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

[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.

[decohere]

There's a smile of acknowledgment, and as soon as she finishes up with one dance, she flickers across the room to offer Johnny her next. "You all are making it a bit harder to sneak away than I anticipated," she jokes, with no real complaint to it.

[businessorlibation]

"Oh no, poor Ava, beloved and adored, how dare her friends want to rejoice in her wedding with her." He takes a gentle lead, clearly comfortable dancing with someone taller than himself (who fucking isn't taller than himself?). "Congratulations."

[decohere]

It might even be the first time that Ava realizes quite how short Johnny actually is. Between his posture and demeanor.

"Or they all just heard Max was making the cake," she suggests, but even as a joke she has to eventually admit, "Guess I'm not allowed to deny it anymore, am I?"

[businessorlibation]

She only has a couple of inches on him. Unless she’s wearing heels, in which case he’s fucked.

“Sorry, Ava. To borrow a turn of phrase, I think from Erin? Get loved on, bitch.”

[decohere]

No heels, but she is floating about an inch off the floor, obscured by the hem of the gown. But it might be obvious in her movements, how her steps are too fluid.

"It's truly compromised my reputation as an awkward loner. Not sure I'll ever recover."

[businessorlibation]

“You might have to move forward and be an awkward socialite. Awkward queen bee. Awkward housewife.” He is as serious as a belching contest here.

[decohere]

Ava makes a face at socialite. That's how Malcolm described his mother, and it's not a term that seemed all that flattering, even if she can tell Johnny isn't serious. "Don't have a house. Boatwife? Cabinwife."

[businessorlibation]

"Good Boatwife Ava, first of her name." He's completely just goofing off, arm extended to offer her a twirl.

[decohere]

"That's why the others before must have been bastards," Ava comments before twirling gracefully. It's a move that muscle memory always wants to end with a kick in somebody's face. When she comes back around, she finishes. "All outside of marriage."

[businessorlibation]

"Mm, from what Daisy's said to me, they had their partnerships. Their tight knots. What they never had was weddings. No room for communal joy in the midst of their backbiting and suffering. They had their first battle royale and never recovered any sense of community after it."

[decohere]

"So maybe you're the cause of change," she suggests with a smile. Having the first ever wedding and making it a double to boot.

"The Battle Royale taught me a lot," Ava says lightly, careful not to toe too close to the darker aspect of the subject. "That I could have easily blamed the Captain for it. Or the other participants. But if I was ever going to have any control over my own life, I couldn't make excuses anymore. My actions are my own. I refuse to give away that power ever again."

[lightconductor]

Watson takes that outstretched hand gladly, with an impish smile.

"I was wondering when you'd find your way to me," he says, as though he also has not been dancing freely.

[businessorlibation]

"I've been content, so far, watching you. No longer, though. I must have you in my arms, or surely I will perish."

He's playing, of course.

[lightconductor]

"My heart could not take that," Watson says, playing along. He pulls himself into Johnny's arms obligingly, and puts his arm around his waist. "I am yours, then, my dear fellow."

[businessorlibation]

"Yes, yes you are. And I will never forget that fact." He smiles brightly, taking the lead. The air is fizzy and the world is chattering and he feels more at ease despite those facts because he's with one of his loves.

[lightconductor]

"If you do," Watson says, "I'll be happy to remind you."

He thinks, at this point, that he's getting rather good at following in a dance, rather than leading. The fizz is something he's becoming almost fond of.

[businessorlibation]

Johnny's eyes glimmer slightly. "May I dip you?" He's certain he can balance and support Watson's weight, especially with all his recent training.

[lightconductor]

He can't avoid the surprised lift of his eyebrows.

"You know, no one's ever done that for me," Watson says. "Yes, I'd like to try that."

[businessorlibation]

The motion is sudden and sure, and the only two options are to lean back into the dip or to struggle to remain upright. It's a trust exercise, on some level.

[lightconductor]

Watson trusts implicitly, and he leans back into it; for a moment he's looking up at Johnny, an almost foolish grin on his face. When he's upright again, he bursts into laughter, despite himself, despite everything.

"That," he says, "was delightful."

[businessorlibation]

Johnny laughs as well, pulling Watson closer, into his arms in what's a totally improper hold for dancing, but just the right one for holding one's husband close.

"A year and some change together and I can still provide you with new experiences, my love."

[lightconductor]

It's easy to forget about dancing for a moment. Watson holds Johnny close, still chuckling softly in his throat.

"You've been doing that since I met you, and I'm grateful for every single one."