Hey everyone!
I've been sitting here, writing off and on throughout the day and considering I've got a rather busy lineup tomorrow, I thought it would be the perfect time to just update a day early instead. To those who have been along for the ride since the beginning, say a prayer because the time has finally come. Say it with me now: Praise the Walls!
I gotta say the comments have been a little, eh, lacking these last few updates which has kinda been surprising to me (where has the reading community gone? Yall been reading too much of that manga and let me just say, it's too bloody depressing so you're better off here!) – but for my regular readers who have something to say every chapter, know that your encouragement seriously means the world to me and I am thrilled to keep bringing you new, thoughtful content that is worth your time (and patience!).
So. Without further delay, without any more bumps in the road or exposition we need to sift through - here is THE chapter you've all been waiting for.
Enjoy.
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They had gathered into the small conference room where both Erwin and Hanji were waiting.
By the time Levi and Petra had walked into the room, Hanji had already moved toward the members of Levi's squad, pointing out the lines at the bottom of a large formal document and demanding their signatures as official witnesses.
"Make sure it's legible please, oh and don't forget the date!" she pressed as she peered over Oluo's shoulder, pointing out the missed section and ignoring the cursing that followed her sudden micromanaging.
"Levi, Petra, welcome." Erwin greeted nonchalantly, barely sparing a glance toward them as he reviewed some further paperwork in a focused manner. He waved a hand, "Just a second. While Hanji's getting that taken care of, I'll give everything one last review and we'll get started."
Levi nodded mutely, and Petra also shook her head in quiet agreement, taking a deep breath and trying to calm her suddenly racing nerves. She looked around the room as she toned out the chatter around her – Hanji pointing out a 'T' that wasn't crossed in Gunther's name, Gunther insisting that it was his signature and he never crossed it to begin with – and she gave a slight sigh.
It was a simple room that she was actually rather familiar with, the conference room being a popular choice for meetings and classroom style training. There were a few chairs, a desk that had been pushed off into the corner, and a dingy chalk board that had residual white dust smeared across its pale green surface. The walls were plain and scuffed from the floor to the ceiling, and various diagrams were pinned up for display, like the various Titan heights, articles regarding 3DM safety, and the Scout's wings of Freedom emblem.
Petra frowned, coming to the realization that this was where, and how she was getting married.
This wasn't a stained-glass chapel like she had dreamed, her father wasn't holding her hand and whispering reassuring phrases in her ear – hell, her father didn't even know she was getting married - and she was wearing her bulky, clunky old riding boots that were still muddy from her previous outing into town.
In her standard uniform, she didn't stand out in the slightest and actually blended in amongst her uniformed peers. Petty as it was, it didn't escape her notice that everyone, absolutely everyone, was wearing white.
Petra put her hands into her pockets, feeling a wave of embarrassment and shame wash over her after realizing just how plain and simple a bride she turned out to be in the end. Not that she thought of herself as particularly stunning or overly attractive, but she had thought that at least on her wedding day, she would make a beautiful bride.
She had clearly thought wrong.
Petra bit her bottom lip, attempting to keep it from trembling from the undeniable disappointment she was feeling.
It wasn't any one's fault and she certainly didn't want to make the Captain feel guilty considering he was doing more than enough as it was – but still. More than anything, she just wanted to get it over with so she could go sulk in her room, safe and out of the public eye.
It was then that Petra noticed Eld's heavy gaze on her, a displeased and suspicious frown falling across his face as though he could read her very mind, and Petra averted her gaze elsewhere, looking at the opposite end of the room and straightening her posture defensively, hoping that her body language would successfully send him the 'mind your own business' vibe. She heard him sigh in irritation, though before he could act further, Hanji directed everyone to sit down quietly so Erwin could get started.
If Eld had intended on making any more of a fuss, his opportunity had passed. No one would dare defy Erwin directly. Not only would Erwin be quick to shut down any radical elements, but Levi would also ensure there would be hell to pay for choosing to misbehave in front of his direct superior.
Hanji moved toward them intentionally, "Alright Levi, you stand up there…" she pointed, directing Levi to stand closer toward Erwin, where a traditional groom would stand. The scientist turned back towards Petra next, "And Petra, um…well there's not really an aisle to walk down. I suppose if you wanted, we could move these chairs over and-"
Petra shook her head quickly, certain that if they tried to turn this into an actual ceremony with her walking down the 'aisle', she would truly die of embarrassment. It was touching that Hanji wanted to give her such an opportunity to begin with, but Petra simply couldn't do it. Not with how she looked, not with how she felt – there was just no way.
"No, please no." she stated quickly, feeling blood rush to her face at the thought of all her squad watching her as she moseyed her way into the room – the very picture of everything a bride should not look like on her wedding day. Petra walked sheepishly to the front of the room, giving Hanji a wide berth in fear of getting grabbed and pulled to the back of the room anyway, "I just…we don't have to, right? I'll just go stand up by the Captain if that's okay. We really can't delay much longer…"
Hanji looked surprised, but thankfully nodded and gave a satisfied shrug, "If you're fine with that then that's fine with me. Erwin? We've got all the signatures, and it looks like we've got a willing bride and groom. Everything checks out if you want to take over from here."
He looked around the room and gave a nod. "Thank you, Hanji. Let's all begin then shall we?"
Petra gulped, then looked straight ahead, looking between Erwin and Levi nervously.
Well. This was it.
This was what she had decided on, and she would be damned if she backed out now.
She had fought with her squad, fought with herself, and dragged Levi along with her the whole way. Even if this was far from the wedding of her dreams, even if it meant that sacrifices had to be made on the daily from here on out – she was going to see this through to the very end.
Erwin cleared his throat, looking at Levi and Petra first, then towards Hanji and the rest of Levi's squad amicably, "Thank you for coming today. I understand that for, well, everyone here, this was extremely short notice."
There was a hushed whisper from Oluo who had moved slightly and leaned closer to Eld, "Do you think there's gonna be a reception? I'm gonna need a fucking drink. Damn it all, what if it's a cash bar? Those cheap fuckers."
"SShh!" Eld hissed back sharply, not wanting Oluo's big mouth to get them all in trouble. He was already in enough trouble with Levi as it was and adding the Commander to the list seemed like an outright death wish. Oluo seemed to take the hint and mercifully fell silent.
Erwin continued, "Today we come here to celebrate loyalty, trust, and sacrifice – qualities that are highlighted in not just the best of soldiers, but also in the lives of those given and bound to their relationship to one another. It is always a privilege when I am given the honor to join two hearts in matrimony, and it is with a great reverence that I see two of our best, both presenting yourselves to be unified in matrimony today. In the most unlikely of circumstances, you have each shown consideration, humility, and a selflessness for the other in both a critical time and in a decisive manner. As your Commander, I am truly proud to see such an act of devotion from two like-minded and gifted Scouts."
Petra looked up toward Erwin, taken aback by his words. Admittedly, she had been expecting him to read words off a sheet of paper or perhaps just skip straight to the I Do's - however it was clear that he had actually put a great deal of thought into what he was saying. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised as she herself had just recently spoke of how thorough he was, but how he addressed them so warmly… it made it feel that much less forced and that their decision was something to be celebrated, rather than shamed. Petra actually found herself taking encouragement from his words and the pride he spoke with about their radical choice to actually see it through to the end.
It was as though he legitimately supported their decision to marry – shallow reasons and all – and that was certainly a first.
"Levi." Erwin looked down at his subordinate, his smile warm, "I've known you for many years now. I've watched you grow as a Scout, and eventually step into the role of Captain. You have always succeeded in your rank with admirable discipline and unrestrained bravery. With the knowledge you possess, you have trained your squad with both wisdom and discretion. With your strength, you've protected them, building them up and bolstering them further in the process. In this same manner, and with these same skills, I expect you to care for and watch over Petra. Use your strengths to uphold and support her, as your subordinate, and friend, and now wife."
Petra blinked, feeling her face heat up as Erwin instructed Levi directly about his enhanced role as her husband in such a sincere and thought out manner, tailoring his instructions to Levi specifically. She could feel the Captain's gaze on her as the Commander spoke, and Petra couldn't help but envy his ability to wear a poker face so well. Whereas Levi looked the same as he always did – bored – Petra could not mask her emotions nearly as well. She dropped her gaze to the floor, staring down at her feet in embarrassment as the Captain's gaze lingered on her.
The Commander turned his attention to Petra, and he gave a small laugh at her clearly uneasy state, "Petra. In the time you've been in our ranks, your passion has blown many away time and time again. You are relentless in your pursuit to be the best, and your tenacity is unrivaled by anyone else I know. You have never been afraid of a challenge and refuse to give up, no matter how bad your odds may be. Similarly, as I've challenged Levi, I would issue you to use your gifts to encourage and build up your Captain. It is your unique and offsetting strengths that will allow you both to succeed and complement each other as you grow in your marriage."
Petra looked up toward Erwin slowly, giving him a single shallow nod. She wasn't exactly certain how their 'marriage' would function per say, but at the very least, after seeing what Levi was sacrificing to keep her on his team, she would strive hard to go the extra mile to cheer him on, lift his spirits, and be a friend to him – whatever that looked like. It was the least she could do, after all he was doing for her.
Erwin looked between them expectantly, "I understand you both have rings to present as a token of your loyalty and devotion. Please present them to me at this time."
Levi nodded and reached into his jacket, pulling out the rings in question and handing them up to the Commander silently.
"What the hell? When did they get rings? Are yall sure they haven't been shacking up?" Oluo hissed from behind them, once again earning another 'Shh!' from Eld. He grumbled and fell silent again.
Erwin grabbed the rings and continued, "Rings are often used to symbolize the bond shared between husband and wife, as it is a continuous circle, and therefore it has no end. Much like these rings, may your bond with each other be strong and unified, and everlasting. As you exchange rings with one another so you can both outwardly display this special bond you share, we will also proceed and exchange vows at this time."
The Commander handed the emerald ring first to Levi, watching him pointedly, "Levi Ackerman, do you take this woman, Petra Marie Ral, to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you take her in the good times and bad, in sickness and in health, only till death do you part – for as long as you both shall live?"
Petra seemed to forget how to breathe and she looked up at Levi slowly, taking the time to truly look at him.
His dark shadowed eyes, his black unruly hair, his pristinely clean and pressed uniform that pointed toward his proud nature – it killed her to admit, especially considering how haggard she must appear right now, but the Captain was devastatingly handsome.
Not only that, but he was her Captain, the man she had admired and worked under for so long now, the man so aptly dubbed 'Humanity's Strongest'.
He was so elite, so untouchable – so beyond someone as plain as her…
Would he actually take her?
The man who had driven her to near insanity time and time again – the man who she had busted her ass for more times than she could count, and the same man she had slowly formed a strange friendship with – would he actually agree to live the rest of his life alongside hers, just so she could have a few more years on his squad?
What did he possibly have to gain from such an arrangement?
She watched him nervously, surprising herself at how naked and exposed she seemed to feel in front of his stare. The question both plagued and baffled her.
….Would he actually take her?
His steel blue eyes locked with hers, his voice was low and smooth, "I do."
She felt her breath leave her, and as she turned her attention toward the Commander, she missed the slight half smile that came to Levi's face after seeing Petra's clear relief, as though she had actually thought he would say no in the end.
Erwin smiled at Levi's confirmation, "Then you may place the ring on her left hand, to act as an outward testament of your vows."
Levi waited as Petra nervously presented her left hand, and again he slipped the ring slowly onto her finger, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze once the ring sat securely on her finger once again. Her smile brightened at this as she looked down at the stunning ring Levi had picked out for her only hours before, and she looked back toward Erwin expectantly, admittedly… excited to get to her part next.
The Commander handed Levi's ring over to her with a nod, "And do you, Petra Marie Ral, take this man, Levi Ackerman, to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you take him in the good times and bad, in sickness and in health, only till death do you part – for as long as you both shall live?"
She looked back toward Levi, pressing her lips together as she locked her gaze onto him. She gave a single, slight nod and took a breath of preparation, surprising herself at how naturally the words came.
"I do."
She continued to return his gaze directly, and the way he watched her, with a hint of pride glowing in his eyes, she could only smile shyly in return, a blush rising to her face all the more as he watched her intently.
Perhaps Erwin's sappy speech was getting to her, or maybe it was the way the Captain was watching her – but Petra had anticipated a sort of sinking feeling in her stomach, that saying 'I Do' to Levi Ackerman would put the nail in the coffin for a life of loneliness and regret. Not that he was a bad man, but she knew full well that neither of them saw each other in such a light. She had expected that she would be feeling something negative, not this. She hadn't thought that she would feel so…carefree.
Why the hell was she so damn happy?
Erwin chuckled at her eager response, "Then you may place the ring on his left hand, to act as an outward testament of your vows."
Levi moved his hand upward, and Petra reached out slowly, grabbing onto his hand and running her thumb over his knuckles softly before carefully slipping the ring onto his finger as he had done for her a moment ago. Even after the ring was placed, she still held onto his hand and she couldn't help the bubbling smile that came when she looked back up toward him.
If her unneeded hand holding bothered him, he didn't say, and Levi gave a single nod of approval as she continued to watch him with a radiant smile. Her blush continued to intensify from the directness of his stare, and the Captain gave an almost inaudible chuckle when she finally lost her nerve and looked to the ground sheepishly.
Erwin paused for a moment, observing the pair knowingly before continuing on to the next part of the ceremony. He rolled his shoulders and adjusted the papers on the table. He cleared his throat and turned his attention back onto the pair, "Then by the power vested in me by the Holy government, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
Petra had been so busy smiling and caught up in her own thoughts that her mind ripped back down to earth a moment too late after hearing Erwin's announcement.
You may…you may what now?
…How had she forgotten about that?
Before her mind could even register a proper response, Levi had stepped forward, placed a hand on her hip and closed the distance between them.
Petra's eyes were wide as saucers as Levi's lips pressed gently over hers, the kiss chaste and simple, lasting a mere fraction of a second and clearly more for formality's sake than an actual kiss…but he was kissing her none the less.
He pulled back after a mere moment, wearing the same bored and unamused expression that he always did.
The same could certainly not be said of Petra, who was positively glowing bright red at this point, to such an extent that Erwin outright laughed at her comical response, all while Hanji cheered and clapped dramatically, whistling loudly and jumping to her feet in excitement. Petra brought her hand to her lips in surprise, looking first towards Erwin, who was still laughing, then towards her squad who seemed just as surprised as she was, eyes wide and mouths agape, then back to Levi.
From his bored expression, it seemed as though he was already over it and had resumed watching Erwin again, though after further inspection, Petra noticed there was an undeniable smirk on his lips.
...So the kiss had impacted him after all then.
She smiled smugly at her observation, also turning her attention to the Commander and deciding to not muddy the waters by allowing her thoughts to linger.
It was unexpected, and she never would have thought Levi would actually make good on such a tradition, but admittedly…it was nice. It was a pleasant surprise, and a memory she already knew she would cherish for years to come – a chaste gift from her Captain to herself, on their strange and hectic wedding day.
Erwin sobered his expression and cleared his throat, "Well then, it is my great privilege to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman!"
At that, Hanji again clapped and cheered twice as loud as before, to such an extent that her squad mates slowly, begrudgingly, began clapping as well, though clearly lacking the outright enthusiasm that Hanji displayed with her rigorous and hearty applause. It was somewhat a wonder that her hands didn't fly off with the aggressive and dramatic way she was clapping.
Erwin motioned for the pair to join him at the table, his voice less loud now that the official 'ceremony' was concluded. He pointed at the gathered papers, "Alright here is the wedding contract. I'll need you both to sign here, and then here so we can get this sent off to the courier's office for filing."
Petra nodded as she moved toward the table. She leaned over the surface slightly, grabbing a pen from Erwin and starting to write out her name, though Erwin cut her off promptly as the pen scratched over the paper, "Wait wait, hold on there Petra, it's not Ral anymore, right? Legally speaking, it's Ackerman from here on out."
Petra blinked again as she stopped writing mid signature, this time feeling a little floored as Erwin brought up yet another detail that had completely slipped her mind until now.
They were getting married – no, were married - so naturally she would be taking his last name.
Ackerman.
…She wasn't a Ral anymore.
She looked up toward Levi in surprise, as though asking wordlessly if he was okay with this, and he merely nodded towards the paper expectantly.
It seemed the detail had just slipped her mind then.
She nodded uncertainly in response, turning her attention back down toward the marriage license she had almost signed incorrectly and trying to ignore the sudden onslaught of emotions that overwhelmed her. For as angry as she was with her father, more than that, in this moment she suddenly missed him terribly. She wished he could have been there with her on the day she left her father's household for good; the day that her name changed from the one given to her at birth.
For as messed up as the day was, for all that he had put her through, she still wanted him there. She treasured their relationship dearly and knowing that his heart would be broken because of her choices was devastating. Knowing that he had inadvertently put her on this path was devastating, and Petra could only hope that time would mend the wounds they both shared as a result of his selfishness.
She blinked the sting out of her eyes in an attempt to focus and directed her attention back to her half-completed signature.
There was a straight line that would have started the R for her previous last name, and Petra placed her pen down and corrected the line so that it curved into an A instead, slowly writing out 'Ackerman' letter by letter in concentration.
She had written out Levi's last name before, but never paid it much mind.
It was a satisfying name to write, she concluded, the letters progressing in a manner that enabled her to keep the pen flowing seamlessly, curling up and looping at the K, and Petra appreciated the feel of the pen gliding across the paper through the many curves and twists that comprised the cursive M and N at the end.
She looked down at her new signature, the name Petra Ackerman staring back up at her strangely. That would take some getting used to.
Before she could register her thoughts on the matter, Erwin redirected her attention, "Excellent, thank you. Now then for this document, I'll actually just need you for this one Petra; you may find it looks somewhat familiar. This is the contract you can fill out, if you so choose, to extend your time within the Scout Regiment."
Petra looked up between the Commander and Levi with wide eyes, a hopeful smile brimming at the corners of her lips. She hadn't known they would have her sign a new contract here and now. Whether it was meant to be a surprise or not she didn't know, nor did she care. The timing couldn't have been better.
Erwin looked toward Levi with a proud smile, "It seems to be my understanding that your current head of household has no issue with your being in the military-" Levi gave a lopsided smirk at this, and Erwin motioned toward the document, "So in that event, the decision falls solely to you, my dear."
At the Commander's explanation, Petra felt on overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment and relief wash over her in waves.
It was worth it. The fighting, the frustration, the tears- in this moment she was certain that she had made the right judgment call. It was obvious to everyone, her heart belonged to the military, it always had, and even if the day had been unpleasant and her thoughts had been restless, knowing that she would be able to stay renewed her spirits and set her very soul at ease.
She smiled as tears spilled over her face, laughing at herself as the Commander smiled in understanding, pulling a handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and giving it to her.
He nodded, "Make us proud, Mrs. Ackerman."
She wiped her eyes as she smiled back at him, mouthing a silent thank you as she began filling out her contract that would grant her the ability to stay in the Scouts, to stay on Levi's squad, just like she had originally intended all along. She checked all the right boxes, filled out the required lines, signed her name – her correct name even- and set the pen down triumphantly.
To her right, Levi was just finishing signing his name on the marriage contract, his signature just below hers, and he nodded towards Erwin as he stood up straight, "Alright, that should be good to go."
Erwin grabbed both the marriage license and Petra's new contract, reviewing each document line by line to ensure that no mistakes were present that would prevent matters from running smoothly.
Petra watched the Commander with bated breath, unknowingly leaning closer to Levi as her nerves got the best of her while she waited for the Commander's final verdict.
After a few moments, Erwin nodded and looked up from the papers with a grin, "This looks good. Congratulations Petra, you're in the clear. Welcome back to the Scouts, officially."
Hearing this, Petra felt as though a heavy weight had just been lifted from her. Without even thinking, she turned towards Levi and wrapped her arms around his neck in a jump of excitement, burying her head in his shoulder and grinning ear to ear as she embraced him tightly. She felt him stiffen at first from the unexpected contact, though he didn't push her away.
To his credit, it wouldn't have done any good. She was too happy to let him deter her, and after an extended moment, he sighed and placed his hands on her hips, seemingly accepting her actions for the time being. Petra turned her head so it was closer to his ear. She took in a deep breath and tried to contain herself, tears of both relief and joy threatening to fall all over again.
She exhaled, hoping her voice could convey the sincerity of her words, "Levi, thank you."
She felt him nod once, and hesitantly, a single hand moved to the middle of her back, giving her a reassuring, albeit awkward, pat in return.
"Oh that's so sweet!" Hanji crooned as she observed the embracing pair, moving toward them and announcing loudly, "Group hug!"
And suddenly there was another set of arms that were wrapped tightly around them, Hanji's added embrace so tight that Petra wasn't so much hugging Levi as she was crushed against him.
"Oh is that what we're doing?" Eld called out next, and Petra could barely lift her head up in time to see the taller blonde make his way toward the trio.
"Ah fuck-" she heard Levi grumble, though before he could get out another word, Eld had also crushed his arms around the group, earning a delighted squeal from Hanji, an 'oof' from Petra as her breath was pressed out of her lungs, and a grunt from Levi who was now being crushed from all sides by three different people.
"Gunther!" Eld called out, "Come on! It's the only time we can ever hug Levi and live to tell the tale. I've never felt so alive!"
"And get my ass kicked?" Gunther called back from the safety of his chair, "No thanks."
Before Eld could reach out to Oluo and encourage him to join in on the apparent group hug, Levi rolled his shoulders, overwhelming irritation evident in his tone.
"Oi, off, all of you, off!" he demanded, continuing to twist defiantly until eventually Eld and Hanji released their strong grips, taking a step back and laughing loudly as Levi shot them both waspish glares.
Finally, Petra was also freed. She released her hold slowly, taking a step back from the Captain and grinning at him in amusement as he continued to stare down Hanji and Eld in warning, resembling a cat who had just been threatened with a bathtub full of water.
Regardless her technical involvement in the crushing and sudden group hug, Petra would be the only one that did not receive a heated glare from the miffed Captain.
"Alright Levi-," Erwin stated, though Levi crossed his arms and cut him off.
"If you try to hug me, I'll knock your fucking lights out."
Erwin merely laughed, holding up his hands in surrender, "Alright alright, message received. I was actually going to suggest that we wrap things up here and continue on the paperwork in my office." The Commander looked toward Hanji who was still laughing from her previous antics and nodded seriously, "We've got a lot to do right? Hanji. Let's get focused and make sure we're staying on track."
Hanji gave a nod, bringing her laughter under control and sobering her expression, though she was still grinning in triumph as Levi continued to eye her suspiciously, obviously not ready to forget about her unwanted 'group hug'.
The Titan's expert moved toward the table, stacking up all the papers and giving a nod toward Erwin, "I'm going to run these over to your office then grab a cup of coffee. I've got a feeling we're going to be up for a while and I'm going to need it. See you there. Oh and Petra, Levi – congratulations!"
She skipped out of the room and Erwin cleared his throat intentionally, looking at Levi with expectant eyes and motioning with his head toward Petra with a tilt.
Levi sighed.
"Right. Uh…I've gotta get going and…" The Captain began as he turned towards her once again, and Petra gave him an amused smile. It wasn't like him to falter with his words.
She found herself again fiddling with the ring on her hand, then shook her head back and forth before looking up at him squarely, "It's fine. You've got work to do and I've got the guys to keep me company. Go."
He gave a nod, "Alright. Tell everyone to take it easy these next few days. I want Eld to lead basic conditioning in the morning and from there-"
"Captain," Petra whispered warmly, "You've done enough. We'll be fine."
Levi exhaled and nodded again, turning back toward the Commander who was waiting for him at the doorway, and the pair left the room soon after.
Though the night had been admittedly tense between Petra and her squad mates, they still managed to have a good time. They stayed up far too late into the night, talking and laughing about how cringey the ceremony had been, how they had all gotten better kisses from their own mother, and how they would never let her live it down that she was such a brown-noser that she literally married the Captain.
It had been light hearted and casual, which was perfect because that was exactly what Petra had needed to distract herself from her thoughts.
It was almost midnight by the time she finally came back to her room, and as she prepared for bed – changing out of her uniform, grabbing her pajamas, pulling her hair out of its aptly named messy bun – that she laughed in sudden realization.
It was her wedding day.
It was her wedding day and she hadn't even brushed her hair.
...
End Of Chapter
...
*cracks knuckles*
Alright guys, thank heaven they are finally married – because now the REAL story can officially begin. Hey, I told yall this had a fully developed plot right? Trust me when I say that these aren't just a string of random events, I've got a method to my madness and it's off to the races from here on out!
Let me know your thoughts, tell me what you thought of the ceremony, (Oluo's comments always have me cracking up no matter how many times I've read this section) anything you're looking forward to, etc! Hopefully you enjoyed the early update, and let me give yall a heads up, next chapter is going to be about TWICE the length of a normal chapter. It's just how the cookie crumbled as there's no good stopping points between, so it's just gonna be a longer read next time around.
Either way, buckle up yall cause things are about to get real :)
Midnight, signing off!