Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lin couldn't help but look up from her meal and give Lothiriel a look of surprise. Sure she knew that weddings could be put off for a long while, especially in Haradhel and Elrohir's case.

"You haven't chosen a date yet?"

She didn't think Lothiriel would put something like that off, but then again one never knew.

Lothiriel frowned at Lin.

"Pen's family wants the wedding to take place in the Eastland, so that they can be there," she said as if it were something distasteful. "I don't know why, bragging rights I suppose."

Pen sighed. "I told you to forget about them. We can have it here, or forget the official wedding and just have our own little ... ceremony, wherever and whenever you want it!"

"But they're your family," Lothiriel pointed out, sighing and leaning more comfortably against him, since she was stuck there for the moment anyways. "They may be rotten to the core, but they are your flesh and blood."

"We could always invite them here," Pen pointed out in return.

Lothiriel raised one eyebrow. "And have them able to tell everyone they know that they've been personally invited to attend an official ceremony by the queen herself? I don't think so. They're full enough of themselves as it is."

Lothiriel looked up at Pen through half-lidded eyes.

"Dear?" she asked in an annoyed tone. "Would you care to explain? Far be it from me to speak ill of your family."

Pen nodded and released Lothiriel so that she could sit properly again, then leaned on his hands and looked at Lin sadly.

"I wish I could say she was exaggerating," he told her apologetically, "but truth be told, she was being kind. My family is quite horrible. When they first met her, as beautiful as she is, and despite the fact that she keeps very good care of herself when we travel, my family accused her of being a wh-- a tramp and was more rude to her than I have ever seen a being treated."

He sighed.

"They are in the magesterial position of New Kaliningrad, where I grew up," he continued, "and it has gone to their heads. They are little more than overseers, really, and yet they believe themselves to be royalty, though they have none of the blood in them. They treat all others as ... well, I could say commoners, but even that is being kind. They treat everyone like filth. Like dwarves, actually. To them, being invited here by Queen Atalya, especially for an occasion like a wedding, would just give them more reason to be proud, haughty, and rude to those less fortunate than they."

"They're awful," Lothiriel put in angrily. "I would not have been surprised if his mother would have slapped me just for traveling with her son."

Pen grimaced. "If you had been any less polite or formal than you were," he assured her, "she would have."

Lothiriel and Pen exchanged a glance, and they both smiled once more and turned back to Lin.

"No," they replied in unison, both back to their usual cheerful selves.

"And really we have no reason to please my family," Pen chuckled. "Even if we did have a wedding there, they wouldn't be happy. They never are, not where I'm concerned."

"Liar," Lothiriel teased him, flicking the point of his ear. "Your mother worships you. It's me she can't stand."

"She's just jealous," Pen smiled. "She'll get over it."

Lothiriel snorted in a most unladylike manner. "No, it's your old girlfriend who's jealous," she retorted. "She makes your family look fun."

Pen stuck out his tongue at Lothiriel. "She was never my girlfriend," he muttered darkly.

Lothiriel giggled softly and reached out to put her hand over his, then smiled at Lin.

"Unfortunately, there is no neutral ground where this matter is concerned," she explained apologetically. "My family being who they are ... well, I supposed it's really just safest if we skip a real wedding and just do our own thing."

"Sounds good to me," Pen agreed before she could take it back. "Now pick a day. Tonight? Tomorrow?"

Lothiriel slapped his hand playfully. "This is Aunt Elnara's day, ours will come," she told him cryptically.

Lothiriel smiled at Lin.

"Not right away," she replied softly, reaching for Pen's hand and taking it in her own. "First we'll be heading to the plantation, Pen hasn't been there yet and ... it's been a long time since I've been there. Besides, the last thing Uncle Lore and Aunt Elnara need is more visitors!" She laughed softly. "I'm sure they will have enough as it is."

"I assume they'll be at the ranch, then?" Pen asked. "I agree, there is certainly no lack of company there."

Earendil looked thoughtful. "I may try," he admitted. "I've never been out there, and Daeron's been talking about taking me ..."

Shiro looked thoughtful at Lin's reminder of the move.

"I've been meaning to ask," he murmured, looking sidewise at her. "Do you have any idea how much room there will be on the grounds? I mean, how many houses? Because I was thinking of asking if Ura and Kaito and I could live together on our own ... I think Kaa-san and Tou-san would like more space to themselves, and ... well, to be honest, Kaito needs more one on one time with me, and I need more space for my books and research and ... everything ..."

Shiro's eyes lit up brightly, glowing a bright red, and he folded his hands on the table in front of him.

"I think I would like that very much," he said softly, just about purring. He was glad for the suggestion - he could think of no occupation he would love more.