She wanders the dark beach. Day is in full swing but there's a series of grey melancholic clouds keeping the sun from shining down. There's a chill in every breeze and it feels like any moment that an early winter flurry may start. Dio walks along the dry sands, the tide is low and there are treasures to be found. Bits of sea glass and shells that could be used as offerings to a spirit. Or as pretty trinket gifts to mortal friends. She had first found one larger spiral shell that is serving as a collection point for the rest. One by one she picks up a treasure, delicately places it with her rest, and then moves on for another.

@Matthieu

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His wife. His wife is up ahead. He shivers, but he’s not sure if it’s from the chill or the continued excitement that they are married. He lopes along the beach to catch up to her, planting a wet kiss on her cheek before rifling through her gathered treasures.

"Wow, so many! I be likin’ dis one de best, I tink!" he announces as he reaches for a smooth, translucent piece of sea glass. He holds it up to her face—a perfect match for her eyes. A quick wink and back down into the pile it goes. "What all dese be for?" he asks, curious. The large shell in the center, surrounded by the rest, reminds him of Agwe. He’d made a sacrifice to him once before, not far from where they now stood, in the tunnels at the end of the beach. Does Maua like tings like dese?

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There was something romantic about being newly wed in winter. There's little reason to travel, and plenty of reasons to stay snuggled up tight with each other. For her there's never going to be enough time to enjoy Matti. Even still it feels a little naughty sharing a kiss in public, like one spirit or another was going to see and tattle on them. Even when Dio herself had been witness to Matti receiving the approval he deserved to pursue this.

She hums a warm bit of laughter as he admires a teal bit of sea glass. He sees her eyes, and she sees her father's. "I like it too, that one is for you then." She says with certainty. "They'll be gifts. For the friends who celebrate with us and for the gods who will watch over us." Wedding favors.

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"Ah, mési! I will cherish it always." He smiles down at it in his paw. A nice little reminder for whenever she wasn’t there. Which, hopefully, wouldn’t be often any more. "Kado?" Gifts? "Dat be a very sweet gesture. We can ‘and dem out togedder when we ‘ave everyone gaddered." Which, again hopefully, would be very soon. There were many in both their lives he wanted to be there with them. Love wasn’t meant to be hidden away; it was meant to be celebrated with everyone.

It was heartbreaking to think of who all wouldn’t show—his family, most of all. His paw drifts down to the big shell. "De swamp back home… it is not far from de sea. We ‘ave a Loa, Agwe. He de Sovereign of de Sea. Dis remind me of de shell we used to call ‘im." And of mwen fanmi.

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"I thought it might be a fun idea." And she's glad that he's on board with her wedding antics. She playfully shrugs and pushes her shoulder over to brush into him with a wide smile on her muzzle. Something to share with them all, small debates about picking out which color or size. And if they'd prefer a shell over a piece of sea glass.

He falls a bit then though, she can feel the weight of his heart grow and she watches his paw move towards the shell. "Agwe." Dio repeats the curious name on her tongue. She reaches for the shell too and brushes one finger along the rim of it. "Would he like if we dedicate this shell to him after the wedding party? We can use it to call him and honor him."

@Matthieu

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"Of course it be! Dey will love dem." He steals another quick kiss when she leans into brush his shoulder. "Just as dey love ye."

She's always so in tune with him. Always knows exactly what to say. He watches her trace the shell's opening until he registers her suggestion. Mouth falls agape. Eye widens in surprise. He really shouldn't be surprised, though; her empathy is beyond this world. "Dat would make me so 'appy. To 'ave ye dere wid me." His paw leaves the shell for hers, covering it for a brief moment. "An offering togedder. We should share wid 'im our food and drink, too. If dat be okay? He like dat sort of ting." He smiles as his paw trails up her arm, finishing with a cup of her cheek.

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The idea is well received and Dio is elated. It means a chance to learn more about another Loas, a bit more of a glimpse into his beliefs that made this man. And the practices they'd begin to share more and more with each other, if Dio had her way. She grins and warmly chuckles - snuggling in close to him for some warm body heat. "Ok, so shell, food, and drink." Easy. And it would really feel like he was a guest at the party. "What would you usually seek out Agwe for?" Her curiosity is in full force, her thoughts and questions running even as his paw curls around her cheek, her body subconsciously curling into the touch but lips running free with speak into his paw.

@Matthieu

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His heart skips. She's truly interested. It's not just vague questioning without care of the answer; she actually wants to know. Gah! I love dis woman. "For one, 'e be one of Erzulie Freda's 'usbands. Favor wid 'im may also grant good fortune from 'er." He winks with his good eye and then continues with more serious reasoning. "All de fish in de sea come from 'im. 'e control de waves and de sea storms. And he also," he adds, even more solemnly, "can provide guidance. In time when we may need it most. I reached out to 'im when..." His voice trails into silence. It's all still so fresh, them finally having each other. The pain of their separation would take time to retreat. He doesn't need to finish his sentence, knowing full well she'll understand.

Instead, he moves on. "Even dough we may not need 'im now, it still be good to show 'im our respect... and gratitude." And then a thought. "Is dere anyt'ing we can do for Maua?"

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A husband and wife duo? She playfully nudges Matti and aims to steal away a smooch from his cheek. "I can't think of a better pair to try and honor right now than them." For a good marriage you needed love, you needed Ezrulie Freda. You needed guidance in the storms and the rough waves, you needed Agwe. Dio and Matti would not work without both. She's riding high the honey moon wave but Dio is not naive to think it will always be so simple and easy. "And I shall have to thank Agwe special for helping you."

"Maua, they are a creator. They made this world. They made me. I've always found just simply talking to Maua is the best way of worship and honoring them. We could set up a small shrine along the beach shore, somewhere to visit and remind me to think of them." And love each other, be there for each other. Be there through the absences, the longing, the love.

She'd share the whole of the world with him. She'd take in as much of his as she could. And all the while continue to go home to him, eventually to the family they'd have together. She places another kiss lightly upon his muzzle. "I think I've got enough for our friends and family, we can gather more for Ezrulie Freda, Agwe, and Maua and then head to your den?" Another kiss, a but longer and with promise. A little worship of her mortal beloved on the schedule for later this evening.

/Fade exit

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A shrine for Maua. Like the one she told him her aunt Talisa had made in the Summit. The one where she first prayed to Maua. "I would love to 'elp ye wid dat." A new shrine in her new home. For her. And for her to bring their children to one day to pass along her knowledge and faith.

He soaks in her kisses, cherishing each as she grants them. They continue their gathering for a while longer and, after finding a couple palm fronds to overlay into a makeshift carrier for their treasures, they slowly make their way down the beach and back to the Lagoon to finish out their evening together.

-fade-

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