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

cw: suicide attempt talk

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah’s quiet in return. A question like that deserves a little quiet. Not too long, though.]

…No. You’re so fucking tough.

cw: suicide attempt talk

[comeandfindme]

Yes, actually. It... [ ... ] Last week. Before... Well, before the campout. Scared Maya pretty bad.

[ There's a wry kind of expression on her face. ]

There were...some things I started remembering. After... After Connor. That first week, I... Well, I was too focused on...on him to really let it get to me like that. But, then... [ She lets out a slow breath. ] I thought...if I loved someone, it'd be like marking them for death. So, maybe I should be dead instead.

[ This isn't...a fun conversation. Not for a prom. Not ever. But it's an important one. ]

...I...still think it, actually. Every so often, when...when everything gets too dark.

cw: suicide attempt talk

[brokeforgood]

[Farrahs heart twists when Peregrine speaks. Because she knows what she’s talking about. Not just wanting to die—- but the one about loving someone. Farrah holds her hand out for Peregrine. She knows she’s tough, and might not take it. But it’s there.]

…Like you’re cursed. That somehow, you’ve caused it, even if—- if it doesn’t make sense.

Like you’ve doomed anyone you love.

cw: suicide attempt talk

[comeandfindme]

[ But Peregrine does take it. Instantly, her hand grasps Farrah's. Very tightly. ]

I said that, you know. That I was a curse. It...was also after Connor. [ Her lips pull taut. ] And...before. I just...didn't remember that, until recently. But, it's been in there for awhile.

cw: suicide attempt talk

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah’s a little surprised when she takes it, but she’s happy nonetheless. She squeezes her hand back.]

I can’t believe we both thought we cursed Connor. And then… Rina and Varian. And—- [Ah. This ones still fresh and raw, and her voice cracks a little—] my dads—-

[Oh. She’s crying, now.]

cw: suicide attempt talk

[comeandfindme]

[ Screw just a hand. Peregrine moves to pull Farrah into a hug. ]

I know. I know, Farrah. [ Her voice cracks. The oh-so-fresh memories. Looking back at the trial now... If she knew what she knows now then, it would've broken her. She doesn't think she could've emotionally survived that. ]