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Save Our Earth Mods ([personal profile] ourearth) wrote in [community profile] saveourearth2019-08-02 09:35 am

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

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.]
iamnotgod: Black and white picture of a man looking up and off to the right. (What Even Is This?)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-08-19 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter frowns, concerned. That noise probably can't mean anything good.

"What can you see right now, exactly?"

Walter closes the rest of the distance, correcting for Stone's aim, and holds himself steady so that the man can lever himself back up.
scarsolderthanyou: (Default)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2019-08-22 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thanks." That helps. He does haul himself to his feet, looking annoyed. "I can see you. I can see the store. I can see those cars. I just can't see right in front of my face."
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-08-22 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, that's at least a straightforward definition.

"So you're farsighted now, then."

He'll let Stone have some space, as opposed to crowding him further.

"At least that has a simple fix."

As long as the requisite glasses weren't expensive.
scarsolderthanyou: (nope)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2019-08-22 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ugh. If glasses even fixes it. For all I know I now have alien dragon eyes, and reading glasses won't do a damn thing." He wipes at the glitter on his face and hands, smearing the foundation that keeps him from being so obviously gray.
iamnotgod: A man staring slightly off-center, looking serious. (Let Me Explain You A Thing)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-08-22 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Easier to cover for than if your ears had changed," Walter points out, referring to Sadie.

He tilts his head. "Think you need to get home, and soon," he adds, gesturing to his own face by way of explanation.
scarsolderthanyou: (kids)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2019-08-23 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, there's that," he agrees, albeit will ill grace, and he scowls down at his hands. Still glittery, but now also gray. Yay. "I hate this shit."
iamnotgod: A man staring up and off to the right. (And He Asks Why.)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-08-23 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"You need someone on lookout so you can get on out of here, or-?"

On the one hand, Stone probably wouldn't appreciate Walter taking shotgun, or trying to help with groceries when it's not really needed. On the other, this would not be an opportune time for a non-Numbered to key in on what's up with the older man.
scarsolderthanyou: (nope)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2019-08-26 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll go to Mary Anne's, it's closer," Sam grumbles. "I'm pretty sure I can drive like this, if I can just get into the damn car." He won't say no to a little help with the groceries, actually. Since bending down to try and retrieve the last bag isn't going to happen.
iamnotgod: A man staring up and off to the right. (And He Asks Why.)

Think this is a good place to fade out, then?

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2019-08-26 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right."

Getting that last bag is no trouble on Walter's part, as is doing one last check around the car for anything lost or potentially in danger of getting under the wheels.
scarsolderthanyou: (Default)

works for me!

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2019-08-27 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter gets a friendly pat on the shoulder for his trouble (a careful one; Sam has learned his lesson from patting poor Benjiro), than Sam is on his way to get cleaned up. And re-foundationed. Ugh, being gray sucks so much.