thenearshore | I need a drink, a doctor, a DJ

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I need a drink, a doctor, a DJ

Who: Prompto

challengesfate
When: Backdated to August 20th
Where: The Near Shore
What: Two young thangs who have probably never even been on a date decide to take a high school Cinderella to the prom she's been praying for. Or: Prayer #47.

'I know I'm not pretty or popular, and that nobody would ask me to a dance. But if you could just help me show for one night in my life that I can shine too...'

[It's a request that hits Prompto somewhere between the chest and the throat, buzzing with recognition and echoes of his own anxiety. He doesn't know if he ever got asked to dance in his life before now, but, man, this is #relatable.

He's finding that it's not difficult to convince Lucina they should help people. She's just that good a person. It's a little harder to explain why it has to be her, but once he tells her his plan--and this plan is inspired, if he says so himself!--she seems ready enough to play along.

And so, when a young lady on the cusp of adulthood arrives alone, dressed in a gown she'll never wear again, to the last dance of summer, she'll find her own Prince Charming at the top of the stairs: slender, kind-faced, noble, and blue-haired.

As the girl meets Lucina's eyes, Prompto snaps a picture for the album he's going to make for her to keep, so she can always remember this night.]

This is gonna be magical, [He whispers in Lucina's ear as their Cinderella ascends the steps, gaze skimming right over them, as Near Shore residents' eyes tend to do.] Go on, ask her to the dance before she forgets we're here!

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[It is never difficult to get Lucina to help someone. She seems to find an ease in it, a purpose in this strange new chapter in her life that, truthfully, she is very grateful for. And it's not as if she'd never masqueraded as a man before. It's almost familiar, the cut of the clothes, the lower voice she adopts - but the lack of danger is preferred, for sure.

She glances to Prompto at the click of his camera, then nods minutely, turning her attention towards the young land ascending the stairs. She clears her throat, offers a hand.]

Excuse me. [There it is - that old tone of Marth that she hadn't used in over two years, still there, as if waiting for this moment.] Perhaps this is too forward, but...might I ask you for a dance?

[Prompto catches it--the moment Cinderella turns around, the moment she sees the beautiful young man offering her a hand. Yes.

Cinders, naturally, blinks a few times, then looks behind her for whoever Lucina must be addressing. Seeing no one, she rubs her arm awkwardly.]

Uh... me? Yes? Hi?

Yes, you. [Lucina nods, and then changes her offered hand to an offered arm, because that's how you guide a young lady into a dance.] Unless you already have a partner for the night.

[She's not even laying on anything thick, she's just being polite and courteous...]

[Cinderella blushes and looks flustered, but also properly skeptical, because she's a smart young lady who's endured more than her share of teasing.]

Do you even go here? Are you like, an upperclassman or something? Too embarrassed to show up alone, so you'll just jump on the first girl you see?

[Oh, shit. Prompto freezes up, then clears his throat loudly and hops over to put his arm around Lucina's shoulder, smiling somehow awkward and easy in one.]

Uh, kinda? It's just... neither of us have dates, but we're leaving for college, you know? Seemed like a shame to miss our last shot at doing something special here. And... and you looked like you showed up alone, too, so--no pressure! We just thought maybe you'd have more fun hanging out with us than on your own. Like... in a not-creepy way. Honest.

[Cinders looks him up and down, then turns to Lucina again, guard halfway lowered. And Lucina is really handsome...]

...Yeah?

Uh-

[Crap, she'd hoped - you know, there wouldn't be much in the way of bumpy explanations, but thank goodness for Prompto and knowing what to say regarding things like actual modern school terminology. Lucina just...nods along with what he has to say.]

Yes - yes, that's right. And...I know I would prefer to make someone happy on this night, above all else. I...hope you don't mind.

[The girl ends up laughing a little, quietly, covering her smile.]

Geez. Are you for real?

[Prompto nods emphatically.]

Really, really for real. The realest.

[Cinders mulls this over, but there'll be teachers there and she's a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Why not? Shyly, she takes the arm Lucina offered.]

If you say so, Prince Charming. ...God, what's your name, even?

Quite real.

[She's very gentle when Cinder takes her arm, and without a beat,] Marth.

[Oh geez.]

'Marth?'

[Prompto repeats it quietly to himself--thankfully not loud enough for Cinders to hear, what with her attention taken up by her mysterious date.]

Can you dance? 'Cause, hah. [Cinders snorts.] I've got more than two left feet.

I know a few dances, yes.

[Nothing modern, and mostly a slight variation of one waltz she learned as a child, but...she's going to put the effort in for this girl. Make it one heck of a night for her. At the very least, she refuses to step on her toes.]

You'll be fine.

...All right. I'll leave it to you, then. Make me look good, all right?

[As they enter the dance hall proper, her hand tightens a little on Lucina's arm as she looks around. It's like there are some groups she's worried about seeing her--a couple girls close to the stage, a mixed group by the punch--but none of them even notice her.

...It seems that's disappointing. Cinders looks like she doesn't know what to do--go to the dance floor, get some food, look for friends. She stays in place, unsure, and Prompto looks at Lucina and jerks his head with the general sense of 'at least get all the way in the room, right?']

[Uh, uh...yeah. Yes, let's get into the room proper, Lucina is on that.]

Is there something in particular you would like to do first?

[She speaks clearly, looking directly at Cinder, her expression remaining gentle and kind and warm. Getting noticed isn't something that's going to be especially easy, but if the young lady on her arm can just pick one place to go specifically, surely impressed word will begin to spread, right?

...Right...?]

Uh...

[Somehow, Cinders looks even more nervous, shrinking into herself, though she keeps her grip on Lucina's arm. There's something reassuring about that presence. Something bolstering.

Prompto sees she's struggling, though, and leans forward to look up at her to make a suggestion.]

Maybe hit the food and drinks first? You can scope out the scene and build up your strength for all the boogieing you're gonna do.

[Cinders blinks, then nods and tugs lightly on Lucina's arm.]

Y-yeah, that sounds good. Maybe they've got mini-pizzas. You hungry?

I could eat.

[But as to what a mini-pizza is? Uh...what. What is. That. She has to pretend she knows what it is, doesn't she.

Shit.]

[Prompto claps her shoulder and hops ahead, smiling helpfully.]

Here, you've got your hands full. Pizzas and punch for both of you, right? I'm on it!

[And away he goes. Cinders purses her lips thoughtfully, then looks up at Lucina.]

He's cute.

[Okay Prompto you do that...thank God someone here knows what a pizza is. Lucina just smiles - she hadn't really ventured into the idea of anyone she'd met being "cute", but...]

He is a very kind person, and...a friend of mine. I'm grateful to know him. [A pause. Would Cinder prefer to dance with Prompto later? That's something they could figure out later, probably. Yeah.]

[It's totally not what Cinder was getting at, but she seems inexplicably more comfortable with both of them now.]

Have you, ah. Known each other a long time?

...Hm. It...feels longer than it actually has been. But he's very easy to make friends with. Perhaps that's why.

Yeah, he seems like a sweetheart. ...Must be nice, having him around.

[The girl seems... sad, for a moment. Far away and thoughtful.]

...Where do you even find someone like that?

[...Ah, oh, this is. Hm. This is one of those problems with...boys, isn't it. The kind that Lucina had never encountered, because there was always a war, or a threat, or too much to do just to survive to let yourself worry about love. Still, Lucina gives it a moment of thought - obviously if she told this girl how they actually met, it wouldn't make any sense, but...]

...It's not that you find them, or that you even look for them. It...simply happens, that two people find each other. From that point on, it's the bonds you build with the person you met that determines what comes of it.

But how do you get found, if you're not--pretty, or interesting.

[She looks down, brow knit, biting the inside of her cheek, but continues:]

Like, where do you go, if you're... [She shakes her free hand in the air before her, as if to knock the right word out of the ether, then huffs at herself.] How do you get found by the right people?

...Well, I seem to have found you amongst these many people. [Lucina does her best to make sure she maintains eye contact with this girl - you're the one who's important here, Cinder. It's you.] And I imagine all you have done is be yourself. Those who do not choose to acknowledge that are the ones least worth of your time.

[As she understands it, her parents had only been themselves around each other as they fell in love - their very, very silly selves. So it makes sense to Lucina...]

...

[And finally, Cinder blushes and laughs a little, lightly, giving Lucina's arm a gentle squeeze.]

You know just what to say to a girl, don't you, Marth? ...Thanks. You're a good guy.

And heeeere's your pizzas! These for the lovely lady, and here are yours, L--lucky young man.

[Prompto grins apologetically over his own mistake and offers them both their plates, each with a little plastic cup of punch.]

[Aaaaah she did good...this is good, right? Making this very nice girl feel like the center of the world.]

I try to be.

[Oh good thank you Prompto..................

...

Huh. Okay. So that's a pizza.]

Ah, no, thank you for getting it for us. [She wants to ask if he got some for him, but she's...kind of got to focus on her date for the night...though the thought is there. Please take care of yourself, friend.]

Yeah, thanks! Go get some for yourself, too, okay?

[Cinders is less shy about including Prompto, perhaps. While he waffles about it, waving his hands, she leans close to Lucina's ear and whispers:]

It's okay with me if you'd rather dance with him, bro. I get it.

[And she winks.]

[There's a slight tinge of pink to Lucina's cheeks at that, but she smiles regardless. Maybe they could sneak a dance in later? But for now, she leans towards Cinder and whispers,]

To dance with both of you would be an honor in itself.

[If Lucina's pink, Cinder goes red and guffaws into her punch, startled and embarrassed and delighted all at once. Prompto looks between the two of them and then pouts.]

What? Is there pizza sauce on my face?

[He wipes at his cheek, just in case.]

[wh

what did she do is this bad did she fuck it up

Lucina looks from between Cinder to Prompto, a bit bewildered.] N-No...did I say something wrong?

No--no. Just... how is anyone that smooth, ever?

[Cinder turns away, giggling and very much having a better time than she expected. She covers her mouth and looks slyly at Prompto.]

Better watch out, dude. Your friend's one high-level player.

[Prompto looks about as confused as Lucina does, but huffs and shakes it off.]

Kinda getting the feeling I missed something, but as long as you two are having fun...

[Cinder leans against Lucina's arm, smiling.]

Yeah. I am.

[Smooth? Lucina? Naaaah, what in the world do you mean by that? She's just being honest. Still, she's got to roll with it if this is going to work.]

And so am I.

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I need a drink, a doctor, a DJ

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