"Tulyr?" Aldrec said. He arose and came to her side.
"Love, have you made a decision?" He said after a few moments.
"I would have wanted to have Noroa with us at least," she said at length. "I promised her that since I was the bride's maid at her wedding, she would be one at mine. And I know that Skori and Sedriil would not be so much upset as just surprised."
"So does that mean that you will have the ceremony with me?" Aldrec said.
Mericlou smiled impishly. "You know, I guess you're not as different as you say you are."
"Why do you say that?" Aldrec said.
"Because of your traditional preference in wedding ceremonies," Mericlou said, pushing herself away from the bookshelves. She stood, pivoting back and forth on her feet in an almost child-like manner. "It just seems so unlike you. I thought for the longest time that you were the ultimate nonconformist."
Aldrec laughed, smiling lovingly at her before heading back to the library's entrance. "I never said that I disliked everything about my culture," he said, and then beckoned for her to follow.
By the time Mericlou had caught up, he had traced out the formerly invisible sigils around the door, which now glowed in the familiar green.
"Where are we going now?" Mericlou asked before Aldrec turned the doorknob.
"To my prayer chapel," he replied.
Mericlou grabbed his arm, her android strength effectively stopping him from moving another inch.
"Before we take another step," she said with a smile that was halfway between endearing and indignant, "I'm not going to marry you wearing this-" She indicated her own clothing with a sweep of her hand. Though her colorful ensemble was pretty in its own way, it by no means conveyed the sense of the "blushing bride" as a proper wedding gown should.
"Of course," Aldrec said, reaching out and then slowly tracing a line from her neck, down the chest of her shirt. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Aldrec … what are you doing?" Mericlou asked, more than a little uncomfortable about the motion of his finger, and its location.
"Don't be scared," Aldrec said in a gentle voice, before chanting a spell.
"Stnemetev set regnahc. Egairram ed ebor. Egairram ed ebor."
"Aldrec …?"
He reached his hand up towards her chest, and had grabbed her shirt by the bottom of its low-cut neck.