Chapter 50 – It is joined by friends

Gabe: “Holy shit, this place has absolutely badass decor.”

Hayley: “No, no, no, no. Stop that, you. Stop talking... you're going to bring them bad luck.”

Gabe: “What? It's seriously cool as hell. I'd love to use this place as a set. Thia’s got good taste.”

Hayley: “No, no, no. Don't reinforce the numerology. It's super inauspicious.”

Alex: “Hey guys, what's up? What numerology? Is there mercury in the gatorade or something?”

Hayley: “June 6th, 2022. It's totally 666... so try not to say anything unlucky that might invite any bad intentions, guys.”

Darcy: “That's metal.”

Hayley: “Oh my gosh! Don't make devil horns inside a church.”

Darcy: “It fit the vibe.”

Alex: “She's kind of right. This is a church in the same way that a slaughterhouse is a theme park.”

Darcy: “Hell yeah.”

Hayley: “Darcy!”

Darcy: “(hell yeah).”

Chloe: “I don't think she meant that you should say it more quietly..."

Darcy: “Oops. Not hell yeah.”

Chloe: “Darcy... Also hi everyone.”

Alex: Hey, Chloe. Nice cosplay.”

Chloe: "...Did none of the boys dress up? I... thought it was a costume wedding. I feel kind of embarrassed now.”

Ian: “Nah, mate. Don't be. That guy's literally a buddhist monk. And there's like 30 people who look like devils. You're fine.”

Darcy: “I have spare horns if anyone wants.”

Alex: “Pass.”

Ian: “Yeah, sure. Why not.”

Chloe: “Why do you have a bag of spare horns?”

Darcy: “I thought it'd be funny.”

Chloe: “Pfft. You're so bad.”

Ian: “It's funny. Can confirm.”

Alex: “Screw it. Pass me a pair. I'll join in on the fun.”

Gabe: “Okay. Me too, then.”

Chloe: Do you have enough for everybody? We could do a whole class theme.”

Darcy: “Yup.”

Chloe: “You're really bad... but give me a pair too. I'll swap the cat ears.”

Hayley: “I'll have to pass, sorry. I feel like it's a big cosmic nono to wear horns in a church on a wedding day with triple six numerology.”

🖤███ : “Friends of the brides, I presume? I'm the Officiant, Lulu. I just wanted to say that I think your group theme is wonderful, and I'm sure the brides will be delighted to see your collective getup.”

All: “...”

🖤███ : “Do you happen to have an extra set of horns I could borrow? I find the thought of wearing them quite amusing. I will, of course, pay you back in full.”

Darcy: “Huh? Yeah, sure.”

🖤███ : “Thank you, friend of the bride. I'd like you to have this in return. A token of my gratitude. I'm sure that you'll find a use for it one of these days.”

Darcy: “Huh? A coin? Sure, okay.”

🖤███ : “Wonderful theme, once again. It truly brings a smile to the face and joy to the heart.”

All: “...”

🖤███ : “Alas, there are many other guests to greet so I must bid you farewell here, friends of the brides. May you enjoy the wedding and all the festivities to follow. Thank you for the horns. I hope to see you soon.”

All: “... “

Hayley: “Holy hell. Give me a set of horns too.”

Alex: “Guys... I'm not gay, but that was the hottest guy I've ever seen. Would.”

Gabe: “Would.”

Darcy: “Would.”

Hayley: “Would.”

Chloe: “Would.”

Ian: “You guys are animals. Keep in mind that this is a church, yeah? But also: would.”

Ellie: “Hey guys, nice horns. What'd I miss?”

Chloe: “Hi Ellie. You just missed it. The priest might actually be the hottest guy in the entire universe.”

Ellie: “Be right back.”

All: “...”

Ellie: “Holy mother of Jesus. Would. Darcy give me some horns.”

Darcy: "...Why do you think it was me?”

Ellie: "...Seriously?”

Darcy: “Okay, fine.”

Ellie: “Thanks. Looking good, girls. Boys... seriously? Do better. Don't you see everyone else dressed up?”

Gabe: “I thought the invite meant to wear a colourful suit or something.”

Ellie: “It's been over 10 years and you still can't read?”

Gabe: “How was I supposed to know it was a full on dress up thing?”

Chloe: “Well... the invite said so..."

Ian: “Classic Gabe. How did you even become a director when you can't read?”

Gabe: “Okay, if you're so smart then why are you just in a regular suit?”

Ian: “Mate, I read the invite and chose to come dressed straight. We are not the same.”

Alex: “I was just too scared to dress up so I copped out. I thought about it, though.”

Gabe: “I can read.”

Darcy: “Rich people don’t say they're rich.”

Chloe: “It's okay, Gabe. The ‘whole language’ reading approach made a lot of people illiterate. It's not just you.”

Gabe: “Guys, I can actually read.”

Ellie: “Wow, almost everyone else is dressed up, huh? They really went all in.”

Chloe: “Amy’s a big writer now, so those are probably all her writer friends. I heard artists were all pretty eccentric.”

Ellie: “I mean, okay. But there's eccentric, and there's mini godzilla.”

Chloe: “I think mini godzilla is really cute! Maybe it's somebody's kid all dressed up?”

Hayley: “I guess a lot of their friends have kids? There's even an entire fairy and gnome section.”

Chloe: “Aww, they're so small and sparkly.”

Alex: “Do you think those guys will let me play with their swords?”

Darcy: “Phrasing.”

Alex: “I mean it. They're so cool. That whole section is just filled with guys with giant swords and spears.”

Darcy: “Phrasing.”

Alex: “Stop that.”

Gabe: “Everyone's costumes are so good. I wonder how they did it. Some of them have, like, professional prosthetics going on.”

Ellie: “The first step was probably actually reading the invitation and making preparations.”

Gabe: “I can read.”

Alex: “It's okay, man. We know you're a good guy even if you're a little illiterate.”

Gabe: “Guys, I can read.”

Ian: “Clackin’ wheels, even Thia’s friends are hilarious. Did you see Vishnu talking to that octopus guy?”

Gabe: “Poseidon?”

Ian: “Nah, mate. Poseidon's over there in the Greek corner. I'm talking about the octopus guy.”

Gabe: “What octopus—holy hell. That freaking octopus.”

Ian: “Hilarious, right? This wedding’s going to be a banger.”

♢♢♢

Amy: “Are you sure we're going to be okay without any rehearsal? Isn't there normally a rehearsal for these things? Is it really going to be okay? I'm nervous out of my mind. Thia, let me recharge my Thiameter.”

🖤███ : “Yes, dear bride. Everything will turn out just fine even without a rehearsal. In fact, I would suggest that the less time you spend within this Domain of mine, the better.”

Amy: “Charging. Charging. Charging. But what if I mess up and ruin everything?”

“It will take the lead. Amy does not have to worry about Anything.”

Amy: “Squee.”

“Amy’s soul is properly housed.”

Amy: “Thia, you're so powerful today.”

“It confirms. It will likely have to protect It's Wife from those wishing to cause Overall Harm.”

“So fierce... Squee.”

“Amy's soul is properly housed.”

🖤███ : “Are the brides fully charged? The guests have all arrived and settled. It's almost time for your entry.”

Amy: “Phew... I'm ready.”

“It is ready.”

🖤███ : “Then, at your leisure. I'll be waiting for you at the altar.”

Amy: “Phew... okay. Just one more hug and I'll be good to go.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

Amy: “Love you.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“After we're married.”