"It goes this way."
"It does not."
"I'm telling you, I wore one of these at prom."
"So did I."
"Yours was backwards, then."
"And you didn't tell at the ti?"
"I didn't notice."
"Look, just call up a video on how to wear this. Or wait...Petra?"
"Yes, Nick?"
"Do you know whether the cumrbund goes this way or not?"
"No, Nick."
Nick paused. "Can you find out?"
"Yes, Nick."
"Okay, so does it go this way or not?"
"I don't know, Nick."
Nick stopped and glared at the ceiling. "Petra, are you trying to be funny?"
"...No?"
Nick and Brian stared at each other a mont. His best man was in a tuxedo already, and Nick was taking longer because he was nervous. Petra was a welco distraction, actually. What stage is she at here? Did she truly not understand that I wanted her to find out? Did she understand but was playing a joke on and is lying about it? I doubt she's doing it on purpose to distract , that would be pretty advanced.
"Petra, please look up which way a cumrbund goes on, and tell what you find out."
"Okay. The cumrbund goes with the pleats up."
Nick frowned, still confused. "Which way are my pleats right now?"
"What's a pleat?"
Nick narrowed his eyes. "Petra, you have a dictionary."
"Yes, Nick. It is very important."
Pause.
"Was I funny?"
Brian started laughing quietly.
"Brian is laughing. Was I funny?"
"It will be funnier if you give a straight answer."
"The description is that the cumrbund will catch crumbs when worn correctly. Does that help?"
"Yes, actually. It does." Brian had it right. I was the dumbass again.
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"So, was I funny?"
Nick sighed. "Yes, Petra. Good girl." The UMP was still very hit-or-miss with her attempts at humor. She complained that she didn't 'get' it, but she tried to emulate it anyway.
Brian took a breath. "Petra, when sothing important is happening, like today, it is better if humor does not cause significant delay. We don't want Nick to be late. Maggie would be very upset."
"I don't want Maggie to be upset. Nick should go to the chapel now."
Nick's throat got tight. "Right. How do I look?"
"Like a man about to get married."
"Good. Let's go. You got the rings?"
"Of course I...yes. Yes, I do."
"Good man. Best man. Let's go."
Through the wonders of Goldaskian technology, one of the compartnts had been reshaped and redecorated into a chapel. The back wall was entirely a video screen, showing half of a matching room set up in Holton Manor. It made the compartnt look much larger, and the resolution was incredible.
"It really looks like we could walk over and shake hands," Brian marveled.
anwhile, Nick stared at his sister.
Patricia looked very different from his mories of the little kid with the long brown hair. Now, she had a buzz cut which was dyed platinum blonde, and several face piercings. She'd chosen to wear a suit for the occasion, in two shades of blue. Her back was straight as she regarded the others levelly.
She looked good—healthy. Nick was glad of that. His throat got tight as he thought about talking to her. She t his gaze, and they just stared at each other for a few monts. Then, very deliberately, she brought her hands up, signed for a ti-out, and nodded.
Thank you, Trish. He nodded back gratefully, and she gave him what could charitably be called a smile.
Today is for Maggie.
It was good to see Mr. and Mrs. Palr, and Maggie's brother Sean. Steve was there of course, and Vanessa, who was already crying a little. There were a few burly n in tuxedos there as well. That was all the people at Horton Manor. Friends and other relatives were tuned in to the livestream, and they'd be switching between calls later.
On the ship side, Father Mangiano was standing at the altar in full regalia, waiting patiently. To one side, the bridesmaids fidgeted. She must be all set if they're out here instead of helping her, Nick thought. He couldn't help but smile at the group.
I think she drafted every human woman aboard, and more. Penelope Schmidt, Penelope Montpelier, Alyssa O'Malley, and Jillian Mason all looked very different from each other, but in contrast to Sana, they seed almost identical. Their dresses were a light shade of blue. Sana looked highly amused at participating in the primitive wedding ritual, and at her dress in particular.
The other humans on board were present, as well as delegates from the other races. Captain Geh!aoa and Geh!kin, Grrmyip and Yiyirari, and a few of the Goldaskians were in attendance, looking for good-natured entertainnt.
Everything blurred a bit for Nick as he took up his position next to the priest. He focused on keeping his breathing even, though his palms were getting a bit sweaty. They were already committed to each other; the wedding was a formality for Maggie's benefit. Still, the ceremony had an undeniable weight to it, and Nick was not immune.
The Wedding March started playing. The hatch out of the compartnt reshaped itself into a white arch and opened. The first through was a little bot. Petra had been very insistent on participating, and the bot proceeded to shoot rose petals into the air, with only a little excess enthusiasm. Nick smothered a laugh, and his nerves settled a little. Then Maggie ca in.
Wow.
Maggie had sequestered herself for the past couple of days, and apparently, she had been Up To Sothing. Nick was stunned at the sight. I thought she was working on an amazing dress, but—Oh my God, did she get plastic surgery? Or 'body shaping'?
Wait, did she do that...partly for ?
He felt a strange mix of guilt and elation. When she said that she wanted to want her body, she ant it. And he could see the deep happiness in her face, as she realized that she was having the desired effect.
I don't deserve this woman. Oh my God, I am so lucky. He stared at her in amazent. She bead the brightest smile he had ever seen on her, and this whole event was worth it just for that. She waved happily at everyone watching as she walked up and joined him at the altar.
"Wow," he whispered to her, and she smirked gleefully a mont before turning a polite smile on the priest.
The music faded out, and Father Mangiano took a deep breath. "Dearly beloved.
"We are gathered here today to witness the union of Nicholas Tomsun and Margaret Palr in holy matrimony..."
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