At the very least it is a social obligation.

Tho I would end up being bullied more if I didn't go.

[He sighs. Why do teenage humans suck?]

You may very well be harassed no matter which course of action you take.

Unleth I do thomething at the danthe that redeemth mythelf.

[He does know some pretty sweet dance moves...]

It's not mandatory, but it sounds like it'll be fun! You should definitely go.

[ so that means you're going sollux. ]

I don't even know what I'm thuppothed to do at a danthe.

Dance, what else would you do?

[ Although that's actually a good question, seeing as she's never been to a dance herself. ]

I don't know. Humanth have weird ath cuthtomth.

No, it's not mandatory, nor is it encouraged if, say, you're a scrawny nooksniffer who couldn't get someone to date him if a drone was knocking at her hive entrance.

I can get thomeone to date me.

I love the way it feels to be so overwhelmed by doubt and condescending skepticism. It's the primary reason I talk to you.

Thut up. I can get a date to Homecoming and I will.

...why doesn't everyone just glub together in a big group? Or...um. Yeah. I...I'm not shore what I'm doing yet, I just want everybubble to be happy...

It'th not thomething the humanth do I gueth? I don't think I'm going to be happy if I go or not either way.

Oh nooooooo....

[CRUSHING GUILT.]

...what can I do to help?

I'll be fine, I'm alwayth in a bad mood anyway it'th not like thith ith anything different.

Oh! I found out it is not mandatory, but you can still go without a date, and that it's for having fun and dancing and getting dressed up.

I'm probably not going to go anyway.

Why not? It'll be fun!

I do not believe it is mandatory but I do believe it may actually be fun. Provided we were all to go together.

We're all going in pairth.

We are? I wasn't aware of that.

Solluuuuuuuuuuuux~!

[Terezi sounds so pleased to hear him.] Oh, the sound of that lisp is like music to my ears!

Oh, hey Terethi.

[He hasn't talked to you yet, has he?]

Thup?

[nooope she's been busy generally being weird as usual]

Not much! Karkat told me you were here. So, hey! Are you blind or not?

[this may seem like a weird question to Sollux, but Terezi is just kind of making the default assumption he might be further ahead on the timeline... oops.]