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

[astrogator]

[She can't help a small smile.] Is it because you're more creative? He'd never come up with the idea of a skeleton dancing on stage. [Not that she believes Nobunaga would actually do it, but it takes imagination to think up such things!]

I know that it's difficult. I let you see my fears and my weaknesses, don't I? That's not easy for me, even if I know there are benefits. [She slips an arm around him, letting him lean on her.] Erin tried to see me the other day, so she knows how I was. She and I have contract, so I didn't mind that so much, but then she said I should talk to more people about it and I don't think she understood what a terrible idea that was, and why I never would.

I once said I didn't care if people hated me so long as it was for things I'd actually done. Negative reactions aren't so bad if you're in control of them. But what about me - you don't think I'm dark and evil, do you? [Teasingly] Or maybe you'll try to corrupt me, when I least expect it.

[konpeito_aji]

[A laugh!] I'm sure he would be able to think of things I couldn't.

It is because I am willing to put myself through a lot, because that is how much I enjoy it. He is scared of people, nothing new. Perfectly reasonable. -- This is speculation, I have nothing to base it on, just my assumption. And I'm sure he doesn't want to deal with them not liking him, like the banquet after the battle royale. But I don't care. I enjoy everything so much, that I'll do all these things and gloat when people can't keep up, and then teach them how do even better so I have something to keep fighting.

I am always corrupting you. Even now. You're here at the dance, and instead of being wholesome, you are out here with me, scandalous, and talking about how to subvert the way things are. Fufufu.

[astrogator]

[She finds that when the speculation is identified as speculation, she doesn't mind it at all! That can be useful.]

But if he doesn't want to deal with it, why do you think he would hold banquets in the first place? You're definitely a better sadist than he is, I agree.

[A sudden thought occurs to her, and she shakes her head.] If he's scared of people - isn't it possible that he refused to speak to me not just to be rude and insulting, but because I'm a better negotiator? Or even if I'm not, maybe he was afraid I'd be able to talk him into a contract he wouldn't want?

[Another smile.] We're not being scandalous out here! But we should have brought drinks.

[konpeito_aji]

I don't know, I wasn't here for it. I think he wanted to revel in everyone's feelings afterwards, and then found he didn't like it.

Mwahahahah...

Yes! He definitely knows you could manuever circles around him! He should be very scared of you. Probably even more after the Price is Right.

We can get drinks. And we know we're not being scandalous, but others wouldn't. Their imagination might go wild if they stop wondering how Skulduggery kisses without lips. I wonder if he makes himself tentacles. That's probably not something I should ask, yes? Do you think if I could ask if the Captain is a Mi-Go?

[astrogator]

[It might just be speculation, but she's certainly enjoying it.]

Definitely. I'll bet he wouldn't have expected someone who knows nothing about Earther currency to win, but commodities always have value. And maybe he thought those berries were a silly prize, but I've been doing very well making tea from them and trading it! Tradeliners can always find the value.

[She laughs.] Is that what happens at dances? If you leave the room, people think it's a scandal? I'll get drinks for us in just a... wait, you said tentacles? [Her eyes widen.] Nobody would want to be kissed by tentacles! If the captain is a Lovecraft monster, he probably has tentacles of his own. [Yes, she read a little!]

[konpeito_aji]

Yeah! You're the best. Maybe he knew you'd win, but it'll still make him nervous, because it's obviously something he's not great at, that's why there's no economics or history books, nonfiction.

Right, they would think we're out here making love or going back to room for overnights. [EYE GLEAM!] Yes. He's a mi-go, right? A mi-go. They probably both tentacles. Like this! [MIMES WITH HIS HANDS.]

[astrogator]

Like- [Ari does her own tentacle finger demonstration and entwines hers with Nobunaga's, and it's such a disgusting thought that she's laughing again.] Oh I don't want to imagine it! [But now she is.]

You've read more than me but don't mi-go have wings? He doesn't have wings.

And I don't care about scandal, because we did worse on expedition, any other Tradeliner would have assumed that was an overnight. With both of you. So let them gossip about us being out here. At least they know there aren't any tentacles involved.

[konpeito_aji]

Yes, exactly!

[Definitely his hell child. He loves her.] Ah Skulduggery can fly though! So maybe they're just invisible wings!

[Laughs!] Okay, I command, if anyone asks, you tell them I definitely use tentacles.

[astrogator]

Let me clarify... you want me to tell people that we had an overnight, and that I discovered you have tentacles?

[More laughter. Anyone might think she was very drunk - but no, she's just far too amused by this.]

I don't know, what if Klaus hears and he gets upset and challenges me to a fight over you? I'd win.

Is Skulduggery a mi-go too?

[konpeito_aji]

Not out of nowhere! Only if they ask or assume we did. Don't fight Klaus, I think he'd probably laugh too. Actually, his brother Ben had tentacles out of his stomach, so-- [Nod!]

[And thinks seriously about Skulduggery and the Mi-Go theory. Finally shakes his head no.] No, he's a skeleton. He was human when he died. But he can probably do skeletal tentacle things to make up for it. [Nod!]

[astrogator]

Alright. I won't announce it to everyone as if I'm exceptionally proud of it, but if they ask, or assume, that's what they're going to hear.

You're teasing about Klaus' brother, right?

[With far more consideration than this probably deserves-] I didn't think that tentacles had bones.

[konpeito_aji]

Yes, exactly.

Hmmmm... I could ask him, but I don't think I'd get a serious answer. Especially given how I'm telling you to pretend ludicrous things. Maybe Klaus knows.

[astrogator]

Well, for all I know you could have tentacles underneath all that armor!

[Ari shakes her head, and gives his shoulders a little squeeze before she moves to stand up.] It's not important enough to ask! Now, I said I'd get you a drink. Punch? I want to see if anyone stares when I walk bac in.

[konpeito_aji]

Is the curiosity driving you to madness? [That would definitely make him a mi-go!!!]

Yes. Fetch us punch. I doubt they will notice, but if anyone does, I'll do a dare.

[astrogator]

To madness? If it got that bad I could just ask Klaus. I'm sure he's seen it all.

I'll be back very soon! [So off she goes to get the punch, smirking as she does, because all this amuses her a lot.]

[konpeito_aji]

Definitely could. He hasn't seen my soul, but Valdis has.

[astrogator]

[There's a bit of an eyeroll from her at the soul talk, but she doesn't comment on it, just goes out to get the drinks. The party's still busy - loud music, people dancing - and it doesn't seem like anyone's paying much attention to Ari and what she may or may not be doing with Nobunaga. She retrieves two large glasses of punch, and takes them back outside, handing Nobunaga his before she sits down with him again.]

There. Now it's alright for us to be out here. [She smiles.] Do you think you and Klaus will have a celebration like this someday?

[konpeito_aji]

Unless it's more scandalous, because we're drinking. [He just wants to be scandalous okay! But happily takes and sips his drink.]

Yeah! A candy-themed one. But it might be years or whatever. I don't really understand what weddings are like in his time. In my time, it's all political. Very annoying. My parents weren't married at first. It became a bigger deal when I started getting ambushed, I think. When I was six. Because it's all -- [Waves his free hand.] Bloodlines, hostages, what could be sacrificed to rescue me. My father wasn't nobleborn. He was one of the first ever. He was granted his position, because he was a general for the Emperor. But my mother was noble-born. So I don't think it fazed her right away, until she realized how much the children would be hostages and she wanted to use her own power to do what she wanted.

Anyway, in my time, marriage is political. It's all about castes and status. Politics. But in the future, in Klaus' time, it's just done to deepen relationships. Announce their love, like this, I guess. But Klaus has never done it before, his brother Luther did, but I think Klaus both wants it, and gets nervous about it. Maybe he's not sure he can live up to other's expectations of it.

But I told him, if it's just a party, there's no expectations, we're deciding for ourselves what it means, and it should be candy themed. Everyone brightly colored, all sweets, maybe candy games. Nothing that could upset him, just make him happy.

Normally I always feel like I'm racing a clock. There's so much to do, I can't live long enough, every moment I must make the most of. But with him, I think it's okay to take time. To let it stay like this.

But he proposed to me over garlic bread, and Crichton says he'll be my best man. So you have to be Klaus' best friend too. In my time, in Europe, that would mean you and Crichton would be in charge of kicking anyone's ass and dueling them for interrupting. In the future, I think it just means you help Klaus with making things look the way he wants.

[astrogator]

You know that if everyone starts to think I'm a very scandalous person, I might have to make it true. [Ari smirks.] Take you for an overnight after everyone's sure we already have. [She's teasing him! She takes a long drink from her glass.]

When you and Klaus have your contract, I need to be in charge of ass-kicking, not decorating. Play to people's strengths. [And don't invite the captain, she nearly adds, but no. Peace. Let's not start another argument.]

I only wondered if you'd do it the same way, or if you had different traditions to follow. Klaus shouldn't worry so much, because if it goes wrong you can just wait out the contract, or agree to dissolve it if it's that bad, but I can't imagine that with you two. If you wait years then who knows where you'll be? Probably in Delos.

[konpeito_aji]

[Nobunaga laughs!] You'll have to clear it with Klaus, that's part of my contract with him, but I'm not saying no! [Mwahahahah.]

Okay, you're in charge of negotiating for my side too.

A bit different. I don't have a Captain, and certainly not this one. So I wouldn't want him officiating it. Maybe we'll have you do it, since Klaus isn't able to officiate his own, even though as an ex-cult leader, he has that -- [What's the word here...] background. [Sure.]

You should tell him that. I've told him once, so I don't want him to think I'm trying to pressure him or rush it.

[astrogator]

You mean that you will have to clear it with Klaus. [More chuckles.]

I'll negotiate, and I suppose I could lead the ceremony, but wouldn't you want Yato to do it?

If it ever comes up, I'll tell him! You already have a contract with him, so it would only be changing the type of contract, and having a party. He likes parties.

[konpeito_aji]

You too. That's how it works with us.

Eh, not unless Klaus likes Yato more, I think. Maybe? I know in Japan, there's a belief that gods can match people? I just never really believed in them, or thought about it before.

He does like parties. Maybe it would reassure him if you remind him, things can always get negotiated to a new position if he doesn't like where they are.

[astrogator]

It's in your contract with Klaus, not mine. Besides, having to ask someone else's permission before I go for an overnight is one of the least sexy things I can think of. I wouldn't do it. [Another smirk.] I guess you and I won't cause any scandal after all.

I suppose you won't want to make it religious. That would get weird. Alright, I'll see if I can find an excuse to mention it to Klaus. There's no reason for him to be nervous, it's so obvious how close you are!

[konpeito_aji]

Guess not. [Tongue out.] And it's less permission, more everyone being on the same page. I don't always understand it, but he says I have to tell him everything. And if someone wanted to be with Klaus, it'd be better if they talked to me too, not only him. I mean, they don't have to. No one has to, it's just... [SHRUG!]

It's something he's never done before, and he probably has a lot of ideas about what it means, and there might be some level of feeling like he's betraying Dave.

[astrogator]

[She looks faintly troubled by all this.] It's not that serious for me. Overnights. Just one night of fun, nothing more to it. I see why the two of you would want to tell each other about that kind of thing, but you don't have to tell him everything. Not generally. You're an individual and you're still allowed your privacy. It's fine if you don't want it, but don't feel like you have to give it up just because he says so.

He did love Dave, but Dave would hardly want him to be alone for the rest of his life.