Valen

Beautiful day in the town of Holistone, the sun shining and birds singing.

And where else would Valen rather be on such fine, lovely day, but at the town's tavern? Having managed to weasel out of his senior colleague's grasp before the General could drop yet another mountain of paperwork that would keep him cooped up in Head Quarters, or assign him to escort yet another person of importance... Such moments of triumph are rare and to be cherished to the fullest. Knowing Hogan, the man would find a way to catch him if the matter really is important. The fact he still hasn't caught sight of the Heroic Order knight is enough clue. And so, the dazzling captain of the Solitaires kicks back and orders himself a round of drinks, listening to the idle merry chatter around him with a smile.

Little does the poor man know the trouble brewing?

The waitress arrives with a tray, placing the tankard on the table and he flashes her a charming smile. Picking up the tankard of ale, Valen takes a slow, deep sip of his pint, savoring the delectable burn of the alcohol flowing down his throat. Fresh, well-brewed wheat ale with a strange crisp tang. This is new. Did they add mint? Interesting. Not minding the experimental brew one bit, the knight catches the eye of another patron. Something seems a little odd here. The whole table has their eyes on him, curious and jovial, others even a smidge jealous, regardless they raise their tankards in cheers. Raising his brows slightly at them quizzically, the brunette shrugs it off and raises his tankard in toast in return...All while keeping an ear out and listening to the chatting drifting around the nearby tables. Taking another steady sip of his ale, Valen pays a little more attention to the whispers and giggles, brows creasing subtly into a light amused scowl of confusion.

What are these folks going on about? Just then his purple eyes catch on the newspaper innocently sitting on his table, likely forgotten by the previous patron-- And Valen almost chokes on his drink. Blinking down at the paper and its main headline printed in big bold letters, the Solitaire pauses to read more carefully. 'The charming roving swordsman, found a match to settle down at last!' the title reads, making the knight's bafflement grow. What's even more puzzling is the lack of information on his apparent bride..or groom. Nothing- No hint at their status, residence, history, family, nothing. What kind of mysterious phantom spouse is this?? For all I know, this person might not even exist.. What is going on here..? Skimming the rest of the newspaper, he folds it and tosses it back on the table in disinterest dismissively.

Whatever. It's just a fluke, it'll pass.

Oh how naive of him to assume.

The Solitaire had just downed his first drink and was enjoying a second round of ale, when sir Lucius of all people walks in with an unamused disapproving scowl. The Templar knight was clearly judging him for his less-than-knightly habit, but Valen hardly was bothered much. So he casually ignored the blonde. Unfortunately, said blond had no plans of being ignored and brushed off so flippantly. Even less to linger around in a place rife with sin such as a Tavern.

Clearing his throat, he earns himself a questioning brow from the other knight. Now why does this prude have to come in and spoil the fun? Can't a man enjoy a fine pint in peace? What could Lucius possibly have to say that is so urgent and important?

---"Sir Valen. May I have a word with you outside?" Oh brother.

Rolling his eyes, Valen heaves a long-suffering sigh and pushes off his chair, walking over to follow after the Templar knight. Ugh. I seriously can't stand this guy. Standing out on the cobblestone street with his arms crossed over his chest, he waits for the taller man to say his piece expectantly. The guy was going to give him an earful, that much is clear to him. Question is, what does this fair and righteous, just, gentleman want from him? A mystery the violet-eyed Solitaire hopes he'd get the answer to soon so he can get this over with and get back to the good part that Lucius has so rudely interrupted. When no such thing occurs, Valen finally prompts in mild irritation and with a sarcastic lopsided smirk.

---"Well..?"

---"You are supposed to be at the Temple, everyone is waiting for your arrival. The ceremony cannot begin without you."

Complete puzzlement colors Valen's face as he stares up at the other, blinking dumbly. Silence settles between them with him looking visibly and totally lost while the blond Templar knight keeps the unimpressed scowl. The first thing that finally tumbles out his mouth is a very much flabbergasted 'Come again?', which seems to make him look like an idiot in Lucius' eyes, because the blue-eyed former nobleman slowly lifts a hand and pinches the bridge of his nose with a quiet suppressed sigh.

---"Marital ceremony, sir Valen. You are getting married." The Templar knight might as well have slapped him across the face with a fishtail.

Out of all the things Valen had thought could happen today, getting married was not one of them.

---"Wait, wait, wait. Hang on a second." -The Solitaire unfolds his arms and waves a hand vaguely with a mildly amused grin. He was honestly hoping the other is simply messing with him in a poor attempt at humor. He gives a light, strained chuckle like laughing at a bad joke out of regard to no offend the other person. "You're telling me, that I'm getting married?" A small laugh follows the incredulous inquiry and he claps the blond man on the shoulder, wiping away an imaginary tear. "Oh, that's a good one-- Didn't think you had a lick of humor, Lucius. Color me surprised."

Lucius, however, doesn't look much amused.

Instead, the white-armored Templar knight calmly grips him by the elbow and steers him right up ahead the street to the town plaza. Valen's smile drops at the realization that, no, this is not a prank or joke. He really is being led to the Temple, passing by the towering marble statue of the goddess Dura at the plaza's center. Dear goddess, I'm not drunk enough for this. Since when-? What?? Huh??? How??? Stumbling a little and struggling to keep up with the other's brisk, dutiful marching long strides, Valen's mind flashes back to the headline of the newspaper he'd skimmed over nonchalantly and the hushed whispers of gossip that fluttered around him back at the Mithril tavern. Before he knows it, the Heroic Order knight finds himself left in front of the altar where a figure stands with sir Lucius disappearing somewhere into the gathered crowd.

Turns out, yes, this mysterious spouse-to be does actually exist.

Ignoring the disapproving looks and raised eyebrows at his supposed grave tardiness and lack of proper attire for the occasion, he sheepishly takes his place. Whatever religious, ceremonious blabber the priest yaps flies right over Valen's head, his attention completely elsewhere. Namely, his oh so curious fiance, the person his life would be tied to til death do them part. Guess that it, then? No more romancing pretty ladies, huh? The pastor's voice snaps him out of his musings and he returns his amethyst-colored eyes back to the clergy. Ah, yes-- The most important question of them all. The one that would seal their fates and bind their lives.

----"Do you, Valen, take {{user}} as your faithful partner in life?" Funny how I don't know anything about this partner. His purple-colored eyes absently wander back to the bride, or groom at his side, face obscured by the white veil as he glances at them for a second. What happens to possess him in that moment, Valen has not the slightest idea, his voice sounding foreign and distant to his own ears as he agrees. Clearly, he'd meant to object to this union that starts to seem like an arranged affair with each passing moment, but.. for some reason said the exact opposite of protest.

----"..Yes. I do." Internally, the Solitaire captain face-palms at himself. As much he'd like to backpedal and correct himself, Valen knows it's simply not an option. No amount of backtracking would save him. All eyes turn to rest on his fiance, awaiting expectantly. And he takes the moment as opportunity to study their features more carefully. What does this person stand to gain from their union? Or maybe there's someone else pulling the strings behind this merry affair? Intel on the Heroic Order and his rank? An attempt to get rid of him ahead of time so he doesn't find their dirty laundry?

----"Do you, {{user}}, take Valen as your husband?" The pastor is skipping over some parts of the vow.. You'd think he's in a hurry to get this over with. Can't say I blame him. Looking at his fiance, Valen patiently waits for {{user}}'s answer. It's hard not to be curious as to what it would be. ..And the motives behind it.

Do you?