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Carlos balances precariously on one of his dining room chairs, pinning the colorful flag to the wall.
He had neglected decorating for the month the past few years, so it’s long overdue for him to celebrate it with his husband.
Although he can’t fully be blamed for neglecting it. Each June there seems to be a new crisis that has to be solved, so no one in the town has been able to celebrate.
And he’s certain that, if circumstances allowed, almost every citizen of Night Vale would have.
“Good morning my Little Tortoise,” Cecil says behind him, startling him, his honey voice still etched with remnants of sleep. “What are you up to?”
“It’s Pride Month.” Carlos explains, sticking the last thumbtack into the drywall, before stepping off the chair, onto the ground. “I figured this year, since a disaster isn’t taking up all my time, I could decorate.”
Cecil squints at him, leaning on his cane as he looks Carlos over, seemingly confused.
“Pride Month?” His husband asks, tilting his head slightly.
“Yes, Pride Month.” Carlos responds hesitantly. “It’s June. It is June, right?”
“I think so?” Cecil replies, sounding quite unsure of himself. “But I haven’t heard of a ‘Pride Month’ before.”
“Huh.”
Carlos thought that if any place celebrated Pride, it would be Night Vale. There are so many other queer people here, after all.
But, maybe that’s why they don’t. It might just be so normal here that no one ever thought to celebrate it, since it isn’t seen as different.
Still, the fact that the town doesn’t celebrate the month does make him sad.
It was going to his first Pride Event, seeing the people, the community, there that had given him the courage to come out to his family.
“Well, what is Pride Month?” Cecil asks, sliding onto their couch, his beautiful eyes still fixated on Carlos.
“It’s a sort of… celebration that people partake in back where I’m from.” He tries to explain as he takes the chair back to the dining room table, finding the whole custom of Pride Month hard to put into words. “It’s once a year, and it lasts the whole of June.”
“And what is it celebrating?” His lovely, precious, curious, husband presses.
It’s not that Carlos doesn’t want to tell him, he does, but he knows
that if he doesn’t explain it carefully, it will lead to more questions. Questions like why they even need a special celebration for people like him.
Cecil was lucky enough to grow up in a place that accepted him without a second thought, where being queer is normal, where no one judged him for that.
And Carlos doesn’t want to ruin that for him. He doesn’t want the man he loves to even think that there are some people who would persecute him for something he can’t change about himself.
“It’s… It’s for people like us. People who are… Different. Queer people. To celebrate us… Existing.” Carlos attempts to clarify.
Cecil nods in thought for a few moments, and Carlos isn’t sure if he’s catching on, or if he has zero clue what he’s talking about.
“So,” Cecil finally starts. “What I’m getting is that it’s a big party for gay people.”
“Well it’s not just for gay people, it’s a celebration for trans people, aromantic people, anyone and everyone in the LGBTQIA plus umbrella.” Carlos explains, earning another nod of, he hopes, understanding from his husband.
“But you’re saying that there has been a whole month that I could be celebrating my wonderful husband and our relationship, and I never knew it?” His husband asks, leaning forward, his eyes holding an excitement in them.
“It’s not about me specifically, it’s about-” He starts to reply.
“This is a tragedy!” Cecil exclaims, cutting him off. “I can’t let this injustice stand! I must remedy this!”
Cecil grabs his cane from its spot leaning on the couch, and stands up, every movement conveying determination.
“Ceec, what are you going to do?” Carlos asks, scrambling off the couch after his husband, unable to keep his growing concern out of his voice.
“I’m going to tell the whole town about Pride Month!” The Radio Host declares. “And we will throw the best party June has ever seen!”
“Party might not have been the best word… Normally it’s more like a festival sort of thing, and there are often parades… You could call it a party, but I don’t think that’s the best imagery.” He tries explaining again, frustrated at being unable to fully illustrate the Pride events he’s gone to.
“Then we’ll be throwing a whole festival!” Cecil corrects himself. “Something everyone, especially the queer citizens of this town, can enjoy!”
“That’s fantastic Hun.” Carlos starts, his voice still carrying a bit of nervousness. “Just, try not to go too overboard with it, and lose the spirit of it. I know you can get really… excited about things like this.”
Cecil just smiles at him in response, his eyes practically glowing with excitement, his tattoos twisting in a frenzy.
“Don’t worry about it Bunny.” His husband replies, giving him a quick kiss. “It will turn out perfectly.”
***
“Residents of Night Vale,” Cecil starts, his voice carrying over the radio waves, into every home, car, and portable speaker in the town. “You will not believe what I have discovered.”
He leans forward, closer to the mic, before beginning to tell his story to his Dear Listeners.
“So, this morning I found Carlos hanging a rainbow flag in our front room. And so of course I asked ‘What are you doing Dear?’ and my genius scientist husband said ‘I’m decorating for Pride Month.’ so of course I asked ‘What’s Pride Month?’ and it turns out Pride Month is an incredible event that we have been missing out on for years !”
Cecil’s voice arches with passion, and he clears it, hoping his voice will return to it’s normal, dulcet, tones, before continuing.
“Eccestianly, Pride Month is a thirty day long party, festival, celebration of people in the LGBTQ plus community. For all of June we can honor the queer people in our town of Night Vale, make them feel special, and appreciated.”
The Voice takes a deep breath, before his tone grows serious.
“And for years, we’ve missed this opportunity. We haven’t shown enough love for these wonderful citizens. I haven’t shown enough love for my husband.”
Cecil pauses, before smiling.
“But this June, we will remedy this terrible misdeed! We will throw the greatest Pride Month celebration this, or any dessert, has ever seen!”
***
“Cecil, Sweetie, I’m not certain this is a great idea.” Carlos says, placing each step carefully.
“But I want it to be a surprise Honeypup.” Cecil responds, and he can hear the pout in his husband’s voice, even though he can’t see his face.
“I’m certain it would be a surprise even without the blindfold.” He replies, before sighing. “But alright.”
Carlos is certain that Cecil smiles at him as his husband quickens his pace, and he stumbles as he tries to keep up, gripping his Love’s hand tighter.
He isn’t certain how far they walk, or where they are when Cecil starts to slow down again. Although, he’s only recently been confident in his ability to navigate his way around town.
Night Vale is a maze, and for years he could have sworn that the streets shifted and changed.
His husband lets go of his hand, and for a brief moment he feels alone, before he feels a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you ready?” Cecil asks.
“I’m ready.” Carlos answers.
The cloth around his head drops away, and Carlos looks around, his breath taken away.
The street is full of colors, a variety of pride flags are hanging from the surrounding buildings, over half the town has shown up, every person he sees is smiling, talking to each other, and just seeming to be having a wonderful time.
Michelle Nguyen set up a booth, and is, surprisingly, supplying the music for the event, and Earl Harlan has a tent where he’s handing out food, and there are even some baristas handing out free drinks.
Cecil pops into his view, smiling widely, before he ties something around Carlos’ shoulders.
He glances behind him, smiling at the rainbow flag now covering his back, before looking at Cecil again, the reasoning for his blue and teal outfit now becoming clear.
“Happy Pride Month Kittycake.” Cecil says, beaming with joy.
“Happy Pride Little Piggy Pie.” Carlos responds, before pulling his husband close.
The Radio Host truly did go all out making the best Pride even he could. He should have never doubted his husband.
“Is this how Pride Month is supposed to be?” Cecil asks after pulling away from their kiss.
“Ceec, this is perfect. It’s exactly right.” He answers, smiling up at his husband. “I’ve never been to a Pride that’s made me happier.”
“I’m so glad.” Cecil responds, his face lit up with joy once more.
“Should we go explore this wonderful event now, then?” Carlos asks, holding his hand out to Cecil.
“I think we shall.” His husband responds, taking his offered hand.
They share one more smile before heading into the crowd, joining the other citizens for Night Vale’s first Pride.