vdistinctive | At the docks, then out to sea, Sunday

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At the docks, then out to sea, Sunday

The colors from the previous days were still holding, if maybe slightly more muted, Fandom's magic slowly fading but still managing to hang on for another day.

Seemed like a good omen as any for a wedding that Eliot still couldn't quite believe was happening.

Eliot's boat wasn't big enough for all their guests so they had "rented" (long story) a well-appointed yacht for the day. It was docked in the Port of Fandom, waiting for all the guests to board. Once the last person had crossed the gangplank, it sailed almost to the edge of the island, where blue water lapped with gray. Eliot's boat was already there, anchor down, Hardison in a tux, playing around with a sound system.

A few minutes to futz with mics and the speakers set up discreetly around the yacht came to life. "Testin'...Testin'..." Hardison murmured. Good. Everybody would be able to hear the ceremony on the second ship.

Looks like it was time to begin.

[TIME FOR A WEDDING! If you think you were invited, you were. Some OCD coming]

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Time for everybody to take their places, some with a less traditional entrance than others.

Once Hardison had finished fussing with the speakers, it was pretty much time to begin. He took his place in front of Pastor Carter, where the three of them could stand in a triangle, each of them next to the other.

This was happening, it was really happening!

Raven was wearing a human disguise ~~despite her icon~~ for the sake of the handful of non-Fandom guests, and taking full advantage of the occasion to mimic an oceanic blue dress.

She reached over to brush imaginary dust from Hardison's shoulders and make sure his jacket hung right (it did, the thing was beautifully tailored), and give him a little squeeze and cheer. "Congratulations, Teach."

"Thanks for comin' back for this," he said, glancing backwards to give Raven a bright grin. "Wouldn't have felt right without you."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Just . . . don't be offended if Misfit and I end up ditching out early." She looked up at the other boat, offering her plus one a little wave. "They get twitchy if they have to be around people too long."

As did Raven.

"TA, so long as you're here long enough to see us get this done, it's plenty of time for me," Hardison said, giving her a soft smile. "Everythin' after that is just gravy."

"Well. I'll at least make them stick around long enough for me to say hi to Nana," she said. "And . . . maybe one toast."

Hardison laughed. "Nana will be happy to say hello," he said. "An' I won't be mad if y'all run off with a few bottles of champagne an' a doggy-bag. We got all this food, you might as well enjoy it."

Kathy, wearing a severely tailored suit, stood behind Eliot, her face wreathed with smiles. After a frantic morning of making sure everything was ready and as close to perfect as humanly possible, it was nice just to stand here and get to watch them make their vows.

Eliot twisted a little to flash her a grin over his shoulder. Of all the various things he imagined feeling at this moment (once he'd gotten around to imagining it at all), he hadn't predicted feeling so downright giddy.

It was a gorgeous day on the water, hot and breezy, and his people were all here, safe and happy around him. And were going to be for the rest of his life.

"You know you're about to pick up a step-dad and -mom in one go?"

"Okay but the first time Hardison tries to ground me, I'm throwing such a temper tantrum," Kathy said. Parker hadn't shown up yet, so she felt safe darting forward and giving him a quick hug from behind. "So happy for you, Dad."

Eliot laughed and gave her arms a firm squeeze in return. "Thanks, kiddo. Hardly believe it's even happening."

How the hell did he even get this lucky?

"You deserve it," she said. "This and all the love and happiness in the whole world."

"You know what's funny?" Eliot asked. "I even kinda believe that."

He had come a long way, the last few years.

Re: The Processional

spin_kick_snap - 2019-06-30 19:11 (UTC) - Expand

From the top level of the yacht, Parker swung/jumped down, work clothes looking good, and took her place next to the guys, expression gleeful. "You look so great," she hissed to the guys, as she un-hooked herself from her gear.

White to a wedding, pfft. She was wearing who she was, a thief, and marrying her guys! Of course she'd want to be comfortable! ... also she would've been giggle-snorting if she'd been wearing one of those silly wedding dresses. This was a Serious Day, c'mon.

And it was all she could do not to hug Eliot, kiss Hardison, or the other way around, because look! Everyone, look at them!

"Hey mama," Hardison said, giving her a long once-over. Did he mind she wasn't in a dress? Hell no. She was in the outfit that made her happiest. "Lookin' good. You think it's time to get this thing started?"

Parker bumped his shoulder, because it wasn't time for The Kissing yet, and beamed at him. She just couldn't stop smiling. It was that kinda day.

"Time! Exactly on time." She waved to the people in the crowd, then leaned into Hardison. "You look like a President. Way better than a President. Everything's ready, right?"

She waved to Pastor Carter too. She was just in that kind of mood.

"Everythin's ready," Hardison confirmed. "TA an' Kathy were on the ball, pitchin' in with the last-minute prep an' now all we gotta do is get through all the official stuff."

He looked at Parker, all love and admiration on his face. "You are so beautiful," he said. "I 'member thinkin' that the first day I met you an' ain't nothin' changed 'bout that."

Parker thought back to that night, breaking into the building for Dubenich. "I thought you were interesting. And back then, I didn't think people were interesting. At all." She smiled at him, warm and happy. "And funny. And I'm so, so glad that you--" She was not going to tear up! Today was a happy day! "Were patient with me. And stuck with me. Even though I made it really hard for you, sometimes."

"It was never all that hard," Hardison promised, skimming his lips over her knuckles. "Cause you were always, always worth it. All that was was practice for the rest of our lives, you know?"

Re: The Processional

whoisalicewhite - 2019-06-30 20:11 (UTC) - Expand

Re: The Processional

geniuswithasmartphone - 2019-06-30 20:20 (UTC) - Expand

"Darlin'," Eliot greeted, shifting his weight to bump shoulders with her. "You make a hell of a bride."

"You make an amazing groom. Bridegroom. You're the bridegroom, Hardison's the groom," Parker decided, and then leaned against him, feeling lit up and buzzed. "And it's even better because you don't have a white horse or anything." She looked around the yacht, and sighed happily. "This is perfect."

"Ain't sure there's that much of a distinction between the two," Eliot said, but otherwise didn't argue.

Now he kind of wished he'd gotten to ride in on a horse, though.

"Anything would be perfect," he said instead. "So long as it's the three of us."

"Why didn't we do this forever ago?" Parker wondered out loud. She bumped Hardison's shoulder, then Eliot's, then tried to stand up straight and look serious. It was totally ruined by her smile.

"Mostly because I'm a fool."