! Flora is getting married, and soon that will happen before her very eyes, it's so hard not to seek out Flora and give her excessive praise for this now, but she promised to behave, so in her rather formal outfit, the uncomfortable feline awaits the days proceedings with the utmost of grace practiced early in her life around 'superiors'.<br> <br>Matthews stays in his own back area, the Tomcat fiddling with his clothing as he takes a deep breath and looks into a mirror. "Right then... No fainting." A quick nod and a flick of his tail as he glances about, before pulling in one of the security personel to double check with them about the activities, before running a nervous hand through his hair as he tries to stay out of the way while awaiting the cues to begin the ceremony.<br> <br>Cassidy was in attendance today, sitting quietly within the church dressed up in her usual finery. Gloved hands fodled in her lap, her mind was mostly elsewhere, it seemed, judging by the glassy stare. At least until the ceremony started properly to draw her attention.<br> <br>As the guests take their seats, a figure in the ornate robes of a priest takes his place at the front of the enormous cathedral, making a few last minute preparations for the coming ceremony. After he speaks a few murmured words to the musicians gathered off to one side of the lectern, he turns to look out over the gathered audience. Standing there, in priestly Shralestan robes is Fenris! What on Promise was HE doing here? And why is he dressed as a priest? The tiger smiles out over the crowd, giving a small, respectful bow (number 17: for priests and foreign dignitaries) to the High Priest, where he sits in state.<br> <br>The high priest is eying Fenris like a hawk, like one'd expect from a hawk-being such as himself. And then there was the fact that Fenris pretty much insisted to be the one to bond Lord and Lady Longtail, without the couple actually being informed of it. None-the-less, Fenris' did have jurisdiction in Sweetwater, and for all intents and purposes, the podium upon which the ceremony was to take place falls under Sweetwater's territory during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, guests are streaming into the cathedral, taking the pews and focusing intently as a slow tune sets in, signifying that the proceedings are soon to begin.<br> <br>As the music picks up Lina attempts not to get caught up in it, looking as posh as she can in such a strange place, she never was one for the church but she can't complain, it looks nice. She tries to keep an eye out for anyone she recognizes, wishing for a seat near them, and eyes the priest curiously, she feels like she has seen him somewhere. Maybe her imagination and excitement have created a phantom! She grins at the concept and then sits near Cassidy.<br> <br>There it is finally, that que of his to walk on down the aisle. The Tomcat straightening his outfit one last time for his own sanity, before he takes a deep breath in. Matthews making certain the guests are all seated, before he'd finally step forth, and finally  begin to walk down the aisle to take his position before the priest. His eyebrow raising as he blinks some upon noticing Fenris, causing him to glance around before looking back at the man... Well, no time to ask questions now!<br> <br>Cassidy glances over towards Lina as the lion joins her. "Hello there," she murmurs quietly, flashing a smile. "Exciting day, isn't it?" Her eyes turn back towards the front, waiting for the show to begin.<br> <br>Fenris's eyes twinkle with mirth under the High Priest Hawk's steely gaze. Oh the FUN he coul have with him! But for the sake of Flora and her special day, the tiger restrains his inner kitsune. Besides, he had already had plans for some choice pranks for after the ceremony. Mostly involving the bedclothes in the High Priest's overly ostentatious bed chambers. For now, he just smiles over the congregation and at the look on poor Matthews' face as the tomcat stares at him. He couldn't wait to see Flora's reaction.<br> <br>Apparently aware of her lateness, The large plant come running through the door, only to slide to an uncomfortable, and ungainly halt at the aisle. With a look of mild horror, she quickly moves her armored mass to the side and shoots the others she arrived with an unsure shrug before turning her attention to the events unfolding around her and hoping no one noticed what they obviously did notice.<br> <br>Brutus looks like he's melting as he arrives, clinging to his walking stick and sweating like...well, an obese Skunk in a desert in three layers of clothing. A miasma of too-sweet air surrounds him, as if he bathed in perfume--and any Beings with fine noses might still notice a hint of his musk under all that, inevitable in these conditions. Still, his appearance is impeccably worked-over, his coat slick and shiny, his hair braided carefully, his cream-and-white outfit free of stain and sweat.
Spotting a tall black-and-white-and-antlered seated figure, he stumps over in that direction, and flops beside it with a groan, waving off the response of "Are you alright, Mister Brutus?" it prompts. <br> <br>A soft rumble, and finally, Flora arrives from the other side, moving towards the podium and smiling faintly as she moves just a little behind matthews, accompanied by the music and dressed in an elegant desert-gown. The under-dress is made out of fine, white linnen, and the overdress is a light, airy blue, wrapped around her form in true shralestan style. Around her neck, the pendant she was given a long time ago, and on her finger, the Longtail signet-ring.

Shortly after she passes, a LongTech Industries guard taps Saviante on her shoulder, explaining that she's supposed to hand her weapons over for safekeeping during the ceremony.

At the same time, Flora is... Staring a little blankly at Fenris, blinking several times, before looking towards the High Priest with that same blank, questionate stare... It seems she's more than a little confused.<br> <br>Lina looks too excited for words, so all she replies to Cassidy is "Exciting!" in a rather flat normal tone, before she admires the proceedings, two finely dressed family members, or at least soon both will be, about to bond together in a happy ceremony. It seems she did not phantom Fenris into existance, as Flora seems absolutely confused by his presence. She flicks her tail and says "Did we bring him with us?" lowly to Cassidy, not sure if she remembers.<br> <br>Matthews pulls his gaze from Fenris to look back as Flora approaches, the Tomcat's tail curling behind him gently as he seems to lose his breath for a moment, and he works to repeat that mantra mentally once more before he manages to regain control! His gaze flicks back then between Flora and Fenris, well aware now he was just as unexpected to her! All the same the Tomcat quietly turns to face Flora, as he smiles and speaks gently to her. "You look beautiful..."<br> <br>Fenris grins at the confused tigress, but suppresses the desire to wave. Especially with the old hawk watching. So he holds himself to just a nod of recognition and a mental note to explain later. Flora looks lovely in her dress, and the tiger is actually rather flattered to see that she is wearing the pendant he gave her. As the couple nears, he smiles at Matthews' whispered compliment to his betrothed. He raises his arms dramatically to the assembly and calls out, "Lords, Ladies, and dear friends! We welcome you today as we celebrate the life-bonding of the High Lady Flora Longtail to her chosen, Matthews Blackfur!" The tiger produces a length of fine, white, silk rope and holds it up for the approval of the high priest as the couple stands looking at each other. Or in confusion at him. Whichever suits him just fine.<br> <br>Cassidy glances towards Fenris, before shrugging, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I don't believe so, but I could be wrong. Might've just followed us. I very nearly refused the passage and was going to find my own way here, so it's entirely possible he took another ship."<br> <br>Handing over her axes subtly, Saviante leans in close to the guard and whispers very softly. "I have no intent of killing my ride home and being stranded in this desert forever, nor of inturupting this ceremony. Take these and pretend you are done." Knowing it would take longer than the lifebonding to give up everything, the plant woman feels this is an acceptable middle ground. Returning her focus to the event unfolding around her, Savi smiles slightly and tries to not make herself anymore noticable than she already is and continues to enjoy the little scene of discomfort and confusion seemingly caused by the Tiger with the rope.<br> <br>Brutus gives a bit of a smug chuckle as Flora looks a bit lost up there--so it was possible to ruffle the Tigress! Still...he didn't remember the troubadour Fenris getting on the airship in the first place, so what was he doing here now?
Hartford echoes that question, a bit louder than necessary--"Huh? What's he doing here?"
"Making the ceremony more...interesting, it seems," Brutus replies with a grin. At least it wasn't his wedding they were making a farce of.<br> <br>"Flora has questions, later," the she-cat hisses through her teeth towards Fenris, just loud enough for him and Matthews to hear, and it doesn't take long until she regains her composure, silently looking out over the gathered crowd, tails flicking lightly behind her.

Meanwhile, the high priest offers a faint, reluctant nod towards Fenris, acknowledging that so far, the tiger has followed the First Text to the letter. Still, there were several points upon which he could fail, and the hawk's piercing stare makes it abundantly clear that Fenris is being judged.

"Hand over any throwable weaponry, and remain in your seat. We will post a guard here, and leave it at that," the leopard-guard rumbles, looking towards Saviante.

Meanwhile, Flora is looking back between Matthews and Fenris, tails still swaying as she turns to face Matthews proper.<br> <br>Lina pushes down against her pew to brace her excitement, her tail flicks about as she does so. "I'll have to ask if he did sometime but now is the moment! I can't wait." she says lowly and shuts up for the time being.<br> <br>Matthews nods gently to Flora, as he gives Fenris one final glance before reaching out slowly with his palms turned up to allow Flora to place her own upon his. The Tomcat remaining silent as Fenris speaks, his tail switching between curling nervously, and flicking out as he attempts to keep calm!<br> <br>Cassidy watches quietly, a soft smile on her face as she leans back in her seat, maintaining her proper, lady-like posture. Lina gets a faint nod of reply, but little else as she doesn't want to interrupt the ceremony taking place.<br> <br>Fenris gently lifts the couple's joined hands and begins to wrap the silk cord around their hands and wrists in a complicated knot. "As I bind your hands," he intones with a faintly sad smile, "it is but a symbol of your lives, already bound fast together, your souls progressing forward in blissful harmony." The tiger holds the other two felines' hands together, looking from one to the other. "There will be arguments," he says in the words of the ritual, "There will be anger. But these will only hone your love, not break it. You will have understanding and there will be peace and fulfillment." 

Fenris smiles at the pair, then steps back, raising his hands again. "And now," he calls out to the great cathedral, "They are bound! Let any who would speak against their union speak now, or hold their peace forevermore!"<br> <br>With a light sigh, Savi digs out a few light blades and a blunderbuss from under her cloak. Sweat running down her angular face, she thrusts the items into the hands of the guard with unneeded force. "Do what you have to do.." she mutters, obviously disgusted with the needless attention when she knows nothing that makes her dangerous has been removed. Standing upright, she straightens her cloak before shrugging off the irritation and returning her attention to the lifebonding.<br> <br>Brutus watches intently--it's been an interesting journey watching Flora go from a twitchy orphan to noble and innovator of the world, and his job as consultant and loyal opposition was comfy enough...and she had grown to call him friend! She made a strange friend indeed, but nonetheless--
*sniff sniff HOOOOONK*
Brutus is jerked to attention (and mild embarrassment) by Hartford loudly emptying the contents of his nose into a shirtsleeve. "'m sorry!" the skunk-striped Deer manages to sob. "It's just so...beautiful!"<br> <br>A soft rumble leaves Flora's muzzle, a smile, and she looks between Fenris and Matthews again, before her tail curls around Matthews', and she silently looks at the knot, then back to Fenris and Matthews as she waits for any visual or audible cues from, well, anywhere.

Meanwhile, the hawk admits a huff, part frustration, part relaxation as he continues watching Fenris, listening in to the sounds of his voice reverberating through the grand cathedral.

The guard near Saviante nods faintly, before sighing. "Terribly sorry, miss. But standing orders are standing orders, and neither Lord or Lady Longtail would appreciate it if I deviated," he mumbles, looking at the proceedings himself.

Finally, a duo in front of Brutus and Hartford is startled rather visibly by the latter, peering over their shoulder, before staring silently ahead of themselves. It wasn't often one sees a foreign noble in the grand cathedral, after all... Let alone several.<br> <br>Lina grins and fights a cheer, no disruptions, but she looks around to be sure she didn't have to cast a glare at anyone for shunning such a wonderful bonding.<br> <br>Matthews casts his gaze down to the rope as his hands are tied to Flora's, the Tomcat giving a gentle squeeze before looking up to her with a warm smile, as his tail joins in curling with her own. The Tomcat remaining respectfully quiet, as he turns to watch Fenris as well, awaiting the master of ceremony's instruction.<br> <br>Cassidy certainly doesn't object. She always figured giving people such a chance was silly, anyway. Honestly, who'd ever -actually- show up to a bonding only to object to the act? Not her, at least. She remains silent, watching respectfully.<br> <br>Fenris silently counts the requisite time down in his head before he continues. "Then, speaking as proxy for the Good King, and under the laws laid out by the First Text, I declare you Life-Bonded!" he calls out to the assembly, "May all know that these two are now one!" There! One flawless lifebonding ceremony. Stupid vulture waiting for him to mess it up. It was a GOOD thing he had come to do this. Just imagine what would have happened if a stranger had needed to tie Flora's hands to Matthews'!<br> <br>Shifting lightly Savi continues to watch silently. A broad smile spreading across her face. Happiness welling up inside at the thought that not everything in this life has to be hard and violent. (but secretly wishing it was)<br> <br>Brutus joins in the polite applause of his fellow attendees, sliding a bit down the pew groin Hartford as he claps those giant hands, letting out great cheers between sniffs and wipes of his face. The Skunk looks a little conflicted, though,  <br> <br>and slides back down, wrapping an arm around the big lug as the folks ahead of them stare, suggesting he maybe turn it down a bit. All the same, it's a nice moment, given what's happened lately...<br> <br>A soft rumble, a smile, and Flora still stares a little blankly. She hadn't really seen a lot of bondings when she was young, nor had she had the time to really study the concept recently, leaving her, well... Mostly clueless so far.

Meanwhile, most of the gathered beings are simply looking at the proceedings, and the beaings near to Brutus and Hartford seem to relent their staring, seeing how it has little to no effect, so far.<br> <br>Lina nearly stops herself from bursting into cheer, her excitement for the after party when she could act less refined was growing unbearable. When would they kiss and be happy already!<br> <br>Matthews smiles with enthusiasim to Flora as he leans forward gently at first, himself not certain what more attains to the ceremony. His supportive squeeze going to flora once more as the tomcat looks back to Fenris, awaiting what they shall do next, the almost drunken smile still plastered on his face.<br> <br>Fenris smiles at the now lifebonded couple before him. "The ceremony is complete," he says softly, "I believe that this is the part where tradition dictates you kiss your wife, Lord Longtail." Out loud he cheers, "Long life and happiness to you both!"<br> <br>Cassidy slowly shifts her hands from her lap, preparing to clap. But not yet. Certain things must still transpire before she can give her applause! For now, she continues waiting. Like a statue.<br> <br>With a broad smile and a clapping of her hands, Savi decides not to move from her seat. Calm and complacent she decides it's probably best to wait until everyone else makes a move before she does. Though amused by the ceremony, she is painfully aware this is still a diplomatic situation.<br> <br>In response to Fenris's cheer, Brutus responds with a hearty, though not improper "Hear hear!", which is picked up by Hartford and redoubled, his big cervine eyes dewy with tears of joy. "Kiss her!" the Deer calls out, to Brutus's chagrin. Well, hopefully they knew Hartford was just the help and not an actual member of the noble delegation...<br> <br>Matthews chuckles nervously as he's given the alright, the Tomcat pulling Flora in with aid from their bound hands, to place a deep and passionate kiss upon her muzzle for all to see! His tail tightening with her own as he hears Brutus' comments!<br> <br>Flora smiles broadly, before nodding and leaning into Matthews with a soft rumble, answering his kiss deeply, eyes closed and her head tilted to the side.

Of course, several beings ooh and ah, while others remain more modest and silent, glancing at the over-excited Hartford with a small smile, almost as if to encourage him, but not quite.<br> <br>Lina giggles and then goes silent, trying to respect her surroundings! "It's so great."<br> <br>Cassidy finally starts to clap at that kiss, rising from her seat. "Congratluations," she offers at a respectable and polite volume, taking her practiced prim-and-proper approach to the whole thing.<br> <br>Fenris smiles at the newlyweds and takes a step back, allowing them to accept the accolades from the audience. Also trying to maintain his sense of decorum at the idea of how difficult they are likely to find that little knot is to undo. The tiger slips quietly away for now. He needed a little time alone after officiating over a life bonding.<br> <br>Hartford whoops and wraps his ward and friend in a bone-crushing (...well, fat-squishing hug in this case) hug! The Skunk responds with an 'oof!' and a friendly squeeze back. The Deer relinquishes his grip on his pal, beaming broad enough to split his face, following Brutus as he wends his way to the buffet--er, happy couple. 
"So, Mister Brutus, when are you gonna have one of these yourself?" he enthuses.
"Erm, well...Sir and Lady Longtail! Wonderful, beautiful ceremony, I hope this day finds you well!" he calls out conveniently to the newlyweds.<br> <br>A small smile, a flick of Flora's ears as she moves down from the podium, dragging Matthews along with her and making sure he gets off of the stage quickly enough, before moving over towards Brutus with a big smirk. "Flora believes friend Brutus recieved a question of his own? It wouldn't be polite to ignore such a request for information, would it?"

"However... Flora is enjoying today, yes."<br> <br>Lina grins and gets up, applauding a lil late but applauding with enthusiasm. She looks to Brutus a little shocked, the brave skunk was getting hitched too? This she had to see, just the same. She says "Congrats Flora, High Lady Longtail. This is a momentous occasion." The words sound so foreign to her, but she says them anyways and smiles, giving them a bow.<br> <br>Cassidy settles back down in her seat after her applause, the faint smile still on her muzzle as she lets her eyes close. That was a nice bonding, yes. And a nice evening. For now, her mind wandered off to what she'll spend the rest of her evening doing, keeping her ears perked and at attention should anyone make a comment to her general direction.<br> <br>Fenris slips back into the main hall of the cathedral, divested of his priestly vestiments. He gives a quick salute to the high priest, then hurries over to where Matthews and Flora are meeting and greeting their guests. He carries a small, black case under his arm. 

"Sorry for the surprise," he says as he greets the newlyweds, though it is apparent that he is not at all sorry, "I just wanted to be here for the two of you!" His gaze shifts momentarily to Flora's artfully concealed belly. "Well, four of you, I guess," he murmurs under his breath. The tiger looks up at Matthews and offers him the case he is carrying. "This is sort of a tradition from my family," he says as Matthews opens the box to reveal two jeweled daggers. "The idea is that you will protect one another," he says, pointing to the etched symbols on the blades, "With Head, Heart, and Hand, like it shows here." The tiger pauses for a moment, his hand going to a pocket deep in his long coat. "Love and long life," he finally says softly, before turning away and retreating into the crowd.<br> <br>Brutus gives his oft-used strained smile in response to Flora's unerring intuition--how in the world does she do it?
"Well," he begins, temporizing to them both. "A great weight is placed on continuing the noble bloodline, as well as politics, and I have not yet met a mate who is meet to these criteria...and furthermore, as I do not have head-of-house prerogative, I will doubtless have to seek the approval of the house, which may entail extensive investigation and thorough vetting, and..." the rotund Skunk drones on, glad to see that Hartford, at least, had reached the threshold of his attention span and taken to staring off in a daydream...if he can't escape giving an answer, at least he can make them regret asking the question...[[Category:RPLogs]]