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

[comeandfindme]

[ If there's anyone who looks out of place at a prom... Elle's helped her but she's still got her somewhat dirty cloak on over a vest and skirt. ]

We all kinda...had things going on Wednesday morning. It definitely wasn't us. ...I figured it was whoever usually does the club posters.

[tailor_made]

Yeah, I saw the car. [She glances back toward the parking lot. The car is, thankfully, back in the auto shop now but the tracks in the grass still remain.] But I haven't made any club posters or run any clubs since you guys have been here. Farrah brought up Stew the jack rabbit a few weeks ago but I assumed that was just something that was conjured up for the day, as a treat.

...You look nice though, by the way. [Even in a dirty cloak.]

[comeandfindme]

[ outfit decision changed midtag- she's going the full dress except with hiking boots and her cloak. ]

Then... Who did all that? There was weird magic and- what? [ ...Oh. Oh, she's— Hester's talking about— ] Oh, it's just— thank Elle. It was all her.

[tailor_made]

I don't know, honestly. It might still be him and he just didn't tell me, but... [ You know what, it's a dance! Why's it so important that they know who threw it?] Elle did a really nice job. You look super pretty, Peregrine.

Boots and all.

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine quite suddenly finds herself very aware of those boots. She's not usually self-conscious like this! It's weird! ]

I just asked her for something that's like...you know. Easy to move in. [ ... ] Thanks.

[tailor_made]

A dress like that? For sure! A nice slit adds a lot to movement and with the boots you don't have to worry about sore feet. It's actually really smart- [Take it down a notch, Hester.]

So have you gotten in much dancing yet?

[comeandfindme]

[ Oh! ...Ha, it's...the thing Peregrine usually does, where she just kind of rambles about something she knows a lot about. So this is what it's like to be on the other side. ]

Um... Yeah, a little. I'm not really a...big dancer, but. Well, Janis and Maya are, so. They've given me some tips. Besides that, proms aren't...like, really my thing.

[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.

[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?

[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. ]

[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?

[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.

[tailor_made]

Good! Maybe you won't squish my feet too badly then. [She takes a step back, then to the side, then forward.] Nice and easy. One two, one two.

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine rolls her eyes and scoffs but then almost definitely does step on Hester’s feet, so. Fine, time to focus. ]

One two… One two…

[tailor_made]

[Hester doesn't seem bothered. In fact she doesn't even flinch whenever it happens.]

See? You're getting it.

[She starts to hum a little under her breath, despite the difference in song. It helps her focus, a song in her ears and a song in her head.]

[comeandfindme]

One two... [ Under the music, she picks up Hester's light humming. It throws her off for a moment. ] ...Is that...that's not the same song.

[tailor_made]

Oh- sorry. [She stops, blinking.] Is it throwing you off? It just kind of popped into my head.

[comeandfindme]

Just...a little. I'm not, like...really musically-inclined, so. You know. Multitasking, a bit hard.

[tailor_made]

Sorry, sorry. I can stop- [Her cheeks go slightly pink and she glances down at both their feet.] I just tend to work better when I multitask, as weird as it sounds. Do all the things, you know?

-Oh! We've gone six steps and you haven't stepped on me. Nice!

[comeandfindme]

All the things, oh. Like dance and talk and mock my limited skills, all at the same time.

[tailor_made]

Oh no! I'm dead serious. [She sounds aggressively earnest about that.] You're doing better than you think you are.

[And we're going to transition into a slow, slightly awkward twirl.]

[comeandfindme]

It's a little hard to tell, when yo— oh!!

[ Twirl!! Okay, twirl is happening!! Peregrine is so not used to those, and she stumbles a little, but! It goes okay! She doesn't fall! ]