Faction Wedding of Lady Athlea and Diarch Rellik (DIA & Friends)

[Judah Dashiell]

Saul Whesai | Liin Terallo
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There was a small nod of acknowledgement to Mister Whesai. Judah was skeptical of the man at first but Liin had assured him he was harmless. From their limited interaction the boy seemed fine enough, just perhaps young and aloof. Much like Liin herself. Judah found it odd the two weren't together - even attending this shindig as mere friends.

It wasn't his place to pry.

Unlike the last wedding he attended, this was indoors and no birds to observe. Instead he craned his head around, looking at the architecture inside. That was until the music changed and signaled the bride would be making an entrance. A rustling of fabric as the entire wedding party stood, waiting for the arrival of the bride.

Reaching out, he gave Liin's hand a brief, reassuring squeeze. The poor woman couldn't relax, too focused on something going sideways. He didn't suspect anything would, security already seemed tighter.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto let out a low, rumbling chuckle that rolled faintly through his chest, the sound carrying a mixture of reluctant amusement and quiet resignation. In truth, he had very much been dragged into position, Aknoby determined grip proving surprisingly effective against a being who could, under other circumstances, move armored battalions with a word. The Chiss boy's persistence had physically guided him into place just in time.

It was a feat that might earn the young man a stern lecture later. Or perhaps not. Laphisto had not decided yet. He cleared his throat softly, drawing in a slow breath as he steadied himself beside Iandre. For all the wars he had fought and commands he had issued across centuries, moments like this carried a different kind of weight. His gaze settled on her for a moment, the faintest hint of warmth touching his otherwise composed expression before he inclined his head.

"Aye… I'm here now, Though I suspect I was given a bit less time to arrive with dignity than I might have preferred." His eyes flicked briefly toward Aknoby behind them, a subtle look that carried more long-suffering amusement than reprimand, before returning to Iandre. "I haven't done one of these in ages, At least not as a simple guest."

The words lingered there for a moment, and beneath them rested the unspoken truth that most ceremonies in his life had been marked by war councils, armistices, funerals, or the formal bindings of political necessity. Rarely had he stood in a place where the stakes were not survival or strategy, but something gentler.His gaze followed hers down the aisle toward Rellik waiting at the far end, and the weight in his chest settled into something steadier.

"You will find, that the hardest choices are rarely made on a battlefield. Steel and blasterfire are simple things. They leave little room for doubt Choosing a life with someone," he added, his voice lowering just enough that it was meant for her alone, "that requires far more courage than war ever demanded of me."

For a brief moment he looked at her fully, not as a commander observing a soldier, but as a father watching the child he had raised step forward into a future of her own making. Pride sat there plainly, quiet and immense." You will not walk alone tonight," he said. The music swelled softly around them as the signal carried through the pavilion, lanternlight casting warm halos across the gathered guests.

Laphisto drew a steady breath, then stepped forward with her. His stride was slower than a soldier's march, deliberate and measured, matching her pace as they began the walk down the aisle. The rhythm of command and battle that had defined most of his life faded into the background with each step. For once, he was not leading troops into war. He was simply walking beside his daughter as she chose the life waiting for her.

Iandre Athlea Diarch Rellik

 

[Darth Nexion]

Nexion was late... quite late. Fortunately, not late enough that he missed the entire reason he hightailed it to the place. It really is a pain when your messages don't arrive in a timely manner, and only a few hours before the event.

Regardless, he was here. His suit was pure black (he has a theme), but that helped him slip in without interrupting anything. He simply found a place near the back and hoped he went unnoticed (for the first time in his life). From what he could gather, they were simply awaiting the bride, which was good, it definitely meant he hadn't missed the main event.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra heard the voice as well, faint through the edge of Vulpesen's comm, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly.

Her gaze remained forward for a moment, resting on the lantern-lit aisle and the quiet pavilion waiting beneath the open sky. Guests were settling, conversation softening into the gentle hush that came before a ceremony.

"Garlan is… thorough," she said quietly.

A trace of humor warmed her tone.

"I appreciate a man willing to sacrifice himself in the name of beverage safety."

Her golden eyes shifted briefly toward him, then, catching the small motion as he scanned the gathering crowd after the transmission ended.

"The fact that he reported it means you trained him well," she added. "Even if his priorities seem slightly… flexible."

Ra folded her hands lightly in her lap again, posture relaxed but composed.

"I imagine Harlow would have delivered the same information with fewer words."

Her gaze returned to the pavilion where the ceremony would soon begin. The music floated softly through the gardens, the atmosphere settling into anticipation.

"For tonight, enthusiasm may not be the worst trait for a security officer," she said after a moment. "It means he wants this to go well."

She let her awareness drift briefly across the gathering. A surprising mix of presences, some light, some shadowed, all sitting in uneasy harmony for a single purpose.

"That is more than can be said for most gatherings of this many powerful people."

Her expression softened slightly.

"But they are here for Iandre and Rellik. That tends to encourage good behavior."

Vulpesen

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Tertius caught him just before he cleared the last stretch toward the pavilion.

A hand reached up and straightened the bowtie at his collar, followed by a quick brush across his shoulders as if making certain everything sat properly.

Rellik let out a quiet breath of a laugh through his nose.

"You always did have an eye for fashion and class," he said, allowing the adjustment before clasping the man's forearm once in thanks. "I appreciate you coming."

The moment lingered only a second before he stepped away again.

The pavilion waited ahead beneath the open sky. Lanternlight drifted across the garden and over the gathered rows of guests. Voices softened as he stepped into place, the quiet anticipation of the crowd settling around him as people finished taking their seats.

Rellik rested his hands loosely before him. The silk of the gold cummerbund caught faint glints of light beneath the open jacket as the music carried softly through the estate. For a moment he simply breathed, letting the sounds of the evening settle around him.

Then the music changed.

His attention shifted down the aisle.

Across the garden he saw them waiting there at its beginning.
The breath in his chest stalled halfway out. His throat tightened before he could stop it. Rellik blinked once, forcing his eyes steady as the first hint of water gathered there. A large smile pushed up into his cheeks despite himself, the kind that made it impossible to hide what the moment meant to him.


He held himself upright out of instinct. Shoulders squared.

For the first time in a very long time he felt none of the weight. It was complete love. A fate he never believed in for himself. Is my destiny to be Diarch.

Rellik drew one slow breath through his nose, steadying himself as they began the walk toward him, doing his best to keep the emotion from completely taking his strength.


Iandre Athlea Laphisto Tertius C. Nargath - And everyone else <3

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre listened quietly as Laphisto spoke, the faint warmth in his voice reaching her long before the words fully settled. His chuckle, low and steady, grounded the moment, calming the last quiet tremors in her chest.

For all the battles she had survived, all the years spent navigating the uncertainty of a galaxy that had moved on without her, this moment carried a weight that felt strangely different. Not heavier. Just…deeper.

She glanced briefly over her shoulder at Aknoby when Laphisto mentioned dignity, the faintest trace of humor touching her lips before her attention returned to the towering figure beside her.

"He meant well," she murmured softly.

Her eyes lifted to meet Laphisto's for a moment as he spoke of courage and choices, the quiet sincerity in his words settling into her like an anchor. There had been many commanders in her life. Many teachers. But few who had stood beside her through both war and peace the way he had.

"You taught me how to stand when everything else was falling apart," she said quietly. "This…is simply the first time I get to stand for something joyful."

She did not lean on him as they began the walk, but her arm rested with quiet confidence in his as they moved forward together. The measured pace matched the calm rhythm of her breathing, each step carrying her farther from the life she had known and closer to the one she had chosen.

Lanternlight glowed across the gathered guests as the music rose around them, but her attention gradually narrowed toward the figure waiting beneath the pavilion. Rellik.

The moment their eyes met, the world seemed to soften around the edges. She saw the emotion in his expression immediately, the way he tried to hold himself steady despite it. It stirred a warmth in her chest that no battlefield victory had ever managed to match.

The small smile that touched her lips was not the reserved composure she often carried into formal gatherings. This one was quieter. Softer. Entirely unguarded.

For a moment, she simply held his gaze as she continued forward beside Laphisto, letting the distance between them close step by step.

When they reached the final stretch of the aisle, she slowed just enough to glance briefly up at Laphisto once more.

"Thank you," she said, her voice low and sincere. "For walking beside me."

Then her attention returned fully to the man waiting for her.

When she finally came to a stop before Rellik, the quiet joy in her expression had deepened into something steady and certain. The lanternlight caught in the dark braid resting across her shoulder, the simple elegance of her gown framed by the warm glow of the evening.

"Hello, love," she said softly.

The words were simple, but the warmth behind them carried the weight of everything they had survived to reach this moment.

Laphisto Diarch Rellik Aknoby

 

[Liin Terallo]

The wave caught my eye before I could stop it. For half a heartbeat I simply stared at him, hoping that I was mistaken. That perhaps my mind had conjured the familiar shape of a man who had once shadowed my steps like a dutiful ghost. But no. He smiled. And with that same seemingly love-struck grin too.

I forced a polite nod in return before quickly redirecting my attention forward, heat creeping into my cheeks. Of all the people who could have ended up seated within my line of sight, it had to be him. A big part of me had suspected he still held… sentiments. I had simply hoped distance and time might have cured them.

Apparently not.

Judah’s hand closed gently around mine, grounding me before my thoughts could spiral too far. I glanced at him, offering a small smile of reassurance that was perhaps meant more for myself than for him. He thought I was worried about something going wrong. In truth, I was. My eyes drifted again, instinctively mapping exits, balconies, and the quiet movement of security among the guests. Weddings were supposed to be peaceful affairs. My life had a habit of disagreeing.

Then the music shifted. Fabric rustled as the entire hall rose to their feet. At last the bride has arrived. For the first time since arriving, my attention settled - if only briefly - on something that wasn’t a potential threat.

Tags: Judah Dashiell Saul Whesai

 

[Saul Whesai]

Well, that was awkward... The young man's face fell as soon as Liin looked away before turning back to the moment at hand. It was clear that at least she wasn't in a dancing mood. Ones, that was probably the worst mood he had ever seen Liin in. Guess the distance between them had only grown over the past months. Guess he had better get used to it.

Curiosity made him glance at Liin one more time, and he saw him ready to bolt for the exits. Judah was the only thing holding them back. Saul thought about doing something crazy. And then he did it, reaching back to put his own hand on her knee, saying as he faced forward. "Relax Liin, all of the Diarchy's security apparatus is here. It's gonna be alright." The Cyborg doubted it would help, but hey, he tried. But then the entire hall stood up, and after he figured out what was happening, he stood up too. He really should have looked up what weddings were before coming to this thing.

Liin Terallo Judah Dashiell

 

[Viari Banu]

As Viari listened he couldn't help but compare and appreciate the shared and equally different customs of their people, admittedly he became a little flustered when she turned the question on him, making his feathers ruffle and bashful eyes momentarily flick towards her and away again as he tried to formulate an answer. It wasn't awkward, only he hadn't really given it a subjective view before now, he supposed given the topic at hand he should have expected it.​

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"Ah, well..." He said, chuckling at her comment, "That's one method, yes. Although it tends to be more focused on vocalisations and affection, most Rishii form their relationships from a young age and it's often known who will be in whose nest long before they're ready, dancing and trinket giving is just a way to reinforce those bonds. Although, most of our parents do not raise the eggs, or fledglings alone. Most parents keep their eggs with others, in shared communal nests usually owned by a family or the entire flock on occassion. We are hunter-gatherers, so it's sort of necessary to free up our parents to get the food, whilst the elders teach us song and hunting techniques." He explained, "Rishii don't have a vocabulary, not in the traditional sense anyway, we just steal everyone elses and learn their song. According to stories, before Eostre blessed us with sentience, we used that song to attract partners and mates. Now? It's something of a currency for my people. Like your credits!"​

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Viari relaxed into his seat, moving his tail to curl around Zaytee's and try to offer her comfort, "Although, this ritual is new to me. We tend to renew our vows through song, dance, or well... you know." He chirped sheepishly. "Maybe friend-Zaytee can take me to your people sometime, and I can learn their song?"​

Zaytee

Div created by Makeb​

 

[Aknoby]

Aknoby watched everything with a smile, saw Iandre's entire journey and
at the end of it stood next to Laphisto, glancing around out of habit.

He took a slow, deep breath to slow down. Everything was fine,
and if it wasn't, well, most people there knew how to deal with any problem.

He glanced quickly at Laphisto,
then looked back at Iandre and Rellik as they entered into the solemn part of the wedding.




Laphisto ​