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

[employeeoftheyear]

You... you really mean that, Angus?

[Admittedly, Spongebob never thought what he would do if he got out of here and Bikini Bottom was destroyed. He didn't want to think about being alone, not having his friends to support him.

So this offer hits him. Not exactly like a truck, but like he was lost and a kind stranger decided to give him some shelter and food. Like he truly felt safe for the first time in a month.]

[mcfife]

[Angus nods vigorously.]

We have magic in our universe. Perhaps no talking sponges, but what man knows the entire sea? You may find more of your kind in the ocean, or you can befriend any other creature that lives there.

[If anyone offers Spongebob a home, it has be a place where it's alright that he's not entirely human. Else, he will forever be a stranger.]

And, well, we do have volcanoes, but in the era I'm in, we've got pirates and monsters in unknown waters, we have gods and wizards, we have mermaids and dragons. It may not be home, but I hope it can be close enough.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob smiles as he listens to Angus. He loved his friends unconditionally, sure, and he trusted them with his life. But it's still a pleasant surprise when someone pulls a selfless act like this.

That's what he loves about being himself. The world was just full of neat little surprises that will find a way to brighten his life.]

It'll be plenty, Angus, thanks. And don't worry, I already know plenty of my kind right here.

[He looks at Angus and smiles, before gesturing to everyone else at the prom.]

[mcfife]

[Angus doesn't even remember Spongebob seeing the others as sea creatures. First and foremost, they are comrades. Mumble and the SQUIP were considered to be just as human as everyone else (LSP, too, if her image on the poster indicated anything) so what was a sea sponge? Despite the confusion in the past, he is one of them now.]

You're all invited, of course. Once we escape, we are taking full advantage of The Wizard's universe-hopping powers and seeing everyone's homes. You'll fit in just well anywhere you go. We'll make sure of it.

[Angus sits up, keeping his hands hidden behind his back.]

How about a dance? Your legs can still move, can't they?