Post by Valencia Donahue on Dec 7, 2008 10:49:06 GMT 1
With a life as solitary as Valencia's, it should come to no surprise that she jumped at the opportunity to hang out with her good lesbian friends. No matter how loyal and true supposed guide dogs like Riesling are, nothing beats the company of close comrades. The Asian wasn't picky about where to chill either, so of course Ruth and Gladys decided that the three head to a gay bar they frequented in the Castro. Sure, Valencia won't drink a drop of alcohol since it'd screw up her sensitivity, but there wasn't a law against not drinking in gay bars... However, there're laws against other things. The three sat at the counter and were conversing about what they were up to since they last met. Being the active same sex couple they were, Ruth and Gladys were part of the social movement to reverse Prop 8, which made it illegal for homosexuals to marry. Sure, there're civil unions, but they have far fewer rights compared to married couples and the list goes on.
Valencia is a tolerant individual. That's how she and the disadvantaged got along: They had a better sense of tolerance then most people did. So she listened carefully and even brought up points to challenge their views constructively, but Ruth and Gladys saw it as sparring and practicing for the real thing once the courts are done setting up for the coming landmark case. An outsider was far less likely to see it as sparring, especially if said outsider is drunk. A tall dark-haired woman swaggered over to Valencia and leaned over her, whispering not so pleasant things into her ear. Valencia could smell the stench of alcohol, among other things, and tried to pay her no mind. The drunkard should lose interest if she isn't encouraged. Ruth and Gladys were less comfortable since they knew who this drunkard was... The kind of person Valencia would avoid at all costs if she knew.
[GLADYS]: “Ah, Chanda, just so you know, she's our straight friend. First time at this bar and she ain't a drinker. Mind giving her space?”
[CHANDA]: “Oh! She's straight? Heh! I don't think so. She's just keeping it to herself, if you know what I mean. So far in the closet that she's in Narnia? She's here 'cause she's finally coming out? Come on, honey~--”
[GLADYS]: “Think of her more as a... Tolerant, open-minded conservative--”
[CHANDA]: “Oh! Oh yeah, I was listening to you guys too. In that case, I know everything there is to know to help your friend. I can help her get it. Sit back down, honey.”
Valencia knew it was a sign to make a convenient exit if even her homosexual friends are trying to get a homosexual to leave her alone. But Chanda grabbed her and shoved her back into the chair, leaning even more on her to keep her in place.
[CHANDA]: “You know, honey, being gay isn't a choice. Hell, do you think I want people to hate me because I sleep with girls instead of guys like 'normal' people? I'm one of those people who are ahead of the game, honey. You should love the person, not the gender, as most people have been socialized to do. You're open-minded, right? You should open your l--”
[RUTH]: “CHANDA.”
[CHANDA]: “--s more. Technically, you should be able to love women as well as guys. You're single and a virgin, right? Somewhere deep down, you're probably not meant for guys and you know it. You didn't mean for it to be that way. That's just how you are. That's why you have gay friends. And that's why you're here... So people like me can love you. That's just how things are and you can't change a thing. You know what Prop 8 did? It just showed the world how not ready they are. They just don't get it. And here Californians are supposed to be the more open-minded of the bunch.”
Valencia was extremely uncomfortable with Chanda playing with her hair and practically laying on top of her. She kept a lot of things in her head while keeping up with all the things she's been doing and all it took was a drunkard to pry them out of her skull. The Vietnamese woman was extremely tolerant, but she wasn't a doormat. There was only so much inappropriate touching she could take before grabbing Chanda by the throat with her vise-like grip.
“A lot of the time, yes. That's just how things are. I'm a freak. I'm not pretty. I expect too much. I'm too impulsive. I directly and indirectly KILLED my parents by being BORN. My aunt and uncle vanished off the face of the planet. Practically everything in my life is conspiring to KILL me. Why? Because the way I am ain't attractive and I'm a magnet for bad luck. No one wants a person like me 'cause I'm not a Mary Sue. But you know what? I don't HAVE to take it. I'm in charge of my own life. I don't have to behave certain ways just to appeal to the masses, either on the BROAD or on the PERSONAL LEVEL. I have the RIGHT to LIVE as I FUCKING PLEASE. It's people like YOU who made me want to vote YES on Prop 8.”
Valencia shoved Chanda off of her and walked briskly out of the gay bar, with Ruth and Gladys following after (and Ruth flying the bird at Chanda on the way out). The lesbians didn't have to look far to find Valencia standing beneath a street lamp as far away from the gay bar's entrance as possible. The two didn't know what to say after their friend's explosion, but Gladys decided to try the best she could with a soft tone...
[GLADYS]: “Valencia... I know you're free to vote as you like and all, but... What did you mean by that? The voting thing...”
The stunt woman sighed and knew she said something that must've hurt her friends really badly.
“I'm just tired of people telling me or implying how I should live my life. I'm human. I can be flawed... I can be irrational, right? I can tolerate all I want like a saint, but if I don't like it, I don't have to accept it... Right?”
Ruth pursed her lips together. As the closer friend of the two, she felt she had to speak what was on their minds.
[RUTH]: “Of course you're free to do as you want. Taking charge of your own life is great! And knowing you, you're more real than half the people you have to put up any day. But what's getting me is... Um... You'd rather spite the people you hate... Than think of... Us? The people who are close to you?”
Valencia finally got it and hurt really bad. It was just like that meeting with Seth all over again. Of course she cared a lot for her friends. Why else was she willing to go out to a gay bar where she clearly didn't belong? How was she supposed to answer...? She didn't dye her hair today, so save for the tips, she was a brunette and felt necessary to be as genuine as she claimed to be.
“That's... Probably the only thing I'm good at.”
((OOC: Not sure how this can be an open thread, as I can't think of any reason for regular folks to be in the Castro... Which is a heavily gay community.))
Valencia is a tolerant individual. That's how she and the disadvantaged got along: They had a better sense of tolerance then most people did. So she listened carefully and even brought up points to challenge their views constructively, but Ruth and Gladys saw it as sparring and practicing for the real thing once the courts are done setting up for the coming landmark case. An outsider was far less likely to see it as sparring, especially if said outsider is drunk. A tall dark-haired woman swaggered over to Valencia and leaned over her, whispering not so pleasant things into her ear. Valencia could smell the stench of alcohol, among other things, and tried to pay her no mind. The drunkard should lose interest if she isn't encouraged. Ruth and Gladys were less comfortable since they knew who this drunkard was... The kind of person Valencia would avoid at all costs if she knew.
[GLADYS]: “Ah, Chanda, just so you know, she's our straight friend. First time at this bar and she ain't a drinker. Mind giving her space?”
[CHANDA]: “Oh! She's straight? Heh! I don't think so. She's just keeping it to herself, if you know what I mean. So far in the closet that she's in Narnia? She's here 'cause she's finally coming out? Come on, honey~--”
[GLADYS]: “Think of her more as a... Tolerant, open-minded conservative--”
[CHANDA]: “Oh! Oh yeah, I was listening to you guys too. In that case, I know everything there is to know to help your friend. I can help her get it. Sit back down, honey.”
Valencia knew it was a sign to make a convenient exit if even her homosexual friends are trying to get a homosexual to leave her alone. But Chanda grabbed her and shoved her back into the chair, leaning even more on her to keep her in place.
[CHANDA]: “You know, honey, being gay isn't a choice. Hell, do you think I want people to hate me because I sleep with girls instead of guys like 'normal' people? I'm one of those people who are ahead of the game, honey. You should love the person, not the gender, as most people have been socialized to do. You're open-minded, right? You should open your l--”
[RUTH]: “CHANDA.”
[CHANDA]: “--s more. Technically, you should be able to love women as well as guys. You're single and a virgin, right? Somewhere deep down, you're probably not meant for guys and you know it. You didn't mean for it to be that way. That's just how you are. That's why you have gay friends. And that's why you're here... So people like me can love you. That's just how things are and you can't change a thing. You know what Prop 8 did? It just showed the world how not ready they are. They just don't get it. And here Californians are supposed to be the more open-minded of the bunch.”
Valencia was extremely uncomfortable with Chanda playing with her hair and practically laying on top of her. She kept a lot of things in her head while keeping up with all the things she's been doing and all it took was a drunkard to pry them out of her skull. The Vietnamese woman was extremely tolerant, but she wasn't a doormat. There was only so much inappropriate touching she could take before grabbing Chanda by the throat with her vise-like grip.
“A lot of the time, yes. That's just how things are. I'm a freak. I'm not pretty. I expect too much. I'm too impulsive. I directly and indirectly KILLED my parents by being BORN. My aunt and uncle vanished off the face of the planet. Practically everything in my life is conspiring to KILL me. Why? Because the way I am ain't attractive and I'm a magnet for bad luck. No one wants a person like me 'cause I'm not a Mary Sue. But you know what? I don't HAVE to take it. I'm in charge of my own life. I don't have to behave certain ways just to appeal to the masses, either on the BROAD or on the PERSONAL LEVEL. I have the RIGHT to LIVE as I FUCKING PLEASE. It's people like YOU who made me want to vote YES on Prop 8.”
Valencia shoved Chanda off of her and walked briskly out of the gay bar, with Ruth and Gladys following after (and Ruth flying the bird at Chanda on the way out). The lesbians didn't have to look far to find Valencia standing beneath a street lamp as far away from the gay bar's entrance as possible. The two didn't know what to say after their friend's explosion, but Gladys decided to try the best she could with a soft tone...
[GLADYS]: “Valencia... I know you're free to vote as you like and all, but... What did you mean by that? The voting thing...”
The stunt woman sighed and knew she said something that must've hurt her friends really badly.
“I'm just tired of people telling me or implying how I should live my life. I'm human. I can be flawed... I can be irrational, right? I can tolerate all I want like a saint, but if I don't like it, I don't have to accept it... Right?”
Ruth pursed her lips together. As the closer friend of the two, she felt she had to speak what was on their minds.
[RUTH]: “Of course you're free to do as you want. Taking charge of your own life is great! And knowing you, you're more real than half the people you have to put up any day. But what's getting me is... Um... You'd rather spite the people you hate... Than think of... Us? The people who are close to you?”
Valencia finally got it and hurt really bad. It was just like that meeting with Seth all over again. Of course she cared a lot for her friends. Why else was she willing to go out to a gay bar where she clearly didn't belong? How was she supposed to answer...? She didn't dye her hair today, so save for the tips, she was a brunette and felt necessary to be as genuine as she claimed to be.
“That's... Probably the only thing I'm good at.”
((OOC: Not sure how this can be an open thread, as I can't think of any reason for regular folks to be in the Castro... Which is a heavily gay community.))
