>>5696451As you begin to slip the ring onto her finger, Gihren and Kycilia ruin the moment by existing.
“What an endearing display.” Kycilia remarks from behind her purple veil-like mask, dark eyes narrow and her tone hovering on a strange line between being genuine or incredibly condescending, “Congratulations are in order.”
“...His commoner mistress? The Earthnoid? …What is there to congratulate?” Gihren’s tone is even, controlled and arrogant as ever. A thin smile spreads across his face as he asks the question to Kycilia. Her dark eyes shift over to him as they continue to walk toward everyone assembled about the enormous tree; Christmas decorations might be unusual within the Zabi palace, but Kycilia staring daggers at her older brother is anything but.
“You’ve always had a silver tongue, older brother. It’s a gift.” Kycilia replies venomously, but before they can devolve into their usual prodding Vivima speaks up.
“Congratulations <span class="mu-i">are</span> in order,” Viv echoes her older sister far more genuinely, real excitement exuding from her as she stands up, hands clasped together, “I’m so happy for the both of you!”
“You’ll be very good together, I’ve always known it.” Casval joins in, and for a moment you think back to what instigated all of this, all the way back early on that fateful night at Teabolo’s villa. Elena shivering in the cold, book in hand, waiting to try to grab a few minutes of your time… Well, she’s got them now.
Soon all the others join in congratulating you, Artesia and your mother especially, but you’re not focusing on any of them now. You put the Zabis and your family out of mind once more, and kiss the woman you love.
Elena is going to be your wife.
<span class="mu-s">Far away, in high orbit around Luna, the engineers aboard Anaheim Electronics <span class="mu-i">La Vie en Rose</span> look on with pride as the first of their towering creations rises to its full height within the ship’s hangar. The deck shudders as it takes its first step, and then another, technicians moving hurriedly out of its path. Servos whir as the machine’s head shifts from side to side slowly, twin eye sensors taking in everything from behind its blue visor. It is rough, it is unready, and years of work still remain… but this early guncannon is the shape of things to come.</span>
>Continue with Christmas with the Zabis for a little longer.>End thread.>Laplace’s Mystery Box.