A Very Nexus Reception

[smartass_captain]

To all the friends of the happy grooms, PINpoint messages have already been sent weeks ago inviting them to expect quite the street party arranged in the commons of the Nexus. Guests have been invited to bring an appetite--both for food and for a social adventure. Nirnish weddings are public affairs, after all. While the ceremony has had to be somewhat sequestered for the sake of keeping the existence of Other Worlds a secret, neither Felix nor Jim would want to leave out their interdimensional friends entirely. Having a reception party arranged in the Nexus became the natural plan of action.

Overnight large sections of the Commons are transformed via diligent craftsmanship and quite a lot of magic from those who’ve volunteered. Lanterns representing the Divines are hung along every lamp post, bringing at least the idea of warmth even if the flames are too small to heat their surroundings alone. Bardic tunes carry in the air as readily as the scent of food and drink. Past banners of red and black, blue and white the people gather.

For both grooms this is nearly a continuation of the day before. They’ve had the chance to sleep off the nerves of their ceremony. Today is entirely for celebration--uninhibited celebration at that. No more minding what is said and isn’t. No more pretending to be anything other than who they are. Jim’s traded out his Nirnish finery for a suit and tie, garments he’s much more familiar with. Felix is staying with his native clothing; though he may have dressed down a little from his wedding clothes, the conjurer’s dressed in fitted breeches and his best fur-trimmed coat and boots, the soft hide dyed blue to match his tunic. By their side sits the conjurer’s spectral wolf familiar, ears pricked at the gathering.

As the guests find their ways over it will be easy to spot their friends amidst all the decor along with many other avenues with which to enjoy themselves….

Greetings
Food and Drink
Music and Dancing
Bonfire Entertainment
Party Games

((Links to all relevent wedding Prose can be found Here!))

Comments

[smartass_captain]

The last week has been nothing but a whirlwind of new experiences and strangers for most of Kirk's crew in attendance of the wedding. For most of them the Nexus has never been a locale they've ever been able to visit before. The youngest among the Enterprise's crew has done his utmost to check in with anyone he can see to make sure they're well cared for.

It's his very first time ever allowed off ship to this place between worlds and the ensign would really like to make a good first impression. So when he sees a lady off by herself watching everyone else enjoy themselves he takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and...very respectfully yet eagerly approaches her making sure to stay in her line of sight all the while.

"If is not to your liking, you can request a song from either Miss Jaylah or the..band? Whichever is playing." His accent pulls at certain consonants, rounding them out whether he likes them to or not. "I know the one with the stereo, at least. She's happy to change it up."

[smartass_captain]

Fashionably late means that Jim Kirk has already made the rounds by the time Delia arrives. Which means he is quite flushed in the face and bubbly already when the Orion blows a kiss his way. His grin can't possibly get wider but he waves from where he's at before excusing himself from the group to go and greet her properly.

"Pulled yourself away from work finally? I'm glad t'see you make it."

[conjuredskies]

Marcella nods slowly. She doesn't understand exactly what he means about his fate being tied to Felix's- she thought he just wanted his swords back- but it sounds true. Even the part about doing it for Jim.

She's trying to settle how she feels about that, and covering it with another drink of wine, when Harrow springs his question and makes her nearly splutter it all over herself.

"M-married?" She coughs, furiously trying to clear her throat. "We're not- she's not my sweetheart. She's like a mother to me!"

[sohoangel]

"He was only pretending to be a servant until he could obtain the materials needed to fix his time machine, and the governor was very charming," Aziraphale counters, as if this somehow fixes the ridiculousness of the story's plot. Besides, he's not reading it for the plot.

He could go on, but Crowley has obtained one of those pies and is draped over him like the affectionate serpent that he is, so he'll let Crowley have the last word if he wants it. Besides, Jim is explaining how they actually met, which is rather realistic and straight-forward from what he knows of human courtship.

"Jim Kirk, lovely to meet you." He shakes the Captain's hand. "I met your alternate the very first day I was here, he gave me excellent information about Alpha Centauri. And yes, we're from Earth." He hesitates a moment, then adds fretfully, "I never know a good time to mention this in conversation, but Crowley has let the cat partially out of the bag. I'm an angel and he's a demon, in case you were wondering."

[solobutnotalone]

Han had said that too, that sometimes people here knew things from the future or the past or even alternate dimensions. So that wasn’t a surprise, but the touch was. It was light, undemanding but rough. Most men who have laid a hand on her either did so in courting or torture, there had been very little in between. This was, warm, and kind. It felt somehow strong and yet gentle. If he didn’t look so much like Han or hadn’t said as much she wouldn’t have ever thought they could remotely be the same person.

“I think I understand.” He was being kind to her, which likely meant he knew something about her relative future, and if he’d rather not say then perhaps she’d rather not know. Knowing too much can make you change your mind, rethink decisions. She might not take a change she would have otherwise, she’d given her word to her father and failed in that. Leia wouldn’t let that fear change her decisions now.

“So you still fly? I’m not sure the man I know would ever willingly give it up. I think he loves that ship more than anything in the universe.” In fact she wouldn’t be surprised if he spoke that his ship.

[solobutnotalone]

“Hmm? Oh no, I am used to learning new cultures by their music. This is fine, perhaps not what I am used to for dancing. But it does seem festive.” Leia stopped swaying and smiled at the new face. The accent was very thick and not at all familiar to her. She’d heard basic tinged with many tongues but this was usual, and so it was something of interest.

Without someone to introduce herself Leia took that task on easily enough. “I’m Leia by the way. Princess Leia of Alderaan, and you are?” She held a hand in greeting, hoping that by issueing her first name first it might soften the effect of her title. Kirk had reacted sharply to it earlier and she hoped to forestall that in others.

[attackpatternbattista]

You're not getting out of this that easy, Captain Kirk, Delia tugs him in for a hug and a playful smooch to his cheek, grinning after she does so, with one arm still around him as she leans back. "What can I say? It's a busy life, mine, keeping up with all that I do."

Then she boops his nose with her pointer finger, "And I suppose congratulations are in order, Captain."

[rebelscumfather]

There was a huge difference between working as a commercial airline pilot (or being a huey pilot in the Air Force, for that matter) and being a galactic smuggler in space, but a lifelong love of flying was a constant for both of them. They had both grown up looking into the sky and knowing that was where they belonged. It was nice that certain things were a constant.

“Got his own ship, huh?” He sounds like he’s not surprised by that fact. “I’d be willing to bet he loves it a lot, but I wouldn’t bet on it being the thing he loves most.”

He smiles just slightly at Leia when he says it. It seemed like too much to say more and they were still young and hard headed. Both of them. But if their futures lines up the way he thinks it does? Well, he knows that there will come a point where the ship isn’t the thing he loves best.

[solobutnotalone]

“He’s very proud of it..her.” She smiled and shook her head, disagreeing with him but not arguing. “Oh it is, he polishes it when he thinks people aren’t looking.” She has witnessed this happening before.

She found herself having a good time in spite of however she had come here, she was glad she had. The drink, the music which had slowed and changed to some soft melodic sort of thing, a bit brassy but very steady with its beat. How was Leia to identify big band as a musical form when it was not part of what she knew?

“Would you be willing to dance with me? It’s been ages and, well I think I’m in the mood.” She turned her hand over and moved it enough that he could take it should he agree. She was smiling and not in the showing a lot of vicious teeth way.

[rebelscumfather]

There’s a small part of him that wonders if maybe it’s a bad idea to take her up on this. As charmed as she seems to be with him, he is equally as charmed by her. While she resembles Leia at about the age that she was when he met her, she’s not his Leia. Should he, really, go dance with her? The indecision seems to last only for a moment.

She’ll feel that strong, but gentle hand tug her lightly. Han, who is rising to his feet, offered her a warm (if a bit lopsided) smile. He was once the guy who did what he wanted to do, without thinking much deeper on it and he still had his moments.

“I’m more than happy to accept, Leia.”

He’ll lead her out to somewhere sort of solitary and not all that close to the source of the music. He didn’t know how up for talking she would or wouldn’t want to be, but if his history told him anything, it was possible that they might exchange some words while moving together.

He’s very thoughtful about the placement of his hands and how close he ought to draw her in. He is, perhaps, fractionally more close than he would hold anyone else in this room, but not quite as forward as he would have been with his wife.

[pirateangelbaby]

He rubs at his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Probably. I don't know about you, but I was trained to ride a horse in my sleep." He's only slightly joking. One clear benefit of horses over mechanized travel is dozing off and letting the animal make its way home, isn't it? Not that he ever did it very often, of course.

Of course.

Surprised, Thor barks out a startled laugh. "No, no. The rabbit told me about it. It's a contest of skill, of sorts. Whoever dances the poorest gets removed until one champion remains. Though there's a card game called 'strip poker' where the goal is to win your opponents' clothes."

[pirateangelbaby]

Oh, if you insist, captain. Thor obligingly picks up both glasses and the bottle, setting Kirk's cup on the floor and having to take a few tries to get upright again before he can drink more of his own. Not that he feels the beverages are in any danger, but really, there's no harm in humoring him. And it gets more whiskey in him! Win-win.

If the young captain was more sober, that look of wide-eyed scientific contemplation might remind Thor even more strongly of Jane, wrestling with any number of conundrums that she'd encountered when dealing with magic. She'd been quick to accept it as a science she did not understand, but that never did stop her from trying to understand. He sees the same in Kirk now, the gears grinding away as he struggles to outsmart the Allfather's enchantment.

Thor shrugs, a cheeky grin on his face as he takes another long drink from his glass. "You'd be trying a while. My girlfriend - ex-girlfriend, long story - she never got it to move either. She was a star scholar - er, astro... physicist?" It takes him a couple attempts to pronounce the latter coherently. "Lots of math. Didn't help at all."

[notasnake]

Spoiler alert: Aziraphale is never reading those books for the plot.

"See? Completely normal, angel." Humans can simply be introduced and hit it off without all the extra nonsense that romance novels like to include. The multiverse tends toward chaos, but the simplest explanation is usually the right one. Crowley grins down at Aziraphale and then turns a smile to Jim. "Glad it worked out for you two. It's a lovely party you're throwing."

He always forgets that what they are is a big deal to humans. Well, not all humans, but a large number of them are a bit ruffled by the news that they're an angel and a demon. Crowley chuckles as he shakes Jim's hand and then goes back to cuddling sprawling all over his angel. "We're not here to disrupt anything, promise," he assures Jim. "We heard about the invite and decided to see what kind of party the good people of the Nexus we're cooking up this time." With all the food and drink offerings, it's quickly rising to the top of Crowley's list of favorites.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Han was listening to what the Princess said, but not entirely hearing the message. Instead of picking up that she wished he was even more committed and that his skills were valuable, all he heard was the complaint. What he had done and what he had been doing, wasn’t satisfactory to General Organa.

“You’d think the entire success and failure of the entire effort rested on me, the way she says it.”

It irked him that she was so dismissive of him sometimes. Stars above, she was so difficult to get along with and it had only been made worse being cramped into a tiny base with Leia on Hoth. There had definitely been an uptick in arguments lately and he, at least partially, blamed it on the location.

“How was the ceremony?” He says, trying to be diplomatic by changing the subject. “Everything you hoped it would be or just happy to have all the planning behind you?”

[pirateangelbaby]

For someone who calls himself a god of thunder, among other things, Thor has never been terribly well-versed in the minutiae of all the different categories of deities and adjacents, other than to know now that, apparently, a Titan is not the same as a god when it comes to beings like Prometheus. (The Mad Titan, of course, was neither, a Titan in name only.) Pantheon schmantheon, a spirit is a spirit, but if Aziraphale is going to insist on terminology then all Thor can do is roll with it. They're not hostile, or cunning trickster types with an eye for exploiting his inebriation, and that's all that really matters in the end.

He makes an adoring sound in his throat at the description of Crowley's true form, able to picture it all the more easily because of the demon's usual color scheme. Chosen because of his scale coloration? Who knows. Doesn't matter. He sounds gorgeous. "Oh, what a beauty. My brother knows the same trick, the other way around. He likes a more emerald green sort of look, sleek and shiny. First shape he ever learned to take. Well, on purpose, I think."

Kicked out of paradise for knowing the difference between wrong and right? That's so bizarre that Thor can hardly get his head around it. What kind of god wouldn't want their people to know morality? Hel, Thor himself was banished from Asgard for being arrogant enough to think that nothing he did was wrong, and wasn't allowed back in until he learned what it meant to be Worthy. The opposite, though? Insanity. He shakes his head and immediately regrets it since the world is now spinning a little. "Why even have a tree like that if you're not supposed to eat the fruit?"

[ididntasktogetmade]

"I am Groot!" he replies, pleased that she thinks so. He's been dancing for long enough that he has to be good at it by now, right? Quill thinks so, but who can trust what he says to be true? If even a stranger can see it, he knows he can believe it. "I am Groot."

Now that the music is slower - and a little quieter - Rocket can hear the two of them over it, no problem. "He says you ain't bad at it yourself," he calls out with a toothy grin. "Might wanna sit down before you fall over, huh?"

[solobutnotalone]

They were just two people who were enjoying each other's company and she really needs that right now. This older Han has some of what she does respect of Solo but also something not unlike Bail. His presence is a comfort to her, though she wouldn't be so uncouth as to tell him he reminded her of her father.

They moved a bit apart from the other party goers,still plenty of music but also they could talk and she didn't feel the need to raise her voice.

And..

And he was a surprisingly good dancer. She was a bit taken aback when his steps were fluid enough to make her feel as if it might have been her leading. Surely that was not Solo, it must have been some other life experience this man had. It added to her enjoyment though and she stepped with him, perfectly happy in their proximity and not pushing in.

"I'm glad you agreed, I would have felt a little foolish if you hadn't. I'm not sure why I asked except that it's been a long time and tonight is turning out so much nicer than I'd thought it would."

[ididntasktogetmade]

The rapid backtrack makes Rocket grin in amusement, reminding him of Quill when the man's realized he's accidentally digging a hole for himself and making it worse. Which is a lot. And Rocket totally didn't miss that about him, really. Lies.

"Oh, she ain't gettin' rid of Groot," he says with a chuckle. "Kid takes a liking to somebody and that's it. 'specially if they got something in common." He watches Groot trying to lead Runa in a dance that he's just made up on the spot, energetic and chaotic and full of so much life that it almost brings an actual tear to the raccoon's eye. Almost. "Yeah, he's got... he's got a way with folks. Always did, even when he was big."

Rocket, not so much. But if Groot and Runa have decided to become friends, there's a good chance they're gonna run into each other again, so he looks back up at the guy. "Name's Rocket."

[chiron_survivor]

"Hopefully we'll see Dr. McCoy at the bar," Adia replies. Finding Spock sounds a little more daunting, but if Caspar is willing to brave the thick of the party, she'll tag along. "You've talked about him so much, Jim, it'd be a real honor to meet him."

When Felix scans the crowd and the remarks on his brother's knack for being scarce at parties, she can't help but grin. "Sounds like him," she agrees affably. "Something we have in common. Well, used to, anyway, it's a lot easier to be at social events when I know people." And when she has her husband with her, of course.

The subject of Halloween has been left firmly behind for magic cocaine, which Adia doesn't seem to know how to react. On the one hand, Caspar is being awfully flippant, but on the other hand, Jim apparently finds it hilarious, and Felix doesn't seem to mind, either. "Cocaine isn't fun," she feels obligated to point out.

"Hey, at least it's not magic meth," Caspar offers. The look Adia gives him makes him laugh out loud. "Okay, okay. Fine. Although I don't know how a draught that works like caffeine is any different than coffee."

[rogueinladysclothing]

She chuckles softly at the look on Thor's face. "I was taught, but I don't think I ever took advantage of the skill. I always stayed awake and let the others with me rest." Or insisted they all stop for the night to rest before rising early and riding out on fresh horses. It depended on the circumstances.

Her head tilts slightly to one side as she listens to him explain the two concepts, her cheeks darkening at that last bit of information. Ah, that explains a few conversations she's overheard in various parts of the Nexus now...

"A contest like that would be very subjective, would it not?" She's going to ask about the dancing to avoid talking about people taking their clothes off together. Amelia doesn't have the right life experiences to keep talking about something like that. "If it was simply a matter of who could dance the longest that would be an entirely different matter, but unless the judge of this contest chose a certain style of dancing, I can't see this being fair." Not that a contest has to be fair, but this seems like something that should have fair rules?

[mr_enterprise]

From someone else, that might sound like a cover story, but there's a sincerity with how Felix talks about his emperor that makes it seem all the more authentic. One hell of a coincidence then. Either way, the kneazle seems to fit the name just fine, accepting the soft chin scritches with feline satisfaction.

A friend of Mr. Spock's... yes, though not in the way that Felix likely intends. Kirk shares a look with his bondmate, fond amusement glinting in his eyes. "Oh, I'd say we're very good friends." There's no real gentle way to drop this sort of revelation on a man, no matter how much practice one has. "James T. Kirk," he says, as he has countless times across the years, and he still has to stop himself from adding the rank he no longer holds. It doesn't sting anymore, however, not when he has Spock at his side.

[boldygoing]

Speeches at weddings seems pretty par-for-the-course, and it's certainly their duty as honored guests to go listen. Who knows, maybe they'll get an amusing anecdote out of it, or some new and exciting Nirnish tradition to participate in. "By all means," he agrees, glancing around to find where Zunar has gotten to. Wouldn't do to get separated here; who knows what trouble the kneazle will get into in the meantime.

Fortunately, the orange fuzzball is in plain sight, rubbing up against someone else's ankles in hopes of getting free pets or tidbits from their plate. "Come on, get your butt over here," Jim calls out, earning him a mrraaaah of complaint, but pitter-pattering little paws as the cat follows the two men toward where Felix is going to be holding court.

[primelogic]

"If the younger captain has ever made mention of either of us, it is likely to have been me. We met under extremely singular circumstances. I am Spock, though not quite the same one he shares command with here."

Even now so much guilt hangs over thinking about the galaxy these young men and women inhabit. How different Spock's mistakes have led it to become. How much was lost that need not have been. It helps, seeing the crew happy and whole. Meeting the younger Jim's chosen partner and knowing that there will never be another time when the human is as alone as he was the day Spock sat down next to his hospital bed wondering if his friend could be saved.

The half Vulcan eases himself from his seat to move closer to his t'hy'la. Jim has set aside many of his own personal struggles to accept a home within the Nexus. Spock continues to try and do the same. Kirk may be the fully human one but Spock has always struggled more with his emotions.

"He and I met before he became captain of the Enterprise, and has looked after us--" Hand gesturing to his own Jim Kirk gracefully, "Since he learned I had relocated to the Nexus permanently. As for James Tiberius Kirk...it is not the first time you've met another almost like your new husband, surely. It seems to be impossible to keep a mind like his away from this place."

[heirtothearcane]

The scholar stifles a little smile. It wouldn't do to say anything disparaging of his wife, but he does wonder which of the two dancers is more likely to be caught out by the other. Runa may not know this strange dance she's being shown, but that's not going to stop her from giving it a good try.

"Rocket," he repeats, trying to make it sound less like a word and more like a name. He smiles at his new friend and gives a little nod. "I'm Viatorus. Nice to meet you."

[rebelscumfather]

It’s good that she has that much couth, because comparing him to her father would have certainly curbed his enthusiasm a bit. It’s a little bit difficult for him to mange all feelings he has just being around her and maybe on some level he can sense them — affection, appreciation, concern, worry, envy — it’s a storm of feeling, but he’s managed to keep a relatively straight-face through it all.

“The version of you that I know, she always did throw herself into work.” He says, letting that thought percolate for a moment before adding. “I always admired the way you went to tackle problems head on that most people wanted nothing to do with.”

But, that always takes a toll. Even when you’re as well adjusted and hardworking as Leia Organa. Being this close to him does offer a close view of him. He has his share of wrinkles and his shaggy hair has gone a somewhat distinguished shade of white-gray. What’s absent is the resting frown that she’s used to seeing from the other guy.

“I haven’t danced with anyone in a long time.”