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

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Sit," Sam says, sounding exasperated, after a moment of watching the hesitation. "If you're not sick, I don't care. Though if you are sick, don't cough on me. My immune system isn't what it used to be."

[warped_replica]

Visibly flinching at the unexpected if slightly gruff invitation, Benjiro holds a hand up as he replies, “Ah, no, it’s not catching... Thank you.” Effects from Numbers being contagious is a terrifying thought, and he’ll firmly shut that away into the recesses of his mind without consideration.

Stepping over, he takes a seat on the bench with plenty of elbow room left between them. Benjiro sees that the man has a book with him, so he sees no reason to disturb him further. Opening his notebook to a fresh page, he scrawls out the start of his number only to erase it and instead begin a list of titles.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam considers that a moment, not sure if that number was a Number, but there's one way to find out. He pulls out a tiny pencil from a pocket, and an equally tiny notebook, and writes his own number out, and then the words, You seeing this kid?

[warped_replica]

His list slows nearly as soon as he has begun as the number imprinted on his brain begs to be checked, and flipping off to a fresh page with a faint sigh, he does proceed to write it in full.

The network looks the same as it did before he left home for all of a couple seconds before a new message appears with the words showing in a different handwriting. He freezes still as he stares at the page, then quite carefully glances over to the man next to him on the bench. Now the man has a notebook out with a pencil and…

Benjiro lifts his head to look straight at the man, “Did you just…?”

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam holds up the notebook with a wry half-smile. "Always good idea to test the waters, see if I'm talking to somebody who's one of us. Haven't met you yet."

[warped_replica]

Confirmation given, Benjiro sits up at full attention, “No, this is the first time we’ve met, but I recognize your voice. You worked with Walter to test the range, didn’t you? Sam Stone?”

Then realizing his impoliteness, he’ll bow his head and shoulders quickly, “Excuse me. My name’s Benjiro Thorne. I’ve been trying to minimize my presence erm...on there.” He clarifies with a gesture to the small notebook. Still, the teen remains suspicious of it.

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Understandable, though that means you won't know as much if you don't keep track of what the rest of us find out," Sam points out. "I'm Sam, yeah. Nice to meet you." He pauses, then decides to be nosy. He's American and he's old, he can usually get away with it. "Why the mask?"

[warped_replica]

“I try to keep up, and I stay in touch with some of the others in person,” he replies. His checking the number here at least should speak to the habit of looking it over. Regardless of his frequent observation of the network, he certainly doesn’t have the social connection it provides. “And it’s nice to meet you too.”

The blunt question about his mask is met with hesitation. A mixture of surprise and caution, though not of Sam. Given that Walter has worked with him, that lends to more than a neutral point of trust for the teenager. Rather, he’s not certain Sam knows the extent to which the Numbers can affect those that carry them. Voice lowered in volume, he’ll dance around a complete answer, “I have to say it’s for allergies but...it’s really because of my number.”

[scarsolderthanyou]

"I guessed it might be," Sam admits. It's one reason he prodded him on the network to begin with, to see if his guess was right. "Though I don't know what this network thing and weird visions have to do with your breathing."

[warped_replica]

Uncomfortable with the topic even among friends, Benjiro hums from his throat, "...it's not my breathing that's the issue." For that much, he can be thankful. He doesn't know what he would do if something in his lungs and physiology were to change that demanded a difference in atmosphere than the one here on Earth.

He takes a moment to look around carefully, listening for the sound of any footsteps of others. When he has confirmed that they are still alone, he'll delve into the matter a little further, "Numbers can do more than just give us odd memories... They can change how we are physically."

[scarsolderthanyou]

That gives him pause. A slightly alarmed pause, especially given the few things he's remembered so far. "Shit. Really?"

[warped_replica]

Readily recognizing that alarm incited by the potential, he provides a limitation to it with an empathetic hint of a smile in his speech, “I’m not the only one who has undergone a change, but they’ve been fairly minor and something we can hide.” His happens to be the most obvious cover.

After erasing the network number from his notebook, Benjiro closes it up to hold on his lap.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam is silent a moment, looking troubled, before confessing, "I had a vision of flying. With wings and everything. Maybe more changes than that, if I wind up turning into whatever that thing I was in that vision was."

[warped_replica]

Wings. They don’t sound half bad at first blush considering they apparently allow for flight, yet, that’s not something that can be covered as easily as the movies would suggest. The notion is met with a raise of his brows before he hums softly. Tongue sliding against the back of his sharp teeth with his mouth closed, Benjiro considers carefully before he reaches up to unhook his mask from behind one ear. With the cover still held in place, he speaks, “I remember things that aren’t human too, but for now, it’s not bad.”

He lowers the mask, keeping his lips closed to cover his teeth as he looks to Sam. For now, he can pass as perfectly human if he’s attentive, and even with the change there below the surface, it’s not discernable. The teenager covers his mouth once more with the mask before he speaks again, “It’s just my teeth, and with any luck, that’s all it will be.”

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Can I see them?" Sam asks, expression sober. "I don't think there's anyone else around close enough to see. If you'd rather not show me, though, that's fine." They still have a little while before class starts; they're just the early birds.

[warped_replica]

Loop hooked around his ear, Benjiro halts at the request, hand lingering at the level of his shoulder. He tenses as his brows knit with a spike of anxiety, but it’s that expression and the easy out that make him consider it. Frowning, he asks, “...why do you want to see them?”

Benjiro doesn’t want these wicked teeth to be part of his first impression on Sam.

[scarsolderthanyou]

"So I know what kinds of things get changed," Sam says. "And how much. And because I'm nosy, I guess, but I usually get a pass on that because I'm old and American. Like I said, if you don't want to show me, that's fine."

[warped_replica]

Somehow, the notion of showing someone he has only just met the teeth is less terrifying than trying to show them to his distant cousin. Perhaps the potential of rejection is less painful from a stranger than family.

His explanation is reasonable with a candid admission of curiosity. Benjiro nods softly when Sam reiterates that he does not need to share, and he replies quietly, "...no, I think it's okay." Sam has a Number like him, and he would want to know if their positions were reversed.

Hand rising from his shoulder, he undoes the loop from that ear near Sam and allows the mask to fall to the other side. Making no effort to show the teeth with his facial muscles, he instead hooks a finger in the corner of his lips and pulls down and back to reveal a select few of the pointed, sharp teeth. Flat and triangular, they are reminiscent of a shark's tooth - meant to sever and tear.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam leans over just a little for a better look, tilting his head for his good eye to get the best view. He's not in Benjiro's space, but he is closer. " ... huh. Not as bad as I'd been afraid it might be. Just looks like you took a file to them, maybe-- I knew a guy who filed like two of his teeth like that. He regretted it. How do you manage not to bite your cheek all the time with those things?"

Have a dumb question, Benjiro, heh.

[warped_replica]

At the lean closer, Benjiro stills further as he ceases to breathe for that inspection of his teeth. He inhales when Sam responds rather casually to the inhuman set of teeth he sports, and he releases his mouth with a huff of air just shy of a laugh. It’s calming to have such an unruffled reaction. The question doesn’t bother him in the least, and he’ll answer with a little shake of his head, “I do occasionally, but my teeth are angled inward slightly. It’s much worse when I bite my tongue.”

Lifting his face mask, he puts it back into place.

[scarsolderthanyou]

If there's one thing Sam Stone is good for, it's a good under-reaction to something. He knows this is a big deal, but not pitching a fit about it is still the sensible course of action. Especially with a kid. "Ouch. I can see that being a problem. I guess you can still eat okay. No stronger cravings for meat to go with them, is there?"

[warped_replica]

Hands lowering with his face mask secured, he shrugs one shoulder, "I had to relearn how to chew, but definitely still eating. And thankfully not craving meat any more than usual." Not yet at least.

A pause, and then he'll ask Sam out of his own curiosity, "...what was it like to be flying?" Aside from riding a closed-cabin airplane, Benjiro has never experienced anything like the sensation people dream.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam scratches his head a little. "Normal. In the vision, it was just a thing I did a lot, not something you really relish or even think about. It's just how I was getting from one place to another. Thinking back on it, though, it was a lot more... interesting than just walking. There was a lot of little adjustments to make on the wings and tail and such to keep moving forward, a lot of working with the wind to stay up, not just flapping around."

[warped_replica]

“Was it flying in clear conditions, or was weather a factor?” He cannot help but be curious about it when flying animals like birds or bats make it look so effortless at times, and Sam is relating a very different impression. Working with the wind at least sounds like making immediate adjustments to shifts in the currents as one can anticipate the flow of the air molecules only so well based on topography, temperature, and atmospheric conditions.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Thinking back, Sam says, "Pretty clear. But there's always wind to worry about. One of them we flying over a bunch of water, and the currents could get tricky. Plus I think there were things in the water."