FIC Arrangements Part 8
Jun. 14th, 2008 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jessara40k_ljTitle: Arrangements chapter 8
Series: Final Fantasy VII AU (Cetra Restoration AU, linked here)
Pairing: Brangwen/Elena, Brangwen/Cloud
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If they were mine Aeris and Zack would still be alive, and not just running around in the Lifestream spying on Cloud. Since Aeris and Zack said goodbye to Cloud at the end of AC and disappeared into the Lifestream I guess they aren't mine.
Warnings: AU
Brangwen started to pace with impatience as they waited for the call to tell them everything was in place, while Morvoren sat and watched her calmly.
“Brangwen, relax.” Morvoren stood and caught her elbow in a single smooth motion, and Brangwen came to an immediate halt, waiting to hear what else her cousin had to say. “You don’t want people to see that you’re anxious about this, or impatient, anything other than serene confidence could easily be interpreted as weakness.”
“Yes, you’re right. How do I look?” Brangwen stepped back and spread her arms for inspection.
“Ready for inspection.” A wry smile twisted Morvoren’s lips as she replied. “And you look comfortable in what you’re wearing, even if it isn’t armour.”
“Good.” Brangwen let her own amusement show. “I can’t quite believe Rowan was actually planning to wear a dress to her wedding.”
“Nor I. I understand why she wanted her concubines in dresses, but letting her own legs get tangled up in skirts to please the humans?” Morvoren shook her head in bemusement.
“She was going to come to the cathedral in a carriage, with her bridesmaids, not riding the way we are, but still...” Weapons had been another issue. Rowan hadn’t intended to carry any to the ceremony, or to arm her concubines; Brangwen could understand that much, concubines didn’t usually have Tseng’s skill with weapons and her usual axes were just too ostentatious, but she had insisted on wearing her smallest axe at her belt, with Morvoren carrying a short sword balanced by a dirk.
Morvoren jumped a bit as her phone rang, but she answered quickly and confirmed that everything was ready for them to set off. Brangwen followed Morvoren out to where their chocobos were waiting and let the groom holding her blue boost her up into the saddle to keep her clothes from wrinkling too badly. She kept her face still as she guided Saphir through the streets with minimal motions of her legs and hands, maintaining a parade seat to put on the best show that she could.
“Do you have the barrier I lent you equipped?”
“Yes Morvoren.” It was a bit late to be asking that, but Brangwen understood her cousin’s concern, even if she wasn’t used to thinking of herself as a protectee. And the materia satisfied the ‘something borrowed’ part of that little rhyme humans expected brides to use in selecting their wedding outfits. “I hid it under my shirt. And I know, if we’re attacked I’m supposed to let you fight and stay out of it if I can. I won’t make it any harder for you.”
“Thanks. And I was thinking that I might start trying for a child with Angeal. Cloud doesn’t have much in the way of family, and your child won’t have the chance to spend much time with the clan.”
“Sephiroth might agree to a few visits, but not enough to form any strong friendships. Thanks. I’d been worried about that, even if it isn’t really supposed to be my concern.” It would have been her concern if she’d decided to have children by a lover, the way Morvoren was, although she could reasonably send her offspring back to the clan as long as she sent enough money to take care of them as well, but as Cloud’s spouse she could hand her children over to Sephiroth once she’d weaned them. “I’m a bit surprised that you’re willing to keep your child with you...or were you intending to move Angeal into your quarters and let him take care of the child?”
“He doesn’t have anywhere near as many demands on his time as I do, so why not? Cloud’s given his approval already.”
“Congratulations then.” They didn’t say anything more until they reached the cathedral, and Brangwen was relieved to see that the larger than usual saddle blanket had minimised the amount of Saphir’s feather that had stuck to her jacket and trousers, even if she still had to wait for one of the attendants waiting to take their chocobos to brush the small feathers off, while another gave her boots one last polish.
“Pity I wasn’t riding a green like you are.” Although Morvoren had needed a brush down as well.
“The feathers would still show on the dark green velvet, but wool might have been a better choice.”
“It might have, but I didn’t think about needing to be brushed down when I was talking to the tailors. Thank you.” Brangwen smiled at the man who handed her the bouquet, and shifted about to hold it in front of her for visual impact, rather than ease of carrying. She didn’t mind this tradition, since Aeris had grown the flowers she was carrying, and she set off into the cathedral, proceeding down the aisle at a steady pace, to allow everyone to look at her as much as they wanted. When she reached the altar she handed her bouquet off to Morvoren and turned to face half towards Cloud and half towards the priest, making sure that she looked attentive, even though she was tuning out most of his sermon on marriage and whatever else he was talking about.
“Do you, Cloud Strife, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, cherish and support, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, as long as you both shall live?” Brangwen hadn’t cared much about the vows, as long as Cloud wasn’t promising to protect her, not when it was her duty to protect him, but he’d insisted on changing her vows as she’d altered his.
“I do.”
“Do you, Brangwen Cuprite, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honour and serve, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Where are the rings?”
“Here.” Sephiroth presented them on a little cushion, dark blue velvet, Brangwen noted irrationally, her mind skipping to how it was a perfect match for his and Cloud’s outfits.
“Cloud, take Brangwen’s ring and place it on her finger, repeating the words ‘With this ring I thee wed.’” Cloud slid her sapphire ‘engagement’ ring off first, bracketing it with the wedding ring, and a third, narrower gold band, indented to frame the stone, before sliding all three rings onto her finger.
“Now you Brangwen, take Cloud’s ring and place it on his finger, repeating the words ‘With this ring I thee wed.’” There was a faintly sour look on the priest’s face as Brangwen obeyed, although she couldn’t have said why, but he pronounced them ‘man and wife’ and invited Cloud to ‘kiss the bride’ to complete the ceremony. Cloud only offered her a chaste, almost formal kiss, something she knew was only him being polite, even if they hoped at least some of the people watching would assume it was about restraint, rather than the lack of desire she knew it truly was. Then she took the bouquet back from Morvoren and they walked out of the cathedral together, to where two gold chocobos were waiting for them, and Cloud confirmed in a whisper that one of them was hers now.
Series: Final Fantasy VII AU (Cetra Restoration AU, linked here)
Pairing: Brangwen/Elena, Brangwen/Cloud
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If they were mine Aeris and Zack would still be alive, and not just running around in the Lifestream spying on Cloud. Since Aeris and Zack said goodbye to Cloud at the end of AC and disappeared into the Lifestream I guess they aren't mine.
Warnings: AU
Brangwen started to pace with impatience as they waited for the call to tell them everything was in place, while Morvoren sat and watched her calmly.
“Brangwen, relax.” Morvoren stood and caught her elbow in a single smooth motion, and Brangwen came to an immediate halt, waiting to hear what else her cousin had to say. “You don’t want people to see that you’re anxious about this, or impatient, anything other than serene confidence could easily be interpreted as weakness.”
“Yes, you’re right. How do I look?” Brangwen stepped back and spread her arms for inspection.
“Ready for inspection.” A wry smile twisted Morvoren’s lips as she replied. “And you look comfortable in what you’re wearing, even if it isn’t armour.”
“Good.” Brangwen let her own amusement show. “I can’t quite believe Rowan was actually planning to wear a dress to her wedding.”
“Nor I. I understand why she wanted her concubines in dresses, but letting her own legs get tangled up in skirts to please the humans?” Morvoren shook her head in bemusement.
“She was going to come to the cathedral in a carriage, with her bridesmaids, not riding the way we are, but still...” Weapons had been another issue. Rowan hadn’t intended to carry any to the ceremony, or to arm her concubines; Brangwen could understand that much, concubines didn’t usually have Tseng’s skill with weapons and her usual axes were just too ostentatious, but she had insisted on wearing her smallest axe at her belt, with Morvoren carrying a short sword balanced by a dirk.
Morvoren jumped a bit as her phone rang, but she answered quickly and confirmed that everything was ready for them to set off. Brangwen followed Morvoren out to where their chocobos were waiting and let the groom holding her blue boost her up into the saddle to keep her clothes from wrinkling too badly. She kept her face still as she guided Saphir through the streets with minimal motions of her legs and hands, maintaining a parade seat to put on the best show that she could.
“Do you have the barrier I lent you equipped?”
“Yes Morvoren.” It was a bit late to be asking that, but Brangwen understood her cousin’s concern, even if she wasn’t used to thinking of herself as a protectee. And the materia satisfied the ‘something borrowed’ part of that little rhyme humans expected brides to use in selecting their wedding outfits. “I hid it under my shirt. And I know, if we’re attacked I’m supposed to let you fight and stay out of it if I can. I won’t make it any harder for you.”
“Thanks. And I was thinking that I might start trying for a child with Angeal. Cloud doesn’t have much in the way of family, and your child won’t have the chance to spend much time with the clan.”
“Sephiroth might agree to a few visits, but not enough to form any strong friendships. Thanks. I’d been worried about that, even if it isn’t really supposed to be my concern.” It would have been her concern if she’d decided to have children by a lover, the way Morvoren was, although she could reasonably send her offspring back to the clan as long as she sent enough money to take care of them as well, but as Cloud’s spouse she could hand her children over to Sephiroth once she’d weaned them. “I’m a bit surprised that you’re willing to keep your child with you...or were you intending to move Angeal into your quarters and let him take care of the child?”
“He doesn’t have anywhere near as many demands on his time as I do, so why not? Cloud’s given his approval already.”
“Congratulations then.” They didn’t say anything more until they reached the cathedral, and Brangwen was relieved to see that the larger than usual saddle blanket had minimised the amount of Saphir’s feather that had stuck to her jacket and trousers, even if she still had to wait for one of the attendants waiting to take their chocobos to brush the small feathers off, while another gave her boots one last polish.
“Pity I wasn’t riding a green like you are.” Although Morvoren had needed a brush down as well.
“The feathers would still show on the dark green velvet, but wool might have been a better choice.”
“It might have, but I didn’t think about needing to be brushed down when I was talking to the tailors. Thank you.” Brangwen smiled at the man who handed her the bouquet, and shifted about to hold it in front of her for visual impact, rather than ease of carrying. She didn’t mind this tradition, since Aeris had grown the flowers she was carrying, and she set off into the cathedral, proceeding down the aisle at a steady pace, to allow everyone to look at her as much as they wanted. When she reached the altar she handed her bouquet off to Morvoren and turned to face half towards Cloud and half towards the priest, making sure that she looked attentive, even though she was tuning out most of his sermon on marriage and whatever else he was talking about.
“Do you, Cloud Strife, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, cherish and support, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, as long as you both shall live?” Brangwen hadn’t cared much about the vows, as long as Cloud wasn’t promising to protect her, not when it was her duty to protect him, but he’d insisted on changing her vows as she’d altered his.
“I do.”
“Do you, Brangwen Cuprite, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honour and serve, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Where are the rings?”
“Here.” Sephiroth presented them on a little cushion, dark blue velvet, Brangwen noted irrationally, her mind skipping to how it was a perfect match for his and Cloud’s outfits.
“Cloud, take Brangwen’s ring and place it on her finger, repeating the words ‘With this ring I thee wed.’” Cloud slid her sapphire ‘engagement’ ring off first, bracketing it with the wedding ring, and a third, narrower gold band, indented to frame the stone, before sliding all three rings onto her finger.
“Now you Brangwen, take Cloud’s ring and place it on his finger, repeating the words ‘With this ring I thee wed.’” There was a faintly sour look on the priest’s face as Brangwen obeyed, although she couldn’t have said why, but he pronounced them ‘man and wife’ and invited Cloud to ‘kiss the bride’ to complete the ceremony. Cloud only offered her a chaste, almost formal kiss, something she knew was only him being polite, even if they hoped at least some of the people watching would assume it was about restraint, rather than the lack of desire she knew it truly was. Then she took the bouquet back from Morvoren and they walked out of the cathedral together, to where two gold chocobos were waiting for them, and Cloud confirmed in a whisper that one of them was hers now.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-14 11:08 am (UTC)*FLAIL*
You did a great job with this
*claps hand*
I wonder who caught the bouquet when Brangwen threw it
*giggles*
I am already looking forward to the next one
*huggles and hands loads of cookies to you*
no subject
Date: 2008-06-16 09:26 am (UTC)I wonder who caught the bouquet when Brangwen threw it
No idea, probably one of the human guests.
I am already looking forward to the next one
That's going to take a while, Cloud really doesn't want to talk to me about the first time he was supposed to have sex with Brangwen.
Next message
Date: 2008-06-17 04:32 pm (UTC)Do they have to have sex? Wouldn't artificial insemination be an option? If sex is necessary, well they are both sensible adults who rather like each other and would try to make this a friendly and tolerable experience. I can just imagine them sitting over a teapot with lists of things they do/don't enjoy. No tickling, no ear nibbling. I like my back rubbed. Go very slow. A little rough. Not rough at all. Both people blushing and looking at teacups so they don't have to look at each other in the face.
Re: Next message
Date: 2008-06-18 08:53 am (UTC)It isn't exactly that, Cloud isn't shy about his sex life with anyone else, the issue is that their first time together goes bad, and Brangwen's first time with Elena, which she does want to tell me about is a direct response to that.
Do an Edwardian episode and send them off to the same bed in the evening
Actually I've decided on something a bit similar to that. Sephiroth knows how important it is that Cloud produce at least one child fairly soon after his marriage, so he sends Cloud off to Brangwen the day Aeris says she's fertile, Cloud goes to her room (like in late medieval Europe there's probably some witnesses although I doubt I'll mention that) and when he gets there Brangwen greets him and I'll probably skip to the part where he leaves, frustrated and a bit humiliated.
Do they have to have sex?
Yes, I'm afraid so. It's referenced in one of the Indenture interludes - artifical inseminatation of any sort won't give him a legal heir.
I can just imagine them sitting over a teapot with lists of things they do/don't enjoy.
Not quite like that, but I could subtitute an episode after Brangwen's first fertile period is over when she lays down the law so to speak about how they'll handle the next fertile period, if I can't get a full chapter out of this new approach.
Re: Next message
Date: 2008-07-09 03:26 pm (UTC)You could do a flashback from Brangwen's side of the first time when you write about the first time with Elena.
Re: Next message
Date: 2008-07-10 01:16 pm (UTC)Expanding a bit more
Date: 2008-06-19 02:33 pm (UTC)Brangwen honestly thinks she's making it easier on Cloud by telling him to effectively treat her like a blow-up doll. She knows he wasn't very comfortable the first three times, and for herself she has issues enjoying sex that is specifically meant to produce a child, and there's no getting around the fact that reproduction is the main purpose of her sex life with Cloud. If they'd had sex earlier, before she was fertile, like on their wedding night instead of Cloud going off to sleep with Sephiroth and Tseng and Brangwen choosing not to send for Elena, maybe it would be different, but she knows that she won't really be able to enjoy sex with Cloud until after they have their first child, so why bother making him try?
Sephiroth on the other hand hates the fact that here's yet another thing he can't give Cloud, do for him. Intellectually he accepts the necessity, and he appreciated it that Brangwen, who's really more his friend than Cloud's, let him know when she'd need to be with Cloud for the best chance to conceive and get this over with quickly, but emotionally it hurts him, especially because Cloud's reluctance and concern for his feelings is putting him in the position of sending the man he loves to another person three nights every month.
And Cloud has issues with the fact that he's hurting Sephiroth by doing this, and with the way Brangwen effectively orders him to use her.
I think their sex life becomes healthier by the time they need to conceive a second child, partly because Elena explains precisely what she needs from him if he decides that the child she's going to have as a companion for Brangwen's should be his, and he has sex with Brangwen just for fun a few time before that.
Re: Expanding a bit more
Date: 2008-06-19 06:33 pm (UTC)They would actually be better off with a check list and script. If the Cetrans are more durable physically and have a higher sexual drive, can't they handle it better? Let Brangwen initiate sex, perhaps with her on top, and then let Cloud reciprocate with Brangwen in her prefered position. Cloud seems rather shy, and if his body is to react to the appropriate stimuli, perhaps someone else should take the initiative.
Re: Expanding a bit more
Date: 2008-06-20 08:36 am (UTC)Probably, but Brangwen's issues aren't something she can deal with with a change of position, they won't go away until she's had her first child.