After spending time in New Zerzura, it was time to be heading back to the USA. There were plenty who were heading back to Lyre for the Animalia Summer Events, including the Five Elements and most of the Dinotopians. But there were some who were taking a detour before returning home. Skull Island, which was being offered as a colony for the marine reptiles of Project Dinotopia, still needed to be inspected, particularly by its rightful owner, Countess Irena de Vasconcellos. However, there was place to go to first before they headed out into the Gulf of Mexico.
New Orleans was known to be downright balmy during the summer months, usually more than non-locals are able to handle. In fact, one summer inside a mausoleum was enough to turn a corpse to ashes. But there was a good reason for visiting New Orleans on the 4th of July, and it wasn't just for the fireworks. Jill was finally going to have her big wedding with Beauregard. Most people would have preferred to get married in June, but Jill and Beauregard wanted their wedding day to be extra-memorable. And what could be more memorable than having it on Independence Day? Though there's a certain irony in the name here.
The wedding and reception were on Beauregard's family estate so there was plenty of room for everyone. Most of the Animalians here were those who knew Jill personally. That didn't really apply to the world tour group, but a wedding reception and a 4th of July party wasn't something to miss out on. Noticeable members of the Animalian guests were other bachelorettes who had been part of the same auction where Jill met Beauregard. Sylvia was noticeably present as the maid of honor. After all, it was her encouragement to Jill that gave her the confidence to get on the stage and led up to Jill meeting Beauregard. Beauregard had also introduced her to plenty of his family's business friends and it may be that someone among them would be wanting to hire the sharp young rattlesnake to be their personal attorney.
The bride and groom looked very nice. Jill looked particularly fine in her lovely white wedding dress. There are some people who would think the alligator in the wedding dress looked like a literal bridezilla, though no one called her such within her hearing. It was a bit odd for her to be standing at the altar with a human groom, but Beauregard wanted to wait until the honeymoon before his conversion, where it would have more meaning and intimacy. And considering said honeymoon is going to be in Jamaica, it was something the two of them really couldn't wait for.
The wedding reception/4th of July barbecue afterwards was pretty spectacular. It wasn't as formal as most wedding receptions, but considering how hot it was, it would have been too uncomfortable to be pompous. The buffet didn't just have classic Americana like hamburgers and hotdogs, but plenty of New Orleans's exclusive cuisine. There was crayfish etoufee, shrimp creole, po' boys, gumbo, jambalaya, and plenty other Cajun and Creole cuisine. Pretty much the only thing that was missing was gator meat, as the bride's sensibilities had to be taken into account.
And when it got dark, the fireworks got started. New Orleans did not lack for festive spirit as Mardi Gras and Halloween could attest for. The night sky above the Crescent City was lit up by hundreds of fireworks exploding in a dazzling display of light and color. It made a grand display for Independence Day and it also served as a perfect sendoff for Jill and Beauregard to head out on their honeymoon. Their family was looking forward to the photos they'll be receiving, particularly featuring Beauregard as a big bull alligator.