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 Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 7:58 pm
Leandro was finally getting a free night to himself and he was going to use it to have fun, damnit. He'd been burning both ends of the stick for over six months now, teaching his classes and taking care of the kids of the family while the other adults took care of the older ones with their failing health. Leandro's only saving grace here was that his Meemaw wasn't among the sickly elderly of the family. He loved her too much to be dealing with that on top of all the stuff he was handing right now. So, here he was, down the queer district in downtown, scoping out the bars for one to pick to settle at and just vibe with his fellow queers. He had donned his favorite "bisharksual" shirt, featuring a shark in the bi flag colors, and swept his hair into a messy ponytail. He didn't care too much about how he looked, tonight. It wasn't like he was looking for a hookup anyway. If one happened... well. Then he'd deal. Spotting a place called Scandal's, he slipped in and headed over to sit at a nice table about the middle of the show floor to watch the drag artists, putting in an order for soft pretzel bites with cheese and a Shark Bowl drink. Some kind of blue tropical fruit with rum thingy that came with gummy sharks "swimming" inside. Awesome. The next one came onstage, and Leandro was just... immediately enraptured. She was gorgeous, took his breath away, and that was just her first-second-impression. Man, tonight was gonna be fun.
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:34 pm
June tenth, in Reiki’s less-than-humble opinion, should have been a national holiday.
Honestly, it was criminal that he could only express that opinion around other queer men his parents’ age and older without people acting like he was completely insane. So many guys his own age looked at him sideways for saying so—because so many guys his own age were uncultured swine who didn’t know or appreciate anything about queer history—and more so when they found out why he thought so (again, because they were uncultured swine who didn’t appreciate anything about their own history).
True, a lot of straight people also looked at him sideways whenever he suggested that Judy Garland’s birthday deserved to be a national holiday, but that was whatever. Reiki expected stupidity such as that when talking about Queer Things in the vicinity of Straight People. Either way, the salient point was that if Sybil and Cherry thought to keep Reiki from performing on this particular Friday night in the name of “his self-care” or “his own best interests” or “him taking a break” or whatever other stupid reason, then they would’ve bloody well needed to think again.
Fortunately, nobody contested that Reiki belonged onstage tonight, in his sinfully short blue gingham dress and brown wig with the puffy pigtails. Slightly inaccurate to the exact Dorothy fantasy, definitely bigger than Judy’s pigtails in the movie, sure……but so were the rhinestones he’d used to give the dress some sparkle, and the thigh-highs he’d paired with his red rhinestoned high-heel Mary Janes because they were sexier than knee-socks, and the layers of fluffy petticoats.… Also, the little Toto in his basket was a plush toy, but getting a real one would’ve violated several health codes, so needs must.
Starting with his back to the audience, Reiki glanced toward some lucky patron at their table. Leggy-looking fellow, messy blue-and-turquoise ponytail—oh! Leandro! God, it seemed like weeks if not months since he’d been around the community center on Dorian Street—all the more reason for Reiki to make this performance a proper serve.
Doing his best to get eye-contact with Leandro as the opening beats of his mix played, Reiki mouthed along with Britney Spears, “This is a story about a girl named Lucky”—but as he pivoted to face the crowd, the mid-tempo swing song that picked up went instead, “Dear, when you smiled at me, I heard a melody. It haunted me from the staaaart…”
In time with the music, Reiki popped out his left hip. “Something inside of me—” He swished back to the right, sweeping his arm above his head. “Started a symphony—” Clutching at his chest and the mix of rolled up tights and (plastic) chicken cutlets stuffed down his bra, Reiki smiled as if laughing at some hilarious read. “Zing! Went the strings of my heart!
“’Twas like a breath of spring—” He snapped his arm down to his side, elbow bent so his forearm stuck out. “I heard a robin sing, about a nest set apaaaart—” Without properly skipping just yet, he pranced down the stage and toward the audience. (He’d planned to go downstage in the opposite direction, but Leandro sitting in the crowd made Reiki want to go his way instead.)
“All nature seemed to be—” Smiling, he snatched up a dollar from another member of the audience. “In perfect harmony—” And promptly shoved said dollar down his bra. “Zing! Went the strings of my heart!”
In a simpler number, Reiki might have simply carried on with the song. But here, the sound of an old wind machine and a quick-tempo string arrangement cut in…soon followed by the sound of a crash…then, an easier, more innocent instrumental and birds chirping pleasantly.…
“Toto,” Reiki mouthed along with the dialogue he knew so well, from the movie that, according to his parents, grandparents, godfather, and aunts, had been a favorite since before he could even use words, “I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.…”
Why that got the crowd to cheer and start waving singles at him, Reiki couldn’t say. Honestly, they hadn’t seen anything yet. Still, tips were tips, and a spirited round of “We’re Off To See The Wizard” was a perfect excuse to skip around between tables and toss the dollars in his basket.
* * * * * * * *
The Judy tribute number went off perfectly, even the transitions that Reiki had worried about while working on the mix with Tiffany. Most of the music was, of course, from the Iconic Legend herself, Saint Judy of Grand Rapids. But Reiki also had a mind to work in “Shallow” from Lady Gaga’s take on A Star Is Born, Marina’s “Primadonna,” The Cardigans’ “Lovefool,” and of course, “Lucky” by the Legendary Miss Britney Spears (whose lyrics meant so much more in the context of Britney’s life, but certainly worked for Judy, too: And they say, she’s so lucky, she’s a star, but she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart…).
Along the way, Reiki and Tiffany had mixed in snatches of dialogue. Some from Judy’s films (A Star Is Born to introduce the Lady Gaga, Summer Stock to introduce “Lovefool”), some from her legendary Carnegie Hall concert and still more from her old live show on CBS, a clip from an old interview where she defended her queer fans right there on TV, some from the Renée Zellweger biopic of Judy, and—a bit begrudgingly on Reiki’s part—Jinkx Monsoon’s recent Snatch Game version of Judy Garland (because, he could admit, it was a loving satire, and predictably, a bar full of drunk queers went absolutely bonkers for the anecdote about Frank Sinatra being especially endowed).
At the end, the number came together in the big culmination—the “wow” finish—set to Judy’s Carnegie Hall performance of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” All mournful, and heartbroken, and nuanced by Judy’s lifetime of struggle, abuse, exploitation, and shattered dreams—yet nevertheless, hopeful and resilient. Judging by so many faces in the audience, it was their first time hearing this version of the song, and god, Reiki loved getting the honor of introducing them to it. The pile of bills building up around his pumps was just gravy.
For once, he was also grateful to have worked out a compromise about how much he performed that included the stipulation “no other numbers on a night when you want to do one of your intricate mega-mixes.” Mostly, because it meant that Reiki could go visit with someone he hadn’t seen in what felt like far too long. Backstage, he took a few moments to rehydrate, then borrowed some office space to power up—only briefly, though, and only because it was the quickest way to take his makeup off. He couldn’t guarantee that Leandro would recognize him underneath all the paint, so getting it off seemed like the best plan.
As Reiki made his way over and invited himself to sit at Leandro’s table, the slutty Dorothy dress, however, very much stayed on. “Hey there, stranger,” he said playfully. “What’s a nice bar like you doing in a boy like this?”
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:27 pm
Leandro only knew what he did about Judy Garland because of his friend Reiki from the queer rec center, and he suspected that the performance didn't have as much of an impact on him as he wished it did, simply because he didn't know enough (and absorbing information was stupid-hard for his little walnut sized brain), but it was still gorgeous. And then, of course, speaking of the devil—"Reiki!" he cried out joyfully, reaching out to give Reiki a little shoulder slap because he wasn't sure if he should hug Reiki while he was still kinda dolled up and stuff. "You were amazing!" he continued, popping a pretzel bite in his mouth after dipping it in cheese. "That was like, super special and oh so cool. I loved it, man." Then something Reiki said clicked in his brain and he blinked. "Wait, didn't you... say the thingy wrong?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 9:55 pm
“Thank you, thank you.…” Reiki blushed—not very much, but distinctly visible thanks to the lights around the performance area. True, he knew how effusive Leandro could get whenever he enjoyed and/or appreciated things; that was nothing new and Reiki probably should’ve gotten inoculated to it by now. But still, though—“It means a lot that you enjoyed it.… You and everybody else in here tonight. I mean, it’s Judy’s birthday, and I really wanted this tribute to her to be special, y’know?”
Watching the realization hit Leandro made Reiki giggle and nod, but the amusement was a bit short-lived. Without missing a beat, Reiki’s expression shifted to a more open, vulnerable one. “But what about you,” he said. “Have you been okay? I know you said things were rough with your family, but……how have you been holding up?”
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 11:12 pm
Leandro sighed at the question, taking a long pull off his Shark Bowl. He felt a bit dizzy after sucking down such a huge gulp, but he attributed it to the brain freeze he was feeling and shoved another cheese-dipped pretzel into his mouth. "Meemaw's fine, but abuela is... She and abuelo are both, really, really sick. And I've been needing to take care of the kiddos, because I'm the one with the most free time, because my job at the gym isn't, like, full time?" He rubbed his face and sighed deeply, slurping at his drink again and blinking. "Mmm....and I just.... har'ly have any time t'myself these days..." He trailed off in a whine, slumping over the table.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2022 9:30 am
Reiki listened sympathetically—which was only fair, considering……he’d gone and asked something that he knew might have been touchy for Leandro. What else could he expect, besides Leandro being understandably upset? Especially considering how much Leandro’s family meant to him? All of Ojiisan’s myriad rounds of cancer treatments had done a similar number on Reiki, and he hadn’t even been quite as heavily tasked with taking care of other family members as Leandro had been.
Scooting his chair a bit closer to where Leandro had landed on the table, Reiki held out a hand. “Is it okay if I rub your back? I just…? You seem like you could use some comfort, but I don’t want to overwhelm you or anything?” If Leandro was up to the contact, Reiki would gently rub circles around his back, and if not, then he’d back off, no questions asked. What was the point of offering someone comfort if you only did it on your own terms?
“Either way, I’m so sorry, Seahawk,” Reiki went on, gently. “Your family’s lucky to have someone as caring and dedicated as you to help out. But all of that……it still just sucks to deal with.”
Judging by how hard Leandro had gone at his drink, that was probably the understatement of the century.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2022 9:32 pm
Leandro made a whining sound into the table, but gave Reiki a thumbs up without lifting his head so he could keep his face hidden a moment or two longer. Reiki's hand making circles on his back did wonders for helping him to relax, and eventually, he did sit back up again, ears tinged red from hearing his silly little nickname from Reiki's mouth. It always embarrassed him, a little, to hear nicknames from people whose company he enjoyed, but in a good way, that made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. ... He was pretty sure the alcohol was assisting heavily with that right now. "It really does," he finally answered with a tired sigh and a strained smile, "I love the kids, but man, sometimes a guy in his early twenties still wants to go get utterly smashed and ravished beyond all reason." His lips twitched upwards more, closer to a true smile now, as he gulped at his big drink again. The fact that it really tasted just like the tropical mix and very little of alcohol made this a dangerous drink... It did make him wonder for a moment if they'd given him a virgin one, but no, he was definitely feeling the effects. "I'm so glad this drink has silly little gummy sharks in it," he commented as he slurped hard at it again, trying to empty the cup so he could get to said gummies, "Please give me more 'childish' options in my adult life, thank you."
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 12:09 am
Seeing Leandro so down was always a perfectly miserable experience. Very few people actually made the list of Those On Whom Reiki Would Wish Such Misery, and most of them were people he hadn’t met before and probably never would (Vladimir Putin, for example, and President Pooh Bear over in Beijing, and Chris ******** Pratt, for having the nerve, the gall, the gumption, the audacity, and the utter ******** temerity to be so perfectly adorable on Parks and Rec, to make Reiki like him, and then turn out to attend some queerphobic mega-church out in California). Still, there was something uniquely sad about seeing Leandro, normally so effervescent, so tired and worn down as this.
“Y’know, as your friend,” Reiki pointed out, “I think I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it sounds like you could use some extra sleep tonight……and that alcohol, despite the enduring myths about its efficacy as a sleep aid? Really won’t help with that.” Gently squeezing Leandro’s shoulder, he gave his friend a small smile. “Have you had any water since you got here, or what? Because gummy sharks are wonderful, but when they’ve been soaking in one of Ricki’s mixological concoctions, whatever water they might have in them doesn’t count.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 4:51 pm
Leandro looked up at Reiki with big, sad eyes, shoving another pretzel bite into his mouth. "No, no water," he said with a pout, "But I have food at least? That's good right? I'm doin' okaaaay?" He stretched out the word without really thinking about it, tired, out of sorts, and very drunk because he was a skinny b***h who really couldn't handle Ricki's drinks but loved them anyway. He'd been having a good time until Reiki came over and got all up in his bid-ness about how things were going in his life (terribly), but he knew he shouldn't take it out on Reiki. That was his friend, and he liked being cared about, as much as it embarrassed him. He couldn't stop a pitiful whine from escaping his throat, though, and he finished what was in his glass so he could scoop out the gummies and popped one of the sharks in his mouth after giving it a little kitten lick, the tail hanging out of his mouth.
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Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 2:52 am
……Oh, Leandro said that he was doing fine, but Reiki recognized all of those movements on his part as the behaviors of someone who was absolutely Not Fine. Thankfully, he didn’t have any numbers left to do tonight, so it was simple enough to pull out his phone and fire off a text to Miss Sibyl: [hey mom, one of my friends came tonight and he’s a little bit 😵💫🍹🥴🍹🥺🍹😵🍹]
Sibyl’s reply came in pretty quickly: [oh, no, honey]
[you gonna leave and take him home?
Reiki sent back a quick, [yeah, wish me luck 🖤], then turned back to Leandro with a tired smile.
“Food is good, yeah,” he said, “but it’s not a magical fix-it or a guarantee of anything. How about you let me get you home, though, huh?”
Strictly speaking, it would’ve been easier to do that with Mirrorwalking, but Reiki didn’t even know if he could do that with Leandro in tow. Better not to risk any complications or issues by trying to figure that out while Leandro was s**t-faced. Better to just get him back to his place and make sure he got there in one piece.
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