and we are conscious of a long town history

[cross_and_bow]

Prom arrives.

Bella wears her indigo dress and her indigo heels with their straps that go all the way up her calves, and she nukes Sherlock some breakfast, and she waits.

Comments

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock appears at the end of her driveway wearing an impeccable tuxedo and new shoes.

[cross_and_bow]

"Swanky boots," says Bella. "And a tux! Mind you don't spill."

[eversomuchfun]

He laughs.

And does not, in fact, spill.

[cross_and_bow]

When he's through, into Bella's pickup they hop, and to prom they go.

Bella pats her waist twice on the way, feeling for the presence of her squares under all the ruffles.

[eversomuchfun]

"I also," he says cheerfully, "got you a corsage."

[cross_and_bow]

"Oooh?" She drives one-handed, offering her other wrist for corsaging.

[eversomuchfun]

On it goes.

It matches her dress perfectly.

[cross_and_bow]

She pulls it into her field of vision. "Oh, it's nice, you have good taste," she says approvingly. "I do like indigo."

[eversomuchfun]

"I am glad you approve."

[cross_and_bow]

There is a stoplight. He gets a kiss on the cheek while they are stationary, and then on they go.

At the door, the gatekeepers insist that Bella and Sherlock prove that they are together - "you can't just pretend to be dates to get in, you have to actually be!" - and another kiss occurs by way of proof, and in they go.

The Viennese Carnival thing is halfhearted - a few people have made attempts with the outfits, but almost no one has bothered with a mask, and most are neglecting the theme entirely. Still, all the couples present seem happy to be there.

"If you spot anyone who snuck past the gatekeepers without a date," she says to Sherlock, "point 'em out."

[eversomuchfun]

"Will do."

[cross_and_bow]

She looks around, tapping a foot to the thinly instrumentated pop in the background. "I don't exactly keep a finger on the pulse of social life here, but unlike you I actually attend school here, and I know those two weren't dating yesterday," she frowns, nodding in the direction of a girl in a blue dress and her disinterested date. "I sorta know her, I'll go talk to them." And off she trots.

If Sherlock intended to follow, this may be slightly derailed by a girl who - unaccompanied by any obvious companion - says: "Wow, you look just like Tony Stark!"

[eversomuchfun]

"Yeah," he says, laughing, "I've heard that one before."

[cross_and_bow]

"No seriously you're like identical, I would know, I had such a crush on him, I had one of those magazine covers on my wall, and you look just identical. What's your name?" she asks.

[eversomuchfun]

"What's yours?" he inquires cheerfully.

[cross_and_bow]

"I'm Kayli!" she says. "D'you wanna dance?"

Across the room, Bella has apparently determined to her satisfaction that her acquaintance and that boy she's with are dating enough, and has moved on to another possibility.

[eversomuchfun]

"I'd like to know if either of our dates would object, first," he says.

[cross_and_bow]

"Pfft, I came with my cousin, he couldn't find anybody 'cause he waited till the last minute, and yours went and left you all by yourself, didn't she?"

[eversomuchfun]

"Then yes," he says, "why not."

[cross_and_bow]

Meanwhile, Bella has not found any single targets for the Ghost of Promenade Past -

Oh, there's a girl standing by herself, a bit more in keeping with the theme than the others, hiding behind a mask so if Bella knows her she doesn't recognize her. "Hey," she says. "Did your date ditch you?"

[pythbox]

The stranger tosses her hair carelessly over her shoulder. "He's around here somewhere," she says. "You?"

[cross_and_bow]

"He's dancing with some girl, but I don't mind," replies Bella.

[pythbox]

"You sure he's your date?" she asks, with an odd edge to her voice.

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah? He's my boyfriend as of months ago. He got me a corsage," Bella adds, holding up her wrist. "I don't mind if he dances with somebody else, he's going home with me after."

[pythbox]

"Ooh," she says, looking approvingly at the corsage. "Pretty. Do I know this guy? What year's he in?"