come_sailaway | 10th Contraption: Mawwiage

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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.

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[ Oh Steve absolutely wants to say the word. In fact, he's looking longingly at the exit and opening his mouth to say the word when common sense gets the better of him. Nancy's right — he is growing up, and that means he occasionally thinks with his brain.

His face does a thing that isn't exactly a grimace but isn't exactly not a grimace, either. ]

Ugh. We should probably hang out for a little bit. [ He wants to be nice to the grooms, even if he doesn't know any of them all that well (or at all), and being nice means not bowing out early to go fool around. ] Like, I dunno. Drink punch, eat cake. Whatever.

[ However, he does consider — ]

Though, you know, I think enough people left after that whole thing with the Captain and the skeleton that nobody'd notice if we ditched.

[a laugh] We should really be comparing notes. I'm sure you and I have similar imaginative tastes.

"...Why would it be rare - you know what, no, we're at a wedding I'm gonna abandon that line of conversation entirely." Deep breath, cheerful air back on. "Not to insinuate things about your social life but you're drinkin' like a man who doesn't drink often. Used to a more sedate class of party, Palamedes?"

[She could probably stand here and rattle off random wedding-appropriate entertainment options all evening, but eventually it would start to get old.]

It's an option for the next one.

[Is there going to be a next one? Who knows, honestly.]

César chuckles at the groan, but his smile only grows more indulgent the longer Rich speaks. "I'm just helping you do your job, mijo. Surely I can get away with this one time, it being my wedding and all?"

Hardly ever... [Laughs.] Ah yes, I don't handle orders very well. Even though I'm incredibly tyrannical myself.

[Shows the Japanese script mark on his left shoulder back.] Mizune. Means water. Even though I can do fire. And the water feels itchy.

They're in the same boat, traversing not understanding clothes waters. Clarke knows enough to confidently say Natsuno's everyday attire is atrocious (the neon sweatshirts and Tommy Bahama mostly, can't hate on his cargo pants, there's so many pockets!) and that Rita's halloween costume had offended her eyes with all his colors inlaid over patterns. But so long as one isn't drenched in blood, she wouldn't truly call an outfit bad. 100 year old hand-me-downs, musty relics from the old world presented in a trunk, rough leather war gear... The biggest clothing novelty Clarke's experienced is that the stuff here is brand new.

"Fancy clothes just seem impractical," she says sourly, looking down at the skirt of her own dress and sneering ever so slightly. This just seems like it'd get in the way if she ever needed to run or fight. But it is still something the likes of which she'd never had access to in her before-life. It's a nice shade of blue. She didn't hate her reflection upon giving herself a onceover in the mirror before leaving, just didn't entirely recognize it. Another sort of costume, arguably.

"I'd rather wear something comfortable, or that could provide a bit of protection." From the elements? From magic? "But they certainly can be striking. And an... extension of who people are, how they chose to present themselves. Or, bare minimum, a quick and dirty way to figure out someone's favorite color!"

Oh god, he's so, so drunk. And sweet. And if there were an internal war between being annoyed or heartened, it'd be a shut out victory for the latter. The priority here is still getting him out of John's and into his bed to sleep it off, but the warm bloom of affection between her ribs causes a moments distraction.

Clarke tilts her head, pushes her lips into a classic aw! pout before a smile snags the corner of her mouth. "Thanks, Pal. I think you're pretty, too."

She releases his right hand once he seems centered enough to not tip over and fall on his face, but keeps them tethered together at the left; anchors her free hand on his left elbow and tugs, urging Pal to follow her guidance through tables, and lean on her as needed for support.

"And also pretty drunk. Please don't throw up on me. Let's just get you home."

"In general on Serena Eterna. Is there some American tradition that prevents violence during weddings?" Seems like the best place to attack now that he thinks of it. But everyone surprised at him in his armor and wearing only half of his weapons was American. Then again, that was the largest population represented on the ship, so there was that too.

"Would you be willing to show me some sometime? I'm eager to update my repertoire, since everything I know is from the 16th century. You should also tell Klaus. He still might try to learn knife fighting with the pirate Blackbeard, but I'd be more comfortable if he was taught by someone who isn't just looking for an excuse to stab people."

[Ari hates tyrants. Ari likes Nobunaga a lot. Therefore, Nobunaga is not a tyrant. There's the logic - but she decides against picking up the old argument when he shows her the mark.]

I'd say you're more like fire than water, sure. It's - did it hurt?

"That's exactly why I have to see it," a giant grin. "It seems more and more like a country of myself... Ah... this dance aside."

What is that.

WHAT IS THAT?!

That's not a dance move, is it?

Is this how the REST OF JAPAN feels looking at Nobunaga do things?

How eerie.

He can't... He cannot do the flapping. He just sort of tries to... be a hawk. A cool one. Yes. This might not be working, but at least it's less horrible if only in his own mind!

Nobunaga just shrugs. How the hell would he even know? "I guess..." he closes his eyes to think. Mitsunari if he had kinks. He does not. But the most normal, plain, rational, angelic version of it. "Something healthier? Like getting into working out sex, or something tamer than Sharky himself." A sober nod!

"I still think the best way to handle the Bahamanal is probably just to stabilize its environment. Like combating typhoons. As much as human's inclination might be to try shoot it, it is better to bend with it, and be stronger than it, so you outlive it, and reduce its fury by robbing it of its power and drive."

An annoyed huff about the considering words. It's not like Nobunaga doesn't. That's the problem. He chooses things that will disrupt everyone anyway. Still, there's a difference between doing it for the short term gain of chaos, and the long term gain of progress. And he doesn't want to make things harder on Klaus, and he's not always sure as much what is progress here. Maybe there's some degree of kicking things just because they're there, and Nobunaga is too reflexively used to having to fight everything in his wake? It's weird too, when so many things he's been used to fighting are suddenly vanished. Good. It means he won, but also unbalancing, since he is braced to fight and lacking the force that he is used to opposing the same. So he'll have to move and adapt like fighting a typhoon instead. Probably. Still -- "It is difficult to tell what is truly beneficial to someone even when it's extremely uncomfortable for them until after the fact. Especially if they are unaccustomed to any resistance." Everyone should be more like Teyrey.

But then Klaus is the one blushing and oh. Suddenly Nobuanga gets it. Why Klaus is always doing it to him and likes it so much. Okay then. "Hah... okay." That's a little embarrassing too. Even if people missed the whole tackle glomp and kitty head nudges, the floating was probably more obvious, especially with Nobunaga laying his head on Klaus' chest, but whatever. Since when has that stopped him?

And another thing...

Maybe he could just trailblaze a path for others to follow, like Crichton did (albeit accidentally) and he didn't have to push the entire country (or ship in this case) into the direction Nobunaga wanted. Without the restrictions of the past, he also had an additional opportunity to be freed of those ties that he'd been used to having to use to drag people out of their comfort zones just so Nobunaga could get closer to what he wanted for humanity. Although speaking of comfort zones, it wasn't like Nobunaga always stayed within his own either. Comfort was boring.

"Konpeito of purple, lavender and orange.
Red, pink, and blueberry,
Humanity's greatest accomplishment,
Candy konpeito, the greatest treasure of all,"
He really did just start singing (for Klaus' ears only!) about candy. Listen... candy is great.
"Spiky and sweet, the greatest of treats
A konpeito wedding is a sight to behold
Candy candy for the young and the old."

Don't look at him.

Max was about to say he's also a really good cook, but then Klaus compliments his eyes and he feels his entire chest swell with a sudden joy that takes him so completely by surprise. What was he about to say?

"I-I also make a really good cake." Yeah, that was probably it, right? Close enough.

"Nobunaga? That's the guy in the armor, right? He um. He got really upset when I told him my line of work. But, like, in a sweet and concerned way." Is Max blushing about that a little too? Maybe. He can crush on everyone at once, it's fine.

"I'd love to give him something, at least. And you too. But I'm not that good at drawing and there aren't any kitchens here."

...You are impossible to read, man. Like, is your deal just being spooky and cryptic? Because I think there are some people here that don't think so.

[Rich sighs, leaning back a bit in his chair. This is probably not a conversation he should be having at a cheery wedding reception, but.]

Some people think you actually need help from us. I know you're probably not going to answer honestly, but... do you want that?

Blame me all you want! You know it's going to be worth just having a little bit.

[Ew. He never wants to grow old if it means he has to forgo eating junk food. He hops off the stage and manages an impressive bob and weave routine through the crowd over to the snacks. He grabs two sandwiches and two cupcakes. Listen, maybe the drummer needs a break too. And maybe if they're both eating, Phil won't feel weird about bothering him with... whatever he obviously is thinking about so hard.]

Here we are! Make sure to give your delivery boy a good tip, yeah?

"Not really? Helped that my mom was a good teacher, though... She taught me the basics and I guess I took it from there..."

He trails off a little awkwardly, and that guilty feeling only gets worse when Chrissy points out his self-deprecation.

"Sorry. Uh, mainly do that as a joke, but I know it probably sounds like I'm being an ass."

"Oh. Well, I mean, weddings are supposed to be a happy event with all your closest friends and family so, you know, generally, you don't want to fight with those people?" Not that violence can't erupt if too much alcohol is involved. "It's bad taste to start shit at a wedding. It's just rude." And no one wants to be that guy who made the bride and groom cry on their special day.

"Sure? I guess I could show you both. I can't promise I'll be much of a teacher. I'm still learning myself." It's weirdly sweet that Nobunaga thinks that well of him, that he's not interested in just stabbing people but also... is that a thing around here? Is that why Nobunaga is worried about violence at a wedding?

[Rich gives her a nervous smile in return, but he holds up a hand for a high five.]

Hey. C'mon, we're both gonna be great. A cutie like you is gonna steal the show for sure!

"You may be as bold as you wish." He says with great amusement, and a fair amount of relief she isn't pressing him on that first statement.

"And I do think we need more with your attitude toward things here. I am attempting to mend my ways now."

Cells emit this energy? How do you detect and measure it? [She accepts his explanation, as it seems scientifically plausible, in another universe, and she has no reason to doubt him at this point.]

And the contractual agreement to produce children - is that for purposes of genetic planning, or inheritance? [More anthropological assumptions on her part.] I'm sorry, that's a lot of questions. I'm only curious about other people's cultures.

Catching people off guard is actually one of Klaus’ favorite things to do. Kind of like getting Nobunaga to blush.

“I bet you do, buddy. And one day you’re gonna prove it to me.” But this place doesn’t really allow for much by way of cooking. Sadly. Not that Klaus knows shit about cooking. “I shouldn’t be trusted around a stove, so you’ll have to handle all that if we find one ever.”

Klaus finds him in the crowd and nods, a stupid smile forming. “Yeah. That’s the one.” He looks back to Max. “He does that to a lot of people. Wants to break castes and conditioning and all that. It’s cute most of the time.” Max doesn’t seem mad about it, though. Is that a blush he sees? Aw. Someone is blushing over their boyfriend. So cute. “He wasn’t overly intense about it, was he?” Because they definitely know that’s a thing, too.

“We don’t need anything, buddy. At least it’s not super necessary. But you’re cute for wanting to.” And Klaus will stand by that.

"She does like her men in suits." It's a pattern that is not difficult to see, between Maximilien, Skulduggery, and, well, him.

"Dr. Watson takes the well-being of others very seriously. That's something I admire in him. Still, I can imagine revealing that part of yourself can't have been easy?"

They had the perfect person for the music then!

[ Perhaps she's been thinking too hard about trying to dance perfectly. As their feet bump along, she lightens up and remembers to just have fun. She bursts out laughing along with him.

After a bit of bumping into each other, she tries to playfully stamp on him... until she can plant both her feet down right on top of his shoes. ]

...You can fly, like Duggy? [ The first thing that comes to mind is elemental magic. But it's probably... something else? Before she asks further questions, she decides to let Ava show her first. Her grip tightens. ] Hold tight... got it. I'm ready.

[He's silent for a moment. This is actually a rather personal question, it seems to him.]

Ideally? Some new place, where I can forge a life, with my husbands, and our son. I do think it is likely that it's true we cannot go back, but escape elsewhere, perhaps -- that's what I hope for, what I will strive for. What that life will look like will depend a very great deal on where we escape to, but I want these people in my life.

Perhaps that's a large part of why we've done all this. [He gestures to the wedding as a whole.] It's a promise to each other that whatever happens, wherever we go, we go together.

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10th Contraption: Mawwiage

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you know i always have time for fio <3

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