![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
votivescholarsWelcome to the world of the Durants...
Guests from the Nexus are met by an Isidor who is still dressed for business when she PINpoints them directly to the venue. She is on a mission and pleasantries are swiftly exchanged so that she can give instructions and explain how the day is going to go. The first thing to hit them is that it's hot, and bright. They are now in France, Isidor tells them, her narrative changes appropriately as she leads them from the small stone building, through immaculate gardens and towards a sprawling palace which she insists is small for what it is. This is the home of Gnonyma Durant, her grandmother. A 17th Century French palace once owned by royalty but was gifted to her family as thanks for 'a service' which Isidor says was so private that even the mage's journal doesn't detail what it was.
The air is dry and still, which makes the cool shade of indoors a pleasant relief. Like the ornate facade, the interior of the building is lined with intricate mouldings; decorated with impressive portraits; painted in bright, colourful shades; and filled with flowers and draping fabric. There is plenty of space, a fact emphasised by tiled floors that amplify each step and word. It looks as though almost every room is being used, from the way all the doors are held open for the steady flow of traffic. They are, however, let through the building and out another door. It's the quickest way to where seats sit lined up to face a gazebo decorated with ribbons and flowers that stands in front of a pond that might as well be a lake. Some people might notice the air above them ripple slightly, which certainly has nothing to do with the perfectly ornate poles at each corner of the seating area.
There are already plenty of people milling about. Servants stride from one place to another, expertly staying out of the way of the guests. There are some men and women who are dressed well for the occasion, but like the servants they stay out of the way and scan the area repeatedly, making no attempts to engage with the guests - security, judging by their earpieces. Members of the Durant family are easy to spot. They move in groups or pairs, often getting headed off by people looking to talk to them. A large majority of them also sport sashes of either red or purple with gold trim and ornate pins that vary from person to person. This, Isidor explains, is how you spot a patron and an accomplished scholar, based on the red or purple respectively. Viatorus is not yet an accomplished scholar, which is why they have no sashes. Members of Runa's family are equally easy to spot for those that know her. They would be the large group of tall, golden haired men and women with the distinctive Swedish accents happily talking to anyone and everyone.
After guiding them to their seats she tells them that the ceremony will be another twenty minutes and takes her leave to go and sort out the other numerous things on her endless list. Nobody bothers them while they wait. Everyone is too busy spotting old friends or making their way to their seats. It's a good time to enjoy the scenery. There is a small collection of musicians with harps, violins and flutes to one side. Even the breeze is smelling sweet with the perfume of the bouquets.
Within fifteen minutes Viatorus appears in a tailored suit of light grey and deep purple. He is closely followed by an older, stocky looking man in a black suit and purple tie, and sporting a red and black sash that is even more ornate than any others. Whatever the man is saying to him Viatorus barely gets more of a wave of recognition in to his friends before he's being guided to the gazebo and kept there. Shortly after he's joined by a young man and two women with tanned skin and black hair dressed in simple, but high quality clothes of purple, draping fabric. They look as serious as the man beside Viatorus. That is about the time Isidor reappears in more appropriate attire. She in turn heralds the appearance of a woman who shares her features, dressed in elegant gold and black, who is accompanied by a man whose black suit and purple tie are considerably more simple than his purple sash. Its intricacy matches that of the red one worn by the man standing next to Viatorus. The mood seems to shift at the appearance of these last two guests, becoming quieter, expectant. The Durants gather together, and Viatorus' fidgeting increases tenfold as they exchange words. The men with the sashes and the woman in gold take their seats, many of the guests follow suit.
The ceremony begins...
The young man in purple walks with his staff to stand at the head of the aisle and asks that everyone takes their seats. Exactly twenty minutes after the Nexus guests were shown their seats, the ceremony begins. The young man introduces himself as the high priest of Despoina and welcomes them to the union of the two families Durant and Nyström. As it is a ceremony to mark the union of two families with two sets of tradition and two sets of gods to honour, this will be a merging of these two cultures. It will be a handfasting ceremony of the Old Ways, he explains. This means that the couple will be as man and wife for a year and a day, and after that time they must choose if they wish to marry or separate. The guests now better informed, the priest stands back under the gazebo where a nervous Viatorus and patient Isidor stand waiting. On cue, the musicians start playing unfamiliar, but pleasant music to introduce the arrival of Ingirun dressed in white and accompanied by a rounded, red cheeked man, and followed by a woman who must certainly be one of her sisters. Once she was beside Viatorus, Ingirun's father sat down and the ceremony began.
The priest talked of uniting the two families, naming the virtues of both, as he got the bride-and-groom-to-be to hold hands which he bound in ribbons. He then took them through their vows before invoking the gods and goddesses to bless the union. The mixture of Greek and Norse deities made for a complicated blessing that might have been compared to seeking the approval of two powerful families. With wishes given, the priest unwrapped their hands and had the betrothed drink from the same cup. All in all it was a short ceremony as ceremonies go. A few more blessings were given and then the couple were prompted to kiss to seal the pact, which a bright red Viatorus did, very timidly. Luckily that only made Runa beam more brightly than she already was.
Dinner was in a large hall with close family at the head of the room and everyone else seated at round tables. Every position was carefully chosen, of course. The inevitable speeches came from the father of the bride (who rambled joyously about how happy he was to see his daughter with such a fine young man) and the mother of the groom (who gently, warmly, welcomed Runa into the family and spoke of how proud she and his father were). Drinks were plentiful, as were the courses. There were six in total with a selection of each: Appetisers, soup, fish, the main course, dessert, and a palate cleanser. No one will be going hungry tonight, that's a certainty.
After dinner it's Isidor who stands to say a few last words. She thanks everyone for coming and instructs them to enjoy the evening and all the festivities which "will go on at least until dawn". With that, guests are bid to go and enjoy the entertainment filling the palace.
And now for the party...
There isn't a single place that isn't being used for the party. The gardens have pleasant music playing in them, chairs and tables laid out with cushions and blankets for people to lounge in. One of the largest halls is set out for dancers and their spectators to enjoy live musicians that will play ballroom music for the first part of the evening and be replaced by a band that plays modern music for the second. There is a small room of bookshelves and leather armchairs where men congregate to sip whiskey. Rooms with couches and chairs have people moving in and out of them joining and starting conversations. The priest tends to three statues of goddesses that stand at the end of one room. Here he collects gifts and offerings for the couple's happy future. A man with a perfect smile enthralls a crowd with stories that are only exciting because of the way he tells them. A demure woman facilitates a conversation between straight backed men with chiseled features and shorter tanned men who look equally as disciplined. Servants are found throughout, bringing drinks and snacks to anyone who asks or so much as looks as if they're considering either.
((Feel free to backtag, threadhop, start threads, look for more NPCs, whatever you like! If you're unsure of something, looking for more details, or want to plot then you know the drill - Send a message my way and we'll chat!
Note about gifts: It will say on your character's invitation that gifts are optional and it is suggested that a gift to the gods/goddesses would be more than suitable instead.))
The Nyströms | Hephaestia | The Archon, Liselotte & Stathis | The Priest | Oraskis - The Seer
Lieselotte or Stathis | Poenia & Sagyne | Harrowheart & Anna | Adia | Felix & Jim | Evening Event | Isidor | Klaus
Guests from the Nexus are met by an Isidor who is still dressed for business when she PINpoints them directly to the venue. She is on a mission and pleasantries are swiftly exchanged so that she can give instructions and explain how the day is going to go. The first thing to hit them is that it's hot, and bright. They are now in France, Isidor tells them, her narrative changes appropriately as she leads them from the small stone building, through immaculate gardens and towards a sprawling palace which she insists is small for what it is. This is the home of Gnonyma Durant, her grandmother. A 17th Century French palace once owned by royalty but was gifted to her family as thanks for 'a service' which Isidor says was so private that even the mage's journal doesn't detail what it was.
The air is dry and still, which makes the cool shade of indoors a pleasant relief. Like the ornate facade, the interior of the building is lined with intricate mouldings; decorated with impressive portraits; painted in bright, colourful shades; and filled with flowers and draping fabric. There is plenty of space, a fact emphasised by tiled floors that amplify each step and word. It looks as though almost every room is being used, from the way all the doors are held open for the steady flow of traffic. They are, however, let through the building and out another door. It's the quickest way to where seats sit lined up to face a gazebo decorated with ribbons and flowers that stands in front of a pond that might as well be a lake. Some people might notice the air above them ripple slightly, which certainly has nothing to do with the perfectly ornate poles at each corner of the seating area.
There are already plenty of people milling about. Servants stride from one place to another, expertly staying out of the way of the guests. There are some men and women who are dressed well for the occasion, but like the servants they stay out of the way and scan the area repeatedly, making no attempts to engage with the guests - security, judging by their earpieces. Members of the Durant family are easy to spot. They move in groups or pairs, often getting headed off by people looking to talk to them. A large majority of them also sport sashes of either red or purple with gold trim and ornate pins that vary from person to person. This, Isidor explains, is how you spot a patron and an accomplished scholar, based on the red or purple respectively. Viatorus is not yet an accomplished scholar, which is why they have no sashes. Members of Runa's family are equally easy to spot for those that know her. They would be the large group of tall, golden haired men and women with the distinctive Swedish accents happily talking to anyone and everyone.
After guiding them to their seats she tells them that the ceremony will be another twenty minutes and takes her leave to go and sort out the other numerous things on her endless list. Nobody bothers them while they wait. Everyone is too busy spotting old friends or making their way to their seats. It's a good time to enjoy the scenery. There is a small collection of musicians with harps, violins and flutes to one side. Even the breeze is smelling sweet with the perfume of the bouquets.
Within fifteen minutes Viatorus appears in a tailored suit of light grey and deep purple. He is closely followed by an older, stocky looking man in a black suit and purple tie, and sporting a red and black sash that is even more ornate than any others. Whatever the man is saying to him Viatorus barely gets more of a wave of recognition in to his friends before he's being guided to the gazebo and kept there. Shortly after he's joined by a young man and two women with tanned skin and black hair dressed in simple, but high quality clothes of purple, draping fabric. They look as serious as the man beside Viatorus. That is about the time Isidor reappears in more appropriate attire. She in turn heralds the appearance of a woman who shares her features, dressed in elegant gold and black, who is accompanied by a man whose black suit and purple tie are considerably more simple than his purple sash. Its intricacy matches that of the red one worn by the man standing next to Viatorus. The mood seems to shift at the appearance of these last two guests, becoming quieter, expectant. The Durants gather together, and Viatorus' fidgeting increases tenfold as they exchange words. The men with the sashes and the woman in gold take their seats, many of the guests follow suit.
The ceremony begins...
The young man in purple walks with his staff to stand at the head of the aisle and asks that everyone takes their seats. Exactly twenty minutes after the Nexus guests were shown their seats, the ceremony begins. The young man introduces himself as the high priest of Despoina and welcomes them to the union of the two families Durant and Nyström. As it is a ceremony to mark the union of two families with two sets of tradition and two sets of gods to honour, this will be a merging of these two cultures. It will be a handfasting ceremony of the Old Ways, he explains. This means that the couple will be as man and wife for a year and a day, and after that time they must choose if they wish to marry or separate. The guests now better informed, the priest stands back under the gazebo where a nervous Viatorus and patient Isidor stand waiting. On cue, the musicians start playing unfamiliar, but pleasant music to introduce the arrival of Ingirun dressed in white and accompanied by a rounded, red cheeked man, and followed by a woman who must certainly be one of her sisters. Once she was beside Viatorus, Ingirun's father sat down and the ceremony began.
The priest talked of uniting the two families, naming the virtues of both, as he got the bride-and-groom-to-be to hold hands which he bound in ribbons. He then took them through their vows before invoking the gods and goddesses to bless the union. The mixture of Greek and Norse deities made for a complicated blessing that might have been compared to seeking the approval of two powerful families. With wishes given, the priest unwrapped their hands and had the betrothed drink from the same cup. All in all it was a short ceremony as ceremonies go. A few more blessings were given and then the couple were prompted to kiss to seal the pact, which a bright red Viatorus did, very timidly. Luckily that only made Runa beam more brightly than she already was.
Dinner was in a large hall with close family at the head of the room and everyone else seated at round tables. Every position was carefully chosen, of course. The inevitable speeches came from the father of the bride (who rambled joyously about how happy he was to see his daughter with such a fine young man) and the mother of the groom (who gently, warmly, welcomed Runa into the family and spoke of how proud she and his father were). Drinks were plentiful, as were the courses. There were six in total with a selection of each: Appetisers, soup, fish, the main course, dessert, and a palate cleanser. No one will be going hungry tonight, that's a certainty.
After dinner it's Isidor who stands to say a few last words. She thanks everyone for coming and instructs them to enjoy the evening and all the festivities which "will go on at least until dawn". With that, guests are bid to go and enjoy the entertainment filling the palace.
And now for the party...
There isn't a single place that isn't being used for the party. The gardens have pleasant music playing in them, chairs and tables laid out with cushions and blankets for people to lounge in. One of the largest halls is set out for dancers and their spectators to enjoy live musicians that will play ballroom music for the first part of the evening and be replaced by a band that plays modern music for the second. There is a small room of bookshelves and leather armchairs where men congregate to sip whiskey. Rooms with couches and chairs have people moving in and out of them joining and starting conversations. The priest tends to three statues of goddesses that stand at the end of one room. Here he collects gifts and offerings for the couple's happy future. A man with a perfect smile enthralls a crowd with stories that are only exciting because of the way he tells them. A demure woman facilitates a conversation between straight backed men with chiseled features and shorter tanned men who look equally as disciplined. Servants are found throughout, bringing drinks and snacks to anyone who asks or so much as looks as if they're considering either.
((Feel free to backtag, threadhop, start threads, look for more NPCs, whatever you like! If you're unsure of something, looking for more details, or want to plot then you know the drill - Send a message my way and we'll chat!
Note about gifts: It will say on your character's invitation that gifts are optional and it is suggested that a gift to the gods/goddesses would be more than suitable instead.))
✣ · ✣ · ✣ · ✣
The Nyströms | Hephaestia | The Archon, Liselotte & Stathis | The Priest | Oraskis - The Seer
Lieselotte or Stathis | Poenia & Sagyne | Harrowheart & Anna | Adia | Felix & Jim | Evening Event | Isidor | Klaus
no subject
Date: 2017-07-14 06:31 pm (UTC)Jim understands that. Adia has been through so much in her world. And to be so kind to everyone in the Nexus despite what she's been through, well. He respects his friend quite a bit for it. Even if she also doesn't terribly get along with Naugus, she's a heck of a lot nicer about it than Jim ever was.
She confirms it with the mention of the nuclear weapon. And gods, still using those bombs even in her time of space travel and colonies? It turns his stomach.
"It's in good hands and still puttering along the darker corners of the galaxy." He confirms, the barest hints of a proud smile on his face.
He's aware the conversation has turned heavy for what should be a celebration, and glances around thoughtfully before smiling brighter to Adia.
"For tonight though, we should be celebrating for Viatorus' sake. He'd be worried sick if he could see how serious we were. Do you like to dance? I'd be honored to take you to the floor or..." He trails off momentarily. Adia had come out here to get away from all the people.
"If you'd rather, we could move closer to the doorway and dance out here where there's no one else to bump into."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-14 07:53 pm (UTC)Nuclear weapons, torture, and death by airlock. It must seem like the stone age compared to Jim's world, but it hasn't hardened Adia's heart at all. She hasn't said a cruel or hateful word about the Cylons either.
She smiles softly when he confirms that his ship is doing well, then blinks at his request to dance. Biting her lower lip, she hesitates to say no, but the thought of dancing near all those well-to-do mages in their fancy shoes...
But then Jim modifies his offer, and she is so touched that he would take her shyness into consideration that she smiles and nods. "I'd love to. By the doorway is fine."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-15 12:59 am (UTC)"I know a few ballroom waltzes, if you'd like me to teach them to you. Just in case anyone in there asks you to dance. Or you can show me a dance from your world, if you'd prefer."
Jim doesn't rush as he leads Adia toward the entrance back into the reception hall. Over here the music is louder and more distinct than back in front of the fountain where they'd been. They're far enough out yet that any conversation inside is still indistinct murmuring, though close enough that the lights from inside make it easy to see what they're doing.
Everything is classical of some variety to Jim here, but he listens to the flow and pacing of the music with an appreciative ear.
"They've got a lovely batch of performers, by the sound of it."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-15 02:01 am (UTC)"A waltz is fine. Whatever you'd like to teach me." She laughs softly. "I can teach you to line dance sometime but I don't think it's the right kind of dance for this party." It's best done in casual clothes, and she's not about to trip over her heels in front of everyone.
She walks with him, relieved that they stop short of the entrance. It's too nice out to go back in, even if she weren't put out by the crowd. "They are lovely," she agrees quietly, entranced by the music. "I haven't heard music like that in a long time..."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-15 06:48 pm (UTC)The captain chuckles at his own admission before extending a hand out to Adia. The most basic waltz is nothing fancy. Turning and swaying to the music while Jim leads her in a series of simple steps in a circle around the garden's entryway.
"Not a whole lot of places play this kind of classical music where I'm from either. It's a nice change of pace." Jim's voice is quiet now, close as he is to Adia. Though he's careful not to get closer than he needs to, nor to touch her more than necessary. Adia is a shy lady and Jim offered to take her to dance to cheer her up.
It wouldn't do in the least if he ended up making her uncomfortable instead.
"You're pretty good at this, you know."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-15 09:22 pm (UTC)Taking his hand, she places her other on his shoulder as he leads her into a waltz. She's familiar with the style of dance, as well as the music. It should strike her as peculiar, but instead she finds is comforting, another reminder of home. Jim is a perfect gentleman, and she's about as comfortable as she can be, dancing with someone she considers a friend. "That's a shame," she replies. "Waltzes are so pretty."
The compliment makes her blush, but she smiles, too. "I must have learned it a long time ago. The last time I danced was the Halloween party with Reynard, and before that... I can't remember when."
She never danced aboard the Chiron, certainly. It was always fast-paced pop music. Caspar would keep her company off to the side so they could deflect any cajoling from friends to join them on the dance floor. Maybe... if it had been music like this, and he had asked...
"Felix will dance with you, won't he?" she asks quietly, as he leads her through another circle.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-18 02:32 am (UTC)And perhaps it sounds silly for Jim to talk about spending time in a world before electronics or even flight but he's finding it incredibly easy to find comfort anywhere if the right company is involved. The simple dance seems to ease Jim's demeanor as well, his expression turning calm and thoughtful rather than the vague hints of concern he'd worn earlier.
"I don't get an excuse often to. We learned at the Academy for diplomatic affairs. I've always enjoyed it." Though he enjoys many different styles of dancing, rather than just the one. She can see the way Jim's face softens at her question, his expression an open book that he doesn't seem to notice.
"I always save him the last dance."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-18 12:47 pm (UTC)"I'm glad to help you indulge," she says with a warm smile. This is nice. Jim seems so content, his earlier worries melting away. And as he says what is an incredibly sweet line about saving the last dance for Felix, she thinks that perhaps such cultural differences matter little when you find someone who can make you that happy.
"He cares about you very much." She doesn't need to tell him that, but she feels like saying it anyway.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-19 12:16 pm (UTC)Congratulations Adia, not many people can make Captain Kirk blush. He's smiling though, so it's not a bad thing.
"I uh." Let him clear his throat. "Yeah. He really is something else." Jim cares about Felix very much too. At least he's not denying it anymore. That whole 'we're not dating' routine never fooled anyone.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-19 12:47 pm (UTC)"How did you two meet? Was it in the Plaza?"
Ack! I'm so sorry I missed this!!!
Date: 2017-07-28 01:00 pm (UTC)Jim leads Adia around the garden's entrance a bit more slowly as the music changes to something softer. He likes the dance they're doing fine and sees no reason to change it other than the pacing.
"You wouldn't have been able to look at me that year. I was dressed pretty awfully. For a bet that I won, I might add. Plunging V-neck, a short skirt, headband. All in a astonishingly bright shade of lavender. Can you believe that's a super hero costume on someone's world?"
No worries!
Date: 2017-07-28 04:20 pm (UTC)He did say it was for a bet, after all.
Talking about Halloween brings back fond memories. "We don't have a holiday like that, where I'm from, but I enjoyed celebrating it last year. I dressed as Medusa. There was a whole series of monster movies starring her."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-29 09:43 pm (UTC)Frankly, the less that is said about the Hawkskirt, the better.
"A mutual friend who's not around anymore introduced us. Set us up and ran off. She was always pulling that kind of stuff. But, in this case..." Jim shrugs. "We ah...we hit it off."
That's A way of putting it. Though Adia doesn't need to hear all of the details of that party. Maybe the swinging from a chandelier part. But definitely not other bits. She's a lady, after all.
"Yeah? I'm glad you joined in then. It's a pretty big deal here in the Nexus, and I heard the kid who did the decorating is all over the holiday." He tries to picture Adia as Medusa and has to stop himself from chuckling. She'd feel so awful if she actually turned people who looked at her to stone.
"I bet you looked lovely."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-30 12:28 pm (UTC)Hmm. Sounds like there's more to this story, but she isn't about to pester him for more details. "I was friends with a couple who met in the Nexus," she tells him instead. "Sometimes I wonder if it'd be easier to meet someone special that way. My last relationship... well, there were a few problems there, but a big one was that I couldn't tell him about the Nexus. Keeping a secret like that wasn't healthy."
"You mean Josh?" She smiles brightly. "Yeah, he talked me into going. He even helped me with my make-up." One gets the impression that Adia speaks highly of all her friends, but there is extra affection in her voice for the horror-loving teen. "I don't know as many people back then, he did a good job of making me feel welcome."
The compliment naturally causes her to blush. "I wore a green wig with toy snakes in it," she replies. "And... this dress, actually. I'll have to think of something different for this year."