Notes:

For Flufftober - Candles, Lanterns, Fairy Lights
For Finn Week - Social Courage

Setting the Stage

It's not really surprising that Phasma takes charge of the decorating committee. She's tall, imposing, and a karate champion who thinks the appropriate answer to a peer telling her no is a physical assault. The teachers like the girl - she's head cheerleader and all too good at making her attacks sound like defense - so no one dares oppose her anymore.

The only person who rules the school social structure with stronger resolve is the so called 'bad boy in leather', Ben Solo. Who thinks going by the name Kylo Ren makes him cooler. He's got a juvie record for shop lifting a few times and is a bigger bully than Phasma. And he throws the most obnoxious temper tantrums when things don't go his way, destroying other kids things. And since he talks with his fists when confronted... no one is willing to confront him anymore. Except Rey, except now she's having to deal with his obvious crush on her, for being the only person willing to stand up to him.

Finn does not envy Rey the attention she gets, both for standing up to the bullies and the ridicule from the girls who wish Kylo would look at them that way. They'd fix him if only he'd let them love him. And Rey just... gets in their way, how awful of her leading the boy they liked on that way.

Phasma is, unfortunately, one of those girls vying for Kylo Ren's attention. So when the decorating committee convenes for determining what the themes and designs for Junior Prom should be, Phasma is already glaring daggers at Rey. Rey is only there for adding to her college applications next year. Poe is there because he actually likes dances (the adorable sap). And Finn is there because his friends are there and they're worth putting up with Phasma's verbal abuse.

Not that Phasma sticks around long. Kylo Ren arrives to flirt with Rey. Rey snubs Kylo while Phasma steams with jealousy. Kylo decides to turn his attention to Phasma to make Rey jealous, fails to realize that plan isn't working, and swans off with Phasma to... go kick small children or whatever people like those two do for fun.

That leaves a small group behind in bewilderment. Rey, Poe, and Finn of course. But also Hux, who doesn't get along with anyone because he's a snob. Rose, the new girl in school who was probably hoping dance planning would be an easy way to make new friends. And two of Phasma's fellow cheerleaders, Andrea and Carmilla.

Andrea tries to step into Phasma's shoes as head bitch in charge. Even putting it in exactly those words. She lays out the 'Cheerleader vision' of what the dance should be like.

"Okay, so how will you be paying for all of that?" Rey asked.

Finn sidled closer to Poe to escape Andrea and Carmilla's twin glares.

"The school is paying for it all, duh."

"The school has given us a firm budget for decorations. And catering isn't within our project scope, the principal will be deciding that. So I don't think real diamonds and caviar are going to be happening," Rey drawled. "Not unless your parents are gonna be okay with supplementing the budget."

"I'd like to see you come up with something better!" Andrea was pouting now. But at least glares and pouts were all that was in her arsenal.

Rey shrugged. "I'm here for the grunt work and giving reality checks. I'd go for paper chains and the cheapest torches around if it were up to me because I don't actually care about anything but staying under budget."

"Um, well," Finn hears, with horror, his own voice speaking up, "we could probably afford enough fairy lights to decorate the railings in the outdoor area. And after homecoming's candle fiasco nearly burned down the cafeteria, we'd need to get LED candles for the tables instead. But we could also line the gym and with cheap dollar store lanterns too. Those can be decorated up kind of pretty. Balloons for the stage when we have the award ceremony... and paper chains wouldn't be a bad idea either. They're cheap and pretty, but don't have to last long. Maybe a big hand drawn banner above the stage? Um... Rose, I hear you're good at calligraphy?"

"I could do something on a large scale for the banner," she agreed happily.

The two remaining cheerleaders looked upset. But Poe was already talking about the nearest dollar stores they could hit up for supplies and Rey seemed weirdly excited about the paper chains. So the two cheerleaders stalk off in a huff, leaving the committee down to just five.

"You sticking around, Hux?" Poe asked, giving the snob an arch look.

Hux shrugged. "I have nothing better to do with my time. Unfortunately. And it's not..." he waved his hand dismissively. "Terrible. For one of Finn's plans. We still need to pick the colors."


Somehow Finn finds himself in charge.

He makes sure Rose has all the supplies she needs to make a lovely hand drawn banner to go above the stage, as well as two smaller banners to help make the buffet and drinks area stand out out. Also a poster conveying the necessary information regarding the photo booth, which would be run by Leia Organa-Solo who'd volunteered to what would, no doubt, be her son's mortification.

Rey's only interested in making paper chains, so Finn makes sure she has supplies too and then leaves her to it.

He helps Poe figure out the optimum dispersal of the limited fairy lights they were able to get their hands on and the amount of plastic faux-metal battery-powered lanterns they'll need to keep the edges of the dance floor adequately lit.

Even Hux listens to what Finn has to say, setting up flickering fake candles on the indoor and outdoor tables and sprucing the whole thing up with the little fake flower arrangements they came up with.

It all gets done, barely, on time. And looks great.

Phasma walks in, calls it incredibly shitty, and ruins one of Rose's posters before stalking off to bitch to the principal, no doubt.

Finn consoles Rose and sends Rey to get more supplies to make a new banner. He sends Poe with her to make sure Rey doesn't 'detour' to go kill Phasma or anything like that. Hux seems weirdly impressed by how Finn gets everything back in order, Rose calmed down, and the banner repaired.

Honestly, Finn's not really sure how he held it all together when his own anxiety was making his shoulders tense. But as Friday comes to an end, much later than anticipated, he's kind of proud of the decorating job. It was, weirdly, kinda fun.


The dance goes off without a hitch. There's a lot of compliments about the decorations.

Phasma preens and tells everyone it was all her idea. Finn doesn't bother correcting her because, well... no one would listen anyway.

Except during the award ceremony, Hux tells the 'funny story' about how Phasma ran panting after a boy who didn't even make her his date and Finn had to save the day when the remaining cheerleaders seemed to think jewel encrusted glasses were within a public high school's budget.

Finn finds himself being pushed onto the stage by his friends and given a clearly home made award that Hux must have DIY-ed himself that morning.

"Sorry it looks like crap," Hux said, with the microphone off. The thing looked like a mutant homecoming mum that the girls liked wearing every year. Minus the cowbells, thankfully. "I just didn't want Phasma taking credit for someone else's work. Again. I'm fed up with her and with Kylo. So don't think this makes us friends or anything."

"I would never," Finn promised solemnly. "If you need to hide from those two when they accuse you of betraying them, or whatever dramatic nonsense they come up with, Poe probably won't poison you if you join us for lunch. Just don't eat anything he offers you. Or Rey, for that matter."

Hux snorted. "I'm not an idiot." The microphone went back on. "Now for a few words from our lead decorator himself."

Public speaking. Not Finn's favorite thing to do. "Thanks, Hux," Finn responded dryly. And then went on to praise every member of the committee who'd actually stuck around to help. "It was a pleasure getting to work with a dedicated team whose goal was to make sure everyone had an amazing night to remember. So I really hope everyone's enjoying themselves tonight."


While Hux does not start joining them for lunch, to Finn's relief, someone else does.

Seems Rose made a few friends from the decorating committee after all. And Finn, for one, is more than happy to welcome her.