"Thankful" 4
Tricks and Treats at Babylon.
For those of you who want to catch up with the previous episodes of "The Angel Stream":
http://www.fortruthis.net/gaelmcgear/angelstreampage.html
By Gaedhal
Pittsburgh, Halloween 2005
"Omigod!" cried Emmett as he and Ted walked into Babylon for the annual Halloween Tricks and Treats Party. "This is going to be so much FUN!"
"Yeah," sighed Ted, wincing at the ear-splitting level of the music. "Whoa, boy -- Fun, fun, fun."
"Come on, Teddy," Em urged. "Don't be such a big party pooper! I've been looking forward to this FOREVER!"
Ted had to admit that was true. Emmett had spent weeks planning his costume. He knew that he had to top past years when he had appeared as Aretha Franklin, Reba McEntire, Jackie O, Cho Cho San the Geisha, and his own personal favorite, Barbra Streisand. He thought about doing one of the Great Divas of the Past, but any queen in town could easily impersonate Judy or Bette or Madonna or even Mae West. Besides, Darren was planning on coming as Joan Crawford in 'Mommie Dearest' and Emmett didn't want anyone to think he was copying him by going 'classic.'
Since he was tall and knew he could carry off a giant wig, a gold sequined and feathered gown, and a huge pair of platform shoes, Em decided to go as the Eighties Retro Ru Paul. It was truly inspired!
Ted, who looked forward to Halloween about as much as he looked forward to a root canal, was wearing his leather gear. After an extremely short period of time as an old college friend's B&D/S&M suck pig, Ted had packed away his leather chaps, jacket, and cap, and now only took them out once a year for Tricks and Treats.
"I wish you'd picked another costume, Teddy," said Emmett. "This is the fourth year in a row you've worn those old leathers. Everyone's already seen them!"
"So what?" Ted shrugged. "No one is going to be looking at me anyway. Especially with you next to me, honey-bunny."
"That is SO sweet!" Em cooed. "I just LOVE you to pieces!" Emmett gave Ted a kiss and a big hug. "Look! There's Michael and Ben!"
Leaning against the bar were Captain Astro and Galaxy Lad, a.k.a., Ben and Michael Novotny-Bruckner. The couple had also worn those same costumes for a number of years, but Michael loved dressing up as the two superheroes so much that Ben didn't have the heart to suggest something else, even though his Captain Astro tights were more than a little ratty.
"Wow, Em!" Michael exclaimed. Between the platforms and the blonde bouffant wig, Emmett looked about seven feet tall. "That's some outfit! How high are those shoes?"
"Oh, five or six inches, give or take a bit," Emmett said as he proudly struck a pose.
"How do you walk in them?" asked Ben.
"Just like you get to Carnegie Hall, sweetie! Practice, practice, practice!" Em explained.
"I didn't know Diana Ross was supposed to be that tall," said Michael, noting what looked like Emmett's heavy use of spray-on tan.
"Diana Ross?" Em recoiled. "Michael, you're impossible! Don't you know Ru Paul when you see her?"
"Oh, sorry." Michael glanced at Ben, who shook his head. "I guess I'm not up on my drag queens. You look nice, too, Ted."
"Yeah, whatever," Ted replied. He'd already motioned to the bartender and was clutching a safe bottle of Perrier. Halloween was one of those holidays when Ted wished he could still have a drink. Booze made the forced merriment seem a little less coerced. And this year felt especially forced. The shadow of Stockwell's 'Family Friendly Pittsburgh' was hanging heavily over Babylon. No one could miss the heightened presence of the Anti-Sex cops or the extra squad cars patrolling Liberty Avenue.
"Where's Brian and Justin?" asked Em. "I want them to see my Ru Paul before the Costume Parade!"
"By this time in the old days Brian had already been to the backroom a couple of times," Michael pointed out. Brian didn't make a big deal about any holiday, treating each one the same way he treated most things -- with studied indifference. "But I haven't seen him yet tonight. Maybe they aren't coming."
"Oh, they're coming all right," Emmett asserted. "Justin told me that he was working on his costume, but he wouldn't tell me what it is. He wanted it to be a surprise!"
"I think you're in luck," said Ted. "Because here they are."
"SWEETIE!" Emmett yelped as the pair approached the bar.
"What do you think, Em?" Justin grinned and turned around so Emmett could see the full effect.
He was wearing a pair of white Calvin Klein briefs, running shoes, and two large, white, fluffy, and awkward wings that were strapped to his torso. The wings were heavier than Justin had anticipated and he had the constant sensation of being tipped over backwards, but all in all he thought the costume was a success. In fact, that's why he and Brian were late -- Brian thought it was such a success that he couldn't wait to get it off him, which meant Justin had to get cleaned up and dressed all over again after they finished fucking.
"You look so CUTE!" Emmett maintained. "It's the PERFECT choice!"
"Yeah, baggy underpants are such a fashion statement," Brian snarked. Then he ordered double Absoluts for the two of them.
"You didn't seem to mind earlier," Justin commented, raising his eyebrows.
"I was only interested in what was UNDER the underpants," Brian replied. "You should have seen Angel Boy trying to get into the Jeep with those wings! Fucking forget it!"
"I had to take them off and put them back on when we got here," Justin admitted. "And it's starting to get really cold outside. You don't realize how cold until you're standing on the sidewalk in nothing but your briefs! I had goosebumps on my goosebumps!"
"I can vouch for that," Brian added. And to the amazement of everyone, he leaned over and put his lips on Justin's bare shoulder, sucking at an imagined bump. "Very tasty!"
"So who are you supposed to be, Bri?" Ted sniffed.
Brian was dressed in a faded pair of 501's, a black sleeveless shirt with silver snaps, boots, and a black leather jacket.
"I'm Brian Kinney," he stated flatly.
"Come on, Brian!" said Michael. "You're supposed to be in costume! Like us!" He pointed to the Galaxy Lad 'G' on his chest and then at Ben's Captain Astro get-up. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"When you're Brian Kinney, you don't require a costume," Brian pronounced. "Halloween is all about boring people indulging in their fantasies and revealing who they really want to be besides their own dull selves. But it's obvious that I don't need to pretend to be anyone else. I'm exactly who and what I want to be."
"You're so full of shit, Brian!" Emmett scoffed.
"Spoken by a grown man dressed like a fucking Las Vegas nightmare!" said Brian, eyeing Emmett's platform shoes, feathers, and wig. "Better to be myself than full of delusions like some queers I know. What's the matter, Emmett? I thought you'd be decked out as the Happy Homemaker this year. Or Martha Stewart. And that Theodore would be dressed as Ward Cleaver. Or a pathetic dickless fag. No, wait -- that's what he is every day. So, how IS your little Vine-Covered Cottage? Trash-compactor working okay?"
"It's working just FINE, thank you!" Emmett huffed. "Jesus, Brian! It's Halloween! Can't you have a little fun like a normal person?"
Brian looked around at all the costumed revellers. "I seem to be the only 'normal' person here." He bolted down the rest of his Absolut, set his empty glass on the bar, and grabbed Justin's elbow. "Come on, Angel Boy. Let's dance."
On the dance floor Justin sighed as he leaned against Brian. "It's a Halloween party, Brian," he murmured. "What's the point in tweaking Emmett? He's only trying to forget all the shit he has to put up with the rest of the year. The shit all of us put up with."
"But that's the thing," Brian said. "We put up with it. And THEY give us shit because they can. And because they know we'll put up with it. Because we're only fags."
"You do what you can do," said Justin. "And the rest you just have to deal with. That's what you've taught me, isn't it?"
"Be quiet now," Brian said, closing his eyes and clinging to Justin. The crowded dance floor suddenly seemed to hold only two. "I need your magic, Angel Boy. Spread those wings around both of us."
Justin smiled in contentment. "I will."
For those of you who want to catch up with the previous episodes of "The Angel Stream":
http://www.fortruthis.net/gaelmcgear/angelstreampage.html
By Gaedhal
Pittsburgh, Halloween 2005
"Omigod!" cried Emmett as he and Ted walked into Babylon for the annual Halloween Tricks and Treats Party. "This is going to be so much FUN!"
"Yeah," sighed Ted, wincing at the ear-splitting level of the music. "Whoa, boy -- Fun, fun, fun."
"Come on, Teddy," Em urged. "Don't be such a big party pooper! I've been looking forward to this FOREVER!"
Ted had to admit that was true. Emmett had spent weeks planning his costume. He knew that he had to top past years when he had appeared as Aretha Franklin, Reba McEntire, Jackie O, Cho Cho San the Geisha, and his own personal favorite, Barbra Streisand. He thought about doing one of the Great Divas of the Past, but any queen in town could easily impersonate Judy or Bette or Madonna or even Mae West. Besides, Darren was planning on coming as Joan Crawford in 'Mommie Dearest' and Emmett didn't want anyone to think he was copying him by going 'classic.'
Since he was tall and knew he could carry off a giant wig, a gold sequined and feathered gown, and a huge pair of platform shoes, Em decided to go as the Eighties Retro Ru Paul. It was truly inspired!
Ted, who looked forward to Halloween about as much as he looked forward to a root canal, was wearing his leather gear. After an extremely short period of time as an old college friend's B&D/S&M suck pig, Ted had packed away his leather chaps, jacket, and cap, and now only took them out once a year for Tricks and Treats.
"I wish you'd picked another costume, Teddy," said Emmett. "This is the fourth year in a row you've worn those old leathers. Everyone's already seen them!"
"So what?" Ted shrugged. "No one is going to be looking at me anyway. Especially with you next to me, honey-bunny."
"That is SO sweet!" Em cooed. "I just LOVE you to pieces!" Emmett gave Ted a kiss and a big hug. "Look! There's Michael and Ben!"
Leaning against the bar were Captain Astro and Galaxy Lad, a.k.a., Ben and Michael Novotny-Bruckner. The couple had also worn those same costumes for a number of years, but Michael loved dressing up as the two superheroes so much that Ben didn't have the heart to suggest something else, even though his Captain Astro tights were more than a little ratty.
"Wow, Em!" Michael exclaimed. Between the platforms and the blonde bouffant wig, Emmett looked about seven feet tall. "That's some outfit! How high are those shoes?"
"Oh, five or six inches, give or take a bit," Emmett said as he proudly struck a pose.
"How do you walk in them?" asked Ben.
"Just like you get to Carnegie Hall, sweetie! Practice, practice, practice!" Em explained.
"I didn't know Diana Ross was supposed to be that tall," said Michael, noting what looked like Emmett's heavy use of spray-on tan.
"Diana Ross?" Em recoiled. "Michael, you're impossible! Don't you know Ru Paul when you see her?"
"Oh, sorry." Michael glanced at Ben, who shook his head. "I guess I'm not up on my drag queens. You look nice, too, Ted."
"Yeah, whatever," Ted replied. He'd already motioned to the bartender and was clutching a safe bottle of Perrier. Halloween was one of those holidays when Ted wished he could still have a drink. Booze made the forced merriment seem a little less coerced. And this year felt especially forced. The shadow of Stockwell's 'Family Friendly Pittsburgh' was hanging heavily over Babylon. No one could miss the heightened presence of the Anti-Sex cops or the extra squad cars patrolling Liberty Avenue.
"Where's Brian and Justin?" asked Em. "I want them to see my Ru Paul before the Costume Parade!"
"By this time in the old days Brian had already been to the backroom a couple of times," Michael pointed out. Brian didn't make a big deal about any holiday, treating each one the same way he treated most things -- with studied indifference. "But I haven't seen him yet tonight. Maybe they aren't coming."
"Oh, they're coming all right," Emmett asserted. "Justin told me that he was working on his costume, but he wouldn't tell me what it is. He wanted it to be a surprise!"
"I think you're in luck," said Ted. "Because here they are."
"SWEETIE!" Emmett yelped as the pair approached the bar.
"What do you think, Em?" Justin grinned and turned around so Emmett could see the full effect.
He was wearing a pair of white Calvin Klein briefs, running shoes, and two large, white, fluffy, and awkward wings that were strapped to his torso. The wings were heavier than Justin had anticipated and he had the constant sensation of being tipped over backwards, but all in all he thought the costume was a success. In fact, that's why he and Brian were late -- Brian thought it was such a success that he couldn't wait to get it off him, which meant Justin had to get cleaned up and dressed all over again after they finished fucking.
"You look so CUTE!" Emmett maintained. "It's the PERFECT choice!"
"Yeah, baggy underpants are such a fashion statement," Brian snarked. Then he ordered double Absoluts for the two of them.
"You didn't seem to mind earlier," Justin commented, raising his eyebrows.
"I was only interested in what was UNDER the underpants," Brian replied. "You should have seen Angel Boy trying to get into the Jeep with those wings! Fucking forget it!"
"I had to take them off and put them back on when we got here," Justin admitted. "And it's starting to get really cold outside. You don't realize how cold until you're standing on the sidewalk in nothing but your briefs! I had goosebumps on my goosebumps!"
"I can vouch for that," Brian added. And to the amazement of everyone, he leaned over and put his lips on Justin's bare shoulder, sucking at an imagined bump. "Very tasty!"
"So who are you supposed to be, Bri?" Ted sniffed.
Brian was dressed in a faded pair of 501's, a black sleeveless shirt with silver snaps, boots, and a black leather jacket.
"I'm Brian Kinney," he stated flatly.
"Come on, Brian!" said Michael. "You're supposed to be in costume! Like us!" He pointed to the Galaxy Lad 'G' on his chest and then at Ben's Captain Astro get-up. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"When you're Brian Kinney, you don't require a costume," Brian pronounced. "Halloween is all about boring people indulging in their fantasies and revealing who they really want to be besides their own dull selves. But it's obvious that I don't need to pretend to be anyone else. I'm exactly who and what I want to be."
"You're so full of shit, Brian!" Emmett scoffed.
"Spoken by a grown man dressed like a fucking Las Vegas nightmare!" said Brian, eyeing Emmett's platform shoes, feathers, and wig. "Better to be myself than full of delusions like some queers I know. What's the matter, Emmett? I thought you'd be decked out as the Happy Homemaker this year. Or Martha Stewart. And that Theodore would be dressed as Ward Cleaver. Or a pathetic dickless fag. No, wait -- that's what he is every day. So, how IS your little Vine-Covered Cottage? Trash-compactor working okay?"
"It's working just FINE, thank you!" Emmett huffed. "Jesus, Brian! It's Halloween! Can't you have a little fun like a normal person?"
Brian looked around at all the costumed revellers. "I seem to be the only 'normal' person here." He bolted down the rest of his Absolut, set his empty glass on the bar, and grabbed Justin's elbow. "Come on, Angel Boy. Let's dance."
On the dance floor Justin sighed as he leaned against Brian. "It's a Halloween party, Brian," he murmured. "What's the point in tweaking Emmett? He's only trying to forget all the shit he has to put up with the rest of the year. The shit all of us put up with."
"But that's the thing," Brian said. "We put up with it. And THEY give us shit because they can. And because they know we'll put up with it. Because we're only fags."
"You do what you can do," said Justin. "And the rest you just have to deal with. That's what you've taught me, isn't it?"
"Be quiet now," Brian said, closing his eyes and clinging to Justin. The crowded dance floor suddenly seemed to hold only two. "I need your magic, Angel Boy. Spread those wings around both of us."
Justin smiled in contentment. "I will."