Episode 34 - The Posters

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ROSLYN: You've reached the Love and Luck Podcast.

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JASON: Oh my god, babe, I just made like, ten new friends and I'm absolutely in love with every single one of them. This group of girls came in for a hens night, right, and the bride to be, she's sober right? So we were the perfect place because we're a dry bar, and yeah, anyway!! She's marrying her girlfriend next week out in the Dandenongs and, man, it sounds like it's going to be a beautiful wedding.

I think I get it now when you were saying how weddings are nice. That girl was like, walking on air tonight, she was so happy. She told me all about her soon to be wife, like, to the degree that if I meet that woman it's going to be super awkward because I know waaaay more about her than she will know about me.

Anyway, we had so much fun, I may have helped the party along a little with some stupid antics and ridiculousness and it went down very well. I really hope those girls come back, I loved them. If you ever leave me I'm going to run away and marry all of those girls, okay? Okay!!

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KANE: [Amused] Hey honey. Glad to see you were still in bed this morning and haven't run off to marry ten girls - although, if you do, you can just keep me on the side, I don't mind the idea of having ten wives-in-law. It would certainly make household chores easier, to share the load with so many people. [Chuckles]

It's been a quiet morning downstairs at the bar today. We've only had, like, three customers, so it's mostly been me and Helen playing cards together to pass the time. Victor will be arriving soon, at least, so I'll have some company then. While he's here I might pop out to buy a few groceries we're a bit low on. Hope you're sleeping well.

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KANE: [Shaken] Hey, it's me. I... I'm freaking out a little right now. Um, I went out to buy a few things and... there's these posters that have been put up around the neighbourhood. Like, really... awful posters. They've got some... really homophobic and violent stuff written on them. I don't... I don't really want to repeat what they say right now. Maybe I'll be able to tell you later.

I'm... I'm okay, I think? I'm kind of fighting off a panic attack, but I think I'm winning. Um, but... I think I'm also going to wake you up for hugs when I get home. I just wanted to call you now, because that, that helps ground me. But... yeah. I think I'll wake you up when I get home.

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JASON: Hey babe. I hope you're sleeping okay. I know those posters freaked you out a lot... I might actually go upstairs and check on you in a bit, if it gets quiet enough down here.

I've been strengthening the wards whenever I have a few minutes to spare, and I think I might try and add some knots to the twine on the door. I know the wards don't stop anything happening outside, but at least we'll be protected in here. It's a start. If the bigots come our way, they won't be able to hurt us or any of our people. We've all got each other's backs. It'll be okay. I love you.

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KANE: Hey. Thank you for taking care of me yesterday. And last night. And again this morning. [Sighs]

I'm really sorry I've been so jumpy since seeing those posters. As much as I love cuddling you, I have to say I really don't like the part where I wake up in a panic. I also don't like waking you up, even though I know it's okay to do. [Sighs]

Well. At least things are good downstairs today. Even if my anxiety hasn't quite gotten the memo yet. But even through the anxiety, the bar feels comfortable and safe.

I love you. See you when you get up.

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KANE: Hey, so... those posters are definitely still around, and I am not the only one who has seen them. A few folks who have come in this morning saw them, and are a bit shaken up.

A couple of your boys are going out to go rip down any they can find, so hopefully that helps ease things around the neighbourhood a bit.

People do seem to calm down quickly once they're settled in here, though. They definitely feel safe here. I feel like our wards are stronger than ever... you've gotten pretty damn good at this, huh? I'm gonna have to step up my game to keep up with you. I'm really glad you've been doing it though. Strengthening things, I mean. Both the general ones and the knotted doorway ones. Thank you.

I feel... I don't know. I have a bad feeling about all of this. Like this is the start of something bad. Maybe that's just the anxiety talking, I don't know.

[Hangup]

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JASON: Hey babe. Tensions started rising again a bit as the night's worn on tonight. We've had a few late comers who saw some of the posters - my nelly boys are out to find them and rip them down. I really hope they're ones they missed the first time and we don't have bigots putting them up as fast as we can take them down, that's a bit of a scary thought.

Anyway, I've sort of turned tonight into an impromptu open mic night, to try and get people to express themselves a bit and focus on each other instead of their fear, and it seems to be helping a little. There's some fearful on-the-spot poetry, but there's also been some dirty limericks and at least one workshopped burlesque piece, so I think it'll be okay. People are laughing a bit more again.

I'm trying to magically project some calm around but it's hard without making myself tired, so I'm mainly focusing on distracting people rather than soothing them, you know?

Anyway. I love you. See you tomorrow.

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ROSLYN: Love and Luck is written by Erin Kyan, and produced by Passer Vulpes Productions. Kane is voiced by Lee Davis-Thalbourne. Jason is voiced by Erin Kyan. Credits spoken by Roslyn Quin. Recorded by Kermie Breydon.

For more information about Love and Luck, check out our website, loveandluckpodcast.com. You can also find us on facebook as Love and Luck Podcast, and follow us on twitter, at @LoveLuckPodcast.