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WHO: OTA
WHAT: Eglaf Annual Earth Day Extravaganza
WHEN: Friday, April 17, 2020 - Sunday, April 19, 2020
WHERE: All over Historical Downtown Eglaf
WARNINGS: The whole premise of Friday's event is dub-con, so...you know. There's that. If you feel your thread should have content warnings on it, please say so in the soonest possible comment subject line.

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone?

Every year, the weekend before Earth Day, the city of Egalf has a three-day festival to celebrate centered largely in Historical Downtown. Eglaf was one of the first cities in Florida to pass Go Green laws and they're proud of their attempts as a city to reduce their carbon footprint. Each year, the line-up of events is about the same.

Friday night is a fundraising theme costume party, usually attended by any and all, featuring local celebrities and registered Displaced Supers along with raffles, meet and greets, autograph sessions, photo ops with Displaced Supers, local vendors, and more, located in Downtown Pride Hotel's ballrooms. This year's theme is "Getting In Touch with Nature." Party-goers will be turned away at the door if they're not in costume. No exceptions. Tickets can be purchased all week at the hotel or at the door. General admittance is $10 and admittance with dinner reservations is $25 per person. Group discounts are available; please call the front desk at Downtown Pride Hotel for details.

NOTE:This event is where things might get a little hinky this year. The portal being reawakened in January has been causing little issues around town, but the government mostly has this on lockdown. Unfortunately, it would appear that something new has made its way through. Earlier in the week, a small group of playful and mischievous fairies slipped through the portal. Learning of the Earth Day celebration and wanting very much to carry on its message, on Friday morning, locals and Supers alike might notice a sort of shimmer in the air. Spoiler alert: it's their version of fairy dust. Exposure to said fairy dust will have residents of Eglaf under the fairies' spell. They'll feel compelled to reduce, reuse, recycle, and be at the Earth Day fundraiser with bells on.

When the clock strikes eleven, though, that's when they'll decide to have a little more fun. Anyone still in their costume and within a five-mile radius of the hotel will believe themselves to actually be their costume or, in some cases, they will become their costume. So, if someone comes to the party dressed as a tree, they should be prepared to stand very still and be very silent while swaying in the wind for the hour during which the spell will take hold. This spell will last anywhere from 1 to 24 hours.

Saturday, there will be a parade featuring giant balloons, floats built by local businesses, and Displaced Super appearances. The parade will begin at 10:00 am and will follow the usual path down all of Main Street from Historical Downtown up to the upper east side before returning back to Historical Downtown. Typically, this parade runs two to three hours in its entirety. Then, Saturday evening will kick off the Earth Day Film Festival, where locals and Displaced Supers alike are invited to the Downtown Green, weather permitting (or the Oakdale Theater, if not) where the stage will be hidden behind a giant screen onto which Eglaf Community College short films will start things off at 7:00 pm and, by 9:00 pm, everything from nature documentaries to summer blockbuster films will be played back to back until the last movie is scheduled to end around 11:30 pm on Sunday night.

All concessions purchased at official events this weekend will go toward furthering technological advances toward making Eglaf run on clean energy.

Come one, come all! Have a great time!

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[ This? This is fucking stupid. He's exhausted from being up all night — maybe the nightmares from the house on Niebolt will go away someday, but yesterday was not that day — and the parade had seemed originally like a good idea at the time because Eddie thought maybe it would mean he'd have an entire float to himself where he could just stand and smile and wave at the crowd for an hour or two and be done with it. Only, he's not on the float alone, literally ever, even though several people seem to be playing musical floats, and before he even hits the hour point, he's already wiped out from pretending to want to be here.

He's registered. He needs the stipend until he can figure out how to get back into risk analysis. He promised.

Sighing heavily, Eddie lowers himself to sit on the tailgate when someone a little more energetic hops on the float and takes over the smiling and waving. He wonders how he managed to miss the dude in a dress covered in twinkle lights getting onto the back of his float, but he managed it. Maybe that's one point toward doing a decent job after all on this whole thing.

Immunity or not, Eddie can't help the reflexive cough and then he clears his throat loudly as if to try to cover it, when the remnants of exhaled cigarette smoke hit him before fading away in the salty Florida breeze. It reminds him — weirdly and fondly — of Bev, actually, and Eddie almost loses himself in the reverie until the other man speaks up, grabbing Eddie's attention. ]

I don't know, man, probably not but I gotta wonder if cutting out early means you'd have to volunteer for an extra thing later on down the line. Is it really worth it?

[ The older man's eyes scan over the younger man's outfit and his eyebrows lift. Ignoring the fact that it's someone who looks, to him, outwardly male wearing what's quite obviously a dress because, really, to each their own, it's...really something, that dress. ]

...I gotta ask, did you fucking make that yourself? Because...holy shit, man. That's fucking impressive if you did.

[see, klaus is used to the crowds. whenever he'd initially gone over what receiving the stipend meant, he didn't think much of it and figured the library job would be enough— but if he can make extra money doing something he did for so many years, regardless of how long ago it'd been, why not? it'll suck being treated like that again but he's an adult now and can walk away anytime he wants.

admittedly though, if he hadn't slept well, he would've been finished less than an hour in.

in eddie's defense, there are a lot of people here for this thing and he's certainly not the only one dressed up. perhaps his outfit's louder than other peoples', there's no way klaus's outshining these floats, however, which is where he's hidden most of the time. after his newly acquired company coughs, he wrinkles his nose with concern.] Shit, sorry, man. [then klaus waves both hands in the air around them, helping clear the lingering smoke despite most of it already being gone. whoever the guy is, he'll keep in mind that lighting up around him wouldn't be the best idea if they happen to run into one another again.]

Damn, didn't even consider that... [still totally worth the risk at this point, though.] If it means getting the hell outta here and having a moment alone, it could be.

[his own attention follows eddie's, mouth curving somewhat at the edges while he contemplatively tilts his head. most people feel something at the sight of a man in a dress; good, bad, ugly, etcetera. much to klaus's surprise, the question that comes isn't at all what he's expecting.]

I can't take full credit. The dress and lights were premade, to be fair, but I sewed it all together.

It's okay, it's just...asthma.

[ Which he realizes is neither true nor would it be a factor anymore, even if it was; it's just a reflexive response after spending most of his life believing himself to be asthmatic when, in reality, he'd been sucking on a placebo inhaler filled with water mist and a metallic taste to throw him off. He spent, in fact, so long believing it that even now he reaches for an inhaler he no longer has and still finds himself using asthma as an excuse for a myriad of things he can't or shouldn't do. Or, in this case, the reflexive cough that comes with the psychosomatic belief that the very smell of lingering cigarette smoke is causing his throat to begin to close. ]

Yeah, but then you just have to do it again next time, though. I know we turned around a few blocks ago. I mean, not turned around but we've moved the procession in a way that means we're heading back to where it started, so we're at least halfway done, if not a little more.

Shit, dude, if I can do it, anybody fucking can.

[ Eddie, for his part, looks impressed by that. ]

That's some fucking talent, man. And I know I'm old and shit so I don't...like get the appeal of the whole cross-dressing thing...if that's even, like, the PC term for it or whatever, but I'm not too old to appreciate that it takes some fucking giant balls of steel to feel comfortable enough to be a dude wearing a dress, never mind one that's all lit up like that.

Just asthma? [like it isn't something that'd be irritated by cigarettes? eddie, please.

at least, in klaus's defense, he hasn't got any idea about that or else he'd feel even more foolish. maybe it's better he believes eddie and just not smoke with all the other people around? since there very well could be someone(s) during this event whose lungs might get irritated and then he'd have a real problem on his hands. perhaps eddie's not technically asthmatic, but the panic he experiences from believing he's had it for so long is real; anxiety attacks do make breathing difficult sometimes. klaus has experienced those firsthand, they aren't to be messed with.]

True... but I wanna leave now, [he gestures for emphasis toward the road underneath their feet, heaves an overdramatic sigh then settles the other elbow on his thigh to prop his chin in his palm.] Suppose it wouldn't kill me to at least stay until we're a little further along.

[eddie's truly giving him too much credit here; believing klaus's patience can hold out that long.

old, the other man says, looking the way he does. eddie surely isn't much older than himself, right? nah, he can't be, but regardless of what his age is, the compliment's appreciated.] The way I see it, [a brief pause as he leans back on his hands and kicks his feet,] all clothing is gender neutral if people stop being little bitches about it.

[ Eddie shrugs a little, looking appropriately sheepish. He downplays it because deep down, he knows it's all in his head. He downplays it because at least it's not some self-righteous asshole sentiment condescending about the myriad health hazards that come with smoking or a forced cough meant to induce guilt just to appease a stranger irritated by the smell. It could be worse.

In spite of himself, Eddie smiles a little with amusement at the other man, nodding his understanding as the younger of the two heaves a long-suffering sigh. ]

That makes two of us. But...just think of it like this: if you bail now, then you just fucking gotta walk back home. Stay put a little longer and you get a ride.

[ The other man startles a laugh out of him and Eddie can't help thinking that it sounds like something Richie would say. ]

You're probably not wrong, buddy. But people are, so I stand by what I said.

[true, it could be, but that's why klaus smiles appreciatively. he'll keep it in mind either way and thanks for not biting his head off, eddie. (also for being adorable? he shouldn't look as cute as he does with that selfconsciousness.)

his demeanor brightens further at eddie's observation, an outright effervescent beam while he considers.]

You're right, yeah, though counter-offer: what if we happen by somewhere I wanna go instead? I could also hop off there.

[klaus hasn't a clue who richie is yet and he'd already like him if that's something they'd agree on.] Fair enough, though. I get where you're coming from with the whole people being intolerant shitheads thing.

[ Shaking his head and grinning, Eddie shrugs. ]

Then I guess you hop off and have to tack on another volunteer opportunity and I finish this parade by myself, I don't fuckin' know, man. I'm staying because I'm not doing this shit again later. I mean, I will, one more parade and I'm done for the year, but you know what I mean. I didn't sit on this fucking float for an hour and change only to get off early and have it not count, I don't know about you.

[ He shrugs and glances over his shoulder to make sure there's still someone standing on the float smiling and waving so that he can keep sitting for a little longer. ]

Yeah, generally speaking, but I guess it's kind of human nature to be wary of change or things we don't understand.

[ Which is to say that Eddie, too, is normally pretty closed-minded; the only reason he's not right now is because he's literally in a random town on a different Earth, perfectly healed like he never got stabbed in the face by the Losers' childhood bully or fatally impaled by a gigantic claw. It's kind of hard not to be at least a little open-minded after all that. ]

[he hums contemplatively, pats his hands against his cheeks then huffs another sigh.]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I dunno, I'm still considering it, but you might've convinced me to stay just for that reason alone. I've been here long enough, already suffered through most of it... That, and having to do something during the winter would suck. [klaus'd much rather be too warm than too cold, even if there are only so many clothes he can take off before it gets him in trouble, whereas he can put on as much stuff as he likes in the wintertime.

whoever's still standing definitely seems peppier than they are and klaus's more than happy to let them go as long as they like.]

Also correct. Seems like you've got an answer for everything, don't you? [inquired teasingly while he directs his attention from his shoes to eddie, quirks an eyebrow, taps his fingertips against his cheek. yeah, all of that? unquestionably calls for a little openmindedness.]

[ Eddie gives a solemn nod. He's thought about that, too. When Eddie thinks of winter, he thinks of Maine and New York. Logically, winters won't be as harsh down here, he's sure, but he can't help that he still pictures blizzard conditions and the kind of cold temperatures that sometimes prompt closing of schools so that the moisture in children's noses and lungs doesn't freeze. The idea of having to do an outdoor event in those conditions isn't one Eddie likes very much. ]

Yeah, fuck that. I'm not doing this shit in the winter.

[ He smiles a little. ]

Yeah, usually. Only way to stem anxiety is to get ahead of it, man.

[ The float continues down the road and Eddie catches sight of one of the street signs, looking surprised. ]

Oh wow, they're not taking the same route home that they took out here. It's not even going to be a full hour back.

[thank the lord, that won't be the case here, though unbeknownst to eddie, klaus already struggles with keeping warm. for reasons he'll figure out later, but until then: it should just be known the younger male hates being cold. hates it with a passion (yet somehow still loves the beauty of winter).]

The weather's definitely gonna be different than where I came from. Won't hear me complaining since I'd assume it'll be warmer than the City.

[he readies a response, considers it for some time then amends,] Fair point.

[if there's one thing he understands, unfortunately, it's anxiety. following eddie's attention to the sign, klaus's eyebrows arch with deliberation, he presses his lips tight, wrinkles his nose.] They aren't? Huh.

Well, maybe sticking around won't be the worst. [after a faint smile,] Company hasn't been too bad, either.

[ Eddie's eyebrows lift with interest. ]

The City? Like New York?

[ Where he came from, most of the time if people said "the City" in general conversation rather than without a specific state's context in play, they typically meant New York City. Whether or not that's true for Klaus, he's not sure, but it's interesting all the same, seeing as how Eddie's also from New York.

Eddie shakes his head and smiles a little at the compliment. ]

Uh-uh, maybe the end of the parade is just a formality for anyone who missed the beginning. On the way away from downtown, we took Main, but Main doesn't just go uptown; it goes in kind of a gigantic roundabout. We're heading straight downtown, now.

[ He shrugs a little. ]

Glad I could make it worth you not having to do a new volunteer opportunity.

[how did he know eddie was going to say that? because usually, when someone says “the city,” new york is exactly what comes to mind. but in this case, it's not and his answer is going to be ambiguous at best.]

Nah, different city. Probably a different Earth than yours?

[or some kind of alternate timeline shenanigans thing klaus wouldn't explain all that well, to be honest. regardless, it's disappointing he isn't talking about the city, he'd be thrilled to learn he and eddie might've come from the same place. from the sounds of it, that isn't the case, which is unfortunate though fine nonetheless.]

That... [wow, that was outstandingly specific. curiosity visibly perks his features, has him looking far too inquisitive for his own good, but fortuitously, he reels it in.] I'm just gonna chalk everything up to my sucking with directions and leave it at that. [klaus snickers, reaches and rubs two fingertips across some smeared makeup on his cheek, thumbing over the mess staining them afterward.]

Let's hope it's quick enough or I might melt before we get there.

[ Eddie nods. That made sense. ]

Yeah, okay, that makes sense. It would've been interesting, though, if that's where you were from. I'm from New York.

[ Grinning a little, Eddie shakes his head. ]

Ah, I think it's the whole human compass thing I've got going on now since getting here. [ In spite of himself, Eddie huffs a laugh at the comment about melting. ] Well, shit. We wouldn't want that. Hang on, give us fifteen or twenty minutes and we're home free, buddy. Don't give up, yet.

Really? Holy shit, that would've been pretty awesome if we'd come from the same city. Wonder if New York looks the same back home.

[more than likely, his answer would be yes, but klaus can't say in good honesty that's true. multiverse traveling is obviously a thing if he's to believe everything people have been telling him and eglaf's his second universe. who knows how many are out there where things could be altogether different?]

‘Human compass?’ Yeah, I'd call that convenient. [at eddie's laugh, he smiles, cups both hands against his cheeks and sighs heavily while letting himself tip backward.] Fifteen or twenty minutes? Oh, [an over-the-top, dramatic gasp] remember me fondly if we don't make it in time!

[ Eddie laughs, rolling his eyes. This guy is a fucking trip, he can't help thinking. The company could definitely have been worse, that's for sure.

It does, as it turns out, make the rest of the parade go by pretty quickly. Eddie makes a mental note to make sure to drag the other Losers or some other friends he'll hopefully have made by the time of the next event so that it doesn't drag like the first half of this parade did.

In what feels like no time, they've made it back and Eddie waits until the float has come to a complete stop (because of course he does) before he hops off. ]

Well, look at that. You made it. Congratulations, one down, however many left to go. Thanks for keeping me entertained on the tail end of that. I was kind of losing my mind.

[eddie hasn't even seen how preposterous klaus can get, either. depending on how long he hangs around, he'll get to find out and boy, he's gonna be in for a wild ride. makeup, a light-up dress, overly theatrical ridiculousness— these are just the beginning.

next time, he'll be sure to do some dragging of his own. maybe his siblings or roommates? he doesn't know for sure, but that's a bridge he can cross when it comes. klaus, however, refuses to wait and leaps off the tailgate with reckless abandon, of course. (blessedly, his leap clears enough space, the truck ends up stopping before it can back into him.)]

Thank God, [he sighs emphatically, draping an arm across his forehead.] I thought I was done for. [then klaus smirks, gestures eddie's way then, apparently, changes his mind and moves the hand to lift an edge of his dress so he can goddamn curtsey instead.] Pleasure's mine, darling, I'd love to do it again sometime. Maybe if we're both at the event after this or something?

Until next time. I should get going though, before I do actually melt, haha!

[ Laughing a little, Eddie shakes his head, looking amused at the curtsey. ]

Yeah, man. Sounds good. Definitely don't melt. I'll see you around.

[ And, with that Eddie gives a small wave and heads his own way. ]

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