thirty-four | prom delinquency

[strike_you_out]

The week before prom

The shops
[Later that week Slugger visits the dress shop downtown to check out rental tuxedos for prom. Much of the time is spent wandering around with a disinterested expression on his face until something catches his eye or until someone chooses a tux for him and forces him into it. When he's finally in a suit and standing before the mirrors, he's fumbling with his bow tie. Despite his best attempt at tying it, it unravels instantly and he breathes a frustrated sigh. Someone remind him why prom is even a thing.]

At home
[Later that evening, Slugger peers out from behind a corner into the living room. Finding it empty, he treads quietly into the room with a rolled up mat which he then unfurls in the middle of the floor. Painted accross the mat are numbered footsteps with arrows between them in the pattern of a basic waltz. Awkwardly, he stands beside the mat and places one foot onto the first footstep.]

Forward-dated to prom day

Driveway of 726 Anderson Lane
[A big black hearse pulls into the driveway and parks beside Edward's Riddlermobile. The driver-side door opens and Slugger steps out onto the driveway with a wide grin on his face. Since when does he know how to drive? Evidently, this isn't his first time behind the wheel. He's got his ride, now time to get ready for prom.]

Outside 1451 Mitchell Road
[The hearse is now parked at the end of Ai's driveway. Dressed in his pinstripe tux, Slugger gives the car horn a honk before stepping out.]

Around Mayfield
[With some time to kill before prom, Slugger is driving around town in his stolen hearse. Need a ride to prom? Does he know you or your date? He might be pulling up to offer you a ride. There's plenty of room in back where the coffin should be. Or is it prom after-hours and you need a ride home? He can do that, too. Otherwise he's happy to destroy your mailbox and send your trash bins flying.]

Comments

[Puzzle Prom-my Death House]

[questionauthority]

[Considering Edward's taught both Luke and Slugger how to drive a couple of weeks ago, he's not that surprised to see Slugger behind the wheel. What does make him raise his eyebrow is the vehicle of choice.]

Where did you manage to find that?

[Not too many hearses in a town where death is impermanent, he would ordinarily think.]

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger pauses in the driveway at the sight of Edward but he doesn't stop grinning.]

What, this? Around.

[questionauthority]

So you intend to get there in style, hmm? [Another scrutinizing look at the hearse before he smirks, amused.] Well, I can't hold that against you.

["Style" is practically Edward's middle name, you know.]

[Around Mayfield]

[ceasetoexist]

[Pokey, for his part, had been planning to just walk to Prom. Take it slow, in a way, if just to think about the night. Or, more accurately, meeting up with 86 when he gets there. Really, he just kind of set out to start walking around town a good while before Prom. Just to think.

Still, when he sees the hearse and, more importantly, sees who is behind the wheel he can't help but smile and flag it down.]

[strike_you_out]

[The hearse pulls up to the curb, rear-ending a parked car in the process. Slugger rolls down the driver-side window and leans out.]

Hey, doofus.

[ceasetoexist]

Hey ugly. Nice ride.

Where'd you even find it?

726 Anderson

[inthebones]

...Really, Slugger? Are you sure about this?

[strike_you_out]

I haven't hit anything. Accidentally. [big grin]

[inthebones]

No, that's not it. It's so...

[Susan makes a vague hand gesture of some sort.]

You could borrow Binky. I'm sure Grandfather wouldn't mind.

1451

[shallbeavenged]

[Ai will come outside. She's dressed in her prom dress. ....did not expect to see the hearse.]

[strike_you_out]

[When he sees her step out... red instantly becomes his new favorite color. Luckily, he decided against wearing blue. Instead he's wearing gray-black pinstriped slacks with matching waistcoat and a red bow-tie. To top it off he's sporting a black bowler hat. He always feels better wearing a hat.

Slugger thought he'd be a cool guy by tipping the hat forward at a jaunty angle but now he looks as if he's shyly hiding beneath it when he comes to greet her.]

Hi.

I found a hearse.

[shallbeavenged]

Where did you find it?

Home

[likescats]

[Walking in]

LEARNING TO DANCE?

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger nearly freezes at the unexpected presence but then realizes it's only Death. Being caught by Death is somehow less embarrassing.]

Sort of. I learned once, then I forgot how. [Honestly, he doesn't see why dancing is necessary.]

[likescats]

[He nods.]

IT'S NOT VERY DIFFICULT. WOULD YOU LIKE SOME HELP?

[Death...is a very good dancer.]

Around

[theboytwin]

[Johan isn't going to prom, he's just out walking.]

[strike_you_out]

[And Slugger is out driving his hearse...through someone's front yard. A row of neatly trimmed hedges are lain flat as the car plows through. This is happening up ahead in the direction Johan is facing.]

726 Anderson Lane

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke's out in the yard standing next to a near-finished golem. He's not ready for prom yet, but his beard and mustache is freshly trimmed. He raises an eyebrow at the hearse pulling up.]

[strike_you_out]

[The hearse parks and Slugger steps out. Even though he's seen Luke with the facial hair before, Slugger can't help cracking up in amusement every time he sees it. He notices the trim with mild surprise.]

You cut it? [Isn't that sacrilege?]

the shops

[truffulacide]

[Once-ler already has his outfit prepared; he's been sewing it all week. considering his...well, considering how expensive his tastes used to be, what he has prepared is pretty mundane in comparison to the kinds of suits he used to rock, although he likes to think that's part of its charm. sometimes simplicity can be elegant.

a nice ensemble requires an equally nice tie, which is what he's out shopping for right now. he's in the middle of comparing two, trying to decide which one would compliment him, when he spots Slugger huffing away out of the corner of his eye.]

It's not that hard.

[strike_you_out]

[The bow-tie around his neck unfurls itself and hangs there like an uncooperative dead thing. Slugger's eyes roll in their sockets toward the man in the shop, his voice and expression as grave as a tomb.]

Yes, it is.

shops;

[encored]

[whoops this is charles snickering... he knows how terrible it is to be unable to tie your own ties and ribbons, though, so he'll step away from the rack he had been browsing with an amused look.]

I can get that for you, if you'd like.

[strike_you_out]

[The initial giggling catches his attention but Slugger's expression doesn't change as he fights with the bow-tie. Finally pulling it tight, the bow is sideways. This is when he pivots to face Charles.]

Help.

around Mayfield

[kingofhero]

[ Keith is about to get into his own patrol car, making sure things are safe and sound before this Prom everybody was talking about. He's taking it upon himself to make sure things went through smoothly.

. . . . he's not entirely sure why the hearse is slowing down, but when he sees the driver he'll be curious.]

Oh, hello there!

[strike_you_out]

[The hearse pulls to a stop beside Keith's patrol car. Slugger rests an elbow in the drive-side window and sticks out his head.]

Did you anything unusual, Officer Keith? [He's trying to keep a straight face.]