Post by Ryan D'Alteau on Apr 11, 2017 22:21:52 GMT -5
And, as you look to the horizon, not a cloud!
But then stormy weather's caught you cold!
Seems like it crept up out of nowhere all around you!
It's not quite what you foretold.
You'll never see it coming!!
______________________________Shoji Meguro and Lyn - "Last Surprise"
"Glad to be here, old friend."
While Ryan hadn't encountered the businessman-turned-President since parting ways with GEIST, it was still the closest descriptor that applied. Even if it wasn't his wedding day, he wouldn't have disputed it. They weren't enemies and they'd been colleagues for just long enough to move beyond being mere acquaintances. "Me too," he sighed. Now that the day had crossed into the early afternoon, the stress and nerves were definitely starting to set in. "Still feels weird that I've had wedding plans rattling 'round in my head for almost a third of my life."
To be honest, Ryan doubted it would ever stop feeling weird. Having made his obligated appearance at the front of the villa to greet more guests, he took the opportunity provided by the ensuing conversation to slink back inside. Lilka and Caleb, both apparently relations of Khalidah's, had also picked the opportunity to venture out into the sunlight and, with them electing to exchange introductions with Christian and Lucius instead of the well-wishing they'd done yesterday, they unwittingly provided him with the distraction he needed.
Infuriatingly, however, today was the day when distractions of any kind failed to keep his mind off his - and everyone else's - reason for being in Saint Tropez in the first place. Try as he might, the notion of his impending wedding was just so immense that, at times, it seemed as though it consumed everything else. He'd been madly in love with Adele for the better part of eight years and, while it had taken a while longer than either of them would have liked for the plans to reach fruition, he had been dead set on marrying her. After everything they'd been through together; falling in with criminals, shadowy organisations and shadowy criminal organisations, marriage was one of the few things in their lives that just felt right. Something that Ryan felt as though he had to do.
"Ohhh, Ryan!" Both his brother's presence at the end of the hall and the sound of him calling his name might have gone unnoticed as he strolled back into the house in his nervous reverie, but the sound of his grandmother rounding the corner and taking stock of his wedding day attire was more than enough to snap him back into focus. "I didn't realise y'were all dressed up already!" And, once one grandparent had spotted him, the other was quick to follow. Having found Darron first on their travels around the Alcroft half of the villa, the elder brother had gladly led the way to where his soon-to-be-married sibling was likely to be hiding.
"Hey!!" Not only had Ryan not been informed of their arrival, he hadn't fully expected them to actually make the trip. As well as the fact that they were both in their seventies, Ryan had no memory of a family visit where they had come to him. Whenever he had been in the same room as his grandparents - as Darron would no doubt have testified - it had always been in their home in Ireland. Their inclusion on the guest list was near enough mandatory, but their appearance was something he'd more hoped than expected. "W-When did you both get here?"
"Ah, we've been here 'bout an hour?" Having to set the clocks back and forth for daylight savings time was annoying enough for Shane. The fact that France also sat one hour ahead of home was just plain confusing. "Pers'nally, I'm just glad the rental car came with sat-nav, otherwise we would've never got here!" Of course. Neither of them spoke French. Navigating by the roadsigns alone wouldn't have been ideal. "Enough about that, though." A smirk slowly spread across his face as he too took in the sight of Ryan's outfit. "Y'brother didn't tell us y'were wearin' blue!"
"Thought it'd be fun to give 'em a surprise," was all Darron offered in defence of his actions.
"It's, uhh... complicated." Ryan tentatively explained, shooting his brother the briefest of looks. Their grandparents had no idea that he - and many of the people also present at the villa, including his future wife - had an ability. He was fully intent on keeping it that way, too. "Adele 'n I... we're not really the type to go for the traditional option when it comes to just about everything, really." By now, he surmised that most of the guests were setting about getting changed into their wedding outfits. He'd done so, as had his brother. Their combined absence had probably given Layton and Devon the opportunity to do the same. "While we don't know exactly what each other's wearing, but we did offer suggestions beforehand. Adele kept goin' on and on about how much calmer and serene I can be."
"Your ma mentioned that you two think of y'selves on spiritual terms. Or something like that." Rhiannon's spiritual ways of thought might not have entirely rubbed off on Ryan during adolescence but, once he'd met a woman who thought about the world in similar terms, Ryan's general outlook had definitely changed. Of course, that was the explanation she'd been given; the one which cunningly evaded all mention of Ryan's superhuman ability. "'Cause of how intertwined we feel ourselves to be? Yeah, that's been said a lot. Can't really dispute 'em, though."
"A girl outside said ye've been t'gether now for six years?"
They were sort of right. "Engaged for six, yeah." Ryan wasn't expecting everyone - especially those outside his immediate family - to know precisely how long he and Adele had been together. News on the length of time they'd been in each other's lives didn't really travel all that much. "We've been an item for just over seven by now. You, uh... you met her, yet?"
"Nah, not yet. Think she's busy gettin' her hair done." Ryan smirked. That definitely sounded like Adele. Whether it was her wedding day or something simpler like a formal dinner, Adele had always made the effort to look grander than her physical stature suggested; a measure she probably had to take given she was only sixty inches tall. "Don't worry 'bout it, Ryan. We're definitely plannin' on at least introducing ourselves before y'both go down the aisle. That way, it's not gonna be too awkward at the reception." Caitlin paused for a moment. "You... are havin' a reception, aren't ya?"
"Yeah, 'course." Ryan nodded eagerly. The reception was something he was looking forward to. Hell, he'd even dance with Adele if she asked at the time. "Wouldn't be surprised if Marguerite locked all the doors 'til we did, given how long she's spent cooking. You can't miss the kitchen, if y'wanna go take a look. Just follow the smell of seafood."
"Might swing by later." Ryan's grandmother smiled at the prospect. She wanted to see just what kind of operation was taking place that would end up feeding all these guests! "Might ask t'borrow some recipes to take back with me. Anyway, we just wanted to check in on ya, see how you've been gettin' on. If we don't see ya before the wedding, we'll talk more at dinner, 'kay?"
"See ya then." A brief hug - thankfully not enough to crease his suit or embarrass him - was the parting gesture from Caitlin before she led her husband away, leaving Ryan to stand in silence. He'd made it through eight years with Adele relatively effortlessly, facing down the myriad challenges they'd been through together. But it was now - these last few hours as an unmarried man - that was getting him rattled.
"Ryan." His brother was quick to notice. "Y'alright?"
"I..." His eyes darted around for a moment as he thought about where to go next. Much of the villa was off-limits to him, leaving him apart from many of his usual confidants as they went about their own business. His sole syllable hung in the air for a moment before he slowly started to make his way back towards the room from which he'd started; the large room he, Darron, Devon and Layton were using as a makeshift living room in lieu of the real one. "I'm... gettin' nervous. Gonna go somewhere quiet. Get me somethin' to eat, will ya..?"