Meet the Family

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


"Oh, she sounds fun. Tempest, can we visit her?" Elpsis asked with partly feigned, partly genuine eagerness. After all, she could not spend time in Abomey without visiting the city's best escort, could she?


Before Elpsis could drift off into non-PG-13 daydreams, a distinguished elderly gentleman with a grey moustache and white hair appeared on the spot. He seemed very friendly, unlike Honour. Elpsis decided she liked him. "Hello...Mr...Hope." Elpsis always felt awkward addressing Dahomians she was not on first name basis with...since they only had first names. "It's nice to meet you." His query caused her to grin slightly.


"Tempest can be a tad...overwhelming sometimes." Hey, she had not made a joke about her name, so there was no cause to complain. "But she's very kind, brave and loving." She was trolling just a bit, but her words were heartfelt.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Tempest was clearly moved, but also suspected there was indeed some trolling happening.
“A true warrior then!” Hope said with a nod. “Do not ever let half measures suffice. That is the true mark of a warrior. I wish you well. Of course, I wish my niece would get married and have children, but I have a son and daughter who seem rather happier to continue the family line.”
Lance didn’t look embarrassed, instead grinned. “I’ll do my best!”
Tempest meanwhile took Elpsis’ arm and she leaned in. “Thank you, Elpsis, it means a lot to hear you say that. Even if part of it is to embarrass me,” she said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Honour was…stressed. It was only an hour until the guests arrived, and she was running around like a Jester in a larder.

“Oh, thank the Force, father! I’ve been trying to get Purity here, but she won’t come. You need to get her here now!” she said in a rush.
Hope raised an eyebrow. “What did she say?”
“Something about traffic, but I know she’s just being lazy.” There was silence. “She’s always been jealous of me!” Honour almost screamed.
Hope put a paternal arm on her shoulder. “How about I handle this, and you go and get ready. You don’t want to be too stressed before your big day.”
“Gods help the groom,” Lance muttered once Honour was gone.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Elpsis smiled slightly, feeling happy about her girlfriend's show of affection. "I was being honest, babe," she said earnestly. Then a wicked grin spread across her face. "Besides, if I really wanted to troll you, I'd tell your Uncle that his dream about you settling down and having kids might not be that far off since you fantasise about putting babies inside me." She had to milk that dream for all it was worth before it got old.


Meanwhile, Honour was being stressed and...dramatic. Elpsis wondered whether her relatives might not be able to give her a more appropriate name. "Who's the lucky guy? And what did he do?" she wondered aloud after she'd left with Uncle Hope.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Tempest instantly went rigid, turning to glare at Elpsis. Of course, glaring wouldn’t exactly help but still.
“That was not my fantasy!” she said crossly.
“There’s no shame in it, cousin,” Lance said smugly. He apparently had good hearing. “I think you’d make great parents!”
“Not. Another. Word,” Tempest bit out. She’d become quite flushed.

She sought distraction and found it with the next discussion. “Wealthy heir to a mining and ranching fortune,” Tempest said.
“A colonialist collaborator family,” Lance said grimly.
“But now making amends by having to marry Honour,” Tempest said smugly.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


"Oh, come on, Tempest, there's no need to hide. Nothing would give me greater joy than to be your wife and have your babies!" Elpsis exclaimed in a sing-song voice that was so obviously a cheesy parody it would have made Chesna proud. Taking Tempest's callused hand, she placed it on her stomach, as if already imagining the growth of a lovely baby bump after her beau gave her lesbian space magic babies.


Eh...moving on. "Ok...then I don't feel sorry for the in-laws, after all," Elpsis said, frowning. It made it a bit hypocritical that Honour had a problem with Tempest though, since she was not consorting with former colonialist collaborators.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Tempest nodded. “Indeed. The old man in charge paid for his allegiance, and his son took over. He’s done a good job of making amends but still….”
“This is their next step,” Lance said, clearly dubious. “Marry in with a family known for fighting the oppressors. Father isn’t too happy…but the money is helpful. He made sure the marriage contract was strongly in Honour’s favour.”

Caterers and others arrived. Finally, a young Dahomian girl appeared with a camera and other gear in her hands. She looked flustered. Her hair was dyed in different hues and she wore a pretty dress which was a bit askew from her rushing.
“Cousin Tempest, cousin Lance!” she said, hurrying over.
“Purity! Nice to see you. This is my girlfriend Elpsis.”
Purity grinned. “Hi there! You’re cute! Sorry…” she said sheepishly when Tempest gave her a look. “Have you seen Honour around? She wants me to do the photography, but I got caught up.”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Elpsis decided that Purity was her kind of pure. While she was considerably less egotistical or vain than Siobhan, the redhead liked being complimented about her looks, and enjoyed flirting a lot. "Aww, thanks, Purity! You're very pretty yourself," she gushed. "Must run in the family. I feel spoilt with so many beautiful black ladies around me. And I love your hair." Elpsis was obviously unable to see the different hues in it, but whatever.


"Honour is off...somewhere. Being dramatic. Don't worry. You're just on time," she placed a calming hand on the woman's shoulder.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Purity shuffled her feet, looking a little embarrassed. “Nice of you to say, Ms Elpsis,” she said modestly. Unlike Tempest she really was being humble.

She snapped back to the present somewhat when her cousin’s name was mentioned. “I’m just gonna stay out of her way I think. I’ll get the recording gear setup.”
Elpsis’ empathy and even just her calm tone was working to relax the girl.

More and more people were arriving, meaning the service would start soon.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Elpsis smiled at the cute girl. Tempest would know the look very well. It pretty much screamed 'is she into girls? "Please, it's just Elpsis for you. Ms sounds all formal and stuff," she said sweetly. Her hand had not left the woman's shoulder, but then it had just been there to calm her. Totally. "Don't worry. We can help keep her off your back. You're real good with techie stuff, right?"

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Tempest huffed slightly. She gave no reaction to Elpsis. She was related to Purity after all, so she wasn’t exactly asking that question herself.

“Oh yes! I’m learning engineering at the technical college!” she said happily. “So here’s the deal, you keep Honour off me, and I’ll take some nice pics of you and Tempest when I’ve got it all set up, sound good? I can also take a look at any kit you have which isn’t working and fix that too!”

Tempest took Elpsis’ free hand. “That sounds good. I’d like some formal pictures with my girlfriend.” Was that a possessive tone, or was she just warning Elpsis off her cousin? Hard to say.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


"That sounds great, sweetie. Maybe later you can tell me all about your technical courses and the cool stuff you do," Elpsis agreed jovially. She did not mention that sadly she would be unable to admire the photographs. Force Sight was good for many things, but failed her in that regard. It upset her a bit, but she kept quiet about it.


She gave Tempest's hand a squeeze. Was her girlfriend upset with her? Elpsis honestly did not know. "Yeah, some nice pics to hang up. No need to make them too formal though," she joked. If they were, the empath would be unable to tell, either way.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
“I’d love to!” Purity said happily. She bustled around setting up equipment.

People were starting to arrive; guests, wait staff, caterers and more. They filed in and took their seats under the pavilions.

“I don’t think that there’s much more we can do here. Let’s go find a seat,” Tempest said. Her earlier mood had gone and she seemed quite happy now.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]

"Want me to sit on your lap? So that you can make sure no pretty girl snatches me away from you, sugar?" Elpsis asked teasingly. In any event, they found seats and she sat down next to Tempest. Elpsis being Elpsis, she naturally had to get touchey-feely. Or handsy, if you felt like being crude. S she massaged Tempest's shoulder and neck and nuzzled her. "Your cousin is a sweetheart," she said quietly while lickingTempest's earlobe. "Still like you the most."

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Lance, whose excellent hearing was rapidly becoming an asset for trolling, coughed.
“The competition is on. Shall I introduce you to her other cousins? I believe we can drop by Valour on the way back.”
Tempest gave him and irritable dig in the ribs. It wasn’t so fun she it was her being trolled!
“She’s very young and inexperienced, do go shocking the poor girl,” she said sternly. The nuzzling was nice, but she was still a little touchy about her cousin being singled out by Elpsis. That was a little…uncomfortable for her.

By now more people had arrived, and Hope had taken his place at the rear with his daughter.
A man of average height in a very nice suit walked to the front, with several others behind him.
“That’s the groom. Noble is his name, not so much his personality,” Tempest muttered.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


"Y'know, I don't grumble about you sleeping with the women who are like mothers to me," Elpsis responded a bit tartly. It would presumably be more uncomfortable if Tempest's dream world became a reality and they got married. Or once Elpsis was adopted. "But fine." It was less Tempest's desire for her to refrain from bedding her cousin and more her stern tone that made her sulky.


She ceased her nuzzling. More people arrived and soon the pavillion was full. One of them was the groom. "His aura doesn't feel like it," Elpsis remarked. "Looks appropriate for Dishonourable though. Does he have anything going for him other than being rich?" Admittedly Elpsis was Sapphic to the bone either way.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Lance considered a moment. “He’s quite a good pilot. His daddy got him a nice ship early on so he’s actually won a few races. Other than that? Not really.”

The drums started, but soon gave way to a more conventional ‘galactic’ tune as an offworld band started to tune up.

Soon, once all were seated, Hope entered with his daughter by his side, moving down the aisle towards the groom and a local headman who would be doing the service.

Tempest and all the guests rose as they passed. She smiled slightly at the sight. Regardless of how annoying Honour could be, she was family, and she was clearly happy.

She put a hand around Elpsis’ back. “Sorry I was a bit harsh,” she whispered. “I’m just very protective. I’d like it if you spent some time with Purity and helped her get a different perspective. Without…you know.” Without sleeping with her.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Elpsis looked pacified by Tempest's apology and gave the older woman a chaste kiss on the cheek. "It's cool, sugar. I'll be sweet and on my best behaviour with her," she promised, leaning against the Dahomian. "She seems like a nice girl. I'll treat her like lil sister," she furrowed her brow. "Hmm...we are almost the same age, but whatever." Her stomach rumbled slightly and she looked embarrassed, flushing a bright crimson. Hopefully there'd be cake.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
“Thank you,” Tempest said, her mind now at ease.

The couple met by the altar. Vows were exchanged, rings given and cheering heard. The couple kissed, and Purity could be seen making the necessary camera shots.

Tempest rose with the other guests to clap the newlywed couple.

The headman gave a long, somewhat boring speech afterwards, ended only when many in the crowd were getting drowsy and Honour was clearly getting irritated.

But now that part had ended, it was time to move to the most fun/awkward part of the day…the wedding reception!

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


"You better have an extra good performance tonight, Missy," Elpsis declared in response. Having a super sex-positive girlfriend was good because it meant you got laid a lot. Sometimes more than once a day. However, it could also be extremely tiring, especially if she was younger than you and had terrific stamina.


Anyhow, the couple met at the altar, vows were made, there were speeches and clapping. Then the wedding reception began. "Well, that was nice, I guess," Elpsis muttered. Her dislike for Honour seemed to have kept her from having fuzzy, romantic feelings. Her stomach grumbled. "Come on. I'm hungry. Will there be cake?" she wondered aloud. Taking Tempest's hand, she walked into the fray of guests.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
There was indeed cake, a huge, impractical tower cake with icing and frosting galore. Tempest and Elpsis found themselves sat at one of the big tables. To left and right were some pleasant enough folks, few of whom Tempest knew.

The woman beside Elpsis was an older lady, well dressed. “Pleased to meet you, dear. I’m Sagacity, professor at the university. Are you here for the groom or bride?”

The food was brought out. It was alternated so every third person got the same dish.
Tempest started eating, and a strange fish was laid out for Elpsis. It smelt nice though, even if the bright blue scales looked a bit…odd.