[ota] oh, these dark eyes
The lilies are in season in the Diamond Gardens. Their sweet, funeral smell is heavy on the air. Everything is as immaculate as always, with the lawns manicured and hedges trimmed. But on this morning of the 30th June, 2012, extra care has been taken and some additions made.
In the quickening dusk-it’s an evening wedding-a semi-circle of classic columns has been transformed into a wedding arch. The lilies and various other white flowers twined around it are joined by fairylights both white and blue, casting a glow over the waiting audience. A far, far bigger audience than Isaac had expected-and he has to remind himself that they are not, in fact, an audience, but guests. Though for all the splendour that’s been carefully put in place, they may as well be the former.
The groom looks as though he’s on horse tranquilisers, dressed in a pin-sharp royal blue three-piece tux. Between his equally sharply-dressed best lady Blythe and his... support, Silas (also in a white suit), he’s just about upright. But nervous. He didn’t sleep the previous night. True, he never sleeps, but today it might just show somewhat. Every time he starts leaning a little to one side, Blythe prods him and he shoots her a slightly affronted look.
And then Urania arrives, along with her entourage.
Everything looks wonderful-but especially the bride, as she is meant to, in a sequined strapless dress, a dramatic cathedral veil held in place by her trademark star-goddess tiara, and holding a bouquet of blue orchids. Five-inch heels while pregnant and trailing half a mile of lace is all par for the course for Urania Apollonides, soon to be Urania Apollonides-Zajaczkowski; not so much the exquisite sapphire-and-diamond heirloom necklace of Apollonideses past. The bridesmaids are also visions of off-kilter beauty: Meghana and Annie in matching asymmetric dresses, Leigh and Callisto helping with the veil’s train. Calypso, as Matron of Honour, right behind her. All walking slowly and in time, like they’ve rehearsed before. They do a perfect job of it, of course. But for all of the organisational hell and rehearsals, for all that he’s twitched over the last month over how everything has to be just so, Isaac suddenly just wants her to run up the aisle and into his arms. He’s a nervous wreck-it’s when she beams at him that he realises he’s smiling.
The ceremony isn’t long, but lovingly formed. No hymns or recitals. They make their vows-Urania confidently but quietly, murmuring it just for them; Isaac having a slightly stammery false start before getting into it and possibly starting to enjoy being the centre of attention a little too much. It matters not. It’s all quite lovely, and people dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs are excused. In fact, people not eye-dabbing may be looked at askance later.
And then to the reception, which begins as twilight sets in properly and the stars come out. The bouquet is tossed on their way back up the aisle, fumbled but caught by Annie. It takes place half-inside and half-out, with the castle hall being utilised being one that opens out into a balcony, which-after a string of gazebos-leads to the wedding arch. All of it is a fairylight-strewn playground tonight. But before everyone runs amok: there are the cakes to be cut. The centrepiece a lovely Starry Night themed tower of cake and icing, the groom cake slightly more… gothic.
And the first dance. Which is really the core of the reception, with Isaac and Urania being such proficient dancers. Urania laughs in the face of stiletto heels. Isaac is precise and quick despite the fact his brain has fallen out. And as the band strikes up ‘Oh, These Dark Eyes,’ a sensual-and frankly unembarrassed-tango begins. They’re too wrapped up in each other to care much about people wondering what on earth has gotten into the crazy Spade and the oddball butler. Not that they generally care. Urania may be pregnant, but she can get her leg quite high; and Isaac may be all about class, but if there’s a classy way of removing your new wife’s garter with one’s teeth, he can do it. And promptly throw it into the crowd, where it hits an unsuspecting Adrien Fitzgerald. Deal with it.
And after that, it’s a free-for-all until the morning. There’s plenty of food (Isaac wasn’t allowed near the Diamond Kitchens for the preparations-frankly, he’s nearly as overwhelmed by what a great job his droogs have done as he was by the fact his droogs actually wanted to attend the wedding), drink, fine music and finer company. The decorations are beautiful. The stars are out. The couple are glowing. So dance.
((So it begins. I'd appreciate you being absolutely lovely and tagging your characters for me! Absolute free-for-all, of course, and feel free to rewind/fast-forward. to other points of the evening. And if you want a tl;dr version of events: perfection.))
In the quickening dusk-it’s an evening wedding-a semi-circle of classic columns has been transformed into a wedding arch. The lilies and various other white flowers twined around it are joined by fairylights both white and blue, casting a glow over the waiting audience. A far, far bigger audience than Isaac had expected-and he has to remind himself that they are not, in fact, an audience, but guests. Though for all the splendour that’s been carefully put in place, they may as well be the former.
The groom looks as though he’s on horse tranquilisers, dressed in a pin-sharp royal blue three-piece tux. Between his equally sharply-dressed best lady Blythe and his... support, Silas (also in a white suit), he’s just about upright. But nervous. He didn’t sleep the previous night. True, he never sleeps, but today it might just show somewhat. Every time he starts leaning a little to one side, Blythe prods him and he shoots her a slightly affronted look.
And then Urania arrives, along with her entourage.
Everything looks wonderful-but especially the bride, as she is meant to, in a sequined strapless dress, a dramatic cathedral veil held in place by her trademark star-goddess tiara, and holding a bouquet of blue orchids. Five-inch heels while pregnant and trailing half a mile of lace is all par for the course for Urania Apollonides, soon to be Urania Apollonides-Zajaczkowski; not so much the exquisite sapphire-and-diamond heirloom necklace of Apollonideses past. The bridesmaids are also visions of off-kilter beauty: Meghana and Annie in matching asymmetric dresses, Leigh and Callisto helping with the veil’s train. Calypso, as Matron of Honour, right behind her. All walking slowly and in time, like they’ve rehearsed before. They do a perfect job of it, of course. But for all of the organisational hell and rehearsals, for all that he’s twitched over the last month over how everything has to be just so, Isaac suddenly just wants her to run up the aisle and into his arms. He’s a nervous wreck-it’s when she beams at him that he realises he’s smiling.
The ceremony isn’t long, but lovingly formed. No hymns or recitals. They make their vows-Urania confidently but quietly, murmuring it just for them; Isaac having a slightly stammery false start before getting into it and possibly starting to enjoy being the centre of attention a little too much. It matters not. It’s all quite lovely, and people dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs are excused. In fact, people not eye-dabbing may be looked at askance later.
And then to the reception, which begins as twilight sets in properly and the stars come out. The bouquet is tossed on their way back up the aisle, fumbled but caught by Annie. It takes place half-inside and half-out, with the castle hall being utilised being one that opens out into a balcony, which-after a string of gazebos-leads to the wedding arch. All of it is a fairylight-strewn playground tonight. But before everyone runs amok: there are the cakes to be cut. The centrepiece a lovely Starry Night themed tower of cake and icing, the groom cake slightly more… gothic.
And the first dance. Which is really the core of the reception, with Isaac and Urania being such proficient dancers. Urania laughs in the face of stiletto heels. Isaac is precise and quick despite the fact his brain has fallen out. And as the band strikes up ‘Oh, These Dark Eyes,’ a sensual-and frankly unembarrassed-tango begins. They’re too wrapped up in each other to care much about people wondering what on earth has gotten into the crazy Spade and the oddball butler. Not that they generally care. Urania may be pregnant, but she can get her leg quite high; and Isaac may be all about class, but if there’s a classy way of removing your new wife’s garter with one’s teeth, he can do it. And promptly throw it into the crowd, where it hits an unsuspecting Adrien Fitzgerald. Deal with it.
And after that, it’s a free-for-all until the morning. There’s plenty of food (Isaac wasn’t allowed near the Diamond Kitchens for the preparations-frankly, he’s nearly as overwhelmed by what a great job his droogs have done as he was by the fact his droogs actually wanted to attend the wedding), drink, fine music and finer company. The decorations are beautiful. The stars are out. The couple are glowing. So dance.
((So it begins. I'd appreciate you being absolutely lovely and tagging your characters for me! Absolute free-for-all, of course, and feel free to rewind/fast-forward. to other points of the evening. And if you want a tl;dr version of events: perfection.))