~ Jackie's experience in Phantom Bride Event 👻 💒 ~ Ft some special guests - don’t worry, they were on the guest list!
(Writing this in another format to trick my brain into actually wanting to write shhh)
- The story begins on a random late night. Jackie is performing a fool’s errand by trying to go to sleep early (11:00pm) as she has a potions pop quiz the following morning and she wants to be there early to get the non-chipped beaker set before anyone else.
- Idia has a problem with this (not the test, he couldn’t give less of a shit about that tbh). No, his problem lies in the fact his special pre-ordered manga with bonus autograph card didn’t come :(! His day one cred is shot so he makes the ever so bold decision to get a regularly lame copy from the school store.
- and obviously if he’s going, Jackie’s going to! She’s the ultimate social buffer that ensures no awks convos with cashier and smooth public appearances 100% of the time! He’s dragging her along everywhere! New cat cafe? Jackie’s coming! Conventions in town? Jackie will be there! Shroud Family reunion? Save an extra seat pls and thx!
- But Jackie’s already put on her business-hours-are-closed bonnet so what’s usually a two second dialogue turns into a disagreement quick.
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Jackie: You act like you’ll die if I don’t go with you.
Idia: I might?? You don’t know!? An IRL quick time event can spawn in at any moment!
Jackie: Pretty sure the server's done rn. Like me. I’m down. Lying down. Lying down to sleep.
Idia: Okie but consider the following: Pwease :3??
Jackie: *fake signal cutting out noises* Oh no, I’m going through a tunnel ohhhh I’m losing you man oh nooooo…*falls asleep*
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- Safe to say this conversation….does not weigh on Jackie in the slightest! She’s has a great sleep and wakes up ready and with her batts fully recharged! As she goes to leave her room she can just make out the commotion from the rest of Ignihyde's population.
- Did a highly anticipated anime adaptation get announced? No, this sounds more upset, fearful even…? This could only mean one thing.
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Jackie: Chat, I understand you’re upset but we can’t keep doing this every time they push back the GTA 6 release—*sees all the ghosts running amok* Ah.
Freshman: *cowering from ghosts* SENPAI!!!!
Jackie: *creates a protective barrier* TO ME, MY FRESHMAN!
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- After getting the skinny (or lack thereof given how her antisocial dorm mates are just as much out of the loop) Jackie springs into action but is ultimately unable to do more than stall. She orders the upperclassmen to look after their juniors and begins toying with/interrogating the ghosts.
- A princess from 500 years ago…unfinished business in the form of marriage…comes to the school once a year in search of her destined groom and has apparently, finally, been found. Curse her sleep addled, no caffeine state right now! She knows she’s heard this story before but the specifics escape her (there’s something of a…sinking feeling as she pans across the room and finds not a whisp of blue flame.)
- No matter. When the going gets tough, the tough get going after all, allons-y and all that. She exits the dorm without getting turned into Jacqueline-Berry pie and heads towards Crowley, the most reliable source in the whole school—HAHAHA, JK! She uses the secret pathways behind the haunted paintings and dips!
- (You might be wondering why there are secret pathways behind the paintings to begin with. So is she! It’s one the greater mysteries she’d like to solve before graduating, only recently dethroned by the existence of the Ramshackle. Nevertheless, one shouldn't look such fortuitous gift horses in the mouth.)
- Back on track: where is her current destination? The library of course! After receiving permission she uses the eyes of the painting to peer in and yeah, it’s kháos incarcerate. Oh these poor stacks, was there no justice left in this world! (She quickly grabbed what she came for and left.) (Don’t look at her like that — she doubled back for some straggling students while still keeping to the shadows, just like any vigilante worth their salt!)
- Jackie bee-lined it to the sports field, figuring she’d find the rest of the colourful student body there and she was proven right. The glaring absence of a certain dorky dorm leader made a pit in her stomach she forced herself to ignore just a little wider and deeper.
- Ortho is happy to see her at least and is quick to confirm her fears: Idia has been selected to be wed to a ghastly, ghostly bride. And to add insult to injury, nobody wanted to help get him back besides Crowley of course, who cares very much for his students and not at all for the media perception of him.
- Jackie is by no means surprised, NRC isn’t exactly known for pumping out heroes but come on, it gets to a point, no? Not a one of them even seemed concerned…well, all but one. Human nature and animal instincts are harder to hide when working in tandem. Best not to speculate at a time like this..
- Eventually, the others are “convinced” to assist. Jackie bravely says she'll held off alone to stall the nuptials while the rest think of the plan that will cease these spectral spectacular in its wake.
- Most accept this readily, they need all the time they can get to figure this out but Ortho is worried. Splitting up almost never works out in all forms of media and splitting up for what could very well be a suicide mission for her is even worse!
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Jackie: Don’t go overheating your circuits Or, I’ll be just fine. I’m a big tough girl, tie my own sandals and everything.
Ortho: Just…be careful. And save Idia. And come back. Preferably all at the same time.
Jackie: *saluting* Aye-Aye Captain.
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- After simultaneously speed-walking and reading for a while, Jackie arrives at Ramshackle, now with 500% more ghosts! Just what no doctor ever ordered! After stashing the prep supplies and conjuring up some roses (blood red, of course) she casually enters.
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Puffy: Hark, who goes there! State your name, purpose for disturbing our affairs and preferred method for burial for doing so!
Jackie: Jacqueline Iris, I’d always imagined I’d be cremated and scattered to the 4 winds, and I request an audience with Her Highness, Princess Elizabeth of Auradon.
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- Silence follows that declaration. Being undead for so long causes on to forget even the most obvious things for their time living. It had been a long time since anyone there had heard the name of their long gone kingdom.
- She is granted that audience and finds Eliza hovering above the sofa watching Jackie suspiciously even as she greets her with a bow and presents the flowers. Eliza knew exactly what this girl was up to! There could be no other reason than to steal her beloved(s)! Why else would she—want to be her wedding planner?!??
- Eliza’s hand, already halfway to a slap, pauses. She watches as Jackie straightens and begins explaining how - as young as she may be - she’s something of a historian and therefore knows Eliza's story (as best as the books tell it anyway) and it never fails to pluck at her heartstrings. How sad to have one's most earnest heart's desire linger just outside their reach through no fault of their own, doomed to a unsatisfied existence in the afterlife. It was a fate no one deserved.
- (She's being quite truthful here, which is always a little harder than it probably should be. Thankfully it ties heavily into both her love of history and hearing her own voice and not just her *gulp* honest feelings about something.)
- Now that she was here and had finally found her long promised love, Jackie wanted to make it the best it could be! A wedding that incorporated her history both living and dead alongside modern traditions! A wedding that shall be inscribed into history! And she was just the expert for such a momentous task!
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Jackie: Your Highness, I may not be worthy of such an opportunity but if you trust in me, I will ensure that you will finally see your Happily Ever After :)
Eliza: W-W-WAHHHHHHHHH!! 😭😭😭😭
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- Unsurprisingly, Eliza and the other ghosts in tow cries at these words. Finally, someone who understands! Who wants to help! Jackie is immediately welcomed in and begins bustling about, sprouting off wedding traditions from all cultures to see what will make the cut.
- She also - with a well timed style swap spell - changes outfits! One cannot wear a school uniform to a wedding, she’ll look like the wait staff!
(The outfit and hairstyle in question. You’re probably wondering why green and not pink! Warm tones?? At a GHOST wedding?? Bonkers behaviour she will not endorse! + it’s too close to red and she doesn’t want anyone living or dead to think she’s involved with the groom. It also ties in with both the folklore about a green lady spirit who’s often seen as the ghost of tragically dead bride and also the green ghost that can appear in wedding photos, often interpreted as a good sign and indicative of a spirit sending a message of healing! ++ it’s a really good suit come on!)
- After assisting for a bit, she eventually asks to go speak to the betrothed to ensure all customs presented are complaint with his tastes (totally legit reason trust her guys) and is led to their ‘powder room’ by Puffy who seems rather dour on the way there…? Jackie files that away for later and asks that she have the room to themselves to ensure a quality surprise for the princess.
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Puffy: (dejectedly) The grooms are just in there..
Jackie: Thank you for the escort my good man—i’m sorry did you say grooms?
Puffy: Yes. Two absolutely undeserving mortals have caught our esteemed princess’s fancy. Lucky them.
Jackie: (internally) Odd. I didn’t remember the group mention anyone else missing, could it be someone they didn’t know or overlooked—Bollocks, it's Charles isn’t it, I’m gonna walk in and it’s gonna be Idia and Charles.
Charles: Please no more measuring—Jackie?! What’re you doing here?! Did you come to save us o-or you get captured too?! Is the princess gay?! Nice suit btw
Jackie: I’m more stalling than anyway but feel free to think of me as your saviour~! Don’t look too shabby yourself—
Idia: (indignant) Do you see what happens when you argue with genius Jackie?! Do you?!? Ask not who The Bell of Hubris tolls for, it tolls for thee!!
Jackie: In what universe would my accompanying have made a difference? How about a nice “thank you” for coming to save your easily kidnapped self?
Idia: Oh, MB, thank you…FOR NOTHING!
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- Jackie is a good friend. The kind of friend who will enter the line of fire for you but still enough of an asshole who will treat things causally as soon as she confirms you’re okay. Be like Jackie! (results may very)
- A Grim-sized tiff occurs between the Ignihyde members with poor Charles stuck in the middle and struggling to mediate with such ferocious verbal tennis in front of him that only hilarious stops after he tells them that friends shouldn't fight to which they both - in scarily perfect unison - claim they are not friends. They just happen to be likeminded, have similar and also necessarily different views, spend time together and somewhat enjoy each other's company! Does that make them friends now all of a sudden?? Get your facts straight NOOB!
- At least they stopped fighting each other?? Charles will pretend this is a victory and keep his mouth shut going forward.
[Skipping ahead a bit cause LORD am I YAPPING]
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Eliza: (sing-songy) Oh Wedding Planner~! Can you help instruct my bridesmaid and flower girl on proper wedding customs from my time, would you~?
Jackie: I am at your beck and call Your Highness—pardon, teach them? Wouldn’t all in your court already know it?
Eliza: Oh no, they’d have to be dead for that and they are very much alive!
Jackie: *bowing* So you wish it, so shall it be Your Highness.
Jackie: I had a feeling it'd be you two! Boy, I sure feel much safer knowing the muscle-bound cavalry has arrived. Tell me, when exactly is the plan—
Jackie: 👂🏾🤚🏾 Come again? You’re mumbling and you know I feel about mumbling: strongly and unkindly.
Mahina/Shriek: WHY DO YOU GET TO WEAR PANTS 😡😡😡⁉️⁉️⁉️
Mahina: (Flustered) Jacqueline, switch with me.
Shriek: (Pissed) No, switch with ME! This dress is fugly and is trying to ruin the awesomeness of skulls!
(Long story and tug-of-war short, Jackie switches with neither of them and reminds them of the greater good aka the plan. After all, she was too old to be a flower girl and not nearly well endowed enough to swap outfits with Mahina! She also narrowly avoids getting possessed by Eliza by reminding the princess she’s not technically part of the wedding party. She’ll apologize to Manu-senpai later…)
- Watching the actual proposals is a test. A test to how she can keep an impassive face that is! Sevens, she knew Eliza's standards are higher than a poor boy's beanstalk but some of her fellow students wouldn’t know how to woo if it walked around with a neon sign around its neck! Next to her floats Puffy who only seems more depressed with each slap of his sovereign’s hand.
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Jackie: (side eye) It's a shame, isn't it?
Puffy: It’s a travesty is what it is! They have no class, no respect, no sense but nonsense even when given a chance to speak to the most radiant bride to ever be! She deserves better, better than a prince, better than a king even!
Jackie: Yes, the princess does seem unlucky in love options currently…at least she got lucky in compatriots like you.
Puffy: Wha-me?! What are you talking about?!
Jackie: To care so ardently, to protect so fervently, to regard so earnestly…there’s no other word than that the most profound devotion known to all is there?
Puffy: *looks at Eliza* I-I could never. She does not feel the same and she is a princess! I am nothing..
Jackie: *shrugs* Times have changed my friend. Some of that greatest romances have come to pass since your time has been between royalty and commoner. It’s a quite a lovely modern concept.
Jackie: And as for not feeling the same…there’s only one way to know that for sure.
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- Blah blah blah backstory stuff aside, Jackie’s push empowers Puffy to stand up for love! And he almost kills her classmates for it! Which forces her to use her UM very subtly to ensure all the living stay living and all the dead stay dead
- Ghost ass gets kicked, Idia gets dumped for Puffy and the spooky sweethearts prepare to ride off into the Netherworld sunset together!
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Eliza: I’m sorry, it seems all your preparations are seemed to be for naught now.
Jackie: As long as you are happy Your Highness, it was time well spent.
Eliza: Still, allow me to bestow you a token of my gratitude for being a cornerstone in my happiness with my Puffy~!
Jackie: A gift for a guest at your own wedding? That’s..quit unheard of Princess.
Puffy: Modern though, isn’t it?
Jackie: Very. *takes the small bag and peeks inside* ..! This is..!
Puffy: Spirit Portal Coins! Direct access to the Netherworld with just a flip!
Eliza: Which I expect you to use to help write our enchanting story to the altar for all to read~!
Jackie: I-I would be honoured. Expect my visit soon. (Internally) Score!!
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Jackie when Idia tells the group he’s gay:
Jackie when Idia and Leona say they’re dating:
Leona: Don't act like you didn’t know.
Jackie: I didn’t, not for certain. I don’t deal in speculations.
Leona: ..You’d do well in politics with smarmy talk like that.
Jackie: You flatter me Your Highness.
Idia: I see you’re still stuck in ‘suck-up mode’.
Jackie: (😈) Prince Kingscholar, I admit, one of the reasons for my suspecting you was how well you align with Idia's fictional crushes over the years!
Leona: *leaning back* You don’t say. Care to enlighten me on the subject?
Idia: No she definitely wouldn’t—
Jackie: Why of course Your—
Leona: But drop the whole ‘Your Highness’ and ‘Prince’ thing.
Jackie: (sweating) Y-You want me to address you informally..?
Idia: Whee-hee-hee! Your royalty debuff trap card has been activated! What’re you gonna do now!
Jackie: *walking away* You won’t be so lucky next Shroud…
Idia: Tell it walking, loser!
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- Jackie heads back to her room after a long day and begins preparing to write the epic she promised. She’ll need enchanted parchment! Specialty ink! An equally important third thing!
- But right now…she'll be taking a quick nap, she’s really tired.
Charles and Mahina belong to my dudeski @inzendino
Shriek belongs to my brain cell holder @wyvernslovecake
