10th Contraption: Mawwiage

[pineapplesalmon]

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.

Comments

[skaikru]

( basically.

but not... entirely. the look clarke continues leveling at darcy is probably the same inscrutable mix of quiet anger and displeasure, but internally she's ticking boxes on a checklist, and gets stuck on: i wasn't suspicious of you in the beginning, i thought we were more alike.

whatever messy sentiment that really embodies is curtailed by the scream in her head that insists caring about one person didn't necessarily make you better for the masses. but despite the dance floor being a place they could potentially talk, it isn't a venue to really get into a screaming match and debate. so clarke eats her words before they even get past her throat. one song draws to a close. the next strikes up in the according melody of a slow dance, and while they could continue this stiff boxstep and tense conversation, it doesn't feel right. so after a beat of hesitation, clarke crowds into darcy's arms. there's an arm around the back of the other girls neck like an insistent weight. enough distance between their noses that they could still look at each other without going cross eyed, but clarke's gaze again rips from darcy's and focuses on the surrounding wedding party as much as on the captain and skulduggery.

and she's just above whispering with: )

Entertain me on my last point before you change the subject. If Skulduggery starts to slip, what will you do?

[busball]

"You gotta get your laughs in somewhere, right?" There's a nod at that. "Yeah. One of those things. Dangerous when he's mad at you, but he wouldn't ever actually hurt us, so...you know." Just spook them.

"It's just a bad movie, really. It's like...the sci-fi channel? But I dunno about heart. Even Velocipastor is just bad. Not like with a heart. But the funny kind of bad we all need sometimes. But I also have like Emperor's New Groove? Oh! And Lilo & Stitch! That's a movie with heart! Fucking Ohana and everything."

[bubblegumheart]

"Sounds like you had a good head start, then!" Unfortunately, Chrissy's mother never seemed particularly interested in teaching her anything that didn't involve preparing to be married off after high school.

She's not angry about the self-deprecation so much as that she just doesn't believe what he's saying is true. "Oh. Jokes are fine as long as you don't actually believe that." It's not even her place to give him shit about it if he does actually believe it, but she's spent so long hearing her mother's criticisms that she doesn't like it when other people do the same to themselves. "I don't think it sounds like you're being an ass."

[saltwaterlungs]

[ Their noses are almost touching and Darcy still wants to punch Clarke more than kiss her, a revulsion in her stomach. Once is a power move, two is something Clarke thinks she has over her. Slow dance or not. Spirits unsex her here because cold flesh still goosepimples at the arm around the back of her neck, Clarke's living flesh to the black ribbon wound around it, just above the collar of her shirt. ]

Point it out to him. Protest. Remind him of why we set down this path. And then, and only then, stop him.

[ Resolute and cold and dark as black ice. It was the first promise made between them, after all. She will honour it as she honours all her oaths. ]

[ss_buttcrack]

"What are you saying Nobunaga?" Crichton teases relentlessly. "Are you too Ch-ch-ch-chicken to match my dance moves?"

[ss_buttcrack]

"Don't tell me you're a gold digger? Haven't you been around long enough to start drawing on compound interest by now?" He's not disputing that some nerds are rich. They don't make those collectible figurines for poor college students, do they?

"Am I going to have to start calling you Black Widow?"

[ss_buttcrack]

Crichton glances around, checking to see if there's anyone who might be listening too close (sorry Phil) before he very quietly, very bashfully says, "Klaus, I might need you to..." God, can he really ask this? "Part of the problem is I don't... have much experience with... that stuff." Butt stuff. Frell. He's going to die of embarrassment right here. This was a mistake! "You know what. Never mind. Forget I said that."

Wait, what did Klause just say? "I hope by 'we' you only mean you and Nobunaga and not Valdis too? I mean. I guess she might be into that but..." he really can't picture it. (And he really doesn't want to.)

[busball]

Klaus looks at Crichton quietly for a moment. “No no. We don’t have to talk about it here, but…uh…if you want to, we can go off somewhere later.”

There’s a hint of a smirk here. “What? You don’t think she’s into threesomes?” The amusement is very obvious on their face at this point. “Yeah, sorry, buddy. I can’t help you. Cause yeah. I do not mean just us two.”

[ss_buttcrack]

"Maybe later..." he hesitantly agrees. Maybe. Or, maybe he will just make a hasty early exit with Arthur before later arrives.

"She didn't strike me as that... no," unless he died right here and now and then later won't come until at least a day after. He's fighting not to put his face in his hands. "G-good for you guys. I guess Yato really can make wishes come true..." Stop looking at him like that!

[firewalled]

"Certainly not!" Rich puts a hand to his chest, mock affronted. "I also think you're a huge nerd and a fuddy duddy." He laughs boisterously. "So, I'm guessing you want me to do the following?"

[firewalled]

Heh, you've got a point there! We've gotta just be back up for the grooms.

[But he still imagines it's going to be hard for the guests. Look at her. She's just so cute!]

You nervous? Need a minute to practice again?

[be_seeing_you]

Remembering what had gone on at the game show brings a frown to his face. Yes, she's right. No secret stays that way here. Not everyone was paying enough attention to catch his reaction, but some did. More than he wanted.

"You do make a good point." He lets out a slow breath. Maybe it's time.

"Do you remember at the game show, when the third contestant for one of the challenges did not come to the stage. The one called Number 6?"

[firewalled]

Wh-hey! [Rich tries to swat Phil's hand away, scowling a bit, but it's really just left over embarrassment from César's earlier fussing and cuddling. He just is not looking like a tough rocker today, is he?]

Yeah, obviously. I don't have a really big extended family back home, so this was pretty new to me. Honestly, I wouldn't have remembered the last time I went to a wedding at all, much less been in the party. It's a miracle I didn't drop them.

[firewalled]

Rich muffles an amused giggle. Good effort at least, Crabb.

"Mm, maybe. I don't know how to not look for it, though. I had my teenage hormones sorta repressed for the last two years so I'm just... always flirting hardcore if there's anyone in my age range." It's a problem, and he knows it. It was sexting before, and now it's more in person, but that hardly helps.

[konpeito_aji]

"Yeah... I like to fuck around and find out," a nod. Pratt really is like Nobunaga in that respect. Albeit, from the other angle.

A small laugh. "I don't have to, but I guess I could, I'm not sure how much his shinki usually have for independence from him, so it might be weird for him to go a long time. Or maybe not." A happy hum. "I still want to dance with you, but we'll have to find something not too sexual."

[konpeito_aji]

Yes... yes he is!!!!

Nobunaga is bright red again and just double facepalms. It is only through sheer stubbornness that he is still standing!! "I admit my defeat! Americans are too bold."

THE SHAME!

[konpeito_aji]

A soft wry grin. "Over a dozen younger siblings, yes. And I had to war against some of them twice."

The future is so bright.

He softens instantly about Teyrey. "She's fantastic. A very quick learner, and eager to achieve her best potential. Words couldn't praise her enough."

[konpeito_aji]

Not even a little.

It's not needled in like my 4. Or even like a normal weapon branding. It's something he can track. Like from the inside.

[redlightgreenlight]

"Oh please, I'm independently wealthy. And I don't have to kill anyone to get their money, my charisma score is high enough that they just give it to me." She smirks. "Besides a more proper term is probably cougar, considering I'm immortal."

[busball]

"Yeah. I already know about that." There's another light poke at that. "Which can be mildly problematic, but I still love you."

There's a slight shrug at that. "I know, but I also know you and you're very serious about your duties. So I don't want to keep you from it." There's a smile forming and he moves to kiss him. "Think we can manage a waltz? That's the best I know."

[busball]

Klaus will definitely walk him through things. He'll even probably do it like...not like a weirdo. Probably. As long as Nobunaga's not there, it should go fine.

"Huh. I mean...it was a weird mood for the day, but..." There's a shrug and very nearly a laugh as they look at Crichton's face. It lasts for a minute before there's a soft snort, followed by some more laughter. "Eh. It's the agreement. Nobunaga doesn't like the idea of me sleeping with other people unless he's involved and so we went with that. I guess I also don't like it either. Which is new. I'm not used to caring."

[sixthdeadliest]

"What name did you give them?"

That way he could keep tabs on the kid by listening to others. Besides, there might come a time when he needed to find the kid but nobody else knew his true identity.

[millay]

Maeve looks over at him quietly for a moment, realizing the moment for what it was. She can put the clues together without the admission at this point, but she'll let him do it so he feels like it's under his control.

"I remember it, yes."

[millay]

There's a nod at that. "Okay. I will keep that in mind. Perhaps next month sometime I will find you and we can swap devices. For a short time." She wonders if her tablet can hold books, if they can be copied. She guesses she could just look at all the pages and then read them by bringing the pages back up in her mind. That could work.

"I'd like to at least see them anyway. I am curious about what the pictures look like. And the stories. There are so many different ones."

[konpeito_aji]

"Yes," A giant sparkling beam, ignoring the previous statement except the love part. "I learned from Austria itself. Not that I've gotten to go there yet. I want to. But they sent me a gorgeous white eagle and I danced with some of their best in my quest to perfect the best humanity has to offer." He's exceptionally proud of this, because he's the only one in all of Japan (in his time, and honestly for quite a few centuries after...) who gives the slightest tiniest fuck about such a thing, and it really was a great expense for something so esoteric!

"They couldn't figure out how to bring pipe organs though. It's the most extravagant thing they have, very European, very Catholic church, Luis Frois was going mad with the logistics to bring one for Japanese cathedrals to spread their culture and tie it to the religion. But impossibly risky to deal with bringing all the way just to demonstrate or for homesickness, despite all the pirates in between us and Europe. Even just getting it to seas would have been tricky with bandits!" A laugh. "I said, bring me blueprints, and I will get Mitsuhide or others on it, but even that is apparently very secretive.
Imagine my surprise when the first similar music I finally heard was... piano from Billy Joel." More laughs! "They built it up so grandiose in my head! I thought it would be like a mountain, and cannon fire, an entire army of gongs of different notes, instead it is all plinky and light like a dulcimer. If I'd known I would have told the missionaries to not worry about European instruments, and just steal the countryside's music for themselves and make them better."