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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Jocoza Sparkwire and Kerlo Quarterflash are married! This log includes conversations between some of the people (Natlee, Atley, Gwenivene, Ivrianna, Tadget, Finnegan, Azizia, Gausanders, Auralind, Iphindra) at their wedding reception. ~5700 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Conversation with the Couple
Jo looks like she's walking on a cloud, as little mechanical bees and butterflies buzz around her general vicinity. The faint comforting hum of draenei machinery can be heard beneath the wedding music.
Q's lavender eyes are a bit misty, but he is managing not to cry outright, at least.
On Jo's other side, Natlee stands with her stepmom as though they've always been super besties.
Atley sips from a wine glass, casually glancing around at the setting, and occasionally peers at one of the mechanical contraptions before he settles on Jocoza and Kerlo. He inclines his head. "Congratulations. You two've you are a handsome pair."
Gwenivene rushes up to Jo (possibly at an inappropriate moment) to throw her arms around her in a tight hug. "Congratulations! Both of you! I'm so happy for you!"
Ivri approaches Jo and waits to hug her, grinning broadly.
Jo hugs her back tightly, and smiles over at Dane. "Aren't we just?" When she steps back from the hug with Gwen, Jo heads over to give Ivri a hug as well.
Q bows to Atley. "An honor to have you here, Sir Atley."
Atley returns the bow as much as he's able without spilling the glass. "Honor's all mine."
Ivri bends into the hug, squeezing. "You look so beautiful!"
"Thank you!" Jo says, beaming. "Four years ago, I would have never imagined I would be where I am now."
Tadget appears nearby, smirking. "I would've," she replies to Jo.
Ivri laughs. "In four more years, you'll be looking back on this day with wistful fondness as you deal with rowdy children."
Dane contemplates that for a moment before producing a thoughtful grunt. He raises his glass. "To many more then, mm?"
"Years? Oh, I hope so…" Jo laughs at Tadget. "You did. Thanks to your meddling, isn't it?"
"Yep! I set them up, everyone," Tadget announces. "So, you're welcome. Hey Ivri. You look dumb."
Finnegan pokes Kerlo's right shoulder before appearing on his left side, grinning impishly underneath his hat. "I've found her to be quite the meddlesome creature."
Kerlo, of COURSE, looks in the wrong direction for Finn before turning and spotting him. He grins. "You look dashing, my friend!"
Finnegan tips his giant hat. "I believe the phrase is 'it takes one to know one,' my dear boy." He tries to swipe up Kerlo's hand in both of his. "What a splendid day!"
Kerlo gives Finn's hand a squeeze, smiling at him sentimentally.
Gwen immediately turns and dives into a hug for Kerlo. They are best friends now.
Kerlo squeaks slightly at Gwen's dive-bomb hug, but then returns it wholeheartedly. "Hello, Telemancer Whittle! I'm so glad you could come. It means so much to Jo."
Gwen beams at Kerlo. "I wouldn't miss this for all the mana in Dalaran!"
Natlee eyes Azizia. "OMT," she says. "You look amazing, whoever you are."
Azizia smiles at Natlee. "Thank you very much! I had first dress I tried, but it was white and apparently it is not something you wear on Azeroth wedding." She looks down at the gnome. "I like…" she stares at Natlee's sandals. "Hair."
Natlee frowns at Azizia. "I had like, way better stuff I could've worn, but I didn't want to overshadow the bride, because, that's, you know. Rude."
Jo beams at Natlee — she's so considerate.
Azizia smiles brighter. Natlee said she's trying to upstage the bride, that means she is!
"It means so much to me to have so many people I love here, on this day," Jo nods eagerly. "And Azeroth in a rare peaceful moment, as well!"
Ivri knocks on her head. "Knock on wood. Don't jinx it!"
Tadget tries to knock on Ivri's head. Best she can do is her arm.
Atley grunts at Ivrianna.
Finnegan smirks up at Ivri. "Things are peaceful, indeed." He walks around Kerjo and approaches Jocoza, arms extended. "You are positively glowing, my dear."
Sandy comes on the other side of Jo and Kerlo. "Hey! Congratulations on the wedding." he says, smiling. "It was really fun, with all the gadgets everywhere!"
Kerlo beams at Sandy. "I'm glad you have an appreciation for technology!" he says. "Most of that was Jo's design. She's more the artist of the two of us."
Azizia stares daggers at Finn for wearing the same hat she is. He too, is trying to upstage the bride, it seems, and that's rude when he's doing it.
Jo giggles. "I hope you enjoy them! I spent a lot of time putting those little guys together." Then Jo goes in for a hug from Finnegan. "It's been such a long, wonderful time."
"It certainly has," Finnegan says before he takes a step back to survey the bridge and groom, twisting his mustache. "Gnomeregan lives on. And here of all places!"
"I'm the stepdaughter," Natlee informs everyone. "If that isn't obvious, since I look so much like my dad." She goes to stand possessively by Q.
Kerlo wraps his arm around Natlee and gives her a reassuring half-hug. She pretends to be annoyed by it.
"Yes, Natlee's my maid of honor — oh, have you met everyone?" Jo gestures around at everyone.
Natlee looks around. "Hi everybody," she says, twirling one of her pigtails.
Finnegan slowly shifts to smirk at Natlee wordlessly, as if on a lazy Suzan.
Natlee eyes Finnegan with curiosity. Tadget glowers at Natlee.
Sandy is holding a sparkling firework-like wand. It's very cute, and potentially made by Jo. He is not setting anything on fire yet.
Jo seems unconcerned. It might be that a little bit of fire is not unusual for a gnomish wedding.
Q turns to look at Gwen with curiosity. "I've heard so much about you, Telemancer, but we've never really had the chance to talk! You helped with Deathwing recently, did you not? I thought I saw you at the temple."
Jo nods, and looks over to Gwen.
Gwen grins broadly. "Oh, gosh…I tried. But I fell right off that dragon into the ocean!" She giggles. "And please, call me Gwen. We're practically family now!"
Sandy is sipping on wine. "Gwen's great, yeah." His eyes widen a little as he realizes he said that out loud. He turns to Finn. "Finn! It's been so long since I last saw you! Great hat!"
Azizia narrows her eyes at Sandy. He complimented Finn on the hat, but not HER. How dare that warlock!
"Fell into the ocean!" Q repeats, his lavender eyes wide. "What an adventure! Since you lived to tell of it, it's an adventure." He smiles, showing dimples.
"But she was alright," Jo says, looking at Gwen with a touch of relief. "Falling off a mad Aspect dragon into the ocean by the Maelstrom can't stop an expert telemancer."
Gwen glances up at Sandy's praising comment, cheeks going pink…but quickly looks away, back to Q. "Ah…heh, yes. It was an adventure. A very wet, cold adventure."
"I once fell into the ocean from an airplane," Q says, reassuringly, to Gwen. "Alas, no portals, but I did have an inflatable jacket and a great tolerance for cold salt water."
"And I'm glad you did," Jo says firmly. "When was that?"
Gwen covers her mouth, "Oh, biscuits! Were you far asea? How did you get safely back to shore?"
"During the second war," he says. He glances at Natlee. "Yes, I'm old."
Natlee rolls her eyes.
Finnegan tips his hat to Natlee before he turns towards Sandy. "Sandy Spellbond. Why, aren't you ever the handsome image?" Finnegan waddles right up to him and extends a tiny hand.
"Tadget, hi!" Sandy shakes Finn's head, then goes to shake Tadget's. "I'm not handsome, I just put on nice clothes, for once." He chuckles.
Tadget grins at Sandy. "Long time no see, weirdo," she says to him. "And yeah, Finn looks amazing. As always."
Finnegan blushes. "Well… how generous…" He inclines his head as if to shyly hide underneath the brim of his hat.
Finnegan grins up at Sandy. "I beg to differ. You make a striking image, good sir." He turns to smirk at Kerlo. "Why, those were lively times, weren't they?"
"I once fell off a trade prince's yacht," Natlee offers.
Q smiles back at Finn. "I prefer my times slightly less lively. But little chance of that on Azeroth!" He then double takes at his daughter's pronouncement, and frowns in concern.
"Fortunately, I think you're correct." Finnegan muses before he bursts out in a manic cackle.
"Oh goodness," Jo says to Natlee. "I hope they noticed quickly."
"The trade prince was the one who threw me off," she says. "But luckily his girlfriend took pity on me and threw me a life raft."
Q just stares at her.
"She didn't tell him to not throw you into the ocean instead?" Sandy looks at her in concern.
"Well, I was the ex, so." She shrugs. "Nice of her to even throw me a raft, am I right?"
Auralind Mistwalker approaches respectfully, and kneels before the happy couple, "My captain, and Siege Engineer Quarterflash, I am honored to be here. Ishnu dal dieb. May Elune's blessings forever bring joy to your union."
Jo stares at Natlee in concern for a moment, but she's okay now. She turns to accept Auralind's congratulations. "Thank you, Aura. I hope we'll have many years of happiness!"
Auralind rises and gives Jo a sharp Sentinel salute before stepping back, not one for mingling.
Jo salutes back to Auralind, and then turns to Natlee to say quietly, "I'm glad she threw you a raft."
Q toddles over to Auralind belatedly to take her hand between his own briefly in a firm grasp. "We are so pleased you were able to attend, and I hope the sound of the crystals is soothing to your soul!"
Finnegan turns to watch Kerlo and Auralind while still idly twirling his mustache.
Auralind bows her head down at Q. "The Exodar does have a strange, calming quality to it. Thank you."
Finnegan turns towards Azizia and shakes his head. "Only one word comes to mind, my dear, and that word is … Statuesque." he says, gesturing with his hands, as if summoning a title card.
Q clear his throat, "Yes, yes, madam, you look breathtaking!" he says to Azizia. Q seems very eager not to hear any more about his daughter's adventures with goblin trade princes.
Natlee sulks. She wanders over toward Auralind. "Have you seen the naaru?" she asks. "Uh, I mean, heard it or whatever?"
Auralind tilts her head curiously at Natlee. "I have. A few years ago, I did, in fact, see it."
"Poop," says Natlee to Auralind in disappointment. "I was gonna show it to you and impress you! I just saw it for the first time like, four hours ago or something."
Azizia stares at Finn, then turns to Q. "Thank you. This is outfit I threw on very quickly, nothing special." She dodges Finn and goes to the couple, kneeling as if about to take them in her arms. Instead, she just pats them on the shoulders.
"Congratulations on wedding. Great choice of location too," Azizia nods.
Q returns to Jo's side once he's spoken to Auralind and smiles at Azizia. "Yes, we thought it was most beautiful and romantic, and also technologically fascinating."
Sandy kind of awkwardly steps back a little from the main wedding people. Is he fleeing Gwen or Azizia because she's been mean with him in the past? Who knows.
Jo smiles, accepting shoulder pats, though she sort of looks like she might go for a hug. "I do love it here. I've been fascinated by draenei technology ever since th Exodar arrived."
"They're such a remarkable culture, no?" Finnegan chimes merrily.
Azizia raises her hands. "I am very last Draenei you should talk about technology with. I know nothing of it," she says very blankly.
"Oh is that so?" Q asks Azizia in surprise? "Why is that?"
"I do not know," Azizia shrugs. "I never learn how it works very much. It is there, and it can be useful, but I do not care about how it does the things it does."
"Well," Jo says, looking at the two gnomes. "That's… certainly a perspective."
Q stares at Azizia as though she's just said that she doesn't really bother eating food, because food bores her. "I… I see!" Q says hesitantly.
Azizia pats him on the shoulder again. "Congratulations, again. It is great to celebrate love, and celebrations are always appreciated." She swats at a mechanical bee flying a little too close to her face as she gets up.
Kerlo follows the bee with his eyes in concern. It's okay.
Jo makes a quick little movement towards the bee, to protect it, but subsides when Azizia doesn't actually smack the creature. She looks back at Kerlo, blushing a little.
Kerlo gives her a little kiss on the cheek.
Jo smiles, and laces her fingers through Kerlo's. "Do you think Natlee's having a good time?"
Azizia walks away from the newlyweds. The fake bugs are bothering her. This is against Aviana's design.
Finnegan suddenly reappears, next to Quarterflash. "It certainly seems that way. Draeneor was not unlike our own world, before all of that troublesome business — or so I hear." he giggles.
Q smiles warmly at Finnegan, clapping him on the shoulder.
Finnegan wraps his arm around Kerlo's shoulder and looks between him, Jocoza, and Gwenivene. "This has been a long time coming. Simply fabulous."
Q looks slightly bewildered. "A long time? Truly? It feels like something of a romantic whirlwind to me!"
Jo beams. "It's hard to believe the day is really here. And Outland — it would've been interesting to see what it was like before, wouldn't it?"
Finnegan tries to pat Kerlo's stomach before unwinding. He adjusts his hat. "It always does feel that way — when it's time." He looks to Jocoza and nods. "It stokes the imagination, no?"
"It does," Jo nods. "It's amazing that the world persists, even in its current fragmented state!"
Finnegan clears his throat. "Forgive my forwardness, please, but do you two have travel arrangements in place, now that the world has once again stopped threatening to spontaneously combust?"
Q looks to Jo. "My … wife… is my travel arrangements," he says with a little smile.
Atley grunts.
Finnegan blushes. "Oh, my." He giggles again. "Where might the two of you be off to, if I may be so bold?"
Q looks to Jo again.
Jo stares dreamily back at Q, and then blinks. "Oh, where? I think we might just go where the wind takes us — we can portal, of course. I would like to visit the Emerald Dragonshrine again, now that there's not a huge war up there."
"That would be lovely," Q agrees, smiling at Jo.
"I hope we'll get a good long time, before the next crisis," Jo says, smiling at Kerlo. "But anyway, at least two weeks."
Finnegan smirks at Jocoza. "What a splendid idea. A lovely place, too, especially these days." He leans in to the newlyweds. "My friends and I at the Manor are so proud of how you've handled things."
Jo says quietly back, "I'm so glad you've found your trust in us well-placed. Is all… well, with our mutual friends?"
Finnegan smirks for a long moment at Jocoza. "As well as can be expected, of course."
Jo nods. That makes sense. "I'm happy to hear it."
Iphindra lets a mechanical butterfly rest on her finger. She then blinks and looks down at Jo and Kerlo. "Hello! I'd like to congratulate you on the wedding."
Q beams at Iphindra. "Thank you so much! You look lovely, especially with that little butterfly on you." He smiles amiably.
Jo smiles up at Iphindra. "Yes, thank you! I hope you're enjoying the butterflies. Don't worry — they don't explode!"
Iphindra giggles. "Th- thank you! And I'm not worried about if they will explode. You wouldn't bring that to your w- wedding, I'm sure!" She smiles. "She stares at the butterfly on her finger. "Are they ensouled?"
"I don't believe they have souls," Kerlo says. He looks to Jo for confirmation.
"Ensouled?" Jo blinks. "No, no… they're mechanical creatures. They'll run down by the end of the reception."
Iphindra looks pensively at the insect. "That they will run out doesn't mean they don't have souls!" She tilts her head. "I- I've always been curious to kn- know more about these animal machines!"
"She speaks the truth, you know," Q says, looking pensively at Iphindra. "Whether mechanical or organic, each of us eventually powers down…"
"That's true, but… I think it would take a lot more than tinkering to put a soul in a construct," Jo says, looking at Iphindra in concern. "That might be a kind of a warlock thing. You might ask one of the WEB people about it."
Iphi places the butterfly on a flower in her hair. "I- I will!"
Tadget pops up out of nowhere behind Jo. "That's exactly what my brother was working on before he kicked it," she says.
Jo spins around at Tadget's words. "Really? Did he… get it working?"
Tadget shrugs. "I'unno. He's dead, so , whatever."
Iphi looks at Tadget curiously.
"Well, I'm not sure it'd be a good thing, because the souls would have to come from somewhere," Jo says. "So maybe it's for the best if it didn't work out. Unless you made it sort of like a butterfly soulstone…"
"Oh, my brother was a total dick," Tadget says. "It wouldn't have ended well."
Iphi looks a little sadly at Tadget. "I- I'm sure what he found could be u- used for good things, even if h- he wanted to use it for the wrong reasons."
"Oh yeah," Tadget agrees with Iphi. "If you're clever, you can put almost anything to good use no matter what it was intended for."
Jo smiles at Iphindra. "It's good of you to say. It's always good to think the best of people." Jo does not comment about whether it might actually have been used for good things.
Iphi beams. "I'm n- not clever enough, but do y- you think someone who is could get his research?"
Tadget looks at Iphi, baffled. "I mean, I do have access to all his… effects, since I'm his only family. You really care that much about it?"
Iphi nods. "I think it's m- more useful in the hands of people who might use it th- then unused on a desk!"
Jo blinks at Iphi, and then turns to Tadget. "I suppose we could turn it over to Count Tyrrell, with WEB? If there's something to be done with it, and if it's worthwhile, they'd figure it out."
Iphi nods. She's may have helped science advance, today!
"Uh sure," says Tadget to Jo with a shrug. "Whatever. If it does come of anything it'll be his only worthwhile reason for existing, so knock yourself out I guess."
"I'm pretty happy to keep my mechanical creatures mechanical, though," Jo says with a giggle. "I can't imagine how upset I'd be when they get damaged, if they had souls."
Q pats his wife(!) gently, his face sympathetic.
Jo reaches over to straighten her husband's (!) lapel, and says, "Are you ready for the honeymoon?"
Kerlo whispers his answer in her ear, as it's possibly not fit for polite company.
Jo blushes a bright crimson, and claps a hand over her mouth to hide a giggle.
Jo waves a hand, and says, "Everyone, thank you so much for joining us on this special day! Please, stay to enjoy the refreshments as long as you like… I think Kerlo and I are going to head out."
"Bye Jo, bye Kerlo!" Sandy waves.
Finnegan beams, hands clasped behind his back.
Atley raises his refilled wine glass in salud.
Natlee waves to her dad and stepmom.
Iphi giggles. "H- have fun! Thank you for inviting m- me!"
Azizia raises her glass.
Jo reaches for Kerlo's hand, and leads him away in the direction of the inn. The first leg of their travel might be a short one.
Arric, Gwenivene
Arric wanders over from where he's been hobnobbing with Elohad and other nobles, and smiles at Gwen. "What a splendid hat!" he says.
Gwen lights up, "Lord Arric! Oh, hi! Um…thank you!" She briefly touches her Formal Hat…and rotates it slightly into a more relaxed position.
"Have you been to the Exodar before?" Arric asks Gwen. "This is my first time, but I imagine mages are a bit more well traveled, particularly telemancers." He seems proud of himself for knowing the word.
Gwen continues to adjust her hat, which chirps in irritation. "I have," she says to Arric. "A few times. Mostly, it was after I returned from Outland, so I could work with their dimensional engineers to update them on how I applied their calculations for interdimensional translocation."
From his hat perch, Padrick eyeballs a mechanical bee hungrily.
Arric nods at Gwenivene as though he has the faintest idea what she's talking about. "Were the draenei interesting to work with?" he asks.
"Oh, absolutely fascinating!" Gwen nods emphatically at Arric. "Their science is quite literally thousands of years beyond our own. But also…very different? So it's still a joy to work together to integrate their methods with Azerothian science."
"I've often wondered," Arric says, looking around at the strange crystals, "if technology from another world would be entirely compatible with our own. Do other worlds operate by more or less the same rules?" He asks as though he is certain she knows.
"Well, I've only been to the one other world…and Outland is sort of a special case," Gwenivene explains. "It's proximity to the Twisting Nether has a strong effect on the laws we would consider normal. But it was much like Azeroth before it broke."
"Amazing!" Arric says to Gwenivene. "That can't be coincidence. The worlds must be shaped by the same hand, don't you think? Or do you know? This sort of thing wasn't covered in my schooling."
"It's possible," Gwen agrees. "Or it might simply be that the same natural processes create all worlds. We know that the Titans took a hand in shaping the development of Azeroth, but I've never heard of any Titan presence on Draenor."
Arric smiles at Gwen. "You know a great deal about things that I wasn't taught. Speaking with you is fascinating. If I can ever return the favor by filling you in on current events or recent history, do let me know. I love to hear myself talk." He chuckles.
Gwen giggles at Arric. "I'd love that. Perhaps you can tell me more about where you come from, sometime."
Arric gives a slightly nervous glance around before nodding at Gwen. "Yes, perhaps we could meet for lunch sometime in Stormwind? I'm sure you must visit the tower there on occasion."
Gwenivene's smile briefly falters, "The tower? Well, yes…I pass through. But, um, there are lots of places in Stormwind we could meet. Have you been to the Blue Recluse?"
"I have, once!" Arric said. "Lively place! I'd be happy to meet you there sometime and tell you all about my homeland. What's the best way to contact you?"
"Oh!" Gwen perks, suddenly remembering. She reaches into her cloak and produces a small, paper card. The lettering on it glitters and glows, actually hovering a few millimeters above the paper itself. "I had these made with my contact information."
Padrick finally manages to snatch one of the mechanical insects out of the air…and promptly spits it out. Offended that someone would trick him like that, he crawls back under Gwen's hat.
Arric… stares at Padrick. "All right," he says, with the air of a man who can endure no more. "You are going to have to explain the frog."
Gwen blinks. "Frog? Oh! That's Padrick. He might be another former apprentice of the Sanctum. He also might be some kind of cosmic entity that talks to naaru. Either way, he looks like a frog now." She nods firmly as if that perfectly explained everything
Arric stares at Gwen some more. "Promise me that in exchange for my information on… far flung geographical regions, you will give me the full origin story of this… apparent frog." He gives her a wry smile.
Gwen peers upward, as if toward the frog in her hat. "I'll do my best. I thought I had him figured out, but Pad is full of surprises."
Arric is staring at Padrick now with deep intrigue and wonder. "I would never have guessed he was anything other than a frog," he murmurs. "Really a lesson about appearances, hm?"
"Maybe. He also might be just a frog." Gwen shrugs. "A strange frog, to be sure. In any case, he hasn't been very forthcoming, but he seems content being my hat frog."
Arric looks between Padrick and Gwen and Padrick again. "So what is it that makes you believe he might be more than just a frog, exactly?"
"There are a number of things," Gwen says. "But maybe that's a better topic for lunch."
"Of course!" says Arric. "And don't think I'll let you forget. You've got me intrigued, now."
"I wouldn't dream of forgetting! Well…okay, I do often forget things like meetings," Gwen confesses. "But you have my card now. So…yeah, maybe don't let me forget."
Arric chuckles. "I won't let you," he says. Then he gives a polite half-bow. "I need to speak with Lord Ference again before he goes, and his wife is looking restless, so I'd best be off for now. I'll be in touch!"
"See you soon, m'lord," Gwen gives a little finger-wave, then remembers to curtsey.
Dane, Sandy, Natlee
Atley breaks away from Ivrianna and marches straight up to Sandy, clasping him on the shoulder. "Sanders."
"Dane!" Sandy smiles. "How are you doing?"
Atley gives him a firm shake before he leans back to eye Sandy up and down. "I'm well. You look well yourself, lad."
"Sure, yeah." Sandy says, smiling at him. "I thought I'd step away from the newlyweds, since there might be a few people who won't be especially to come near me!"
Atley grunts and nods a few times, digesting that. "Well. Don't count me among them, then." He points Ivrianna out in the crowd. "Ought to go and say hi. We'll have you in Eastvale anytime you like."
Natlee wanders over to Atley and Sandy, staring up at the two cute guys.
It takes Atley a moment to notice Natlee all the way down there. He turns to the tiny gnome and inclines his head. "King's Honor. Bride’s side, are you?"
"Yeah," Natlee says, twirling a pigtail and looking up at Dane with big blue eyes. "I'm the stepdaughter."
Sandy smiles at Dane. "I'd love that, yeah!" he turns to Natlee, now that she joined them. He looks at her with concern again. He's still worried about her ocean story.
Atley grunts. "Dane Atley. Fine day, innit'?"
Natlee's eyes get even bigger. "You're like, a famous knight!" she says, and then giggles. She looks over at Sandy. "Are you famous too?"
Sandy shrugs. "I don't know, I was one of the first members of the Company, but I'm not a big deal like Dane! I'm Sandy."
Atley grunts. "Sanders and I go back a long way. You'd be of Quarterflash then, would you?" he inquires casually of Natlee.
"Nice to meet you, Sandy," says Natlee, glancing at his left hand for some reason. "So one of the first members, huh? That's cool. I joined not long after the Cataclysm. And yes," she adds to Dane, "Siege Engineer Quarterflash is my dad. 7th Legion."
Atley slowly nods. "I'm familiar with the Siege Engineer's record. He's got an impressive history to him. You must be proud."
Sandy looks at his left hand. "Oh! Do you want that sparkly thing?"
Natlee blinks at Sandy. "Um… what?"
"You were… looking at that wand I picked up outside the ceremony." He holds up the wand producing firework-like sparks. "I thought you wanted it!"
"Oh!" Natlee says. "That is pretty cool, yeah." She giggles. "But I wouldn't, like, take it from you or anything." She bats her eyes at him. Her eyelashes cannot possibly be that long naturally… can they?
Atley quietly looks between Natlee and Sandy with assessment.
Sandy holds the wand to her. "I can probably find another one anyway! I'm sure they haven't made only one!"
Natlee takes the wand from Sandy, giving him big sweet blue eyes. "Gosh, that's awfully sweet of you, Sandy," She says. "I hope you don't make your girl jealous!" She giggles again.
Atley slowly sips his wine and observes the two warily.
Natlee gives Atley an innocent smile.
Sandy looks at Gwen and Arric at that. "No chance, no," he says, a little absentmindedly. "I'm going to go get myself another of these wands!" he dashes to where he found the first one.
Natlee follows Sandy's glance to Gwen. She scowls. Then she looks back at Atley. "You have kids, right? Got someone looking after them?"
Atley watches Sandy relocate and sets his jaw in thought before he looks down at Natlee. "Aye," he states, brow furrowing inquisitively.
"Wow, it must be so hard, having kids. Lot of pressure on gnomes to have 'em but I don't know if I'm like… the type?" She shrugs, her face arranging itself into a cute little pout.
Atley grunts. "Truth be told, I hadn't believed I was the type, until it happened to me. You said something about a Trade Prince and his barge, did you?"
"At least someone was listening," Natlee says with a little laugh and a toss of her pigtail. "Yes, I've lived um, a very adventurous life. My mom was a literal con woman, so. Part of the reason I think I'd not be a great parent."
Atley takes another sip and grunts. "And wot's it think of yourself now?"
"What's what think of what?" Natlee says to Atley, staring at him in cute bewilderment.
"Wot' do you think of yourself now? Half of you's from Quarterflash, mm? He's properly sorted." Atley points out.
Natlee twirls her pigtail and looks up at Atley sweetly. "I think I take after my dad more now, now that I have a choice. He's as close to a paladin as gnomes can come, and I'm a priestess of the Light!"
Atley nods. "Ah. Studied at the Cathedral?"
Natlee gives a delicate little snort at Atley. "At that hotbed of cultists? Um, no. Mystic Ward in Ironforge."
"Recent development, innit'. Gnome priests?" Atley asks. He finishes his wine glass.
Natlee nods at Dane. "Mm hm. But, you know, I'm the kind of person who is often in on the latest trends."
Atley grunts. "Such as joining the Company. Wot' assignments have you been on?"
Natlee flips her hair again. "Oh gosh, so many. We helped establish New Tinkertown, we fought Defias in Westfall, we went out into the Wetlands and… did stuff… it's all in the files. I've been very helpful. Though I've been taking some time off to get to know my dad and stepmom recently."
Atley looks between Natlee and Kerlo. "Were you two separated for a time, then?"
Natlee shifts her weight a bit. "Yeah, mom like, abducted me and ran off when I was just a super cute little baby. I only reconnected with him last year."
Atley raises his brows. "Wot's become of her, then?"
"Murdered," Natlee says, twirling a pigtail.
Atley stares at her. "Murdered."
"Yep," says Natlee to Dane. "Stabbed and whatever. Super violent. She had a lot of enemies. Like I said, con woman."
Atley turns his head to the side and grunts. "You don't seem torn up about it."
Sandy rejoins Natlee and Dane, a new sparkly wand in hand. "Hey. What are you talking about?"
Natlee folds her arms and looks at Dane. "What am I supposed to do, like, start bawling at my stepmom's wedding? Oh hi Sandy!" she says, greeting the newly arrived young human.
Atley turns to set his wine glass down. "Family," he says to Sandy.
Sandy smiles. "Oh nice! Family's great, isn't it?"
Natlee considers her answer for a moment. Then she gives Sandy a sweet smile. "My dad and stepmom are amaaaazing," she says.
Atley grunts. "That they are. You couldn't have asked for a finer pairing." He gestures between himself and Sandy. "Jocoza was one of the original members, as well. We go back a long way."
"Oh wow, that's so cool," Natlee says, seeming sincere. "So that's like, what, four or five years? Pretty great for a human mercenary company!"
Sandy chuckles. "Yeah!… wait why? How long do human companies last usually?"
Atley shakes his head. "Most don't last long. Mercenaries are usually an unreliable lot."
"Wellll," says Natlee, "admittedly I don't have the best examples, probably, but I've never seen one last more than like, a year. Then again, we mostly saw ones mom was dealing with, so. Probably not quality outfits."
Atley grunts. "It's the truth. For now, I ought to see to my wife. You two carry on well."
Natlee turns to look at Sandy. "Hey, so are you going to that gala thing?"
"The gala for the death of Deathwing?" Sandy tilts his head. "Probably!"
Sandy waves goodbye at Dane.
"Do you wanna go with a super cute gnome?" she asks, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"I'd be happy to, you seem nice!" Sandy smiles. "Thank you for inviting me, I didn't really have friends to go with me!"
"Yeah, same!" says Natlee. "Well, there's one guy I'm kind of afraid might ask me, and he's kind of… you know, one of those macho thug types. You seem more like, sensitive and stuff, and like you'd be more interesting to talk to."
Sandy chuckles. "I see! I'm happy to be your excuse to not go with him, then!"
"Cool! So um, I'm probably going to wear blue. If you wanted to match. But it's whatever."
Sandy nods. "Colors that match with blue… Hmm…" he starts considering it.