Work Text:
The 80s specter Irma Edmond from Peace Valley looked exceedingly annoyed. She shifted from foot to foot, glancing around the recently completed Multiverse Hub. The location buzzed with energy, a mix of tech and magic. She rechecked her neon-colored watch. “Sidney’s late. Great," she muttered unhappily.
When the monochrome 50s shade finally appeared fifteen minutes later, he looked a bit winded. She looked through her large glasses to make sure she was seeing him right. He looked like he had just walked straight out of a black-and-white film—pressed shirt and perfectly combed hair.
"Sorry I’m late," he said. “Had to iron my best shirt. Wanted to look nice for you.”
Irma raised an eyebrow. “Ironed? Seriously? We're in a place with dimensions everywhere, and you're worried about wrinkles?”
Sidney flushed, adjusting his collar. “I didn’t want to look out of place.”
Irma smirked. “Thanks, I guess. Didn’t think you’d even have the nerve to ask me out after the multiverse mess.”
Sidney hesitated. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to after everything that happened. Thought you’d be... not interested.”
Irma laughed. “Well, I didn’t expect it. But hey, I’m not totally opposed.”
Sidney smiled, relieved. “Guess I should’ve asked sooner.”
They walked into “The Phantom Shake,” a neon-lit malt shop full of supernatural quirks.
Irma raised an eyebrow. “Okay, this place is pretty gnarly.”
Sidney grinned. “Thought you’d like it.”
The overly perky waitress jotted down their orders. Sidney ordered the classic chocolate shake and cheeseburger with fries, while the freckled-faced 80s specter went for a strawberry shake and a nacho platter.
Sidney blinked, confused by Irma's food choice. “Nachos? What are those?”
Irma’s jaw dropped. “You seriously don’t know what nachos are? Dude, that’s an 80s snack!” she exclaimed in bewilderment.
Sidney chuckled. “I guess I’m more of a ‘burger and fries’ kind of guy.”
Irma smirked. “Well, now you’ll try them!" she said just as the perky waitress returned with their orders. The way she looked at them made the two 14-year-olds feel slightly uncomfortable.
They both were quite fidgety. Sidney was so nervous that he knocked his elbow into his shake. “Oops, sorry. Uh, I didn’t mean to do that," he stuttered as he apologized.
He scrambled to clean things up with some pale blue napkins. He didn't want this pretty girl in front of him to get her clothes all messy.
The purple-haired girl just took a few napkins of her own to help finish cleaning up the mess while giving a nervous laugh. “First date jitters, huh?”
Sidney rubbed his neck. “Yeah. Not like I’ve ever been on a date before. And, y’know, you're... different from what I’m used to.”
Irma raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. I’m not your ‘typical’ date?” Yet she had never been on a date before either. So, who was she to judge?
Sidney grinned nervously. “Right. So, you really like that song?” He pointed to the jukebox where a ‘50s rock ballad played.
Irma grimaced. “Eh, not really. Watch this.” She slid a strange-looking coin in, and the music swapped to an ‘80s pop song.
Sidney blinked. “Whoa, what... just happened?”
Irma grinned. “Welcome to the ‘80s, my dude.”
Sidney chuckled awkwardly. “I guess that’s... better?”
Irma shrugged. “You don’t have to fit into my world.”
The conversation fell into quieter territory, but then Sidney asked, “You ever get bored, haunting your high school forever?”
Irma laughed. “Nah, it’s not the worst. I don’t miss the drama. Afterlife's way more chill.”
Sidney smiled. “Yeah, no drama. I can get behind that.”
They relaxed as they talked about their time haunting their schools. Sidney opened up about his time at Casper High: “I was that nerdy kid no one noticed—until they shoved me into lockers. It sucked.”
Irma nodded. “Same here. I didn’t fit in. Always the odd one out. At least you didn’t have Ella Woods, who made my life miserable.”
Sidney smiled softly. “At least we’re not alone now.”
Irma nodded happily. “Guess so. We’ve got each other.”
They both took a moment and then Sidney nervously tapped his straw. “So, I guess I owe this whole thing to Danny. He kept pushing me to meet new people.”
Irma grinned. “Ceci’s been on me too. ‘Stop being stuck in the past,’ she says.”
Sidney laughed. “Yeah, Danny’s persistent. However, I think he just wants us to live a little.”
Irma beamed. “Yeah, I’m glad she pushed me. Even if I didn’t think I’d end up here.”
The music shifted, and Irma hesitated. “You wanna dance?”
Sidney blushed. “I don’t really know how to, but—”
Irma grinned. “Come on. Who’s gonna judge us? We’re ghosts, remember?”
Sidney laughed, following her. “Okay, okay. But don’t expect me to be smooth.”
They stumbled into some awkward steps but started laughing, letting go of the tension. Irma spun, and Sidney tried to twirl but ended up in a goofy shuffle. The music switched from ‘50s rock to an energetic ‘80s synth track, and they didn’t hesitate. They kicked, twirled, and shuffled with wild abandon, laughing the whole time.
Sidney glanced at Irma between goofy moves. “This is... kind of great, actually.”
Irma grinned. “I told you—it’s not so bad once you stop worrying about looking dumb.”
And for a while, they just danced, carefree and laughing, the awkwardness melting away.