revivalproject | [OTA & closed] At least the Venue is beautiful...

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[OTA & closed] At least the Venue is beautiful...

WHO: Jon, Tony for the closed thread & YOU
WHERE: Ivory Chapel
WHAT: Contemplations and other stuffs
WHEN: During the Eorzea event
WARNINGS: %
NOTES: Let's not forget that Jon has an outfit as well.

I - Lamenting [ closed to Tony ]

The chapel is beautiful. Large and open, white stone with big, colorful windows to let in as much sunlight as possible - All very much the opposite of most of the churches Jon remembers having visited in London. Not that he has ever been religious or a regular church goer, but he visited a few out of curiosity - Or while doing research. This chapel? Is simply beautiful. And quite possibly built to fulfill the purpose most people visit it for: To have a beautiful, a perfect, a memorable wedding. It's no wonder the place has their hands full and the waiting list is filled, but at least the place remains open unless a private ceremony is booked.

Jon has picked a time between ceremonies to sit in one of the back rows and simply take in the view and the atmosphere in the chapel while cleanup and redecorating are taking place in surprising silence. Professionals, indeed. He has sent Tony a message while he had been back on his ship, asking to meet him there. If only to show him the place.

II - Seagulls, the sea and and- A book? [ OTA ]

Having grown up at the ocean himself, Limsa Lominsa offers a certain familiarity to Jon and he can't deny that wandering the city and just taking in the seemingly endless waters around offers a certain kind of comfort and nostalgia. He even came across actual books in the market and picket one up despite the unfamiliar letters and language. The Eye and still having the communications expertise are two powerful tools to tear down such language barriers. Fortunately.

Having found himself a spot to sit near the water, accompanied by a couple of seagulls, Jon is flipping through the book, reading a few passages to himself before turning to one of the birds with a raised brow. "It's a collection of short stories." The seagull looks at him, uncomprehending. "I think I will record a few of these. And see what other books I can find here." A 'Squawk' from the seagull as it turns towards the sea and flies away, disturbed by the approaching presence of someone else. Jon turns his head to greet the person with a nod.

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"Hrm." Jon comments on Tony's observation in regards of his costume before Tony's own comment earns him a small chuckle and a nod. "Also true. You could wear about anything and make it look good. Not many can claim that." But he also inclines his head at the suggestion Tony brings up. "They may do those, but I haven't asked. Acquiring certain supplies, however, is a good idea. I already picked up a few things myself." Especially books. Books he can record since hardly anyone will be able to read them. But he wouldn't mind some additional new clothes, obviously. A few treats, obviously. And a gift for Tony, of course. Since he isn't as crafty as the other man, he will have to fall back to the more common ways of acquiring presents.

"Let's head into Gridania and check the market. We should be able to find a few things we can use for when we get married in Cayde's bar." He says with a small smirk and a chuckle underlining his words. As much as it may sound like a joke, the bar at least doesn't make Jon feel out of place entirely.

Jon probably deserved to know when he succeeded so thoroughly at being smooth, but Tony tried his best to bit his lip through his flattered grin and keep his gaze coolly averted. Encouraging that behaviour would be unhealthy for both of them, surely. The expression was slow to fade as Tony tried to consider more seriously the actually necessary 'supplies', as Jon put it, much more practical, that they had the rare chance to procure while in a functioning society and bring back to their apocalypse. The hold of Tony's ship was already looking chaotic with tools, fabrics, and purportedly shelf-stable foods, and that was just from unfocused smuggling.

The rapid change in Tony's face came as Jon started to laugh, becoming anxiously tense again as he opened his mouth to answer while he was still searching for the right words, head tipped away defensively. "I think maybe we should leave him out of it, you know--" was still not a great start even after that awkward hesitation, and Tony tried to redirect, "Did you ask how they do weddings here? Maybe it's not so bad, they might let you tell the officiator how he's going to die and everything, you'd love that, hey, do you think they'd let us stay and watch one?"

Jon's attention shifts fully onto Tony now, and with it his frown after it has replaced the remnants of his chuckle. "Why would you want to exclude Cayde?" The Exo is both their friend, if not Tony's even more than Jon's. At least these two tend to get into a lot of trouble when together, sometimes leaving Jon to wonder what trouble he doesn't even know about. These two have way too much in common for their own good, but that seems to be an essential part of their friendship.

The question about being allowed to watch a wedding isn't one that Jon considers seriously. It rather feels like a joke to him. These are private events. Very private. Exclusive to family and- Well. Friends.

It was kind of a joke, a little bit, and Tony kind of hoped if Jon saw the ceremony his stubborn streak would win out and he'd want to have one of his own, whatever he felt about the chapel. That way, they could at least have this thing, however far from Tony's fantasy it was, and skip the awkwardness of actually having to tell their friends. Or think about the friends that weren't there.

Rapidly, Tony tried to insist, "It's not excluding him, he--" because it did sound bad like that, and Tony realized as he said it he didn't have a better word. He had to cast around at the stained glass for a rescue that wasn't coming, and had to be the one to admit, "We don't really talk about this, us." There weren't a lot of people that Tony did talk about his relationship with, it wasn't a skill he had, and it all just burned painfully in his chest. "And when I tried, I told him--I asked him about the wedding, and he didn't want to talk about it, so..." There was a lot going on in Cayde's bar during the karaoke battle, and Jon was very rapidly angry with them immediately after Tony's attempt, so he didn't have much more to defend himself.

That response does little to ease Jon's frown. So far Cayde has always seemed like he'd be open to share in the joy of those around him. Unless Jon has misread the Exo and the only thing he really is interested in is having fun in dubious and often destructive ways. Sure, he can be serious and even reliable, but at the same time very reckless and not one to be particularly mindful of potential danger to those around him that don't have a Ghost patching up their broken bones.

As he considers these things, his eyes drift off and his frown deepens. That's just it, isn't it? When Cayde and Tony are left together, left unsupervised, they act like little boys. Reckless, believing themselves invincible and never minding any dangers or consequences. And as a boy you're not talking to your best friend about the person you fancy. That's just... Not cool.

Having solved that puzzle for himself, Jon lets out a sigh and finally looks back to Tony, deciding to drop that particular issue for the time being to ask something else. "Alright. Why don't you tell me how your perfect wedding would look like."

That was an incredibly awkward silence, barely cushioned by the hush of the chapel, followed by what felt like a trick question to Tony, who had to reluctantly sneak a sidelong look back Jon's way to try to assess what he was trying to get Tony to admit. It wasn't like his 'perfect' wedding didn't include Cayde. It was complicated.

When he couldn't detect some challenge lurking in Jon's expression, his shoulders eased slightly, not entirely convinced he wouldn't be stringing himself up in a trap, anyway, and giving fidgeting tugs at the fingers of Jon's gloves. "It changes," he eventually produced. "The first time I was engaged, I was so young, and she was a society gal, you know, did the debut at the country club, kind of--So, the plan was always the big church, all white flowers, top hats and white gloves, very serious, bigger than just the two of us." He let his teeth drag slowly over his lip then, frowning and then shrugging, not a loss that he wanted to linger on right now. "The last time--well, I never got to give her the ring, she--Before she died, I had a whole plan, I knew I had to have it ready, and that one was barefoot on a beach, the sun setting, everything incredible colours and everything so light that I could just carry her across the sand all night." His fidgeting didn't stop, but slowed so he could tangle their fingers back together as he let his head dip deeper into his other hand where he could curl a tight hold in his hair. That hadn't really answered Jon's question, he knew that, and he gave an expectant, last tug at Jon's glove with another sidelong look through his lashes, like he needed an example of what Jon really meant.

"Huh." That's not quite the answer Jon has expected to receive, but at the same time he isn't too surprised to learn that Tony has a bit of a history of almost marriages. Which does lead to the question if this between them will only be the next addition to this existing row...

He lets Tony pull on his gloves, his own eyes dropping to follow the restless fidgeting for a few moments before moving back up to meet that inquiring gaze.

A shrug. "It's supposed to be a celebration. I wouldn't mind celebrating with out friends." He frowns a little. "I wouldn't want to have to try being secretive about it." Not only because he's literally terrible at keeping secrets.

The existing row was a pattern that Tony was very aware of, and realizing Jon's question had been a challenge after all did not help his already destructive anxiety about the same suspicion. He tsked and straightened in his seat to draw away, where he could tuck his own hands between his knees to try to stop their movement, and was startled into insisting defensively, "It's not like I want it to be a secret." It was too loud in the hush of the chapel, making him halt abruptly to recalibrate, focus dropping to stick distantly to the back of the pew ahead of them before continuing, "I did try to ask him, just..."

If Jon wanted a big wedding with all of his friends, he had picked the wrong partner. At best, he was losing what respect he did have in Temba. At least on Earth, Tony could trade on his name recognition and a couple of billion in the bank to realize Jon's dream anyway, and shield him from the worse reactions.

Even without a bank, people still had their price. One of Tony's hands had escaped to rub idly at his chest, and he still stared ahead as he promised, "I can fix it. I'll make sure anyone you want is there." There were plenty of ways of making money on this planet, Tony was just going to have to anticipate what everyone didn't realize they needed by the time they were back on Agra 10.

Jon reaches for Tony's hand before he can scratch his chest twice, squeezing tightly for an extra moment to ease Tony away from that anxious fit he is about to bury himself in. "This isn't only be about what I am picturing, Tony. I want to hear your opinions on the matter and my suggestions. Your feelings towards them. I need you to talk to me, however." A simple request, in theory.

A request Jon isn't pushing at the moment. If he wants an honest answer, pushing is hardly the right way. While Tony certainly needs a certain degree of pushing every once in a while, it's not necessarily easy to figure out the right direction. "Making sure you're comfortable and happy with our decisions is as important to me as is spending time with you." And he feels he fails at being a good partner if he can't make Tony smile. though he very much insists of calling them their decisions, because he won't be deciding anything by himself.

While Tony didn't stop Jon from taking his hand, whatever test he kept failing left it stiff in Jon's hold while Tony watched them together trying to figure out what he was supposed to stop doing, jaw tight in guilty frustration. He did his best to release it in a measured breath, nodding slowly to produce an attentive smile when Jon gave him the answer he was looking for, only, he thought he was talking.

"I will be happy, I am happy," he said, despite maybe sounding more adamant than happy right now, free hand out to establish that as the baseline they were working from. "There isn't anything that could happen at this wedding that I would regret, unless you hook up with an usher, which, listen, things happen at a party, we can work through it." Quickly charging on, to prove he was listening, he counted off on his fingers, "Cayde's bar, Cayde is there," of the things Jon had been pretty clear about, and had to double back, "You can hook up with Cayde, too-- it's-- I get it," only to suddenly pull at Jon's hand to lead him up and out of their seats.

The person hanging the decoration stared, once again not sure what to make of them as Tony went marching by with purpose, taking Jon up the aisle and into the flare of kaleidoscopic light at the front of the chapel, standing before all of the empty pews where that couple taking pictures outside had just made their vows. Tony finally gave a genuine, easy smile as he gave Jon one last tug into a closed hold like Tony would lead them into a dance, their joined hands against his shoulder and hug around Jon's waist. Standing where it was easy to picture the whole of the grand ceremony, the details like the scent of the flowers and who was sat closest to their exchange, Tony prompted, "What else?"

Tony's anxiousness doesn't really seem to leave him and rather turn into some anxiously manic energy that sweeps Jon along and he lets him talk and lead him through the chapel.

It's a strange feeling to walk up to the front, the center of the chapel's attention despite the place being mostly empty at the moment. There is a certain effect to it. An effect unique to this place. It's not a bad one either, but it feels just natural to focus his whole attention on Tony right thee and then. Tony is only making it easier by pulling Jon close.

He remains like that for a moment before a frown takes over his features. "I am not going to hook up with Cayde - Or anyone else, for the matter!" Jon insists, but doesn't step away from Tony. He doesn't do a too great job at sounding genuinely upset about those words, however.

The moment Jon's tone neared indignant, Tony was already chanting, "Okay, okay, okay, okay..." through a grin that he pressed to Jon's brow. That didn't mean he was done, and mused conversationally, "I guess I can be the one to do it." Before Jon could do any more huffing, he continued, "I'm trying to talk to you, boss, focus up. There has to be flowers, it's not a real wedding without an extraordinarily expensive amount of flowers. The little blue ones that--they look like forget-me-nots..." There was a brief reprieve as Tony finally hesitated, but it wasn't long, and he pushed his thumb into Jon's palm as though he had been the one that got distracted to say, "And some ground rules. No one is allowed to come without a date. If you show up alone, you will be given a state-assigned date at the door, and everyone has to be a little bit in love by the end of the night or what was even the point. And we should do that thing, where we don't see each other before the ceremony, because--I'll drive you too crazy, you'll be dragging me into bushes, you'll ruin my outfit." He was only kind of serious about any of that, and finally took a breath to give Jon the chance to complain and claw him back to something more reasonable, whatever image he had in his head that he was waiting for Tony to put into words for him.

Jon opens his mouth a few times to start arguing, but never really manages to get between Tony's words until the man pauses to breathe. "Flowers, food, music and everyone gets to enjoy themselves." No mandatory dates, sorry. And while he doesn't actively say it, Jon will frown at any inappropriate advances towards either of the Exos.

But for a moment he considers a different option. The beach unfortunately isn't really one anymore. "The library garden. We put a lot of work into it already..." A pause, but then Jon is quick to add: "We're not making everyone go through the maze and solve puzzles!" Their guests can do that for fun for all he cares, but he's not going to make that a requirement.

So far, that all sounded like encouragement of Tony's ideas, and to further expand on how they could be improved with food and music to ensure the romance was shared. He nodded, eyes narrowed thoughtfully in a way that must have looked dangerous, because he was wondering if any of the awful surprise effects of perfectly innocent looking leaves in Temba were an aphrodisiac. This way, he was primed to raise his eyebrows with intrigue at the suggestion of the garden, which Jon read seamlessly and had him pouting, finally discouraged. "You just want the animals there," he accused flatly.

The accusation puts a grin on Jon's face and he gives Tony a small pat to his shoulder for his very much anticipated pout. "They're part of the family, Tony." He counters playfully. "They will be present regardless where we go." Especially the ones that like to follow either of them around, which a few of them tend to do almost all the time. Some of the mothcats are incredibly talented of staying nearly undetected.

The dramatic roll of Tony's eyes to try to insist the mothcats were more a pest that invaded their home was rapidly derailed as Tony suddenly flushed mid-roll, overtaken by a giddiness that he couldn't really hide even with his lips pressed purposefully together, and he gave his own restless patting as he tried to figure out how to contain it in his hands as well. The solution ended up being Jon's face, which Tony took in both hands, thumbs still petting with pent up energy from the reminder that the wedding wasn't just a party they were planning. "You know what I actually think about the most, if I think about it, all of the time, kind of--It's dancing with you, after we do the whole thing, it's done, I keep thinking about that dance," he said. Maybe he could plan a whole event around making that image in his head a reality.

Having both of Tony's hands suddenly on his face with two thumbs... Kneading? Massaging? Stroking? Well, it's a strange shift. And one that guarantees that Jon's attention is entirely on Tony when the man shares these feelings of his.

Jon can't help but respond with a warm smile. This is important to Tony. And the restlessness of his hands only emphasizes that fact. "Glad to hear you're excited about it." Jon says, wrapping his arms loosely around Tony's waist. "I was about to wonder if I'd have to chase you down for that dance." Chase him down to make them both the center of attention again.

Right, other people would still be there, probably, that was probably worth worrying about, it was kind of different than the formal contract ceremony part, that was basically a business deal. Tony squinted thoughtfully, like he had to consider this very seriously to report, "Not the first one. The rest, you'll have to pay for." He let his fussing hands drop, mostly because he felt awkward about the focus now that he had made his confession and the only thing Jon had halfway admitted that Toy could tease him about was the mothcats, yet busy fingers alighting on Jon's elbows. "Any other reason to chase me?"

If Jon ever catches Tony referring to their wedding as a business deal, he will have to slap the man.

"Plenty of reasons." He admits instead, leaning closer in a way that forces him to tilt his own head back further if he wants to maintain eye contact. "And every time I catch you, I will make you kiss me. For everyone to see." If this wedding will turn into a cat and mouse game, Jon may at the very least ascertain his claim with every capture.

This new weapon that Jon was apparently harnessing might be effective at making Tony do a lot of things. It effectively delayed Tony's easy retort, anyway, mouth open and eyebrows raised and not entirely sure what to do with Jon looking up at him like it was a threat, and it was still heat dripping down his spine as he took Jon's arms more firmly to ground himself. "Focus," he accused, "I'm trying to ask you about our wedding, not your exhibitionist thing, listen, this is what I'm talking about, we can't see each other before the ceremony, you're insatiable."

And yet again only Tony would be referring to their love as a weapon.

He makes a pleasantly bemused little noise when Tony grasps his arms and doesn't even bother to try hiding his smug smirk. "Insatiable is not synonymous with irresistible, but we both know what you mean to say." Jon hums, wiggling his fingers behind Tony's back and giving him a single pat to indicate that Tony can release his arms now.

"Come on. Let's find something suitable to wear while we're here. I'm certain the next ceremony will start soon anyway."

While Tony did briefly pout with a reluctant squint up into the fractal of colours that Jon wanted them to leave, and was already opening his mouth to complain, he responded with his own pat to Jon's arm, then tug to turn him back down the aisle where Tony could follow close behind him. "Your ego is getting out of control, boss, that's dangerous, I can't imagine what that's like," he was defending, like Jon couldn't feel the hand tracing down the enticing line of his jacket, landing where it was fitted to his waist like nothing else Tony had seen him in, and circling like Tony was trying to measure. In the same breath, "Are you sure you don't want to stay and watch? Could get us further than 'at the library, you're a menace, still debating the nude dresscode'." Tony didn't really want to infringe on the intimacy of someone else's wedding, either, but he was looking over his shoulder back at where they had stood, letting Jon guide them out. It probably wasn't right for them, Jon was right. That still felt unfair. Getting this far had been hard enough, some part was supposed to be easy.

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[OTA & closed] At least the Venue is beautiful...

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