Fandom Pride Festival 2023: The Park, Saturday All Day

[drumsticksandd20s]

Had it rained overnight, even just for a moment? That might be a mystery forever, but this was Fandom, so maybe that didn't matter one damn bit because the important thing here was that a huge, brilliant rainbow arced through the sky over the island right on schedule, the way it did every year for Pride.

The park itself was also a wild array of rainbow colors: strings of pennants in the various flag color combinations criss-crossing over the picnic table area, a giant multicolored balloon arch over the stage, and the same rainbow bounce house and inflatable slide from last year, still forming the centerpiece of the carnival section and spilling out into a ballpit. The other carnival rides and games were arranged around the slide, with the tables and booths just beyond that.

Up on stage, a small rotation of NPC bands -- including a bunch of the weekly Blood Bowl players from the Magpie Emporium, whose volunteering had been a delightful surprise -- took turns playing short sets, mixed in with blocks of carefully curated tunes spun by Steph herself at the DJ setup off to one side... and time for karaoke or open mic performances from anyone intrepid enough to get up there. Half the time, Steph was sitting in on drums with the bands.

Happy Pride, Fandom!

[OOC: Threads are up, have at!]

Comments

Arrive/Mingle!

[drumsticksandd20s]

And please, for the love of all that is holy (or not), use sunscreen.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[pocketpretzels]

Much like last year, Watts was here.

Also like last year, one of his first stops had been to purchase some rainbow pretzels.

Unlike last year, Watts had gotten over the bulk of his apprehension regarding whether or not he belonged here ahead of time. Which was not to say there weren’t still moments here and there, but overall he was in a good mood as he explored the festival.

Another key difference from last year? He’d arrived with Steven, and while he wasn’t quite walking arm in arm with his beau, he was grabbing his arm and pulling him over towards various booths as they caught his attention.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[hasaknightjob]

Steven arrived with Llewellyn but that didn't mean he wasn't available to have a chat with friends when he spotted them or was spotted by them.

He was also taking a lot of photos to help remember everything.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[not_a_goddamn_princess]

Of course Margo was here. And appropriately dressed for the occasion.

"Okay, now where is mama's big-ass fruity cocktail..."

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[suitably_heroic]

Atton didn't exactly belong here, but-- well. He had a weird, messy relationship with Pride, as he did with a lot of stuff on the island.

So he showed up as unobtrusively as possible, got himself a selection of snacks, and sat down in the corner to brood.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[died8yearsago]

Obviously, Rosa was going to be there, if anything because it gave her an excuse to force a cute bandana on her dog and also to wear her new shirt that she'd original thought of getting for Blackstone, but then decided, nah, she liked it for herself better.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[what_big_teeth]

The whole concept of this Pride thing was a little overwhelming for Eleanor, to be honest. She found it all very...exciting, as she did when she found out how much had progressed between her time and now, in all sorts of things, but she also couldn't help feeling a tightness in her chest as she did, wondering just how many things would be different for her if she'd have been born about forty years later.

But when it did get to be a little too much for her, she got herself an ice cream cone and found somewhere off to the side to just sort of sit and watch, and be thoughtful. Thinking of Lucy Spencer, and Rhys and Arthur, her father and her grandparents. Tears welling up in her eyes a little as she thought about how much Rhys would have loved something like, and trying to think of just how to put it in a letter to him, or if it was better she not say anything at all.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[pun_king]

Graham came into the Pride festival with all the confidence that he, at least, would definitely be the only one riding in on a MIGHTY STEED...well, he supposed someone else might have one that he didn't know about, but, clearly, there was no steed quite as mighty as Triumph! Graham had been working all week on rainbowing-up Triumph's saddle pad and bridle, and he himself had draped a rainbow overlay over his own cloak, that he'd finally managed to finished, even if he had definitely not managed to get all the cat hair off of it.

And a rainbow feather for his cap, too. Never let it be said that Graham Cracker didn't know how to take a theme and beat it into the ground! But he happily rode around the fair to take in all the sights and probably eat a lot of food, and looked around for all his friends.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[hashtag_chocobro]

Prompto was a touch worried that festival might be a little much for Noctra, but, it was also a good opportunity to get her out and about a little more, and they did have a nice stroller with a...hood? Covering? What was it even called? That could protect her from the sun and all the excitement when she needed it. And when she didn't, there was a good chance one of her parents or the other were just bouncing her along and having her enjoy all the colors and sounds and goings-on.

And, of course, any excuse for a cute outfit, and Noctra even had her little plush camera so she could take alllllll the pictures, just like her parents!

(Even if she was mostly just sort of drooling on it more than anything else)

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis was mostly here to help Gladio with his booth for Atlas and enjoy all the food.

Well, and to generally be somewhat repressive about his feelings, but he didn't need a pride festival to encourage him to do that.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[sake_shinigami]

Of course Shunsui had found a kimino for the occasion. And even though he, personally, was pretty much about as straight as they came, he would always strive to celebrate love....

...and day drinking.

Not that he needed a reason to celebrate either of those things, and, in fact, celebrated them as much as he could, but it was sometimes nice to just get out there and make a big deal about it, wasn't it?

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[beautiful_boc]

There was....something going on in the park. If he'd paid more attention to the goings-on about town and the whispering of the shop employees, he might have had a better idea of what exactly it was, but, for the moment, Boc was finding himself strangely compelled to actually have a closer look? Usually, when he noticed something going on, he would try to avoid it (and still somehow manage to get sucked in), but this time? Well, the last few events had proven to be...strangely welcoming, hadn't they?

Was he actually starting to get it into his head that even he truly was allowed to be there? Without even bothering anyone? Without things immediately going wrong?

Well. He was still skeptical, which was why he was hanging around the periphery quite a bit still, and just sort of watching a little, but at least this time he wasn't likely to immediately think that anyone passing by was about to spot him and chase him off.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor was here same as last year. And he looked like he belonged with his usual trousers, shirt, vest, and hat with the bright and colorful rainbow-colored scarf, gloves, and socks (not that anyone would see them).

Rex was also making an appearance that day. He was perched on Connor's shoulder, chirping away happily, looking quite smart in a little rainbow bow tie. He might not understand what was going on but he was outside having fun so he was quite happy and content.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[furrybluefreak]

Kurt had ported from the dorms to the outskirts of the park and took the scene in with a broad grin as he walked over to join the growing crowd. He had on a shirt he had gotten just for the event and was looking forward to seeing what was going on this year.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight was there because, of course he was. It's Fandom Pride Weekend, and he was not about to miss this. So he was there in a nice rainbow plaid shirt, taking it all in.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[stykera]

Stark had found himself a new shirt for the occasion. He hoped his stylist would approve of the choice.

He already knew she approved of his color-changing sparkly manicure!

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was in a plain white t-shirt (a size too small, as usual), and a pair of navy blue shorts that Tony insisted weren't too short.

He had on so much sunscreen because super-healing or no, he was still Quite Irish.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[craic_killer]

Speaking of Really Quite Irish, Clare had on a rainbow bucket hat to match her rainbow pins on her overall shorts. Derry in the 90s did not have anything like this and so she was soaking up the atmosphere before she returned home in the Fall.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[wildgalegirl]

Charlie was here, guitar slung on her back, hair spelled to shift into a rainbow of colors as she moved. She figured her bright shirt set just the right tone for the day.

Re: Arrive/Mingle!

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon was here in dark jeans and a button-up, his concession to the occasion being tiny round ace and pan flag pins on the lapels.

Issa, on the other hand, was proudly sporting an entire rainbow of (cat-safe) colored fur, courtesy of the vet.

"Just don't eat anything you shouldn't," Jon cautioned her. He got a condescending look for his trouble. But then again, that was just her normal look.

Food/Drinks!

[drumsticksandd20s]

People had been handwavily encouraged to bring food to share, and it was Fandom so there was going to be a lot of highly moddable food on hand from the various island businesses that had opted to participate.

Or hey, if you wanted to take advantage of the grills in the picnic area, they were totally fair game.

[[Business owners or residents who want to have food and beverage booths, ping in here! Any of the NPC restaurants are also fair game, I figure.]]

Re: Food/Drinks!

[somethingwithturquoise]

When did Summer have time to make literally dozens of layers jello shots to represent pretty much every flag that came up when you googled these things? Don't worry about it.

But, naturally, Summer (looking very cute in a nice skirt and top) would have a jello shot booth, and naturally, all versions of pride she could thing of was on display, as well as a few fancier options, including two versions of jello of sticks, some unique jello rolls, and, of course, rainbows two different ways as well.

And they were totally free, with virgin version available as well, but donations and tips were greatly appreciated. Mama didn't have a billionaire boyfriend anymore, after all.

Booths/Tables!

[drumsticksandd20s]

Corporate Pride? On this island? Not on Steph's watch.

[[Ping in with your booth contributions, be they premeditated or impulse decisions.]]

Blackstone Foundry and Forge

[special_rabbit]

Look, Amaya had crafted a lot of rainbow-influenced weapons these last few weeks, and she was going to make the most out of them by having a booth at the festival, all those titatnium finished items and blades, and other colorful sets and hilts on display.

Because even if she may be firmly in the belief that the business of her own sexuality was very firmly None of your, the business of her business was definitely something she wore with blatant pride.

It was generally a good way to keep her away from all the presumed food on sticks, too.

Games/Attractions!

[drumsticksandd20s]

So it wasn't a full-size carnival, but there were a decent few rides to be had -- the bounce house and slide, an obnoxiously rainbow Ferris wheel, and there's even a dark boat ride this time. Ooooh.

[[Feel free to add your own carnival games as well!]]

Bounce House/Slide

[drumsticksandd20s]

With unlimited ballpit time, even.

The Stage!

[drumsticksandd20s]

Hang out and watch the bands, or become part of the show yourself.

Stage: Open Mic/Karaoke

[drumsticksandd20s]

If you dare, or if you have no shame, or you're just dying to do a dramatic reading of fanfic -- look, we're not judging.

OOC

[drumsticksandd20s]

Up early for SP -- I'll be AFK for most of the morning and afternoon myself due to things that came up after I scheduled this, but go wild, y'all.