fandomhigh | Library [09/17]

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Library [09/17]

Sam had stopped for coffee and breakfast this morning, so he was totally alert by the time he got to the library. Whether this would translate to him doing active work, or if he'd just read more, was anyone's guess.

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"Oh, it's not easy. I got really lucky," Sam said. Really, really lucky considering he got Peter, of all people. "Peter and I spent like, a year dancing around how we felt, but it could have been a lot worse, like if he didn't feel the same way about me, or if my family wasn't okay with it. I'm sure you know how it goes." Because everyone lived in his brain, apparently.

". . . not really," Gabrielle answered slowly, from a perspective down near the opposite end of the spectrum where none of these concepts had ever seemed like a big deal ~~because RenPics tried to be all coy for six years~~. "Although I can understand not wanting to be forthcoming about your feelings right away." Hard not to understand when you shared campfires with Tall, Dark, and Broody, who never coughed up the details about her angst.

"I guess not wanting to be forthcoming is pretty universal, no matter who you like," Sam said. "It sounds like you come from a place as open-minded as here."

"Not really. I mean, not always," Gabrielle mused, thinking of Ephiny. "Athens is more tolerant than most of the small villages we pass through, and the Amazons are still working through their prejudice against the Centaurs. But some places . . . it's all right. Sometimes you just need to give someone a little bit of encouragement. I know I might still be home in Poteidaia, wishing I could do more, if I hadn't met Xena."

She smiled. "It's why I try to do that for some of the people I meet."

"Well, you might have your work cut out for you here," Sam said. "I don't think we can have enough encouraging people here."

"Even in Fandom?" Gabrielle looked surprised for a moment, then stared off into the stacks, considering. "It's hard to let go of things you've been taught your whole life, though, I know that. And if noobody knew that book was here . . ."

"And as nice as it is here, people still go home and see their families, and that's not always pleasant," Sam said, getting thoughtful as well. "Encouragement could go a long way."

"Especially if they feel safer here," Gabrielle added. "It's easier to talk about things like that when you're not worried about being in danger if the wrong person overhears. I'd love to get a chance to help people out that way, if we can find them."

"Maybe we could have them come to us," Sam said. "Like, offer support openly to people who are going through this kind of stuff."

"Like the reserves, only in reverse?" Gabrielle suggested. "Except not entirely in reverse. Having other people around who they know will be accepting of who they are is just as important."

It wasn't all that different from an Amazon tribe, in a way. "It can be like a . . . a safe refuge for them."

"That sounds like an alliance," Sam said. "I mean, that's one term for it, at other schools. I think that'd be an awesome idea."

Gabrielle's face lit up like it did when inspiration hit. "You think we could start one here? Wait . . . alliance between who?"

"Between people who like people of the same sex and people who like people of the opposite sex and everything in between," Sam said. "So people know they're supported even if it's by someone who isn't going through the exact same experience."

"Oh. I'm used to thinking of that in terms of armies," Gabrielle admitted, "but that makes sense too."

A little more seriously, she added, "It is important for people to know they're accepted. I do believe that. I think we should definitely do this."

"I think we should too," Sam agreed. "If even one person feels better, it'll be totally worth it."

"It's always worth it to help even one person." It wasn't hard to tell Gabrielle was passionate about that concept, the way her face lit up. "What do we need to do, besides make sure there's food?"

Thanks for that influence, Francine.

Sam grinned at what she'd managed to pick up about groups here. "Well, we have to figure out a time and a place to meet, and how we want to publicize to get people to come."

Well, between Zack and Francine it was a perfectly logical conclusion to reach!

"There's always posters --" because she'd learned about those too, at least -- "but I think word of mouth would add a nice personal touch to this."

"That's true. It's one thing to see posters about a support group, but it would be another thing to actually hear about it from us," Sam agreed.

"I could bring it up at the support reserve," Gabrielle suggested. "Since I'm not sure I could tell just by looking at people that it might be something they could use."

"Yeah, and people might get uncomfortable about that," Sam said. "I can talk to some people I know who might be interested, but I don't know if that would be the same problem."

Gabrielle tapped a finger against her lips. "No. So posters will probably be necessary."

"I can definitely make posters," Sam said. "I'm not a great artist, but I think I have a pretty good sense of what looks good."

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Library [09/17]

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