shenevermisses | 19th Throw

Okay.

[She's decided that saying it to the village at large is a better idea than writing it. This way, she can't change her mind a hundred times then put it off and either not do it or totally rush it.]

I... don't know the customs around here, so I'm just going to announce it.

For anyone hearing this who doesn't know me-- my name's Clove.

Um. In a little while. On the twenty-third of October, actually. Cato and I are getting married.

I don't know how weddings work here or where you're all from. I know things can be pretty different. Where we're from -- District Two of Panem -- the wedding itself is a pretty quiet thing. Little ceremony, short vows. That being said, we do need someone to officiate. I don't know who that would be, here. If someone could help with that... I'd appreciate it. A lot. I know someone mentioned it a little while ago. So, yeah. That'd really help.

After the ceremony, we have a meal. Where I'm from, it's a big thing, but it's casual. We'll have lots of food and anyone who wants to come is invited. If you know us, if you don't, whatever. Everyone is welcome. Come, eat, mingle. Really, it's as simple as that.

So. Yeah. Thank you for your time.

[And for the opportunity to make this announcement.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... ah. Gai had had a feeling that Clove's earlier question had something to do with romance; call it a hunch, but it had been something he'd been forced to ponder too before he decided to go for it with Elizabeth.

In light of that, this announcement really doesn't come as much of a surprise to him at all. Well. Maybe just a little bit, because he's pretty sure she's around his age, if not a little younger. Then again, he had told her to go for it...]

Congratulations. Glad to hear you decided to take the plunge.

We've... been engaged for awhile. So, it was time to do it, we thought.

[After far too many shifts that made it hard to ignore.]

Oh yeah? Then there's even more of a reason to go for it. Besides, what better place to do it than here, where everything's free?

It definitely makes the food thing easier. Where I come from, the whole village you grew up in donates a little bit of money for the party, but we don't have to worry about that here.

Now all you have to worry about is bribing people to make food for it, but it sounds like you've already got that part covered.

They can if they want, but that's really more of our responsibility, traditionally. So we can take care of that.

You're even expected to make your own cake? That's pretty harsh. I thought this celebration was supposed to be for you.

Not where I'm from. It's... a new couple inviting the community to see them off at the start of their life together. It's our honor to have them there, so we provide for them.

In my world, the couple usually just buys the cake. Assuming they're doing a Western-style wedding, that is. But the guests are supposed to bring money for a gift, so it ends up not costing the new couple as much as it would otherwise.

[... it feels a little odd to be discussing wedding traditions, honestly. Until he arrived in Luceti, Gai hadn't thought he would ever have the chance to have a wedding at all.]

...Do cakes really cost that much where you're from?

[Why do all these people seem to have such elaborate wedding things? It sounds like a nightmare.]

Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?

Why?

There's been so much talk about decorations and music and kinds of food and just... everything. I've never heard about weddings being this complicated.

Consider yourself lucky they aren't such a major production in your world. If you ask me, they're a waste of money and resources in mine.

Most people don't have that kind of money to waste. Even families who are pretty well off wouldn't just go crazy 'cause their kids are getting married.

Most people in mine don't have that kind of money either, but that's never stopped them from doing it anyway.

Really? Why do they do it, then?

Don't know. To show off, I suppose. It's like some kind of status symbol.

That's weird. For us, it's just... the beginning of a new life. It's important, but it's not... important like that.

That's what I feel it should be, too. A celebration for the people involved and their friends and family. But then I never claimed to know that much about weddings in general.

Our ceremony is just with our family, and then we have a dinner with the community, and... that's about it.

Just like you're going to do here. Can't argue with that logic.

I hope you won't mind me showing up with a guest-- there's someone I'd like to bring along with me.

Not at all.

This is for the entire community. Even total strangers who don't have someone to bring them. Anyone who wants to come is welcome.

19th Throw - [ voice ]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

Re: [Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]