More colours than you can shake a stick at, don't even try [Mingle]

[ourearth]

Date: Friday, the 2nd of August - officially Saturday, the 10th (and unofficially Sunday, the 11th)
Characters: Open to all!

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It is Mossgate's fifth season, and the the first signs come when the flag above the town hall showing the town coat of arms is removed and replaced with the bright and beautiful pride flag. Anticipation is high in the LGBT+ areas of town, and the traditional pride pre-parties take place in the LGBT+ venues on Friday and Saturday nights. Bunting starts to go up along the main streets of town, and volunteers are gathered for meetings and rehearsals. Any latecomers who still wish to volunteer are invited to turn up and make themselves known at this point (especially anyone with a valid first aid certificate!)

Pride officially opens on Sunday, with special free walking tours of the notable LGBT+ venues and sights around town twice a day, as well as open lectures at the universities featuring such topics as “What is a definition anyway: LGBT identities throughout the times” and “50 years and going strong: An overview of the situation of Pride parades worldwide”. Interested parties can sign up online using the local theatre's website, where they will also be able to browse the special LGBT+ program for the week (which, unfortunately, is not free, but those volunteering at any point over the week will be provided with two free tickets as one of their perks – either to be used alone for two events, or with a companion for one). The twice monthly LGBT+ book club is holding a special taster event on Wednesday evening, and the comic store is also holding special events each evening, focusing on a different LGBT+ character or author each night. Some of the religious institutions in the town are holding special LGBT affirmative services, and some are also holding drop in sessions. The RSPCA holds a pride themed dog show. Certain beauty stores, hair salons and barbers are holding trans-friendly sessions and workshops, some outside of normal working hours (although some are only accessible by signing up in advance). During the evening, there will be LGBT+ pub quizzes and special LGBT+ events up and down the high street. And, of course, plenty of other stores will also be taking advantage of the pink pound and the locals will notice the sudden influx of rainbow products, especially in the touristy shops along the beach front.

Something else starts showing up on Sunday and will be found around town the entire week of Pride: Parcels of various shapes, sizes and colours, some packaged like a present, some like regular postal items, some in entirely different ways. They just sit around in places where curious fingers might prod them, annoyed people might move them, or people might pick them up with the rest of the delivery unthinkigly. Essentially, they can be found anywhere, inside and out. They only have one thing in common: When touched, they explode into a cloud of glitter. And the glitter gets everywhere within a fifty metre radius if nothing (like a wall) stops it. The glitter bombs sitting around and waiting to explode seem to get neither less nor more. Those who can recognize Mr Neutral's scent will find it on the packages.

The other thing starts slowly and almost imperceptibly. All around town, things that break the light like thick glass, mirrors, sprayed water, and so on, will grow more likely to show a rainbow. Short rain showers will almost invariably leave one. All of this is still very natural until Thursday, when the strong, lingering, beautiful rainbow left after a rain shower portrays the colours light blue - baby pink - white - baby pink - light blue. By the time the main event rolls around, there is a ridiculous number of rainbows of all Pride flag colours everywhere, and the sky carries multiple rainbows of various identities' colours at the same time.

The main event, of course, being the pride parade, held from 11AM on Saturday the 10th. It starts at the town hall, progresses along the main beach front road and ends up at the Green from around 2PM. It's a massive event, equal to Brighton or Manchester, with plenty of floats and sponsors. All along the parade route, flags, bunting and ribbons float in the sea breeze and barriers have been placed to keep the audience from getting under the feet of the walkers, dancers, prancers and stompers that will make up a part of the parade's diverse make-up. The parade itself is made up of an interesting mix of local businesses and big name sponsors; the local walking society walking behind Absolut vodka, the WI walking ahead of Skittles, and the local scouts being proceeded by Stonewall and followed by the Conservative Party.

The Green has once again been set up with stalls for sponsors and local businesses, including charities like the RSPCA and the Samaritans. Those out for freebies won't be disappointed, with stickers, badges and sweets being handed out left, right and centre, especially by the representations of political parties who are doing their best to build some trust back up with the population. Because every Tory representative called out for increasingly ridiculous reasons, Mary Saunders had to take the Tory stand into her own hands and is brightly chatting with people about everything that is not national politics. The local reproductive health centre also has a stand, handing out condoms, dental dams, and advice.

A dance area and a DJ have been set up around the bandstand, and with several bars having build temporary extensions, the party will go on well into the night, although the parade officially ends at nightfall, when there is a fireworks display. After the fireworks, the Green is temporary cleared, and after it reopens, only those with ID proving themselves to be 18 are allowed back inside. There is, however, an alternative, alcohol free party held in the town hall for any ages.

Pride officially concludes on Sunday evening with the Kings and Queens ball, an extension by tradition that is held in the Hive. With the bar cleared out to make a second dance floor, there is a flamboyant tie dress code, (as long as it's smart and fabulous, you'll be welcomed), and while tickets generally sell out months in advance, Alexander keeps a few to one side for late comers, and volunteers are (again) provided with two as part of their package. When the bell finally tolls at 2AM, and the last partygoers are sent home, Mossgate will return to it's usual, quiet self (but the glitter will take some time to clean up completely).


[ooc: Everyone who comes in contact with the glitter can, but doesn't have to get a plot echo out of it.]

Comments

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie absolutely doesn't believe that she's lived with James for far too long to ever believe such a statement. Her raised eyebrow tells Walter as much.

"It's different, it doesn't sound like a person's growl." And Sadie's growl really doesn't, her growl is nearly identical to recordings of lions and tigers growling.

if you can do it, do it

[dragoonrouge]

"Those are widespread theories that somehow manage to exist without evidence. What happens when something happens to us that gives people evidence? And don't forget what happened last Bonfire Night."

[iamnotgod]

"Is it the sort of thing people who aren't in the know will take time to question?" Walter points out.

"Or will they be more likely to just back off, and doubt what they heard later?"

... He'd met both types.

What's ironic - and funny - is that *that* conversation is at cross-purposes with this one.

[iamnotgod]

((Which means it might set him up for another Personality Echo, too.))

"... Or what didn't happen, you mean? And why it didn't."

He remembers being interviewed, texting Jim when the eventual fireworks did go off - and Sadie's find on the Green.

"The amount of mileage the speculation from the police presence gathered was surprisingly small, at least over time."

[dragoonrouge]

The nervousness was back if the way Ben's brow furrowed and his eyes tightened was anything to go by. Sadie was absolutely stamping on that guy's foot if they bumped into him again. But Ben would almost certainly feel worse if she drew attention to it now, especially after he had been so determined when they had arrived.

"Good idea," She steps back with him to prevent any attempts to separate on the dancefloor, "I'll have a think on the way to the bar with you, I could do with a breather before I burn out early." A little lie but continuing to dance would be far less enjoyable without Ben there.

It would be a very interesting echo thats for sure

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie shrugs conceding to his first point, "Honestly? That's what worries me about that. They closed down a major event and then there was no proper follow-up statement at all and no-one else really seemed concerned. I'm a Londoner and even back there that would have caused a bit more of a stir."

... While it'd be seriously backdated to pull off the Personality Echo NOW - maybe an inbox thread?

[iamnotgod]

"So it's not just us who are keeping secrets."

And as much as he personally wants to avoid the spotlight, perhaps there's an inconsistency in who they should prefer giving answers...

Walter looks plainly uncomfortable.

"Not only that, but there may be a deliberate effect preventing people from questioning those actions. And if we were to try to break that effect-" Would it backfire? Assuming, of course, it even existed.

[warped_replica]

50 meters? I think only you would be fast enough to get out of that range in time.

I may, if the opportunity arises, but if you didn't find anything then I don't expect I would either.

[It would be a matter of curiosity winning over caution, as he has no desire to risk an Echo after everything that has already been happening.]

At this point, I'd like to know more about who is placing the packages.

[iamnotgod]

[Even as a statement of fact, Walter is still unsure how to feel about the 'praise'.]

For that, we would likely have to check with Chad or Stone, who have been able to smell the presence of Mr. Helpful and his ilk before.

We could guess as to whose behavior patterns suit this act better, but that is not as conclusive in the long term.

[warped_replica]

That Walter stays and waits it out with him means so much, lending a contradiction to his fears in a concrete action that would not have occurred if Walter had suddenly altered his opinion of him. Even so, his escape from the attack is slow as he keeps his gaze downcast when he answers the offer, "...'es please."

Water would do him a lot of good.

Once Walter has stepped away to retrieve the water, Benjiro pushes himself upright through his arms to stare down at the state of himself. Small swipes taken at the glitter, he tries to remove as much as he can from his clothing, skin, and hair. For the first time, he feels thankful for the wear of his facemask, as it kept the glitter out of his mouth and nose.

[iamnotgod]

The irony about Walter having already warned Ben about the packages does not escape him - rather, it haunts him.

What he can actually do relating to that emotion, however, is to minimize his away time by as much as possible - and evade any attention from moving abnormally quickly, as well.

Once he is certain the water is undisturbed, he opens and offers the bottle (not a glass, something that Ben would have to think about handling gently) to Benjiro.

"I picked up some wet wipes on my way back," he says. "Though those may not be the best option."

At least in terms of getting it all.

[warped_replica]

Before he can clarify that he had been offering to pick up drinks for them both and allow her to keep dancing, Sadie is already close to him and obviously not wanting to be alone on the dance floor. He knows she could dance the whole night if she desired, so he accepts the excuse gratefully to stay together by reaching to take her hand with arms and fingers linking lightly. Nodding once to show his understanding, he carefully weaves through the crowd with her out of the dancers and over towards the bar. The bar has its own crowd, and he stays close slightly behind her.

Focusing on the menu, he considers the options of the nonalcoholic selections. His attention diverts briefly to those with alcohol, but he chides himself silently for it. Once able to order, he does so with Sadie and pays so that they can go sit at an open table together.

[saveournpcs]

The two women look at each other. Mary Saunders seems unsure at first, but then nods decisively.

"A drone would be good. You sound like you're volunteering?"

[dragoonrouge]

Even the thought of trying to distinguish between the two types of people fills Sadie with exhaustion.

"Dunno, but growling doesn't leave a very good impression of my character if it somehow doesn't scare the person off."

[iamnotgod]

Walter pauses to make sure the adrenaline from earlier isn't screwing with his judgment any.

"Is it going to risk pushing away people you do want to talk to, or talk to already? Preventing you from forming a positive reputation would be a major hazard-"

Especially where uni is involved.

"But would this be the sort of reputation that puts you in harm's way?"

Growling certainly hadn't played any role in Walter's treatment; being able to startle people like that may even have been a help, at some points...

[dragoonrouge]

"All this brings us back to the central point that we don't know anywhere near enough about all of this. Wish the Numbers had come with a damn FAQ."

/Looks at the fourth wall like this is The Office

[iamnotgod]

Walter sighs in solidarity.

"It would be nice to have a key to all this information-"

Sadie can next sense Walter freezing stock-still. "Not again," he breathes. The gold in his aura flickers more raggedly.

Even with his perception-speed the way it is, it's still not pleasant in the least to have all that information unleashed on him.

[dragoonrouge]

A suitable fruity and sweet chosen and taken in hand the two of them are lucky enough to find a table, probably because most of the people at the club are dancing. Once Ben has sat down Sadie tucks herself in so close to him that she is nearly sat on Ben's lap.

"Much better!" she leans her head against Ben's shoulder, "I've really enjoyed myself so far, thank you, Ben."

Sadie continues to win the Number of Echoes Triggered game

[dragoonrouge]

Oh, bugger. She takes a hold of Walter's hand, there wouldn't be much for her to do until it was over with.

"Are you alright?" She asks once the gold electric feeling settles back into its normal patterns.

[dragoonrouge]

"Imagine if I just growled at colleagues every time I disagreed with them at work, that would go down a treat I'm sure. Could be worse, I could hiss at them instead."

Re: Sadie continues to win the Number of Echoes Triggered game

[iamnotgod]

"I wish I could tell you for certain, Sadie," Walter answers, slowly lifting his head to make eye contact.

"But I think I should go inside for now."

He is clutching that hand tightly - and while he lacks Ben's strength, that grip might still hurt.

Fun fact: I have actually hissed at my Dad. The reaction was exactly what you'd expect. =V

[iamnotgod]

Walter snorts.

"Sure enough."

He sighs, then; likely there is an answer, and a compromise, but he suspects it's about time they get out of the alley.

"We could do some research together - preferably elsewhere - if you'd like that? De-escalation tactics, that sort of thing?"

[vernal_miss]

The structure of the home may not change, but Nel kicks aside a toy along the way as part of the process. The way he squints is explained by the reported shift in his vision, and it leaves Nel puzzled. Not that such a thing matters at the moment.

Once she has him in the bathroom, Nel releases his hand, “Yep! I’ll put it on the front of the sink for you.” Helping out does ease her mind a bit. “We can walk to the shop after you get cleaned up and find some glasses I bet.”

His clothes may be another matter, but perhaps a good shake outside will do the trick.

[scarsolderthanyou]

There might be some spare clothes around here, too. He stays the night often enough. "I'm almost looking forward to getting the actual dragon shape back, at this point," he grumbles at his blurry reflection, tilting his head to try and see himself and his smeared, glittery make-up better. "It can't be more annoying than the rest of this."

[warped_replica]

Set with a tortuga drink for himself, he barely gets the glass on the table before Sadie has claimed her space within his own. Not that he minds of course. He smiles to her from behind his mask, “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been having a good time tonight. It’s just as hot as I remember, but I think I can handle it better now.” At least he thinks he has not sweat as much as he did last year.

Angling an arm over the back of the seat, he lays his hand on her shoulder. Slipping one loop from his mask, he picks up his glass to drink, and with a third of the drink already gone, he returns the mask to rest.