NationStates Jolt Archive

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"In order to for a most perfect union" Dominiques smile was brilliant. "My love and I have decided to wed. We are better, happier, stronger, together than apart.“ Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dominique Evanagline Alexandra Ryder (http://www.atddm.com/dear.htm) announced today to the Phoenix Empire of Tanara and the rest of the universe at large.

“And as it has been said that “Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash.” There for nothing makes me happier than to announce that I have decided that the one best suited is some one for whom doing that is second nature” Dominique's smile widened if that was possible as she gazed into the holocamera at the billions watching the holocast of her latest announcement, that of her impending wedding.
“Trevor Desorté and I will be married in a small ceremony. However as I know so many would wish to celebrate with us, it will be holovised though out the empire. Please wish us well, and rejoice with us as we celebrate our union."

That announcement had been mde just over a year ago – it had taken that long to pull the event together.

http://www.atddm.com/tfenix1.jpg & http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/Bazalonia/the_garbage_men.jpg

The Phoenix Empire of Tanara is proud to announce the celebrations of the nupials of her Imperial Majesty Empress Dominique Evanagline Alexandra Ryder and the honourable Mister Trevor Desorté, C.E.O. and Owner of The Garbage Men.

The invitations have been sent and those invited are free to have arrived and settled into the suites reserved for them
Please read this (http://jkayjax.googlepages.com/novaterranis) for some background infromation.

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The palace's myriad servants went quietly and efficiently about their duties. Which, at this point, primarily consisted of making sure that the wedding guests's baggage and personal servants got to the proper suites and were unpacked. And that the guests made comfortable, while seeing to any special needs or desires of the honored personages.

The wedding guests would find that each of their suites had been decorated with them in mind, using the most up to date information available concerning the tastes of each individual. The suites were very spacious, and were comprised of a large, graciously styled reception area, adjoined by a small but elegantly appointed dining room that opened on to it's own balcony for private, alfresco dining. A compact, well stocked kitchen and butler’s pantry opened off of the dining room. The reception room had it's own balcony and by artful use of retractable draperies could be airily large or cozily intimate. One or two sumptuously furnished bedrooms -each with their own master baths and complete with walk in closets and dressing rooms - had sitting nooks warmed by marble mantled fireplaces. No amenity or technological comfort had been over looked.

Bodyguards and personal servants would be housed in large comfortable bedrooms that discretely lay between suites, and had concealed access to 'their' personage's suites.

Each suite had a buttler - the Palace's master C.S.'s.- who's attention could be summoned by merely speaking his name - Porthos (http://www.atddm.com/porthos.gif) -aloud. Small handbooks detailing all the festivities and amenities had been included in the welcoming gifts. Fruits, beverages, flowers, and small pieces of jewelry ornamented with the glittering precious stones found no where but in the Empire were waiting for the arriving guests.

Foremost among the gifts were hand bound journals, their covers inlaid with Dominique’s personal crest intertwined with Trevor’s and bejeweled pen sets (http://www.atddm.com/tpen.jpg) .Heavy silk paper waited for ink, the musings or notes of the guests should they so choose. Old fashioned in the extreme, yes, but the gift had been made so that far more than any holocording, or vidoegraph, those taking part in this momentous occasion would have a very tangible reminder.

Trevor Desorté (www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=Trevor_Desorté) was in one of the back rooms getting ready for such a big and momentous day for anyone and one that would alter his future in the best possible way. He was looking at himself in a large full length mirror, a simple but elegant black suit with white shirt. He was checking on his solid, but subdued, in colour gray-green tie.

He smiled to himself as he had finished his own fussing with his clothes, to look around the room. There were two other people there, John, who was an employee, and just happened to be the best man, and Trevor's Personal Assistant who had been so instrumental in the organisation of this affair, particularly on The Garbage Men side. Trevor had involved himself as much as possible in the affair, the bejeweled pen set was an elegant choice and fitted right into his own personal style.

"So... I'm ready." he finally spoke turning around to John and Joan "I can't believe it's finally here." he smiled "Oh.. and I just know by the end of the night my smiling muscles are going to be sore as."

John sort of laughed, "It was quite a surprise to us too, it was quite a short courtship."

"She is quite a remarkable and singular woman, no one else knows me like she does... not even you Joan." Trevor commented "This is going to be a long... but great day."

"That's true... I don't think there has been a joining of two national leaders that hasn't affected those nations before, both Dominique and Trevor will be continuing their 'day jobs' after all." Joan commented as the room fell silent.

"Porthos... How are things going? How long till I should be out there?" Trevor asked calling on Porthos, the 'man' that knew everything that was going on inside the Imperial Palace.

**Meanwhile**

The various members of The Garbage Men board and other high level people in the corporation made it to there suites.

"Gah, I don't see why he had to pick THAT as his Best Man." Robert Jones, the Chief Marketing Officer of The Garbage Men quipped before making his way to the small bar and getting himself some Raspberry Schnapps. He downed the shot quite quickly.

"This is a personal... private thing. It's Trevor's decision, you don't want it to be too much of a corporate thing it might put the wrong message out." Lander Reagon, The Chief Information officer retorted

"You mean that he's the CEO of a large corporation and should have a fellow board member as his best man." scoffed Robert making a weird face as if he tasted something he hated.

"No, that this is not a joining of Tanara and The Garbage Men as entities, but is a personal union. Shut up and quit your moaning just because you weren't asked to be the Best Man."

If there were ever a couple that just had that natural ability to glide into a room and cause heads to turn, Empress Aeris Greenwood of Tarlachia and her husband Archon Robert Fortier-Hexx of Tanaara, were that very couple. The Archon moved with a masculine grace, smooth, yet purposeful, and his wife seemed to float next to him.

The doors, opened by Porthos, slid aside in a near silent hiss and they let their eyes wander over the suite arranged just for them. In here however, there were no others to turn and look upon the newcomers, and they were quite content with that. Following the two of them were three assistants, two of whom were elven kin to Aeris and whose primary duties were tending to the care of the couple's two infant children. The third assistant was more of a secretary and errand runner.

They greeted Porthos quietly, an entity they had met before, and entered their room. Off in another room connected to the main room was the room reserved for the two infants. Here, matching cribs had been placed, and nearby were two adult sized beds. The elven mistresses would sleep here, within a few paces of the two children. The third assistant, a Tanaaran by birth, would reside in a separate room near the main doors, where he could come and go without much disturbance and tend to matters at hand should either Rob or Aeris be inaccessible together or separately. Security personnel, they had decided were unnecessary, and besides, Tanaran officials would not cut any corners anyway. If any got past them, though highly unlikely, they would face the combined fury of Aeris and Rob. They would not get past those two for sure.

Following the elven women into the baby room, as it were dubbed, Aeris watched as they set the children down in their beds without disrupting their sleep. Aeris sensed Rob next to her a moment later, and she leaned back into him and whispered. "They're beautiful." She lingered a moment longer, then turned and pushed her husband back gently with a hand on his chest. "Come, we should get ready."

Trailing that hand along his chest, she tugged gently at the hem of his shirt, pulling him along with her toward the bathroom. She turned to him and removed his shirt and pants without any shame in her composure. A moment later, the shower turned on and she returned to kiss him again. As this was done, Rob was suddenly pushed backward into the shower by himself. Aeris grinned mischievously at him from the doorway.

"Get washed, smelly man. I'll find you a suitable outfit."

Rob's protesting short laugh was his only response.

Archon Robert Ryan Fortier ~ Hexx (http://www.atddm.com/prr2a.jpg) of the Domination of Tanaara, daughter nation to the Phoenix Empire of Tanara turned away and let the shower 's steaming spray soak him through before lathering up. He really wan't stinky, and his long time valet had most certainly included a wide variety of suitable clothes.

But he wasn't going to disagree or dispute his wife's orders - they got too little time to spend together - as busy, hands on rulers of two allied, but very independant, nations they could give Dominique and Trevor words of wisdom on how to make such a marriage work.

He soaked a moment longer, enjoying the hot water and smiling over the memory of her asleep in his arms last night. They'd get five or so days together a rarity for them. Then he briskly soaped up, sluiced off, toweled off and strode out of the massive bathroom wrapped snugly in the dark blue robe that had been waiting for him.

Twenty minutes after that he was looking at Aeris "How do I look"

"Hair is still a bit..." She smiled and ran her brush through his hair taming the last unruly locks in to smoothness. "Now go sit, read your proposal dossier while I get ready." She commanded after he claimed a kiss from her soft lips

He just smiled as he watched her head into the dressing room. He looked forward to seeing what new confection she would wear for the wedding. With a goblet of with a goblet of fine crystal and a decanter of Tanarans best red Fenngard's Stellar Falls winerie's Grand Reserve Heart of the Ruby, in hand he wanded over to a chair and sat, savoring the wine. It had come from Pinot Noir grapes brought with the first Tanarans over seventeen hundred years ago...the wine had been aged for a full twenty years, and had won, again and again the 'Best in the Empire' over coming some five thousand other entrants. As one of the leading wine experts had put it "the most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic"..the wine when drunk could only be described as superb, ripe black cherry and smoky-spicy oak notes; juicy berry flavors, excellent balance and finish... Oh yes definitely a wine for the night.

Dominique looked over the heavily embroidered and beaded gold tissue gown and ivory over robe (http://www.antiquedress.com/item4653.htm) that she would wear this evening, her lips soft with a pleased smile. Tanaran tradition had never fallen to white gowns, and as a more mature woman, she felt no need to try and proclaim any particular 'status'. Besides this outfit looked stunning on her and that mattered more to her. She wanted to look beautiful for Trevor.

While while her ladys maid ran a brush though her long strawberry blonde tresses, and when finished, ran a square of silk over them as a final lusturous polish she sat quitely, thinging of the evening to come. Then she turned to her make up which was minimal, and accentuated her vibrant blue violet eyes. They were easily her best feature and tonight they held a special glow.

How ever before she got too far along one of her ladies in waiting brought her a small tray, with a snack, for it would be several hours before the wedding reception, and any chance for Dominique to eat.

She checked to make sure a light meal was being sent to Trevor as well, she didn't want him going hungry. His food allergy was by now well know to the palace staff, and thus nothing with onions or garlic in the recepie would be sent up to his room.

Dominique looked down from her suite at the gardens that surrounded the Crystal Hall, pleased that the Phoenix roses were in bloom, and that their subtle scent would perfume the night's air as she and Trevor exchanged their vows before those who had come to witness their union.

The co rulers of the Celestial Imperia (http://www.atddm.com/realindigo.jpg) of Nova Nippon, her Imperial Majesty the Empress Indigo and her twin sister her Imperial Majesty the Empress Aiko sat in relaxed fashion sipping tea and listening to the myriad amusing tidbits of 'informal information' - gossip in any one but a diplomats parlance - their Ambassadress to the Phoenix Empire had collected since they last visited.
They had arrived the day before aboard their mothers personal warship, the Kuro Kaze and had spent the day renewing their friendship with Sominique. Now the small group, all in exquisite formal kimonos, waited for the proper time to leave for the Cella Aurius. The Cella Aurius, the Golden Room, was the largest single room of vast, sprawling Imperial Palace.

Empress Aiko wore seven layers of kimonos ending in an outer kimono (http://www.vintagekimono.com/images/k15lg.jpg) of deepest Imperial highlighted with embroidered fans, waves and flowers in shades of tangerine, bronze, pumpkin, mint, gold and amber.

In stunning cobalt silk (http://www.vintagekimono.com/images/k05lg.jpg) with peacocks done in silver and gold embroidery over layers of cream, salmon and royal purple under kimonos Empress Indigo looked every bit as elegant as her sister, as she took a sip of the fragrant jasmine tea and laughed lightly at the lastest tidbit. It pleased Aiko to her her sister laugh, she had been far too sad and withdrawn in the aftermath of Gerraks leaving.

The two young Empresses were pleased with their representatives. The Kitusne's were proving to be inspired choices. The Celestial Imperia hadn't sent out ambassadors for over three thousand years and there had been some private worries about asking any Kitsune to leave the Imperia, but the honouable Lady Kaminari and her husbands were fitting in perfectly.

Her Ladyship, the Ambassadress and her two husbands,- Lady Kaminari Kitirchiba noh Yamato, and her husbands, Lord Hiko-nagisa-ta u-gaya-fuki-ahezu noh Mikoto, and Lord Kamu-Yamato-Ihare-Biko,were clad in variations of ancient formal dress (http://www.atddm.com/kittrio.jpg). All three of the Novan Kitsune (http://www.atddm.com/kitsune3.jpg) were firmly in 'human' appearance.

Lady Kaminari was in a resplendent heavy silk kimono bearing a phoenix peacock and bound with an emerald green obi decorated with gold fans. Lord Biko, the younger of the two make Kitsune wore Kamishimo, the most formal of mens styles. The Katagina, a 'winged' overmantle, and hakima were in matching shimmering indigo grey, while the kimono was stark black. His katana's bronze and verdigris sheath contrasted nicely. The back of the Katagina bore embroidery of a tiger. Her senior husband, Lord noh Mikoto, wore a formal court kimono of iridescent black violet over a brocaded hakima whose colors complimented his Lady wife’s kimono.

Talon (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shadowwarshipak2.jpg) lazily pulled into orbit, sending forth the proper transponder codes to allow it admission.
Morga grumbled as the descent began-Talon had manifested outside the system, as the Edict declared using more primitive traverse made in-system dull.
Upon landing, he showered and dressed appropriately for the nuptual ceremonies of the Young Races. Naturally, the request of the Empress was to be followed-a hefty donation to the orphanages of the League of non-Aligned Worlds, made in the names of the happy couple-but the Voivode considered marriage too sacred a matter for such niceties, and included a pair of Marriage Crowns, forged in the Castle of Lead. Although styled in a manner the Young Races would find pleasing, they permitted a psychic link between wearers-trolls often finding arguments could be avoided by seeing how the other party thinks.
He would never explain the crowns, nor their functions-that would be rude, and predators are always polite.
As he donned the bracers that marked him a servitor, loaded with the alchemicals that would serve a variety of purposes, he noted the Kuro Kaze in orbit.
As he prepared for the necklace that would tie him into the planet's communications, he pulled a small box from his private coffer-a simple psi-crystal, a gift from the Sultan to whom he was sworn to be delivered. He should have known-Muritan had bade him bear it here, and that one only answered to Annilla.
He donned and tested his gear-the small pistol that marked him Baron, the gems that contained force field generators, the protective earrings that would prevent sonic/vibratory attacks without interrupting his hearing-an assortment of weaponry, some to be found, others to not--trolls regarding these events with suspicion.
The presence of the Kuro Kaze disturbed him-he would see Gerrak's gift to his heartwife, would have even had they not been present, but this would be awkward.
Why did the Ordo Drakul always fall back on the Ordo Annilla for these things?

Boutrous, Bromus, Falsus and Ver appeared inside of the Greeting Chamber, each uncharacteristically dressed in a tuxedo. It was unusual to see Borg drones wearing any clothing beyond their standard implants, yet each of these did. Looking at them, it was easy to tell that Boutrous once was a Bajoran, Bromus a Klingon, Falsus a human and Ver a Cardassian, but it was equally obvious that not only did these beings of tremendously different origins work together, but they were fast friends.

Falsus was the most unusual of them. Both of his eyes and both of his hands were mechanical--and he made no attempt to hide this fact. Both of his hands had six fingers--the right one, two thumbs and the left one six extensible digits mounted on a tubular frame. He was also short to the point where the others almost dwarfed him. Yet, there was a grace to his movements that made him as respectable in his shortness of stature as his compatriots were in their tallness.

Having given the chamber a perfunctory examination, Falsus raised his right hand, palm up, and the four of them nodded in unison. As they did, Hugh of Borg, the leader of their nation, appeared behind his four High Council Members. He, too, was dressed in the highest of formality, right down to the high sheen of his well-polished shoes. Atop a red velvet pillow that he held was a present for the newlyweds: a small, highly polished ring of silvery metal. It was no ornament, however--rather, it was a data ring. It held the New Borg Cultural Database--everything that the New Borg knew about the culture and rituals of every species that they and their predecessors had ever come in contact with.

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In the kitchen, there was screaming--but it was not any member of the kitchen staff that was making the noise, rather, it was the wedding's latest arrival. Dressed in blue trunks, a leather harness and not much else, he had come in through a magic portal...and landed, tail-end first, right on a hot cooking stove. As if to complicate matters, the shock of the landing had caused him to loose a powerful flatulence just as he came down--which had immediately ignited, adding to his misery.

He was about six feet three inches tall, quite muscular, and basically humanoid, though he had wings and a long, barbed, spaded tail. His skin was a dark, ruddy shade of red, and vestigial horns protruded from his forehead.

With a final frantic yelp, Marvel the Turned Demon brought his near-char-broiled backside to rest in a sink full of cold dishwater. His yelping changed to a sigh of utter relief as a cloud of steam...and perhaps something else along with it...rose from the sink and began to fill the room.

"Wow," he said at length, "I...I think I made it."

"Porthos... How are things going? How long till I should be out there?"

The Palaces C.S. appeared before Trevor and gave a small bow, his genial features alight with pleasure. "Just a bit longer, Master Trevior, they are lighting the last of the candles now."

The great dome of the Cella Aurius was to be lit with massed candles, over a thousand of them -their soft radiance to match the stars twinkling over head. The immense Eye to the Universe, the massive dome that capped the circular chamber, would be retracted, allowing the brilliant night sky - the vast starfield of the Celestial Ring and Midgard's three moons - to shine down upon the couple and those who had come to celebrate with them.

"And I must say the Crystal Hall looks spectacular" It had been decided to hold the reception there, with the wedding in the more spacious Cella Aurius. The vast Golden Room would allow all iof the guests an optimum view point with it's wide terraces ringing the elevated rotunda.

After the brief exchange of vows the newly weds would lead the way through the gardens to the glittering Crystal Hall and the all but night long festivities would begin. While many of those attending were personal friends of Trevor and Dominique, others where national leaders, or representatives of such, whom were sure to try and use the social occassion to make valuable contacts.

"Oh and the Borg have just arrived" They had been specifically invited by Trevor. The Phoenix Empire had no previous contact with them, but was always willing to make new friends.


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As the Borg arrived, so did Porthos, the Palaces designer and master C.S., with the Dowager Empress, Michiko Sierra Jones (http://www.atddm.com/michiko.jpg) but a second after him. She was Dominique’s roving Ambassador to the Universe, and Minister without Protfolio

Porthos’s holo gave a bow and greeted the Borg. "Greetings One and All. I am Porthos, and I welcome you to the wedding of Dominique and Trevor. Might I also introduce the Imperial Lady, Ambassadress Michiko, the Dowager Empress.”

Michiko gave a tiny, graceful courtesy and a broad, welcoming smile that showed her dimples as she greeted the five Borg. “Be welcome to the Phoenix Empire and welcome to the palace. This is Porthos, the one who keeps it all together” She extended her hand to Her deep ivory gown (http://www.atddm.com/wsgown.jpg) was set off spectacularly by the dashing ebony and gold (http://www.atddm.com/orobe1.jpg) of her over robe.

The Dowager Empress was a law unto herself when it came to fashion. She wore what caught her fancy, but again with as mixed as the Empire was, species wise, fashions raged from outrageous to nearly nothing - from fashions from every era of every culture to body paint, to skin, fur, feathers and scales.


In the Kitchens…

"I...I think I made it."

“But you know, you really should use a local Galactic Positioning tick “ Came a clear cool voice as a figure appeared, her hand up to forestall the kitchen help attacking the latestm and unexpected - at least in this locale - arrival. Her fingers moved in a graceful gesture and the stench vanished instantly – Arcana weaving about them -as did the demons ability to leave – until she so chose.

“Guests are supposed to arrive in the antechamber or upon the Imperial Landing Pad. Not nearly ruining the …”

“The authentic, from Terra, French Onion Soup, Lady Tanis” One of the chefs spoke up.

“I see” Tanis said severely giving Marvel a Look. Then she shook her head and her tail spiraled up as the barest of twinkles could be found in the brilliant gold of cat pupil eyes. Unlike his her tail did not have a spaded tip, and the color of her skin was a gold bronze, rahter than ruddy red. Her wings were of gleaming obsidian leather and if she had horns they were delicate enough to be hidden by a thick mane of deep ruby tresses that tumbled in a mass of waves to well below her knees. “Tanis Omega out of Peregrine by Abaddon” (http://www.atddm.com/Ishtar.gif) the half demon introduced herself.

“You are a friend of Trevor’s?” She knew all of those on Dominique’s guest list, and other than she and her siblings, it had no Demonics on it.

"Ummmm...just a moment," Marvel said, sliding down out of the sink. In a moment, he appeared to be dry and resplendently dressed in an opalescent white surcoat over a tapered white shirt and white bow tie, brown pants with an inlaid bronze print and...oversized combat boots. "Oops," he said as he looked down. He waved his hand. The boots disappeared and his black-nailed red toes poked out through easy-fitting sandals. "That's better." He looked up at his hostess.

"To be honest, I'm not sure who invited me. Just got this big thing in the Celestial Mail an' ol' Purple Pu--er--the Grand Wizard Yendor told me I'd better show up or else." As he spoke, he removed a rectangular strip of gold leaf with the word "INVITATION" etched into it from his coat. "And as for the soup, well, that was already taken care of before I got here. Someone should tell the chef that the cheese should be placed over the soup bowl just before the course is served." Having tucked the invitation back in his pocket, he waved one hand over the other and a perfect, fresh bowl of French Onion Soup seemed to appear in it. "Not boiled into the broth." He waved his hand again and the contents of the bowl changed to a similar mix, but with the cheese now incorporated into the broth--like what was being prepared. "I'm sure the chef is good at what he does, and a cheese broth has a wonderful flavor--but it's just not authentic that way." The illustration finished, the illusion of the soup vanished.

"Name's Marvel. Modified Red Gargoyle. Standard mammalian reproductive system--the kind that ain't standard on the species. Now, I can make the ladies' dreams come true without killing them in the process--and, if you don't mind my saying so, you look lovely this evening." He smiled a knowing smile and bowed curtly, never taking his eyes off of his hostess.

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OOC: The logic I used was, one group of characters for TGM and one for Tamara--though both should be directly familiar with Marvel. (He tries so hard to be suave and fails so miserably.) They don't know each other.

Yendor DID send him, BTW. The wiley old wizard was in a nasty mood, and no condition to attend a ceremony. Seems one of the apprentices, a 10-year-old prodigy, had popped out of the lab and demonstrated the latest spell that he had mastered--a bounceback spell, that returns whatever is cast upon its caster--just as Yendor was giving a local village girl a magical boob job (a wizard's gotta pay the bills somehow, and cosmetic surgery is lucrative stuff!). At the time the invitation arrived, the poor old wizard was wearing a D-cup. But don't worry, I'm sure that Yendor will get back to normal eventually.

As to Marvel's relationship to the bride and/or groom, I'll leave that one to you folks. :) :) :)

"Just a bit longer, Master Trevior, they are lighting the last of the candles now."

Trevor nodded "Thank you." he knew that any ceremony took time but now was the calm before the storm it was normal for anyone to be nervous. "It's finally happening..." he snorted a bit as if half laughing. "After so long it's really happening." He spoke as if he hardly believed it himself, that what people laughingly called a life would be joined with someone as great as Dominique.

"And I must say the Crystal Hall looks spectacular"

"Yes, I expect it's a sight to behold. I should thank both of you, I know how much I appreciate all the organising and work that has been put in for tonight. Thank you."

"Well, just promise me, you won't get married again. Organising marriage ceremonies is hell" Joan winked at Trevor

"Well, I wouldn't want to put my only PA through that... If you left I'd have to train a new one." Trevor laughed slightly nervously before taking a deep breath centring himself again.

"Oh and the Borg have just arrived"

"Ah, good. Thank you Porthos."

There wasn't much more to say... The only thing now was to wait for the final candles to be lighted and the ceremony to begin. What an amazing almost spiritual experience it must be to be wed under the stars on such a beautiful night.

Adam Smith quietly and gently closed the doors to his suite, turning to look down the corridor to see people walking ideally through. He gave a small smile and a nod to the two men who were standing on either side of his doorway. They were the Guards assigned to his room by the Tanarans, there to ensure that he, the Ambassador to Tanara from Alversia, did not come to harm. Personally, he felt them unneccessary but who was he to contend with such affairs? That was the job of the Mistress Hexx. He trusted her to make all the arrangements needed to secure his safety.

He looked down the corridor, hoping to see the very same Woman, wondering if she was busy or if she had time to talk with him. He did like her, a lot, but her job in the Military did absorb a lot of her time and it was rare that he got to speak with her. Now though, hopefully, she would be available today of all days. It was actually making him nervous just thinking about it. Trying to talk to her again, it had been such a long time.

Smith had been posted to Tanara since Alversia's contact with them, quite some time ago. Since then, he had been involved in a few episodes and a few misadventures, but overall, life with the Tanaran Empire was pretty simple and peaceful. Like life on Alversia.

Thinking of both his old home and his new, Smith walked through the corridors, lost in his thoughts.

Trevor

One of the multitude of servants that Porthos oversaw brought in a covered tray with the light meal that Dominique had made sure was brought so that Trevor didn't end up starving. As the French Onion soup would not agree with him, among the various other noshes, was a small cup of the same soup they had started their first dinner with.

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Lord Morga

Peregrine Omega was awaiting the arrival of the Muri envoy, Baron Lord Morga with pleased anticipation. She had a strong admiration for the wily Anilla operative. And she enjoyed the game of trying to find all of his various weaponry. The Muri were highly ingenious in their crafting of concealed weapons.

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Adam

A pair of strong yet feminine hands were slipped over Adam's eyes as he paused at one cross corridor "You were so lost in thought you never heard me call your name" came a half laughing voice that he well recognized, though had not had a chance to hear recently.

Then Merideth was spinning him around and giving him a light hug. The General, WarMistress M. Merideth Hexx (http://www.atddm.com/mmx1a.gif) Captain of the Regiment, head of all the Phoenix Empires Military was not in uniform but in a formal gown.

The lady was radiant in a very sensual, iridescent blush toile silk evening gown that hugged every curve and ended in a peacock’s tail demitrain. Minimal but exquisite jewelry adorned her at the throat and wrist - pale Thuleian ice rubies and much deeper rose hued diamonds shimmered in settings of platinum.

She wore this specific gown deliberately. She’d worn it on the night she and Ambassador Smith of Alversia had met, at Dominique’s Coronation. They had both been so busy that in the following months they had barely had a chance to commo one another much less meet, but she hope to remedy that situation tonight. The invitation she had made the last time they had a chance to visit had unfortunately never come about but she intended to extend the invitation.

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Marvel

"Name's Marvel. Modified Red Gargoyle. Standard mammalian reproductive system--the kind that ain't standard on the species. Now, I can make the ladies' dreams come true without killing them in the process--and, if you don't mind my saying so, you look lovely this evening."

Tanis did not blink at the illusion, nor did she looked amused by Marvel's commentary on his non standard reproductive system. It was data she had no interest in.

And the chef did not look at all amused by Marvels discertation concerning the difference between the two soupd- chefs hated having their dishes critized by strangers.

However she recognized the invitation as valid, as it had certain sigils embedded within, and knew whom had requested the invitation be sent. "Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae, heir of her Majesty the Summer Queen Aurora Khalida du Fae, has not arrived yet. I believe she will be arriving soon, though, as one of the Unity's Monoliths has just arrived in system." Tanis consulted mentally with one of five C.S.'s that handled the Asgard systems traffic control duties. The Star Faring of the Fae Folk belonged to the reclusive alliance known as The Unity and prefered to travel with their allies.

"Would you care to wait in one of the reception rooms where the other guest are gathered or would you prefer to go to your suite? I believe your's is in the same wing as hers."

Mercy was quietly green eyed with envy. Dominique was getting married, but hers and Errant's wedding date hadn't even been set yet.

Her lady's maid discretely let her know that her luggage had been unpacked and that her bath was drawn. She looked over at Errant who was still looking out the broad windows with their sweeping views of the palace's inner gardens, marveling at being over six hundred million light years from Graceland. She had loved his unhidden reactions to the trip from Earth to Midgard. And the latest - the trip down from the palace's private landing pad in one of the opalescent soap bubbles of a gondola car had given him a near perfect view of the sprawling capitol of the Phoenix Empire.

She'd been here numerous times, and she too still felt a sense of wonder at the vivid, Eden-esque beauty of the vast midnight indigo lake. Despite its terrible origins, the nova bombing of the old capitol, Helevorn, the rebuilt, rechristened city nestled among the rolling hills and valleys that tumbled down to the seemingly bottomless waters and was nearly hidden by the immense Yggdrasil trees that rivaled the macro towers in height, both scraping the bellies of the spun sugar clouds. The Yggdrasil towered nearly a thousand feet in height. They had been the only living things to survive the awful bloom of stellar temperatures and gravitic warping as the Nova Bomb detonated and consumed nearly ten thousand square miles. It had cracked Midgard’s mantle, nearly destroying the planet - or it would have had not the Phoenix arisen.

"Errant dear, I'm going to go get bathed and dressed" She called softly. She knew that Mister Adams would have everything Errant would need ready for him at any moment now as well.

Errant glanced away from the window for a moment and smiled for her. “Alright, darlin’, I’ll just get dressed. If I get in there with ya, we’re never gonna get to the wedding.” He said with a grin before turning back to the window.

Mercy went away with a similar grin when she ran into her guards one of the Shakespearean Security Spouses as Errant quipped them. Romeo and Juliet had been going to toss a coin to see who had to remain behind but Mercy put a stop to that. "Both of you are off duty. I want you to go visit your friends, take in one of the celebrations, and show the allit around the city. Have fun!" She chuckled at their surprised looks. In the palace, she truly had no need of them, security here was tighter than almost any place else in the universe.

She crossed the living room of their suite she and Errant had been settled in. It was on the third floor and each of them had their own bedrooms, though she knew that one of them would end up empty. She and Errant had few enough chances to spend nights together to pass any up. Mercy appreciated that Porthos had been perceptive enough to give them suites that were essentially representative of the Phoenix Empire, with just touches of Taung and Tanaaran to give it a subliminal familiarity.

She slid into the scented, steaming waters and let herself just relax for a time, half dreaming.

Two and half years, Errant thought as he looked out over the gardens again, mostly past them, through them, trying to divine where the time had went. It had been two and half years since he’d proposed to Mercy. They’d been engaged, but he’d insisted on a grand wedding, storybook. She’d said it that night two and half years ago that the bride was usually the one that wanted that.

She might have wanted a small wedding, but he was the one that wanted to go large. Okay, he was a hopeless romantic, and he really liked the image of the big wedding. It was one of the few things he’d let himself indulge in because of his station as the Alpha Miraade of Catawaba, the elected dictator of the island nation far to the southeast of Tanaara. It was good that he allowed himself because he knew his people looked forward to it, they wanted a sense of pageantry they’d missed under the foreign rule of the Togovian Empire.

However there was a deeper reason for him. He’d been told he wouldn’t…no couldn’t have it long ago.

Errant had grown in up in the clutches of the Togovian social services system. He’d been born a half-caste, his mother one of the native Taung and his father a Togovian Army officer. He’d been taken into a Togovian orphanage so that he, a member of the half-caste menace to the pure blood of Togovia. He would be raised by the state to eventually serve the state in the military or in some useful menial role well suited to his lesser blood. He would then be married off to some Togovian guttersnipe so that the Taung could be bred out of his bloodline ensure the continued mastery of the Togovian race.

Errant snorted. He’d been told he’d be married to woman he now hated, who was now married to his nemesis, self-described nemesis actually, the TogOverlord of the Togovian Remnant. He’d been told he’d be relegated to a servant’s life.

Well, look at me now, he thought. He was the master of an emerging nation that anchored the East of the Fatal Terrain. He’d personally lead a rebellion to throw out the Togovians, and now he’d fallen in love with and chosen to marry the former Queen of Tanaara. Part of his choice of marriage was as triumphant and blatant a boast as he would allow himself.

He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. Even the glee of that boast was wearing thin after two and a half years. First, there were the disasters and recovery and rebuilding after the Fall of Imitora or as it was called in Catawaba, the ISNAFTH, Imitoran Situation Normal: All Fekked To Hell. Then there were policing actions on the continent of Azumar that lead to the invasion the SkullKingdom and discovery of the Togovian Remnant’s destabilizing influences in the region. One thing after another had pushed the date back…let alone the massive preparations needed to make it possible.

A voice cleared itself behind him, and Errant turned to see his Chamberlain, Mister John Adams, standing there. Dressed in his normal brown frock coat and other regalia better suited to docudrama about the 18th Century rather than this late date, the Chamberlain was as smug as a cat in cream. Today was the day that he would be able….no, that he would have finally succeeded in getting the Miraade into clothing much to Adam’s liking. “Your suit has been set out, sir.”

Errant narrowed his eyes at his Chamberlain for a moment before relenting. “You don’t have to be so smug about it, John.”

Adams made no attempt to rectify his expression. “I wouldn’t dream of being so, sir. This way?” The stout man led Errant towards his room.

Several of the vornskrari, genetic hybrids of human and a Catawaban jungle canine, former Togovian genetic warfare projects, and members of Errant’s allit or family clan, sat in the sitting room. They were talking and trying to discretely act like they weren’t Errant’s personal guard. Most all of the twenty-four vornskrari, save two, were members of Errant’s Miraaderic Guard and thus his personal protectors.

They were, however, supposed to be off for the night, all of them.
Errant stopped put his arms on his hips and looked over the five seated in the room. All of them, Jurii, Kad, Minerva, Juniper, and Dean were looking up at him ready to spring up at his command. “Alright, you lot, you heard Mercy.” He knew they’d heard her talking to the SSS just a moment ago, they did have canine hearing after all. “I don’t need any of y’all tonight. Dominique and Travis want this as small as possible, and they have it secured to a farethewell.”

They looked at each, sharing a characteristic pack look that spoke volumes to no one but them, and then looked back up at Errant, unconvinced. He rolled his eyes. “I’ve got a light Beskar’gam vest, PALADIN, my POP, the ceremonial kad, and I’m me. I know it ain’t our way,” the Catawaban way was security by superior firepower supplied by a platoon of Special Operations analogs, “but y’all know the couple wanted it scarce. We’re lightyears from home and Yancey, and in the Tanarans’ stronghold. I figure Matt’s the only one we gotta worry about which is why he’s at home.”

Yancey Dunwitty, the TogOverlord of the Togovian Remnant, had a hate for Errant that knew no distance, but this might be the exception. And the Tanaran’s palace had the sort of security that made assaulting it all but suicidal barring a few flukes of nature. One of those was Errant’s cousin Matthew Quigley, Air Force general and general mischief-maker capable of things that didn’t just break laws of physics but put them in full body casts.

The vornskrari looked at each other again and sighed collectively. It went against their instincts, but they gathered their jackets, even with fur anything colder than tropical was cold, and went back their rooms to inform the others that they had to go out on the town and have fun.

Errant shook his head and went to get dressed.

~~~~~

Elsewhere in the palace, but with discrete hallways that invisibly connected to the suite that had been reserved for Mercy and Errant...There were two mini wings, each with six bedrooms with private baths that opened off a central living room.

Charli looked around the spacious bedroom that she and her husband Solus had been assigned. "Erm, wow" was all she could say as she sat in one of the comfortable looking chairs. She then half erupted from it with a yelp as it moved under her, shifting to ensconce her in even greater comfort. Which -once she got over her shock of it moving on its own- she appreciated as she was nearly seven months pregnant and feeling the strain of carrying quads.

The transport down from the TSC Wanderfar, the Tanaaran retired Battle Cruiser that had transported them from Earth to Midgard, had been scary but amazing as well...and the trip down in the gondola, oh that had been just beyond words. She'd held Solus's hand tightly and been unable to speak a word as she drank in the sights of her first 'alien' world.

The six hour cruise outsystem from Earth, a leisurely lope for the Battle Cruiser, had been arranged so that everyone could get their fill of watching their home solar system slide past. Then they had, in the blink of an eye, jumped the distance from the Milky Way Galaxy to the Hoag Object, then transited in system to the Throne Planet of Midgard.

Solus had to restrain himself from destroying the chair or fussing over his pregnant wife. He’d felt more protective of her since she’d begun to show the burgeoning belly from his four little pups. His sisters Gold, Pepper, Boudicca, and Prudii had all become pregnant about the same time as Charli with the help of the geneticist Peregrine Omega. However a litter of vornskrari pups was easier on the vornskrari female than it was on Charli, despite her mutant heritage.
He managed to limit himself down to squeezing her shoulder and forcing himself to concentrate on their exquisite room rather than acting like the nervous father that he was. Which was silly, he already had a son, his own biologically, but brought to him in a convoluted manner that hurt his head to ponder and keep straight. He didn’t really try to, but he loved his son dearly. However, right now, his son and any other children presently in the allit were back home in the care of nannies. This was the last hurrah and vacation of the allit before the births of the allit’s children took all of their free time.

There was a knock at the door. Solus didn’t really react because he could feel through the empathic and life sensing abilities native to the vornskr, the jungle canine half of their DNA came from, that his brother Jurii was on the other side. “It’s unlocked, ner vod!” He called.

Jurii stuck his head, too much scarred past the point of rakishness but befitting his junkyard dog appearance, into the room. “The Op was a wash.”

Solus gave his brother a look. “Like he was just going to let y’all follow along?”

Jurii shrugged. “You and Gold are the brains.”

“And we said buzz off so we could spend time with our spouses. Get one.” Gold was married to a weapons scientist Julius Claudius Explodem, and they both razzed after their bachelor and bachelorette siblings.

The rough vornskrari smiled at Charli. “Aww..your husband’s such a great guy. He’s taking your pregnancy irritability for you.” He ducked back through the door and swung a hand out wave good bye before heading to the room he was sharing with his brother Kad. Solus shook his head and sat down next to Charli, waiting tensely, expecting the chair to shift. It did, and he relaxed where it shifted again to better fit him. He was surprised it moved to conform to his long whip-like tail, giving it a groove so he wasn’t sitting on it. He could see getting a couple of these for their bungalow back in the Mira’ad’yaim, allit’s estate and private village.

"You were so lost in thought you never heard me call your name"

"I've had a lot to think about," Adam smiled as he allowed himself to be turned, facing the woman who, while normally quite stunning to his eyes, even in uniform, had taken it to a whole new level tonight. She was wearing the same dress that she had worn on the night that they had first met. The night after he had collapsed with a panic attack and she came to discuss the matter with him. Now, all this time down the line, they were good friends and there was something else there, something stronger. But Adam was unwilling to take it a bit further, not until he was sure of her feelings. But his heart did left at seeing her radiant face again after so long.

"We've been busy," He sighed, referring to the war that had engulfed his homeworld and another half dozen in the region. The Tanaran Empire was out of the way of the conflict, far from the borders of the combatants. Lucky for them, "But not enough to pull me away from such a momentious occasion," He grinned in the embrace, glad that she was taking the time to talk to him.

"How have you been?" He asked, grinning despite his best efforts to restrain himself, as soon as they had pulled apart. It seemed like a long time but it felt so short.

OOC: That I have to fall over laughing about. Mercy as a trophy wife? Oh that is just too rich. The SpokesJackal falls over lauging... my thanks to Tan and Fae for hosting. The artwork is not mine.

Pharaoh الفرعون Thoth Hau' Aum Horus, the Eye of Osiris, son of Menk'kare (http://www.atddm.com/anubis12.jpg) dismissed his body guards and awaited on the arival of his cousin, Che'mere Selene, and her dear friend the Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae. The tall, black furred Anubian Pharaoh guessed it would be some minutes still. He never knew a female that could be early, though Che’mere Selene (http://www.atddm.com/amanu1.jpg) did make an effort to be on time. However he could only chuckle at the Demoiselle's lack of time sense, but then again that was the way of the Fae. And despite all her schooling, the one who would be the Spring Queen in her turn, still had not developed much of one.

However Che'mere Selene and the Fae arrived before he guessed they might. And he could do naught but in utter appreciation of the two lovely ladies.

Che'mere stood nearly as tall as he did, but her silken pelt was alabaster to his onyx. The golden jewelry that but enhanced her beauty, was as fine as any of his - a far cry from the tattered rags and rusting armor from her time in the arenas of Konosos, surviving as a slave gladiator before her discovery and rescue.

Drai’Lee, as the Demoiselle preferred to be known was in fine form this evening. For long she had studied to be able to control the wayward Arcana of her ‘human’ half. Though she strictly was not half human but only one quarter human; the other quarter being Draconic, courtesy of her long lost father. Now with the uncommon magic’s bequeathed by her mixed bloodlines mastered she chose for this occasion to attend human sized. For the moment her gold and flame hued wings were unmanifested, though the deeply plunging gown she wore would accommodate them unhindered should she change her mind.

“Ladies, I am honored to escort you.”

Che’mere chuckled “Only for the first few moments. You know I don’t do weddings, and I don’t know the Empress at all. I’ll find my way to the city and see the sights on my own.”

The Pharaoh shook his head, but he understood. While he’d prefer that she have bodyguards with her, he wasn’t about to make her feel even the slightest bit trapped.

A small gesture of one of his long fingers a portal opened up for them to step through from the Unity Monolith they had arrived in to the primary reception chamber of the Tanaran Imperial Palace. Porthos manifested a hologram as they did so and the Anubian introduced his cousin and Drai’Lee to the Palaces master C.S..

Morga saw Peregrine waiting, and allowed himself a true trollish smile, baring fangs that could bite through cortosis and make any being made out of meat distinctly uncomfortable. He wore an oddly human suit of white tie and tails, but his pants and coat were the strange blue so dark as to be black, a color the trolls reserved for the Order of Annilla.
As he descended the ramp that spun itself out of the side of his craft, a second, smaller ramp lowered like a tentacle, bearing two red lacquered boxes with gold baroque edging. "Dear Pip," he spoke through his bolongo, a leering mask on his lapel. "Could you send this to the happy couple? Marriage crowns from the Voivode, that even the First Mother cannot deny their union-the boxes are clearly labelled."
He didn't bother to mention the leaden seals on each box bore the sigil of the Voivode-a wyvern with it's tail wrapped under it to rest in it's mouth, a sign to a troll that the Voivode himself had prepared the boxes, and none but it's intended recipients would open it upon fear of that dignitary's wrath.
He also removed a red lacquered envelope with identical edging from his coat. "This is our gift-a donation to the orphanages of the Unaligned Worlds."
Peregrine smiled-the outfit seemed skin-tight, Morga's only nods to his own culture being the bracers about his wrists and the ornate pistol holstered at his hip, carefully bound in complicated knots of material she noted as the odd threads trolls wove from gemstones.
Remembering trollish customs-nobles bore weapons that identified them and were very touchy about anyone not bearing the title handling them. "I thought the muri preferred slings." she joked.
Morga raised his great arms in the troll gesture of peace and passivity. "I've got one-a sack of leaden bolgs if you find it without my drawing it in defense."
She looked him over, his suit tight without a line out of place.
She noted he wore spats without shoes or socks, muri hindclaws not suitable for shoes, and wondered exactly how much of an arsenal he was toting. "Weapons are quite unsuitable for a wedding, Lord Morga-you know that."
"Even the shotgun of the bride's father?"
His look of total innocence quite threw her off...

...and she has no clue what innuendo is, either! Ohhhhh, this is going to be FUN! thought the turned (but not quite reformed) demon.

"Well," the demon replied to the demi-demoness, "since you're obviously busy showing your skills to all the boys..."

There was a tree in a pot at either side of the door behind the demon. Both simultaneously appeared to go limp. Of course, no such thing actually happened. It was just another of the illusions that Marvel was constantly using.

"...I may as well join the other guests in idle chatter."

An eel slowly raised its head out of one of the cooking pots. "Hey, bud," it said to the astonished chef, "ya got a torch I can borrah? It's gettin' DARK down there!" When the chef just stood there, it rolled its eyes and sank back into the pot.

As he finished, Marvel transformed himself into his humanoid visage.

http://www.nls.net/mp/413/marvelmarvel.png

"There," he said, "that aught ta blend in a little better."

Rob shrugged lightly - to settle the various discretely concealed weapons - and looked at his reflection in the dressing rooms holographic mirror. He nodded, satisfied that he would bring no shame to his lovely wife, though he knew that he could never match her serene elegance and lithe grace. She was half angelic and half elvin and had been blessed with the best of both races.

He had decided to wear his Cadre uniform, rather than civilian clothes, in honor of the Empress, and the Phoenix Empire. He had refused to allow the creation of an Archonal Uniform, though to quell protests he was considering the formation of an Archons Guard Regiment. But that was for much later consideration, the nation was still recovering from the disaster that was the Fall of Imitora. The events had nearly shattered the planet and all of the surviving nations of Fatal Terrain were still rebuilding. Some of the Fatal Terrain nations had collapsed and might never recover.

He looked at the Cadre uniform, customed tailored to fit him perfectly and exclusively - heavy Ashstar silk, one of the few silks that could be as crisp and clean of line as Linen. In a blue so deep it was all but black, the blue of the midnight sky. Trousers gleaming with a deep crimson stripe , for blood spilt, running up the outside each leg, fine line of gold boullion edging each stripe. His undershirt, little more than a collarless long sleeved singlet, of softer silk, also in that unearthly blue, fitting him like a second skin- though the long fitted cuffs were of the crisp Ashstar silk of the same crimson hue as the trouser stripe - but the cuffs would barely show - just an accent beneath the tunic.

The tunnic was heavy, double layered, and armored, to hold the wieght of the honors of the wearer. The Mandarin collar was edged in gold bullion as was the hem of the sleeves, which were long enough and fitted enough that the crimson cuffs of the undershirt barely peeked out. The tailoring was plain, no fancy work, just perfect, hand done stitching. It was meant to be nothing more than a canvas and frame work- framing not only its wearer, but the honors he had earned, perfectly.

Against that subtly shaded, subtly shimmering midnight sky hue, his awards gleamed, each perfectly polished, each perfectly placed. Row upon row, each hard and well earned.

But over and above them all lay One, it's wide ribband of matte grograine in the hue of fresh life's blood. The highest Honour the Empire could bestow, and held by only a handfull of the living.

The Lion of Phoenix Empire (http://www.atddm.com/lion111.jpg), head on, it's eyes of unveiled Starstone, swirling with their quasi living essence, and about it the broken field of stars. Each Lion was unique, made to suit the bearer and the events which had earned this terrible burden. None of the Carde had ever accepted the honor before, they had all said they were but doing their duty. The Empress had trapped Cadre Captain HRH - now Archon - Robert Ryan Fortier- Hexx though. She'd ordered him, publicly, and he could not refuse the order...He had protested vigorously, but she was adamant, and slowly he had knelt, though forever he would believe he was not worthy. The broken field of stars symbolized those who had died in the event, those he wore it for, those to whom the true honor went.

Rob closed his eyes and remembered them each and every one for a long silent moment, then opened his eyes and let out a silent sigh. Then he looked over at Aeris, the lady who held his heart and soul.

"Ready Love?"

Aeris glanced past herself in the alternate mirror to eye her husband. He looked sharp, and clean, and she had to admit, she loved seeing him in uniform. It gave a sense of a higher purpose, a selfless drive that radiated from him. Turning as she finished an earring in her ear, she smiled at him as she approached and lifted her chin slightly to kiss him a lingering moment.

She held her arms out for his inspection of her heavy golden silk satin dress (http://www.atddm.com/opt4.jpg) overlayed with fine golden beadwork. Twirling slowly she showed him her exposed silken skin in the back, over which a spiderweb of radiant diamonds spread out to bring together the dress at the small of her back and with a single strand of diamonds running vertically along her spine to the halter strap. Her hair was held up off her neck, and styled to give a sense of a moderate breeze flowing around her. Naturally, some makeup was applied, but just enough to highlight her natural beauty.

Rob's approving grin was more than enough for her. She could see his eyes wandering over her, keeping to himself thoughts that would likely become actions later on that night. At this observation, she smiled knowingly, and took the proffered arm. The children would remain here for now. Such an event as this, as young as they were, was not a suitable environment for them. When the ceremony actually took place, they would be present, but only for a short time before they were returned to the privacy of their childhood behind safe walls, and back to known comfort zones.

"You did remember to have our wedding gift sent ahead, yes?" Aeris questioned Robert, receiving a nod in response.

"It is taken care of, dear." His smile was soft and striking at the same time.

Marvel

"...I may as well join the other guests in idle chatter."

If that was innuendo then Tanis was a human - which she most decidedly was not. Her other half was Nietzschean and she had a Nietzschean's sense of humor. Which most of the universe didn't understand anyway, but...

Ham handed idiot. Now wonder demonics have such a bad name. Not an iota of Tanis's mental snarl showed on her composed features as she escorted Marvel to main reception room. She wondered if Porthos would bother to reveal to him that his illisions did not work on Cybernetic Sentiences. Or that there were enough Celestials among the guests to flatten him in a Heavenly minute should he try anything untoward. Not to mention the other nine of her siblings, and eight of them were on duty so to speak.

They reached the reception room quickly via one of the Palaces countless portals. The kitchens were actually quite a distance away, but then the Palace filled most of a twenty five mile long island.

two Anubians and one Fae whom Marvel would recognise, or should.

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Morga

Perigrine - he was the only one allowed to call her Pip - returned the smile, her bone spurs flared out in greeting as she spread her arms to return his gesture.

"Even the shotgun of the bride's father?"

Perigrine looked stunned for a second, then squenced her eyes shut and winced. Then she acknoweldged the touche with a open hearted laugh. That was just one of the reasons she liked Morga so. He had the best way of catching her unexpectedly and that was a rare thing.

Looking him over with keen eyes she noted many parts of his outfit that could be improvised into weapons if such had not already been built in. "I must visit Pamaltela and speak with the best of your jeweler weapons artificers. I need new bracers. ...and I would dare say that the tie you sport could make a most adequate sling."

"And how is the Sultan of Doraddi?" Perigrine asked, with seeming casualnes, after her personal aides had borne away the wedding gifts, and she led the way to the main reception room. As they entered she noted that the twin Empresses of the Celestial Imperia had arrived, as well as the Anubian Emperor and his retinue.

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Adam

"How have you been?"

Merideth took both of his hands in hers and looked him over carefully, her lips curving in a smile that was for him alone. "Too busy, too little time spent with friends. Far too long since seeing you, Adam" She said huskily.

The Alversians and Xiscapians had requested that none of the other members of The Alliance aid them in their current war. And while their nobility might have benefited the Tanarans, it tugged at her heart strings.

"You look positively dashing but you'd look even better after a relaxing week or so at the ranch. We never got to have that time together, you know" Her smile went rueful “

"We never got to have that time together, you know"
"Well, between your military duties and my diplomatic chores, time has not been our ally" Adam laughed, taking her hands in his and staring into her eyes, "But now I think that time can be made or squeezed from other places to facilitate such an event," He laughed lightly, then gave a sigh as he remembered the update he had recieved on the war. It was not going as well as he had hoped,
"Anyway, once this is over," he said, referring to the wedding, "Maybe we can get that time together. I have been so looking forward to it" He was still thinking of the war...even as he tried to look ahead.

"Marvel!" Drai'lee (http://www.faefolk.info/dray2.jpg) exclaimed as she saw him enter, and on winged feet she was at his side in an instant. Ignoring Tanis, with whom she had never gotten along, she grabbed Marvel's hand and tugged him into a hug. It had been some time since the two had seen one another.

"Yes I went blonde, it has mother just raging! What do you think?" She whispered in his ear with a soft giggle. Her signature perfume, made from Tiger Lillies, jasmine, applemint and clover swirled about them, just as barely noticeable as her make up. Her eyes sparkled with delight that Marvel had answered the invitation. It had been no cooincidence that the invitation had been thrust upon Marvel. He'd been the one to tell her how predicatable Yendor could be under the right circumstances.

Across the room Thoth and Chr'mere watched the reunion, then they turned away to exchange some final words before the cousins took their leave of one another. Che'mere slipped away, her first intent to explore the Palace's notewsorthy art exibit.

Looking him over with keen eyes she noted many parts of his outfit that could be improvised into weapons if such had not already been built in. "I must visit Pamaltela and speak with the best of your jeweler weapons artificers. I need new bracers. ...and I would dare say that the tie you sport could make a most adequate sling."
Morga adjusted his bow tie carefully. "You'd think so, but the microcircuitry that taps me into the Palace's security and communications doesn't give it enough play. The peace-cord on my pistol and my garters, on the other hand..."
He gave her a wink. "Since the First Mother has sealed off Pamaltela to humans-and Nietzcheians are a bit too close before you correct me-I'd have to advise you to place an order with the Ordo Gadbladdi-they're roaming space offering up Hyper-Gates to any who'll give them permission. However, if you wish, I know a fellow in Crabtown I can put in touch with you-he's Argan Argari, and they have a dispensation."

"And how is the Sultan of Doraddi?" Perigrine asked, with seeming casualnes, after her personal aides had borne away the wedding gifts, and she led the way to the main reception room. As they entered she noted that the twin Empresses of the Celestial Imperia had arrived, as well as the Anubian Emperor and his retinue.

"Mopey." Morga whispered-though Peregrine was fairly certain the bolongo sent a telepathic communique intended for her alone. "Since the Ban on humans, he's been occupying himself with taming Glamour-the old center of the Empire of Unity. I think he's trying to get himself killed or stripped of title-the Celestial Imperia elevating the Divine One to co-Empress status was taken as backsliding into Chaos by the Silentium-and First Mom concurs. Only the personal intervention of the Voivode allowed me to attend-and he received quite an upbraiding over it.
"It's sad, really-the First Mother insists humans are intrinsically Chaotic these days, and some loudmouths in the Silentium are making hay over it. I'm out quite a thriving business over the whole affair." He stumbled as they passed the co-Empresses, righting himself with a foreclaw on the table-Peregrine's quick eyes noting he'd left a small box under the Empress Indigo's napkin display-red lacquered with baroque silver edging, indicating a gift from the Athling. "The current policy of the Castle of Lead is that humans are a cancer and contact to be avoided-Annilla says otherwise, and since the last thing First Mom wants is to spark a Godwar, things are dicey right now. Hotheads are calling for war, cowards are calling for isolation-Muritan's been waving the Storm Hunt Concordat about enough to wear it out.
"Given our usual proclivities for beating on each other, it's best to exclude outsiders for now-but there are those who insist we must interact with the Young Races-the Only Old One and Gadbladd among the loudest-so it's in that uncomfortable stalemate we enjoy so well. Truce to a troll is largely a matter of catching one's breath."

Trevor looked a bit shocked when the door opened to reveal the servant bringing a tray of food in for him his immediate response was "Ahhhh, Dominique." he was truly appreciative of the care and attention that she paid him but there was also a slightly later response only a fraction later. "Aww, Dominique... You know I don't really need this." He was slightly annoyed though this only lasted for a moment as well. As he started to laugh as if at private joke.

"Alright, thank you. You may go." Trevor politely responded to the servant with a tone of laughter to it. He picked up the napkin from the tray and placed it around his neck taking a large sip of the soup and daintly picking up another singular item from the table careful to get the least on his suit, or anything on his fingers as much as possible.

Michiko gave a tiny, graceful courtesy and a broad, welcoming smile that showed her dimples as she greeted the five Borg. “Be welcome to the Phoenix Empire and welcome to the palace. This is Porthos, the one who keeps it all together” She extended her hand to Her deep ivory gown was set off spectacularly by the dashing ebony and gold of her over robe.

Falsus took the invitation, giving the lady a peck on the knuckles. "Thank you," he replied. "Your gown is," he began, then paused. Something was happening over the Collective.

Shrevel: ...like a royal flush that backed up and there wasn't any plunger! Oh, wait! NOW I know what those tail feathers are for!

Falsus: Shut up, Shrevel!

Shrevel: Ahhh. My first 'shut up Shrevel' point of the evening!

"Particularly lovely this evening," he finished. Somehow, none of Shrevel's interference showed on the tiny Borg's face.

"Yes I went blonde, it has mother just raging! What do you think?" She whispered in his ear with a soft giggle. Her signature perfume, made from Tiger Lillies, jasmine, applemint and clover swirled about them, just as barely noticeable as her make up. Her eyes sparkled with delight that Marvel had answered the invitation.

Marvel drank in the hug, and held his old friend tight.

"So you're the one who's behind all this," he said. "I think it's been too long since I've given you a good hug."

For a moment, he dropped the illusion of his human form--not the threads, but the form--and let them see, and Drai'lee feel--that his large, warm wings had gently spread around her, and that his tail had curled gently around her leg.

The gesture was just short of scandalous.

John, the Best Man, stood and watched quietly as Trevor started to eat at least something of the options provided for him at the request of his soon-to-be wife.

One of the reasons that the Borg were invited by Trevor was of an incident that had all been hushed up. An incident that started with some decepticons, a shining stone and some rather annoying god-things (OOC: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=543968). Which ended in a dramatically failed attempt at Trevor's life, John was now basically an Ambassador between the corporation and the Borg, in that especially he was enjoined and could communicate via the collective to the Borg.

Shrevrel... This is a wedding ceremony, now behave or else I'll pass on a log of that too Trevor. Oh, and one other thing... some of the board members want to see Falsus if you've got time before the ceremony.

John was in quite an interesting position falling between the cracks of many things, while he looked human and was practically human, he wasn't physically human, falling between the gaps of humanity and mechanical, falling between the gaps of being Borg and being from the Corporation, being a Hybrid of the two.

This however was life, he was accepted for what he was from both sides. He is the CEO's best man after all and very much involved with the Borg being enjoined.

Indigo's face was mostly hidden behind her fan as Lord Morga passed, and it took all her will power not to speak to him. But she hid her misery well, behind a face completely composed.

The arrival of others that she knew and could openly welcome came as a boon, though one graceful hand slid out and in a flash the tiny red laquer box with it's elaborate silver edging was tucked into a secret pocket in her kimono sleeve. Then she and Aiko were rising to go and give their greetings to their old friend, Thoth.

He had only risen to the throne in the last few months and they had been unable to attend his installment in person. Now though, they could tender their congratualtions and catch up on news of the two Empires. Such as the rescue of Thoths cousin, the Lady Che'mere. It ws an important even as her children would be his heirs. For in the Anubian Empire descent was through the mother, passing to the eldest sisters children.

Shrevel: Ohh, I'm shakin'. See me SHAKE!

Falsus: Alright. That's enough. Gizmo?

Gizmo: Your multiple-individual New Borg Superhacker Extraordinaire, at your service!

Falsus: Why don't you do us all a favor and give Shrevel a REAL shut up point?

Shrevel: Oh, you wouldn't DA--::click::!

Gizmo: We already did.

Falsus: Thank you, Gizmo.

Gizmo: You're welcome, Chiefo!

Ver: One of these days, that lax discipline that you let your coworkers get away with is going to cost you.

Falsus: It already has--but it's more than paid the cost.

Bromus: Fine. Perhaps you gentlemen would stop arguing and concentrate on (AHEM!) the matter at hand.

Falsus: With your permission, gentlemen...

Colletive: Given.

Falsus: John, tell Trevor that I'll be more than happy to speak with him.

Hugh: There's also some news that may not have reached you, John. Starscream has disenjoined. He returned to Cybertron to try to reform the Decepticons.

Bromus: Lotsa luck.

Errant looked down at the suit laid out for him. "The frock coat was a bit much."

"I didn't think so, sir. I much enjoyed it as did the rest of the staff, the pack, and dare say, the Ambassadress." Adams commented as he stepped around the Miraade and began unbutton Errant's shirt before he swatted the Chamberlain's hands away.

Errant snorted and undid his shirt looking down at the frock coat-less set of clothes. Adams, in fact everyone, had led him to believe that Adams had packed a frock coat, breeches, and leggings for the wedding. Instead Adams had set out a blue silk tunic which had swirling black lines that were an amalgum of all of the allit, or Taung clan, patterns.

He took off his shirt and handed it to Adams, and then reached to his sides and unsnapped the fasteners on his ballastic vest. It was a Beskar'gam vest, a sort of kevlar and metal scale brigandine. The metal scales were made of a rare earth metal, beskar or Taung iron, that was incredible dense and durable, also very heavy. This was the full 'diplomat' version, a step down from the more robust tactical vest like those his vornskrari wore on duty.

He pulled off his undershirt and pulled on another one. Before accepting a thinner and lighter vest from Adams. This was called a Gam'ika, or little skin, used thinner beskar scales for theoretically less protection, but it was easier to fit under formal clothing. He held it for a moment, feeling the cold of the chilled scales through the kevlar. Beskar had poor heat and energy conduction qualities, so it took a long time for it to chance temperatures, making it quite comfortable to wear for extended periods with a little forethought towards the day's weather.

Errant pulled on the vest and snapped it on. The Gam'ika was technically less protection, but he wasn't any less safe, realistically. Mercy had insisted on giving him the powerful and psionic PALADIN armor that was far more advanced than anything his country could manage. It was no surprise as the nearly invisible and ever present energy armor was Tanaran manufactured.

With his vest on, he turned to see Adams holding his tunic open for him. Errant nodded thanks and slipped into it and button the high collared garment up. He took off his shoes, socks, and trousers, and leaned over to the bed and picked up a long piece of black material. He wrapped it around his waist before tucking it in and secureing it with a brooch.

He looked over at himself in the holographic mirror. The black sarong was a more formal version of the black kilt-like hunting kama. The signifigance of the black garment was a sort of heraldry for courage and bravery in the service of Catawaba. Errant hadn't rewarded it to himself, that'd be arrogant. His Counselor for War, Air Marshal Tom Waverly had taken a poll of the nation's military and it had been nearly uninamous for awarding him the right to wear a black kama in uniform and out.

Errant took his weapons belt and cinched it around his waist. His ceremonial kad, the Taung short sword, hung on his left hip, and his semiautomatic .357 Police Operations Pistol, or POP gun as it was waggishly known, on his right hip. Both were peace-bonded but obvious present. He concealed no other weapons as that was against Taung and therefore Catawaban etiquette about going armed. A concealed weapon was seen as evidence of duplicity and intent to do underhanded things. A polite and honorable warrior let everyone know that he was armed and take what precautions necessary.

Errant tugged on the bottom hem of his tunic and straightened his belt. He bent down and slipped on his socks and then a pair of leather boots. He then turned to the mirror and looked at himself. He turned this way and that so he could see how each of his arm tatoos looked, revealed by the very short sleeves of the tunic. His right arm bore a stylized vornskr, Catawaba's national animal, wrapped down his bicep to his forearm with a rendition of the Togovian, the former colonial masters of Catawaba, national animal, the box-nosed shrew, firmly gripped in its jaws. His left arm was in the same style of the vornskr and shrew tattoo on his right arm, but featured a mythosaur, a prehistoric dinosaur very much like a caiman but also seen as the symbolic animal of Catawaba as it is one of the forms of the Taung's Matron goddess Mira, biting down on a Graceland Grouse, a species of game fowl native to Catawaba and taken as a symbol by the Liberalists, a rebel group that opposed Errant's popularly elected position as the nation's autocrat.

Errant nodded to himself. He thought he was ready and turned to leave but was stopped by John Adams. His Chamblerain held out at thick gold chain with a heaver beskar medallion. The medallion glinted coppery in the light, showing the skull of the ancient and symbolic mythosaur that graced Catawaba's flag. Adams unclasped the chain and stepped forward and put it around Errant's neck. He clasped it again and adjusted the skull until lay heavily on Errant's breastbone.

Errant touched the chilled metal. The pedant was symbol of his station. It was supposed to show the wealth and power of his island nations, and wearing it was suppose to impose upon him the weight of his responsibilities.

It looked good, Errant would grant the PR wonks, including his Cancellaria Jessica Lepur, that, but it was damned heavy after a night of wearing it. He was also sore and it literally was a pain in the neck. Errant smiled for a moment. It'd be a shoe-in to get Mercy to give him a back and neck rub tonight though, he thought.

He left the room with John Adams in tow to go check in on Mercy.

OOC: The Spokes Jackal grumbles "Having been recalled, I once again leave D', Thoth and Co in Tan's hands."

I think it's been too long since I've given you a good hug."

"Yes it has!" Drai'lee nestled into the hug, not caring one whit how it looked. Sighing happily she lay her head against Marvels' chest, enjoying the steady, strong beat of his heart.

Then she reached up, drawing his head down as she went up on tiptoe. Even 'human' sized she was a full head shorter than Marvel."Yay for 'Standard mammalian reproductive systems'" She whispered as she jolted turned demon with an unexpected kiss - gentle and unhurried but soon over.

Across the room Thoth raised an eyebrow and sent a quick mental message to his cousin. "If you don't get back here and help me keep an eye on Drai'lee we may have a war starting. Her mother isn't going to like this at all!"

Chre'mere sighed, then chuckled to herself, turning around to head back to the wedding. She'd suffer though it somehow.

Did she hear me say that mammalian stuff all the way in the kitchen? the demon-no-more thought to himself. Hell's Bells! Around here, I'd better watch my--mmmmmmfff!!!

...then again...maybe I can just...let her...watch it for me...

Tanis moved away from the Fae and the annoying demon, glad that her escort duties were over. Marvel and Drai’lee probably deserved one another.

Adam

"I have been so looking forward to it"

"As have I." She confessed, with a laugh as she slid her arm about his waist, and laid her head on his shoulder foir a moment. She normally wasn't a touchy person, but Adam was the exception.

"You know the Phoenix roses are in bloom again. Would you care for a walk through the garden?" She refused to ask about the wr for the moment - and well guessed that it preyed on his mine. She knew how conscientious Adam was, it was part of what made him such a fine ambassador.

But they both needed a reprieve she felt. For while the Phoenix Empire had not been engaged in the open war that Alversia was engaged in, her special ops units had been deeply engaged in assisting the Anubians in the destruction of the Back Pharaoh crime organization. Normally the military would not have been used, but the criminal organization had abruptly translated itself from a crime cartel to an outright terrorist rebellion, aimed at toppling the Anubians legitimate government..

And they were wandering towards the gardens anyways...

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Falsus

"Particularly lovely this evening,"

"Why thank you Falsus" Michiko beamed, not al all discomfited by his mechanical appendages. Part of what had made the first Empress so successful was that she was a functioning Empath among her other mutations. And while she couldn't read minds while in human form she was certainly aware of the deep friendship and humor ongoing between the four High Councilors. “Might I introduce you gentlemen around?”

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Morga

"Given our usual proclivities for beating on each other, it's best to exclude outsiders for now-but there are those who insist we must interact with the Young Races-the Only Old One and Gadbladd among the loudest-so it's in that uncomfortable stalemate we enjoy so well. Truce to a troll is largely a matter of catching one's breath."

There was a sudden, all but unnoticeable, flattening of the air about them as Peregrine subtly activated privacy screens that were the equal of Muri technology. The Xa Cz’inni’s technology matched that of the Muri and they were the Tanarans oldest allies.

Peregrine shook her head. “Has she forgotten the very old adage…in fact I’d guess that in this Universe it originated with the Muri – “keep your friends close and your enemies closer still? “ She quoted drily “And besides, I have it on impeccable authority that the Empress Aiko is going to abdicate once the Imperial Procession is finished. And she’s not tainted with Chaos. We may be ‘ Younger Races’ but we do have friends who are not and know how to sense the taint of Chaos.”

“To many of us it feels as if the Muri sudden disengagement from us is out of spite, that since the Novans did not chose to handle their problem as the Muri tried to dictate, and that The Alliance did not settle on a ‘constitution’ that the Muri agreed wholly with – that the Muri "picked up your ball and went home" in a huff.” She held up a forestalling hand “Don’t get angry with me, Morga. I am just passing along how many perceive the Muri actions.”

"Would you care for a walk through the garden?"

"How can I saw anything but no?" Adam smiled, hooking his arm around Merideth's waist, enjoying the feeling of her body pressing against his. He was walking with her now, not really minding who saw them. He enjoyed her company, in fact he wished he'd had more time over the past few months to see her. It was a pity but he was going to make time for her.

"How have things been with the Military?" He asked, sighing, knowing that he couldn't avoid talking about the subject. He had not mentioned it to anyone, for he did not want to spoil the mood the wedding but he would have to bring it up sometime. He was their Ambassador after all.

OOC: TG Tan

Ver: Do you dare turn her down? She's a VIP if ever there was one.

Falsus: I don't know. Which VIP should I turn down so that I can accept the other VIP's invitation?

Hugh: Speak with Trevor. He asked first. I'll cover for you.

Falsus: Alright. I hope she doesn't take it as an insult--it's not meant that way--when I turn her over to you. I'll try to soften the blow as much as possible.

"Most regrettably, madam," Falsus said, relaxing his grip, "our handsome groom has requested my presence in his company. Please allow my superior, Hugh of Borg, to serve in my place--his station is really more appropriate to yours than mine is, anyway."

Righto, I'll pass that on, and well... It's a shame but in the end perhaps it was for the best. Oh, and I'll make sure Trevor says something to Michiko about seeing Falsus.

"Falsus will be coming soon... Michiko wanted to talk him but I got in first." John said passing on the information he had gathered over the collective

"Oh, I know that Michiko especially wanted to meet with them. I shouldn't be long after all the ceremony should start soon... actually see if I could do a broadcast over the collective. I just want to say my short bit, and perhaps we could talk properly during the reception, and anyway, it's not like the rest of the collective won't know. See what they think and go from there."

Trevor's alternate suggestion, could save alot of time and while he would prefer to do it in person, it didn't need to and especially now time was at a premium.

"I'll see what they say..." John responded never before had he seen what was going to be a face to face meeting turn into a basically virtual broadcast. No wonder he didn't eat much of the light meal.

Guys... It seems he just wants to say a few words, and he's suggested a broadcast over the collective. I could send audio and video of what he says over if we do this.

Aeris walked arm in arm with her husband into the main reception room. She carried a smile always, greeting others as they passed by, pausing to speak to a few of them as well. Still, their movements were directed to eventually meet up with Michiko and her guest at her side. When they finally arrived, Aeris cleared her throat momentarily to catch the other woman's attention and smiling all the more so as she turned to her.

Rob was the first to speak, giving a slight bow to the two of them, "Aunt Michiko! It is wonderful to see you once more!"

"My husband speaks words of truth!" Aeris added in a moment later as she too gave a slight nod of the head in respect to the woman. Her eyes turned to the gentleman with her, "Namarie friend. I am Empress Aeris Greenwood of Tarlachia, and this handsome gentleman whose arm I hold quite closely (a soft giggle at this) is my husband and Archon of Tanaara, Robert Fortier-Hexx."

Rob had a hard time taking his eyes of his lovely wife as they left their suite. Her gown flowed about her ankles like seafoam and every move was one of eneffiable grace as she drew all eyes to her. He could have been invisible, but it bothered him not at all. He was so proud to be seen with her. Once he had despaired of winning her hand, but that was a few years ago.

He bowed gallantly to his honorary aunt as he greeted her and glanced out of the corner of his eye once more at his wife as she added her welcome to his. Then, like her, he turned his attention to the five gentlemen the Dowager Empress had been speaking with. They all seemed to be of different races, but similar in that they were all partially cyborged.

"Greetings indeed" He added his to Aeris's. "Is this your first time within the Empire?

Falsus, Hugh and the others of the Borg...

"Most regrettably, madam," Falsus said, relaxing his grip, "our handsome groom has requested my presence in his company. Please allow my superior, Hugh of Borg, to serve in my place--his station is really more appropriate to yours than mine is, anyway."

"Oh, of Trevor is asking for you" She smiled again, it did not offend her in the least "You must certainly answer the call of the groom, today of all days." She turned to Hugh, but before she could add to her reassurances, she was greeted by two new arrivals.

The newly arrived Empress of Tarlachia and her husband, the Archon Robert Fortier~Hexx of Tanaara- she'd known him since his birth and was an honorary aunt to him - made their greetings and politely introduced themselves to the Borg.

"Aeris, Rob, might I introduce Hugh of the Borg and his councilors, Falsus, Boutrous, and Bromus." She made the return introduction

It was obvious that Boutrous had once been a Bajoran, Bromus a Klingon, Falsus human and Ver Cardassian.

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Adam

"How have things been with the Military?"

Merideth looked at him and shook her head firmly. "No, not today. I want to spend time with you Adam, not the ambassador. Besides I'm not in uniform, so the General does not exist, just the woman."

"Now that we have that settled" She looked up at him from under her eyelashes as she stepped out of the palace and into a garden filled with the rare Phoenix roses. The deepening twilight was held at bay by the inner luminescence of the flowers.

"Lets see...I'm sure you've had a chance to see the latest exhibit at the museum?" She queried lightly. The museum had been badly damaged by an explosion some months ago and had only just reopened. The current exhibit was a display of antique carousel animals, some of which had been brought with the Tanarans ancestors when they'd come to settle what would become the Phoenix Empire, over seventeen hundred years ago...

Adam raised an eyebrow at the gentle rebuke but was still unable to stop himself smiling. He gave a small laugh as she finished and nodded to show he understood,
"Very well, War Mistress Hex does not exist for the moment, just Merideth." He smiled cheekily at using her first name, knowing that she was one of the more important people in the Phoenix Empire and he was talking to her like an old friend. Then again, he supposed she was an old friend.

"Lets see...I'm sure you've had a chance to see the latest exhibit at the museum?"

"Why, no I haven't," He chuckled at her question, knowing that she knew that he had not had a chance to do something like this, visiting a musuem for exhibets that he was actually interested in. He had been hoping that he could have a look around at some point after the wedding anyway. Now he had a chance to do so, doing so with Merideth was simply a bonus.

"Lead the way," He indicated to the door with a large and grandiose bow before offering his arm, "Shall we?" He grinned

Peregrine shook her head. “Has she forgotten the very old adage…in fact I’d guess that in this Universe it originated with the Muri – “keep your friends close and your enemies closer still? “ She quoted drily “And besides, I have it on impeccable authority that the Empress Aiko is going to abdicate once the Imperial Procession is finished. And she’s not tainted with Chaos. We may be ‘ Younger Races’ but we do have friends who are not and know how to sense the taint of Chaos.”

“To many of us it feels as if the Muri sudden disengagement from us is out of spite, that since the Novans did not chose to handle their problem as the Muri tried to dictate, and that The Alliance did not settle on a ‘constitution’ that the Muri agreed wholly with – that the Muri "picked up your ball and went home" in a huff.” She held up a forestalling hand “Don’t get angry with me, Morga. I am just passing along how many perceive the Muri actions.”
"Dear Lady, I am Ordo Annilla" Morga seemed truly affronted. "I have dedicated my life to that goddess whose primary exhortation is 'Never be afraid to see what you see.' No door is closed to us, no secrets we cannot delve into-but always, always, we must accept all we discover.
"This does not mean we always reveal it, nor that we of the Elder Races are less motivated by the pettiness we deride in your own species. In this case, we couldn't be less concerned with the Young Races' conclusion-a cancerous evil is laid across the stars, and there are stirrings in ancient holes that ought never have been dug and were believed long dormant.
"When the First Mother laid eyes on the equipment used by the kidnappers of the Xiscapian Empress, she knew. The Mi-Go are not dead and gone as we allowed ourselves to believe-they are pulling strings across Known Space, gathering power in their old haunts, whispering their fell knowledge to whomever will listen.
"They are fungi, and replicate with a speed that puts humans to shame-and they are deep in the corridors of power, even our own. The First Mother needs time, to stem the infection-the mountain clans and tribes of Pamaltela itself are increasingly suspect, and the gods themselves divided.
"A terrible war engulfs Pamaltela, a secret war to purge the influence of the Mi-Go, to keep them from spreading to other worlds. Contact with the Young Races would only grant them an escape hatch, a retreat from our wrath.
"While the Silentium harangues and bickers, my order is laying traps, luring them out, finding their caches and putting them to an end. Half the Silentium is working to find exactly who is corrupted, and the other half either mired in our traditions or under the control of these foes.
"The ships of the Gadbladdi are winnowed through constantly by the Ordo Boztakang, and those as pass muster given the task of demolishing entire systems to prevent an escape-you may have noted stars in our quadrant disappearing, flickering out that we may stop this menace.
"The Orders, tribes, and clans are eyeing each other warily, wondering who is of the Borlak Queendom and who is not, as well as who is corrupted by Borlak. The First Mother will not permit so much a one child to be tainted by the claws of the Mi-Go through our own mechanisms. That She is adamant on-no contact until the fiends are destroyed utterly within our society.
"The others speak as you do, that we must enlist the aid of the Young Races if we are to be rid of the Mi-Go once and for all. The Gadbladdi and Argan Argari are our spearheads-they are screened thoroughly entering and leaving our space, and they wander, seeking the spores of our foes.
"Even I am not immune-by telling you this now, as I have, I have committed treason-though treason against the Silentium is not a great thing, it still bears the penalty of treason. My conscience is clear-but it is not my conscience I fear for.
"The Mi-Go are among us-among us all, while we are paralyzed cleansing ourselves first as not to carry the taint, letting it fester within you all the whole time.
"The gift I slipped to Indigo is sacred-a piece of Annilla Herself that will allow Gerrak to tell her all he knows of this threat-allowing a soul-to-soul communion that will show her what he has seen in the pits of Glamour, what he has heard from the Blue Moon-and if she acts too openly with this knowledge, Gerrak faces the same penalty as I for this revelation. It is disguised as a piece of jewelry, and she may prove herself wise by concocting other reasons for her own purging of the Imperia-thankfully, the Divine One openly consorted with the Mi-Go, so once she has found enough, her hands will be free.
"I, on the other hand, must enlighten you and the Phoenix Empire in such a way it seems the information fell into your lap through an error by the Mi-Go. They are not known for errors, but this gathering is far too tempting-I hope-or I shall be forced to arrange an error that leads you to one of their lairs, hopefully one with the keys to their network in this sector.
"And if their bases here operate under a cell structure with no communication or coordination, I shall have to arrange many such events as well as a reason I have not returned-possibly many reasons.
"Do not lecture me of our follies, Pip-I am all too aware of them. All this subterfuge and nonsense-because if the Mi-Go know they are hunted, they will hide-and it will be another three thousand years for them to delve deep into our underbellies. Because if the Young Races know the muri have been compromised, they shall not trust us again. Because if the honor of the tribes and clans is impugned, they will claw and devour all that maligns them without concern, without care. And most of all, because the First Mother would rather be thought a fool and a bigot than have your species destroy themselves in rage, hate, and remorse than give the Mi-Go so much as one straw to clutch at.
"That is why we have acted as we did-that is why we still act as we do. Of course, I understand the pragmatism of the Nietzcheans outweighs pride, honor, and vengeance, but we muri are a simpler people."

[OOC: I've been so tired and busy the past few days that I've barely had the energy or will to write little I have. So I'm going to go ahead and include here some pictures that should been in previous posts.

Errant on an Air Force incentive...inspection flight (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/jedierrant/ErrantIntense.jpg)
A male vornskrari, specifically the twins Dum and Solus'yc Mira'ad (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/jedierrant/Solus.jpg)
A female vornskrari, specifically the eldest Gold Mira'ad (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/jedierrant/Gold.png)
A kad, the Taung short sword, Errant carries (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/jedierrant/Bolo_ni_Maximino.jpg)]


Errant was about to knock on the door to Mercy’s room when he heard the door to the suite open. His sister Dal’ika and brother Dum walked in. He opened his mouth, about to say the same things he had to the other vornskrari, but stopped without uttering a word. They showed a commitment to coming with him the others hadn’t. They were dressed in their best.

Dal’ika wore dress (http://www.atddm.com/dalg5.jpg)that Mercy had helped her pick out and order from a designer in Montguard. It was rich antique gold, beaten to silken suppleness, embraced her figure like a lover. The styling was pure diva, classic and glamorously ageless - a strapless gown with a fantail sarong skirt. A train crossed from a broach at her left hip up and over her right shoulder to cascade fluidly down Dali's back into a demi-train. The gold complimented her dark sable fur, a heritage of the collie DNA crossed into her genetic makeup. Towards the end of Project Vornskrari, the Togovians had decided to infuse genetic material from domesticated dogs in hopes of garnering a more obedient product and perhaps gaining instinctual knowledge from the domesticated breed towards specific military roles. In Dal’ika’s case they’d hoped to harness the rough collie’s loyalty, protectiveness, friendly reputation, and attractiveness towards Togovian ends as an infiltrator, bodyguard, or assassin.

They succeeded in everything except turning it towards Togovian ends.

Just as they’d infused collie into Dal’ika, they’d infused greyhound genetic material into not only Dum’s DNA but that of his twin brother Solus’yc and twin sisters Dee and Sanga. They used the greyhound’s speed, good sight, and hunting instincts to turn them into sniper teams. However that was far behind the now, tuxedo-wearing Dum.

Neither of them, Dal’ika or Dum, were Miraaderic Guards like their siblings. They’d gotten out because personal demons made it impossible for them to serve to their fullest capacity. For Dum, it had been the death of his spotter-sister Dee. She’d died in his arms from the last bullet from sniper they’d been hunting. His twin, Solus, had lost his sister-spotter Sanga years before, and he’d never returned to sniping again, instead choosing to work up to the command of infantry and special forces units. Dum had none of that ambition and could not face the idea of going into battle without Dee. He’d felt like he’d lost half of himself, half of his senses. He left the service to pursue what had started a teambuilding exercise suggested by a fellow sniper and now commander of the Miraaderic Guard, Margaret Delaney. He danced, and every time he danced, taught someone to dance, he could feel Dee smiling down at him, feeling his joy, doing something they always loved to do, even more than putting boat tails through brainstems.

Dal’ika had helplessly watched a young girl get raped during a mission to secure a radar site in the Skull Kingdom from the warlords that had destabilized the nation. The horror had summoned her personal nightmares of similar treatment by the Togovians. She’d killed the rapists who had already surrendered and then struck her superior officer when he’d tried to stop her. She’d taken the court martial’s offer to resign with an honorable discharge. They understood there were extenuating circumstances, but she had still broken the law.

She left the service and decided to pursue something better suited to her easy temperament. She’d approached Lolimba Bevu, Errant’s aunt and Counselor for Foreign Affairs and the Bevu allit’s alor. She’d chosen to become the Mira’ad allit’s alor, its shamaness and ritual specialist. As she joked, ‘I’m going to look after the allit anyways, might need Mira’s help to do it.’ She settled in to guide and help her family. She’d also been asked to act as a private consultant with the Navy to help understand and liaise with their new Artificially Sentient Submarine, volunteers from the Tanaaran Navy.

Dal’ika smiled, seeing Errant’s surprised look at their finery. “We ran into Juniper as we came out of room. We’re not in on their plan.”

Dum nodded along. “Yeah, we could careless for your well-being tonight.” Errant gave him a look. “As per your request, may I remind you?” Errant rolled his eyes. “No, tonight…” Dum turned and waved a hand as if to introduce his sister. “She is Alor Mira’ad, spiritual advisor and confidant to the Miraade. Ever concerned with his soul and his upcoming marriage, Alor Mira’ad is here to observe a non-Taung wedding of a head of state like that the Miraade wishes to plan. The beautiful and wise alor hopes to better ‘syncretize’ Taung and areutsii ways so that we may have harmony and oneness.”

He nodded, sincere and serious in everything he said until Dal’ika poked him in the ribs. “Flatterer,” she hissed with a smile. Dum broke out a broad smile and chuckled.

He adjusted his crimson vest, buttoned his crisp black jacket, and straightened his bow tie. “Okay, so I’ll cut off my bit about me as ‘her handsome escort because a pretty little gal like her going stag.’ She really does want to watch, and I want to dance.”

Dal’ika chimed in. “Dum’s just sure that if we go out with Jurii and the others all he’s going to get is club dancing.”

Dum cut his crimson eyes over to her. “That…that…dry humping is not dancing.”

Errant raised his hands. “Okay, okay. Y’all can come. I don’t think…” He stopped as he heard the door behind him open. He spun about, his eyes widened, and his mouth opened in a silent ‘wow’.

Mercy's gown (http://www.atddm.com/mgn.jpg) started at her left shoulder, pouring down her lush curves as liquid as molten gold to her knees then spread outward in a peacock's demi-train on a layer of transparent silk. Her thick mane of equally brilliant gold tresses tumbled in deep, shimmering waves below her shoulders. Flawless, minimal make up highlighted the crystaline storm blue of her eyes and fine features.

She turned slowly so that Errant could get a good look. He'd helped her pick it out, but that was several months ago and she hadn't worn it since. The look in his eyes made all the trouble of trying on gown after gown made it all worthwhile.

Dal’ika stepped up to easily look over the five foot eight Errant. “Should we convey your apologies for your sudden absence to the bride and groom?”

Errant remembered the dress, but it’d been out of his mind for months. That time had allowed it to regain its awe. “I’m certainly considering it, ner vod.”

Falsus: Gentlemen, I just spurned an Empress to gain your audience. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather listen in person.

:p :p http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif :p :p

Slowly, carefully, Marvel drew his wings back so that everyone could see that Drai'lee had come to no harm.

"He's already said no to Michiko." John passed on the message "He's quite adamant about coming up.

"Well, that was quick, She must be like a Hawk... No wonder Dominique and her are close. Alright let's get this done. Porthos, could you please organise an escort for Falsus? I would like to speak with him in person."

Someone should be there soon to bring you up. I'd direct you myself but without an escort you wouldn't get far.

Trevor started to pace the room... "You shouldn't be worried... It will happen." Joan the PA tried to comfort her Boss. "I know, that's not why I'm pacing... I'm just anxious that this all goes well. I want to give her the best day of her life but I'm worried that there might be something that goes wrong and there's nothing I can do apart from doing my bit in the ceremony."

OOC: Have just a moment on.

Music to mood by (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM42LYSfGv0)

Thoth growled under his breath. Che'mere Selene move your paws! his mental voice carried the growl as well.

Drai'lee had started it, and she was her own, and grown, adult, but still her mother was overly straight laced where her independant daughter was concerned. He'd directly refused to play chaperone, but he also didn't want to see her getting her heart hurt.

I'm coming cousin mine, but really it's just a kiss, and one in full public view at that! She has too much pride to go slinking off Che'mere replied her mental voice clearly amused, and not at all concerned.

After snuggling against Marvel's broad chest for a moment Drai'lee then looked up at Marvel with a purely feminine smile. "You know there are some appropriate words for this..." There was a wicked twinkle in her eyes.

She went back up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, her body pressing against his. Her breath was warm against his earlobe. "Kiss me once, and kiss me twice and kiss me once again."

Morga and Perigrine

"That is why we have acted as we did-that is why we still act as we do. Of course, I understand the pragmatism of the Nietzcheans outweighs pride, honor, and vengeance, but we muri are a simpler people."

Peregrine chuffed "I said it was the view of some, perhaps many, but certainly not all. And while we are a little disconcerted, and some are offended, we aren't about to wage war against you or count the Muri less than friends" She gave him a look that held much thanks init "And this information is invaluable. I thank you for it Morga, and know that it will only go to the ears of the one who commands me." She would not be the one to compromise Morga.

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Adam and Merideth

"Shall we?"

Merideth consulted the chronometer through her com link implant and smiled. "We should have just enough time for a quick look through." She flirted her eye lashes at him "And then in a couple of days a picnic date to see it in depth" The limited time now gave her an excellent excuse - though she needed none, her job did- and she was going to make the date one.

And just minutes later the two were walking in through a side door into the main display rotunda of the Imperial museum as Meredith telling Adam more about the Palace than he had learned to date.

"The arguments over the design took years, and it was Porthos, who at the time was only fifteen, who submitted the final design." She went on to explain about how Porto's came to be. It was no state secret, but vanishingly few knew the tale, Porthos wanted n sympathy, much less pity.

"Then it took Xa technology and the coordinated efforts of the Towers just thirteen months to put up the whole. Decorating it took far longer. But most of the Palace is for other things than merely being a residence. The Tanaran Imperial Children’s Hospital and Hospice takes up almost a million square feet of the Palace's space, the Asgard Academy of the Performing Arts takes up half again as much if you count the theatre spaces, broadcast studios, and auditoriums."

The Imperial Museum covers double the space of both the Hospice and Academy combined.

"We like having our people feeling free to come and see the best in music, drama, dance and other forms of 'live' entertainment. But for those who can't, we broadcast four different holochannels" Merideth added. "Imperial offices account for about another half a million square feet - though, you know by now that the vast majority of the bureaucracy of the Empire is comfortably ensconced at the Great Hall of the Houses."

The island that the Palace and its grounds enveloped was some twenty five miles long and about eight wide, and lay but a mile off shore. It rose a nearly a thousand feet, at the highest point, above the waters, and like the lands surrounding the vast lake, it was not flat. The Palace, with it's multitude of wings, and towers, rotundas, spires and halls rambled over the rises and falls, amid the gardens and small forests. Only one bridge connected the island to the mainland and that led directly to the Great Hall of the Houses, one of only three man made structures that had survived the Nova Bombing of Helevorn now vanished ...

"We wanted our Palace to put a visible face of "us", the people of Tanara. The design took so long because it was insisted that all the various cultures be represented, in a way that was a harmonious whole.. “

Her commentary ended as they caught sight of the display. It was breath taking – soft music played, a compendium of the various traditional tunes found on carousels. The lighting brought the animals – lions, and tigers, swan boats, and leaping frogs, but above all the prancing horses – into perfect view. Their glorious trappings of bright paints, with vivid gold and silver ornamentations on their ‘tack’ they caught and held the eyes.. Some of the displays were static, others rose up and down as they circled endlessly.

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Trevor

There was a knock on the door and Porthos announced that it was Dominique's great, great grandmother and father, the elderly couple – the only ones of their marriage group still living - having the honor of being the Conductors of the Ceremony. Since the vast majority of Tanarans were agnostic, there wasn’t a religious underpinning to Tanaran weddings. Instead the oldest marriage group or couple associated with those being married – for Tanarans also mostly had multiple partner marriages – were asked to be the Conductors, and their role was to make sure that those attending understood that they were more than just guests,

But right now they were here to validate that the bridegroom was not under any influence or coercion. They had just come from inspecting Dominique.

“Trevor, we won’t be but a minute, I know you must be getting anxious for this all to get on with” Juliana was in a float chair, Aden at her side – while both of her great, great grandparents were very healthy for their ages, they were both well into in their third century, very elderly for people who had been born before Prolong had been perfected into it’s current state. Dominique herself might well live to be seven to nine hundred years old.

The silver haired lady smiled gently at Trevor, smile lines not wrinkles and lively if age faded eyes taking him in with keen discernment.. “And we just need to look you over and make sure you aren’t under duress. You are not, yes?”

Adam's breath was caught as well by the wonderful display that danced in front of his eyes. He had listened to the story of the palace from Merideth without a word of interruption. He was a big fan of both culture and history and, lucky for him, the Phoenix Empire was awash in both. He had often stood and admired the Palace without really understanding why he was admiring it. He had always supposed it was the aesthetic appearance of the building, the way it was shaped and the manner in which it had been designed seemed to exhume brilliance and beauty. More often than not, the mere sight of the palace itself, much less the Hospice and accompanying buildings, always tugged at his heart strings, their beauty reminding him of the wonderful City he had left behind on Alversia. His own home. It was true he had made a home here but his heart would always been in the shining city.

Yet, he had always felt that something was missing. Something important. Not from the building itself of course, but more from within himself. He felt like there was something that he was not feeling, something that he did not understand about the architecture of the whole complex. It often frustrated him as he walked past the building, it often annoyed him, the feeling that he was not quite being hit as hard emotionally by this building as he should be.

Now he understood the history and he knew what he had been missing all that time. He knew he had been missing the history of the building and that had been standing in his way. It was a strange thing really, but sometimes, to really understand the real beauty of a piece of art, one had to look at how it was built and the history behind it's construction.
It was like the statue in the centre of Rio Casa, the statue of the Alversian Marine and the Xiscapian Soldier standing side by side, facing an unknown enemy. The statue was built after the Korr war, the beginning of a strong Alliance between the two peoples. A bond that had become nearly unseperable in the universe, two peoples who worked together through thick and thin, people who were virtually blood-brothers. The Statue was to commemorate the first war in which they fought, when the Alversians had rescued the Xiscapians in their hour of need, how millions of Alversians had sacrificed themselves for an unknown race. In the many years that have passed, the Xiscapians had more than paid their debts to the Republic. The statue always pulled at his heart and brought a tear to his eye.

He blushed at the flicker of her eyelids.
He always liked her, from the moment he had met her, yet he was unsure about the intentions at the moment, however, being a wedding always put one in the mood and he knew his feelings for her were strong. He would always look forward to meeting her. It seemed to brighten up his life no end.

Now, back with the display, he could fully appreciate the beauty of this museum, of the person he was with and with the Empire altogether. He had to say that he would not have missed his time here for all of the universe.

"Y'know," Adam said, almost to himself, "I must show you my home sometime. I've been enchanted by the wonder of your world, I really must have a chance to repay the favour,"

Peregrine chuffed "I said it was the view of some, perhaps many, but certainly not all. And while we are a little disconcerted, and some are offended, we aren't about to wage war against you or count the Muri less than friends" She gave him a look that held much thanks in it "And this information is invaluable. I thank you for it Morga, and know that it will only go to the ears of the one who commands me." She would not be the one to compromise Morga.
"Ask them not to reveal this information unless they've fully corroborated it from other sources." Morga replied. "Unlike the byakhee, the Mi-Go cannot achieve lightspeed without a ship, though they are spaceworthy-and they do have access to the byakhee in an emergency. Their ability to travel space naturally, even at sublight, is both a strength and a weakness. A weakness because it is time-consuming, a strength because they appear to be so much flotsum and easily ignored-do your scanners truly register debris the size of a man without lifesigns?
"I crawled along insystem at sublight to better scan-if they are here, they've been here a while, and they prefer landing on mountaintops to avoid casual notice. If anyone's had a ski weekend prior to this event, they should perhaps be watched-the Mi-Go do not mind the amputations needed to fit in a human skin passably, and their translation devices offer only a slight buzz to their voices, easily explained as a cold or lung infection."

There was a knock on the door and Porthos announced that it was Dominique's great, great grandmother and father, the elderly couple – the only ones of their marriage group still living - having the honor of being the Conductors of the Ceremony. Since the vast majority of Tanarans were agnostic, there wasn’t a religious underpinning to Tanaran weddings. Instead the oldest marriage group or couple associated with those being married – for Tanarans also mostly had multiple partner marriages – were asked to be the Conductors, and their role was to make sure that those attending understood that they were more than just guests,

But right now they were here to validate that the bridegroom was not under any influence or coercion. They had just come from inspecting Dominique.

“Trevor, we won’t be but a minute, I know you must be getting anxious for this all to get on with” Juliana was in a float chair, Aden at her side – while both of her great, great grandparents were very healthy for their ages, they were both well into in their third century, very elderly for people who had been born before Prolong had been perfected into it’s current state. Dominique herself might well live to be seven to nine hundred years old.

The silver haired lady smiled gently at Trevor, smile lines not wrinkles and lively if age faded eyes taking him in with keen discernment.. “And we just need to look you over and make sure you aren’t under duress. You are not, yes?”

Trevor smiled with a little chuckle "Yes, that is correct. I am not under duress of any kind." he bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect for the old couple before introducing the others.

"This is John and Joan. Joan is my Personal Assistant and does a very good job of organising my life for me, and this John. John is an employee of my corporation and is my Best Man for the wedding." as he spoke Trevor motioned out with his arm in a deliberate and graceful move, indicating towards their direction.

"Trust me, I would not be here today, nor would I have asked her in the first place if I truly didn't want to marry here. I know my own mind, and I trust that you will be convinced of the truth that I truly wish to marry her today." Trevor's face turned serious he wanted to convey the seriousness of what he said, for it was true and weddings at the end of it all, were serious business.

Trevor

Juliana and Aden made their greetings to Joan and John then turned their attentions to Tevor.

I know my own mind, and I trust that you will be convinced of the truth that I truly wish to marry her today."

"We never thought that you were Trevor, and you wouldn't be marrying a Ryder unless you truly did know your own mind" Aden chuckled, "but it is one of the few laws concering marriage that the Empire has, and it's a hold over from our origins."

Juliana added "You see Trevor, our ancestors fled their home world to escape, in part, the forced mariages and matings that the World goverment demanded. I'm not saying that some of our ancestors didn't practise voluntary selective matings, even after we arrived in the Celestial Ring. But on our home world, Terra, it was not voluntary at all." She shivered slightly at concept. It wasn't much spoken of, for the Tanaarans were defnitely a people that believed in the concept that revenge was best served by not only living well but joyously. And they surely had had their revenge.

"Ryder womn are head strong, stubborn and have never been easy to live with. Though Dominique is much more wasy going than most" Aden's laughter was soft as he too his wifes hand "And she like all of them is loyal to a fault, generous and most discerning."

"Oh hush dear, he knows he's marrying a fine woman, they wouldn't have made her Emperess if she weren't." Juliana looked up at her husband of nearly three hundred years with love evident in her eyes. "But you don't have much longer to wait Trevor, I promise"

"She indeed is one special woman, a woman that I can open up to and share the real me with her, under all the affairs of business of title and all the obligations and expectations that have been layered on top of me. She understands, she loves the real me at the deepest level and I share the same love for her. Something I can see that you share between yourselves a lifetime of love and devotion to each other, something that I want in my life, a life that I shall share with Dominique."

Trevor seemed to be almost in a dream state as he imagined a life shared with Dominique, a life of openness and trust between the two of them where they face the problems of life together and overcome them together.

However Trevor suddenly snapped out of it.

"Thank you, This is going to be an important day for the both of us, Dominique and I. It is an honour to meet you and to have you reside over the ceremony and soon it will be the greatest honour of all to be your great great grandson-in-law." Trevor smiled slightly and gave a respectful bow at the same time. The Tanarans had some very interesting philosophy's of life and history yet he was glad to be apart of it and to theoretically become part of the Ryder family.

Falsus: Understood, John. I'll be here when the escort arrives.

The gang broke up--never out of contact, but now each going his separate way. Hugh stayed with the Empress, while Boutrus and Bromus looked to mix and rub elbows, and Ver slinked over to the buffet. As he spied a particularly large pastry, a monocle-like attachment moved into place over his artificial left eye.

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

"I'd almost forgotten," Marvel said softly, "what it's like to kiss you." He smiled his devilish little smile. "Won't the inlaws be ecstatic?" But his arms, which had moved to steady her, did not release their gentle but firm grip.

Mercy's heart did back flips at the look on Errant's face, and she couldn't tear her own eyes away from him for a very mong moment

"No, no apologies will be needed. Anticipation." The last was a barely heard sigh, as a look of regret passed over her face.

Then she curtseyed deeply and came around to take the arm he offered, the Errant couldn't remember offering through Mercy's glamour, sliding her arm into his and her hand resting lightly atop his forearm.

The nearest Portal,which looked like nothing more than an archway to an antechamber, was just at the end of the wing their suites occupied. Mercy stated their destination as the small group passed through it. Several miles in a blink and they exited on the first floor some fifty feet from the main reception room where the other guests had gathered.

They could see that they were not the last to arrive, as a trickle of others were still entering and being annonced by Porthos.

He gave them a warm smile as they paused at the top of the top of the five steps leading down into the main receptioon room.

"Might I present the Alpha Miraade..."


~~~~~~~~~~

A few moments ago...


"That is quite everything, my good man." the Miraade's Chamberlain John Adams (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/jedierrant/John_adams.jpg)said to his virtual colleague, Porthos, with a wide grin. The Miraade would have his pomp whether he liked it or not.

~~~~~~~~~~

"..., by the Grace of Mira, of Catawaba and Her Territories, Protector of Vashnear, Head of the Commonwealth of the Skull, Patron and Aegis of the East, Dominator Togovium, Defender of Faith, the Much Honoured Errant Mira'ad!"

Errant paled under Porthos's barrage of honorifics. There'd been no ranging shot, it had come in firing for effect and loaded with high style and flattery. He knew his position had been betrayed. "I'm going to kill Adams," he murmured to Mercy as Porthos continued onto introducing her.

"With the Right Honourable Ambassadress to Catawaba, Her Majesty Mercedez Merrideath Hexx, the Queen Mother of Tanaara!" Porthos paid a glance towards the two vornskrari. "And Guests!"

Dal'ika and Dum didn't mind the short introduction, perhaps relieved, but they were still revelling in Adam's brilliant one-up on Errant. Their long whippish tails wagged back and forth furiously in their mirth as they tried to contain their laughter.

Trevor

It is an honour to meet you and to have you reside over the ceremony and soon it will be the greatest honour of all to be your great great grandson-in-law

"We hope you will consider us as your own family, not just 'in laws'. For you are as welcome and loved among us as if you were born to us." Juliana toggled the chair forward, and looked deeply into Trevor's eyes for a long moment "I am an official Fair Witness. I must, in that capacity and High Office, ask you to avow under whatever oaths you hold as binding that you are not under any form of compulsion, drugs, device or threat concerning you desire to wed Dominique Evanagline Alexandra Ryder" The elderly lady had slipped a small seal, which gleamed with the luster that only real gold possessed and was centered with a thumb sized gem of crystal silver blue and gold. It hung frum a heavy chain of the same. The inner hues of the gem seemed to move with slow fluidity, but that may have been a trick of the light.

One slender, ancient but still supple, hand clasped about it briefly and the crystal shown with inner light and a sudden deep stillness descended over the room. The Starstone, a psi matrix, would validate his response. Under it's veil only the truth could be spoken and heard.

And that was the only question she would or indeed could ask in her role as one of the Conductors of the Ceremony. As the Senior Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of the Phoenix Empire of Tanaara she would never even think of abrogating any her oaths.


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Adam and Meredith

"I must show you my home sometime. I've been enchanted by the wonder of your world, I really must have a chance to repay the favour"

Meredith looked over at him with a pleased smile "How would you feel if I confessed to having found all the travel guides I could find on Alversia and watching all of them. I've got a copmplete history on order as well" Though she knew that the travel guides, while being representative of his homeworld, could not capture it's true beauty or the essence of it's people. Though Adam was so wonderfully representative of the fine people of Alversia.

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Posting for Anarcanis/ with permission

Che' paused at the entrance behind a group consitsing of four - two humans and two of canid evolved who's species she didn't recognise. That caught her attention as there were not too many canid evolved species about in the Celestial Ring, and the announcement of merely 'guests' had her wondering even more. But that was for later , as her attention was more focused on her cousin and the Fae he was supposed to be escorting. Though looking over to where Drai'lee and Marvel stood in conversation she could still only shake her head at Thoth's worrying. There was nothing wrong in, her eyes, at the Demonics still having his arms about the Fae. But her upbringing had not been at any court, However she had met Drai'lee's mother.

Apologizing to the pair of Canids, she moved passed them quicky and headed directly to her cousin.

Morga & Perigrine

"If anyone's had a ski weekend prior to this event, they should perhaps be watched-the Mi-Go do not mind the amputations needed to fit in a human skin passably, and their translation devices offer only a slight buzz to their voices, easily explained as a cold or lung infection"

"Morga, this will go to no one but Dominique, Meredith, and Lord Celadine" She mention the top three of the Empires Government - the Empress, the War Mistress, and the Minister of State. Lord Celadine was a Celestial and Chaos had no more staunch opponent in the Empire. And the three were the most protected - if with utmost discretion - in the Empire as well.

"I will take that other information and use it to refine our search parameters. Thank you Morga"

"How would you feel if I confessed to having found all the travel guides I could find on Alversia and watching all of them. I've got a complete history on order as well"

"Well," Adam thought for a moment, a pleased smile on his face, "I'm actually quite flattered really, I didn't think you would go through all that effort to learn about Alversia and go through so much trouble to see my homeworld." He laughed again, "And if you've ordered a complete history of Alversia then you are in for quite a long night," and he was right, one thing that no one could say about Alversian history was that it was boring. From their first contact with FTL races, to their conquest and incorporation into the Photenican Empire, the unsuccessful revolts, the successful rebellion under Trezan Baxtor, the Civil War which followed, the eleven Danaversian Wars and the evolution of the Military, the Korr War, the spread of Alversian cultural influence throughout their sector of space...it was a lot to cover in one night. That was without even going near the historical figures in Alversia's history.

He looked back to Merideth and grinned,
"When you get that History, you really must tell me. We can sit and watch it together," He laughed and held her hand a little bit tighter as they walked through the musuem. Adam felt happier and more relaxed than he had done in months.
"I can even show some of the Guides or Documentaries in my own personal database. They're not as...varied as the one's you've read but they're fascinating nonetheless, even to someone like myself"

Trevor

It is an honour to meet you and to have you reside over the ceremony and soon it will be the greatest honour of all to be your great great grandson-in-law

"We hope you will consider us as your own family, not just 'in laws'. For you are as welcome and loved among us as if you were born to us." Juliana toggled the chair forward, and looked deeply into Trevor's eyes for a long moment "I am an official Fair Witness. I must, in that capacity and High Office, ask you to avow under whatever oaths you hold as binding that you are not under any form of compulsion, drugs, device or threat concerning you desire to wed Dominique Evanagline Alexandra Ryder" The elderly lady had slipped a small seal, which gleamed with the luster that only real gold possessed and was centered with a thumb sized gem of crystal silver blue and gold. It hung frum a heavy chain of the same. The inner hues of the gem seemed to move with slow fluidity, but that may have been a trick of the light.

One slender, ancient but still supple, hand clasped about it briefly and the crystal shown with inner light and a sudden deep stillness descended over the room. The Starstone, a psi matrix, would validate his response. Under it's veil only the truth could be spoken and heard.

And that was the only question she would or indeed could ask in her role as one of the Conductors of the Ceremony. As the Senior Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of the Phoenix Empire of Tanaara she would never even think of abrogating any her oaths.


Trevor was certainly appreciative of the comment from Juliana. He had no family of his own any more and it had been a long time since the last of them had been taken away from him.

It's hard to truly explain how the crystal felt as it spread it's inner light within the room. It was almost as if the entire room was as still as the grave. Trevor could feel the light penetrating... It was more than just light... it was truth.

But then the question came... but what oath does he consider binding? Trevor does believe in the existence of gods, but doesn't believe IN them so it isn't appropriate... the only thing that he really truly believes are binding... are contracts. He had his answer, a binding verbal contract. All this happened within a fraction of a second as he started to speak.

"I, Trevor Desorté, give you today a binding verbal contract that there is no impairment to my judgement, from drugs, alcohol nor from any type of mental defect, physical or psychological. That my desire to wed Dominique Evangeline Alexander Ryder is free from compulsion or threat from an external entity and that I truly wish to marry her. I love her and I want to share all that I am and have with her for as long as we both exist."

Errant looked around the entrance hall after he forced blood back into his cheeks and confirmed for the fifty-seventh time that he was going to kill his chamberlain slowly....deliciously slow...perhaps stick him in a room with sugar-hyped three year olds with permanent markers. Errant pushed that thought away.

He recognized Peregrine Omega. She'd done so much for his family. Her genetic work had made it possible for the vornskrari like Dum and Dal'ika behind him to lead normal...well, normal for special operations soldiers and executive protection detail agents, lives. She'd also spearheaded a reproduction program to help make the vornskrari, who had but twenty-four members, a viable species that could, one day, exist and reproduce without scientific assitance.

The others were a bit fuzzier. He recognized Rob, the Archon of Tanaara, and his wife the Empress of Tarlchia of course. Some of the others he'd seen in pictures either from a quick briefing from Mercy or things gathered by his own intelligence service SubRosa.

He leaned closer to Mercy and brought up a hand to pat the hand she had in the crook of his arm. "Okay, darlin'," he whispered, "old Togovian habits are setting in. First inclination is open fire and make introductions later. What do you suggest I do?" A grin formed on his lips. " I mean, this is what I keep you around for, isn't it?"


Dum and Dal'ika were taking in the hall more closely that their human brother. He took in the sights. They could hear the conversations almost as clearly as if they were standing next to the speakers. Those pointed ears atop their skulls weren't just for show. And the smells...

The glorious, interesting smells.

They took great whiffs of the air. So many things, peoples, places, they'd never smelt before. They loved traveling. Perhaps that was the one thing they missed about the Guard. It was free travel to intersting and unlikely places with people and things you didn't normally run into on the average street.

Errant and Mercy had gone on a few steps while the two vornskrari were still observing. Their attention was brought in by an approaching being who was furred and smelled canine. Dal'ika gave the Anubian a passing glance to mark her presence and to ensure they weren't wearing the same dress.

Dum's glance was more than passing and more than a glance. He didn't see much of her dress.

Wow.

He was glad he didn't go to the clubs with Jurii and the rest.

Marvel & Drai'lee.

"Won't the inlaws be ecstatic?"

"Yes it's been far too long. And I don't care what 'the family' thinks..." Her voice trailed off as his last words really registered. She closed her eyes for a long second then looked up into his eyes.

"Are you asking me to marry you?" Drai'lee asked very carefully - her heart was going pitter pat - and she knew all too often Marvel spoke in jest.

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Adam & Meredith

They're not as...varied as the one's you've read but they're fascinating nonetheless, even to someone like myself"

I'm sure yours are much more thorough though. You probably have all the ones that Don't focus on the military. They thought that was why I ordered some and so they sent me ones on Alversia's military bases" She chuckled. He'd know they covered more than that but she felt like teasing him.

There weren't many..oh heck, there aren't any! she felt like teasing.

"And I'd love to watch the history documentaries with you. But I have to warn you, I am an inverterate popcorn muncher."

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Trevor

"I love her and I want to share all that I am and have with her for as long as we both exist."

The radiance never wavered, as he made his avowal, and the truth of it was manifest.

Juliana nodded solemnly. "Done and Witnessed" She proclaimed and Aden handed her a rolled sheet of heavy, traditionally prepared vellum and she pressed the seal against the lower third. Energies gathered and the Imperial Sigil was imprinted upon the thick, supple material as a faint shimmer of heat could be briefly seen. The embossing was unforgeable and unalterable.

"Thank you Trevor. And once again, truly, welcome to the family" Juliana and Aden excused themselves as they had to finishe the filing proceedures. "We'll see you though, very shortly" They took their leave holding hands, very evidently still very much in love.

Morga nodded to Peregrine, and sat at his appointed place. Darksense scanning of those nearby revealed little, but he was patient. The fungal composition of a Mi-Go's body stood out starkly to Darksense, and this secret of the trolls was not understood by anyone not a troll-only another troll could generate a convincing Darksense illusion, just as only the Mi-Go could communicate in their language, changing the colors of their heads, and this language confounded even millenia of trollish code-breakers working on translating it.
He didn't recognize any of the diplomats, though the Anubi had assisted in the Novan War. Morga had played very little part in those events, though the Death Lord Korth had expressed a fondness for their Prince, and Korth was a Revered Elder, Mentor of Morga's liege.
Porthos, I'm sending some walktapi to the kitchens-if it isn't deadly to the Anubi, could you have the chefs form a representation of the Battle of the Orphanage from it and deliver it to their table with the Death Lord Korth's compliments? Morga sent along his communications array. Porthos deserved to know of Morga's presence in his systems-it was his body, after all.
He noted the others, though none had contacted the trolls since their own prehistory-well, the Alversians perhaps. Their society and culture seemed dependent upon regular attacks from neighboring Danaversia to advance, though whether it was a symbiosis or not was a point of debate in Lhankor Mhy.
Morga nodded, sending a signal to Talon to lower a crate of walktapi to the bay floor for collection...

"And I'd love to watch the history documentaries with you. But I have to warn you, I am an inverterate popcorn muncher."

"And I can do nothing but eat the stuff either," Adam laughed at her jests as they continued their tour of the museum, "I would have thought someone so heavily involved in the military would be interested to know how other worlds developed it" He too was teasing at this point, "However, Warmistress, if you find the Military History of Alversia too...dreary...then I'm sure I can dig out some sporting or cultural items that will more than slake your thirst." He laughed again.

How did he always row himself up the creek like this? At least this time it was amusing. Still...he had a reputation to live up to...and an old saying...

Never swap barbs with a demon.

"Marry?" he said. "Depends. What are the divorce laws like where you come from? You know, so that we can keep from killing each other after they give you that rolling pin as a wedding present..."

He did his best to hold back a snicker.

Falsus made it to Trevor's chamber without incident.

Ver complained about not being introduced, but they decided that it was best not to mention the oversight.

Hugh, on the other hand, was stiff as a board. Unlike Falsus, he wasn't used to speaking outside of the collective. Though straightforward and honest, and respected by his people, he could be a bit lacking in social skills. Not wanting to inadvertently offend anyone, he smiled politely and remained silent.

Adam & Meredith

However, Warmistress, if you find the Military History of Alversia too...dreary...then I'm sure I can dig out some sporting or cultural items that will more than slake your thirst."

"Oh I certainly do not find your Military history boring, by any means. The simple fact that your people have not only survived but prospered in the midst of nearly continuous warfare is fascinating." She replied quickly. Though she was sure he was teasing her back she wanted him to be fully aware that she found none of Alversia to be less than fascinating. "But no culture can be solely judged by it's militaries, so yes I'd love to learn as much as I can about your interests."

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Morga

Peregrine bowed slightly to the Muri and moved off to circulate among the guests, greeting the ones she knew personally.

Porthos, I'm sending some walktapi to the kitchens-if it isn't deadly to the Anubi, could you have the chefs form a representation of the Battle of the Orphanage from it and deliver it to their table with the Death Lord Korth's compliments

"Why certainly Lord Morga. According to all my information Walktapi is not toxic to them in any way. I know the chefs will be delighted to create such a work of art. Is there anything else I can do for you?" The Palace's Master C.S. replied.

Of course he knew Morga was 'in him'. If Peregrine, backed by the wishes of the Empress hadn't requested that he allow the intrusion, Morga would have found the system closed to him. His core architecture was Xa in design, and creation. It had been their Entechly Matrix that had taken him from his dieing human body and ensconced him within. It was technology no humans had, and not even the Xa Cz'inni's creators would not have recognized. For the Xa had moved beyond their creators.


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Michiko, Hugh of the Borg, Aeris, Rob, Mercy and Errant

"Hugh of the Borg, might I make known to you Robert Fortier ~ Hexx Archon of Tanaara, his lovely wife Aeris Greenwood~ Hexx Empress of Tarlachia, and" Michiko paused in the formal introductions between Rob, Aeris and Hugh as two new comers joined them - the two that had just been announced "... Oh Welcome Mercy ...Mercedez Merrideath Hexx, the Queen Mother of Tanaara and her fiance, Errant Mira'ad, the Alpha Miraade of Catawaba."

She wasn't sure why the Borg had ignored Aeris (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14354889&postcount=38) and Rob's first greetings (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14354889&postcount=39), but perhaps he had been waiting for a more formal introduction. The Phoenix Empire of Tanara had never had dealings with the Borg, and thus little knowledge of their customs and traditions.

The Tanarans were an naturally informal people. The more they liked you, and approved of you the less formal they were, considering friends as family. Careful courtesy, and standoffishness marked you as some one they were wary and distrustful of, or most commonly, unknown to them. They hated giving unintentional offense - They were an armed society with dueling a long standing option for redress- No Tanarans were not prickly and quick to offend in the least , but carried themselves with the laid back reassurance of a people that knew and accepted themselves faults and all.

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Che looked back over her shoulder once, at the two canids. They smelled of old-fashioned gun powder and the oils used to clean primitive slug throwers. They were armed but discretely as were the male of the two humans they had accompanied.

They were wearing too may clothes, human styles modified slightly for their different physiques. But still too many clothes. Fur was a perfectly wonderful covering but the universe's abundance of nearly hairless humans made excess coverage - mostly - de rigur. Che'mere shook her head free of those thoughts as she stopped next to her cousin and spoke aloud.

"So do we go charging over there and be offended on her mothers behalf. You know as well as I do she receives no more acceptance at the Court of the Summer Queen than I do at yours"

"You are my cousin, your children will be My heirs."

The white Anubian cut him off sharply "And that does NOT make me accepted by the vast majority of those who throng about the Obsidian Throne. They either wish the embarrassment of my past gone from their ken, or they wish to use me. Her growl was low for his ears alone, but her eyes crackled with the anger barely leashed within her taunt muscled body.

“If you will excuse me, I see nothing to cause a fuss over, and so I am going to introduce my self to the two guests. I think their company might be better than yours.” She loved her cousin dearly. He had been led to believe, since childhood, that she had been killed when actually she had been abducted. Once he had learned she lived he had moved heaven and earth to find and rescue her, leading the dangerous raid himself. And he had been nothing but kind and supportive of her. How ever his court had been less so, by far.

Then she was striding away, the short, filmy, multilayered kilt skirt of finest amber hued linen – each layer nearly transparent - swishing about her slender hips. The rich copper and cobalt brocaded vest that she wore was held across her lush breasts by the slender leather and metal band that held her back sheath in place. She crossed the the two canids, noting that the male was somewhat taller than she was, nearly her cousin's height.

“Greetings, I am Che’mere of Anarcanis.” She spoke first to the gorgeously attired – but still too much clothes – female. Anarcanis was a hot world, with even the extremes of the poles being little cooler than temperate.

Marvel & Drai'lee

You know, so that we can keep from killing each other after they give you that rolling pin as a wedding present

The Fae looked at him with confusion written large "What would I do with... a rolling pin? ..Is it some sort of weapon I've never heard of? Is it some thing sew with? or ah... cook with?...Oh Marvel, I am soo sorry, I have no idea how to do either." She rolled her eyes. "And besides I don't think either of us would much care for a Fae wedding."

Her grin was sharp and she winked at him "We ought to just go keep house together, but I have to admit I don't know anything about house cleaning either. So I guess we'll just have to spend all our time in bed."

OOC: What missed one...a Cardassian/ Ver, a human/ Falsus, a Klingon/ Bromus, and a Bajoran / Boutrous and Hugh... thats four plus one...

"But no culture can be solely judged by it's militaries, so yes I'd love to learn as much as I can about your interests."

"Don't worry about it," Adam laughed, picking up on her eagerness to answer and realising her uncertainty, "I know you don't find it boring, I merely jest ye," He bowed again in a grandiose way to her again,
"And I can show you all you wanna know about my interests. Anytime you are ready, then I can make the time to suit." He winked and laughed again.

Trevor

"I love her and I want to share all that I am and have with her for as long as we both exist."

The radiance never wavered, as he made his avowal, and the truth of it was manifest.

Juliana nodded solemnly. "Done and Witnessed" She proclaimed and Aden handed her a rolled sheet of heavy, traditionally prepared vellum and she pressed the seal against the lower third. Energies gathered and the Imperial Sigil was imprinted upon the thick, supple material as a faint shimmer of heat could be briefly seen. The embossing was unforgeable and unalterable.

"Thank you Trevor. And once again, truly, welcome to the family" Juliana and Aden excused themselves as they had to finishe the filing proceedures. "We'll see you though, very shortly" They took their leave holding hands, very evidently still very much in love.

Dastardly Stench;14381023']Falsus made it to Trevor's chamber without incident.

Ver complained about not being introduced, but they decided that it was best not to mention the oversight.

Hugh, on the other hand, was stiff as a board. Unlike Falsus, he wasn't used to speaking outside of the collective. Though straightforward and honest, and respected by his people, he could be a bit lacking in social skills. Not wanting to inadvertently offend anyone, he smiled politely and remained silent.

Trevor watched as Juliana and Aden left, the Tanarans were an interesting people, a vibrant history and culture. They knew where they came from and where they were now and recognised both as being apart of who they were. A trait far too rare in the galaxy.

Moments later Falsus arrived... "Thank you for coming, I really appreciate that you came." Trevor smiled and took Falsus' hand to shake it.

"First of, all, I wanted to give you back this... We've learned as much as we can from it. I know it's early but no point in just laying around back at HQ." He pulled a small device from his pocket, it was known as a datavice, essentially powerless at the moment. "Just don't bind it, while you're here okay?" Trevor lightly pressed the device into Falsus' hand.

"And there is something else... John probably would of mentioned something but you are the only guests that I have invited. All the other nations have some sort of Link to my future wife, but apart from her it's probably a bit sad but you are the closest that I have to friends. Oh, yes, I've got colleagues, business associates, clients, employee's ... even within the board, the closest people I work with... well... apart from Joan, it's nothing more than business. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your help before and I wanted to thank you again for coming."

The fist that landed on Morga's snout came out of nowhere, or so it seemed, Aiko may have just been using her abilities to hide herself from Morga's senses- but which ever it was -the blow was far more of a 'bop' than anything else. It had nothing more than Novan normal strength behind it, but then again no Novan was week and Aiko was a solar goddess....

"I don't know what you slipped to my sister, and I won't ask her, but if it is something more just to break her heart further you can just tell your 'First Mom' that she is very lucky that my sister is too..." She searched for the proper word and failed. Exhaling in frustration " She ought to lead a battle fleet to Pamaltela to retrieve her Intended, but she's convinvced herself that she's not worthy. That her happiness isn't worth a war."

"It is not sister" Indigo's voice came quietly from behind. "And Lord Morga has nothing to do with the Muri being called home. He would never pass along your actions anyway, no Muri male would so hit a female, especially not his Mother Goddess, Kygor Litor. Please, leave Lord Morga to enjoy the wedding." She tuggged lightly on her sisters kimono "Our apologies Lord Morga. Aiko feels passionately about things."

Though the look in her eyes might not square with her soft, calm voice and actions. Indigo was a warrior though and through, as was natural for any Novan, but she had long schooled herself with an adamantine discipline. She missed Garak desperately, but he was not to blame either. She could not but appreciate and honor his duty to his people. The small Empress bowed slightly to Baron Morga, pleased to see that her twin and co Empress did the same, though there was the faintest, grudging hesitation to her apology.

Morga mused as the twin Empresses left, That was certainly more pleasant than I expected-and much better than I deserved.
He pondered as they walked away-Annilla had spoken, "Chaos rides the Twin Thrones of the Kami" and thus it was true. All signs pointed to Aiko, but her righteous wrath was not of Chaos. Morga had allowed the strike, had known it would happen-the sun may be many things, but it is not hidden. He fully expected to be destroyed, proof the Divine One was steeped in Chaos. There was an agent of Chaos within the Novan Court, and one dangerously close to the Empress Indigo.
Morga needed an operative to ferret out the truth, but Kyger Lytor had expressly forbidden contact-had even kept Zorak Zoran from working troll justice on the Divine One. For all she had tossed Gerrak and Indigo together, had pulled and strained events to force a union, she had withdrawn at the last minute, and now was the greatest obstacle to the pair being together.
Annilla could order Morga to defy Kyger Lytor, but her mindless state would not allow it. She muttered and tossed, throwing out random prophecy without explanation--she did not order anyone.
He pondered, now...

Marvel smiled, let her go and held out his hand. "A rolling pin looks like this," he said, making a translucent illusion of one appear above his hand. "Some people say that they're supposed to be used to help bake things, but the only thing I've ever seen one used for was," that mischievous grin of his lit up again, "keeping the food critics in line." The illusion disappeared.

Marvel's smile turned more serious and slightly hungrier. "As to getting together," he said, "I've got the perfect thing for you. We can sneak back to Yendor's Castle after the party and I can make you the official Queen of the Castle. I'm his right-hand man now. After that time I spent teaching in the White Tower, he made me his Chief of Education, and I've got a crop of wonderful, mischievous little buggers all learning how to prank each other. I even do Demon Drills where I come out in my true form and give 'em heck if they don't run like it. So maybe, you could come out as a visiting expert and put some of 'em back in line...when you're not too busy...in bed."

--------------------------------

Hugh smiled. "It's an honor and a privilege," he said, "to be among people who seem so kind as yourselves." It wasn't easy for him to keep a straight face. Over the collective, Bromus and Ver were arguing over the cuisine. For the moment, he decided to drop out, and enjoy the moment by himself.

He couldn't help but notice the incredible beauty all around him. Beautiful people, beautiful furnishings, beautiful place...and Hugh of Borg, a common drone who had worked all his life, the ultimate Public Servant, if the truth be known. For a moment, their sheer immensity seemed to dwarf him.

He was glad to be with these people, and willing to move mountains so that he and his would remain in their good graces.

-------------------------------------------

Falsus laughed a mirthful laugh as he looked the datavice over. It would not be necessary--a mere formality--to tell Trevor that the New Borg, too, understood the device in minute detail.

"You've got to get out more!" Falsus said, then his voice went down to a whisper as he continued, "Just don't let the wife know you're doing it.

"As to this," he finished, holding up the datavice, "I can't take it. It's Starscream's. It doesn't belong to me, or to the New Borg."

There was a laugh behind him. It was all too familiar.

The first part of Starscream that decloaked was the crap-eating grin. The rest followed quickly. He was no doubt amused at the fact that he'd managed to slither his way through the building's security--if they hadn't let him. "Falsus, you're still a pain," he said, "but that's what I've always liked about you."

Despite it all, one could tell that Starscream knew this was a formal occasion. He had shown up buffed and polished, and, even though he still sported the black-and-gray color scheme that the New Borg had given him, it shined like Falsus had never seen it shine before.

http://www.nls.net/mp/413/starscream_of_borg.png

---------------------------------



OOC:

You missed Ver. Check the post.

Marvel & Drai'lee

“Oh an odd bludgeon!” Drai’lee exclaimed at the sight of the illusion

"So maybe, you could come out as a visiting expert and put some of 'em back in line...when you're not too busy...in bed."

"I suppose Rash might like a change of diet." Drai'lee chuckled "But I don't know...How much free time are you planning for me to have?"

But before Marvel could answer Drai'lee looked past him and sighed. But the grin became a true smile "Marvel, I'd like to introduce you to one of my oldest friends" She beckoned Thoth to her side from where he had on silent paws moved up behind the brick hued demon “Marvel, this is Pharaoh Thoth Hau' Aum Horus, ruler of the Obsidian Empire of Anarcanis.” She introduced “He was kind enough to give me a ride here…but where’s Che…oh there she is” She looked around and found the white Anubian in conversation with a couple she did not recognize.

Thoth was close to eight foot tall if his elegant sweep of ears were counted and he radiated a deep, well-mastered aura of arcane about him. He was not one to be taken lightly in that arena. The impressively muscled but still lithely slender Anubian nodded in friendly fashion to Marvel “Pleased to meet you Master Marvel. And please just call me Thoth”

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"to be among people who seem so kind as yourselves”

Michiko blushed and spoke up quickly “Thank you Hugh, but I will be the first to admit that we aren’t perfect. Though I’ve always given my people an A plus for effort.” She had served the Phoenix Empire for forty years as Empress, another nearly forty as Kaylinde’s, and now Dominique’s, senior diplomat and sometimes Minister of one department or another. “I hope that your people and ours will become good friends. The more the merrier it has always been said.”

Rob looked at his honorary aunt and smiled “And we have a great inspiration and example to live up to, seeing as how as the Empire is our mother so to speak” He took Aeris’s hand in his and turned a loving smile to her “And with the very civilizing influence of Tarlachia. A people who’s very name means ‘welcome friends” He squeezed his wife’s hand gently.

“I hope that your people and ours will become good friends. The more the merrier it has always been said.” Michiko took a flute of one of Tanaara’s finest white wines from the passing circulating waitstaff and offered it to Hugh “Is wine permissible for you?” She inquired.

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The projection would have been perfect save that Starscream was far too tall in real life to fit into the room, the ceiling height being only eighteen foot. And Palace security would never have let any one 'cloaked' into the airspace about the island, much less on to the Imperial Island itself or within the Palace.

OOC: No need to edit. Ver doesn't really mind. :) :) :)

Adam & Merideth

"And I can show you all you wanna know about my interests. Anytime you are ready, then I can make the time to suit."

Merideth joined in his laughter, enjoying the teasing they were shareing. It felt so comfortable. "I'm sure you can, with great enthusiasm!" A faint chime sounded in her ear, letting her know that the formkalities were about to get under way.

"Oh I think it's time to assemble for the ceremony" Lightly she tugged him around from the exhibit they had been admiring in between bouts of teasing. "We really will have to come back and see it all again. This weekend perhaps?"

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Hugh, Michiko & others

One of Michiko's aides wafted up to her and whipsered in her ear, and Michhiko nodded. "My apologies to all, but I must take my leave of you. As Dominiques Second, and Supporter, I must addend the Bride."

She looked over at Hugh "I am so very glad that you came, Hugh, and that our peoples will have the chance to become friends." Her empathic ability projected the welcome and honesty of her words, making her sincerity manifest to the Borg.

She then turned her eyes to Mercy and Errant "I am going to steal him away for at least one dance" she teased "but in exchange I'll send you all home on the Hamadryad" Michiko seldom lent out her personal star yatch.

Aeris and Rob were reminded that Michiko expected at least an additional day to spoil her honorary grandkids.

Then she was heading off to begin her formal duties.

"Starscream?!" Trevor was totally bemused by the sudden appearance. He knew the security he shouldn't of been able to land on the planet, let alone get into his pre-wedding chambers.

Something obviously didn't seem right.. he was too short. "I didn't know you entered... but you haven't entered this room, not really, have you Starscream."

John could tell exactly how far short, to the millimeter, Starscream was yet there wasn't any real depth to the prescence of Starscream. There was the visual and auditory aspects but there was nothing else to indicate that there was even a prescence there.

"Starscream, you know I can see that there's no heat coming out from you so why are you projecting yourself here?" John queried.

"Not quite sure myself but it I'd bet it has something to do with, what I'm holding in my hand. If you want it back, then I'd suggest you deal with the Borg. The deal were you leant me device was part of a deal with the Borg, you are no longer associated with the Borg therefore I can't give this to you directly. I'm sure you understand."

Errant nodded to Robert, Aeris, and Michiko. He knew them all, Rob and Aeris well, and Michiko from Mercy's abdication. Before he had a chance to respond and greet Hugh, Michiko was called away.

"I am going to steal him away for at least one dance" she teased "but in exchange I'll send you all home on the Hamadryad"

Errant looked over at Mercy. "I'm bartered goods? What is this Indecent Proposal?" He said with grin. "The yacht's nice from what I've heard, but don't know if I want that sort of image about myself...some autocratic gigolo."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lightyears and perhaps dimensions away, a very similiar man with very much the same name sneezed. "What is it, Errant?" A four-armed android asked the man.

Errant Mira'ade looked up from the infamous T-visored Mandalorian buy'ce, or helmet, that he was rewiring. He looked up and into the beyond as if he was staring through the hull of his YT-2000 tramp freighter. "I just felt...as if someone dismissed my lively-hood and slapped me upside...and it felt like I did it to myself..."

~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the palace...

Errant turned to Hugh. He held his hand out to shake the Borg's. "Dee-lighted to meet you, sir. I'd put myself behind the more senior countries and rulers about me...but I and my people have good examples to live up to..." He cast side glances to Rob, Aeris, and Mercy. "..and surpass eventually. They keep giving us a leg up on our tech, and they're going to be surprised one day."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dal'ika and Dum turned before the voice spoke. They could feel the presence approach them. They smell clean, warm, sage-esque scent of her. They looked her over. Dal'ika's thoughts ran along that the Anubian had great fashion sense, but she must be cold. Catawaba while tropical was currently expeirencing a volcanic winter, and the two of them had spent time in the northern areas of their region freezing their tropical tails off.

Dum thought also that she must be cold in that get up, that it looked fantastic, but also wondered if because of the...brevity of covering if he could "see if she was cold." Dal'ika reacted in her brother's pondering male silence. She bowed her head for a moment before looking the Anubian in the eye and smiling. "Hello, I am Dal'ika Mira'ad of Catawaba, and this is..."

"Her brother..." Dum snapped from his momentary leer with a smile. He smiled. "...Dum Mira'ad, also of Catawaba. It is good to meet you, Che'mere." Shay'mir, her named sounded like. It was so smooth and beautiful, he thought, just like the owner.

"We really will have to come back and see it all again. This weekend perhaps?"

"I can think of nothing that I would rather do," Adam smiled and allowed himself to be dragged away by the Warmistress, already thinking of the wedding ceremony that was due to begin any moment. He was genuinely happy for Dominique, he had meet the Empress before and couldn't think of anyone who more deserved life-long happiness than the hardworking Ruler. He looked at Merideth and smiled, putting his hand in hers
"So where is the ceremony?" He asked.

The Board of The Garbage Men, made up of the CEO, CIO (Chief Information Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), CMO (Chief Marketing Officer), CIAO (Chief Internal Affairs Officer), CSO (Chief Security Officer), CPO (Chief Promotions Officer), CSO (Chief Security Officer) and COO Chief Operations Officer).

We're all there as a large group talking amung themselves having already been prepared dress wise. They weren't the only employee's of the Corporation there but they certainly were the highest ranking (apart from the groom of course) and the loudest.

"I just don't see it, now that Trevor and Dominique are getting married that we are somehow allied with Tanara. Both the Bride and the Groom have on frequent occasions stated that this is a personal union, not a political one." Edwin Yates, Chief Promotions Officer

"Yeah, but Trevor is emotionally involved with Tanaran empress and the idiot's formalising it. He's practically signing papers to join in an Alliance with Tanara, which goes against all corporate policies of neutrality." Robert Jones, The Chief marketing officer was clearly alarmed at how this might create a perception of favouritism among it's clientele.

"Either way, It'll be a nightmare to properly organise security for the both of them... Tanaran agencies are going want to be heavily involved and by crickey my guys are going to be involved to. I'm not going to leave the security up to random jokers." Edgar Tressler, CSO

"Dominique isn't the Empress of Tanara, I mean sure she has that position, but it's a job. That is not the be all and end all, and if people can't see beyond the personallities and take this to a level that it just shouldn't be taken to then that's their fault."

"Anyway, The wedding ceremony's soon right. Perhaps there is chance I might meet with this Morga character before hand, there is something that I wanted to raise with him."

The assembled group came up behind the mass of people where Hugh the Borg was trying to make some sort of first contact with all these new people.

Adam and Meredith

"So where is the ceremony?"

"The Formalities are being held in the Cella Aurius, the Golden Room. It's also often called the Eye of the Heavens." Meredith explained further "Since we believe that what is done beneath the gaze of the stars can not be fabricated, or misrepresented, the domed ceiling retracts."

Most Tanaaran weddings, contract signings, formal oaths and other such important events were held at night, and either out of doors or beneath such oculars, due to that belief. Dominique's coronation had been held at night and out of doors, as had the previous Empresses. The belief was one they had carried with them when they fled their world of origin all those seventeen hundred years ago.

"But every one is gathering in the main reception room for the processional there, so that's our current destination" Meredith added as they exited the museum.

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Hugh, Errant, Mercy, Aeris, Rob & The Garbage Men Group

"The yacht's nice from what I've heard, but don't know if I want that sort of image about myself...some autocratic gigolo."

Michiko's laugh floated behind her as she headed off with a parting comment "I think you might do admirably. But discuss it with Mercy first"

The look in Mercy's eyes told him no9t to, then she smiled and winked at him.

The sounds of conversation and the arrival of a new group had Mercy turning to greet the new comers, though she had not quite heard what they had been saying to one another.

Mercy didn't recognize them, but that didn't deter her. She was naturally as much a diplomat as Michiko was and she greeted the Garbage Men group with a warm smile. "Hello. I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Mercedez Hexx, Tanaara"

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Dal'ika, Dum & Che'

"Her brother Dum Mira'ad, also of Catawaba. It is good to meet you, Che'mere."

"I am pleased to meet you both Dal'ika, Dum, there are far too few of us" Up close they could see that her milk white pelt was crisscrossed with countless fine lines of even whiter fur, giving her a ghostly brindled appearance. Both of them would know that that was the effect of fur growing back over a scar.

Gently and very discretely, she tested their scents, smiling inside at evidence of Dum's oh so very male interest. They were bgoth curiopus about her, which was only natural, as she was equally curious about them. Though their scents were more than passing strange, unlike any of the few other canid evolved races that the Anubians had met. In the Guardian Eye of the Ring, there were only one other such race, and the Thyrrians were very reclusive, though they maintained good relations with other races.

"I am not familiar with the Empire of Catawaba though. Do your lands lie outside the Celestial Ring?" She hoped she wasn't touching on a delicate subject – some people were very sensitive about their home planet’s location - but her education in certain areas was incomplete. Though she was working hard to make up for the years of scholarly learning she had been denied.

There was an imperceptible change in Robert as he turned his attention to Mercy, he himself was perhaps the most senior diplomat, second only to Trevor "It is a pleasure, especially to meet one of the bride's family." He countered with a warm smile of his own. "Allow me to introduce my colleagues and myself. My name is Robert Jones, and I am the Chief Marketing Officer of The Garbage Men, these are other members of the Board. This is our Chief Promotions officer, Edwin Yates, our Chief Security Officer, Edgar Tresslar, Dale Tresgovsken, our Chief Internal Affairs Officer, Lander Reagon, Our Chief Information Officer, Peter Everret, Our Chief Financial Officer and Brian Zeta, our Chief Operations Officer."

The board had no problem arguing among themselves but they always at least tried to present a unified position when dealing with outsiders (aka anyone not a member of the board).

"It's going to be a great night, we all are very happy for him."

Errant turned and sighted the gaggle, he thought that the best word to describe them, of men in tuxes, and his blood ran cold for an instant.

Corporate Executives bearing right down on him like a heard of spooked cows.

The Miraade'd slummed down to their sort's liars, board rooms long and stale, expensive restaurants with maître d's and violin accompaniment. He'd done his part to support and foster commerce in Catawaba and had to tolerate slimey reptilians in suits worth more than he'd pay for a good assault rifle. The prospect of them barreling down on him just about set him to a panic until Mercy stopped them with one of her brilliant smiles and her warm greetings. She allowed him to lose his momentary deer in the headlights look and force a smile.

"Gentlemen, dee-lited to meet y'all. I'm Errant Mira'ad from Catawaba...oh, Miraade of the place, in fact." He added as an after thought. He figured everyone should have done their homework about him, but he didn't leave it up to chance. He just hated having to play 'match the dossier' with a face. Mercy, on the other hand, didn't have worry. She'd been known for years as the Queen of Tanaara. He, on the other other hand, was four year newcomer, with only a year and a half upon the stage of Fatal Terrain and the wider...well...galaxy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too few of us? That puzzled the both of them as to what she was talking about. There were very, very few vornskrari, twenty-four in fact. It didn't occur to them to think to the point of canids. They hadn't encountered any either, and never really thought to the number of their 'kind' in the galaxy.

Both brother and sister knew that brindle effect too well. Most of their scars had been removed and healed over, but not out of Togovian kindness but a wish for a clean and good looking product. The scars they had suffered since their freedom they wore with pride and permanence. Dal'ika was devoide of scars that could be seen. Dum had a few furrows in his fur from the right side of his head up and over. His right ear was tattered, holed in two places.

Dal'ika and Dum shared a look for a moment. They both nodded and turned back to Che'mere. Dal'ika spoke. "We do not call Catawaba an empire, but it has taken on many of an empire's facets, so we can see why many might call our Miraadery an empire. And I suppose that we do lie outside the Celestial Ring. We are from the Milky Way, Earth, same as the Tanaarans."

"But every one is gathering in the main reception room for the processional there, so that's our current destination"

"Sounds wonderful, I am most definately looking forward to it," Adam laughed as he listened to the information with regards to the Wedding. There was something insanely romantic about being married at night, what it was, he wasn't sure. He wondered for a moment if he would ever get married under the stars, if he would ever find his true love with the gaze of the stars willing him on. He looked over at Merideth and, unseen by her, blushed. In all those imaginings of him being married, he could see no one else with him,
"When...when is the Procession?" He stuttered, trying to gather his thoughts together.

"Gentlemen, dee-lited to meet y'all. I'm Errant Mira'ad from Catawaba...oh, Miraade of the place, in fact."

"Miraade, It's a pleasure to meet you." Robert had received Dossiers about all the nations that would have representatives attending, about their diplomatic relations, their leaders and major people within their nation and cultural practices of greeting. Robert extended his hand towards Errant, with a soft smile on his face, to shake Errant's hand . "Miraade, an interesting title I would love to hear about it's origins some time." Robert was creating a de facto appointment with Errant, the beauty of it was it wasn't to talk 'shop', but it was to talk about his nation. Which would never the less could be turned for it to become a 'shop' talk. That, was one of Robert's specialities.

Starscream laughed. "Can't a guy just come to a party?" he asked.

"Yes," he said, "I didn't have time to answer the invitation in person. I'm rather busy making scrap out of some terrorists, I'm afraid--but I didn't want you to think that I wasn't thinking of you in this, your brightest hour.

"As to the device, keep it safe for me, Falsus. When I want it--and I will--I'll be coming to you."

And with that, Starscream bowed, and, amid some platitude, faded from existence.

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Marvel couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about this Thoth guy that he liked. So...he reached out and took the guy's hand. At least, that way, he could put his finger on something.

"Pleased to meet you," he said.

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Hugh looked at Errant.

Boutrous: For someone whose name means 'away,' he looks a lot like he's here.

Ver: Don't let him catch you making quips about his name.

Boutrous: No offense meant.

"The Formalities are being held in the Cella Aurius, the Golden Room. It's also often called the Eye of the Heavens." Meredith explained further "Since we believe that what is done beneath the gaze of the stars can not be fabricated, or misrepresented, the domed ceiling retracts."

Morga gave no expression-eavesdropping was an art form among trolls, and the forte of the Ordo Annilla-but it disturbed him to think that the ceremony would be held giving easy access to the Mi-Go with all the dignitaries present...

Bypassing the standard detection methods would be child's-play for the Mi-Go-even a lifetime of hunting and the blessing of Darksense could not find them when they decided to hide-training a sentry to find them took years, sometimes longer as it was noticing what was absent that marked their presence more often than not.

Fortunately, there were more than one way to do things, and Annilla enjoyed the path less traveled.

Porthos, as they open the dome, could you generate a variable frequency field from fifty feet from the dome top to 250 feet out? Send it along these frequencies-here Morga supplied the resonance of Mi-Go triggers-and target any explosions that may occur, followed by some fireworks. If any of the guests should notice, tell them it's to keep away gnats or mosquitoes, but under no circumstances drop the field nor waver outside the variance I have supplied. If any of the guests should complain whose hearing fall outside that variance, direct their complaint to Pip and let her handle it.
Morga felt that any Mi-Go closer than fifty feet would be fitted in a skin and more likely to use poison than explosives-they were not fanatic enough to risk their lives without any other option explored first.

He made his way to the Cella Aurius-doubtless a look at the setting would let him know how he'd attack-Pip was a good girl, and Nietzscheans were known for their treachery, but trolls were renowned for theirs, and one needed a thorough grounding in treachery to anticipate one's enemies' actions. Poisonous vapors filling the Grand Hall during the Processional came to mind, but Morga was a troll and trolls kill their enemies-the Mi-Go would be more likely to use a mutagenic pathogen and spread chaos so they could lay further spores...

"Apologies Starscream, It's a stressful day today, but thank you. I do appreciate it." Trevor managed to sneak in before Starscream left completely.

He paused looking at the spot where Starscream was for a moment before turning back to Falsus. "Here, you better return to the others. Michiko just left which means that it's going to start any second now. Thank you for coming, I really do appreciate it." Trevor smiled briefly to Falsus before purposefully placing the Datavice in his hand.

"Oh, and Joan, please go and take your seat in the Dome. It won't be long until it starts and I would hate for you to miss out on it, me and John here will wait for our cues."

---

The Gabage Men Gaggle, Errant, Mercy, Borg, et al.

"Ah, you must be members of the Borg... I'm sure Trevor appreciates you coming on his special day." This was to Ver and Boutrous apparently he didn't notice Hugh.

Errant's name is a rather bastardized version of the Tuang name "Aran't'ad" which means "Guardian of Two" alluding his guardianship of two traditions that of the Euro-Togovian and the Taung. In its bastardized form it was the Anglo-French word "errant" which really meant "given to traveling or straying from the path or accepted bounds." Both meanings applied to him and fit him like a well-heeled boot.

Errant smiled and nodded. "It's a tale. I hope interesting, but we can get into that some other time. It's not that short a tale." He knew this Roberts had something to sell. He gave off salesman like magnesium flare gives off heat. Not that was a bad thing. Errant could tell Roberts was probably well placed for his position, but the Miraade would give him a chance. Whatever he thought of business executives, which wasn't much, Catawaba needed him to put aside his opinions for her.

Ver's magenta monocle slid into place over his left eye. A small heads-up display, not particularly visible but notable upon inspection, came up as he spoke.

"Yes," he replied, no hint of a smile playing across his features. "Always glad to meet you. You have me at a loss. May I ask your name?"

Adam & Meredith

"When...when is the Procession?"

Meredith looked over at Adam, a little surprised by his sudden stutter. Other than the instance of reaction to suppressed memories she had never heard, or much less seen him as anything other than completely composed, acting with aplomb. She found herself cherishing him even more, and finding the thought of spending her life without him as nearly unbearable.

"It should be starting in just about five minutes dear" She slid her arm about his waist, as she tugged his gently about hers. After the ceremony she intended another walk in the garden for them, this one ending in her gifting him with a Phoneix Rose (http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6450/firerosenu9.jpg). Lets see how long he takes to catch on to the old tradition She though with a smile.

The Phoenix roses were full bloomers. The depths of bloom is a blood crimson so dark as to be nearly black, the greater part of each individual petal being a rich metallic gold that ended with fiery crimson limning the edges, and the core lumenesced faintly from within. Then a flickering fire, a pyre, seemed to originate at the base and chase though the petals in an rising pattern to "flame" from the top edges; then to go dark with the blooms first closing back to bud, unfurling and the 'consuming fire' to begin at the center and conflagrate outward again.

The Phoenix Rose wasn't really a rose though the pant and flower closely resembled Terran Roses. The pyre effect only happened once a year though they bloomed year around. And tonight the pyre effect was in full display.

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Morga...

"Porthos, as they open the dome, could you generate a variable frequency field from fifty feet from the dome top to 250 feet out? Send it along these frequencies-and target any explosions that may occur, followed by some fireworks. If any of the guests should notice, tell them it's to keep away gnats or mosquitoes, but under no circumstances drop the field nor waver outside the variance I have supplied. If any of the guests should complain whose hearing fall outside that variance, direct their complaint to Pip and let her handle it.

As you ask, I can certainly extend it to greater than 250 feet, if you wish. I can cover the entire island and up to a mile out of that easily. Porthos replied, as he cued open one of the sets of great double doors - There were eight in all, the four cardinal points and the four mid points - to the Cella. The ones the procession would soon enter through.

The vast round room could easily hold ten times the number of guests than had been invited. The walls were carefully sealed against arcane, psionic and technological invasion. And like every part of the vast palace, the Cella Auria had Xa Cz’inni technology incorporated within it.

It was called the Golden room for good reason. Save the crystal dome above, the circular wall and floor was clad in pure gold. The thousands of dripless candles hovering above on silent antigrav, filled the room with a spill of golden light that reflected off of the walls and floor making the space an abode of light in radiant contrast to the dark of the night above with it's answering glory of starlight.

In the center of the round room was a matching dais, raised three steps above, where Dominique and Trevor would say their vows. The circle of floor there was of a brighter gold than the rest. Chairs had been placed in a circle about, though at first it looked a little odd, then it resolved itself to the eye.

They had been laid out in a pair of intersecting- at the dais - spirals. Trevor would enter from one and Dominique from the other, and as they wended their way through the guests, they would be coming ever closer- to meet on the dais.

The Great Eye above, the ocular, was completely transparent, and showed the heavens perfectly, a vast cosmic spiral (http://www.mehstories.com/spiral11.JPG) to match the one below.

“I promise you Morga, all is in secure readiness. The only thing I can’t assure is one of the other not getting cold feet” But then again Porthos could always lock the door it they came to their senses,. But he didn’t think that needed mentioning.

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Marvel, Drai’lee & Thoth

“"Pleased to meet you,"

“And I you. Drai’lee has told me Nothing about you” Thoth’s voice held a joking quality as he mangled the old comment of ‘ told all about’ and he shook Marvels hand without any sort of knuckle crunching. And he did feel a lot like Galvenor – positively not just steeped in arcane powers, but a well spring of such power. But then again the Anubians considered their rulers divinely ascended, and they weren’t far off the mark.

“Though I be she knows you from school, the one she ran off to and nearly got herself grounded for several centuries for not telling any one” He looked at Drai’lee with a glint in his eyes.

“I was..am.. an adult” The Fae protested

“That didn’t, and still doesn’t to your mother:” Thoth pretended to huff, but laughed when she shot him a look as he ‘confided’ to Marvel “With her mother it is definitely a case of do as I say not as I do.”

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Dal’ika, Dum & Che

She caught their momentary loss of what she was speaking of and then understood their disconnect.

"We do not call Catawaba an empire, but it has taken on many of an empire's facets, so we can see why many might call our Miraadery an empire. And I suppose that we do lie outside the Celestial Ring. We are from the Milky Way, Earth, same as the Tanaarans."

“Ah, a world that I haven’t learned of yet! And from another Galaxy” Che’mere said happily “And I meant Canidae, those of us evolved from the species humans label Canids, or Lupines. I am using the right words, yes?”

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The Garbage Men Group ( no disrespect intended, but for some reason I keep visualizing the Blue Man Group (http://www.blueman.com/) ), Mercy, Errant, Hugh, Robert, Aeris

"It's going to be a great night, we all are very happy for him."

Mercy had excellent hearing, and the group of TGM executives hadn’t bothered to keep their voices down, but she was not about to make comment. She smiled and replied “For Trevor and Dominique it is certainly a great night. But I’m only an honorary member of the family Mister Jones, but it is wonderful to meet all of you” She beamed at the other executives.

When Robert spoke to Errant about his title "Miraade, an interesting title I would love to hear about it's origins some time." Mercy smiled inwardly, knowing exactly what he was doing and that Errant couldn’t really get out of it. Not that it might not benefit Catawaba. Not every piece of garbage could be recycled, or sent to the fusion plant. Some was just too costly to transport and produced too little energy in exchange, so garbage was a fact of civilized existence. If they offered a good service at a reasonable price, why not take them up on it.

And Errant needed to learn that not every gathering was in need of his hard learned reflexes, and that not every business executive was cast in the mold that apparently had produced every Togovian one.

"It should be starting in just about five minutes dear"

"Okay then, I'm looking forward to it," Adam smiled in delight, feeling the warm touch of her arm around his waist. He extended his own arm to wrap it around her own waist. He was enjoying his time with her more than anything in months.
He sighed in contentment, hoping this time would never end. He was looking forward to the ceremony, if only because he had the time to spend with the Tanaran Ruler, though at the same time, he wished it would end quickly so he could be alone again with Merideth. He was really was in love with her.

As you ask, I can certainly extend it to greater than 250 feet, if you wish. I can cover the entire island and up to a mile out of that easily.

Morga shuddered as he thought of every Mi-Go cache on the island detonating simultaneously. No, that could prove detrimental-stay within my parameters. I calculated them for a reason. Too large an area could alert those I expect, and too small will permit them success-best to keep within my design and hope I am merely paranoid. It was time to meet the others, Morga decided, and made his way to his appointed place-a certain amount of sub rosa diplomacy was expected, and he should not disappoint...

And Errant needed to learn that not every gathering was in need of his hard learned reflexes, and that not every business executive was cast in the mold that apparently had produced every Togovian one.

Meaning...that not every business executive was an unscrupulous rat bas...unfriendly sort that deserved a bullet...deserved to be dismissed from their position and replaced with a bucket of...fudge.

Errant tried to amend his thoughts of business men, attempting to move them two slots lower on his list of "Threats to be Expunged Judiciously and with Extreme Prejudice" below those people that order strawberry milkshakes right before you get chocolate, or 'strawberry deviants,' they deserved two slots of their own, so wrong was their infraction to build up the desire and longing for the intense chocolate satisfaction of a chocolate only to have them dashed by the first two or three sips of strawberry.

~~~~

The Canid Conversational Committee of Canine Commencement.

Dal'ika and Dum shared another look for a moment. "You're using the right words, yes..." Dal'ika hazarded out.

Dum picked up the thought to finish it. "..but we didn't evolve per se...we were created by humans on Earth."

Marvel smiled. He thought of saying something along the line of "So THAT's why she's..." and then thought better of it. Ol' Feral Breath was an Ascendant Being, and he might take it as an insult if Ol' Horny Head said anything that untoward. Those were Marvel Names. Everyone gets a Marvel Name. Even Ol' Horny Head--and that was Marvel himself.

So he just said, "The best of them always seem to be able to get away with that," and left it at that. Yeah, it was borderline simpering, but so what?

Still, it sounded like Thoth hadn't just gone divining and learned everything there was to know about Marvel--something that types like him could usually just do. This probably meant that he wanted Marvel to introduce himself.

"These days, unfortunately, I've gotten to be responsible," he said. "I work in Yendor Keep, with the Grand Wizard Yendor himself. I went to the White Tower to learn to make my mojo more reliable, and Drai'lee was the one who let me put the final piece in the puzzle. Now, I teach a gaggle of little wizardlings and do wizardly things.

"You know," Marvel said, "she could do a lot worse than a stint over there. Might help her to pick up some skills that would be useful later on." Somehow, he managed not to crack a smile when he said that last, but there was still a twinkle in his eye.

Morga looked about the hall-the Garbage Men was an intergalactic combine, one with contracts throughout Known Space, but it was the Tanaran contacts that interested him-elementals from the Throne of Light and Realm of Fire-oh, they woould call themselves "angels", "devils", or "djinn", depending on their exact region, but they were the Tribe of Sky-the Children of those forces fundamentally opposed to the Darkness from which Morga himself sprang.

The Godswar Compromise insisted on a balance to stave off Chaos, but that didn't stop Morga from finding them insufferable. Perhaps he could strike up a conversation elsewhere-he had no interest in many of the guests whatsoever.

Falsus rejoined the group. Soon, he had found the drinks. He had the most annoying habit of taking martinis with ball bearings instead of olives and crunching the ball bearings in his artificial teeth. Spying a waiter, he had soon ordered his first target.

There was something that Robert detected, despite the "enthusiastic" greeting he could tell that there was some underlying hostility, and no doubt. The History of the Togovian occupation and the Miraade's role had been apart of the dossier they had collected so no wonder it was there. He knew that any discussion would have to make him comfortable, making him he feels he knows you and the company. Guiding him through the path that takes TGM from a faceless corporation, to one where there is a personal connection.

Of course this would take some time, but certainly do-able.

But I’m only an honorary member of the family Mister Jones, but it is wonderful to meet all of you ~ Mercy

"Mercy, before I became the CMO, I had discovered that Family is Family, a piece of paper means nothing when you have that kind of bond with someone, you become linked together separate and apart from any biological link you may or may not yet joined together as a single unit. Creating a family or a link into existing family where there wasn't before. You may not have been born into the family, but there are no 'honorary' family members, you either have been accepted and become a part of the family or not, but from what I've seen in their dealings with Trevor, and what I know of his personality then I can am confident as much as an outsider can be, that would have been accepted into the family."

This was a rare glimpse of Robert, that there was something deeper at hand than just what was to be done to get the deal. A moment of sincere communication that showed there was more to Robert than just being a "corporate businessman".

With their arrival at the Cella Aurius at an opportune time Robert, who obviously uncomfortable for the moment, bid he farewell to the group and excused himself as he slid through and found his seat.

"Um, perhaps we should all find our seats?" Edgar the CSO suggested, having both the official 'diplomatic' posts not able or willing to talk made it a necessity for someone to say something but apart from the Chief Promotions Officer, which was actually more related to working with other organisations for joint benefit, no one had done much talking outside of the board discussion or with their direct subordinates.

Errant looked at Robert with a new perspective after his definition of family. It was precisely his. How could it not be? His family clan had twenty-four canids, himself, his half-sister, an ex-girlfriend turned close confidant, his identical 'cousin', and Mercy. He had no blood family. He was an orphan. His family was what he made it.

Perhaps this man did not deserve to be anywhere on the same list as 'strawberry deviants.' Hmmm...business men can be human beings too? Well, if that isn't a paradigm shift for ya.

Mercy looked after Robert as he left with a gentle smile on her face. Yes, he was more perceptive than one might guess and that pleased her. And it pleaseed her to note that Errant noted it too. She had never had any douts that Errant was wise enough to see past any preconceptions. It was part of the reason she loved him so much.

She was terribly fond of Dominique and wished her every happiness - and she knew that Trevor was a large and immensely important part of that happiness, as Errant was hers.

Trevor had good people about him and that spoke volumes.

The Conductors of the ceremony, Dominique's great grandmother and father, the oldest living of the vast Ryder clan, had thrown open the vast massive doors to the Cella Auria with the joyous announcement that the Formalities were soon to proceed and would all the honored witnesses, Family and Friends all, attend.

Juliana's clear carrying voice rang out

"We ask you come as witness to their vows, Dominique and Trevor as they are about to embark upon one of the most wonderful, difficult, interesting, and daring of all voyages. They seek to head into the dark unknown of the future. Two Candles, One Light."

Then Aden his voice rich and deep "Two individuals come before us tonight, Dominique and Trevor neither of them renouncing any of self but forming between them a new social being, a couple, a marriage. A daunting task by any standards, and we ask your well wishes and warm thoughts for them as they step into a new life. Two Candles One Light"

Slowly the spacious Main Reception Room darkened as those invited, nearly a thousand strong, processed - most hand in hand with their spouses, lovers, and family members. As they left to travel the short distance, via Portal they were offered lit candles to symbolize the Light, or Phoenix Roses in full bloom, to symbolize the enduring and ever renewing love that were being handed out by the Ryder clans’ unmarried ladies.

Che, Dum and Dal'ika

"..but we didn't evolve per se...we were created by humans on Earth."

Che's hackles rose slightly, and involuntarily she looked over at a group of Xa deep in conversation with an equal number of Sidhe. Then she tilted her head toward where Mercy and Errant were heading out with the others. "Are they your creators...masters?"

The call to the Cella Auria caused a flick of one elegant ear but she kept her attention upon the Vornskrari pair.

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Drai'lee, Marvel and Thoth

"she could do a lot worse than a stint over there. Might help her to pick up some skills that would be useful later on."

Thoth smirked "and will keep her out of her mothers hair and influence even more...and as long as her mother doesn't blame me... Even I can get pixed." His flat, glossy pelt rippled on it's own. The Summer Queen might be a tiny fae, but the wrath she could weild was far out of proportion to her size.

He turned at the announcement and gave a small bow sweeping out his hand "It is time for the exchange of bows. Would you care to sit with me?" He asked Drai'lee and Marvel.

Morga smiled-the darkness was inviting, and beckoned to his soul. Accepting a Phoenix Rose, he fitted it into his buttonhole so it would not clog the chloroform dispenser hidden there, then took a candle and followed the Processional to the Cella Aurium.

He reached out with his Darksense, feeling the crowd. If there were a Mi-Go hidden, they would resonate oddly to his Darksense, but the presence of a troll on the guest list would make them wary, moreso if they knew it was a member of the Ordo Annilla. The more he thought about it, the likelier it was an attack would come at the height of the ceremony, when the Cella Aurium, filled with dignitaries, opened itself up to the Heavens, showing the truth inherent in this pledge.

Hopefully, it would be explosives, set off by Porthos' frequency, alerting the canny sentience to his targets. Though it was more likely the Mi-Go would use a mutagenic gas, such would not spread adequately and they would rather be certain than dramatic. Besides, enough evidence could be left laying about to implicate the Ryder Clan or Tanara itself, aiming all these great powers at a single target to the detriment of all. He slid a panacea tablet between his hind teeth and prayed he was simply paranoid...

Dum and Dali'ka followed her tilting of the head. They understood her reaction. They had the very same reaction to the idea, which is why they hazarded to bring it up. They however did not understand Che's focus on Errant and Mercy. The Xa, they understood on some level, they were a created species and in turn did genetic manipulation themselves.

But Mercy and Errant? That took a few moments to filter through their brains, even the idea or possibility that Errant or Mercy would be...could be...so Togovian. They were both aghast. Dum, more so at the idea accusing Errant of being in league with their 'creators', sputtered. "Our what? Nobody is our..."

Dal'ika quieted him by putting a hand on his arm. "Che'mere, they are family. The man is Errant Mira'ad, our brother and the head of our family clan. The woman is Mercedez Hexx, Queen Mother of Tanaara, and Errant's fiancee."

Dum looked away for a moment to get himself together. Dal'ika looked at her brother before looking back at the Anubian. "We killed our creators five years ago, and since then we have had no masters, only leaders we have chosen for ourselves."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Errant nodded a good bye to the group they'd been talking to, diplomatically promising to speak more later. He patted Mercy's hand as it lay in the crook of his arm. He lead them down the short corridor and through the portal. to seemingly seamless transition to a near identical corridor. Mercy mentioned that they were now five miles away from where they'd been. Errant simply shook his head. The portals were a marvel. Certainly Doctor Diana Scott, the leading and only expert in teleportation in Catawaba, would be overjoyed to be allowed to install portal in the Mira'ad compound. Errant however whispered to Mercy to stop him should he ever get thinking to build enough additions to the allit's compound that they'd need portals to traverse it.

Errant accepted a Pheonix Rose and took a deep, eyes-closed whiff of the flower. It had a bare hint of flame but a strong, sweet aroma. He opened his eyes and admired the appearance. He wasn't much for gardening or flowers, his favorite plant being a mangrove tree, but he would like to see if he could grow these in Catawaba. He knew at least his Counselor for Agriculture would be fascinated by studying the plant and discovering if it was indeed well-suited to the Catawaban climate and would pose no threat to native plants.

He was about to make that comment to Mercy when something keyed in the back of his mind. An intense feeling of paranoia, so palatable that he could feel it as his own, swept at the edges of his mind. Lesser known or entirely dismissed in folklore is that in the Taung bloodlines from which chieftains or miraades come, extrasensory or extraordinary abilities were reported to be common. Whether these were divine gifts or simple evolutionary traits or complete hogwash, they were certain weren't the latter in Errant and academic for the former two. Errant could feel emotions, an empath some labeled him. Supposedly his mother had had the same abilities, but he could not know for certain for he had never known her.

His abilities, minor as they were, were honed by long years at the edge of danger. He'd followed his 'gut feelings' to detect ambushing forces lying in wait, to sense when smugglers were hiding something from him, and to read people. He found his eyes were drawn towards a very tall...he couldn't recall what it was for a moment. It was tall, very tall, massive even...dark skin..a Muri...a troll. It was obviously some sort of dignitary, but it seemed like it was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

Errant looked behind him for Dum and Dal'ika but saw that they hadn't followed just yet. He turned his head back to the Muri. Quietly he asked Mercy, "Darlin', who's the tall, dark, and anxious up there? He's about to crawl out of his skull...I can feel it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew Murphy, known by his psuedonym for his lifetime as Matthew Quigley but better known simply as "Mister Murphy" of legal fame, leaned out of his shower lightyears away. He dripped water onto the floor as he glared around the bathroom. "Dammit all...always in the shower..." He looked up at a corner of the room where two walls meet the ceiling. "Well, it's not going to happen, okay? I'm not going to come somewhere and cause trouble. I know there's a wedding going on, but I purposefully did not go. I am not going to cause trouble. I will not make any effort to cause trouble. No trouble will be caused, so get off it."

Murphy looked around again disdainfully. "Fekkin' powers that be, always wantin' something to blow up...a fight...a bomb threat...a mutagenic chemical attack. It's wedding, it does not require disruption and/or action." He ducked back into the shower and pulled the curtain closed again. "Wish they'd just listen and get it over with. Bad enough MY weddings get interrupted without someone else's wedding getting crashed violently." He continued to grumble to himself as he went about his business of applying, rinse, and repeating and repeating and repeating.

Boards are strange things, bitter rivals inside the Board Room can truly be the best of friends outside, yet both that friendship aside when they enter through the doorway to what seems to many a different world.

What they were discussing earlier was in truth a board room discussion that existed in it;s own miniature universe where the board could be truly happy for Trevor, personally, yet call him an idiot for doing so with even the slightest hint of hypocrisy.

As a board discussion, a marriage was just another decision that impacted the business. The business consequences of the marriage had been a contentious issue one that the moment that the marriage had been completed would be dropped as the proverbial sack of potatoes. One to never raise it's ugly head again.

Of course they had broken the most basic cardinal rule of board discussions... they stay within the board, by discussing it in public (whether people were there or not was irrelevant) but for now they were in the real world. The marriage was about to happen and not one of them would say a word against Trevor's decision.

Joan soon joined them, her familiar face floated on the edge of awareness. She was closely associated with the board, not one of them (apart from a number of occasions where she presented statements to the board on behalf of Trevor while he was away doing appropriate CEO hob nobbing.

Knowing roughly what was to come, but the details of what was being said elluded all of them, all except Joan who was the crucial lynchpin of this affair on The Garbage Men side. She knew all the words Trevor, Dominique... John and Michiko were going to say and so in some weird cosmic way she was the most important of all of them. After all just minutes ago she was by the grooms side.

Errant looked behind him for Dum and Dal'ika but saw that they hadn't followed just yet. He turned his head back to the Muri. Quietly he asked Mercy, "Darlin', who's the tall, dark, and anxious up there? He's about to crawl out of his skull...I can feel it."

However, his question was answered by Peregrine, who interjected. "That's Lord Morga of Pamaltela-he's Ordo Annilla, they're all like that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morga turned his shaggy horselike head and favored Errant with a leer showing the sharp fangs and tusks that could shred all but the strongest materials, spreading his claws in the gesture trolls took as passivity and peace. His bolongo spoke in perfect unaccented Catawaban(OOC:I don't know if it's a language or not , but the bolongo is telepathic), "Greetings and salutations-may the peace of this day rest in your heart."

[OOC: The 'trade language' of Catawaba is English. There's a slight..lower class English/Cockney/bleeding close to Southern USA accent to it. Taung'a is the language of the indigenous Taung population. Errant speaks it as do the vornskrari. It could be argued that Morga might have learned Taung'a...though the availibility of tutors outside of Catawaba and Tanaara is sparse to unavailible.

However if Morga were speaking in Errant's head and Morga's thoughts being translated to what language Errant thought in, Morga would be 'speaking' in English. Errant was raised in a Togovian setting and his first and primary language has always been English.

There more than you really wanted to know...]

Errant flinched as if he'd been hit with a taser. Mental shields snapped down like a knight's visor closing off Errant's mind, obviously and defensively. Errant held that shock for a moment before he forced himself to relax. Jehovah and Mira, what is it with telepaths and talkin' into folk's heads like it was a hotline?

The Miraade let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and looked at the Muri again. He held up his hand to signal him to wait. He slowly and deliberately mouthed the words, "We will speak later" in English. He didn't think or even consider that the Muri might not speak English or read lips, but Errant wasn't going to speak telepathically. It was too strange. He wasn't used to it, and he didn't like the idea of some being inside his head, one of the very few, truly private places he had.

"Your call, sweetie," Marvel said to Drai'lee.

Rob and Aeris saw that the room was practically empty now and they exchanged smiles. That would give them a chance to walk slowly, thinking of their own small wedding. They had been able to insist on only family and those as close as, though end the end that had numbered over four hundred when all was said and done.

Arms about each others waists they strolled out of the main reception room, smiling at the young women offering Phoenix roses and candles. Rob took a moment to go to one knee and offer Aeris his rose, his intense blue eyes shining with his love for her. Her answering smile was tremulous and tears glinted in the corners of her eyes as she tugged him to his feet.

"Oh you! We're all ready married" She whispered blushing but she didn't try to wipe away the tears.

"Just to let you know that I'd marry you again and again and again" Rob said lightly but his intent countenance showed clearly that he meant every word. Then he leaned over and kissed the tear from his wife's cheek.

The twin co-empresses of the Imperia, followed by their ambassadors to the Phoenix Empire, moved as a group toward the Portal, both of the Empresses had chosen candles. Indigo had looked at the Phoenix roses and shaken her head sadly, though like many her eyes glinted with tears. Though hers were not tears of joy.

Aiko pulled a small hankie, one of many stuffed discretely up her kimono's sleeve, and silently offered it to her sister. Her lips compressed in a tight line and renewed anger danced in her eyes. She and Indigo had been raised apart, meeting only just over two years ago, but they had become friends, then best friends and true sisters. She hated seeing Indigo hurting, and hurting because of others prejudices. But she would honor Indigo’s wishes and not speak of her take on the matter. Which wasn’t at all complimentary to the Muri and their Deities…

As some one who had once been overly arrogant, but striving hard to over come that flaw, she was very conscious of it in others.

The five, Aiko, Indigo , the Lady Ambassadress and her two husbands, paused by the side of the Co Empresses honor father – the Pharaoh Thoth of the Obsidian Empire and waited to speak to him. Their mother, Tetsuko, the Shogun of the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon was his Great Royal Wife. She was unable to attend as she, and her other husband Kai, were 'holding down the forts' in the Celestial Imperia and Obsidian Empire.

As Adam got closer and closer to the portals, with Merideth on his shoulder, he began to wonder what he was going to recieve from the portal. He thought of the two options, using the knowledge of Tanaran Culture, that he had built on during his time here. He was wondering if he should take the candle and bless the couple on their way, fulfilling his duties as an Ambassador for Alversia. But then he wondered if he should take the punge and finally, publically, admit his feelings for Merideth. The feelings he had had for a long time.
It finally came to his turn and his arm stretched out, holding his breath as he did so, he wondered if the portal would listen to his head or his heart.
The portal extended with a rose in full bloom. He smiled as he accepted it, looking at the delightful, burning centre before he turned to Merideth and offered her the rose,
"For you," He said, with an embarressed smile.

OOC: With permission by NN, and Fae...

Marvel, Drai'lee, Thoth and the Celestial Imperia Party

"Your call, sweetie", Marvel had said.

Drai'll had already made her mind up, but the arrival of the young twin co-Empresses reinforced her decision.

Thoth had turned a fond smile upon his daughters in honor as they stopped next to him. Quickly he introduced the pair to Drai'lee and Marvel. "Drai'lee, you have heard me speak of my honor daughters, but have had no chance to meet them. So let me remedy that oversight. Aiko, Indigo, this is my old friend, the Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae and her friend Scholar Master Marvel. Drai'lee is what she prefers to be called though" He commented as an aside, then continued.

"This is her Imperial Majesty the Empress Aiko Luminar Amaterasu`kami and her Imperial Majesty the Empress Indigo Noor Chai'kamar`kami." Since Aiko was the twin whom had been born into the physical realm twenty odd years prior to Indigo she was the elder. Both looked the identical twins they were despite the twenty odd gap in their 'births' though Aiko was co-Empress only because Indigo had insisted.

Quickly he also introduced the Celestial Imperia's Ambassador to Tanara to Drai'lee and Marvel as well. The three Kitusne nodded and murmured their welcomes to the Fae and turned demon.

Drai'lee greeted all of them politely then looked up at Marvel with a flutter of her eye lashes. Her smile was clearly reminiscent of the cat that had stolen the cream as she turned back to the Pharaoh "Thank you for the offer Thoth, but I think Marvel and I will find our own places to sit. We wouldn't want to infringe upon you."

That brought a quirk to Thoth’s eyebrows but he merely nodded and made no comment "Then I will see you afterwards, at the reception. Dominique's chefs are deserving of their magnificent reputations, so the offerings should be sublime. It was a pleasure to meet you Marvel. I hope we can get to know one another better in future. Any friend of Drai'lee's is a friend of mine."

He watched the pair move off, chuckling under his breath. Marvel was obviously good for the young Fae. She seemed more certain of herself, and less merely rebellious. He looked at the five Novans and gave a small bow. “Daughters if you would do me the honor?”

With glad smiles they agreed, for they had come to love Thoth as if he were their own father.

Dal'ika, Dum and Che'mere

"We killed our creators five years ago, and since then we have had no masters, only leaders we have chosen for ourselves."

Che inclinded her head, an wordless apology for insulting the Vornskrari's family. She had made a poor assumption. While only penal slavery was practised with in the Phoenix Empire it was more widely practised within several neighboring, and others not so close, polities - including the Obsidian Empire. And it was standard practise not to introduce slaves, no matter if they appeared to be or not.

Still she blushed pink beneath her milk white fur, the scars standing out even more starkly. She spead her hands and bowed "Forgive me, it was not my intent to impunge your family in any way." She straightened, not meeting their eyes, though she did not, refused to ever again, quail beneath anyones gaze. "If you will excuse me, I must go."

It was an honourable retreat, and she was glad of the avenue that the opening of the Cella Auria provided her.

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Adam and Meridith

"For you,"

Meredith too had taken a Phoenix rose, though she had intended to wait until later. Adams unexpected action had her blushing in surprize, and stopping, turning to look at him.

"Adam..do you.." she half whispered, then looked at him very closely and realising that he did understand and knew full well what his gesture meant. Silently, her eyes locked with his, she extended hers to Adam as she took the one he offered.

Then slowly she moved into his arms, hers sliding about him as they came together, their lips falling into a gentle kiss.

Those few miliseconds were longest of Adam's life. He had extended the rose to her and now it was up to Merideth if she accepted. His breath caught in his throat, his heart almost burst through his chest and his head was swimming with all sorts of pessimistic responses she would give him.
"I've got this completely wrong," His mind cried in panic, "I've completely misread the situation and put her in an impossible place. She's going to laugh at me and everyone's going to laugh at her..."
His train of terror was derailed though by her next statement, the one that seemed to confirm his worst nightmare,

"Adam..do you.."

He didn't even get a chance to answer before she fell silent. He tried to say something but the words were not there. As an Ambassador he had always had something to say, some point to add or some arguement to make. Now, his greatest ally and weapon was gone. He remained silent as they locked eyes.
Then they kissed. Adam could not believe it. He had had kisses before but nothing like this. He had never enjoyed such a sensation, such a inner contentment and joy. After his experiences in the SASM war, he had thought that no good thing could ever come and take that pain away.
Yet, here she was, she had accepted him!
He wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss gently, it was the happiest moment of his life.

As they walked through the crowd, Marvel couldn't help but make one of his facetious comments to Drai'lee.

"Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Aiko Luminar Amaterasu`kami? Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Indigo Noor Chai'kamar`kami? Honestly, do your friends all pride themselves on being able to say their own names without running out of breath, Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae?"

The five New Borg each took the offerings of the portal and used them to bless the forthcoming union. Then, Falsus went back to his metal olives.

Hugh found himself standing beside Errant, and took the opportunity to get acquainted.

"You seem distracted," he said, after the introductions. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

The vornskrari looked after the Anubian. Dal'ika was the first to break the stare and look at her brother. "She's not from our people, not even our planet, vod'ika. Slavery's not so unheard of outside Catawaba" She hissed at him.

Dum's ears dropped back as he still looked after the white-furred canid. "I know...I felt her, Dal...just thinkin' Err and Merce would be holdin' chains on us? It was gut-reaction."

Dum sighed. "I'll talk to her later." It wasn't the best reaction he could have had, he knew, but it was a Catawaban reaction, full of emotion and indignation. Errant would be chagrined to think his outburst against the soon-to-be doomed Imitorans at the Regional Conference had begun a precedence. Thankfully some, mostly the ladies, had cooler heads in Catawaba.

Dal'ika patted his arm. "Come on. Let's go to the ceremony. They've opened the doors." The two vornskrari quietly followed in the wake of the group and through the portal.

~~~~~~~~

Errant blinked as he further cleared his head of the muddle his mental defenses had made and having to concern himself with the world at large rather than an ethnocentric telepathic troll. The Catawaban looked at the Borg for a moment. "Hmmm? Oh! No, it's okay now."

He smiled a bit sheepishly. "Yer from a space-goin' society, right?"

As Hugh smiled politely, Falsus joined him from behind.

"Of course we are," Hugh said.

"What gave it away?" Falsus asked with a smile of his own.

Morga noticed the dignitaries still getting to know each other, but his concerns were still regarding that moment of vulnerability as the final vows would be spoken. If anything happened...

Of course, it was foolish to worry-Peregrine and her people were efficient and dependable, but a wise man believes only in lies, trusts only in the absurd, and learns to expect the unexpected.

The ceremony would begin soon, and Morga could observe, exchange platitudes with those as wished, and fulfill the Voivode's decree that nothing should soil the Empress's joy at this happy affair.

In many ways, the Voivode Bruno was too sentimental with the Young Races-many should be dealt with only at spearpoint, but the Voivode often invited them into his home and endured their insults and petty snipes. That he didn't make meals instead of friends of them confused many, and that, too, was pleasing to the Voivode.

Morga shrugged, when he heard the demon Marvel insult the co-Empresses.

"Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Aiko Luminar Amaterasu`kami? Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Indigo Noor Chai'kamar`kami? Honestly, do your friends all pride themselves on being able to say their own names without running out of breath, Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae?"

If either of the ladies expressed offense, he would have to deny the Voivode for his liege. One did not speak so without repercussions...

[OOC: I hope I'm right in my idea of the Borg...basing on what I know from ST. If yers are different just say so, and I'll edit.]

Errant spent a moment pointedly looking at the jutting pieces of cybernetics that were grafted to the Borgs' faces. "I suppose I'm just real clever..." Errant deadpanned. He smiled and dropped the even, monotone of his deadpan. "Well, I'm not. Ain't even got a rocketry program...sorta unnecessary at the moment considerin' I've got allies who can if I need to...but I'm not used to all this." He waved his hand around the room. "There's a lot I gotta get used to, friend."

Drai'lee & Marvel

"Honestly, do your friends all pride themselves on being able to say their own names without running out of breath, Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae?"

The Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae narrowed her eyes at Marvel, and her voice was more than a little chastising, though she kept it for his ears alone "Marvel, just because their, and mine, courts and cultures tend to be at times overly tiresome with formalities, they are a part of the history, traditions and geist of their peoples. Such traditions of polite respect and distancing are the result of often terrible events in history, and the need to remind one another of their respective responsibilities."

"And there is nothing wrong of being proud of ones heritage." She let her temper fade "Marvel, some day I will be Queen after my mother, and while she and I seldom agree, or rub well together, I do respect the burden she carries and the hard work she does."

"Power has a price, and much of the time it is a seperation from 'the everyday, the norm', and the comfortable lives the vast majority accept as 'what is'. The Fae looked about, acknowledging the amount of power gathered in the Cella Aurius as she took her seat, and commented softly "Some one malign could do terrible damage to many worlds and people should they attempt to strike at those assembled.


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Adam and Merideth

Merideth and Adam eventually stopped kissing - they were beginning to get rather pointed looks, being just about the last outside the Cella Auria. But it was hard for Merideth to take her eyes off of Adam and attend what was about to happen. Once they found seats she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment.

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Indigo and Aiko shared a look of suppressed merriment. They too sometimes found their names longer than they were tall. However, for those who knew -their names were much more a warning as a mere name.

And one small demon wasn't going to ruin their enjoyment of the celebration.

However, they maneuvered it so that their group found seats well seperated from the ones Drai'lee and Marvel chose.

There are eight great double doors in all. Vast doors that risee over twenty feet in height and were almost as wide. Elaborately carved, deeply etched and inlaid with potent sigils they stand. The four cardinal points and the four mid points- all imbued with the potencies long inherent in that symbolism. The guests had entered, arbitrarily chosen by the portals, so that an equal number of guests arrived through each of the Polar Doors. North and South, Earth and Fire their warding incised upon them. The nuptial couple would enter through the Wind and Water, the East and West doors.

The vast round room could easily hold ten times the number of guests than had been invited but despite the lack of tradionally sound mufflers, such as draperies and carpet, the noise and conversations were hushed, softened - but those speaking could be clearly heard by those listening - or not as they chose. The vast room had been carefully constructed - as all parts of the vast palace had -and equally carefully sealed against arcane, psionic and technological invasion.

The sweep of chairs as they had been placed with in the great circle of the Golden Room at first it looked a little odd, then resolved to the viewers eyes. The seating had been laid out in a pair of intersecting spirals that united, became one at the dais. And as Trevor and Dominique would wend their way through the guests, so they too would be coming ever closer- to meet and become one on the dais. The Great Eye above, the ocular, completely transparent, allowed a perfect view of the heavens, a vast cosmic spiral of light to match the one below.

Once the last of those invited had entered and taken their seats, Trevor with John at his side and Dominique attended by Michiko, entered though the domains of Water and Wind respectively.

And once Dominique and Trevor and their supporters were within, the united voices of Juliana and Aden rose. There was a reason - more than their relationship to the bride -that they had been asked to be the Conductors of the Ceremony. Few here had ever witnessed, much less been a part of a Formal Tanaran Wedding, and thus had little idea of All it entailed.

They were Tenerista and Tenerezu, Tower trained Psionic Adepts, fully capable of channeling the will of the Empire between them. Carefully they had been gathering the strands of well wishes, weaving the lattice of purest will directed to them, given willingly for their working.

Their Work wove about the Cella Auria, sealing off all within from any malign influence or effort from without. Taking those within a half step above Reality, to a place more kind, a place less trod, less scarred and scary, where the stars shown unwavering but the candles amber luminescence was but a gently glowing mist. All were sealed safely within a perfect sphere, as the Cella Auria as revealed to be though in Reality the bulk of the sphere was hidden.

And the entire universe could be seen by those within, and the eyes of the Universe watched in turn as it came time for Trevor and Dominique to approach and make their choice.

Michiko escorting Dominique, arm in arm, exchanging some whispered comment between them as John beside Trevor, both of them strikingly handsome in their elegant tuxedos as they moved without a word between them.

They approached from opposite sides of the circle of their friends and well wishers, meeting in the middle, mounting the three stepped to dais that stood beneath the Eye of the Heavens, it’s dome open to the blazing stars above. Thousands of candles hovered in antigrav fields above them, adding their mellow radiance to the glory the heavens.

Dominique could not take her eyes of Trevor, and her smile as he took her hands in his was a beacon of joy….

Michiko spoke in her clear carrying voice, with a wink to John, as she turned to face the encircling guests. “Good evening Trevor, John and all of our friends. I know that if Dominique and Trevor weren’t so busy goggling at one another they’d be welcoming you instead of leaving me to do it..”

John also started to speak his voice was just as clear and precise yet had a slightly booming quality to it.
“And if it seems that Trevor’s cross-eyed at any point that’s just him checking his net worth.”

“It’s natural; I suppose, marriage is a serious change in life. Two, or more, people becoming a whole new unity is never easy. The thought is enough to send strong people to their knees, or make them run.” She crinkled her nose in a mischievous grin

“That’s why they call us supporters, you know, as we are supposed to keep them upright when their knees won’t” Her voice was lovingly teasing. “Though I don’t hear Dominique knocking” She cocked her head slightly seeming to listen intently for a second.

“but don’t worry, That’s just Trevor realising that he’ll have to share his bathroom, speaking of Sharing, What about that pay rise?” John and Trevor seemed to exchange a few ‘private’ words. No words were spoken aloud but John’s response was clearly overacted in the negative.

“Then I believe that Dominique and Trevor know their hearts better than any other. ” Michiko turned grave, all teasing fled from her voice.

And as one she and John spoke in unison, their voices ringing out in bracing tones. For as was Tanaran custom, their primary duty was to answer any and all challenges that might come at this time. And Michiko was openly, if discretely armed, and well, let’s just say that John had a well built frame.

“Is there any one here with objection to this union? Speak now your challenge or forever hold your peace”

Silence reigned for a long moment, then the two nodded sharply and turned to face their charges.

“There are no objections offered, you are free to make your vows.” Michiko curtseyed, and John bowed then they stepped back, leaving Dominique and Trevor alone on the dais….

The long moment of silence ended.

Michiko and John - and every one else for that matter –had faded from Dominique’s and Trevor’s consciousness. Their only awareness was for each other and the beating of their hearts, hearts that beat as one.

Trevor slowly brought Dominique’s hands up to his lips and laid the lightest of kisses upon the silken skin taunt across her knuckles, his dark intent eyes never leaving hers. Dominique's eyes were brilliant sapphires, glimmering with unshed tears of joy.

Then he moved back a step, releasing her hands. Trevor stood tall and proud, and certain, his voice deeply resonant and clear, each word laden a wealth of emotion, carrying to the furthest reaches of the orb.

“I, Trevor Desorté, take you Dominique to be my wife, to share my life with you, for now and all the days that are to come. I will love and honour you with all my being and I cherish the time we share as I cherish you. You will be my best friend, a partner in whom I place the utmost trust and loyalty. I open myself up to you without reservation or hesitation. You laughter shall be my laughter and your tears shall be mine. We will sail through the calm and tumultuous seas together, for I will always be with you, supporting you, aiding you to the best of my ability. As I give you my hands to hold, so I give unto you my life to keep. By all that is Divine do I so vow.”

Dominique had found herself trembling faintly as she stepped back in pace with Trevor, her hands falling to her side as they released their holds on one another – for just a few moments more…

She drew a deep breath, her lips curving in a serene smile as mysterious and as feminine as that of the fabled Mona Lisa. Her eyes shown with love as she listened to his avowal and when he had finished and stretched for his hands to her she made her own, in a strong carrying voice, as clear as his had been, as sweet and golden as honey.

“I, Dominique Evangeline Alexandra Ryder, take you Trevor to be my husband, to share my life with you, for now and all the days that are to come. I will love, respect and honour you with all my being. I cherish you as I cherish naught else. The time we share will be my hearts delight and I will yearn for you when we must be apart. You will be my best friend, unconditionally trusted partner and that will ever be. I give you all that I am, openly, unconditionally. Your laughter is mine, your tears will fall from my cheeks. From the soup to the nuts, from the gentle zephyrs through the cyclones of Life, I am with you and want you with me. Together facing what comes. Some times leading, sometimes following, but mostly hand in hand beside one another, living and learning, growing and ever loving.” She reached out her hands to meet his outstretched ones and hand in hand they pulled themselves together as she finished “ As I give you my hands to hold, so I give unto you my life to keep. By all that is Divine so I do vow.”

And as the length of their bodies blended into a single silhouette, so did their lips meet in a perfect kiss.

The theme song ought to be: http://www.atddm.com/thts1.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81m1uehEGWw)

[OOC: I hope I'm right in my idea of the Borg...basing on what I know from ST. If yers are different just say so, and I'll edit.]

Errant spent a moment pointedly looking at the jutting pieces of cybernetics that were grafted to the Borgs' faces. "I suppose I'm just real clever..." Errant deadpanned. He smiled and dropped the even, monotone of his deadpan. "Well, I'm not. Ain't even got a rocketry program...sorta unnecessary at the moment considerin' I've got allies who can if I need to...but I'm not used to all this." He waved his hand around the room. "There's a lot I gotta get used to, friend."

OOC: The New Borg are very much like you would expect...except for Falsus. Both of his eyes and both of his hands are artificial (and his hands are not identical). He wears a shiny black cowling that makes his head appear symmetrical (think "Scorpius" from "Farscape," though Falsus predates him).

IC:

"It seems, friend," Hugh replied, "that, for all our differences, we have a tremendous lot in common."

The Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae looked like she was going to have kittens--or, knowing her, dragon cubs--at any moment! He'd only been having fun, but he'd obviously hit a nerve that was a little more raw than he had thought.

"Chill, babe," he said, the devilish grin never leaving his face, "I was only havin' some fun. They're good folks, and they have," he rolled his eyes to the just-barely-lip-unlocked Adam and Merideth, "great taste in entertainment, don't you think?" He winked, recalling how recently he had found himself in a similar predicament, and how little he had wanted to get out of it.

Then, though he still smiled, his voice got much quieter. "Besides," he continued, "if anybody wants to do something bad here, they're going to have to go through me before they get to you. And Thoth may not know this, but he has a body guard for the day. I like him--and I think I'd like those empress friends of yours, too, if I could ever get through saying 'hello' to them. Just don't let 'em know I said that." He winked again.

And then, the wedding ceremony reached its...climax. For a moment, Marvel thought of making some crass comment when they asked for reasons why The Couple should not be wed. He could think of a few--it gave the REST of the singles in the room a bad name; it wasn't fair to have a kid with a silver spoon factory coming out of his...--but he figured that it wouldn't go over well. Even a demon could keep his mouth shut sometimes.

And, as the Newlyweds finally began the process of consummating their relationship, Marvel's smile grew a whole lot less mischievous, and he reached out and took Drai'lee's hand.

Morga breathed a sigh of relief. With the ceremony over, he could retire to more comfortable surroundings, the long emnity between the Tribe of Night and the Storm Clan had not been active for millenia, but old habits die hard, and Orlanth and his followers were treacherous and constantly mutable.

The Young Races had completed this ceremony, and Morga had witnessed it for a full report home. Unless some other matter arose to take his attention, it was time to abuse Tanaran hospitality to glut himself and board Talon...

The kiss was amazing and sent shivers down the back of his spine. That was when Trevor knew that it was all over, and he was married to THE most amazing woman in the universe, but as all kisses they had to end. They were hosting the reception afterwards after all. That and they had come up for air some time.

After the kiss Trevor lovingly looked into his wife's eyes, wow, he could get used to saying that word, wife. They whispered sweet nothings between them and Trevor chuckled at something she said, a few seconds after that he reached over and gave her another kiss though it contained all his emotion and care for her in a single small, yet powerful, package.

Trevor looked around the Dome structure, the numerous candles and flowers in the audience. As he started to address those who had just finished witnessing the ceremony.

"Ladies, Gentleman and others of all races, Thank you for coming It means alot to us, both me and Dominque that you came and gave your blessing for our union. I do have announcement, the Crystal Hall is now open and ready for the wedding reception. If you like to make your way out through the portals and make your way to the Crystal Hall and Dominique and I will join you there a bit later. So please enjoy yourself and we'll see you there."

Trevor didn't know if there were any ungendered species here or species with 2 genders in one but it was better to be safe, though leaving that all behind he turned to his new wife offering his hand to properly escort her off the dais and then asked "Shall we?" Dominique wrapped her arm around his as they headed out the portal that Dominique came in.

--------

Joan was weeping with emotion as Trevor and Dominque finalised their vows with kiss. The others were waiting for Trevor and Dominique to leave as a mark of respect for the couple, their reaction to the ceremony was much more controlled with all but a slight smile as they watched the couple approach and exit through the Portal.

As they disappeared through the portal the rest of the board stood up together, Joan stood up a tad bit later she was dabbing her eyes.

"I wonder where John went." she commented to no one particular as they all started making their way out of the wonderfully lit arena.

Dominique made a tiny sound of disappointment as the kiss ended, though she knew that it couldn't continue forever. Then he kissed her again and she felt herself start to glow with happiness. They were married, Trevor was her husband, oh how wonderful that sounded, just as perfect as being his wife did.

"Shall we?"

Oh it felt so special to walk arm and arm with him through the Portal to end up in the newly done suite that was now to be theirs.

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Marvel & Drai'lee

"...like him--and I think I'd like those empress friends of yours, too, if I could ever get through saying 'hello' to them. Just don't let 'em know I said that."

Drai'lee leaned over to whisper, a voice that wouldn't carry past him, just before the ceremony started "I'm sorry Marvel, I shouldn't have snapped at you." She had been feeling so sorry for her mother of late, trapped - as she shuddered at the thought of ever being - in the Fae Court's relentless formalities. Though as she had said there were good reasons for it's tenor. But she put those thoughts aside and with a mental shake turned to the joyous occassion she ws a part of.

She could feel Marvel biting his tongue, if only figuratively, and she had to fight to keep from giggling at her guesses as to what he might be wanting to say. She knew him well enough to have a good idea, but she managed to stiffle her chuckles. But both of her dimples were showing as she caught his eyes, and leaned her head against his shoulder. They could regale each other later in the privacy of a garden nook.

He was a good person, far better than he might have though he was and she was so proud to be his friend.

When he slipped his hand into hers she looked up at his smile and realised just how much she loved him. Though she knew that he scare away fast if she ever said any thing - so she wouldn't.

Adam sat and watched, beaming in spite of himself at the sight of the two being married, confirming their love for all to see. He watched as they kissed, grinning, he turned to Merideth to see her reaction to the emotion, squeezing her hand lightly. When the Couple had gone, he offered his arm to Merideth, to whom he had finally admitted his love. He hoped that this would last the course, he so wanted this.

The Lady Ambassadress had tears in her eyes as she and her husbands held hands and smiled with joy at the waves of contended happiness rolling of Dominique and Trevor. For the three Kitsune the newly wed couples joy as real as their own, and they sent for their wishes that Dominique and Trevor have as happy a union as the Kitusne's did.

Indigo and Aiko both sniffed openly pulling many a fine lace edged linen handkerchief from the voluminous sleeves of their kimonos. Their deeply romantic sensibilities adored weddings, and they had gotten to attend so few such joyous events. This was the first relaxation they had had since ascending the throne over a year ago, and something they had both needed. The Celestial Imperia had been in near chaos after the overthrow of the Divine One. He had tried to turn the Imperia into Chaos home base and staging ground for a renewed assault.

But with the invaluable help of the Muri, the Xiscapians, the Anubians and others they had managed to thwart his plans. And not just overthrow him but seen him consumed by Gerrak, the Sultan of Doraddi, Heir to the Viovode of Pameltela and beloved of Indigo. But before they could wed the Muri had been called home to and all contact with other s – especially humans – though the Novans weren’t human – banned.

Now the Imperia Court was travelling throughout their holdings, a stately procession, designed to show that there had been a clean sweep with the old Chaos riddled rule. Their people were overjoyed to see the Court – for three thousand years the Court had been totally sequestered, isolated completely from any outside interaction.

But it was exhausting – both Indigo and Aiko worked long, sometimes more than eighteen hours at a stretch, days. But while they were thinner than their physicians would have liked, holding sleep as less important than their mother would have liked; their make up was ever impeccable and their manners never lacking. Their people came first, in both word and action. It had already well won the hearts and minds of their

Errant nodded in answer to the Borg before they were split up, taking their seats for the ceremony. He watched the beginning with full interest but he kept imagining himself and Mercy in the place of Trevor and Dominique as things went on. He squeezed his fiancee's hand and by the vows were exchanged he'd stopped even trying to pay attention. He was turned in his seat enthralled by the women next to him. The pledges they gave, he envisioned them being from him to her and from her to him, but they weren't enough...not for how he felt about her.

When the ceremony ended, he was still fixed on her. "I want that, sweetheart." He broke his daze for a moment as he looked again at the empty altar that the bride and groom had just left. "The finery yes...but I want the meaning behind it...to be wed. It's killin' me to put it off." He'd proposed ages ago but war and necessary arrangements had pushed the date ever back. The urge to just elope was stronger every day, but it still had to war against his desire for a classic wedding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just prior to the ceremony's commencement, the vornskrari were able to slip into the chamber. They saw Che'mere had sat herself off away from the rest of the Anubians. Dum jerked his head in her direction and lead Dal'ika that way. They sat down near by but didn't have time to say anything before everything began. Dal'ika's attention was firmly on the wedding. She was true to her intention of research for Errant wedding, but she was also softhearted. By the vows she was weeping.

Dum handed her the neatly folded hankerchief in his breastpocket. His attention was split and roaming. Old instincts from the Miraaderic Guard and the Togovians kept his attention flickering about, but the wedding drew some of his attention but Che'mere drew more than his training would have allowed. Good thing he'd gotten out of the service.

After the ceremony, Dum excused himself from Dal'ika who waved him off while she dried the fur under her eyes. He slipped over towards the albino Anubian. He stood next to her as she got up. His ears dropped back a bit and he looked at her but careful to keep from looking her in the eyes. "Hey, I'm sorry for jumpin' on ya...Comin' from Earth, we're pretty insulated. Slavery's mostly outlawed there...and I shoulda recognized another fur's whip scar."

Can You Read My Mind the love theme from Superman ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JN3wzdWlK4)

Robert looked over to where his mother and Errant were sitting and felt his eyes go more than a bit misty. They were totally lost in one another, their eyes seeing only the other; their hands clasped tightly together, molding into one.

His mother had proposed to his father and been turned down. She'd raised him on her own, never letting Robert Fortier of Imitora know his son existed. She had intended to wait until he was old enough not to be dazzled by the legend that hung about the man, but Fortier’s apparent death forced her hand and so she had told the ten year old Robert of his father. She had always been very careful never to say anything malicious or mean spirited of the Imitoran. That his father had turned out to be still alive hadn’t impacted his life much until they met years later. He’d gotten to know the man, and respected him quite a bit, but they’d never become close. And part of that could definitely be laid at the doorstep of the Imitorans refusal.

That Queen Holli had thrown her heir at one suitable match after another had also made Mercy’s life a misery for a long time. That, added to the other, had left her highly unsure if any one really could want her for herself. She had never complained of being lonely, of being envious of her friends who had happy marriages, of having people they absolutely knew loved them for themselves. But he was just sensitive enough to know.

But now Errant and Mercy had found one another, and he had never known his mother so happy and content.

He turned awy so as not to intrude on their privacy and glanced down at his lovely wife and his smile became even more tender. Their own marriage, while it had had its share of difficulties, grew stronger every day and he couldn't imagin life without her.

"It's OK, sweetie," Marvel said. He led her over to the garden, where he found something that he had not seen, but felt, from the reception area: phoenix roses, some even freshly trimmed and in small pots on tables at the side of the walkway. Selecting one that was particularly vibrant, he handed it to her. If memory served, in Fae lore, this signaled an intent to...monogamize.

Adam & Merideth

Merideth took Adam's offered arm as they drifted towards the Crystal Hall, but after a few steps shook her head and once more slid her arm about his waist. "There, much better dear" She felt a little shy about the affectionate, but it felt right.

"I know we need to stay long enough to let Trevor and Dominique thank us but once that’s done, why don't we sneak off some place and just spend sometime together?" She suggested.

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Dum and Che

"Hey, I'm sorry for jumpin' on ya...Comin' from Earth, we're pretty insulated. Slavery's mostly outlawed there...and I shoulda recognized another fur's whip scar."

Che gave him an unshadowed smile. The ceremony had been touching and she knew that she had not intended to cause offense earlier. Her momentary mortification had faded. She shrugged lightly at his mention of figuring out about her past. And accepted his apology whole heartedly.

"It's okay Dum. I made an assumption unintentionally, out of ignorance, and you defended your family. Ad I would have. Where there is slavery 'out here' it is either mostly penal slavery or so hedged about with laws, restrictions, regulations, tradition and custom it doesn't really fit any longer with what most consider slavery but is more like paid apprenticeship or indentured servitude." She mentally checked quickly to make sure she'd used the correct terminology, and nodded to herself.

Then her eyes darkened and her voice went to a low growl. "That is mostly. There are places out here that practice the barbaric forms of slavery and I was kidnapped when I was seven and sold to such. I became an arena slave very quickly. They were afraid to kill me themselves."

Her fur rippled and she looked about at the other guests having mostly departed. Her nose twitched and she delicately licked her chops. "Would you be my escort to the reception. I am going to admit to being starving and to having been told that Dominique's chefs are justifiably renown.

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Marvel & Drai'lee

"It's OK, sweetie,"
She looked at him wide eyed, certain she must be blushing as richly as the rose was but slowly she shook her head. “Marvel there is nothing I’d like better than to be your Sweetheart, But..." She hesitated then plowed on.

"Oh Marvel the last thing I want is for you to feel trapped, or ensnared. This isn't a requirement!" Oh she was absolutely sure she was fumbling it badly. But she had liked him - and he had been her hero, a knight in shining armor warts and all - long before she'd gotten her head straight enough to love him. And she'd seen how badly his first wife had hurt and manipulated him.

That she could never do. And it wasn't as if she still didn't have some baggage...like the whole interfering Fae Court and a mother she was only now beginning to understand...

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif


The Crystal Hall, an elongated octagonal structure was not the largest of the Palaces many 'public' spaces - the vast Cella Auria had that distinction - but it was one of the most glamorous reception rooms, and perhaps the most unique.

It hovered, apparently unsupported, just above the surface of a small, crystal clear lake and the lake's azure waters were filled with hundreds of veil finned, brightly hued fish. Discrete lighting highlighted the underwater décor- sculpture filled grottos, freshwater coral reefs, and everywhere the glorious fish -the underwater paradise could be seen through the Halls crystal clear floor. And the lake with it’s surrounding gardens of lushly scented Phoenix Roses, in full riotous, ‘flaming’ bloom, could be seen thought the crystal clear walls...and the glories of the night sky above...through the nearly transparent walls and ceiling some three hundred feet overhead...

One can say only nearly transparent, for the crystal was actually diamond, sliced from the largest diamond ever found. The nearly flawless core had been roughly two hundred and fifty feet long by one hundred and seventy feet wide, resulting in the Halls octagonal shape.

The astonished asteroid miner, one of the original colonists of the Empire, who’d stumbled across it had been canny enough to know that he couldn’t sell it, it would have destroyed the market. So he had ‘gifted’ it to the government in return for enough funds to make him a Noble House in one generation. His last name had been Hexx…

The government hadn’t known what to do with it either so had left it camouflaged in orbit with several discrete transponder markers, secret and forgotten, until it had been remembered and used to build the Crystal Hall. And slicing that big a diamond hadn’t been easy, but the Tanarans were nothing if not inventive, and stubborn…

The corners, where each wall met, were delineated by incised embellishments and inlaid with gold, garnets, titanium, oracalcum and other precious minerals and metals, all in stylized phoenix motifs. Translucent rose hued sheer curtains were drawn back and tied with heavy gold tassels. Here and there were tall arrangements of white roses and other flowers, entrancing with small clusters of fairly lights to highlight a rare flower or a metallic embellishment. Some stood nearly fifteen foot tall, but none were very wide. They had been used as accent pieces and to help demark the more private seating alcoves…

The center was open for mingling, but along the sides, an assortment of seating arrangements made for more private settings. There were no buffet table, but countless uniformed servants would circulate with drinks and finger food. Music from a small orchestra located on a mid level balcony swirled softly through the room.

A broad veranda made also from the diamond, encircled the building provided space for those who wished to enjoy the nights breezes or to wander across one of the many bridges and stroll amid the surrounding gardens. Catwalk style balconies set at the same level as the orchestra could be reached through several floating helical stairways-marvels of precision antigrav as each step was held up independently of any link to the others above or below. Each broad step, wide enough for three abreast, was covered thick, deep pile carpeting of richest crimson and outlined in gold fairy lights.

Near the ceiling, rising and dipping at the command of their integral computers, spheres- globe maps of the many planets of the Empire -hovered, giving off soft, variously hued radiances that allowed one to see clearly without having to strain, but throwing no hard shadows or spotlight effects.

The overall lighting was subdued, not directed save at the main entry, where three wide steps led down. John and Michiko were there at the top step waiting welcome all on Dominique and Trevor’s behalf. Many of the guests were going to make a quick stop at their suites and change into equally fashionable gowns and outfits, but slightly more suited for dancing. And some just so they could show off more of their wardrobes.

"Well," Adam hesitated for a moment, a delicate colour of pink flushing into his cheeks as Merideth slipped her arm around his waist. It was not the act itself that made him blush but rather how public it was. Everyone could see and everyone would know. But then why should he care? The Hesitation was not for Merideth's affection but her offer to leave early. He was an Ambassador, he had a duty to be here, to show that Alversia gave her blessing to this marriage. But then it was the War Mistress that had called him away so...

"Sure," He smiled, as he put his own arm around her waist, "Where shall we go?" He whispered in her ear. He had no intentions as such yet, he was happy just to enjoy her company.

"It's not about you trapping me, sweeetie" he said. He took a deep breath. "Since I escaped the underworld, I've had two wives and a lover. Twyla was my first...interspecies relationship. My body killed her. Angelica, my first wife, you know about. I couldn't give her the life she had to have, so I set her free. You probably don't know about my second wife, Tesla. She was...as I am, a modified Red Gargoyle. She was beaten to death. A mob...didn't understand what she was, and...by the time I got there, it was too late. We had," he took another breath and suppressed a shudder, "two children who also...died that day...because she wouldn't return evil for evil."

For a moment, the demon's eyes grew wet. He blinked.

"And neither did I," he finally said.

"So, it's not about me not being able to handle things. It's about you and your safety. I'm not going to lie to you, you're going to have to be tough just to hold it all together. But that's why I like you, babe. You got spunk. Maybe we can make it work--if that's OK with you. What do you say?"

Adam & Merideth

He needn't have worried too much about people remarking on it. Most of those around them were indulging in similarly romantic gestures. Tanarans were an innately romantic people, and their culture placed no stigmas on public displays of affection. Just as there were no laws or taboos on public nudity - the only reason that the vast majority of guest were wearing clothes was that Tanarans also liked to dress up and show off - though there were at least a few humans 'clad' in nothing more than elaborate body paint and jewelry. There were quite a number of guests wearing nothing but fur, feathers or scales.

"Where shall we go?"

"My townhouse has a wonderful library - filled with the scents of antique parchment, fine leather and warmed by a crackling fire." Merideth murmured low. The temperatures had been in the low seventies at the start of the evening, but in the later hours it would probably drop another ten degrees and with the breezes off of the vast inland sea that Nova Terranis sprawled about it might feel much cooler.

"I found a fine estate reserve cognac a couple of weeks ago, aged nearly two hundred years in authentic Terran Oak casks. We can sit and talk and not be disturbed"

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Marvel & Drai'lee

But that's why I like you, babe. You got spunk. Maybe we can make it work--if that's OK with you. What do you say?"

Drai’lee’s eyes grew damp as his as he told her of his horrible loss of his second wife and their children. "Oh Marvel" She murmured, her heart breaking for him. And she marveled anew at her luck in meeting him. She was the one with the massive liabilities, and he was worrying about her safety.

But her heart was pounding, demanding to be followed, and she knew that if she didn't listen to it,...We can make it, if we both try and I want so much to. And I know[/i] Marvel, he wouldn't be asking if he didn't. He doesn't make pretty promises, he makes real ones![/i]

Drai'lee looked up at Marvel, her winsome smile blooming "I'm game if you are. But we have to promise each other not to go to bed mad, and to make each other laugh at least once a day!

Adam looked at her and, not without a pinch of nerves in his belly, nodded happily,
"Sure, I would love to visit your townhouse. I do not believe that I have seen it before." It was true, with the combination of his political duties and her military ones, it had been hard for them to even get a work spoken to each other nevermind actually visiting one another. He had no home on Tanara, for he had yet to purchase one for himself, preferring to live in the Embassy and watch the world slide by him, his thoughts filled with one person. He looked from left to right and grinned,
"I must confess ignorance as to the location of your townhouse," He poked his tongue out in a childish but teasing manner, "May I have an escort?" he looked her in the eye, dead serious at this point, ruined moments later by a series of chuckles.

All 8 board members were in their little group as they entered the Crystal Hall. The Diamond sparkled gently in the starlight as they were officially greeted to the reception by John.

"Excuse me, Gentlemen." Robert (CMO) spoke to his colleagues that were present. "But there is a matter that I would like to discuss with Morga of Ordo Anilla, and nows probably the best time.

As such Robert split from the group and started wondering around, looking for the rather large Muri.

Joan on the other hand was slightly lost, she didn't have anything to do for once and it was rather unusual. The only thing she could perhaps try to do was to try enjoy herself at a major function. She couldn't try and help organise Trevor, he'd want some alone time with Dominique before coming down to the reception.

Well, at least it meant that she could at least sample some of these finger foods available.

Morga eyed the hors d'oeuvres warily. The humans called it finger food, but he smelled no fingers in it-and indeed, several of the offerings had no meat at all.

With a sad shrug of resignation, he helped himself to some of that fizzing water in the fluted glasses the Tanarans got so giddy over, and wished he could remember if Powzie! were an illegal toxin here or not...the humans were so strange, often requiring odd labels or limiting the joy of the muri-though the kitsune were a huge market for Powzie!, and would continue to be provided the muri never discovered the clever foxes were using it as an industrial cleaner.

Then again, if enough of the Young Races could be convinced to adopt kitsune electronics, at least Powzie! would be more widespread....

Marvel smiled. "Well...we can try," he said. With that, he went back into the ceremony, where he noticed Morga rapidly downing a glass of champagne.

"Oh, you wanna laugh, huh?"

As the Kitsume lowered the glass, Marvel walked over to him and quickly cast an illusion to make it appear...

Bluhhhhhhhhhhhhp!

"Careful," he said, patting the Kitsume gently on the back. "Never know what those bubbles are going to do."

OOC: With Thoth’s permission…

The Novans found a semihidden nook where the five of them and Thoth could sit and unobtrusively watch the reception swirl. When the demon Marvel walked in arm and arm in from the gardens with Drai'lee, the twin Empresses smiled softly but said nothing. Though they burst into nearly silent giggles - and had to hurriedly bring forth painted fans to hide their lips -at Marvel's pranking on the towering Muri. They wondered how he would react. The by play from a demonic was certainly not something they had experience with. Those that bedeviled the Celestial Imperia had absolutely no sense of humor.

The three Kitsune, the Novan Ambassadress and her husbands, watched closely as well, ready to protect their Empresses if the situation got out of hand.

Thoth had shaken his head slightly at the sight of Drai’lee and Marvel so comfortable with one another, and a lush blooming Phoenix Rose tucked into her hair. He understood the various ramifications. Her mother would have dragons, full grown ones. But as he thought on it he had to chuckle under his breath. It might do the Summer Queen good.

Though his eyes too intently took in the beginnings of the exchange between the demon and the Muri.

Morga smiled.--Quite unimportant--he replied in Shadowspeech, willing his bolongo not to translate. --I think I shall partake of these other delicacies--

Perhaps a bit of jostling took place as Morga's lune wove quietly over Marvel, creating an illusion of a horse's hindquarters rising out of his shoulders, it's tail waving about where his nose was. While Marvel would need a mirror to perceive the illusion, those assembled could enjoy it, especially as the illusion would drop large turds with Marvel's every utterance. Like all Lunar magic, it would fade in 28 days, and unlike Marvel's image, it possessed a Darksense signature and would take the mischievous demon some time to undo.

Morga hoped no one would say anything until the guests retired, leaving Marvel to ponder when he'd been given his makeover. Morga might not spoil this day with blood, but there were ways to make one's point without being objectionable...

Lord Morga, Marvel & Drai'lee

The swirl of waitstaff was making sure that every one had all the refreshments they could enjoy, in an immense variety of tastes and cuisines. Including some designed just to make a Muri happy. Including a Muri sized pitcher of Powzie!, a gift from Dominique just for him.

A senior staffer stopped discretely near Lord Morga to let him know that his gift of Walktapus for the Anubians had been honoured, and if he cared to glance towards where Thoth sat he could see the display. The staffer took one look at Marvel and his face went utterly closed, though his pupils went wide. It was all he could do not to scurry away.

Drai'lee had not such strictures and her jaw dropped open for a second, then she winced and her look shot daggers at the Muri. She was unsure why Marvel had pranked the Muri, never having met any of that race before. Perhaps there is bad blood between them? she wondered fleetingly, as she struggled to keep from lashing out at the Muri on Marvel's behalf. She knew she had strong tendencies to be over protective and she also knew that Marvel would prefer to 'get his own back'.

The Fae waited worriedly for Marvel's reaction. He was very sensitive to all forms of magic and she was certain that while he might not be able to see the illusion, being on the inside of it as it were, he certainly would know that one had been laid over him.

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Adam & Merideth

"May I have an escort?"

His chuckles started her laughing softly. Then she demanded with a reasonably straight face though her eyes twinkled "Do you think you will need a bodyguard, Adam? I can assure you that with as little crime as there is in Nova Terranis you are perfectly safe."

"It is not my safety upon which I worry," Adam replied with an equally serious face, "It is my sense of direction upon which I worry," He laughed now, "I will get lost in this vast and beautiful city and from there I will be forever doomed to wander it, trying to find the home of the beloved Warmistress" He laughed.

It didn't take long for Marvel to feel the spell that had been cast on him. He looked in a nearby wine glass and saw his reflection--and had to let loose a belly laugh. As he did, something else let loose--the moving part of the illusion--which caused him to laugh all the harder.

The only problem came when he tried to lay another illusion over the top of that one. It had some kind of selective consumption spell--a light-eater of some sort--that prevented other illusions from removing it.

Fortunately, Marvel was prepared. He and Yendor had a friendly prank war going on for years, and Marvel still wasn't sure that it had ended--so he kept a few defenses up in case ol' Purple Puss decided to get drunk and try another zap. One of these was the "Skin of Self" spell--an illusion that's not an illusion. It was the exact image of reality--until Marvel popped the safety.

It looked like a zipper. He just unzipped it and "he" fell away like an old suit, leaving the real him for view. Of course, it also took the illusion of the suit that he had been wearing, leaving him, momentarily, in nothing but his undergarments and a few wards here and there--but he decided that a resounding "hey, GIRLZZZZZ" wouldn't be his best choice of words (tempting though it was) and just said, "Oops!" before regenerating his clothing.

Then, he laughed again.

"My friend," he said to Morga, smiling a brilliant smile, "you are a brilliant sorcerer! You've made my day! Thank you so utterly much!"

It wasn't hard to find Morga... especially as the magic started to flow, Robert not wanting to get involved between the two found humour in the literal metaphor of changing marvel to look like a horse's rear end. Though as the verbal diarrhoea started Robert couldn't help himself he laughed. He knew it was only an image, an illusion yet it seemed things had calmed down.

"Excuse me, Lord Morga?" he politely interrupted "My name is Robert Jones, I'm the Chief Marketing Officer for The Garbage Men. There is a matter I'd like to discuss with you in private. If you're not too busy."

"Excuse me, Lord Morga?" he politely interrupted "My name is Robert Jones, I'm the Chief Marketing Officer for The Garbage Men. There is a matter I'd like to discuss with you in private. If you're not too busy."

"The first order of business to a troll is his appetite." Morga joked through his bolongo, a joke that didn't carry through the solemn intonations like tombstones falling on velvet. "It is therefore the course of wisdom and etiquette to offer food to begin a business discussion. Please..." Morga spooned up several dainties on a platter and offered it:"Eat this instead of me, and while you eat, we shall discourse.

"Formalities dealt with, perhaps dear Pip can point out a dead room, eh?" Morga winked, though his bolongo remained as dull and humorless as dishwater. "Unless you've a place in mind?"

"If by Pip, You mean Porthos, then I think we should. It is a sensitive matter that I wish to discuss and something that I don't think either of us would like to become public knowledge." Robert grasped the plate firmly, his expression was fairly blank and had spoken in a fairly matter of fact tone, denoting the seriousness of the discussion that was coming ahead. Which was probably why he didn't acknowledge the jokes. Though there were glimmers that would indicate that he indeed did 'get' the jokes despite their deadpan deliverance.

"Porthos, is there a room available nearby for Morga and I to privately discuss matters just between the two of us?"

Mercy and Errant had been almost the last to leave the Cella Auria, they had been so lost in one another, their hand and eyes intertwined.

Mercy had been intensely aware of Dominique and Trevor exchanging their vows but she had also been imagining what her wedding to Errant would be like. And part of her had had to stomp once again on some very unseemly envy. She had never been happier than now, during her life in Catawaba, having found the love of her life.

And while she didn't begrudge him his wish for a formal wedding, she so much wanted it to just be done. But it seemed as if something was set against it ever happening, and that was a thought that made her stomach knot. And brought out a worry she instantly wished she hadn't had. What if Errant... There were so many difference between them, that though they made no difference to her, had nearly parted them before they had a chance and now?...

Though she tried hard to prevent is melancholy settled over her and her footsteps as they followed the others out were dragging. She couldn't find much of a celebratory mood within her.

Then she straightened her shoulders, put her best smile on and made herself happy for her friend on the most special day of her life.

Dum and Che

"Hey, I'm sorry for jumpin' on ya...Comin' from Earth, we're pretty insulated. Slavery's mostly outlawed there...and I shoulda recognized another fur's whip scar."

Che gave him an unshadowed smile. The ceremony had been touching and she knew that she had not intended to cause offense earlier. Her momentary mortification had faded. She shrugged lightly at his mention of figuring out about her past. And accepted his apology whole heartedly.

"It's okay Dum. I made an assumption unintentionally, out of ignorance, and you defended your family. Ad I would have. Where there is slavery 'out here' it is either mostly penal slavery or so hedged about with laws, restrictions, regulations, tradition and custom it doesn't really fit any longer with what most consider slavery but is more like paid apprenticeship or indentured servitude." She mentally checked quickly to make sure she'd used the correct terminology, and nodded to herself.

Then her eyes darkened and her voice went to a low growl. "That is mostly. There are places out here that practice the barbaric forms of slavery and I was kidnapped when I was seven and sold to such. I became an arena slave very quickly. They were afraid to kill me themselves."

Her fur rippled and she looked about at the other guests having mostly departed. Her nose twitched and she delicately licked her chops. "Would you be my escort to the reception. I am going to admit to being starving and to having been told that Dominique's chefs are justifiably renown.

Dum smiled. "I would be glad to escort you." He half turned to face his sister and brought his hands up. He made a fist and brought it up and down for a quick motion. He pointed to her and then spread his hands and arms out. Dal'ika nodded and held up an okay sign. She collected her hand bag and made her way out of the chamber.

He turned back to Che and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Errant got his second empathic jolt of the night as he felt fear whiplash through his love and into his mind. On the tail of that fear he felt his old nemesis and hated opponent, Mercy's presistent melancholy. Errant had none of the bearing or training that Mercy had. He wore his heart on his sleeve and his emotions all over his face. He frowned and knit his brow as he looked up at his finacee. "What is it?"

Morga & Robert

Pip is Morga's nickname for the Empress's senior most Hand, Peregrine Omega, though few knew that. Lady Omega was not one to usually allow such intimacies. Morga was an exception.

"Porthos, is there a room available nearby for Morga and I to privately discuss matters just between the two of us?"

Porthos's holograph appeared instantly "Why certainly I will be glad to escort you to a secure room, or I can simply drop a Curtain of Privacy about you. Which ever you prefer. A Curtain provides full security from all manner of eavesdropping, visual, auditory, pheromonal, mental, arcane or technological."

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Oh Marvel looked just yummy! But then she had always thought so.

Drai'lee had let out a well hidden sigh of relief at Marvel's reaction to the illusion, and just shook her head as they moved off to allow Morgan and the gentleman from TGM to speak. "You have mellowed Marvel. ..and oooh, I smell fresh meat!"

Drai'lee loved raw meat. She was a happily carnivorous Fae, despite all the fairy tales about living on flower nectar. Taking his hand she led him over to where one of the servants was presenting Thoth with the gift of Walktapus from Morga.

Walktapus was a mammal from Pameltela, found in the wilder lands there and a great delicacy. It was mostly eaten raw and had a clean, delicate but pronounced flavor. She looked up at Thoth with big puppy eyes “Oh please?”

The Anubian had to chuckle, gesturing to Drai’lee, Marvel, and the others to help themselves as they liked. “There is enough here for all of us to stuff ourselves. Please feel free, enjoy this wonderful gift.”

Morga had requested that the Palace’s chefs form the meat into a replica of the ‘Last Stand’, the epic recent battle of the nursery – one of the major actions in the recent regime change in the celestial Imperia. Thoth had played a major part in the action. The chefs had been up to the challenge and the meat had been carefully shaped to represent the mounds of dead atop which heroic warriors, Anubians and Muri intermingled, held off the forces of Chaos.

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Che & Dum

"Shall we?"

Che nodded and slid her arm into his. It wasn’t common among the Anubians, but she had seen others do it and it looked very chivalrous. Not that the Anubians weren’t they just had different gestures.

“Well this has gone off better so far than I thought it might.” Che said lightly as they left the vast chamber. “I had come with my cousin only because Drai’lee asked. She’s the Fae who is hobnobbing with the Demonic. Marvel, I think his name is.” She gestured with her tail to a couple that were heading directly out to the gardens, rather than the Crystal Hall “She’s making my cousin anxious. Her mother is…very formal. To say that Drai’lee is not is an understatement.” She chuckled.

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Adam & Meredith

"I will get lost in this vast and beautiful city and from there I will be forever doomed to wander it, trying to find the home of the beloved Warmistress"

Meredith joined in his laughter but added with a most serious look “Then we shall have to make sure you visit so often that you can’t forget where home it.”

Once in the Crystal Hall she looked about and found one of the more private nooks created by the various floral arrangements and led Adam over to the love seat there in. Once they were sitting close and comfortable, she looked at him. “Joshing aside Adam, I want more of you in my life. I’m beginning to not be able to imagine you Not in it.

Dum cocked his head to the side. The Fae and the Demon seemed to be getting along okay. The vornskrari couldn't read any threat off the Demon. He'd been allowed entrance, and Dum knew that if he wasn't invited, Palace security would have had him out, down, or dead quick as it took to clear holsters or wave their wands. He seemed a bit odd, that Dum could sense through his hunting senses and empathy. However, he had a brother by marriage that was certifiably insane and a pyromaniac and he was still loved and accepted family.

"What's your cousin...and I guess Drai'lee's mother, anxioius about?'

~~~~~~~~~

Errant stopped, pulling Mercy to face him. He looked at her proud, strong face with its broad seemingly content smile. He could feel what she really felt. She was nervous, scared, anxious, envious....of who, of what?

Dominique. Their delayed marriage.

Errant reared back as the revelation hit him. He looked after the long gone bride and then back at his bride to be...sometime. "Don't fun me, darlin'. Ya know I know. Why are you worried? I gave you my word, my bond that we will be bound together. I know a lot's come up to push it back...are you worried it won't happen? That it'll keep gettin' pushed back? If I need to, I'll promise death to anyone who delays our wedding."

Mercy flushed and looked away. She was ashamed of her sudden uncertainties, and suddenly angry She muttered low "You can't kill circumstances, or world events..." Her voice mimicked one persons protests, then another "It's too late to get married this year...It's too early to get married the gardens aren't landscaped enough...those bedamned Togovians are aiding the Skulleries...The peoples attention shouldn't be divided...The nation shouldn't spend any funds on a private.." She turned away "I could kill half of your advisors half of the time. Not a single farthing of Catawaban money is going into the wedding not a pence! And I resent greatly that they make it sound like it is." She was speaking of the Catawaban Fairness Network's more than occasional comment on Errant and Mercy's relationship.

Then she shrugged half heartedly, and said softly "I believe you Errant, I believe in you completely. I guess I'm just being old womanish."

But she did fell like it was being put off, that there were those making sure there would never be a right time. And yes she did envy Dominique.

Errant slid his arm from under Mercy's and stepped in front of her, grabbing hold of her arms. "I know I don't talk about everything 'bout my work. I get done with a day bein' the heap, big autocrat, I just want to forget it for a few hours. But let's get a few things straight, darlin'."

"First, why in the HELL are ya takin' the CFN as anything more than out an' out loons? To me they're my proof that I ain't let my autocracy go to my head. The day I close'em down, the fekkin' twits, the day I've gone too far. Second, blame me before my counselors. You know that they ain't got nuthin' if I don't say yes." He shook his head.

"Yes, I've let preparation delays get in the way, but I want most of the work to be Catawaban to help Catawaban businesses. That ain't quick because we just don't have most of those services present. And it was me that chose to push back any thought of the wedding because the Togos proved to be helpin' the Skulls with their insurgency. I needed to focus, and I wanted to wait until I get more of the vornskrari back home. I just can't order'em back because they're family. They're my best troops."

"Third, old womanish? You don't know how to be unless Lolimba's been givin' you lessons. Ya ain't been, and I doubt you'll ever be. Don't blow me bull about yer age. Ya don't look sixty and ya don't act it. Yer a beautiful thirty-somethin' as far as I'm concerned." He squeezed her arms, looking up past her flushed cheeks and eyes, glistening with shame and sadness. "Puttin' it off's been eatin' at me too, Beautiful. I want what I want and that ain't gonna change...but it don't mean it needs be our only wedding."

"We can always elope. Do it on the way back by ropin' the ship's captain into it. Hell, we could grab Dal. She's comin' down the hall right now." He smiled broadly. "It'd be fun, spontaneous. Everything they don't let heads of state like us do."

“Joshing aside Adam, I want more of you in my life. I’m beginning to not be able to imagine you Not in it."

"And I with you," Adam replied seriously, enjoying the warmth of Meredith being so close to him, "I want so badly to spend more time with you. I wonder if it would be possible to move the Embassy a little closer to your home so we could spend more time together." He smiled, but he was also serious, though the Embassy was well placed and the Staff settled, they would not protest if he moved a few blocks closer to her home. For Adam was more than willing to move mountains to be closer to Merideth.

Walktapus was a mammal from Pameltela, found in the wilder lands there and a great delicacy. It was mostly eaten raw and had a clean, delicate but pronounced flavor. She looked up at Thoth with big puppy eyes “Oh please?”

OOC:Walktapi are cephalopods, not mammals, and inhabit the deserts and badlands. The flesh is prized for possessing all the nutrients required for swift healing and a rumored panacea effect.

IC: Morga smiled-his lune was ready to weave about the Garbage Man executive and himself, it's arcane nature permitting it to scramble the language centers of any mind eavesdropping, but it would be good to hear this proposal and test Porthos' own security.

The Blue Moon had a pronounced distaste for eavesdroppers and often held "public" conversations for the express purpose of misdirection to such, but on occasion, one must leave things to one's allies to test their mettle...

"Curtain of Privacy sounds good, Porthos. However... Lord Morga would you like to take a seat or would you prefer standing."

Robert briefly motioned, indicating one of the spare, private enclaves in the hall. There was a number of issues such as lip reading or the actual size of the privacy curtain, and not to forget it always felt better in such circumstances.

"Mmmmmm," Marvel said, "land squid. Thank you." After waiting for others to start, Marvel scooped up an empty (and non-transparent) glass from one of the servants' trays. Into this, he put a bit of the fresh, raw Walktapus. Unfortunately, he had given up eating 'live meat--it's always freshest that way--but this was almost as good. Being careful so that others would not see, he brought the cup up to his mouth and, extending his tongue slightly, sprayed digestive juices into its contents. In a moment, he was, again unseen, drawing the contents back out again, and into his anxiously waiting stomach. Under the circumstances, it was quite dainty.

"Thanks again."

Morga and Robert

Porthos waited for Lord Morga's answer to John's question. The Curtain had a fully flexible size, and lip reading was not a problem. The curtain barrier carefully distorted such - people could see that the two were conversing but what they saw was not what they said - as ALL eavesdropping - would be foiled by one or another or several working in tandem, concert, parallel, and layers - Oh the Xa knew that there were technologies out there that could perhaps foil theirs but they would also know if such were being used.

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Adam & Meredith

"I want so badly to spend more time with you. I wonder if it would be possible to move the Embassy a little closer to your home so we could spend more time together."


"Do you need to live at the Embassy?" Meredith asked, curious. It wasn't a requirement for Tanaran Ambassadors, but she wasn't certain if Alversia required their Ambassadors to live on the Embassy grounds.

She knew that the townhouse at the end the row across from hers was going up for sale, the owners having been transferred. There were few townhouses in Nova Terranis, most were single family houses or towering residence buildings. The square of spacious two and three story town homes were nearly a hundred years old, built to regrow the city after the devastation of the Nova bomb.

She explained the situation to Adam “Our enclave is just forty homes, built around a spacious five acre park. The deed restrictions require all the owners live there, no renting out, so you’d have to buy. “

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Dum & Che

"What's your cousin...and I guess Drai'lee's mother, anxioius about?'

Che sighed. “Thoth is not anxious per say, but if anything ‘happens’ the Summer Queen might well take it out on not just him, but us, the Empire as a whole. She is inclined to be” She paused a moment choosing her words carefully “Intemperate at times. She also refuses to acknowledge that the Demoiselle Tiger Lilly is an adult in mind as well as by their laws, and is more than capable of making her own decisions and defending herself. But then again her, the Queen’s that is, betrothed disappeared when he found out she was carrying Dari’lee. It has made her wary of men, and entanglements.”

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Marvel, Drailee, Thoth and others

“What did you think of the ceremony Drai’lee, Marvel?” Indigo asked as she finished a small portion of the walktapus, dabbing her lips delicately with a napkin.

“I though it was just so romantic “ Her twin Aiko murmured with a heartfelt sigh, as Indigo and the Ambassadress Nari nodded. Nari’s husbands just smiled indulgently and made sure the ladies had fresh drinks – they had acquired a raku ware pot of steaming cha and flute of fine champagne, and none of the group saw anything amiss with taking sips of both.

“Oh it was indeed. The Tanarans have such a way of doing ‘formal’ informally but without losing any of the depth and poignancy of the ceremony.” And it made Drai’lee even more determined never to have a Fae formal ceremony of any sort if she could contrive it so.

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Dominique and Trevor

Dominique and Trevor had spent quite a bit of time cuddling and kissing but eventually they both looked at one another and sighted. Their guest had taken time to come and celebrate with them, they really couldn’t just leave them. And now they had forever.

The couple finished changing and hand in hand made their way to the Crystal Hall, to make their thanks in person.

“Our enclave is just forty homes, built around a spacious five acre park. The deed restrictions require all the owners live there, no renting out, so you’d have to buy.“

"Well, we're not required to live at the Embassies," Adam allowed, smiling gently at her, "Though we are encouraged to live as close to them as possible so we may be on hand to answer any problems as soon as possible." He looked thoughtful though,
"Having said that though, I am sure that I could gather the resources to purchase the house you're talking about." Already, he was thinking about the money he had, the numbers needed to purchase the property. He wanted to be close to her. He had to be...no matter the expense.

"Please, let us be seated." Morga placed himself with his back to the room, his Darksense extending to the Privacy Barrier. "We should be at leisure, certainly."

Idly, he noted he should sit facing the room as the bolongo wasn't truly conducive to lip-readers, but this was not time to worry overmuch. He must curb his usual proclivities of seeing enemies hidden at every turn...perhaps later, when he found such feelings detrimental...

Robert & Morga

Robert took his seat, and looked into Morga's face for a moment before starting to speak. "We've been noticing some rather unusual happenings in your region of space and as a result of what we've noticed. We believe there is.. well... It seems there is a secret civil war underway. As you can see this is why I wanted Privacy."

Robert carefully studied the face of the Muri, at the end of the day they were a service provider, but they could only provide services to those that want it. He was looking as to signs about how he'd react to the assertion. The Garbo-psychoanalysts were usually right though psychology as a field can never be 100% right particularly when your dealing with many varied species in addition to the differences of brain chemistry within a single species.

Trevor and Dominique

While still technically a suit, this one was looser and well fitted to allow for ease of dance. He'd dance all night if only just to keep her physically close. It would be hard after everything settled down. Dominique had her work as Empress...and he had his as CEO. They're jobs would for the most part keep them away from each other but he couldn't step down as CEO and he would not ask her to step down either. He knew it was important to her and even though it would keep them apart.

It made the time they shared together even more special, that and he knew it wouldn't be forever. As he would waited he'd dream of the day where they'd finally be together full time... where they could start a family and truly be one together.

Just before the portal to the Crystal Hall, he stopped and gently with his hands turned Dominique to face him, he gave her another kiss, a short one. "Before we go in, I just wanted to tell you that there is nothing that can separate us from our love for each other and while we may be away from each other a lot during these next lot of years. That I will never be far from you because I will be in here." He took her hand and placed it on her heart, before putting his hand over hers "Just as you are in mine." he moved he hand and placed it on his heart before his hand once again was placed over hers.

"Our hearts will beat as one, no matter where in all existence we may be, because our love binds us together and that can never be broken."

And with that he let go of her hands and reached around and hugged her pulling her in close. His cheek firmly planted against hers as he breathed in everything about her, her smell, her feel, but yes. They had to go, they had their duties and neither Trevor nor Dominique were ones to let their duties and responsibilities fall by the wayside. Now they had some responsibilities, their guests they had to make an appearance, it was their duty... but it would also be a great pleasure. Trevor getting to know Dominique's world and the people that make it up personally.

"Better not keep them any further." he said leaning forward, his forehead meeting with hers as he closed his eyes for a moment, before starting off with Dominque, his wife through the Portal to the Crystal Hall.

"It'd be fun, spontaneous. Everything they don't let heads of state like us do."

Mercy felt her heart leap, his words driving away the mood she had been falling into. Though there was the faintest echo of wistfullness, her words and tone were firm and brisk "No! Not at all Errant Mira'ad. I promised you a lavish formal wedding, and thats what you are going to get. I refuse to let my megrims break a perfectly good promise to the man I love." Nor would she allow any disappointment to those who were throwing themselves into bringing the whole massive event together

She tucked her arm back in his and started resolutely toward the Crystal Hall. She was going to enjoy the party even if it killed her.

But damn it she hated having to sneak into his bed.

"Ah, yes-the building of Dyson spheres has blotted out many of the stars in our sector." Morga nodded. "But if we were engaged in such a war, we would not want outsiders involved-they would push and twist until the results met their desires, not ours.

"However, I can offer a useful proposal to you: laborers to handle your trash pickup and disposal at a 30% discount over your usual labor costs, provided we also receive any nonrecyclables as would be collected up, including toxic wastes and radioactive residues."

Morga remained calm, though he was not pleased-he had revealed much to Peregrine only have it spoon-fed to him by this executive of the Garbagemen. Leaks would need plugging, and so much work lay ahead...he would have to think swiftly, now-if only to buy time...

“What did you think of the ceremony Drai’lee, Marvel?” Indigo asked as she finished a small portion of the walktapus, dabbing her lips delicately with a napkin.

“I though it was just so romantic “ Her twin Aiko murmured with a heartfelt sigh, as Indigo and the Ambassadress Nari nodded. Nari’s husbands just smiled indulgently and made sure the ladies had fresh drinks – they had acquired a raku ware pot of steaming cha and flute of fine champagne, and none of the group saw anything amiss with taking sips of both.

“Oh it was indeed. The Tanarans have such a way of doing ‘formal’ informally but without losing any of the depth and poignancy of the ceremony.” And it made Drai’lee even more determined never to have a Fae formal ceremony of any sort if she could contrive it so.


"Just a moment," Marvel said.


Just before the portal to the Crystal Hall, he stopped and gently with his hands turned Dominique to face him, he gave her another kiss, a short one. "Before we go in, I just wanted to tell you that there is nothing that can separate us from our love for each other and while we may be away from each other a lot during these next lot of years. That I will never be far from you because I will be in here." He took her hand and placed it on her heart, before putting his hand over hers "Just as you are in mine." he moved he hand and placed it on his heart before his hand once again was placed over hers.

"Our hearts will beat as one, no matter where in all existence we may be, because our love binds us together and that can never be broken."


As they pulled apart, Marvel gave them the wedding gift that he'd been saving. With a wave of his hand, he made the illusion of fireworks going off above and all around them--a beautiful but harmless display. In a moment, it died away, leaving the place strangely silent.

"There," the turned demon said. "Now, it was perfect."

He winked at the newlyweds.

"Ah, yes-the building of Dyson spheres has blotted out many of the stars in our sector." Morga nodded. "But if we were engaged in such a war, we would not want outsiders involved-they would push and twist until the results met their desires, not ours.

"However, I can offer a useful proposal to you: laborers to handle your trash pickup and disposal at a 30% discount over your usual labor costs, provided we also receive any nonrecyclables as would be collected up, including toxic wastes and radioactive residues."

Morga remained calm, though he was not pleased-he had revealed much to Peregrine only have it spoon-fed to him by this executive of the Garbagemen. Leaks would need plugging, and so much work lay ahead...he would have to think swiftly, now-if only to buy time...

Morga was a professional, it was impossible for Robert to discern the Truth from him,but he nodded along with Morga as Morga Spoke.

"Oh, I understand perfectly, it was perhaps the only real opportunity for us as a corporation to develop relationships with nations such as you're selves that we've come into contact with through the Tanarans. As for your proposal, I can accept that, I'll get in contact with you tomorrow with the details and a proper contract."

Robert was smiling as he started to reach over to shake Morga's hand. "Oh, wait, sorry, I forgot something." The shake didn't eventuate, Robert put his hand into his pocket, uncliped something that was attached to his clothes and presented what was basically a datapad to Morga. It included Sensor logs, a full (apart from some censoring for security purposes) Garbo-psychoanalyst report.

The report spelled out exactly what information they had gathered, and what it meant in this case. The sensor logs were of star systems that had 'disappeared' recently. The report referenced the logs and firmly confirmed that the star was destroyed, not blocked or withered of old age. The rest of the report used primarily lack of information. Lack of any SOS calls from the planet/system, lack of any declaration of war, lack of any alerts for civilian traffic in the area and other such things confirming no enemy craft in the area. As so it's conclusion read that there was a civil war going on in the area yet it was a covert war, one that people on the battlefields may not know that even a war was going on until it affected them. It went on to explain that there was believed to be a government faction but the other faction or factions were unknown and most likely would never be known.

The whole report hinged on these Systems being destroyed, and the scientific evidence for such was compelling. While the act of destruction wasn't itself detected. They were tell tail signs that were picked up by TGM sensors.

"I'd like you to have this as a sign of respect and to foster understanding, it is the only copy of the report in any form as it has been purged from our system. I'm glad that it was wrong and indeed the systems were merely blocked rather than destroyed."

Morga & John

Morga may have assumed Peregrine had given out information she had been given, but nothing would have been further from the truth. The Nietzschean was one of the most circumspect people in the Celestial Ring, and furthermore had not even had time to pass on any recently acquired information to the Empress. The only person she would have, especially given Morga's recent admonitions on the subject. The delicate and vastly powerful position she held was based on absolute trustworthiness and discretion. The great majority of the information she handled in her post as the Empress’s senior most Hand was destined for the Throne’s ears alone, and she had never violated the trust placed in her.

As to where the GarbageMan official had gotten his information, it had NOT come from the Tanarans.

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Adam & Meredith

"Having said that though, I am sure that I could gather the resources to purchase the house you're talking about."
“The enclave is on it’s own co-generator, and thus we have our own transporter, at the west corner of the square. But also if you feel you need one in the townhouse, you could have one installed as I did. I know what it’s like to be on call at all times.” She smiled reassuringly. She keyed a number in to her wrist comp unit and spoke quickly to her housekeeper, asking her to contact the owners and get the details on the townhouse and the price being asked “There we’ll know shortly. As an Ambassador you wouldn’t pay property taxes, or any purchase tax. Also I think that if you declare it part of the Alversian embassy you might get the full purchase price refunded from our government.”

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Dominique and Trevor and the rest of the celebration…

Our hearts will beat as one, no matter where in all existence we may be, because our love binds us together and that can never be broken."

Dominique repeated his words, her happiness and her love for him shining in her eyes, her whole face aglow.

She looked up at the delightful fireworks salute, not looking away until it had faded completely. Once it dispersed Dominique swept her gaze over at the crowd of guests, her eyes searching for whomever had gifted then with such a marvelous display. Then she met the eyes of a guest she hadn’t been met before – but she noted his ebullient wink Her guess was confirmed by Porthos whispering in her ear as to where the arcane energies had originated. “Thank You” she mouthed to the brick hued demon through a warm smile as she returned the wink. What a thoughtfull, perfect gift! And it’s just what my heart feels like, exploding with joy!

Drai’lle sighed, and gave Marvel a light hug as she slid her arm about him “That was so romantic!” She whispered to him.

The twin Empresses were all but swooning over the whole celebration. The Novan culture all but enshrined such romantic gestures.

Thoth wished his Great Royal Wife and co husband were here - though theirs had been a competely 'political' marriage, they had been friends and lovers long before and had grown even closer. But some one completely trustworthy had had to be left behind to oversee not one but two spanning empires, and that had fallen to Tetsuko and Kai. But he'd be home soon enough

Also I think that if you declare it part of the Alversian embassy you might get the full purchase price refunded from our government.”

"Now isn't that just one tempting offer," Adam could not stop himself from laughing at the idea, it sounded perfect. The chance to move close to Merideth, without being too far from the Embassy should a problem come up. Of course, he hated to land the fee for such a house upon the doorstep of a Government who had been nothing short of nice to him. He wondered if there was a middle ground somewhere,
"Thought it is a tempting offer," He smiled at her, "I couldn't sleep with myself if I knew that the Tanaran Government had to fork out just so I could be closer to you. I would prefer to pay my own way if that does not cause offence," he hugged her close, arm around her waist.
"Or perhaps a Compromise could be reached?" He suggested calmly.

Meredith and Adam

"Or perhaps a Compromise could be reached?"

Meredith laughed softly as she returned the hug "Adam, it's offered to every ambassador, not just you, so it isn't taking any unusual advantage of us at all! But what compromise would make you sleep sounder?"

She leant in close and whispered something to him

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Dominique and Trevor

The orchestra, discretely placed on one of the balconies above head height moved smoothly from the light 'conversation' music into the slow sweet notes ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnsgROHTweA) that opened the first dance, the one traditionally reserved for the newly weds.

Dominique looked up at Trevor with her dimples flashing. Hand in hand they swept down the three steps and into the main part of the Crystal Hall. Once in the open center, they faced each other, Dominique curtseying deeply to Trevor’s bow. Then they were in each others arms swooping into the first grand spirals of a romantic waltz.

Dominique’s sunrise hued gown (http://www.atddm.com/gown3.jpg) of rippling silk floated softly about her as they spun, swayed and dipped in perfect harmony.

Once Dominique and Trevor had ended as they opened, with a curtsey and bow, the orchestra paused for a few heart beats and swung into other danceable music and others drifted out on to the floor to join in the dancing. The newly weds danced a hand more of dances together, their eyes solely for the other, enjoying being lost in one another’s arms. But eventually they left the dance floor to circulate among their guests, thanking them for coming to celebrate with them.

Thoth squired first Aiko then Indigo on the dance floor, and Nari danced with both her husbands as a trio then with each individually. Many Tanaran group marriages did much similar.

Che looked at Dum “I know some of these dances, would you care to dance?”

She looked over at Dal'ika, " Is it allowable by you? Should I have asked your permission first?" She blushed again, unsure of the proper etiquette among the Taung culture.

"But what compromise would make you sleep sounder?"


Adam was about to reply when Merideth's whispered words regestered with him and he blushed furiously at the thought. He would deny that he had had such thoughts in his less gentlemanly moments but he could not imagine that she was actually offering what she was,
"You really mean it?" He asked cautiously.

"Yeah?" Marvel replied. "Well, sometimes the flash beats the trash." He brought his wing around her, letting her, bringing his metabolism to "avian" levels and letting her feel the warmth. "By the way," he said with a smirk, "did I ever mention how hot I am for you?"

Morga adjusted his tie, allowing the circuitry there to calibrate to the datapad-it would be swifter than any any method save configuring a fifinella, and more secure than that.

He walked decisively up to Peregrine. "There are matters we must discuss, you and I-firstly, the matter of my arrest."

He held up a foreclaw to forestall a protest. "A poison of the Trilone group has been sprinkled on the walktapi-here, let me give you the vial." He fished a small tube out of his cufflink and handed it over. "That's diluted enough to make whoever eats it nauseous for a week, but non-threatening. You'll have to hold me on suspicion, of course, and since trolls don't use poison-quite useless given our digestive tracts-the Castle of Lead will immediately know me innocent and permit me to remain until I've exacted a terrible vengeance on the perpetrator.

"Is there someone incredibly annoying in attendance who will raise a big enough stink that you'd have to act?" Morga looked about. "Perhaps Prince Horus, since I did order it sent directly to him, though I don't see him really putting on such airs-probably mourn his unworthiness to pass the Gate of Anubis more than get upset at his poisoner. Pick the target carefully, as I really don't need Tanara to receive a diplomatic black eye..."

Peregrine had watched Morga approach her secluded position. The Nietzschean had never been comfortable at such gatherings and thusly had chosen a ‘post’ where she could oversee, but few could see her. The one of the many semicircular balconies overlooking the dancers and those in conversation below was her favored haunt. She had not made it easy for her to be located, so she had been able to observe Morga’s discrete movements through the Crystal Hall .The design of the airy balconies also allowed her to see any who approached long before they came close.

As he began his ‘confession’ Peregrine looked at the Muri with no change in her accustomed remote expression. Upon taking the vial that he handed her she did not so much as inspect it, merely tucked it away. Once Lord Morga had finished with his explanation she shook her head solemnly.

"I am going to have to arrest you yes, but not for any such action as you have presumed occurring. There was no poison sprinkled on the dish delivered to the Pharaoh Thoth. What was sent from your ship never left the kitchens. You have not only had no chance to wander near the group,” She tiled her head fractionally down toward the group that the Pharaoh Thoth was a part of. The twin Empresses, Aiko and Indigo, of the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon, the Lady Ambassadress to the Phoenix Empire of Tanara from the Imperia Lady Kaminari Kitirchiba noh Yamato and her husbands - all three Kitsune from the High Planes of Heaven - Marvel and the Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae

“But indeed have not gone close. So no one has been poisoned in the slightest." The only one of the group that had been partaking of the 'Walktapus' – not Walktapi - who had had eaten the Pameltelan dish previously and thus might recognize whether what they were enjoying was Pameltelan cephalopod or not was the Empress Indigo. And she seemed not to have noted any differences.

"You are being arrested for being an imposter. You are not whom you claim to be." As she finished the phrase she gave a minute fraction of a nod and a beam hit the accused squarely. Porthos had over ridden the force field generating gems, the protective earrings and other items in combination of brute force fashion – enough force brought to bear can overcome even Muri technology – and sophisticated, highly advance Xa technology. Also Porthos had already severed the necklace’s connection to the planetary communications net and to all of the cybersystems.

The Tanarans, among others, were tired of Muri suspicion and their unalloyed arrogance in thinking that their technology was the be all and end all. Oh it ws fantastic technology, beyond the current reach of the Tanarans. But not the Xa, and the Xa were their oldest allies.

The weapons too was of Xa’ Cz’inni design and technology. The Xa knew Mi-Go physiology, as well as Muri and many others - and the weapon had designed to render all of them paralyzed and unconscious. Her deputy Hands had been maneuvering discretely through the throng of guests never leaving Peregrine, or Morga - among certain others - uncovered. It was a loose net certainly, but it was backstopped by Porthos – the Palace was his ‘body’ after all, and it was filled with a vast array of sensors of all sorts.

The Muri received the full effects of it. Peregrine went to one knee near the unconscious form and confiscated the small pistol and other weapons she could discern. Which was most of his outfit.

A rumbly voice from over her shoulder advised “You are going to have to strip him bare then put him in stasis to get every thing”

“Yes I know” She looked up at the towering Xa – six fully trained and armed veterans led by the Warleader of the Far Faring Fleet himself, recalled from their Hunt across multiverse - who had arrived to take the unconscious one away. Quickly powerful restraints – arcane, psionic, and technological covering all the bases and then some – including a device specifically designed to incapacitate the Mi-go - were swaddled about the inert form with as little fanfare as possible. Those included containment fields to hold anything in that might be deadmanned. “I will be along shortly” she advised and the Xa gave minimal bows and bore their charge away.

Peregrine looked after them and sighed– Morga would have certainly known that the Anubian was no longer Prince Thoth, but Pharaoh Thoth, and further the Ordo Annilla operative certainly would have known, or been able to discern, that all of those who had partaken of the ‘gift’ could not be poisoned by anything not specifically tailored to them. Five of the three could be considered by the odd notion - to a Nietzschean - as being deities - though the Kitsune had mentioned at one time they were only minor gods - one was a Demon, and the last well, Peregrine was not certain how to classify a life form explained to her as the enfleshment of the Arcane.

No one below and very few of those in the other balconies noticed anything amiss. They simply hadn’t been in position too see, and those that might have been aware via other senses were too mannered to spoil the occasion.

Marvel held on. It was good to feel the warmth of her body against his...

...in fact, it was a little bit too warm...and that caught Marvel's attention.

"You feeling OK, babe?" he asked. "You seem a little feverish."

OOC: See post above yours DS

Marvel & Drai'lee

"You seem a little feverish."

Drai'lee loved the extra warmth. With her non human physiology her metabolism was as high as his was, and it had always been a struggle to keep warm. Normally Rash, wrapped about her, helped but he wasn't with her now. Snuggled happily into the protective curve of his wing, Drai'lee went up on tiptoe and kissed Marvel lightly on the cheek. "I'm fine, it's just the protein has me a bit hyper. A dance would help" She suggested hopefully.

Adam and Meredith

"You really mean it?"

Meredith looked up at him from under her lashes then captured his face between her palms. Gently she drew him down into a kiss. After a timeless moment she sat back and looked at him "Now, are you going to ask that question again?"

From another of the circular balconies, Bromus watched the procession. His Klingon paranoia had finally gotten the best of him, and he had sought out a place from which he could monitor the security of the procession. When the guests' forms had stripped away, he had instantly shared the images he was seeing with Falsus and Ver, and then put a broadcast on the nearby collective.

Bromus: Gentlemen, we have a security incident.

Hugh: Specify, please.

Bromus: Two guests were not whom they appeared to be. They have been identified, rendered unconscious and taken into custody.

Boutrus: You're sure that the guests were the security problem? We don't have some kind of move against the guests?

Bromus: Positive. The miscreants attempted to plant evidence before they were taken into custody. The body language is unmistakable.

Falsus: Sounds like a non-event to me.

Ver: Good catch, Bromus. You kept your eyes open.

Hugh: Event or not, we should be aware of it. Ver, could you discretely inquire as to what happened?

Ver: Consider it done.

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"Dance? Love to. How do you get a band going in this place--or do you think I should supply one?" The demon smiled especially brightly. Before he had taught at the White Tower, one of the things that he had done to make ends meet was to work as a Bard, using his ability as an illusionist to amuse the masses with song and dance. Mademoiselle super-long-unbelievable-name (funny thing was that the demon could memorize things like "Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae" after hearing them only once, but that didn't mean he was going to let 'em off the hook for it) had even been in on a jam session or two.

"Now, are you going to ask that question again?"

"I...I..." Adam licked his lips slowly where they had touched the wonderously warm and soft lips of his love, for now he knew that he loved her, more than anything in the world, his heart burned for her now, burned badly for her, he wanted to be with her forever, to be a part of her life...he had to be in her life. He could think of no other way to live his life,
"I..." he finished smoothly as he leant down again to continue their kissing, feeling their lips connect, tasting her lipstick on his tongue. He closed his eyes slightly, wishing this moment would never end.

As they parted again though, he took her gently by the hand and began to lead her out into the garden. Where there was privacy.
Once outside in the darkness of the garden, he gently pushed Merideth up against a wall, kissing her passionately, lifting one of her legs up to thigh height. He could feel the warmth of her smooth skin beneth the dress and he tingled with excitement, almost daring to think it was a dream.

Robert was bemused by the Muri's reaction. Adjusting a tie and then just leaving, without so much as saying a word of goodbye of recognition. The news that their secret civil war had been found out had must of been a dramatic shock to the system.

(OOC: I'm not sure what happened to the datapad, whether 'Morga' had it, whether he left it behind with the data on it, or left behind without the data. Something will replace this when I find out.)

Robert had finished his business walking out of the area, and noticed that Trevor and Dominique was dancing. He smiled briefly as the two danced. He was totally unawware what was happening in the nook with Peregrine

Trevor moved with the grace of a well practised Dancer, his eyes were firmly locked onto Dominique's eyes as they whirled the traditional dance for the newly wedded couple.

"Ohhh, alright," the demon said, "but the illusion band is going to have to be sophisticated."

When the latest musical number died down, a strange little man, faintly resembling a demon but short and stubby and dressed in a tuxedo, strode up to the microphone on the stage and, with only the finest of fanfare, said into it,

"Ladies, gentlemen and those for whom those titles would be insults, it is with great pride that I must announce that Natasha Nothere and the Illusions have agreed to come out of retirement for this special occasion. Please give them a warm round of applause."

The far wall turned into a curtain that pulled back, revealing a four-piece band that wasn't really there. They, too, were dressed formally...and proceeded to play a rendition of "Kiss Me," originally by Sixpence None the Richer. Their cover had more sophisticated lyrics, however. For example, the refrain went something like this:

Oh, osculate where there's a lack of lumens
Perambulate to where Luna shines
Bring your digits in, let the ensemble begin,
Bugs boogiein', Luna Luminatin'.
Osculate.

And Marvel led Drai'lee to the dance floor while they played.

-------------------

OOC:

The hard part was getting the meter right! ;)

Kiss Me Instrumental (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzVGA4idAls)

Drai'lee giggled as the illusionary orchestra took over. She remembered the wonderful music Marvel could contrive, most of they lyrics so side splittingly funny she had ended up with aching ribs more than a few times.

But this was his serious stuff -and while not what the live orchestra up in the orchestra balcony had been playing - which was both uniquely him and very danceable.

She manifested her wings after checking that the dance floor was spacious enough - there were a number of celestials dancing and all seemed to know to give them plenty of room. "Lets really trip the light fantastic, handsome"

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Trevor & Dominique

Once the formality of the traditional first dance was done, the following dances found Dominique cuddled up close to Trevor. Her head resting on his shoulder as the couple moved fluidly to the music, she sighed with happiness.

As Marvels Orchestra du Imp's took over she looked up and laughed softly. "It looks like we've inspired others. I just saw Meredith and Adam sneaking out to the gardens.

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Meredith and Adam

Meredith shivered as she felt Adams strong hand slide along the length of her leg, as she pressed her body close to his, crooking her leg around the back of his thighs. The feel of the silk stockings she wore sliding against the crisp fabric of his formal tuxedo made her head swim. She returned his kiss with all the passion she had in her. The night air filled with the dizzying scent of the Phoenix roses was making her senses swirl and she was glad that he was anchoring her.

"Adam, if we aren't careful, I think I might well faint." She murmured as she laid a trail of kisses down the column of his neck, ending at where it disappeared behind the collar of his shirt.

"Mmhmmm," Adam replied through his own kisses, enjoying the feeling of her running her lips along his neck, he continued to massage her leg, his other hand roaming across the front of her dress. The reflections of the three moons danced across her skin and made her appear even more beautiful. He as drowning in pleasure, delighted to even be here with her. In this situation,
"I think we need somewhere more private." He whispered in her ear, his lips handing across her neck, his lower hand straying to her bottom, revealling in the sensation and the touch.

Marvel's wings sprung out from behind his back. He tried not to show it, but it felt good not to have them tight against his body. He held out his hand and said, "Moiselle, you do have a way with words." The other hand twisted, and, as the music ended, Natasha Nothere and the Illusions picked up "Fantasy," originally by Earth, Wind and Fire.

...
Come to see, victory in a land called fantasy,
Loving life, for you and me, to behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find, other kind, that has been in search for you,
...

And, before they knew it, the two of them were dancing in the air.

Trevor followed Dominique's move their cheeks meeting in the middle both resting, relying on the other. The skin of their cheeks touched, it felt unlike anything else for Trevor, well at least not for a long while.

And that's exactly how Trevor would see him and Dominique as a couple. Each Individual as important as each other getting supported by the other. Each other as, or more so, important as themselves.

Trevor listened to the Words but didn't noticed that it wasn't the real orchestra that was playing. His eyes were shut as he breathed in everything he could about her, her beautiful smell, getting to know how she felt. Heightening his senses to feel her heart beat, hear her breathing. He whispered quietly to her... "Do you know what osculating means?" a slight mischievous smile played over his face as he waited for to respond.

Dominique & Trevor; Meredith and Adam

"Do you know what osculating means?"

Dominique’s twinkling eyes met his. “I do have a full piled higher and deeper, even if I haven't had a chance to work as a physician in many years." She said demurely as her lips came up and met his in a thoroughly soul satisfying kiss.

“Actions speak louder than words some say” she teased when it inevitably ended. The song set ended then and she sighed. “I could dance with you all night, but we need to spend a little time with our guests …And from the looks on Meredith’s and Adam’s faces I think we might need to start with them. They look very …distracted.” She chuckled lightly, noticing the more than slightly, but becomingly so, disheveled appearance of the Phoenix Empire’s War Mistress. The Alversian Ambassador was slightly less rumpled, but a well tailored tuxedo could survive a bar brawl and look pristine. His eyes were more than a bit glazed and he seemed to have pronounced trouble taking them off of Meredith.

The newly weds left the dance floor, while behind them the orchestra flowed into another number and the others continued dancing.

“Meredith, Adam, thank you ever so much for coming, and celebrating with us. Your presence made this all the much richer for us.” Dominique gave first Meredith then Adam light hugs, enhanced with warm smiles as she expressed how much their being there had mean to her and Trevor.

They chatted for a few minutes longer then Dominique waved the pair on with a teasing smile “Shoo! Scoot! I think you two want privacy more than conversation.”

That was all Meredith needed to hear to head homeward with Adam in hand.

Adam agreed wholeheartedly and, even as the Empress was hugging him, his eyes were on Merideth, thinking of what had just happened and what was about to. He's never felt so alive. He bowed his thanks to both Dominique and Trevor, his congratulations running smoothly off his lips. Any thoughts he may have had about his note to Alversia were quickly disrupted by Merideth tugging on his hand, leading him towards home. He knew it could wait until tomorrow at least.

There it was, the Kiss. his heart almost tore itself apart with the joy and he could very well dance forever with her, but there was more duty. He chuckled along with Dominique... "We might have to get a chaperone for them."

As Dominique hugged thanked her friends, it was ever so obvious that they were her friends Trevor could only smile and nod towards the couple. Dominique was doing by far the most talking with Trevor making only an occasional comment about just how lovely his new wife was.

"Weddings seem to always stir romantic feelings, I think it's great for them. That they have what we have." Trevor spoke after Meredith and Adam disappeared from sight. "So, who next..." Trevor surveyed the crowed noticing Falsus where ever he was. "I think it's time I introduce you to the New Borg."

Directing Dominique to his direction with a nod of his head.

Che looked at Dum “I know some of these dances, would you care to dance?”

She looked over at Dal'ika, " Is it allowable by you? Should I have asked your permission first?" She blushed again, unsure of the proper etiquette among the Taung culture.

Dal'ika's ears perked up and a quick mischievious light glinted in her eyes. Dum's eyes narrowed in response. Dal'ika simply smiled away her brother's warning. She turned to Che'mere. "Honey, I might be a priestess of a fashion and his sister, but that doesn't make me his mother. Go on. If you don't know the dances, Dum will." She made a shooing motion and turned away to find the refreshments.

Dum rolled his eyes and bowed with faux graciousness to his sister's back. Feeling his sarcasm, her tail came up and swatted at empty air as if she was trying to hit him. The vornskrari male straightened and turned to his dance partner. "Shall we?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Errant lead Mercy onto the dance floor. He'd been one of Dum's first students. He'd never win one of those televised dance contests...if he ever allowed them into Catawaba...but he was an able dancer. He credited a lot of martial arts and combatives for his good footwork. The only thing he had to relearn was to NOT crush the other person's instep. It'd been mighty hard to overcome that one.

He took her right hand in his left and placed his right hand on her hip, almost covetously holding her near. He looked up into her eyes, stormy blue. "I mean to marry you, Mercedez Merideath Hexx, and to do it twice would only bring me twice the joy."

Che watched their playful interactions with deeply hidden envy, but a chuckle and twinkle in her eyes. "Then I shall return him more exhausted than he is now. I love to dance" She warned "And I am a quick learner"

Her cousin had spent a fortune in finding her and lives in rescuing her. And made enemies not just for himself but for the Obsidian Empire as a whole. He was the only family she had left. But it was different, so different. She never doubted that he loved her and would always accept her. But their relationships wasn't like Dum and Dal'ika's. Thoth was too careful - as he had to be- as Pharaoh, and they had no growing up together to make them a fortress against the world. But she put those thoughts out of her mind and looked up at the numerous couples dancing above.

The figures gliding and twirling overhead. they provided no hindrance to those preferring more grounded dancing as the Crystal Halls ceiling vanished into the star strewn night some three hundred feet over head.

"That looks fun but I think I will enjoy dancing here enough." She had the same innate arcane abilities that all Anubians did, but her training in that area had been all but completely ignored during her time as an arena slave. Che doubted she could have managed to weave the arcane into her steps in steady enough fashion as to support herself and a partner during the dance.

The orchestra struck up the opening chords of a lively tune, much likea Paso Doble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPatMgfrF4I) and Che tossed her sheathed sword over head where it vanished into elsewhere. "There, less likely for accidents when dancing so."

~~~~~~~~~

He had never come close to crushing her instep, never...

"I mean to marry you, Mercedez Merrideath Hexx, and to do it twice would only bring me twice the joy."

Mercy cuddled up to him, enjoying the closeness, reveling in his declaration. However she shook her head. "Dearest, it won't stop tongues from wagging to elope, it will just give them more fuel."

The spirited opening bars had her spinning away from him, as he pursued, catching her, then waving her outward as a display of his talent.

Trevor & Dominique

Dominique nodded at Trevor's words. It was nice to see others as happy as she was. She couldn't think of a time when she'd been happier, feeling more complete. Not that she had been anything less than whole but this was a new added dimension, and expansion of her, something that was more than just the sum of it's parts, more than just Trevor, just Dominique.

"So, who next...I think it's time I introduce you to the New Borg."
"

Dominique followed Trevor's glance and nod over to the New Borg. "Yes Please dear one. I'd love to meet them."

The Phoenix Empire had never had any interactions with the "old" Borg, but they had had full records on them. And preparations made if ever they should. To meet a more civilized, less aggressive Borg would be a pleasure, and very interesting.

The Phoenix Empire had been given a few Monoliths by the Unity, and while she had never experienced it herself, Dominique understood that one was part of a Collective when one 'joined' a Monolith. Though one also gave up ones physical self to do so. That chain of thought was getting complicated so she set it aside, after reminding herself to see of Captain Grace O'Malley was about so she could introduce her to the Borg. Captain O'Malley being their senior Monolith Captain.

She smiled warmly at Falsus and the others about him as Trevor led her up to the group and began introductions.

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Drai’lee And Marvel

The branch of the Fae that Drai’lee came from had the flight gene naturally, so dancing on air was without a thought and a care for her, but she had seldom danced in ‘human’ size and when a very fast number began she fluttered into Marvels arms laughing but regretful. “I think we ought to sit this one out.”

Besides if they did they could wander out into the gardens and have some privacy for snuggling.

Marvel laughed. She didn't have to know that he was levitating--his wings were bat-like, made for high-speed flight, and hovering, as he had almost been doing during the dance, was so close to impossible for him that he could easily exhaust himself trying. Even as it was, he wasn't exactly at his most powerful, endurance wise, by the time the number ended.

They landed, her in his arms, touch down perfect in a small clearing in the crowd, however.

"Sure," he said with a shrug, trying not to show how tired he was getting. He couldn't stop from breathing hard, though.

The imp leaned back against the illusionary microphone. "Thank you," he said, "after this, we're going to need a little pause for the cause."

The band went into "Take Me Home," originally by Genesis.

The Reception continued... Trevor and Dominique made their way around every single one of their guests... except Morga.

As the night wound down, he had a few words that he needed to say to the Board. Getting a room and getting made private and secured by Porthos He and the other nine members of The Garbage Men Board had a bit of a private discussion.

He had heard of the not so private discussion of the board before the Wedding ceremony meeting Errant and Mercy, and he had a few words to say.

"I know what you said while you were on your way to the wedding... and I know that people probably heard you." he started off his face calm and with little emotion.

"But, that was a Board discussion... a business discussion." Robert spoke as if excusing the actions.

"Yes, it's not the content I was worried about. I know its a strange little world between the 9 of us... but than it was the fact that it was a board meeting in a public area... Who knows might of been listening."

Their private room had been made opaque they couldn't see the dazzling diamond that made up the shell of the Crystal Hall. The Board had realised their mistake and nothing more had needed to be said. It was clear by their body language.

OOC: This following post has been cleared by both TGM and Tanara

IC:

A speck of light appeared on the night-time horizon. It grew as if becoming a ball of flame, but it wasn't. It looked like a massive bird made out of Energy shining brightly and clearly seen through the Crystal Hall's Diamond roof. It was a phoenix. The light shone brightly down on the ground creating shadows that danced in the night.

It was heading right over the top of Hall, right above them and then suddenly it changed direction and suddenly was coming right down directly into the hall. The display loomed larger and larger as it approached the Diamond and passed right though it without distrurbing anything. Everything flared brightly for a moment before disappearing as quickly as it came.

Everything seemed in order it seemed nothing had changed at all, everyone was there exactly as they were before it happened. There were only 2 people that knew differently... Porthos... and one Man.

Out in the garden, a single, luminous, orange-red feather lie on the ground in front of Marvel and Drai'lee.

Marvel reached down and picked it up. "Care for a souvenier?" he asked his companion. "Be careful, though. Legend has it that it's bad luck if you don't care for it properly."

Drai'lee and Marvel

She had been concerned for a bit over his out of breathness, but he had obviously wanted that ignored, so she contented herself with making sure he had had another glass of walktapuss. and like the earlier glass that it was opaque.

Once he had recovered a bit she let him - oh heck to be honest she had been the one tugging him out into the softly scented dark and privacy of the gardens. And she had ended up in his lap, cuddled against his broad chest kissing him with growing skill. He was a great teacher!

The arrival of the legandary phoenix had her looking heaven ward with wide eyes,

"Be careful, though. Legend has it that it's bad luck if you don't care for it properly."

Drai'lee took it from him with reverent fingers "Does legend say how you are supposed to care for it?"

Dum's ears parked up as the wave of arcane energy flashed over his hunting senses. The amalgum that he called his 'hunting senses' covered a broad range of fields, effects, and presences. Arcane users and the energy itself was a facet he'd started to hone when the Miraaderic Guard began incorporating and working along side Felia casters from the nation of Vashnear to Catawaba's north. Catawaba was itself a mundane nation, the nearest thing to natural magik wielders came from a class of Taung clergy called the alorae. However that divine energy had a profoundly different signature than out and out magik.

"Can all of y'all do that?" Dum asked.

~~~~~~~

Dal'ika, meanwhile, took a glass of champagne, grateful for the staff's forethought to provide wide opening glasses for those guests lacking articulate lips. The vornskrari female lapped at the champagne with her broad tongue as she watched the dancers.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At the same meanwhile as the last...

Errant pulled and spun Mercy back towards him. He stopped her, grabbing her around the waist again and holding her close and silent. He looked into her eyes. "I'm not rightly concerned what anybody else thinks, and I sure ain't concerned about any one's tongue...well 'cept yours." Errant added with a grin. "I'll have our big, fancy to-do of a weddin', but I about fit to burst, havin' to put it off."

Errant let that simmer for a few moments while he concentrated on the next few steps. When he again reached a flat stetch where he could run on automatic, he continued. "The big ceremony with all the fluff is all braggin'. You know that. It's as much to shove in Yancey's eye as it's for me."

"The big ceremony with all the fluff is all braggin'. You know that. It's as much to shove in Yancey's eye as it's for me."

Mercy stopped between one step and the next, not caring in the least that the music was still playing and others might over hear - though she kept her voice to a whisper "I might have known that but I didn't know it. I guess this is what I get for lying to myself. And that is the one part that truly bothers me. To the hells with the Fairness Network and all other gossipy goats. But if our relationship so far hasn't been enough to replace, erase, render null and void that little guttersnipe then will our getting married do it, change it?" Her face pale, but her head held high, she turned away to leave the dance floor. She didn't want to believe it of Errant, just couldn't but he'd said it, so there had to be something there.

Headed directly out to the gardens, as she was not wishing to create any greater a scene she hugged herself in the peaceful darkness. Damn it what is wrong with me tonight. Errant loves me, the thing with the wedding being put off is all circumstance, but I am acting like a cat with a stepped on tail. All suspicion and claws. she chastised herself, slipping back into her earlier melancholy mood. The appearance of the Phoenix did nothing to lift her spirits. Her wanderings past romantically snuggling couples did nothing to improve her mood, in fact sending it spiraling even lower.

Che and Dum

Can all of y'all do that?"

"You felt it didn't you?" Che asked with a twitch of her nose, as her long slender tail question marked.

"All of those of the Great Houses can to some extent or another. Though my training in the Arcane is behind where it should be" She replied "We were born to be the Guardians of the Gods, and they gave us many Gifts so that we could properly carry out that duty. Though it has been long since they have called us" She moved with flowing, almost boneless suppleness and grace into the first steps.

Elsewhere, but not too far away...

"Good Evening Madam. I can assure you, should you be concerned, that my cousin is not hunting" Thoth stopped beside Dal'ika and bowed deeply to the Vornskrari lady. "Or at least she has nor formally registered her intent"

"Forgive me, I lack courtesy. I am Thoth, of Anarcanis."

The musicians had faltered at the appearance and vanishing of the Phoenix, but when Dominique who had been talking quietly with Michiko and others seemed unruffled they commented playing again, though with even more passion in their music.

Drai'lee took the phoenix feather from Marvel with reverent fingers. "Does legend say how you are supposed to care for it?" she asked, wide-eyed.

Marvel smiled, not altogether without awe himself. "Give it light," he said. "The light of day, the light of truth and the light of courage. And the light of that pure little heart of yours." He reached up and gently stroked his claws under her chin, eventually moving up to run a finger around the softness of her ear. He was still learning how to truly join with her--but she was a gifted teacher. If she could accept living for a time in Yendor Keep, Marvel was certain that there would be a Golden Age of Wizardry a few years down the line.

"Alright, that's all..." he weakly smiled to the board, which was unusual in the least but as the 8 others filed out there was stranglely a woman there who didn't enter through the door nor was she even a guest but apparently Trevor recognised her.

She was on the opposite side of the room and had her own divine glow as such as if emanating directly from inside her body

Her face was kind and she had a fairly wiry figure but she kept her distance looking at Trevor from the other side of the Room.

"I didn't think you were real." He spluttered out...

"Yet, now you do." she replied the smile still on your face.
"Well, I certainly do not know how to take that... I usually know how to take everything."

She didn't say anything again the silence was awkward... so Trevor spoke again. "I haven't seen you since... well, a long time."

"Time is an illusion, Lunchtime doubly so... but I'm not here to reminisce on the past or the future past. The Present and it's consequences are much more important. You really do love her, I can see that... Does she know ab... oh, yes she does know about that. Well, I must say congratulations. I can see why friends have taken a peculiar interest in you."

This time it was Trevor who didn't have anything to say a rare occurrence in deed.

"Take what time you have to be with each other... You may not have much longer."

and with that she just disappeared.. as if she was never there, but oh she was definitely there and now, definitely gone. Porthos would certainly have the sensor information to prove it.

Trevor left the room, with a bit of shocked face... as he tried to process what had just happened... but being a true business men he quickly got a game face on as if nothing fazed him.

He smiled at the others unaware of the light show that had happened and made his way quickly to Dominique.

"We need to talk..." he whispered to her, the tone of his carried that it was serious.

Marvel & Drai'lee

"And the light of that pure little heart of yours"

His caress brought a hitch to her breathing and the last a little laugh to her lips "Oh Marvel, my heart is in no way pure. I am not Angelica, and I am glad I am not. She was a very nice angel, but I'm" She stammered and blushed as she admitted "glad that you and she didn't suite as if you two had, you and I...we...wouldn't be here."

She leant in to his touch "And if I ever need to know about courage, all I have to do is look at you." She'd learned his past - Marvel hadn't dwelt on it but it had come out in bits and piece, but she'd never told him that he'd been her inspiration in many ways in dealing with her own odd heritage.

Trevor & Dominique

"We need to talk..."

Dominique looked up at him and his upset was easy for her to discern, though she doubted that any others could. Making her excuses to Michiko and the others she had been sitting with, she stood and walked hand in hand with Trevor out to the north balcony.

It opened off of the only doors in the north wall and over looked a tiny nitch garden. Moonlight mingled with starlight and spilled onto the elabortately carved alabaster of the balcony railing. A light breeze danced the sweetly scented flowers, though as late as it was it was growing slightly chill. There was no one in the nook, they had complete privacy. Porthos was making sure of that.

Dominique looked at Trevor, her eyes asking the question. She shivered slightly, chaffing her bare arms with her palms.

"Drai'lee," Marvel said, staring into those huge, deep aquamarine eyes, "I've been on both sides of the coin. There was a time when I would have seen no more in you than I did in that cup of walktapus I had at dinner time--when I would never have even cared to notice," he ran his hand now up her neck and along her chin, bending the fingers so that the warm bend above the cuticles stroked gently against her, "the cool softness of your skin. I know bad from experience, and I know good. You're one of the Good Guys."

He closed his other hand for a moment around the shaft of the feather. "I'm going to think, for a moment, of Angelica," he said. He pictured her in his mind, every hoity-toity heavenlier-than-thou molecule. The blaze of the feather dimmed. "Now, of you." And he looked again into those wondrous, wolfs-ringed eyes and filled his mind with nothing but what he saw. The feather glowed. "Need I say more?" he asked.

Trevor & Dominique

"We need to talk..."

Dominique looked up at him and his upset was easy for her to discern, though she doubted that any others could. Making her excuses to Michiko and the others she had been sitting with, she stood and walked hand in hand with Trevor out to the north balcony.

It opened off of the only doors in the north wall and over looked a tiny nitch garden. Moonlight mingled with starlight and spilled onto the elabortately carved alabaster of the balcony railing. A light breeze danced the sweetly scented flowers, though as late as it was it was growing slightly chill. There was no one in the nook, they had complete privacy. Porthos was making sure of that.

Dominique looked at Trevor, her eyes asking the question. She shivered slightly, chaffing her bare arms with her palms.

"A long time ago, before.. you know. I had seen a particular woman at some of my life's crucial turning points. She was even there when IT happened, and then I didn't see her again until just then. I thought she was a hallucination my mind created or a figment, but well. She was real then and was real now. She gave me a rather obtuse and disturbing statement... which implied something big is going to happen... something that could put either one of us in serious danger. I'm worried... and that's rather a new feeling."

He looked deeply into her eyes he had just found her after so long, a wonderful yet all to short time. He was also deeply concerned about if it was the other way around. He didn't want to cause her pain but it may be unavoidable.

He reached around and held her close to him not wanting to depart either from death or any other cause from her.

Errant froze when Mercy pulled away from him and her hurt spiked through his empathy. He was as stunned as he'd have been if Mercy had slapped him. He stood still, agape as he tried to run through what he'd just said and how that matched what he'd said. The guttersnipe had thrown him off. He know she was refering to Valerie, Errant ex-girlfriend from before the Rebellion, but where she'd come up with her....Errant didn't know. He hadn't even been thinking of her, hadn't thought of her in a while. He'd been thinking about his cousin, presently the TogOverlord of the Togovian Remnant and Errant's nemesis.

Errant groaned as his thoughts and memories intermeshed with the emotions he'd felt from her. He cursed under his breath and slid his way off the dance floor. He was a fool, a wholeheartedly passionate fool.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dum nodded. "That's very close to what the vornskrari were intended for. We're based on a native myth. The vornskrari of myth were the messengers and divine persecutors of the matron goddess Mira. Those that created us borrowed from that..."

He paused for a moment when the pheonix appeared and the music skipped a few beats but then went back into form when the music began anew. "And I like to think Mira borrowed us right back from them. We're made to be hunters...we can't wield the arcane, but we can sense it and a great many other things."

Elsewhere but not too far away...namely the refreshment table...

Dal'ika set her glass down on the table and curtesied down as far as her dress would allow. "It is an honor to meet Your Excellency. I am Dal'ika Mira'ad of Catawaba." She spared a momentary glance towards her brother and Che'mere. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean that she is not 'hunting.'"

Mercy wandered the gardens, sick at heart. She had never gotten to tell Errant that the last thing she had ever wanted was some big lavish wedding. But she had promised him - and she had never gone back on a promise in her life. It just seemed as if everything in the universe was conspiring against it happening, despite Errants willingness to take the blame. And she knew that in total honesty that it was Not all his fault. .

She found an unoccipied bench and sat, failing utterly to appreciate the beauty of the many Phoenix roses blooming about her. Her thoughts were just jumblede and whirling round and about.

Marvel & Drai'lee

"Need I say more?"

"Oh darling" She turned her head and kissed the backs of his fingers. She didn't say anything - but she had been doing a lot of growing up of her own. She had a feeling that Marvel's view of Angelica was just a bit biased. The Angel had hurt him terribly and wasn't perfection, but she wasn't one of the Bad Guys. And it had been terrible of her to agree to the spell that had collared, inhibited, the turned demon for so long and he not even knowing it was there.

But that was the past - she'd much rather think of their future together. She looked up into his eyes - the feelings in her eyes mirroring those in his.

"I'm not perfect, and I know that I will probably get tired of all the pranks your students pull. But I promise I am going to work with you to make this work. We're going to keep this feather glowing for a very, very long time"

Trevor & Dominique

something that could put either one of us in serious danger. I'm worried... and that's rather a new feeling

She listened intently to his explanation about the strange woman, with an accepting expression. But she wasn't going to let him worry unduly.

"We're married now and we each have another very special one to worry about - so thats a new sensation for both of us. But we also have each other. Two are stronger than one." Dominique whispered as she nestled into his embrace. She wasn't unused to danger or out of the ordinary situations, not with her adventurous past But now she had Trevor beside her, and he her. And together they'd face whatever came.

Mercy's depression, her emotional sickness was very real and palatable. Errant could feel it, home in on it like beacon to a reciever. Unfortunately, it was something he was all too used to doing. More than a few times, he'd been the cause of it. The root of her problems was much the same as his, her orphaned upbringing. She'd been disassociated from family and lovers, losing a great many of them or in the more painful cases being left behind by a few of them.

It's pointless and cruel, he knew, trying to win the gainsaying of who had it rougher. He was willing to let her have the game. He'd been maltreated and held down as inferior, but at least he'd known the fault had been someone else's and place his hate in the right place. Mercy had been made to take the fault into herself, hate herself.

If the two who were most responsible for that weren't already dead, they would have supplanted his cousin Yancy in the order of his hate and the order of their demise. Now, he and Mercy were left to salvage the pieces of themselves. And it was something they worked at every day because the cracks always made more pieces and were most difficult to seal and paste back together.

Errant threaded his way through the garden to her. They were a mated pair, complimenting each other. Errant was the boundless and implacable energy that drove at Mercy and pushed her up from her depression. Mercy was the even-minded soul that gave his energy direction and more often than not kept him from ramming full tilt into rocks and brambles. But when she couldn't, he found the taste of his foot in his mouth to be not to his liking.

The young Catawaban found Mercy, collapsed on a bench amid a halo of the brilliant, flickering flowers that the Tanarans so loved. It was a beautiful sight incongruent with the dejected woman, her golden hair and skin dimmed by the storm clouds in her mind. Errant went to her, kneeling before her. He reached for hands. "Jehovah and Mira both, Mercy, I..." He closed his mouth, not trusting it. It hadn't served him well before. "Mercy, I didn't mean it like that. I ain't not marrying you to get back at Yancy or Valerie. If they'd never lived, I can only wish, I'd marry you with same love, all of it."

He hissed and looked away. "The big marriage...yeah, a lot of it's revenge, revenge for being told I'd be nothing, have nothing, and enjoy my nothing. My best revenge is have everything." Errant turned his cool, rime-rimmed eyes back towards his fiancee. "I have you which is more than enough, but I've never known the word 'overkill' and that's what the big to-do would be. A chance to yell it to the world, that I'd have you as my wife and partner...but I guess I enjoy the thought of also puttin' a thumb in the eye of those blarekkare a little too much."

Thoth and Dal'i

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean that she is not 'hunting.'"

"Please Priestess Mira'ad, just Thoth." The tall broad shouldered Anubian chuckled as he took the Vornskrari's hand and lifted her from the courtsey. His nose grazed the back of her palm in a light, politely respectful kiss. His aura was muted, heavily shielded.

His gaze followed hers to where Dum and Che hanced "She is not seeking a mate, or not that I know of. We Anubi are not purely matriarchal, but we are very matrifocal. Most of us humble males are wise enough to know not to gainsay a female's wishes. We ...how do humans say ..'we know on which side our bread is buttered'. Though we are more likely to say 'we know who carves the meat' "

Out on the dance floor Che nodded "Yes you move like a hunter, and a warrior...and a dancing master. I hope that our peoples become friends. Good friends are a virtue. I must remember to sacrifice to Mira"

In the far, far away land of...the refreshments table...third flower arrangement on the right and straight until morning.

Oh, Silky will just eat this up, Dal'ika thought as the Pharoah's lips and nose brushed over the back of her hand. The story-telling sentient submarine would positively swoon and have to reboot at the thought that an intergalatic royal had flirted with her. Dal'ika knew that the writing weapon of war would squeeze her for details the next time Silky was cruising on the surface.

Dal'ika wagged her tail. "Please, Thoth, if I can call you by your primary name, you can call Dal'ika. As for my brother..." She followed the Pharoah's gaze. "It is good to know that Dum won't offend your cousin because he's not 'hunting' either."

Dal'ika looked back to the Anubian. "In our culture, we are not truly focal on any one gender. Patriarchial because our chieftains, our miraades, are quite often men, and matrifocal because alor, such as myself, are quite often women. It is not absolute however, and much is decided by ability and choice."

In the near, near land of the dance floor, a right turn at Albuquerque and straight on until Tazmania.

Dum snorted in amusement as they sidled in between two couple and continued on in the pattern. "I should, Che. Before I went and opened my own dance studio, I was a sniper in my brother's Guard."

Thoth and Dal'ika

It is good to know that Dum won't offend your cousin because he's not 'hunting' either."
"Then they can enjoy one another without concern. Which is always to the good."

"It is not absolute however, and much is decided by ability and choice."

He nodded at her words "That is the wisest of ways. Many of ours are ancient and enshrined in tradition, which is just another way of saying 'they don't always make any sense but we're not going to change them'. In our earliest days the males guarded the Gateways and the females guarded and governed our families. The division was not one of choice but required as some of our Gifts are linked to one's genetics and sex. We also...the Time of Betrayal cost us most of our population and all but a tiny handfull of our males. My great great ancestors were merely the most fertile males, passed from clan to clan to rebirth our numbers. One may be unsure of who's one Sire is but one always knows ones Dam."

"But enough of ancient tragedies. Would you care to dance? My wife says that despite my doubts that I do not have two left feet."

***********************

Che tossed her mane and laughed softly as the music guided them through the next steps "Oh when I was a little cub I was mad to be in the Throne Guard. The white mantles, the gleam of highly polished armor and weapons. I remember the first procession I saw, or remember seeing...The Guard parading so proudly, agains the deep blue of the sky, and the red of the Planes of Victory, the massed roar of the crowd" Her face fell a little..."but now" She made her lips smile "Ah, childhood dreams must give way to adult realities. but I will say it is quite a differnt profession. Do you choreograph, create dances as well as teach?"

"We're married now and we each have another very special one to worry about - so thats a new sensation for both of us. But we also have each other. Two are stronger than one."

Trevor snorted and smiled and kissed her once again, he still wasn't getting tired of kissing her and it wasn't hard to find reasons to do so. He was once again reminded of just why he had just married her.

"You're right... Both of us will have to deal with this, whatever it will be. I'm so luckily to have found you. And I must say, I've got good tastes."

He smiled briefly at her and kissed her once again, he had a partner to be with him through the the good the bad and the ugly and he wouldn't want it to be any other way. Yet he still had a lot to learn to be a good husband but he would continue to learn and improve as the man beside his wonderful wife and improve and he knew that it would be that would be enough for her. He would be content to just stay like he was with her forever.

"I'm not perfect," Drai'lee said, "and I know that I will probably get tired of all the pranks your students pull. But I promise I am going to work with you to make this work. We're going to keep this feather glowing for a very, very long time."

As she said this, the hue of the feather dimmed--and Marvel looked around. He brought a finger to his lips. It wasn't her and him that the feather was reacting to. He pointed to a spot not far away, where a woman was lieing amidst the phoenix roses.

A man walked up to her, and, in a hushed voice that gave Marvel's ferral hearing no trouble whatsoever, spoke to her of misplaced words, of the power of love over revenge. As he did, the feather's luster returned.

"This one," he said, loudly enough so that the others could hear, "is quite sensitive, and has more than a little mojo of its own. In the wrong hands...well, I don't want to think of it. We need to keep it safe. We should ask Thoth how to do so."

He turned to Errant. "Don't mean to butt in, but it's good that the balance of truth is back. And don't worry about a thing. The lady and I are only doing the same thing that you are."

He watched the man's reactions as he spoke. "Ah," he said, "you're an empath. That explains it. You know, if you'd like, I can fix it so that the two of you can share consciousness when you want to. It could help in situations like this one--but you should use the ability sparingly, if you want it."

Spoonbenders...what was it with them and butting in? Hmm...that would might include him as well, but Errant dismissed it quickly enough. He was new to the realization that he was an empath. He'd for the longest time called his abilities 'his gut.' It was only now having met real empaths and wizards, and mythical creatures that he'd begun to think otherwise.

One of the things he'd had to realize was that those imaginings he'd seen around his old executive mansion, the ones that had looked like the ghosts of Togovians and Catawabans fallen in the last bitter struggle to take that mansion...really were ghosts. He'd thought it was a guilty imagination. Realizing that did give him the wherewithall not to freak out when he saw through the demon's glamour. Red skin, pointy tail, useless forehead horns...yep, demon. And the gal beside him...frail, insect wings, pointy ears...fae.

He was divinely blessed, or so people told him, and boy did his matron goddesss find humor in her gifts. Errant glanced between the demon and then the fae standing next to him. He'd been briefed on dealing and negociating with eldritch races. Although, he'd hoped to rely on those better suited. He started with the first step: be polite. "Uh...good evening."

He glanced between them again. The second and most important step that his world-wise cousin and best advisor on this matter had said was Don't make any deals! Especially none mentioning souls in the case of demons and first borns with the fae. Those two are like crack to them. "It's really nice of you to offer, but if we need magik to solve our problems, we got more problems that we know about." He looked back at Mercy. "I think we'll be okay if we talk."

but I guess I enjoy the thought of also puttin' a thumb in the eye of those blarekkare a little too much."

Before I could tell Errant that notion didn't bother me. That my heart was lifted by an open declaration that Valerie wsan't at the heart of the matter, as I had been afraid she had been....

"Don't mean to butt in, but it's good that the balance of truth is back. And don't worry about a thing. The lady and I are only doing the same thing that you are."

Mercy flushed a little bit in the moomlight, at having been over heard, even inadvertantly. She wasn't angered at the intrusion, but found herself slightly weary from the emotional storm. She far prefered being calm and centered, not throwing herself off balance - for it had been her throwing herself off, not any one else.

She'd let Errant answer to the offer. He was far wiser and more sensible than he gave himself credit for, and she knew he'd come up with what she considered the right answer. For they truly were mated and the wedding was just an irritating formality.

"It's really nice of you to offer, but if we need magik to solve our problems, we got more problems that we know about. I think we'll be okay if we talk."

Nodding as he replied with a sound and core truth she added "Yes, Thank you. But Errant's right. What one works to gain, one values more than what comes with ease."

"Oh, I'm Mercy Hexx and this is Errant Miraad. We're from Earth."

"Marvel," the demon-no-more said. "Also from earth, but probably one in an alternate reality from yours. And don't worry about the horns and tail. I'm what they call 'turned.' These days, I work with the Grand Wizard Yendor, a human, help keep up the castle and teach the next crop of budding wizards."

"This, as I've already alluded, is a Very Speical Lady, the Demoiselle Tiger Lilly Ki'tora -Ryu du Fae, with whipped cream and a cherry on top." He gave her a teasing glance. "But we mere mortals just call her Drai'lee. She doesn't do very much, though. Just sits around and bats her eyelashes at the poor, innocent males who just can't help but follow her around all the time and tend to her every wish."

Marvel & Drai'lee; Mercy & Errant

Drai’lee blushed rosily and fluttered her eyes up at Marvel - she couldn't help it, to hear him say that positively tickled her pink. But she elbowed him ostentatiously but gently.. "Oh you. The last time you tended to a wish of mine it was one that went wrong and some body better at it than I needed to fix it.” Her dimples peeked out, “but then again neither of us has a spotless reputation in the spell casting department. That’s how we met, at school – each trying to get ours abilities under control. And less than a day there and I was faenapped. Marvel found me and rescued me from June Rovermouse who was going to experiment on me. So he’s more than just a turned demon, he’s a hero turned demon”

http://www.atddm.com/bar3.gif

Trevor & Dominique

"You're right... Both of us will have to deal with this, whatever it will be. I'm so luckily to have found you. And I must say, I've got good tastes."
“Yes you do, and I’m proof of that great taste” Dominique teased as she melted into his arms. After quite a few minutes of kissing she pulled back breathlessly. She could easily envision spending the rest of time together with Trevor and never being bored with or complacent about their relationship.

“I think I ought to go throw the bouquet, so you and I can start our honeymoon and every one else can continue partying.”

Though their honeymoon wasn’t scheduled to start for two days.

Errant nodded to Marvel and Drai'lee. "Good to meet the both of y'all, but..." He glanced over at Mercy, "do y'all mind givin' us some time alone?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dal'ika eyes and senses flashed across the dance floor looking for anyone focused in on them. "If it's okay with your wife?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Dum shook his head. "I simply teach at the moment. I'm without a partner good enough to do a lot of the sequences my sister Dee and I put together."

"Come to think about it," Marvel said, "I've suddenly got this amazing pain in the ribs." The smirk on the demon's face explained his lack of honesty. Amazingly, however, the phoenix feather did not react to it. It continued to blaze away, making the flowers around it look almost lackluster. "Maybe we'd best go somewhere and...do something distracting..."

The Odd Couple of Magic disappeared around the corner, Marvel reciting stories about When Spells Go Wrong. Not long afterwards, off in the distance, could be heard "...and then the warm-up spell failed and the jelly doughnut popped right in the cop's hand. It was all over him..."

Trevor smiled as he gazed upon Dominique, he could not take her eyes off her. It was one of the reasons he loved her so, her kindness and her sense of duty in all situations. No wonder the Tanaran people loved her as their empress.

"Yeah, though I'm at a loss to think what we'll do between then and now." his wide grin telling her exactly what he was thinking. He slowly and steadily arrose to his feat with purposeful movements as he extended his arm down to her, to either help her up, or if she so wish to take it after she arose.

As the Gm / OP I hereby declare this thread closed.

Let the honeymoon and it's attendant adventures commence.

Thank you, for all of you who made the wedding so special

OOC: Thank you.

If anyone is interested in reading about their adventures during the Honeymoon.

This (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=585188) is the thread to read.