The room was bustling with a dozen other men. His father, his uncle, his two male cousins, Alexander whom he considered to be his closest friend, and servants of the estate. Booming laughs and stress was all around him, but Simon ignored it all. He was criticizing himself in a mirror. Standing six-foot-two with muscles not gained from hard work but from forcing himself to exercize, he was rather pleased with his appearance. He was a little unhappy with so much of his body being hidden behind a tuxedo, but it would have to do. It was classic black and white, but instead of a bright colored flower on his suit, it was black. It was hardly visible against the black coat which made Simon feel that it shouldn't be there at all. He began to pick at the pin again, beginning to take it off. His hand was slapped down.

"Keep your hands in their place, boy!" A stern, hearty voice came from his right. Simon had already instinctively began to pout before he straightened up his spine and stood taller than his uncle who assumed authority over him. Today was a day of pride, his father had told him. It had put him into a mindset that he was so used to: even if you're not, put on a show that you're better than the others around you. Afterall, his family was at the top of society, and he did so long to show it. However, he couldn't deny that meeting his vampire bride intimidated him. Would she act as if he was beneath her? Simon supposed he would soon find out.

His uncle scurried off to the door which led directly to the alter, and then gave a rushed wave to attempt to hurry the process. Alexander, a human taller than he who donned black hair, brown eyes, and freckles, put a hand on Simon's arm and started leading him towards the door. "The bride is waiting. Make your family proud." Alexander gave Simon a shove, and he flew through the door, nearly tripping on a step up he hadn't seen. All of the groomsmen rushed past Simon to take their place at the alter immediately, leaving Simon in the dust. He hurried his way up the black metal steps to the top of the alter, underneath an archway of vines, and both black and red flowers.

Simon straightened his bowtie and looked around the dark church. The architect of the church must have had a love for spires and the color black for they were everywhere that black rails weren't. The only thing that wasn't black was the white tile floor, but even that was covered by a long black carpet that the bride would walk down shortly. Simon began to search the room. At first all he could see was red eyes on the left pews, and then learned that on the right side were humans. He supposed it was better that they be separated for the ceremony... just in case. Simon, along with most of Germany, was still hesitant to trust them.

Finally he spotted her. The one who only her name he knew, Aavyn. She carried a bouquet of black roses in her hand. Simon turned to his best man and Alexander said to him, "She's a creature of the night... her appearance says it all. Are you ready for this?" Simon tried to swallow but his mouth was dry. Thoughts ran through his mind, majoring in questions. Would he be able to tolerate staring into those red eyes for the rest of his life? Or growing old when she would stay young? "We'll find out in a moment, won't we?"

Realizing that Simon still had a few moments to spare, he scurried away from the alter to the left wall of the church, walking down to the entrance of the building where she stood. He felt the crimson eyes following his figure and felt uncomfortable but walked tall and ignored them. As he approached her, he cleared his throat. She was beautiful, and so independent for being so young. "Aavyn, am I right? Welcome to my wedding. Errm, our wedding, I suppose," he stuttered out.

OOC: Sorry, my first posts can get kind of long sometimes. x)

Simon kept his eyes on the bride while she replied. However he found that it was hard to hold eye contact with eyes so... menacing. He hadn't had to converse with many vampires throughout his life. For the most part that was his father's duty, and it was he who accepted the offer of the new blood law. Simon hadn't had many duties throughout his lifetime, besides looking decent and acting properly. Now was the hour to prove to all of Germany that he was suitable to take his father's place and bring forth New Germany.

He couldn't help but crack a smile as Aavyn said something that put her out of line. She quickly apologized, looking almost fearful as her eyes searched the room to be sure that her family was not within earshot. Simon noted that she must come from a very disciplined family. Perhaps they weren't the bloodthirsty creatures he assumed them to be... but it was also too soon to tell. "All is well. I must say that I wasn't expecting my life to quite turn out this way either..."

Suddenly the traditional German wedding march began to play on the organs of the church, filling the cathedral with ominous music. The guests began to rise to stand upright, the vampires in position much sooner than the humans. Aavyn looped her arm around his, and he straighted his spine yet again. When had he become such a sloucher? He wondered.

Both looks of excitement and scowls followed their bodies as they walked slowly down the aisle. While they walked, Simon began to realize just how little he knew of her. Her age, her birthday, even family tradition. "All of this truly is for show, isn't it?" He murmured, just quiet enough for her to hear. He suddenly hoped that he hadn't offended her but he felt uncomfortable at her side. Simon could feel the strength in the arm he held, and she was simply resting it within his. They reached the alter after what felt like an painfully slow walk. She put away her flowers to one of her bridesmaids, or perhaps the maid of honor. Simon didn't know. He took her hands and she stared into his eyes. He tried to hold eye contact, but the crimson seemed to swirl throughout his mind until that was all he saw. The color of blood; it was mesmerizing him. Alexander gave him a pat on the back. The priest, dressed in black, began to recite the vows to them at the same time Simon began to feel trapped. His nerves were on edge until he found Aavyn's eyes again, and as horrifying as they were to him, they kept him in place. While the priest turned the page of the holy book, Simon spoke quietly. "Assure me I'm not the only nervous one, dear?"

A very slight wave of relief crossed over Simon when she admitted to being a little nervous as well. "At least we know how we each feel then," he chuckled softly. Aavyn smiled lightly, exposing rows of beautiful teeth. If only Simon could tear his eyes from the sharply extended ones. The priest continued the vows but his voice rose in volume, a sign of irritation that they had been talking between his words. Simon glanced over apologetically at him before returning his gaze to Aavyn. After what seemed like an eternity, the priest gave the pair permission to complete the marriage on their own. The look that crossed his bride's face told him that she wasn't comfortable with this. Simon decided he would try to make it easier for her. As she leaned in, he took a very light step forward and placed a kiss on her lips, an act he had done many times before. Well, not in the context of marriage.

As she pulled away, however, Simon felt a stinging pain in his lower lip. The pain only increased to a burning feeling, and he instinctively reached up to touch it. His fingers revealed a minor amount of blood. It wasn't a big deal, it was something that would heal over in the morning. However, it sent the entire left side of the room into a gasp of shock. He realized that the humans must not have caught on to what happened. Aavyn quickly apologized, and now Simon felt terrible for bringing her accident to everyone's attention. "Oh... no, I'm sorry. It isn't a big deal," he tried to reassure his wife and his wife alone, but he forgot that one side of the room could still listen in. How long would it take him to remember things like vampires can hear really well?

Whispers broke out around the room, starting with the creatures of the night. Simon could hear the front row murmur things like, "She couldn't even refrain from a bite of his flesh this soon... this truce will never work out," and "I hope this isn't an omen." Simon hoped that these things wouldn't upset Aavyn, until he realized that she could hear many more disapproving comments than he ever could. He felt her grip on his hands tighten and Simon pretended that it didn't hurt. He ducked his head slightly to capture eye contact with her. "Dear, don't get upset. I'm fine. This marriage will work, I promise you. We'll show them."

"Now I have to come back from this, but I'm determined to make this work."
Simon listened closely. It was almost hard to hear her over the whispers in the crowd. There were so many things to distract him right now, but he knew that he had to comfort the wife he barely knew. Why did he feel so obligated to make sure she was alright? After all, half of the reason vampire/human marriages are arranged were only so the human could be used as a blood bank. Simon shuddered. How many times would he feel Aavyn's teeth meeting his flesh? This was only the first of many.

The music loomed throughout the cathedral once more, and he followed beside her down the aisle. Simon kept swallowing small amounts of his own blood, only so no one would see it pool on his lip. He felt like nothing more than prey as he walked just feet away from potentially thirsty vampires with a bleeding lip.

The laws would become active today. They were already active, as a matter of fact. From now on, it was punishable by death for a vampire to kill a human being through the process of bleeding them dry. It made Simon relax slightly, even as Aavyn's mother came up to the newly weds. "I'm looking forward to conversing with you both," he said to her mother and his bride. Her mother whisked her away, and Simon immediately went in search of his parents.

When he found them, they welcomed him with an awkward group hug. "We were informed of what happened. You handled that well, son. You're doing a good thing for this country." It was only the beginning of the night, and Simon felt exhausted. He would have to snag a few drinks at the reception. "Thank you. I believe I'm going to go out to the courtyard for a breath of air."

As he headed for the back door, he caught sight of his bride and motioned her to follow him, though he didn't look twice to see if she was really going to. The courtyard behind the church was where the reception would take place. It had tables with red cloths draped over them, a beautiful garden full of delicate white wooden benches, and candles or lanterns lit the scene. A large oak tree covered with hanging candles was the primary decoration. Beneath it, a servant stood with various drinks. Simon picked up two, assuming that Aavyn had followed. He turned to start walking towards her, but found her standing right next to him. The alcoholic shots spilled when he jumped back, but thankfully spilled on the grass and not either of their clothes. Simon blushed slightly and picked up two more off the tray, offering Aavyn one.
"You vampires are stealthy," he said, unsure of whether she would take that as a compliment. He watched the church door open as one guest after another poured into the courtyard. "I don't know if alcohol affects you, but I know I could use a drink before the politics begin." Simon watched his parents enter the yard and quickly downed his drink before they could catch sight of him consuming anything that would alter his brain at this hour.

Simon nodded as she thanked him, choosing the quiet route of conversation. He would need to sneak a few more shots before he started to relax, but it didn't appear that he would be getting the chance. He looked at her curiously as she stated that alcohol doesn't affect her, and couldn't help but think outloud, "I think I would die if I had to go through all of my life sober." In families so prestigious, it was hard enough just getting through the "easy" days.

Aavyn had a look of amusement on her face as he downed his drink quickly. "Your parents don't like you drinking?" She questioned. Simon eagerly shook his head and then spoke without thinking. "Goodness, no. They'd have my head if they saw me drinking. They believe it to be improper. A bit comical, considering they just sealed a deal for your kind to drink whenever they wish as long as they don't kill them." Immediately to his left, he heard a low, lethal hiss. Simon instinctively turned to face the sound and saw that he was face-to-face with a hotheaded vampire. The hiss he had heard was a low growl that came from his throat.

"Watch your tongue, child," he warned. "I'm not the only one here who may decide that they're feeling thirsty." Simon swallowed, feeling the alcohol rise back up in his throat. Realizing that he was still the son of the highest human family in Germany, he stood a little taller, showing that he was the same height as the male vampire. "Haven't you any manners at a wedding?"

"Simon!" His mother screeched. She smacked him upside the head, to which he reacted by rubbing the stinging spot. "Do you forget of their abilities? Aavyn, I'm sorry if my son offended you as well." It finally clicked in Simon's mind that Aavyn had heard his comment as well and he sighed, still rubbing his head. He turned to her to see if she was angry and hoped she wasn't. "I didn't mean to upset anyone. I just found it ironic, that's all."

Simon sighed. It would appear that he had made a mistake during this wedding as well. He decided he would at least try to watch his mouth. Especially while his mother was around, he thought while rubbing his head a bit more. He dropped his hand into Aavyn's, wondering about what she was getting at until she mentioned the first dance.

Simon felt as though his little bubble of personal space had been demolished as all eyes turned to the newlyweds. "Oh, um. I'm not much of a dancer, really..." His mother gave him a little shove on the back, and Simon tightened his grip on Aavyn's hand. "Get it done well," she snapped at him before putting on a cheesy grin and began the clapping. The other guests caught on, and began clapping their hands until they were silenced by the start of a classical theme. Simon led her to the center of the yard and turned to face her. "I apologize if this won't be what you pictured," he said. Simon had taken a ballroom dancing class when he was a young boy, but he hadn't practiced in so many years.

Taking her hand in one of his and then placing his hand on the hip of her wedding gown, he took a breath and took steps to the music. Simon took this time to notice the features he hadn't caught on to before. Her small waistline, her shoulders that appeared to be so fragile. Her face was divine, even if he did find it hard to hold eye contact with such a stunning red for the time being. "I also apologize that I haven't mentioned how lovely you look." It wasn't often that Simon complimented someone other than himself, but he meant it. Perhaps it was the shot of alcohol talking.

Simon listened to her charming laugh, giving her a smile as she led the way. He wasn't used to being under someone else's control. Even his own parents spoiled him in that aspect--he was always under the illusion that he was above everyone. Although, as previously seen, his mother did tend to knock him down a few notches at times.

He couldn't help but feel his ego build as she mentioned that he looked handsome. He wasn't quite sure how to take the comment about not being able to blush, so he just smiled along and hoped he wasn't supposed to say anything. Simon watched her eyes switch from his to the crowd around them, and his followed. It would appear that many of them were still very much opposed to everything going on in front of their crimson eyes.

"You're not such a bad dancer," she had told him. Simon chuckled to himself. "I suppose I just got lucky today then. You're a rather excellent dancer," he admitted. The melody of the song slowed to a conclusion but he hesitated from walking away from the dance floor so soon. "Dear, I don't know you but you intrigue me. Far more than any other lady I've been introduced to," he noticed he had gained a couple of glares from the young women in the crowd after that comment. "When all of this is said and done, what do you say we go out and do something tonight? Anything to simply get to know each other a little more." In all honesty, Simon was growing somewhat tired and didn't want to go out, but didn't want to risk an awkward night if he proposed the idea to her tomorrow night. This was going to be an interesting relationship, he realized. Simon very much liked his sleep, but he would have to stay up late to keep his wife entertained. He hoped the difference in their sleeping patterns wouldn't put too much of a strain on their new marriage.