The First Call

Log Info

• Title: The First Call

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Auranar, Dolan, Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's home

• Summary: Ravenstongue's washing dishes and Telamon's enjoying some fireflies when Dolan and Auranar come over with gifts! Ravenstongue and Telamon accept the gifts happily, but surprise Auranar and Dolan with important questions: will Auranar and Dolan join the wedding party as a bridesmaid and a groomsman, respectively? The answer is yes, and both new members of the wedding party are honored by the request. Auranar reveals she's made presents for Pothy, too, and the bird begs for them to be brought to him so they can be consumed. With the first members of the wedding party set, Dolan and Auranar return on their path, and the lovebird half-elves step back into their house to feed Pothy, who has never been fed, ever.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Auranar           4'8"     123 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress                                  
Dolan             5'10"    174 Lb     Human             Male      Brown-haired human with scars down his face.                               
Ravenstongue      5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Telamon           5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes                      
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Lúpecyll-Atlon home, early evening.

It's a cloudy day that gives way into evening, as the light that has been hiding behind clouds all day chooses to hide again beyond the horizon.

Cor'lana finds herself looking at the clouded sunset from the safety of her kitchen window, humming quietly to herself as she scrubs a dish clean--although, truthfully, there's not much to clean. The source of such cleanliness is sitting on the kitchen counter next to her, cracking peanuts.

"Can we go out to dinner? Huh? Can we? Pleaaaaase?" Pothy pleads in that cherubic, boyish voice--which, thanks to Verna's warding work, can now be understood by anyone in the house regardless of their own personal magical language comprehension or lack thereof. Unfortunately, that also means Pothy's whining is perfectly understandable.

Cor'lana rolls her eyes. "Pothy, Tel and I took you out with us last night," she says. "We can't go out every night or we'll break the bank."

Telamon is standing just outside, in the garden, studying the flowers in the dimming light. He leans down to brush his fingers across a delicate blossom, smiling, before straightening up again. Looking out to the sunset, he blinks, then smiles.

Turning, he gestures to the kitchen window where he sees Cor'lana, and waves to her, before pointing into the evening sky. And there can be seen... stars?

No. Soft blinks of light, off and on, floating through the air. Fireflies have many names, but Tel has always enjoyed seeing them, and for good reason. The glimmering little sparks of light begin to fly down, circling around the half-elf, orbiting around his head and shoulders in a complex dance.

Auranar walks down the street, enjoying the nighttime as the sun begins to set and the peaceful lack of rain. She tilts her head so that she can watch the sky as she walks along, a basket in one hand and she seems quite happy as she makes her way across the district. She notices then, the fireflies gathered, and with a small smile lighting across her face slowly meanders toward their source, curious as to what cna have them flying about. Thus she heads towards the fence and shamelessly peeks over it.

Dolan is a bit further behind Auranar, his clothing simple as is his usual wont, but with some attempt to be reasonably dressy, a pale yellow linen shirt beneath a tooled leather jerkin. He more meanders than walks with purpose, looking around him at an area of the city that is clearly unfamiliar to him, and indeed, he nearly misses the house, but does stop to admire from afar the display of fireflies as they swirl around Telamon.

Cor'lana looks out the window and blinks a few times as she sees... Well, her fiance, surrounded by fireflies like he's a beacon for moths. Even Pothy looks out the window with her, hopping onto her shoulder so he can get a good look at it.

"Staring at him again?" Pothy remarks. "At least he's got his shirt on, this time."

Cor'lana just side-eyes Pothy and sighs. "You really need to get used to the fact I'm going to ogle my fiance, Pothy," she says, and she shrugs the bird off her shoulder. He's more than happy to return to his bowl of peanuts.

"Okay, but I'm talking about your friends, too--Dolan and Auranar. They're over by the fence," Pothy replies as he cracks a peanut open. "I'm saying it'd be pretty awkward if Telamon didn't have his shirt on again while they're there."

Another blink. Cor'lana looks over at them and grins. "So they are. Thanks, Pothy!" She pats him on the head as she heads out of the house to join her fiance. Cor'lana gets on her tiptoes as she reaches up to kiss Telamon on the cheek before she looks back to Auranar and grins. "Hey! Come on in. We'd love to chat."

Telamon smiles as the fireflies orbit around him. "Hello, old friends. It's been too long," he says softly. The bugs seem happy to circle, flashing soft little lights and making him look like he's surrounded by otherworldly sparks.

When Cor'lana comes out to give him a kiss and point out the friends, he blinks before grinning as well. "There you are. Good to see you made it." Giving Cor'lana a squeeze back, he bustles over to the gate, opening it to let Dolan and Auranar into the backyard proper.

"I was a little distracted," he says apologetically. "Please, come in! The weather, thankfully, has let up and now we've got a proper relaxed early summer evening."

Auranar smiles warmly at Cor'lana, clearly glad to see the other woman in good spirits, and more importantly yet - up and moving about without any ill effects from her kidnapping. She smiles a more secretive smile as the pair exchange affection, and yet... Something about their closeness seems to darken her eyes and she glances away briefly only to notice Dolan. She offers him a welcoming smile and greeting. "Hello."

She waits a moment for Dolan to step through - offering him a wider smile and a small motion of her hands to insist that he go first - before heading into the back yard and looking around the garden with interest. "I have a gift for you two actually!" She says, pulling the top off her basket and pulling a little sproutlet of a plant out to offer to Cor'lana. "It's a tomato plant! The kind that grows those robust cooking tomatoes?"

Dolan trails behind, and it's a momentary good-natured argument over who goes first before he finally accepts, turning his head to look in every direction. His own gift is more obviously carried, and somewhat more mundane - a bottle of a local red wine - tucked into the crook of his arm. He accepts the closeness with a puppyish grin of his own. "Hello," he answers, the voice unexpectedly deep. "I almost missed the place. This is lovely."

Cor'lana's eyes widen, then soften as she smiles in deep gratitude, looking at both Auranar and Dolan, as well as the gifts that they've brought with them. "Oh, my gosh--you didn't have to bring anything," she says, although she takes the sproutlet carefully in her hands. "Tomatoes sound so delicious, though. Tel, think we have room in the garden for more?"

She looks back up at Auranar and Dolan with a bit more of a playful bent to her smile. "It's good timing that the both of you came by, actually. I had a question to ask you, Auranar, and I believe Tel has a question for you, Dolan."

Meanwhile, Pothy's watching from the safety of the kitchen, eating his peanuts. At least the peanut gallery's not piping up... yet.

Telamon's eyes light up at the sign of the tomato sprout. "Gods, I've been looking for one of those for weeks, Auranar." He inspects the small plant carefully. "We've got room. I expanded the garden a little on the right side anyways." Indeed, the stones that surround the garden confines have been shifted out, and a section at the end is bereft of plants. "I've got a few other things to put in, but this will fit nicely."

His dark eyes glint, the stars within them sparkling, at Cor'lana's words. "Indeed. We've been discussing some things -- before and after the late unpleasantness, as it were -- and I think we agree the questions should be asked."

Tel carefully takes the tomato sprout from Lana, bedding it in a heavy earthenware pot for the moment. "It'll go in tomorrow morning," he remarks, giving it a little water before brushing off his hands. "So. Lana, did you want to go first?"

Auranar is beyond pleased that her gift is so well-recieved. She smiles warmly and puts the top back on her basket. There's more inside, but best to keep that secret for now. Dark eyes flicker toward Pothy and then quickly away lest she garner his interest. "Oh? If you've any questions please! I'm an open book really!" She flashes her teeth in a quick grin. "Especially if it can help about that foul buisness that you had to deal with."

"Ask whatever you like. If I can't answer, I'll say so." Dolan agrees, although the talk of plants has him more listening than talking at the moment. He suddenly flashes a cheeky grin, though. "I doubt that will be the case."

Cor'lana snickers at Dolan's remark. "Well, I hope you at least have an answer for Tel," she replies, before she reaches out to take Auranar's hand--if she'll let her, that is.

"Auranar, Dolan, not only are we completely and utterly indebted to you for helping to save me--you're also our friends. Dear ones, at that, after going and saving me the way you did. And after all of this went down... Tel and I have been discussing the wedding, and planning it more aggressively now than we were before..."

That smile on Cor'lana's face turns into a grin. "Auranar, will you please be one of my bridesmaids for the wedding?"

Auranar allows her hand to be taken, an easy smile crossing her face. Cor'lana's words only serve to make the smile warmer. Ever since their first meeting, she's felt a positive connection with the other woman. It's been easy then to become friends, and helping Telamon and Cor'lana had been an easy choice for her to make. She's not certain where Cor'lana's words are heading until... And then she simply stares at the other woman in total shock. "Oh!" She blinks and then suddenly leans forward and hugs the woman called Ravenstongue by so many others. "Of course."

She pulls back and offers a wavering smile to Cor'lana. The surprise is still riding her. "It'd be my honor Cor'lana. I'm... I'm really speechless!" Auranar didn't knwo what to say but 'yes'.

Cor'lana can't help but let out a little excited squeal as Auranar hugs her. She hugs her back, too, of course. "I'm so happy you said yes!" she says, her words followed by a giggle. "Gosh--I have to admit, I've never even been to a wedding before, so I really don't know what bridesmaids are even supposed to do--but you're supposed to ask your friends to be bridesmaids, so here you are! Here we are!"

She lets go of Auranar, still grinning from ear-to-ear. "I'm going to ask Aryia to make everyone's dresses. The wedding will be in the Mythwood, in Telamon's hometown of Ylvaliel--but we're going back up there for a much happier reason than before. We'll make sure lodging and everything is paid for--all you'll have to do is to show up."

There's a smile that can't leave Auranar's features and she laughs good-naturedly. "I have to admit that I have never been to a wedding either! Much less been in one! Oh, I'm so excited!" She nods emphethetically when Cor'lana lays out her plans and her eyes shine with excitement at the thought of it. "I'm sure that Aryia would be happy to help, and I'll certainly be there! I wouldn't have missed it even if you hadn't asked me to be a bridesmaid."

She's of course heard enough about weddings to make an educated guess as to what goes on, and seen a few plays where faux weddings took place. Still, to be an actual part of a real one! "You should definately let me and Verna know what you want as a wedding gift." She smiles at the thought and adds a wink to the end of her words. "Something more than a housewarming gift."

"Oh, gosh, a wedding gift?" Cor'lana says, looking far more contemplative now as she mentions it. "Hmm... I really can't think of anything we need--"

"SNACKS," Pothy calls out from the kitchen window.

Cor'lana sighs, but she's grinning, too, as she shakes her head. "We could always use snacks. You should see our kitchen, our pantry specifically--it's just filled to the brim with buckets of peanuts, boxes of pretzels... All sorts of things that Pothy will eat. The peanut bowl's been overflowing since, well, what happened--poor Pothy was really shaken up by the whole thing."

"Cor'lana's overstating it," Telamon remarks after bedding down the tomato plant in its pot. "But not by much. How that bird eats so much is a mystery for the ages." He smiles genuinely at Auranar. "There's never enough joy in the world, so it behooves us to try and spread it around. Weddings are a good way to do that."

The fireflies continue to hover around Telamon, a cloud of sparkling lights. He reaches out, and a few alight on his hand, crawling around gently before hopping off again. "I'd forgotten how much fun watching these little fellows is. They're so strange, but yet they're just as much a part of the world as the birds and the trees."

Auranar smiles at Pothy's suggestion and when Cor'lana grins she pulls the top off her basket once again. "Well then. I'll make a once-weekly delivery of snacks as a gift for you." She offers the basket to Cor'lana. Inside are eggs - a treat that she knows that ravens love after some intensive research on the species in the library. These ones are hard-boiled and split, filled with tasty fillings that the humans might enjoy also. All arranged on a plate. "I knew that he'd want something and so I came prepared. Hopefully he shares." She laughs again.

Cor'lana opens her mouth as her eyes go wide with surprise at what she's seen--but Pothy speaks before her. "SNACKS!" he cries out from the kitchen window again.

This results in the feytouched sorceress snickering. "Well, those look really good, Auranar. I imagine Pothy will absolutely love them--and he's actually amenable to sharing, if a bit reluctant." Cor'lana takes the basket from Auranar. "It's a good thing I asked you to be my bridesmaid if you're already thinking of Pothy. He's going to be in the ceremony, too--we were originally thinking as a ringbearer, but we decided on having curuchuil marks painted onto our left hands and made permanent by magic. My paternal family's a little odd in that our curuchuil is made on the body--but Telamon and I are starting a new branch of the Lúpecyll family, so we're making a new tradition in the vein of the old. So, we're having Pothy carry the paintbrush that'll be used instead!"

Telamon walks over to stand with Cor'lana, reaching out almost instinctively to take her hand. "Oh, those do look good. I wonder what I'll have to offer Pothy to get him to share. Probably a year of servitude or something." His eyes glint merrily, dancing.

"But yes. Lana and I discussed it -- and while my family is not known for a lot of body art, they seem to like the idea as well. There's a concept we discussed." His eyes are thoughtful. "We're building... something new here, for both of us. I'll take her name, and she'll take mine. We won't leave behind what we were, but at the same time we'll be developing something unlike just either of us." He tilts his head a little bemusedly. "Does that make any sense?"

"That sounds lovely." Meant both to answer the thought that was born by Cor'lana's words, and the bemused question posed by Telamon. She means it too, her eyes filled with warmth for the couple. "I think it's beautiful that you're building something new together. Blending old traditions with a new idea."

She blinks, and realizes that her eyes are filling up with tears and shakes her head to try and rid herself with them. There's a welter of emotion in the woman, and she ducks her head. "You two..." She laughs. "I can't wait to see you two married. This world needs a little good in it."

Dolan, who had trailed the others in and set the bottle of wine he'd brought unobtrusively on a sideboard, had settled in to listen. This sounded like a girl discussion, and so he is content to hold his peace and listen. Yep, there's the squealing. Right on cue. He holds his peace and keeps his own counsel on this, and fades somewhat into the background.

Cor'lana smiles widely, her eyes sparkling a little as Telamon talks. She nods emphatically to his sentiment, and to Auranar's. "I'm just overjoyed that... Well, it's happening to me, and it's happening to us--and that we can invite all of our friends to it."

She looks back over to Dolan, who has faded into the background, and she grins. "Speaking of which, Dolan--don't think we've forgotten about you. Telamon, your turn."

"Indeed." Telamon turns his starry gaze on Dolan, and he smiles. "So, Dolan, we've known each other for a bit. I'd appreciate it if you stood as my groomsman when I wed Lana." He crosses to stand in front of the taller man, grinning broadly. "After all, when you've faced all manner of beasties together, you can't help but find some common ground."

He arches a brow. "So, what do you say?"

"You've got it," Dolan says at once, although the still-mobile half of his expression is wreathed in pleased surprise. Lifted brows and a wide smile. "I'd be honored, and I'm flattered as hell that you asked." He turns his head to look between them, a cloud passing over his features as he thinks of something, but it clears quickly and he shakes his head. "Say where and when."

Cor'lana grins, clapping her hands together. "Yay! Oh, gosh, I'm so happy. Our first bridesmaid and groomsman! I have two more people in mind for bridesmaids. I'm not sure if Telamon has all of his groomsmen decided yet, however."

Then she seems to realize something, and she looks between Dolan and Auranar. "Oh! This is... probably important enough to mention beforehand. Grandfather--really, he's an ancestor from thousands of years ago--will be officiating the ceremony. He's..."

She pauses for a moment, before it finally falls out of her. "Well, he's a member of the fey nobility. I figure it's probably important to mention that to you so you two aren't... well, put off by it on the day of."

Telamon's eyes glint happily. "Thank you, Dolan." He chuckles at Lana's comment. "As it happens, I have a couple others -- Skiel is one, and I need to chase down Randolf at some point. I'm not expecting to be turned down by either of them." He rubs his hands together, thinking.

At Cor'lana's mention of the Feathered One, Tel just smiles wryly, and looks at Dolan. "Yes. It's more fey shenanigans. This is my life and I'm happy to have it."

"More fey." Dolan brightens with good-natured laughter. "It's your day, I'm here to help you celebrate. Andie'll be thrilled, though." That's sarcastic, but with it comes a verbal shrug of acceptance. "As long as you're not planning on asking me to prance naked around the forest, and nothing tries to eat me or sign my soul away, I'm sure all will be fine." Easy acceptance, with a cheeky grin.

Auranar smiles warmly at Dolan, looking at him for a long moment to sort of revel in the fact that both of them had been honored in such a way. Really, it felt right that Dolan should be included. "Sounds like he has it in hand after all Cor'lana." She offers in a friendly manner and then glances skyward. "I should head back home."

That flash again, a darkness on the edge of her happiness that isn't explained. "I'll be sure to do some research on the fae so that I don't accidentially insult him..." She glances toward Dolan at his words and she chokes on laughter. "I'm sure that we can be safe enough that none of that will happen!"

"Oh, I promise, he won't try to eat you!" Cor'lana says with a giggle and a reassuring grin. "Or make you sign your soul away, or prance naked in the woods. He's not like that. And don't worry, Auranar--he's spent enough time around mortals that he understands more than the average fey would about how we talk and act."

She looks up at the kitchen window and notices Pothy with his beak practically pressed up against the glass, his blue eyes gazing longingly at the basket in Cor'lana's hands. She snickers. "Auranar, Pothy looks like he's dying to have these eggs. I hope you have a safe walk home."

Telamon nods with that same twinkle in his eye. "I don't think you've any danger of that sort of thing. Grandfather is... a little reserved, I think, by fey standards. He has his eccentricities, but he's in good company with the rest of us in that case."

His eyes follow Lana's, and he barely stifles a laugh at Pothy's expression of desperate longing. After taking a moment to regain his composure, he clears his throat. "Yes. Well, Pothy is quite the gourmand. No, really." He tries not to snicker as he says it.

Dolan's laughter echoes that of the others, but he casts a sidelong glance at Auranar, and some of that laughter fades. "Then we'll be just fine," he opines, but Pothy's lustful stares through the glass draw his attention before long. "If, by gourmand, you mean someone who knows exactly how much food will fit down their gullet. Auranar, would you like for me to walk you home?"

A light laugh joins Cor'lana's giggle, and Auranar offers a little curtsy to the pair. Then to Dolan. "I would appreciate that Dolan!" She smiles at him specifically, then motions with a widening grin toward the door to the garden. "After you of course." She laughs again and holds the door for him. Offering a farewell wave to Telamon and Cor'lana. "Goodnight!"

"Oh, that's the thing," Cor'lana says with a smile. "Pothy's a repository of knowledge--but I'm afraid all he's good at knowing is food stuff, mostly. He has a mission of trying everything that's edible--which means he's really, really looking forward to this."

"SNACKS," Pothy cries out again, his blue eyes longing for the foodstuffs in Auranar's gifted basket.

Cor'lana rolls her eyes. "I'll explain more another time, if one or both of you come by again--it's... a long story. Everything is, really."

She hooks her arm around Telamon's as she smiles. "Goodnight, you two--let's go inside. We shouldn't keep Pothy waiting."

The first bridesmaid and the first groomsman have been called. The plans for a Mythwood wedding are in motion.