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

[be_seeing_you]

"Likewise, it's a pleasure Miss Adams."

He pauses a moment to consider the question. Let's see, it was July and now it's December. Goodness, has it been six months already? He's astonished and horrified.

"Six months. Since July. I can hardly believe it myself."

[decrypter]

Six months. She's not foolish enough to think one could have six months of peace, but one could have at least six months away from what they handled.

"Goodness. And here I've barely cleared one. I suppose that makes you something of an expert on this place."

Is she joking? Not really.

[be_seeing_you]

"I would hardly say I am an expert. There are others who have been here longer, who understand magic and technology better than I do. But, I do understand life in captivity." That isn't at all ominous.

"The best thing one can do here is seek trustworthy connections. It is not always a pleasant time aboard this ship, but we are all quite literally in this together. Take it from me. I resisted forming friendships needlessly for far too long."

[decrypter]

Deeply ominous, but not wedding talk in the slightest. She'll let him have his secrets, his own story, until another day arises for it - one where they can take more time to unpack things.

"So it seems. Forgive me if this is a little bold, but I feel like that isn't a problem - there are more than enough people who are willing to extend their hands to those newer, and I'm grateful for every one of them. I can only hope I can do the same for them."

[be_seeing_you]

"You may be as bold as you wish." He says with great amusement, and a fair amount of relief she isn't pressing him on that first statement.

"And I do think we need more with your attitude toward things here. I am attempting to mend my ways now."

[decrypter]

"Better to start at some point than never at all."

There's a tone in that, gentle, that speaks to how much she means it and isn't intending to patronize. Just a sincere belief that since he started, that counts for enough.

"There's enough that can go amiss in the world, after all."

[be_seeing_you]

"True enough." He doesn't take it as patronizing. He finds her optimism charming, in fact.

"You are wise for your age, assuming you are not one of those timeless immortals." He's learned that is something he can no longer rule-out.

[decrypter]

"Not at all, I'm as human as they can come, unless something has changed without my notice."

But she glows a little under the praise, happy for it.

good wrap-up point?

[be_seeing_you]

"As am I. But, we do make do, don't we?" She should be careful not to summon those changes, he thinks to himself, recalling what happened to Phil.

"Much as I do not like to welcome new members aboard this ship, I am glad to see someone with your philosophy. So, I will extend you this as a welcome: should you ever need assistance, I am at your service."