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

[mayavericks]

[Well, let's be honest here. There are no half-measures when it comes to Maya Tendo. From the moment Prom is announced, Maya knows that she'll not settle for anything less than the best. Even her sickness seems to take note of this, for the visions she's had die down, and her mind seems much sharper than it had the last few days.

And so she arrives at prom on horseback, thanks in no small part to Cassandra. She's dressed exceptionally well, and just as extra as one might expect. To anyone that approaches her, she'll kneel down and take their hands. Naturally, a kiss will be pressed to the back of any offered palm.]

May our night together be beautiful.

[No matter who you are -- girlfriend, sister, brother, father or friend -- Maya will approach you for a dance. If you don't know what you're doing, don't worry, she'll guide you through. And if you do, well -- she's happy to take on a challenge.

Occasionally, she does take breaks. She sips water instead of punch, and watches the crowd silently. Her expression is... almost unreadable. She looks between each member of their group, as if trying to commit it to memory. After all, she knows what day it is. And though she may hope against hope itself that nothing will happen, it's hard to shake the feeling that their numbers will be even thinner come morning.]

Break

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob watches Maya at the prom for a long time, smiling softly. He remembers how scared she was yesterday, and how he made her feel that way, but now...

He sees her and hopes she feels this happy for the rest of her life. He hopes he never beats herself over after a performance, he hopes that the world holds nothing but wonder and joy for her.

When Maya finally starts to take a break, Spongebob finally decides to approach her.]

Wow, sis, you were a natural out there.

[He sounds almost a little envious, but he looks at her in the most admiring way.]

[mayavericks]

[Maya's smile is polite. It doesn't seem polite to say something about how she knew she looked good. He was only trying to be nice -- she could manage the same.]

You're too kind, oniisan. [A beat.] We could dance together, if you wanted?

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob's eyes widen with childlike excitement at the offer of them dancing. Sure he's still in a lot f pain from yesterday but this was the first time he's ever been to prom, and like heck would he turn down an offer to dance from one of his sisters.

He grabs one of Maya's hand with his good one, beaming.]

I'd love to! I can't remember the last time I danced!

[brokeforgood]

[Holy Shit.

Look, Farrah has always known Maya’s pretty. She’s not exactly Farrah’s type, but there’s definitely always been something about her that made Farrah go “Okay, yeah, she has a whole harem of women” and it made sense.

But—- this? This is excessive. This makes Farrah’s heart drop into her stomach, do a little hopeful flip, and fly straight back up into place again. On horseback? For real? Horses were not supposed to be her thing but—-

I thought you weren’t a horse girl, Farrah.

Farrah sharply elbows the air beside her.]

Shut up—- [She seems to be listening to the blank space beside her intently, then gives it a face.]

Okay, Annleigh. That’s just offensive. [Right. But. Talk to Maya. She’s right here having ridden in on freaking horseback, and isnt her dumb, imaginary airheaded sister. She tries to bounce back and smile.]

Damn, Maya. That’s the most extra prom entrance I’ve seen. And I go to private school.

[mayavericks]

[Maya, at least, seems distracted enough by trying to get off of Fidella (Cassandra had made it look so easy, too). She doesn't notice the one-sided bickering until she speaks again.]

I'm sure I could have managed more. [A shrug!] You look wonderful though, Farrah.

[brokeforgood]

Thanks! My dress is hideous. [She does a little flounce, admiring the rainbow shimmers] I love it.

I really don’t think you could do much more, though.

arrival

[fourbutts]

[ well that certainly is a lot, isn't it? uh. after a break and multiple threads of yelling about how gay she is for maya tendo, janis gets the gumption to actually meet up with her horse-riding girlfriend once she's sure at least some collection of real words is going to leave her mouth.

but then she kisses her hand and just. ]

Jesus, I— you win, holy shit, I am yours.

[mayavericks]

Was that ever in question, Janis?

[Maya can't help but laugh. Still, despite the breezy attitude, she looks almost a little flushed. She's quick to step forward, holding out her arm as she does.]

Shall we?

[fourbutts]

No, but I'm really feeling it in this prom tonight.

[ Janis, only starting to come out of the Incredibly Gay Daze she's in, takes it and nods. ]

Let's.

dance

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine just. Looks down at her dirty boots. ]

Uhh... You sure these are...made for a dance floor?

[mayavericks]

[Maya places a hand on her hip.]

Are you doubting my ability to make a dancer of you, Peregrine Wells?

[comeandfindme]

No! [ She yelps. Maya keeps having the ability to make her yelp. Is it the fever making her feel warm, or Maya Tendo? What a conundrum. ] No, just... They've got mud on 'em, so...if I step on your feet, it'll be kinda noticeable.

Arrival

[whatyouwant]

[Elle trots over as Maya is dismounting the horse.]

Oh my God, Maya! You look amazing!

[mayavericks]

As do you!

[Maya doesn't even look smug when she smiles. It's genuine delight all the way down, baby!]

Are you enjoying the evening so far?

[whatyouwant]

It'd be better if everyone weren't so sick, but yeah!

[Elle sips her punch.]

It's nice to have an evening where we can all unwind.

dance

[tailor_made]

[Is it warm out here? No? Just Hester? Okay.

She watches Maya kneel with wide-eyes, color rushing to her entire face because truly, she's never going to get used to this. But still she smiles and gives a light curtsey.]

Would you like a dance?

[Funny thing though, about her hands. When Maya saw her just the other day her nails had been perfectly shaped and filed, painted with a fun sunflower yellow polish. Today, despite being covered in a pink polish that matches her dress, her nails look uneven and broken.]

[mayavericks]

[Oh.

Of all the beautiful, wonderful things Maya might have expected of tonight, she certainly doesn't expect this. And despite having stricken most of the women in their group dumb a few moments prior, she's now the one left to stare at Hester, completely baffled.]

I --

[Desperate to save face, Maya kneels down to pick up Hester's hand and -- well. The mess there is hard to miss. She glances up at the woman with furrowed brows, before completing the kiss.

Later. She can ask later. Once the evening has slowed down.]

Yes. I would love to.

[tailor_made]

[Hester's soft smile doesn't change but she does subtly curl her fingers down, just enough to hide her wrecked nails.]

Diriger ou suivre?

[Lead or follow?]

(is this a gagtag? it feels like one)

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[From a corner, watching Maya make her grand entrance on horseback, she offers a silent thumbs up.

Is it for Maya, or the horse? Hard to say.]

[mayavericks]

[Regardless of who it's meant for, Maya will send a thumbs up Cassandra's way. And eventually, once she's clambered off and done her rounds, she'll actually approach.]

I owe you... so much.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Aww, you don't owe me anything.

[Who is she but the fairy godmother in this situation, gifting a child her ride to the ball?]

Fidella likes being a part of things. But it's a good thing you know how to do the romantic part.

[Because she sure doesn't.]

dance...

[barberic]

[Benjamin was going to ask her for a dance, anyway, but she beats him to it by minutes.

Still, he'll take her hand gladly, getting up from the dinky folding chair he's sat in with a grunt of effort and making his way to the dance floor with her.]

You look heavenly tonight.

[mayavericks]

I do, don't I?

[Sorry, she's just gonna... preen a little here. Even as she falls back to let Benjamin lead her.]

As do you. I am glad we could share this moment.

[barberic]

[He has to be careful with this, because it's been so long since he danced and he wants desperately to impress her. This may be one of two chances he has to dance with a girl he loves like a daughter, and he doesn't want her to think less of him.

He settles a hand naturally on her waist, and holds the other in his own.]

Oh, far from heavenly, but I did my best to look presentable.

[Luckily, the song that comes on is not Farrah's eighth "Party Rock" of the night, and is in fact something he can comfortably dance to.]

I'm glad, as well. It's been a long week. [For him, a long-ass day.] A chance to dress up and enjoy each others' company may be just what the doctor ordered.