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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.))
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[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."

[lightconductor]

"Please. I already had to see you bartend through your own birthday. I cannot handle seeing a repeat of that for our wedding."

Watson laughs, rather helplessly. "I wonder if that shop with all the photographs would be obliging enough to provide a wedding portrait. And no, Stede is not allowed to plan. He can plan his own wedding, but not ours. And if ours is simply inviting everyone to join us in Hurikane with food carted over from the buffet, then that's plenty for me."

[pineapplesalmon]

César laughs, too, and agrees. "Absolutely not, you're not allowed. My phone's probably a decent enough for some wedding photos. And as funny as it would be to let Stede plan... no."

He hmms happily. "I'd be happy with something like that. Although we could go to John's... something blue, remember? And Rich could maybe bear the rings, despite his age. I don't think I'd trust anyone else with them."

[businessorlibation]

"Do you think that Fio would be interested in being a flower girl? I haven't really spoken to her, but she's absolutely adorable. And I like the idea of giving her the fun of that experience."

[lightconductor]

"Huh. Don't tell me people still follow that old rhyme for weddings." Watson chuckles. "Though where we'll get a sixpence for our shoes, I'm certain I don't know. There is a delightful aspect to going to John's though, just to make it extra confusing. John, Johnny, and César at John's."

He leans back, running a hand through his hair. "I did not think I would ever be looking at the promise of a second marriage, let alone one like this. Let alone one so elaborate as to have a flower girl."

[pineapplesalmon]

"I haven't really spoken to her, either, but I believe she'd love it and would be absolutely adorable." César shifts to lazily kiss Johnny's neck. "People still follow the old rhyme. Mm. Let's not make it too elaborate. But enough we're satisfied. John's does set the tone for it not being too serious, considering."

[businessorlibation]

"Once word gets out that we're planning the first wedding this ship may have ever seen, we may not have full say in how elaborate things are, love." He lifts his chin, exposing more of his neck to Cesar.

"Ah, my lovely fiancés...whatever shall we do in the meantime, to celebrate?"

[lightconductor]

Watson flushes a little, and gives a little laugh. He can't argue with the word "fiancé" but it's a surprise all the same. Still, it does make him feel very warm and fuzzy.

"I mean, I have several notions, ranging from a celebratory drink to several less layers of clothing, depending on your preference. Though I admit that at the moment I am very comfortable, indeed."

[pineapplesalmon]

Both warmth and confusion erupt at being called that, and it takes several seconds before César can form words. Very warm and fuzzy indeed, but absolutely confused.

"But I didn't propose yet?" He's not against celebrating or being called it, he's just stuck on the process in a silly way. "I only proposed proposing. ............................ wait, does that count as proposing, proposing?"

César, honey. Yes. Yes, it does.

[businessorlibation]

Johnny gives Watson a wry look, because he's apparently already on the same page.

"César, our heart, dear one. We're in the wedding planning stage. That comes to pass because someone has proposed that people get married to one another."

[lightconductor]

"As the only one of us who has been married and thus is an expert, yes, it was a proposal. A perfectly good one, if you ask me. I'm not sure what you think we're missing that would make it not a proposal."

His mouth twists. "Unless there is some aspect to your sense of modern proposals that I'm missing."