It is a perfect summer day on Shell Beach. Not a cloud appears in the brilliantly blue sky, and a pleasant sea breeze keeps the sun-kissed ground comfortable
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Schreber has been nervous for days but that is nothing compared to how nervous he is while the hours tick down to the wedding. He has to keep checking his heart and sit down, but he has John and Markus around to help him keep his head. They probably lose track of how many times he asks 'what if I forgot the vows' or 'what if I drop the ring' or other disasters. Once he tells John he hopes he doesn't have a heart attack when Sarah comes down the aisle.
And then they're all up on the dais and he's almost holding his breath and there she is. She's beautiful, so beautiful all dressed up, but he looks at her face and her eyes and it's still his Sarah, the one he knows and has lived with and loved a long time already. The groom beams through the ceremony and says his vows carefully so he he only pauses for breath between the words, and then he kisses her and it's all over. Or maybe it's just started. Either way it's good
( ... )
If there's anybody they can count on to be a calm rock, it's Markus. He patiently answers Schreber with a smile every time, telling him that he'll be fine once it actually starts. He's never actually been married, but he's been around long enough to have heard that's how it always works.
He's got a nice new tux, which you can bet Harley helped pick out, and he grins to see Harley and April both in their best for the wedding party. He'd have been happy just to be a guest, and he's honored to be a groomsman. Maybe someday he'll get to return the favor.
All the same, he's glad when it's over, the photos are taken, and it's time to party. That means he can undo the bow tie, right?
Charlotte has her digital camera and an extra memory card and takes photos enthusiastically (but not during the ceremony; that would be rude). She's dressed to the nines in a fuchsia ruffled dress and gold patent mary janes. Her hair is back in hibiscus-shaped barrettes that match the dress, and she looks pleased with herself and the situation. She's never attended a wedding before.
She's alone, respectful of the bride and groom's feelings, but she has brought small, wrapped present, and will happily provide copies of all the pictures she takes.
The Crumrins, or at least the two Nexus-going members of the family, are in attendance along with extended family in the form of Thorn and Arlen. Aloysius felt it necessary to attend, although he has it in mind to leave the reception early, after giving the bride and groom his best wishes. He arrives with Courtney at one arm and Thorn very tentatively at the other, and using his cane. He walks stiffly and a bit carefully, but straight and tall with as much dignity as he can muster. His suit is old-fashioned but very elegant, and his mood seems less severe than usual, due to the nature of the occasion. It's very clear he's seen better days, though. After the wedding party has made their way out, he waits for many of the guests to make their exit before getting up, and walking slowly to the reception with family hovering at his elbows.
Courtney the younger is in the most low-cut blue dress her family would let her get away with, interested in impressing her boyfriend. She's as perky and happy as she ever is, protective of her ailing uncle but thrilled to be in his company and Thorn's. And, in a strange way, Arlen's, who has proved to be an invaluable if odd companion.
She's giggling softly at something Thorn says, when she catches sight of her counterpart, a grey-clad shadow in a corner. Her heart stops for just a moment. The other Courtney isn't looking their way. Gently, she steers Thorn and Aloysius in the other direction, recovering as best she can, with a small, worried smile.
No one wants to make a scene on such a nice occasion.
It's strange to see his alternate up there at the end of the group on the dais, looking terribly afraid and awkward, but better in a suit than he would have imagined. They are physically quite different, but whatever the older Courtney has bought him is clearly well-made and tailored to look good on him. The younger Thorn is slightly less comfortable in his own suit, which is uncomfortably tight at the shoulders and just slightly short at the cuffs. Working the glassworks has had an unexpected effect on his physique, and he is also the same height as his alternate, now
( ... )
Arlen has a nice suit, new since this winter because Courtney's mother took him shopping. He thought it was very, very strange. But he got new clothes that won't need patching for a while. He's wearing his gloves because his hands draw more attention when there is bright sun to flash on them, and he sits beside Thorn and feels a little bit confused over being included in the family, but in a good way. He would have come to see Sarah even just by himself, but it's nice to be part of the group.
He will wish them both happiness later when there is not a crowd around them, and he has brought a gift. He puts it on the table in a nicely wrapped box but it just might move around a little if they wait too long to open it, knocking over other presents or hopping off the table.
If ever there was an unexpected guest, it is the man in black who sits at the very back of the place. He was hesitant to make any promise to come, since his work is by its very nature unpredictable, but he is here. The cut of his suit is modern, light grey, and precisely the sort of tailored clothing for a beach wedding. There was a time he moved with a crowd to which that sort of thing mattered.
He sits through the ceremony ready to make a very quiet exit if he should receive any emergency calls from Burbank, but the day is a blessedly quiet one back home. Perhaps he'll manage to stay at the reception a short while. His gift is left on the appropriate table, and he signs the guestbook as simply 'The Shadow', assuming Sarah would expect nothing less.
The young man a couple chairs down from The Shadow keeps looking at his watch. Uh, no, wait, he's talking to his watch. Just the occasional comment. Since he's not part of the wedding party, he gets to watch his beautiful Melinda stand up next to the bride. He sneaks in a wave at her once, but tries not to be disruptive.
On the way out of the aisle, he almost bumps into the Shadow, fumbling clumsily with the wedding program. "Oh, geez. Sorry!"
Mel is dressed in a blue dress, formal enough to look good at a wedding, but she's not trying to draw attention to herself. This is the bride's day. When she sees him wave at her, she beams, but she doesn't try to be disruptive.
When the ceremony is over, Melinda goes off to find Gibbs. The bride and groom are swamped with people already, so she can wait her turn. "Hey, baby." When she sees the tall man Gibbs has bumped into, she smiles as well, although she doesn't recognize hi. "Hello." She's practically beaming. The attitude at the wedding is infectious.
The Shadow is quick enough to move out of the way, if barely. "That's all right." Tall and imposing, with piercing blue eyes and a fierce nose, he could nearly be some distant cousin to Aloysius. He looks to be in considerably better health, of course.
When Melinda approaches his eyes sweep over her face and narrow briefly, just for a moment. She looks... familiar, but the hair is the wrong colour, and there are a number of subtle differences. He gives them both a polite nod, and stands to one side to let other people pass by.
Moving briefly from Markus for a beverage, Harley takes note of the other guests at the wedding. She notes the more familiar Thorn and his Courtney, and seconds laters noted the not-yet-met Thorn and the other Courtney. She doesn't know who the older man with the later pair is.
Nor does she know the older, imposing man over by Gibbs and Mel. There is something familiar about him, but it seems a distant memory.
Pouring herself refreshment, Harley seems to relax for the moment. A sensation she has not allowed since the whole Duela incident.
John is nearby, eying the champagne and drinking the lemonade. Ah, well. Champagne was never his thing, anyway. He notices Harley and gives her a smile and a nod. "Hey. What do you think of it all?"
'It all' being the party, not anything of any real import. "It's...nice to have something to celebrate," he adds.
"I had never attended a wedding before coming to the Nexus." Harley mused with a small smile. It wasn't that weddings did not happen in Gotham... she just was never on the guest list. With good reason.
She picks up a glass of champagne. "And it is nice to celebrate something. I think we need more to celebrate."
"I can't remember ever having been to any except my own," he says. "Although, who knows?" He smiles back wryly.
"Well, there'll be another fair in the fall, I suppose. The Doc and I were talking about getting a concert series in the park, but that kind of fell through for this year. He's distracted, and we're all busy."
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And then they're all up on the dais and he's almost holding his breath and there she is. She's beautiful, so beautiful all dressed up, but he looks at her face and her eyes and it's still his Sarah, the one he knows and has lived with and loved a long time already. The groom beams through the ceremony and says his vows carefully so he he only pauses for breath between the words, and then he kisses her and it's all over. Or maybe it's just started. Either way it's good ( ... )
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He thoroughly enjoys the pageantry. His friends look happy, the weather is beautiful, it's an all-around perfect occasion.
The only problem is he's not sure if he's supposed to make a speech.
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He's got a nice new tux, which you can bet Harley helped pick out, and he grins to see Harley and April both in their best for the wedding party. He'd have been happy just to be a guest, and he's honored to be a groomsman. Maybe someday he'll get to return the favor.
All the same, he's glad when it's over, the photos are taken, and it's time to party. That means he can undo the bow tie, right?
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But she does need some fun. And soon is tugging on the bottom of Markus' shirt. "Uncle Rat... do you think Sarah has games?"
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She's alone, respectful of the bride and groom's feelings, but she has brought small, wrapped present, and will happily provide copies of all the pictures she takes.
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"Did you get a picture of me? With the rose petals?"
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She flips back through the camera's photo screens, finding one of April with a handful of flowers. "There. Do you like it?"
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She's giggling softly at something Thorn says, when she catches sight of her counterpart, a grey-clad shadow in a corner. Her heart stops for just a moment. The other Courtney isn't looking their way. Gently, she steers Thorn and Aloysius in the other direction, recovering as best she can, with a small, worried smile.
No one wants to make a scene on such a nice occasion.
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He will wish them both happiness later when there is not a crowd around them, and he has brought a gift. He puts it on the table in a nicely wrapped box but it just might move around a little if they wait too long to open it, knocking over other presents or hopping off the table.
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He sits through the ceremony ready to make a very quiet exit if he should receive any emergency calls from Burbank, but the day is a blessedly quiet one back home. Perhaps he'll manage to stay at the reception a short while. His gift is left on the appropriate table, and he signs the guestbook as simply 'The Shadow', assuming Sarah would expect nothing less.
Reply
On the way out of the aisle, he almost bumps into the Shadow, fumbling clumsily with the wedding program. "Oh, geez. Sorry!"
Reply
When the ceremony is over, Melinda goes off to find Gibbs. The bride and groom are swamped with people already, so she can wait her turn. "Hey, baby." When she sees the tall man Gibbs has bumped into, she smiles as well, although she doesn't recognize hi. "Hello." She's practically beaming. The attitude at the wedding is infectious.
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When Melinda approaches his eyes sweep over her face and narrow briefly, just for a moment. She looks... familiar, but the hair is the wrong colour, and there are a number of subtle differences. He gives them both a polite nod, and stands to one side to let other people pass by.
Reply
Nor does she know the older, imposing man over by Gibbs and Mel. There is something familiar about him, but it seems a distant memory.
Pouring herself refreshment, Harley seems to relax for the moment. A sensation she has not allowed since the whole Duela incident.
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'It all' being the party, not anything of any real import. "It's...nice to have something to celebrate," he adds.
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She picks up a glass of champagne. "And it is nice to celebrate something. I think we need more to celebrate."
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"Well, there'll be another fair in the fall, I suppose. The Doc and I were talking about getting a concert series in the park, but that kind of fell through for this year. He's distracted, and we're all busy."
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