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

[crushed_pearls]

"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."

[not_the_last]

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.

[crushed_pearls]

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."

[not_the_last]

"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]

"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."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra stares. "Women weren't allowed --?"

That's not just outrageous, it's absurd. How could anyone possibly think that was a good idea?

[crushed_pearls]

"It's the bare surface of an incomprehensible iceberg of bullshit that will only ruin your mood, trust me." Erin shrugs, but nods her head out towards the other dancers. "...But hey. A lot of people here are from Earths with similar ideas, and they're all out here either knowing better or learning it. It didn't follow me from home."

[not_the_last]

She looks around, and nods in agreement.

And then pauses, as something strikes her. "By any chance, is part of that iceberg of bullshit anything to do with girls not being allowed to fancy other girls?"

[crushed_pearls]

"Correct!" Not that Erin is fucking bitter or anything. "For that matter, boys with boys either. My world does not have its gender shit handled."

A beat. "...Neither do I but I think the new look is a good step for me there."

[not_the_last]

"I can't speak for my whole world -- there are similar issues in parts of Wildemount, I'm told -- but we don't have much of that nonsense where I live."

[crushed_pearls]

"Warms my heart to hear," Erin says, and means it. "...Mind you, I still mighta been oblivious under those circumstances. Never underestimate the ability of queer kids to just not fucking notice."

There's a fond smile with that. Poor Ruby will get there.

[not_the_last]

"I think anyone can be oblivious," she says consideringly. "I'm almost sure my brother was in love with his wife for months before he knew it."

[crushed_pearls]

"That sounds adorable." Ah, the madness of love. "...So, noticed you and SecUnit earlier."

A statement. One that leaves it up to Cass what she wants to share.

[not_the_last]

"Yes?" Cassandra doesn't seem aware that there's anything to either share or avoid sharing, on that subject.

[crushed_pearls]

"Nothing in particular. I'm just really glad y'all have found friends in each other. It...is very dear to me too."

[not_the_last]

"I'm glad we have too. And it's good to know that."

[crushed_pearls]

"...I do hope, however this all ends, that we can stay together. The passengers, y'know? I like the people here." Erin looks...wistful. "They're all so beautiful in their own ways. And the longer I'm here the more the idea of going back home just. Doesn't appeal. There's people I miss. That I'll always miss, I think, but...I dunno. Maybe I've been talked around to the idea that I've got more to offer to this garden."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra ...

... is quiet, and doesn't look up, for nearly a full measure of the music.

[crushed_pearls]

"...Cass?" Erin's voice is all soft concern. "...Too much for a dance?"

[not_the_last]

She lifts her head and meets Erin's gaze with a small unhappy smile, grateful for the offered way out. "A little too much, I'm afraid. Please don't trouble yourself about it."

At least, she thinks with a burst of the old self-loathing, at least she didn't fall back on reflecting back to Erin what she surely wanted to hear.

[crushed_pearls]

"Well...would weird good news be welcome to chase it off?"

(Like we aren't dying to tell people anyway.)

It! Can! Be both!

[not_the_last]

She tries for a stronger smile. "Let's find out."

[crushed_pearls]

"Miss Ruby has the power evidenced by stray cats and has adopted me as her older sister." Erin smiles in wonder and bewilderment. "It came up recently during her teaching me about this Aura I picked up that's like the ones from her world. I've...never had a sibling before."

[not_the_last]

And the thing is -- this would be good news, would be charming and delightful and entirely welcome. If it weren't coming hard on the heels of Erin talking about how much she's growing attached to everyone here, how she wants less and less to go home, and what's this but another attachment?

No, be honest, now: if it weren't coming on the heels of the hard realization that she doesn't feel the same way, and vehemently doesn't want to.

But she smiles at Erin, and says "It's nice, isn't it?", and means it. And works hard to ignore the jeering voice in her mind, saying so much for not telling her what she wants to hear.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin's ears twitch, then droop. The taste in the air is wrong, and though Cass is good at masking, Erin is good at spotting masks; she wore so many in her life, after all, and in any event she was made into the kind of creature that does this.

For a long moment she considers just letting it go. Instead she draws Cassandra close, as close to a hug as can still be passed off as part of the dance, and murmurs words only for Cass to hear.

"...You know if I found a chance for you to go, I'd help. Even if it meant I had to stay behind, and lose you. I'd never ask you to stay."