Blatherings: My apologies to anyone who actually likes weddings. I happen to find them annoying... anything that forces me to dress up in foo-foo-clothes is a pain ^_^
Otherworld Year Five: Chapter 2
Keying in the security combo on the touchpad, Auron stepped through into the apartment, as the glass wall slid back. He walked to the center of the room, then brought the painting out from under his arm, to hold it out in front of him.
It had been a rash decision to buy it. Fortunately, the consequences were not as dire as his past lapses in judgement. He merely felt like a fool, and it would without a doubt, not be the last time he experienced that sensation.
He knew why he had been attracted to the artwork. It reminded him of Spira, and represented a place of rest... it was obviously an attempt at self-comfort. Although admittedly not as degenerative as his current sake consumption, it was no less pathetic... so much for his good mood.
You're losing it Auron, he thought, as he unceremoniously dropped the painting on the bed, disgusted with himself, and went to the bathroom to clean up for work.
************
Sahna and Remie were standing with Gabe behind the counter, when Auron arrived downstairs.
"What brings you two here so early?" Auron asked, as he walked over to join them.
"Wedding plans." Sahna smiled dreamily, as she hoisted the large garment bag she was toting, and slung it across the counter. "I need your opinion on a couple of things Auron, before I make some final decisions."
Unzipping the garment bag, Sahna pulled out a set of clothes. It was a matching silk ensemble of cobalt blue pants, a shirt with a high button collar in deep gold, and a long overjacket... the colors of the pants and shirt combined in an intricate pattern of tight swirls, embroidered into its surface.
"I thought you could wear this for the ceremony... what do you think?" Sahna asked expectantly. She had spent nearly as much time debating about Auron's attire, as she had her own. Gabe would wear pink ruffles if she asked him to. But Auron? Now that was another matter entirely.
"You can't be serious." Auron said, eyeing the garments Sahna held up.
"Count your blessings. I could have asked you to braid flowers into your hair, its long enough again you know." What an idiotic thing to say, she thought, as soon as the words had left her mouth. Badgering this man, would get her nowhere.
"Hmph." Auron grunted in response.
This situation was rapidly getting out of hand. Perhaps he could dissuade her from this course of action... "It is not my place to be a part of the ceremony, that privilege should be reserved for others."
"Nice try. But if you think for one moment I'll wed without you being a part of it, you're sadly mistaken." Sahna said sternly, as she brought her hands to her hips. There. Take that, she thought slyly.
He should have known better. This woman had become far too close to him, to be so easily fooled. Why hadn't he just disappeared from their lives when he'd had the chance? Now he was stuck. He would not dishonor Sahna by flatly refusing her request, and damned if she didn't know it.
"You have me at a disadvantage Sahna." Auron said, his voice a mixture of irritation and resignation.
"Do I?" Sahna replied, with a coy smile... tilting her head in a girlish fashion, as she brought her hand to her cheek.
"Save that for the groom, such feminine wiles will not work on me. However, I will do as you wish."
"You, my dear Auron, are a genuine pain in the ass... and I absolutely adore you." Sahna grinned at him.
Before Auron could reply to that, Gabe spoke up... "Speaking of pain, and despite the fact you just insulted me... you are coming to the bachelor-brew-ha-ha tomorrow night, right Auron?"
Auron's brow furrowed, as a brief look of distaste flashed across his face... "I had not planned on it, no."
"Come on Auron, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud for once. It would mean a lot to me. Besides, I need someone there to make sure I don't make a fool of myself."
"You ask the impossible." Auron replied, looking amused despite himself.
Sahna and Remie laughed in unison, as Gabe exhaled a dark stream of expletives under his breath.
"Fine. Don't come then, see if I care." Gabe snarled, turning his back to Auron, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"If I agree to come, will you cease pouting? It's a very disquieting thing to witness in a grown man."
"Up yours." Gabe suggested, a note of hurt leaking into his voice, as he turned back around to glare at Auron.
Auron sighed and looked down for a moment, then said wearily... "I apologize Gabe, it will be my honor to attend."
"Don't do me any favors." Gabe replied, unwilling to let it go just yet.
"If you're asking me to beg, you waste your breath." Auron responded, his eye narrowing.
"Alright, I think that's quite enough you two. This is supposed to be a happy occasion, and you're both wrecking it." Sahna said, in exasperation.
"I think you're all acting stupid. It's just a wedding, does any of this stuff really matter? I thought you guys cared about each other. Jeeze... grownups." Remie scoffed, shaking his head, and turning to walk away toward the back of the shop.
The three adults looked at each other, blinking in embarrassment.
"Out of the mouth's of babes." Gabe said, scratching the back of his head, as he clapped a hand on Auron's shoulder.
"Indeed. Most humbling." Auron agreed.
************
"......unfortunately, I don't think they make a nose-ring that big." The man finished, tipping his glass in Gabe's direction, as the room erupted in raucous laughter... the men pounding their fists on the banquet table, and high-fiving each other.
The evening had degenerated into endless, inane toasts and jokes at the groom's expense, as the rowdy group of men grew more drunk by the moment... and he feared for his sanity, if this went on much longer.
But Gabe seemed to be enjoying himself. Perhaps a little too much, he thought... noting with alarm the way Gabe had begun to find everything so hysterically funny. Sahna had asked him not to let Gabe get too far gone, and the thought of Gabe hopelessly drunk, and Sahna angry at the same time... well, it was just too horrifying to contemplate.
"It's time." Auron rumbled at Gabe, leaning toward him for a moment, to make himself heard over the din.
"Huh? Oh. Right. You're the boss, Auron my man." Gabe said with a cheesy grin, as he bumped Auron's shoulder with his fist.
"Well boys, it's time to call it a night. I gotta go... so everybody get the fuck out." Gabe boomed cheerfully.
"Graciously put." Auron moaned, rolling his eye, as he rose from the table.
The room was immediately filled with a chorus of negatives, as the party of men grumbled about the end of their fun... several of them banging their glasses against the table in protest.
One of Gabe's acquaintances, a man Auron recognized as a city enforcer, sauntered over to where Gabe still sat... obviously intending to have his say. He had a look about him Auron had seen before. He was the type of man who was often attracted to positions of authority, but had no business holding one... his dark, closely set eyes held a glint of cruelty, and a complete lack of intellect.
"Hey man, it's still early, let's party on... there's a bar downstairs." The enforcer said, as he attempted to loop an arm around Gabe's massive shoulders.
"Nope. If Auron says it's time, then it's time." Gabe replied, hauling himself up from the table, and turning toward the banquet room door.
"What is he, your mama?" The enforcer snarled, waving a hand in front of his face, as he looked at Auron with disdain.
"Watch your mouth, asshole." Gabe said flatly, with no hint of amusement in his voice.
"It's alright Gabe, the man's intoxicated, let's just get out of here." Auron said, sensing the testosterone level racheting up a notch in the room.
"Yeah, that's right, you'd better listen to one-eye here... run along home now." The man sneered, turning his head to snicker into his hand.
"Hey." Gabe said calmly, tapping the man on the shoulder.
Auron knew what was coming next, and only had time to grab Gabe by the back of the shirt, before the man's head turned to look back, and Gabe's meaty fist met his jaw, sending him headlong across the table and over the other side... a wave of drink-stained tablecloth and food-encrusted dishware following him to the floor with a resounding crash.
"Wonderful." Auron groaned, as he watched the roomful of men leap gleefully to their feet, to wade-in on each other... their arms swinging wildly, accompanied by the sounds of whoops and grunts. Apparently, this was their idea of a good time.
Gabe turned to look at Auron, as a loopy grin spread across his face... "Whadasay Auron? It might be fun."
Auron ducked casually, as a large ale mug whizzed over the top of his head, then raised back up to answer him... "There's nothing fun about it..." then was abruptly cut off, as someone sucker-punched him on his blind side... staggering him to the left, and setting his glasses wildly askew on his face.
"That does it." Auron growled, his eye narrowing to a slit, as he whipped his arm from his robe and turned to the side, shoving his glasses down inside his shirt. Gabe grinned at him and turned in the opposite direction, so they stood back-to-back, as they began side-stepping in tandem toward the exit... resembling a pair of strange dance partners, as they let any unwitting challengers come to them.
************
They made their way home through the dim streets, the road lights above them haloed, as the blanket of night mist that had come in off the water, swirled and parted before their long strides.
"Do you realize the two of us, just kicked the shit out of some of the most elite enforcers in the city? Man, that was great." Gabe said happily, shaking his right arm out at his side, then raising his fist, to blow across the abraded knuckles.
"So glad you enjoyed it." Auron replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Shifting his left arm slightly inside his robe, he thought of his code of honor, and how the evening's festivities went against everything it stood for. But there was no point in dwelling on that... what had been done, had been done.
"We'd better keep this to ourselves. If Sahna finds out, she'll have our butts in a sling." Gabe said, rubbing his chin.
"I will not lie if asked directly, but I see no reason to volunteer the information." Auron replied, with a heavy sigh.
************
If he hadn't lost his religion, he would be sending a prayer of thanks right now, that all this was almost at an end. He was truly happy for Gabe and Sahna, but enough was enough.
Having survived Gabe's 'party' and the wedding ceremony, all that remained, was to make it through this reception. He had retreated to the relative quiet of the back wall, and would bide his time... waiting for the right opportunity to leave.
The downstairs floor of Gabe's shop had been transformed for the event... festoons of jewel-toned flowers, and long swags of gauzy material camouflaging the weapon walls. The exercise mat had been removed, the floor below it polished to a high shine. The front counter had been converted to a serving table... it's linen covered surface crowded with the obligatory finger foods, and ice buckets cradling chilled champagne bottles.
He had been surprised by the amount of people who had attended the wedding. With the exception of the enforcers he had met the other night (who had pointedly avoided him), he only knew a handful of the large group that milled about in the room... sipping their drinks and discussing the day's events. But he found himself grateful for that... it had kept the unavoidable conversations to a minimum.
Panning the room with a watchful eye, Auron spotted Remie weaving his way toward him through the crowd, and offered him a small smile, as he came to stand beside him.
"When do you think it'll be okay to get out of here and change?" Remie asked impatiently, scrunching his face in discomfort, as he stretched the collar of his shirt out from his neck with one hand.
"I am uncertain, but if you figure it out before I do, by all means, let me know." Auron replied in commiseration.
************
Gabe and Sahna found themselves alone for a moment, as the steady stream of well-wishers dissipated temporarily.
"Were did Remie go?" Sahna asked, looking around the room, the deep folds of her gown swirling with her movement.
"He's over in the back, with Auron." Gabe replied, gazing wistfully down at his wife. The day had been mostly a blur, but one thing stood out clearly... Sahna and Remie were a permanent part of his life now. His heart's long desire had been granted... and he thought if he got any happier, his chest would surely explode.
Prying his eyes from Sahna's profile, Gabe looked up to the back of the room, where Auron and Remie leaned against the wall together, silently observing the crowd. "Two-of-a-kind, aren't they?"
"In many ways, yes." Sahna nodded, her eyes soft with affection.
"I'm glad they both managed to endure all of this, particularly Auron. For awhile there, I thought he was going to blow a gasket." Gabe said, with a sympathetic smile.
Sahna laughed, as she laid her hand across Gabe's arm. "I know. Poor thing... it really was gallant of him. He even wore the fancy clothes."
"Do you think he has any clue?" Gabe asked, placing his hand over Sahna's, and tilting his head, as a wry smile formed across his mouth.
"About what?"
"About the fact that he's a babe-magnet. Look at those women... they've been drooling over him all day."
"Careful big guy, you're looking a little green around the edges." Sahna laughed, then followed Gabe's gaze to the small group of women, that had gathered a short distance from where Auron leaned against the wall... as they whispered and giggled like school girls.
"I honestly don't know. But I think that if he is aware of it, he probably could care less... the man's a rock." Sahna said, shaking her head.
"You got the rock part right, but I suspect that's only an outer shell, that masks a tender heart." Gabe observed, rubbing his chin.
"Why Gabe, I had no idea you could be so insightful." Sahna said, as she wrapped her arms around his waist, and smiled up at him sweetly.
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." Gabe replied with a wink, as he clamped Sahna's head between his hands, and bent over to plant a big sloppy kiss across her amused lips.
Otherworld Year Five: Chapter 2
Keying in the security combo on the touchpad, Auron stepped through into the apartment, as the glass wall slid back. He walked to the center of the room, then brought the painting out from under his arm, to hold it out in front of him.
It had been a rash decision to buy it. Fortunately, the consequences were not as dire as his past lapses in judgement. He merely felt like a fool, and it would without a doubt, not be the last time he experienced that sensation.
He knew why he had been attracted to the artwork. It reminded him of Spira, and represented a place of rest... it was obviously an attempt at self-comfort. Although admittedly not as degenerative as his current sake consumption, it was no less pathetic... so much for his good mood.
You're losing it Auron, he thought, as he unceremoniously dropped the painting on the bed, disgusted with himself, and went to the bathroom to clean up for work.
************
Sahna and Remie were standing with Gabe behind the counter, when Auron arrived downstairs.
"What brings you two here so early?" Auron asked, as he walked over to join them.
"Wedding plans." Sahna smiled dreamily, as she hoisted the large garment bag she was toting, and slung it across the counter. "I need your opinion on a couple of things Auron, before I make some final decisions."
Unzipping the garment bag, Sahna pulled out a set of clothes. It was a matching silk ensemble of cobalt blue pants, a shirt with a high button collar in deep gold, and a long overjacket... the colors of the pants and shirt combined in an intricate pattern of tight swirls, embroidered into its surface.
"I thought you could wear this for the ceremony... what do you think?" Sahna asked expectantly. She had spent nearly as much time debating about Auron's attire, as she had her own. Gabe would wear pink ruffles if she asked him to. But Auron? Now that was another matter entirely.
"You can't be serious." Auron said, eyeing the garments Sahna held up.
"Count your blessings. I could have asked you to braid flowers into your hair, its long enough again you know." What an idiotic thing to say, she thought, as soon as the words had left her mouth. Badgering this man, would get her nowhere.
"Hmph." Auron grunted in response.
This situation was rapidly getting out of hand. Perhaps he could dissuade her from this course of action... "It is not my place to be a part of the ceremony, that privilege should be reserved for others."
"Nice try. But if you think for one moment I'll wed without you being a part of it, you're sadly mistaken." Sahna said sternly, as she brought her hands to her hips. There. Take that, she thought slyly.
He should have known better. This woman had become far too close to him, to be so easily fooled. Why hadn't he just disappeared from their lives when he'd had the chance? Now he was stuck. He would not dishonor Sahna by flatly refusing her request, and damned if she didn't know it.
"You have me at a disadvantage Sahna." Auron said, his voice a mixture of irritation and resignation.
"Do I?" Sahna replied, with a coy smile... tilting her head in a girlish fashion, as she brought her hand to her cheek.
"Save that for the groom, such feminine wiles will not work on me. However, I will do as you wish."
"You, my dear Auron, are a genuine pain in the ass... and I absolutely adore you." Sahna grinned at him.
Before Auron could reply to that, Gabe spoke up... "Speaking of pain, and despite the fact you just insulted me... you are coming to the bachelor-brew-ha-ha tomorrow night, right Auron?"
Auron's brow furrowed, as a brief look of distaste flashed across his face... "I had not planned on it, no."
"Come on Auron, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud for once. It would mean a lot to me. Besides, I need someone there to make sure I don't make a fool of myself."
"You ask the impossible." Auron replied, looking amused despite himself.
Sahna and Remie laughed in unison, as Gabe exhaled a dark stream of expletives under his breath.
"Fine. Don't come then, see if I care." Gabe snarled, turning his back to Auron, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"If I agree to come, will you cease pouting? It's a very disquieting thing to witness in a grown man."
"Up yours." Gabe suggested, a note of hurt leaking into his voice, as he turned back around to glare at Auron.
Auron sighed and looked down for a moment, then said wearily... "I apologize Gabe, it will be my honor to attend."
"Don't do me any favors." Gabe replied, unwilling to let it go just yet.
"If you're asking me to beg, you waste your breath." Auron responded, his eye narrowing.
"Alright, I think that's quite enough you two. This is supposed to be a happy occasion, and you're both wrecking it." Sahna said, in exasperation.
"I think you're all acting stupid. It's just a wedding, does any of this stuff really matter? I thought you guys cared about each other. Jeeze... grownups." Remie scoffed, shaking his head, and turning to walk away toward the back of the shop.
The three adults looked at each other, blinking in embarrassment.
"Out of the mouth's of babes." Gabe said, scratching the back of his head, as he clapped a hand on Auron's shoulder.
"Indeed. Most humbling." Auron agreed.
************
"......unfortunately, I don't think they make a nose-ring that big." The man finished, tipping his glass in Gabe's direction, as the room erupted in raucous laughter... the men pounding their fists on the banquet table, and high-fiving each other.
The evening had degenerated into endless, inane toasts and jokes at the groom's expense, as the rowdy group of men grew more drunk by the moment... and he feared for his sanity, if this went on much longer.
But Gabe seemed to be enjoying himself. Perhaps a little too much, he thought... noting with alarm the way Gabe had begun to find everything so hysterically funny. Sahna had asked him not to let Gabe get too far gone, and the thought of Gabe hopelessly drunk, and Sahna angry at the same time... well, it was just too horrifying to contemplate.
"It's time." Auron rumbled at Gabe, leaning toward him for a moment, to make himself heard over the din.
"Huh? Oh. Right. You're the boss, Auron my man." Gabe said with a cheesy grin, as he bumped Auron's shoulder with his fist.
"Well boys, it's time to call it a night. I gotta go... so everybody get the fuck out." Gabe boomed cheerfully.
"Graciously put." Auron moaned, rolling his eye, as he rose from the table.
The room was immediately filled with a chorus of negatives, as the party of men grumbled about the end of their fun... several of them banging their glasses against the table in protest.
One of Gabe's acquaintances, a man Auron recognized as a city enforcer, sauntered over to where Gabe still sat... obviously intending to have his say. He had a look about him Auron had seen before. He was the type of man who was often attracted to positions of authority, but had no business holding one... his dark, closely set eyes held a glint of cruelty, and a complete lack of intellect.
"Hey man, it's still early, let's party on... there's a bar downstairs." The enforcer said, as he attempted to loop an arm around Gabe's massive shoulders.
"Nope. If Auron says it's time, then it's time." Gabe replied, hauling himself up from the table, and turning toward the banquet room door.
"What is he, your mama?" The enforcer snarled, waving a hand in front of his face, as he looked at Auron with disdain.
"Watch your mouth, asshole." Gabe said flatly, with no hint of amusement in his voice.
"It's alright Gabe, the man's intoxicated, let's just get out of here." Auron said, sensing the testosterone level racheting up a notch in the room.
"Yeah, that's right, you'd better listen to one-eye here... run along home now." The man sneered, turning his head to snicker into his hand.
"Hey." Gabe said calmly, tapping the man on the shoulder.
Auron knew what was coming next, and only had time to grab Gabe by the back of the shirt, before the man's head turned to look back, and Gabe's meaty fist met his jaw, sending him headlong across the table and over the other side... a wave of drink-stained tablecloth and food-encrusted dishware following him to the floor with a resounding crash.
"Wonderful." Auron groaned, as he watched the roomful of men leap gleefully to their feet, to wade-in on each other... their arms swinging wildly, accompanied by the sounds of whoops and grunts. Apparently, this was their idea of a good time.
Gabe turned to look at Auron, as a loopy grin spread across his face... "Whadasay Auron? It might be fun."
Auron ducked casually, as a large ale mug whizzed over the top of his head, then raised back up to answer him... "There's nothing fun about it..." then was abruptly cut off, as someone sucker-punched him on his blind side... staggering him to the left, and setting his glasses wildly askew on his face.
"That does it." Auron growled, his eye narrowing to a slit, as he whipped his arm from his robe and turned to the side, shoving his glasses down inside his shirt. Gabe grinned at him and turned in the opposite direction, so they stood back-to-back, as they began side-stepping in tandem toward the exit... resembling a pair of strange dance partners, as they let any unwitting challengers come to them.
************
They made their way home through the dim streets, the road lights above them haloed, as the blanket of night mist that had come in off the water, swirled and parted before their long strides.
"Do you realize the two of us, just kicked the shit out of some of the most elite enforcers in the city? Man, that was great." Gabe said happily, shaking his right arm out at his side, then raising his fist, to blow across the abraded knuckles.
"So glad you enjoyed it." Auron replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Shifting his left arm slightly inside his robe, he thought of his code of honor, and how the evening's festivities went against everything it stood for. But there was no point in dwelling on that... what had been done, had been done.
"We'd better keep this to ourselves. If Sahna finds out, she'll have our butts in a sling." Gabe said, rubbing his chin.
"I will not lie if asked directly, but I see no reason to volunteer the information." Auron replied, with a heavy sigh.
************
If he hadn't lost his religion, he would be sending a prayer of thanks right now, that all this was almost at an end. He was truly happy for Gabe and Sahna, but enough was enough.
Having survived Gabe's 'party' and the wedding ceremony, all that remained, was to make it through this reception. He had retreated to the relative quiet of the back wall, and would bide his time... waiting for the right opportunity to leave.
The downstairs floor of Gabe's shop had been transformed for the event... festoons of jewel-toned flowers, and long swags of gauzy material camouflaging the weapon walls. The exercise mat had been removed, the floor below it polished to a high shine. The front counter had been converted to a serving table... it's linen covered surface crowded with the obligatory finger foods, and ice buckets cradling chilled champagne bottles.
He had been surprised by the amount of people who had attended the wedding. With the exception of the enforcers he had met the other night (who had pointedly avoided him), he only knew a handful of the large group that milled about in the room... sipping their drinks and discussing the day's events. But he found himself grateful for that... it had kept the unavoidable conversations to a minimum.
Panning the room with a watchful eye, Auron spotted Remie weaving his way toward him through the crowd, and offered him a small smile, as he came to stand beside him.
"When do you think it'll be okay to get out of here and change?" Remie asked impatiently, scrunching his face in discomfort, as he stretched the collar of his shirt out from his neck with one hand.
"I am uncertain, but if you figure it out before I do, by all means, let me know." Auron replied in commiseration.
************
Gabe and Sahna found themselves alone for a moment, as the steady stream of well-wishers dissipated temporarily.
"Were did Remie go?" Sahna asked, looking around the room, the deep folds of her gown swirling with her movement.
"He's over in the back, with Auron." Gabe replied, gazing wistfully down at his wife. The day had been mostly a blur, but one thing stood out clearly... Sahna and Remie were a permanent part of his life now. His heart's long desire had been granted... and he thought if he got any happier, his chest would surely explode.
Prying his eyes from Sahna's profile, Gabe looked up to the back of the room, where Auron and Remie leaned against the wall together, silently observing the crowd. "Two-of-a-kind, aren't they?"
"In many ways, yes." Sahna nodded, her eyes soft with affection.
"I'm glad they both managed to endure all of this, particularly Auron. For awhile there, I thought he was going to blow a gasket." Gabe said, with a sympathetic smile.
Sahna laughed, as she laid her hand across Gabe's arm. "I know. Poor thing... it really was gallant of him. He even wore the fancy clothes."
"Do you think he has any clue?" Gabe asked, placing his hand over Sahna's, and tilting his head, as a wry smile formed across his mouth.
"About what?"
"About the fact that he's a babe-magnet. Look at those women... they've been drooling over him all day."
"Careful big guy, you're looking a little green around the edges." Sahna laughed, then followed Gabe's gaze to the small group of women, that had gathered a short distance from where Auron leaned against the wall... as they whispered and giggled like school girls.
"I honestly don't know. But I think that if he is aware of it, he probably could care less... the man's a rock." Sahna said, shaking her head.
"You got the rock part right, but I suspect that's only an outer shell, that masks a tender heart." Gabe observed, rubbing his chin.
"Why Gabe, I had no idea you could be so insightful." Sahna said, as she wrapped her arms around his waist, and smiled up at him sweetly.
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." Gabe replied with a wink, as he clamped Sahna's head between his hands, and bent over to plant a big sloppy kiss across her amused lips.
