xp_logs | Sound of Silence - Isolation: Crystal, Forge

On the day of the wedding of Medusa and Blackagar, Crystal reflects on those who are not attending the happy occasion. Meanwhile, an uninvited would-be guest plans and attempts to attend the ceremony.

Attilan Date: November 11, 2007

Crystal stood in front of a mirror, examining her reflection. The dress fit perfectly. The shoes were just right. The necklace was stunning. She looked over at Medusa, who was still having her make-up done. This was a happy occasion, but even happy occasions now carried some burden of sadness with them. Their parents should be here. Their aunt and uncle should be here. Maximus should not have betrayed them all as he had done and then he should be here, too.

Everything should be right on a day such as this.

For her own purposes, Crystal didn't mind the lack of contact with the rest of the world. She'd intended to return to Attilan after the school year and remain there, hadn't she? Now, there was no choice in the matter. Crystal was on Attilan, and on Attilan she would remain.

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"John, you are crazy. Only the royals and members of Parliament are allowed in the wedding!" Cristina protested, nonetheless following right behind Forge as he squeezed through the crowd towards the large cathedral.

Forge smiled as he looked over his shoulder. "Relax. This'll be easy. I told you, I spent the last year working with Lady Crystal, and your Queen-to-be and I get along great. As soon as they know I'm here, they'll let us right in. How's my tie?"

Cristina laughed and pulled Forge up onto the ledge of a nearby fountain and re-tied his bow tie. "Like a young man about to see his friend become a Queen," she replied. "They will really let you in?"

"Trust me."

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There were many people gathered for the wedding, but not as many as there would have been under different circumstances. Most of these people were the citizens of Attilan, not personal friends. Crystal's thoughts turned to those guests Medusa had intended to invite to her wedding, most of whom had been at the palace five months earlier. Did Medusa regret that any on them were unable to attend? Both of the Amaquelin sisters had been sad when Nathan had missed the engagement party. They hadn't known that the last time they saw him would be the actual last time they would ever see him.

Only people who received official invitations were allowed to attend the ceremony itself; everyone else could watch on a giant screen. Crystal looked out at the gathered crowd. The wedding was needed, and it was needed now. People could complain all they wanted about the lack of communications with those outside of Attilan, but that was just how things were now. The sooner they accepted this new way of life, the better everything would be.

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"Trust me! Just let them know I'm here!" Forge insisted, but the purple-suited Royal Guardsman refused to budge.

"The wedding is closed to the public. No exceptions. Matter of national security." His face was impassive, but Forge swore he could detect a bit of smugness in the Guard's expression.

"John?" Cristina placed a hand on his shoulder. "You tried. They have a large screen set on the plaza, we can watch there, yes?"

Forge shrugged his shoulder out of her grip, eyes fixed on the Guardsman. "I'm telling you, if Lady Medusalith or Lady Crystal could just be told that John Henry Forge is here, they'll vouch for me, really!"

The Guardsman's eyes flickered to Cristina quickly, then back to Forge. "No exceptions, ~senhor~. Now please, do not cause a scene."

"John, please. Let us go. I am certain that you will find time to let them know you are here." Cristina tugged at Forge's coat, pulling him away from the stonefaced guard. "Do not let this anger you. Please, be happy for our Queen. For your friendship, for me? This is a glorious day."

"Yeah," Forge grudgingly agreed, allowing himself to be led towards the plaza. "Couldn't be brighter."

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Two of the Royal Guardsmen in charge of protecting Crystal were speaking in hushed tones and watching her even more closely than they had been before, if that was even possible. Moving her head only slightly, Crystal looked at the guards watching Medusa. They, too, seemed to be wary of something.

"~Is something wrong?~" Crystal questioned one of the guards.

"~No, your Highness~," he responded, coming to attention. "~Simply an overzealous well-wisher attempting to gain entrance to the ceremony.~"

"~He should have learned to bluff better,~" his partner agreed with a nod. "~The boy claimed to be a personal friend of you and the Queen, your Highness.~"

"~I see,~" Crystal replied. "~That is a rather silly thing to claim, is it not? All of the people from Attilan with whom Medusa and I are acquainted are already in attendance.~" She left it unspoken that anyone else they might have known could not possibly be on Attilan. "~Thank you for your diligence.~"