Arden [Riku Replica] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
boundbynaught) wrote2020-09-30 11:05 pm
boundbynaught) wrote2020-09-30 11:05 pm
Tale As Old As Time (Pre-Endgame)
Who: Naminé + Arden, Wedding Party, and Guests!
Where: TBD
When: July TBD
Format: Action
Open/Closed Open
Summary: Naminé and Arden finally get married &heart;
---
EARLIER THAT MORNING
The Bride-To-Be’s Pre-Wedding Thoughts
The Groom-To-Be’s Pre-Wedding Thoughts
Meanwhile their friends were getting the Farm ready for the Ceremony. At first, all Arden could think to suggest would have been the Tree, but with that gone, he’d been a little lost in suggesting a venue. When Machina suggested the Farm, it was a welcome relief to have any place at all; the beach had been nice for weddings, but it felt a little too personal to Aqua now. So having a space to make their own memories together was great.
-------------------------------------------------------------
CEREMONY
Arden kept telling himself that this was just like the other weddings he’d been to. He knew what to expect, right? A lot of waiting around for his turn, not unlike getting knighted. The difference, he finally realized, was that when he’d been outside of the bridal party - let alone the groom - he’d always had an opportunity to shake free his nervous energy. He was made to move around, after all. Meditation was all well and good but with this many people around? His training hadn’t prepared him for this.
He was just grateful that he liked his outfit for today as much as he liked his only other formal outfit, which he’d refused to wear on principal; he wanted a new, special outfit to celebrate the day too. So this one had grey lining and silver accents, which he chose and suited him well.
After all, he wanted to look as different as he felt - like he belonged in Empatheias, like this was home, and where he wanted to remain for the rest of his days - with Naminé.
It isn’t long until the music begins to play, and everyone rises to their feet. The barn doors open, and Naminé stands in her gown with the bouquet in her hands. She smiles, trying to keep her head up as she walks. It’s hard not to be shy with so many people staring, so she keeps her attention on Arden. Suddenly she doesn’t feel nervous anymore.
As she approaches the makeshift altar, she smiles at her bridesmaids. They’ve been so helpful in so many ways, but having them here makes her so happy. She then looks back to Arden and stands beside him.
It’s not dunamis or any other kind of magic that makes Arden notice Naminé’s telltale shyness, and feel a bit of it on her behalf now too. When she finally gets close enough to hear him, his first words are, “It’s okay.” But he says it with a reassuring smile back. Then, he takes her arm in his and whispers again. “You’re amazing.” Just enough to try and bolster her nerves; it helped keep his own at bay too, focusing on her.
Naminé smiles back at him with a nod. Then she looks to Auron with her arm around Arden’s. They’re ready.
~~~~
Auron had had the pleasure of officiating a few weddings during his time here. He’d originally done it because someone wanted him to do the honors. It wasn’t too far from his old life in being a monk. Although priests usually did the ceremonies, monks certainly could in some circumstances.
It tickled him a little that somehow he got more practice doing that here than he ever did in Spira. But he’s as ready as the pair in front of him. He dressed for the occasion, wearing an oceanic blue robe decorated with Spiran symbols of all the Aeons on the sleeves. He’s also got shades to match.
“I’m glad you’re both here. Because it means you’ve thought long and hard about what this means. There’s nothing wrong in living a good life on your own, but sometimes we get lucky and we meet someone that we can’t find ourselves without.
“Making this choice isn’t easy. Because what you’re both doing is setting aside the self for the good of the team that both of you make. There’s a sacrifice involved, but if you’re standing here, hand in hand, then you’ve decided that what you’re about to gain is worth so much more than anything you could give up.
“If you feel like you both love each other, respect each other, delight in each other’s humor, weathering bad times and being an anchor when one of you needs to cling to something. If you can’t conceive of not living with the person you love the most without taking this step, if you promise to treasure each other and never lose sight of this moment of promise, then step forward.
“Show everybody what it means to make this vow.”
~~~~
Arden manages to get through a few sentences typical of marriage vows, stuff he looked up in books or was given advice to include, before he finds his own voice again. “I promise to always respect you as your own person. I want you to know that you can always ask me for help, but that I will never force you to let me do something for you, even if it’s a challenge for both of us. I promise to keep growing - so if I make a mistake, please tell me, and I promise to listen. I promise lots of good meals for the two of us when you’re feeling a little…” He scans the room with a bright smirk. “Overwhelmed by a busy day.” Then back to her. “But I also promise to encourage you to hang out with our friends when you’re up for it. I’ll bring the snacks.”
Hopefully Naminé got a bit of amusement out of that? At least a few people in the crowd did. His heart was so full to bursting, he had to break the heavy mood just a little bit.
“These are my promises to you, Naminé.”
His words go straight to her heart, and it takes her a great deal of effort not to cry tears of joy. There would be time for that later; for now, it’s her turn. She takes a deep breath and smiles at him. “Arden,” She starts, “I promise to spend our days together whether they be good or bad. With you, they’ll always be better. I will be there to support you too when you need me, though I know how tough you are.”
She giggles then continues. “I promise you my honesty. My love. Everything I can give to you, and of course, still stay myself. Together, our future will be bright. ” Her smile grows. “That’s what I promise to you.”
-------------------------------------------------------------
RECEPTION
Following the Ceremony at the Farm, everyone is given an hour to get to the Reception area - and change if they need to, like Naminé will have to. The Reception will take place inside of the Sweetie Pies Bakery and spill out into the street as well. That’s where the tables and chairs are set up all around, and where music can be heard as everyone enjoys the party. The Bridal Table is nearest to the Bakery’s entrance, which has the food set up inside and out of the sun.
FIRST DANCE
As soon as the waltz started, Arden’s ears perked up from his place at the Bridal Table and he smiled over at Naminé, then stood up and offered her his hand to lead her out onto the Dance Floor. He’d been practicing; if he was going to lead her through their First Dance together as a couple, he wanted to get it right.
It felt different than the Ceremony itself; they’d been looking at each other for the most part there. Now, he could see people out of the corner of his eye every time they turned a bit.
He’s quiet as he thinks of what to say, but he can only summon a few words. The emotions are finally getting to him. “Just like our first date.”
Naminé lets out a small laugh and smiles at him. “At least we’ve gotten better,” She says softly. Despite there being so many people, she doesn’t feel nervous. This is a safe place for her, surrounded by people who loved her and in the arms of her husband.
Oh. Her husband. She can feel heart flutter and butterflies begin to fly around them. That’s going to take a little getting used to in the best way.
With another smile, she leans forward and rests her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Arden,” She whispers in his ear.
That breaks him, the feelings overflowing into his eyes as he blinks back tears and focuses on her face and her smile and her words. “I’ll never get tired of hearing those words,” he says just barely making it past a cracking voice. “I love you too, Naminé.”
It’s another several seconds before he remembers he should gesture for others to join them on the dance floor, allowing the bridal couple to dance with friends as well - to share the happy night.
| Naminé's Bridesmaids (yellow dresses of their choice) | Arden's Groomsmen (fine attire in gold/black complements) | Officiant: Auron |
| Kairi (Maid of Honor) Usagi Aqua Xion Marinette |
Sora (Best Man) Izana Lea Snow Roxas |
Where: TBD
When: July TBD
Format: Action
Open/Closed Open
Summary: Naminé and Arden finally get married &heart;
---
EARLIER THAT MORNING
The Bride-To-Be’s Pre-Wedding Thoughts
[ No amount of prepping for this day would settle Naminé’s feelings. Anxious, excitement, happiness… there’s so much in this girl who used to lack a heart. It’s funny looking back on it all. She used to be such an empty person; someone who was too afraid to stand up for herself. But now… she’s a brave young adult. And she’s getting married.
This is also a relationship that should’ve never been. Their rough beginning was one thing, but these were two people who were never meant to exist. They were only brought into their world to be used as tools. But after many sacrifices, talks, learning, and love… they had both come into their own. And they had come together.
Naminé couldn’t be happier honestly. The wedding doesn’t feel real yet as she stands in front of her mirror in her wedding dress. She takes a deep breath in before putting her hand over her rapidly beating heart to calm it.
She’s brave. She’s loved. She’s ready. It’s time. ]
The Groom-To-Be’s Pre-Wedding Thoughts
[ Maybe it was because Arden was the one who proposed, the one who muddled through those plans for weeks on end and dredged up his anxieties to address them before he even started that planning… he was naively calm that morning. It was almost like planning for someone else’s wedding as part of his responsibilities for the Bakery, just making sure he arrived on time and properly dressed. It was a rather out-of-body experience for him.
It wasn’t until he stared at himself in the mirror that the first wave of feelings started to wash over him. He blamed Aiada and the situation with their crystals and everything else, because he’d gotten so much better at managing his moments of ennui until all that went down. Then he started to get a bit sad, the room around him empty and that space reflected in the mirror. He was going to have so many names written on that Memorial Wall at the reception… including the one he used to call his own, the one who knighted him, his mentors…
He tugged at the long sleeves until it revealed his elastic band for his hair, then pulled it back to complete the Arden look that distinguished him a bit more from, mainly, his mental image of himself as he’d arrived in Verens - the neurotic mess, the boy ripped apart in heart and mind.
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips at that, before he finally was able to shake those thoughts out of his head. That’s how far I’ve come - how far we’ve come, together. She was a large part of that process, after all. He’s not sure he would’ve turned out the same way if not for her partnership. Being around her gave him the kind of peace of mind he could only get from meditation for a long, long time. That rather reassured him as he prepared to leave, fully dressed. ]
From now on… we’ll get to be there for each other even more.
[ It was like when he’d been promoted to Manager. The responsibility unnerved him at first, but he felt so proud that someone trusted him that much. Today, he was getting promoted from Boyfriend to Husband. ]
Meanwhile their friends were getting the Farm ready for the Ceremony. At first, all Arden could think to suggest would have been the Tree, but with that gone, he’d been a little lost in suggesting a venue. When Machina suggested the Farm, it was a welcome relief to have any place at all; the beach had been nice for weddings, but it felt a little too personal to Aqua now. So having a space to make their own memories together was great.
CEREMONY
Arden kept telling himself that this was just like the other weddings he’d been to. He knew what to expect, right? A lot of waiting around for his turn, not unlike getting knighted. The difference, he finally realized, was that when he’d been outside of the bridal party - let alone the groom - he’d always had an opportunity to shake free his nervous energy. He was made to move around, after all. Meditation was all well and good but with this many people around? His training hadn’t prepared him for this.
He was just grateful that he liked his outfit for today as much as he liked his only other formal outfit, which he’d refused to wear on principal; he wanted a new, special outfit to celebrate the day too. So this one had grey lining and silver accents, which he chose and suited him well.
After all, he wanted to look as different as he felt - like he belonged in Empatheias, like this was home, and where he wanted to remain for the rest of his days - with Naminé.
It isn’t long until the music begins to play, and everyone rises to their feet. The barn doors open, and Naminé stands in her gown with the bouquet in her hands. She smiles, trying to keep her head up as she walks. It’s hard not to be shy with so many people staring, so she keeps her attention on Arden. Suddenly she doesn’t feel nervous anymore.
As she approaches the makeshift altar, she smiles at her bridesmaids. They’ve been so helpful in so many ways, but having them here makes her so happy. She then looks back to Arden and stands beside him.
It’s not dunamis or any other kind of magic that makes Arden notice Naminé’s telltale shyness, and feel a bit of it on her behalf now too. When she finally gets close enough to hear him, his first words are, “It’s okay.” But he says it with a reassuring smile back. Then, he takes her arm in his and whispers again. “You’re amazing.” Just enough to try and bolster her nerves; it helped keep his own at bay too, focusing on her.
Naminé smiles back at him with a nod. Then she looks to Auron with her arm around Arden’s. They’re ready.
~~~~
Auron had had the pleasure of officiating a few weddings during his time here. He’d originally done it because someone wanted him to do the honors. It wasn’t too far from his old life in being a monk. Although priests usually did the ceremonies, monks certainly could in some circumstances.
It tickled him a little that somehow he got more practice doing that here than he ever did in Spira. But he’s as ready as the pair in front of him. He dressed for the occasion, wearing an oceanic blue robe decorated with Spiran symbols of all the Aeons on the sleeves. He’s also got shades to match.
“I’m glad you’re both here. Because it means you’ve thought long and hard about what this means. There’s nothing wrong in living a good life on your own, but sometimes we get lucky and we meet someone that we can’t find ourselves without.
“Making this choice isn’t easy. Because what you’re both doing is setting aside the self for the good of the team that both of you make. There’s a sacrifice involved, but if you’re standing here, hand in hand, then you’ve decided that what you’re about to gain is worth so much more than anything you could give up.
“If you feel like you both love each other, respect each other, delight in each other’s humor, weathering bad times and being an anchor when one of you needs to cling to something. If you can’t conceive of not living with the person you love the most without taking this step, if you promise to treasure each other and never lose sight of this moment of promise, then step forward.
“Show everybody what it means to make this vow.”
~~~~
Arden manages to get through a few sentences typical of marriage vows, stuff he looked up in books or was given advice to include, before he finds his own voice again. “I promise to always respect you as your own person. I want you to know that you can always ask me for help, but that I will never force you to let me do something for you, even if it’s a challenge for both of us. I promise to keep growing - so if I make a mistake, please tell me, and I promise to listen. I promise lots of good meals for the two of us when you’re feeling a little…” He scans the room with a bright smirk. “Overwhelmed by a busy day.” Then back to her. “But I also promise to encourage you to hang out with our friends when you’re up for it. I’ll bring the snacks.”
Hopefully Naminé got a bit of amusement out of that? At least a few people in the crowd did. His heart was so full to bursting, he had to break the heavy mood just a little bit.
“These are my promises to you, Naminé.”
His words go straight to her heart, and it takes her a great deal of effort not to cry tears of joy. There would be time for that later; for now, it’s her turn. She takes a deep breath and smiles at him. “Arden,” She starts, “I promise to spend our days together whether they be good or bad. With you, they’ll always be better. I will be there to support you too when you need me, though I know how tough you are.”
She giggles then continues. “I promise you my honesty. My love. Everything I can give to you, and of course, still stay myself. Together, our future will be bright. ” Her smile grows. “That’s what I promise to you.”
RECEPTION
Following the Ceremony at the Farm, everyone is given an hour to get to the Reception area - and change if they need to, like Naminé will have to. The Reception will take place inside of the Sweetie Pies Bakery and spill out into the street as well. That’s where the tables and chairs are set up all around, and where music can be heard as everyone enjoys the party. The Bridal Table is nearest to the Bakery’s entrance, which has the food set up inside and out of the sun.
FIRST DANCE
As soon as the waltz started, Arden’s ears perked up from his place at the Bridal Table and he smiled over at Naminé, then stood up and offered her his hand to lead her out onto the Dance Floor. He’d been practicing; if he was going to lead her through their First Dance together as a couple, he wanted to get it right.
It felt different than the Ceremony itself; they’d been looking at each other for the most part there. Now, he could see people out of the corner of his eye every time they turned a bit.
He’s quiet as he thinks of what to say, but he can only summon a few words. The emotions are finally getting to him. “Just like our first date.”
Naminé lets out a small laugh and smiles at him. “At least we’ve gotten better,” She says softly. Despite there being so many people, she doesn’t feel nervous. This is a safe place for her, surrounded by people who loved her and in the arms of her husband.
Oh. Her husband. She can feel heart flutter and butterflies begin to fly around them. That’s going to take a little getting used to in the best way.
With another smile, she leans forward and rests her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Arden,” She whispers in his ear.
That breaks him, the feelings overflowing into his eyes as he blinks back tears and focuses on her face and her smile and her words. “I’ll never get tired of hearing those words,” he says just barely making it past a cracking voice. “I love you too, Naminé.”
It’s another several seconds before he remembers he should gesture for others to join them on the dance floor, allowing the bridal couple to dance with friends as well - to share the happy night.
Pre-Wedding: Prepping the Ceremony Location
Naminé had an idea of what she wanted as a theme: the sky. With that in mind, she let Usagi take it in the direction she felt best with some input to help. Blue and white decorations, fluffy fake clouds hanging around, and glittering lights that would catch the sun. The idea came from something Kairi said once: “One sky; One Destiny.” Maybe all their friends weren’t there, but at least this way, they’d all be together in a small way.