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 Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:44 pm
Nobody had asked for Kiyoshi’s opinion, but if anyone had, he would’ve gladly told them how tech setup rehearsals were the dictionary definition of “necessary evil.” Yeah, of course you always needed to make sure that the lights worked, and the sound equipment worked, and that you had presets more or less arranged how people needed them for their various acts. Yes, the one where Kiyoshi had been all afternoon had fewer bells and whistles than most of the indoor productions he’d ever had to deal with. The promise of natural lighting helped with that.
The clouds looming over the proceedings today distinctly did not, though.
Nor did the air, thick and heavy with humidity that threatened to go somewhere interesting but kept refusing to make good on that. Truly, Kiyoshi knew what the worse option was. Getting thunder-stormed out of this rehearsal would’ve meant moving everything to a later date, and having even less time for all of its entailed “Okay, can you go hit the mark a downstage left” this, “Let’s get another test on the headset mic, doesn’t need to be too complicated” that, and “Alright, let’s test out the runway lights now, can you please give us a little walk……oh, okay, you didn’t need to do the sexy panther crawl, I guess, but—yeah, no, fair, somebody might do that.”
Besides, needing to do all of this again meant Kiyoshi might’ve gotten rained on while wearing something more sensitive than a simple, black pleated skirt, basic tights that more or less matched his skin-tone, and a well-loved black tee with glittery letters spelling out, Not everyone can be a *:･ﾟ✧ PRINCESS ✧ﾟ･:*. Someone has to clap when I walk by (which was only flying instead of more undecorated black today because there would be sparkle all over this stage, come Saturday and Sunday).
“Well, I think it was a good idea to work out how things look for the sexy panther crawl angle. Considering how many of the queens and kings will get down there to collect their tips,” Jude told the tech crew. Out of drag at the moment, Kiyoshi’s former drag mother still cut a stunning figure among a bunch of people dressed more for exactly what this was. Rich, brown skin, tight black locs tied in a ponytail, his jawline impeccable even without contouring. “Okay, Mags, why don’t you go relax and take a hydration break? Let’s get Miss Diamond out here and make sure the lights aren’t gonna make the pasty girls like her get all reflective.”
“Yeah, of course,” Kiyoshi said. “Nobody needs to catch fire all over Pride. Let’s keep it so the queens are the only ones flaming.”
With the request made, Kiyoshi eased himself first to his feet, then down the three little steps attached to the stage’s runway. The soft earth beneath the manicured city park grass yielded too easily to his high heels, but he handled it with grace, quickly maneuvering to the backstage area (and finding a discarded violet star charm on the way). Thankfully, one of the folks on the crew had thought to set up coolers with drinks; Kiyoshi had drained his oversized bottle of water from home hours ago, and easy access to bottled water helped a lot with surviving the weather. Once Diamond Espadrille was on her way out to the stage, Kiyoshi wanted to do exactly as told: relax quietly and drink his water.
Unfortunately, someone else had turned up backstage. A pale, dark-haired somebody in an outfit that both did and did not look like something Kiyoshi might have expected to find among a tech crew. On one hand, the black tank top worked well enough with the black uniform expected of folks running tech. Most techies would’ve preferred longer sleeves and turning it inside out so the words (Latin, maybe?) on the chest didn’t show, but, A., they were outside for this anyway, so staying hidden wasn’t a huge priority; and B., not in this ******** weather. On the other hand, though, the extremely mid-2000’s Hot Topic leggings, while something a theatre techie might’ve worn on their own time, didn’t look like something any of them would’ve worn to work. Even in light of them being outside, the rest of the crew had come out dressed more simply.
Studying the man in silence provided no answers, though, so there was only one thing for it.
“Hey? Excuse me,” Kiyoshi called out to the stranger, approaching him carefully in case this was not a Potential Situation in the makings. “Are you here with the crew?”
……Gods, Kiyoshi hoped this wasn’t some Absurd, Magical Realist, “Destiny City Being Shaped Like Itself”-Style ********. Not that he minded the magical weirdness in general because he loved it, actually. But if Almadel had some new sidekick who liked to scamper around, dressed up as a human, and wander into places he didn’t belong? Or if some spirits who hadn’t entirely moved on yet were making themselves known a skosh too early for Obon?
Well. To be fair, that did sound like a day ending in “Y” in Destiny City. But that didn’t mean Kiyoshi had to be excited about that s**t showing up while people were trying to work.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:46 pm
In truth, Eles didn't know what half this s**t was. Well, he did and didn't, for he recognized cables for what they were and speakers for what they were, but their intricate setup and all the computers hooked up to these components meant nothing to him. He'd only come over because the brewing commotion seemed interesting, promised a little excitement.
He stayed because he saw the chest cooler, and he knew precisely what went inside one of those on a hot day with no relief or end for the humidity. It was hot enough that the wavy wefts of hair that normally sprang up and about instead clung limply to his face, and Eles felt sticky in a manner that only a cold shower could cure now. But he tried to ignore it — listening to the banter that was half-cast over speakers and watching such a ragtag collection of obviously-not-straight people work together on a project was itself interesting.
At least, until someone noticed him there. Someone impossibly tall and dressed like a schoolgirl going to a funeral and expecting to turn the casket into a throne for herself. Quite the cute setup, but Eles wondered how much better it might look on the floor.
The call as he lounged atop a speaker was unmistakeable. It was a call for him to explain himself, and he doubted he had Malory's gift for bullshitting some whole story into existence that perfectly explained his actions and rendered them absolutely reasonable. His options were either a) run away like he was guilty and he knew it, or b) own up to his little trespass like he saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. Maybe get in a little flirting and (hopefully!) a bottle of water for the trouble.
Eles learned that these things went better if he mouthed the words while he signed. Crew? No. Heard the commotion and thought I'd see what was happening. Preparing for a show?
People liked to talk about themselves. People liked to talk about their projects, too. Surely people would love to talk to someone who couldn't interrupt them, right? Now wouldn't that be much more interesting than shooing him off and back to the park?
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:47 pm
Alright, this wasn’t going too badly. Whoever had decided to let himself wander backstage, he wasn’t reacting like somebody who wanted to start some kind of trouble. Even if he were that sort of interloper, the humidity seemed to have him as lethargic as most people in town, which made violence feel less likely (as long as everyone stayed reasonably hydrated). Getting close enough to get a better look at the boy’s hair and the way it clung to his face, Kiyoshi paused. Held up his index and middle fingers with a quickly hissed, “Two seconds.”
It only took about that long to grab the boy a bottle of water from one of the coolers. A bit longer for Kiyoshi to compose himself about something that, really, he had no business getting Weird about. He knew all too well that Faustite was not the only person who’d ever used ASL to communicate. If not for running into Albite the other night—hearing that even he hadn’t seen Faustite for a hot minute—this wouldn’t have even been on Kiyoshi’s mind. Because plenty of people used ASL to speak, and so the movements of this boy’s hands meant nothing more than the words he said.
“Yeah, we are,” Kiyoshi said, close enough to the speaker to, A., hand over the bottle of water, and B., speak without risk of getting loud enough to cause problems for the work going on back up front. His own bottle of water, Kiyoshi set aside, atop a different speaker. Better to free up his hands so he could sign along with his speaking and let the cute, mysterious boy know that he’d be understood whether he mouthed along or not. “There’s a pride month event going on out here, Saturday and Sunday. A lot of people will be performing. Some local bands, a lot of local drag artists, I think there’s supposed to be some showcase time for local designers and models?”
With an easy shrug, Kiyoshi gave the boy a smile. Better to encourage good behavior with kindness and a welcoming attitude, right? “I’m Kiyoshi,” he said, “but I’ll be in full glam as Magdalene Yotsuya Wilde on Saturday and Sunday. And you are……?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:47 pm
Look. At. That. Service with a smile. Eles couldn't help his own grin when it claimed part of his face.
He accepted the bottle with a grateful nod, cracked it open, swallowed down a few solid gulps. Then he pressed the chilled, sweating bottle to the side of his forehead while he watched Legs McGee — Kiyoshi — as he launched into an explanation that easily included sign language. He could read it, too, surely as he could use it, and Eles watched those hands work in half-wonder for where or how he even picked up ASL. And how he'd gotten lucky enough to happen upon so many people that knew it.
It was like this little corner of the world was made for him. A delightful prospect, to be certain.
Eles ran a hand through his damp hair, combing some of its wefts from his eyes, before answering in kind. E-L-E-S, he spelled clearly. His last name, whatever it had been on those clinic papers, was long forgotten.
Curious orange eyes followed Kiyoshi as Eles shifted to a more comfortable position. One leg rested on the other and the boy folded up easily. A pride festival sounded promising enough — there'd likely be plenty of people gathered. If Eles had any kind of presence socially, he stood a better chance of getting recognized in something like that. If nothing else, it promised people to look at. Things to listen to. Foods to eat, had he the money or the charm to get them.
Don't have any special names like you, though. Think I know someone who could give me one if I asked. Someone who went out of his way to name his dogs Dirk Ravengood the Awesome or whatever. It was roughly the same level of ostentatiousness, if not the same tone.
Thanks. He tilted the bottle toward Kiyoshi briefly. What's it cost to attend?
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:48 pm
“You could always give yourself special names if you want to,” Kiyoshi pointed out, somewhere between earnestness and playful teasing. Hard to tell what the exact situation was here, so better to leave his potential choices of response open, Kiyoshi thought. “I did with my drag name. And I’ve had plenty of friends choose their own names before, for one reason or another.”
Maybe he needed to be telling this guy—Eles, apparently—that he couldn’t be backstage, even during a tech setup. But on the other hand, Eles wasn’t hurting anybody, that Kiyoshi could tell. His position on top of the speakers might’ve put him in someone’s way eventually, but for the moment, he was out of the way. Plus, it was only natural for someone to want to get into some shade on a day like this. Maybe the shadows back here only ameliorated the heat so much and helped the humidity exactly not at all, but sending someone so pale back out where he might’ve stumbled into direct sunlight felt cruel.
Also, the grin that lit up his face was very cute. Boyfriend at home or not, Kiyoshi could still appreciate and be swayed by a pretty boy doing something cute.
“And Pride doesn’t cost anything, actually—or, well.” Pausing a moment to drink some of his own water, Kiyoshi mentally tried to tally up everything that might have wound up costing money, come Saturday and Sunday, because a lot of things at Pride definitely fit that description. “Admission is free, even for the performances. But unless you’ve got someone else covering the costs, you will want to bring some means of paying for stuff. For the days of, the park’s going to have stalls set up closer to the edges, near the sidewalks. One side’s going to be where the food and drinks are. They’ll have free water at the nurse’s stations, but if you want soda, tea, a smoothie, or whatever? That’s going to cost money. The other line of stalls is gonna be for local queer artists and small business owners. I don’t know if you’re the merch-buying sort, but the merch can get expensive if you are.
“For the performances, though?” Another sip of water, followed by another warm smile. “There is the standard etiquette of ‘Tip your local drag artists, punk bands, stand-up comedians, and whoever else’? But if anybody gets upset that someone can’t afford to tip, they’re gonna be the one in the wrong.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:49 pm
I guess I could, Eles agreed. It wouldn't be all that different from picking the name Eles. No, it probably had more in common with that little accident than otherwise. Perhaps something like that should wait until he knew himself a little better, though; he'd hate to give himself the wrong name.
Kiyoshi left absolutely nothing to implication, which was its own quirk and fascination. His attention followed the boy unfalteringly, thinking more on the tilt of his head or how he carried his shoulders more than the words he was dispensing at unmitigated length. Even listening to him going on and on and on left him with the slightest hint of familiarity, like catching a perfume on the air that he should've known. For that, and for the easy eye candy, Eles was content to let the boy talk himself in circles. The view was nice from there.
Tilting his head, Eles splashed some of the water onto his face. Brushed the chill of it up into his hair, where the wefts shrank to points and regained some of their curl and wave. All the while, he was thinking about the annoying ubiquitousness of money.
Sounded like trade was dead around these parts. Free samples? Oh, we can't have that.
In truth, he didn't know if he was the merch-buying sort, either. He wasn't entirely sure what 'merch' even entailed. Shirts? Bracelets? Stickers? None of those warmed his vacant heart, so perhaps he needn't be so salty that these merchants wanted to charge for their tchotchkes. Free admission was exactly what he wanted to hear, though. For everything else? Well, he hadn't run short of bleeding hearts yet, had he? It wasn't like he paid for the water in his hand.
Eles nodded his head in understanding. If he was putting on a performance, he'd want to get paid, too.
So you're here to set up? What's your show going to be like? If you've time to share, he added, his attention flickering away to the ant-like, plodding intentionality of the bodies in the distance. Curious how there were so many more and different shapes to them here than back in the park proper. He rather liked that.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:49 pm
“Yeah, that’s the long and short of it. Gotta make sure everything works properly on the day of.” Another pause for water. Garrulousness was thirsty work on a good day when the weather felt like being normal, especially when one was on various medications that had dry mouth as a side-effect. Unfortunately for Kiyoshi, the weather today had chosen violence. Far too easy to end up with the Mojave wastes in his mouth and his tongue sticking everywhere, and nobody wanted that. “Lighting isn’t as important for an outdoors Pride show as it is for anything inside, since we’ll have more natural lighting. Still, important enough that we can’t overlook it.”
Did Kiyoshi have time to share, though?
……Probably, he thought. Jude-Sybil had told him to take a break.
Glancing back over his shoulder, he did notice some of the proper tech crew members, though. Three of them gathered in a little cluster, basic black t-shirts and shorts all around—except for one, who’d come in leggings—and seemingly taking a water break together. Sooner or later, one or another of them might take issue with Eles being back here. They were more likely to do that than Kiyoshi, at least, and as he looked back to Eles, Kiyoshi remembered that the boy’s perch was a strong potential reason for any issue the techies might have taken. He didn’t know offhand if the speaker was a spare or if they’d need to come take it up front or what. But since none of them had started this way yet.…
“They’re doing the drag acts more like how we produce shows out at the bar,” Kiyoshi explained, bright and eager to talk about his artistic calling, one of his favorite subjects. “A few one-hour blocks are set aside for the drag shows throughout the day. Miss Sybil Disobedience—she’s out there helping direct the setup right now—did the work of getting different artists from the different bars in town. Wouldn’t do for her to only recruit talent out of one and ignore all the others, right? And we all get to do whatever we can fit into about five minutes.
“So, for a lot of us, that’s gonna mean lipsynch and dance numbers. There’s a lot of variety in those, though. Sure, you’ll get your go-to Pride numbers like somebody in a rainbow gown doing Miss Ross’s ‘I’m Coming Out,’ and your high-energy interpretations of ‘It’s Raining Men’ or ‘I Will Survive.’ Absolutely no shade to the performers doing those songs, either, because I’ve done every single one of those songs before. Maybe ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ or Kesha’s new single for a crowd-pleaser that isn’t nearly fifty years old? But we’ve got comedians, bitches doing amazing work with drag puppets, kings who make themselves look like monsters in their drag.…”
Or, such as one case was, dress up in dupes of the Hillworth Grammar uniform to do a “Stacy’s Dad” number dedicated to his drag sister’s father.
“And as for me?” Kiyoshi tried not to sound too pleased with himself as he said, “I’ll be singing my numbers live, with some help from a musician friend. None of them is groundbreaking to hear from a drag queen.” It wasn’t as though he was the only drag queen who knew how to find the right note for herself. A long lineage of theatre queen predecessors had come before Kiyoshi as surely as a similarly long line of inheritors would follow him. “In La Cage, ‘I Am What I Am’ is sung by a drag queen character. Every self-respecting musical theatre queen does ‘Wig In A Box’ sooner or later. ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ is obviously a longstanding cliché for little gay boys, and ‘Pink Pony Club’ is arguably getting there? Disney Frozen numbers are definitely overdone, but a lot of parents will have their kids out on Saturday afternoon, and the kids go apeshit for Elsa.”
When it came to crowd-pleasing numbers for the under-12 set, it was pretty much either Elsa or Encanto. But with the weather reports for the weekend looking how they did, Kiyoshi did not feel like doing Lin-Manuel Miranda levels of patter up on the stage. Oh, absolutely not.
“Still, overdone or not? I’ve always found that singing for yourself gives you more room to put in your own interpretation, so……” A small quirk of the shoulders and another smile as, in his own head, Kiyoshi reminded himself one more time that his numbers existed within a larger context, and that was something worth cherishing. “Maybe they’re not groundbreaking song choices? But I’d rather put my whole-a** heart into interpreting a song my way than pick something I may not actually vibe with as much just to be more different than some other b***h, y’know?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:50 pm
Eles had never been to a drag show (that he knew of). He had never participated in a drag show (that he knew of), either. Hearing about it from a boy who had every reason to be thoroughly invested in its success was both refreshing and rather infectious. It was as if Eles unknowingly tapped into Legs McGee's special interest and he really came alive, rather than some polite aloofness expended for the sake of pleasantries. While a little wordy about it, he would've made for a good advertiser, Eles thought.
And it was helpful to know that they solicited as many drag scenes as possible for a production that reflected the whole of it for the city. A good networking event, too, since they seemed like useful people to know. Certainly not lacking for passion. Or suffering, given the weather.
Idly he wondered if Malory ever dressed in drag. The boy so liked being pretty and he went to that dance class sometimes. It was acting, in a way.
As Eles listened with an absent little half-smile, he wondered about the meaning implicit in these songs. Certainly there were some tracks chosen just for fun, but what of the others? What was their history? And the historicity of what he knew about drag on a whole? All questions better suited for a library in ample air conditioning. Lacking that, he tabled the exercise for a later time and drained about half of his water bottle.
Kings who make themselves look like monsters stood out to him and his gaze sharpened, his attention fully reinvested in the conversation.
But it took a turn away from that and Eles felt rather relieved for it. Like a weight had been lifted off of him that wasn't there before. Sounded like Kiyoshi took his performances a step further, though Eles couldn't imagine how anyone would weave a microphone into a drag ensemble. Sounded like his collection of songs was pretty eclectic. He couldn't recall most of them with any specificity, but it'd be worth seeing for the eye candy alone. This one was quite the fiery boy, after all. Eles rather liked that.
Nodding to the rhetorical question, Eles spared a glance at the small gathering further downwind of them. Looked like one of the three was pointing in their direction, asking questions about Eles in a volume intentionally high enough to be within earshot.
With a wry smile, Eles stood and tucked the water bottle under his arm while he signed. Think you've convinced me well enough to stop by. Might bring a friend, too. See if he's interested.
Then, with a wistful sigh, Best I make myself scarce before they complain about me any longer. And thanks again for the water. With a single wave, Eles stepped off the staging area and wound his way back toward the park, beyond the barriers that so clearly demarcated a public work in progress.
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