The dinner was going to last forever, Deryn was sure of it. The ceremony itself had been a blur, and all Deryn remembered was seeing Alek beaming at her while she walked down the aisle with Jaspert on her arm. Before she knew it, she was standing up there exchanging vows, and Alek was giving her a gentle kiss, whispering "I love you" before he pulled away. It was pure dead romantic, and she didn't even mind that moony look in his eyes this time. The two of them had grinned at each other like a right pair of fools before trotting back down the aisle together, so glad to finally be husband and wife.
The problem was that while they were overjoyed to be together, they didn't have a moment alone before being whisked away to this interminable reception dinner. There were the mandatory speeches, then a few traditional Austrian folk dances, followed by Jaspert, who had decided that if the Clankers had to insert their traditions into the wedding, then he should follow them up with some proper Scottish bagpiping. Too bad that Jaspert wasn't a proper bagpiper to begin with, and he mostly succeeded in honking out half a song before he took mercy on the group and finished by singing the rest.
The happy couple was in the middle of the fifth course of their unending meal when Deryn shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I can't wait to get out of this barking dress," she sighed.
"I can't wait until we get you out of it either," Alek murmured in her ear, causing Deryn to choke on the water she was sipping on. Deryn Sharp was no prude, but she was used to dishing out the dirty talk, not receiving it from the ever-proper Alek. "Alek!" she cried, sounding shocked, pleased, and a little proud. He ducked his head, blushing but grinning. Oh, how that boy could blush. Deryn seemed to make a game out of making him redden, but here he had managed to do it to himself.
"Sorry, liebe, I'm just so anxious to get out of here and finally be alone together."
"You and me both, daftie," Deryn started to say, but was interrupted by the earth rumbling beneath her feet. A loud crash came from outside the reception hall and the building shook, knocking the guests off their chairs and onto the floor. . .