The Wedding

[smelltheashes]

Two weeks ago, the Greenbrier's courtyard was an overgrown mess, the product of twenty years' neglect. Now, the grass has been cut, the weeds have been pulled, and a couple of small saplings have been chopped down to make room for the day's festivities.

On the east end of the courtyard is a simple stage, fashioned mostly from plywood with a coat of white paint slapped on, upon which the wedding ceremony will take place. The rest of the space is filled with folding chairs, and various crates and boxes the organizers resorted to when they ran out of chairs.

If you want to get a good seat, you'd better hustle.

Comments

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon smiles back. And Barney breathes a sigh of relief.

"All right, then. Gordon? Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in this union? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only unto her so long as you both shall live?"

There's a pause.

"You have to actually use words, Gordon..."

[vance_prime]

Alyx might be suppressing a chuckle of her own.

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon coughs. "I will," he says aloud.

"Good," says Barney firmly. "Now. Alyx? Will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in this union? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only unto him so long as you both shall live?"

[vance_prime]

"I will."

[smelltheashes]

Barney nods. "All right, then," he says. "It's time for the exchange of vows- that means we're back to the words, Gordon. You know 'em by heart, so..."

Gordon nods. He spent long enough memorizing them, after all.

"I take you, Alyx, to be my wedded wife," he says. "I pledge that I will love you and tenderly care for you in sickness and in health, when life is peaceful and when it is in disorder. I will honor your goals and your dreams, and help you to realize them."

A deep breath, because- well.

"And I vow to share my life with you through the best and worst of what is to come."

[vance_prime]

Alyx takes a deep breath of her own (as deep as she can when she's as pregnant as she is.

"I take you, Gordon, to be my wedded husband. I pledge that I will love you and tenderly care for you in sickness and in health, when life is peaceful and when it is in disorder. I will honor your goals and your dreams, and help you to realize them. And I vow to share my life with you through the best and worst of what is to come."

[smelltheashes]

"Almost there," Barney murmurs. "You're doing just fine, both of you... At this point we'll be needing the rings."

[g00d_d0ggie]

And that would be Skitch's cue! He hovers over and holds up his cushion with a cheerful chirp.

The rings are simple steel bands meant to be worn on the pinky finger; the only embellishments are a tiny steel lambda engraved on each one.

[acts_of_gord]

Barney nods and reaches up to take the rings and hand one each to Gordon and to Alyx. "A circle," he says, "is the symbol of the sun and the earth and the universe, of wholeness and perfection, and peace and love. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey together. Wear them proudly, for they are symbols which speak of the love that you have for each other. And now, Gordon, if you don't mind..."

He gestures to Gordon then. Gordon nods and reaches for Alyx's left hand, and says, "In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed."

(Sometimes the older forms just have all the impact.)

[vance_prime]

Alyx slides the other ring onto Gordon's finger in turn. "In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed."

[acts_of_gord]

"With this statement made of love and trust, which we have just heard," Barney says, "I now wish you to greet Gordon and Alyx as husband and wife. You two can kiss now, if you're so inclined."

Well, Gordon certainly is...

[vance_prime]

And so is Alyx. Funny how that works.

[smelltheashes]

And this would be the part where the assembled crowd cheers themselves stupid.

[vance_prime]

And the happy couple? Just keep right on kissing.



Until Alyx finally gets a polite tap on the shoulder from Chell.

"Um. Alyx? Kate wants us all to get into the receiving line for the reception..."

[acts_of_gord]

"Sorry," says Gordon a little sheepishly, as he lets go of Alyx. Not that he's going far, you understand. "We, um. Should."

[vance_prime]

Alyx is beaming and probably will be for the rest of the night.

"Shall we?" she says, offering Gordon her arm.

[acts_of_gord]

He takes it.

"Let's."