The Festival of Bonds (Sticks Pride 2025)

[unheiring]

The A in LGBTQIA Stands For “All Hail"

H-O-T T-O G-O

For those of you that have spent the last few weeks in or around Night Vale, you’ve probably seen a handful of rainbow adorned signs here and there. Various events have been occurring throughout the town — the Night Vale Community Theater put on a very bawdy live performance of a book called Taken By The Gay Unicorn Biker, while the Night Vale Psychological Association has held various events gently reminding the public that it is okay to be straight. Most of these have been largely closed off to residents, though a few more generous souls might gently offer to let you in.

Around the 15th of the month, however, a load of new signs go up not just in Night Vale, but around the Grove. The culprit, of course, is one Luca Aurelius, who hurriedly puts up signs wherever one might see. Like the others, it’s similarly decorated in a colorful light prism, though the name is a little different.

Welcome to the Festival of Bonds

A list of events follows below the title. Of note:

• The Annual Night Vale Pride Parade
  
• A Drag Show and Karaoke Competition, featuring a special guest judge
  
• A Date Auction, hosted by Luca Aurelius
  
• And much, much more.

Ain’t Been OUT In Awhile Anyway

And much, much more happens to come far sooner than the rest of the festivities. Seemingly overnight, the town of Night Vale becomes a paradise of pride. Flags are unraveled and hang from every pole, window, and shoulder of the various citizens of the city. Various events erupt throughout the borough, both sanctioned and unsanctioned. The Car Lot hosts a Drag Drag Show, in which participants will be assigned to their corresponding sexualities or gender identities, and forced to assemble not only a safe and fabulous outfit, but participate in a race against the other teams.

Meanwhile, a sinkhole has opened up within Mission Grove Park, revealing the long forgotten Night Vale colosseum. Those who venture down will be captured and sent into the arena, where they will have five minutes to craft the most sturdy glowstick weapon and fight their competitor. The first one to break and spill glow goo all over its fighter will be deemed the loser.

Several booths are also present, throughout town. Many of them house non-descript photobooths which, when stepped into, will change the outfit of whoever stepped in to a coordinating outfit to their sexuality or gender — whether they’re aware of it or not. Thankfully, there are plenty of charts to decode the colors. Have fun learning about yourselves!

Of course, you might also come out wearing a rainbow poncho. It’s a good thing that you did, because right as you do, the Glow Cloud (all hail) appears. A rain of painted and dyed animals falls from its fluffy, glowing depths. Thankfully, these animals are all alive for once. Thank you, Glow Cloud (all hail).

On the night of the full moon, of course, several citizens crawl out of the woodwork, heading into the dust of the desert. They’ll drag you along if you’re not careful, too. Why? It’s time for the gender neutral bellowing to the ancient gods. Make sure you’re dressed to impress, just in case they arrive.

Meanwhile, the volunteer committee for Wrath Month is more than happy to tell anyone about their upcoming ball drop, which marks the end of June and the transition into July. Anyone nearby is encouraged to write the name of their most beloathed and drop it into the massive crystal ball. When the ornate structure shatters on the final night of June, the names will be scattered to the wind. The Wrath Committee happily reminds you that ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ.

On a happier note, many of your own seem to have adjusted well to the festivities. Pavlova Cookie has opened up a tent a ways away from the festivities. The quiet, when paired with the soft pillows and blankets adorning every surface within the tent, makes for a cozy atmosphere. It’s perfect for the service Pavlova Cookie offers — Relationship Advice.

We're All Friends Of Dorothy And So Is My Horse

As you’ve probably come to expect with Night Vale, nothing about the Pride Parade is anywhere close to normal. Each passing group gets a little louder, a little prouder than the last. And the parade? It doesn’t stop. For days, they trudge on and on throughout Night Vale. Want to cross the street? Too bad, you’ll be waiting for an hour or two? About to go on a jog? Good luck getting through the crowd.

If asked how they manage to be everywhere, the members simply respond “We’re here and we’re queer.” Great. Helpful.

Thankfully, each section of the parade has a banner announcing themselves. It’s probably the only way you might distinguish some of the participants, considering the weird shticks each group seems to have going. Notably:

• Every member of the transgender track club is entirely invisible. Their clothes and adornments are not.
  
• A green-tinted glass float goes by, sponsored by the antique shop. Two men sporting matching MLM capes cryptically remind you “doɥS ʇ,uoᗡ 'ʇdop∀”. At night, the float is accompanied by black lights, revealing an eerie glow from the float itself.
  
• The Aces and Arrows poker and archery club hosts a mobile display, featuring targets color coded to the Ace and Aro flags. The poker players throw their cards with deadly precision, while archers deftly shoot through any cards that land in the bullseye.
  
• The standing pansexual army is adorned in armor sourced entirely from their kitchens
  
• The Sapphic Sword Fighting team participates in a unique dance of swordplay and theater. A dragon dodges out of the group every few blocks and steals the hottest woman they can find. There may be makeouts.
  
• A float with a banner declaring “Protect the Dolls” rolls through. A number of life-sized ball jointed dolls stare eerily into your soul. For those of you who are not out to yourselves yet, a number of realizations may occur soon after.
  
• There's a gay float brought to you by the joyous congregation of the smiling god, who misunderstood the assignment. Gay vore enthusiasts may still find something to love about this, I’m not your dad.
  
• The kink pride group is infiltrated by a number of bears in leather gear. Any homophobes in the audience will be ritually fed to them.
  
• The local association of realtors have created their own float. Unfortunately, it is occupied by a number of deer. Fortunately, they are very in the spirit of the festival, and will be throwing candy and mardi gras beads into the crowd.
  

Anyone is welcome to participate. Hell, if you don’t, you might just get dragged into the celebration should someone clock you. Or just want to give you hell. Welcome to the black Gay Parade

Always, I Wanna Be With You

Before the final party can begin, and before the divas walk the runway, one very important matter of business has to be taken care of. Luca takes his place on the stage, holding a number of envelopes, each adorned with a heart and a different name on it.

“When I call your name, please step up to the stage. We’ll start each bid at ten shells, and go until you see fit to stop.” Luca flashes a grin to the crowd and begins pulling out envelopes. Some of you probably expect your name to come up — you did sign up , after all. Others, however, will be very surprised when their own is called. Unfortunately, the submission box has developed a mind of its own.

Well… Have fun with that.

I Wanna Make A Supersonic Man Out Of You

Once the dates have been assigned, the fun really begins. Music begins playing at full volume, sending pounding beats through the whole building. Yes, there is a disco ball. Of course there is foam. And all the left over glow sticks have been broken, leaving you to paint whatever glowing nonsense you want on your skin.

Of course, halfway through the night, the crowd settles down as the lights on a nearby stage come on. The drag show is about to begin. Volunteers are welcome, but if the stage goes empty for too long, characters will find that there will be consequences. Namely, the arrival of the Sphere, which hovers above unsuspecting victims performers. There is no way out. Attempts to dodge the responsibility by insisting you’re not dressed for it will result in you being deposited in front of a nearby photobooth.

There’s only one thing to be done. Lipsync for your life

Spark Notes

summary

• Photobooths that will assign random outfits. These will be color coordinated to whatever pride flag you feel your character identifies with..
  
• Or they’ll get rained on by the glow cloud
  
• Enjoy drag races in drag at the car lot.
  
• Bellow to the new moon if you feel like it
  
• Sign up for wrath month by entering the name of your worst enemy.
  
• Fight to the glowy death (not really) in the newly revealed Night Vale Colosseum.

There are also three “main” events:

• A pride parade featuring various displays. Yes, you can join in. Or you can get dragged in. I guess you can also be eaten by the bears, I’m not your dad.
  
• A date auction, in which your character can be “accidentally” entered or voluntarily do so. Please sign up here if you haven’t
  
• A big old party occurs, interrupted by a massive drag show. Like before, your character can willingly go up on stage, or be randomly selected by the Sphere.
  

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Comments

[love_swan]

I'm more worried they won't want another pet around...

[ or, he was, and now he has a very real very acute fear of what will happen to this place when they leave

He looks more than a little haunted now as he holds the little ball of fur. ]

[lupusxylem]

[HAHA OOPS...Wolfwood is so good at this socializing thing.

He frowns a little, very carefully petting the top of the goat's head with his claws. You'd think it would be terrified being held by an actual werewolf, but he don't got no thoughts, he's just a baby.]

They'll be fine, whatever you decide to do.

[He doesn't know this for sure, but he's not going to tell Aira they'll explode and die or something. At best, they'll probably just disappear with this place, same as they showed up.]

[love_swan]

[ He is going to desperately tell himself that this place is different than the island. No blood ocean, no volcano, no ghost like versions of their friends. This is probably an actual place and nothing will happen. Its fine. He's fine. ]

I wonder what I should name him. He looks like a little blue mochi...

Are you naming yours?

[lupusxylem]

Me?

[Well...he wasn't planning on it, mostly because he wasn't actually keeping his. But he isn't going to say that now after how clearly stressed the idea of leaving them behind is making this kid. So, let's see...]

I dunno. I was thinkin' he looked kindof like a Peanut.

[He lifts "Peanut" a little, who bleats softly with his eyes facing opposite directions.]

Whaddya think?

[love_swan]

[ He got the assumption more from how he was holding the thing-- he's not entirely sure why he wouldn't put it down if he wasn't considering keeping it.

That said he wasn't corrected, so he looks delighted by the name. He tucks his own little bundle into a pocket where it curls up happily to free up his hands so he can give the cute little thing scritches and pets. ]

Its a lovely name~ he's so cute~

[lupusxylem]

[Yeah Wolfwood really isn't making it very clear is he...he mostly isn't putting the goat down because he doesn't want him to get stepped on by the crowd. There's a lot of people out here still for Pride, after all.]

Yeaah, I think one of my boyfriends' s'rubbin' off on me. Usually I'd go for namin' him somethin' cool like Lightning or Alpha, but Peanut prolly fits better.

[love_swan]

[ One of? Polyamory seems to be pretty widespread here but Aira is a little surprised by it still. It wasn't really something he saw a lot of before coming here. ]

Oh, who are your boyfriends? Maybe I've met them?

[lupusxylem]

[Trust him Aira, Wolfwood didn't even consider it a possibility back home, much less being with someone...period. Now though? Stranger than you'd think. Sometimes you hate a weird not!relationship with somebody but you still love them anyway even though you don't have any labels attributed to it. His relationship with Flamebringer is so weird-]

Ain, Livio...and Vash. Vash you wouldn't've met, though. He uh...left before you got here.

[He'll just leave it at that.]

[love_swan]

[ Oh.... he gives Wolfwood a sympathetic look ]

I had a partner before getting here. I'm not really sure how I'd label us but... I don't know if I'll see him ever again so I know how you feel.

[ He just hopes Hiiro is alive and happy wherever he ended up. He misses him dearly. ]

[lupusxylem]

[I don't know if I'll ever see him again could mean so many things. Wolfwood can surmise the guy isn't dead at the very least, but...sometimes there are worse alternatives, if that can be believed.]

Yeah...it sucks. You never expect it to happen to you, I guess.

[But what can you do, other than compartmentalize and try not to think about it? It's not...healthy, but it's the only way Wolfwood has been able to keep going in the wake of it.]

Havin' others here you can lean on helps.

[love_swan]

[ he wishes he could believe that. Outside of a few he's felt incredibly... outcast, really. No one's rude, but no one particularly bothers with him either. It makes him think he's done something wrong and he cant for the life of him think of what he's managed to bungle this bad already. ]

Yeah... I have Mayo-san and Mafu-san at least.

[ He got too comfortable having a small trauma bonded community in the Nest, he supposed. He misses the other idols, but... if they don't belong here, he shouldn't wish that on them.

... he wipes quietly at his eyes. ]

Have you made a lot of friends here?

[lupusxylem]

Mm...if you'd asked me a year or two ago, I prolly woulda' said "I don't got friends".

[He was still in his tsundere era, back then. But the Forest has somewhat managed to squeeze that out of him out of necessity, at this point.]

But not anymore. I've got friends, yeah...but a lot of 'em have come and gone. I try to hold onto the ones I still got while they're here.

[love_swan]

I'm sorry you've gone through that it's... a horrible feeling to lose your friends in any way.

[ He is, of course, unfortunately aware of how this feels because he has had to contend with the feeling several times himself. ]

I'm still working on making friends here. It's... difficult. I've never been very good at it.

[lupusxylem]

Well, if it helps at all...you'd be surprised by how easy it is to make friends in a place like this. Most of the people here can't stay outta your business. It's a trait of theirs.

[He says this lovingly, he swears.]

[love_swan]

Maybe it's different 'cause I'm younger? I haven't noticed that yet.

[ He also just hasn't been here long and is a little awkward when approaching people. ]

[lupusxylem]

Heh...yeah, prob'ly. I couldn't make a friend to save my life when I was your age.

[That isn't something you want to admit-]

But it's fine. You'll figure it out.