"In blood, and in soul, in all that is of one's being, share yourselves. Merge minds and become one, never to be lonely again in the depths of love."

Smiling at him, Liliana presses a ceremonial knife into his hand. It's beautiful, and crafted by his own clan so Mevek can't help the warmth that fills him at the fullness of the hilt in his palm. Or maybe it's because he's standing here, about to get married to Mister Ran, to whom Liliana passes the other knife to.

Usually a wedding would be officiated by the clan leader of one of the two getting married, but that's not exactly possible, so instead Liliana does it (because she's his dearest friend). She holds out two silver and gold goblets, Drosian ware this time, with one of Mister Ran's own brews filling them. Stifling his giggles and the butterflies that flutter in his stomach, Mevek looks at his soon-to-be husband (he wants to laugh loudly at that. husband. it's an enchanting word.) and appreciates him. Simple robes have been traded for layers of embroidered fabrics, and the flowers braided into his hair, the ones that match his own, bring a faint pink to his cheeks.

Mevek's excited. It shows when he brings the knife across his fingers instead of his palm and lets the rivulets of red drip, still staring at Mister Ran, unblinking. His lover, his beloved, is so much more composed, slicing his palm in the traditional way.

Nervous, he swirls the goblet. What if he didn't let enough of his blood flow in? What if it didn't mix properly? What if Mister Ran decides he's not worth marrying after all? Maybe it's the brightly lit environs that's making him dizzy enough to ask such stupid questions. Maybe it's the way the brew swishes round and round and round. Either way, his heart is starting to skip some beats; his breathing flutters with anxiety.

"Mevek."

He looks up, because he was called, and because Liliana's worry grabs his arm like she must surely wish to. There's a question that Mister Ran asks. It's not spoken, but it shows in his eyes and the way he shifts, causing the colours on his skin (the accents on those black markings that twirl all over and hide under his clothes.) to shimmer and change too.

"Yes Malamina."

There's a smile at his response and the worry wrapped around his arm fades into a soothing warmth that thrums along to the beat of his heart. Mister Ran intertwines an arm with his own. Now they hold their cups to the other, and Mevek feels the burn of his blood on his cheeks as a goblet is held to his lips.

It's not supposed to go like this. The goblets are meant to be exchanged, and the ceremonial words said. Only then are they supposed to drink of the mix. Yet, with the cool metal pressing against his lips, and the smile still present on his beloved, he doesn't mind. He'd end up stuttering over the vows anyway. That's something he doesn't want, especially in such a grand wedding.

Mevek closes his eyes and drink as Mister Ran does. Though there's barely any blood, the taste of it is fresh, lingering on his tongue. In an instant the cool metal against his lips is gone, clattering onto the floor when he stumbles as he's pulled into Mister Ran's arms, his eyes widening in shock. He isn't even able to swallow the mix when lips press against his, and gasping, he can feel it spilling down his lips, his skin, his neck.

There's amusement sparkling in his beloved's eyes when Mevek manages to meet them. Finally, because his throat is scorching, he gulps, and the mix runs down, cool. It doesn't alleviate anything.

Instead, he's forced to close his eyes again because everything is blinding him. Body burning up, the cold of Mister Ran's embrace, his kiss, should be helping, but it only makes things worse. So he reciprocates, clutching onto him. If he can't calm himself, then it's fine if the fire consumes him. Just as long as he can feel this happy.

Foreign emotions melt into his, mixing everything up, but it's nice. Different from how emotions usually flow into him. This brings a comfort into bones, and the gentle drip of water (of Mister Ran's love) explores him. It settles into a corner of his mind it's never been to, and then, there's a flood. He can't handle it. To be bonded, it's this fulfilling?

Only minutes later they part. For every second during the time the blinding lights had sheltered them, but now they finally disappear.

"Mevek."

He just smiles, before his eyes glance over at the guests. They seem dizzy. His father holds his head in his hands.

"Yes Malamina."

First though, he wants to celebrate.