[modern au - fic: wedding speech]

[population_ctrl]

A/N: For their wedding on January 2nd, 2007. Too many groom wedding speeches start out by mentioning everyone but the most important person – perhaps to preserve the exciting conclusion for last, though surely, people haven’t actually had eyes for anyone but the bride. I certainly haven’t. The rest of you will have to bear the rudeness of almost complete omission; you’re in our thoughts, regardless and, well. If you didn’t know already, you wouldn’t be here today. Your presence is greatly appreciated. Mireille. You look absolutely stunning. Mentioning this to you is gratifying because you never look surprised or embarrassed. False modesty isn’t pretty. But then, you don’t ascribe to falseness in any shape or form, do you? In turn, I won’t waste your time, attempting to woo you with false compliments – it didn’t work 5 years ago and it wouldn’t work today. Instead, I’ll simply say: I will never question your father’s wisdom in refusing to simply let go of you without objections. He had a special gift for recognising perfection and making it thrive. I’m sorry – deeply so – that he didn’t live to see you today, to watch you reflect the results of this admirable skill back at him better than anyone else ever could. It’s not to be and we’ll shoulder the loss as best we can, both nationally and individually. No one needs to tell you that, of course. You remain the strongest woman I have ever met. I know what you would wish for the most today, of course. Though I can’t make it happen, I’ll ask you all to raise your glasses in commemoration of Philippe Barrault; none of us would be where we are today without his guidance and Luxembourg is, in every way that matters, poorer without him. Now. As for how we came to this day and why, I don’t want to re-tell a story that’s already been printed wrong so many times it’s starting to read like fiction. I can’t say I’ve ever cared for fairy tales and mixing up fantasy and reality is, I hear, signs of mental imbalance. So let me make it clear from the get-go, to avoid further misconceptions: the full story is ours. And I, personally, like it just fine without adding a million eyes to each transition. What you see is what you get. Lucky for me, you might say. Rightly so. They say that this speech is meant for the guests. That I am to thank you all, individually, for showing an interest in our wedding day. If we ignore the fact that it would take me the better part of the night, I also believe in individual choice. You’re here because you want to be here; the reasons don’t matter nearly as much as the act itself and the act itself is selfish. I suppose we could thank you all, perhaps, for staying true to human nature. The same goes for my best man, whom you should all simply approach with the overbearance he deserves. Lastly, Mireille, my promise is more. There’s no need to expand upon that word or hollow out its implications. Besides, linguistics is your field of interest and I’d just embarrass myself. Let’s instead raise our glasses again, this time for the party as a whole and all those assembled here tonight. Thank you for bearing witness to the continuation of what is, frankly, a thoroughly amazing bit of history.