Around the Pleasure Dome — season 1, episode 6 "Around the corner" —

Around the corner [season 1, episode 6] —

Monday early morning — at the Pleasure Dome

  For the next four weeks, after the storm had ravaged the coast, there was no electricity around Pleasance — except, surprisingly, on the coast itself. The Pleasure Dome hotel and resort had their own generators and power station, with six different watermills in the hills, which also kept the lighthouse in operation... Then they were back to fully functional in a matter of hours, after Hawk and Ryan had cleaned up the mess, checked the cables and repaired the installation. 

  Many citizens complained about their situation, as the power grid was still out of order, downtown and in the suburbs — when they found out that the only emergency generator left in the area was also on the coast, in mayor Cochrane's farm, it turned into an almost general uproar.

– “This is bad...” Lou sighed, considering the people's distress.

– “This is good...” Chris smiled, as he considered the opportunity to help the community and get recognition as a shelter and a hotel. “We get this place to feel like a haven, a “safe place”... where you can party all night, eat as much as you want and have fun, no questions asked! It's perfect.”

  Lou wasn't so enthusiastic, but he knew Chris was right about it.

– “I guess you have a point.”

– “Girl, I have a plan.”

– “Okay...”

– “First things first. We don't just hold a Press conference. You tell them that they can stay, use our conference rooms as offices and our ballroom as a television stage... They can set up shop for a while, use our phone and your computer system, write articles, shoot and record interviews of the people who take shelter with us for the local radio stations and TV channels when everyone goes back to work.”

– “So they can stay busy. What's the point?”

– “Lou, we open the gates... They open the floodgates.”

  It looked like such a generous offer — and most members of the crew had no better option. It was better for everyone to stay close together and help each other... For a whole month, the bedrooms at the Pleasure Dome were fully booked and the whole place was buzzing like a hive!

  It allowed Austin to get a better grip on his responsibilities as the hotel manager, his needs on a daily basis and the means at his disposal to get everything properly done.

– “Chris was right... This is the way for us to weather the storm.”

  Lou was there to keep their business and activities organized. He didn't always approve Austin's decisions — whatever problem needed to be solved always fell into the “Ryan will fix it” category, just as every chore on the list was marked “Ryan will do it”, and every customer's “special request” was translated into “Ryan will deliver” — but he let him do it his way, for the time being. He had to learn how to do his own job, too...

  Chris certainly had a plan, and it worked. When the local newspapers came back in print, the front page articles were scathing and everyone in Pleasance got to read them out loud.

“FROM POWER OUTAGE TO OUTRAGE”

– “Seriously, Chris! Listen to this... “While we couldn't wait to get the power back in our homes, mayor Cochrane couldn't wait to get back to power to attack all our basic human rights and keep marginalized groups under threat... We can now bear witness that the flood will rob us of one thing, and fire of another. Mayor Cochrane is playing with fire”. Are they going for the jugular, or what?”

  It was no secret that mayor Cochrane had been conspicuously absent during the storm, while his family was staying at home and had to deal with the same predicament as his constituents. His return from Ottawa was “timely”, as reporters chose to put it lightly, but his first words to the Press were catastrophic and he had been given the cold shoulder by the local TV anchors.

  On the very next day, he was suing the people in charge of weather reports and he would threaten to defund the local media in Pleasance for their “disrespectful, adolescent” mindset and their “lack of moral values”. Lou was appalled when he heard him on the radio.

– “What is he doing?”

– “Flooding the zone...” Chris answered, unfazed.

– “More flooding, after a storm like the one we just had?”

– “I know... How appropriate!”

  As soon as they were able to reach their readers and viewers, mayor Cochrane faced major backlash from the Press. He moved on to his other arch nemesis: the woman who had almost had a shot at beating him for reelection, doctor Tietsen-Nippels — now in charge of the Pleasure Dome as a shelter for teenagers in trouble... Two birds with one stone, for the city council.

– “What did he say in that interview?” Chris asked with a smirk.

– “Nothing that made sense... He just rambled on, as usual, calling the Social Security Hospital System “fat and bloated and disgusting”, when it was so much better, according to him, when people were free to die from tuberculosis or work themselves to an early grave. You get the picture.”

– “Not a pretty picture.”

– “His words, not mine...”

– “I could tell! Fat and bloated, and disgusting?”

– “You would think he was talking at the mirror...”

– “Well... Let's give him some credit?” Chris nodded. “Mayor Cochrane only told it backwards, as always... I bet he was disgusting long before he got bloated, and fat.”

  The thought made them both chuckle. Chris knew what to do next. The city councilmen weren't ready for what was coming for them... As for the mayor, he wouldn't see it coming but he would know what hit him — that was the whole point.

– “He's still mad at us... Why? Because we stole his thunder?”

– “And left him out under the storm. Maybe...”

– “Some of this backlash in the Press is quite childish.”

– “I bet it is... They've listened to my suggestions.”

– “You're enjoying this, aren't you?”

– “Why shouldn't we all enjoy this?”

– “I mean... You enjoy portraying mayor Cochrane as a super villain.”

– “I guess I do.”

– “That won't be enough to make us look like superheroes, you know.”

– “Wait, when did we claim to be the “good guys” in this story?”

– “I wonder...”

– “Well, if you were a woman, I know which action figure you would be.”

– “Not even in your wildest dreams or my darkest nightmares.”

– “We should focus on being the “bad boys” everyone thinks we are.”

– “Boy! do we have work to do, then...”

  After four weeks of hard work, helping families get back to their homes safely, fostering local businesses and farms, strengthening their working relationships with everyone around them during the day, then hosting carefree parties with magnificent buffets during the night, Lou had come to the conclusion that they had made little money, in the process, but with unfathomable benefits.

– “And with all expenses paid, we aren't even in the red!”

– “We're really on to something...”

– “Something big.”

  Chris considered, with a smile, how he had done his part of the job — there was a tall stack of business cards on his desk, from all the female journalists, reporters and newscasters who had enjoyed some “quality time” with him, over a glass of red wine and under white silk bedsheets.

  It certainly looked better than the stack of post-its Ryan had collected from all their male coworkers, who had all spent quite a few nights of unrestricted entertainment with their “good time” dumb blond cook and waiter... These guys didn't have fancy business cards, printed in Japan, and their phone numbers were invariably followed by the words “CALL ME!” It was still a remarkably taller stack of papers, and Ryan may have created or strengthened bonds between men who may have never had the opportunity to share such thrills... Some guys operating the boom mic may work a lot more smoothly with the camera crew, from now on, with better mutual understanding of their needs.

  Under such circumstances, who could blame Ryan for hosting thirty-one nights of freestyle threesomes, on his own? Lou wasn't quite sure that invitations to those improvised concerts of “chamber music” were limited to one or two... Chris couldn't agree more.

– “I wouldn't be so surprised if he went Alpha for a full quartet.”

– “Let's call it a G-string quartet... and let's never mention it ever again.”

– “That's a deal. Major deal, in D major.”

– “We have some more serious matters to deal with.”

  There was another discrete sign of success... After a month of hopeful work and community service, starting over with a professional attitude and getting over the chaos with barbecues around the swimming pool in the afternoon, workout sessions and massages at the Pleasure Dome spa in the morning, splendid meals at the all-you-can-eat buffet, wild party games on the dance floor after hours, with Lou serving cocktails at the bar while Chris and Ryan waited tables, dressed like a Playboy bunnies, all their guests had put on “a little weight” — and the most significant progress were on full display around the waists of men who had enjoyed spending a little more “quality time” with the cook.

  By the time they finally decided to go back to their office and homes, most guys in the crew kept their leather belts rolled up in their suitcases, next to their socks... The top buttons of their pants were left open and, more often than not, their shirts gapped quite a bit around their bellies, between strained buttons... It wasn't so easy to guess how much each man may have packed on, but they would need a whole new wardrobe if they wanted to cover their story.

  Lou guessed that their male guests may have gained twenty to twenty-eight pounds. Chris found his estimation too “conservative”, but his own evaluation was rather adventurous: how could anyone put on more than thirty-five pounds in four weeks?

  They couldn't get to agree on the subject. Austin heard them arguing, let out a deep sigh and decided to cut to the chase.

– “You're both wrong...”

– “I beg your pardon?”

– “You're wrong, but you're not that far off.”

– “What do you mean?”

– “The smallest amount of weight one of those guys has put on is a little over twenty-five pounds. The lucky bastard who has grown the most has packed on a whopping thirty-one pounds... On average, our guests have gained twenty-nine pounds and a half over a month.”

– “Well, that's...” Lou was at a loss for words. “Oddly specific.”

– “I agree.” Chris raised an eyebrow. “How can you be so sure?”

– “What do you guys think?” Austin smiled, his mouth full of pain perdu brioché with salted butter toffee and vanilla ice-cream. “I just told Ryan to ask them to stand on the scales for him, when they would wake up in his bedroom, in the morning... We could trace their weight curves going up and up, almost on a daily basis.”

– “All of them?”

– “Well, duh!” Austin grabbed another large bite.

– “That's sixty-eight men... No wonder your numbers are so precise.”

  Lou asked Ryan to hand over his notes, but he had always intended to share the results of that particular “investigation”. Doctor Tietsen-Nippels may be interested in those weight curves, for some other reasons than what motivated their friend to take interest in all those men's curves — Ryan wasn't so comfortable around numbers, not even “round” numbers, but he knew what to do with a rounder young man who kept showing a healthy appetite... And they got way too comfortable around him.

  Austin enjoyed playing little tricks on his friends, but he also agreed that it was time for everyone to get back to work. In his case, it meant spending all morning at the kitchen table, tasting food samples to put their recipes to a test. Ryan was an amazing cook but it was obvious that he had never read a cook book. He only followed his instinct. Austin had a hunch that they should at least jot down what ingredients he used, how much, in what sequence of steps and actions... Then he felt that it was wrong to restrain him so much, in his game play, and he asked Ryan to try different things so they could find the perfect recipes for him. They were both well aware that everyone has his own likes and dislikes, and is entitled to his own opinion on tastes and flavors. It was a pretty smart excuse to let him spend hours in the kitchen, taking his sweet time to devour pastries and sweets with greedy moans of pure, selfish delight...

  Ryan didn't mind. He had just cooked so much for a whole month, with almost a hundred guests every day, that cooking now for Austin alone, as if breakfast was meant for a family of eight, felt like the most natural thing to do. The blond cook may be dumb, but he wasn't blind... Austin had put his own ambitions to get fat on the backburner, after the storm, but he was back in the game for the win. He was hungry — and he was already showing signs of some very promising weight gain!

  His friends weren't deaf either. Ryan was quite patient when Austin let out a loud, long and obnoxious belch, from the depth of his stomach.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP...”

■ ■ ■

Tuesday morning — in Lou's office 

  

  Chris and Lou had laid out their organization chart quite carefully.

  It felt like a bad joke, considering that they couldn't count Hawk as an employee, which left the Pleasure Dome hotel with only four employees, at this point, but they had to set a number of rules and know where they stood if they wanted to hire young men and women to help their budding business. Chris asked Lou about their respective positions as managers.

– “There's no need to ask. You'll be our CFO.”

– “How about Austin, then? He should be our CEO.”

– “All the way to the top? I'm not sure...”

– “Why?”

– “Let's be honest for a moment. He's been pretty lazy, lately.”

– “He's not lazy. He's only focusing on getting fatter.”

– “Oh, well...”

  Lou smiled in agreement. Chris had a point.

– “Right! There's our policy in a nutshell.”

– “In a nut of butter, that's more likely.”

– “That will help him get out of his shell?”

– “Of course! He should outgrow it, eventually...”

  They both had a good laugh over their idea of hotel management.

– “Austin will be the perfect CEO... The only executive orders he will sign should be about ordering more food, and new clothes in a larger size!”

– “That's the kind of executive orders we want.”

– “How about Hawk, then?”

– “What about him?”

– “With Austin acting as CEO, he may want to see Hawk somewhere up there in our organigram. Like, next to him...”

– “We could name him “special consultant”. That's close enough.”

– “I guess that would work.”

– “Okay, then...” Chris took a deep breath.

– “I know... What about Ryan?”

  There was a moment of silence. The obvious choice was to mark down Ryan as “chef”, but they knew that their friend considered himself simply as a cook. He was actually both chief cook and bottle washer... When it came down to physically demanding work, in and around the hotel, Ryan was the guy in charge of pretty much everything.

– “If we ran this hotel business like the mob, we could call him “muscle” and that would be it.”

– “Accurate as it may sound, it wouldn't look good...”

– “We can't just put him in a box as “staff”. That wouldn't do either.”

– “Well...” Chris smiled. “I don't know. “Staff” has a good ring to it.”

  Lou felt tempted to gently hit him on the head with his notebook.

– “Don't get too cocky...”

– “Honestly? Put Ryan in charge of the whole supply chain.”

– “The supply chain?”

– “Think about it. Welcoming our guests and understanding their needs, taking their orders, delivering the best products, and performance, and staying attentive to their satisfaction at all times... Sounds familiar?”

– “That's one hundred percent Ryan all right!”

– “No leftovers. No complaints. No underwear.”

– “Plain and simple...”

– “Come on. Ryan may be simple, he's certainly not plain.”

  Suddenly, their organization chart looked a lot better.

– “Chris, you're a genius!”

– “Oh, well...”

  They hit their mugs of coffee together over such well-done job.

– “You are just so necessary as I am to make this business work.”

– “We're only four in this hotel. And we're not even fantastic.”

– “I know. Ryan and you are like... DBI.”

– “What's that?”

– “Economics 101, Lou. It stands for Dull But Important.”

– “You think I'm dull? How about Ryan ?”

– “Oh, not quite the same... It would stand for Dumb But Intense.”

  Lou responded with a wry smile.

– “But Austin and you aren't DBI, of course.”

– “Oh, no! Austin is just like me. We're more like... DUI.”

  They both burst out laughing together.

– “We should show all this to Austin.”

– “Let's see how he likes it to be CEO...”

■ ■ ■

Tuesday morning — in the kitchen

  Austin smiled. He was surrounded with no less than eight large batches of fresh cinnamon rolls, still hot and crispy from the oven, glistening with butter and frosting: eight different kinds of cinnamon rolls, with a variety of raisins, liquors and frosting flavors, just for him to taste and test...

  Ryan was still cooking, but he would write down what Austin thought about each kind — going from batch number one to batch number eight and back, then going up again and back again... This would keep them busy until noon. There were at least a dozen rolls left in each batch.

– “There's no hurry, you know...”

– “I know. Hmmmph...”

– “Austin... You shouldn't eat so fast. Maybe pace yourself a little.”

– “What for? I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't choke on such delicious, rich food. Hmmmph hmmmph... Hmmmph... Hmmmph !”

  The handsome black boy stuffed his face even faster, on purpose.

– “Austin, come on...”

– “I know. If I keep eating like this all day, I'll get so round I'll burst!”

– “Well... I guess that's what they call a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

– “And they sure got that right. Hmmmph hmmmph... I'm full!”

  Austin let out a loud, proud and rising belch.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP...”

  Ryan came closer to his friend, with a gentle pat on his shoulder.

– “How are we doing, so far?”

– “I would say it's a tie between number two and number seven. Perfect balance between cinnamon and the raisins you let marinate in brandy!”

– “Okay...” Ryan wrote it down.

– “I'm really not so sure about the raisins in batch number four.”

– “That's the one you recommended, with that Texan tequila.”

– “I know...” Austin mumbled. “Nostalgia got the better of me. You can call number four the “botched batch” and forget about it.”

– “Good choice. And good news!”

– “How so?”

– “The cinnamon rolls you've enjoyed the most were prepared with local flour, eggs, butter, sugar, raisins and brandy. One hundred percent made on this small stretch of land on the East coast...”

– “Perfect. Our farmer friends should be pleased when you tell them. No need to call my parents for another bottle of tequila, then. You've found the brand I like in Mexico anyway. And this frosting is perfect!”

– “It couldn't get more Canadian if you drenched them in maple syrup...”

– “What makes you think I won't?”

  Lou and Chris joined them at the kitchen table.

– “Guys? Take a look at this.”

– “What are we looking at?” Austin asked, his eyes still on his rolls.

– “What do you think this is?”

– “Looks like a sketch for a new Game of the Goose.”

– “That would make you one fat goose. Look.”

– “Austin... CEO?”

– “That's right!”

– “I am running a Center for Equal Opportunity?”

– “What? No, you'll be our Chief Executive Officer.”

– “Wow...”

  Austin grabbed an even larger bite of cinnamon roll.

– “So... Hmmmph... I get to decide our policies?”

– “That's right...”

– “Why does it feel like quite a challenge for a poor sucker like me?”

– “It would be a challenge for anyone of us, really.”

– “Policies, huh? Where should we start?”

– “I don't know... Do you have a suggestion?”

  He stretched out his arms to get more cinnamon rolls with both hands.

– “Rule number one: We don't feed trolls.”

  Chris, Lou and Ryan exchanged a wide-eyed look.

– “Austin! You're the real genius in the family...”

■ ■ ■

Tuesday afternoon — in the laundry room

  Austin would go for a well-deserved nap in his bedroom, upstairs. Ryan was ironing his friends' shirts and T-shirts, their pants and shorts, socks and underwear... After he had spent a month cleaning clothes for more than a hundred guests from the Press, with firemen, neighbors, farmers and families around Pleasance seeking refuge in their shelter, there was so much household linen left to be cleaned. He had to wipe his forehead.

  Ryan kept the washing machines running and he spent as much time as he could at the ironing board, every day. It was getting hot, with the sun still high in the sky, and the windows slowly fogged up. He didn't feel the need to wear much clothes, in there — certainly not much less than in any other room in the hotel, as his friends would comment, but he kept his boxer shorts on, and they stuck to his well-muscled thighs...

  The door to the garden was opened. Hawk had to be looking for Austin, as he was coming from the lighthouse so early in the afternoon.

– “Hawk, is that you? Hello...”

– “Hello, Ryan.”

– “Austin is in his bedroom.”

– “Taking a nap?”

– “Yes...”

– “Good for him. Did he enjoy a nice lunch? A nice, big one?”

– “He did, but he had already spent all morning stuffing himself. So...”

– “What did you feed him, bad boy?”

– “Cinnamon rolls. A lot!”

– “Oh? Good, good...”

  Ryan heard Hawk mumble something — or groan. It was never so easy to guess what Hawk was thinking, or even saying sometimes.

– “What do you guys want to taste-test next?”

– “I don't know... Cheesecakes, maybe?”

– “Didn't you already feed him cheesecake, last Thursday?”

– “Not the same kind, but I see your point...”

– “How about cupcakes?”

– “We've done quite a few blind taste tests on cupcakes.”

– “How about black bottom cupcakes? Austin would love those! Delicious cheesecake and rich chocolate...”

  It felt strange that Hawk would take such an interest in Ryan's cooking. It made the blond young man smile a bit playfully.

– “Black bottom cupcakes... Isn't that a bit too much on the nose?”

– “Straight into his mouth.”

– “Okay. I think you're right. Austin will enjoy this.”

– “He should. And you...”

  Hawk suddenly cupped Ryan's face, as he lowered his voice — it didn't feel like a tender or a friendly gesture, somehow.

– “You feed him like... two hundred cupcakes. Austin needs to get fat.”

– “Huh... Okay.”

– “If he wants to get fatter, and fatter, he needs to eat... A lot!”

– “I know.” Ryan didn't feel comfortable, with Hawk standing so close to him and looking so deeply into his eyes. It always made him feel, and look, vulnerable. “I should think that... I feed him well enough, don't I?”

– “You feed him well, I'll give you that, but... Maybe not well enough.”

  Ryan didn't know what to say. Austin's appetite may be on the rise, but he could hardly eat more than he already did, right now.

– “How much fatter would you like to see Austin grow?”

– “I don't know. Just fatter.”

– “Well... There you go, then. He's getting fatter.”

– “I guess I'm not so patient as I could be, about all this?”

  Hawk gave him such a dark look that Ryan froze, but he also felt what must have attracted Austin so much, when he had first met this grumpy, growling greying bear. He could feel it like a stroke of lightning running down his spine... There was something about Hawk that raised an alarm inside his heart, the kind of red alert that sounded only too familiar.

  This blond cook couldn't always play dumb... Ryan had to be there for his friends, and Austin wanted Hawk to be pleased just as Hawk wanted Austin to be happy. That was the only compass he needed.

– “Austin is doing his best to eat a lot, like a real glutton!”

– “I know... He's the best.”

– “I couldn't cook so much more for him. He would just burst!”

– “I know, I know...”

  Then Hawk suggested something.

– “You're a Southern bad boy, aren't you?”

– “I was born in Virginia, so... Technically, yeah.”

– “And Austin is from Texas. Why don't you feed him Southern food?”

– “I could do that.”

– “I mean the really “deep South” kind of food...” Hawk insisted. “Deep-fat-fried everything!”

  Ryan chuckled at the thought.

– “That's one way to put it.”

– “You know what I meant.”

– “Yes... When you think about it, the “deep South” isn't so deep.”

– “Aren't you a living proof of it too...” Hawk grumbled. “How about soul food for Austin, to really make him eat and eat and eat?”

– “Like fried okra?”

– “Sure! Pork chops, smothered pork steaks...”

– “Hoppin' John, hushpuppies, fried chicken... Cured and smoked ham... Collard greens and cornbread?”

– “There you go!”

– “Ham hocks, black-eyed peas and chitterlings, candied yam and sweet potato pie... Honestly? I haven't even tasted those, but I've never tasted Smithfield ham either, so... I could give it a try.”

– “You do that. And, Ryan? One thing...”

– “Yes?”

– “One word: Butter.”

– “Butter?”

– “Whole sticks of it, and stick to it! Austin needs to be fed fatty food...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday morning — in Lou's office, at the Pleasure Dome

  It wasn't lost on Lou that Ryan was overworked again... Now that the chaos around them had turned from the weather report to political news, they couldn't get the hotel to open again, or the shelter. Everyone knew that Götz Wehrmer, the guy in charge of hotel licenses at the city council in Pleasance, had signed under pressure, in front of an angry crowd and the Press... Mayor Cochrane was furious about it.

  The best thing an aspiring hotel manager could do was to hire someone new to help around the place. Lou was familiar with the old saying about having “too many cooks in the kitchen”, but he also knew that Ryan was a team player and he wouldn't mind having someone to work with.

  As he was looking at the classified job ad he had posted online, among others on his computer, Lou heard a discrete knock on the door... Maybe Ryan was coming up with a platter of pastries and more coffee for him.

– “Please, come in.”

– “Good morning, sir?”

  It wasn't Ryan.

  The guy who came into Lou's office was taller, with a larger frame, wide and round shoulders, a deep chest that was barely contained by his nice shirt, so strained around his armpits and his collar that the two buttons on top had to be left opened and the third one was begging for it... This put his abundant chest hair on full display, in such a tantalizing manner that Lou secretly wished for all the buttons on his clothes to pop out, once and for all! Even with his hair neatly cut short, this young man was such a naturally, gloriously flamboyant redhead — with such a full beard that any lumberjack around Pleasance would look green with envy.

  He had to be in his early twenties, with baby blue eyes, pouty lips and the most innocent look anyone could imagine, but just so handsome and so masculine that it was almost painful to picture him growing any more mature. Lou felt like he should be wearing shades... It would hurt less if he was looking straight at the sun!

– “Sir?” The young man had to call him back to reality.

– “I'm sorry... How may I help you?”

– “Well... I was hoping that you would allow me to help you, actually.”

– “I'm not sure that I understand.”

– “I've seen your job offer, and I was thinking... Maybe I should apply?”

– “Oh... I'm glad that you did.”

  There was a moment of awkward silence.

– “I'm Lou... I'm in charge of Human Resources.”

– “Glad to meet you, Sir.”

– “Please, don't call me “Sir”...”

– “I'm Guy.”

– “I bet you are...”

  Lou couldn't help thinking “Some guy, all right!”

– “I mean... That's my name.”

– “Your name...”

– “My name is Guy.”

– “Oh...”

  The young man felt embarrassed, but the way he smiled made Lou feel like the whole building was on fire...

– “I'm pleased to meet you, Guy.”

– “So... You were saying, you're in charge of Human Resources.”

– “Huh... Yes, I am. And I figure that you are pretty... resourceful.”

– “Oh? I don't know about that... But I'm human.”

– “Well... Okay. That's a good first step, in the right direction.”

  Their conversation wasn't going anywhere... Lou wondered if he could blush any deeper — he had never felt anything like this, certainly not in a professional environment. Guy sat down, and spoke to him so softly he could swoon.

– “I'm sorry, I know I look a bit rough... I give a bad first impression.”

– “Huh... What? No, you look... You look good.”

– “I can't help it. I wasn't born so tall, so big and so furry, of course.”

– “Of course...”

– “I swear, I could prove it to you with pictures.”

– “There's really no need...”

– “It's just... Now that I need to find a job, and live my own life, I can't go through a professional interview without missing the point... I'm not good at this, but I promise you I work really well when people trust me.”

– “I trust you.”

– “Handwork would be fine, honestly. I'm a hard worker.”

– “Huh huh...”

  Guy let out a sigh of what sounded like pure distress.

– “Did I just put you off even worse?”

– “Come on, you look like a perfectly fine young man.”

– “Thank you...”

  Lou was rewarded with a grateful smile. He could purr like a tomcat.

– “Is this your first job interview?”

– “It's not, but I understand how you feel... I was always so nervous, when I eventually showed up, that I couldn't say a word without making a mess of what I meant to tell. It's the same when I eat at a restaurant.”

– “Why is that? Are you a messy eater?”

– “Not really... I'm not so clumsy as I look. I just get uncomfortable.”

– “Now, there's nothing wrong about it.”

  For some reason, Lou didn't mind keeping it vague... He was already working with a handsome cook who looked so clumsy and so dumb that you had to think twice before handing him a mallet to tenderize meat — Guy would certainly do fine in such company.

  And Lou certainly didn't mind if he was a “messy” eater!

– “May I ask you a question?”

– “Of course!” Guy chuckled. “This was meant to be a job interview.”

– “So it is. Why did you come to the Pleasure Dome?”

– “Oh, right....”

  Guy looked away again. Lou didn't understand why.

– “It's not as if I had nowhere to go, but...”

– “Yes?”

– “When I saw you all on the news, a few weeks ago, I thought... Well, I thought “This is where I should go to work!” I don't know...”

– “It does sound like you knew what you were doing.”

– “I just followed my instincts...”

  Lou didn't expect any of this. He had to do something about it. Now.

■ ■ ■

Thursday late morning — in the Royal Suite, at the Pleasure Dome

  Chris was reading another article commissioned by mayor Cochrane, calling them all sorts of names and dragging their business project in the mud again, when he heard the phone ringing on his desk.

– “Hello?”

– “Chris, I have a favor to ask you.”

– “Okay.”

– “I need to borrow your car. I'll have dinner in Pleasance tonight.”

– “That would be your first time on the town!”

– “I know...”

– “Do you have a date?”

– “I'm in the middle of a job interview, right now.”

– “Huh, Lou... Why are you lowering your voice?”

– “I'm not.”

  He was.

– “So... A job interview?”

– “I don't know. He's a remarkable young man, but so uncomfortable in my office... I feel like he would open up and lighten up a bit, if I invited him to some nice restaurant.”

– “Lou, honey... That's a date.”

– “I know!” Lou whispered in an exasperated manner. “I know...”

– “A restaurant in Pleasance... Tonight? There's the Golden nugget. They have reopened, a few days ago. I could book you a table for two.”

– “You could pull it off?”

– “I can, and I will. What are friends for?”

– “Chris... I'm overwhelmed.”

– “I'm not doing this for you alone. Call it teamwork... Go for it, do it for the team. We all want to know about this new guy!”

– “That's just him.”

– “Sorry?”

– “That's his name. Guy.”

  Chris couldn't help teasing his friend.

– “Of course... It was about time for you to date some Guy!”

– “Oh! he is some guy, all right.”

– “How so?”

– “Well, he's...”

– “Tall?”

– “I swear, he may be even taller than Hawk!”

– “Wow... Handsome?”

– “So handsome!”

– “Okay, how does he look? Are we talking hairy or smooth?”

– “Chris, he may be even hairier than Ryan!”

– “Oh... Okay! Now, we're getting serious.”

– “I know. He's...”

– “Lou?”

  The line wasn't dead — and the silence was broken like shattered glass.

– “Chris, I swear, this young man is more romantic that a lover's double suicide by falling off a cliff!”

– “Huh... Okay?” Chris raised an eyebrow. “It may be better for you boys to get a table by the kitchen doors, then...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday evening — in Pleasance, at the Golden nugget

  Guy and Lou were waiting for someone to lead them to their table.

– “How did you get to book a table on such short notice?”

– “Well, I have a friend who has... friends, and...”

  Lou almost had to bite his tongue so he wouldn't say “fuck!” in such a nice place, with so many well-dressed people around them.

  He had just spotted Götz Wehrmer entering the bar and taking off his coat to get to his table... He had a reservation, of course, and he would have dinner with two other members of mayor Cochrane's inner circle. 

  One was Jay Heffkay — head of the committee of Health, Hygiene and Safety. The other was Jay Walker — the administrator in charge of traffic regulations in Pleasance.

– “One advantage of being an elected official is that you don't have to sleep with government officials to get a reservation at a place like this.”

  For his first night out with someone he wished to date so much, Lou had the worst bad luck ever. Now he could understand how deeply Chris resented those guys!

  As he looked up again, it came as a surprise for him to find that Guy had also turned away from that particular group. They were both looking down, looking for a way out... It did feel like the tall young redhead was more uncomfortable than ever. Lou wondered if he had been confronted to those people, at some point, but he didn't want to ask.

  He saw waiters coming and going — it would be their turn, soon... He didn't know how to tell them that they wouldn't stay, or how to tell Guy that he didn't want to have dinner in this restaurant.

  Then he felt Guy's big bear paw gently pressing his hand.

– “Please, Lou... Can we go somewhere else?”

– “Okay.”

■ ■ ■

Thursday night — in downtown Pleasance

  It wasn't raining anymore... Guy and Lou were slowly walking down the street, all glistening under the lamps and the lights of passing cars. They didn't know where they could go.

– “Is there any other place where we could have dinner?”

– “Nothing like the Golden nugget. It's the best restaurant in town.”

– “How about ice-cream, or a cup of coffee?”

– “I don't know...”

– “You don't feel like it?”

– “I mean... Going for a walk with you already makes me feel better.”

– “It does?” Lou got to feel a bit warmer inside too.

  They were back to the parking lot. As a matter of fact, they kept going and passed it as they turned around the corner... Lou didn't want to go back to the Pleasure Dome so early. Not like this.

  Guy cleared his voice, his fists clenched in the pockets of his coat.

– “We could always go back to... You know...”

– “It's a long way to the Pleasure Dome. Two hours, at least.”

– “I know... I meant... We could go to my place.”

– “Your place?”

– “It's only a block away.”

– “Oh...”

– “I hope you don't mind.”

– “That's what I should be asking you, really.”

– “I don't mind...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday night — in Guy's apartment, downtown

  Going to Guy's apartment was the right thing to do... It was raining all over the town again, so thick that it felt like a freezing cold shower.

– “I have to warn you. It's a really small place.”

– “Not for me, I'm sure...”

  Lou may have spoken too soon. Guy had to live in just one room, with adjacent bathroom and the kitchen area behind doors, like a stationery cupboard... There was one large couch but no television set, a desk that went from wall to wall under the two windows, and shelves on the other walls to keep kitchen utensils and other tools at hand. There was a well-worn rug on the floor, an office chair by the desk — no bed.

– “How long have you been living here?”

– “Not long... I wonder if anyone could live here, actually.”

  Guy had a point. Even for a short guy like Lou, the place looked small and so cramped that he could only sit on the couch, and hope that he wouldn't break anything as he would turn around.

  How could such a tall, strapping young man even fit within these walls?

– “It's a convertible couch, of course.”

– “Of course...”

  Lou listened to the rain outside — he had spent years, as a student, in apartments such as this one, in similar buildings, back in South Korea.

  This brought back memories he wasn't particularly fond of.

  He could hear the canned laughter from some I love Lucy rerun, on the other side of that paper thin wall... An old man was beating his wife, in the apartment upstairs. Someone was talking too loud over the phone, to his distant relative. Someone was shouting something, walking down the stairs. Someone else may be dying, right now, in lonely silence...

– “Lou? Is everything okay?”

– “Huh... I'm okay.”

– “I should put your shirt on the radiator. You're cold.”

– “I'm not cold. I'm...”

  They were both drenched from their walk in the rain... Lou was actually shivering, right now. He blushed when he saw Guy taking off his T-shirt. Then he didn't hesitate to strip down to his underwear too.

– “Do you need a hand with your convertible couch?”

– “I really do... Thank you for helping me.”

– “No big deal. I know these things.”

  Lou was bending down, looking for the way to make this couch click.

– “Be careful, please?” Guy warned him. “It's a bit...”

– “Ouch! Oh... FUCK!”

– “...tricky.”

  Naturally, the faulty contraption had pinched his fingers. Bad.

  Lou couldn't help shouting, then... He couldn't be more embarrassed — there he was, down on his knees, still wet and cold, almost naked on the floor and pressing the fingers of his right hand in his left palm.

  Only Guy was there for him, and it made all the difference.

– “Lou... I am so sorry.”

– “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted like that.”

– “It's okay...”

  Guy took Lou's hand in his paws, and kissed his bruised fingers.

– “You're not bleeding. You'll be fine.” 

– “Okay.”

– “Please, don't move around so much...”

– “I won't.”

  Lou couldn't feel the pain in his fingers anymore. What he was feeling right now was something beyond pain and pleasure... He may have put both hands in the fire and not felt the difference, at this point!

  Guy was coming even closer to him, and he didn't feel threatened by this hunk of a man — whose deep and furry chest looked like something out of a dream he had never even dared to dream... Was there another life beyond the boundaries of what he called life? Another sky? Another earth where men could fall in love?

  Why did the Catholic stuff that Ryan alluded to discreetly, sometimes, seem to make perfect sense right now, like never before?

– “Please, Lou... Stay close to me.”

– “Okay.”

– “I don't want you to get hurt.”

  The two young men were lying down on the couch, listening to the rain. Guy kept Lou in such a tender bear hug. It was just too much temptation at once for him... With the most gentle touch, he laid a hand on the tall young man's furry, meaty pecs while his head rested on his shoulder. 

– “Are you feeling better?”

– “I've never felt so good...”

– “Same for me. I feel so good, holding you like this.”

– “You do?”

– “I really do...”

  Lou heard a strange, growling sound. It was his own stomach.

– “You're hungry.”

  There was just a hint of a smile in Guy's voice.

– “Well... We didn't get to eat at the restaurant.”

– “You're right. I'm hungry too...”

– “Do you want to get something to eat?”

– “So late? In this weather?”

– “I don't know...”

– “I'm good. I don't want to move from this couch anytime soon.”

  Lou didn't want to move either... Not when Guy was gently rubbing his belly, while he was still rubbing his chest.

– “Guy...”

– “Yes?”

– “Tonight didn't count. I swear, I won't let you go hungry again!”

– “Lou...”

– “Yes?”

– “I love you...”

■ ■ ■

Friday morning — in the coffee corner, at the Pleasure Dome

– “So... You guys kissed.”

– “We did.”

– “But that was it?”

  Lou blushed again. Chris and Ryan were sitting by his sides.

– “Okay, so... we didn't. You know.”

– “You didn't eat anything either...” Ryan commented, looking genuinely sad for his friend.

  He kept putting more food on Lou's plate.

– “I would have eaten almost as much as usual, at the Golden nugget... just not next to mayor Cochrane's goons! What was I supposed to do?”

– “Honestly? I think you did just fine...”

– “We didn't do anything. It may have been another pajama party.”

– “I bet you've never slept so well...” Ryan suggested.

– “Even after you got bitten by the furniture!”

– “Please, guys...”

– “You must be so hungry for a real date.”

– “Yes... About that?”

  When it came to food and love, in all their possible physical forms and combinations, Ryan was always right... Guy deserved to be treated with the best meal they could offer at the Pleasure Dome.

– “Consider it done.” The blond cook smiled. “Tonight.”

– “Tonight?”

– “Call him. 7PM sharp. You're both hungry.”

– “Isn't it a little too...”

– “You don't want to wait, and you won't have to.”

  Chris was already handing him the phone.

– “What else do you know about this Guy?”

– “Not much...”

– “Not yet.”

– “He's very kind. He looks strong and rough, like a brute, but he's really sensitive... I don't know why he acts so shy but, when you get to talk to him, and listen to him, he's a clever young man with his own voice and his heart in the right place.”

– “The least you can do is ask him out on a real date.” Ryan encouraged him. “You know, just to get a second opinion...”

  Lou got to talk for a few minutes with Guy over the phone.

  Chris and Ryan were standing by the cold room, in the opposite corner of the kitchen, to allow him some privacy. It also gave them the perfect opportunity to comment on their friend's crush.

– “What do we know about this Guy?”

– “I think I've seen him once or twice, at the hospital in Pleasance.”

– “Oh...”

– “Not for the reason I was there. He must be involved in charity work.”

– “Charity, huh?”

– “I know...”

– “What?”

– “I know what you're thinking. He looks too good to be true...”

– “Hey! I'm not passing judgment.”

– “Please...” Ryan smiled and nudged his friend.

– “Okay, so what? That's what I first thought about you. Remember?”

– “You've never told me...”

– “And now you know why!”

  Ryan wrapped an arm around Chris and kissed him on the cheek.

– “So... You've seen him at the hospital.”

– “Yes.”

– “Did you see him, like... see him?”

– “Nuh huh... Not like that.” Ryan chuckled.

– “Okay.”

– “Lou should be safe. Let's make sure of it...”

– “I have to say... He has some good taste in men!”

– “Oh! you can say that again.”

  They both nodded, when Lou was done talking to Guy. He could hardly wait to be there for dinner.

– “So we're good?” Ryan asked.

– “We're good. Huh... What were you guys talking about?”

– “Wouldn't you like to know...” Chris teased. “This guy, and this guy? Talking about your guy?”

– “Oh! give it a rest.”

– “Okay, okay... I was just wondering why you never had a boyfriend, you know, back home.”

– “I guess I didn't meet the right guy, at the time... Besides, I'm not so limited in my tastes.”

– “I never said you were.”

– “I can be attracted and feel a connection with different kinds of men, just as I can enjoy different kinds of food. Savory, sweet or bittersweet... Potato salad, mashed potatoes, yams, fritters or fries...”

– “Honey, you're confusing studs and spuds.”

■ ■ ■

Friday evening — in the dining hall, at the Pleasure Dome

  Ryan cooked a magnificent, full seven course meal for Lou and Guy — Chris agreed to be their waiter for the evening. Austin was staying with Hawk for the night, at the lighthouse, after he had devoured no less than a hundred and ninety-six black bottom cupcakes... 

  They had the whole dining hall for a party of two, and they wouldn't let anything go wrong!

  Guy showed up wearing a nice, tight suit with a black tie... Chris and Ryan may have expected him to look good in a tuxedo, but even Lou was surprised to see him come in with a big bouquet of long-stem red roses.

– “Welcome to the Pleasure Dome, Guy...”

  Chris was secretly delighted to wait their table. Curiosity could actually kill a cat like him! He helped them get seated, poured white wine in their glasses and served the hors-d'œuvres.

– “This place looks so nice...” Guy looked around.

– “You wouldn't look out of place, working here with us.”

– “Nothing could make me happier.”

  Only when they started eating, Lou understood what Guy had told him about not being a messy eater... but still making a mess! The young man ate so fast, it was impossible to have a conversation and follow him.

– “Okay...” He mumbled. “I take it back. Nothing could make me happier than this! Hmmmph... Hmmmph!”

– “How do you... I mean, how did you like it?”

– “It tasted so good! I've never eaten such a delicious egg dish.”

– “Well, I'm glad that you enjoy...ed it.”

  Chris had also noticed Guy's impressive appetite.

– “Would you like another plate?”

– “Another? You mean... There's more?”

– “There is certainly more to come.” Chris was only startled by the naive, almost childish, enthusiastic attitude of their guest. “But you could have some more of the same...”

– “I would love to... but it does sound like asking for too much.”

– “Clearly, this is your first night at the Pleasure Dome...”

  Lou was a bit worried, as he heard Chris humming all the way to the kitchen... He had no doubt that Ryan was told to brace himself and cook even more “generously” than usual — that was enough to make him run a cold sweat.

  Sure enough, and sooner than expected, Guy was served another plate of hors-d'œuvres with enough food for a whole family.

– “Would you excuse me for a moment?”

– “Hmmmph... Sure, no problem.”

– “Chris? A word...”

  He took him to the bar, in the darker corner of the dining hall.

– “What are you doing?”

– “You know what I'm doing...”

– “Well, don't. Not tonight.”

– “Come on, Lou... Let your boyfriend enjoy our cooking.”

– “Guy is not my boyfriend...”

– “Not yet.”

– “Oh! you are just impossible.”

– “Ryan agrees with me. Let him go with an unbridled appetite...”

– “And do what? Be his unbridled bride?”

– “That's what I told Ryan!” Chris laughed out loud.

  Lou went back to the table and sat down — Guy was already done with his second plate... Chris should go to the kitchen, and check if the soup was ready to be served. 

– “Did I make a mess again? I shouldn't have asked for more...”

– “It's okay... This is the Pleasure Dome, not Oliver Twist!”

– “Your friends are looking after you. That's good.”

– “I guess...” Lou sounded a bit grumpy. “They do.”

– “And I really do enjoy good food!”

– “You clearly do...”

– “Just as much as I enjoy being with you.”

  Guy had just brought a smile to his lips.

– “Don't mind Chris, or Ryan... You're right. They mean well.”

– “You're good at inviting someone for dinner on such short notice!”

– “Now that you mention it...”

  They hit their glasses of white wine together.

– “They really wanted the stars to get aligned tonight.”

– “For you?”

– “For you and me.”

– “That's nice, but...” Guy reached over the table to hold Lou's hand. “I think I may have a thing for star-crossed lovers.”

– “Like Romeo and Juliet?”

– “Exactly!”

  Lou must have struck it lucky. Guy was a truly romantic young man...

– “Did you get to watch that movie with Julia Roberts, where she fakes her own death to escape from her control freak, obsessive and abusive husband?”

– “I guess I did... What was it, Sleeping with the Enemy?”

– “That's the one!”

– “And she starts a new life in Massachusetts.”

– “No, I think she leaves Massachusetts.”

– “I can't even spell Massachusetts...”

– “I forgot where she ends up to start over.”

– “I guess I forgot about everything else in that movie.”

– “It's fine. I hate that movie...”

– “Why do you hate it so much?”

– “Oh! It has nothing to do with the subject, and Julia Roberts is a fine actress... There's a scene in that movie, where she's beginning to date this new guy and he asks her about listening to some music over dinner. Then she says something like “Sure, I love all kinds of music... Except Berlioz.” And that's just it.”

– “I think I remember... Didn't her husband have like a weird obsession about the final movement of the Symphonie fantastique?”

– “Oh! the worst... I'm pretty sure he raped her while listening to it.”

– “Okay, that's bad. Is that why you hate this movie?”

– “Lou, Berlioz is my favorite composer of all time...”

  The appetizers were gone. The salad was gone. Guy could really eat!

– “Maybe we should have some music in the background, sometimes.”

– “Did you know that music is good to enhance your appetite?”

– “I had never heard about it, to be honest...”

– “Not just any kind of music, of course.”

– “You wouldn't want to eat while listening to Romeo and Juliet, right?”

– “You mean...”

– “Berlioz's third symphony.” Lou smiled to him over his glass of wine.

– “Lou, wow... You know his Romeo and Juliet?”

– “I may have been to a few concerts of classical music.”

  Guy was overwhelmed... Lou had to confess that he had never had the opportunity to attend a performance of the symphony Romeo and Juliet. He had seen the ballet by Prokofiev once, and he knew almost every line in the play... They had both seen the different movie adaptations. They also agreed on their merits and their flaws. As they kept on talking about subjects that were so close to their hearts, Lou got to feel like they were growing closer and closer together. 

  And, as their dinner was slowly coming to an end, they were definitely growing fuller and fuller together!

  It was almost midnight, and they were about to be served desserts... Guy heaved a deep, contented sigh when Chris brought the dessert cart to their table, with such an impressive choice of mignardises, so skillfully presented on tall three-tiered cake stands, large crystal glasses and vast porcelain plates that it would have brought tears of shame to a jeweler for his window display.

– “This has to be the best meal I've ever had!”

– “I'm glad to see you enjoy it so much...” Lou smiled.

– “I do, but... I have to say...” Guy raised his glass of champagne. “This is definitely the best meal I've ever had, because I'm enjoying it with the best person I've ever met.”

  Was he getting tipsy? Lou couldn't say. He was feeling a bit tipsy.

– “I also love to eat. A lot.”

– “I know...” Guy was going through a number of pastries.

– “Did you know about it before we started dinner, tonight?”

– “I mean... You said it yourself. This is the Pleasure Dome, after all.”

– “Oh, right. You're right...”

– “How about this? Can you guess why I love to eat pastries like these?”

– “How many guesses do I have?”

– “Three.”

– “Okay... Well, first things first. Ryan is a really good cook, but as much as he could make a pretty decent living as a chef, he would totally make a killing as a baker and candy maker!”

– “I couldn't agree more, but... Nuh huh! Wrong.”

– “So it's not a question of taste? Okay... I bet you love these because they make you feel like a giant.”

– “There you go! They are so dainty, and so filling at the same time.”

– “They really are...”

– “You only got half-way to the real reason why I love these pastries.”

– “Oh... What am I missing?”

– “The big picture, maybe? I love these because they remind me of you.”

– “No way...”

– “I'm serious, Lou. You are just so dainty, and sweet.”

– “And I make you feel like a giant?”

– “You do, right now...”

  The way Guy looked straight into his eyes would make Lou melt into a thick puddle, if he had been made of chocolate.

– “So we both love to eat. That's... That's great.”

– “I like to eat a lot! And I do love that you get to eat a lot too...”

– “I guess it's only natural for you to eat so much. You're a giant.”

– “I would love to be a real giant. Like... I don't know, towering over the forests and the hills? Then I would ask you to eat just as much.”

– “Eat as much as you do?”

– “That's right.”

– “Guy, I'm not a giant... I would just grow rounder and rounder!”

– “I know. You would grow... fatter... and... fatter...”

  Lou didn't even follow what was happening to him, right now. They had been holding hands for a little while. How did Guy manage to get hold of a spoon, reach for the chocolate mousse and bring it to his mouth?

– “Please, Lou... Eat some more for me.”

– “Do you really want me to...” Lou closed his eyes and licked what was left of the chocolate mousse off the spoon. “Grow fat for you?”

– “I do.”

  Guy's words sent sparkles inside Lou's head, and down his spine.

– “There you go. Eat some more...”

– “Hmmmph...”

– “I want you to know, Lou... I really care about you.”

– “Hmmmph hmmmph...”

– “If you don't want to gain weight, I won't force you.”

– “Hmmmph... Oh! but I do want to get fat!”

– “Then I will be there to feed you, and take care of you.”

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph hmmmph...”

– “I should also warn you about something.”

– “Hmmmph... Okay.”

– “You've seen how much I love to eat, tonight. I really love to eat a lot! I mean a lot, as much as I can...”

– “To be totally honest with you, I find it really appealing.”

– “Then there's a pretty good chance that... You know... I'm going to get fat. Even giants only get to eat so much without growing a bit chunky.”

– “Oh! Guy... I would find you just irresistible if you grew a bit rounder.”

– “Just a bit?” Guy teased him.

– “Just rounder...” Lou whispered, smiling mischievously.

  They both looked around their table. The dining hall was so silent.

– “Would your friends be angry at us if we asked for more desserts?”

– “Oh! I have a better idea...”

  Chris was coming back with cups of coffee. When they were served, he left the pot on the table and slipped a piece of paper under the coaster for Lou... It was Ryan's handwriting. When Guy wasn't looking, focusing on the lump of sugar in his black coffee, Lou quickly read: “Top drawer, both bedside tables” — with a sign that meant “Good night”, “Good luck” or possibly both.

  Cryptic as it may be, Lou knew what his friend meant to tell him.

– “Huh... Guy?”

– “Yes?”

– “It may be time for us to...”

– “What, go to sleep? I do get a bit sleepy when I'm stuffed.”

– “Let's go upstairs, then?”

– “With all these desserts left to be eaten? That would be a shame.”

– “This is a hotel. Have you never heard of room service?” 

– “Oh...” The tall redhead young man smiled.

  They had been holding hands from the moment Chris had gone back to the kitchen — and their fingers felt entwined like the roots of a mighty, secular tree, going deeper and deeper into the ground...

– “Silly me, I almost forgot... This is the Pleasure Dome after hours.”

■ ■ ■

Saturday morning — in Hawk's bedroom, in the lighthouse

  Austin had never spent such a perfect night with Hawk. As he was lazily spread over the bedsheets, he listened to his boyfriend's praise — Hawk couldn't be more delighted with Austin's weight gain and progress... He kept pressing, rubbing and massaging his rounder belly with both hands, with a shower of kisses all over his chest — from under his jawline to his navel and further South.

  It tickled him when the big, burly bear didn't just kiss his nipples but nibbled on them... Austin chuckled, amazed at how turned on they both were, even now.

– “Hey, you wild beast... Are you hungry or what?”

– “I'm just so hungry for this as you're hungry for more food...”

– “You're right... I will have to get back to the Pleasure Dome and eat an enormous late morning breakfast!”

– “You do that.”

– “There's no hurry...”

– “Speaking of huge... How is your friend Ryan feeding you?”

– “Oh! he feeds me so well...”

– “Like a pig?”

– “I don't know...” Austin laughed. “Ryan isn't like you.”

  Hawk growled like an angry bear. 

– “I know... He should be cooking for you, right now.”

– “It's still early. He's probably tending to the rose garden.”

– “Gardening, at this hour?”

– “What else should he be doing? Besides cooking, of course...”

– “Don't you get your milk delivered on Saturday mornings?”

– “Oh! right. That's it, he's with one of our dairy farmers.”

– “Then we have a pretty good idea of what they're doing...”

  Austin knew what his boyfriend meant, but he enjoyed teasing him.

– “Ryan and a dairy farmhand, in the rose garden?”

– “Yeah, playing... Hey! take a look at those Guns & Roses.”

– “Right!”

  They hugged each other more tightly.

– “You shouldn't look down on Ryan so much... He comes up with some pretty good ideas to feed me. He does have his moments, sometimes... I mean, if you can wait for those moments.”

– “Like sparks of genius?”

– “I wouldn't go that far...”

– “Sparks of light in a deep, deep night of blissful, ignorant darkness?”

– “That would be Ryan, all right...”

– “These black bottom cupcakes were a good idea, for instance.”

– “Oh! definitely... And I don't even know how he baked so many!”

  Austin let out a deep and booming belch that brought an aftertaste of cheesecake and chocolate all the way up to his teeth.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP...”

– “Ooof...” Hawk cooed, and rubbed his boyfriend's tummy. “Good one.”

– “See? Ryan does feed me really well!”

– “I never said that he didn't. He should just feed you more...”

– “If I ate everything he cooks, my poor stomach would explode!”

– “You'll get better at this...”

– “Ryan has suggested that he could cook soul food for me.”

– “Now, there's a million dollar idea!”

– “Oh... I'm not so sure.”

  Hawk moved a bit closer to his boyfriend and whispered to him.

– “What, you don't like soul food? It should be so fattening...”

– “I know... And I'm not too surprised that Ryan thought about it.”

– “You didn't ask for it?”

– “I didn't eat that kind of food, as a child.”

– “Oh, you didn't? Even back then, in Texas?”

– “My parents always told us that soul food was just low-quality food, meant for low-class African American families.”

– “I see...”

– “Ryan may have been raised like this, but I wasn't.”

– “Maybe you could give it a try?”

– “Hey! if we're still talking about Ryan, whatever he cooks tastes good.”

– “I agree... Forget about it as a million dollar idea.”

– “I doubt Ryan has ever put more than a ten dollar bill in his wallet.”

– “Make it a million calories!”

  Austin moaned under Hawk's touch, as his belly rubs felt more intense.

– “You really do enjoy kneading this ball of dough...”

– “I really do.” Hawk groaned almost out of breath.

– “Well... I don't mind if you do.”

■ ■ ■

Saturday morning — in Lou's bedroom, at the Pleasure Dome

  From the moment he first stepped into his friend's bedroom, Guy was amazed at the sheer size of the place... It had to be at least eight times larger that the studio where Lou had spent the night with him.

  Every piece of furniture looked so new, even luxurious, from Lou's desk to the leather couch and his king-sized bed... Guy took a look into the dressing room, like a child taking a tour inside a candy store, and he was in awe when he entered the bathroom.

  Even as he kept coming and going, he was still holding Lou's hand.

  There was a long moment of silence. Guy kept Lou embraced in a tight hug. Then he looked deep into his eyes and started undressing him with surprising ease, one button at a time — slowly going down with gentle rubs and pats until Lou was shirtless... When both their shirts fell to the floor, they held each other in such a way that Guy wouldn't have to lean over too much to kiss Lou on the lips.

  This was the moment they had been waiting for — not without a secret trigger of apprehension, for the two of them.

– “Lou?”

– “Guy...”

  They kissed so softly that both young men felt a wave of pure warmth, solace and comfort going through their bodies.

– “Guy...”

– “Lou...”

  That first kiss didn't just seal the deal. It triggered something neither of them could have apprehended — a moment of pure passion.

  Each and every new step they made together was a revelation... They spent the night exploring each other's bodies and feelings, going from wonder to amazement and sharing their discoveries with the enthusiasm of angels conquering Heaven and Hell for the glory of God! They had no words to express their delight, but they didn't need words to understand each other. They were about to create the Paradise of their dreams...

  New suns and stars exploded all over the sky. Planets would find their ways to orbit around them... Oceans and volcanos covered their surface with water and fire. Civilizations would build cities, harbors and palaces, then fall into ruin... Guy and Lou felt like they had fallen in such depths that they could spread their arms, hand in hand, and fly to the end of all possible worlds — and get back to bed for more cuddles and kisses.

  Thanks to Ryan's coded word of advice, they wouldn't want for a thing to make their dreams come true... Lou invited Guy to help himself with what he would find useful from the top drawer, in the table by his side of the bed. They didn't neglect any of the treasures they found.

– “Oh! Lou...”

– “Guy!”

  They would only moan or groan, but they got louder and louder after a few more times, in and out of the bathroom — going from the leather couch to the shower then back to bed... When the noticed how the sun was bathing Lou's bedroom in rich shades of flaming gold, with beams of pure white, they were so excited that they both came again, and fell on their backs in a crushing rush, with a long groan of ecstasy.

  There was another moment of perfect silence... Everything felt perfect.

– “Lou...”

– “Guy?”

– “I love you...”

– “I know...” Lou had tears in his eyes, but he smiled. “I know.”

– “I love you.”

– “I love you too...”

  They could look at the ceiling forever... The drawers were on the floor, and almost empty. There were no brownies left, no gummy bears, very little massage oil, very little lube and a few condoms that were either too small or too big for them. Ryan had considered his friend's needs quite carefully, but there were a few items Lou didn't know what to do with... 

  He could ask about them later.

  Guy was stretching out his arms, next to him.

– “This Saturday morning feels like a Sunday morning...”

– “That good, huh?” Lou asked with a smile.

– “You make my day, Lou... And you make it sunny.”

  The tall guy was gently caressing his face.

– “How late is it?”

– “Too early for you to get out of bed.”

– “Is it?”

– “Please, stay in bed.”

– “Stay in bed with you?”

– “Well...” Lou let out a deep sigh. “I may have to check on my friends.”

– “Right. Chris, is it? And Ryan?”

– “And Austin.”

– “Where are they now?”

– “Huh... Austin must be at the lighthouse with his boyfriend Hawk.”

– “Okay. How about Ryan?”

– “At this hour, I bet he's in the kitchen. Cooking.”

– “Oh, good... How about Chris?”

– “Chris? Hmmm... He must be in his office, reading the latest news and thinking about his next move against the mayor.”

– “Mayor Cochrane?”

– “Yes.”

– “Is he, like... playing chess or something?”

– “Nothing like that! I bet Chris believes he's playing a video game. The First Person Shooter kind of video game...”

– “Ouch! That bad?”

– “Definitely.”

  Guy sounded like he was quite amused by this.

– “I understand the animosity, but I would never take it as a game.”

– “Well... Chris does. It does feel like a game, sometimes.”

– “You really don't like mayor Cochrane...”

– “He's been attacking us with his racist slur, and his homophobe smear campaign... Then Chris can really hold a grudge! It must be an New York thing. As for me, I don't trust anyone whose hair makes you reconsider cotton candy as an acceptable alternative.”

  Lou's words made Guy laugh. He hugged him tight and kissed him.

– “If you have to go to work, you need to get dressed. Right?”

– “Right... Not that I want to.”

– “Come on, I like to see you all dressed up.”

– “You do?”

– “Where would be the fun in stripping you down?”

– “Oh! right.”

– “And man! do you rock in a pink shirt.”

– “I do like to wear pink, that's true...”

– “With my hair, and my skin tone, I wouldn't even dare.”

– “We could find clothes in a nice shade of pink that would suit you.”

– “I really doubt it. Besides...”

– “Yes?”

– “People would... You know.”

– “What? Point at you and giggle?”

– “Not giggle, but yell at me and call me all sorts of names.”

– “Oh...” Lou felt a bit embarrassed. “It's a cultural thing, really. In Korea or Japan, pink is like the most masculine color you could wear.”

– “It is?”

– “And golden yellow is the color of the emperor, just as it is in China.”

– “Yellow... Can you picture me wearing a yellow shirt?”

– “I can picture you wearing pink.”

  Guy helped Lou get dressed, and he chose one of his pink T-shirts.

– “This looks so good on you... It was meant for you alone.”

– “Thanks, Guy...”

  They brushed their teeth in the bathroom, together. Guy could borrow Lou's toothbrush — it made him smile when he noticed that Lou bought the same specific type of toothpaste as he did.

  Lou had to stand on the tips of his toes to reach Guy's lips, but he was rewarded with the most delicious kisses. Then he felt his friend's mighty paw on his tummy.

– “Pink isn't the only stuff you rock.”

– “Oh...”

– “Are you joining your friend Ryan in the kitchen?”

– “Yes.”

– “Then you can eat well. I need to know that you will eat well.”

– “With Ryan cooking breakfast for me? You have to meet him...”

– “Eat well for me, Lou.”

– “I will. You get some rest.”

– “Okay. I can do that...”

  As Lou was about to leave the room, he turned to check on his friend.

  Then he saw that spark of distress in Guy's blue eyes — he was feeling the exact same burn, in the depths of his heart. They didn't say a word, but they almost pounced on each other.

– “Guy...”

  The big, tall redhead groaned.

– “I'm only going down to the kitchen.”

– “Okay...”

– “And you're not going anywhere.”

– “Okay... I'm okay.”

– “Guy?”

– “Yes, Lou...”

– “I love you.”

■ ■ ■

Saturday around noon — in the coffee corner, at the Pleasure Dome

  Ryan had kept a fair amount of Lou's favorite pastries and pancakes for his late breakfast, while Chris was enjoying a second cup of coffee. They were delighted to see him, with the opportunity to talk and listen to him alone... Lou expected his friends to grill him with questions like barbecue meat, and he was ready to stand before the fire.

– “Hey, guys...”

– “Good morning, Lou.”

– “So...”

– “No need to twist my arm. I've spent the night of my life with Guy.”

– “It did sound like you enjoyed a night with the guy of your life...”

– “You guys could tell, right?”

– “Not that we would tell anyone, but you weren't too discrete about it.”

– “We weren't listening, but... You know, we're not deaf.”

  Lou smiled. Getting teased by his friends was also new for him.

– “Besides, you have that special glow...”

– “What glow?”

– “You know...” Chris moved his hand around Lou's face. “Afterglow.”

– “Come on.” Ryan served breakfast to his friend. “Lou already had that delicate glow. One of those many advantages of being Asian.”

– “What are you guys talking about?”

– “Why, you've never noticed?”

– “Not that anyone should judge the character of a man after the color of his skin, of course, but you do have this remarkable porcelain doll skin tone. Just like you have those blue overtones about your dark hair.”

  Ryan and Chris weren't kidding about it. Lou blushed.

– “I guess...”

– “Come on, Lou. We couldn't be happier for you.”

– “How does this make you feel?”

– “Like I've just slept with the man of my dreams on our first night.”

  Then, much to his friends' surprise, Lou started crying.

– “Lou... Is everything okay?”

– “Come on, it's okay. You'll be fine...”

– “Doesn't that make me... you know, a slut?”

  Chris and Ryan shared a wide-eyed look.

– “Well... You told us that your first night didn't count.”

– “That would mean that I've slept with Guy on our first date.”

– “Exactly.”

– “And that doesn't make me a slut.”

– “No...” Chris offered. “That makes you a PUP!”

– “A pup?”

– “That's right. A Pretty Unique Princess.”

  Lou frowned a bit.

– “I am no princess. And I certainly don't feel unique...”

– “You're right.” Ryan sympathized. “How about this? You're PLUMP!”

– “I'm plump?”

– “You've earned it too...” Chris chuckled. “You're our own Precious Little Ultimate Multiverse Princess.”

– “Ultimate Multiverse?”

– “Oh, definitely...” Ryan smiled and played along to comfort him. “You'll team up with your mate, and I bet he's also verse.”

  They were hugging him so close, it brought a smile to Lou's face.

– “You guys are the best...”

■ ■ ■

Saturday evening — in the kitchen

  Guy came down to join Lou when he was about to eat dinner. Ryan was already cutting vegetables and peeling fruits. Austin and Hawk were also coming back from the lighthouse.

  It was the moment for him to meet the whole team. Guy shook hands with Chris and Ryan, then with Austin. Hawk only had one word to say.

– “If you think I'm over the hill, you're over your head!”

  Austin was delighted at the thought of having two cooks in the kitchen.

– “Maybe Guy could show us how good he is at this?”

  It sounded like a good idea... until Guy prepared omelets for everyone. Austin grabbed one bite and frowned.

– “Why does this omelet taste like wallpaper paste?”

– “How would you know what wallpaper paste tastes like?”

– “I remember being four years old, and curious about things.”

– “And not too bright either...” Chris commented.

  Lou, Chris and Hawk shared a concerned look, sitting at the table. They tasted Guy's omelet and came to the same conclusion. Austin was right.

– “It's not like... an omelet is such a spicy dish.”

– “This one certainly isn't.”

– “Lou... Did you want to hire Guy as a cook?”

– “Huh...”

  Guy wouldn't let his friend get thrown under the bus.

– “I'm sorry, guys... I should have told you. I mean, I should have told Lou first. I'm not much of a cook. I've hardly ever cooked a meal for my family, or myself. I don't know if I could cook to save my life. I just...”

  Ryan came to the rescue.

– “It's okay... You can learn. I'll teach you.”

– “That's not how it works...”

  Austin and Chris agreed on this.

– “Ryan, you never learned how to cook...”

– “I've never learned how to teach either!”

– “And that's a reassuring thought?”

■ ■ ■

Sunday early morning — in the garden, by the pool

  Guy was so embarrassed after his first attempt at cooking a simple dish that he couldn't stay in the kitchen... He couldn't stand the way Austin and Hawk looked at him, or how Lou and Chris tried to convince him that he may do fine after some time, eventually. Ryan let everyone say their piece, and didn't say a word. 

  When they were done, he asked Guy to follow him outside. They would go for a walk in the woods, around the Pleasure Dome.

  It was just what the young man needed, starting with a breath of fresh air. Ryan's presence by his side also felt strangely soothing.

– “This is the first job you've applied to, isn't it?”

– “Yeah... And I'm not even good at it.”

– “You don't know that.”

– “How do you get to know or not know?”

– “It's too soon to tell. That's just it.”

– “I'm twenty-two. It's about time for me to get a life.”

– “I get that...” Ryan didn't insist. “I remember seeing you sometimes, at the Hospital. Doctor Arranoah's office? Correct me if I'm wrong.”

– “No, you're right...”

– “So you've been studying marine biology?”

– “For a few years.”

– “What made you want to stop?”

– “I had to... Huh.... I mean...”

  Even as the moon was going up and it was getting darker, Ryan could tell that Guy was about to cry again. He didn't stop walking, but wrapped an arm around his shoulders and brought the young man closer to him.

– “It's okay. Let me guess... Your parents found out.”

– “Yeah...”

– “A few weeks ago?”

– “About two months now. How did you...”

– “Just a hunch... You don't feel at home in your apartment.”

– “I really don't.”

– “Did you tell your parents, or did they find out on their own?”

– “I told my mother.”

– “Okay...”

– “Then she told my sisters, and they told my brother.”

– “And your father found out.”

– “Yeah... That's when I had to leave.”

– “You don't have to leave. Not anymore.”

  Ryan felt Guy's head slowly tilt to the side and rest on his shoulder, as they kept wandering through the woods.

– “Parents like yours couldn't imagine that they have raised a gay son... They send you to the best schools and the best universities in the world, and you have to be top of your class. You can't just be straight, you have to be a straight-A student.”

– “That's true...”

– “I bet you were top of your class.”

– “Not really... I was trying to.”

– “There are many ways to the top. You'll find your way.”

– “I think I remember you going down the hall, at the General Hospital.”

– “You do?”

– “You work with doctor Tietsen-Nippels and her assistants.”

– “That's right.”

– “Oh...”

– “Is there something wrong?”

  Guy sounded a bit uncomfortable with what he was about to say.

– “Oh! no... Nothing wrong. I may have listened to a few people, around the doctor's office, when they were talking about you...”

– “Okay.”

– “Huh... Ryan?”

– “Yes?”

– “I don't understand... Why do they keep saying that you are dumber than a truckload of bricks?”

  Ryan's laugh felt like a flash of light in the dark.

– “I know... I look dumb, therefore I am. Thank you, René Descartes!”

– “You're not dumb...”

– “What can I say? I may be even dumber than I know.”

  They had walked for quite some time, and they were on their way back to the Pleasure Dome. Guy shrugged and kept Ryan in a friendly hug.

– “There's something I know...”

– “What is it?”

– “I can't imagine what “clever” guy would take me for a walk like this.”

– “I guess you're right.”

– “That doesn't mean you're dumb.”

– “Does it mean that you would rather stay with us, dumb and lazy boys at the Pleasure Dome, instead of going back to your clever classmates?”

– “In a heartbeat. I know where I belong.”

– “And that's all you need to know.”

  There was a light mist, hanging like a ghostly veil over the lawn... Guy and Ryan were slowly coming back to the main terrace of the hotel.

– “Don't pay too much attention to what our friends will tell you... We all love to tease one another, but we care for each other. That's what friends do. You will do just fine here, with us. And with Lou, of course.”

– “I couldn't leave him, or this place...”

– “You're really fond of him, are you?”

– “I am... There's something about Lou. I don't know...”

– “There's a mystery about him?”

– “Something like that. Yes.”

– “Oh! then... You're very much in love.”

– “I'm in love with a mystery... I like that.”

– “You've been initiated to the mystery of love. It's a bit different.”

– “Oh...”

– “Maybe that's what the Pleasure Dome was meant for? Who shall tell?”

– “Yes... Maybe.”

  Walking through the mist, the first signs of dawn were all around them.

– “Guy...”

– “Huh?”

– “Maybe you know that line from Shakespeare?”

“If music be the food of Love, play on”

– “I think I do. Isn't that the first line from Twelfth Night?”

– “Very good! That's right.”

– “It's what duke Orsino tells his court musicians.”

– “Leave it to a melancholic prince whose name means Little Bear to say something like this... It should be just the opposite for you.”

– “How so?”

“If food be the music of Love, play, cook”

  Guy was obviously touched, as Ryan felt his hand press his shoulder.

– “You're right... That's the way I think!”

– “Then you'll prove everyone that you are a great cook.”

  There was a moment of silence, when they noticed how their coats and jeans, even their shirts and T-shirts were all wet with the morning dew... Guy had talked and listened to Ryan. Now that they were almost back to the kitchen, he felt cold inside for some reason.

– “Ryan... You're very kind, but I'm not sure that I can pull it off.”

  The blond jock faced him, running his hands through his long hair.

– “How about this? Pull off your coat.”

– “What?”

– “And take off your shirt.”

  Ryan was already throwing his clothes, piece by piece, on the closest chair on the terrace — just as he may have thrown caution to the wind.

– “Huh... Ryan, are you serious?”

– “Come on, follow my moves and follow your instincts.”

– “But I...”

  Guy didn't know what they were doing. Ryan was already taking off his shoes, his socks and his jeans... In a matter of minutes, they were both down to their boxer shorts, and it looked like Ryan was ready to pick up a fight. Were they going to wrestle by the swimming pool?

– “What did you want us to do?”

– “Just wait for a moment...”

– “Just wait? Wait for what?”

– “Guy... Do you trust me?”

– “I do.” He felt so much better, all of a sudden. “I trust you.”

– “Then follow me, just as I said... And follow your instincts.”

– “Okay.”

– “Five... Four... Three... Two... One...”

  When Ryan was done counting down, the lights on the terrace went on and the two young men found themselves surrounded with the crests of all the water jets from the sprinklers in the garden.

  Guy was frozen in amazement — and drenched. Then Ryan shouted.

– “Go!”

  And the two young men started running one after the other, barefoot, going from one sprinkler to the next, rolling on the freshly mowed lawn, going for friendly wildcat fights and laughing like children on an endless Summer vacation... 

  After a while, the jets coming from the sprinklers decreased in power, and Guy eventually got to catch his breath as he was lying in the grass, next to Ryan. He was so overjoyed with what they had just done.

  He had never misbehaved in such an exhilarating manner.

  There was no ceiling above their heads. He had never looked at the sky so clearly... He saw such an infinite space of freedom and opportunities, right now. If he stretched out his arms wide enough, he could embrace it as he wanted to embrace Lou.

– “Ryan...”

– “Yes, Guy?”

– “Would you... I mean... Ryan, would you be my brother?”

– “Your brother?”

– “Yes.”

– “Don't you have a brother?”

– “And two sisters...”

  Ryan looked into Guy's eyes. Then he took his hand.

– “No need to ask twice. If anyone should ask, I'm your brother.”

■ ■ ■

Sunday around noon — in the dinner hall

  Austin was hungry, but cautious — he didn't want to spoil his appetite with bland, tasteless food. Chris and Lou couldn't argue with him on that matter. They also remembered how much Hawk had insisted that Austin deserved the best kind of food so he could keep eating more and more, grow fatter and fatter...

  The power couple at the Pleasure Dome was quite focused on that goal!

– “How long does it take Ryan to cook lunch? I'm getting really hungry.”

– “Now that you mention it, we've never asked.”

– “Did they spend all morning in the kitchen, together?”

– “I should think so.”

  Lou let Austin and his cousin talk. He couldn't say a word. His thoughts were only focused on Guy... On any other regular Sunday, he would have worked at his desk from breakfast to dinner. Not today. He couldn't even get himself to eat another chocolate eclair with his coffee, and his coffee had a strange aftertaste that felt like tears.

  Hawk had joined them a few minutes ago... Sitting next to Austin, he was just so impatient as his boyfriend to see a full meal on the table and get his hands on it.

  Then the kitchen door was opened. Ryan and Guy came to their friend's table with four large plates in their hands.

– “Sorry, boys... It took us some time, but it should be worth the wait.”

– “What did you prepare to surprise us?”

– “Appetizers.”

  Ryan and Guy served them a variety of fried pieces with spicy sauces.

  Austin threw a sideways glance at their blond cook.

– “Did Guy cook this?”

– “What do you think? This, my friends, is teamwork.”

– “Oh...” Chris nodded. “Of course, it makes sense.”

– “Okay. Guy...” Austin looked up to him. “I'm sorry. This is your first day with us, at the Pleasure Dome, and I've been really rude to you.”

– “It's okay. I should have been completely honest with you.”

– “So... What do you know about Southern cooking?”

– “Not a thing. I was born and raised in Pleasance...”

– “Well... There's only one way to find out.”

  As soon as Lou, Chris, Hawk and Austin grabbed the first bite of what they had picked and dipped in sauce, the four men shared a look of total amazement — then they rushed to try another piece, another sauce, and another, and another...

  Austin was first to break the silence, around the table, but he couldn't help going full Southern style as he rubbed his stomach.

– “Oh... my... God... Fry my guts and call me crispy!”

■ ■ ■

Monday morning — in the main hall, at the Pleasure Dome

  It was bound to happen, at some point. Chris was still laughing after he was done reading the latest article attacking mayor Cochrane, while he was eating breakfast. He was on such good terms with the reporters that he could tell who had written it, who had proofread it, how it was edited and finally sent to print.

  He had just received a phone call from Pleasance. Mayor Cochrane was coming back to the Pleasure Dome to confront them, in person... Chris had to think fast. The mayor would show up and show off with his little court of lackeys, the usual suspects in his “inner circle” of goons.

  The only question he found worth asking was if he had called for the Police to raid the hotel and arrest them... Of course, he knew how to get that information long before the officers would get to the gates.

– “So... What did they say?”

– “Not today. We're safe...” Ryan confirmed. “Rex says Hi.”

– “Good.”

  Even so, there were four long, black stretched cars pulling up in front of the hotel's steps. The whole city council of Pleasance had to be there, following their leader like hounds around a hunting, English countryman.

  They weren't yapping like hounds, but mayor Cochrane was...

  Lou was there to welcome them, with his natural charm and calm, his polite attitude and his perfect manners. They ignored him, going straight ahead into the main hall... As a matter of fact, mister Wehrmer was the only councilman around the mayor who shook his hand, and the one who looked the most embarrassed in this awkward situation.

– “Okay, Lou... This means war.”

  It came as no surprise to Chris that mayor Cochrane was angry at the Press. It had taken a recent turn toward a critically torqued political and social battle of articles and editorials between newspapers.

– “Everyone knows I'm a deft negotiator. I'm the best in the game! They said so in the Pleasance Inquirer, this morning. Front page. Bold print.”

– “Never bold enough...” Mister Wehrmer mumbled.

  Lou took Chris to the side.

– “I've read that article. The journalist wrote that everyone knows what a daft negotiator he is...”

  The two of them could tell that the mayor had come to pick up a fight, and there was no way out for them... He had brought his copies of their signed hotel license and the one that would allow them to open a shelter for teenagers — just to tear them both to pieces in front of them.

– “We want these licenses signed in ink, not in pink.”

  Chris had to wonder how Lou could stand so patiently still. 

– “Sir, we have come to an agreement with your councilman.”

– “Consider it null and void. You will leave these grounds by next week.”

– “We own this land. This is our home.”

– “We'll see about that! Your home? I get to decide whose home this is.”

  Then, much to Lou's surprise, mayor Cochrane choked and almost froze in front of him... Chris also looked puzzled. Most of the old men in front of them were also turning pale, like the mayor, as if they had just seen a ghost. If the whole bunch of them had a stroke, right now, should he call the paramedics or do a victory dance?

  Chris and Lou suddenly heard a voice from someone coming down the stairs — and they knew that voice.

– “This is their home! Our home... It's my home now too.”

  Lou turned to Guy, in a movement of pure panic... He didn't want the young man to fight for him like this, against such a dangerous opponent. Chris had to admire him too, for showing such courage.

  They were about to go for a full on, gloves off fist fight. Ryan had come to back them up — as for Austin, he stood a little further in the back but he wouldn't let them down. Hawk was there to protect him, if things got really out of hand...

  Mayor Cochrane shouted so loud that he may pop a vein, at this point.

– “What did you just say?”

– “You truly never listen to me... This is our home!”

– “Guy! What are you doing here, in the first place?”

– “I'm working here, with my friends.”

– “Your friends? Oh! of course, you and this kind...”

– “For all I know, they're my real family... dad!”

  It would have hurt less if the men around Guy had just been struck by lightning. They all cried out in surprise.

– “Dad?”

  Guy turned to face as many people as he could address.

– “My name is Guy Cochrane... I'm his son.”

  It was Lou's turn to look frozen. Chris held him by the shoulders.

– “Dude! Talk about Sleeping with the Enemy...”

– “Oh, God...” Lou whispered. “I am so fucked.”

  The fight was far from over, but mayor Cochrane didn't know where to start over after he had received such a blow. With all the members of his council behind him, this was more humiliating than anything the Press could tell. One look at his son now holding Lou in his arms confirmed his worst suspicions...

  Chris saw the young redhead man in a completely different light too.

– “Watch out, nuclear family... Our arsenal just got nuclear!”

  It was not lost on Ryan, however, that Guy's fierce attitude didn't make him indestructible. He placed himself behind Lou and him, not just for a fight but to help them get over the fight.

  Only Mayor Cochrane's fight was with his son, now...

– “How can you debase yourself so much, with these perverts?”

– “For your information, they're so much less perverted than the people you hire and bribe to do your dirty work, or the people who bribe you to get their dirty work done!”

– “How dare you talk to me like this?”

– “How dare you go on insulting even the people who voted for you?”

– “I'll get you out of here! I'll get you all out of Pleasance!”

– “Everyone will know about this, dad! I'll tell everyone!”

– “You wouldn't dare...”

– “I'll tell the Press!”

– “They won't listen! And they won't tell!”

– “Dad!” Guy almost shouted at the mayor. “You're not just “flooding the zone”, you're flooding the basement... This is maddening! I had to go, all right! I had to get away from you. I didn't know why, then, but I do now. You've poisoned everything you've ever touched... The air has grown so toxic in our own home, and our home town, that even you can't breathe without forcing everyone else to suffocate!”

  He was on the verge of tears, but even Lou couldn't get him to stop.

  Mayor Cochrane turned to mister Wehrmer.

– “Have you reconsidered signing these licenses?”

– “Honestly, sir? I've considered resigning... Many times now.”

  There was a moment of complete and totally unexpected silence. Then the mayor looked up to face his son, who simply wouldn't back down.

– “That does it. You're no son of mine.”

  That hit a nerve. Guy almost exploded in front of everyone.

– “Why don't you ask mom to make sure? Oh! right, because you can't stand fact checking! You're so divorced from reality, I'm amazed that she didn't ask for a divorce. Am I your son, really? Do I want to be your son? What do you care? Did I ever ask for this? I know who I am, and I know where I belong. And I love Lou, dad! I am in love with Lou... These few days I've spent with him, at the Pleasure Dome, are the only moments I should remember if I died tomorrow in a car accident, because that's the only time in more than twenty-two years when I've felt alive. Alive and free, for the first and only time in my life! I'm in love with Lou and I will never lie to him, or cheat on him. Am I right? Yes, you can talk for hours about moral values, and the importance of family... You don't even know the first letters of the word faithful!”

  For the second time in a row, Mayor Cochrane fled before the storm. He couldn't have an argument with his son, not when Guy looked fierce and furious like this — and determined to fight to the very end.

  Standing next to him, Lou was petrified for a while... When the whole city council of Pleasance had left the premises, following their elected leader, the tall redhead brute was still on fire until he suddenly burst into tears. Ryan and Hawk came to wrap him in a double bear hug from both sides — just what he needed, but he was still crying on Ryan's shoulder.

  Chris turned to Lou, and lowered his voice.

– “Okay, I was wrong. Ryan was right. I agree with him now...”

– “What about?”

– “Lou... Marry this man.”

■ ■ ■

Monday afternoon — in the kitchen

  Austin felt better, sitting at the table. His heart was still racing.

– “Huh... Ryan, about that next pot of coffee?”

– “What about it?”

– “You may want to serve it not so strong as we usually take it.”

– “Oh! I couldn't agree more...”

  Guy was still shivering with rage when he came into the kitchen.

– “How about you have a cold beer, instead?” Hawk suggested.

  Austin nodded in agreement — the same thought had just crossed their minds. Guy could use a cold shower, even more so than a cold beer...

– “Okay.”

  Ryan came back from the cold room and poured a large, tall glass of beer for his friend, who downed it in one long sip — and belched.

– “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP...”

  Sitting at the table, Chris leaned to the side and whispered to Austin.

– “Dude, this guy burps even louder and longer than you!”

– “Oh, well...” Austin frowned. “We'll see about that.”

  Lou was no less shocked than his friends, but what he felt for Guy went deeper than anything he had ever imagined... He couldn't help swooning when he saw him lift his T-shirt up, to suddenly slap his firm and furry tummy and tell everyone about his dreams.

– “Okay, guys! I may not be much of a cook, but I know how to eat... I would like to join your team, if you allow me. I want to eat a lot, and get fat! How about you, Lou? Let's eat together! Eat a lot, and get fat...”

– “How fat would you want me to get?”

– “Honestly? I have no idea... Just fatter. And fatter!”

– “Fatter and fatter...” Lou smiled. “It does sound like a plan.”

  Chris felt confident enough to tease them a bit.

– “If you feed him well, you can get Lou to grow fatter than Austin.”

– “Hey!” His cousin protested. “I'm sitting right next to you...”

  Hawk also sat down.

– “Guys... We still need to talk about the elephant in the room.”

– “And he doesn't even mean me...” Austin sighed. “For once.”

  Lou had to praise Guy for his timely intervention first.

– “You didn't expect this hunk to be hunkering down! Am I right?”

– “He certainly didn't... You're quite a fighter for the right causes.”

  Guy let them talk. It helped him calm down.

– “I already knew how much you guys hate my father...”

– “That's nothing compared to how much he hates us.”

– “I know... I just didn't know how to tell you.”

– “It's okay. The cat's out of the bag now.”

– “Huh... The cat made such a mess with that bag, even gremlins would take one look at him and ask “How did he even do it?” But that's the way the Truth comes out, sometimes.”

  Ryan poured a full mug of coffee for everyone — with cookies.

– “This isn't over.”

– “Please! this is only the beginning...”

  Guy let out a deep, long sigh.

– “I wonder what my father will do next.”

– “Will we always have to worry about that retarded turd?”

– “Hey!” Austin slapped his cousin's hand. “Watch it.”

– “Come on... You feel the same about mayor Cochrane.”

– “I do, but that was my chocolate-chip cookie!”

  Ryan put a hand on Guy's shoulder. It didn't even weigh on him.

– “Come on, he's just an old kook... You'll be a young cook with us.”

  Guy looked up and thanked his new friends, Ryan and Chris, Hawk and Austin. Then he took one look at Lou and his heart skipped a beat.

– “You guys are the best.”

– “Don't tell anyone. That's our secret weakness...”

  Lou took the last cookie on the plate, and brought it to Guy's lips.

– “It feels good to welcome a new team player at the Pleasure Dome.”

■ ■ ■