My Big Fat Aquios Wedding
By Nicolle
1st Note: Do to the amazing out pouring of support for the fic, I am continuing it. It will be 8 chapters long and it will be, despite my best efforts, a romantic comedy. But hey, there's no better love/hate relationship than the one Nel and Albel will be submitted too.
Also, I do not subscribe to any 'pairings.' I am not a ThisPerson/ThatPerson forever kind of gal. I am, however, a psycho Albel fan girl. Go me!
2nd Note: OOC-ness ahead.
3rd Note: Albel's mom's name is a Shadow Hearts: Covenant joke. If you haven't played it, pick it up!
Disclaimer: Star Ocean belongs to Tri-Ace/Ubisoft/Square-Enix.
Chapter Two:
Part One: Meeting the Parents or Just Meet Mom
Well, it was pretty obvious where Albel got his looks. He was the spitting image of his mother. And whatever her secret of eternal youth was, I knew a hundred women who'd kill for it. The woman didn't look a day over thirty. She was quiet, calm, reserved, and didn't turn into a monster at the mention of the upcoming wedding. All she attempted to do was feed us a LOT of food; really REALLY good food.
I'd heard of Lady Anne Nox before, but it had never occurred to me that the woman most of the court of Airyglyph feared for her ready wit and ability to weave an intricate political plot was also Albel's mother and a domestic powerhouse. From what Albel had said, the reason he hadn't been executed at Vox's word was because no one wanted to see her return to the court. If what my father had said was true, she was a scary woman to be up against. Currently though, it just seemed to be my stomach versus her cooking. I'm not sure I can eat anymore.
"So where do we get married?" Nel asked.
"According to rumor, such things happen in a church."
"I'd elbow you in the stomach if I weren't afraid you'd throw up."
He swallowed another bite. "All part of my cunning plan."
Nel sighed and swallowed another spoonful of mashed potatoes. "I suppose you want to get married in Airyglyph."
"Oh yes, I enjoy being in dark, candle lit places that just breath gloom and doom. We'll get married in Aquios where we'll be able to see the assassins hiding in the back."
"You're a real ass." Nel took another bite. "I thought for sure you'd give me an argument over this."
"I can think of a hundred other things to argue over. Where we tie the knot is not grief I need to deal with."
"So you just want me to tell you what to wear and when to show up?"
He glared at her. "I wouldn't go that far."
Nel smiled and leaned toward him. "You do realize that you haven't called me a fool, maggot, or worm since we got here."
Albel smiled and leaned toward her. "Let me tell you a little story about the woman in the kitchen. When she was younger, she ran rings around my father. She'd have him out flat before he could put his hand on the Crimson Scourge." He sat back. "I only got to be as fast as I am because you have to be if you don't want to be caught with your hand in the cookie jar."
"Are you saying she could beat you?"
Albel snorted. "She's my mother. I'd let her beat me."
Nel smirked and whistled low. "Ooh... Momma's boy..."
His eyes narrowed and he looked at her from under his blonde tips. "You want to say that again?"
Nel opened her mouth, but Lady Anne set another plate in front of her. "It's so nice to see you both getting along. Albel's father and I didn't start off half so well."
Nel opened her mouth and Albel put his hand over it. "Don't break the delusion," he hissed through a smile. When his mother left the table he let out a breath he'd been holding. "She's the only family I have. You don't have to act happy, but at least let her think you are. Is that so much to ask?"
Nel shook her head. "Does she have any idea that you're Albel the Wicked?"
"She thinks it's a phase. She still has hopes of me becoming the next king."
"Oh dear Apris."
Chapter Two:
Part Two: Complete with Flashback!
Albel yawned. Uninterested in the wedding arrangements, but ordered to watch over the bride to be, he amused himself with thoughts of Roger in a large hamster's wheel, running himself to death. When the final dress came on and was chosen, Albel perked up. When Elena reached for her bag to make the first payment, he stopped her.
"I'll pay for the dress if you promise me one thing."
Elena, surprised, stepped back and regarded him calmly. "And this promise would be…?"
"Promise me that you'll have at least five children."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
Albel sighed indignantly and looked away. "Unless you have children, I may become the next king. I will not sit on that throne."
Elena smiled, amused by the Captain's vehemence. "I promise you, Albel Nox, that I will have at least five children with my husband to be so that you will never have to worry about sitting on the throne of Airyglyph."
He turned back to the engineer. "Thank you."
Nel picked at the stuffing. "How long until Cliff comes back to visit?"
"He'll be by in a few days."
Nel sighed. "So what else are we supposed to do?"
Albel began counting off on his fingers. "Set a date. Make a guest list. Set a time. Find your dress. Choose flowers, music, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and what the above mentioned people shall wear..."
"How do you know all of this?"
He pointed to the woman bringing them yet more food. "You're both so skinny! Eat up!"
"She game me a tutorial." A wicked little grin spread across the Captain's face. "Mom? Would you bring out the lovely book you made for Nel?"
Lady Anne's face lit up. She ran off.
"Book?"
The woman ran back in with a book covered in white lace and pearls and handed it to Nel. Fearfully, she opened it. The entire inside was calligraphied and hand illuminated with beautiful wedding motifs. "It's a book to help you keep record of all the planning. I even had the best of the seamstresses, florists, and craftsmen to submit pages of their work so you can see if you like it before you even go out."
"It's lovely..." Nel turned through page after gorgeous page, and every single design was Aquarian in origin. "This is amazing!" She caught a glimpse of Albel out of the corner of her eye and he looked like he was enjoying this way too much. His mother happily wandered away.
"Turn to the back of the clothing section," he said.
Nel did and immediately closed the book with a blush. The Captain howled.
"You're enjoying this way too much," Nel hissed.
He sighed contentedly. "I get my thrills where I can."
Nel's hand landed on her dagger. "So what's going to keep me from killing you until Cliff and Mirage show up?"
"Physical speed and chloroform."
"I hate you."