tramitem_comm | [text message to Elliott]

[Elliott waves, dismissive]

They're just clothes. I'm sure I can find a Youtube video for the tie.

[And he wastes no time in pulling his phone off the charger to look]

[Oh. Elliott is serious. Seriously serious. The more Clarence realizes this, the more awkward he becomes. But he would probably be lying if he said he wasn't a little curious how it looked.]

Okay, well... if you look for that, I'll go ahead and try the pants at least.

[And maybe the dress shirt. He wasn't sure if that jacket would even fit him.]

[Elliott throws him a smile from behind his phone, then turns to let him dress in peace while he scrolls through video results. Something short and sweet, with a good shot of the process..]

[Suddenly not sure what to do with his hands, Clarence glances around and decides he'll do just what he said. Changing pants first it is. Easiest thing, since he can just shove off his shoes and and swap those out first. God, but it was weird taking off his jeans with Elliott just right there! Even when he was forced to do P.E. in school he stayed away from everyone when he dressed down. It was just weird.]

[The hoodie came off and Clarence was able to get his t-shirt off without too much trouble. Getting the white button-down on correctly was a bit more of an issue.]

Um... how many buttons does this thing have?

[Elliott laughs, shrugging]

Just start from the bottom and work your way up. ..Found a decent video I think, when you're ready for the tie.

[Clarence gave an exasperated sigh.]

Easy for you to say.

[Still, after redoing the buttons a third time, he seemed to have gotten them. That handled, he reached for the jacket.]

Mod, do I really have to put the tie on, too? What a hassle...

[Elliott chances a quick peek back, then seeing he's dressed, turns back around.]

Of course you have to. The picture isn't complete without it. [Once Clarence has the jacket on, Elliott shoves his phone at him with a video paused and ready to be played.]

Come on. The quality isn't the best and the guy rambles for like 30 seconds, but if we scroll past that.. doesn't look hard to follow.

Edited 2020-05-13 21:52 (UTC)

[Mumbling under his breath about how his weird sleeves are gonna get in his way, Clarence takes the phone and glances around for his tie. He's only half-way through the video when he pauses it and sighs.]

This is gonna get me so confused. This tie hardly has a thicker section on it!

[But despite that bitching and moaning, Clarence had to admit the suit felt kind of nice. But he supposed it was made for his frame, wasn't it?]

[He started up the video again, going back to the beginning to try and get his thoughts organized.]

Well, then we just make sure we have the ends right. Here.

[Elliott steps in and takes the tie, then loops it behind Clarence's neck]

It's shot like this, so it should be easier for me to copy it than you to try it from a different angle, I think. Just hold the phone where I can see it.

[Clarence jumps slightly at having Elliott so close all of a sudden, but relaxes an instant later. It weird, kinda awkward, but Elliott doesn't mean any harm.]

[Carefully, he tries to situate the phone in his hands without raising his arms too high. He hoped it worked well enough this way. Elliott was quite a bit taller than him, anyway.]

How's that?

Yeah, that's good. [It's not an ideal angle, but he can see. Elliott lifts a finger to press play again, then carefully follows it. Around, then uh... what?]

Think I'm gonna slow it down a bit. [He taps the phone screen, rewinds a few seconds, then tries again. With the slower movements, he fares quite a bit better at following it as it plays.]

Nailed it.

[Kind of. Mostly. It doesn't look as neat, but Elliott steps back to fix the crookedness and guesses it has to do with the differences in ties]

[Clarence snickers though he tries to keep still.]

See? Not so easy, huh?

[But he goes quiet when Elliott moves to try again. It ends up not being the best example of an attempt at a tie, but it isn't awful. Reaching up, Clarence works to straighten it himself and finds his hands seem to know what they're doing this time around. Huh. Weird. It's like it knows how to wear a tie, just doesn't know much about how to fix one.]

[Dropping the collar, he smooths it over the edges of the tie and readjusts the jacket. He's still not used to the weirdness of the dangling sleeves, though he supposes that makes them somewhat comfortable. Tight-fitted clothing isn't something he's used to, but he doesn't hate the get-up as a whole, now that he's wearing it.]

So, how do I look? Preppy enough?

[Elliott retrieves his phone, then sits back on his bed with a grin as Clarence fusses with the angles.

And then, standing straight with everything in place, he's struck by how right he looks in it. Kind of at home, like despite saying so earlier, Clarence has worn a suit all his life. He means to tell him as much, but what comes out instead is:]

You should go to prom with me.

[What he expected was a witty yet inoffensive remark at his expense. Or at worst an all out ribbing for looking ridiculous. But the words that actually tumbled from Elliott’s mouth were so unexpected that Clarence needed an entire two seconds to process their meaning.]

[He stared up at his friend for another five seconds...]

... Are you seriously asking me to prom?

[Well, hardly asking. That was a statement that could easy have been a command. Oh heavens...]

[Unable to hold his friend's gaze, he stared down at his knees, face heating until even his ears burned]

Uh, I mean, you said you didn't want to so I guess I shouldn't- and well, if you think it'd be weird, then it's okay.

Oh. Oh, well, I ... I mean, I don't think it's weird. Just... surprising?

[Clarence rubs at the nape of his neck and shrugs, feeling more awkward by the moment.]

I thought you'd be going with like, I dunno, someone from the Key Club or something?

[His shoulders hunch, still not quite able to look at him. God, he's stupid]

I uh, I didn't know if I was going for awhile, so I haven't really asked anyone. I mean, I knew I wanted to, but then I started to think about.. you know, being Different, and this dumb tattoo that I have to wear gloves for now. And you know, it'd be weird to go without a date, right?

Edited 2020-05-13 23:55 (UTC)

Well, yeah. Obviously, anyone going to prom can't just go alone. They'll look like a loser if they have to get their picture taken alone.

[But he moves over to take a seat on the edge of Elliott's bed with a sigh.]

I mean, that's why I wasn't going. But no one is gonna care if you have to wear gloves, Elliott. Anyone would love to go to some dumb dance with you.

[Elliott peers at him between strands of his hair]

Yeah? You wanna go to some dumb dance with me?

[Okay, so yeah, he was completely serious about it. Wow.]

[Huh.]

[... Wow.]

... Yeah. That'd be great.

[And then it seemed his blush finally kicked in and Clarence found himself glancing away, pressing a hand to his face to hide the worst of it.]

[Elliott's smile spreads into a grin, and he laughs]

Cool! Thanks! And hey, you don't have to buy a suit! Now I can tell my mom I've got a date.

[Clarence's returning smile is more awkward, but he can't deny he's happy about the idea.]

I wasn't really planning on going so I told Kris and Phil I'd just go around feeding cats. Guess I can say I'm hanging out with you instead.

Yeah, as my date.

[He spends a moment grinning about that again, then sobers and lightly shoves at Clarence's shoulder]

Well, you look good, so now I'm gonna have to figure out what I'm gonna wear. I think people usually dress to match or something?

Now you're just trying to make me blush. [And it's working.]

Heh, what, never been fitted for a suit either?

[His hands fall to his lap, idly playing with the dangling sleeves of his jacket.]

... Guess I'll have to go get some flowers soon too. Maybe Mister Crowley will have a recommendation...

Ye- [He pales]

Oh, Goddess. That's this weekend! There's no time to go out and get fitted!

[Elliott vaults up for his closet and tears through to the back to pull out his slightly crumpled white blazer and slacks]

I'm so sorry, Clarence. It's okay to call it off.

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