XENOSAGA EPISODE VI: Elsewhen -- 1/?? -- COMPLETE
!! TITLE SIGNIFICANCE !!
Elsewhen, by Robert A. Heinlein. All preceding storylines have had titles based on works by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
[NARRATOR] Our story begins in Kukai Castell, on the outskirts of Gladius. Kukai Castell is a small city housed inside of a castle, and it is perched on the edge of a waterfall overlooking the Flamberge Forge--an ally also belonging to the Gladius Empire.
The sun is beaming down on the Ricassian Sea as it gushes beyond the Castell. The cerulean sky is reflected by the pristine water.
By nightfall, the Sea will be of Blood.
-
[ADAM] ::GONG! GONG!
Though the streets of Castell were covered by magnificent stained glass roofs and shadowed by intricate spires and towering statues, that didn't keep the light from beaming down onto the crowds. The festivities had not just started: the smell of exotic foods and drinks were already wafting through the air, and there were already thousands of townspeople and tourists whisking through the flower petal-covered streets.
Every fountain (one of Castell's tourist attractions, because it was a castle that floated right on top of a waterfall) had been cleaned (except for the the silver and gold pieces inside of them, of course!) and activated just for the special occasion. Already, the street urchins were taking public baths in the damn things, which was really pissing Adiemus off.::
HEY! I just washed that!!
::Adiemus was able to scare off a few of the kids with the wave of his top hat, but the more resilient ones continued to jump in and out and steal coins from the bottom of the fountains.:: At least take off your shoes!
::He narrowed his eyes and took a quick step back when one of the kids tried to splash some water onto him and his Priest's Manteau.:: You--
::His shaggy, rarely-washed hair swung in the wind that had suddenly entered the square. He--and everyone else; children, tourists, bakers and blacksmiths--all looked up when a massive shadow entered the sky of the Castell.:: Oh.
They're here.
[JULIET] ::Juliet stared out at the city below them. --Or rather, the city that their airship had just entered. They were inside of the Kukai Castell now. She swept her light brown--with some hints of blonde--hair behind her ear, because it was the only thing she could think to do while in such a state of awe.::
[PRINCE SETH] You look beautiful.
[JULIET] ::She turned without a gasp or surprise, because there could be only one other person inside of their cabin. Her dress--big, white, like something out of Cinderella--turned with her, belatedly.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth smirked.::
[ADAM] This is.. not good. ::Adiemus reached up for his top hat, and then he realized that it wasn't on his head. So he reached for his hand, but then he realized that he didn't need to reach for his hand--and then he realized that his top hat wasn't in his hand.::
Hey! Give that back!!
[KID] ::Some random kid--soaking wet, naked--ran off with Adiemus' top hat with a loud cackle.::
[ADAM] Come back here! ::He clenched his teeth and sprinted off in the direction the kid
had just disappeared into: the bustling crowds of the Castell Market Stretch.::
[URCHIN] ::The fearless urchins still in fountain stopped collecting the coins so feverishly when they noticed Adiemus giving chase deeper into the crowds. One of them turned a fat coin over and over in his fingers, watching as the sea of people split, and then without wiping off any excess water, he held it aloft. The sunlight and firelight caught its shining exterior, and by turning it at certain angles, he created a bright glint pinched between thumb and forefinger.::
[ISAAC] That's the signal, right?
[EMRYS] No. He's just deciding to show off the coin. ::He elbowed the taller, but younger kid out of his way so he could still see the signal. The glinting was easy to see by itself, but with so many people moving back and forth, it got lost in translation. He shielded his face, preventing each glint from reflecting in his blue eyes, and then almost relaxed. Almost.::
Remember, we don't have all day.
[ISAAC] Yeah, I know, Robin Hood.
[EMRYS] That's a horrible comparison, ::he replied, but smirked anyway. His name wasn't Robin Hood--who was a very legendary and very fictitious figure, since who in their right mind would give away the money they stole?--but he liked the ring of it anyway.::
[ISAAC] I think that's the longest word you've ever said--"comparison."
[EMRYS] ::After elbowing his companion even harder, right into the brick wall next to them, he left the alley. Robin Hood wasn't his name, but Emrys had to admire that character's smoothness. It was the smoothness of fairytales, because he wasn't arrogant despite being the best god damn thief ever. He could have gotten out from between Scylla and Charybdis (that was, a rock and a hard place) if he had to.
As for Emrys, he just..:: Let's go. ::made do. With his messy and dirty brown hair and blue eyes and sooty cotton tunic, he fit in great with all of the lower class. He needed to if he was going to fucking rob them blind.::
[ISAAC] ::Isaac followed Emrys into the marketplace.::
[ALBEDO] ::Mute checked his pocket watch for the thousandth fucking time as he waited outside of Juliet's room. They weren't on their way, and they weren't about to enter the city--they were here. She was here. The amethyst studding the outside of his watch sparkled as he snapped it shut again and shoved it into some pocket on his vest.
Despite the name--some sort of nickname that he didn't bother explaining the origins of; his Christian name was Albedo--he wasn't mute in the least.:: Lady Juliet.
[JULIET] You look quite dashing yourself, King Seth Kukai. ::She put on a sarcastic smile and shake of the head before moving to the other side of the room to get her slippers.::
[PRINCE SETH] You know I hate that title, ::Seth said as his opaque blue eyes followed Juliet. He was wearing a white tuxedo with hints of blue across the tie and pockets--the same blue as his eyes, actually. It had obviously been custom-made.
His collar was lined with (literal) gold plating, and he had several badges and patches and ribbons--small enough not to look silly, flashy enough to get the point across: he was fucking important--attached to his sleeves, neatly divided into rows. His hair had been cut short and fluffed up into short spikes, just like Juliet liked it. --Not that she had ever told him what to do. All of his fashion advice had been acquired from Mute, who was undoubtedly a common victim of Juliet's.. womanly, conversations.::
[JULIET] Yes, well.. I'll-- ::While slipping her glass slippers on, she heard the voice at the door and looked at it.:: It'll take me some getting used to as well.
Queen Juliet.. Kukai. ::Though her smile softened in size and curl, it became even more genuine. She still couldn't believe what was happening.::
[PRINCE SETH] It's just a name. ::Seth's hair moved a little when air started to come up through the thin vents in their fancy room. Their airship--the Saif Cathedral--was descending.:: Trust me. Names are overrated.
::His white-gloved fingers clasped around the maple wood doorknob, and he opened it up.:: Sir Mute!
[JULIET] Mute-- ::She finished squeezing into those slippers and came around the luxurious bed, to the doorway.:: Is the Ouroboros ready? I believe we're about to land!
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked at the windows that were over Mute's shoulder, in the walls of the hallway. He could see the streets coming into view, and the fountains that were shooting up tens of feet into the air.::
[JULIET] ::Ouroboros--a "magical" product of alchemy that only a certain amount of alchemists were licensed to produce in any amount--was a traditional Ricassian part of any wedding. Only when two people shared a sip of the Ouroboros would they be intertwined for the rest of their lives. It was much like Gladius' version of the wedding ring.::
[EMRYS] ::The streets were up to their usual hustle and bustle, except it seemed that everyone had turned out simultaneously today. That was no surprise, considering the events about to unfold! It was also like Christmas had come early for thieves of all shapes and sizes. Emrys looked longways through the crowd and could see rivals trying to look just as inconspicuous.::
[ALBEDO] ::Everything about Mute was impeccable, but he had more than just good taste and hygiene on his side: alchemy erased wrinkles in his clothing, kept the bowl cut of his hair perfectly straight, and eliminated dirt. The amethyst on his watch matched his eyes, which looked nice when framed by silky black hair. Sometimes his hair changed colors, since alchemy could go awry just as often as it went right, but today it was the usual black.::
You look beautiful, Lady Juliet, ::he said when he saw her.:: I came to tell you that, yes, we are about to land, and that yes, the Ouroboros is just about ready. We need only some more simmering and a blessing to complete it at this stage.
[ADAM] ::The crowds were parting. Adiemus stopped his (futile, because he wasn't going to beat an eight-year-old while wearing his priestly garb) swift pursuit, but continued with an intimidated walk to the very end of the stretch. Drums and trumpets were sounding as more Ricassian airships descended and opened up into the central streets of the Castell. They had obviously been escorting the Saif Cathedral. The crowds stood and stared in awe. Ricasso's military and technological might was unparalleled, and they were getting a first-hand display of their newest and most fear-inducing models.
However, on this glorious day, the mood could not be shaken: Adiemus--for the first time in his life--felt protected. In a few moments, Ricasso would no longer be an enemy kingdom--it would be an ally. Kukai Castell was about to become a part of the greatest nation on the face of the planet.::
[RUBEDO] Come in!
::Rubedo backed up in perfect synchronicity with the building-sized aircraft that were beside him. The streets had been cleared of everything but the rose petals, but the townspeople and tourists of the Castell were all grouped up on the sidewalks, watching the fantastic display. The Twin Colossi--Odin and Fenrir, Ricassian military airships--were not just there for escorting purposes: they were doubling as parade floats.
When their catapult decks swung open, they were caught and suspended by hundreds of slaves. Soldiers poured out of the still-moving crafts and performed a flawless march towards Kukai Castle, as opposed to Castell--the very center of the city, and the place of all government affairs. Red ribbons danced off of the edges of their spears, and there were a few non-military personnel who emerged from the center of the organized rows just to perform exotic feats, such as fire-breathing and mammoth-riding.
When Rubedo whipped his blood red bow (dyed, just so that it was easy to see) to the right, both the Odin and Fenrir started to turn away in perfect synchronicity. The crowds went wild when the Saif Cathedral began to descend to take the place of both of the crafts. The Saif Cathedral was not known as an icon of force or fear--it was known for its beauty and elegance in the sky.::
Saif, Down! Ricas-- Halt! ::He held his arrow down stiffly at his side and stretched his left arm as far as out as he could.:: Yield! ::The soldiers and the performers did just
that: they parted and went to join the crowds who were sitting on the sidewalks, or hanging off of their own roofs.
Rubedo nodded to himself when he saw that everything had gone off correctly, and that no one was about to get crushed by the Cathedral's landing. He, too, ran off to the side.::
[DMITRI] ::Though Kukai Castle was well-dressed, and its massive doors were wide open for the public to see, the event would end at the peak of the stairs. Father Demetrius--with a black pillow in both of his hands, a ruby red jewel resting atop it--knelt down before the Count.::
May Gladius and Ricasso be at peace--allies for a great time. Friends forever.
[BAEL] ::The Count had a proud smile on his face. Due to his Mongol descent, it might have been difficult to see the sparkle in his eyes, but it was there nonetheless. He, too, knelt down, to receive the gift that Gladius was offering.::
You need not even mention the amount of time, Father.
::He reached forward and gently grasped the ruby in his bare hands. Though many of the officials and noblemen that stood around them were wearing white in celebration, the Count preferred black. In Ricasso, unfortunately, weddings were not celebrated by father figures: instead, they were mourned. The Count would lose a daughter on this day. Nonetheless, he stood with the ruby tight in hand.::
[DMITRI] ::Demetrius stood as well.:: God watch over us both.
[BAEL] There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord already does, Demetrius...
::He turned his head to watch as the red carpet was rolled out. The Saif Cathedral had just landed. In a matter of seconds, Prince Seth Kukai of Gladius and Princess Juliet Capulet of Ricasso would come walking out of the airship, down the red carpet, up the staircase, and into public view--as King and Queen.::
[JULIET] FUCK--
[PRINCE SETH] ::A giant sweatdrop appeared on the back of Seth's head when he turned back to Juliet.:: .. are you..?
[JULIET] I'm fine, I just broke my.. heel. ::She looked down and knew what she would do the moment she became Queen: hunt down and kill the motherfucker that invented high heels, much less glass ones.::
[PRINCE SETH] It's not a big deal. ::Seth opened the hallway door for her.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet flew forward through it and grabbed her veil before it could fall off.:: I don't want anyone to see my feet!
[PRINCE SETH] You have beautiful feet.
[JULIET] Where's the Ouroboros?! ::When they entered the abandoned dining hall, she grabbed the nearest clean-looking glass of water and downed all of it in one gulp.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::He kind of got the heebie-jeebies when he saw that.:: Are you okay?
[JULIET] I'm just hot. It's so dry here. --MUTE!
[EMRYS] ::Emyrs rose up next to Adiemus, chewing idly on a (stolen) apple.::
[ISAAC] ::Isaac popped up too, but on the other side of the Adiemus, holding his top hat.::
[EMRYS] ::He swallowed, and some of it was reflex at seeing the amazing parade in the the sky and the streets. At least he wasn't talking with his mouth full when he said,:: Are you there? ::He waved his free hand in front of Adiemus' dreamy face, trying to get his attention. It seemed like everyone was in a dreamlike trance, lost in their own fantasies about an alliance that meant an end to war and fear.
Love, peace, prosperity--all that political bullshit that would never affect the destitute like Emyrs and his brother Isaac.::
[NIGREDO] I can't believe it, ::Nigredo said when Rubedo sidled up nearby. The basket he was holding was filled to the brim with rose petals, which he sprinkled intermittently into every real and artificial breeze. It only added to the dreamlike quality of the scene.::
[EMRYS] ::Emyrs brushed a rose petal off of his nose that had tumbled in from somewhere.::
[NIGREDO] Ten years. Five since the last time he wrote to us.
[ALBEDO] ::Mute warily watched Juliet from where he had been walking behind the soon-to-be King and Queen.::
[NIGREDO] Do you think he's really here? And that he's not.. ::dead. It used to be suicide to run away from home like Albedo had, especially with the intention of becoming a citizen of the enemy state.::
He said he had--examinations. He didn't tell us the results. ::Maybe Albedo had failed and committed suicide when he failed the Ricasso state alchemist exam. Nigredo squeezed the rose petals a little harder.::
[ALBEDO] Lady Juliet, you're a woman of extreme patience--an extension of our nation.
::Mute, for the last time (or so he promised himself), withdrew his state-issued pocket watch to check the time. Every sanctioned alchemist was given one of these when they passed their exam.::
Please call upon that patience. ::If he didn't know better, he would have dismissed her behavior as last-minute jitters. It looked like Seth didn't know what to do with her either, which made two of them left to deal with a distraught, hormonal woman. He didn't pinch the bridge of his nose to alleviate his growing headache, but he wanted to.:: The ceremony isn't going to happen over empty dishes and glasses of water.
[EMRYS] You think we can get better seats than this?
[JULIET] Ugh--you and that.. machine, Mute!! ::She launched herself away from the table and snatched the watch from Mute's hand. She looked down at it--this not being the first time--and admired its ticking for just a few seconds.:: Fancy alchemy trinkets.
::She looked up, and she handed the pocket watch back to him without interrupting their eye contact.:: Is the Ouroboros ready?
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth--who had been peering at the windows in the background--turned to the two.:: We better get this show on the road; the carpet's out. They're waiting on us.
[ADAM] ::Adiemus snatched his top hat away from Isaac with an annoyed grunt. He wasn't particularly surprised that these thieves had allied themselves with the local street urchins. --He didn't know them well enough to call them by name, but he had certainly seen witnessed their questionable activities in the past.
Fortunately, Adiemus wasn't one of those priests that went around trying to convert people. He had faith in himself and in the Church, and anyone who wanted to live a life of sin--well, they could do just that. There were much more evil forces in the world to worry about than the beggars and petty thieves that did no more than irritate the populace of Gladius. --Although, thanks to their new ally, Ricasso, those evils would definitely become more distant and unwilling to trifle with the Castell.::
Yes, I am here, and I can you quite fine, thank you. I see you make two allies, this day: Ricasso, and the street urchins.
::Adiemus, similarly annoyed by the over-abundance of rose petals that were now floating through the sky like confetti, brushed a few of them off of his shoulders. He cleared his throat loudly (yet in that strange, sophisticated manner that the high class tended to carry) and returned his attention to the Saif Cathedral.::
I suggest you watch carefully! This day will live forever--a swell in the tide of history.
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo's suspicious gaze never faltered when he backed up into the crowd beside Nigredo.::
Whatever. Men like him don't fail in situations like this.
::His bright blue eyes intensified when he looked up at the glass-blurred sky. He scanned the opposite rooftops carefully, because--regardless of the treaty that was about to be writ--all it took was one crazy person to attempt an assassination. None of the petals stuck to Rubedo's clothing, because he was wearing a lightweight set of Ricassian scale armor. The scales were all facing downward, so the petals could do nothing but fall off of its perfectly smooth and almost impenetrable surface. None of it got in his red cropped hair, either.::
And besides.. you know how much he likes to make an entrance.
[ALBEDO] ::Mute waited with some of the patience he had tried to instill in Juliet for her to finish looking at his watch. Watches in general were curious, alchemy-driven instruments that varied in quality depending on the alchemist that forged them. Needless to say, his was an amazing piece.::
Lady Juliet.. ::As much as he wanted her to calm the fuck down, he refrained as a matter of propriety.:: I'm sure it is by now. My apprentice, Ramsey, is overseeing the final steps. Walk down that carpet to your glorious future, and at its end, the Ouroboros.
[EMRYS] ::Emrys squinted one eye at Adiemus.:: You make it sound like something's gonna change around here, ::he said, unimpressed.::
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo was wearing similar armor, though his was a shade darker due to natural impurities in the metals. It matched his eyes and hair, which were black with only the occasional strains of some brown color. All of this dark color made his skin appear even paler than it was.::
You're right, ::he said, but he was hardly comforted. He resumed letting handfuls of petals go in the wind, but he wasn't concentrating on those: this was a subtle front for the scoping out of their surroundings he was doing too.::
[ISAAC] I hope we get to see the princess, ::Isaac said, clapping and molding his hands together once the top hat was gone. He leaned into them and sighed overdramatically.:: I heard she's hot.
[EMRYS] And rich. ::And completely off-limits. Emrys was a thief, and thieves knew the law best: he could have picked out any number of soldiers and mercenaries in this marketplace with them.:: But yeah, as much as I like a party, I'm not about to start celebrating.
[ISAAC] What about if they start throwing money at us because they're such kind, generous people? ::Isaac's hands parted and he pushed one through his very pale hair.::
[EMRYS] Well. Maybe then.
[ADAM] ::Adiemus.. looked up, because even though it was hitting them on the heads and ringing on the cobblestone below them, he could not believe what was actually happening. Isaac was not far off--in fact, he was right on the money, pun intended. The Odin and Fenrir--having ascended back to the roof of the Castell--was now throwing gold pieces onto the crowds. The rose petal confetti was being replaced by
[EMRYS] Holy shit.
[ISAAC] ::Isaac's mouth opened and a coin landed in it by pure chance.::
[EMRYS] There is a god.
:
[ADAM] golden flecks of light; free money. Free gold pieces. A brilliant, sickeningly exciting display. Adiemus did not reach for any of the pieces, because he was already well-off.
The.. "gift" also worried him a little: it proved how incredibly wealthy the Ricasso was. It proved how superior Ricasso was.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet's aquamarine eyes glittered with gold and sunlight and the reflections of thousands of cheering people. She knew she was going to cry, but she didn't think it would happen the moment she stepped onto the red carpet.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked around in considerably less awe than Juliet. He, after all, had arranged many of the festivities and wonders that were taking place. He took Juliet's hand and guided her around the carriage that had been placed just outside of the airship. The carriage held a high seat for both of them, and at its front was a masked driver--likely the owner of the two unicorns at the very front of the carriage. When Seth and Juliet sat down, the unicorns began a leisurely, drawn-out walk towards Kukai Castle.::
[JULIET] ::Her earrings and other heavy jewelry sparkled every time a coin fell nearby. She clutched her chest, simply because she had never seen so many people in her life.::
[PRINCE SETH] Wave, ::Seth whispered when he leaned in to her.:: You're their Queen now.
[JULIET] ::She closed her mouth when she realized that it had been open the entire time. She lifted a lace-covered glove and.. waved.::
[NARRATOR] ::Dwarf performers in white rabbit costumes danced away from the carriage. They were throwing bills into the air, out of their grass-stuffed baskets.::
[JULIET] ::She turned and waved again with an uncertain smile.::
[NARRATOR] ::Two mammoths that had been chained up beside the Castle received a few whipcracks from their tamers. They both trumpeted in perfect sync, and the wall of white doves that had been separating the stair from the carpet fell apart. The doves spread out and flew up into the air.::
[JULIET] All this..
[PRINCE SETH] I would.. move the stars for you, ...
[JULIET] ::She turned in to Seth.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::His fingers drifted down her arm. He tilted his head sideways and gazed into her eyes.:: Juliet.. Capulet.
[EMRYS] Hey, stop-- ::Emrys shoved Isaac even more toward the ground.::
[ISAAC] What's the point?! There's fucking gold raining down on us!!
[EMRYS] And if we're not the tallest thing in the crowd, everyone else is going to get that gold! Now stop stop squirming!
[ISAAC] ::Isaac gritted his teeth and conceded to the piggyback ride that Emrys had demanded.::
[EMRYS] ::He grabbed a crumbled up hat from someplace inside his tunic, shook it out, and then held it aloft so he could catch the coins. Everywhere people didn't seem as interested in the gold, if only because they were in complete fucking awe at what was happening. Some of the crowd pointed out the prince and princess; others couldn't help but admire the unicorns, which were so rare it wasn't even funny; others looked ahead and moved ahead toward the end of the procession, where the literal end was going to take place.
Emrys just wanted the cash. Every plink was food. Every plink was shelter.::
--Hey.
[ISAAC] Are you done yet?
[EMRYS] I think I see the carriage.
[ISAAC] Better let them know we're their biggest fans.
[EMRYS] ::He smirked a little as he looked away from the unicorns--who else would be escorted by unicorns?--to the passengers in the carriage. --Not even the dwarves in woodland creature costumes throwing actual bills of money could get him to look away..::
[ISAAC] Uh. ::Isaac noticed something was wrong when he saw paper currency flutter past his face.::
[ALBEDO] ::Mute adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo as he stalked around the crystalline goblet that the Ouroboros was being transferred into. On each of his hands was a glove, and printed on the palms of those gloves were alchemy sigils. It was all part of this elaborate ceremony. The liquid was the color of blood, and its ingredients? That was a closely guarded secret.::
[JULIET] Seth-- ::--not until the.. Her eyes widened, and then they closed. ceremony.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::They were locked in a kiss that silenced a great majority of the crowds. Though the scrambling for coins continued on some level, everyone had stopped shouting and screaming. Though Seth's leather gloves were of a rough material, the way he slid his fingertips across the sides of Juliet's face was still a caress.::
[DMITRI] ::Demetrius gulped audibly. He turned to the Count for a moment, to make sure that he wasn't offended by the slightly too early kiss and embrace.::
[BAEL] ::The Count turned away from Mute to look at Demetrius. He could only shrug with a cheeky grin on his face.:: Kids.
[DMITRI] ::He tried not to scratch the back of his hooded head. He quickly crossed the platform and performed a quick (but low and very respectful, as always) bow at Mute (and Ramsey, or anyone else of import who happened to be standing nearby). Demetrius brought the black pillow up from his side and presented it with a kneel, in addition to his original bow. Every item received or given--according to Ricassian tradition--must be transferred across a blessed possession of the Father. In this case, the Count had chosen a velvety black pillow.
Demetrius had practiced balancing goblets of wine on small pillows in preparation for this day, so he was not concerned about spilling any of the Ouroboros.:: I thank you, Grand Alchemist "Mute".
[JULIET] ::She suddenly pulled away when the unicorns came to a stop.:: Oh--
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth put on a mischievous smile that was no different than those on the faces of the urchins in the crowds, who were shielding their own eyes from the tender moment.::
[JULIET] ::She looked up, beyond the colorful feathers and the horns of the unicorns.::
[BAEL] ::The Count smiled down at Juliet. He only nodded once.::
[JULIET] ::She smiled back--a little more certain than before. And then she turned back to Seth.:: I haven't woken up yet.
[ISAAC] Now I think you're the one that's dreaming, ::Isaac muttered with a huge roll of his eyes.::
[EMRYS] ::Emrys gulped and felt something move down his throat that wasn't a coin. It was his heart.:: She is hot, ::he said in explanation.::
[ISAAC] She better be if she gets to wash every day. Just imagine how much that'd cost!
[ALBEDO] ::Mute stopped obsessing over the cuffs when Demetrius addressed him. Some of the distance in his eyes--no doubt he was rehearsing internally--didn't last much longer.::
It's an opportunity I am in turn thankful for, ::he replied, starting to smile. Ouroboros was a facet in Ricassian wedding ceremonies, yes, but how often could you say you produced the Ouroboros that a king and queen were going to drink? It'd look great on his resume. He glanced over at his quiet assistant, smiled a little more, and then looked back again so he could see the progress of Juliet and Seth.::
[ISAAC] I think they went a little early.
[EMRYS] ::Emrys swallowed again and started to squirm off of Isaac's shoulders, upsetting their balance but not too precariously.::
[ISAAC] Ow--
[EMRYS] Shut up. I got.. --I got enough money. We can leave.
[ISAAC] Are you fucking crazy? I want to see if they give us more free stuff.
[JULIET] ::Juliet was the first to remove herself from the carriage. She slipped out of the high seat and dropped down beside one of the unicorns, who was so well trained that it didn't even get startled. She was tempted to reach out and pet it, but Father Demetrius was already coming down the stairs.::
[BAEL] ::The Count stepped to the side of the platform and waited.::
[PRINCE SETH] Dmitri, ::Seth said quietly as he stepped up to Juliet's side.::
[DMITRI] Seth. Juliet. ::With the pillow and goblet expertly balanced in one hand, he took Juliet's hand with his other. Their ascent was just a tad messy, but when they reached the top of the platform--where the general public could actually see them--they were in perfect, flawless sync and splendor.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::With one hand held in the nook of his back, and the other swinging intentionally gently at his side, Seth stepped onto the platform and tilted his head down to the Count.:: Count Bael, I will serve your daughter--and our countries--until my life is at end.
[BAEL] ::Bael's eyes gleamed in the setting sun. His satisfied grin never waned.:: Longer than that, I am certain.
::With perfect mathematical certainty, the Count stepped forward just as Demetrius stepped backward. His hand and arm interlocked with Juliet's, and he tilted his head in her direction--without looking at her--to whisper her well. To wish her well.:: Juliet Capulet. Your mother--bless her soul--would be proud. You have become a fine, beautiful young woman.
And now, you will bring peace to this world.
[JULIET] ::Her eyes drifted from Mute to Bael to Demetrius to.. Seth. The golden-brown locks at the sides of her face whisked wonderfully in the wind.::
[BAEL] You are my greatest daughter. ::Bael became completely upright again and unraveled his arm from Juliet. He stepped forward again, to join Mute at the sidelines.::
[DMITRI] ::Father Demetrius stepped to the upper center of the platform and gripped the pillow and Ouroboros more delicately. He held it out between Seth and Juliet, so that it would separate them.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet stepped forward with just one glance back at her father.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked away from the silent crowds and approached the other side of the elevated pillow.::
[DMITRI] We gather here today to witness not only Prince and Princess wed in holy matrimony, but Gladius and Ricasso as well.
::Demetrius noticed a few bold stares from the guards and noblemen nearby, which caused him to realize that he needed to speak louder. With a silent-as-possible clear of the throat, he proceeded in a more audible tone.::
Let these two--the Royal Princess Juliet, and the Castell Prince Seth be joined as one, forever, under the Will of the Ouroboros. Let our kingdoms be as strong as they; for as long as they; for as red as the ribbon of life that separates them; for as sweet and pristine as the sea that forever falls under us.
I, High Priest Demetrius Yuriev of the Cathedral of Sophia, hereby deem these two fated souls under a covenant under God. Let any who would claim to stop this covenant be stoned to the death.
::Demetrius paused here, because that was part of the ceremony: he was waiting for anyone to come forward to stop the ceremony, so that they could be stoned, and so that the ceremony could continue.::
Elsewhen, by Robert A. Heinlein. All preceding storylines have had titles based on works by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
[NARRATOR] Our story begins in Kukai Castell, on the outskirts of Gladius. Kukai Castell is a small city housed inside of a castle, and it is perched on the edge of a waterfall overlooking the Flamberge Forge--an ally also belonging to the Gladius Empire.
The sun is beaming down on the Ricassian Sea as it gushes beyond the Castell. The cerulean sky is reflected by the pristine water.
By nightfall, the Sea will be of Blood.
-
[ADAM] ::GONG! GONG!
Though the streets of Castell were covered by magnificent stained glass roofs and shadowed by intricate spires and towering statues, that didn't keep the light from beaming down onto the crowds. The festivities had not just started: the smell of exotic foods and drinks were already wafting through the air, and there were already thousands of townspeople and tourists whisking through the flower petal-covered streets.
Every fountain (one of Castell's tourist attractions, because it was a castle that floated right on top of a waterfall) had been cleaned (except for the the silver and gold pieces inside of them, of course!) and activated just for the special occasion. Already, the street urchins were taking public baths in the damn things, which was really pissing Adiemus off.::
HEY! I just washed that!!
::Adiemus was able to scare off a few of the kids with the wave of his top hat, but the more resilient ones continued to jump in and out and steal coins from the bottom of the fountains.:: At least take off your shoes!
::He narrowed his eyes and took a quick step back when one of the kids tried to splash some water onto him and his Priest's Manteau.:: You--
::His shaggy, rarely-washed hair swung in the wind that had suddenly entered the square. He--and everyone else; children, tourists, bakers and blacksmiths--all looked up when a massive shadow entered the sky of the Castell.:: Oh.
They're here.
[JULIET] ::Juliet stared out at the city below them. --Or rather, the city that their airship had just entered. They were inside of the Kukai Castell now. She swept her light brown--with some hints of blonde--hair behind her ear, because it was the only thing she could think to do while in such a state of awe.::
[PRINCE SETH] You look beautiful.
[JULIET] ::She turned without a gasp or surprise, because there could be only one other person inside of their cabin. Her dress--big, white, like something out of Cinderella--turned with her, belatedly.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth smirked.::
[ADAM] This is.. not good. ::Adiemus reached up for his top hat, and then he realized that it wasn't on his head. So he reached for his hand, but then he realized that he didn't need to reach for his hand--and then he realized that his top hat wasn't in his hand.::
Hey! Give that back!!
[KID] ::Some random kid--soaking wet, naked--ran off with Adiemus' top hat with a loud cackle.::
[ADAM] Come back here! ::He clenched his teeth and sprinted off in the direction the kid
had just disappeared into: the bustling crowds of the Castell Market Stretch.::
[URCHIN] ::The fearless urchins still in fountain stopped collecting the coins so feverishly when they noticed Adiemus giving chase deeper into the crowds. One of them turned a fat coin over and over in his fingers, watching as the sea of people split, and then without wiping off any excess water, he held it aloft. The sunlight and firelight caught its shining exterior, and by turning it at certain angles, he created a bright glint pinched between thumb and forefinger.::
[ISAAC] That's the signal, right?
[EMRYS] No. He's just deciding to show off the coin. ::He elbowed the taller, but younger kid out of his way so he could still see the signal. The glinting was easy to see by itself, but with so many people moving back and forth, it got lost in translation. He shielded his face, preventing each glint from reflecting in his blue eyes, and then almost relaxed. Almost.::
Remember, we don't have all day.
[ISAAC] Yeah, I know, Robin Hood.
[EMRYS] That's a horrible comparison, ::he replied, but smirked anyway. His name wasn't Robin Hood--who was a very legendary and very fictitious figure, since who in their right mind would give away the money they stole?--but he liked the ring of it anyway.::
[ISAAC] I think that's the longest word you've ever said--"comparison."
[EMRYS] ::After elbowing his companion even harder, right into the brick wall next to them, he left the alley. Robin Hood wasn't his name, but Emrys had to admire that character's smoothness. It was the smoothness of fairytales, because he wasn't arrogant despite being the best god damn thief ever. He could have gotten out from between Scylla and Charybdis (that was, a rock and a hard place) if he had to.
As for Emrys, he just..:: Let's go. ::made do. With his messy and dirty brown hair and blue eyes and sooty cotton tunic, he fit in great with all of the lower class. He needed to if he was going to fucking rob them blind.::
[ISAAC] ::Isaac followed Emrys into the marketplace.::
[ALBEDO] ::Mute checked his pocket watch for the thousandth fucking time as he waited outside of Juliet's room. They weren't on their way, and they weren't about to enter the city--they were here. She was here. The amethyst studding the outside of his watch sparkled as he snapped it shut again and shoved it into some pocket on his vest.
Despite the name--some sort of nickname that he didn't bother explaining the origins of; his Christian name was Albedo--he wasn't mute in the least.:: Lady Juliet.
[JULIET] You look quite dashing yourself, King Seth Kukai. ::She put on a sarcastic smile and shake of the head before moving to the other side of the room to get her slippers.::
[PRINCE SETH] You know I hate that title, ::Seth said as his opaque blue eyes followed Juliet. He was wearing a white tuxedo with hints of blue across the tie and pockets--the same blue as his eyes, actually. It had obviously been custom-made.
His collar was lined with (literal) gold plating, and he had several badges and patches and ribbons--small enough not to look silly, flashy enough to get the point across: he was fucking important--attached to his sleeves, neatly divided into rows. His hair had been cut short and fluffed up into short spikes, just like Juliet liked it. --Not that she had ever told him what to do. All of his fashion advice had been acquired from Mute, who was undoubtedly a common victim of Juliet's.. womanly, conversations.::
[JULIET] Yes, well.. I'll-- ::While slipping her glass slippers on, she heard the voice at the door and looked at it.:: It'll take me some getting used to as well.
Queen Juliet.. Kukai. ::Though her smile softened in size and curl, it became even more genuine. She still couldn't believe what was happening.::
[PRINCE SETH] It's just a name. ::Seth's hair moved a little when air started to come up through the thin vents in their fancy room. Their airship--the Saif Cathedral--was descending.:: Trust me. Names are overrated.
::His white-gloved fingers clasped around the maple wood doorknob, and he opened it up.:: Sir Mute!
[JULIET] Mute-- ::She finished squeezing into those slippers and came around the luxurious bed, to the doorway.:: Is the Ouroboros ready? I believe we're about to land!
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked at the windows that were over Mute's shoulder, in the walls of the hallway. He could see the streets coming into view, and the fountains that were shooting up tens of feet into the air.::
[JULIET] ::Ouroboros--a "magical" product of alchemy that only a certain amount of alchemists were licensed to produce in any amount--was a traditional Ricassian part of any wedding. Only when two people shared a sip of the Ouroboros would they be intertwined for the rest of their lives. It was much like Gladius' version of the wedding ring.::
[EMRYS] ::The streets were up to their usual hustle and bustle, except it seemed that everyone had turned out simultaneously today. That was no surprise, considering the events about to unfold! It was also like Christmas had come early for thieves of all shapes and sizes. Emrys looked longways through the crowd and could see rivals trying to look just as inconspicuous.::
[ALBEDO] ::Everything about Mute was impeccable, but he had more than just good taste and hygiene on his side: alchemy erased wrinkles in his clothing, kept the bowl cut of his hair perfectly straight, and eliminated dirt. The amethyst on his watch matched his eyes, which looked nice when framed by silky black hair. Sometimes his hair changed colors, since alchemy could go awry just as often as it went right, but today it was the usual black.::
You look beautiful, Lady Juliet, ::he said when he saw her.:: I came to tell you that, yes, we are about to land, and that yes, the Ouroboros is just about ready. We need only some more simmering and a blessing to complete it at this stage.
[ADAM] ::The crowds were parting. Adiemus stopped his (futile, because he wasn't going to beat an eight-year-old while wearing his priestly garb) swift pursuit, but continued with an intimidated walk to the very end of the stretch. Drums and trumpets were sounding as more Ricassian airships descended and opened up into the central streets of the Castell. They had obviously been escorting the Saif Cathedral. The crowds stood and stared in awe. Ricasso's military and technological might was unparalleled, and they were getting a first-hand display of their newest and most fear-inducing models.
However, on this glorious day, the mood could not be shaken: Adiemus--for the first time in his life--felt protected. In a few moments, Ricasso would no longer be an enemy kingdom--it would be an ally. Kukai Castell was about to become a part of the greatest nation on the face of the planet.::
[RUBEDO] Come in!
::Rubedo backed up in perfect synchronicity with the building-sized aircraft that were beside him. The streets had been cleared of everything but the rose petals, but the townspeople and tourists of the Castell were all grouped up on the sidewalks, watching the fantastic display. The Twin Colossi--Odin and Fenrir, Ricassian military airships--were not just there for escorting purposes: they were doubling as parade floats.
When their catapult decks swung open, they were caught and suspended by hundreds of slaves. Soldiers poured out of the still-moving crafts and performed a flawless march towards Kukai Castle, as opposed to Castell--the very center of the city, and the place of all government affairs. Red ribbons danced off of the edges of their spears, and there were a few non-military personnel who emerged from the center of the organized rows just to perform exotic feats, such as fire-breathing and mammoth-riding.
When Rubedo whipped his blood red bow (dyed, just so that it was easy to see) to the right, both the Odin and Fenrir started to turn away in perfect synchronicity. The crowds went wild when the Saif Cathedral began to descend to take the place of both of the crafts. The Saif Cathedral was not known as an icon of force or fear--it was known for its beauty and elegance in the sky.::
Saif, Down! Ricas-- Halt! ::He held his arrow down stiffly at his side and stretched his left arm as far as out as he could.:: Yield! ::The soldiers and the performers did just
that: they parted and went to join the crowds who were sitting on the sidewalks, or hanging off of their own roofs.
Rubedo nodded to himself when he saw that everything had gone off correctly, and that no one was about to get crushed by the Cathedral's landing. He, too, ran off to the side.::
[DMITRI] ::Though Kukai Castle was well-dressed, and its massive doors were wide open for the public to see, the event would end at the peak of the stairs. Father Demetrius--with a black pillow in both of his hands, a ruby red jewel resting atop it--knelt down before the Count.::
May Gladius and Ricasso be at peace--allies for a great time. Friends forever.
[BAEL] ::The Count had a proud smile on his face. Due to his Mongol descent, it might have been difficult to see the sparkle in his eyes, but it was there nonetheless. He, too, knelt down, to receive the gift that Gladius was offering.::
You need not even mention the amount of time, Father.
::He reached forward and gently grasped the ruby in his bare hands. Though many of the officials and noblemen that stood around them were wearing white in celebration, the Count preferred black. In Ricasso, unfortunately, weddings were not celebrated by father figures: instead, they were mourned. The Count would lose a daughter on this day. Nonetheless, he stood with the ruby tight in hand.::
[DMITRI] ::Demetrius stood as well.:: God watch over us both.
[BAEL] There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord already does, Demetrius...
::He turned his head to watch as the red carpet was rolled out. The Saif Cathedral had just landed. In a matter of seconds, Prince Seth Kukai of Gladius and Princess Juliet Capulet of Ricasso would come walking out of the airship, down the red carpet, up the staircase, and into public view--as King and Queen.::
[JULIET] FUCK--
[PRINCE SETH] ::A giant sweatdrop appeared on the back of Seth's head when he turned back to Juliet.:: .. are you..?
[JULIET] I'm fine, I just broke my.. heel. ::She looked down and knew what she would do the moment she became Queen: hunt down and kill the motherfucker that invented high heels, much less glass ones.::
[PRINCE SETH] It's not a big deal. ::Seth opened the hallway door for her.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet flew forward through it and grabbed her veil before it could fall off.:: I don't want anyone to see my feet!
[PRINCE SETH] You have beautiful feet.
[JULIET] Where's the Ouroboros?! ::When they entered the abandoned dining hall, she grabbed the nearest clean-looking glass of water and downed all of it in one gulp.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::He kind of got the heebie-jeebies when he saw that.:: Are you okay?
[JULIET] I'm just hot. It's so dry here. --MUTE!
[EMRYS] ::Emyrs rose up next to Adiemus, chewing idly on a (stolen) apple.::
[ISAAC] ::Isaac popped up too, but on the other side of the Adiemus, holding his top hat.::
[EMRYS] ::He swallowed, and some of it was reflex at seeing the amazing parade in the the sky and the streets. At least he wasn't talking with his mouth full when he said,:: Are you there? ::He waved his free hand in front of Adiemus' dreamy face, trying to get his attention. It seemed like everyone was in a dreamlike trance, lost in their own fantasies about an alliance that meant an end to war and fear.
Love, peace, prosperity--all that political bullshit that would never affect the destitute like Emyrs and his brother Isaac.::
[NIGREDO] I can't believe it, ::Nigredo said when Rubedo sidled up nearby. The basket he was holding was filled to the brim with rose petals, which he sprinkled intermittently into every real and artificial breeze. It only added to the dreamlike quality of the scene.::
[EMRYS] ::Emyrs brushed a rose petal off of his nose that had tumbled in from somewhere.::
[NIGREDO] Ten years. Five since the last time he wrote to us.
[ALBEDO] ::Mute warily watched Juliet from where he had been walking behind the soon-to-be King and Queen.::
[NIGREDO] Do you think he's really here? And that he's not.. ::dead. It used to be suicide to run away from home like Albedo had, especially with the intention of becoming a citizen of the enemy state.::
He said he had--examinations. He didn't tell us the results. ::Maybe Albedo had failed and committed suicide when he failed the Ricasso state alchemist exam. Nigredo squeezed the rose petals a little harder.::
[ALBEDO] Lady Juliet, you're a woman of extreme patience--an extension of our nation.
::Mute, for the last time (or so he promised himself), withdrew his state-issued pocket watch to check the time. Every sanctioned alchemist was given one of these when they passed their exam.::
Please call upon that patience. ::If he didn't know better, he would have dismissed her behavior as last-minute jitters. It looked like Seth didn't know what to do with her either, which made two of them left to deal with a distraught, hormonal woman. He didn't pinch the bridge of his nose to alleviate his growing headache, but he wanted to.:: The ceremony isn't going to happen over empty dishes and glasses of water.
[EMRYS] You think we can get better seats than this?
[JULIET] Ugh--you and that.. machine, Mute!! ::She launched herself away from the table and snatched the watch from Mute's hand. She looked down at it--this not being the first time--and admired its ticking for just a few seconds.:: Fancy alchemy trinkets.
::She looked up, and she handed the pocket watch back to him without interrupting their eye contact.:: Is the Ouroboros ready?
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth--who had been peering at the windows in the background--turned to the two.:: We better get this show on the road; the carpet's out. They're waiting on us.
[ADAM] ::Adiemus snatched his top hat away from Isaac with an annoyed grunt. He wasn't particularly surprised that these thieves had allied themselves with the local street urchins. --He didn't know them well enough to call them by name, but he had certainly seen witnessed their questionable activities in the past.
Fortunately, Adiemus wasn't one of those priests that went around trying to convert people. He had faith in himself and in the Church, and anyone who wanted to live a life of sin--well, they could do just that. There were much more evil forces in the world to worry about than the beggars and petty thieves that did no more than irritate the populace of Gladius. --Although, thanks to their new ally, Ricasso, those evils would definitely become more distant and unwilling to trifle with the Castell.::
Yes, I am here, and I can you quite fine, thank you. I see you make two allies, this day: Ricasso, and the street urchins.
::Adiemus, similarly annoyed by the over-abundance of rose petals that were now floating through the sky like confetti, brushed a few of them off of his shoulders. He cleared his throat loudly (yet in that strange, sophisticated manner that the high class tended to carry) and returned his attention to the Saif Cathedral.::
I suggest you watch carefully! This day will live forever--a swell in the tide of history.
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo's suspicious gaze never faltered when he backed up into the crowd beside Nigredo.::
Whatever. Men like him don't fail in situations like this.
::His bright blue eyes intensified when he looked up at the glass-blurred sky. He scanned the opposite rooftops carefully, because--regardless of the treaty that was about to be writ--all it took was one crazy person to attempt an assassination. None of the petals stuck to Rubedo's clothing, because he was wearing a lightweight set of Ricassian scale armor. The scales were all facing downward, so the petals could do nothing but fall off of its perfectly smooth and almost impenetrable surface. None of it got in his red cropped hair, either.::
And besides.. you know how much he likes to make an entrance.
[ALBEDO] ::Mute waited with some of the patience he had tried to instill in Juliet for her to finish looking at his watch. Watches in general were curious, alchemy-driven instruments that varied in quality depending on the alchemist that forged them. Needless to say, his was an amazing piece.::
Lady Juliet.. ::As much as he wanted her to calm the fuck down, he refrained as a matter of propriety.:: I'm sure it is by now. My apprentice, Ramsey, is overseeing the final steps. Walk down that carpet to your glorious future, and at its end, the Ouroboros.
[EMRYS] ::Emrys squinted one eye at Adiemus.:: You make it sound like something's gonna change around here, ::he said, unimpressed.::
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo was wearing similar armor, though his was a shade darker due to natural impurities in the metals. It matched his eyes and hair, which were black with only the occasional strains of some brown color. All of this dark color made his skin appear even paler than it was.::
You're right, ::he said, but he was hardly comforted. He resumed letting handfuls of petals go in the wind, but he wasn't concentrating on those: this was a subtle front for the scoping out of their surroundings he was doing too.::
[ISAAC] I hope we get to see the princess, ::Isaac said, clapping and molding his hands together once the top hat was gone. He leaned into them and sighed overdramatically.:: I heard she's hot.
[EMRYS] And rich. ::And completely off-limits. Emrys was a thief, and thieves knew the law best: he could have picked out any number of soldiers and mercenaries in this marketplace with them.:: But yeah, as much as I like a party, I'm not about to start celebrating.
[ISAAC] What about if they start throwing money at us because they're such kind, generous people? ::Isaac's hands parted and he pushed one through his very pale hair.::
[EMRYS] Well. Maybe then.
[ADAM] ::Adiemus.. looked up, because even though it was hitting them on the heads and ringing on the cobblestone below them, he could not believe what was actually happening. Isaac was not far off--in fact, he was right on the money, pun intended. The Odin and Fenrir--having ascended back to the roof of the Castell--was now throwing gold pieces onto the crowds. The rose petal confetti was being replaced by
[EMRYS] Holy shit.
[ISAAC] ::Isaac's mouth opened and a coin landed in it by pure chance.::
[EMRYS] There is a god.
:
[ADAM] golden flecks of light; free money. Free gold pieces. A brilliant, sickeningly exciting display. Adiemus did not reach for any of the pieces, because he was already well-off.
The.. "gift" also worried him a little: it proved how incredibly wealthy the Ricasso was. It proved how superior Ricasso was.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet's aquamarine eyes glittered with gold and sunlight and the reflections of thousands of cheering people. She knew she was going to cry, but she didn't think it would happen the moment she stepped onto the red carpet.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked around in considerably less awe than Juliet. He, after all, had arranged many of the festivities and wonders that were taking place. He took Juliet's hand and guided her around the carriage that had been placed just outside of the airship. The carriage held a high seat for both of them, and at its front was a masked driver--likely the owner of the two unicorns at the very front of the carriage. When Seth and Juliet sat down, the unicorns began a leisurely, drawn-out walk towards Kukai Castle.::
[JULIET] ::Her earrings and other heavy jewelry sparkled every time a coin fell nearby. She clutched her chest, simply because she had never seen so many people in her life.::
[PRINCE SETH] Wave, ::Seth whispered when he leaned in to her.:: You're their Queen now.
[JULIET] ::She closed her mouth when she realized that it had been open the entire time. She lifted a lace-covered glove and.. waved.::
[NARRATOR] ::Dwarf performers in white rabbit costumes danced away from the carriage. They were throwing bills into the air, out of their grass-stuffed baskets.::
[JULIET] ::She turned and waved again with an uncertain smile.::
[NARRATOR] ::Two mammoths that had been chained up beside the Castle received a few whipcracks from their tamers. They both trumpeted in perfect sync, and the wall of white doves that had been separating the stair from the carpet fell apart. The doves spread out and flew up into the air.::
[JULIET] All this..
[PRINCE SETH] I would.. move the stars for you, ...
[JULIET] ::She turned in to Seth.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::His fingers drifted down her arm. He tilted his head sideways and gazed into her eyes.:: Juliet.. Capulet.
[EMRYS] Hey, stop-- ::Emrys shoved Isaac even more toward the ground.::
[ISAAC] What's the point?! There's fucking gold raining down on us!!
[EMRYS] And if we're not the tallest thing in the crowd, everyone else is going to get that gold! Now stop stop squirming!
[ISAAC] ::Isaac gritted his teeth and conceded to the piggyback ride that Emrys had demanded.::
[EMRYS] ::He grabbed a crumbled up hat from someplace inside his tunic, shook it out, and then held it aloft so he could catch the coins. Everywhere people didn't seem as interested in the gold, if only because they were in complete fucking awe at what was happening. Some of the crowd pointed out the prince and princess; others couldn't help but admire the unicorns, which were so rare it wasn't even funny; others looked ahead and moved ahead toward the end of the procession, where the literal end was going to take place.
Emrys just wanted the cash. Every plink was food. Every plink was shelter.::
--Hey.
[ISAAC] Are you done yet?
[EMRYS] I think I see the carriage.
[ISAAC] Better let them know we're their biggest fans.
[EMRYS] ::He smirked a little as he looked away from the unicorns--who else would be escorted by unicorns?--to the passengers in the carriage. --Not even the dwarves in woodland creature costumes throwing actual bills of money could get him to look away..::
[ISAAC] Uh. ::Isaac noticed something was wrong when he saw paper currency flutter past his face.::
[ALBEDO] ::Mute adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo as he stalked around the crystalline goblet that the Ouroboros was being transferred into. On each of his hands was a glove, and printed on the palms of those gloves were alchemy sigils. It was all part of this elaborate ceremony. The liquid was the color of blood, and its ingredients? That was a closely guarded secret.::
[JULIET] Seth-- ::--not until the.. Her eyes widened, and then they closed. ceremony.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::They were locked in a kiss that silenced a great majority of the crowds. Though the scrambling for coins continued on some level, everyone had stopped shouting and screaming. Though Seth's leather gloves were of a rough material, the way he slid his fingertips across the sides of Juliet's face was still a caress.::
[DMITRI] ::Demetrius gulped audibly. He turned to the Count for a moment, to make sure that he wasn't offended by the slightly too early kiss and embrace.::
[BAEL] ::The Count turned away from Mute to look at Demetrius. He could only shrug with a cheeky grin on his face.:: Kids.
[DMITRI] ::He tried not to scratch the back of his hooded head. He quickly crossed the platform and performed a quick (but low and very respectful, as always) bow at Mute (and Ramsey, or anyone else of import who happened to be standing nearby). Demetrius brought the black pillow up from his side and presented it with a kneel, in addition to his original bow. Every item received or given--according to Ricassian tradition--must be transferred across a blessed possession of the Father. In this case, the Count had chosen a velvety black pillow.
Demetrius had practiced balancing goblets of wine on small pillows in preparation for this day, so he was not concerned about spilling any of the Ouroboros.:: I thank you, Grand Alchemist "Mute".
[JULIET] ::She suddenly pulled away when the unicorns came to a stop.:: Oh--
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth put on a mischievous smile that was no different than those on the faces of the urchins in the crowds, who were shielding their own eyes from the tender moment.::
[JULIET] ::She looked up, beyond the colorful feathers and the horns of the unicorns.::
[BAEL] ::The Count smiled down at Juliet. He only nodded once.::
[JULIET] ::She smiled back--a little more certain than before. And then she turned back to Seth.:: I haven't woken up yet.
[ISAAC] Now I think you're the one that's dreaming, ::Isaac muttered with a huge roll of his eyes.::
[EMRYS] ::Emrys gulped and felt something move down his throat that wasn't a coin. It was his heart.:: She is hot, ::he said in explanation.::
[ISAAC] She better be if she gets to wash every day. Just imagine how much that'd cost!
[ALBEDO] ::Mute stopped obsessing over the cuffs when Demetrius addressed him. Some of the distance in his eyes--no doubt he was rehearsing internally--didn't last much longer.::
It's an opportunity I am in turn thankful for, ::he replied, starting to smile. Ouroboros was a facet in Ricassian wedding ceremonies, yes, but how often could you say you produced the Ouroboros that a king and queen were going to drink? It'd look great on his resume. He glanced over at his quiet assistant, smiled a little more, and then looked back again so he could see the progress of Juliet and Seth.::
[ISAAC] I think they went a little early.
[EMRYS] ::Emrys swallowed again and started to squirm off of Isaac's shoulders, upsetting their balance but not too precariously.::
[ISAAC] Ow--
[EMRYS] Shut up. I got.. --I got enough money. We can leave.
[ISAAC] Are you fucking crazy? I want to see if they give us more free stuff.
[JULIET] ::Juliet was the first to remove herself from the carriage. She slipped out of the high seat and dropped down beside one of the unicorns, who was so well trained that it didn't even get startled. She was tempted to reach out and pet it, but Father Demetrius was already coming down the stairs.::
[BAEL] ::The Count stepped to the side of the platform and waited.::
[PRINCE SETH] Dmitri, ::Seth said quietly as he stepped up to Juliet's side.::
[DMITRI] Seth. Juliet. ::With the pillow and goblet expertly balanced in one hand, he took Juliet's hand with his other. Their ascent was just a tad messy, but when they reached the top of the platform--where the general public could actually see them--they were in perfect, flawless sync and splendor.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::With one hand held in the nook of his back, and the other swinging intentionally gently at his side, Seth stepped onto the platform and tilted his head down to the Count.:: Count Bael, I will serve your daughter--and our countries--until my life is at end.
[BAEL] ::Bael's eyes gleamed in the setting sun. His satisfied grin never waned.:: Longer than that, I am certain.
::With perfect mathematical certainty, the Count stepped forward just as Demetrius stepped backward. His hand and arm interlocked with Juliet's, and he tilted his head in her direction--without looking at her--to whisper her well. To wish her well.:: Juliet Capulet. Your mother--bless her soul--would be proud. You have become a fine, beautiful young woman.
And now, you will bring peace to this world.
[JULIET] ::Her eyes drifted from Mute to Bael to Demetrius to.. Seth. The golden-brown locks at the sides of her face whisked wonderfully in the wind.::
[BAEL] You are my greatest daughter. ::Bael became completely upright again and unraveled his arm from Juliet. He stepped forward again, to join Mute at the sidelines.::
[DMITRI] ::Father Demetrius stepped to the upper center of the platform and gripped the pillow and Ouroboros more delicately. He held it out between Seth and Juliet, so that it would separate them.::
[JULIET] ::Juliet stepped forward with just one glance back at her father.::
[PRINCE SETH] ::Seth looked away from the silent crowds and approached the other side of the elevated pillow.::
[DMITRI] We gather here today to witness not only Prince and Princess wed in holy matrimony, but Gladius and Ricasso as well.
::Demetrius noticed a few bold stares from the guards and noblemen nearby, which caused him to realize that he needed to speak louder. With a silent-as-possible clear of the throat, he proceeded in a more audible tone.::
Let these two--the Royal Princess Juliet, and the Castell Prince Seth be joined as one, forever, under the Will of the Ouroboros. Let our kingdoms be as strong as they; for as long as they; for as red as the ribbon of life that separates them; for as sweet and pristine as the sea that forever falls under us.
I, High Priest Demetrius Yuriev of the Cathedral of Sophia, hereby deem these two fated souls under a covenant under God. Let any who would claim to stop this covenant be stoned to the death.
::Demetrius paused here, because that was part of the ceremony: he was waiting for anyone to come forward to stop the ceremony, so that they could be stoned, and so that the ceremony could continue.::