"Something Borrowed, Something Green"
Author: Carol Author's e-mail: carol@wrhpv.com Rating:
PG-13 Category: Slash/Humor Summary: It's confetti time.
Weddingfic. Sequel to: Blame
It On The Chocolate
T*M Disclaimer: Enterprise, the series, concepts and characters, are the
property, copyright and trademark of Paramount/Viacom. No ownership or claim on
said property, copyright or trademark is made or implied by the use of these
characters in this story. This story is non-commercial, not for sale or profit,
and may not be sold or reproduced for commercial purposes.
Comments: Weddingfic. Excessive silliness. Some people (they know who
they are) asked for the wedding. Blame them. Might make a bit more sense if
you've read "The Merry Month" and "Blame It On The Chocolate" first. Not *much*
more sense though.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Captain Jonathan Archer leaned against the recently
returned shuttlepod and wondered whether to laugh, cry or just beat himself to
death with his copy of "Interstellar Diplomacy for Beginners--Volume 1--Don't
Mention the Ungulates.". T'Pol had recently given him the book. Sometimes he had
the oddest feeling that she was trying to tell him something. But what? He
rubbed his eyes, as if doing so would make the two embarassed officers standing
in front of him disappear.
"All right," he addressed them, tiredly, "Explain to me, slowly and
carefully, why you left this morning to visit a nice, simple exhibition of
Kelakkan weapons, and came back painted green and chained together?"
"It's symbolic Captain."
"That's what you said before, Malcolm. It's not any more informative the
second time. Would you mind telling me what it's symbolic of, other than the
fact that you're both experts at getting into trouble?"
"We ain't in trouble Cap'n." Trip glanced at Jon's clearly displeased
expression and added, "Well, not with the Kelakkans anyhow. They like us."
Jon looked again at his chief engineer and his armory officer. They were both
shirtless, and elaborate green swirling patterns had been painted across their
torsos. Jon wasn't positive, because staring at the designs for too long made
his eyes water, but some of them appeared to extend below the trouser line.
Trip's right wrist bore a slim lightweight cuff of a silvery-greenish metal
which was connected by a short, thin chain to an identical cuff on Malcolm's
left. Unidentified bits of vegetation were tangled in the chain. Some of them
could conceivably have been flowers in a previous life. Trip's decorations were
completed by a rapidly darkening bruise around his right eye.
Indicating this last, Jon remarked, "In that case, I'd hate to see what they
do to people they don't like, Trip."
"Oh, that weren't their fault--I forgot about the cuffs fer a minute an'
tried to scratch my nose..."
"...and hit himself in the face with my hand." Malcolm sighed. "We really
need to get these blasted things off before you do yourself some serious
damage."
"Yeah, I know. It just seemed kinda rude to take 'em off before we left the
planet, after they went to so much trouble to throw us an engagement party."
Jon stared at him as if he'd just declared himself to be the Emperor of
Brussel Sprouts.
"They did what?"
Trip drew a deep breath. "Well, it's like this Cap'n...You know how the
Kelakkans have those tentacle things on their faces?"
Jon frowned at this apparent non sequitur, but nodded.
"Well, apparently when a Kelakkan likes another Kelakkan a whole bunch and
wants to spend the rest of their lives together, they go up to the other person
and...kinda entwine tentacles with them. It's their way of proposin'."
"And so, when Trip kissed me in the museum, our tour guide, Minaka, assumed
that because we don't have tentacles, that was the human equivalent." Malcolm
chipped in, blushing only slightly. After the day he'd had, he was pretty much
blushed out.
"An' they insisted on throwin' an engagement party for us right then and
there. It was real nice of them. But they want us to go back in three days for
the weddin'"
"Didn't you explain that the human system is diff...--wait a minute! You
kissed Malcolm? In the museum? What were you thinking?"
Trip grinned, only a little shamefacedly, "You really want me to answer that
last one Cap'n?"
"On reflection, no. In fact, definitely not. And that's an order."
"To answer your first question Captain, we did try to tell them that humans
normally do things rather differently, but they were so enthusiastic they didn't
seem to be listening very well. And once the party started it seemed churlish to
persist. After all, we didn't want to offend them, when they were so nice about
us accidentally destroying their communications satellite."
"All right Malcolm. I've already agreed it was a bad idea to let Doctor Phlox
take piloting lessons near an inhabited world, there's no need to keep bringing
it up. And, since we can't offend the Kelakkans, I guess you two had better go
and get the wedding preparations under way. " Jon smirked.
The two men stared at him in disbelief. Both of them had expected that the
Captain would prevent, or more accurately, save them from, the upcoming wedding,
either by explaining the human system to the Kelakkans in interminable detail,
with occasional diversions into zoology, or by pleading an urgent errand
elsewhere.
"Far be it from me to stand in the way of true love." he continued, airily,
"Perhaps this will make you look before you leap, in future, Trip."
"I think we need to leap into the shower about now," Trip decided, " I'm not
sure what that stuff was they were sprinklin' on us at the party but it
stinks!"
"After we get the cuffs off." Malcolm insisted.
Trip grinned at him. "Spoilsport!"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"So, does Trip get to carry you across the threshold of
your new quarters?" Hoshi asked brightly, at breakfast the following
morning.
Malcolm looked up from the padd he was studying.
"Not unless he wants to wear his liver for a hat." he said, perfectly calmly.
Then the full import of her words registered. "Hang on--what new quarters?"
"Hasn't the Captain told you? It's his wedding present to the two of
you--he's having two cabins linked together so you don't have to trek between
each other's quarters all the time. Isn't it sweet of him?"
"Positively saccharine. " Malcolm growled. "I do believe he's enjoying this.
Hmmph!"
"And you're not?" Hoshi smiled.
"Oh, of course I am. It's not as though I was planning to spend the next two
days doing something useful, like, oh, overhauling the aft phase cannon, instead
of researching Kelakkan wedding etiquette. " He made a disgusted gesture towards
the padd.
"Surely Tanner and Sinclair can cope with that while you're busy?"
"I'm sure they could--if they weren't fully occupied in making streamers,
banners and confetti. Naturally, I wouldn't dream of dragging them away from
such vital tasks." Malcolm appeared to be in danger of using up the ship's
entire supply of sarcasm in one fell swoop.
"They're taking it well then?"
"If you call diving into the preparations with maniacal glee "taking it
well", then I suppose they are, yes." He shuddered at the memory of his staff
attempting to sing "Get Me To The Church On Time" in "authentic" Cockney
accents. The fact that Sinclair was tone-deaf hadn't helped either.
"Only I hear Commander Tucker had a little trouble with one of his
staff."
"Oh?" Malcolm's expression boded ill for the crewperson in question.
"Who?"
"Crewman Su, apparently. He's asked for a transfer at the earliest
opportunity." "Really? I'd never have thought Mheri was a
homophobe."
"He's not. Apparently he's upset because he's had a crush on
you for months and.... you know, if the wind changes your face will get stuck
like that."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"No. No. No. And furthermore, NO!"
People around over the mess hall looked up from their lunches in surprise at
Malcolm's outburst. Hoshi turned to Travis.
"I think Malcolm just saw the pictures of the traditional Kelakkan wedding
outfits." she grinned.
Travis grinned back.
"They are kind of...brief...aren't they? Still, it could be worse--Doctor
Phlox was telling me this morning about a species who get married completely
nude."
"Now that I'd pay to see." Hoshi giggled
"Hey, they're both spoken for, remember?"
"Yeah, I know, but a girl can dream, can't she?"
"I guess so. How long do you think it'll take Commander Tucker to talk him
into wearing it after all?". Travis could see Trip making placatory gestures
across the room.
"What makes you think there'll be talking involved?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ow! Mind where you're sticking that thing Travis!"
"I'm never gonna get this right if you don't keep still Malcolm."
"It tickles. It was bad enough the first time, but at least Minaka knew what
he was doing."
"Don't be such a baby. You didn't even complain this much when you had a bit
of Romulan mine stuck through your leg."
"I didn't look like a complete berk then! Or if I did, there wasn't anyone
there to see it. Except the Captain. And a shipload of invisible Romulans if
they'd cared to look... Can't you just go out there and tell everybody that I
died suddenly or something?" Malcolm added, hopefully.
"Of what? A freak body paint accident?" Travis replied, sceptically, waving
the brush with which he was attempting to recreate the green swirling designs of
the Kelakkan betrothal ceremony on Malcolm's skin. "Now keep still or I'll get
Hoshi to do the last bit. And don't think she wouldn't jump at the chance."
"Travis, I can't do this."
"Sure you can. You just have to keep still while I do this last twiddly bit
and..."
"No, not that. The whole thing, the wedding. We've only been on one date for
goodness sake! And I didn't even know it was a date until he kissed me!"
"Who did you go to movie night with last time you went?"
"Trip. Why?"
"Who did you go on shore leave with on Risa?"
"Trip, but..."
"Who's dragged you kicking and snarking to every party we've had on board
since we left spacedock?"
"Um...you at least once, but, yes, mostly Trip I suppose..."
"You see? You've been dating him practically since you first met--it's just
that neither of you realised it 'til now. And besides, you can't back out now,
the Kelakkans would be offended--although the way you two argue, it's a wonder
they didn't think you were already married."
"Wonderful. So I have to get married to avoid upsetting the neighbours.
Hardly romantic is it?"
Travis smiled indulgently at his friend. "Put it this way Malcolm--do you
really think Trip would go through all this crap if he didn't love you?"
"I...I...suppose not..."
"Right. So let's just get your skirt on..."
"Kilt. It's a kilt Travis."
"Whatever you say Malcolm," Travis chuckled, passing him the offending
garment. "Whatever you say."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trip tugged irritably at the hem of his kilt. The soft
green fabric was a perfect match for the painted designs on his torso, but it
barely reached to mid-thigh.
"Hell, Jon, I look like a complete idiot. Why'd these things hafta be so
damned short anyhow?"
"T'pol was telling me about that--apparently there was a time in Kelakkan
history when there were hundreds of ongoing feuds between various families.
Every now and then they'd arrange a marriage to try to end one of the feuds.
Originally everybody attending had to wear the kilts, to show they weren't
carrying any...ahem...concealed weapons."
"Huh. They got that right. This thing don't conceal much of anything. They
could've at least let us wear our blues underneath. Heck, if it's as cold out
there as it was at the engagement party we're gonna be blue underneath..."
"That should set the green off nicely then."
That prompted a wry chuckle. "Yeah, the wedding pictures are really gonna be
somethin' else. Lord knows what my folks will think when they see 'em."
"I expect they'll just be glad you're happy. You are happy, right?" a slight
note of worry tinged the Captain's voice--he'd all but forced his friend into
this, so if it all went pear- shaped he was going to feel more than a little
guilty.
"Well...I hadn't exactly expected to be gettin' married this week,
but...yeah, I'm happy. I just hope Malcolm is too."
"Knowing Malcolm he's sulking and complaining right now, but I doubt he'd put
up with this for a minute if he didn't want to make you happy."
"You think so? Damn this lace thing, it's come undone again"
"Trip, don't bend...I think perhaps you should have knocked, T'Pol."
"So I see. My apologies. I came to inform you that everything is ready and
the ceremony is about to begin. When Commander Tucker has finished fastening his
sandals of course."
"Sorry T'Pol I didn't know anyone was there, I..."
"It is of no consequence. However, I would be grateful if you would refrain
from mentioning this to Ensign Sato."
"Well sure. Not gonna mention it to anyone if I can help it."
"What's Hoshi got to do with it?" Jon enquired, puzzled.
"If she hears about this incident, she is sure to berate me for failing to
carry a camera."
*~*~*~*~*~*
As Trip and Jon entered the main hall of the museum, they
saw that Malcolm and Travis were already waiting by the small table that was to
serve as an altar. Cold as it was, Trip found that he was beginning to stand up
and take notice at the sight of Malcolm dressed in only the brief Kelakkan kilt
and sandals. The green curlicues, even though less than expertly applied, seemed
to emphasise his compact musculature perfectly. He looked amazing, Trip thought,
even allowing for his help-get-me-out-of-here expression. // Damn. // Trip
thought, not for the first time, //What if Malcolm's only goin' through with
this so as not to upset the Kelakkans?//
At this point Malcolm looked round, and the smile that swept over his face as
he saw Trip sent that thought skittering back under a rock where it belonged.
Trip wondered who had stolen his knees and replaced them with jello while he
wasn't looking. Dirty trick to play on a man on his wedding day if you asked
him.
The ceremony itself went past in a confused blur. Trip was pretty sure he
said "Yes" in all the right places, because nobody was shouting at him, but
beyond that he couldn't have said what happened. His attention was so completely
focused on his soon-to-be-husband that the Kelakkan Arbiter performing the
ceremony could have turned into a giant artichoke halfway through and Trip
probably wouldn't have noticed. The first thing that really registered was the
quiet clicks of the ceremonial bracelets closing around their wrists. //Hot
damn!// he thought, in a combination of awe and trepidation //We're married.
We're really married!//
*~*~*~*~*~*
Malcolm promised himself grimly that the next time someone
used the phrase "blushing bride" in his hearing there would be bloodshed.
Preferably with a side order of mayhem. The main thing that had prevented it
thus far was the warm fuzzy glow that pervaded him whenever he looked at his new
husband. Not that he'd had much chance to do that for the last hour or so
either, but the memory of the slightly stunned but frankly adoring look that
Trip had carried on his face throughout the ceremony worked nearly as well. That
look had swept away all Malcolm's remaining misgivings and left him in no doubt
as to Trip's feelings. Getting married was probably still a bit premature, he
reflected, but then neither of them was exactly reknowned for doing things the
sensible way. Besides, that was something to worry about later on--just now, his
main concern was to get somewhere where he could get out of the ridiculous
costume he was still wearing and into something more comfortable. Trip, for
preference.
He'd hoped the reception back on Enterprise would be a relatively brief
affair, but the crew had seized on the excuse for a celebration with gusto and
were throwing themselves enthusiastically into entertaining their Kelakkan
guests. At least the Captain's speech had been mercifully short, with no mention
of small hooved mammals, and Travis had refrained from including any of the
really embarassing anecdotes in his, so Malcolm would be spared the effort of
filling the young Ensign's bunk with mashed potatoes in retaliation at some
future date. Although he definitely needed to have a quiet word with whoever was
responsible for the banner that read "Starfleet Officers Do It At Warp
Five!"
After the speeches, though, he and Trip had been released from the ceremonial
bracelets, dragged off in different directions and instructed to "mingle". Huh.
The Kelakkans were nice people, but Malcolm was beginning to hate their
traditions. There was only one person here he wanted to mingle with, and he
wasn't planning on doing it in public, thank you very much. Although if he had
to wait much longer...he had a sudden, overwhelming mental image of himself,
bending Trip over the buffet table and using the garlic dip for purposes that
Chef had almost certainly not had in mind when he made it, and had to grip the
back of a nearby chair and think determinedly about Ambassador Soval dancing the
can-can until his breathing returned to normal and he was able to move again
without people having to wonder why his kilt was levitating.
Malcolm scanned the room, more determined than ever to find Trip so they
could make their escape. He was becoming increasingly convinced that the whole
wedding reception was an evil plot to cause both bridegrooms to die of
frustration. Between the soft fabric of the kilt stroking him as he moved, the
occasional tantalising glimpse of Trip across the room in his equally brief
outfit, and his own unhelpful imagination Malcolm feared the plot wasn't far
from succeeding in his case.
He spotted the Captain almost immediately, absorbed in conversation with the
statuesque Minister of External Affairs . Judging by the way her cerise
tentacles were stroking the Captain's cheek, and her arm was encircling his
waist, she was definitely in the right job.
Hoshi's voice by his ear nearly made him drop the drink he hadn't touched for
at least half an hour.
"The Captain's just promised Minister Kellita a tour of the ship. I bet they
don't get past the Captain's quarters." she smirked.
Malcolm watched the Captain reach up to straighten a misplaced lock of pale
pink hair in the Minister's elaborate coiffure.
"You think they'll get that far?" he asked dubiously.
"Well...maybe...Speaking of which, I've been sent to fetch you for your grand
sendoff." Hoshi's smile seemed more than a little fixed, Malcolm noted.
"I'm not going to be happy about this, am I?" "Put it this way...you may have
to start a new fashion in internal organ headgear..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The door to their new quarters closed behind them,
shutting out the cheers and catcalls from the assembled wedding guests. They
were alone. Finally. Trip deposited Malcolm gently back on his feet and stepped
back slightly, suddenly nervous and uncertain. In the whirlwind of preparations
he and Malcolm had barely exchanged three words, about matters unrelated to
wedding arrangements, in as many days. Now they had plenty of time to talk, and
suddenly the words had all gone into hiding.
Trip eventually broke the silence. "I guess we should get this green stuff
washed off before it starts itchin'. You want to use the shower first?"
Malcolm smirked back at him. "That stuff's edible you know."
"It is? I mean, Malcolm, just because we're married doesn't mean we
hafta...that is, I know things happened kinda fast, so if you're not
ready..."
Malcolm gave him a look comprised of equal parts exasperation and affection.
"Are you completely insane?"
"Yeah, probably."
"Never mind. I love you anyway. Now for goodness sake come here and let me
prove it."
And for once in his life, Trip Tucker did exactly as he was told.
~the end~
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A handful of people have made
comments
On 12 July 2004 at 06:18 AM Phaser Lady said:
"Malcolm promised himself grimly that the next time someone used the phrase
"blushing bride" in his hearing there would be bloodshed. Preferably with a
side order of mayhem."-Excellent! Very in character. Great job! Snickering
was the order of the evening, I think. A true joy to read. Thanks so
much!
On 12 July 2004 at 06:45 AM said:
"you know, if the wind changes your face will get stuck like that."
my coworkers are wondering I'm laughing so hard. wonderful! very funny.
captured everyone spot-on.
On 20 July 2004 at 02:52 PM Ralf said:
Ambassador Soval dancing the can-can? Hilarious! Just like the entire
story. Truly wonderful.
On 20 July 2004 at 03:02 PM Ralf said:
I just thought of something, Carol. How about doing a sequel about the
two of them moving into these bigger quaters . . . They would propably get on
each others nerves after a while and argue about decorations, furniture and
stuff. Could be quite funny!
On 02 September 2004 at 02:47 PM nichola said:
Aboutsely brillant
I have never laughed sooo much in ages I now have hic cups
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