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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.]
dragoonrouge: (Sadie Thoughtful)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-09-14 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
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: Temp sketch icon (Human: Nervous)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-09-17 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
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: (Sadie Close Eyed)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-09-24 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
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: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: Happy)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-10-05 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
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: (Sadie Smile)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-10-07 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"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: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2019-10-09 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
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.”
dragoonrouge: (Sadie Happy)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2019-11-02 08:53 am (UTC)(link)
Sadie plastering herself so close to her boyfriend definitely can't be helping his quest to cool down but the idea of going back to that particular spot has a pretty blush appearing on Sadie's cheeks.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea and then we can decide if we want to come back or continue our stroll."