Surprises All Around
Log Info
- Title: Surprises All Around
- Emitter: Dolan
- Place: Temple of Daeus
- Summary: Andelena struts in with her new dress made specifically for Auranar and Verna's wedding: only to discover that Dolan's also gotten fancy duds for the wedding, and is being discharged from the Temple! Dolan gives Andelena a torc to wear to the wedding, and surprises Zeke by asking him to officiate their wedding when they get around to it.
There's more than a few looks today as a certain Sunguard walks in the Temple. One guard in particular stares a little over-long at Andelena as she passes by, which results in her being jabbed in the side by her guard-partner. Andelena doesn't even notice as she walks on, a sly smirk on her face: for the rarest of all events in the world is happening right now.
Andelena is wearing a dress. Not just any dress, for that matter. It's a green dress that brings out the red in her hair, but it also draws attention to her muscular arms due to its daring lack of sleeves. The high slits up the sides go almost all the way up to her hips, showing off most of the stockings underneath that are the same color as the dress itself. A golden rope serving as a belt around the waist ties the daring and very fashionable look all together, and the confidence that having this dress made for her shows as she struts down the halls.
She opens the doors, grinning almost as brightly as the morning sun. "Brightest of days, baby," she says, her walk turning into more of a prowl as she steps inside.
The sight that greets her is - to say the least, unexpected. The room is - packed up, bedsheets rolled into a ball and thrown carelessly on the bed for washing. The only other thing on the bed is a flat box a The sword and totem are nowhere in evidence, and only Dolan's haversack that had been brought in at some point is visible, sitting by the door.
Dolan himself is standing in the middle of the room, attired - very, very differently than his usual wont. A high-collared tunic in the same deep green material sets him off a good bit less than it does Andelena, but it does suit him well enough. It is decorated with a double row of brass buttons down the front and gold stitching at hem and collar. White trousers and tall, polished black boots complete the look, and thrown over his left shoulder is a half-cloak that is clearly intended for fashion more than true utility, but is in its own way striking, with matching stitching. It is thrown aside at the moment to reveal a subtler black cloth layer beneath it.
He turns as the door opens, and his jaw goes slack at the daring, stunning look. Words - escape him at the moment. "I-" Nope. Word function disconnected.
The sight that greets her is - to say the least, unexpected. The room is - packed up, bedsheets rolled into a ball and thrown carelessly on the bed for washing. The only other thing on the bed is a flat box about the size of Dolan's hand. The sword and totem are nowhere in evidence, and only Dolan's haversack that had been brought in at some point is visible, sitting by the door.
Dolan himself is standing in the middle of the room, attired - very, very differently than his usual wont. A high-collared tunic in the same deep green material sets him off a good bit less than it does Andelena, but it does suit him well enough. It is decorated with a double row of brass buttons down the front and gold stitching at hem and collar. White trousers and tall, polished black boots complete the look, and thrown over his left shoulder is a half-cloak that is clearly intended for fashion more than true utility, but is in its own way striking, with matching stitching. It is thrown aside at the moment to reveal a subtler black cloth layer beneath it.
He turns as the door opens, and his jaw goes slack at the daring, stunning look. Words - escape him at the moment. "I-" Nope. Word function disconnected.
Zeke, who is standing off to Dolan's side, holding a sling in his claws looks up as Andelena enters the room. He unlike Dolan is not that surprised by her state of dress, though even a sith-makar like himself can tell the difference between her usual clerical vestments and... this. He gives a little snort at the sudden buffet of scents in the air, and looks between the two humans in their wedding finery. "Peasssce on your nesst Andelena." He says, sounding somewhat pleased with himself. His tail shifts pleasantly back and forth behind him.
Andelena's expression is one of a very, very pleasant surprise as she sees Dolan's got his own fresh new look, fancier than anything she's likely ever seen him wear before. Once she recovers her faculties, she offers a very appreciative wolf-whistle. "Damn, Zeke, I didn't realize you were wrapping up a present for me," she says, before she walks over to Dolan and kisses him full-on the mouth. A little too strong considering Zeke's in the room, but surely understandable considering they both are dressed well enough to knock people down.
Once she draws back, her eyes are full of mirth. "Okay, spill. You're not just sitting here in your Eliday best just to get a rise out of me. Have you been plotting to come to the wedding all along?" The cheeky grin spreads on her face.
That kiss gets returned, wholeheartedly, and lasts long enough that many softskins would be about ready to tell the pair to get a room. When they do finally separate, Dolan doesn't answer in words, but the wicked grin that splits his face - both sides - from ear to ear says everything that needs to be said. "You look wonderful, baby," is about all he manages for a long moment, looking her up and down, but the ear-to-ear grin is still there.
Finally, he manages to regain some measure of his words, and says, "You can thank Tel and Zeke for the surprise. Now-" He eyes the neck of the dress speculatively, and retrieves the box from the bed. "I had some help." He offers the box to her.
Zeke hums pleasantly, clearly very pleased with himself for having kept the secret. Which he'd done largely by not saying anything at all, but it still counted where it mattered! The blue-scale hovers nearby patiently, observing the pair but giving them as much privacy as he can manage so that they can have the joy of this moment to themselves.
Andelena gives Dolan a look that suggests if Zeke wasn't in the room, she'd have some specific words (likely of the lewd and rude variety) to reply back to him, but she just says, "You're always handsome to me, Bry, but damn, did you clean up for this one. And Tel, that fuck! He played me for a fucking fiddle!" She laughs heartily. "I didn't even catch onto him helping you with your clothes. Damn. I'll tell you what, he has a good eye for this shit." Thank goodness she didn't bring Deliverance with her, because otherwise the sword might be in a conniption fit.
Then curiosity crosses her face as she looks at the box that Dolan retrieves. "Oh, Bry--fuck, you didn't have to, baby," she says, clearly touched as she takes the box. She opens it carefully, like she's afraid the mere act of opening it might shatter whatever's inside.
The box opens to contain a golden torc. The body of a lithe and slender golden dragon with jade eyes is clearly meant to wrap around the neck, its head on the left collarbone and the tail on the right. It is an exquisite piece, soft enough to adjust to her as needed.
Dolan's still grinning, although it fades as he watches nervously as Andelena opens the box. His fingers wrestle one another in his hands like a nervous schoolboy as he waits for the verdict on its suitability. "Do you like it?"
In truth, Zeke had not had the chance to see the final product inside the box, so he leans over a little bit to get a glimpse of it as Andelena opens the box. He is pleasantly surprised by the piece of jewelry, which he finds extremely suitable, and very lovely. He starts to say something, but realizes in Dolan's words that this is Andelena's moment. So he keeps his words to himself.
Andelena's clearly blown away by the gorgeous work of art that's in the box. She's never been much of a jewelry person, but then again, she's never been much of a dress person--and it looks like both of those things are changing a bit today, because she's absolutely enchanted by the torc. "Bry, holy shit," she softly whispers, and she gently lifts it out of the box. "This is fucking gorgeous. Where did you even get this? When did you get this? I..."
She shakes her head and leans in, planting another long and grateful kiss onto Dolan's lips. When words fail, sometimes an action will serve in their place.
GAME: Dolan rolls fortitude: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
It's hard to answer questions when one is being kissed so thoroughly, but Dolan doesn't seem to mind, leaning into it into a warm and intimate expression of deep affection. He draws away eventually, and reaches to take the thing, so he can slip it around her neck. When he goes to lift it over her shoulders, though, the left shoulder gives a nasty-sounding click, and he immediately drops both arms. "Damn it. It still doesn't want to stretch up, Zeke."
Zeke thrums comfortingly to Dolan. "That issss why the ssling Dolan. To remind you and othersss what your range of motion isss at the moment." He half lifts the item in question and moves forward slightly. "Much ass thiss one underssstandss that you would like to do thisss, for now it iss besst if you let her do it while thisss one putss the sssling on. If you pleassse."
"You've made such great progress so far, though, babe," Andelena reminds Dolan gently as she takes the torc from him and puts it around her neck, taking great care to not get her hair caught up in it (the universal problem with necklaces of any sort). Once it's in place, she looks down at herself, before she looks at Dolan. "How do I look, babe?"
"Yeah." Dolan sounds most thoroughly disappointed, but he's also grimacing and gently rubbing the shoulder. That was clearly uncomfortable, and he feels it with careful fingers of his other hand as he turns to Zeke, allowing the makari to put the sling in place. "I still kind of hurt sometimes," he admits. "Especially the shoulder, and my back just feels weird. Some days it's numb, some days it hurts, some days it's pins and needles, some days it's nothing in particular." He reaches back with his right hand and runs gentle fingers across his lower back where the scars begin.
He allows Zeke to do what is needful, and Andelena will see that the sling that Zeke holds is actually sewn into the outfit, an extra, subtle layer of black cloth that buttons beneath the cloak with brass buttons, holding it in place unobtrusively.
"Yeah." Dolan sounds most thoroughly disappointed, but he's also grimacing and gently rubbing the shoulder. That was clearly uncomfortable, and he feels it with careful fingers of his other hand as he turns to Zeke, allowing the makari to put the sling in place. "I'll look in a minute, baby. I still kind of hurt sometimes," he admits. "Especially the shoulder, and my back just feels weird. Some days it's numb, some days it hurts, some days it's pins and needles, some days it's nothing in particular." He reaches back with his right hand and runs gentle fingers across his lower back where the scars begin.
He allows Zeke to do what is needful, and Andelena will see that the sling that Zeke holds is actually sewn into the outfit, an extra, subtle layer of black cloth that buttons beneath the cloak with brass buttons, holding it in place unobtrusively.
Zeke takes a few extra moments to adjust the sling after helping Dolan into the thing. It's a very neat affair, and when they're done it looks very practical and fashionable. A flick of a claw sends the cloak over the whole thing and then Zeke nods in approval. "Thisss one would like to remind you Andelena, that Dolan isss sstill recovering. He iss being releassed today, but... He sshould not lift more than ten poundsss, and ssshould not take the sssling off. You are hisss extra handsss, hisss defender againssst thosse well-meaning friendsss who might try to hug him."
Zeke shudders lightly here in memory, and looks at the woman he's speaking to. "He can take the sssling off after the wedding, but ssshould not be expected to do any-thing ssstrenuouss for sssome time."
"Oh, trust me," Andelena says gently as she notices the shudder from Zeke. "I'm not letting anyone get their hands on him. For one thing, they're gonna have to pry me off him on account of how handsome he is." That's obviously a joke designed to make Dolan smile, but she is earnest about not letting people touch him. "And I won't let him lift anything heavy. Thank gods our cats aren't little balls of fat or that might be a problem, Bry." Yet.
She looks at the sling as it's put in place admiringly. "That looks great, too. Between me and the sling, I'm gonna make sure you have a good time, Bry, okay? You deserve a great time to celebrate being released."
The joke works, and most of Dolan's smile returns, even accompanied by an affectionate laugh. "Going anywhere with you is a great time, Andie." The smile in the brown eyes could light the sun as he looks at her, and not a shred of resentment colors his next words. "Besides, you look so damned good I doubt anyone'll notice me anyway. I'm still working up to that, baby. I've got the brace if I have to, and I can wield His blade, but the rest of it's still off the table." He grimaces again, and slides a hand inside the sling to rub carefully at the shoulder joint again.
"Speaking of weddings, though-" He turns to Zeke, and takes a step closer to Andelena. "I wanted to ask you something. You've done so much for the both of us. Would you be willing to officiate ours, when we get to it?" Zeke will know that they are intending a full formal ceremony in the Myrrish style.
It's Zeke's turn to look stunned and flabbergasted. Blinking his tail shifts rapidly from one side to the other, belaying his joy at their request. "Thissss one would be honored." He says simply, bowing his head to the pair and then looks at them. "Thisss one might regret that we met the way that we did, but thisss one isss not regretful that we met. It hasss been thisss onesss pleasssure to know you both. It will be a pleasssure to join you in union." As a priest the rites for marriage are a thing he has long ago memorized, but he will have to read them again to be certain that it is perfect. They deserve nothing less than that.
Andelena grins at Zeke's reaction, and she wraps an arm around Dolan, because she did, after all, promise she wasn't going to take her hands off him. "You mean a lot to the both of us, Zeke," she says. "And who else would we have gotten to do it anyway? There's nobody more qualified than you in our eyes."
Then it's her turn to look sheepish. "Besides. The wedding rites? Yeah, we're gonna need some help. Or I'm gonna need some help, at least. I've gotten better but we're definitely going to need a rehearsal."
Dolan similarly grins at Zeke's reaction, and snakes his own arm around Andelena's waist, sliding it gently across her hips - maybe just a little naughtily. Is he looking at her? Nope. His face and attention are fully turned towards Zeke. "I haven't got them all myself, though I'll bet Zeke does." There's that cheeky grin again, and for the moment, all the issues seem to have been forgotten. "It's what she said. Dunno that I'd want anybody else. It just seems fitting, yeah?"
He finally turns his full face towards Andelena, then, and turns that grin on her. "We'll get it right, baby."
Zeke nods affirmative. "Thisss one remembersss the wedding ritesss. Thisss one will read them again to be scertain they are perfect, and will aid you both in remembering them." Here he offers another few swishes of his tail. Pleased sith-makar is pleased. "Thisss one knowsss a few tricksss that may be helpful in remembering them." He nods his head to them both again, touched that they would choose him. They might think that there is no other, but their request is a meaningful one to him.
There's a devilish grin on Andelena's face as she knows exactly where that arm's going. But she manages to keep her words to herself. For the moment. "We'll need your tricks," she says. "For now..."
She looks at Dolan, training that grin right on him. "Let's get you all ready to get out of here. I think we need to stop by the apartment first before we go to that ceremony. The kittens are dying to see you again." There might be more than kittens dying to see him again, too.
The wicked light gleams in Dolan's flesh-and-blood eye again, and brightens the mobile half of his face enough to cast light on the scarred half, despite the eerie expressionlessness of the golden-gem eye. "Baby, I think we'd better wait until after the wedding, or we might not make it." His remaining eyebrow waggles with good humor. "I'd hate to get all dressed up like this and then miss the wedding because we got distracted. Zeke, can we leave my bag somewhere until tomorrow?"
Zeke looks at the two people before him with a trace of amusement bordering on near-laughter. Dolan's question causes him to nod however and he picks up the bag in question. "Thisss one will keep it in thisss oness quartersss. You can pick it up there, or asssk for thisss one and it will be retrieved for you. Isss that acceptable?"
Andelena spends maybe a moment a little too long staring back at Dolan with that wicked and suggestive grin. There's not an ounce of fear in her face despite the expressionless eye and the scars on her face. Just as she promised before: she loves him as he is, and wants him as he is. "That's fine, Zeke," she says without turning to the Sunguard. "Bry's got one hell of a point as always."
"Now, afterwards-" Dolan leaves that one to hang as it will, grinning back up at the redhead. "I ever tell you how much I missed you when you weren't there?" The words are soft, but he turns then to Zeke. "It might be tomorrow before we get back here," he confesses. "The sildanyari are famous for partying long into the night. That okay? I think it'll all keep that long."
The bag is very light, almost nothing to carry, and relatively small for the amount of stuff he knows it to hold.
"It will be sssafe here, and in thisss onesss care until you return for it." Zeke reassures Dolan. "When-ever that might be." Zeke hefts the seemingly nearly empty bag and heads for the door. "We ssshould clear out of the room ssso that the guardsss may be relieved and the room cleaned."
"We both missed each other, babe," Andelena says, and she leans in to kiss Dolan on the cheek. She looks to Zeke and replies, "Yeah. Although I'm sure the guards will be sad to see the goodies left behind by our visitors going away. Pretty sure Auranar's pie was the only thing I heard them talk about for like, two days."
She looks to Bry again and smiles. "You ready to get on out of here?"
"On the other hand, that means I'll actually get some." Dolan brightens at the prospect, and nods to both Zeke and Andelena. "Let's go. You're going to have to get the doors, baby. Thank you so much, Zeke, for everything, but I think it's time you got some good sleep and time we got going. We'll both be around the temple, plenty. They're not done with me yet. I'm still hoping to be able to manage the greatsword by the time I am done."
He grins up at Andie one last time, then back at Zeke. "Let's go."
Zeke heads out of the room with that, leading the pair past the guards and into the hall beyond. He nods to the guards who fall in behind, leaving the room unguarded for the first time since Dolan's arrival nearly a month gone by. It has been a long and difficult thing, but Dolan is now recovered enough to be out of here once more. He can walk on his own two feet and defend himself with his sword. Zeke realizes with abruptness that he will miss the other man, and Andelena as well. He says nothing about it however, but it's strange since he doen't usually attach so easily to his patients. The pair however had proven themselves to be kind, strong, and worthy of his attachment.
Zeke leads the way out of the hall and out into the light of the temple. For a moment he looks back, looking at the pair and the light creates a shadow between them. As if a third person was there, created by the light that envelops the pair as they head toward the wedding. Zeke lets them out into the day and remains behind as they walk out of the temple. "Blesssingsss of the Dragonfather upon you."