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 & 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.

[emorangerpink]

[The pair look up... and up. Of course, they've already met Devon, but Devon's here as the maid of honour, not... well, as a Secret Service agent. Laura's father clears his throat after realizing the moment's stretched long enough to become awkward.]

Charles Ericks. And my wife, Emily.

[He extends his hand, a little stiffly.]

In 3

[sexygodofscienceandwar]

Don't worry, the weirdness stops mattering after a while.

[Compounding the fear, here's that terrorist from a while back with the outrageous bomb threats that miraculously didn't kill anyone. Though he doesn't have an eyepatch or a scar anymore, and his hair isn't white.]

[He is accompanied by a small purple-haired girl in a fancy dress, who is herself drinking a martini.]

Name's Roads. I'm a friend of Lily's, mostly.

[emorangerpink]

[Well this person is much easier to deal with, especially since they don't recognize him out of costume. Mrs. Ericks does look oddly at Eibon, though, recognizing that the drink appears to be alcoholic and she appears to be quite short.]

Charles Ericks. My wife, Emily.

So you're the character witness for the one marrying my little girl, then?

[sexygodofscienceandwar]

I guess so? I mean, I don't know how good of a character witness I can be, seeing as-[He is cut off as the purple-haired girl elbows him sharply in the ribs.]

...why yes, yes I am! And don't worry. Lily's a space cop-she fights crime, stops pirates, protects the innocent, that sort of thing. The Angel Force people dress funny and are robots, but they're still a disciplined police force.

[emorangerpink]

[Emily continues to look suspicious. Charles appears too relieved to have someone to talk to who's relatively normal to notice anything.]

Disciplined, heh! That's not how she seemed when she visited before, but Laura says she's different on the job. Still, she seems to bring out something good in our daughter. I suppose that's what matters, isn't it?

But you'll know what that's like yourself, in a few years - worrying about your little girl's heart breaking. [He nods his chin at Eibon.]

[sexygodofscienceandwar]

Huh? What do you...


I'm not...

[The two pause, trying to figure out how to explain the whole situation.]

Uhhh, we're business partners. She's-
-Older than everyone else in the room, combined.
By orders of magnitude, no less.
I doubt you want to hear of my carnal trysts over the millennia-such tends to put modern humans on edge.

[emorangerpink]

Er yes, uhm, save that sort of thing for the reception! Ah ha ha!

[Charlie's looking understandably uncomfortable; for Emily this is apparently enough to goad her to ask -]

Haven't you been on television, or something?