smash_logs | I'll be there for you

Who: EV ERY ONE
What: Graduation. Prom.
When: The evening of May 31st.
Where: The Stadium.
Warnings: WHO KNOWS

One might find the stadium a little hot and humid for those used to a spring graduation ceremony. This fine evening the Academy is experiencing its first hints of summer, a warm breeze providing relief to those who would sit on the stadium floor, which had been rearranged into a platform overlooking neat rows of chairs meant to seat the gathered crowd of faculty and students. Towards the other end of the complex was the arrangement for the prom that was to follow. Food and drink, chairs and tables, each with a floral centerpiece, and, of course, a dance floor.

title or description

Before everyone could get their party on, however, there was the main event of the evening. From his place at the podium, Master Hand watched students and staff alike find their way into the stadium. With the recent robot shenanigans, there seemed to be tensions in need of dispelling. If the Headmaster knew one thing, however, it was that some silly city antics were not going to ruin this esteemed event. Not tonight. Not if he could help it.

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HEY DUDES! Here's how stuff is going to work. We kick off the log with GRADUATION. This part of the log will be divided into separate threads. I'll post them all at once, so feel free to hop around, mingle, post whenever, wherever.

HOWEVER, once the PROM starts, it will be up to you guys to post your own threads. Please check out last year's log if you'd like an idea of how this works. Everything after the thread titled "DISMISSAL" (I will post that in a bit, so don't post prom threads until I have that up!) will be considered prom, though don't let that stop you from continuing to post in the graduation section.

Please label all your threads appropriately! (Examples: "SHENANIGANS AT THE FOOD TABLE", "DANCE-OFF", "THE PUNCH IS SPIKED", "BOTHER X" In general, a location + what is going on in the thread is the way to go. Obviously, more than one thread can take place at the same location.   Linking back and forth when and if you thread hop is very much appreciated. If things start to look a bit laggy, we'll bump to the next page. Most importantly, HAVE FUN, and let a mod know about any problems or concerns you might have!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. He was right. In a way, he'd only been jesting, but Ai was so light in weight that he almost didn't notice the added pressure. As he looks down to her, he still held onto a smile, thinking it odd how something so simple could bring him so much joy. He really wasn't the same man he had been a couple of years prior. And whether that pleased him or not he wasn't entirely certain.

The dancing itself was very idle. Caim could ballroom as seemed to be customary per his station, but the kind of dancing he did with Ai was incredibly casual and in a way, he preferred it. No eyes on him. No judgment. No prying. Just simply a good time to be held by the two of them.

Are you liking it so far? He meant the entirety of prom, of course. Had she ever been to one before? If she had, certainly not with him. But prom wasn't really his cup of tea either.

"Yes!" Ai replied excitedly. She raised her eyebrows as she explained, like she was describing something surprising or out-of-the-ordinary, "It's very exciting. Everyone looks so pretty in their outfits, and I like the music very much. It's very fun. I wish I could stay all night."

She was already starting to feel a little tired, though. By the time the dance had started, Ai was usually getting ready for bed. The excitement of being at the dance was enough to keep her awake, but she was sure she wouldn't be able to stay up for much longer. Hopefully she had enough energy for a couple more dances, at least!

"Are you?" she asked. It didn't seem like the kind of thing Caim would like. But she'd learned from past experiences that Caim could be incredibly unpredictable.

One day when you are older, he reassured her.

It would have been gentle if he'd said it, but somehow he got the impression that she'd know well enough of it as it were. She seemed to know him best, after all. Before there had been anyone else, there had been Ai. Hard to believe she was still there in the present.

At her question, he gave her a nod. This moment at least, he explained, still harbouring the slight curve in his mouth. As for the others that will follow after I take you home, I could not say. If I had no obligation here, I would rather return with you.

Because he always enjoyed his time with her.

"Mm," she only hummed as Caim replied to her. It wasn't worth mentioning that she would be young forever.

As soon as the prince admitted he was having a nice time, though, her warm smile returned just as soon as it had faded when she hummed. Of course it was flattering to hear Caim would rather spend his evening with her than anyone else after she left the dance. Her cheeks were very much pink...

"I wish you could stay with me tonight! And we could dance until I fall asleep. We should have our own dance some day. But earlier... Not so late..."

Because she always enjoyed her time with him.

"I wish you could stay with me tonight! And we could dance until I fall asleep. We should have our own dance some day."

Their own dance. He wondered what she meant. What a unique girl, he'd somehow managed to keep at his side. Or perhaps it was more the other way around. Ai was the one keeping him at her side. She'd won him over. She'd forgiven him. He hoped, anyway.

Was that a part of redemption?

As he eyed her, he realised he had no idea. He was only ever making educated guesses with her. But if he'd asked... she probably would have answered him honestly.

Even though we are putting you to bed soon, Ai, what if... On a night of your choosing, we played music in the room and danced? We could dance as long as you would like. We could dance until you fell asleep.

"That's exactly what I mean!" Ai replied, her smile spreading wider across her face.

If Ai were a little more well-read, or if she understood the world she'd elbowed her way into a little better, she might have found the concept a bit romantic. She hardly understood the meaning of the word romantic and how to use it, though.

"Wouldn't that be fun?" she asked, smiling so brightly she squeezed her eyes shut.

Caim did think it was romantic in a way. But the thought entered and left so quickly, that it wasn't around long enough to make a lasting impression. What did remain was the idea that in watching her smile, he felt like he wanted to keep smiling, too.

The power of a child, or was it his biased viewpoint where she was regarded? Caim couldn't begin to say.

He squeezed her hands very gently and gave a nod. It does sound quite enjoyable, yes. 'Fun' wasn't the word he would have used and he didn't, but in the same respect, he couldn't really disagree.

'Fun' wasn't really a word Ai expected from Caim anyway.

"Good," she murmured softly. She leaned against Caim, still holding onto his hands tightly. Her smile was calmer, but still very much plastered on her face. She kept her eyes closed, calmly moving her feet exactly in time with Caim's to make sure she kept her toes on his.

It was... very soothing. She was starting to feel tired already, although she still had others she wanted to dance with...!

He was very careful with her - as he'd often been. Not to say that Ai was fragile, despite the idea that he treated her as such. More or less that he knew well enough of his reputation and of their history. So for him, it was one more good deed he was attempting to perform to the utmost of his ability.

When he thought he caught her nodding off mid-dance, he gently tugged on her hands, as if to nearly lift her. Although he never dreamed of doing such a thing in just such a way. No... If he was going to pick her up, it'd be in any fashion of the cradling sort.

Are you falling asleep? And he couldn't resist a smile at the very notion.

I'll be there for you

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