Gh6st Wedding

[be_seeing_you]

Who: Number 6, Ava Starr & Wedding Guests
What: Number 6 and Ava are getting married!
When: Saturday, August 19, Sunset
Where: Pool Deck
Warnings: Post is open to all but any characters who initiate conflict will be thrown out of the party immediately

Setting The Scene

A package had arrived for Number 6 a few days prior. Inside was a note explaining that an appropriate backdrop for their wedding would appear for the event. The note did not lie. A few hours before the appointed time, a stunning arch of flowers and opalescent crystals appears at the end of a white aisle runner on the pool deck. The various lounges and deck chairs already present have been arranged on either side of the runner, facing the new archway. Aside from that stunning centerpiece, the rest of the decorations appear makeshift upon inspection but are arranged with plenty of care--with soft and gauzy fabrics draped over key tables, such as where the gifts and the wedding cake sit, and improvised cloth flowers for most of the centerpieces and railings. All that’s missing now are the guests.

Ceremony

It begins at sunset, the sky painted with a warm ombre above the pool deck. The railings leading up to the deck are draped with repurposed curtains woven with dozens of flowers sewn from the fabric of Tommy Bahama apparel; they mark the way. As guests choose their seats (on either side, no one is being picky) they will find a cloth flower waiting for them as a party favor.

The whole ceremony is a compromise between traditional and simplistic. Klaus is officiating, but they’ve been asked to keep the ceremony itself short and sweet. Number 6 is standing beside them at the end of the aisle decked out in white himself in the form of a white tuxedo with coat tails (it even has wing holes built-in.) His fingers dance anxiously in front of him like he’s frantically playing an invisible keyboard. And, then, the processional music begins, provided by their very own pianist, Phil.

Number 6 turns his full attention to the center aisle. The first down is Fio, playing the lovely role of flower girl once more, with even more of those specially crafted fabric flowers. Then the best man, Skulduggery, and maid of honor, Valdis. Number 6 barely notices either. He’s waiting for... yes, there’s the music change.

His eyes go wide with awe as he beholds the sight of his gorgeous bride being led down the middle of the aisle on Maximilien’s arm. Not even the sight of that omnic can spoil it for Number 6. He’s never seen anything so stunningly, fabulously, beautiful as Ava looks right now. Even the jittering of his hands has stopped. He can scarcely do more than stare. This is really happening. He almost wants to ask Skulduggery to pinch him.

Ava’s glad for Maximilien’s steadying presence by her side, to hold onto so she doesn’t dissolve away into nervous static in anticipation of her turn down the aisle. But once the music transitions to her song, there’s no hesitation as she gracefully makes her way through the parted crowd of their gathered friends toward the man she’ll so soon be able to call her husband.

Valdis helped style her hair just hours before, with a flower crown, adorned by shimmery feathers that match the patch of blue of the groom’s own wings and the borrowed sapphire necklace to complete the tradition. Her gown is a gauzy chiffon, constructed over the last few months with the help of Okie and Siffleur. The fabric flower bouquet she carries is constructed with the pearls gifted to her by Helena.

She can feel eyes on her; that typically might inspire her to flicker away. But hers remain ahead, looking to her future husband. Their gazes catch, and so does her breath as the moment overwhelms her, and then Ava’s smile brightens-- an expression so rare, so uncomplicated. This is the happiest she’s ever been, taking her place by his side. She gives Maximilien one last squeeze of his arm in appreciation of his support, passes the bouquet off to Valdis, acknowledges Skulduggery with a tiny nod, and then steps in to take Number 6’s hands in her trembling own.

Number 6’s own smile is bright as he takes her by the hand, yet somehow soft. In this light, he almost looks like he’s aged backward, as if the man standing before her is in his twenties now, fresh-faced and free of the weight of worries that have weathered him in the past decade. This is an end and a beginning. A beautiful beginning.

Vows

The vows begin with a traditional exchange, each of them repeating their promise to love and cherish one another through sickness and through health, for richer or for poorer, until their final deaths do they part. Then come the rings, discretely handed over by Skulduggery.

“With this ring, I pledge myself to you,” Number 6 recites, as he slips a stunning opal and diamond ring onto Ava’s finger. She does the same for him, slipping a simple and elegant golden band upon his finger. This one holds a secret, but he won’t discover it until later.

With the official vows and rings exchanged, there are only personal vows left to give. Number 6 slips a small sheet of paper out of his breast pocket, but he has read and re-read the words so many times, he hardly needs to glance at it. In front of the whole room, he declares his unending love for her and promises to be her first and best supporter, to be the one that lifts her up, always, to help her see herself as the shining light that she is. Theirs will be a partnership built on mutual respect and unending love. He also promises to withhold no part of himself from her, that she will know him more fully than any other in the world. “I put my heart in your hands, forever more, for no one else in all the world has made me believe in a future like you have. No matter what that future holds, these will be the most rewarding days of my life, because I will share them with you.” He starts to lean in like he means to kiss her but has to stop himself. Not yet. Not quite time.

Once it’s Ava’s turn to share her vows, she freezes up. It’s not that she can’t remember. She’s practiced the words over and over, committing them to heart. But she gives Number 6 a quietly worried look that he luckily recognizes, and as she steps in even closer he brings up a wing to shield them from view and save her from embarrassment. It’s not how it was planned, but Ava draws him down toward her, to lovingly whisper the vows into his ear. Promises of devotion and loyalty, of unconditional trust that no spy should ever have in another. She looks forward to cherishing each day that they’ll have together. To strive for a shared future no matter what horrors they face, that waking up next to him will always make it worth it. “I love you” she finishes and allows him to wipe the stray tear from her cheek, laughing lightly in relief.

“I liked it better this way,” Number 6 whispers back, still cupping her face with his hand. “Words only for me to know and cherish.” He cannot resist any longer. Vaguely, he has the sense that Klaus may have declared them husband and wife, and that they now may kiss. But he’s already leaning in, behind the shield of his wing, to claim his very first kiss with his new wife.

Reception

They are introduced to the room now as Mr. and Mrs. Peter and Ava Starr. Since the reception is happening right here on the pool deck, they don’t have much in the way of formalities. The wedding party simply walks back down the aisle and then disperses, as some of them set to the task of clearing the chairs. The newly wedded couple makes their first stop the cake table.

Grinning like school children, the bride and groom cut the first slice of cake and feed each other a bite before the rest is served up. After that is their first dance to At Last. The two of them sway to the ballad, lost in each other’s loving gazes as if all the world has melted away and only the two of them exist in this moment.

Once the first dance finishes, Sharky takes over the party as DJ to provide a mixture of upbeat and romantic dance hits for all to enjoy. Ava takes turns dancing with each of the requesting guests, as does Number 6, although he is not likely to be in nearly as high demand for partners. As it should be, for who would want to miss their chance to dance with the loveliest woman aboard this ship (in his shamelessly biased opinion?)

There's time for speeches, planned and impromptu. The food spread was prepared by Darcy, and though there are a few bottles of champagne, the drinking isn't overly in abundance.

Bride and groom stick around for long enough to mingle, but eventually Mr. and Mrs. Starr sneak away from the crowd for their own private after-party.

Comments

CONTRIBUTIONS

[be_seeing_you]

If your character contributed to set-up, the ceremony, decorations, wants to give a speech, etc., here is the place to post those interactions!

Snack Maintenance

[theweakhavepurpose]

Darcy has brought all the food, minus Pratt's fancy contribution of potato goodness. But he'll be hanging out by the food to take away empty plates and restock the canapés (just don't ask him how to pronounce that).

He's wearing something kinda sorta formalish, but beneath his button up shirt is the hint of the tie-dye shirt Ava made for him.

[spiritcarer]

It comes late into the wedding but there's some more food set out for the party-goers than there was before. Crepes, some honey treats, even a berry pie. All sweet treats that someone probably would like to have at such a wonderful occasion.

In such short notice, Stella couldn't find much more than a hawaiian-style bowtie. She thinks it's pretty neat though.

GIFT TABLE

[be_seeing_you]

If your character would have brought a gift, feel free to drop a note here (IC or OOC) showing what they brought so 6 and Ava can thank them properly later. <3

[neverleave]

[Natsuno brings two origami animals - an octopus and a duck, folded with meticulous care. There's also a note in neat handwriting, congratulating the newlyweds and wishing them a happy life.]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[he hovers around the side of the table, alternating between nearly putting the gift (wrapped so poorly that there's no way Friday had any involvement in it) on the table and then immediately pulling it back again. it's been a good 10 minutes of this.]

[goodweather]

[ It’s a soft and pliable package wrapped in a large decorative pillowcase. Whenever they get the chance to open it, they’ll find…

… a quilt, large enough for two, painstakingly and entirely handsewn, made of a deeply artful and careful selection of cannibalized Tommy Bahama garments. One side is soft and made of something that won’t bother the feathers; the other is more decorative, embroidered here and there with little flocks of ducks and fish and turtles. There’s a little octopus in one corner that becomes a bit hurried at the ends of the tentacles. A note from Phil wishing them the best has been included inside. Given the amount of labor involved, it’s possible he was working on this from the moment they told him right up until the day before the wedding. ]

[redlightgreenlight]

[There's a coiled scrap of canvas tied with a bow sitting on the table. When unwrapped there is a detailed sketch of Ava and Peter dancing. The expressions are life-like and seem to be infused with the love they have for each other. It's signed with a very fancy V]

[businessorlibation]

A bottle of the best champagne Topy has to offer is set down on this table without a note.

[light_mischief]

[Skulduggery leaves two modestly-sized wooden boxes on the gift table. The crock and horn are accompanied by a neatly written note:

May your mornings bring joy, your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship, and your hearts joined forever in love.

If anybody asks, I came up with that myself. Enjoy using ancient English treasures to have a lovely picnic. The crock will give you any food you desire; the horn will give you any drink. May you not have to leave your cabin until the next excursion!]

[mistertwister]

Two bundles, each containing five each massage, laundry, and food delivery coupons and two each sewing project coupons. Handmade, the initials in the corner knowable only to the groom.

[astrogator]

[A poem is left on the table. It's typed and unsigned.

It's about two people from different worlds, with different lives, who find each other in adversity and form a connection. There's a lot of attention paid to rhyme and meter, and it seems that the author has something of a 19th century style.

That said, the vocabulary is a clue. Shared values, excellence, flourishing, 'a love surpassing contract' and the like.]

[ossie_oswald]

[ While Ossie isn't seen at the wedding itself, a small box appears on the gift table, accompanied by a couple of fresh white roses. Inside is two small chocolate truffles, lovingly enchanted with Ossie's contract Gift of Warm Breath. With them is a small note that reads;
'The treats are for the hangover tomorrow. Be good to each other, and love will do what it always does. Move mountains, shift rivers, and keep you going when times get tough. I have never been so glad to have been right all along.
O. Wuthridge + Giles.' ]

[saltwaterlungs]

[ There's an envelope, with a couple of index cards, each with a recipe on it. Some simple things like bread and homemade pasta, as well as a couple of more complicated ones; the macaroni and cheese she taught Ava, a couple of sensible meals, and then a family recipe for bugnes with a warning not to share the recipe around. The secret is almond and lemon oils.
There's also an obviously cobbled-together card.
'Sorry, I couldn't work out what else to get you, we usually just give money back home and that doesn't mean anything here so. Kind of dumb but my Grandmère used to say that if you can cook together, your marriage will last, and I just thought of that when I was trying to think of something. Congrats and. Good luck?.'

Darcy forgot to put her name on it, but it's pretty obvious who it's from. ]

[ablativeholopleather]

It takes him some time to feel like he can or should approach the gift table. He'd disappeared a little while into the reception, feeling fidgety and uneasy that he hadn't brought anything, until he resolved to actually find something that Flan had been helping him work on since they'd set up the containment room.

She had introduced him to sculpture, so now, sitting amid the rest of the gifts like an afterthought, there is a small kitten figurine in yellow air-dry clay with features lightly carved in. It's not the prettiest thing, but it does look very much like that yellow cat that sits in the middle of Wayne's collection of figurines.

[busball]

Rather than strictly being a serious gift-giver, Klaus has settled on their own brand of gifts, which is cursing for days at the claw machine before realizing that you can use telekinesis to get a plush. They got this plush and left a little note that says, "I think this one resembles Peter. :P Congratulations on your wedding!"

But just so he doesn't feel too bad, he also got this from the Tommy Bahama for you, Peter.

[teethoftherisk]

Siffleur's gift comes in one of the many floral beach totes from the Tommy Bahamas, closed up tight. He's written: ENJOY - YOUR FRIEND SIFFLEUR.

Avas know exactly what's inside since Siffleur already texted her a photo of the restraint box and asked for her shopping list.

[sabigoe]

[ After mostly everyone's dropped off her gifts, the flower girl glances around and shuffles as sneakily as possible to the table. It probably isn't required for her, a child, to go through too much trouble contributing a wedding present. She'd already done an important job being a flower girl! She has a little something however, that's not as glamorous as everyone else's gifts. But she did her best.

She slips a piece of pink construction paper shakily cut in the shape of a heart, underneath a package to be found later. A brief short message is written, as neatly as possible, though still very noticeable that a child wrote it: "Wishing you lots of love and happiness, Mr. and Mrs. Starr!"

Then she quickly runs off to get some cake. Yeah, she thinks she's so sneaky! ]

[moonlesstides]

Grace has brought a colorful painting of a honeybee and a duck, frolicking through flowers. It is childish and shaky, but the detail on the flowers is remarkable.

THE CAKE

[maximumcake]

Max Maximum has poured his heart into making the most beautiful iridescent marbled wedding cake he could possibly create. He’s been in the kitchen for weeks doing test bake after test bake, making sure to get it all just right. Ava asked for simple, and technically it is, yet it still stands like a work of art on the table near the bar. And Max is there keeping guard over it.

When the time comes to cut it for guest consumption, Max will take it upon himself to act as server, asking the obvious question first, "What flavor would you like? I have raspberry and lemon, or toffee. Not the top section, though, that’s for the bride and groom to keep."

[decohere]

Max had done a cake tasting prior to the wedding, to make sure the flavor was up to expectation. Ava of course had no criticisms, the test cakes had been delicious.

But she hadn't realized the finished product was going to be so beautiful, with the lovely marbling of colors and the metallic paint. She had no idea that gold could be edible. "Wait, we get to keep the top?" she glances over with sudden interest. "Valdis mentioned keeping a piece..."

FIRST DANCE [CLOSED]

[be_seeing_you]

As their chosen song, At Last, begins to play, Number 6 draws Ava into his arms and speaks to her, low and sultry, "May I have this dance, wife?"

[decohere]

There's a light flutter in her chest, being referred to as such. One of the first of many to come, but she's certain it will never grow old. Ava slips easily into his hold, her feet floating a few inches up off the floor. She can't help herself, so overcome with joy.

"You ask as if I hadn't been waiting months for this moment," Ava responds softly, just below the volume of the music. "My husband," she adds on fondly, tracing a fingertip along the golden band of his ring.

DANCE FLOOR

[be_seeing_you]

Dance with each other or request a dance with either the bride or groom.

[businessorlibation]

For Ava
He doesn't hound her, doesn't make it clear he'd like to cash in on that dance, but if there's a moment to make eye contact and nod across the room to her? He does that. Just that, nothing more.

For Everyone Else
There's always a risk, if one approaches the dance floor, of a bright-eyed man with a champagne aura meandering over and offering a hand. He's here to celebrate, after all.

RECEPTION MINGLE

[be_seeing_you]

Post your starters here for mingling at the reception. Treat this like free-for-all a mingle log. Just remember party-crashers who look like they are here to start trouble will be forcibly removed from the pool deck. Some of the wedding party standing guard are really hoping you'll try it, and you wouldn't want to give them the satisfaction, would you?

[goodweather]

i. around

Phil steps down as Sharky takes over; not that he isn’t capable of playing for a party crowd, far from it. But a party DJ is a job for one, and it’s probably better that he’s free to roam once the reception is in full swing.

He’s handsomely dressed for the occasion. He mingles pleasantly, catching up and making conversation. People will note several things: first, that his right eye is still cloudy; second, that there’s an odd orange light cast on him from nowhere that throws him an extra shadow and dogs his steps with a cool spring chill; third, that he’s wearing earmuffs.

Once in a while, he rolls his head and brings up a hand like he’s got one mean crick in the neck.

ii. calgona

Sometimes it’s just a bit too much.

Here and there he disappears from the party, retreating nearby to the empty spa just to take a moment for himself. Calm down. Recompose. He slouches into a chair, drink left besides, and just… sits, fidgeting with his wedding band.

God, it is so nice to be able to enjoy silence.

WILDCARD

[be_seeing_you]

Something we missed? Want to post about a wild afterparty? Go for it here.

GH6ST PRIVATE AFTERPARTY [POTENTIALLY NSFW]

[be_seeing_you]

This is exactly what you think it is.

[decohere]

The time slips by a bit faster than Ava realizes, between all the shared dances and grazing at the food and enjoying the company of friends. But she is quickly approaching the limit of her social stamina, and she doesn't want to end the pleasant evening in burnout. It's nice that she has enough practice now to properly recognize the signs, and that the people she cares about won't view it as a faux pas.

All she has to do is give 6 the lightest brush of her hand against his to communicate that she's ready to go.

She doesn't yet realize that the ring he wears means she's not invisible to his eye at all, that he can see her eager gaze quite plainly. "Hey," she whispers. "I know a place."