#seasilk

Looking at either of them you probably wouldn’t be able to guess just how old they were, but time was a subjective thing. She’d been away from Runeterra for six years now, but that was a figurative drop in the ocean of how long she’d been alive. Yet, the time she’d spent here had been some of the longest- and easily best- years of her life. She felt like she’d been waiting an eternity for just the past couple of weeks. Time was a subjective thing.

This day had been exciting throughout, luckily they had friends to help them organise and thankfully they didn’t need to accommodate for many. And it really had been a full day, despite the ceremony not taking place until after the sun had set Nami had risen full of excitement at the crack of dawn. Perhaps she didn’t fuss as much as Muffet, but that didn’t mean she was any less full of enthusiasm for the day’s proceedings. 

The Great Room had been decorated for the ceremony itself, decorations which far outweighed the number of seats arranged but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Flowers and spider silk, the combination of a regal hall and an oceanic cavern. Memo and Crow had arrived first for they were two of the most involved with the process and the preparation. Memo was their officiant after all, who had said with a confidence typical of the Jirachi that she was something close to a religious leader, she supposed. The vampire was to greet the other guests, something the former had assured them she’d practiced for. 

Their oldest friends still present in the city were in attendance, Gin and Clint from Nami’s side and Gaster from Muffet’s. Nami had set up one of her favourite pictures of the old mansion family in the Grand Room, one of her, Daylen, Hozuki and Nagisa. Despite them not being here she had felt nothing but happiness looking at the photo as they would always be here with her in spirit. Daylen had even been the one who had enchanted the ring she had given to Muffet. 

Gaster’s significant other was here, Kay and Rui who both already felt like a part of the spider family. Tuyin’Asai, the laid back kraken from the shore would be here for as long as her abilities would allow. There was of course the countless spiders themselves and she’d been sure to strategically arrange some tanks for her oldest sea friends around the mansion. She was with Archimedes now as she was getting ready for the ceremony itself. 

Tradition hadn’t been her greatest concern today. There was no real way they’d have been able to recreate a Marai ceremony of union and that was altogether a much less formal affair anyway. She’d known nothing about surface weddings until coming here so she didn’t have any standards that needed to be met. Muffet was here and she could have done this day with just the two of them if needed. They had rings, they had the most important guests and they had lovely things to promise each other. They also had an adorable drow girl with flowers, what else can you really ask for?

Nami was as Nami had always been; happy-go-lucky despite whatever circumstances she may find herself in. It was an important day- her most important day- but that didn’t mean she wasn’t full of breezy cheer. As if to emphasise this, she sang as she got dressed and ready for the ceremony. Soon she’d see Muffet in her dress, and they’d be ready to move down the aisle together. 

—

Love is something that Kay will be the first to admit that she doesn’t completely understand. A lot of people have told her she’ll understand once she’s older, and she knows she loves Muffet and Nami, but it’s never been something she can wrap her head around. But more than anything, she knows weddings are important.

She fiddles with her hair clip—a mix of the lilies and spider lilies in her basket, trying it on both the right and the left. Which one would look better, she wonders? She’d seen part of the Great Room during the rehearsal, but what if everyone’s sitting in different places now? The best time to make this decision probably isn’t two seconds before heading down the aisle, but she wants everything to be perfect for Muffet and Nami’s big day! 

Kay’s taking her job as flower girl very seriously; after all, this is their wedding; the last thing she’d want to do is mess it up. She hasn’t stolen anything all day, either! (Though Muffet mentioned the silverware at the reception might be fair game, and Kay can’t help herself if that’s the case.)

Her ears perk up as she hears the music start, and she hastily decides to pin the clip on the left, grabbing for her basket. That’s her cue! She turns before the doors open, giving Muffet a thumbs-up as she moves into her spot.

The doors open in front of her, and Kay takes a deep breath, giving the brides one final smile as she walks down the aisle in front of them. It’s not a huge crowd—composed of Muffet and Nami’s closest friends, but she’s determined to do her best for all of them. She smiles at the few faces she recognises, waving to Rui and Muffen in between tossing flower petals.

Each step is very deliberate, scattering the petals to form a pretty path for the brides to walk down. Toe, heel, toe heel… just the way Muffet showed her during practice. Occasionally she’ll pause to shoo a spider or two out from the aisle so they don’t get stepped on, but she keeps her eye on her goal—where Memo’s standing at the front. When she arrives, she thinks fast, dumping her remaining petals on the ground in the prettiest array she can manage. 

She exchanges a sheepish grin with Memo, giggling as she takes her place at the side of the hall. Muffet wouldn’t have asked her to do this job if she wasn’t allowed to have a little fun with it, right? However, once the music starts, and the doors to the Great Room creak open, Kay straightens up, gaze following everyone else’s as the brides start their walk down the aisle. They’re both so beautiful, Kay thinks, and they look so happy! 

Love isn’t always something Kay understands, but maybe sometimes it’s a helping hand (or six?), when you need a friend. Maybe it’s in the way someone helps you attach spider silk to your dress, or fusses over the lilies in your hair.

And maybe, it’s in the way Miss Muffet and Miss Nami look at each other as they stand side-by-side in their prettiest outfits. She may not completely understand it, but… when she looks at those two?

Kay thinks love might be pretty great after all.

(thank you @spiderstaff for this contribution to the drabble!)

—

When she arrived at the door Muffet was already waiting for her and it took everything she had not to just be frozen in place, completely in awe of how beautiful she was. She always looked gorgeous and she’d seen her in plenty of pretty dresses, but more than the sum of her parts she simply looked breathtaking. Her hair looked amazing, her dress was outstanding and the smile was heart melting. She felt that same body wide glow as when they first decided to start dating, that same uplifting glow when Muffet had answered her question with yes the first time she’d given her the ring. 

There were two doors to the Grand Room and they were to enter from a different one before meeting, but it was on instinct that she simply came to meet her in the space between the doors. After she approached Muffet gave her a small peck on the cheek that Nami wouldn’t dream reprimanding her for, rules be damned. Was it even a rule? Well, no one else could see them right now anyway. Which just made it even better, she felt like Muffet was the only person in the whole world.

She wanted to cry in happiness, she really did, but she thinks she could hold off just a little longer. “You look more beautiful than I ever could have imagined, ma chérie,” Muffet said, lightly cupping one of Nami’s cheeks with two of her hands. “How did I ever get so lucky…?”

Trying even harder not to cry she simply managed a very quiet, very smiley “Oh hush,” as she placed one of her hands over Muffet’s. “I’m the lucky one, here.”

When the music started they separated to move to their respective doors, even that small parting feeling unreasonably difficult even given the circumstances. Especially considering after pushing open their doors, the paths came to meet in a centre alley and they were side by side once again. 

It was difficult to describe; considering how excited she had been all day she didn’t even have the words to describe how uplifted she felt as they moved down the aisle together arms linked, the music playing and eyes on them. Her heart was singing in her chest and she squeezed Muffet’s hand a little tighter. It felt like a very long walk and a very short one, she was even closer to tears as they reached Memo at the end. 

“Friends, family, and spiders,” Memo opened, “We’ve gathered here tonight to share in the moment the union of these dearly beloved, and be witness to an everlasting bond made ceremoniously official. Everyone here tonight has been invited because you hold a special role in Muffet and Nami’s lives, you are present to celebrate their marriage and witness their vows of love to one another. Will all of you gathered here do all in your power to love and support this couple now and in the times ahead? If so please respond, ‘we will.’”

Just a little longer not to start crying, she could do it. Though, it was harder still when everyone present repeated their affirmations.

“And Nami and Muffet, have you come here today with the intention to be joined in marriage? Do you pledge to choose respect, kindness, and compassion towards one another, to listen deeply to one another, and to speak truthfully to one another, today and always?” 

Memo, for how much she was worried about messing up, was reciting her words pretty well. She practiced. A lot.

“We do.” said in unison with wavering voices.

“Muffet and Nami, your true love is something that you both cherish, and today you dedicate the rest of your lives to giving one another happiness and support. Your marriage is based on your heartfelt and sincere acceptance of one another, as you are, in each moment. Today, in the presence of those you consider your friends and family, you pronounce your love for each other and make a pledge, a lifelong commitment to one another, and the words spoken here will support your marriage and your declarations of love.”

Her vows came first, which came with the difficulty of being the first to speak and not burst into happy tears. But as soon as she started, she found the words flowing from her effortlessly.

“In my old world I only really had one friend on the surface, we were two people at odds with… Well, at odds with a lot up there. We were the only two who really had each other’s backs and times were often hard, but when they were hardest I could always look at her and say ‘I believe in you’. It felt like I was talking to a dear friend, someone I loved who no matter what happened I knew would have my back as I had hers. Muffet, more than anyone else I’ve ever met I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I believe in you.

You are everything to me. The person who makes my heart beat the fastest, who makes me laugh the hardest and smile the widest. We met in one world and followed each other to another. They say fate moves in strange ways but I think it's acted quite clearly here.

You are my best friend. You are the love of my life. You are my partner across worlds and I’d cross countless more to stay with you. You are my muse and inspiration. You are the part of me I didn’t know I didn’t have. I love you, Muffet.” 

When Muffet gave her vows in return is when the tears finally broke. She kept her breathing steady and it was far from blinding, but they slid down her face freely as she smiled at the spider. 

“Nami, it was fate’s decision to bring you to me, but my decision to love you as I do. I’d spent centuries underground and could only ever dream of having a wedding of my own, but never did I believe I would be lucky enough, in that world or any other, to find someone I would want to plan the rest of my life with. Nami, lucky is too weak a word to properly describe how I feel with you.

I feel completed, like I’ve found a piece of my SOUL that I did not even know it was missing. You’ve helped me grow and learn to love, both you and myself, more than I thought would be possible for a monster like me. You’ve shown me time and time again that your love for me is without condition, and I can only hope that I’ve done a good enough job in returning that sentiment.

I vow to you that I will commit my life to you, whether we live it in this city or the next. I vow to you that my SOUL will never feel dimmed again, that I will always be able to smile and enjoy living so long as I may do it with you. You are the one for me, Nami, and I love you.”

“Nami, do you take Muffet to be your cosmically fated wife?”

“I do.”

“Muffet, do you take Nami to be your cosmically fated wife?”

“I do.”

“May I have the rings, please?” the Jirachi said. Gin from Nami’s side handed Memo the ring he held, and Gaster from Muffet’s handed his held ring over as well. “These rings are not what hold your love for each other, but may they serve as reminders of your bond and your commitment to each other, to both you and others, to show the love between you two in a form other than words. Nami,” she said, handing Nami one of the wedding rings, “placing the ring on Muffet’s finger, repeat after me: With this ring, I give you my promise, to honour you, to be faithful to you, and to share my love and life with you, in all ways and all worlds, forever.”

And she took the ring, gently taking hold of Muffet’s upper left hand and slipping the ring slowly onto her finger. “With this ring, I give you my promise, to honour you, to be faithful to you, and to share my love and life with you, in all ways and all worlds, forever.” The ring was shaped to fit perfectly over the top of the engagement ring the spider already wore, the one she had given her when she’d first asked if Muffet would marry her. Everything seemed so incredibly quiet and distant, even Memo who was so close by. Muffet seemed like the only person- the only thing- in focus. 

“And Muffet,” Memo continued, after giving just enough time to treasure that moment, “placing the ring on Nami’s finger, repeat after me: With this ring, I give you my promise, to honour you, to be faithful to you, and to share my love and life with you, in all ways and all worlds, forever.”

She felt her heart singing even louder as Muffet took her hand, the small rubbing of her thumb sending fresh tingles all the way down her arm, threatening to melt with joy as Muffet repeated the words. The ring placed on her hand fitting against the engagement ring Muffet had given her in kind. 

“And now, after the exchanging of vows and the giving and receiving of the rings, by the power invested in me,” Memo said, lighting up her wish tags and streamers for added effect, “I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may now seal your bond, with a kiss.”

They moved as one, exactly like they’d been holding the desire to be as close as possible in this entire time. Nami’s arms went over Muffet’s shoulders to meet behind her as two of Muffet’s went past her neck and four more around her waist as they met in a kiss. It was like every kiss they had ever shared and more. A kiss that blotted everything else out and a kiss she couldn’t help but smile into as the spider dipped her slightly. A smile that turned to giggles as Muffet peppered her with smaller kisses afterwards. 

—

It might be small as far as the number of guests was concerned, but looking at the ballroom where the reception was being held it wouldn’t be hard to believe there was enough food and drinks arranged for hundreds of people. 

Pictures were taken, many snacks were eaten and the Marai had her fair share of bubbly drinks. A bridal fair share by anyone’s reckoning. She spent time talking with her friends, then dancing with them after she’d shared the first with Muffet. She sang, though in far more of a champagne fuelled karaoke way than the professional attempts she might have made at someone else’s wedding.