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

[decohere]

No? Space travel wasn't really an option for me at SHIELD, but it always seemed neat. SWORD does its own thing. Didn't have need for invisible assassins. [a small shrug. honestly she's not sure how long before the novelty even wore off, if she would have hated being isolated on a space station as much as the labs. it was probably more of a grass is greener thing. or lack of grass in this case.]

Oh. Hadn't considered that. Maybe I can even learn to make cheese too. The details really don't matter that much, it's just something to focus ahead. A future. [and for once she isn't fearful of how that might not even be possible for her, how curious.]

[astrogator]

Did SWORD do space travel? [It sounds like it, but some people get real prickly if she makes assumptions about the technology on their homeworlds.] I could've stayed on a planet. I was born on one! It didn't suit me to be stuck in one place too long, though.

[Ari smiles again.] People have to have hope for the future, and if yours involves a farm with goats and cheese - why the hell not? It might make you happy, and if it doesn't, you'll have the freedom to choose something else. That's what really matters.

[decohere]

Not quite advanced enough on my planet at my time to travel very far. [slightly embarrassed for her world...] But monitoring of extraterrestrial threats and improving planetary defense systems. Earth has been attacked a few times, and has drawn increasingly dangerous attention.

I've been informed by those later in the timeline that a purple alien came in and wiped out half of life, with just a snap of his fingers... That's. That's why I'm not too interested in going back to my world. I'm not sure what half I even belong to. There's no hope left in a world like that.

[astrogator]

I... I'm so very sorry.

[The words seem totally inadequate. She's taken aback by it all. She can't imagine losing half the people on her homeworld - on any world - in an instant. And from all she's heard, Earth's population is enormous. So many lives lost.]

Your people must have surrendered, after that. I couldn't fault them for it. [She assumes it was a war, because why else would this purple alien do something so horrendous?]

Anyway. You have so many reasons not to go back there. I love my home, that's no secret, but it doesn't mean I can't understand why others might want to avoid theirs. You'll find somewhere else. You and Citizen Smith- [she smiles. It's an easy segue; terrible future wars are not what anyone should be contemplating on their wedding day.] -or no, are you both Citizen Starr now?

[decohere]

I'm not really certain. What all happens after... I was told by somebody later in my timeline. But it made me realize that there's nothing I can do. Going back or not, that history is already written. So it frees me from worrying too much about it. Allows me to focus all my energy and dedication to the present situation. I can't make any difference there, but I can here. For me and Peter. And Fio. [and for the Captain too, but she knows better than to remind Ari where her loyalties lie. even if her trying to free the Captain from this trap should ultimately benefit her and the others as well.]

Agent Starr. [smile.] But I think traditionally the way you'd differentiate is Mr. and Mrs.

[astrogator]

[She nods.] That kind of trouble - it's too big for any one individual to change. You could devote all the resources you had to stopping it and still not get anywhere. I think you made the right decision, in trying to focus on your own future.

[She does smile at the mention of Fio.] Fio does deserve so much better. She and Sparkles. [Another child that Ari has a soft spot for, although Ava was wise not to mention the man that, to Ari's eyes, is their captor and responsible for the horrific torture of literally thousands of people. If she's not calling for his execution, it's only because his fate is irrelevant to her so long as she gets home.]

Earther titles always did confuse me a little. [Another small smile.] That's tradition, but if you prefer Agent Starr, that's what matters.

[decohere]

Yes. I hope it's adjusting well... I think that's why Fio is sneaking extra cake. [she finds it strange that Ari can sympathize so strongly with Sparkles, after holding them all hostage within the Labyrinth. but not the man it became as a result of that trauma. it reminds Ava of the unfortunate circumstances of most victims. the line that gets drawn. but she's glad somebody is willing to view Sparkles as more than just a monster.]

Hah. Honestly I don't prefer any titles at all. I had an alias, but here it's silly to use. But Agent is more accurate, when I have no actual citizenship.

[astrogator]

[It seems logical to her. She has sympathy for an abused child who lashed out, even if she was one of the people hurt badly in the process. None at all for a grown man who continues to imprison and torture innocent people. Tayrey's a victim here; she's not going to excuse her own abuser. People are executed on the Tradelines for far less.]

As she should! Sparkles seems fond of sweet things, and deserves them as much as any of us. [She had contributed to Fio's collection of sweets for Sparkles, even handing over a couple of prized cinnamon bars from home.] I want it to see how much is out there, beyond this place. The potential for something other than pain.

[decohere]

Eternity. That's what waits beyond the barrier. But there's nearly infinite realities out there. And with that comes nearly infinite possibilities.

[astrogator]

[Tayrey goes very still for a moment, gazing at a point somewhere just over Ava's shoulder. She's fighting for control. She's fighting herself, so she won't make a scene. Infinite possibilities, and Tayrey is trapped in a tiny cage and the man who did it to her was just right over there by the gift table.

For Ava's sake, she holds on.]

Eternity is infinity. Infinite time. [It's muttered, because doesn't that just raise other dark and terrible thoughts? She'd only wanted to say something nice and encouraging about Sparkles. Maybe there's nothing but pain and captivity, for Tayrey and Sparkles both. Eternally.] Infinite possibilities aren't much good if you can't reach-

[Tayrey stands suddenly.] Citizen Ava, please do excuse me, I need to... step out for a minute. [She's suddenly all smooth Cardalek manners.]

[decohere]

[there's a tinge of pity to her polite smile in response to Tayrey's dismissing herself. a shame a young woman otherwise bright and talented has such a debilitating weakness that prevents her from accomplishing the one thing she wants. but Ava's not willing to wallow in her own tendency of self-defeat, not allow somebody else's doubts and fears feed into her own. not when that only guarantees no solution. no future. she can't condemn Tayrey too harshly, she'll just have to prove to her otherwise. that one day all this progress will amount to something tangible.]

We will reach it. We're closer than anyone's been before. [Ava's not simply content the way those on the other side seem to perceive. she's highly motivated to find solutions. if she didn't see a viable path out, she'd have ripped into the fabric of reality long ago. but she has too many people she cares about to take the destructive route. only as a last resort, when everything else goes wrong.]

Take some water or juice with you? [she seems like she needs it.]

[astrogator]

[If Tayrey had the ability to tear down the fabric of reality and was choosing not to, she wouldn't feel half so trapped and helpless. It's not having any choices at all that's devastating. Not even the choice to end her suffering with death. She works so hard on her own solutions because it's the only thing she really has control over.

Ava's words do nothing but confuse her, because how are they close? Because some of them are suffering willingly? That's evidence of psychological damage as far as she's concerned. The ship is as much a prison as it always was.

Yet right now, in the grip of her trauma response, she's not capable of arguing, or even questioning what Ava's saying. Tayrey grabs a glass of water from the table. She doesn't think it's hers, and doesn't care.]

Thank you.

[And then she flees.]