imperial_stage | Blutige Hochzeit

Who: The Major, Integra Hellsing, Alphonse Delacroix, Schrodinger, Rip van Winkle, the Doctor, Alucard, Amestrian officials, Church officials, and everybody else
Where: Cathedral in Imperial City
When: Nearing the end of Spring Court
What: Integra and the Major's wedding
Warnings: Hideous unions

Spring Court was a time where many couples came together for their unions. Having a wedding around this time would ensure prosperity and happiness for years to come. But not all couples were fortunate enough to be able to schedule their marriages during this week-long event. The Major's wedding with Integra Hellsing was a political union between the Church and Amestris. It wasn't a surprise that his could bypass much of the necessary bureaucratic channels. The Cathedral had seen decorations move in and out like a storm in these past weeks. And now, it was currently decorated with the colors of the Spring Court in one end as well as the colors of Amestris in another. The wedding was a public affair as personally requested by the Major himself. Anybody may enter the cathedral, talk among one another, and indulge in the comestibles set about on tables. The wedding would soon begin in time.

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"Oh, there are some suspicions, to be sure."

The Major only gives a smile. He has at least taken a look at the guests that showed up. Several officials from Amestris including the Fuhrer came and much to his surprise, members of Zeon had the courtesy to arrive as well. Including its prince.

"Prince Aznable probably thinks that I've given my men orders to mow everyone down once given the signal. Already, that shows they don't know anything about anything. The true spectacle of the afternoon will be beyond all of their wildest expectations."

"Mmm."

The Doctor made a quiet sound of agreement in the back of his throat. He took his spectacles off for a moment, examining them, cleaning them. Doing something to keep his hands moving, doing something to keep him busy.

"Preparations are in order for us to...leave the stage, when necessary, Herr Major."

The Doctor looks around a moment more, before tsking.

"Oh. I hope they don't do too much damage. I am not often fond of such places but I will admit. It's construction is quite pleasing."

"Oh? Do you think so?"

The Major, still leaning back, clasps his hands together, his smile unfading. He doesn't look at Dok as he prepares to give his own blunt assessment.

"It makes me sick. What sort of value do you see in the Cathedral's aesthetics, Dok?"

"....Ah."

That wasn't good. There was very little Dok worried about more, feared more, than upsetting his immediate commander. He just stared back at the shorter man, making sure to keep eye contact.

"Well, Herr Major..." Dok said, clumsily pulling a hankerchief from his front pocket to wipe a few small beads of sweat that were starting to form on his forehead, "While I might not appreciate the purpose to which the architecture has been given towards, I do appreciate the architecture on its own merits. The craftsmanship shows a great deal of skill, even if it might also lend itself to frivolity.

It would not be particularly good as say, ah, a siege building one might take refuge in during a battle. Would be better to level it during the battlefield but ah...as a work of architecture, church or not, it stands on its own.

What...what displeases you about it, Herr Major?"

"Many of the men who first started construction of the Cathedral, no matter how much of their blood and sweat mixed between the stones of this building, were not able to complete it in their lifetime. It took several generations of fathers and sons, really, to finally finish this grand monument to a god of dubious existence.

... And yet."

He opens his palms and his face gives a clearly condescending look at the space in front of him.

"And yet, would you not say that in itself is an utter waste? Wasted because it was never used or realized for its own purpose. Wasted because the artists never bothered to create for himself. From then on, his talents are no longer his own. And you see, Dok, I can't help but feel bothered knowing this. The work is skilled, yes, but there is nobody who created this 'house of worship' of his own skills."

Better to raze it down.

Most of the time Dok could find himself in complete agreement with the Major.

This was not one of them. It was rare when any scientist, any engineer or architect or chemist or anyone who worked with the sciences could claim that the work was solely their own. Much like large scale projects such as this, science in and of itself was made by men who would never see the full effects of their work. They would be granted small views, glimpses that seemed large at first but would be dwarfed with the passing of time. The joy of a scientist was to see their work come to fruition, this was true, but they would only ever see the beginning of the bloom, not the effects in full.

All those who worked towards these goals, whether scientific or architectural, worked with their own skills. But what they each created was a mixture of their own ability and what had been laid before them. Even Dok, who had made so much on his own, would have not been able to do so if it weren't for the discoveries of years gone by. And just as he had stepping stones, so would Dok himself be one. Or so he hoped.

And hoped his stone might be a bit bigger than others.

Still, it would be rude to contradict his commanding officer, especially on his wedding day, so Dok nods just a bit.

"You are correct, of course. Forgive me."

"You've done no wrong, Dok."

Man should serve man. Man should serve the self. Why pursue a conceptual and dubious existence? It was indeed a waste of talent to the Major. Perhaps, though, he appreciate Dok's work precisely because they were for the military. Dok's persisting loyalty towards fellow men, or perhaps fellow countrymen, fellow members of the Battalion, or fellow "friends" was what he appreciated most. He sees Dok's work as invaluable because it serves his purpose, but in the end, everything is transient. He will be destroyed and he will destroy. He needs tools to destroy, but even those will be used up and burnt out by the end of the glorious battle.

The Major has always been selfish. And he could never fully empathize with those who strive to create and continue creating. He is, after all, a man focused more on destruction than creation.

"There is nothing to forgive if you have done no wrong. Your work is brilliant. It will surpass those of any architect in blind pursuit of precious God precisely because it is brilliant. I only hope that the new data you will receive today furthers your research.

Show me the science that mimics a miracle. The miracle that mimics science."

Dok too in his own way is selfish. More selfish perhaps then even the Major, though he didn't have as many opportunities to express it. Dok didn't quite understand camaraderie but he did understand service. Service was in fact his life.

And you could say that Dok was selfish in his service, rather than selfless in it. To serve showed everything was right in the world, showed it had order and a part that he fell into.

He just smiles at the Major's pronouncement. For it was for moments like these that he loved to serve: the praise that followed his service. He would never understand how anyone couldn't love that.

Placing a finger to the rim of his glasses, he pushes them back up while smiling. "Of course, sir. I will do my best."

And then his face turns to a small frown.

"Hmmm. I wonder if I have the time to go and find a better suit. It would only take a moment for myself and-"

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