pineapplesalmon: (goatee a smile)
César Salazar ([personal profile] pineapplesalmon) wrote in [community profile] come_sailaway2022-12-11 07:21 pm

10th Contraption: Mawwiage

Who: John Watson, Johnny Summer, and César Salazar with Rich Goranski, Fio, and Honoria Crabb AND YOU Oh god why are weddings like this
What: The throuple getting married by... the Captain?!
When: December 11th at 7pm
Where: John's
Warnings: I believe in us! But for now, nothing.


SEATING

John's has been transformed, the seating up front rearranged in rows towards the center dias with an aisle down the middle, the piano moved off to one side. The buffet for later can be seen off to the other. Decorations taken from Spirit Halloween appear here and there–flowers taken from cavalera flower crowns, sun and moon candlestick holders from the tarot collection, festively colored tablecloths draped down the walls like curtains or banners. A sign near the entrance says "seat yourself", although the front row on one side is reserved with a ribbon across the backs.

What can't be seen is who is officiating. Or the husbands, but at least that part makes sense. The dais is empty.


THE CEREMONY

As one of the few traditions in this wedding, music announces the start of the ceremony. Rich strolls in first, trying to look professional even if he’s clearly shaking a bit as he holds the small pillow with the rings laid on it. At least he’s dressed quite smartly, Johnny ensuring his red suit is wrinkle free and his cuff links are set in place. Fio, in a winged black dress and flowery headdress, follows after the ring bearer, adorning the path with paper petals as she moves along.

The first husband to be down the aisle is none other than Johnny, in a smart charcoal grey suit with a goldenrod pocketsquare, gold jewelry, and a wreath of orange blossoms on his head; and accompanied by Honoria Crabb in her perfectly tailored black tuxedo, worn with black gloves and a white bow tie. Watson and César take up the rear, arms linked together. César is wearing an equally fancy suitcoat with his tie held in place with a ruby and silver tie pin, and Watson is wearing an officer’s dress uniform, with the sword and without the helmet, and also his good cane. All three husbands-to-be are wearing green carnation boutonnières.


AFTER PARTY

It's time to eat, dance, and party!

The seating has been rearranged for sitting at tables around the "dance" floor. Food from Windjammer has been placed on some tables for a buffet. There’s a selection of fancy cheeses and crackers, sushi, premade sandwiches, and salad with dressings on the side. For dessert, to one side there’s a table with cupcakes, cookies, and chocolates arranged in a heart. On the bar are a couple bowls of punch (including one explicitly labeled as non-alcoholic) made by Johnny ahead of time, because he's been forbidden to bartend his own wedding, much to his deep chagrin.

There’s a space set just off the dancefloor for musicians who wish to perform, the usual John’s piano (bribed into behaving with a whole pan of beef brisket from the buffet) off to one side.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations Gideon Nav, you've thrown Erin off her game. She hears that nickname and covers her mouth; it's not enough.

Nowhere near enough.

Erin's gotta grab the table for support as she dies laughing, helplessly crying 'SexPal??' every time she has enough air to form words.
businessorlibation: (pic#15460882)

[personal profile] businessorlibation 2022-12-13 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a tiny thoughtful pause, then...

"You should be asking someone to dance--not only because it'll liven up the party, but it'll allow you to meet people. There's a few people who I know want to be on the dance floor right now. The one with the curls and bright green eyes? That's Klaus. And then the girl with the cane and glasses? Helena. Don't sneak up on her, she is blind. That won't stop her from dancing with you, though. And both my husbands, they're quite skilled. Convince César to tango, if you can."
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"...After careful consideration I'm going to purposefully not ask why that might be. I can imagine a few things and none of them are things I want confirmed."
businessorlibation: (pic#15460897)

[personal profile] businessorlibation 2022-12-13 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Silly schoolboys don't get to do the kinds of things we're going to do when we get back to our cabin." That's a wicked, wicked promise, before Johnny claims a soft, sweet kiss, one much more innocent than that comment really calls for.
decohere: (Default)

[personal profile] decohere 2022-12-13 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope it ends in some sort of happy way. And we'll always have each other.

It's okay if you're not happy about it, Fio. To see them together... [a small glance around confirms a whole range of confusion and disgust and anger.] But Duggy doesn't love you any less, I promise you're still the most important to either of us. [her back slides down the wall until she's sitting upon the floor, setting her wine glass aside.]
konpeito_aji: (About damn time)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2022-12-13 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[A tight grin! He's not worried, but he appreciates it all the same!]

Okay, if you ever want to, show me Cardalek dances. But I'll not press it, in the end, if you hated it, it be pointless.

[A head tilt.] No one here would mind. You're thinking too defensively. Instead of looking how to protect yourself, think on the offensive. There's so much you can learn from dancing with others here. Their rhythm and footwork, their speed, their culture, their personalities.

I'm more interested in everyone else reacting to them. [He didn't know ENOUGH about Skulduggery and the Captain's relationship, but he knew that mentioning the romance section as his weakness in regards to the Captain was a thing the Skulduggery reacted pretty strongly to. And took a gamble on him and Klaus showing everyone, even the Captain how to be completely comfortable flirting in public. All the same the only thing keeping Nobunaga from yelling a cheer to the skeleton and Lovecraftian void lobster, is that Nobunaga doesn't want the Captain to think he's conspiring against him or using him despite or because position of power. Nope. Nobunaga's been there too. Don't even get him started.]

Griffin looks like she feels betrayed.

But I've said before, power isn't always freedom. There's a steep cost. Yare yare...

Anyway, it's easier to observe that lot from the dance floor. But I suppose I already know what's going on among the dancers, so the ones making deals on the sides is where my curiosity truly lies.
not_the_last: (Default)

[personal profile] not_the_last 2022-12-13 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassandra moves through the crowd gracefully, and turns toward Erin once they've reached a clear space.

"... I don't know if we know any of the same dances."
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Delighted to hear it." Erin looks down at their feet. "You're picking up quickly, though it helps that I'm helping. 'm a bit mystically helpful. Step off my toes in one, two, three, four, step!"
businessorlibation: (pic#15460846)

[personal profile] businessorlibation 2022-12-13 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thank you. It's a relief to finally have it done properly. Or wholly improperly, but honestly..." There's a glance around the room, then back to Klaus. "We get to decide the social customs of the community we're building. Right?"
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll be able to follow if you lead, but if you want me to actually learn I'll need more practice." Erin grins fondly to go with the implied request. "Take me away, Cass."
serialskiller: (Default)

[personal profile] serialskiller 2022-12-13 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes."

It's going to leave that there and fall into an awkward sort of silence.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Erin is far less shy, melting into the kiss with a low sound of fierce pleasure. She clings to Crabb, trusting absolutely that she won't be dropped.

Her Mantle flares merrily, filling the air around them with crabs and hearts.
redlightgreenlight: (Happy 2)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2022-12-13 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Luckily I can do both magic and contend with your blade. You have not crossed Revelations yet, but I assure you, you don't want to."

She's also fast and strong. But also in a very fancy dress so none of that applies here. Klaus might cry if she ruins it.

"You could take a note from Critchon's book and go for action hero. Or perhaps woo Klaus with a nice suit and tie."

He has the tie down, but it doesn't really fit with his armor.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Fuck it, now's a good time to ask. Y'all got Christmas in the Corporate Rim?"
serialskiller: (conversational)

[personal profile] serialskiller 2022-12-13 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm trying to imagine it. Did you have the white in your hair as a child?" It's asking for accuracy's sake, not to be nosy.
busball: (12)

[personal profile] busball 2022-12-13 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Klaus shrugs. “I guess. It’s just…awkward.” Mostly the cannibalism part of it. Also the part where their boyfriend didn’t even tell them they were playing murder games.

“Nobunaga did it? I found out the next morning after. But we’ve had a talk about that since. So my feelings might be biased by emotional weirdness.”
not_the_last: (Default)

[personal profile] not_the_last 2022-12-13 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
And away she takes her, falling into the simplest step-and-turn dance she knows, murmuring the steps for the first few measures to cue Erin.

It's a little hesitant and awkward, at least to begin with, but there comes a point where they're actually dancing.
redlightgreenlight: (Happy 2)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2022-12-13 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Valdis would be lying if she said the point of her teasing hadn't been to embarrass Crabb, and again, she's not one to apologize.

"Well, I'm certainly not going to upset the grooms by messing with one of the wedding party. Can't promise I won't in the future. It's kind of in my nature."

And it's so easy to mess with Crabb.
not_the_last: (Default)

[personal profile] not_the_last 2022-12-13 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
She shakes her head. "That didn't come in until I was ... oh, fifteen or sixteen, I think."

After she'd been living with the Briarwoods for over a year.
astrogator: (pic#15928594)

[personal profile] astrogator 2022-12-13 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ari, on the other hand, couldn't have predicted the relationship at all. She shunned the Captain now, as she would anyone who rudely rejected contract negotiation, and she'd kept her distance from Skulduggery. Now she feels vindicated in her mistrust of everything written in that binder without solid proof. It was his project, wasn't it? Of course he'd want to keep the Captain safe, if he cared for him.]

Power isn't always freedom, but people don't get to lament their lack of freedom when they're imprisoning others. [She has no sympathy.] People are angry. I don't blame them. [She's not emotionally close enough to anyone involved for anger, so it's a dispassionate observation.]

As for the dancing, if I could learn all that from dancing with a person, wouldn't they be learning the very same about me? I have to be defensive here. My position isn't strong enough to do otherwise.

That said- [she can't help a little smile] -I'd show you Cardalek dances, if I had the right music. And the right clothes. It'd look silly in uniform. I'd need...ribbons, and little lights, and a Tower-style dress.
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Erin's as good as her word; she matches Cass's lead, not without effort but with a kind of skill one might associate with a master dancer. The Spring-warm sparks of her Mantle settle on the two of them, gentle but bright.

"You know, when I was young I used to fantasize about being a knight? Rescuing princesses and going to fancy balls with them. For years and years I told myself it's because knights are obviously ssssoooo much cooler to be. You can imagine what the hindsight felt like when I figured out I was into lasses." A fond and nostalgic sigh. "And yet being here tonight still feels a bit like a childhood fantasy come true. Didn't even have to fight a dragon."
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"...We do all bring our baggage with us," Erin agrees. "You know, in times past on my world the best man and groomsmen would be literally and solemnly tasked with bodyguarding those to be wed? So. Tell you what, if nothing happens tonight I'll pass on an 'I told you so'. Think you can do the same if something does?"
not_the_last: (Default)

[personal profile] not_the_last 2022-12-13 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"You would make a very valiant knight," Cassandra assures her.

And then pauses. "I'm not sure I follow about the hindsight, though."
crushed_pearls: (Default)

[personal profile] crushed_pearls 2022-12-13 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Isn't it obvi-" The realization all but physically hits Erin as her brain helpfully reminds her about the mercenary company that Cass described to her in a previous conversation. "...I'm almost not sure how to begin, Cass." Erin laughs and gives a helpless little smile. "My homeland, my human homeland that is, well...women weren't allowed to be knights. Darcy's people had one real famous one a long time ago and she got burnt at the stake for it. Even today if I wanted to be 'proper' I should, I dunno, be teaching dance and letting a man protect me physically and it's supposed to be terribly romantic if he does."

"...Not that there's anything wrong with romanticizing protecting people you love but it's a whole thing."
inhairently: (lorem ipsum (104))

[personal profile] inhairently 2022-12-13 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Good enough for him. He falls into step, doing the ol' sway-and-circle. If this were a movie this might be the part where they suddenly exchange their true thoughts on this whole situation, as if dance floors are suddenly immune to prying ears, but Steve doesn't feel comfortable so much as uttering the Captain's name in such close proximity to the man himself.

It's kind of stupid, when he thinks about it.

"You know, we should talk sometime," he says. "Not today, obviously. But sometime soon."