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]

[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?]

[mayavericks]

[Maya gives a deft nod, before standing. There's no hiding the pleased smile on her lips, of course. She leans in close, almost close enough for them to share the same breath.]

Suivez-moi

[And she begins to lead Hester.]

[tailor_made]

[Hester lets herself be led, matching Maya step for step with a surprising amount of grace and poise while the music plays.]

Vous amusez-vous?

[Are you having fun?]

[mayavericks]

[Dancing with her girlfriends is always a treat, but there's something thrilling about having someone who can keep pace with her. Hester is no Claudine, but she would never compare the two anyway.]

Oui, ma chérie. [Yes, my darling.]

Et tu?

[tailor_made]

Oui! [She flushes at the term of endearment but manages to keep her cool.

It's true, Hester is no Claudine but its clear she's had a lot of practice.]

Je ne suis jamais allé à mes bals de finissants. Je suis heureux d'être ici avec mes merveilleux amis.

[I never went to my proms. I'm happy to be here with my wonderful friends..]

[mayavericks]

[Well, since A) they're there and B) Maya is gay, she decides to give Hester a little dip.]

Vous méritez beaucoup de choses merveilleuses. Je suis heureux de vous les offrir.

[You deserve many wonderful things. I am glad to give them to you.]

[tailor_made]

[She lets out a thrilled little laugh.]

Je te parie qu'à toutes les filles avec qui tu ne sors pas déjà. [She pauses.] Et ceux que vous êtes.

[I bet you day that to all the girls you aren't already dating. <...> And the ones you are.]

[mayavericks]

[If they were at that point, this might have been where she leaned down to kiss Hester. Instead, she's left to only stare dreamily into her eyes, before righting her once more.]

Peut-être que j'aime juste les femmes. Appelez-moi un romantique!

[Perhaps I just enjoy women. Call me a romantic!]

[tailor_made]

D'accord. [Hester removes a hand from Maya's shoulder to lay it on her cheek with a cheeky grin.] Vous êtes un romantique.

[Okay. <...> You're a romantic.]

[mayavericks]

[She leans into that touch with a faint sigh. And, much like one of their previous meetings, she angles her head in order to kiss Hester's palm. She might have liked to kiss more, but for now... she'll hold back!]

Et dire que tu ne m'as pas encore vu au pire.

[And to think you have yet to see me at my worst.]

[tailor_made]

[Be strong, Hester. Don't show weakness in the face of the gorgeous multi-talented lesbian who is a terrific dancer and has the voice of angel-

heck.]

Oh? Vous avez le pire?

[Oh? You have a worst?]

[mayavericks]

[Maya starts to kiss down Hester's wrist. Over her arm. Her eyes dance with mischievous amusement.]

Oui.

[tailor_made]

[O h. Oh god, resolve fading. It's almost a blessing when the song end and changes to something new.]

Tu as raison. C’est pire.

[You're right. <...> This is worse.

Hester hooks her free arm around Maya's waist and sweeps them both into a twirl of skirts and coat tails. Her turn to lead, Miss Tendo.]

[mayavericks]

[And now it's Maya's turn for her cheeks to flush. She blinks a few times at Hester, body stiffening on instinct alone. But this is Hester. She trusts Hester.

Her body relaxes, and she gives a sharp nod.]

Go ahead.

[tailor_made]

[She giggles but the look of her face is more soft than mischievous, even when she leans Maya into a deep dip.]

I'm not going to let you fall, don't worry.