5th Contraption || Just Another Day on Horror Cruise

[pineapplesalmon]

Who: César Salazar and YOU
When: Early September
Where: Around the ship (Calgona to Cabins, Atrium Lounge, Laundry to Cabins, Closed: 102)
What: César is Jinx's new canvas after falling asleep post workout, César says hello to CR in the atrium, César says hello while carrying laundry in a horrid basket, and a backdated morning after zombies for the Triad and Boy
Warnings: None but will add them to threads as needed

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Tagged, You're It [OTA, Walking between Calgona and the cabins]

César sometimes falls deeply asleep for a nap on one of the Calgona's massage tables post after-workout shower. Look, he can sleep on his face and stomach, can you blame him?

Nor can we blame Jinx for what she does when she finds him. A fresh white t-shirt and light gray lounge pants make an excellent blank canvas and a good way to deliver a hint that she's missed talking to him. By the time she's done, César's clothes are far more... colorful.

On the seat of his pants are two smileys that compliment the stars on either of his cheeks. Down the legs and arms of the shirt are more stars, zig-zags, and swirls. On the back of his shirt is a brightly colored:
JINXWASHERE
... someone should let him know as he walks back towards the cabins. Please?

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Say Hello [Established CR, Atrium Lounge]

The atrium lounge is a good place to run into others and stop himself from hermiting like he has in the last handful of months. When he spots someone he knows, César stops what he's doing on his tablet and stands, waving.

"Long time no sea!" The worst part about the pun isn't that it's not noticeable but that his player typed it by accident and died inside.

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What's in the Bag? [OTA (see options), Between Laundry and Cabins]

It's César's turn for Laundry Day. Which means he's carrying back neatly folded laundry in a fabric basket made from various Tommy Bahama Shirts with handles from a tote bag. This means that César's made an absolute monstrosity of a laundry basket. Yes, it was done on purpose. Yes, César thinks he's funny.

When he sees someone, he stops walking and smiles warmly.

A. If he knows that someone, he'll great them in a time of day appropriate greeting ("Morning!" "Afternoon!" "Evening!" "Hello!") and ask, whilst meaning it: "How are you today?"

B. If he doesn't know that someone, he'll still greet them appropriately ("Morning!" "Afternoon!" "Evening!" "Hello!") but change it up, instead asking: "Oh, are you new? I'm César Salazar. Are you settling in okay?"

((OOC: The image was done in Paint so liberties were taken as it was made from various Tommy Bahama Shirts.))
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The Morning After Zombie Apocalypse [CLOSED, Backdated, Rich, Johnny, Watson]

The triad dads could've lost Rich. They didn't, but it could've easily gone another way. So all four of them are crammed together into one bedroom, the bed (with Watson and Johnny) and the couch bed (with César and Rich) shoved alongside each other.

César startles awake when Rich kicks him in his sleep sometime in the late morning hours. "Mmmfph?"

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Message Received [Closed to Jinx]

César seeks Jinx out once he's gotten a new t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He knows where she lives, so he'll walk right into the theatre and call out:

"I got your message!"

Comments

[businessorlibation]

"Hey. It's a pretty decent existence, for what it is. We have one another. We have Rich. We have people surrounding us who are our community. Yeah, the captain's an asshole and the faceless dame is a nightmare."

Johnny takes a deep breath. "This is going to sound awful on some level, but I'm a little bit relieved, knowing that I don't need to pine for Mimley; he has a me, one who will love and support him back in Gallery."

[lightconductor]

"So, we're just... copies? Is that what you're saying?"

He can only imagine this other John Watson, miserable and alone in London, of Holmes who he knows will come back, and the certainty in his heart that no matter what terrible explanation there would be, there is only forgiveness in John Watson's heart. Still, he thought he'd have to face that himself.

"No, I mean -- it's not awful. We have been making ourselves a home, a family, but... are we not even real?" The pitch of Watson's voice raises a little, incredulous. "There's no hope of ever escaping this hell?"

[pineapplesalmon]

"We're real versions of ourselves." It's firm and full of conviction, the worry suddenly wiped away.

César sits up quickly and lets go of Johnny's cheek to cup Watson's face with both hands. "We're real. And Johnny's right."

Then to prove it, he leans down to kiss Watson passionately.

[businessorlibation]

There's a smugness written on Johnny's face as he watches that kiss.

"So far as we've been able to determine after this long on the ship, we're real selves. I see no reason to assume that's changed at all. Even if it were to not be true, it's not a thing that can be perceived. What was it that St. René said? Cogito ergo sum--our capacity to recognize our existence is proof of said existence."

[lightconductor]

The kiss is soothing, at least, and does something for the rising sense of hysteria he's struggling with. Watson breaks from it, his breathing a little more even.

"Saint René?" he says, a little wryly, but he takes a deep breath, and curls himself around Johnny a little. It's self-soothing. "All right, point taken, but that's a hell of a thing to think of. There isn't... anything else but this, then? How long has this bit of gossip been going aound?"

[pineapplesalmon]

Johnny's good for that. And kisses are good for that, too. Watson's not the only one needing the comfort of a kiss.

Saint René? Huh.

"I needed time to process before I told you... the beginning of August for me. Six found out." César moves in close to Johnny as well, reaching up to stroke Watson's cheek. "There's other places we can escape to... we know it's possible."

[businessorlibation]

"Saint René of Descartes--don't tell me he didn't exist in your world. I'll lose the chance to make all historical references." He settles against his boys as he's curled around, closing his eyes.

"Crabb told me a couple weeks ago."

[lightconductor]

"I'm familiar with Descartes, though I've never heard him referred to as a saint. You must be having me on, surely."

Watson shuts his eyes for a moment, trying to think his way through this. "So I am the last to know," he says, without serious complaint. Such is his life. "Though, one or two things Jinx told me... yes, I suppose that makes sense, if that's confirmed. Good Christ."

A beat.

"If we escape, we escape together. And Rich, at the very least, comes with us."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Saint's new." César agrees with Watson.

He smooths his hand over Watson's hair, soft and nearly still. "Not on purpose." They hadn't meant to keep it from him like that, and it must be said, even if they all know. "All four of us, at the least."

Johnny and Watson are warm. "We're all real. The love I feel for you both and Rich is real."

[businessorlibation]

"What? He wasn't canonized? What sort of..." He can't quite work through all the implications, yet. But in this moment, that's not important.

"In any case, forgive me for my anxious spirit, but any escape we make needs to be well vetted. We need to be certain we're not leaving the frying pan for the fire."

[lightconductor]

"Believe me, I may not be up on my Catholic saints, but I do know that much."

He sighs, trying to bury it in Johnny's shoulder. "You're very right. We can't take the risk of falling into something.... worse, I suppose. No, I wouldn't do that with either of you. I love you too much for that. My God, I realised that when I saw Smith prepare to sail off into who knows what. You both seem to be rather stuck with me."

[pineapplesalmon]

César settles his cheek against Johnny's other shoulder, continuing to stroke Watson's hair. It's interesting, that little difference in their Earths. But it's not as important as the two people in front of him or Rich.

"You're right, as you usually are. We will only have one chance at life out there. No do overs. I'd need a place with people and technology, in addition."

He hmms, a sequence of thoughts going through his mind. "We are stuck with each other, aren't we? We're talking about running off somewhere together for the rest of our lives." The tone in his voice has shifted, as the topic in his mind has shifted; they're too sleepy to properly plan right now, and the moment is too sweet.

César leans forward to kiss Watson's hair, Johnny's heartbeat faint in his ear, letting out a obviously fake, tired sigh, his voice light-hearted afterwards. "I suppose I should figure out how to make us some rings, then. Just need to source the right materials...."

Then, even more cheerfully. "And since I'd be the one making them, I suppose the responsibility to propose with them falls on me."

Johnny was right!

[businessorlibation]

Johnny's expression is more smug than surprised. "Do me a favor, César? Dresser behind you, top drawer, grab the white thing on the lefthand side. Careful, it's delicate."

Because this seems like the opportunity to show his bridal wreath off. Out of order? Yes. A little on the femme side? Absolutely. And yet, he's kinda delighted by it and absolutely will wear it with his white tux to get married.

[lightconductor]

Johnny might not be surprised, but Watson certainly is. There's a moment where his initial reaction is to laugh, because surely that's a joke, and then he stops himself when he remembers that, oh yes, gay marriage is a thing.

"What, all three of us? However does that work?"

[pineapplesalmon]

In response to that smug look, César rolls his eyes with a smile. Which is followed by a genuine look of confusion. But he does get up, crawling to the end of the bed as Watson's laughter transitions to a question.

"We have no laws here that say we can't." César opens the door and tilts his head at the thing that has to be it. "And a pirate captain that would be more than eager to officiate. We're husbands in every other way already. And we should set a good example for Rich and get married! The poor boy has fathers out of wedlock."

César gently picks up the wreath made so obviously for Johnny's head and carefully carries it over, using his hip to shut the drawer as he walks back.

He feels breathless as he slowly kneels back on the bed. "Oh, Johnny, it's beautiful...."

[businessorlibation]

Johnny shoots Watson a sidelong look, knowing he'll understand the significance of an orange blossom wreath, and bursts into a gentle fit of giggles. Because yes, he is so chaste and pure. Just like Queen Victoria.

"I know, I know, but it is beautiful, and I am absolutely wearing it to my wedding, masculinity and symbolism be damned completely."

He leans in toward César, wordlessly asking for him to put the wreath on him.

"That said, the example we set for Rich that's most important is love. The wedding is for us, that's where my head is at. I mean, the party will be for everyone. That's going to be a headache and a half to plan."

[lightconductor]

"Are those--"

Watson begins to laugh out loud, because he does know perfectly well that particular bit of floral symbolism. "It's lovely. Not exactly what I would have thought, but if you don't mind it... well, I shall stick with green carnations, I think."

The idea of a party for the whole ship, though... well. That's almost embarrassing. Just a little.

"I suppose living in sin is not the best example, but -- goodness. I can't imagine what people will say. Any excuse for a party on this ship, I'm sure, but..."

[pineapplesalmon]

César looks between them with amusement and bemusement both as they share a moment. He lets out a false sigh and places the wreath onto Johnny's head, settling down next to him after.

"It's quite lovely on you, although I have no idea what it means." Please tell him, someone?? "Honestly, most should be excited, I would think. .... Peter Smith told me you thought I would propose first when he asked, and if he can come around so quickly...."

He shrugs, smiling wide.

[businessorlibation]

"Orange blossoms are a symbol of chastity. Queen Victoria wore a wreath like this instead of a tiara at her wedding. Also, I gave Smith a very specific reason I wouldn't be the first to propose."

He grins playfully, settling back in against Watson and gesturing for César to pile in.

[lightconductor]

"I mean, if you want to pretend chastity at your own wedding, who am I to argue?
After all this time, I'm not sure who will believe it, but we all have our polite fictions."

Watson shifts around Johnny, sliding an arm around his waist. "Do tell. I had no idea marriage was so much on your minds, much less that you were discussing it with Smith, of all people."

[pineapplesalmon]

The long and loud snort that erupts out of César at the idea of any of them being chaste is more than worth the wait. He settles right back in with the other two, one arm behind Johnny's back, the other hand resting on Watson's hip. It feels so right.

"I think they'll look beautiful with your suit." César's sigh this time is happy. "I said 'Never Had I Ever Proposed' to test the waters, John. And then you missed the hint and people encouraged me instead."

A beat, and César gives a little laugh. And then he explained what furries were. But he's just barely able to resist making the conversation tangent off about that.

[businessorlibation]

“Wedding planning is hard work. I hosted quite a few at the Margravine Club, and dealt with fights over guest lists and flowers and meals served. I wasn’t looking forward to such stress in our lives. But here we are.”

His hand settles on César’s knee lightly.

“I’m also slightly miffed that Smith told on me. Though we were both damned well drunk by that point.”

[lightconductor]

"All right, all right, it all went quite over my head, I admit to that."

This is a lot to take in, the shift from existential terror to wait am I engaged now. It would be more terrifying, perhaps, but he's done this part before.

"... I suppose it was for the best that neither Mary nor I had much in the way of family or friends. Not much of a wedding, perhaps, but it suited us. Good heavens, we really aren't going to be able to escape having a ship-wide party, are we? I'm really not much for excessive pomp and circumstance, you know."

[pineapplesalmon]

Oh, the loving touch on his knee....

"I'm glad we three are agreed the wedding planning's the worst part. And no, I don't think we'll be able to escape a proper wedding. Elopement is off the table for us." César laughs. "I don't need a super fancy wedding. All I need is a nice one."

A beat. "At least we can just go to the buffet after....?"

[businessorlibation]

"...you're not going to let me bartend my own wedding, are you?" He pouts at the boys playfully, but there's no actual ire underneath it. Right now, none of this is actual real planing, just fantasizing.

"We could leave much of the work in Stede's hands, but that would give us a Stede style wedding in the end."