happy pride, etc

[papadopoulos]

“Uh, people were killed.”
“No one was killed at Stonewall.”
“No…body…was killed???”
_________________________________________________________

The café is looking much more colorful than it has in the past. Specifically, there are various flags draped on top of the walls – certainly it is much brighter than anything Enjolras would have cared to come up with. Directly behind the pastry case there is a rainbow flag, and scattered around there are a myriad of other pride flags. (Whatever they could scrounge up from the cupboards, basically.) There is also a small table set off to one side, with various types of beaded necklaces and colored bracelets lying atop it. There is also a small flier with descriptions and explanations of what the different flags represent. Explanations of pride in general will be freely offered, as well.

Dionysus has offered up his cd player, though instead of the same music from the party, it is playing songs from various queer artists. There’s a selection ranging from Bowie to Cole Porter to Billie Holiday, including more modern artists such as Lady Gaga, Mika, Queen, and Green Day. Apollo can be found near the music as usual; but he is currently engrossed in making more of the colored bracelets. He is seated at the table with a box full of friendship bracelet making supplies, wearing an artfully cropped version of this shirt, a hyacinth bloom set behind his ear. Dionysus is at a different table, wearing a knee-length sundress of pink, yellow, and blue stripes and one of the beaded bracelets Apollo is making, this one in yellow, white, purple, and black beads. He found a small facepainting palette with a few pride flag options and is willing to offer up his services if anyone happens to want a tiny flag on their cheek (or, well, wherever.)


Let us know if you want Apollo, Dionysus, or both for your threads!

Comments

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot moves to take up one of the papers, glancing it over idly. His tone is thoughtful, a little distant, "Magnus suggested that I was. Bisexual. That was not a word I had, before."

This is not really an accurate representation of what Magnus said to him, but Lancelot also hadn't really been aware that this might be an identity, so there's a lot to consider here.

[vineleaves]

"A lot of these words are relatively new, even by a mortal's standard, so don't feel too bad about it." Not to mention the fact that some of the words have shifted around over the past few decades as well. "And some people don't pick a word anyway, it's not, you know, a requirement, or anything."

[papadopoulos]

“It’s not,” Apollo agrees. “It’s just something we thought people would like to know more about. In my world, uh, there’s a lot of discrimination around stuff like this. Maybe in Sissy’s as well.”

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I suppose in mine as well," looking now at the bracelets, "Rather, it is not spoken of, and someone may come to violence as a result."

He pauses, glancing up and looking thoughtful. After a moment he says, "I suppose that's why I did not know, for certain, my own thoughts on the matter."

[vineleaves]

"It's hard, if you don't even know about something, to form an opinion on it, or to even recognize it as a possibility."

[papadopoulos]

"Yeah. That's --partially why pride has evolved into what it is now; there are a lot of religions and cultures that look down on -- ah, well, differences in sexualities and genders -- and people were tired of hiding. Tired of being ashamed of something that's as natural to them as breathing."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Things here, at least, seem more free."

[vineleaves]

"It's wonderful, isn't it? I wish it was like this everywhere, for everyone."

[papadopoulos]

He sighs a little. "Yeah, me too. Our world's made a lot of progress, but it's still not as good as it needs to be."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Here, there are many things possible that were not so in Britain. I'm grateful."

To Dionysus, he says, "Which one, again, is for those who would love both men and women?"

[vineleaves]

Dionysus makes quick, minute eye contact with Apollo, for no reason whatsoever before answering Lancelot, all smiles.

"Ah, if you're looking specifically for bisexual, that's the pink, purple, and blue one. There's also pansexual though, which is being attracted to any gender, that's pink, yellow, and blue," he motions towards the dress he's currently wearing. "They're ah, pretty close in concept."

[papadopoulos]

Apollo is very much not laughing at that look. In fact, he is studiously turning his attention to changing to the next song on their CD player. "Yeah. One's just -- eh, a little more specific? I guess."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot looks thoughtful, frowning a little as he works out how to put it, or how to ask his question. "Gideon spoke of this-- of those who are neither man nor woman. I don't think I understand, though."

[papadopoulos]

Apollo just seizes the day, to steal a phrase from a musical --and points at his little brother. "Not a lot to understand? You've met Sissy."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus waves. "Not really a man, not really a woman, hell I'm only a god by a technicality, apparently."

It still counts.

"Ah, the short answer though is that bodies aren't always an indicator of what someone's gender is going to be. Or if they'll have one at all. What're you confused about?" It's a genuine question, he wants to help if he can.

[lanselos_du_lac]

None of this is terribly clarifying for Lancelot; he falls silent for a long, perhaps too long, moment. He has an array of questions, but all of them seem rude. He trusts Dionysus, and isn't particularly worried that Dionysus (or Apollo, really) would somehow judge him for asking those questions, and yet -- what business is it of his? If anyone asked him similar questions, he would likely answer them, but would feel that very few here are entitled to know about his body, what he thinks of it, what he thinks of himself. And in truth, Dionysus' answer is information enough. (If nothing else, this is another thing he can learn about from his reading.)

So he doesn't ask. Instead he says, eventually, "I-- that short answer serves. I find, anyway, that these are not the things that primarily concern me, if I am discerning whether or not I might hope to pursue someone."

[papadopoulos]

"Yeah, same for me," Apollo agrees. "I mean. I'm not quite in the same boat as my brother -- but I'm not exactly picky about what I identify as. Hell, I've been pregnant before. --Before you ask, though, since Dionysus did already, no, Sunny is not mine."

[vineleaves]

"Apollo can shapeshift," Dionysus says in a tone that admits just how jealous he is of that. "I cannot."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Ah," still thoughtful. Then, to Dionysus, "Thy form suits thee."

[papadopoulos]

He nods. "I mean, shape-shifting is handy, but it's not necessary." He's definitely acting like he wasn't whining about being stuck in the body of an average teen not four months ago. But it's in an effort to make Dionysus feel better, at least?

[vineleaves]

Dionysus brightens, taking Lancelot's words as a compliment. "Thank you, honey, that's sweet of you to say."

Is this the body he would choose, given the option to look like anything? No, probably not. He would probably look like Bernadette Peters, or Ramin Karimloo, or Yamato Yuuga, or someone like that, honestly. For the most part though he doesn't necessarily mind what he looks like, but he does wish this body had fewer aches and pains. He's a god with lower back problems and bad knees, for crying out loud. Being a little taller to reach things might also be nice.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles, "Well. It is only truth."

[papadopoulos]

"He's right," Apollo chimes in. "You know I don't lie."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus looks genuinely touched by Lancelot's words, but does roll his eyes a little at Apollo.

"You can't always use that as an excuse to win arguments, big brother." He turns back to Lancelot. "Anyway! So what other questions are you curious about?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Carefully, as if he's thinking it through as he goes, "Well-- this is all about attraction, yes? And preference?"