phoenixstrut | [AU] For the Greater Good

Yup, a stage kiss. Zaveid is fairly certain there's a half dozen glares aimed at him now.

He keeps that smile up, nodding to the audience with a bit of a wry edge to it.

"Party's in the middle." That's what they were waiting for, right? Either way, he's just going to tuck her hand on his arm and head out of the hall to transportation -

The captain of her guard looks particularly lethal, but no one else seems to notice as they make their way back down the aisle and out of the room. She says nothing, but keeps a fairly decent grip on his arm until they're out of the room and the doors are shut behind them, giving them just a moments reprieve in a separate waiting area while the guests mill about and make their own transportation arrangements. There are, of course, a handful of guards to watch over them, but moreso to keep well wishers and paparazzi away while the couple basks in their freshly married status.

It's quiet, of course, in the little gazebo as they wait for their ride, but her head is swimming in a rush. "Right... cake and things."

Had that just happened??? They were... really were...

Y u p. He feels that glare.

Either way, he's going to lead her to a seat - go ahead and take it, Dove, he can keep you steady from a few paces away. Which he is going to step off to lean against a pillar or wall or something should she let him go-

"Cake and things. ... Probably a lot of cake, if I know who set this all up..."

She takes the seat he leads her to, and though her gaze is on the gardens surrounding them, her focus is solely on him.

"Why the Middle and not the Low?" This entire union was about equality, right? Were... things really that bad, there?

"Not that many places big enough for a party." Zaveid shrugs, mostly paying attention to the guards about. Yes, he is a little wary. Surprise! Its still the High.

"I don't wanna clean up the mess." Yes, he is implying its only his house that might be big enough-

"Ah.." Right...

She rubs her arms, then studies the ring now circling her left ring finger in silence for a few moments in... almost resignation. Somehow this will work. ...if she can get through it.

If she can get through tonight.

"What is it like? The...um... " Castle? Manor? ...whatever the livable part of the Low is, not the terrifying dungeons that she's already seen once-

"It's.... solid." That makes sense, doesn't it? It's hard to explain.

"Whoever built it wasn't as into open spaces, so its a little closed off, but there's a decent amount of grounds before anything else." What else about his house-

It's His Place, what all does he talk about it...

"Don't think that it'll be that much different in interior space from what you're used to." Definitely less flowy airy hall space, but room space is probably pretty close.

She nods, then looks out over the gardens again. How much Light will she lose after staying in the low at Length?

"Will I... I mean..." Ugh, why is it so hard to ask these questions? The ring on her finger just feels heavier for some reason. "Will it be safe? Truly?"

Sure, she's been reassured everything will be fine, but from angels who have never had a place in his court-

Makes sense, that 'will I be safe in the land of demons' was probably the first think on her mind.

"As great as they've been in the diplomacy room... It's hard to sneak in past Velvet and Rokurou." The woman who feels vague disinterest and anger, and the cheerful man in japanese style clothing.

....

"And if anyone did make it in and threatened you, or something of the like..." Y'know, touched her or something-

"Then I'd get to rip them apart." Zaveid shrugs, and the jewelry on his horns catch the light. Sorry not sorry for the reminder that he's... king of the demons for a reason. probably.

A startled jolt of a laugh escapes her and she moves her gaze to him again, a little wide eyed. That's...Well. Honestly, she's not as surprised as she might have been once. At least he's firm in his husband-ish decisions-

"That's a step up, then," she tells him, though... good luck getting her to explain that one.

Lucky for her, their ride has arrived and her attention goes to the attendants that come with it.

So that's a time to check with Magilou on 'Unofficial Angel Visits', huh?

Either way, yep, attendants. Zaveid leaves his wall lean to offer his arm again - keep up the stage acting, maybe? But if she doesn't want, he'll keep pace with her to the car anyway.

She looks at him a moment, as if debating whether or not to take the offered arm, then rises and dusts off her dress before setting a delicate hand at the crook of his arm.

She does give him a little squeeze of reassurance, though. She's not the only fish out of water right now.

The ride to their destination is rather uneventful, if...too quiet. She spends her time staring out the window, her hands in her lap as the buildings go by. It's not a terribly long ride, but by the time they arrive, she's all pins and needles and anxiety again.

She... really needs a drink. Or twelve.

Fortunately, they'll be lead through a back door, and given their own space yet again as guests begin to fill the main hall.

Yeah, he doesn't have much to try to talk about either.

He's out of the car first, a hand to steady her on her way out, and maybe keep again as they enter.

It's... definitely more demon style decorated in here. There's still accents of the High's styles, and the food tables look pretty evenly split - although also mixed together. There's no Low-fare table or anything like that.

Good and mingled.. Oh, and the tables already have bottles of both.

There's one last nudge of confidence as Zaveid leads her to her seat, then takes up the one next to it.

The equal mixing of fare and flare at least pulls her attention for a few moments, even as they're assaulted with flashing cameras and cheers from their guests. While more than she would like stay together with their own, there's a decent amount of mingling between angel and demon kind, though they all seem particularly hesitant about the differing foods.

Oh well. At least they're trying.

She takes the seat he draws out for her, giving him a small, but genuine, smile as he takes his place at her side, then turns a devestatingly grateful look on the attendant that asks if she'd like a drink. In a matter of moments, she's settled in, satisfied to simply observe for now with the wine and Zaveid's secret confidence boost to calm her nerves.

"This is... really pretty," she notes, surprisingly pleased with the edgier decor.

"It works." The mix of styles.

Zaveid leans half out of his chair when he spots a server with a selection of dishes.

"Oo. I want some of that."

It earns him another small smile, even though she's... already halfway through her drink. "Yes..." Maybe this would, too. At least, that's what that little boost of confidence is saying for now.

As if able to hear the King's request, the server makes her way to their table with his offering.

Zaveid flashes a smile, and cheerfully collects just about everything that looks like dessert. Before nodding her over toward Dove. Make sure she eats something please.

Zaveid will be trying to figure out if he's had all these pastry varients for now-

She blinks at the mountain of sweets from over the rim of her glass, the corner of her lips quirking up a bit. So her Demon King has a sweet tooth.... that was interesting.

The server moves to offer Dove the selection next, but then there's a woman bowing behind her, respectfully asking for the Archangel's attention.

"If I may... Your gown is ready, if you would like to change, Lady Dove."

Another round of blinking, before a realization and the scratch of her chair against the floor. She almost simply follows the woman, but pauses, hesitates, and sets a hand to Zaveid's shoulder, bending a bit to press a chaste kiss to the side of his head before she disappears.

They are, after all, in the very public eye...

Surprise of all surprises that he likes to make them too, then-

Zaveid glances at the nearest demon council member he can easily make eye contact with - remember how he was like, oh, a few weeks is enough time? Yeah. This normal? Clearly the demon's faint nod is enough to help him realize this is normal.

.... Doesn't stop the stir of surprise - that she probably feels clearly - when she presses a kiss to the side of his face.

She's definitely in for a surprise when she gets back, however. Zaveid's chair is empty, his collection of desserts only picked at.

The demon king himself isn't that hard to find, his laughter loud and clear, the jewelry on his horns catching the light as he laughs at something.

Like most likely the human he has an arm about the shoulders of-

The surprise definitely gives her something to think about, but she only waves her fingers at him in parting as she's led away.

She returns not too terribly long after in a new gown, this one much simpler but still just as regal, and with a confused look on her face.

Her face which quickly goes pale at the sight of Zaveid in his full crown with his arm around a human. She can only gawk at the pair for a moment, before she looks around to see why on earth no one has intervened, though her council members look just as baffled as she does.

Only a few of the demons seem mildly alarmed by this, surprisingly, as Zaveid laughs to something the human said, and snags a new glass off a server's tray, swapping it out for the one the human was holding with a grin.

Bits of conversation drift over - Zaveid's voice clear and enthusiastic about... cosplay? The human, on the other hand, is starting to sound rather drunk...

She just... takes another drink from an assistant and makes her way toward them, drinking a slightly-too-large sip as she steps to his side and slips a free hand around his middle.

"So... who is your new friend, my L- ..Zaveid?"

Does she look like she needs an explanation? Yes. Very yes, despite the smile and the false familiarity. At least her wings are hidden.

The pretty drunk human-

"This is James." Zaveid takes a second but he mirrors the fake familiarity, adding his arm about her shoulders in return.

"He was admiring our costumes." And his gaze flicks to his hairline for a moment - the human thinks the horns are fake, Dove, and Zaveid's playing along-

"But I think he's had a bit much to drink. Probably time to get him a uber or something home, yeah?"

"Ah, right... costumes," she nods, not... at all convincingly. Now she gives him a look of barely hidden incredulity, but shakes her head. "An Uber is probably for the best... you know how wild these parties get. I'm sure there's someone around here who can escort him home."

And a not so subtle motion to one of her assistants behind his back.

How on earth...

He resists the urge to wink at her at the incredulity. He knows what he's doing!

... He isn't quite sure what Dove is going to have her assistant do, and catches the attention of one of his people.

"Right? Call one up for him?"

... Zaveid is going to keep casually plying the guy with more drink, right up until the demon says the car's here. Then he'll let the poor sloshed human go with his... angel and demon for each shoulder?

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