Like, SUPER unedited

~

Sophie was holding her breath tight in her chest, pursing her lips, again and again, to ruin her lipstick so she could reapply it again. She was nervous, needlessly so. Her dress was beautiful. The venue was stunning. The guests were bouncing with excitement. Hell, she wasn't even the one getting married! But her mind kept drifting to Wylie, to her father's little round of spies. To the dangers at every turn, her mind couldn't stop thinking of the worst possible things that could have happened.

She was a shell the entire time she walked to the venue, towards the massive tent where the private ceremony was held. The Inner Circle, the Vackers, and the Wampanoag officials were the only ones invited. The reception is where everyone and their mother was waiting to party. No one was allowed to see the couple before the ceremony; an old elven tradition Alvar wanted to honor.

She stood next to the arch, trying to stay calm, the air slightly chilly since she was in a shorter dress. Vatarian weddings are not traditional since you don't try to dress down a bit to not stand out against the married couple. You wear glitter, rhinestones, your best fabrics, your highest heels. It is considered an insult if you don't give it you're all. Sophie's dress was designed by Maria and chosen by Mansi. Sophie's only request was that it wasn't red. She was getting better, but the color red still made her recoil and think of Cynna. It was a deep sapphire blue velvet draped across her body, blueish mesh combined with boning along her stomach. A choker-style chest piece of glittering rhinestones that clinked and swayed as she walked. Her heels were a matching silver. Her hair is in a loose coronet with a, take a wild guess, rhinestone hairpiece in the back.

(Though Sophie is wearing this, she is also very tall and muscular with an hourglass-esque figure. Not exactly this model's body)

Sophie met Ruy's eyes from the other side of the arch. He cleaned up very well, his hair brushed and styled, wearing a nice eggshell white button-up, grey vest, slacks, and polished loafers. But, of course, his dark blue tie was crooked.

Sophie opened her mind to his, pushing past his mental walls, "I've tied your tie a million times before, yet you still can't do it yourself without it turning all crooked."

Ruy just turned to her with a gentle smile, "You look breathtaking."

Sophie rolled her eyes, biting the inside of her cheek to fight her growing smile. A handsome boy compliments her, and she has to fight her blush. The things this man does to her.

Chief Massasoit stood in the middle of the arch, seemingly trying to keep himself calm as well. Sophie turned to him, whispering in his language, "Thank you for doing this for Mansi. She really looks up to you, Cheiftan."

Chief Massasoit nodded, the small wrinkles in his leathered skin moving as he smiled, "Anything for her. I know her parents are smiling down on her today."

The tent brightened as the flaps opened, and Alvar and Mansi entered. Alvar wore a dark elven suit, looking like a love-sick fool with Mansi holding onto his arm. Mansi was beautiful, the only way to describe her. Her dress was a light brown leather. A single shoulder draped with leather ruffles kept the dress on Mansi's pregnant body. The dress showed off the bump with pride, the dress shaped to her body and frilling out at the bottom. Red, yellow, blue, and white beads held her traditional beaded belt above her bump, the colors also used in small details and frills at her elbows and ends of the dress. Sophie was surprised Mansi took the traditional route with her wedding dress.

(Sibylline original)

They walked down the aisle hand in hand, kneeling before Chief Massasoit. Alvar glanced at Ruy, who gave him a small thumbs up. Clearly, they never thought they would get out of the Neverseen long enough to see Alvar get married, and for Ruy to be his best man. It made Sophie think about all they went through together.

"I have been honored today to bless these two souls in front of the gods," Chief Massasoit started, "They have gone through trials of both the physical turmoil, along with the mental. Yet they have remained true all throughout. They live amongst the mother and all of her creations, they live beneath the sky and breath her air as one, their feet strike the earth as steady as a drum. Please rise." Mansi and Alvar rose to their feet, Mansi meeting eyes with Sophie. They were ablaze with excitement, and the very sight of her elated friend made any anxiety Sophie had melt away.

Chief Massasoit walked forward with a massive soft blue woven blanket. He draped it over both their shoulders, the two of them facing each other. Alvar whispered something to Mansi, and she held back a giggle. The blue blanket represented the unity between the two of them.

"Under her cloak of raven feathers, atop the earth he sculpted, and woven together, may Kynareth bless the air in your lungs, Byzanthar bless the food in your bellies," Sophie resisted an eye roll, "And your hearts beat one." Chief Massasoit took a feather from his coat, dragging it across Mansi's forehead and Alvar's heart.

Chief Massasoit smiled at the two of them, "You may kiss."

Mansi gasped with glee, throwing her arms around Alvar's neck and pressing their lips together. The tent erupted in cheers and clapping, Sophie probably being the loudest. Mansi and Alvar turned to return down the aisle, Mansi stopping as Sophie leaned down to adjust the train of her dress.

"I love you," Sophie whispered, to which Mansi shone a brilliant shining smile. They were best friends ever since they were little kids, and now Sophie was at her damn wedding. It was surreal.

Mansi and Alvar ran down the aisle, hands clasped and smiling as they did.

Outside, they were met with a roar of celebrations of the waiting party guests. Biana ran up to Sophie, bouncing with excitement. She looped her arm around Sophie, dragging Fitz behind her.

"It's time to party!!!"

Party was one hell of an understatement. Sophie swore half of Inalia was there. Lights were draped over the trees, tables, and bar that glittered all different sorts of colors. Light and dark green with touches of sapphire blue was the color scheme. Beautiful centerpieces were brilliant in the middle of the tables with matching cutlery and little decorations. It was a classic fairytale wedding, the couple being the center of attention as they danced the night away. The venue itself was an old castle near the beachfront. Greenery was scattered through the entire venue, the whole place alight with life. Mansi and Alvar just finished a wild dance of spinning and a little tripping, but they have never looked more in love.

Sophie sat at the head table next to Mansi with Bianca, Linh, and Maha next to her, and they were chatting up a storm. Mansi changed out of her traditional gown for a glittering after-party dress that she could dance in all night. Unlike Sophie, it was pure stones draped over her body. Her little baby bump was alight as the momma walked, and Sophie could tell they weren't lying when they were talking about a pregnancy glow.

( please remember that though Mansi wearing this, she has her baby bump along with being much less of an hourglass figure)

Their conversation drifted to one of the many couture labels that were in an intense perfume battle.

"But there is no way that they are releasing a new line of perfume! Not after their last release was a total flop!" Mansi argued, her mouth crammed full of food.

Sophi pointed her fork at her, "No, I'm telling you! Elkipades is releasing a new line! Maria said she heard it when talking with the other couture designers!"

"Mansi, you still owe me a dress from them by the way." Biana interjected.

"We've been sister-in-laws for like two hours and you are already hounding me." Mansi pouted.

"Get used to it," Sophie snorted while taking a long sip from her drink. Biana kicked her, to which Maha, Linh, and Mansi burst out into laughter. Sophie's eyes caught on the other side of the table, where the boys were recounting some ridiculous story. Ruy finished the story with a breathy laugh, the entire side of the table rising in an uproar of laughter. Alexios clamped a hand down on Ruy's shoulder, adding another part of the story that made Ruy go red and the table laugh once more. Sophie's aimed an eyebrow at them, which her brother saw. Dex and Keefe kept Ruy's attention, but Alexios stayed focused on his sister.

He just shrugged, smiling at her.

No way they talked it out that fast. She and Alexios were Morrettis, and Morrettis only admitted they were wrong when a gun was pointed at their head. And sometimes, that didn't even work. The lesson here is that Morrettis are pointlessly stubborn.

So many people came up to the head table, Sophie lost count. She danced and sang the entire night, dancing with total strangers who drunkenly asked for her hand. The leaves of the massive garden meshed with the lights, and she spun and spun, laughing until she was hoarse.

Near the end of the party, which was almost morning, the music was calm, and the guests were heading back home. Ruy and Sophie swayed to the music on the dance floor, practically everyone gone home except for a few stragglers. But it soon came time to say goodbye.

Sophie held Mansi's hand as she ran up to join Alvar in the carriage. Her friend leaned down for a rib-crushing hug, "Thank you, Lia." She muttered, tears staining her eyes. Sophie kissed her cheek, closing the door gently after tucking Mansi's dress into the carriage and waving them off.

Ruy approached her, more amazing than ever. His hair was wild and his tie undone, hugging her waist and pressing a kiss to her hair.

"Wanna head home?"

"Yeah, but I'm gonna stay at your apartment tonight."

"You don't even bother asking if you can stay over anymore." Ruy laughed as they approached the stables. Ricin was waiting, whinnying at Ruy's presence in his horse form. Sophie noticed him crawling about the top of the castle ruins while a dragon, stealing a whole roasted ham before running off. Sophie didn't even bother disciplining him for it, the dragon wanted to celebrate too. Sophie got on, Ruy following her, and Ricin took a gentle trot through Renisanca. People walked past them returning from the party themselves, too tired to wave hello. The minute Ruy and Sophie were off his back, Ricin's body was immersed in a cloud of smoke, and he was a dragon once again. He snorted and shot into the sky.

"He's probably going to go hunt." Sophie rolled her eyes, "I swear, if I have to clean blood and fur out of his claws one more time. He already stole a ham for the gods' sake." Ruy froze, grabbing her arm.

"Do...Do you see that?" Sophie went cold, her eyes darting to the dark patch he was pointing at.

Sophie swallowed, "No? What do you see-" Ruy sprinted past her up the stairs, laughing as he took them two at a time. Sophie gasped, hiking up her dress and running up the stairs. They both skidded around the corner, but since Ruy pulled that little trick before, he beat her to his door.

"Victory!" He laughed, his arms reaching for the sky. Sophie keeled over, gasping for air, "You cheated."

"Yes I did," Ruy slid the keys into the lock, "And I won because of it."

Sophie growled, turning away from him with crossed arms. Ruy opened the door but didn't step through, turning towards her with a frown.

"Blondie? Hey, I'm sorry I cheated."

Sophie wasn't actually angry, but she had convinced Ruy she was. Ruy spun to face her, trying to make her look at him.

"Hey, Soph, I'm so sorry, I-" Sophie grazed her lips across his, nothing like the previous assaulting kisses from before the wedding... or the broom closet during the wedding. Ruy didn't kiss her back, his eyes blown wide and his body stiff. Sophie worried that she had done the wrong thing, but Ruy took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"So I take you aren't angry at me, then?" He asked gently.

"No, Smolder, I'm not." She chuckled.

Ruy leaned back down, soft kisses pressed to her lips.

Sophie took his hand tighter, her other reaching for the bedroom handle behind her. Sophie began to take a few steps into the apartment. Ignis froze in the doorway.

He swallowed, his voice quiet as he asked, "Are you sure?" It was shaky. Scared.

Sophie smiled up at him, carefully pushing aside one of his loose strands of hair, giving him a final tug into the apartment. Ruy followed with a dazed smile, kicking the door closed behind him.

Sophie nuzzled into her pillow, tugging the sheets further up to cover her cold shoulders. Her hair was a frizzy mess, her fine hairstyle from the night before thoroughly ruined. She started as the smell of coffee wafted through the room.

"Wassat?" Sophie grumbled, peeking out from her pillow. Ruy glanced over his shoulder, smiling gently. His eyes were lazy and tender, his bed head complimenting his gentle demeanor.

"It's coffee, Blondie." He chuckled, returning to the pot. Sophie stuffed her face back into her pillow when she spotted the sunlight slipping through the shades. She only peeked out when a hand rubbed her back, her boyfriend handing her a large cup of coffee.

"Thank you." She murmured, leaning up to accept it. Ruy pecked her lips before handing her the cup, getting up to get his own.

"You, uh, feel okay?"

Sophie's eyes glimmered, "I feel great."

Ruy smirked, turning back to his coffee, "Good. Filomena wants to set up a picnic soon, by the way. She mentioned it to me when we were talking during the reception-"

A harsh knock rattled at the door. Ruy tensed, putting down the coffee pot and grabbing his shirt draped over the back of the lounger in the corner of the room. He peeked through the peephole, and he stopped.

He grabbed a large button-down from his belongings, throwing it to Sophie.

"Get that on. Hide." Sophie's gut dropped, her anger of a perfect morning ruined set aside with fear.

She stepped into the closet and buttoned the white shirt over herself, sliding behind the ironing board with just enough to see between the slats of the closet door. If this was another one of his pranks, he wouldn't even live to see another date.

Ruy shook himself out before opening the door.

"Prince Ruy , a pleasure." Vincenzo Esposita greeted at the door. Ruy glanced at his outstretched hand, ignoring it as he said, "What can I do for you today, Senator?"

"I'm looking for Mentore Amalia Morretti. Where is she? I got reports that she may be with you."

"I haven't seen my mentore since last night during the festivities."

"She is not at the Guildhall nor her villa in the countryside. My message is urgent."

"And why have you not sent a convoy or a messanger? You never leave the senate building or your mansion, so why are here at my door in the slummy part of town?"

Vincenzo was quiet before sidestepping Ruy and entering his apartment. Ruy glared daggers at him, glancing at the closet before closing the door behind him. Ruy pushed Sophie's dress from the night before beneath his bed with his foot, circling around Vincenzo before he got too far into his apartment.

"I asked you a question, Senator. What are you doing here?"

Vincenzo smiled, "Your mentore and her other associated parties have been getting on my nerves lately."

Ruy smiled sweetly, "How so?"

Vincenzo's eyes narrowed, "We all heard what happened at Egypitnat. Amalia returned the kingdom to it's rightful queen with the help of Spartans. And apparently, has been finding Neverseen information left and right."