(Untitled)

[rt_5478]

So yesterday was National Coming Out Day. Artie didn't really feel right about participating, though; while he is openly gay, he's not yet comfortable being openly gerbil on campus.

Milliways, however, is a whole other story. Artie is now seated at a table with a sign saying:

National Coming Out Day
Let your freak flag fly!Also on the table are

Comments

[evryinchbut1]

When Valerie comes into the bar, she stares a little. It's hard to miss, after all.

But more than that . . . it's there at all.

And then she's beaming so hard that her cheeks hurt.

[rt_5478]

"Hello," says Artie. "Are you familiar with National Coming Out Day?"

[evryinchbut1]

"I'm not," she replies, coming closer. "I don't think they had it in Britain."

[rt_5478]

"It's possible," admits Artie. "What year are you from? It was founded in 1988."

[slasherofprices]

Simon stares at the labels, both amused and bemused.

Then, he reaches for one and scrawls in the blank, "Simon Skinner."

Because Simon Skinner is totally its own sexuality. (Or maybe someone's just too comfortable keeping his sexuality a secret and doesn't think too highly of labels.)

[rt_5478]

[slasherofprices]

Simon looks rather pleased with his name badge. "What's all this about?" he asks idly.

[rt_5478]

"National Coming Out Day is a holiday intended to raise public awareness of alternative lifestyles," says Artie. "Of course, here in Milliways, 'alternative lifestyle' can have a rather broader meaning." He points to his own nametag for emphasis.

[ushouldcwhatic]

John stopped back in the bar, and gave the sign a curious look. He heard things here and there, but people usually didn't call attention to it in Maine. New Englanders were sort of conservative and private by nature.

"Freak flag?" He remarked with some bemusement.

[rt_5478]

"Sure," replies Artie cheefully. "Here, of all places, people should be willing to open up about what makes them unusual. And it doesn't have to be restricted to sexuality, either."

[ushouldcwhatic]

"Well, I don't think I can top yours," he admitted, but then grabbed a nametag.

He carefully wrote,
a psychic schoolteacher and father. Because he did consider JJ as his son. Even with missing out those first six years of his life because of the coma, and Sara marrying Walt instead of him.

[rt_5478]

[otherlife]

So nearby there is a very small, androgynous person looking at the sign with an expression best described as total bafflement. After a short while, this small person idles over, peering sideways at Artie with a kind of standoffish politeness that marks the manor of a noble -- and certainly no child, though he's no larger than a barely-preadolescent boy and moves more like a girl.

"I do not understand this," he informs Artie, his voice giving no hint as to his gender.

[rt_5478]

"National Coming Out Day is a holiday designed to raise public awareness of alternative lifestyles, Miss--um..."

[otherlife]

Slight headtilting, and a faint smile. "Sorve Harth, Lord Estraven. You may call me Sorve." He doesn't like going by his title; he doesn't feel that it fits him yet, and the more formal Harth is his how people address his father. "What do you mean, alternative lifestyles?"

[rt_5478]

"Well," Artie begins, "generally the term refers to sexual orientations other than heterosexuality. But given that this is Milliways, I think it can be expanded a bit to include werewolves, mutants, extraterrestrials..."

[tyler_marlocke]

"Oh is that today?" Asks an amused young man in a cape and cowl.

[rt_5478]

"Yesterday, actually," says Artie. "But I thought it ought to be celebrated here, regardless."

[tyler_marlocke]

"I'll wear one anyways. I'm a non-metapowered superhero. Or you could use the term powerless vigilante. Either way."

Obviously, he doesn't take his job or himself too seriously.

[rt_5478]

"Go ahead," says Artie, handing the man a blank nametag and a pen. "We're all-inclusive here, Mister..."