Phase Twenty-One: Your Standard Fairy Tale Happy Ending

[emorangerpink]

[The world has been saved, hopefully for the last time in a long time. The celebrations - and the mourning - have started, and in a lot of places are still continuing. But the victory isn't the only thing to celebrate - and with a lot of help, and a lot of favours, Laura and Lily have extended an invitation to the Chalice crew, past and present, to join them. If you were nearby, chances are the invitation was hand-delivered by a dutiful Servbot.]

1. The setup
[With the looming deadline of the closing portals, things move quickly! Invitations are sent, travel is arranged, a venue is prepared. What had been the White Chalice's Arboretum - now an open-air grove in what's set to become a lush forest - is the site of the ceremony itself, while the celebrations afterwards will take place in Gucun. There's a lot to be done to make ready. Are you helping, or seeking out one of the brides beforehand?]

2. The ceremony
[It's only fitting that Captain Smith should officiate. He's waiting at an arch set up by the flowerbeds of the Arboretum, where the happy couple met, where Laura's tended her memorial to her friends from before the Chalice and to those who've passed on since. Between the Kwan daughters, Epimetheus, and a brace of Servbots you shouldn't have any trouble finding your seat, even if Xue Yi is a little preoccupied ensuring Prometheus behaves. There's some time before the wedding party arrive, to talk amongst yourselves - or with some of the other guests present, who include Laura's overwhelmed-looking parents!]

3. The reception
[Of course, the real point of a wedding is the party afterwards! There's food, drink, and music - Miki pulled some strings, and Pit's showing how Skyworld does catering. After the recent battle, perhaps this is a chance to see some long-absent faces in more peaceful circumstances, or to say goodbye. Or are you just here for the embarrassing speeches?]

[This is a joint mingle post, open to dropped and retired characters as well! For all prompts, please specify whether it's Laura/Lily you want to talk reply, or others!]

Comments

2

[goddess_duet]

[As a note, the entire area is filled with beautiful flowers and shining sunlight. Which is rather out of season for February.

Viridi is of course not there. She has had nothing to do with this, obviously.]

[emorangerpink]

[Obviously, Laura isn't so foolish as to think she does, or to appreciate it.]

3

[can_not_fly]

[And if anyone pokes their head near the kitchen, they'll hear Pit's voice shouting commands as he all but dances all through the kitchen like a pro chef, tasting this, pointing that, the very model of butlery - and clearly cowing the snooty cooks through sheer command]

Pierre, get the meat, it should be already done! Jacques, I said only a pinch of pepper, I'm smelling that from here! How are the desserts coming up?[He suddenly turns and throws a knife - which stabs a lobster that was trying to run free straight to the ground] Hey, you! No running away! With all these people we're going to need every bite!

[If cooking is a battlefield, then Pit is apparently Hannibal]

[not_the_deer]

I didn't know you could be such a taskmaster, Pit.

[Tobia's just here to steal a few snacks. They taste better when taken directly from the kitchen!]

1

[nietzsche_waifu]

Everything is going on according to schedule.

[Look, an opportunity for Devon to wear traditional Gucunese attire. She's standing next to a wall and looking around the chaos around her with mild disinterest, and an overall sense of calmness and slight amusement.]

This is not unfamiliar, is it.

[emorangerpink]

Something's going to go wrong. Being on schedule just means it'll go wrong on time.

[It's not hard to guess at one source of Devon's amusement. Laura's pacing like it's a competitive sport, and from the way she's turning her engagement ring around and around her finger in a nervous tic, it seems plausible she's spent so long around Cosmic Ark people that she thinks the digit will detach if she unscrews it correctly.

At least her hair's already done, so Devon's spared that task.]

2 & 3 - Meet the parents

[emorangerpink]

[Two of the guests stand out by virtue of looking almost painfully ordinary among this company - and of being seated at the front during the ceremony, and at the main table at the reception. Laura's parents are a type specimen of the Britannian lower middle class, looking simultaneously proud, confused, awed, and a little frightened. They're trying not to stare at some of the more... conspicuous guests.

Bother?]

In 2, before everything starts

[chozo_girl]

[And here is something to add a bit to the frightening. Samus had the delicacy to not come to the party in her fighting suit. However, the sight of her in a suit and tie, sharp as a knife, somehow is not at all any more comforting - Laura's paents may well believe their daughter is friends with a hitman! The tall hunter approaches calmly.]

It is a pleasure to meet Laura's parents. [No, Samus is not asking if they are. She's not given to useless questions] Do not be alarmed by the other guests. You have never been in a safer place in your lives.

3 - any

[stardreadnought]

It's been too long.

It has.

[For once, Nanoha can forget about reports and other duties; she and Raising Heart are watching over the party and enjoying it.

Even the TSAB knows when people need a break, and following the destruction of Primeval Force, the situation in dimensional space had returned to normal. She's still keeping an eye out for transmissions from Mid and the deep space HQ, but other than that, it's a vacation.

More importantly, an event like this is the true celebration after a conflict's end- something that really gives one the feeling of a job well done.]

It looks like we can all rest a little easier from now on.

[deus_ex_elder_god]

You have no idea.

[Nanoha, there's a weird man in a suit standing next to you.]

1 (Laura)

[the_awakened_idol]

Sorry I took so long, it took a while for us to get through all of the weddings stores.

[Dress after dress is brought into Laura's preparation room. Miki spared no expenses here.]

[emorangerpink]

Oh my god...

These are all - how can I possibly choose?!

[...Miki's generosity may have backfired slightly. Laura looks alarmed.]

[kamogawa_maru]

[It might come as a surprise to some people but Madoka cleans up rather well.

Unfortunately she's doing a rather good job at ruining her own image by going at the food like a beast.]

This is all so good.

[emorangerpink]

Pit outdid himself. And Miki's help with the caterers didn't hurt.

[Laura also cleans up nicely! This is less of a surprise, though, especially considering the occasion.]

3 Laura

[gudbye_despair]

Congratulation, Miss Laura! Oh, what a beautiful day. If only white chalice is still here to see it.

[emorangerpink]

That's part of why we had the ceremony where we did. A sense of continuity...

We owe a lot to that ship, and the people it brought together.

3 both/either

[hobo_lantern]

Congratulations, Laura, Lily! Have you opened my gift?

[emorangerpink]

Thank you, Herb!

Your gift? Hmmm...

[They're stored nearby - a Servbot fetches Herb's.]

Why, it's...

[don't be a fertility totem don't be a fertility totem]

2 - it starts!

[mecha_eihwaz]

[Here comes the bride! Well, one of them at least. Lily went with the traditional fairytale bride look - big, pure white poofy gown, long veil, twin buns instead of her usual twintails, big bouquet of flowers in her hand. But it's a Cosmic Ark bride, so a few parts of the dress consist of blocky metal plates, and the overall composition is in harmony with the mechanical parts of her body. Are some of those flowers actually made from metal too? Are they Cosmic Ark ones?]

Ahh... So many people have gathered... And everyone's eyes really are on us this time...

[emorangerpink]

Can you blame them? I can't take my eyes off you.

[Laura's father, looking like he might explode with pride, escorts her to Lily's side. Her own look isn't far off, though without any metal plates - a modestly poofy skirt, vine-embroidered bodice, and white lace over her shoulders. Her hair is braided up with flowers, a few strands left curling down to frame her neck. The flowers in her bouquet - matching those in her hair - are all organic, it would seem.

She doesn't offer Lily her arm or take her hand - they're waiting until they're coming back down the aisle. It's quite an effort of will to resist.

Nuan Chun's waiting, expectant, to precede them down the aisle with her basket of petals.]

...Shall we?

3

[space_macgyver]

It felt like Laura's been my student at engineering just yesterday. Look at her now.

I'm proud.

[Lowe's nursing a non-alcoholic drink in his hands while sitting a bit to the side and just enjoying the reception. His friends from Junk Guild are there too - Kisato won't stop crying, being a sucker for emotional things.]

2)

[clumsy_moe_appeal]

[There's a gigantic rumble. Close by the ceremony was the gigantic drumcan menace that was the Type-28 Destroyer robot, and West was standing atop it with his guitar raised. One wonders what the hell he could even be thinking by doing this, to ruin such a day. Then you notice things. He hasn't yelled his name, or let loose with his signature riff... furthermore. Both he and the massive drumcan mecha were decked out in spiffing tuxedos!]

...

[Then he begins to play his guitar, speakers do their work to ensure he's heard. And the cannons across the Super West Type-28 Love Shines Brightly in The Sky from the West that were raised at angles begun to fire as the cannons spun - filling the sky with a shimmering cascade of fireworks of undeniable beauty! A single tear slides down his face.]

[No words needed to be said. This love that bloomed truly and beautifully was to be given the very highest of regards, especially by a man as brilliant and benevolent as himself. He could not help but give his greatest blessing in his own special way.]

[emorangerpink]

Oh god, it's finally happening. It was bound to be something, and Laura almost feels relief at knowing at last what it is. The world will finally find out whether Shifter healing can cope with a stomach turning to ice, a heart clenching and lodging in the throat, and a head exploding, all at once.]

...nghrghlgh...

[...And then it doesn't. Something else happens. Laura miraculously doesn't die of apoplexy right at the altar.

...She's actually going to have to hug Doctor West. This truly is a day of miracles.]

3 (To Laura)

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew, for this occassion, has dressed up in his spiffiest Jade Falcon/Gurren Brigade attire: full dress uniform with actual sleeves, an ornate belt buckle...

...and a bright red sash, a belt strung with many little bell, and a fabulous emerald cape woven from green feathers!

"So, Techwarrior Ericks!" He calls out in greeting, approaching the newlywed one. "Do you feel different from before?"

[emorangerpink]

You know, Mechwarrior Matthew... I do.

I'm not sure how much of it is pure, overwhelming love, and pride at being the new Mrs. Lily Rain... and how much is shock that everything went right despite how nervous I was.

If I don't pass out in the next half hour, then it's probably the first thing.

3

[chozo_girl]

[During the reception, Samus approaches the two lovebirds, calm as ever. The suit only makes her seem even more serious than usual, though]

Laura.

[mecha_eihwaz]

Ah, Samus, hello! I never expected to see you dressed like that.

3

[a_human_work]

[During the reception Michelle was hanging around a bit off to the side, looking slightly awkward and like she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. It seemed like her drink, a beer she'd somehow scrounged up at the reception, was helping her distract herself, at least.]

[saikyocivrobo]

Now that's a face I haven't seen in a long time.

[A Werter approaches from the shadows. He's not much for the thick of the crowd either.]

3 (to both)

[curse_u_reflexes]

[Well they'd finally done it. And Julia's looking very, very happy for obvious reasons.]

You two... just for this I'm so glad you guys came back. Seeing you two finally take that last step...

[Hell yeah, alien/human lesbian marriages.]

[emorangerpink]

Hey, I'm hoping this is a first step!

3 any

[the_awakened_idol]

[After all of that work Miki collapses onto a table, she hadn't worked herself this hard in a while but none the less she couldn't help but feel great about how everything turned out.]

What a week.

[saikyocivrobo]

[Suddenly something pats your shoulder, Miki.]

Well well, look who's working hard while I'm slacking off. Way to make me feel like a lazy bum.

Care for a drink? The catering is French, so they have really good champagne.

3 any

[rushing_wings]

[Later into the night Ichitaka finds a moment look over everything and stand in awe of how perfectly everything turned out considering how rushed it all was.]

Everyone really outdid themselves this time.

[The scorched bird lays down in the grass of the Arboretum like he used to, now he could also see the night sky above.]

3

[wardeninexile]

Ranna is there, wearing the full dress regalia of Clan Wolf's formal uniform (minus the furs) with a few of the other warriors who has been on the Chalice the longest with her.

She sips from her glass, before catching sight of Laura and smiles warmly.

"Congratulations. It seems everything went well, quiaff?"

[emorangerpink]

Somehow. I have a lot of people to thank for that - it all went by in a bit of a blur, for me.

Thank you for coming, Star Colonel.

2 - after the vows...

[emorangerpink]

[...comes the bouquet! Two of them, though Laura's going first. In lieu of segregating by gender, everyone gets two rolls of the dice.

Keeping her back to the crowd so she can't see where people are lining up, she closes her eyes, counts down, and throws! It's open season - except for Prometheus, who is both in an armlock and being literally sat on, because Xue Yi is a pragmatic young girl who takes no chances. Who will survive?]

PLAN: Every attempt to seize it gets more and more insane

[bakaribbon]

Ah!

[Haruka leaps!]

3-any

[bakaribbon]

[One of the performers is taking a break.]

Ah...This is really neat, you know!

3-Lily or others

[infinite_prince]

[Looking a bit out of place, here's Charl! She's managed to round up a pretty nice blue dress for herself.]

...A lot of stuff's happened since I left, huh...

[mecha_eihwaz]

Oh, hello! I'm happy to see you again! That's a nice dress.

Quite a lot of stuff, yes. You probably heard about some of them on the news.

3, Lily/Laura-This will probably be more funny than roads talking to parents

[gift_of_magus]

I wish you good luck, and hope my gift aids you in the future.

[And Eibon thrusts forward a tiny wrapped box.]

[mecha_eihwaz]

Thank you, Eibon. What could this be?

[Examine, examine.]

3

[paladin_robot]

[And in amongst the crowd, looking quite tired, and having just rushed in with two large boxes under his arms... is Richard.]

Ha... Ha... Dammit, I overslept!

[And the distress in his voice is pretty clear... he may have... sorta... missed the main event?]

Where's the bride and groom?!

[armored_team]

Richard... you look like you're about to collapse.

[Scythe put a hand on Richard's shoulder before taking one of the boxes.]

Just sit down for a while and have a drink or two, it'll be fine. Its not the first time you've been late for something.

[The Australian Sniper let out a teasing chuckle and nudged him. She's looking pretty good in that dress she's wearing, one of the ones he got her possibly? Whatever the case, the sniper who preferred to be out of sight was looking quite eyecatching now.]