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

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.

[mayavericks]

[Luckily, there are no doors for Maya to open all gallant like. There's just her, leading Janis to the dancefloor with a wicked smile upon her lips.]

You'll permit me the first dance of the evening, right?

[fourbutts]

[ Janis manages a smirk back. ]

Been saving it for you.

[mayavericks]

Oh, you spoil me, Janis Sarkisian. How could I possibly be so lucky.

[She lays a hand on Janis's hip, then twines their fingers together in the air.]

[fourbutts]

[ She shrugs, putting the appropriate hand on Maya's shoulder. ]

What can I say, brave knight? I, Janis Sarkisian, one of the five Spring Fling Queens of North Shore High, find you... oh god, "comely" is such a gross word to say with the mouth - handsome indeed.

[mayavericks]

You didn't tell me I was in the presence of Royalty! I would have done much more bowing for you!

[fourbutts]

It's a recent development.

[ She smirks. I like to think they're doing this while like. This plays. ]

You can make up for lost bowing later. I'd very much like to dance, brave knight.

[mayavericks]

Then it shall be done, my queen.

[And she starts to move, each step practiced. She feels a little more comfortable, going faster with Janis. She's no Claudine, but Maya wouldn't ever want her to be anyway. The important part is that, while she knows Janis's strengths may lie elsewhere, she has no doubts that the woman can keep up.]

[fourbutts]

[ And keep up she can! She might not be a broadway actress, but she has the physique of one on account of how close she keeps to the fourth wall - and it's not a dancing-heavy role, so she's hardly amazing, but she can definitely dance. ]

You know, I always kind of wrote off the full-on prom as a "the heterosexuals are at it again" kind of thing, but this rules.

[mayavericks]

As if I would let anything be heterosexual on my watch!

[Maya seems relaxed in a way she hasn't been not just this week, but in the last several weeks. Confident and in her element, but also at ease with her surroundings. There's a strange confidence gong into tonight and tomorrow. Everything will be alright.

They're stronger than ever.]

[fourbutts]

[ There may come a point when Janis is asked why she was so ready to defend and protect Maya, even when things went south. If she had to point to one moment, one single piece of evidence in the cosmic trial of Maya Tendo? This dance very well might be it. ]

You are consistently excellent at dispelling any kind of heterosexual thought.

[mayavericks]

Just when you thought you could not love me anymore, right?

[She slows her steps long enough to peck Janis on the lips.]

[fourbutts]

I would say "I don't know how I could" but then you rode into prom on a horse, and I don't lie to my girlfriends.

[mayavericks]

Just wait until we are out of here, and I have access to all of my resources. You will not know what to do with yourself, Janis Sarkisian.

[fourbutts]

... Oh my god I just realized that you're probably rich.

[ IT. STRAIGHT UP HAD NOT CROSSED HER MIND. ]

[mayavericks]

I -- Was referring to the costume department at Seisho but, yes... I suppose I am?

[fourbutts]

Oh I- I mean listen, things I say with my mouth aside, at this point you could probably get me into bed on a budget of five bucks and a wink, I'm just terrified what full power Maya Tendo is going to do to my poor gay brain.

[mayavericks]

Wonderful, terrible things, Janis. Just you wait. We can even do the most romantic thing of all together.

[She extends her arm to twirl Janis outward. When they come back together, Maya's mouth settles against her partner's ear.]

Kill a giraffe.

[fourbutts]

Oh I am using my narratorly powers to find you that motherfucker. Let some theater make a couch out of him, so he can make himself useful for once.

[mayavericks]

Oh, just propose to me while you're at it, Janis!

[She feigns a swoon.]