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Weddings weren’t very common in Vacaytioner culture. It’s not that the idea was frowned upon or never used or anything, but the romantic relationships that they had would ebb and flow as easily as the waves. You didn’t really get married, you just… dated someone until you didn’t. Maybe they had a kid or two, but it was all very casual. They were all too chilled-out to take the initiative on planning.
Pop Trolls, however, were VERY hardcore about their holidays. They loved planning weddings more than anything- Not only that, but as a very polyamorous culture, a Pop Troll might even have multiple weddings in their lifetimes. Trolls loved celebrating special days, almost too much.
When a Pop Troll who had found himself head-over-heels in love with a Vacaytioner announced he was going to throw a wedding, the islanders could hardly believe it. Honestly, Bruce was expecting that it would be difficult to even get them to show up the day of, but to his surprise, they were over the moon. Turns out that starting the wedding planning was the only problem, and once he took care of that? Oh, the islanders were treating it like the biggest block party they had in decades. They all chipped in to book out the entire beach, there were at least ten different balloon arches, five different bands agreed to play, the DJ offered to work for wedding cake, the whole thing. It was going to be the best wedding in all of Vacay Island.
There was just one problem, though- they needed to actually get through the ceremony.
Bruce looked in the mirror with a grimace. He had picked out a nice tux with a flower print to suit the island vibe, but the more he looked at it, the more he wanted to stop looking.
“I hate it,” He said immediately.
“Why d’you hate it?” A voice from behind him. Bruce turned around to look, only to immediately cover his eyes.
“GAH! Brandy -! It’s bad luck to see the bride before a wedding!” He said, scrambling to wave her off.
“Oh yeah? And who says that?” His fiance asked teasingly. “This dress cost too much for you not to see me in it as much as possible.”
Bruce sighed. “Well- yeah- guess you’re right-”
“Besides,” Brandy continued. “I’m not about to let my soon-to-be-husband worry himself sick on his wedding day.”
Bruce nervously lowered his hands away from his eyes, staring up at his fiance. She looked stunning in all white, of course, even having a beautiful white veil to match and everything. That just made his stomach do backflips even more. He sighed, looking down at himself.
“I don’t know. I just- I hate the way this looks on me. My body looks weird in a mirror, and I’m not as sculpted as I used to be-”
“Oh, hush,” Brandy shushed, scooping him up in her arms. “You look as beautiful as the day we met.”
He paused, looking in the mirror. He did look imperfect, but… he looked like himself.
“Actually, I lied, you look way hotter,” Brandy cooed.
Bruce snorted. “Is that a fact?”
“What can I say? The long hair does it for me. Plus you just- you look happier. I dunno. Is that really that much of a sin?” Brandy asked, holding him close to her heart.
“No… Guess not,” Bruce shrugged, pressing his head against her chest.
“...You sure you’re gonna be okay? Did your brother ever respond to the invite you sent? Or your grandma?” Brandy asked quietly.
“Grandma didn’t say anything back, but I-” Bruce felt his sentence dying on his lips. While it was true he had sent… something to John Dory, the only brother whose address he could find, it wasn’t exactly… a wedding invite. “ I got nervous,” He admitted.
“Oh, sweetie…” Brandy sighed, putting him back down. “It’s okay… We can still make this our day. Now- see you in a bit, alright? Next time we meet, it’ll be at the altar.”
“Can’t wait,” Bruce replied quickly, giving Brandy a kiss on the hand before waving her goodbye. He turned back to the mirror, continuing to adjust his suit to make it feel even better. He still almost couldn’t believe it. He was getting married, and it was to the most beautiful woman in the world… even if he couldn’t ignore how the place he was getting married in was five times as big as any building back home.
Then again, he supposed this was his home now.
Before he knew it, it was time. He hopped off the stool, wandering out of the little hut him and Brandy had been using to change. The light of the setting sun was a little much to get used to, as were the several balloon arches and rows of fairy lights, but the more he stood there and blinked it off, the more clear it all became. There were rows upon rows of smiling Vacaytioners- he knew a lot of them, but many more had just came back to the island for the wedding. Friends of theirs, strangers he didn’t know but who had Brandy’s face, held memories with Brandy, wished her well, went through hell together…
…Not a single troll was there.
Why would they be? He hadn’t seen his parents since Branch was born, nor grandma, for that matter, and his brothers were… Well, they were his brothers. Thinking about them was… painful.
But it was somehow more painful realizing there was absolutely no chance of them being here to see him on his wedding day.
It’s funny. He always thought they’d be right at his side. Clay would be his best man, Bitty B could be the flower boy, he’d get Floyd to help write his vows, John Dory would have walked him down the aisle…
…Oh, god.
Nobody was going to walk him down the aisle.
Sure, it wasn’t exactly tradition that the groom would get walked down, but he was already feeling really, really alone, and he just wanted SOME company, but his lip was quivering, his legs were locking, he was frozen in place and he should be crying over his fiance, not this-
He felt a large, fuzzy hand tapping his shoulder. Bruce jumped, looking behind him- was he taking too long? Did Brandy come to pick him up?! But when he was looking up, instead of the redhead he came to know and love, he saw an older woman, with skin the same hue as Brandy’s own, but with a light peach mop of hair… Brandy’s mother.
“Ah- Rosé!” Bruce yelped with a jump. “S-sorry, did I take too long-? I don’t wanna-”
“Oh, no, nothing like that at all, Brucie…” She smiled softly. “You just looked a little stressed. And that won’t do on your special day. How can an old coot help?”
Bruce sighed, sticking his hands in his tux pockets. “It’s- I mean- S’ nothing much, ma’am, I just…” He looked out on the sea of people.
“...Missing your kin, huh,” Rosé said with a sage nod. “Well, that won’t do at all. You’re marrying my little girl, Brucie. And, hell, you take care of us here! Who was the one who started all this planning, huh? Not any of us!” She patted him on the back with a laugh.
“Hah- well, maybe a little of that’s true, yeah,” Bruce admitted sheepishly.
“You’re a part of this family as much as I am, or Brandy is, dear,” Rosé continued. She held a hand out. “So- If you need someone to walk you down the aisle… I’d be honored to.”
Bruce reached out his hand to touch her soft, furred one- he could tell his own was shaking with happiness. He swallowed hard, trying to keep the trademark quiver of being about to cry out of his voice.
“... You’re sweet, ma’am,” He said quickly.
“Please,” Rosé corrected. “In just a few minutes, that’s mom to you.”
Bruce steeled himself, beginning to walk down the aisle as he could hear a beachy rendition of the wedding march playing. He gently held the hand of Brandy’s mother as he went, and stood proudly as he did. He could hear the whoops and cheers of both the Vacaytioners he had come to befriend over time, as well as extended family of Brandy's, sounding out their approval for his choice. He came up to the altar, boosting himself onto a large stool they specially prepared for him. He waited anxiously to see his fiance walk down the aisle.
And there she was, in all her glory, adorned with a gorgeous white dress that was cut trendily short so it wouldn’t drag on the sand. Her veil, however, was beautifully long as it flowed in the wind. Arm in arm escorting her was her father, a proud redhead with a teal complexion. He gave a proud nod to Bruce, before letting Brandy step up onto the altar as he and his wife sat back down.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” The officiant said. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the beautiful union of a woman… and a troll. Love always finds a way, folks, and these two have proven that more than anything. You wanna take the floor and do your vows?”
Brandy nodded, taking her fiance by the hands.
“Bruce, honey- from the day I was born, I’ve always wanted an adventure. I wanted something to sweep me off my feet, something to turn my world upside-down… When you arrived, my entire world changed. You make me see everything so beautifully. Bruce… you make my life an adventure.”
Bruce smiled, following with his own vows.
“When I left the Troll Tree… I thought my life was over. But you, Brandy… being with you makes me feel born again. I would change my entire world just to suit you, I would dedicate myself to a new life just for you… and- well- I did. And I know you’ll make it worth it.”
By the end of it, both of them were close to tears.
“I love you,” Bruce whispered.
“I love you too,” Brandy said back. “Don’t you ever, ever forget that. No matter how much it feels like this island wasn’t made for you.”
“When I’m with you, I feel like I was born on the island.”
“You may now kiss the bride!” The officiant yelled happily.
Bruce grabbed onto Brandy’s cheeks with his arms, as he flung his entire body onto her just to kiss those gorgeous lips of hers. Brandy kissed him back as best as she could- and at that point, their kisses were so frequent that it didn’t even feel awkward anymore. Although they were immersed in each other, they could hear all the cheering and flashing of cameras.
Bruce wouldn’t give up this moment for the world.
He just wished his brothers could have seen it.
…
…
On the Neverglade Trail, a gloved hand reached into his mailbox, ruffling through it.
“Junk… junk…” John Dory grunted, tossing the spam mail aside. He stopped, pulling out an unmarked envelope. It was best to be cautious with these- never know what could be inside them.
He opened it quite a ways away from his face, pulling out whatever was inside- oh, it was just a postcard.
…An… unmarked postcard, with nothing on it.
He turned it back around to the picture side, reading the text that was on it.
“ ...Wish You Were Here. Weird.”
For some reason, he decided he’d bring it inside anyway.