006: Welcome to Yamaguchi Starport

[Tiglath]

"Hey Hey, if your getting married, I'm gonna be best man...

Garvin grins at Arkar "Nicely timed Arkar, old son!"

He slips the bracelet onto Aster's wrist "There you go love - that's one weddin' essential: somethin' borrowed. So, now you need somethin'... I suppose we could make a movie later on...". He leers at Aster "Silk scarf, now that sets the tone...".

[terrymixon]

Then she grabs him by the belt buckle and drags him over to the princess, who raises an eyebrow. "They told me I had to stun you if you ran. Sorry." Then she laughed. "Just kidding. Terresa has a bola to take you down if you make a break for it. Saves time if you're conscious. So, are you in or out?"

As realization appears to dawn he then protests " 'Ang on... this is a trap! 'An its four on one an' two of you are armed..." eyeing the edge of the precipice over his shoulder "... I've been in tighter corners... just need to make meself a bit o' room...". Taking a sudden step back he deftly converts the retrograde move into dropping to one knee as he says "Lady Aster Treegarden will you marry me?" He cautions "You've caught me out with the ring mind. I would 'ave 'ad it by now but I 'ave been a bit busy recently... that an' there was a security upgrade so I 'ad to re-plan". He brightens "You can go an' see it if you like! It's in Delancy's - that bespoke jewelers, Banfi Starport - they don't put any prices on 'cos it's vulgar. Platinum and diamond. Stone's big enough but not ridiculous but with a really clever Iridium setting...".

Turning to Ciencia with a smile Garvin says "Crown Princess are you an' your sword free for the next few minutes? Looks like there might be another weddin' on the cards. Send Roscoe the bill but 'e'd like the two for one discount if it's all the same an' if you could just leave an extra blank line on me pardon that'd be 'andsome".

"Does the shotgunee get to ask the shotgunner to marry during a shotgun wedding?" Aster asked rhetorically. "Seems like my actions are the asking. Still, I'll take that as an answer."

"Hey Hey, if your getting married, I'm gonna be best man, that means I brought the ring! Right!

Arkar strides up confidently.

Arkar reaches into his pocket and brings out his silk hankey, in his orange color.

"This will have to do as a promise cause its all I got.

Arkar deftly ties a knot in the center and on the ends.

"I have heard of engagement necklaces, so make this a wedding bracelet."

Arkar stands nest to Garvin, smiling at the groomsmen behind him and hands the handkerchief to Garvin in a flourish and a bow.

"There is no need," Bilis said. The blonde steps over and pulls two rings from somewhere in her gown. They are gold bands but the slimmer of the two has a faceted white stone and the larger has a faceted blue stone. "These are like Roscoe's and Jaelah, so they have a little surprise in them. Focus on them, willing them to be yours. When you feel them react, they are attuned to you and only you. Focus on it and think the word 'out' and the surprise will appear. Think 'in' and you'll put it back. While the contents are 'out', you can replace it with anything up to around 4 kilograms."

Then she steps back, but over to Metz instead of the other side. She starts whispering in his ear and he blinks, then smiles and nods. The whispering continues and he looks at her, seems to think about something, and nods again.

Aster puts her lips to his ear, speaking low, her hot breath caressing his skin. "Don't worry that I'll make you swear to forsake all others. As long as we work them over together, we're good. I mean, who doesn't like a little strange every once in a while? Like that cute girl you were eyeing at the restaurant at Aki. Rrrar. If we ever go back, let's get that same room and have her... serve us." Then she nips your ear lobe. "If it would seal the deal, we could consummate the marriage right here in front of everyone, you wanting to do it in public and all. Or is that too far? Would educating the princess on the... ins and outs of sex be a bit much? I suppose Fredrick could cover her eyes."

Garvin chuckles and then quietly growls his reply "You're ruddy amazin' but I think we should limit our sex education to... er... smaller select audiences... even if it is "by Imperial appointment". Er... does that mean... I mean is she...? Never mind - I'm nearly married! Anyway 'oo would cover poor old Frederick's eyes... ? Also, I don't think Roscoe would recognize "immediate consummation" as part of a traditional wedding service as per 'is weddin' planner an' I don't want 'im worryin' about any irregularities in the proceedin's on 'is big day. O' course that doesn't mean we couldn't make use of some local cover or fly off into that storm...".

"I'm sure we can come up with something," she purred. "Now, we have vows to exchange. I'll start."

Aster pulled Garvin to his feet and smiles happily. "I swear to be your woman through thick and thin. I won't go sneaking around on you, but if we go hunting together, it isn't cheating. That's my pledge to you, Garvin. I'll be your partner in crime--and everything else--as long as you'll do the same."

Ciencia nodded. "Good enough. Garvin, what is your vow?"

[terrymixon]

From the cheap seats

"Hey Hey, if your getting married, I'm gonna be best man, that means I brought the ring! Right!

Arkar strides up confidently.

Arkar reaches into his pocket and brings out his silk hankey, in his orange color.

"This will have to do as a promise cause its all I got.

Arkar deftly ties a knot in the center and on the ends.

"I have heard of engagement necklaces, so make this a wedding bracelet."

Arkar stands nest to Garvin, smiling at the groomsmen behind him and hands the handkerchief to Garvin in a flourish and a bow.

Arkar

Slightly overtaken by events but inserted into the sequence.

[terrymixon]

"Hey Hey, if your getting married, I'm gonna be best man...

Garvin grins at Arkar "Nicely timed Arkar, old son!"

He slips the bracelet onto Aster's wrist "There you go love - that's one weddin' essential: somethin' borrowed. So, now you need somethin'... I suppose we could make a movie later on...". He leers at Aster "Silk scarf, now that sets the tone...".

"If I knew that was the criteria, I'd have brought my handcuffs," she said with a grin.

[terrymixon]

Roscoe leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear. "He took that better than I'd have expected. It's a bit disappointing, really. I would have liked to see him jump off the cliff into the river with her in hot pursuit or for Terresa to deploy the Bola. Fascinating weapon."

[Tiglath]

"There is no need," Bilis said. The blonde steps over and pulls two rings from somewhere in her gown...

Garvin thanks Bilis but despite his genuine appreciation for the needful gift seems a little disappointed.

Aster pulled Garvin to his feet and smiles happily. "I swear to be your woman through thick and thin. I won't go sneaking around on you, but if we go hunting together, it isn't cheating. That's my pledge to you, Garvin. I'll be your partner in crime--and everything else--as long as you'll do the same."

Ciencia nodded. "Good enough. Garvin, what is your vow?"

Garvin looks Aster in the eye and pulls her close "Done. Done and done. There's me word to go with the rest of me".

He holds a finger up towards Ciencia "Sorry, Princess, but I've a lifetime 'abit of doin' things beyond Imperial authority. So, once more I'll respectfully seek your forgiveness an' not permission". He kisses Aster like there's no one else there.

[terrymixon]

"There is no need," Bilis said. The blonde steps over and pulls two rings from somewhere in her gown...

Garvin thanks Bilis but despite his genuine appreciation for the needful gift seems a little disappointed.

"If these are not to your taste, do what feels right," she said, stepping back. "I won't be offended."

Aster pulled Garvin to his feet and smiles happily. "I swear to be your woman through thick and thin. I won't go sneaking around on you, but if we go hunting together, it isn't cheating. That's my pledge to you, Garvin. I'll be your partner in crime--and everything else--as long as you'll do the same."

Ciencia nodded. "Good enough. Garvin, what is your vow?"

Garvin looks Aster in the eye and pulls her close "Done. Done and done. There's me word to go with the rest of me".

The princess laughs. "I suppose that will have to do, and you have now pledged yourselves to one another. I, as your sovereign, grant my protection to this couple I have bound together. If any should think to sunder their union, then they must first test my blade!"

She draws her sword and swishes it back and forth a bit. Then she sheathes it. "Will one of you be taking the other's name? It is done both ways in the Imperium, so whatever you chose is fine."

"I rather like Slade," Aster said. "I think I'll take it, if you have no objection. Treegarden has an unfortunate history of teasing and mockery for me."

[joertexas]

Roscoe leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear. "He took that better than I'd have expected. It's a bit disappointing, really. I would have liked to see him jump off the cliff into the river with her in hot pursuit or for Terresa to deploy the Bola. Fascinating weapon."

Jaelah hides her face against her husband's sleeve while her shoulders shake with laughter.

[terrymixon]

He holds a finger up towards Ciencia "Sorry, Princess, but I've a lifetime 'abit of doin' things beyond Imperial authority. So, once more I'll respectfully seek your forgiveness an' not permission". He kisses Aster like there's no one else there.

"Far be it from me to object," she said. When you finally come up for air, she'll repeat the question about the names.

[Tiglath]

He holds a finger up towards Ciencia "Sorry, Princess, but I've a lifetime 'abit of doin' things beyond Imperial authority. So, once more I'll respectfully seek your forgiveness an' not permission". He kisses Aster like there's no one else there.

"Far be it from me to object," she said.

(OOC: Taking quite a lot of stage direction from Rik Mayall here. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA

"Far be it from me to object," she said. When you finally come up for air, she'll repeat the question about the names.

Garvin says "Slade - good name in the business but if you're after some sort of genealogy... or indeed veracity it might be better to go with your lineage. The nobility apparently bein' no more or less careful where they spread their... er... genealogy but at least, on occasion, 'ave the decency to write it down..."

[terrymixon]

He holds a finger up towards Ciencia "Sorry, Princess, but I've a lifetime 'abit of doin' things beyond Imperial authority. So, once more I'll respectfully seek your forgiveness an' not permission". He kisses Aster like there's no one else there.

"Far be it from me to object," she said.

(OOC: Taking quite a lot of stage direction from Rik Mayall here. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA

So I see...

[terrymixon]

He holds a finger up towards Ciencia "Sorry, Princess, but I've a lifetime 'abit of doin' things beyond Imperial authority. So, once more I'll respectfully seek your forgiveness an' not permission". He kisses Aster like there's no one else there.

"Far be it from me to object," she said.

(OOC: Taking quite a lot of stage direction from Rik Mayall here. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA

"Far be it from me to object," she said. When you finally come up for air, she'll repeat the question about the names.

Garvin says "Slade - good name in the business but if you're after some sort of genealogy... or indeed veracity it might be better to go with your lineage. The nobility apparently bein' no more or less careful where they spread their... er... genealogy but at least, on occasion, 'av'in' the decency to write it down..."

She shrugs. "Beats a shrubbery."

[Tiglath]

She shrugs. "Beats a shrubbery."

Garvin adds carefully "And with a much reduced chance of innuendo".

[terrymixon]

Metz and Bilis step up for a far more sedate wedding. Metz promises to respect and be faithful to Bilis, and she promises to obey him in all things but curiously, not to forsake all others. They will use the rings like Roscoe's and Jaelah's.

They decide to keep their own names, and you hear her selected name for the first time: Bianca Bilis. Their kiss is very steamy, leaving them both flushed.

Finally, Terresa drags Fredrick forward. He doesn't seem shocked at this point, as only an idiot wouldn't have known he was next. He swears to love her, as he has secretly done for a very long time, and to forsake all others. She does the same and will take his name. The kiss, if anything, is even steamier than the ones that have come before. They also use the practical rings.

Then, with the couples having stepped back, the princess smiles at everyone. "And I suppose that concludes the festivities!"

Then she steps aside and clears her throat. "Pardon me, my liege, but I have a request."

Then she steps back in place and looks at the open air where she was just standing. "Oh? What is it, Daughter?"

She slides back into place. "I to would like to be wed today, though the man hasn't been asked yet. If he agrees, would you wed us?"

Back to the officiant's position. "It's highly irregular, but I could never deny you anything. Who is this paragon?"

Fredrick looks like he's about to step forward, but Terresa drags him back, shaking her head and speaking softly to him until he subsides with a sigh.

She looks off the stage at Walt. "I'm sorry, Walt, but you would make a terrible prince consort. I like you, but I'm going to have to banish you to the friend zone."

The she turns to William. "William, we barely know one another, but I can feel that you are the one for me. Say yes. Please." Her eyes look a little worried.

It will likely be a few days before William unties his tongue and responds, but we can start the afterparty. Really, does anyone expect him to say no at this point?

[terrymixon]

She shrugs. "Beats a shrubbery."

Garvin adds carefully "And with a much reduced chance of innuendo".

"Now you won't have to beat around the bush, right? Right?"

[Thumper]

”She looks off the stage at Walt. "I'm sorry, Walt, but you would make a terrible prince consort. I like you, but I'm going to have to friend zone you."

While William is picking his jaw up off the ground and stammering, Walt smiles, nods to Cuenca and says,

”Don't be sorry. I always knew I was never fit for the position…and way out of my league.”

He claps his friend William on the back and congratulated him as he pushes him forward toward the Princess.

[joertexas]

It will likely be a few days before William unties his tongue and responds, but we can start the afterparty. Really, does anyone expect him to say no at this point?

Probably not

Once the women have snapped up their husbands, Jaelah looks up at the sky. "Roscoe, do we have time to eat before we get rained on?"

[terrymixon]

It will likely be a few days before William unties his tongue and responds, but we can start the afterparty. Really, does anyone expect him to say no at this point?

Probably not

Once the women have snapped up their husbands, Jaelah looks up at the sky. "Roscoe, do we have time to eat before we get rained on?"

"The storm will miss us," he said. "We can see some lightning in the distance, but that is all. I'll go get the food ready to serve."

While he is doing that, Bilis tracks down Walt, Arkar, and Spicoli and pulls them aside. "I realize this might seem like you are being excluded, and I have an offer to make you. I do not wish to see anyone excluded from either the joys of marriage or simply companionship if that is your need. You are free to reject my offer but know that it remains open, and I will not be offended if you decline.

"I am a being much like Roscoe, but we are not the same. His consciousness is melded and if he creates more bodies, they will all still be him and their memories merge, and the personalities will all be the same. Which could make for some interesting moments for Jaelah if she wants to have two of him." She smiled at that.

"With me, my central consciousness is in the fabricator. This form is more like what you would consider a subprocess. My memories and personality are backed up, but if another subprocess is created, I have no insight into it and our personalities will diverge with time. This means that if you desire, other bodies similar to this one but with enough variation to be sisters can be created for new subprocesses that would be very happy to be your companions. I know this because I would feel that way if I were not already paired with Lucius. Would that be something you would want? I don't want you to feel isolated and with who we are, you can never lower your guard with an outside woman."

She looked at each of you. "If you say no, I will be disappointed but understand. Will you accept a version of me for yourselves? I swear to serve you well."

Allow me to remind you what Bilis looks like.

[Thumper]

Walt-
”Bilis, thank you for your consideration of us. This is quite a lot to process. I cannot say yes or no at this moment. Can I have time to think on this. I guess we kind of have eternity, huh?

About the only thing I can say now is, I don’t want a companion who will serve me. I would want a partner…in every way. One who can keep up with me, who will challenge me and make me better, who will make me laugh out loud and smile inside, and one who will choose me for me. I’m not looking for a servant, rather, I’m looking for an equal.

This whole Ancients thing, procreating the race, and yes you are right, a partner who can be with me, are the reasons I would seriously consider this. But consider it I will, Bilis. I don’t know when I might decide, but thank you again for your offer. It means much to me.”

[terrymixon]

Walt-
”Bilis, thank you for your consideration of us. This is quite a lot to process. I cannot say yes or no at this moment. Can I have time to think on this. I guess we kind of have eternity, huh?

About the only thing I can say now is, I don’t want a companion who will serve me. I would want a partner…in every way. One who can keep up with me, who will challenge me and make me better, who will make me laugh out loud and smile inside, and one who will choose me for me. I’m not looking for a servant, rather, I’m looking for an equal.

This whole Ancients thing, procreating the race, and yes you are right, a partner who can be with me, are the reasons I would seriously consider this. But consider it I will, Bilis. I don’t know when I might decide, but thank you again for your offer. It means much to me.”

"I understand," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I may not be the person you're looking for, but my sisters can try to become them. As you say, we have all eternity. That is really the only way you can find out if this works, you know.

“If you only want simple companionship while you test that proposal, my sisters would be happy to provide that until you decide. No sex would be required, though I have learned that it is special to be with a man one cares for, and as I care for all of you, my sisters would too. You and my sisters could be—what is the phrase?—friends with benefits?"