main plot The Metamorphosis: Rise of Villainry

[xinoehp512 he/him]

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What are audience members suppose to do at this point?

 

[Karnatheon he/him]

Laonin wipes a single tear from his eye, then stood up and clapped. Celebrating the moment of joy for the newlyweds. He didn't care if others joined him or not, because he knew it was enough for him to celebrate himself.

[+Sorana she/her]

2 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

What are audience members suppose to do at this point?

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I can't tell you what Meeker has planed next, but feel free to act if you want to.

Someone clapped in the audience and reminded her, that they weren't alone, that they had a whole hall of spectators. The thought made her slightly uncomfortable, usually she prefered to contain her emotions, to keep her distance from the world and yet, this was her wedding. They had stopped kissing, but Max still held her close without any sign that he planed to change this soon. For a moment she thought about stepping back, but then she realized, that she had no idea what they were supposed to do, and so she stayed where she was, enjoyed the feeling of his arms around her, rested her head on his chest. If the priest needed them to do something, he could always tell them.

[Lord Meeker he/him]

"Congratulations!" The priest said. "Now I must be going. My wife and child await. It's been twenty long years since I last saw them."

He walked from the chamber. 

@Sorana @I think I am here.

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Xena frowned as the priest just... left.

'Is that even allowed?' she thought.

However, her gaze was pulled towards the newlyweds. She smiled, then stood up from the audience, and started clapping. She whooped loudly.

Every wedding should have a standing ovation.

"Kiss again!" she screamed. "Do it!"

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

“Food will be served shortly!” a short, balding man yelled from the back of the room as another man, looking nearly the same as the first but with spectacles, guided the bride and groom to their seats at the table near the front of the room. Just as the first man yelled, waiters poured into the room, bringing food of all sorts, and wines. 

*** 

Tena was tempted to knock over the man who set a glass of wine down in front of her. She then stared at the red liquid, mouth watering, mind not registering anything, until Lenare stamped hard down on her foot and gave the glass back to the waiter, along with Ani’s. He’s probably got a record of everything Ani has ever done in his head. Was Hellbent an alcoholic? Lenare drank down his in one gulp, then slid it as far from Tena as he could get it. 

“You don’t have to worry,” Tena told him, glancing over at the empty wine glass. Lenare snapped his fingers, and she started, then looked over at him. 

“But I will continue to,” he told her sternly. 

The food arrived a second later. Prime rib. Tena absently wondered who was paying for all the services as she ate, trying to act proper like Lenare and her mother had taught her, and failed. Lenare himself ate primly.

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I hope y’alls don’t mind that I provided some guidance.

@Sorana @I think I am here. @Ark1002

[+Ark1002]

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Works for me. Now, this is gonna seem like a really strange present, but he is gonna give it, so have fun

Anthony stood up quickly, following the waiter and stealing a wine glass of his platter. He wanted to have fun, and water wasn't that. Grinning, he started drinking. Rosharan, violet. The type of lighteyes. And he was a lighteyes. He sat down quickly, grinning, and started into his food, thinking. He needed a proper present. Something fitting for a couple, something speaking of power, something... Rosharin. Power. He looked at Tena, then took another swig of wine. His heart was beating fast. Beat. Yes, what could he give them? Beat. He grabbed an apple, biting in. Beat. It was crisp, cool, slightly sour. Beat. What  could he do? Beat. The warm meat almost melted in his mouth. Beat. It tasted heavenly and his mouth watered. Beat. Tena looked amazing. Beat.  He looked down at himself. Vampire had been an accurate description. Beat. For the clothes, not his tan skin with gray splotches, more like a zombie. Beat. Two blades fell out of the air into his hands. Memories flashed, a description. Shardblades. They are powerful, they make on into a lighteyes, they are a sign of a high rank. He grinned, standing up, and walked over to the couple. He hit the gems on the bottom, and they flashed. They were no longer his. He bowed, handing one to Max, one to Althea. "Please, accept my gift."

@AxeliustheGreat @Sorana @I think I am here.

[kenod]

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... That will be fun for Althea, given that she's a radiant.

 

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Tena nearly threw up when she saw what Ani was drinking. She wanted to... but she couldn’t. Could she? Lenare gave her a you know better glare, so Tena looked down at her food and kept eating. How can Ani do that? she thought angrily. How can he do that to me? Why would he? She brushed one of her hands through her hair and grimaced, trying to scratch out drops of dried blood. She’d need to take a shower when she got home.

@Ark1002

[+Ark1002]

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He doesn't know a thing of what that means

 

[+Sorana she/her]

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It's alright. Eating is fine.

Dead shardblades though...

The priest almost hastily left the room and Althea made a mental note. She needed to do something once the party was over. Or maybe tomorrow.

She softly stepped back from Max, keeping his hand in hers as they walked to their seats at the table. When she looked around, she saw that the room was almost full, so many had come to celebrate with them. Happily she smiled at Max and then put some food on her plate.

A man stepped over to them and handed them a small box with two rings, beautifully crafted, a smaller one for herself and a larger one for Max. She handed Max his ring and then turned to the man, asked who had given him the box. The man gestured at another man ( @Karnatheon ) and she was about to stand up and thank him for the present, when Hellbent, no Anthony as he called himself now, stood up and walked over to them. He summoned two Shardblades and touched the gems on their bottom, severing his bond with them. Dead shardblades. Brashen stared at the blades and then climbed on her shoulder, making a disgusted noise. Althea saw Anthony stop close to their seats and took a deep breath. That didn't bode well.

Bowing he offered the blades to them.

"Please, accept my gift."

Althea stood up, smiled politely and touched Max arm, her fingers gripping it probably too hard. This was going to be problematic.

"I won't touch a blade with a dead spren inside. Can you take it?"

She asked him using their bond.

@I think I am here.

Edited January 4, 2019 by Sorana

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Rekaerb walked up to the newlyweds and bowed. "Congratulations on your union. May you have many happy years before you."

He presented him with his gift, a small stone man clad in armor and wielding a sword. 

[I think I am here. he/him]

Max happily accepted the ring Althea gave him, slipping it on and admiring the artistry that went into making it. It was laced with the 16 metals and had small gems around its surface. He looked to the bearded man who had gifted it and nodded in acknowledgement. He would personally thank him later.

Another man approached. Anthony, previously the infamous Hellbent. He summoned two Shardblades and offered them to Max and Althea.

Shardblades. Mythical swords of incredible power. Wars were fought over them.

“Please, accept my gift.”

Max looked to the Shardblades, and then to Anthony. Althea stood up, and laid a hand on Max’s arm. It was firm.

“I won't touch a blade with a dead spren inside. Can you take it?" She spoke to him.

Nodding, Max accepted both of the Shardblades. “Anthony,” he said. “This is, it’s far more than anything I could ask for. Thank you.”

Tucking the Shardblades away - he’d had to spend at least 5 or so days with them to Bond them - Max looked at the next man who walked up. He gifted a small statue of a man in armour with a sword.

Accepting the figure, Max admired it. “Thank you,” he said to the man. “In a world where it’s easy to be overshadowed, this might be one of my favourite gifts yet. I’ll cherish it.”

He smiled and placed the stone man on the table in front of him.

[little wheel he/him]

Silas looked in disgust at the wines, and moved on to other food.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

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YES. Claessen, my son, Silas isn’t a complete drunkard! Whoo! A great day has come upon us!

Tena noticed Silas the wedding and waved at him, then looked around for Ani.

@2001Kra (I hate having to type that) @JacobClaessen

[old man moomba he/him]

Dwig quickly scribbled a note reading: IOU each a gift. Costom made. Come down to my warehouse in Elendel and I'll hook you up. He smiled and walked up to the altar, handing Max the note and returning to his table.

Upon returning, he noticed a glass of Rosharian wine on the table. It was blue. He sat down and called a waiter over. 

"I'll have whiskey, Scaridian, if you have it. Oh, and some pork street tacos. You got a tacomaker on staff right?" The waiter nodded and walked away. "Well that didn'answer my question, did it?" he joked.

Edited January 5, 2019 by Dr. Dapper

[+Sorana she/her]

Thankfully Althea observed Max pack the swords away and was relieved when they were stored safely. She knew such a shardblade was prizeless, but for her they were only a symbol of what could go wrong.

Max accepted the next present. Grateful she smiled at the man that had handed them a small statue and then, as she was already standing she decided to walk over to the man that had gifted the rings.

"I'll thank the bearded man. Do you want to come?"

@I think I am here.

[I think I am here. he/him]

1 minute ago, Sorana said:

"I'll thank the bearded man. Do you want to come?"

“Yeah!” Max said, hopping our of his seat and following Althea to the bearded man. He remained quiet, though. Althea could probably express the gratitude better than he could.

[+Sorana she/her]

Smiling Althea took Max hand again as they walked over, simply because she liked to touch him, because she felt so much better close to him. She felt like she was floating and it wouldn't be long and they were back in their daily lives, she could enjoy this evening for now.

Max kept back a bit, indicated that she should do the talking and she inwardly laughed at this switching of roles. She had let him do the talking most of the day until now.

"Hello."

She greeted the stranger.

"We only wanted to thank you for the rings. They are really beautiful and they fit perfectly."

She smiled at him.

"I have to admit, I have no idea who you are, and that makes the rings even more special."

"I am Althea, and this,"

She looked to her side,

"Is my husband Max."

Her husband Max. Althea felt her smile widen when she looked at him and realized that she had to leave the impression of a lovestruck girl, which she kind of was. She was just so incredibly happy. Reining her expression in, to something more polite and less "I-feel-like-I-could-hug-the-world-because-I-just-married-the-love-of-my-life" she turned back to the man, gave him a chance to reply.

@Karnatheon

[Karnatheon he/him]

Laonin sat at a table, drinking a very mellow wine and eating some finger foods. He seemed to be more intent on observing the scene than eating however. It's been too long since I've been in such a stressless situation as this. It's nice just being able to watch people be happy for once. 

He saw the couple walking towards him, and quickly wiped his hands with a napkin and then stood on anticipation of their arrival. As they got closer he bowed out of respect, then listened to what Althea had to say. Her joy and happiness was spilling out through both her expression and in her voice, and that made him happy. He then saw her attempt to lessen the flow of emotion, by changing her expression.

"Congratulations on your marriage! I was overjoyed when I received the invitation. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day. My name is Laonin. I run a forge in town, though I've been preoccupied with other work as of late. I'm glad to hear that you like the rings, I worried I had guessed your sizes wrong. But please, today is your wedding day. You deserve to be happier than you have ever been! Do not try to hold that joy back for fear of embarrassment. You should revel in it, happiness is rare in this world and we should enjoy it while it lasts." Saying this, Laonin looked around the chapel. 

"I love the venue you chose, it looks quite beautiful. It almost reminds me of the place my wife and I were married."

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Watching Max and Althea, Tena wondered if she’d ever get that expression when she looked at Ani. Now that she’d gained more control of her feelings, she had belatedly realized that she’d actually known Ani for two days, and that their relationship really didn’t make any sense. She did love him, but they’d been on one date and he was already living with her. Given that, she just had to try to make it work out. 

Tena stood up and stretched, hearing her joints popping (which was disturbing), then walked over to Max and Althea. She didn’t address Max, instead giving Althea a bow (curtsies were for wussies, and hard when not wearing a dress), then speaking. “I’d like to congratulate you. It’s not every day that a relationship ends in a wedding, and I hope you two will be happy. I’d like to offer to take care of any children or dogs that you might acquire in the future. Whenever you need it, just send me a message and I will most likely be able to come.” She bowed again, then walked back to her table and sat down. Lenare leaned back in his seat. 

“I may or may not have purchased the food and catering,” he said to Tena. 

“You fox, go tell them, they’ll appreciate it,” she answered. Lenare stood up as she punched him in the shoulder, then walked over to the newlyweds and told them.

[+Sorana she/her]

11 minutes ago, Karnatheon said:

"Congratulations on your marriage! I was overjoyed when I received the invitation. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day. My name is Laonin. I run a forge in town, though I've been preoccupied with other work as of late. I'm glad to hear that you like the rings, I worried I had guessed your sizes wrong. But please, today is your wedding day. You deserve to be happier than you have ever been! Do not try to hold that joy back for fear of embarrassment. You should revel in it, happiness is rare in this world and we should enjoy it while it lasts." Saying this, Laonin looked around the chapel. 

"I love the venue you chose, it looks quite beautiful. It almost reminds me of the place my wife and I were married."

"Thank you. But I have to admit we didn't chose the place ourselves."
she smiled again, then thought about his words, her overspilling joy slowly replaced by a quieter, thoughtful happiness. For a moment she thought about asking after his wife and then decided against. The woman wasn't here, and that indicated dangerous territorry.
"You are right."
she replied instead.
"These moments are rare. And when they are here, they disappear faster than you had the time to really understand what happened."
Clearing her throat, she saw Tena walk towards them and bow. With an apologetic glance at Laonin, Althea turned to her, listened to her kind offer.

"Thank you. I will gladly call you, should we ever need ... support in that regard."
Children. Another topic they hadn't talked about, like their last name, or where they would live, or what they expected. Althea started to make a mental list with all the things they needed to talk about. Later, the good kind of later this time. They would sort everything, together. And nothing was more important than that.

Another man approached them, announced that he had organized the catering and the food and Althea thanked him, too. She had assumed that Solace had taken care of this as well, but if she was honest with herself, it didn't really matter. It seemed like everybody was having a good time, and that counted, as a successful party.

 

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Xena started walking towards the couple, but the mass of people turned her away, pushing her subtly towards the food.

'Oh, well,' she thought. She didn't really have a present for them. What would she say? 'Congrats, I'm a stranger you've never met...'

Xena chastised herself for that line of thinking. Strangers already were people you've never met, by definition. No need to say redundant things.

She approached the food table, where all kinds of yums here laid out, and where audience member of all shapes, sizes, and cosmeric humanoid species dug in.

Someone behind her bumping into her, pushing her forward at a rate too fast for her to recover.

She fell.

Water.

Rushing water.

Tumbling, down, drowning.

Slamming.

Blood.

Falling.

Xena shrieked, and her hand shot out and smashed, open-palmed, into the buffet table.

The table, thankfully only one of many arranged in a line, toppled, food spilling onto some of the guests.

Xena hit the floor, wincing. Her skull bounced off the... whatever the hard floor material was. Not exactly tile...

Maybe it was tile. Xena wasn't exactly thinking straight.

She stumbled to her feet, dizzy. People surrounded her, some with concerned expressions, one with angry expressions, some confused.

Xena blushed at all the attention.

"Potato, potato, potato..." she muttered. "Uh... hi, guys,"

[I think I am here. he/him]

Max was standing there, listening to Althea, his wife, thank all of the visitors. He just stood there smiling like a maniac the whole time. Althea. She was so beautiful when she was happy. And Max was happy too.

Hearing a shriek and a clatter behind him, Max turned to see a woman on the ground and a table on the floor. Letting go of Althea’s hand he rushed over. The woman seemed to have gotten on her feet, though she looked dizzy.

“You okay?” Max said as he set the table upright again, Rioting focus and alertness into the lady. Turning, he didn’t even need to signal a waiter as one had already come to clean the mess. “Don’t worry about the mess, ok?” he said to the woman, apologising to those who’d had food spilled on them.

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Xena nodded, breathing heavily. "Oh... I'm fine, thank you,"

'POTATO POTATO POTATO POTATO!!!' she thought. She had to try hard not to let it spill out into her speech. Alone, she couldn't have done it.

Then again, she was being Rioted, so it was easier.

"I just tripped. I'm fine now..." she trailed off as she saw his face. His face.

He was the groom. The groom had come to help? This was not good.

'Come on, Xena,' she thought. 'Congratulate him or something! This is his day, and you spoiled it because you fell down. You fell down! You gotta give him something in return,'

"Uh..." she said. "I, uh, saw you up there. You know, getting... married. That was, uh... cool,"

'POTATO!!!!!'