[Freddy's been pretty ready and willing since the day he met Mr. White, albeit with some trepidation until Black Magic Woman came along.]
I don't doubt it. I was eighteen when this came out and I had a hard time figuring why Gozer was giving me a bigger hard on than the girl I was watching it with. You know, other than hiding a hard on herself. Gozer, not the girl.
[This may or may not be an exaggeration of what really happened on that date.]
[Let's not get into any specifics that may or may not run the risk of Freddy having to endure another round of love-hate-women. Because seriously, he doesn't hate them...how could this green eyed kid hate anyone but scumbags?]
You got to go to the movies. ['Pictures' he calls them, right? But on that thought he can't recall going to see a movie in an actual theater with Larry.] Wanna go to a movie sometime?
[Yeah, it sounds like he's asking Larry out on a date. It's supposed to.]
I don't know, we gotta see what's out. A western, some sci-fi, grindhouse, I'm up for anything. Dinosaurs would be a big draw.
[Note the lack of romance in these options not that Freddy's against a romantic film either. He knows how Lawrence Dimick can be and it doesn't bother him one bit.]
Cool, so it's a date. [He turns a little to better face Larry head on, straddling that lap now. Whoops is he blocking the view or making it better?]
[Oh the view is better. Much better. No Gozer in sight. Just a chin, lips and a stately, beaky nose.]
Should I dress nice?
[The words are lazy probably because he's about half way to dragging his mouth along the kid's jaw. He's fighting the sleep. Now would be a lousy time to doze off. He can smell the soap on Freddy's skin.]
You should dress how you wanna dress orrrr you can dress for the movie. Maybe we'll have to call it a double date.
[An outing with the other actors featured in the flick. He sets his hands on Larry's shoulders, rubbing them idly. They're close enough to smell nicotine and caffeine among other things.]
How do you want me to dress? [Not that it's a guarantee the kid's gonna listen.]
If it's a western, I want you to wear jeans. [Paws grip the outsides of his thighs to pull him so that they're fitted together more.] If it's a spy film or a drama you gotta wear slacks and good shoes.
[And he will likely not listen. Mmmm. Shoulders are tense under Freddy's flappy hands. He feels like a miracle worker.]
If we watch a movie like one of yours, you don't have to wear nothing at all.
[Another irreverent shrug even as he fits closer together with Larry. Those flappy hands keep kneading his muscles, from shoulders to biceps and back up again. Nope no specification necessary.]
I don't know, do they allow that in those kinds of theaters?
[It's different going in as an adult rather than a stupid sneaky teen you know. Also, going in with company.]
You sound like you got some experience. A lot of experience.
[As if that comes as a surprise to anyone when it comes to Lawrence Dimick. The guy's got a whole fifteen or sixteen years of experience on top of the kid. That wet chain he's leaving around his neck is proof, no one's ever made Freddy feel this good. Then again, he's kind of a late bloomer to the man-on-man thing.]
Maybe you can teach me how to behave right. [He leans in against Larry.] Show me the ropes.
[Now at least one ear lobe. It'll be something of a matched set.]
I got tossed out once. Got wise with my date the next time.
[She had a skirt that helped. These fucks will have to be creative. But hey, it's not impossible. Goddamn does this kid feel good with the massaging and leaning.]
Maybe I could. I dunno. You sure misbehave. I kinda like it.
[Kinda is putting it lightly. The strain in his voice gives him away.]
[Tossed out of an adult theater, that wasn't on Larry's rap sheet. Maybe he was a juvenile at the time. The kid grinds lightly, nothing hard enough to give him a stiff wake up call but enough to keep him conscious. How much longer do they have until the day's over?]
Cops got better things to do than bust kids at theaters anyway.
[He would know. Back on the beat his training officer would call it a garbage call. Stupid shit to cover when there are real crimes happening. Oof, now there's a particular grind that gets the kid moving just right. These hands rub down to Larry's sides now.]
Does it? Shit you drank a lot of coffee, what're you gonna do all night long? [Orange wonders with the best shit-eating innocently curious face.]
I'm here to help... [Orange volunteers like the good man he is, knees spreading a little wider to better lay flush against White.] If you got any ideas.
[Provocation? Maybe. Except it'd sound a lot more threatening if the kid didn't choke on a groan for the grip to his ass and the mouthing to his face. Already Freddy's pulling his hands off Larry to start peeling off his shirt.]
Don't blink. You might miss the good parts. [Of 'the show' so to speak. No nightmares here.]
[Oof. Direct contact now there's no doubt about it that the old man's got a stiff one for Freddy.]
Not for long at all.
[The more skin revealed the more those paws can touch on. Or paw rather, that one doesn't want to let go of Freddy's rump yet. He squeezes and rolls the flesh between his fingers.]
[Amidst low restrained groans those touches also evoke a few choice words.]
Sounds like you're gettin' at somethin' there, Larry. Wonder what.
[Freddy questions 'curiously' as he grinds against the stiff one. Lo and behold who should provide an answer but a certain toucan? Flap flap flap. Sam lands on the back of the couch to croak in the old man's ear. E-ee-e-e-e-ee-e. If they throw him some fruit he'll go into his cage peacefully.]
...Wanna head upstairs? [There, a compromise between man and bird.]
[Freddy nods, eager to get a move on as well...but he'll still have to toss the colorful buzzard a piece of sweets to keep Sam happy too. Pat pat to the old man's shoulders, he climbs off his lap clearly hard from the experience and does a quick shuffle to the kitchen. Here bird, have a kiwi.]
[It's after dark, and he gave the kids bumming around a few coins to scram. Since it's a week night there weren't too many, even in the summer staying out close to nine isn't ideal. Then again, kid's these days.
This diamond has memories. About a year ago they came to fuck around. Dirt, broken glass from a homerun and Bruce Springsteen. Before that? There was more. A whole lot more. The old man came to LA for the first time in a few years. Oh yeah. He's thinking about that.
Barbecue set up. Steak grilling. Portable radio playing a little static now and then. There is a rose in Spanish Harlem.... He's got a Brewers cap on backwards so the bill doesn't obscure the meat being prepared.]
[Here comes the biggest kid around--not really, rumor has it there's a sixth grader who hangs out in these parts who's just as big as Freddy Newendyke. When he shows up he's in jeans and a beater with his overshirt tied around his waist. Perfect for the cooling-but-still-warm summer weather. The location's already hit him with its importance; a year ago today he went to Smokey Pete's. He was scared shitless on the way, sitting there with Nice Guy Eddie who was pretty cool until you realized he's Joe Cabot's son. All of that though, the posturing and the commode story, all of it came easy when he met his favorite audience member. They talked a little more after Joe gave his approval too. The Brewers cap doesn't escape Freddy's notice.]
What's the occasion?
[He asks coolly anyway, because he can, even though the smell of the meat and the sight of Larry grilling it makes him want to smile. There's a cigarette tucked up on his ear, unlit.]
[Right on time. He wasn't sure how the kid wanted his steak. Larry upnods from his position on the third base line. The kid looks just as good to him as he had. Except then he was an extra pair of eyes trying sniff out anything suspicious about the new guy. That's why he was made to come along. That and make sure that Eddie crossed his Ts and dottied his Is as a courtesy to Joe. They hadn't done business in years.
Business. That's what it all was a year ago.]
You got my message.
[That was just a location and a time.]
Figured we'd have a cookout. Live it up a little, you know. It was a year ago today.
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