one thing's universal, life's no dress rehearsal

[stagemanagers]

[Prom night! The greatest night of your young lives if you watch any Western high school media from the past 60 years. The looks, the music, the copious amounts of fancy snacks, the sore feet from dancing heels and then spending the rest of the night in bare feet- it’s all part of the bigger package.

The courtyard and the roof have both been decked out in a special way for tonight, despite no one really seeing Hester or anyone/anything else decorating. There are round tables set-up in both places, covered in yellow-gold tablecloths. Some of them have platters of snacks laid out on them, one has a large punch bowl that never seems to empty no matter how many drinks are taken from it.

On the roof there’s an extra table with pencils, small slips of paper, a box wrapped in gold wrapping paper and a notecard labeled Song Requests. Just write a song, pop it in the box and within a few minutes it starts playing! Weird, there doesn’t seem to be a sound system anywhere...

Red paper lanterns have been strung around the outline of the roof and between stakes in the courtyard, granting soft romantic light for a night to remember. Put on your best costume shop formal wear, get ready to lose your shoes after an hour and sneak in liquor even though most of you are of age.

After all…tonight belongs to you.]

Comments

[whatyouwant]

[It takes her a couple of tries, but all in all she catches on pretty quick! She laughs in delight as they trot around the dance floor.]

You're pretty good at this!

[whatyouwant]

That's what we thought! So the Wizard really had nothing to do with them?

[whatyouwant]

Sounds a lot like you.

[Elle leans up to press a kiss to his lips. They're far enough away from the actual party for a little PDA.]

[whatyouwant]

Oh! Try those! [Elle points to a pair of ankle boots (That we are going to pretend are flat.]

So I know you said you want to wear pants, but would you be willing to try on at least one dress? I think you'll really like it.

[mcfife]

[Farrah's distracted by the party, no one is going to bother them if Angus moves his hands to Elle's hips and pulls her in for a deeper kiss. This is what parties are for. This is what the rooftop and gardens are for.]

[tailor_made]

It's really silly. All the boys get in a circle and start breakdancing, trying to one-up each other. Sometimes it becomes real fighting but those guys always get thrown out. It's fun to watch at least. I don't think this group is exactly built for it unfortunately.

[Hester's eyes go bright at offered hand and she takes it without hesitation.]

I'm curious to see what kind of dancing life in a castle taught you.

[tailor_made]

[Gee, I wonder why proms aren't your thing, Per.]

You know...I've taken dance lessons most of my life. I could probably teach you a few things too.

[tailor_made]

That's not what I- [Hester flinches. She'd meant she'd been able to sleep. She'd meant she feels more clear-headed, more energized. That she can actually think straight for the first time in 2 weeks to look for-.

But Farrah doesn't want to hear that. Farrah wants to be angry and Hester doesn't fault her for that in the slightest.]

...I'm sorry. I am glad you and Spongebob are okay though.

[tailor_made]

No, he usually sleeps in on Wednesdays. I don't think anyone other than Farrah even mentioned there were club activities happening.

[comeandfindme]

[ it's a fuckin mystery ]

Oh, of course you have. [ It doesn't sound callous! But Peregrine lets out a shaky, awkward laugh. ] Does everyone here know how to dance except for me?

[comeandfindme]

[ The boots she seems to be amenable toward, but at the mention of a dress, Peregrine grimaces mildly. ]

Elle... I want something I can move around in. Dresses don't really do that.

[whatyouwant]

If you get the wrong one, sure.

[Elle pulls out a simple black dress and holds it out to Peregrine.]

The sleeveless design allows for full range of motion for your arms, and the high slit means you can walk and run just fine as well!

[comeandfindme]

Oh. Oh, uh... [ She looks it over, even touches it. ] ...Doesn't this look, like...a little too...you know...fancy?

[ Despite her previous concerns of practicality— Well, Peregrine is a teenage girl, after all. She hasn't always been the outdoorsy type, but she has always been relatively reserved with clothing, sticking to what's comfy, what's relaxed. ]

Wouldn't it be weird?

[ Elle should have no trouble seeing—her primary concern is that...she's shy. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Watching her put so much care into the arrangement warms his heart, and he beams at her as he starts to carefully fix his own flowers in the bushes. ]

Yes! The first time I met Eurydice, I tried to get her attention by giving her a paper flower - it was the end of winter, and I couldn't find anything still blooming. She was kind of skeptical? But I knew I couldn't let her go, so I sang to her with all my heart, and I guess that was enough to turn the flower I made into a real one. I'd never done anything like that before.

[ He laughs, quietly, smiling at the memory. ]

I'm going to see if I can do it again tonight, though.

[tailor_made]

I don't think Spongebob technically does but boy, it's not stopping him from trying. [She giggles and holds out her hand.]

Dance and music were pretty much my only consistencies growing up. When that happens you get pretty good.

[comeandfindme]

[ For a good few moments, Peregrine hesitates. ]

I'm gonna step on your feet. Okay? That's...unfortunately a promise.

[ But, she takes Hester's hand nevertheless. ]

[whatyouwant]

[The shy girl. Elle has seen plenty in her time. She knows the key to helping isn't to make them the center of attention right away, rather ease them into it slowly.]

The only flash on this dress is the little bit of beading around the neckline. Have you seen what Maya and Janis are wearing? Nothing can look "too fancy" next to them.

[Elle holds it up and smiles.]

Just try it on? If you don't like it, we'll find you a nice pair of suit pants or a jumpsuit.

cw: suicide attempt

[brokeforgood]

I'm actually not fine, Hester. I tried to trick Spongebob Squarepants into a suicide pact with me, because I'm fucking miserable, and like, basically everyone I love is dead!

So like, have fun at prom or whatever, but don't tell me to drink water like you fucking care.

Don't talk to me again, until you're done with your wizard bullshit. [And... She's turning, to get the fuck out of here.]

[comeandfindme]

Well— yeah, but...

[ She fiddles with the friendship bracelet Connor made her. Her nails are bitten down, and besides that they've got dirt under them. ]

...I mean like. ...Is it too fancy for me?

[tailor_made]

I think I can handle a few crushed toes. [Her smile wavers a little after she says that but it quickly returns like nothing happened.]

We'll take it nice and slow, don't worry. [The current song end and a new one starts.] Oh, timing.

[comeandfindme]

Yeah... Timing.

[ Her lips press tightly together for a second. ]

...You're not... You're still feeling...okay, right?

[fourbutts]

[ Janis watches all of this as best she can. It's- some part of her can tell, maybe the part that knows that wasn't her bracket text, that this isn't a hallucination, not really. This is something else.

You love this place. You hate this place.

How long has she been here?

Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new

...

The loop of the-

Janis smiles, a mix of elation from the dance and the rush of emotion that whatever this is has given her. ]

... Do you?

[tailor_made]

[Hester, seemingly oblivious to all the spectral activity, laughs softly and nods.] Yeah! This is the most energy I've had in weeks and I haven't danced in... [She trails off, looking perplexed for a moment before shaking it off with a quick grin.]

Let's just say it's been a while.

[tailor_made]

I...I am, actually. Better than I have in a while. [She holds Peregrine's hand gently in one hand before taking Per's other hand and resting it on her shoulder. Her free hand goes to Peregrine's lower back.] I'm hoping it just means I'm on the rebound but...

[She trails off, her eyes settling on her own hand holding Per's before she refocuses.]

Are you familiar with a two-step?

[comeandfindme]

[ She's danced with so many girls tonight and yet she never gets any less shy. ]

It's probably one of the only ones I am familiar with.