The Date is Set

Log Info

• Title: The Date is Set

• Emitter: Telamon

• Characters: Telamon, Ravenstongue

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Telamon and Ravenstongue are celebrating the fact that the countryside around Alexandria will soon be returned to normal now that it is sans-undead. The fey folk and the faerie dragon that share their home also celebrate, especially as a date for the future Lupecyll-Atlon wedding is set. Ravenstongue and Telamon discuss plans. Things are going to get busy!

Lúpecyll-Atlon home, early evening.

True to Telamon's word, the weather has shifted away from heat and into storms. While the worst of the storm has washed over Alexandria, the rain continues to fall in a steady shower, the skies above murky and clouded. For all of that, though, there's a kind of wild happiness in the air -- the knowledge that the minions of Heth have been routed.

And the Lúpecyll-Atlon home is no stranger to the good feelings. The windows were opened to let the garden fey shelter inside, while the storm rattled the shutters and the rain beat down on the sturdy roof. Despite the slight crowding, the home feels cozy and warm with the news and the friends relaxing here, away from the unpleasant weather.

Telamon sits on the couch, studying the Tribune with interest, reading the accounts posted. Jyndei is curled around his shoulders, peering over as well, his tail flicking every so often. Bois is dozing in a teacup in on the table, evidently quite happy to be out of the rain.

And the pixies...

"Okay, okay, what's the word? What's the hot goss? This IS a gossip rag, right? Please tell me you didn't bring anything boring and lame into this household, Lord Lúpecyll-to-be," Lily-of-the-Valley says as she just... helps herself to a seat on Telamon's shoulder. If the faerie dragon can be there, so can a garden pixie. At least, that makes sense in Lily-logic.

"The Alexandrian Tribune is not a gossip rag, Lily-of-the-Valley," Mirabilis says with a heavy sigh as she flies closer to her sister. She does not, however, take a seat on Telamon's shoulder, choosing instead to hover a respectable distance from his ear--although it sounds a little like a hummingbird flying when she's that close.

"The countryside belongs to the people again, that's what's happened," Cor'lana informs the group of fey folk (and Jyndei) as she walks into the living room with two cups of lavender-mint tea. She's changed into a flowing, floral-print nightgown that looks elegant on her petite frame, and she takes a seat on the couch with Telamon. "More work will have to be done to return the people home, but it's what Telamon and I have been waiting for."

"Indeed. Lana and I will, I suspect, be in demand to help clear out any lingering pockets of riff-raff... living or otherwise... but it also means our wedding plans can finally move forward." Telamon's eyes almost glow with happy anticipation. "At last. At last!" He takes the cup from Lana, but then catches her free hand, kissing it before releasing her.

Jyndei perks up. "That means the princesses of the forest can reopen the Way home, too." The dragon nuzzles at the side of Telamon's head, making a sound not too unlike a cat's purr. For his part, Tel reaches up to scritch the little faerie dragon, as he chuckles. "So Lana and I have no more excuses for delays. We'll need to get this caravan on the road."

Telamon's joy lights up on Cor'lana's face as well, and she grins from ear to ear as he kisses her hand. "Indeed, no more delays! Finally. We just need to set a date and get moving. Coordinate things on the Mythwood side of things--I imagine your parents will be instrumental there, Tel--send out invitations a month before the date, get all of our bridesmaids and groomsmen, then we make the trek together to the Mythwood, summon Grandfather, and then we're married." Her eyes sparkle. "At long last."

There's a sound like a tea kettle getting ready to boil, until finally a high-pitch "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" squeal is unleashed from Lily-of-the-Valley. She goes rocketing into the air, dancing around in only the way that a joyous pixie can. "You're finally getting married! YES! YESSS! *YESSSSSSSS.*" She practically roars the last word with all the ferocity her tiny pixie body can muster.

Mirabilis claps her hands together and smiles, radiating much more subdued joy than her pixie-sister. "We are all happy for you, of course, Lady Lúpecyll and Lord Lúpecyll-to-be," she says. "Is there any way that we can aid in this endeavor?"

Cor'lana takes a sip of her tea and sets it down on the coffee table. "Well," she says, "it's still early days. And we certainly need to account for little Jyndei going home, too, although I've loved your presence here, too." She gives the faerie dragon a little scritch, too. Thankfully, Pothy's snoozing away in the study, so no risk of Pothy-ire here.

Jyndei seems quite happy to accept the attention. "My lord and lady, you have been nothing but gracious to a lost wanderer. I possess very little, but I am at your service should you need it. If I cannot attend the wedding myself, I will strive to supply a proper gift."

Telamon chuckles. "I was happy to be a host, Jyndei. You are welcome here, and wherever Lana and I call home." He looks thoughtful. "You might consider hitching a ride with Grandfather when he comes to officiate. I'm sure he'll be reasonable -- especially since he's been twitching at the prospect of our getting married for quite a while. I think he was concerned it might not happen."

Sipping his tea, Tel looks back to the Tribune. "The immediate areas outside of Alexandria are already being cleared, and people are on the move, which is good. As the cleanup progresses, it'll open things up further." He furrows his brow in thought. "We need to speak to Aryia, Lana. Time to get our wedding garments designed so she doesn't have to rush it."

Cor'lana sighs in relief at the mention of Grandfather. "Oh goodness," she remarks, "I think Grandfather will be... I don't know if he'll get better or worse with his antsy behavior once we've finally set a date for the wedding," she says. "And by that, I mean... Well, you know how he gets if he's overly worried. Next thing you know, he might be tying the two of us together to ensure we don't run off before the wedding."

"Oh, don't worry!" Lily-of-the-Valley says, rolling up her nonexistent sleeves on her petal dress. "I'll FIGHT HIM if it's for the sake of true love! I'll even volunteer to follow your every move if it means he's placated! I'm not scared of--"

"Lily-of-the-Valley, the Feathered One could easily kill both of us in one fell swoop," Mirabilis says matter-of-factly. "Snap, snap. Just like that. I don't recommend that level of parley with him."

Lily-of-the-Valley grumbles a little. Meanwhile, Cor'lana looks thoughtful. "You're right," she says to Telamon. "The sooner the better with the garments. As for a date..."

She gives him a sly, playful sort of smile. "The sixteenth of Rhaltaas, perhaps? The fifteenth was the date we first met, but it probably ought to be an Eliday wedding."

Telamon just gives Lily a weary look. The funny part is that Jyndei is giving the little pixie a very similar look, before the two look at each other. "Don't worry yourself, milord," Jyndei pipes up. "I'll keep an eye on things."

Tel takes another sip of tea. "A year and a day. Gods, it seems like it's been forever since we met. Not just a year." He smiles slowly. "But yes. The sixteenth of Rhaltaas. That'll give us plenty of time to make sure all the arrangements are in hand." He takes Lana's hand, in fact, stroking her fingers, his thumb brushing the ring he gave her.

Cor'lana flushes gently as Telamon takes her hand, and she casts a gaze down at his thumb stroking the ring. "A year and a day," she says. "Unquestionably and without a doubt the single best year and a day of my life since you came into it. You and your offer of friendship that so quickly bloomed into love... We are the luckiest people in this world."

Small tears glisten in her violet eyes--tears of joy. "I hope we continue to be lucky together," she says, and she leans in for a kiss.

"Aww!" both the pixies finding themselves saying. Even Bois in the teacup can't help but to say it. It is, after all, an awfully tender moment.

Okay, the peanut gallery is a little disconcerting, but if Tel can't handle kissing in front of a few faeries, how's he going to do it during the wedding? He kisses back fervently, barely noticing Jyndei hopping to the back of the couch so he's not in the way. When Tel finally lets Lana come up for air, he grins at her. "Together. Absolutely."

"Hear, hear!" Bois calls from the teacup, happily rapping his foreclaws (he's in mantis form) on the edge like an onlooker banging a very tiny tankard on a very tiny bar surface.

Jyndei adds, "I have collected most of your tale thus far, my lord and lady. I look forward to writing the account of your wedding." He struts along the back of the couch, perching there and flicking his wings. "Perhaps some might think it ordinary, but in my experience there is nothing ordinary about love. I once met a fellow who wrote an intriguing song about it -- something about it being stronger than diamonds." He hrms. "How did that tune go?"

Cor'lana snickers as she leans back from the kiss, catching her breath. "I don't know," she says to Jyndei. "I've never heard that song, but it sounds like a fun one to me."

"Oh my goodness gracious, I love this so much. I love LOVE," Lily-of-the-Valley decrees. "I'm going to tell every single fey in Alexandria! The date is set! Lady Lúpecyll and Lord Lúpecyll-to-be are getting married! I CAN'T WAIT!"

She flies off to the kitchen window, presumably to go announce it to the world. Mirabilis sighs. "I better go follow her," she says, and she flies off after Lily-of-the-Valley.

Cor'lana sighs a little at the pixie shenanigans, and she looks over at Jyndei. "Surely you could come to the wedding and witness it first-hand? Then Grandfather will take you home. I'm sure he won't object. Especially if I am the one to ask him."

Telamon watches bemusedly as the pixies pile out the window, followed by Bois. "Well, at least the rain's fallen off a bit," he muses. He rubs his nose lightly, before smiling at Lana. "It is what it is, love. I mean, I seem to recall we joked about taking out full-page ads in the Tribune..."

At Lana's inquiry, Jyndei straightens up a bit. "I would like that very much. I am sure that the Feathered One will be amenable to bringing me home, since he does not view me as a threat." The little dragon scratches behind one of his frills. "That is what drives him, the desire to protect. Fortunately I am small, and adorable." Jyndei blinks his huge eyes appealingly.

Cor'lana grins at Telamon. "We did," she says, "but for a much different reason. Now we don't need to prove our love to thwart the ambitions of nobility. We could take an ad out... Maybe to dispel the rumors of me as some sort of foul seductress?"

She thinks for a moment and frowns. "Mmm, maybe not," she comments. "I mean, what if Zalgiman picks up the Tribune and finds out? I could see a creep and a jerk like him following us all the way to the Mythwood. As much as I'm inclined to just invite anyone and everyone... Let's just keep it to friend and family for now."

Then Cor'lana pokes one of Jyndei's frills with a little giggle. "Yes, you are small and adorable," she coos.

Telamon snorts. "Invite Archmage Mikilos. I'm pretty sure Zalgiman wants nothing to do with him after Mikilos forced him to grovel before him." He smirks. "That was definitely worth at least some of the trouble he's caused us." He sits back, steeping his fingers a bit. "But yes. I don't feel like inviting everyone. Friends and family, absolutely. But this isn't a public spectacle."

Jyndei, for his part, preens at Lana's attention, before cuddling up to Tel again. "There is nothing wrong with preferring to share your most special day with those you care about," he adds. "It might seem like the most important day of your life, and so you will want it to be... hm. Perfect? At least without any problems."

Cor'lana laughs. "I can't expect perfection," she says. "I anticipate little problems. Like... One of the bridesmaids getting a rip in her dress. Or the bouquet arriving with less flowers than I expected. Or the wedding cake being a different flavor than we ordered. Things that will be small in the long run."

She smiles at Telamon, putting her head onto his shoulder. "After all, I can't ask for perfection when I'm already marrying the man that's perfect for me." Her violet eyes drift down to her engagement ring, and she cuddles in even closer to Telamon.

The faerie dragon spreads his wings, and shakes himself out a bit. "I'll pop outside and make sure the pixies are not causing too much trouble," Jyndei vaults off the couch, gliding over to the window and out, to leave the two alone. Telamon curls his arms around Lana, nestling her close.

"Perfection's great to shoot for," Tel comments. "But it's not a realistic goal. I'll be happy with you and me being man and wife, without any major hiccups in the ceremony." He kisses her brow, before resting his cheek against hers. "I'm nervous," he admits. "I want to do this. But it doesn't stop me from worrying about getting it right."

Now that Cor'lana's left alone with Telamon, the house is a lot quieter. But the sound of rain rapping gently against the windows provides a tranquil backdrop to the two half-sil sorcerers holding each other. The feytouched half of the pair continues to smile as the other admits his nervousness. "So long as we're married, I think that's getting it right," Cor'lana responds. "So long as we're husband and wife, like you said, it doesn't matter to me. And I don't think Grandfather will let much of anything go wrong."

She snickers. "Or your mother," she says. "I think your mother will show up with a sword from her dress if anyone or anything showed up to ruin things."

Telamon laughs softly. "She just might. I think father might try to dissuade her, but... she does tend to be willful." He strokes her hair, holding her close. The rain patters down outside, as Tel closes his eyes for a moment. Then he takes a deep breath, and lets it out. "You're right, though. So long as we get through it, and get married... I won't say 'everything will be all right', because you have to work for it. But it will be workable, and we both are willing to do so." He looks down at her with a smile. "So I guess the question is, are you ready? The sword awaits; we're gonna jump over it."

"I'd happily jump over a hundred of them with you," Cor'lana responds without any hesitation. "I just hope that I won't wake up the morning after in Rune, with my memories gone and my name lost to my mother's ritual. And yet, I know I can't be fearful of that. You were the one who taught me to be less fearful, after all--you were the one who said that you leap in where angels fear to tread."

She lifts her head up a little, enough to look at Telamon in the eyes with a smile again. "A year and a day--and then the rest of our lives to follow afterward," Cor'lana says. She leans in for a little kiss.

...

A violet-eyed rook some distance away watches the pixies whoop and holler, accompanied by their mantis friend and their faerie dragon friend. A thoughtful noise leaves the skull-faced bird. "So they've set a date," he says. "I should report this to my dear little puppet. Glorenacil does deserve to know his one and only progeny is getting married... and I deserve to have a bit of fun."

The rook takes flight in the rain in the direction of the Soldier's Defense.