For Prior

[scottysous]

Scotty's hands haven't shaken this badly while he was making a cake since the very first time he was allowed to make a cake all by himself. And he wound up spilling the bowl of batter and getting eggs all over himself. So far today there haven't been any major disasters except for flour on the counter, but that doesn't really make him feel any

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[priorlives]

Prior was 32 years old today, and he felt 50. It had been a bit of a rough month for him, ever since what had happened on Valentine's Day, compounded by not feeling great, health-wise. Though on the bright side at least the damn cat had returned last week.

Maureen had gifted him this morning with a tube of Lancome lipstick of the aptly named color 'Red Haute.' He had no idea where she'd gotten it, but it was a great present, and now that she'd left to go work at the club, he'd taken some time to himself to try to make himself feel better.

"Because you know you've really hit rock bottom when even drag is a drag," he murmured, looking at his reflection in a hand mirror and carefully putting on one false eyelash. He could see one angry black lesion peeking out from the top of his robe, which he worse over top of a pair of jeans and no shirt.

He uncapped the lipstick and smoothed it over his lips, just pulling out a tissue to blot when he heard the knock on the door.

When he opened it and saw Scotty, he blinked in surprise (with one false eyelash) and said with red, red lips, "Scotty. Ah... hello. What a pleasant surprise..."

[scottysous]

He can't help a smile when he sees Prior like that, half an eyelash and bright red lips, and he appreciates the humor. He really needed it, actually, because he's still a bundle of nerves, and it makes his smile look more genuine instead of just a nervous twitch.

"Happy birthday," he starts, feeling lame, so he holds up the covered cake. "I made you a cake."

[priorlives]

The bright red lips in question formed a small, surprised 'o.'

"How did you..." he began, but then answered his own question with a small shake of his head. "Maureen, right?"

Then he scrambled a little to open the door wider. "Oh, come in! This is really... really thoughtful." He smiled. "And I love cake."

[scottysous]

"Maureen," he confirms, still feeling ridiculously nervous and awkward as he steps inside, He bites his lip, still holding his cake, his heart fluttering in his chest; he looks at Prior with his false eyelashes and red lipstick and he feels that familiar burn of infatuation.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

"Um, if this is too awkward -- if you'd rather me go -- " he starts, though he's already stepped into Prior's hut. "I'd understand. I don't want to make your birthday weird."

[priorlives]

Oh god, Prior thought morosely, why did he have to be so fucking adorable?

"Of course I don't want you to go," he said gently, and closed the door behind Scotty. "I'm glad you're here, really." And he was. It must mean that Scotty wanted to try to be friends, which was great.

Prior had kept his feeling for Scotty in check before Valentine's Day, no reason he couldn't do it now. If Scotty was willing to forget what had happened, he could too.

"Put it down on the table and let's cut this sucker," he said with a grin. Though then he self consciously cinched the robe at his waist, hiding his bare chest again. "I should uh, put on a shirt," he said awkwardly.

[scottysous]

Scotty had been doing his best not to notice Prior's chest, but now that he brought it up, he can't just ignore it. His smile definitely turns five shades of awkward as he turns away quickly and sets the cake down, hunting around for a knife. He keeps himself busy so he doesn't have to look up at Prior, not until he's decided whether or not he's going to put on a shirt. Then Scotty can adjust accordingly.

"Whatever you want to do," he says, and he means it; he won't mind either way because he's going to be sweaty and nervous whether or not Prior is clothed all the way. "You might want to decide if you're going to commit to those eyelashes or not, though," he adds, recovering a little of his composure.

[priorlives]

Prior blinked in confusion... and actually felt the single false eyelash brush his cheek.

And then a peel of delighted laughter escaped him. "Oh just look at this forgetful old queen," he said lightly, and walked over to Scotty, batting his assymmetrical eyelashes. "What do you think, on or off?"

[scottysous]

He actually giggles like some schoolgirl when Prior steps closer, but thankfully it's because the sight is actually amusing and not just because he is a little shaky schoolgirl around her crush.

"Hmm," he says, debating whether or nor Prior should stick with the lashes. Instead, he starts thinking about how he's never actually kissed someone wearing lipstick before. Most of his friends who dressed as queens were just friends, and he'd never been romantically interested in one before. Should Prior keep his lashes on so Scotty can get used to it?

These aren't the right thoughts to have, probably.

"On." Dammit. "It's a party, right? Might as well get dolled up for the occasion."

[priorlives]

Prior looked pleased by that answer. "In that case," he said, "you cut the cake and I'll be right back."

He swept back to his room where he'd been doing his makeup earlier, telling himself that he was just being playful for the sake of being playful. Besides, it was his birthday, and the only reason he hadn't really been getting dressed up earlier was that he didn't have anyone to get dressed up for.

But now... well, about ten minutes later Prior glided out of his room doing his very best Debbie Harry, wearing the outfit he'd put together for a performance for Roger's birthday last year. He wasn't wearing heavy makeup though, just the other eyelash (so now they matched) and the red lipstick. And he wasn't wearing a wig, either.

So in a way, he just looked like himself, albeit dressed in skintight pants and a sweater that actually hung in an appealing way on his body despite his thin frame.

He grinned. "You should really know better than to encourage me."

[scottysous]

Oh, wow. Scotty's glad Prior hadn't gone for a dress because, while he finds Prior attractive and sexy, the dress will take some getting used to. Would take? He should stop thinking so positively about this because Prior might tell Scotty just to get out -- if Scotty even gets the nerve to say anything at all. But then, with Prior looking the way he does though... Scotty doubts he'll be able to keep cool for very long. He'll have to say something eventually.

Maybe Prior should have worn the dress.

"You look," he starts, and falters, and he has to look back down at where he's putting slices of the cake onto two plates. "You look really good. Now I feel underdressed."

[priorlives]

"Oh, bah," said Prior, and sank into a chair, slinging his legs crossed, the black rubber of his boots brushing the tablecloth. "Trust me, I'm just overdressed. Though you're welcome to try the lipstick if you like. It was a birthday gift from Maureen." He smiled, white teeth framed by red lips. "It's called Red Haute."

There was another reason that Prior had chosen to go for more rather than take off what he'd already done. Being in drag made him feel more confident - much, much more confident, especially since he'd gotten sick. With the red lipstick on, he could almost believe that he was the same guy that Scotty had said was beautiful, over and over.

Even if it hadn't been real.

[scottysous]

Prior is bubbling over, and Scotty's heart is skipping beats. He sets Prior's plate down in front of him and then eases into his own seat, still jittery and nervous. How is he going to do this? Should it happen naturally, should he wait for the right moment (whatever that is), or should he blurt out the fact that he likes Prior, really likes, not just island-likes?

"Maybe later," he says, actually fairly serious. "I'm sure it'll look better on you, though." After a bite of cake, he hesitantly adds, "I mean it. You look... fabulous." Gorgeous. Beautiful. Amazing. He isn't sure if he should elaborate.

[priorlives]

If it had been anyone but Scotty - well, and probably also only if it had been ten years ago, when Prior was younger and hotter and loads more confident - Prior would have insisted he try the shade right then, transferred to his mouth with a kiss.

But obviously, he didn't.

He did smile at the praise though, appreciating how hard Scotty was trying to act like everything was okay. "Thanks," he said. "This is my Debbie Harry." He didn't mention Roger's party, since Roger wasn't something he really wanted to discuss with Scotty.

Then he took a bite of cake. He chewed, swallowed, and leaned back in his chair. Groaned. In an almost sexual way to be honest. "That's good."

[scottysous]

That groan. It sends a shiver through Scotty and he actually has to stop eating, setting his fork down and resting his arms on the table instead. Prior looks so good. He can remember the way Prior felt, remember his kisses, remember the other things they did that day, not just the sex. The cutsey things, laughing, enjoying each other's company. His mouth is going dry. He should've brought something to drink.

He can't take this anymore. Most of his decision to finally speak up comes from the fact that he can't think of any good conversation filler that would make it seem like he's not sitting here going crazy because he wants to hold Prior's hand, to kiss him, to wrap him in a hug. And if you can't think of anything polite to say, go for the truth. An appropriate bit of queen wisdom.

"Prior, I..." He stops, staring down at his cake, and he takes a deep breath before he tries again. "Prior, I have to say something, and I want you to know that this island's voodoo has nothing to do with it. This is all me, I swear, and if you want me to come back tomorrow and the next day and the one after that to say it again before you'll believe me, then I'll understand."

[priorlives]

Prior had another piece of cake on his fork halfway to his mouth when Scotty started talking, and it hung there in the air until he finished, at which point Prior set it carefully back on his plate.

Suddenly his mouth felt a little dry too. Because it seemed like there was a direction that this was heading... and he really didn't want to assume.

"Okay," he said quietly. "What is it?"

[scottysous]

He takes another deep breath and squeezes his eyes shut, then lets it out in a rush and looks up at Prior. There really is no going back now, even if maybe he'd like to just run out and pretend this didn't happen; that wouldn't solve anything, and he'd still have butterflies every time he thought about Prior.

"I... I have feelings for you. Real feelings," he emphasizes, dropping his hands into his lap, "feelings that have been hanging around since before Valentine's Day, and they've only been getting stronger since." Closing his eyes, he tries to think of something to say to make Prior believe him, to make him sound sincere, to make up for what had happened the last time he confessed feelings.

"I have it all. Butterflies, sweaty hands, skipped heartbeats, trouble breathing." Holding out his hand, he gives Prior a sheepish smile. "Go on, feel, they're a little sweaty, though by now that's probably because I'm so nervous I want to scream."