PROM

[finchmods]

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:
  1. Murder on the Orient Express. Chocolate syrup, hazelnut coffee, non-alcoholic Irish cream, grated chocolate on top.
  2. Death by Not Gin. Elderflower cordial, lemonade, non-alcoholic bitters (they don't trust the bartenders with real bitters).
  3. Amber Moon. Water, vanilla extract, raw egg, and Tabasco sauce.
  4. Murder Train. Sparkling grape juice and grenadine.

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!

Comments

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

Tate has situated himself at one of the booths in the dining car, his plate piled with food (look, he doesn't pass up free food) and a Murder Train from the bar. He's got no clear plans for the evening beyond eating and people watching a bit, so he might as well get started on that, right? From his seat, he can see across the dance floor and into another train car or two, so it's not surprising that he catches sight of Monet. He gives the girl a half salute before popping a couple of pretzels into his mouth at once.

Monet & Tate

[forgerie]

Monet doesn't return the salute, but she smiles in the thin, self-conscious way of someone not quite used to wearing such bright lipstick, and immediately begins making her way toward Tate. She's been looking for squad members to gossip with for at least six or seven songs, and here, at last, is her respite. The trip's made her a moving target for any would-be assassins, but she's glad for it to end.

The edges of her mouth quirk up a bit at the way he throws food in his mouth -- typical -- but by the time she's made her way across the car and swept her eyes over the piled plate in front of him, they're down again. She furrows her brow.

"Oh, you're... busy," Monet sniffs, waving her full glass dismissively at Tate's feast. "Nevermind."

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

Patiently waiting as Monet approaches, Tate examines his plate for what to eat next, but holds off for the moment so he doesn't have to talk with a mouth full of food. He looks up as his teammate arrives, tilting his head at her furrowed brow before taking a sip of his drink.

"Need me for something? I can just put this somewhere." He's got no idea what that something could be, but he's not one to say no to being given some direction.

Monet & Tate

[forgerie]

Though it is tactically questionable -- she needs to be able to make a quick exit if possible -- Monet takes a delicate seat across from Tate, but not as if she'll stay long. She doesn't even set her glass down, though she gazes at him over it while taking a (very) careful sip of sparkling grape juice.

"I haven't found my weapon yet," she divulges after a moment, blue eyes flashing as she leans in. "And I lost track of Henry."

As if this were somehow part of the game, too. Or perhaps another one.

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

Monet takes a seat, and Tate plucks a few slices of cheese from his plate before sliding it towards her; he has a feeling she won't want any of it, but it's worth a try. As she explains her current difficulties, his lips curl up into a smile and he takes a bite of cheese, gaze shifting out towards the rest of the dance, looking for Henry. He refocuses on Monet after a clearly cursory search, leaning in a little himself. Intrigue is kind of fun.

"What's your weapon? And are you tailing Henry to murder him?"

Monet & Tate

[forgerie]

"The green lead pipe," says Monet. She ignores Tate's smile in favor of scanning her surroundings. A glance toward the offered food is, yes, very much disinterested.

She shrugs, bringing her free hand down to rest on the tabletop. Nails tap against the surface idly, and Monet turns her face toward Tate again to murmur, "Not quite. I'm supposed to be killing Glenn, actually."

She'll get to that eventually. It's only a matter of time.

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

"Cool," Tate responds, though he would've said 'cool' no matter what she'd said, since it's a murder weapon. After a moment of thought he wrinkles his nose a little though, thinking of hitting anyone with an actual lead pipe. Unpleasant.

Still, the expression is quickly gone, replaced by his earlier smile. "Nice, killing sophomores. And you need to keep track of Henry for...?" Honestly, he can probably guess, but it's a little funnier to make her admit it. He eats another piece of cheese, looking around momentarily to check for any would-be assassins.

Monet & Tate

[forgerie]

"Because I want to," Monet supplies airily. "I'm curious about his date, since he was being so secretive last week."

She's not ashamed. She's a considerate well-wisher who just wants the best for her childhood friend. Still, she fidgets a bit with her glass, feeling mildly exposed by his query. Maybe all of this slinking around and prodding makes her look silly, overly invested in things that are none of her concern. But it's not like Henry is the only person she's curious about. Or that she's the only one curious about him.

Monet sighs inwardly, then looks back at Tate, expression composed. "I'd bother Pansy about these things, but I can't trust her at the moment. Do you want to help me look?"

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

"Fair enough." Tate's never been one to push very much about anything, so it's not surprising that what Monet has said to him is enough for him to leave it alone. He downs the rest of his drink and eats a few more pretzels before giving the girl a short nod and a grin.

"I agree you shouldn't let Pansy too close. I'll help you do whatever. And shield you if needed." He seems to be taking this latter part seriously, even though he's not sure if that's against the rules of the game or not, because he's now much more actively searching for someone who might be trying to murder Monet.

"Maybe he's just dancing? In that... mass of people?"

Monet & Tate

[forgerie]

"Thank you." Monet smiles, genuinely pleased. She's more likely to succeed with someone on her side who isn't playing, and Tate's reliability has been proven in far more stressful environments.

When he brings up dancing, her gaze moves from him to the mass he describes. It's a good word for it, the mess of people and the mess of sound: everyone is moving, walking, ducking out of each other's way. Talking and laughing. Watching them gives Monet a feeling she'd never be able to describe if asked: a lightness in the heart, but a strange tightening in the back of the mind. Perhaps it's only the knowledge that these good times can't last forever. Even if there weren't danger and sacrifice on the horizon, the year is nearly done. It's all changing with every moment.

That in mind, she glances back at Tate, a mixture of idle and curious. "Perhaps we should. Dance, I mean. Participatory surveillance."

Monet & Tate

[tater_tot]

Tate's gaze on the dance floor is less loaded than Monet's; he's not too sentimental about anything ever, and while he's felt much more at home at Finchwood than he has anywhere else... everything comes to an end, right? Before the thought goes any further, he's distracted by some really terrible dancing that makes him grimace.

"What? Oh, sure." As usual, Tate's amenable to just about anything, and he slides out of the booth and to his feet without any hesitation before offering Monet a hand. "Can we stay away from that kid erratically doing the sprinkler, though?"