[open] Wuko Wedding

[arclightning]

Who: Mako, Wu, and you!
What: GETTING MARRIED
When: February 20th
Where: The beach, through the city, at the Raccoon Room in Cellar Door.

Content Warnings: An inordinate amount of fluff, potentially event happenings.

The Wedding

It's not a normal wedding. There's no officiant, they're not standing up in front of a bunch of people to declare their love: this is a Trench wedding, based on Mako and Wu's shared traditions, inventing some new ones.

The ceremony itself is a procession, from the beach to the Raccoon Room. It starts with just the two of them, at a flower arch on the beach, their hands clasped together, each in a gold suit with red and green accents on the collar and as piping down the front. They walk together along a flower strewn path, talking quietly with one another, sharing small, nervous smiles.

If you are close to the couple, you recieved a red envelope, delivered either by raccoon or small dragon, a few days before the wedding, inviting you to the ceremony. The small crowd gathers outside the Raccoon Room, where the threshold is decked out in red roses. The couple stands in the doorway, saying their vows, and pressing a blood-and-ash covered hand to the other's cheek.

While the ceremony is private, the reception isn't. Invites have gone out to basically the entire city, via Wu's post, so it's a pretty public event. Maybe you're coming because you saw that post. Maybe you're coming because you're involved somehow, maybe you just see a flower-and-light-filled party and decide to drop in. Everyone is welcome. After all, this is Trench, and everyone could be dead tomorrow, so why not celebrate something good while you have the chance? Come in, dance to music from different worlds, eat cake and noodles and dumplings, celebrate a little moment of happiness while you can. The party's going all night, and the couple making their solemn, slightly-bloody vows to each other are only the excuse for it.

The Party

Naturally, since this is Mako and Wu's wedding, it's at the Raccoon Room, decked out even more grandly than it was for its opening. Roses adorn every surface and drop from the ceiling in strings, perfuming the air. Scattered between them are red-and-gold lanterns, casting a dim, inviting light onto velvet hangings. Lining the walls are tables full of food and drinks. Everyone can't fit into this little venue, so Wu has also set up a draping tent outside, full of burning braziers of coal to keep the chill away. The doors are wide open to let the music from inside out: it's just the party, continued! Renfri can be found behind the bar, dishing up custom drinks.

The Music

Chicken Choice Judy, or Ryan Akagi and Min-Gi Park, make their Trench debut on the stage of the Raccoon Room, playing an eclectic mix of original music, 80s hits, current pop, and classical piano music. They begin with a slowed-down version of Lil Nas X's Montero, ease into an upbeat version of That's What I Want, and things take off from there. Maybe give them requests? They might play some of your favorite dance songs! This is a party for everyone, after all. A big space in front of the stage has been cleared for dancing, and the music will be going all night.

The Couple

After the more private ceremony (with only close friends and loved ones, for Mako's peace of mind) Mako and Wu are as available as any couple at their wedding, which is to say, not terribly. With new dark handprints from the ceremony on their faces—really, more on their necks, because Wu wouldn't stand for a giant handprint ruining his look—they can be found chatting with friends, huddled together whispering, or dancing together. They'll try to mingle as much as they can, but they're in pretty high demand tonight!

((ooc: Make top-levels to your hearts' content, mingle, have a good time! This is a Trench party and it's open to everyone! Wuko image credit)) © tessisamess

Comments

ota + coldblood event things in effect

[siriusly]

[this shouldn't be as complicated as it is right now; how hard is it to be happy for best friends?! is it impossible to get out of one's head for a single second? it shouldn't be; he's certainly been able to do so before. and yet...the blood do be doing what the blood is doing.

he has a strained, scattered feeling to him at the ceremony, intermittently watching the couple. out here isn't actually as bad as it gets, since the cold air can offset whatever the hell is going on with him and his roiling insides. coming alone, a little uncertain of his placement, he'll mindfully sideline but unconsciously seethe - something manifested in the way he is, uh...steaming? just kinda emitting hot steam into the air.

whatever the hell's going on plays a bit more straight in the way it's affecting his omen, Magnet, who is very jumpy and agitated, apt to whining and growling at people who step a little too close - even flashing some teeth as a warning for nearby people or straight-up biting at Manabu's ankles when the man's getting too worked up without realizing it.

it eases up inside at the party, where there's enough distracting stimulus to keep Manabu's unconscious from gnawing too readily on his conscious. still, whatever the hell was going on out there's naturally going to follow him inside, and he's terribly remorseful and ashamed if he's already set a bad precedent for himself to other people Wu and Mako deemed worthy to have been there. not a good look, Yuuki! whatever's going on...stop it! just stop. behave. be good. be...whatever they need you to be right now.

so...what needs doing here. he can't just enjoy things, especially when he's stirred up like this. he needs a task. he'll, ah...

here, he'll take your empty plate or refill a drink, becoming a de facto busser or server just to keep moving, keep two steps ahead of himself, while his omen tries his best to keep abreast of whatever hazards could come with becoming so tunnel-visioned. so here's a maybe-warning bark from a dog before Manabu's near enough to interact.

what the hell is all this, really? he's clearly stressed, but the emotionally savvy can recognize distressed pining, and and you don't even have to be more specialized for that can tell he's not handling this with much experience or grace. the undercurrent of frustrated yearning that informs his unease is out of his reach, having not experienced it with such intensity before. this is the kind of romantic angst you get at 15 - that world-ending dismay of solitude that fits better at a teen dance than a friend's wedding. while it's beyond him, Manabu knows that whatever bee is in his bonnet is not okay, so he's forcing himself to power past it, desperate to not ruin things for his friends.]

the party

[droptheious]

[Varian is a coldblood himself, so he's experienced the strange unsettled need to be with someone this month. To have an intense closeness. Luckily for him, he's had Fern to ford those feelings with. It's made the pressure a lot easier to deal with.

He doesn't immediately catch on that it's that what's bothering Manabu as his plate is suddenly taken from his hands. He blinks, then follows after his friend- casting Magnet a worried look as he does so.]

Uh- Manabu? You- you okay?

[siriusly]

[this halts Manabu's near-mechanical effort to keep moving, double-blinking as he realizes who's talking to him.]

Oh-- Sorry, you weren't done? [the plate looks finished off, though! empty, even!! AS IF IT WASN'T EVEN USED, MANABU.

on the floor, Magnet whines, ears back, looking anxious.]

[droptheious]

I hadn't actually put any food on it yet, so in the context of have I done eating food yet?. the answer is no.

[Hmmm this isn't good.]

Are...you okay? You seem...really frazzled. And what are you doing cleaning up? Aren't you just a guest?

[siriusly]

[he grimaces.]

S-sorry, I was in the zone, I guess... [here, take the plate back. on the house.]

Mh? Oh, yeah. But I figure...it'll be less to worry about later, right? They should be having fun, not worrying about cleanup. [he shrugs.]

[droptheious]

That's one way to describe it.

[Thanks for the plate, he's going to treasure it for exactly as long a sit takes to put food on it and eat the food.]

I mean...yeah, but that can wait 'til the party's over, right? We can all pitch in then. Pretty sure they'd want you to be having fun.

[siriusly]

[quickly, almost cutting Varian off there:] It's fine! Really, it's fine! [he smiles weakly before starting to bustle off to drop what he already has in his arms to the kitchen, trailing off with:] I don't mind at all!

[Magnet lingers at Varian's feet, whining, ears drooping.]

[droptheious]

[Varian leans down to pet Magnet between the ears, exhales slowly, then follows.]

See- you say it's fine. [He slides into the kitchen behind Manabu.] But you're kinds acting in a...not-fine way? Just. An observation. Did something happen?

[siriusly]

Just a little, uh, under the weather, maybe? [Manabu drops off the plate stack and wipes his hands on his trousers, turning partway to shrug in Varian's direction.] I dunno, there's always something messing with us, right?

But I haven't run into any new creatures or anything, so... [so it's fine. it means it's something he can handle. or has to, even if he can't, because he cannot mess up right now; he's not important here.

no matter how biting the bitterness brewing inside may become.]

[droptheious]

...Yeah, I guess so. There's always something.

[He doesn't like this any, though. Something is clearly bothering Manabu - he's not right at all.]

Well, sometimes there's things here worse than creatures to deal with. And- and it's better to try and deal with them before they become a real problem and you become the creature. What are your symptoms? Maybe we can...figure something out.

[siriusly]

[his eyes wince at that. Varian's definitely speaking from experience...and it's not like Manabu's clean from those kinds of experiences himself! it slows him, keeps him from immediately bustling out of the kitchen.

he sighs, rubbing at the side of his face.]

Right... [the last thing that needs to happen is him going feral in the middle of a wedding!

maybe he shouldn't have come at all. that would've been awful, though! his best friends...]

I don't know, Varian. I just don't feel right. I've never been good with parties or...fun things. Not when I know there's something I should be doing besides. [he smiles grimly.] I haven't really...cut loose or been okay with that since I was your age. Before I got enlisted.

[priorities shift. goals become clearer. responsibilities, endless.]

[droptheious]

[He catches the change in Manabu's demeanour and feels a small pang of guilt. He knows it's important, though. Stopping and taking stock of just how bad things are before they get worse. So he listens, quietly, attentively, his arms folded loosely. ]

I know what you mean about the whole...not being great at parties thing. Honestly, if this hadn't been for Wu and Mako I probably would have avoided it.

[But that's not what's important here. He feels there's more to this than just a party, but he'll just...ease towards that. ]

Well, you can hang in the background. I'm pretty sure no one is expecting you to be in the spotlight. You can come lean against a wall with me and people watch if it's easier- you won't have to do anything.

[siriusly]

[Manabu flashes him a grimacing kind of smile, shaking his head as his focus moves back toward the main hall and all the people therein.]

No, I...I gotta do whatever'll...make them happiest. I owe it to them. And if I can't even do that, then what kind of friend am I, huh?

[a pretty crappy, fair-weather one, he thinks! and he doesn't want to be that. at all. the very suggestion makes him feel briefly too warm in his own skin before the chill returns and makes him shiver, exhaling a vapor that lingers a bit after-the-fact.] Especially after...all they've done for me.

[...]

But if I am gonna mess things up, then...leaving's better than making that mess. [he nods.] For sure.

[he glances back at Varian.]

So if you think I'm not up for it, then I...I better get a second opinion, huh.

[droptheious]

...I'm pretty sure you're a friend they think a lot of and wouldn't want you to run yourself ragged over some...perceived debt to them. Neither of them are like that, c'mon, you know that, right?

[Do NOT make him tattle to them, Manabu, hell do it!!!]

You won't be making a mess just by...hanging out. It's what they'd expect you to do. But we can go ask them if you like? They'd be the best second opinion, right?

[royalfling]

[ Wu catches Manabu's wrist as he's heading to the bar with those dirty dishes, a little frown on his face. ]

Buddy, I paid people to do that. You don't have to.

[ Although, who he is kidding, of course Manabu can't relax even for this! Even for a party. His eyes flick over Manabu's face, then he bursts into a grin. Zuko, who's decided to forgo her human for the night and tag along with Wu instead, flits behind Manabu and starts pushing him so he has to follow Wu ]

Buddy, do you dance?

[siriusly]

Uh, well-- [Manabu's face flushes, and it's not the first time tonight he recalls dancing with Ryunosuke.] I mean, I only--once, so I don't know much. No training, I mean.

[he shrugs apologetically and starts to move again to go deliver the plates, but the little dragon winds her tail around his head and force it to turn ratatouille-style back Wu's way.] Guh-!!

[royalfling]

[ Come with him, Manabu, it's time to dance! Yes, you're holding plates. No, Wu hasn't considered that you need to put those down ]

One time is more than no times. Come on, bud, this isn't the type of music you have to train to dance to.

[ Zuko trills in Manabu's ear as it to goad him to follow ]

You're going to do great! Just jump around and sing!

[siriusly]

Um--but--I should-- [THE PLATES, WU!!!! THE PLATES!

he awkwardly follows Wu, shoulders drawing up the closer he gets to other moving bodies - as much to avoid being touched or noticed as it is to avoid...dropping...plates. THE PLATES, WU!!!!!

he's definitely not going to be jumping or singing, so hopefully Wu's ready for a painfully uncomfortable Manabu Yuuki standing there and watching him while trying to not look as painfully uncomfortable he is, only exacerbating the painful discomfort by way of frizzier hair and an increased likelihood of static shocks from anyone getting too near him.]

[royalfling]

Manabu, put those down!

[ Okay he finally realizes that you're still holding them. He doesn't, however, offer to help and just steers Manabu to the nearest table. ]

Come on, buddy. Even you have to be able to let loose every once in a while! It's a wedding-- it's my wedding. Please? For me?

[siriusly]

[Manabu almost reluctantly does as he's told, losing his last reasonable excuse to not do this at all. there's a bit of steam vapor from under his collar despite the unending chill he feels, which is...weird and kind of unfair: if he's going to be embarrassed to the core, can he please feel a single temperature about it instead of being freezing while also flushed?

Wu delivers that nauseating guilt-based gutpunch that makes Manabu grimace, mouth opening and closing feebly before he brings up his hands in a helpless gesture.]

Wu, I--I don't know! I don't do this! It feels silly when it's me!

[royalfling]

Then, here! Let me show you!

[ Wu grabs Manabu's now-freed hands, pulling him onto the dance floor. Wu can feel that embarrassment, and he's determined to do his best to make Manabu feel more comfortable.

He starts to shimmer and shake and all around just dance like a fool because that's how Wu dances. There's a method to it, but it's no school of dance that's taught out there. Wu mostly taught himself, dancing along to the radio in his lonely room in the palace with no one to judge him, and no one to teach him. ]

I don't think you're silly at all! [ Because, frankly, can you be as silly as him? ]

[siriusly]

[two wolves are inside this Raccoon Room tonight: one wobbles and jerks around like nobody's watching, and the other definitely watches.

best he can offer at the moment is just making sure to move out of the way of both Wu and other people around, laughing feebly at particular poses struck.]

N-no way! I can't do that!

[royalfling]

Yes you can!

[ You're not getting out of this-- at least not quite yet. Wu grabs Manabu's hands or wrists, whatever he can, and pulls him in to dance with him. It might still be hard for him, but he may also feel some of the exuberance Wu's feeling, the complete lack of embarrassment. It's palpable in the air, and infectious to those around him. He's grinning and laughing and he just wants his buddy to have fun! Let loose, Manabu! ]

[siriusly]

[for Wu's sake and Wu's sake alone, Manabu moves. calling it dancing is generous, but maybe he gets a pass for the excruciating effort it takes to get out of his own head and principles for a minute or two? it helps that he's half-blind; less effort to duck away from the sight of others' eyes.

there's an undeniable echo of learning to dance with Ryunosuke - definitely heart-pounding in a different way and certainly easier to follow than the pace of the music playing now. steam follows Manabu wherever he moves, that outward conveyance of his discomfort and yearning he has little control over.

i should be glad he isn't here to see this, he tells himself, squeezing his eyes shut in the midst of being yanked in a turn. i shouldn't...be thinking of him at all, actually! stop it! stop!]

Gah-! Tss-!

[a little involuntary spark surges through his arms through his hands, prompting him to jerk free of Wu's grip and stagger back until he bumps into someone with a startle.]

Uh! Sorry! Be, berightback!

[he bows deeply to Wu really quick before whirling around and hurrying off the dance floor and toward the exit to go get some air. maybe stick his head in a snowbank. IT'S FINE HAVE FUN BUDDY SEE YA LATER.]

[royalfling]

[ Well that was

something.

Wu thought Manabu was getting into it! He thought that Manabu could enjoy this! But he realizes as Manabu runs away that he pushed too much, too far, and Manabu is steaming and sparking and that can't be good.

But for once Wu doesn't go after him. He just needs some space, maybe? He needs some time to himself. To not be in a mass of people.

Wu will have to make sure he's okay, but later. Later. For now, after Manabu disappears out of the door, Wu turns back to the throng of people, and gets his groove on ]