Prom: Long, Slow, Beautiful Dance

[Beau LaRoux]

Okay, Beau really just wanted to get to his date, who, well, it looked like the guys had swooped in like vultures. Knowing Liz, it wouldn't have surprised Beau if a few of the ladies hovering nearby were attempting much the same thing as the various guys. Yet Beau had to dance around some crazed girl in a frilly yellow dress. Actually, she looked kinda familiar... was that the Frank Cox everyone talked about? She was already yelling and running off, so Beau didn't exactly get a lot of chance to ask.

Instead, he worked his way through the crowd, mostly ignoring people now, and got to Liz, who had been waving at him. He got to her and offered a friendly smile at the guy. "Sorry bud, she's with me," he said, moving to take Liz's hand and pull her away. "You got enough grub, right?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder. He smiled then. "You could always pick up some more afterward, maybe we could swing by a pizza place or a Wendy's or something."

Wouldn't be the first time they'd hit up a restaurant like that late at night. Beau gave Liz's hand a reassuring squeeze, all while pretending that the heat running up his arm came just from picking up her power, and not from, well, being close to the pretty girl again.

[Elizabeth Edison]

When Beau finally got the hint, she sighed with relief as soon as his hand wrapped around hers. The pull was a bit of a surprise but she was glad he was there all the same. "Oh thank God. I was this close to lighting his boutonniere on fire." She held up her thumb and pointer finger, showing how close they were to each other.

Somehow, the promise of more food afterwards calmed her way down, making her smile. And the reassuring squeeze made her chuckle and she bumped him a little. "You're the perfect date, you know that?" She said softly. It seemed such a big gesture, her getting all soft like that just because he offered to feed her. But it was a combination of things right then. Hopefully, Beau saw that.

"When are we getting on stage?" She asked, turning to the aforementioned stage questioningly.

[Beau LaRoux]

"You know I'm always down for rescuin' you," drawled Beau, giving Liz a wink and a smile. He shouldn't feel like swelling at that, like it was a perfect setup for something more. They were friends; they were there as friends. Everything was... friendly. Yeah, that was the way of thinking of it. Deep breaths.

Then she had to go and say that, because of course he heard it. "I jus' know you," he replied, keeping his voice equally soft for a few moments. Ah, how he wanted to just... take her in his arms or something, kiss her. Instead he found himself looking to the stage as she spoke, then looking at the time. "I reckon when they get everythin' ready. I think one of the Bellefonte girls is supposed to come up an' announce things, an' there's one," he pointed at one of the twins, who appeared to be working her way through a crowd and talking to what looked like the stablehand or something. "So we still got time."

He gave Liz's hand a squeeze and turned. "Anxious to see who ends up wearin' the crown?" he asked. "Bettin' it's Erika, especially with the whole kidnapped thing. Surprised that they didn't milk that for votes," because of course a Bellefonte would win. It was their school, after all.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth looked at Beau with a restrained smile, her lower lip slowly disappearing inward. "My big hero." She responded with a small chuckle.

His matching tone made her gulp inaudibly, catching herself before she sighed. There shouldn't be too much emotion coming off her but there was. It may not have been his intention but he had made the situation a lot thicker and heavier.

When Beau spoke, Elizabeth's eyes followed his as she saw Erika's twin a ways away. The hand squeeze made her smile and she had to agree with his first sentiment. "Erika's not like that, come on." The blonde nudged Beau's side. "But I really do think it would be Erika. It can't be anyone else. She's like...even more popular than you. It makes more sense." She nodded.

[Beau LaRoux]

No, no, Beau did not swell at being called Liz's hero and that certainly wasn't like anything out of one of his dreams or anything like that. He was definitely more focused on the whole dancing and enjoying himself and attempting not to just stare at Liz or kiss her oh God did she put lipstick on and were her lips always that shiny?

Erika, yeah, that would distract them. As would a nudge to the side, which had Beau letting out a grunt. "More popular than both of us," agreed Beau. He moved to take Liz's hand, "now c'mon, I think I know this song," he rolled his eyes toward the dance floor. A slow song had started then, and Beau could feel it moving. He wanted to at least get through a slow dance with Liz, and a mid-tempo, and a quick one, and the more time he spent with Liz in his arms, the happier he was.

Beau really had been planning on dancing with some other people. he had female friends that he wasn't that romantically interested in: Maelea, Marissa, Erika, but he found that he didn't want to leave Liz alone. He just... didn't want to deal with her dancing with someone else. So Beau drew Liz into his arms, demonstrating a talent for dancing, which of course he had. came with the talent for music, not to mention some practice with dancing with pretty girls. You'd think that would mean his heart would hammer a little less though.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth chuckled at Beau's correction, nodding in agreement. She was sure that even if Erika wasn't a Bellefonte, she would have achieved the popularity anyway. She was a nice person, selfless sometimes and, at least to her, very loyal. It helped win votes for sure.

When Beau took hold of her hand, Elizabeth gripped it tight and followed him out to the dance floor once more. She was glad her shoes were actually made for dancing so it didn't hurt her that much. She was going to have to pause eventually but not yet.

It always surprised her how well Beau moved. It shouldn't, really. There wasn't much Beau couldn't do well. She reckoned if she asked him to go hunting with her and her family, he would be great at that too.

She spent the time dancing talking about how some of the couples really looked good together and every now and then, she would help 'pick' girls for Beau. It started out as a joke but soon enough, she found it getting a bit difficult when she saw how perfect Beau would be with the girls she picked. It was so stupid.

"Okay, I might actually need to rest. These shoes may have been made for dancing but my feet are starting to kill." She chuckled.

[Beau LaRoux]

They moved well together. It was more than just their individual talent, though they both had that. They just... fit. Beau needed to quit thinking that. It definitely wasn't going to help matters any. It just continually reminded him of what they were, which reminded him of what they weren't.

Worse, Liz kept picking out girls for him. Beau thought she'd done it for teasing, and he tried to take it in stride, smiling and lightly dismissing the girls for silly reasons. It seemed to get more and more serious though, and Liz accidentally picked one of Beau's exes one time. True, the girl had changed in the two plus years it had been since she'd dated Beau, and the relationship hadn't exactly been a lasting one. But that just served to make what Beau wanted all the clearer to him:

He wanted to be with Liz.

She laughingly suggested leaving the dance floor, and he chuckled. "Sure thing," he said, offering his arm again. "Though if you want me to massage your feet, you might need to find another date," like he wouldn't do it if she asked. They both knew that damn well. But, well, Beau liked teasing her. This was how they were, how they talked, how he wanted them to be.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Not having realised that she had hit a few jackpots [somewhat] with the girls, Elizabeth was trying not to let it get to her. Beau was pretty much a catch for most girls on the dancefloor. Some were even looking at him with that smile even with their partners. She didn't want to admit it but she felt pretty inadequate being by his side. Yes, this was a friend date, but he really didn't have to do this.

Especially not with her.

How depressing. What happened to having a night of fun? Food was promised at the end of the day, she held on to that. Yay food!

Sliding her hand through his arm, she chuckled at Beau's response. "But you're the only one who can deal with my funky feet. I can't get some poor unassuming soul to deal with them!" They walked over to a table and she plopped down on an empty chair, hoisting up her feet on the chair beside her. She stretched out and pushed back her bangs, fanning herself a little.

"I still think you should go and dance with Katie. She's been eyeing you the whole time we've been here. Do her a favour." Elizabeth grinned lightly.

[Beau LaRoux]

"That would be a shame. Sounds like I'll have to take a bullet for them," said Beau. He tried not to think about the fact that he'd already done that in a much more literal sense. Instead he helped Liz get into the chair, adjusting things for her. In fact, he ended up taking the seat she'd popped her feet into, taking said feet on his lap and sort of absently rubbing at them.

"What, and miss this?" he drawled, rubbing Liz's feet. "You're jus' tryin' to trick me, like the Brier Rabbit an' all. You'll have me off an' then go scamperin' off to whatshisname," he jerked his head toward the guy, whose name wasn't worth mentioning. He looked down at the feet then, practically mumbling the next. "'sides, I went out with Katie a few years ago, an' it didn't end well."

If memory serves, it had something to do with Beau spending too much time with Liz or something. He was tempted to mention that, but instead tapped her feet and looked around. He thought he saw Devyn and his girlfriend... but the girlfriend looked a little, well, drunk. So Beau figured he'd just introduce Liz to his acquaintance some other time...

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth giggled at Beau's response. "Nothing too drastic. Maybe a punch or two." She said, still unaware of the bullet wound on the power mimic.

She had to bite her lower lip to stop herself from moaning too loudly at Beau's hands on her feet. This wasn't the first time either had handled each other's foot. Or other body parts when it came to massages. In this instance, Elizabeth gladly tipped her hat to Beau for having the upper hand. He could work magic with those fingers of his. Unsurprisingly.

Laughing at his accusation, Elizabeth reached forward to punch him on the shoulder for even suggesting that. A small frown came upon her face however when she heard the next bit. So Katie was an ex. That was why she thought they looked good together. How did she not know that though?

Shaking her head, Elizabeth shrugged and let it slide. It was a long time ago, it shouldn't matter now. She followed his gaze and they fell on a drunk-looking girl [who looked a lot like a girl she knew named Zoe] and an androgynous looking person kind of being the girl's shield. "Is that one of your friends?"

[Beau LaRoux]

Beau took the well deserved punch, flinching and letting out a little ow. He didn't dare move his hand to rub at it though, knowing that you did not stop a foot rub until the girl you were doing for was good and done. Plus, he wanted to keep Liz's attention on something not involving another girl.

Good luck with that, as Liz apparently noticed Beau's momentarily distraction. He nodded toward the guy. "That's Devyn, an' that's Zoe," he nodded to the girl. "She was the one tied up in that whole Lesbian Pokemon nonsense. I ended up doin' her laundry, an' Devyn," he nodded at the guy again, "thanked me for it. Then asked me to help him write a song. Seems to not really know how to handle a girl."

Said the guy with his "best friend's" feet in his lap. He gave them a little squeeze, turning to smile at Liz. "How your feet feelin'? Maybe you should wear these more often, get used to movin' 'round in them," he was half-joking though. After all, Beau certainly wouldn't object to Liz walking around in heels more often. Something about heels and blue jeans did something to him.

... he really just needed to ask her out proper, might help with all these wild pictures he kept having.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Wincing at Beau's flinch, she rubbed at the spot she had punched with a sheepish grin. "Sorry." She chuckled and stroked his cheek.

At the mention of Lesbian Pokemon, Elizabeth snorted and laughed till her ribs hurt. "Oh God, Lesbian Pokemon." She wiped at the tear that had squeezed out from her eye, sniffling as she tried to contain her laughter. "Oh, I suppose she came to the right guy then, Rico Suave." She smirked, leaning back into her chair.

Looking down at her shoes, she shrugged. They were cute and she knew they would look pretty with some of her skirts but she didn't want to wear them out. They look like they would last for a long time. For a specific purpose.

"Maybe. But I don't wanna wear them out. That's what my Chucks are for." She said in a perky tone. "Okay, done with the foot rub. Let's get back on the dancefloor! Unless you wanted to say hi to Devyn and Zoe?"

[Beau LaRoux]

Beau just smiled and waved off the apology. They both knew that it hadn't hurt at all. Soon he found himself wondering what he'd said that was that funny, as Liz started laughing and snorting in a manner that Beau was pretty sure he shouldn't be finding attractive (wasn't there something this girl could do that would repel him, even just a little?). She repeated what got to her, and Beau wasn't sure how to react, though he chuckled at the comment on what he assumed was himself.

Shoes now, for a moment, and then Liz insisted on Chucks, which left Beau wondering which shoes those were, exactly. He had some mental image of clunky sandals that he figured probably wasn't entirely accurate, though was still fitting. And of course his imagination started painting from the bottom up, though fortunately the reality was there to interrupt him.

"Yes ma'am," he drawled, shifting to help her up and off the chairs. "An' nah," he said, looking over at the two. "Zoe looks a little bit in the drink, an' she's supposed to be sensitive or somethin'," Beau shrugged. He might have at least swung by if he wasn't a little worried. Part of him was considering it anyway, since he could see Devyn taking advantage but, well, it might be a little selfish, but he was there for Liz, not for anyone else. "Let's go cut a rug," he said, taking Liz by the hand and heading out. The song was definitely a faster number, which would probably mean less touching, but, knowing those two, more fun all around.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth's smile widened at his, something she was sure she would never get enough of. She had to resist just reaching out and cupping his face to squish it.

She wrinkled her nose with affection when he chuckled at her teasing him. The momentary lapse had her frowning in amusement before she shook it off, letting him help her off the chair. No use being her usual independent self tonight. She would accept any form of help from Beau if he extended it.

"Wokay!" She smiled and practically yanked Beau out to the middle of the dance floor and let the music move her. It wasn't too hard. Mostly she just shook her hips and flailed her arms about. She may know proper dance steps but the song was definitely not something you would properly dance to anyway so she just winged it.

She knew she looked ridiculous, laughing and flailing about but she was genuinely having fun.

[Beau LaRoux]

Beau actually stumbled a bit as Liz yanked, wondering how she went from "my feet hurt" to "get out and dance!" He decided his foot massage probably had something to do with it, but at the end of it all, this was just Liz. So, as he so often did, Beau moved along with her, matching the movements. He'd started with what dance he'd thought she'd been doing, though quickly figured out that there was less a pattern here than just flailing and enjoying yourself. And that was the point of it all at the end of the day, so, why the hell not?

Laughing and flailing happened in abundance then, with Beau barely keeping up with Liz. He actually picked her up to swing her about a time or two, mostly because he could. At least people gave them some room, probably because you didn't want to get in the way of those flailing limbs: danger zone right there. Beau thought he saw a few people sort of edging around them, but he just put it aside, moving along.

That song ended, with another following that, of course, the two managed easily enough. More flailing, more laughing, and another demonstration of the sort of manic energy that they both possessed. By the time that one ended though, Beau found himself feeling the heat, and he knew at least some of that came from his partner. Knowing Liz, he put his arm through hers, insisting on dragging her off for some drinks. He thought he saw someone sneaking away from the punch bowl looking suspicious and far too pleased with themselves.

"Might wanna jus' have a little punch," he said, turning to follow the other, "I'm thinkin' it's a bit heavy," fortunately, someone, likely Erika's uptight twin, had put up some water bottles as well. Beau figured that a little alcohol wouldn't hurt though, so he was pouring out a small cup of punch for both him and Liz. Wouldn't technically be the first time they'd drank together, and probably wouldn't be the last.