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!

---

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

[warped_replica]

Tuesday
The warnings of the other Numbered had allowed him to steer clear of packages ready to burst with glitter through the first couple official days and even keep his great aunts from triggering one accidentally while out with them in Moss Manor briefly to gather supplies for the book club taster event. His Aunt Agatha had once again been designated in charge of the treats on account of her wife's baking expertise.

Tuesday, they are back out again together in the morning. His aunts are busy making use of the pink pounds, and Benjiro takes the opportunity while in Mossgate with them to stop in at the second hand shops. Fitting shoes have been far more difficult to find, and anything even remotely appropriate for a semi-formal dressed event has been scarce at best. Looking through a stack of shoeboxes in one such store, he reaches to the top of the next stack to rearrange the boxes only to feel that box give at his touch. He closes his eyes just in time to be engulfed in glitter as he recoils in a hop backwards to his feet. Hand finding the wall, he tries to steady himself as the unwelcome emptiness washes through his body and a single heartbeat heralds in a new memory.

"What the shell are you guys?!" was asked of them.

"You might say we're your brothers," their leader answered.

"Or more precisely, your betters!" he corrected.

"Cloned from your tissues, but with lots and lots of issues! Nyehahahaehehehe!" added the smallest.

Still reeling from the Echo when the shop owner comes over, nausea replaces the emptiness as he regains his mental footing enough to interact appropriately for the situation. Far as he appears to be from ground zero of the glitter, the shop owner rants against the pranks and alternately apologizes to the young man coated with glitter. Something is said about how it was never expected in the store, but Benjiro is only half listening as he tries to reassure the owner he was not injured. Hands shaking, he manages to brush the worst of it off. Any other time, he might stay to assist in the cleaning, but the nausea is only worsening. Benjiro excuses himself from the store, and heads out into the fresh air. Weaving around the few pedestrians, he hurries off to a nearby park to find a bench where he can sit and try to pull himself together with his head in his hands.

Wednesday
After spending all morning and afternoon assisting his great aunts with baking, Benjiro follows his aunts to the book club taster event. He helps them unload the trays of baked goods and set up the space inside before the opening. Leaving the event to his great aunts, Benjiro finds himself a nice spot off to the side out of the way to sit with his phone.

Friday
As he had done last year, Benjiro joins in with a number of his online gaming friends to host a livestream charity to benefit an international organization that supports LGBT+ rights. All of the games they play during those 12 hours, together or simultaneously, are associated with the cause. Daydream Daddy is requested as is Speed Dating for Spectors. Now and again, Benjiro will take breaks, but he is certainly available to chat in text even as he keeps the stream running.

Saturday
After what had happened last year, Benjiro has decided to hang around during the parade, but he is definitely keeping some distance. He moves ahead of the parade to scan the various stalls at the Greens, and after finding nothing that stands out, hangs around at the periphery until mid-afternoon.

Sunday (Closed to Sadie)
The Kings and Queens ball at the Hive was the first date he had shared with Sadie nearly a year ago, and nothing would keep them from attending together again. Between everything happening through the week, he has done his best to gather attire that would pass as semi-formal. His great aunts pitched in to complete it with a custom vest sewn without a lining as if part of a costume. The outfit might be too small for him next week, but tonight, it would be enough. The navy blue vest, white collared button shirt with sleeves cut and hemmed at his elbows, and pair of dark blue jeans make up the base. A pair of worn black slip on shoes cover his feet, and a pitch of color is thrown into the outfit by the blue bow tie with dinosaur fossils printed on the fabric.

Having arrived a little early at Sadie's home on his motorcycle, he leaves his helmet and facemask behind when he rings the bell at her door. Greeted by Sadie and her family, he presents his girlfriend with a single lavendar English rose adorned with stems of white heather flowers. Together, they suffer through a number of pictures taken by her mother to be shared with his aunts. Citing the time, he steals her out the door to his motorcycle and drives them both to the Hive.

Benjiro comes to a stop in an open parking spot and lends Sadie a hand to step off first before he sweeps out the kickstand to stand his motorcycle. Wearing his facemask with both helmets left at the bike, he offers her his arm to walk together to the club. He is doing his best to keep his nerves in check, but his heart beats as quickly as it had the year before when attending the dance for the first time.

Tuesday! Can do a prompt for Friday in a second thread if you'd like.

[iamnotgod]

Ben ends up in a park that Walter frequents - which means it really is fortunate circumstance that they stumble upon each other, for once.

(That Walter now somehow has automated being able to track his friends and Numbered acquaintances has not quite caught up to the man.)

Having been on what for most humans would have been a brisk walk - but felt more like a painfully slow stroll for him - he stops at once upon seeing his friend.

"Ben?" he asks, moving over to sit on the (thankfully clean) bench.

"What happened? Can you move much, or do you feel ill?"

[warped_replica]

In the minutes that pass before Walter comes upon him by happenstance, Benjiro manages to quell the worst of his nausea to the point the reflexive dry heaves have ceased. Head still buried in his hands, the teenager flinches at the sound of his name without leaving the tripod position of elbows on his knees. That he knows Walter’s voice is keeping him calm.

“Glitter,” he explains in a single word to begin. Although he had cleared the worst off of himself, the glitter still clings head to toe with quite a bit caught in his black hair and on his clothing along his front side. A breath, then he answers further, “I feel sick. I just...need a minute.”

[iamnotgod]

"I understand. Is it alright if I touch you?"

If the answer is yes, Walter places one hand soothingly on Ben's back. He can imagine what must have happened, based on what had happened to him on Sunday.

"You want me to get you some water? Mints?"

[warped_replica]

A soft, short hum rises from his throat as he dips his head slightly more forward. It is the closest thing to an affirmative he manages for Walter. The initial contact stirs another twinge, yet the persisting presence is rewarded with a slow relaxation of the solid muscle under that hand.

“Mmno, no...I’ll be okay,” the decline is given more from a desire to avoid inconveniencing his friend than anything. He rubs his face in his hands, his hairline still damp with sweat.

Gradually his breathing slows, and once it does, he lowers one hand from his pallid face, “Sorry, the whole thing was pretty shocking...”

[iamnotgod]

Sustained contact comfort it is, then! Walter's more than content with providing that much.

"I understand how that feels," he assures.

"Think you're alright to talk about it later, or text? Or do you want to find something around here to do?"

It is the week of Pride; doubtless it shouldn't be that hard.

[warped_replica]

As terrible as the Echoes can be, at least they can sympathize with other Numbered. Having his best friend to commiserate with alleviates the intense feeling of isolation brought on by such an intense memory.

Even so, “...I don’t think being around other people is a good idea right now.” He considers the other options that Walter proposed and reaches for his phone as his second hand leaves his head. He remains propped on his elbows and texts Walter directly.

In the memory, he fought the second one I get memories from sometimes.
Donatello.

[iamnotgod]

Chatting on a bench, at least, won't draw unwanted attention.

Could you say the first was a clone of Donatello?

Walter presses back into the bench, resulting in something that's not quite snuggling, but that helps him to move his legs less.

[warped_replica]

The teenager stiffens as he reads the word ‘clone’ and looks from his phone towards Walter without moving his position. His surprise is written in his expression, and he swallows a little roughly as he looks back to his phone to answer.

I am almost certain of it.

How did you figure that out?

Now to figure out if I'm having Walter know/guess too much. |D

[iamnotgod]

Occam's Razor. Rather than receiving memories of two separate people, something we haven't seen any other Numbered do yet, it's actually more straightforward for it to be memories from one individual already given another's memories.

This, combined with the indication of more complex levels of technology in the world in those memories, makes the idea of cloning more plausible.

Walter's physical expression, meanwhile, is utterly sympathetic.

[warped_replica]

Reading through the response, Benjiro leaves the phone in one hand and retreats behind the other as he uses it to cover his face. He has not even dealt with the implications himself, and yet it is already known that his Number is connect to a clone. A seemingly evil clone at that.

Caught by indecision, he does not know what to do or say.

[iamnotgod]

I am not going to tell anyone you do not wish to know this.

And, Ben permitting, Walter's just going to go ahead and hug the teen now.

He doesn't have to say anything.

*connected to

[warped_replica]

The teenager feels stiff when Walter hugs him, and the tension stays as he feels his breath starting to quicken in response to a lightheaded feeling. He feels as though he is being punished, and the worst part is he does not have to confidence to assure himself he does not deserve it.

His parents may have been right to abandon him.

As his thoughts spiral, he begins to tremble and his chest tightens with pain. Setting his phone aside, he folds over where he sits as he struggles to contain the panic attack threatening to rob him of rationale thought entirely.

Sunday

[dragoonrouge]

Finally, the day of the ball had arrived. It had been something that Sadie had carefully broached with Ben back when it had been announced, aware of his feelings towards the large crowds but both of them had wanted to return to the event that had essentially become their first date. In order to match with her boyfriend, Sadie had gone out and got a white A-line dress with colourful printed dinosaurs on it and she's glad she did with Ben looking so dapper as she opens the door to him and welcomes him into the house with a smile and a light blush both of which brighten at the sight of the bouquet.

"Oh Ben, it's lovely!" She takes the bouquet with a giddy smile before stretching up on her heels to give Ben a kiss, "You look so handsome this evening, I'm going to be the envy of most of the ball for getting your company to myself."

The photos from her doting mother pass by in a blur of 'Say cheese!' and the motorcycle ride also passes with the same level of swiftness. Sadie gives Ben's arm a squeeze when she hears his heart rate start to pick up as they get closer to the entrance to the club, "Hey," She quietly gets Ben's attention, "You really do look wonderful tonight, don't worry. And remember, this is only worth it as long as we're both having fun. If either of us stops having fun then we head out and go elsewhere with absolutely no shame regardless of how long that may be, alright?"

Best day

[warped_replica]

In her chic a-line printed with the subjects of his oldest passion, Benjiro is only interested in having her eyes on him this evening. Compliments accepted with thanks, he returns the kiss.

The squeeze at his arm and her soft word bring his gaze down and over to her immediately, and he listens. Reaffirming her confidence in his appearance and her willingness to depart early from the dance, even coated in a shared potential...it reminds him how much she is always aware of his comfort. He smiles warmly behind his mask, and laying his hand over hers at their linked arms, Benjiro nods his head once, “I will keep that in mind, but I am determined to dance two more songs than I did last year before tapping out. Call it a personal goal.”

She deserves to have fun without being restricted by their situation.

At the entrance, he presents the tickets, and he walks Sadie into the bustling space beyond the coat check. The air is palpably pulsing with the music. Last year they started with a drink, but Benjiro nods to Sadie and angles for the dance floor straight off.

Thought I'd posted this days ago o.o

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie flushes happily at the sight of Ben's eyes brightening in a smile, "Two more songs than last year? We can definitely do that!"

Sadie happily let's Ben whisk her onto the dance floor, her focus boiling down to just the two of them even as they move through the crowd and onto the dance floor where the evening spins and blurs for a time into dancing and singing and her face almost aching from how wide her smile is and certainly more than a few kisses pressed to Ben's jaw and cheeks.

[warped_replica]

Focus is required for Benjiro to follow her as fluidly, turning more than once to manage through the available space between people dancing to find an adequate opening for the two of them, but once they make it in deep enough to begin dancing, his own vigilance starts to give way to enjoyment. Song by song, he eases into the rhythms of the dances, and while he hasn't the moves to stand on a stage, he is here to have fun. Last year, he had been hoping to impress her, and now he can revel in the close bond he has with Sadie. All the kisses prove that to him. Mouth covered, he still shares his fondness in turn with gentle squeezes snuck in and passing touches from his hands.

Spending quite a while on the dance floor, the flow of it all comes to a jarring halt when he bumps into another dancer in the crowd and is met with a snap under the music from the other person, "Watch it, you clumsy git!" Benjiro half turns in surprise, and apologizes, "Sorry, I didn't realize you were there."

Nerves snapping taut, he stalls out of dance as the other person huffs and moves away.

[dragoonrouge]

During the dancing it was like a feedback loop of emotion, the happier and more relaxed Ben became the more excited she got up to the point that Sadie was having to dedicate a part of her attention to consciously not give in to the urge to loudly purr as they continued. At least until the rude man causes Ben's rhythm to to stall.

"Rude fucking wanker," Sadie scowls at the back of the rude man's head before turning back to Ben and trying to coax him back into the dance, "Ignore him, it happens all the time at clubs and he was just being a twat about it."

[warped_replica]

The way Sadie answers that exchange draws his attention back to her, and he nervously smiles as she does her best to pull at the knot holding his feet. He hesitates a second, processing with a delay, “Right. Sorry, you’re right.” Worry lingers despite his intention, concern that his strength may have made the contact seem far more careless. More dangerous.

Benjiro looks down with a flicker of regret, but he then looks back to Sadie to disengage from the situation as a means to settle the new twist of his stomach, “…maybe now would be a good time to get a drink. Do you want anything?”

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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.

[dragoonrouge]

"The curse of the nightclub, to be honest, one made much better by the music and the company." The drink is just as sweet and fruity as she'd hoped as she relaxes into Ben's warmth.

"So, any other boxes you want to tick this evening asides from more dancing than last year?"

[warped_replica]

Company makes all the difference for him, and he nods in agreement, “Definitely.” Still, he uses this chance to work the buttons on his vest apart to assist with cooling down with appreciation for the slightly lower ambient temperature at the table.

Her question is answered with a thoughtful hum initially, then with a possibility, “We could always go back to that spot where we had our first kiss. I still remember where it is.”