Trans Prom: The Precession
It was timeless. A Polaroid of hours. It would appear in no yearbook, yet it felt like it could. The venue was nothing special, a large building prepared for just the occasion. But there were still puddles in the parking lot and leaves crumbled upon the rug. This wasn't a perfect prom. Some might even call it fake or unreal.
Our arrival began with a fat tongue of clouds darkened by night lolling down from the heavens. From the billowing folds of the undulating softness came what else, but a fox; resplendent and devious, orange white and black. But this fox begat two, then ten, then a teeming tango of tangerinic troubles. They were, are, and always would be the Swarm, and each little fox was dressed with a charming bow tie for the occasion - all cockeyed of course. They're foxes. So they tumbled over one another as a tide of screams and shrieks across the dark asphalt until the swarm reached the staircase. And suddenly.... they were still. Stiff as statues every one of them, a path forming from an inner circle formed of the foxes.
Then, a flair of motion! A little girl, dressed in a delightful yellow color, came hopping out. Her tail and ears fluttered in the company of ribbons. Her felt skin caught and hugged the light, thread curling with her smile from a bounded snout. A single button eye gazed upon the doors of the building with such unbridled happiness as her tiny paws tip tap tapped upon the ground. "We're here! We're here we're here!" The Little One squealed. The ragdoll spun happily sending her dress twirling into a circle. The Swarm's tide carefully made sure she never hit a puddle in her dancing. She was going to run to the doors, yet a trio of obsidian-black-sharp claws took hold of her tag loop, causing her to fall onto a fox's back. The claw then slipped back into the collective as another figure arose.
In contrast to the Little One, whose every fiber and thread read as soft, huggable, and a touch scuffed, the Creature was.... different. Light fled from its presence and its irrationally towering stature cast a cloak of shadows, its body monochrome like a rough sketch. Dark compound eyes beheld the scene as previously hidden mandibles clicked and clacked in anticipation. Rail thin legs propelled the lepidopteran horror forth as gaunt arms swung lazily in time. The frightening moth of tooth and claw, with its gangling neck and vivid terror of a form would not be constrained by dress nor suit. Instead, the figure's massive wings formed a gleaming gothic garb that flowed effortless from the monster's full neck fluff, clearly sprinkled with golden dust.
The Creature whirred and chittered, addressing the Little One. The living doll whined and crossed her arms.
"But I don't wanna wait! We missed the last one!!! And all the dumb dances before that!"
A croaking click came in response. The plush softened and hugged the Creature.
"I know I know, I just wanna show you a fun time too big guy. You rarely come out with us."
"Oh this one'll be fine Lil One! Iiiiiiiiii PROMISE!"
A streak of ink laced with colors streamed out of the foxes like an oil slick before swirling into a twister. Stuttering and flailing, a third regained their balance. Similar to the first, there were hints of a fox. But unlike the young doll, this figure was a living cartoon, and less of an animal - more the implication of one. A beaming pearly smile cut through the muted colors as two large paws adjusted a set of suspended straps and a cozy set of britches. Every action was accompanied by a sting of sound and popping black bubbles.
"Has she come out yet?" asked the Little One. The Talker produced a new button and some thread. They jaunted up smoothly with a bouncing bob and got to work - Little One sat on a concrete railing adjacent to the staircase.
"Oh no no no the Lady is getting herself ready! Think she's the most excited of any of us yesiree! Looking like a fine beauty our girl."
"But last time I saw her she was looking on her phone!"
"Oh that's just her anxiety you know how she is. But take it from me, she's shinin' like a star! And now don't I always tell the truth~?"
The Talker grinned like the moon as Little One giggled, her new button eye blinking good as new. They always had the right words, the living cartoon with the argent tongue. The Creature stared down at the two, then across the lot for threats. But all that was found were other prom goers. A cow, a dragon, a rat; some came in crowds like this, others came alone, others came with friends. But no one judged who anyone was. Yes, most here looked rather different any other night. They weren't so many, they weren't as smooth or likely as confident. But such was the magic, such was the dream.
For one final time did the foxes part. Little One held her breath as the Talker snickered. And reflected in the Creature's eyes was a white figure garbed in a light pink robe emerging from the swarm of foxes. A vixen of pearly fur and red markings that swam across her surface, occasionally floating off the tips of her many tails. Wrapped about her large ears were headphones, providing a soundtrack to this wonderful day. Sharp and strappy heels clicked and clocked across the lot as she walked in a strut, a nervous chuckle bubbling out of her snout.
"Do I look good?" the Lady asked. Her paws laced and weaved through each other, tails squirming behind her with every anxious buzz. But the smile on her snout slipped her feelings to be here. Little One nodded excitedly as the Creature clicked mysteriously.
"You're lookin' wonderful!!! You dressed up great hun, you're gonna knock em dead!"
"We're so pretty! Do you think we can meet some friends here?!" Little One chirped. The Lady patted the small girl.
"Hehe, I'm sure we will. We didn't arrive early. But I don't think we're late."
The kitsune strolled on forth as the rest of her trailed behind. The Creature lurked and shadowed as the Talker bounced and strutted. Little One scurried and scampered to and fro with the energy of youth, all the while the Swarm fled to places the eyes don't see. But it was the Lady who took the front; her chest pounded with excitement and a long repressed joy as tears danced at her eyes. Her ears twitched - music pumped from the vibrating heart just beyond the double teeth of the mouth of the prom venue. Chattering, foot steps, the faint whiff of punch and chips. Her eyes screwed shut before the rest of her patted her softly on the fur. As confidence returned, she pushed open the doors! All together, the group hollered!
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ROSE HAS ARRIVED!!!"
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@zaigg is the creator of trans prom! Check out the tag for other creative types!
