may I offer my request to the council :)
Luce and Ronin spending time together during pride month/pride event(parade or fest) and if they give each other gifts(like a blind gift exchange)
[Let Uptown See Your Pride!
Hey all queer Uptownians your fav - and only - Pride event is back and ready to welcome you all! Bring your friend, or partner(s) and help us collect money for good causes to fight against bigotry and violence!
Gather up in xxx at 6 PM on Thursday June 3rd
Uptownian Pride 🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜]
I didn't know Uptown had its own pride event
this thing?
yeah the Local kids started this a few years back
let me Guess.... you'd want to go, hm?
You know me so well (˶ˆ꒳ˆ˵)
Be ready at 5 Tomorrow
i'll come and get ya
Sitting on the front porch of her house, Luce waited for her boyfriend to arrive and take her to the Pride event. She was really curious about it especially with how many bigots Ronin killed in Uptown alone. It was no secret that Uptown was the worst district in Elysium, especially towards marginalised groups and children. Imagining a Pride event out in the open in a place like that was really hard for Luce who spent most of her post-Italy pre-Saffron-Park time in New York City.
"Are you waitin' for someone, pretty girl?"
Someone's presence beside her pulled Luce out of her thoughts. She looked to the side and was met face-to-face with her crouching boyfriend. He didn't look much different from his usual emo boy look minus the t-shirt replaced by a sheer top showing of his surgery scars.
"I don't know, am I?" she replied with a teasing smile.
Ronin helped her up from the stairs and guided her to his barely holding up car. She still wondered how a mechanic could have a car that looks like its final days are approaching rapidly.
"Don't get too comfy in here, the ride's not long," Ronin announced before they moved out of Luce's driveway
The woman asked Ronin a few questions about the Pride event but he just gave her evasive answers. Nothing surprising when she considered that it was Mr. Smoke-and-Mirrors himself.
The car stopped and the pair got out of the car. Luce wasn't sure what she expected but it definitely wasn't this. It was far from the big fests and parades she saw in New York City but it wasn't a shabby event with one Pride flag and a food stand either.
The event was taking part on a parking lot close to a local bakery and supermarket. There was a sign at the entrance with colourful handprints that said 'Welcome to the Queer Parade' in bold, rainbow letters — clearly inspired by My Chemical Romance's song. The couple were greeted by two teenagers; one was holding a jar half full of crumpled bills while the other held a box full of Pride flag-coloured bracelets with a $2.50 sticker stuck to its side. Luce didn't even look at Ronin before she pulled out her wallet and bought a bracelet for them and the rest of the Slaughterhouse Losers in their respective Pride colours.
They passed by many kids selling other handmade Pride-themed goods: necklaces, pins, t-shirts, crocheted decorations, and charms. There weren't only kids collecting funds, Luce saw some adults standing behind tables offering different services like simple tattoos, face painting for kids, make up advice for trans youth. There was even an elderly couple offering advice on how to safely navigate around bigoted parents. Each stand was decorated with bows, balloons, posters and plushies.
In the middle of the parking lot stood a table that was supposed to be an information desk. There was a poster similar to the one Luce sent to Ronin but it said more about the purpose of the event and what is planned for it — apparently a local garage band was supposed to play around 8 PM.
"'s different than the big city Pride, ain't it?' Ronin whispered into her ear, his arm wrapped around Luce's shoulder.
"It's..." she paused, "it feels like a family. A little messy but a family nevertheless."
"They're all this community has here, they gotta show the younger kids that they have a place in this shitty town."
There was an unmistakeable softness to the man's voice. He clearly cared for the community, enough to support it and be angry at Elysium for not protecting it.
Of course, the small event wasn't only colourful and happy. There were people who tried to stir up trouble or junkies hoping to steal money for their drugs. Luckily, the older event attendees scared them off and reassured the kids not to worry about any of it.
They were standing near the shopping stands, an hour left until the music show would start.
"I have an idea. Let's split up, buy each other a gift, and meet up back here in an hour."
Ronin huffed, amused with the sudden proposal.
And with that the two of them went their separate ways.
Luce went towards the teens who had knives, wax-covered spell jars, and creepy doll placed on their tables. Truth be told, she didn't have a clear idea on what to give Ronin he never mentioned wanting anything — besides a human heart, that is. She walked between the different tables, smiling at the sellers who were a little taken aback by someone so pink and bright interested in what they sold.
She started to worry that she'd end up empty handed when she still didn't find any single thing after passing most of the vendors. Luce could already imagine Ronin's cocky smirk when he sees her with no gift. Frustration was clouding her mind and she was ready to just grab whatever but then she saw it.
A row beautiful ceramic goods ranging from simple mugs to overcomplicated vases. Luce immediately felt a pull to one of the objects: a jewellery plate the size of her two hands shaped and coloured like a real human heart.
"Oh? Do you like this one, young lady?" one of the women asked, suddenly standing really close to her.
She was much shorter than Luce, dressed from head to toe in black, she wore a warm smile on her face.
"Yes, the craft is really beautiful," she nodded. "I was looking for a gift for my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend, eh? He's one lucky guy."
The woman didn't even ask her if she was sure that this is what she wants, she just took the plate from Luce and gently wrapped it in black paper sealing it off with a skull sticker. Luce paid for the gift and walked away with a bright smile glued to her face. She was certain Ronin would like it. He's been complaining about his accessories being all over his desk for weeks now. So not only would this be a very him gift, it would be practical too.
She reached their agreed meeting spot and immediately noticed Ronin waiting for her near the stage.
"I hope you weren't waiting long," she said once she stood next to him.
"Nah, I just got here," he shrugged. His gaze dropped to the wrapped gift in her hand. "So, what've you got me?"
They exchange their gifts, Ronin's was in a small, pink box.
Luce lifted the lid and gasped in surprise. Inside was a pastel pink, fluffy bat plush with white buttons for eyes, a white bow attached to its ear, another lacy, white bow with a cross hanging from it wrapped around its neck, inside its ears and wings was a red and white checker.
"Oh my God! This is so freaking cute!" she giggled as she hugged the plush to her chest.
"Yeah? I'm glad you like it, the girl who sells this was surprised when I bought it."
Now it was Ronin's turn to open his gift. Luce held her breath watching closely as he gently tore through the paper. Ronin examined the plate, a grin stretching on his lips.
"Hah, you know me so well, don'tcha?"
"Obviously. You know I'm a sucker for a good ol' heart."
The rest of the evening went them by quickly, playing some games for couples until the concert started. They took a selfie holding up the bracelets Luce bought for their friends.
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happy pride losers
i know it was on the shorter side but shhh i'm just happy that my first ask was about luce (crying from joy)
anyway HAPPY PRIDE FOR ALL OF YOU ESPECIALLY THE TRANS PEOPLE OUT HERE <333
see you around (i have at least 1 more pride ask and it'll be ronin x reader :p)
see you around loves, thank you for the ask x
