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

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Mason flashes a grin, playful but still embarrassed. "My lady." He answers her curtsy with a deep bow. Too deep. The crown falls off his head, bounces once, then rolls away from the both of them. "Oh, crap." Not very Duke-ish.

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

Hamsi giggles just a little, the sound matching every bounce of the crown as it rolls away, until at Mason's muttered oh, crap she guffaws. "Mason," she gasps over laughter. "You lost the vestment of your station!"

Before he can respond, Hamsi's wrapping her hand around his wrist to pull him after the crown— onto the dance floor. "Recovery mission!"

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

"Maybe it's a sign that I wasn't meant to be a duke," Mason replies, watching the crown escape. Apparently, however, Hamsi isn't going to let him passively accept this, because she's dragging him onto the dance floor. "Okay, okay, okay," he says, stumbling along after her, doing his best not to jostle anyone who's actually trying to dance. "Where'd it go?"

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

Avoiding dancers seems far less pressing to Hamsi, who immediately bumps into a couple of freshmen, stopping only long enough to yell at them. "Leave room for Jesus!"

Then she's off again, glancing over her shoulder at Mason and grinning. "Oh no, you can't give up that easy. We're going to get you re-crowned Duke Sir Chambers, don't sweat it. It's—" She points. "There!" And as soon as she's said it, Hamsi releases Mason and dives for the crown as though it might scurry away, looking utterly ridiculous in her purple tutu.

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

"Sorry!" Mason calls out to each person that Hamsi jostles, waving the hand not captured in an apologetic acknowledgement.

"I never wanted to be— royalty," Mason says, though he's not sure that she can hear him over the music. She frees his wrist and then dives forward towards his wayward crown. He coughs and turns his head so he doesn't see her underwear in the scuffle.

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

Utterly devoid of shame, Hamsi sits up, legs out and skirt everywhere, taking up too much room on the dance floor and looking a bit like a doll— but she does have the runaway crown. She clutches it in both hands in her lap, pressing down on the many layers of tulle making up her skirt.

"Destiny doesn't care what you want, Mason." She announces over the music, then holds the crown out to him in both hands. A truly ridiculous artistic interpretation of the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur. If you squint.

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

"I've often found that to be true, yes," he agrees wryly. Hamsi is ridiculous, because she wouldn't be Hamsi otherwise, but Mason can't help but grin as she holds out his crown in both hands. He takes the crown, setting it back on top of his head, and then offering a hand to pull her up. "I can't imagine a little thing like destiny would ever hinder you, though."

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

Her expression brightens as soon as the crown is back on Mason's head. He may not like the attention it draws, but the look fits him. Mason's the sort of person who gets to be the noble hero king at the end of his adventure, complete with all the fairy tale accoutrements: fair and just ruler, long peaceful reign and et cetera. The epitome of the RPG Good Ending.

"Nope!" She agrees, taking Mason's hand and hoisting herself up. It reminds her of their hapless Velvet Party adventure from a few months ago. "I forge my own destiny. Bespoke." Then, since they're on the dance floor, she drapes her arms over Mason's shoulders and sways him exaggeratedly. "We should go roller skating again sometime."

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

"I never doubted that for a second," Mason replies. She grabs him and starts to sway him, and he could either stand there and be wobbled like a cat shown off for a toddler, or dance as normally as their able. He rests his hands on her waist and steps close (but not too close) and starts to sway. This is the type of dancing he knows how to do. "Maybe you could teach me. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just floating down a river."

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

While she doesn't quite still, Mason's attempt at gently steering Hamsi toward more normal teen dancing bottles up some of that excess energy. She obliges his movements, cutting the bouncing by about half, and then scans the ceiling in search of some wise words. Truth be told, 'floating' doesn't feel that far off from what she does, either. "I don't know. I see a choice, I pick the option that seems right to me." It feels weird to say out loud.

She squints. "Maybe you've gotta think of yourself as the river instead of the thing floating in it. Now you're driving. Are you going to follow that river path?" Hamsi gestures with one hand, imitating a flowing stream. "Or are you like, 'Nah, I'm gonna go make the Grand Canyon. Buhyeee!' And then you whoop! Thataway. Cutting a great big hole in the ground for ten thousand years." This very animated explanation finished, she lazily snakes her arm back around Mason's neck. "Either way it's fine. Because you're the one who made the choice."

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Always willing to hear Hamsi out, even when she's being patently ridiculous. He doesn't count this as one of those times, even if half her tutu is still crinkled in on itself from her dive. So, he listens, and keeps an eye on every exaggerated gesture. "That's such... a you thing to say," he replies, with a faint, fond smile. "I usually don't think of rivers as having much choice. Just following the path of least resistance." He steers them away from a pair of freshmen who are decidedly not leaving any room for Jesus. "Do you think you're more a hero if you're the river or the one floating down it?"

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

She meets that hint of a smile with a proud beam of her own, pleased with this quiet approval. Mason barely has time to finish his question before Hamsi's answered it: "Different flavors." There's a solid sureness to her words. Not the typical space case confidence that typically tinges everything she says. No, for once she sounds like she actually does have an opinion on this. "You still gotta deal with stuff and make tough choices, whether you're cutting through rock or just swimming."

She narrows her eyes at him, suspicious of what's going through his head. "You're a hero, either one you choose."

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Hamsi so often sounds some flavor of confident, from assuredness to wild disregard for any other possibilities. Mason wishes he could be half as sure about anything. "Choices are hard. Even when you make pros and con lists. And cork boards." When she narrows her eyes, Mason ducks his head. "Yeah, I guess we all are, really."

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

She presses her lips together and hums loudly in response, not quite putting her doubt to words. Hamsi is pretty sure she, at least, is no hero. But she feels a weird twist in her stomach when she thinks about telling Mason this, and finds herself staring over his shoulder at the not school appropriate freshman dance couple. Wow, they are definitely having a good time over there. "Maybe you need to not look at all the details, first." She suggests. "Go with your gut, Mason. Don't let your noggin complicate things."

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Mason wrinkles his nose, like she has just offered him some unfamiliar, off putting food to try. "Just thinking about that makes my stomach hurt. My gut doesn't like to make decisions, Hamsi. That's what my brain's for. It'll get jealous, otherwise, you know." He's joking, but if he's being honest, it's only in tone and not in content.

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

"Maybeeee your brain needs to learn how to share the spotlight," Hamsi half-sings, playfully sticking her tongue out at him once she's finished the thought.

The song's nearly over, but Hamsi lays her head on Mason's shoulder, anyway. Maybe because there're only a few seconds left to do it. With a moment to think it over, she decides, "Or maaaaaybe it's good to have someone who does a lot of thinking when there's a choice you've got to make. Even if they think it makes the choice harder."

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Mason is quietly thoughtful for several seconds, his cheek against Hamsi's head. "Maybe both," he finally concludes. The song is over, so he lifts his head and loosens his grip on her waist. "Maybe I need to not think so much sometimes, but it's also not necessarily bad to have someone around to overthink things? Maybe some things need overthinking, and it's my niche." He pauses to push his glasses up his nose, glancing sideways at her from behind his frames to see if she looks like she wants to stick around for the next song.

Mason & Hamsi

[monsterseekingmonster]

"Yeah, see? Temperance is a virtue." She says pleasantly. Not that Hamsi would know anything about temperance. Or virtues. The thought alone is enough to make her snicker.

The song is over, and it seems like Mason's come to some sort of resolution on their current topic, if not a personal revelation. By all means, they should go do other things. Raid the snack table. Socialize with friends. Hamsi glances out across the dance floor. She doesn't really want to do any of that at the moment. "One more dance, Duke Ser Chambers?"

Mason & Hamsi

[coalblooded]

Maybe has come to a realization, if not quite a resolution. Hamsi often has that effect on him, whether she knows it or not. The dance is over, and the current conversation feels through, so they could part ways. On the other hand, who knows what else they could come up with together. "Sure, I'd love to, Lady Khan."