finchwoodacademy

MURDER ON THE FINCHWOOD EXPRESS

For the final time this year, the gym has been transformed for a dance; this time, it's a murderous train, along with train station and platform! Upon entering the gym, students find themselves in a train station filled with (pointless) columns, benches, and a destination board with random Haling Cove destinations. A few paces in, a freestanding arch opens up into the rest of the gym. A newspaper stand off to the side contains old time-y looking news papers with the headline 'Finchwood Express's Maiden Voyage.' The paper is mostly filled with lorem ipsum, but the article accompanying the headline has been written by freshmen. It lists Gregory de Leon as a famous private detective that will be on the train, along with the rich (but horribly ugly) railroad owner [Character B], and "very murderable" actor/actress [Character C].

Walking through the freestanding archway leads to a train platform that's clearly the dance floor. Smoke spills across the floor from all the steam engines that are operating out of this station, and lights overhead give the impression of filtered sunlight (with some colored lights and a disco ball for fun.) The music tonight is pretty all over the place, but one song that just keeps playing is a little dated. Who keeps putting this on?? (It's [Character D]).

The rest of the gym is taken up with a train built by the hardworking theatre tech crew and shop students! Most of the cars sport only three walls and are much wider than a car would actually be, but who cares? Each contains some seating and maybe a photo op or two, though two in particular are special. The main attraction is an engine car spewing smoke from a smoke machine in its chimney, but there's also a dining car that contains a bar with a few signature mocktails, food, and lots of booths for the travelers to sit at. Martin Geary offers discreet shots from their flask to some of their classmates until a freshman yells "Poison!", grabs it from them, and takes off running. Get back here!!

About halfway through the dance, the music cuts so that the prom court winners can be announced by Neal Valentine and Venus Rosales! Winners have to come up on stage to get crowned, and they're asked to share a dance with their winning partner. But they can't make you. The freshmen will boo you if you don't, though.

When it's time to go, students file out of the gym in their fancy dress. It's a pleasantly warm and clear evening, and it's really a shame they have to head back to their dorm rooms. Maybe if they walk a little slow they can hold onto the simplicity of the evening a bit longer.

HOW THIS WORKS

The theme of prom is Murder on the Finchwood Express! The dance begins at 7:00 PM and ends at 11:30 PM. Then everyone must return to their dorms.

There is a "bar" where student council members and volunteers are making mocktails for the guests. While none of it is alcoholic, the drinks are served in cute glasses with convincing garnishes. The menu is:

PROM COURT WINNERS

Queen Pearl Kline	Queen Suzy Choi
Princess Hadlee Loxton	Princess Venus Rosales
Duke Gregory de Leon	Duke Mason Chambers

» Before the Dance: It's time to get ready! Even though you're probably all gussied up, be sure you're ready for some murder too!

» The Train Station: Upon first entering the gym, the area is set up to look like a nice train station - there are pillars (that hold up nothing), nice benches, and a small archway to walk out through that leads onto the platform (aka the dance floor).

» The Platform: A large area has been set up to look like a train platform, with the clear purpose of being the dance floor.

» The Dining Car: The bar and snack table have been encased in a roomy fake train car, where there are booths to sit in while you dine or drink. Sadly, no real alcohol is being served, unless you slipped a flask in to spike your mocktail.

» Train Car Photo Ops: As with the other dances, there are various photo ops placed throughout the gym. There's one at the engine car (you can lie on the tracks in front of it, if you want), a few different looking train cars, and a stack of luggage in an ornate sleeper car that has the tiniest bed you've ever seen (and no privacy - don't try anything funny).

» Prom Court Winners: About halfway through the dance, the music is cut and the prom court winners are announced! Come up on stage and get your crowns! Please don't give a speech!

» Murder Afoot: A game has been set up so that students can really get into the murdering spirit. Results of each round of the game will be posted here.

» Around Campus: Some people have decided to opt out of the dance, so they're free to enjoy the quieter-than-usual campus.

» The end of the night: It's been a long, fun night, but it's time to rest.

» OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The last few minutes have been a blur. Hearing his name called, being crowned, trying to take the mic and start a lively rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for Cecilia. This has all been unexpected. Flattering, but flummoxing. Gregory is only just now starting to get his bearings again when the freshmen begin chanting for the winners to dance. Oh! He's never one to say no to a dance, but before he'll walk onto the floor, he looks to Mason for confirmation.

Mason still looks shocked, even though the crown has already been placed on his head. He's still half expecting a Steve Harvey moment where someone says they've read the wrong name when Gregory glances his way. "Uh?" is his eloquent answer, but then he nods and steps closer. He's not sure where he's supposed to put his hands if he's dancing with another boy. Hips, because Gregory is shorter? That seems like an unfair assumption, so maybe shoulders? One hand on hip, one hand on shoulder, to be equitable? Paralyzed by indecision, he just waits for the other boy to move instead.

Gregory is weighing a dance decision of his own. But unlike Mason's high-hand-low-hand dilemma, he's debating left-arm or right-arm. He randomly chooses right, looping his right arm into Mason, and beginning to skip in a circle. The beauty of a square dance is that after a measure or two, they'll get to switch directions and link their other arms. There really is no bad choice. "Hey!" he calls to his roommate over the music, "Think we should make a silly hat for Dallas so he can be Jester?" He doesn't like the idea of one of them being excluded.

Mason was prepared for your standard high school rock-and-sway brand of dancing, not for whatever it is that Gregory has pulled him into. "Uh," is his answer, because he's too focused on following along with the steps to the dance. He's as much stumbling as skipping, but as with all things, he finds it impossible to tell Gregory no. "Sure?"

"Or maybe a helmet, so he can be a knight," Gregory amends, thinking the title might suit their third roommate better than 'Jester.' Dallas is protective and noble and brave and a gentleman. From here, it's easy for Gregory to move to this next thought: "Oh, did you see? He's here with Merry!" He makes no effort to hide his excitement or keep his voice down.

"I like that better," Mason agrees, his attention still divided as he focuses on not tripping while he skips along with Gregory. This type of thing definitely isn't his forte, but Emma has knocked his feet out from under him enough times that he has gotten good at not falling down. "What?" he asks absently, but then his brain catches up with what was said, and he adds, "What, like, as a date?"

"I don't know!" Gregory has to come to a stop to answer. He can walk and chew gum, but he can't dance and talk about Dallas-Merry at the same time. The latter requires too much of his brain. So, in the middle of the dance floor, he unleashes a long, unfiltered, run-on sentence to Mason: "I mean, they're definitely here together, but I don't know if it's a friend-date or a date-date, and I'm not allowed to be the one to ask because I've bugged them too much about it in the past, but also I feel like I should get to know because I care so much, even though I know it's selfish and it's none of my business, although I'd tell them if I were on a date-date." There's no explicit question there, but the way he's looking at Mason clearly says, Help!

Mason's eyes widen in response to the deluge that Gregory unleashes. They've stopped moving, but the song isn't over, and that's Mason's first concern. He's almost preemptively embarrassed at the thought of being jeered by the freshmen. So, he grabs Gregory by the waist and starts to sway.

"Well," he says, thoughtfully, "I don't think how much you care entitles you to know?" It's a statement, but his voice lilts upward at the end, because he's not sure and because he doesn't want to be unkind to his friend. "I think, if you don't think you can ask them, then you have to assume they'll tell you if they want to." He's pretty sure that this dance has to be over soon. "Maybe they're still figuring it out. It's kind of like a nature documentary, I think. It's a watch but don't interfere situation."

"Have you ever made your stuffed animals kiss?" Gregory asks, as if this question unlocks the heart of the matter entirely.

PROM

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)

The Dukes (Gregory and Mason)