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 Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:52 pm
"If you and Lee were to step out of this place, though, would you still be considered a married couple?" Mrs. Katan elaborated, though now wondered about when they had kids. Was she so sure she didn't want them legally married if that meant Lee's babies would be bastards? Either way, she seemed to lose.
Frowning at Rory's words, Mr. Katan seemed even more disappointed. Lee had proposed? No, no, that was all wrong. He looked down at the table with disbelief. "So... there was no standing on one knee with a nice ring at all? And there'll be no cathedral wedding, no wedding rings, no white dress... I'm assuming there's no honeymoon, either, hm?" This wasn't at all what he'd looked forward to. He could handle his daughter marrying Rory -- he was a fine kid, as far as he could tell -- and it wasn't as if Lee hadn't almost been married to a man she knew much less, but this just wasn't acceptable. Lee deserved the best.
Lee fidgeted some, wanting to know the answer to her father's question before she spoke up again. She hadn't thought about the honeymoon, but she could do without the cathedral. The dress, however, was a must, though it didn't necessarily have to be white...
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:08 pm
"Lee can wear whate'er she wants t' th' weddin'," Rory answered, not really sure why that was important. "I mean, we generally do like t' get in some nice clothes fae it an' all. I'd hae gotten down on one knee if Lee'd given me time t' get th' chance, but th' Claddagh's a nice enough ring. It ain't got any diamonds, tha's true, but the symbolism o' it means a lot more than any jewel. She wonnae need any other ring if she has tha'. W' donnae wear weddin' rings." Rory looked at his parents for help, figuring the Katans hated him again just when he'd been winning them over.
Mr. McCormick stepped forward and held out his left hand so the Katans could see the well-worn length of ribbon twined around his wrist. "We tie a ribbon around th' couple's hands as a physical representation o' th' bond they share wi' their love. After th' ceremony, they stay tied fae th' night durin' their--what did you call it? Honeymoon? Once the ribbon's cut enough for them t' be apart, tradition is fae them t' wear their halves o' it. It's as good as any outsider weddin' band an' prolly means a lot more. I know tha' some didikai couples get bracelets an' th' like, sometimes wi' their part o' th' ribbon inside, t' be a more lastin' version. I think Fao an' Elle got tattoos on their wrists o' their ribbon." He looked at Lee for confirmation, since she'd lived with them.
Rory looked at Mrs. Katan, not sure how to answer her. "Generally outsiders recognize an' respect wor traditions when it comes t' wor marriages an' all tha'. It's not a legal marriage by outsider standards, though, nae. I think you call it common law marriage. As far as Lee an' I are concerned, it'd be as much a marriage as any 'cathedral weddin' would be, but we wouldnae hae a paper t' prove it." He took hold of Lee's hand tightly, oddly long fingers curling about hers, fearing they'd whisk her away any moment.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:36 pm
Folding his hands together on the table, Mr. Katan looked down, shaking his head a bit, feeling rather defeated. Sighing, he looked up at his daughter. "And you're okay with this, Lee? This is what you want?"
Smiling to her father, then to Rory, Lee shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, I dun care what the wedding is like as long as I look pretty." She giggled a bit, trying to cheer her father up. She knew he'd take it hard, and was actually a bit relieved at how little a protest he was putting up.
"We have our own traditions, you know... Is it too much to ask that you propose to her properly?" For Lee's sake, he just wanted Rory to ask her the traditional, romantic way; the way he'd asked his wife, and how his father had asked his mother... This whole thing was craziness, but if the Katans could get the satisfaction of that one part of the marital process being done their way, that was enough. Perhaps it wouldn't be exactly how he'd planned, but he could live it. Or at least he hoped he could.
Mrs. Katan sighed with relief, thinking to herself that it was all just how she viewed the marriage now that she knew there were no legalities involved. She would just think of it as a serious relationship. Marriage was all about that paper Rory had mentioned, at least as far as she was concerned. If they had no way of proving it, no paper trail for those in the upper districts to follow, she could handle it. That is, until there were babies involved.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:38 pm
Rory chuckled. "As you wish, sir." He looked at Lee, holding out his hand. "Can I hae th' Claddagh back a moment, love?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:45 pm
Lee blinked, nodding a bit as she took the ring from her finger, noting how bare it felt as she put it in Rory's palm.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:47 pm
Getting down on one knee, Rory took Lee's hand in his, holding up the ring in his free hand. He grinned up at her. "Lee, I'd be honored if you'd be me wife. Will you marry me, girl?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:59 pm
Lee bit her lip, giggling softly at how ridiculous and cute this was. She couldn't take it as seriously when Rory was somewhat forced into this, but found it sweet either way. Playing her part in the act, she smiled softly down at him, genuine adoration clear on her face. "Yes." She couldn't help but laugh as she said the word, both with amusement and joy. "Of course I will."
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:09 pm
Rory slipped the ring on her finger and stood up to pull her into a passionate kiss, not caring that their parents were in the room with them.
"Lad, just be sure t' come up fae air eventually," Mr. McCormick said, clearing his throat. He looked over at the Katans. "Looks like w' got a handfastin' t' plan."
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:24 pm
Lee's cheeks were starting to hurt from all the grinning she'd been doing, but couldn't keep herself from continuing to smile, even as Rory kissed her. As if she didn't notice their parents in the room or hear Mr. McCormick's words, the girl kissed him just as passionately back.
As Rory slid the ring back onto Lee's finger, Mr. Katan smiled faintly, knowing his daughter would be happy, at least for as long as the infatuation they had for each other lasted. Whether they really loved one another or not, he didn't know yet. His smile faded a bit as he noticed Rory's fingers. They certainly were unusual. Looking at Mr. McCormick, his eyes widened and darted to Kendra's as well, realizing it was hereditary. That meant... his grandchildren would have the deformity, too? His shoulders hunched forward, though he kept himself from saying a word. Blinking and looking up at Anson as the man spoke to him, he nodded a bit, shrugging. "We don't really know how all this is supposed to go about. We've never even witnessed a... 'handfasting' was it? That isn't to say we won't help. Hell, we wouldn't mind paying for everything, would we?" He turned to his wife, who was remaining unusually quiet. She nodded, looking off, not making eye contact with anyone in the room.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:29 pm
"Really? I hear tell your wife witnessed a handfastin'," Mr. McCormick said, looking at Mrs. Katan. "Ain't tha' reett? When Lee got herself married t' Keagan's halfbreed fae awhile. True tha' wisnae exactly how one goes, but I'm sure your wife got th' gist."
Rory stepped back from Lee, panting a little after the kiss, his hand stroking her cheek gently. The look in his eyes as he gazed at the girl before him showed pretty clear that there was no infatuation there. He truly did love Lee.
Mrs. McCormick, smiled at the young couple, then looked at the Katans. "W' can gi' you a crash course on how th' ceremony's supposed t' gae, an' then w' can discuss th' meal afterward. You outsiders eat after a weddin', too, reet?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:47 pm
Mrs. Katan raised her eyebrows, closing her eyes with annoyance. "Don't remind me..." That had been a particularly terrible moment from a particularly terrible day. She wasn't looking forward to reliving it, either.
Breaking the spell Rory seemed to have over her, Lee was suddenly aware that they were not the only ones in the room. Giving the boy another quick kiss before breaking the gaze, she looked over at Kendra. She smiled down at the girl, hoping she was taking this well. "Is it okay if I marry your brother?" She'd be joining the family whether the girl liked it or not, but didn't want her to hate her when she was stealing Rory's attention and affection.
Being called an outsider almost felt like an insult for some unexplainable reason, but Mr. Katan tried to ignore his pride. "Yes, that's how it goes. Do you do the wedding cake here, as well?" He smiled back at the woman, thankful that she was at least trying to get them caught up. "Any kind of example would be wonderful."
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:56 pm
"I'd be annoyed if you didnae marry th' idiot after gettin' his hopes all up," Kendra laughed and Rory ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Aye, w' do cake," Mrs. McCormick said, nodding. "Prolly not th' same kind as what you do at weddin's, but you cannae invite tha' many people t' any event an' not expect t' feed 'em, am I right?" She grinned at Mr. Katan, warming up to the man a little. "You prolly host enough parties. you know what I'm talkin' about, eh?"
Mr. McCormick just shook his head a little, chuckling at his wife, then looked at the Katans. "Th' ceremony's pretty simple. W' hae a few witnesses--tha'd be us lot--an' th' kids say a few words, basically promisin' themselves t' each other an' all them other vows, then Keagan does th' handfastin'--tha' be th' tyin o' th' ribbon--or th' kids can ask us parents t' do it, you know, us givin' them away t' each other t' live their own lives an' all tha'. Then theys pronounced husband an' wife an' w' eat. Easy as lyin'."
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:10 am
Lee blinked down at Kendra, then looked back up at Rory, taking a moment to realize it was a joke. Kind of. A smile slowly forming on her face again, and she kissed the boy once more for a moment before looking up at him and tilting her head. "Am I taking your last name, then?"
That sounded quite a bit like the weddings they were used to. Sure, there was no priest, and he imagined a lot of little details were different, but overall it was the same process. "Should we invite the family? I'm sure a few of Lee's uncles wouldn't mind seeing their niece get married." He wasn't sure most if them, if any, would actually show up when they found out who she was marrying and where it would take place, but he'd still ask them. Mrs. Katan, on the other hand, made no mention of inviting her side of the family.
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:14 am
"If you want," Rory answered. "Ain't nae law or tradition what says you hae t'. If you wanna, I can take your last name. It donnae make much difference t' me on our family name, so long as we're together."
Mr. McCormick nodded. "Most o' Rory's family is here, so I'm sure a few will show up fae it as well. Are you gonna ask Lee's brother t' th' handfastin'?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:23 am
Lee McCormick or Rory Katan. It was odd hearing either name without their respective surnames. Perhaps she'd give it some thought. "We can think about it, I guess." She shrugged, smiling back up at the boy.
"Lee's... brother?" Mr. Katan looked to his daughter, a confused expression on his face. "She's an only child..." What stories had she been telling everyone? And who was this alleged brother?
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