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“Okay so we’ll put Sam and Ponk together?” Quackity suggests offhandedly. “They’re still together right? So they’ll make a good pair at that table.”
Tommy’s eyes blew wide. “What!? No no that’s a terrible idea, they have to be at separate tables, we don’t want a fight breaking out with them.” He points out. “From what I’ve heard, they have… issues. Just in case, we’ll put them near each other, but not enough for them to chat if they don’t want to.”
Quackity sighs. “Alright, then I’ll put Sam with Foolish at this table.” He erases the names he’d written, writing two new ones in a separate circle nearby the first one they’d focused on.
“Do you want Ponk to get jealous?”
“Okay, how would you set it up then?” Quackity sets down the marker with a frown.
“Bad and Skeppy should go with Foolish.” Tommy shuffles the names around, grinning up at him.
Quackity raises an eyebrow. “Don’t Bad and Foolish hate each other?”
“Exactly.”
Quackity eyes Tommy balefully. The idea here is to not have a war break out during his wedding ceremony, something the teenager in front of him - still grinning deviously - has not seemed to pick up on.
Nothing bad is going to happen. It's going to be a nice and happy celebration that Quackity was going to help his fiancés set up. It’s totally fine that it’s taken three years for them to get from point A (engagement) to point B (marriage). Quackity is not nervous about anything. He has never once imagined a scenario where Karl and Sapnap tell him at the last moment that they don’t actually want him in their relationship after all, or he’s left at the altar, or–
“Anyway, we’re not doing that.” Quackity erases Bad’s name. “How about one that can’t go wrong, Ranboo and Tubbo together. We’ll throw Bad there too, don’t think he even knows them.”
Tommy nods thoughtfully. “Okay okay, I can see it. The two couples together then? Ranboo and Tubbo, Bad and Skeppy.”
“Well- okay then.” He places a finger to his chin thoughtfully as he looks at the map of circles. Who would go together? They should try to mitigate things as much as possible.
“How many people do you guys even want to come?” Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow.
That was a good question. How many people did they want to invite?
“Well, Karl wants some big celebration, I think he even said something about wanting the entire server to be there.” Quackity snorts. “Sapnap wants something smaller I think, just a couple of friends and family.”
“Which do you want?”
“We’ll see after the seating arrangement. Then we'll have a better idea.” Quackity shakes his head. Quackity knows exactly who he wants to invite, but he didn’t know how many of them would actually agree to go for his sake.
Tommy thinks as he listens to Quackity. “Well Foolish is all alone up in this corner, so let’s put Puffy with him, and… Antfrost? Who can hate Ant. He’s just a little cat guy.”
It takes Quackity a minute to register what Tommy had said before he turns and stares at him.
“Tommy, do you even know half of any of the stuff that’s happened on this server?” Quackity raises an eyebrow.
"Nope!"
Quackity sighs, "Well that explains a lot.”
“How’s it going?” Quackity’s heart flutters slightly as he notices from the side when the lift opens and Karl steps out onto the top area of the space needle. “Any progress on deciding seating?”
“Not really.” Quackity admits. It had been nearly an hour so far that they’d been trying to organize things. In only a few days, he’d walk down the aisle with Sapnap and Karl and they still hadn’t decided on the seating arrangements. Or the venue. Or much of anything, actually. Quackity hasn’t even tried on his suit yet. Shit
They were screwed.
“Well… I just got back from looking around Kinoko.” Karl bounces on his heels with a half of a grin on his face, “And I think I found the perfect spot for us to do the ceremony. Right by that pond? You know the one with the yin and yang symbol?” Karl looks at Quackity expectantly, rubbing his neck.
Quackity’s expression falls as he frowns. “Oh…” He pauses for a moment, “I um, I was kind of hoping we could do it at Las Nevadas.” He admitted.
Karl blinks, excitement deflating. “Right. Yeah. Um… Where exactly?”
“There was this gazebo I guess-” Quackity rubbed his neck, laughing nervously. “It sounds really silly now but I built it specifically for us.” He bites his lip before shaking his head. “Never mind I’m sure the spot you found in Kinoko will be great!”
Karl looks down at his feet, thinking for a moment. “I mean it’s alright, I’m sure you spent a lot of time on it and everything. Don’t worry.”
“No no, it’s fine, really.” Quackity smiles, attempting to reassure Karl.
Quackity tries to tell himself it really was fine. They could do the wedding in Kinoko, and the whole thing didn't make Quackity wonder why he'd put so much effort into it.
Tommy stares between them, his expression dumbfounded, “You guys realize how close the two are… Right? And that there's both the ceremony and reception."
Quackity blinks, "Oh. I guess I didn't think about it that way."
He felt a bit silly with Tommy pointing it out to him.
Karl gives a soft smile, wrapping his arm around Quackity. "That would actually be great! We could do the ceremony in Las Nevadas and the reception in Kinoko! We even have a nightclub. We'll have to work out the details later." He kisses Quackity’s cheek softly.
Quackity inhales sharply. "We sure have a lot of things to figure out. Huh?"
"Yup!" Karl nods, "It's nice to be able to finally do it though, you know?"
He smiles gently and Quackity melts into him as Karl gives him another kiss. Karl always seems to evaporate his worries, and Quackity has no clue how he does it. Perhaps it's just him and he's weak to both of his fiances.
Fiances. That would become husbands soon. The thought both terrified and excited Quackity.
"Yeah…"
From in front of himself, Quackity notices Tommy miming a gagging motion. "When I agreed to help I didn't sign up for all this lovey-dovey crap. You two have fun- I don't know, making out or whatever.”
Quackity rolls his eyes, "He hasn't changed huh?"
“Nope.” Karl shakes his head, holding Quackity gently as Tommy walks away.
Quackity frowns. “I did actually want to talk to you by the way.”
Karl raises an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing bad,” Quackity assures. “I’m just… well we’re doing this in a few days and I don’t even know what Sapnap would be happy with.” He admits, hiding the nerves he was feeling. “I want it to go perfectly. You know?”
Karl thinks for a long moment. “Well, why don’t we go ask Skeppy. He and Bad are… married or something like that right? We could see if he has any suggestions.”
“That’s not a terrible idea.” Quackity says after a second. He wasn’t entirely sure what their relationship was now but he knew they were at least together in some sense and had been for a long time. He was even the one to give them couples counseling (a moment he still looks back on fondly, mostly for the ‘interruptions’ of his fiancés.)
“You know it’s a great idea Q.” Karl says playfully, leaning his head on Quackity’s shoulder, “Especially if you’re nervous.”
“I’m not- nervous.” Quackity says quickly in response, “As I said, we’re really close and only a few things have been decided on.”
“Hey, it’ll be alright,” Karl assures him, giving his shoulder a gentle rub. “I’m just as worried, Q. We’ll figure it out together. For now, let’s go see what Skeppy can help with.”
Quackity pauses and then nods before following Karl while they head through the rest of the SMP towards Bad and Skeppy’s mansion. Quackity had only been a few times, and he wasn’t quite sure whether Skeppy would be there, but he did think it wasn’t a bad idea to at least try and see if he had any input.
“So we still need flowers, I’ll have to try and put in an order tomorrow.” Quackity explains as they walk, a book and quill in his hands.
“Well Puffy and Niki used to own a shop, they could help with that.”
Moving down the list, Quackity realizes something. “We don’t even have an idea for a theme or the rings.” His brow furrows. Those were probably the most important elements they definitely should have figured out by then. “Fuck what should we do for that?”
“With Skeppy’s help we’ll probably be able to handle the theme.” Karl gives a bright smile. “And as for the rings Sapnap and I already picked them out, I’m going to be the one bringing them on the day of.”
“Okay, so that’s handled.” Quackity quickly checks it off the list, glancing down on the long set of to-do items. “Outfits too…”
Karl nods. “Sapnap should be included on that bit, so we’ll have to wait till he’s free.”
What did Quackity even want to wear? A suit wouldn’t feel special enough, not unless it was something really nice and not the dress shirts and slacks he’d gotten used to wearing since Manberg. He toyed in his mind with wearing a dress but, he didn’t know if he could take himself seriously enough in one.
Then there was fitting it to the theme, again which they hadn’t decided. So they couldn’t even figure out that and then it would maybe be too late for them to work it out, and they’d be left with whatever outfits they had and then everything would be mixed up together and-
“Hi?”
And they were at the door.
“Hey Skeppy!” Karl says cheerfully, waving as he pushes open the door further and walks inside.
“Come on in I guess?” Skeppy rolls his eyes, Quackity following them both in.
“So we’re working out the wedding plan, and everything.” Karl explains as he kicks his feet out, laying on the sofa. “But you see, the party and event planning is sorta mine and Quackity’s thing.”
“Alright.” Skeppy raises an eyebrow, Quackity moving to sit next to Karl.
He feels bad about busting in, but it happened so fast he wasn’t sure it would’ve been possible for him to stop Karl. There’s also a pile of muffins on the table, and Quackity can smell that they’re fresh from the oven. He reaches a hand out to grab one, pulling a steaming piece off and putting it into his mouth.
“We were just wondering…” Karl looks to Quackity expectantly, giving a head tilt towards Skeppy.
Right, the thing they need to ask. “Yours and Bad’s marriage would’ve been a bit different from a traditional one right?” Quackity asks.
Skeppy nods. “That’s for sure.”
It takes Quackity a minute to find the words, “With the planning, we want to know; what’s he going to expect exactly? Like with the ceremony and everything.”
“Well, I’m glad you asked! You’re right, me and Bad had a pretty strange wedding,” Skeppy agrees, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. “First thing is your going to need an officiant obviously.”
“Yeah, Bad already offered that.” They at least had that particular part sorted. “So he’ll hopefully already know how to do that.”
“Oh good!” Skeppy’s expression brightens as Quackity explains, “Then Bad can cover all of this but, anyways, you’ll also want lots of candles. That’s important, with soul fire. They’re very traditional in demon marriages.”
Quackity jots both things on the notebook, Karl glancing over to make sure Quackity had it. He’d need to see who even kept bees anymore, perhaps Foolish? Foolish would also hopefully know how to make them soul fire, Quackity didn’t know anything about how that worked.
“What else?”
Skeppy pauses to think. “Well, you’ll need to get matching tattoos.”
He wasn’t entirely against getting one. He’d honestly never considered it before, even when he’d been solely focused on Las Nevadas the idea of getting a tattoo never crossed his mind. Though it would be nice to have something other than the rings to symbolize their relationship.
Quackity glances over to Karl, “I don’t think Sapnap has one… so we’ll have to pick those out, right?”
“Sounds like it.”
Skeppy nods. “It’s very important. You don’t just use any old one, you have to get a new one specifically for the ceremony. You also need to sacrifice a hoglin.”
Quackity quickly jotted it down, stopping when he got to the last word. “Wait what?”
“It’s more traditional.” Skeppy explains.
“I mean, we don’t really know enough to refute it.” Karl shrugs. “Not what we’re used to but we can probably work it out, right babe?”
“...Right.”
It didn’t quite make sense. Though Karl was right, it wasn’t a completely out there idea. They’d just have to check with Sapnap what to do.
“Finally you’ll need to say this chant?” Skeppy thinks for a moment before shaking his head. “Bad probably remembers it better than I do-”
“Wait.” Quackity frowns, looking at the list of things Skeppy had mentioned. Candles, a hoglin sacrifice, and chanting? “Is this a fucking demon ritual?”
Karl’s own gaze twisted into confusion. “Wait. Yeah!”
Quackity groans, standing up as he slams the book closed as Skeppy busts out with a roar of laughter. It had all just been some prank?! Some ruse he’d put them through just for a stupid joke? Blood rushes to Quackity’s head as he stares.
“Seriously? We came asking for help and you give us this shit?” Quackity grumbles. “I’m leaving. You can stay Karl but I’m not wasting more of my time on this shit.”
“Oh- come on it was just a joke!” Skeppy raises his hands. “I thought it would lighten the mood!”
“No, it’s… well, it’s whatever.” Quackity mutters. “But if you’re going to make a joke out of this you’re not going to be any help.” He glances over. “Come on Karl, let’s go.” Quackity mutters, disgruntled.
He moves as quickly as he can to the door, closing it harsher than he had meant to as
Quackity takes a deep breath, staring out at the prison from the prime path circling the mansion. He hadn't meant to get so frustrated but… It had just happened. He bit his lip looking at the prison closer, it hadn’t changed much on the outside in years. Though he never thought about how close it was to the mansion before now.
“You going to be okay Q?” Karl’s voice comes from behind him, causing Quackity to jump as he places a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m fine.” Quackity shakes his head, forcing a smile on his face.
“You’re not.”
Quackity slowly sat down on the prime path. “Karl… do you think-” He pauses, looking down at the water in front of him. “Why me?”
“What?” Karl raises an eyebrow curiously.
“After everything I did, after what happened..” Quackity thinks for a moment as he trails off. “No even before that. In the beginning. You could’ve just decided it wasn’t worth it. That you didn’t want me getting involved with Sapnap and your’s engagement. So why…” Quackity met Karl’s gaze for a moment, “Why did you guys ask me to join instead?”
"Because you're hot," Karl says. Quackity doesn't have time to stifle the snort of a laugh that startles out of him at that.
"I knew it," he says, mock dismay in his voice. "You're only with me for my fat ass."
"And your money," Karl says cheerfully. Quackity shoves him with one elbow, and Karl dissolves into giggles. Quackity's heart feels like it's melting in his chest. Karl's smile never dims even as his voice tilts towards something more serious. "It was because we love you, nimrod."
Somehow, out of everyone, Karl loves him. Sapnap chose him. Even when Quackity was more problem than benefit, even when Quackity burned their bridges, even when Quackity did his damn best to drag them down with him. Somehow, even still, they're here.
“I just… want this to be perfect. For both of you.” Quackity mutters. “And I don’t even know where to start. We’ve been planning this for three years now, and it still feels like we’re nowhere near finishing.”
Karl takes a long look at Quackity before taking his hand. And for a moment a shock goes through Quackity’s system at the physical affection, melting him at the touch. “Q. Look, I get it. But it doesn’t have to be perfect. We’re getting married, we’re going to go up to that altar and kiss and say we’ll always love each other and that’s what matters.” Karl gives him a smile, his brown eyes softening under Quackity’s gaze. “And I know Sapnap feels the same. So long as we’re happy, he will be. You don’t have to try so hard. We love you. Both of us.”
The words echo, mixed in with the background of waves against the shore. And it washed over him like a breath of fresh air. They were all going to be happy. Sapnap and Karl were both going to love whatever happened, and however, things ended up. Maybe that was all that mattered, that at the end of the day they’d made it there.
And as Karl gave him such a gentle and loving gaze, Quackity feels wet streaks falling down his face. He smiles, wiping the tears away until he meets Karl’s gaze again. “I um… thanks. That-uh…” His words are choked, Quackity continuing to rub his face as laughter bubbles up in his chest. “Sorry god this is embarrassing, it’s just, I know it’s not… that big of a deal and everything, but I um-”
“Q…” Karl gives him a tight hug. “It’s alright. I get it.” He kisses Quackity softly on the lips before pulling away. “Come on, why don’t we go do something fun? We’ll worry about the rest of the wedding planning later.”
“Yeah- yeah.” Quackity takes a breath and nods, now feeling much lighter as Karl leads him away. “Thanks… Karl.”
“Of course, babe.” Karl grins before giving a small smirk as Quackity feels a hand slap his ass and they both burst into laughter. “Love ya.” He winks and Quackity flushes a bright crimson red.
Yeah. Everything was going to be fine. And now, just maybe, Quackity actually believes it.