From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Three days had come and gone. In those three days, by some miracle not entirely controlled by outside forces at all, a beautiful wedding had been pulled together at the Oasis. Why the Oasis? It was where the bride and groom had first met after all. Beautiful and sentimental. What better a place could there be? Lush as the Oasis usually was, it had been brought to life in a beautiful array of pale pink and blue flowers, accented by soft fabrics and white chairs. The wedding arbor overlooked the pretty pond, shining like silver in the Longheat sunlight. Trays of pretty pastries and festive drinks were set out for guests to take at their whim. Each detail had been meticulously attended to, and the site was left nothing short of bright, picturesque romanticism.
The bride herself looked the part, soft blush gown melding seamlessly with the surroundings. She had worn her pale blonde tresses on soft curls down her back, with a braided crown on top to support the woven flower crown. Soft, personal touches had been added, specifically small, pale blue flowers woven into the crown and into her curls, carefully placed so that she almost appeared to have blue wings on her shoulders, hidden beneath her hair. What it meant would likely only be known to the groom, and that was just as the bride wished it to be.
Truly, a more beautiful wedding could not have been made in such a short time. But the most observant of eyes and keenest of minds might notice a few things...off.
Hyacinth for rashness, dogwood blooms for indifference, cyclamen for resignation, petunias for resentment, hydrangeas for heartlessness, king's spear for regret, oleander for caution, and peach blossom capturing the full tone: I am your captive. The flowers were gorgeous and soft and romantic in appearance but spoke the underlying discourse that had brought this wedding to fruition. Hidden within the beauty was the truth of discontent and spite that had brought the couple together. And as picturesque as the bride was, her features were sad and distant - and her flowers spoke a similar tale. Overwhelmingly peach blossom, cyclamen, and king's spear, but here and there, new notes to the melody. Jonquil blooms for desiring returned affection, petunias which meant both anger and one's soothing presence, and holly leaves of being forgotten and domesticity. Though the discord of the decor spoke pure and true to the anguish that brought this couple together, Phoebe complicated the matter with her own feelings.
In the beauty of seeing her dreams come to fruition, she felt so empty. Joyless. Emotionless. A beautiful bride but nothing more. No blushing. No anxious anticipation. Nothingness.
Oh Frey, what have I done?
Spite wedding is on! Please wait for Sunjata to post, then feel free to have your characters come and mingle and what not.
It’s the day of the wedding, and is it an understatement to say that he can’t wait until it’s over? That when he dressed that day in his blue suit, fixed the tie along his neck, hiding tattoos that bear within, and tried his damndest to keep the horns away, that it had been an act of gods to keep him from snarling in his own frustrations and spite. Everyone could tell him he was an idiot, he didn’t care anymore. Because after today, after that ring gets placed on his finger, it’s over isn’t it?
The game had been played, and he’d lost. Badly. A captive of Phoebe’s making, brought forth by his pride, his wanting to call a bluff. And here we are.
She had planned the details, planned everything aside from the custom he’ll impart on her from his home. And when he finds his way to the Oasis, gods an entire year since they’d met initially and his life had taken some strange rollercoaster since, he can’t help but to let his lip feather at the blues and pinks. So light, so bright, when he feels nothing more than a shadowed emptiness threatening to swallow him whole.
In case it’s been missed, he hates weddings. This only cements that thought, let alone imagining him at the helm.
He sighs a crackling sound as he steps to the altar, Phoebe nowhere to be seen just yet. But that’s fine, he frankly could care less. He smooths his jacket down, grasping for a blue cloth in the pocket that he’ll need for later, pulls out the rings to solidify the marriage. And well, he lets everyone else arrive as his jaw clenches and unclenches, waiting for his funeral to start.
you made your choice.
do you regret it yet?
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
"Do any other species have such elaborate pre-mating rituals?" You asked Kai, searching your mind. You think of birds and displays of colour and wit when it came to arranging pebbles and grasses. You think of octopuses in the sea, changing colours as a way to attract mates. There were songs and dances, fights and even the changing of sex-organs.
But all of that paled when it came to the human animals.
You are not dressed for the occasion, but at least you are dressed
Loren stood by the water’s edge, underneath the arbor. Besides him, he’d set up an altar of sorts, merely a simple stone covered in a white cloth, candles burning on the corners, with a variety of objects atop it: a pink and blue ribbon, an empty silver cup, some unlit incense, a bowl with salt, and a receptacle of oil. A broom with more pink and blue ribbons wrapped around its handle leaned against it, and pink and blue flowers adorned its bristles.
For his part, the Launceleyn was dressed in a plain white robe. A rope of blue and pink flowers rested around his neck, and a rope belt was tied around his waist. Underneath the robe, though none could see it, he was barefoot. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he had a neutral expression held carefully on his face. He waited patiently for everyone to arrive.
Melita truly wasn’t certain what or how it all transpired, and at some point, didn’t have the heart, the desire, to know or understand the details. Bizarre and ridiculous, a consignment of the strange, where she’d always thought weddings were built upon ardor and love and devotion – a witness to Remi and Ronin’s – and this had been crumbling from the inside out before it’d even begun. On a feral sigh, she put on some decent dress, one not brutalized, torn, or ripped apart in the latest ventures and tragedies, and then, since these things seemed to have a foundation of capriciousness, she tucked her quiver of arrows along her back.
Just in case.
She and Fangorn arrived, shuffling slowly, not yet fully recovered from the Fiat Lux catastrophe (which also made her wonder why this had happened so fast, so quickly, when everyone was still reeling from the terror), eyes mingling over those already gathered. Eventually though, she only turned to Sunjata, an affirmed nod of conviction at the ready – there for him if he wanted an opportunity to escape and evade.
The blonde had arrived to the honestly gorgeous event wearing the best that he could find. Unlike pretty much everyone else here, Oliver didn't have any fancy outfits. Remi was gone and he had already bothered Deimos too much, so there was nobody around that he knew to make him a fancy set of clothes quickly. This led to him having a panicked trip to the market where he got....honestly? A disaster of an outfit. Sunjata was miserable, yes, but that didn't mean he shouldn't try his best to look good. His outfit consisted of an ivory colored flowy tunic with navy blue pants that were just as flowy. His shoes were flats, very simple and tan in color. His outfit didn't really match, but he was trying his best.
Arriving, the mood was mixed. The wedding was incredible, which put Oliver off. Was....Phoebe really that excited about this whole thing? Surely, Sunjata wouldn't put this much effort into an event that would make him miserable. It only put Oliver off even more. For now, he's simply wander around, clearly looking for someone to talk to.
I JUST WANT MY EXISTENCE TO BE MORE THAN TREMBLING
When Adam had read the notice, he'd had to check the stuff he'd been smoking. It was meant to give you some experiences, sure, but he hadn't been expecting a full on hallucination. He'd thought maybe his fledgling reading skills were the cause, after that - but no, a passer by confirmed what it said.
He had spoken to Sunjata a mere week ago, and the guy had told him in no uncertain terms that he'd broken up with Phoebe. Or -- been broken up with? Either way, not together, and not even on good terms, it had sounded like. Certainly not ready to get married.
Marching up to the Oasis, half expecting to see one of them in handcuffs (he knew someone had to have forced this wedding along. He'd been unwillingly married before, and he just got all kindsa bad vibes about this), he wore something that could be called a fancy outfit, if it came from a Pirates wardrobe. Black shirt hung open, more necklaces than was sensible, tight pants and some red leather boots; dressing up as far as he was concerned.
As he arrived, it appeared things had not yet started. Immediately he made a beeline for Sunjata, grabbing the man's elbow and trying to drag him back a step, whispering in his ear: "Mate, what the fuck? Are you okay? What the hell is going on?"
Well, this wasn’t how she imagined Phoebe’s wedding to be. But their friendship had strayed with the blight, with the queenship she had come in charge of, and the last time she’d heard, Sunjata and her were together. Phoebe had been happy. She had threatened the ridiculously tall man that if he hurt her… Well, it made sense that Rexanna would try to protect her friend.
Arriving here in a deep scarlet dress with gold accents, parasol blocking the sun, she can’t quite fathom the anger and frustration that is palpable in the air. She weaves her way through the crowd, smiling and waving to those she knows, pointedly ignoring Sunjata, and drifts to find Phoebe. And when she does, a small amount of concern lines her verdant gaze. “You look beautiful. Why so blue?” She asks, voice a lilting hum as she pulls a small bracelet from her own jewelry box and offering the pink and golden hues to Phoebe should she want it. “Something borrowed.” She says, reaching to pull Phoebe in for a small hug.
Phoebe glanced up from where she sat, tucked away from view from the altar so Sunjata could not see her. She managed a small smile for her friend, though it did not reach her eyes. "Thank you, Rex. So do you." she said softly. Really, by comparison to the Queen, Phoebe was rather plain, even all done up. Not that she really cared. It simply was what it was. For the moment she ignored her first question, instead investigating the box and its contents she had been given. "Oh, it's beautiful, and so thoughtful, thank you." she breathed, placing the bracelet on her finger right away.
But of course the question hung in the air, and her expression fell to nothingness again. "Because...because I don't really want to be here." Phoebe said softly, a frown curving her lips. "It's really just a bet gone wrong. Jata likes to promise big things but never keep them...and so when he said he would give me whatever I wanted, I told him to marry me, thinking he would back down but...he didn't. And now he hates me and here we are." she said, looking down at the bracelet on her wrist. "He doesn't want to go back on his word. I don't want to prove him right by backing away either..."
It’s a massive attempt to find it in him to find Loren at the altar, but he does, settling in and giving a quiet nod to the summoner — gaze drifting out and spanning as he spots Melita with her arrows, a part of it pulling on some string within him that sparks a smile to his face. Gods, he adores his niece. But it fades quickly as more filter in, ready to witness this disaster as it happens.
He doesn’t expect Adam to be the one to approach him, pull him aside and whisper in his ear. The concern is… nice, and he wonders who else might be thinking the same. He turns with Adam, away from the crowd to face the water before he exhales. “A stupid attempt at calling bluffs that failed, so here I am.” He offers, no amusement. “It’ll be fine. I’m fine. Pissed but it’s whatever.” He shrugs to Adam, turning to look back over the crowd that gathers.
you made your choice.
do you regret it yet?
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
Sunjata turned to speak to him and Adam leaned in, wanting to make sure he heard every word of what was sure to be an interesting explanation. The way Sunjata said it...sounded like he'd lost a bet, basically.
With a baffled smile, Adam scoffed and said, possibly a little more condescendingly than he'd meant to: "You...know if you fuck up a bluff or a bet or joke or whatever you can just say no when it comes do doing it, you know? People might call you a dick but...it's not like Phoebe's gonna beat you up." He gave Sunjata a look, one that said he was amazed the man had not thought of this yet.
“You’re welcome!” She says with some small amount of hidden cheer within it, but it fades as her green gaze grows more concerned as Phoebe answers her question. Initially, Rexanna wonders if Sunjata has forced her into this, the Penumbra’s gaze snapping up to try and scout for the soon to be husband. But her eyes return to Phoebe when she elaborates, a sort of sorrowful look crossing her face.
She’d been in a marriage like that before, and it had ended horribly.
“You don’t have to do it, you know?” She says softly, aiming to reach for Phoebe’s elbow to get her gaze to land on her. “A lot has happened to you, I don’t know if he’s willing to call it off, but if you don’t want to do this Phoebe, then don’t.” A lingering hint of acknowledgment in her eyes. “Who cares who proves who, if it makes you unhappy is it worth the pride, the stubbornness?” Her head tilts as she looks to her friend, a soft thoughtful look crossing her face.
money's the matter - if you're in it for love you ain't gonna get too far
Lily’s heard a lot of drunk men’s stupid plans and this wedding really ranks up there amongst the most idiotic.
But she’s here for the drama. Cause it ain’t her drama… yet. Maybe soon to be, but not yet. Somewhat dressed up, the redhead slowly makes her way to the Spire, a look of something on her face. Something that isn’t happiness for the soon-to-be couple, but isn’t outright anger, confusion, or envy either. Lily pauses at the back of the area, searching for someone to sit with - and she finds Melita and Fangorn.
Perfect. Sunjata’s redheads.
(Her in that way and Melita definitely not)
So she walks over and casually takes a seat next to her friend, arms crossing over her chest. Turning to Melly, she asks rather point-blank “So what’s Jata’s deal with Phoebe? Why this? Why now?”
It would be his second time attending a wedding since he had arrived on Caido, since Rex and Bastien had gone ahead and held theirs while so many people were under the effects of the Blight. From what he'd heard, it was just as well he hadn't attended that one in his wretched tar-blooded state. He just hadn't expected it to be Sunjata and Phoebe getting married when the corpses from Fiat Lux were still fresh in the soil. Or... ever, really.
It was with bemusement that he came, mostly to support Sunjata, but Phoebe as well. She had settled into her position as Dean of the Medical College admirably, and he'd heard good things about her work there. Now that they were colleagues he was trying to put the past behind them and offer his support as a fellow guildmaster and guardian.
He hadn't spoken to either the bride or the groom in awhile, and when he came into the clearing he was surprised to find so few already there, and an utterly miserable looking bride and groom-to-be. He paused, taken aback, before trailing slowly to sit by Lily and Melita, nodding politely to the two women and catching the tail end of Lily's question. He arched a brow curiously at Melita, intrigued as well, as Isuma launched herself from his shoulder to greet Fangorn, trilling quietly to her gourd friend.
