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

[pineapplesalmon]

"It's always nice to pick up a new hobby." Because César doubts it's the last time the Captain will do that.

Then, he glances to Skulduggery again before looking at him fully, smiling. "It is, I'm afraid. We can't know where it'll go from here, but I do wish you luck."

[light_mischief]

He waves a hand. "It was bound to come out before long. Wouldn't do to keep something like this secret." Which is his way of indicating that the affair has been relatively short. "But thank you for the luck. I'd offer the same to you, but it seems like you've managed quite well so far without it."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Mmm, it really wouldn't." An agreement, and a bit of relief that this hasn't been kept under wraps for long.

César looks out into the crowd to find his boy—fia—husbands, smiling as he spots them, all giddy and high. "I still feel incredibly lucky. And we did luck out with them being roommates and Rich being mine."

Then he has to bring his left hand up a bit to look at his ring again.

[light_mischief]

"That is serendipitous, isn't it?" And certainly not anything the Captain could have planned for. "I have to admit, it's been nice to see the three of you doing so well this whole time. It's obvious that you each improve the other in turn, which is what good relationships should do."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Serendipitous, yes." César agrees quietly, taking in a breath. "... They're exactly the type of person my parents hoped I would find and marry."

There's some sadness in that statement, but not as much as it would have been another time.

[light_mischief]

It has been so long since Skulduggery even thought about parental approval that the comment briefly doesn't make sense to him, before he remembers, ah, right.

"I'm sorry that they won't know how happy you are here. Ah, but at least you've got Rich to pass that sentiment on to. Find him a nice partner or two to settle down with."

Hehehe. Like he isn't going to tease César a little!! Especially if he can potentially encourage someone to embarrass a teenager.

[pineapplesalmon]

"It's all right. They died saving the world, and they'll rest easy knowing I have good and equal partners."

"Ha!" César's face brightens, perhaps a bit mischievous. "Rich is well aware we'll tease him back, considering teasing us is part of his love language. Especially if he takes after his fathers. I've been pretty good about only teasing him in private... most of the time."

[light_mischief]

"I hope you've done better about absolutely stepping in it with him than I have with just about every teenager I've ever met." Up to and including Darcy, who's currently keeping an eye on the other teenagers that Skulduggery has properly messed up with.

"He seems like a nice kid. Good sport being the ring-bearer and all."

[pineapplesalmon]

César laughs a bit. "I've stepped in it once or twice, but I'm pretty good at the recovery part afterwards." Rex ain't here, so César can talk shit about him. "All the kids here are pretty good, but Rich has a special place in our hearts. He's our son. Rich is traditionally too old for it, but we wouldn't want anyone else to be the ring-bearer."

Said so casually, so effortlessly. "I'd be happy to try to troubleshoot your problems with teenagers at some point. Sometimes another perspective is useful."

[light_mischief]

"Fio is more appropriately aged, but she was too busy being flowergirl." He tilts his head, and it's obvious from the direction he sets his sockets in that he's looking out for the little girl right now.

"Thankfully, I think I trampled enough boundaries to learn the hard way. But I might have to take you up on that when it comes to all of the... mmm, teen-specific drama." Because he can handle navigating a conversation about his evil alter ego or his secret love affair with their captor, but talking to Darcy about her relationships? Now that's intimidating.

[pineapplesalmon]

"She had such a good time with it, too." He follows the skeleton's gaze, smiling.

But at the teenage drama part, César winces a little. "I... was outside of most of the teen drama, but I'll do my best. Perhaps between us two old men, we can muddle through it."