#vigina

Thank you so much Lyn!💗

I chose my beloved Vinnie and Georgina as my couple and of course the song had to be a love song by Vinnie's favourite artist, Stevie Wonder. This particular song is a beautiful R&B ballad called For Your Love:

All the gold in all the world Is nothing to possess If all the things that it can bring Can't add up to one ounce of your happiness

And for your love I would do anything Just to see the smile upon your face For your love I would go anywhere Just you tell me and I'll be right there....

The Ocean Explorer 2 is joined by a pair of Beluga whales half a mile from Refuge Island, their melon-like heads seeming to wear permanent cheeky grins. Not to be outdone by the Orcas, they also perform a stunning aerial ballet for Vinnie and Georgina and the rest of the boat's passengers, white hides dazzling with diamond-brilliance in the morning sun.

"Belugas are nicknamed canaries of the sea, due to their ability to make frequent, high-pitched calls," Spencer informs them as they ooh and ah over the whales' theatrics. "As well as being the most vocal of all whales, they're fantastic mimics and have even been known to imitate human voices. Another fascinating fact about them is that they can change the shape of their bulbous foreheads by blowing air around their sinuses. This makes them look like they have changing facial expressions."

Georgina and Vinnie board The Ocean Explorer 2 on Tuesday morning at 8 am in accordance with Lavinia's strict instructions. It is a calm and sunny day (is it ever anything else in Isla Paradiso?) already warm, the boat's passengers buzzing with anticipation. Spencer, Raj's First Mate, has been in radio contact with other boaties and whale-watchers who have confirmed that there has been some Orca and Beluga whale activity out near Refuge Island, so that's where they will be headed. The trip will take them approximately one hour.

They have only been at sea for forty five minutes when two orcas are spotted cavorting and playing in the waves; Spencer tells them to make as much noise as possible, the orcas love the attention and will respond by putting on a show. They clap and cheer and holler and true to Spencer's word the orcas reward them with a dazzling aerial display. Georgina's jaw almost hits the deck.

Vinnie has never hidden his troubled past from Georgina, nor the fact that he has spent time in jail. She doesn’t know why he went to jail, nor does she want to know. What she does know is that if he didn’t have a criminal record he wouldn’t have faced discrimination looking for a job, and he wouldn’t have been forced to work at The Pink Pony. And if he hadn't been working as Crystal's driver that fateful night their paths would never have crossed. So for that reason she's actually grateful he went to jail, she would never have met him otherwise! And why should it make a speck of difference to their marriage plans if he’s an ex-con, anyway? Georgina feels her face growing hot with the injustice of it all! What business is it of anybody’s? The only person it affects is her, and she has chosen Vinnie to be her life-partner, and nobody but her should be allowed to question that choice! Let alone this pasty-faced public servant!  

"This is so unfair!" Georgina says to the girl, her voice vibrating with righteous indignation. "Vinnie is the most beautiful, caring, loving man I have ever met, and to judge him for some youthful indiscretions is the height of hypocrisy! We all have things in our past that we regret! We've all made mistakes. The only difference is that Vinnie happened to go to jail for his mistakes! But he's paid his debt to society, and he should be allowed to live a normal life that's free of judgement and prejudice! He doesn't need to be punished again. It's a violation of his basic human dignity! And furthermore, you have absolutely no right to deny us a marriage licence based on the fact that he has a criminal conviction!"

The girl raises her eyebrows and looks at Vinnie with renewed interest. Vinnie glowers and a rumbling sound seems to come from deep within his core. The girl quickly turns her attention back to Georgina.

“That's correct,” she says. “We don't have the right to deny someone a marriage licence if they have a criminal conviction."

Georgina stares back at her, her face blank with incomprehension.

“However, we do have the right to deny a marriage licence if one or both of the applicants has any unpaid fines,” she says. “And it appears that you, Ms Goddard, have a number of unpaid parking fines totalling §817, including interest. Would you like to pay those now?”

“P-parking fines?” says Georgina. “Oh. Okay. So....you can give us the marriage licence if I pay the fines?”

“Yes,” says the girl. “We accept cash or card.”

Monday 8.17 am

The resort that Vinnie and Georgina are staying at has its own wedding area in front of the lagoon, complete with a tropical themed arch, so before they set off for the Town Hall to get their marriage licence they stop by the reception desk to make some inquiries about its cost and availability. The male receptionist, Ulysses, informs them that as they are guests of the resort they can get married there for the discounted price of §200. Georgina’s eyebrows shoot up and she nudges Vinnie’s hip.

“Do you provide the celebrant as well?” Vinnie says.

“The services of the celebrant are included in the price, Sir, ” says Ulysses. “Would you like to make a booking? All that's required is a marriage licence."

"We're on our way to the Town Hall to get a marriage licence right now," says Vinnie.

"The earliest I can slot you in is today at midday," says Ulysses, after checking his computer.

“Let’s do it!” breathes Georgina.

“Slot us in, Ulysses,” says Vinnie. He is barely able to contain his happiness and excitement!

[previous]

They drop anchor at Refuge Island for lunch: Spencer tells them they will be staying here for an hour so are welcome to swim or do some exploring. Georgina and Vinnie have a quick dip in the tranquil waters of the island’s cove and then enjoy the delicious picnic lunch that has been provided for them. Raj strolls over for a chat while they are eating.

“How are the newlyweds enjoying themselves?” he says, sitting down. “Has everything been to your satisfaction?”

“It’s been amazing,” says Georgina. “The aerial ballet that the orcas put on for us has been my favourite thing so far.”

“The orcas can always be relied upon to put on a show,” says Raj. “They are very social creatures, and love attention. Do you know though that they are technically not whales but dolphins?”

“Actually, yes,” says Georgina. “I remember reading that on one of the displays at the Whale Museum. We went there yesterday.”

“You did?” says Raj, looking very pleased. “What did you think?”

“We really liked it, except…the stuff about the kraken being the largest sea mammals confused me,” says Georgina. Vinnie emits a low rumbling sound from deep in his chest.

“Why?” says Raj.   

“Because krakens aren’t real,” she says. “Obviously.”

Raj’s eyebrows disappear under the brim of his cap. He turns to Vinnie.

“I can tell by your tattoos that you’re a seafaring man,” he says. “Correct?”

“Correct,” says Vinnie. “I was in the merchant navy for ten years.”

“And in your considerable experience, do you also believe it’s safe to say that kraken don’t exist?”

“I know they exist,” says Vinnie.

“Well, maybe if we’re lucky we’ll see one before we get back to port,” says Georgina, playing along. “Or when we go scuba-diving this afternoon.”

They eat lunch in a modern, light-filled café a few doors from the Town Hall. Vinnie orders spaghetti and meatballs and Georgina has the sirloin steak, medium-rare. Vinnie looks at her approvingly as she wolfs down her food.

“I’m glad the phone call to Bunty didn’t affect your appetite,” he says.

“Quite the opposite,” says Georgina. “I feel fantastic." She smiles to herself as she chews, recalling Bunty’s reaction to the news that she and Vinnie had eloped. “Oh my God, I have to ring Roy too! He’s going to be so proud of me. This has been the most incredible day of my life. Getting married to the love of my life, defying Bunty…"

“I hope she doesn’t react too badly,” Vinnie says. “You think there’s any risk she’s gonna….” The rest of the sentence is carried away by a shrug of his block-like shoulders.