fandomtownies | The Streets of Fandom, Thursday Afternoon

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The Streets of Fandom, Thursday Afternoon

Somehow, last year's Pride event had gone over rather well, and, in spite of Jono's general tendency to skulk about mostly unnoticed whenever he could get away with it, he'd decided to step up again this year and do it all over. Which meant, as a start, he'd be hanging posters. They were about as eye-catching as a poster with plain text laid out in rainbow colours could possibly be, but he'd made certain to make the lettering glittery, at least, because that was just the way Fandom worked.

... And Pride, too, if he was being completely honest.

FANDOM PRIDE!

Parade: Saturday June 23rd

Community Picnic: Sunday, June 24th

Now accepting community event submissions

A meeting will be held at the Groovy Tunes on the evening of Saturday, June 16
For members of the community to volunteer, discuss, and coordinate

Jono was... reasonably certain he had everything important on there. Last year it had all just kind of fallen together at roughly the last minute. At least this time around, he hoped he could at least pretend to know what he was doing while secretly hoping some knight in rainbow armour would swoop in and set him... well... not straight, but at least in the right direction.

[OOC: Posters! People are free to start discussing and planning for Pride in-game, now. Open for interaction if anyone wants to catch Jono and ask him what's up, and there'll be another post for IC planning on Saturday, if anybody has a mighty need. Planning for booths and such is welcome to be handwaved as well, of course.]

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Kaidan was out for a run when he spotted the dude on fire; an adult version of the kid he'd seen at paintball the week prior. The fire guy was hanging paper posters, and since they weren't combusting, Kaidan felt safe to approach. He read the poster over Jono's shoulder. He understood there was a rainbow=queer connection in this century, but the term was unfamiliar to him.

"Hey, could you tell me what this is about?" he asked politely. He was behind Jono - he couldn't actually see the extent of the flames.

Jono blinked up, and then glanced over his shoulder at the man behind him.

//This? Pride?// Enjoy some surprise telepathy, Kaidan! You didn't seem to be shying away from the flames, so Jonothon didn't seem too concerned about any reactions to mutant weirdness besides. //It's, ah,// he grasped around for words, he'd only come to terms with his own sexuality recently, after all. He was still halfway trusting that people around him wouldn't let him screw anything up too badly. //Part celebration, part protest, I suppose? There's a history on this world and others of people discriminating against those who aren't like them,// he wasn't going to assume he knew where this man was from, however vaguely familiar he was from what was possibly some other man's face on the island, years ago. //This one in particular is for people whose gender and sexual identities rest outside of the strictly cis-and-heteronormative.//

The telepathy surprised him, but he didn't let it show, because: rude. "Yes, Pride," Kaidan nodded, "We don't have it where I'm from. I mean, we have all the romantic configurations possible to combine two sentient species into, but, uh, no protests, I guess? There's bigotry, but not so much with this type. Not about romantic partnerships."

It sounded.. well, it sounded pretty awful. He could see why they'd protest. "Is there a lot of that kind of attitude here?"

It made him a little sad. He was still pretty peeved about That One Guy, and the incident hadn't even happened to him.

//On the island no, thank god,// Jono replied, shrugging and glancing at the poster. //But plenty of folks don't come from here originally. They carry enough hurt with them that they still want to shout about who and what they are. The mainland...//

He squinted one eye a little, and then shook his head.

//It always gets a little more iffy, on the mainland.//

Kaidan suddenly felt very seen.

He had heard about 20th-21st century moral ambiguity vis a vis partnerships, so he could understand how things would be different off-island.

"Is the event for something?" he asked, "Like a charity?"

//Awareness, mostly,// Jono replied, //and a feeling of belonging, acceptance. That said, if somebody has an idea for a charity, it would be encouraged, definitely.//

He shrugged.

//It's, ah, the second year we've done this around here. Last year it sort of just fell together, I wouldn't mind there being a bit more planning this time around.//

Kaidan frowned in thought, "It would be nice if there were a benefit of some sort for, maybe an outreach center? The island's mostly a school, maybe something for kids?" Spitballing out loud, only with no actual spitballs. "I could do some research. Is there a committee or project lead I should talk to?"

Jono kind of held up his hand in response to the question, a little vaguely.

//That'd be me. Wouldn't mind an actual committee, though. Hoping some people show at th'Groovy Tunes on Saturday so I can have some better input than simply my own.//

"I can be there," Kaidan nodded, still thinking. An embryonic plan was developing into a full fledged ..something.

"I'm Kaidan, by the way," he introduced, late, "I run a LAN cafe in town, over on Godiva. I'll see what I can come up with. I'd like to contribute."

//Jonothon,// Jono offered, along with the hand that wasn't currently full of posters for a handshake. //Jono, at least to a few people. I run the music shop, been here since... too long. You come up with something and need anything to make it happen, let me know, mate.//

Kaidan shook, "Good to meet you, Jonothon." He didn't feel he knew the man well enough to use the diminutive. "I'll let you know. See you on Saturday."

//I look forward to it,// Jono said with a firm nod to go with that firm handshake. //And to finding out what it is you've got in mind.//

Seivarden walked past as Jono was putting up a poster, and she stopped to look at it.

"Why are people supposed to be proud of the island? Is this some kind of holiday?"

//It's, ah, not proud of the island,// Jono said, glancing back at her, looking faintly puzzled for a moment before he remembered who he was talking to.

Ah, right...

//It's more of a... 'proud of yourself' thing. For people who otherwise might not be able to due to discrimination against their sexuality or gender identity.//

"Oh," Seivarden said. "Yes, I've heard that is often a problem here."

After a pause, she added: "So, who are the people celebrating... being proud of themselves?"

The concept itself was a bit difficult to grasp.

//Hannibal and myself, for a start,// Jono replied with a small shrug. //Because we're both men. If there was somebody around who had been assigned male at birth but identified as female, they might. Or the other way around. Women who love other women. Anybody who loves both. Or neither. People who don't even feel like either... It's easy enough for people here on the island, comparatively, but where many of us come from, it's... harder. Uglier.//

That, of course, made no sense to Seivarden, who couldn't help being reminded of how uncivilized this planet was.

"Oh. Yes. I've heard that isn't accepted in many places here. How is this... Pride celebrated?"

//Everything from protests to parties to parades,// Jono replied, shrugging a little. //I've had one bloke mention an interest in doing some manner of fundraiser to give money to help youth who might struggle with these things, and there'll be a picnic on the Sunday as well.//

It was one big 'all the things' ... thing.

"So is it open for everyone, or just those who feel... well... like they belong?"

It was hard to find a description for something that didn't really make sense to Seivarden, but if it was a big open event it might be interesting.

//Anybody can attend, so long as they're respectful about it,// Jono replied, shrugging. //Supportive people who aren't a part of that community are generally referred to as 'allies.' The event isn't for them, that's important to keep in mind, but they're welcome to attend. Cheer the rest on. That sort of thing.//

Seivarden wasn't sure that meant someone would end up shouting at her for saying the wrong thing. Perhaps she should just avoid it.

"Is the glittery letters traditional for this or is it just generally fashionable?"

Jono blinked at the poster, and then looked faintly sheepish.

//That? That's just because I'm shite at graphic design but still wanted people to notice it.//

So, he was cheating.

"Yes, I suppose glitter helps with that."

Seivarden had ambivalent feelings about glitter.

//It's eye-catching,// Jono replied with a shrug, //whether you want to notice it or not.//

Even more eye-catching when you were on fire, and that was reflecting off of all the little bits.

Yes, Seivarden smiled, thinking just that.

"Well," she said. "I'm sure it will be an appreciated celebration. I understand there are a lot of people supporting the cause on the island."

That was her impression, at least.

//Supporting it, living it,// Jono agreed with a shrug. //It had a decent turnout for last year's event. I've got hopes that we'll see a similar success for this one.//

And really, even if they didn't, if just one person spent a day feeling comfortable in their skin who might not usually, Jonothon would consider it worthwhile.

"Well," Seivarden said. "You have my support. That kind of prejudice seems quite uncivilised."

That was probably one of the very few ways that word could be used that would get a nod of agreement around here, wasn't it?

//It's at least as bad as it seems,// Jonothon agreed. //And thank you, Seivarden. The support's appreciated.//

"I'll probably come and watch the parade," she said. "Good luck!"

Having no reason to keep Jono from putting up the posters, she turned and headed towards home.

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The Streets of Fandom, Thursday Afternoon

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