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

[teethoftherisk]

Shi Qingxuan bows, and Siffleur pauses for a moment to decide how to respond. After a moment, he nods to Shi, which seems like an appropriate greeting to return. "It is good to meet you, Wind Master Qingxuan."

He also looks pleased at the compliment and gives her another nod of agreement. "Yours too. I had looked at that dress when considering my options, but wasn't sure it would suit me. It's much better on you." It's more truth than flattery - Shi Qingxuan looks suited to the colours. Siffleur wears his dress like a hanger does, but he doesn't mind that - how tight or loose they fit means nothing, so long as it fits comfortably for whoever's wearing it.

"You're right, they're very comfortable. I hadn't wore dresses before a few weeks ago, when another passenger suggested I try. It's been good to double my options." He glances at Jack and gives him a bit of a smirk. "Not sure if they appeal to Jack. He likes his sweaters."

[winepouring]

"Hahaha!" She giggles and her cheeks flush pink, enjoying the praise and this happy turn of events. Giving Jack a friendly pat on the back, she has to at least praise her old friend a little more, though. "But the sweaters look good on him, too, don't you think? Heavy fabrics like this have their own appeal. It adds an air of refinement."

Shi Qingxuan offers him a little wink. Truthfully, she hadn't really pinned Jack as the sweater-wearing type. She still remembers seeing his scars before when he was sunning on one of the decks, and Siffleur is similarly scarred. The thought that his current attire may be because of her failure in being possessed two months ago crosses her mind like a knife, and she chuckles nervously.

Never one to let the opportunity to encourage a friend to crossdress slip by, though, she quickly recovers to focus on other things. She looks between Siffleur and Jack, then, settling on Jack again, gives him a once-over as she hums, "However, until you try something, it's impossible to know if it'll appeal to you or not. Maybe the three of us can go together, browse the selection, and pick out something nice later? These things are much more fun with friends. Besides, this ship is always so warm, you need lighter options sometimes."

Double the options, as Siffleur had said! As if to punctuate her words, she pulls out her fan out from the interior of her jacket and flicks it open, stirring up a light breeze as she fans herself.

[obeyseventually]

Assaulted by compliments on all sides, Jack's left blushing red and laughing nervously? Or not nervously, but - it's flattering, but he's still not used to having this much positive attention on his appearance at all, let alone flanked like this.

"I don't know, I - I think my shoulders are too broad to make it work." Jack says with a playful grin (and one he hopes comes off as cool and won't in any way bait encouragement, ha ha). "Plus, I don't think I have the legs for it."

... Jack is sincerely having trouble imagining both Shi Qingxuan and Siffleur on the same shopping trip with him. Sure, they're both his friends, but for very different parts of his life, and now Jack's wondering about the wisdom of crossing those streams.

[teethoftherisk]

Siffleur decides very quickly that he likes her. She's very charming and even more importantly, she also likes Jack - and it's clear from his body language that Jack likes her too.

"Yes, he looks very good in sweaters too, and button-up shirts too." Their games in the clothing store have left them both in various states of needing to dress up quickly, so he's got an idea of what Jack looks good in. He is also deeply tempted to reach over and bite one of Jack's shoulders, to remind him of how delicious broadness is. But this is a wedding, and Siffleur does not want to show up the grooms. "Jack, your shoulders would look wonderful bared. As would your legs. You have a very muscular build, and it is worth showing off anyway you like to."

He turns his attention back to Shi Qingxuan and gives her a smirk. "I would love to have you join us sometime. I am almost always in the Tommy Bahamas. Simply arrive with Jack whenever convenient for you both, and we can add to all of our wardrobes."

Is that an invitation to do more than shop? Yes. But he won't be too overt unless he gets a clear signal from Shi Qingxuan to flirt more aggressively.

[winepouring]

Shi Qingxuan enthusiastically nods along with Siffleur's assessment, glad she has someone on her side here! She, too, has only known Siffleur for all of five minutes and has decided she likes the guy--wholly oblivious to whatever Jack may think of that. The romantic tension between the two isn't lost on her - who else can get away with complimenting someone's body so openly? - and the hint of something else in his offer doesn't escape her either.

...though, she mentally dismisses the possibility in the next moment, choosing to take the offer simply at face value instead. "Very well! I'll join you next time, and the three of us can pick out something good!"

She looks to Jack as she continues, "You have a good face and a nice physique, so the right clothing will only accentuate them and bring out your best sides. Broad shoulders are an asset worthy of showing off, and the dresses here have the perfect cut for that...but if you're shy about your legs, we can start with longer skirts," she teases, a mischievous glint in her eye that only seems to underline the word start.

[obeyseventually]

The problem is, Jack's excuses are just that: excuses. And under the pressure of confident arguments presented by equally confident and attractive people, they're starting to crumple.

As a result, Jack is doing his best impression of a red-eared slider, which is to say he's blushing and trying to disappear into his shoulders.

"Uh, I - uh, thanks guys," Jack says, since that's the safest place to start. (Like apparently, with the longer skirts.) (Wait, start--)

Jack clears his throat, and steadier (and just a little further out of his shoulders), he says, "You two, uh, do a lot of dress-shopping?"

It's not the save he was hoping for since they're still talking about dresses and probably him wearing them in the future, but maybe it'll steer off them saying nice things about him for a moment and he can cool off a little??

[teethoftherisk]

"Used to do some with my girlfriends and partner, but never for me before the ship. It's not any different than shopping for shirts and shorts." Legs out, billowy or tight, all the same. "Just try it on, go bigger or smaller, stare in a mirror for a bit."

Jack might be trying to save things but Siffleur has an ally now and he's quick to lean on Shi Qingxuan. "Helps if you have someone with you to make suggestions. I'm sure we can pick out some things to put on."

[winepouring]

"Yes," she admits with no shame, because why should she have any shame? "Not just for myself, but for my friends, too."

Well. For the one friend who had agreed, anyway.

She nods towards Siffleur. "It really isn't that different from choosing any other clothes; the best way to make a good choice is to explore the options. My best friend always entrusts his dress choices to me, though. Of course, it's easiest to pick something that's both beautiful and fitting when you're friends." (Or more than friends, in Siffleur's case...ahem.)

Now, looking between Siffleur and Jack, an idea strikes her, and she beams.

"Oh! I have it!" She starts fanning excitedly. "Let's go with a knitted dress! A knitted dress! Won't that be the best way to combine your current tastes with a new and unfamiliar style?"

[obeyseventually]

Jack's quiet. His lips are pressed tight. A moment passes:

"... They have knitted dresses?" he says, because Shi Qingxuan is right on the money.

[teethoftherisk]

"They do. Short and long." Siffleur says with his own grin.

He doesn't mention the knitted tops he's seen before though. While Siffleur would love to see Jack in a knitted halter top, that's for personal selfish reasons, not because Jack's the kind of man who ever goes semi-shirtless.

"I'll set some aside next time I spot them." He knows Jack's size well enough by now. "Anything else you think might be his style?"

[winepouring]

Having hit the nail on the head, Shi Qingxuan is elated—and spurred on.

Her own selfish thoughts wander to: If Jack has such varied powers, will he also be capable of transforming? That's something she'd really like to see. In an amazing display of self-restraint, though, she doesn't push her luck by asking that now. Instead, she hums, laughing softly behind her fan.

"I have some ideas, but since we're both his friends, I think you should pick something, too. You surely have your own perspective on his tastes and preferences that I'm not even aware of." Pick something good, Siffleur! "Jack, do you want to pick something for us, too?"

[obeyseventually]

"Uh..." Jack could take or leave any of those comics that have characters sweating over shopping with their girlfriends, they were something he figured he'd never relate to, but here he is!

Not that Shi Qingxuan seems like she'd get personally offended easily, but there's still the threat of her harmlessly teasing him more and god, why is he so embarrassed when the only other witness here is Siffleur, a part-time cat with full-time cat apathy? (It's his own pressure to do a good job, that's why.)

"Ssssure." Jack says, because he was never going to give another answer. "I could try that. I'm not, hm, I doubt I have anywhere near the same eye for it as you, but if you don't mind a couple of misses, then yeah, sure!"

He'd never looked at the dresses at the Tommy Bahama before; he wonders if he's going to get a chance to study before the big shopping trip.

[teethoftherisk]

"You've seen my fashion sense." Siffleur points out. As Jack knows by this point, Siffleur simply wears what is near, convenient and won't get in his way. Undoubtedly Shi Qingxuan will pick something nice, but Siffleur will take his lack of nuance and also apply it to Jack - and will expect Jack to do the same. "This is for fun. Maybe you'll like it. Maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have more fun watching us try things on."

This last bit is delivered with a slight lift of his eyebrows.