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

[ourearth]

Date: 31.8-9.9.2018

Characters: Open

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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.]

Comments

[dragoonrouge]

During the Week (OTA)

Unlike most of her peers, Sadie does not spend Pride relaxing. Instead, in exchange for having both Saturday and Sunday off to enjoy the parade and ball to its fullest, Sadie is out every day in her RSPCA blue t-shirt doing various tasks for the organisation. On Monday and Thursday, Sadie is out and about in the town centre handing out flyers and chatting with members of the public about the RSPCA and the events they have organised throughout the week. Tuesday and Friday, she is at the RSPCA building itself, accompanied by her two kittens, Amber and Tigger, to help oversee the Open Day where members of the public are allowed to meet the animals in their care and hopefully give some of the lovely creatures a new home.

Finally, on Wednesday, Sadie is helping to coordinate the Pride-themed dog show, an event that has turned out to be far more popular than anticipated by her managers.
Despite all the work, anyone that approaches her is sure to receive a smile and a kind word, and even a bit of a chat if she isn't too busy at the time.

The Ball A(Closed to Ben)

Sadie fidgets nervously with her bi-colour striped alice band and tugs the hem of her dress as she hovers by the door. She wanted to look nice for the ball but now it was especially important everything was perfect seeing as she'd invited Ben as her Plus One. Who should be arriving any minute...

The Ball B (OTA)

Sadie was taking a bit of a breather off to the side, the Ball was in full swing and she had been dancing for a while, as evidenced by how flushed her cheeks currently are.

"The music's been so great this evening!"

Hitting up that first OTA!

[iamnotgod]

On a rare moment where he remembers he is in fact human, and that despite his enhanced capabilities he does still need to take breaks, he follows the crowd to the RSPCA building.

Not being there to adopt, however (his and Russell's flat doesn't have that much room, and with Numbers shenanigans it's not looking to be a stable place in the near or distant future), he stays along the walls, enjoying the AC and letting the noises of happy animals meeting future owners calm him.

He'll wave if - or rather when! - he catches Sadie's eye.

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie waves back and, after she's finished directing the family she was talking to, walks up to Walter and gives him a hug.

"Hey Walter, good to see you here! Looking for a new family member?"

[iamnotgod]

Walter sighs, though it's more a gentle huff, as he pulls back from the hug.

"I'm afraid not, at least not at this time. It's really a matter of room."

He glances around the space again.

"Not that I don't wish I could. The plushie's been getting much love, though."

[dragoonrouge]

"That's a shame, but I'm glad the plushie is getting lots of attention."

She grins, "So you can't adopt but...do you want to meet some of our residents?"

[iamnotgod]

"Wouldn't be fair to just let her sit on top of the cupboard or something..."

Walter nods. "As long as that's allowed - but then, you're the one who works here!"

Well, volunteers, but details.

[dragoonrouge]

"Well there are plenty of people here who aren't adopting today, and the animals enjoy the attention so it's definitely allowed."

Sadie quickly glances down at the clipboard. "The choice of where you want to start is yours. We've got the garden and outdoor runs where the dogs and puppies are, the indoor lounge with the cats and kittens, and then the indoor run where we have the rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises and stuff."

[iamnotgod]

Walter made a show of giving it some thought - more for Sadie's benefit than anything, as otherwise it would have looked like a 'snap decision.'

"I'd prefer to stay indoors, but other than that... perhaps I should check in on these rabbits first. Just in case."

Teasing reference to Jim, achieved!

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie laughs as she starts to guide Walter down the corridor. "Don't get me started, I've been keeping an eagle eye on that section all day!"

She smiles, "When you go in there should be some buckets with treats in for the animals, and this room is pretty quiet compared to the other areas so it should be nice and relaxing."

[iamnotgod]

Walter's expression turns more thoughtful.

"No sign of any bunny-nappers, though, right?"

Except for actual grabby kids, perhaps...

"Exactly what I'm looking for, then. Thanks!"

[dragoonrouge]

She shakes her head with a grin. "Nope, not yet anyway. I've got the other volunteers on the lookout just in case." She isn't joking about that, although she's found being around the rabbits...odd. It keeps pulling forward the memories of hunting which is a bit unnerving, and it is why she's assigned another volunteer to oversee the rabbits and guinea pigs.

"No worries," She opens the door to the room and, as promised, there is many a rabbit hopping about with very few people around. "Do you mind if I stay with you, I'm due my break and I might as well spend it with a friend?"

[iamnotgod]

Yeah, that would be a good reason to avoid rabbits.

"As long as you're fine with it, I wouldn't mind at all."

And it warms his heart that she considers him a friend.

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie beams at him and, waving to the other volunteer in the room, grabs a bucket of treats and settles herself down on the floor patting the space beside her.

"So, how have you been?" She looks a little contrite. "You've been checking in with Ben and me about Stuff but I never really asked how you were doing."

Ball A

[warped_replica]

Benjiro does his best to be punctual, but this time he is a couple minutes late as he approaches at a brisk walk only to slow and merge into the crowd of arrivals for the Ball. His minor detour to use a few pink pounds had been planned, but not anticipated as requiring quite so much thought and indecision on his part. Scanning through the crowd, he spots Sadie and lifts an arm to wave while the other keeps curled around his back. Separating from the flow, he moves over to where Sadie has been waiting. For the event, he’s dressed in a semi-formal suit of neutral tones with grey, white, and black decorated by a far more colorful tie that tries to capture the majesty of galaxies in space. The suit had been bought in anticipation of interviews by his parents, but with his own choice of tie, it seemed like it would serve well for the grand finale of the week at Sadie’s side.

Offering a bow of his head and shoulders, he straightens as his words drift momentarily when he gets a good look at Sadie in her dress, “Sorry, Sadie I...I-I got a little behind.” Flushing faintly over his cheeks under his black face mask, he recovers as well as he can, “That dress looks beautiful on you.”

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie waves back when she spots Ben signalling her through the crowd. She would be forgiven for staring somewhat as Ben makes his way towards her. The muted colours of the suit and the cut of the waistcoat and blazer, do wonders to frame his shoulders and torso. The colours complimenting his skin tone and hair made even more impactful by the burst of colour that was his tie.

"No worries, I was stuck in traffic so I haven't been here for long." She smiles, although that drops slightly in shock at his comment on her dress. In a blink, her cheeks start to blaze with a rosy-red blush. "T-thank you." She stutters, "You look handsome in your suit too."

[warped_replica]

Relieved to know she had not been left waiting an uncomfortable amount of time, he still cannot quite coax his frame to relax. It becomes all the more difficult when she returns the compliment and his own cheeks flush visibly at the edges of his mask, "Better to be overdressed, right?"

A breath taken, he reaches up to rub at the back of his neck as he glances towards the door then back to Sadie, "Before we go in..." Benjiro draws his tucked arm from around his back to reveal a small, simplistic bouquet wrapped with brown paper. The centerpiece is a single peony flower, bordering on the edge between blush pink and lilac. Around it, a mix of greens cut to surround it with a dash of small white and blue flower sprigs. "I thought this might be okay. To say thank you for inviting me. I've...never been invited to a dance before, and I'm really happy to go to one with you."

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie grins and gives his outfit another once over. "Right...It really suits you...and I love your tie."

Sadie expected many things from this evening, a fun time with her best friend, dancing, almost certainly sore feet, and a great evening. Flowers, however, was not something she had expected at all. Sadie gasps, staring wide-eyed at the small bouquet.

"Oh! Oh, Ben!... It's wonderful" She gently takes the bouquet from him, speechless as she smells the flowers, her cheeks blushing even darker than they were before.

"Oh my god, I need to give these to Mum to keep safe before she leaves!"

[warped_replica]

He chuckles at that compliment to his tie specifically, "Thanks." His father hates this particular tie, but it's his personal favorite.

As far as Benjiro is aware, flowers are traditionally associated with more formal dances, so he had taken the chance. The risk paid off as he watches her smell the fresh cut flowers, delighted that she likes the selection.

Then the realization hits that he had not thought everything through entirely. The flowers were packaged to keep fresh, but given the season, trying to leave them with coat check may not work. Hastily, he stands up on his toes to look over some of the other pedestrians, and he spots the now familiar car on the street, "Oh, there! She hasn't left!"

[dragoonrouge]

"Thanks, I'll be back in just a sec!" Sadie quickly makes her way towards her Mum's car and knocks on the window. The grin on Sadie's mum's face when she rolls the window down is so large it could probably be seen from space, and like any child, Sadie can practically feel the teasing that her mother is about to unleash on her.

"Oh Sadie, those are lovely." Sadie blushes and hides the delighted smile behind the bouquet.

"They are, Ben gave them to me. Um, would you be able to take them home, I don't want them getting damaged here."

Raquel carefully takes the flowers from Sadie and carefully inspects them. "I will put this lovely gift from your boyfriend in a vase on your dresser for when you get home."

Sadie splutters, "Boyfriend?! Mum! He's-he's...He's my best friend!"

Raquel just raises an eyebrow at Sadie, "What is that line your father says? Ah yes, 'the lady doth protest too much'." She shakes her head and looks behind Sadie, giving Ben a wave when he meets her eye. "Sadie you're a clever girl, use that brain of yours, that boy is clearly sweet on you." She leans forward and whispers in her ear "And you would be hard pressed to find a nicer young man."

Leaning back, she gives Sadie a quick kiss on the cheek, "Have a lovely evening with him alright sweetie, and I will see you tomorrow." One final wave at Ben and Sadie's mum pulls the car out and drives home, leaving Sadie standing there for a moment with a blazing red face.

Sadie turns around and walks back to Ben, clearly embarrassed and not quite meeting his eye as she clears her throat. "Right. Um, shall we head inside?" Sadie tries to take surreptitious, sneaky looks at Ben when she thinks he won't notice.

[warped_replica]

Rather than wait behind near the door, he trails after Sadie at a slower pace to stand about half the distance to the vehicle. He cannot quite make out what the exchange is about, aside from Sadie passing the flowers off for transport. While waiting, he fidgets a little with his vest. The nervous tugs don’t delay him from catching that first or second wave from Raquel, however, and he cheerfully returns the waves, interpreting them as a ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ respectively.

As the vehicle pulls away from Sadie, he smiles in anticipation of her turning to come back, but the expression fades when she lingers. Tilting his head off to the side slightly with confusion, he quickly reads her when she turns around, and frowns faintly. Maybe skipping flowers would have been better…

Stepping back and turning in the same motion, he falls in step beside her to join the line waiting to get inside the Hive. It’s easy to sneak a glance at him as he appears to be preoccupied with his feet. Then, with a mild shrug he offers a soft, “Sorry.” Whether the flowers were related to the cause of her embarrassment or not, he had given her a reason to catch her mother one more time.

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie starts at his apology and stops sneaking looks at Ben in favour of blatantly frowning at him in confusion.

"What? Why're you apologising? The flowers were a wonderful surprise, please don't apologise for that! Now let's go okay!".

She takes his hand as they walk in and, her mum's words in mind, starts paying extra attention to how her friend is acting around her. Mum was sure that Ben liked her, Sadie...Sadie, well she liked Ben. He's been kind to her since she arrived in Mossgate, she enjoys talking to him about school and their classes and other scientific things, she appreciated his humour, and how easy it is just to be around him. It was relaxing, calming and it feels good. As for Ben's looks...Her mind drifts back to the boat trip and the suit he's currently wearing...

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The blush on her cheeks turns to new heights of red because 'ohmygodifancymybestfriendfuck'.

[warped_replica]

Looking over to Sadie as she frowns, he’s comforted by the rejection of the apology even if it wasn’t for the token of flowers. It would be forced to explain, so instead, he’ll simply smile as he accepts the encouragement to focus on the dance, voice soft and shy in tone, “Okay.”

His hand opens at her touch and closes to take a secure grasp on her hand in return as they move in through the doorway with tickets taken. Benjiro has passed by the Hive on several occasions traveling around town, but he has never had a reason to enter previously, so he is looking around to take in the setting and figure out the layout as much as he can with so many bodies already present in the space. He notes the positions of the speakers, the leftover permanent features of a bar converted into a dance floor, doors propped open to more secluded areas, and an entrance to the basement for the club space.

The music is at a tolerable level, and when he looks to Sadie to ask what she might like to do first, he notices the color of her face. Giving her hand a longer squeeze, he’ll rotate their hands to shift and hook his elbow so their forearms are connected briefly in order to gently tug in a particular direction, “How about we get something to drink.” It doesn’t require talking or dancing, and whatever has her flustered can be managed in due time.

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie is paying infinitely less attention to the decor than Ben, stuck in the shocked cycle of 'ohmygodifancymybestfriend' now being joined by 'ohgoddidiaccidentallyaskhimonadate?!'. It would explain the flowers...

The change of grip from her hand to her arm and Ben's gentle tug on her arm does pull her out of her panic.

"Drink. Right." Smooth Sadie... "Good idea, dancing is going to be thirsty work!"

She let's Ben lead her over to the bar, trying to push down her thoughts, she came here to have a good time and she wasn't going to let her brain ruin it.

The bar is pretty busy with everyone arriving around the same time and so the two find themselves waiting by the bar for one of the busy bar tenders to serve them.

"I'm glad we were able to come, I felt so sick this morning after that cake yesterday..."

[warped_replica]

Careful to move through the crowd without bumping into anyone while keeping his hand linked with Sadie to prevent separating from her, he heads for an open spot to wait patiently at the counter. Turning to face her as he lets his hand slip from hers with one brief squeeze, Benjiro stands sideways to the counter to leave her space to stand out of the way as well.

“Is that what it was? Guess it bothered us in more ways than one,” he muses, now wishing he had taken a sample of the cake when he had a chance. It would be nice to see if there was anything traceable in the cake and icing to find out what made those with Numbers react to it. The reaction had been peculiar....and now he’s thinking about the video he found on his phone this morning. His own cheeks tinge visibly at the vague memory of laying on the beach with Sadie.

Had he been in his right mind, it would not have played out as it did, but he really wishes he had a clearer recollection.

Forcing himself to think about the present, Benjiro speaks again with barely any delay, “We can take it easy if you start feeling ill again.”

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie chuckles awkwardly. "Yeah... Mum was not happy, got a very long, very informative lecture on the dangers of eating food and drinks that don't come from a reputable source." She shrugs, "Which is fair enough, we were just lucky James didn't have any with this international sailing competition coming up. He's got his first drugs test for that on Tuesday."

Pausing to give her order to the bar tender, some sort of non-alcoholic mango concoction, she turns back to Ben. "I should be fine but I'll let you know."

Sadie's getting back into the swing of chatter when the drinks arrive but it's not until her and Ben edge their way onto the dance floor that she finally starts to feel back to normal because the DJ is good. Really good. The music is an excellently balanced mix of 70s and 80s music and more modern music from the 90s and 00s. From Pride Classics like The Human League to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the music is catchy and, most importantly, excellent fun to sing along to.

Which is what Sadie does as she dances opposite Ben. Although dancing may be a generous way to describe Sadie's swaying, and jumping in time to the music. Not that she cares too much as evidenced by the beaming grin she gives Ben throughout.