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Save Our Earth Mods ([personal profile] ourearth) wrote in [community profile] saveourearth2018-09-02 08:34 pm

Let's proudly not melt, shall we? [Mingle]

Date: 31.8-9.9.2018

Characters: Open


With the end of the eternal summer heat in sight, the last gasp of summer festivities start in Mossgate. 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 “Defining ourselves: deconstructing LGBT+ labels” and “Not just Stonewall: a brief history of LGBT+ activism”. 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.

The main event is the pride parade, held from 11AM on Saturday, starting at the town hall, progressing along the main beach front road and ending 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.

There is one unforeseen thing happening this year though that will be throwing everyone into a tizzy for a bit: In between the last security check and the head of the pride parade arriving at the spot outside the town museum, someone has managed to sneak a giant cake in the way of the parade. The parade will come to an abrupt stop for almost half an hour while rumours run wild about the reason for which the parade has stopped, ranging from a terrorist attack to a romantic proposal. Eventually, the cake turns out to be entirely harmless, is removed and the parade continues. But news of it spread soon, and it is moved to a square where people are allowed to take pictures with it. It is, of course, heavily advised against trying to eat from it. Just that it doesn't explode doesn't mean that it meets food safety standards...

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. 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: Eating from the cake will give characters a plot echo. It will also make them high and give them indigestion the next day.]
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-11-28 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
“Probably not the friendly sort of aquatic life I take it...” he comments, knowing how impressions in the memories can leave clues without giving more detail. “Even going out sailing I was surprised by how often the current shifts out on the water, so I can only imagine how much more difficult it would be to fly over a larger body of water.”
scarsolderthanyou: (kids)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2018-11-28 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Sam frowns, trying to work out... "Yeah. Not friendly. I think they were big, but I wasn't thinking too hard about them at the time, so I don't remember what they looked like." He shakes his head. "Part of me wants to get more, so I can piece together what it is we're supposed to be learning, but the rest of me just wishes it would all stop."
warped_replica: Temporary sketch mode until I can make better icons (Human: Troubled)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-12-01 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
Incomplete notions seem common enough within memories regained by that token, and it carries to the same struggle Benjiro has been facing regarding his own Numbered recollection. At least in this they can commiserate with one another, "Same for me. There are things that really intrigues me about what I recall from someone else. ...but it feels like the more that comes out, the deeper we sink. I don't know how much we can absorb before we have no way out. That...it's alarming to consider."

How long might they have until they fracture away from being human?
scarsolderthanyou: (thinking)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2018-12-05 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"At least we know if we really want out, all we have to do is move away," Sam points out. "There's a boundary to this shit." Not that he can really leave. All his family is here, and he doubts they'll want to pack up and leave.
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-12-07 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Easier said than done... I may not be a permanent resident but I can't just up and leave school," he reluctantly points out. The logistics of managing a life out on his own with no educational degree to speak of would be difficult at best since his parents would not tolerate him abandoning the plan they have funded thus far through his life. That, and he's not entirely certain if he counts as a citizen.

"Maybe it could be used for a break if nothing else."
scarsolderthanyou: (patience)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2018-12-08 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
"And my daughter and grandchildren all live in this township, plus my wife's buried over in Mossgate Manor," Sam agrees with a shrug. "But it's still a thing. I don't know about breaks... you get outside the zone, and suddenly you don't remember why you even went there. You sort of tend to want to turn right back around again."
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-12-13 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"With as few people as we have involved thus far, retention is likely important to whatever is happening. Still, giving ourselves someplace to go with a cue to remind us why we're leaving in the first place might be enough to to something normal." He will insist there is a way to make it work.
scarsolderthanyou: (skeptical)

[personal profile] scarsolderthanyou 2018-12-15 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe one of you young people should try it," Sam suggests. "I thought I was going senile finally, and I don't know what I'd do if I had a post-it note telling me not to turn around."
warped_replica: Temp sketch icon (Human: Cover Neutral)

[personal profile] warped_replica 2018-12-23 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I had not considered that possible confounding variable..." he replies with a note of curiosity alongside a hint of sheepishness. "If the opportunity arises, I'm certainly willing to give it a try."

Seated there on the bench, he finally notices the arrive of another person headed towards the designated room for the talk. It's disappointing really, but it was bound to happen. Voice hushed, he'll alert Sam, "Looks like someone else is here for the same reason as us."