Around the Pleasure Dome — season 1, episode 8 "Around the bush" —

Around the bush [season 1, episode 8] —

Friday morning — in the kitchen

  The boys needed to take a break. Everyone agreed that their American Bear Week was a success, with a fair number of highly positive reviews in what they would call “Independent Press” for lack of a better word, a fair amount of cash and traveler's checks that made their business look profitable, limited damage to the furniture in the bedrooms, around the pool or the sauna, and very few stolen items... All in all, it was a pretty good deal for them — with disappointing consequences.

  In the following weeks after those reviews were published, Lou had to answer at least fifty calls but most of them were only prank calls... Most of the men who called the Pleasure Dome sounded so stinking drunk that he could feel their breath over the phone, and only the better half of the sober ones were genuinely interested in booking a room for a week-end.

  Even then, there was nothing certain for their next events...

  It was only safe to say that the people who had come all the way from the United States to write those articles and reviews about the services they had to offer didn't have so much influence over their readers.

– “No matter how eagerly they stuffed themselves, their bloated bellies were no match for their bloated egos...” Chris summed it up.

  Austin nodded in agreement. He was still busy devouring a fourth plate of thick and fluffy silver dollar pancakes, with butter and honey or maple syrup. Ryan was also busy with four skillets going at the same time.

– “They were full, all right... Only they were already full of it.”

  Lou let out a discrete sigh. He had just done his best to eat three large helpings of pancakes but he couldn't keep up with his friends... Sitting next to him, Chris was going through the newspaper, but Guy was ready for his fourth plate with an insatiable appetite. Austin was already asking Ryan for scrambled eggs and sausages wrapped in bacon, as usual.

  The next week-end they had planned for a party of twenty-four people was just cancelled. Once again, it meant a lot of food cooked in advance, bedrooms cleaned up and prepared for their guests, bouquets of flowers and more to decorate the dining hall. Lou had no choice but to tell them.

  He took a sideways look at Ryan... The unsuspecting blond cook was always busy, serving his friends such large helpings of the most delicious foods and keeping every room in the hotel spotless, washing the dishes, doing the laundry, mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges and mopping the floor so their home looked like a first class hotel. There may be very limited damage after that American Bear Week, but it would be a stretch to say “no harm done” — then, if something was broken, there was no doubt that Ryan had paid for it. 

  Lou didn't want to suggest that he was actually “broken”, but his dumb blond friend was working like a machine, weeks after everything should have faded away — fast and efficient, impeccable, unflappable, but also naturally silent... So naturally that Austin and Chris didn't even notice. 

  Ryan wasn't sulking. As a matter of fact, he was his usual cheerful and supportive self, with a friendly smile, a comforting bear hug and a few words to keep the conversation going — but really never more than two or three words, really few and far between. Guy agreed with him. During their cooking lessons, Ryan did his best to give him some useful advice but, when it was over, it felt like someone had switched the lights off... It didn't help that Guy had not made much progress as a cook.

  Now that he had more bad news to tell his friends, Lou was a bit more concerned with the way their hopelessly dumb blond cook would take it than with the rest of the team's disappointment.

– “Sorry, boys... There will be no party, this week-end.”

– “What, they've cancelled again?”

– “These were not the same people, Austin...”

– “So they're just as bad.”

– “They are.”

– “How about their checks?” Chris asked. “Did you cash those?”

– “I did.”

– “Okay. So we didn't lose any money?”

– “We didn't. Then we didn't make much money either.”

  Lou didn't feel right about it anyway.

– “There really is no fun in “no refund”, but we don't have a choice.”

– “You've warned them. If they weren't serious about it, that's too bad.”

– “Of course, it's their loss...”

  Just as expected, Ryan was only busy with scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and a large Denver omelet for Austin... He had not even shrugged at the news. Guy was ready to cut apples, peaches, pears, apricots and strawberries for him to bake a few more fresh pies.

  There was enough food in the cold rooms to keep their greedy friends busy and happy for the next few days.

– “Okay, then we also need a “go sob” policy.” Austin suggested.

– “What's a “go sob” policy?”

– “You know... Get Out. Stay Out.” He swallowed his pancake, drenched in maple syrup, with one last nut of butter. “Bitches...”

■ ■ ■

Monday morning — at the Pleasure Dome gym, sauna & spa

  When doctor Tietsen-Nippels came back for one of her monthly check-ups, she was pleasantly surprised to find the boys well-rested and, in the case of Lou and Austin at least, noticeably bigger and rounder... She was only informed about their American Bear Week project — and she didn't know that this last week-end was so much more quiet than expected.

  

– “Good job, Austin! You must have been eating really well...”

  The handsome young man was weighed in at a whopping 310lbs, when he was hungry for breakfast and rubbing his groaning tummy!

– “Excellent, Lou! You have put on no less than 8 pounds, this time.”

– “Oh, wow...” The Asian young man blushed. “This feels right.”

– “It is! You're only five pounds away from the 200 mark.”

  While this was good news for Lou, the same comment sounded harshly negative and almost alarming, when it was Ryan's turn to stand on the scale. The blond cook at the Pleasure Dome only weighed 208lbs, and it looked like he would keep losing weight if he didn't pull himself together. It was her duty as a doctor to warn him and his friends about this...

  The team's check-up ended on a more positive note. For his first weigh-in and measurements, Guy looked all the more impressive — going after Ryan and Chris, whose weight was still about 170lbs.

– “Wow, Guy! You're a truly big boy.” Doctor Tietsen-Nippels smiled.

– “I've put on a little weight, lately...”

– “How much does he weigh?” Lou asked.

– “Almost as much as Austin. 309lbs!”

  Guy was beaming, but so was Austin... Of course, the same amount of weight was distributed in a totally different way on their bodies: next to this 6'5'' tall thick, burly redhead lumberjack with a full beard, the 5'9" tall smooth black young man with fuller cheeks looked even rounder and even fatter than when he stood on the scale for the doctor.

  Teasingly, Austin rubbed his friend's furry abs for a moment, while Guy tried to grab and squeeze his growing lovehandles.

– “Play nice, boys...” Doctor Tietsen-Nippels almost chuckled.

  Back in Lou's office, she asked him to sit down. 

– “Okay then, Lou. What were you thinking about?”

– “I'm still amazed that there is such a huge weight difference between Guy and me. That's more than a hundred and ten pounds between us...”

– “Please... You make it sound like it's an obstacle.”

– “It's not, but I know Guy wants me to outweigh him!”

– “Oh? Well, of course! good luck with that...”

  Doctor Tietsen-Nippels cleared her voice.

– “I would be more concerned if you outweighed your friend Ryan... I'm not saying that your cooks should be the heaviest members in the team, at the Pleasure Dome, but...”

– “I know what you mean...” Lou sighed. “Ryan has lost a few pounds.”

– “In this case, two pounds is too much...” The doctor insisted.

– “It's been a few rough weeks for him.”

– “Isn't that what you said, like... a few months ago?”

– “When he got sick?”

– “When you and your friends thought he might die!”

– “Okay, we overreacted... It wasn't so serious.”

– “It wasn't. What is it now, then? What's next?”

– “Ryan is a very active guy.”

– “How about your friend Guy?”

– “Oh! Guy is very active too...”

  Lou didn't wish to share too much information about his big boyfriend... There was a lot more to be said about both cooks outside the kitchen. At least, Guy was only having sex with him — then one could say that they were the reasonable ones?

– “I have told Ryan to take breaks, get some rest and eat something at regular hours, but everyone's schedule has been all over the place...”

– “That's what you get, in this line of business. I'm not surprised.”

– “What can we do about this?”

  Doctor Tietsen-Nippels had to think about it. Ryan wasn't stubborn. He knew what was good for him — even his taste in men suggested what being and staying in good health meant to him: good personal hygiene, a good appetite, good strength and stamina, a good sense of humor... at least, good instincts in the course of wild and sweaty adventures!

  Except for one thing: Ryan cared for his friends — too much for his own good, according to the doctor... Cooking for them and doing all sorts of chores around the house was naturally time-consuming, but the dumb blond guy was getting slowly burned down in the process, once again... It was one thing to tease him for being “on fire” at all times, but it was just so serious and insidious as if their home was on fire and they didn't notice. She didn't know how to tell the team.

– “To be honest with you...” Lou hesitated for a second. “Ryan has been quite burned, lately. Rude guests, you know... We haven't been so lucky with our most recent events. Maybe that's taking a toll on him.”

– “Burned, you say...”

– “I wouldn't know how to describe it any other way.”

  Doctor Tietsen-Nippels rose from her chair.

– “That's it, then! We should fight fire with fire.”

– “What do you mean?”

– “I would like your friend Ryan to meet a friend of mine.”

– “How would that solve the problem? Aren't you afraid that they would, you know, like... get on a first name basis before they even ask and tell each other what their names are?”

– “Oh, well..” The doctor smiled. “No, that shouldn't happen. It would be rather unethical if they did anything like that.”

– “Unethical?” Lou raised an eyebrow. “Are we still talking about Ryan?”

– “I'm talking about my good friend and colleague, doctor Arranoah... He is doing research in marine biology, health and nutrition. I have told him about your business, and I am confident that he would be interested in teaming up with you on some side projects.”

– “Why does his name sound familiar?”

– “He was your boyfriend's teacher and tutor, for a few months.”

– “Oh...”

  Lou had to ask Guy about this doctor... Bringing someone new to the team was an important decision. It sounded like a good idea to ask for a professional nutritionist to help and look after Ryan — or keep him under watch, as the case may be.

■ ■ ■

Monday afternoon — in the lighthouse

  Guy only had good things to say about doctor Arranoah.

– “I called him Diego, when I was taking his class in marine biology... I mean, all the students called him Diego. He's a great teacher.”

– “Why do you guys need to team up with a teacher?” Hawk asked.

  Lou couldn't decide if the grumpy coast guard implied that the team didn't have to be taught anything about Life as it was, or that they didn't have what it takes to learn what could help them get their business off the ground.

  Austin was sitting shirtless on a small tower of pillows, next to his chair. Hawk was secretly pleased and touched that his sexy boyfriend wanted to spend more time with him, even when he was on duty, but there was no need for the whole pack of young wolves to invade his office... It was already too hot in here, with the sun hitting the windows hard, and this handsome black boy who didn't mind having his round belly rubbed.

  Chris agreed with him, for once, drinking hot tea to get over the heat.

– “Do you know this doctor, Hawk?”

  That was one way of asking if Diego Arranoah was getting close to his retirement. Hawk felt the sting, but he kept his cool.

– “If his name is Arranoah, he must be local.”

– “He's a pretty young doctor.” Guy offered.

– “So he's young... Good for him.” Hawk mumbled, keeping his dark blue eyes on the horizon and his back turned at them.

  Lou and Guy told their friends about doctor Arranoah's line of research. His team had discovered some kind of underwater organism in the Arctic waters of Northern Canada. Now they would like to acclimate it in limited pond waters, on the grounds of the Pleasure Dome, and study how that organism would evolve.

– “What kind of organism are we talking about?”

– “Phytoplankton. It's like seaweed, with very promising properties.”

– “What do you think, guys?” Chris asked. “It's not like I've ever said no to some weed with “promising” after effects.”

– “Diego calls it Cryptophyta Pachyntika Megalophagia... or “CPM”, in his notes. It's a vegetal endemic Arctic organism that looks extremely rich in protein. It should promote effective storage of densely packed nutrients.”

– “Huh...” Austin nodded. “Okay, sounds good to me.”

– “Doctor Tietsen-Nippels also suggested that he should work with a test subject in our team. Then I thought, maybe...”

  All eyes turned to Ryan — it took him a few seconds to catch up, as he was cutting slices of pie for his friends, to go with their hot coffee or tea. He looked like he had done something wrong again.

– “...Guys?”

– “Doctor Tietsen-Nippels and I agree that you would be the perfect test subject for this kind of... test.”

– “Oh... What? when you think “packed”, you actually picture me?”

– “Come on, don't sell yourself short...” Hawk teased. “I also picture you when I think “dense”. So, what do you say?”

– “Sure. If I can help...” Ryan shrugged. “Count me in.”

  Lou was pleased. He could be fully honest about it.

– “Doctor Arranoah can also help you, hopefully.”

– “Help me? But I'm not even sick... I think. Did doctor Tietsen-Nippels tell you something I should know?”

– “Diego isn't that kind of doctor, Ryan.” Guy reassured him.

– “As a nutritionist, he could help you to eat better.”

– “I know how to eat...”

– “Then he would at least make sure that you do.”

  Ryan stood up to face his friends. Hawk turned his chair to join them.

– “This is about the two pounds I've lost again? Come on...”

– “It's not a lot, but we've been over this before. You work so hard, day and night, then you do stuff on your free time that is...”

– “...Just so hard.” Chris and Hawk mumbled in unison.

– “Guys, give me a break... I have been quiet, this week-end.”

– “I just don't want you to break down.”

– “He's right...” Guy defended his friend. “With no party to entertain, it's been a pretty quiet week-end for us.”

  Chris smiled and sipped some more tea to hide it... Little did they know that he had kept Ryan reenacting his young, lost soldier's game all night, all week-end. Everyone else was busy somewhere, in his bedroom or his boyfriend's bedroom, so they were free to do whatever they wanted.

  Ryan had already proved what an exceptional and adventurous lover he was, but Chris got to experience now how caring, tender and comforting he could also be for his partner... It was only natural that this unbound blond bad boy should look a little tired, after such explosive bouts of lust and ecstasy. Then it was just so natural that he should look a little lean — and maybe, Chris thought, his friends should feel a bit concerned about it. They meant well, and they already knew what would happen if Ryan was no longer there to cook for them...

– “I have to agree with Lou and Guy. If you keep losing weight like this, even just one or two pounds over a month, that's not healthy.”

– “I know...” Ryan looked down.

  It was just impossible to ignore his slender waist and his abs, hard like cobblestones covered with blond body hair. Ryan was wearing old, worn blue jeans that were tight around his butt, thighs and calves, but loose around his waist... His white shirt was totally opened and floating around his torso. He let out a deep sigh, almost out of shame.

– “Am I getting skinny?”

– “Yes!”

  That answer was unanimous, loud and clear. It startled him.

– “I guess I need help...”

– “You just can't afford to stay so lean.” 

  Austin was still there to defend his friend.

– “Seriously, guys...” He shrugged. “For the last few months, I thought we would no longer afford to eat. Now we can't afford not to eat?”

– “That's right!” Hawk patted his shoulder.

– “I certainly don't want you to go hungry!” Ryan smiled.

– “So it's settled? We call doctor Arranoah for an appointment.”

– “It would be rude if you called him and I didn't.” Ryan let his Southern good manners shine through, for once. “I should make that call...”

  Guy was delighted at the thought of spending some more time with his marine biology teacher again, in this new environment. He could tell him about his own new Life, introduce him to Lou and his friends.

  Then maybe he could help Ryan — not as a his assistant but as Diego's research assistant, always in or around the kitchen... He had not made much progress, as a cook, so this could be his major contribution to their business, if there was money to be made with these studies.

  He enjoyed eating another slice of the most delicious apple pie, right now, and putting another slice on Lou's plate, just as Hawk was reaching for the next largest slice for Austin. Chris stood with his back to the door, in that little room, holding Ryan from behind in an almost innocent hug... The lean blond guy had just put two buckets of ice-cream and a large pan of peach cobbler on the table for his friends. It was still hot from the oven, and he kept sweating so much under the sun.

– “There's a riddle for you...” Hawk suggested with a laugh. “How do you get your cook to eat, when he only cooks for people who don't cook? It sounds like the barber paradox!”

– “You mean Russell's paradox?”

– “I thought that one wasn't actually one of Russell's...”

– “What's that from Brussels?” Ryan asked.

– “Bertrand Russell...” Lou corrected. “If you think about a barber as the man who shaves all the men who don't shave themselves, but only men who don't shave themselves, you can't determine if the barber is clean-shaven or if he has a beard. The paradox is that, if he shaves himself, he can't be a barber according to that initial definition — then, if he doesn't, he falls into the category of all the men he should shave.”

– “In any case...” Ryan smiled. “Your barber must have a headache.”

– “Lucky for you, there's no mention of chest hair in that paradox.”

  Chris opened the door. Ryan had to bring more pies from the kitchen at the Pleasure Dome. He would be back soon enough, when the last bites of peach cobbler and the last scoops of ice cream would be eaten.

– “Guys, your barber paradox is bananas...” Austin concluded, taking a short break between mouthfuls. “There's no need for any of this to make sense, once you've found out that the people who grant everyone else's wishes are also the people everyone takes for granted.”

■ ■ ■

Friday morning — in the kitchen

  When Guy suggested that they should celebrate Thanksgiving twice, it was a bit of a surprise for his friends. Austin and Ryan had never heard of Canadian Thanksgiving. It was just another social event for Chris, who didn't care for it so much. Lou had never experienced Thanksgiving of either tradition, Canadian or American, but he was curious about such a feast, of course... Hawk doubled down on Guy's suggestion: they should celebrate both Canadian and American Thanksgiving. 

  He mentioned some other local holiday and family reunion over a long week-end he had planned for Austin and him, but only Guy understood what it was.

– “So, Thanksgiving for you guys...” Ryan asked. “That's next Monday?”

– “Yes.”

– “I guess we can cook a decent meal for it, over the week-end.”

  The blond cook was already working on it, going to the cold room.

– “Think about it, this will be my first Thanksgiving.” Lou smiled.

– “The way I see it...” Guy patted his boyfriend's soft belly. “Tuesday will be more like a rehearsal for your real Thanksgiving feast.”

– “When would that be? You want us to go to the United States?”

– “What? No, I thought...” The tall, blushing redhead boy sounded quite mischievous, suddenly. “You know what? I'll have to make a phone call.”

– “Okay...” Lou went back to his stack of pancakes. “How about you, guys? Are you planning to spend time with your family?”

– “We are family...” Austin shrugged. “I'm good.”

– “I meant your parents? Your other cousins?”

– “You want me to go back to Texas for Thanksgiving? You think I want to spend the whole evening sitting between our racist uncle Lee and our rapist cousin Harvey?”

  Chris nodded at Lou, in a way to tell him “You don't want to know”.

– “Sorry, Lou. That was rude. I just really don't want to go back home and waste another long week-end with my parents, my sister Dallas...”

– “You have a sister named Dallas?”

– “Yes.”

– “And it's just what you think.” Chris smiled with his arms crossed behind his head. “His parents named her Dallas because she was born in Dallas. His brother Houston was born in Houston... And Austin here was named the same, because he was born in Austin.”

– “Oh...”

– “Any questions?”

– “Well, like...” Lou gulped down. “Who are your parents? The Hiltons?”

– “What do you know? I'm in the hotel business too.”

– “I can only imagine what your names would be, if your parents lived in Louisiana instead of Texas.”

– “I would have a cousin “Baton rouge”... Indian name, no lipstick.”

– “I have never put on lipstick.” Austin shrugged. “I guess I could...”

  The pancakes were gone. The pies were gone. There was no coffee left. Ryan would wash the dishes later... He was working on turkey stuffing at the counter, mixing ground meat, bread soaked in oil, sliced onions and celery, mashed potatoes, raw eggs, a touch of garlic, herbs and spices.

– “Guy is right. The perfect Holiday season will be upon us soon...” Hawk took a deep breath. “The days are growing shorter, and Austin is growing rounder!” 

  He gave his well-fed boyfriend a hug, like a big bear... The last nights they had spent together at the lighthouse were just epic. Austin wanted to stay nestled against Hawk's furry chest forever. He couldn't sleep any more comfortably on a fluffy cloud in Heaven.

– “Lou?” Guy was coming back from the lobby. “It's perfect! We can go.”

– “Go where?”

– “To Vancouver.”

– “What will you guys do in Vancouver?” Chris asked.

– “Oh... Visit my aunt Marian, of course.”

– “For Thanksgiving?”

– “Not so soon. Next month. We have plenty of time...”

– “But... Guy?” Lou had to ask. “Don't you want to spend Thanksgiving with your family, first? I mean, your brother and your sisters, and...”

– “What, like... my father? Please! I've seen him answer the Press in his latest conference. He would certainly want every Thanksgiving Parade to be all about him!”

– “Oh... Okay. Cold turkey, then.”

  Hawk invited Guy to sit down.

– “You want to invite him to the Itsasorak feast... in Vancouver?”

– “Not exactly. First things first, aunt Marian is an Iturritik like me. And boy! does she know how to cook a meal...”

– “What's this thing about Tick and Rack?” Chris didn't understand.

– “The Iturritik and the Itsasorak are the ancient native American tribes, in the islands and the hills around Pleasance.” Guy explained.

– “Most of the Iturritik still live in the hills, while the Itsasorak live on the shores.” Hawk commented. “We're basically one and the same people. We share the same language, the same traditions...”

– “We're not the same.” Guy cut him with a teethy grin.

  Lou and Chris exchanged a puzzled look.

– “What kind of feast did you have in mind?”

– “We call it Gizentasunariko Oturuntza.”

– “What's that?”

– “It's our own version of Thanksgiving, among the Itsasorak. Roughly translated, it would be like... I don't know, the Gorging Feast?”

– “Or the Fattening Feast.” Guy nodded.

– “Sounds good to me...” Chris smiled, looking after Ryan who was frying some stuffing in the pan for his friends.

– “Okay...” The blond cook put a plate on the table for his friends to taste. “Who wants to grab the first bite? New spice mix, new sauce.”

– “You know the rule, guys...” Austin licked his lips. “I call dibs on dips.”

  The first bite already made Austin moan out of pure, greedy bliss.

– “Hmmmph... Oh! This is the stuffing that dreams are made of...”

■ ■ ■

Monday morning — in Lou's bedroom

  Guy and Lou were still in bed together.

– “What was that between you and Hawk?”

– “What happened between Hawk and me?”

– “When we discussed Thanksgiving, or... that thing you call your own version of Thanksgiving.”

– “Oh! It's nothing, really... I had a hunch that Hawk was an Itsasorak. My mother is an Iturritik, and so am I. That's all.”

– “I don't get it.”

– “Okay... Ancient History. You see, Lou... When the first settlers came to Canada from France and Spain, they were actually mostly fishermen and seafarers from the region squeezed between both realms. That's the Basque country and, clearly, the Basque people have nothing in common with the Spanish or the French... They have their own language, their own traditions, even their old pagan rites. When the French government signed treaties with the chiefs from the local tribes, the common folks also started to talk to each other. As it turned out, there were so many words they had in common, they believed in such similar superior beings and they had such similar tastes in everyday life that it paved the way for a much more effective and much more peaceful assimilation... There were hundreds of mixed unions that didn't even call for a Catholic priest. A few generations later, the population in the region around Pleasance could be identified, with its own particular lifestyle and beliefs.”

– “I see...”

– “Then, I don't know why, there was a split between the people who live mostly in the hills and those who live by the shores... Iturri means “the source”, and Itsas means “the sea”. That's how the clans in our tribe got their names. So there's always been some sort of friendly rivalry, even to this day. In sports and games, you know...”

– “I should know... We had the same kind of rival clans and civil wars in Korea and Japan, not to mention the wars between them. And please, don't even think about kingdoms at war in ancient China!”

  Guy hugged his lovely Asian boyfriend under the sheets.

– “Our American friends only know one civil war, and they can't get over it... I wonder if some of them don't keep it going, sometimes.”

  Lou had more questions about Guy's plans to visit his aunt Marian.

– “She's your mother's sister, right?”

– “Yes. She's on my good side of the family.”

– “Your father is not an... eat erotic?”

– “Iturritik.” Guy chuckled. “Sadly, no... I take a lot after my mom.”

– “Wow! is she a lumberjack bearded lady?”

– “She's not...” Then he added, with a charming smile. “And what makes you think I'm not the lumberjack and the bearded lady in the family?” 

  The tall redhead young man moved and crushed his boyfriend under his weight, with a shower of wet kisses.

– “You said she lives in Vancouver?”

– “West Vancouver, on the North shore of Burrard Inlet.”

– “Okay, so... Did you tell her you would come to spend the week-end at her place with... a friend?”

– “What do you think?” Guy teased him with a smile and a kiss. “I told aunt Marian I wanted her to meet my boyfriend.”

– “Your boyfriend...”

– “Isn't that right?”

– “It is, but... Is that okay for your aunt?”

– “Oh! I knew she would have no problem about it.”

– “Wow... Okay, that's cool.”

– “You should know that Marian first moved to Vancouver so she could live with her partner Pat, and not be bothered by the family.”

– “Did Pat live in Vancouver, or...”

– “Not then, but Pat doesn't stand for Patrick. It's Patricia.”

– “Your aunt is a lesbian?”

– “She lives with a woman and they leave their guest bedroom empty, so they can have guests whenever someone visits them.”

– “I get the picture...”

– “And there's no way that you and I don't sleep in the same bed, when we are in Vancouver.”

– “Is it a romantic place?” Lou asked, feeling warm and tingly, wrapped in that loving big bear's embrace.

– “It is... And if it wasn't, we would make it romantic.”

  Guy fondled his boyfriend even more, pressing his somewhat softer and more generous forms with his large paws. Of course, it was much easier for him to come out to someone like his aunt.

– “And, just so you know... I also told my aunt Marian that you would be hungry!” Guy teased again, almost pinching Lou.

– “What? Why did you tell her that?”

– “Because it's true. And if you're not hungry now, I will make sure that you are hungry when we stay with her.” He kissed his boyfriend again. “I know my aunt. She's a really good cook! And she will want to make a good first impression for you, so you should be ready to eat like... trust me on this, eat a lot!”

– “I will do my best.” Lou smiled, and kissed him back.

  They remained silent in that tight embrace for a moment.

– “I'll introduce you as the “Hung King of Hong-Kong”! How's that?”

– “Huh...” Lou blushed. “Please, don't.”

■ ■ ■

Tuesday night — in the kitchen

  Thanksgiving at the Pleasure Dome, even as a dinner only shared by the team in their kitchen, meant a lot more than just “rehearsal” for the Thanksgiving holidays and feasts they were planning.

  Chris had received a call from his parents, and an invitation to a party in the Hamptons. He only hesitated for a moment, out of habit, then he told his mother that he would be there... He could bring a guest, at least in theory, but that was precisely what would make him hesitate or refuse to go back to New York City. 

  Ryan was serving scoops of ice cream with chocolate mousse, cookies and other treats in large glass cups. It was easy for Chris to comment on his friend's efforts to dress up for this special occasion: he had picked the right shirt, the right pair of jeans and the right tie for him, with the right leather belt and shoes. Ryan had ironed them, he had combed his long hair and he looked quite decent now — for a change... Only Chris could picture it all too well, how embarrassed his poor friend would be, stuck in a social event in Long Island.

  Asking Ryan to join him on this trip was still tempting, but Chris wasn't quite sure. It came to him as a relief when Lou asked their blond cook to stay at the Pleasure Dome to prevent any intrusion, while Hawk and Austin would spend their long week-end around Pleasance with Hawk's family, Chris would be in New York and Lou would meet Guy's aunt in Vancouver. Ryan didn't mind, so they were all set.

  It was a real feast, once again. Hawk had only joined them when they were ready for desserts. Austin was quite pleasantly stuffed with turkey and stuffing, at this point, with ham and candied yams, gravy and more buttery rolls than he cared to count...

– “Ooof! Whoever said “You are what you eat” sure said a mouthful...” He groaned, shirtless and rubbing his bloated stomach. “After so much turkey and stuffing, I feel like I am this Thanksgiving's stuffed turkey!”

  Hawk was delighted to see him so well-fed again.

– “Did you guys make him eat a whole turkey?”

– “Please! We couldn't get him to eat less than a whole turkey, with all its stuffing, if we tried prying the pieces away from his grabbing hands!”

– “What we should be thankful for is that Ryan had prepared three big turkeys for us, so Lou could eat almost as much as Austin...”

  Guy gently rubbed his shirtless boyfriend's belly. Lou could hardly catch a breath, all red in the face and sweating profusely.

– “Huh... Okay, I'm thankful. I... BUUUURRRP... guess?”

– “You're full!” Guy teased him lovingly. “And I'm thankful for this.”

– “I need to take a break... I can't stay this red for too long, or I'll start worrying about being shipped away to North Korea.”

■ ■ ■

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

  Canadian Thanksgiving didn't meant much to Austin, but “training” for a special Thanksgiving feast with his boyfriend was different — spending a long week-end with Hawk and his parents, his brothers and sisters, relatives and childhood friends, in the house where he was raised, in the Northern suburbs of Pleasance? That was too exciting for words!

  The more he thought about it, however, the more anxious he felt... It was just some sort of doubt, at first: an apprehension, an open question. He couldn't stop thinking about this strange “gorging feast”. It had to be the perfect occasion to meet Hawk's family, but it also meant a major step forward in their relationship.

– “Are we ready for this?” He wondered. “Am I?”

  As soon as he started asking himself questions, he couldn't stop... That was enough to make him eat a whole turkey for dinner, with pounds of stuffing or meatloaf, more candied yams and cranberry sauce.

  He would keep Chris and Ryan up late at night, in the kitchen. 

– “What if Hawk didn't tell his parents about me?”

– “He must have... They don't expect him to bring a girl to their party.”

– “But what if he didn't tell them about me being... you know, black?”

– “Why wouldn't he tell his parents about it?”

– “I don't know...” Austin kept eating scoop after scoop of ice cream.

– “This week-end means a lot to Hawk, I'm sure. Don't be so nervous... He wouldn't want you to meet his family, if he had any doubt about it.”

– “Ryan has a point...” Chris wrapped one arm around his cousin's back.

– “Why would he want to invite you to his parents' place, if it makes you feel out of place?”

– “Okay, Ryan...” Chris let out a deep sigh. “What's the point, right?”

– “I know, I know!” Austin was still stuffing his face. “Wait... What if he didn't tell them about me being fat?”

  Ryan and Chris exchanged a puzzled look.

– “Well... They will find out on their own, eventually?”

– “It's not like you guys could keep it your “little secret” much longer.”

– “If you were invited to a costume party...” Chris suggested. “You would stand a better chance at hiding the fact that you're... you know, black.”

– “That's right!” Ryan chuckled, putting another large glass bowl full of ice cream on the table for Austin. “Good luck finding magic bedsheets to dress up as a thin, white ghost...”

– “Oh!you would be one chubby Casper!”

– “An unburied Pillsbury doughboy...”

– “At least ghosts don't look gay.” Austin mumbled.

– “No one should have to hide it if they're gay...”

  No matter how much Chris and Ryan tried to help him calm down and think more positively about that feast at Hawk's parents' place, Austin was still so nervous and so stressed that he came back to the kitchen at the most inappropriate hours, banged on Ryan's bedroom door to wake him up, and asked for more late-night snacks or treats... It was just his luck that his dumb blond friend could cook a perfect, tasty breakfast in his sleep. Ryan could hardly keep his eyes opened, at that point.

  Chris didn't comment on his cousin's new, bad overeating habits... He only resented being left alone in Ryan's bed — waiting for Austin to stuff himself silly, cry on his friendly cook's shoulder, get to feel warm again with a hug, let out a loud belch and get it over with — considering what Chris knew about this blond soldier, who could do something so much more pleasing than cook delicious food for his friend's breakfast, so early in the morning.

– “Is it my imagination or didn't you put on a little weight, this week?”

  Alone with Austin, Hawk had to ask. He was obviously right about it.

– “Hmmmph... I guess I have. I have been eating like crazy, lately!”

– “Austin, you're eating peach cobbler right now, right off the pan...”

– “Hmmmph... I know!”

– “Why did Ryan give you a whole basket to come to the lighthouse?”

– “I asked him to cook all this...” Austin mumbled with his mouth full.

– “Okay.” 

  Hawk put a big paw on his boyfriend's rounder belly.

– “Don't get me wrong, I'm always delighted to see you eat so well.”

– “Hmmmph...”

– “Maybe you should pace yourself a bit?”

– “I can't help it!” Austin protested. “For one thing, this is Ryan's peach cobbler. It tastes so good, God created peaches for that purpose alone! Then, to be fully honest with you...”

– “Hey! if you weren't honest, at least you're full!”

– “Well... Honestly? I've been thinking about your parents all week.”

  Austin could immediately tell that his boyfriend was touched.

– “You've ben eating like this, day and night, because you keep thinking about them? About our feast, with my family?”

– “Huh... Yeah. I guess.”

– “You've been gorging and stuffing yourself... for us?”

– “Yeah.” Austin looked down. “For you.”

  He felt Hawk embracing him in such a way that all the worries he may have in the world faded away, like dust in a warm breeze.

– “Austin, you must be well over 310lbs now... You're really getting fat!”

– “I am. And I want more.” 

  Hawk grabbed a truly appealing piece of cheesecake from the basket.

– “Okay, Austin. Eat more for me.”

– “Hmmmph...”

– “Get fatter for me.”

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph!”

  Austin was in Heaven now... Being fed by his loving boyfriend was the best thing in the world — next to being loved by his feeding boyfriend.

  The night went on, washing over him like tidal waves of pure pleasure, again and again, like a mighty storm unleashed on these shores, going wild on the rocks — a coast guard like Hawk should warn people about this, the most natural and most delightful opposite of a natural disaster!

  When the sun came up, Hawk was still kneading Austin's empty, round and soft belly like a big ball of dough.

– “This is the kind of mass they should build churches for!”

■ ■ ■

Tuesday evening — at the gym

  Diego Arranoah was in his early thirties, and the “good kind” of doctor, according to Guy: standing at 6'4", with brown hair and a well-groomed beard, baby blue eyes and the most irresistible smile, he made the boys want to call in sick and let those large hands work their magic. From the way his pants and his white shirt fit so snuggly, they were also tempted to get their hands on him...

– “Never trust a skinny nutritionist!” Chris reminded his friends.

  They had come to an agreement on their first meeting. In order to get to the next level of his research, Diego asked for some dedicated space on the hotel's grounds where he could work on gardening, studying his special kind of weed. He also had some expensive equipment that should be kept in a safe room... 

  Lou suggested their abandoned greenhouse for this.

  Diego's other “assignment” was to put Ryan back on the right tracks — which meant spending hours together at the Pleasure Dome gym, sauna & spa. It made the other boys feel jealous... for less than ten minutes. 

  Inside a gym, Diego's kind blue eyes turned dark and his soft voice was replaced by a drill instructor's megaphone. The doctor pushed and forced his test subject to his absolute limit on the treadmill, on the machines, on the bench, even on the floor with free weights or restrained moves...

– “Wow!” Lou commented, sitting at his desk, as he saw them ready to train for hours. “This is a real Jekyll & Hyde situation...” 

– “It's worse.” Austin frowned. “I could get sick, just looking at them!” 

– “Hyde and sick, then?” Chris chuckled.

  Ryan did his best to follow the doctor's orders, or rather his instructor's orders... His friends weren't too surprised about it, at this point. As a matter of fact, as soon as they were done with their workout sessions, Diego went back to his soft voice and cuddly, caring attitude. He praised the dumb blond boy for his strength, flexibility and stamina... Ryan was so out of breath, and sweating so much, that he couldn't say a word.

  He should at least be praised for his healthy appetite: Ryan was hungry after such brutal workouts, and Diego had devised a strict schedule for him with special meals to be eaten every two or three hours, depending on his daily routine, from 6AM to 10PM.

– “Have another meatball sandwich!”

  Diego was really strict, ruthless and demanding during their workouts, but he must have some reasons to be concerned... According to him, Ryan was nothing short of “underweight” when he had examined him for the first time. He didn't hesitate to tell him as it was. 

  He had the professional good sense and decency to wait for the right time, when they were alone and no one would eavesdrop.

– “Your friends may think that you are strong, but they're wrong... You can act strong, look tough and fight like a wild tiger but, deep down, you know it's just an act.”

– “Are you saying... I'm weak?”

– “I am certainly not calling you weak! You're brave. That doesn't make you strong... I bet you were neglected and severely underfed as a child.”

  There was a long moment of silence.

– “What if I was?” Ryan could only whisper.

– “I know about these things. You're not weak, you are puny. Your bones are too thin... You can't always hide how some things get on your nerves so badly you could collapse. Your muscle mass is really quite impressive, considering how much hard work you do, and how much effort you put into everything you do. ”

– “What should I do?”

– “Get help.”

– “Come on, I'm not alone. I could...”

– “Get better help.” Diego insisted.

– “Okay...” Ryan looked down.

  The doctor put a friendly hand on his shoulder.

– “I have been brutally honest with you, please forgive me for this. If I have to be fully honest with you, I should also tell you that you have the best attitude of all the young men I have met in my line of work.”

– “Well... Thank you for being honest with me.”

– “I couldn't wish for a better test subject. We will do great together.”

– “Maybe we should keep that part a secret? I don't know...”

– “Come on!” Diego laughed. “Your progress shouldn't be ignored.”

  Then Ryan and he had grown closer and closer. Diego let him cook for his friends at the Pleasure Dome, and he made him stick to the diet he had planned for him, rich in protein and vitamins: chicken breasts and tuna, fruit salads with Diego's special cottage cheese, smoothies using his own recipe, freshly squeezed orange juice, special candy bars Diego pressed in his lab, more vegetables and fruits they collected together in the hotel's gardens and orchard.

  After a month, Ryan looked quite healthy again, athletic and well-fed.

– “Back up to 220lbs. That's good!”

  Standing on the scales, the blond jock had every right to smile.

– “What's next?”

– “It's time for you to eat! Have another chicken sandwich.”

– “Okay.”

– “And another rich smoothie...”

  There was a lot more work to be done with his research on Cryptophyta Pachyntika Megalophagia. Ryan had already repaired the greenhouse on the side of the Pleasure Dome, when it was pretty much destroyed after the storm... Most of the glass panels had been carefully replaced. It was the perfect place for Diego — his secret “happy place”, where Guy would often join him to work as his assistant. Ryan didn't understand a word, when they talked together...

  Bringing treats or sweets of his own was the only way he could help.

  Diego enjoyed the attention as much as he enjoyed such delicious food. He didn't mind telling his young friends, with a hearty laugh, how he had pulled his own weight in nutrition projects so much that he had put on at least eighty pounds by the time he had completed his thesis... The good doctor weighed almost 320lbs now. It was no surprise, then, that he was Guy's favorite teacher — just as the tall, strong redhead bear was well on his way to become his favorite assistant.

  By the end of the day, alone with Ryan, he only had a few suggestions or requests to make his “happy place” feel even more “personal”... The blond young man was almost done raking in dead leaves outside.

– “What kind of suggestions did you have in mind?”

– “I don't know...”

– “What requests, then?”   

– “Time for another big sandwich, and fruit salad with cottage cheese!”

– “I know, I know...” Ryan smiled. “There! I'm done.”

– “Aren't you feeling hungry?”

– “You could say that. I'm almost feeling hungry...”

  Ryan had very little time to rest between his snacks, his chores and the many tasty meals he cooked for his friends. Diego looked satisfied, as he locked the door to the greenhouse.

– “Gardens like this one are usually adorned with a name in Latin.”

– “You could come up with a name for it...”

– “I didn't study Latin so much. I only learned to remember those fancy words we use to name families of flowering plants, like Nymphaeaceae.”

– “Okay, that's... quite fancy.”

– “It's only water lilies.”

– “Well... Water lilies are fancy, but they're cool.”

  Ryan looked around for a moment. Diego thought he looked a bit lost, in this greenhouse, surrounded with potted plants.

– “Maybe... Prodeo crescam?”

– “What's that?”

– “Basically, “I come out, I will grow”... I believe.”

– “It's short. Two words, I like it.”

– “It could be three words, but it wouldn't be the same.”

– “Huh? What do you mean? I don't understand...”

  Diego raised an eyebrow, looking at Ryan as if the young man had just said the dumbest thing he had ever heard — again.

– “Pro Deo crescam... I will grow for God?”

– “Oh... That's good! I like that even more.” Diego slowly brushed Ryan's long hair, letting his fingers go down his neck. Then he patted the blond jock's shoulder with a firm hand. “Ad majorem Dei gloriam, right?”

– “I have no idea about the glory of God...”

■ ■ ■

Wednesday evening — in the lobby, at the Pleasure Dome

  Austin was spending the night with Hawk. Ryan had packed his luggage for his long week-end at his boyfriend's parents' place, and it was easier for them to take the road along the coast from the lighthouse. Lou and Guy were in Pleasance, at a hotel close to the airport, ready for their trip to British Columbia. 

  Chris was in no particular hurry to leave for New York City, so he was the last one who enjoyed the peace and quiet of their coffee corner, next to the dining hall.

  He took a look at his watch. His taxi cab should be there soon enough.

  Ryan was closing the shutters on ground floor. When the door bell rang, he joined Chris to wish him a good and safe trip.

– “I'm only going to New York City. What could go wrong?”

– “You could get killed...”

– “I just hope I don't get mugged in broad daylight again.”

  Chris hugged his friend back, and kissed him on the cheek.

– “You stay safe...”

– “I'm staying home. Nothing ever happens here.”

– “Come on... This is where the magic happens.”

  Ryan kissed him back, on the lips.

– “I'll feel safe knowing that you are safe, back home.”

– “Okay...”

– “And don't forget your doctor's advice! Eat well and get some rest.”

– “I will.”

– “Good. I don't want you to wear yourself thin.”

– “You know me, I prefer not to wear anything...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday morning — in Vancouver

  Guy's aunt lived in a small but fancy two-story, turreted, wood-framed Queen Anne style house with white walls, a hip and gable roof covered in dark cedar shingles, bow windows and an open wood staircase leading to the upper floor. There were big bushes of hortensias, but not much of a garden otherwise.

  Her partner Pat was out of town, attending a convention somewhere in British Columbia. Compared to her nephew, she was naturally quite short but also plump, with the same flaming shade of red hair. She gave them a warm, almost exuberant welcome.

– “Guy! I am so happy to see you... It's been a long time! You have grown into such a tall and strapping young man.”

– “I've missed you too...” He hugged her back. “And this is Lou.”

– “I'm really pleased to meet you.”

– “Please, call me Maiana.”

– “Maiana?”

– “Marian is my name when it's time to pay taxes or call for the guy to fix my TV set again, but we're family. And you're so handsome! I used to tell my sister about Guy having such good taste, even for the little things in Life. I had a hunch that his taste in men would prove me right.”

– “Well... Thank you.”

– “You look like such a delicate doll.” She pressed his hands fondly. “And you have such dainty fingers! Oh, Guy... I'm almost jealous.”

– “You're jealous of your nephew?”

– “I am jealous of your fingernails, silly... Even with the finest manicure and the most expensive nail polish, I could never get my fingers to look so good! My hands must look like grubby bear paws, next to yours.”

  Lou didn't know what to say. Maiana invited them to sit on the couch.

– “So, Lou... Were you born in Japan?”

– “South Korea, but my father is Japanese.”

– “Splendid! Oh, I could tell.”

– “I guess I'm the type... Is it that obvious?”

– “I could tell before I met you. Guy has a type.”

– “Come on, aunt Maiana...” The tall redhead bear blushed.

– “What's that?” Lou asked with an amused smile.

  Maiana was serving fresh lemonade to her guests.

– “Guy always had an eye for Asian beauties... I mean hunks like you, of course! Good-looking, healthy male athletes from Japan or Hawaii.”

– “Athletes like...” Lou raised an eyebrow.

– “Sumō wrestlers, of course!” Maiana flashed him with a grin. “And it may be my fault. When I came back from a trip to Tōkyō, I had all kinds of magazines in my bag. Sports magazines too... I bet you still have that special edition with pictures and interviews of all their champions.”

– “I wish...” Guy let out a deep, mournful sigh. “I used to hide it under the mattress, or in my sock drawer, but the housemaid must have found it at some point and she threw it away.”

– “What was it called again?”

– “The Makuuchi San'yaku... something. I couldn't actually read it.”

– “How old were you?” Lou held his boyfriend's hand.

– “When was that, aunt Maiana? I would say I was eleven or twelve...”

– “You were barely eleven years old. Even back then, I had a hunch that my favorite nephew would only be happy with a handsome, mature, fat Asian boyfriend with a good heart and good taste.”

  She insisted on the word “fat”, loud and clear. That wasn't lost on Lou.

– “I don't know about “mature”, but...”

– “You look so young and so handsome, with your dark hair.” Maiana was blunt but sincere. She gave him a funny look, as she let out a strangely teasing sigh. “If only you were... fat.”

  Lou didn't take offense easily, but that felt rather uncalled for.

– “Trust me, aunt Maiana...” Guy defended his boyfriend. “Lou can eat!”

– “I love to eat!”

– “Is that so?” This brought a smile to her face... “And does my nephew make sure that you always eat well enough to put on a little weight?”

– “Actually...” Lou didn't expect their conversation to revolve around him, at least not around his weight or size. “Guy wants me to gain more than a little weight.”

– “So you boys have been talking about it.”

– “We have no secrets for each other.”

– “Oh! good... And would you be ready to do this for him?”

– “Honestly? Nothing could make me happier.”

– “So you would grow fatter, for your boyfriend...”

– “In a heartbeat! As big and round, and fat, as he wants me to be.”

– “Then it's settled.” Maiana got up. “I will fix you a perfect meal, while you two go for a walk outside... How about that?”

– “Great idea, aunt Maiana!”

– “Yes, huh...” Lou felt a bit dizzy. “Thank you... I guess.”

  They took a walk to Stanley park, across Lion's Gate Bridge, looking at Prospect Point and lighthouse, going to Beaver Lake, the Lumbermen's Arch and the Totem Poles.

  The air was crisp and invigorating, with a gentle breeze over the water.

  Guy felt confident enough to hold Lou's hand all the way — they sat on a bench, by the river, and saw ships coming and going for some time... It was a moment of perfect quiet between them. There was almost no one around them. Guy leaned to the side, smiled and kissed Lou on the lips. When they came back to Maiana's place for lunch, the whole house was filled with intoxicating aromas of spices and cooking oil.

– “There! I have made Tonkatsu especially for you, Lou.”

– “Oh, wow! You didn't have to...”

– “Your treat, my pleasure.”

  It was such a rich and elegant display of Tonkatsu, with a large plate of fried pork cutlets and white rice dressed in curry sauce, scrambled eggs and onions, more rice in a small mountain of balls filled with deep-fried tempura shrimp and a punch bowl of coleslaw salad on the side.

  It looked like something they would serve at the best restaurants, on some special occasion for the whole family... Maiana invited Guy and Lou to sit down, and put all the dishes right in front of her guest of honor.

– “Eat up and enjoy!”

– “Huh...” Lou hesitated. “How about you? How about Guy?”

– “I will teach him how to cook Tonkatsu, in the kitchen, so he can enjoy some of it with you when we're done, and he can serve you this kind of meal in the future.”

– “Aunt Maiana, you are the best!”

– “So, you expect me to eat all this?” Lou did look a bit intimidated.

– “Of course!” Maiana patted his shoulder. “What kind of hostess would I be if this wasn't meant entirely for you? Let me be abundantly clear, Lou. I want you to eat all week-end, stay stuffed... and grow fat!”

■ ■ ■

Thursday afternoon — Hawk's parents' place, near Pleasance

  Hawk's parents lived in a large house, in the suburbs of Pleasance, on top of a hill. They had a good view on the North coast from their garden.

  Austin was still nervous when he first shook hands with Hawk's father, but he received such a warm welcome from everyone that his doubts and fears vanished into thin air.

  He couldn't help noticing, at first sight, that air was pretty much the only thing he could call “thin” around him. Hawk had two brothers and four sisters... They were all married, so Hawk had four brothers-in-law and two very loud sisters-in-law. He also had four cousins, all married or soon to be married, and these men, in their late thirties or early forties, could only be described as “portly” — to say the least.

– “Hello, I'm Austin Kindell...” He held out his hand a number of times.

  There was such a crowd of people coming and going around the living room, that Austin may feel left out very quickly — there was no way that he could remember all their names, for instance... It came as a pleasant surprise for him when Hawk's father put a name tag on his shirt, after he had taken their coats: everyone was wearing one of those, and it was the most polite thing Austin had ever experienced.

  He was still anxious to meet Hawk's mother, of course, but she was the most enthusiastic of the family. She welcomed him with a tight hug.

– “Oh! Austin, I am so pleased to meet you.”

– “I am very pleased to meet you too...”

  Austin managed to say a few words, but he was almost choking... The people in Hawk's family had to be wrestlers or something — they knew how to hug a man to the point of suffocating him!

  Hawk's mother was a relatively short woman. Hawk owed his bearish good looks to his dad, but she did have those “big bear mom” vibes. And she wasn't done praising her son's boyfriend.

– “You are so handsome!”

– “Thanks...”

– “And you have such a perfect, radiant complexion.”

– “Oh... I don't know about that.”

– “Really. You look so nice and smooth... and plump!”

  It felt a little odd, but Austin's social insecurities as a black young man also vanished when he understood that she meant every word... Hawk's family was really a far cry from the tight-ass, upper-class white bunch he had in mind, based on his own New England side of the family.

  His boyfriend's mother and father were clearly closer to their native American roots. He couldn't help thinking that his own parents would call them “red skins”, and he didn't feel so good about it... They were more than fine with the fact that he was black, with such “perfect” smooth skin, according to Hawk's mother — and Austin felt like he had just won some “bonus points” for being fat!

– “You only get such smooth skin when you're really well-fed.”

– “Well...” Austin smiled. “I do like to eat. A lot.”

– “And you should! You boys must be so hungry.”

– “I know I am...”

– “Then I want you to eat, eat and eat until you are stuffed full!”

■ ■ ■

Thursday evening — New York, Long Island, at the Hammersmiths

  Chris took one long look at the crowd. He knew most of these people all too well. He had attended these parties on a regular basis for years... After a few months left alone with his cousin and his new friends, at the Pleasure Dome, he suddenly realized that he had not thought about any of these stupid guys and girls — not even once.

  Now that he was standing among them, listening to the band with a glass of champagne in his hand, Chris didn't feel like he was “back”. He belonged to this scene, but he was no longer fond of it so much as he remembered. He didn't miss those guys, for instance... It secretly ticked him off when he understood that he had not been missed either.

  There were a few fresh, new faces in that crowd of botched surgical operations, but Chris could tell that whatever good looks they had would soon fade away, following that same path. He couldn't help thinking that Ryan would comment on it like a good Catholic boy: “Vanity, vanity”.

“Fair enough...” He thought.

  He noticed one of those young men who kept staring at him... Tall and strapping like a star quarterback, with wavy blond hair, he had to be in the closet to keep stealing glances and immediately look away like this.

  It was such an easy game to play, he knew what to do.

  With a flute of champagne in each hand, he walked to him, offered him a drink, smiled and winked at him without a word. The big lug blushed, smiled, nodded and followed him. 

  Chris had been invited by the Hammersmiths so many times, he knew the place so well he could find his way in and out blindfolded. It looked like the young man who was now holding his hand also knew where to go. He had to know what would happen next, at least.

  They were back to the party less than twenty minutes later.

– “Why, Chris? I didn't expect you to be here with us, tonight. This really is a party for the well-to-do and the ne'er-do-well...”

– “I know. Good evening, Mark.”

  Chris really didn't want to be there. Mark was being his usual self... He had always been a pompous jerk, and his condition was not improved after he had married that famous socialite bitch Megan. Chris was just surrounded with jerks tonight. He had flirted with a pretty face for a few minutes, and now he had survived some of the most disappointing sex ever to be experienced.

  He straightened his bow tie again, feeling angry at himself for all this. Just as he didn't want to see that boring, sluggish virgin asshole ever again, Chris spotted him entering the room again, all clean and dapper. Curiosity got the better of him.

– “Remind me, Mark...”

– “Yes?”

– “Who's that tall, blond guy who just showed up?”

– “Why, that's the shining star of the Hammersmiths!”

  Considering the most recent events of tonight's party, Chris knew only too well why the young man looked “shiny” right now, and so pleased with himself. He could also tell Mark and the other guests that there was nothing particularly “shining” about him.

– “That's their son, Hamilton Theodore Hammersmith the Third.”

– “Oh...”

  Chris couldn't care less about the guy, at this point. He walked away.

“Austin was right.” He thought. “As soon as they get to number Three, all those series go pretty stale and predicable...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday evening — on the grounds of the Pleasure Dome

  The sun was slowly going down. Ryan was done taking all the dry linen and clothes off the line outside, folding the sheets so neatly as he could and carrying basket after basket to the laundry room. 

  As he was about to close the door, he saw someone walking in the field. Ryan waved at him and the young man waved back — which suggested that he was a farmhand going all the way up to the hotel.

  More to the point, this local farmer was coming to see him.

  Ryan put his linen baskets down and went to the kitchen, thinking that this young farmhand may be hungry for dinner... As soon as he joined him, and they were close enough, it was almost painfully clear that he was hungry for something juicier than food.

– “Name's Nick...” He said, and the niceties were over.

  Holding Ryan in a firm, somewhat rough embrace, he started kissing him, softly enough for the blond cook to feel like he could handle this.

– “Cat got your tongue?” He teased. “Way to make me feel like a cat.”

  Ryan didn't say a word. There was no point starting a conversation... They really weren't in the mood for it — he didn't know this young man, but he knew the type. He knew all this only too well.

  Whatever he could say to Nick would mean “Yes”. Whatever he could do or try to do would mean “Yes, please”. Any response from him, silent as it may be, would mean “Yes, Sir!” to this kind of young man, who only had fantasies about being in the Army and didn't know better.

  Somehow, Ryan didn't feel like shattering Nick's illusions. It only took one deep look into his eyes for him to decide what to do. Then, with one soft kiss, he sealed the deal... There was no need to hurt someone who could be taught a better, more fruitful lesson.

– “The others have warned me about you.” Nick whispered, still close to Ryan's lips. “Not against you, but... you know. And I have to say, I didn't expect you to be so sinewy, so svelte. It makes sense that you should be limber and tight, but you're almost... thin.”

  Nick's nimble fingers had already untied Ryan's apron, opened his belt and his jeans, one button after another. He swiftly pulled down his pants with his thumbs firmly planted in his underwear, on both sides.

– “Wow...” The young farmhand gushed at the sight. “Forget everything I just said. I have never seen anything so thick!”

  Ryan let out a silent sigh. He may have said “anyone”, but so it was...

  There was a sudden change in the young man's attitude. Nick blushed. He looked intimidated, short of breath now, and his voice broke — like a child's, when he's caught red-handed. Ryan let his pants and underwear fall to the floor, around his ankles... He slowly stepped out and reassured him with a gentle hug and a genuinely soft kiss.

  Looking deep into his eyes, Ryan knew he had just sealed the deal. He didn't feel threatened anymore. The tables had turned... Nick was ready to beg, feeling like he should get down on his knees and worship him.

  Ryan would have none of this. Someone truly needed to learn.

  The young farmhand responded to his bear hug with more whispers.

– “Please, keep me in your arms like this.”

– “Okay... I will.”

– “Keep hugging me like this all night... All night...”

– “Okay.”

  Ryan was determined not to say a word after this. Holding Nick's hand, he lead him to his bedroom, undressed him so gently and so carefully that the young man got more and more excited, to the point of almost screaming when Ryan held him tight in the shower. The two young men kept growling for hours, causing the furniture to move and more than a few pictures on the walls to fall — then it was dark outside when Nick finally stopped crying on Ryan's shoulder.

– “What should I do now?”

– “Anything you want.”

– “I promise, I will never act like this ever again...”

– “Good boy.”

– “Should I leave now?”

– “Do you want to leave? Go back to your own bedroom?”

– “I wish I never had to leave...” 

  Nick hugged Ryan's chest tight, like a desperate child.

– “It's okay. You can stay for the night, if you want.”

– “No, you're right... I shouldn't.”

– “I won't tell anyone.”

– “I should act like a man. If I leave now, may I come back?”

– “If you come back as a decent young man, you're welcome.”

– “So... it's a promise?”

– “No promises... You harvest what you plant.”

  Ryan's smile was worth a million words, right now.

– “Then it's a promise. I'll be good.”

  Nick took one look at the window.

– “What time is it?”

– “I have no idea.”

– “It's not too late. I should walk back home.”

– “How close is your farm?”

– “It's only twenty, thirty minutes away...”

– “Okay, then. A bit of fresh air will be good for you.”

  Ryan helped him get up, and get dressed... When he was ready to go, with a flashlight from the a drawer in the lobby to help him find his way through the night, Nick turned to him with little stars in his eyes.

  They kissed again — holding each other in such a way that their kiss showed what profound changes the blond cook at the Pleasure Dome had already brought to this young man's “bad boy” behavior.

  Nick wanted to stay just as much as he was determined to leave.

– “Ryan...”

– “Yes?”

– “You're a beast, but you're the best!”

■ ■ ■

Thursday late evening — at Hawk's parents' place

  Austin had spent the entire day by the buffet table, talking to Hawk's relatives with a plate in his hands and, more often than not, a forkful of food in his mouth. He was beginning to feel seriously stuffed.

  In a somewhat regrettable but traditional fashion, the women of the family were all busy together in the kitchen, cooking meal after meal for their husbands, their brothers or their cousins, while they kept going in circles on the lawn around the barbecue grill, like a pack of wolves. 

  Hawk's mother called them back to the dinner table. 

– “Time for your sabela gizentzea, boys!”

  Austin turned to Hawk and whispered.

– “What's a sabela gizentzea?”

  Hawk lowered his voice. His mother was piling food on their plates.

– “It means “stuffing your belly”... You know, just to make you get fat.”

– “I love your family so much!”

  He was no longer afraid to kiss his boyfriend in front of everyone.

– “Eat up, Txerriko!”

  Austin wondered what that last word meant, but he could ask later. All the men sitting around the table were too busy to answer, eating just as much as he was stuffing his face again. Maybe there was a bit more food on his plate? — or wasn't it really a lot more food on his plate? 

  He was perfectly at ease, sitting next to Hawk and showing everyone how much he could devour in one sitting... They encouraged him to eat more, drink more beer, and get ready for even more dessert. 

“This is going to be one long night!” He thought with a smile on his face, as he was served another big piece of turkey with stuffing and yams.

■ ■ ■

Thursday evening — West Vancouver, in Maiana's house

  Since Lou was given the perfect opportunity to stuff himself like a sumō wrestler, he had barely moved from the couch... Then Maiana brought a large lazy boy recliner chair from her painting room, put it in front of the television set and looked for some sports channel with sumō competition and fights to keep her guest motivated and in a good mood.

  At some point, the young man had to take off his shirt and his pants to make himself more comfortable. Laying on his back and only wearing his boxer shorts and socks wasn't exactly the best, but Lou had to deal with a massive punch bowl of stew, full to the brim with tofu, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, carrots and shiitake mushrooms, boiled together with noodles in a chicken-based broth. 

  That was within his reach, on his right side. On his left side, a mountain of white rice surrounded with four heaps of salmon sashimi was the only thing he could see. Aunt Maiana was truly treating him like her guest of honor, with the best kind of traditional chankonabe... Only a senior sumō wrestler would get to eat such delicious food — and so much of it!

  Guy came back from the kitchen with more salmon.

– “How are you doing, Lou?”

– “I can barely keep up... This is the twelfth bowl of chankonabe I have already eaten, this afternoon, but there's so much more!”

– “And there will be even more.”

– “Hmmmph...”

– “You're doing great, Lou. I didn't expect this. I'm really impressed.”

– “You are?”

– “Keep eating like this. Enjoy. We rarely get to be treated so well...”

– “I have to give it to your aunt, she's a great cook!”

– “There you go.”

  Guy sat on a stool, next to Lou's recliner chair, then he started feeding him thick pieces of salmon sashimi with a lot of rice, when his boyfriend was done with another big spoonful of chankonabe.

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph...”

– “It's not the healthiest lifestyle, but perfect for packing on pounds!”

– “I know, I... BUUUURRRP! I know...”

– “Keep eating, Lou. I am so proud of you!”

  After Lou had eaten and drunk three more big bowls, and there was no salmon sashimi left, Maiana came back with more treats and praised her guest for being such a valiant, brave and voracious eater.

– “This is good! You are doing really well...”

– “Am I?” Lou was beginning to sweat again.

– “Of course! You need to fatten up, put on some weight and girth!”

– “I guess... I do.”

– “Then this is the right food for you. And you need lots of it.”

– “That's right.”

– “Keep eating, Lou... Eat more and enjoy!”

  Maiana also let the two boys enjoy each other's company.

– “Did she call us “cherry pickers” or something?”

– “No!” Guy chuckled. “That was Txerrikoipetsuak.”

– “Wow! What does that mean?”

– “It's an affectionate way of calling us “fat little pigs”, really.”

– “So... Piggies?”

– “Sure, why not? “Piggy” would be Txerriko, I think.”

– “And that's affectionate?”

– “It can go both ways, I guess... I know aunt Maiana means well.”

  Lou let out a sigh and went back to another bowl of chankonabe, with crispy fried chicken and vegetables. He felt stuffed like a sausage.

– “She means to fatten me up really well, that's for sure...”

■ ■ ■

Thursday late evening — New York, Long Island

  Chris wanted to leave. He was bored out of his mind... Everyone in this party was just as he should have remembered — but the only redeeming aspect of their personalities was precisely how forgettable they all were.

  He couldn't just declare defeat like this. Not so soon.

  Wandering in the hall next to the buffet table, where he found some peace and quiet from the gossip girls, he spotted a telephone. It was late, but it may not be so late. He should call.

– “Welcome to the Pleasure Dome hotel... How may I help you?”

– “Oh! I wish you could.”

– “Chris? Is that you?”

  Listening to Ryan's voice was just the breath of fresh air Chris needed.

– “How is it going, down in New York?”

– “I wish I had said “Thanks but no, thanks” and stayed home.”

– “Is it going so bad as Austin told us?”

– “Not quite. It's not that bad...” Chris chuckled. “I was sitting between my cousin who chews too loud and my other cousin who talks too fast.”

– “I see...”

– “All in all, that's the people I know. That's my scene.”

– “Why does it sound like it's really not your scene?”

– “I guess I've entered a new stage in my Life...”

– “Now this sounds good.”

– “How are you holding up, holding the fort?”

– “It's not as if the Pleasure Dome was under assault.”

– “It is, and you know it is.”

– “I know. Just... not right now, not tonight.”

  There was a moment of silence. Ryan thanked him for this phone call.

– “What can I say? I got bored... I shouldn't have left in the first place.”

– “You didn't miss New York? Your family? Your friends?”

– “Not even a little...”

  Chris sounded grumpy. There was another short moment of silence.

– “Well...” Ryan almost whispered. “What can I say? I miss you too...”

  There was a big cheer from the crowd, as the clock struck midnight.

  Chris slowly walked down the hall. He kept thinking about Ryan... It didn't take so many word for them to share their thoughts, or their feelings. For a fleeting moment, closing his eyes on his way to the men's room, it felt as if he had not left the Pleasure Dome. He should be there, with his dumb blond friend, not alone and frustrated like this.

  They would have the whole place for themselves... They could do it in every bedroom, on every bed and every couch, in every shower, against every wall in the hotel and all the way around the gym, the sauna and the swimming pool. That was the most outrageous missed opportunity in his entire life!

  He could kick himself in the nuts for this...

  Sitting on the toilet seat, Chris held Ryan's dog tags in his hands — he had kept them in his pocket all the way to the Hamptons, even now, as the party was slowly dying away... It didn't even cross his mind that he could leave them in his room, by the bed. Chris felt better as he gently nestled them in his palm, somewhat fondly. He knew about Ryan being a fallen soldier. He knew about him being a good Catholic boy thrown out of school... He knew his birthday. He knew his blood type. He knew that his middle name was Preston.

“Like Preston Nails...” He thought, feeling hard like stainless steel.

  Chris knew a lot more about Ryan that he wouldn't share with anyone.

  He shouldn't be thinking about his sexy, dumb blond friend so much — his handsome, athletic, kind and caring, deliciously wild blond friend...

  

“There's nothing wrong with masturbating...” He groaned. “At least, I'm doing it with someone I know!”

■ ■ ■

Thursday night — in the kitchen, at the Pleasure Dome

  Ryan hanged up the phone on the wall. 

  He looked around for a moment... The kitchen was so silent, it was the opposite of quiet. With a deep sigh, he came to the conclusion that he had not eaten so much as he should have, according to doctor Arranoah. He was just not feeling so hungry...

  Taking his usual big bowl of cottage cheese and fruit salad from the fridge, he sat down and started eating. Then a thought came to him. He got up and dialed the number to call the Fire Department in Pleasance.

  He recognized the voice over the phone.

– “Is this Danny?”

– “Ryan? Yes, I'm on duty tonight. Why are you calling so late?”

– “Well...”

– “Please, don't tell me you're on fire.”

  Ryan was always amazed how that joke never got old for these guys.

– “I was wondering if you had news... you know, about captain Hanson.”

– “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  There was just a hint of bitterness in Danny's voice... Everyone in the Department knew that Ryan and the captain had been something of an item for a little while, which made all the other men more than a little jealous sometimes.

– “Just so you know, he's fine. He got out of the hospital a week ago.”

  Ryan already knew — he had come to pay a visit to Hart Hanson in his room at the General Hospital, but the patient had made it clear that he didn't want to see anyone... He had left a “Get well soon” card with a few words. He was tempted to leave a bouquet of roses from the garden at the Pleasure Dome, but it didn't feel appropriate.

  It was good to know that the operation was a success — even with a quarter of his left lung removed from his chest, captain Hanson would be in better health now. Ryan had made sure that the man would no longer smoke, drink a lot less than he used to and take better care of himself... He was out of harm's way now, and it was all over. It was good. 

  He wouldn't interrupt Danny, when the young fireman was about to tell him what the captain was up to now.

– “He's back with his wife and kids. I guess she found out just how much the divorce would cost her, and she decided to come back to their home. As for their son and daughters, I don't know... Since the parents are no longer fighting, they may be acting as if nothing had happened.”

– “Maybe...”

– “That's the whole story in a nutshell.”

– “Okay.”

– “He should come back to work in a few weeks.”

– “Okay, good.”

– “Just so you know... He also left a message for you, on his desk.”

– “Really?”

– “Yeah... In a nutshell, it says “Buzz off”. Now that his wife is back, with his little family and everything, he doesn't want to hear from you and he doesn't want you to call anymore.”

– “Oh...”

  There was a moment of silence.

– “It's not like you can't call me again, or Adam, or any other member of the team. I would keep talking to you, bad boy, if I wasn't on duty, right now... There may be someone around Pleasance who needs to call us for a real emergency, you know.”

  Ryan only heard the dial tone. Danny had just hung up on him.

■ ■ ■

Friday morning — at Hawk's parents' place

  Austin had spent a perfect day with Hawk's family, and a perfect night with his boyfriend, sleeping in the bedroom where the tall, greying bear had spent his childhood and his teenage years. 

  There were pictures of Hawk everywhere, playing sports or goofing off, graduating from High School and attending family events. It made Austin feel like he was dating a much younger man... There was so much about his boyfriend that he didn't know yet. Having sex in this bed had to be the most daring thing they had ever done together. It made him smile.

  The handsome black young man felt good about himself. He also felt stuffed — to the point of bursting like a ticking bomb! He had eaten so much, and so late into the night, for that gorging feast which counted as Thanksgiving for Hawk's family. He couldn't eat another bite, right now.

  The other men around the table had also eaten really well, but nowhere near so much as they had encouraged him to eat and keep eating. When Austin got out of bed, he found himself remarkably bigger and rounder, full as he was from last night's late meal and tricky little treats.

– “Okay, Austin... we're clearly not in Texas anymore.”

  As he walked to the bathroom for a good, refreshing shower, he felt like he was actually waddling. His bigger belly kept bouncing off the shower tiles, or the glass door... Putting his pants on was also quite a bit more challenging than he remembered.

– “Fuck me, I'm really getting fat!”

– “You really are...”

  Hawk was there to help him put on his socks, his shirt and his suit for the day. They laughed when he buckled Austin's belt around his widening waist. It looked like the big boy was ready to wear clothes at least two sizes larger than these... When they were almost done, Hawk hugged his boyfriend from behind, lovingly, like a caring big bear.

– “Another big day with the family... How did you sleep, last night?”

– “Better than expected. I thought I was going to explode...”

– “Well... I hope you're ready for another big day of eating and drinking.”

– “Does your family have any day that wouldn't be “big”? That's when we should pay them a visit, next time. I'm still stuffed! I could hardly eat so much as I did, yesterday.”

– “Trust me, Austin... The only times the women in my family will let you have a moment of peace is when you're eating.”

  Hawk was actually serious about it. Austin had spent so much time just sitting on the couch, with a plate in one hand and a spoon in the other, and someone would keep coming from the kitchen to take the plate as soon as it was cleaned up — and replace it with another plate with a tall heap of food, from appetizers to desserts...

  The men sitting around him had also eaten a lot of food, but they kept encouraging him to eat when they were clearly done. As for the women, they had been crazy about Austin from the moment they had welcomed him, and they also urged him to keep stuffing his face... The young man kept smiling back at them. He had truly done his best to overeat all day.

  Even a glutton like him had his limits.

  Austin understood what his boyfriend meant. He also knew what was at stakes for him. This was going so much better than he had anticipated. He didn't want to look ungrateful to Hawk's parents or his cousins... He wanted to make a good impression — then all he had to do was to keep on eating. It wasn't the kind of challenge he had in mind, to try and win them over, but his previous “training” with his friends was proving quite useful... actually quite necessary, at this point!

– “Okay... I'm good to go.”

– “Good to gobble and good to grow!” Hawk growled, beaming.

■ ■ ■

Friday afternoon — West Vancouver, in aunt Maiana's living room

  Lou had spent the last six hours in that lazy boy recliner chair, barefoot and only wearing his boxer shorts, eating from the generous finger food platters that were placed on both sides: stuffed olives, deviled eggs with bacon and Spring onions, thick cocktail sausages, large cuts of smoked meats and crispy meatballs, big cubes of hard and soft cheeses, savory biscuits and salty crackers, dried raisins, peanuts and cashew nuts, slices of pickled chicken breasts, deep-fried eggplant and hot chili peppers...

  He had eaten his way out of the four previous platters, but there was such an abundance of food in front of him that the sweaty Asian young man was ready to declare defeat, as he rubbed his round, smooth belly.

– “There's no way I can finish all this... I'm stuffed!”

  Aunt Maiana was coming back with a bowl full of Thai coconut shrimp and sundried tomatoes. Guy followed with a trailer of different skewers: grilled salmon, tuna and scallops with a trickle of lemon juice.

– “What, Lou? You're not eating... Here! Have another cheese cube.” She pushed more food to his lips. “Be a good boy, and eat.”

– “Hmmmph...”

– “There you go. There's a good boy! Have a few more meatballs.”

– “Hmmmph... Hmmmph...”

  Eating this much had to be more exhausting than any work-out routine. Lou needed to take a break and catch his breath, when he was done with all that cocktail food and his cocktail drinks.

– “How are you holding up, Lou?” Guy whispered to him.

– “Huh... I'm okay.” He answered politely, still huffing and puffing.

– “May I ask something from you?” Aunt Maiana smiled so playfully.

– “Sure...”

– “Would you stretch out your pointer finger for me, so I may feel if you have grown a bit fatter since yesterday morning?”

  Lou didn't expect that kind of question, but it amused him. Aunt Maiana grabbed and squeezed his forefinger for a moment — gently enough, in his own opinion. He deserved to be praised for his healthy appetite, then she looked somewhat disappointed.

– “Oh, well... I guess we're doing a pretty good job. You're not quite fat enough, my dear, but it feels like you have put on a little weight.”

– “I should think so...”

– “You need to be fed some more. Let's make sure you eat well!”

  As she took the dirty dishes and the empty plates back to the kitchen, Lou turned to Guy with a puzzled look, blushing and smiling.

– “Who are we, Hansel and Gretel?”

– “Do I look like your little sister?” Guy chuckled. Then he kissed him.

■ ■ ■

Friday afternoon — at Hawk's parents' place

  There was even more food on the table than Austin expected. This had to be a feast worth mentioning in the Guinness Book of Records, and he had lost count on the number of plates he was already served.

  The young man was running a sweat. He had taken his shirt off after lunch, like all the men in the room, but it didn't help that much. He was still eating. He had to eat more... Hawk's cousins were no longer wearing their name tags, of course and he got them all mixed up now. Drunk as they were, these men talked to him or made comments in their native language... Tipsy as he was with too many cocktail drinks and too much beer, he just nodded and smiled like a fool.

– “Oraindik asko jan beharduzu!” [“There’s a lot more for you to eat!”]

  Right on cue, there was a whole bucket of fried chicken poured on his plate, with sweet potatoes and barbecue sauce.

– “Sabelhandiagoa beharduzu...” [“You need a bigger belly.”]

  While the women kept coming to him with more food like this, with a quick pat on his shoulder, their husbands looked up to Austin and paid attention to him, just like Hawk... Every now and then, one of them got up to put a pillow behind his head on the couch, wipe some sauce or butter off his naked chest, change that pillow to bring a bigger one and fluff it up a bit, rub his full belly and make a few more comments.

  Those were words of praise — in their own, weird kind of way...

– “Sabelhandi biribila eta gizena izango duzu.” 

  Austin couldn't make heads or tails of such a sentence. It meant “You’ll grow a big, round and fat belly”.

  Empty plates kept going back to the kitchen... It was so sunny outside, still in the middle of the afternoon, and he could really use a nap. Hawk nodded in agreement. This grey bear could spend some time alone with his boyfriend, when he looked at him with that special look in his eyes... 

  Everyone in the living room looked ready for a good nap, anyway.

  Hawk's mother came to give him another big hug.

– “Loegin eta gizendu egingo zara.” 

  It meant “You’re going to sleep and get fatter”, but Austin didn't need to get it translated. That was really stating the obvious...

  He could enjoy and well-deserved nap — and come back for dinner.

■ ■ ■

Friday around midnight — on the grounds of the Pleasure Dome 

  Ryan had spent the whole day alone. Waking up and eating breakfast, working out for three hours at the gym, raking up dead leaves, mowing the lawn, following his doctor's diet with snacks before lunch, wiping the windows with a cloth, going through the halls with his vacuum cleaner, mopping the floor, with more snacks before dinner and a full basket of shirts to iron and fold, in the kitchen — just another day for him...

  What made today feel different was the silence around the hotel.

  On any regular day, Ryan wouldn't talk much, but there was someone he would listen to... He could spend hours with Austin, Lou, Chris or Guy, cook for them and let them talk. They always had something interesting to tell, important questions or personal issues to be addressed. The least he could do was to provide his friends with healthy, tasty meals and their favorite desserts. 

  Most of the time, there was no need for him to say a word.

  Standing in the kitchen, he took one look at the clock... It was almost midnight. He was done with the laundry for today, with the last pairs of socks and the last boxer shorts, folded in separate stacks to be put back in his friends' bedroom drawers.

  When he walked down the stairs for the last time, Ryan looked around in the lobby. It looked larger that ever, empty as it was. Once again, the silence weighed on him like a wet bathrobe... He kept on walking.

  Even when there were no more customers in the hotel, when they were about to lose their jobs, Austin didn't spend the whole night with Hawk. They were still flirting, and he was usually coming back around this time to tell him about his date. Ryan had not felt so lonely in a long time...

  As he slowly stepped into the dining hall, with those large bay windows looking out at the night sky, the silent blond young man took off his shirt and left it behind him, on the floor... He had waited tables shirtless in this hall more times than he cared or dared to remember — then he wasn't wearing pants either. He pulled them off, and left his pair of jeans on the floor. He also took off his socks and kept wandering through the room, barefoot. It actually helped him breathe a little better.

  Ryan opened the glass door to the terrace. Looking back into the dining hall, he didn't even shrug as he pulled down his briefs and threw them to the center of the room, with his pants. He was fully naked now... There was no one around to point at him, laugh or hiss, make a cruel comment or shout out to him with glee. There was nothing but silence. Indifferent, empty silence — it felt cruel enough, in its own way.

  He switched the lights on. The swimming pool looked warm, welcoming and shining under the stars, with its heated sea water.

  It felt so natural for him to dive head first, make a big splash and swim for a while against the artificial currents in the deep end of the pool... Ryan felt the hot water flowing all over his skin like soft layers of silk, the crisp night air around him, the quiet sky above the Pleasure Dome. It was cold outside, in this vast open space — but he was used to feeling that cold. The water cradled him. He had to resist the flow that pushed him away. He kept his arms and legs moving, almost embracing a dream of the ocean. It was the most soothing feeling in the world... When the water jets stopped, Ryan floated on his back, exhausted. Listening to the distant murmurs of the forest, he turned his face towards the stars.

  A few lines by W.B. Yeats came to mind.

                    “...Things fall apart, the center cannot hold,

                     mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

                     The blood-dimmed tide is loosed and everywhere

                     the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

                     The best lack all conviction, while the worst

                     are full of passionate intensity...”

  Ryan closed his eyes. There were clouds all over the moon — he should go back inside and get some sleep...

  With a deep sigh, he got out of the swimming pool, walked back into the hotel, closed the door behind him and picked up his clothes on his way to the kitchen. Ryan took a quick, cold shower. He was still standing in his bathroom with a towel around his waist when he heard the phone ring in the lobby.

  As he rushed to the desk, his first thought was that maybe Chris was calling again, from his own bedroom at the Hamptons.

– “Chris?”

– “Ryan? It's Austin...”

– “Oh! How are you doing at the...”

– “Shut up and listen to me!”

  Ryan noticed then how hoarse his friend sounded, and how he tried to talk over the phone without raising his voice, for some reason...

– “Austin... Is something wrong?”

– “Pick me up at the 3D diner, and make it quick.”

  There was no time to ask questions. Ryan didn't understand what was going on. He only understood that his friend needed help — and that was enough for him.

– “I'm on my way now.”

  Austin had already hung up. Ryan got dressed in a matter of seconds... He left the lights on in the dining hall and in the lobby, but he closed all the doors on his way out to the parking lot.

■ ■ ■

Saturday early morning — on the road to Pleasance

  It was a pretty long drive from the Pleasure Dome to the 3D diner and, on such a dark and foggy night, it was only safe to keep driving below the speed limit. Ryan was a careful driver. Getting arrested was the last thing he needed, right now. Even if he knew the police officer, talking his way out would take time, and he had to see Austin as soon as possible.

  Driving alone in the hotel's car meant spending more than two hours in uncomfortable silence, once again, but this was not the same. Ryan was worried about Austin — questions kept popping like bubbles around his head, and the dumb blond guy had never felt so clueless in his life...

  The 3D diner belonged to Dennis and Denise Denisov. It stood on the outskirts of Pleasance, at a particularly important crossroad for truckers. 

  Ryan knew Denise and her son Dennis really well — they were the first people in town who had welcomed him, offering him a job and a place to stay. They used some of his recipes, now, for their most popular pies.

  Parking the car in front of the diner, Ryan couldn't see his friend. It felt odd, considering that Austin usually sat in a booth by the window. Then, if he had come to this place in the middle of the night, it was certainly not to be seen by anyone walking outside or driving in the street.

  Denise was sitting behind the counter, as usual... When she saw Ryan entering the diner, she came up to welcome him with a hug.

– “Dennis is in the kitchen. He will be so happy to see you!”

– “I would like to see him too, but... Please, Denise, have you seen my friend Austin tonight, by any chance?”

– “He's sitting in the back.”

  Ryan felt quite relieved, but he noticed the smile on Denise's face.

– “Is he okay?”

– “Oh, he's fine... I only wish he had come to this place to eat or drink something, as he usually does.”

  Austin wasn't one of their “regular” customers, but a handsome young man with that much appetite would always be welcome. Ryan knew that something was wrong, and he was somehow reluctant to ask.

– “Was he drunk when he came up here? Did he do something?”

– “Oh! he may be drunk. He certainly does look that way. He's only been sitting in that booth, moping and brooding. He only said you would come to pick him up. That's all... I didn't get another word from him.”

– “Okay. Thank you, Denise.”

  Ryan turned around the corner, in the diner. Austin was sitting in the booth next to the kitchen door... There was a cup of coffee on the table, with a cookie, and he had not even touched it.

  He hardly looked up when he heard his friend calling him softly.

– “Austin?”

– “Ryan... Okay, you've come.”

– “What's going on?”

– “I don't want to talk about it.”

– “Okay...”

– “I just... Oh... BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRP!”

  Austin didn't hold back, as that deep and booming belch seemed to fill the air and resonate through the whole diner. Ryan turned around when he heard Denise comment on it, from behind the counter.

– “Sixteen! That's a well-fed boy...”

  It had to be what Denise meant, when she said she “didn't get another word” from Austin. Ryan was used to this. Denise wasn't.

  Taking a closer look at his friend, he couldn't ignore how bloated Austin was... The poor boy was shirtless, under his coat, and he looked like one big ball of chocolate cookie dough.

– “Austin...”

– “Give me a minute.”

– “Okay.”

  Ryan slowly got up — Dennis was coming out of the kitchen, wiping his forehead, and he looked genuinely pleased to see him. The blond young man wasn't feeling quite well, but he didn't mind a friendly hug and kiss.

  The two of them whispered, looking at Austin still in his booth.

– “What's happened to him?”

– “I have no idea...”

  Dennis kissed Ryan on the cheek and whispered again.

– “You should drive him back home.”

– “I really should.”

  He went back to Austin, keeping his voice low and soft.

– “Austin... Do you need help to get out of this booth?”

– “Yes.”

– “Do you need help to walk to the car?”

– “Duh...”

  Ryan didn't need any more instructions.

– “Okay, big boy. There you go...”

  With Ryan and Dennis holding his hands, Austin got to stand up... He looked just so sleepy as he was stuffed. The blond young man wrapped an arm around his friend's back, holding him tight — then they started walking together, slowly going out in the street and to their car. 

  Austin was only following his friend's moves.

“Oh, well...” Ryan thought. “There's no need to hurry, now.”

                      “The night is long that never finds the day...”

– “What's that?” Austin asked, still very out of breath.

– “Shakespeare, you know... the Scottish play.”

  Ryan didn't feel like saying Macbeth out loud, at that moment.

– “Well... Beam me up, Scottish! We need to get out of here.”

– “Back to the Pleasure Dome?”

– “Back home. I feel like I shouldn't have left, in the first place...”

■ ■ ■

Saturday morning — at the Pleasure Dome

  Driving back home to the coast, through the fog, at almost 3AM, felt even longer and more uncomfortable to Ryan than his earlier drive to the 3D diner. Austin was sitting next to him — he had fallen asleep as soon as they had hit the road... He would start snoring sometimes, then he would fart in the passenger's seat and almost wake up, remain silent for a few minutes and go back to sleep.

  Ryan wouldn't drive any faster than he should. Considering his friend's condition, he had to be careful on this bumpy road, and he really didn't want to get arrested when Austin wasn't bearing a seatbelt... No matter how hard he had tried, Ryan couldn't get it fastened around his friend's belly. It made him nervous, and feel helpless, for a number of reasons.

  When they finally drove past the gates of the Pleasure Dome, Ryan heaved a sigh of relief. The clock on the dashboard marked 5:25AM.

– “Austin... Austin, wake up... We're home.”

– “I don't want to wake up...”

– “Come on, you don't want to sleep in the car.”

  Ryan had to help his friend get out of his seat. Then he had to help him walk up the stone steps to the door, walk through the hotel's lobby, then all the way to the stairs...

– “There's no way I'm going to climb those stairs!”

– “You don't want to go to your bedroom?”

– “All the way up to the eighth floor? Nuh huh...”

– “We should really do something to get the lifts to work.”

  Even if their lifts weren't out of order, Ryan wouldn't feel too confident — if Austin stepped inside one of them now, he would certainly raise the overload alarm...

  They could go to the kitchen and Ryan's bedroom, on ground floor, but it didn't feel like an appropriate solution. Then there was no option left — Ryan shrugged, with a deep bear growl.

– “Okay... I'll carry you upstairs.”

– “What, in your arms?” Austin yawned.

– “Don't be silly. You're too heavy... I'll carry you on my shoulders.”

  It was already hard for Austin to stand up and keep his balance — so it took a little while for Ryan to get him to sit on his shoulders and make his friend hold on to him. The blond young man slowly rose, huffing and puffing a bit, then stood up with that pretty massive burden on his back. Walking upstairs would take some time too...

  When Austin found himself sitting on his bed, he was falling asleep again. Ryan helped him get undressed, and walk to the bathroom. With the stack of fresh, clean linen on a chair, he had some time to make up the bed. He was putting the pillows in the pillowcases and he saw Austin come out of the toilets, naked. Clearly, his briefs were cutting too much into his hips or his lower waist...

  Ryan immediately looked away, blushing. He could always pretend that the room was still dark and he had not seen anything.

  What he couldn't ignore was how heavy, huge and round his waddling friend was. He knew Austin well enough to tell that he had never looked so grotesquely bloated, no matter how eager he had grown to stuff his face at least three times a day.

  Something must have happened to him, at Hawk's parents' place... The food they had prepared for their feast would certainly put any meal Ryan cooked for his friends to shame. He wondered about it, keeping in mind that Austin had called him in the middle of the night, and it felt like a cry for help. Did they say something to him? Was it just too much food?

– “Get some sleep, Austin... Good night.”

  Ryan was about to leave, but Austin called him back.

– “Don't go downstairs... Come behind me, and hold me in your arms.”

– “Huh... Okay.”

  Ryan was naturally reluctant to get in bed with his best friend when he was naked... Then he remembered that Austin had come to spend some time with him and comfort him just like this, when everyone thought he was sick. He took off his sweaty T-shirt, his socks and his pants, and he joined Austin under the sheets as he tucked him in.

  It was his turn to be wearing briefs. Ryan was secretly hoping that their friends would never ask about this night, when they would be back.

– “Rub my belly, Ryan.”

– “Okay...”

  He had a hunch that he should be more careful than usual — Austin's belly weighed so heavily on the mattress. It was so round in his lap, and so massively full... When Ryan put one hand on his friend's stomach, it felt hot and buzzing like a beehive, actively digesting too much food like a butter churn. It felt quite intimidating.  

  Austin was slowly falling asleep.

– “Rub my belly... Rub my belly...” He mumbled.

  There was a long moment of quiet. Ryan had to get out of bed to pull the thick double curtains and shut the morning light out... He came back to bed, feeling tired like his friend but determined to help him get better.

  Austin started moaning under his soft embrace.

– “Why do I always feel safe, when you hold me like this ?”

– “I don't know... Please, go to sleep.” Ryan whispered.

– “You're a teddy bear... That's why.”

– “Okay... I'm a teddy bear.”

– “Hold me like a big teddy bear, and keep rubbing my belly...”

– “I will, if you tell me what happened to you.”

– “Oh... Okay, then. Okay...”

  Ryan hugged him tight, just as Austin asked. He didn't feel trapped, but snuggled. He didn't feel threatened, but protected. It was just a friendly hug and a perfect cuddle... The sleepy fat boy was ready to share.

■ ■ ■

Austin's memories — at Hawk's parents' place

  I was stuffed like you wouldn't believe... 

  Think about it. First breakfast as soon as Hawk and I woke up, around 7AM. Second breakfast an hour later, when Hawk's cousins joined us... Snacks and drinks around 9AM with barbecue meat, burgers and more, when they started the barbecue in the middle of the morning. Then more snacks and treats, by 11AM. I was given something else to eat, all the time... I had to eat every hour, on the hour. Then I had to sit for hours at the family table for lunch. I was surrounded with plates of food during my nap on the couch. There was coffee with a number of cakes, pies and cookies, around 5PM. Then cocktail drinks with finger food in the garden, as the sun was going down. Happy hour at 7PM. We all got back to the dinner table an hour later, and I had to keep eating desserts when it was almost midnight.

  I was stuffed to the gills... I kept thinking, if I was a fish, I would beg to be gutted right now because there was just too much food in my belly and I was ready to burst. It was almost getting hard for me to breathe in, after a while.

  The food they prepared was awesome. I'll give them that. Hawk's mom is a really good cook, and all his cousins must have learned from her. I don't know... All the men in the house were big eaters. They were all happily married, with children. They only encouraged me to eat more and more. I thought they were eating like me, but no... They weren't. It took me a while to understand that they were taking turns, so I was really eating a lot more... Then they certainly drank as much as I did, because they were all drunk yesterday. 

  So, the food? Your classic Thanksgiving feast, but bigger. Crisp-skinned turkey with sage and sausage stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy, green bean casserole, roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, candied yams, beef Wellington, spicy carrot and ginger soup, grilled salmon with fluffy mashed potatoes, butternut pumpkin pie, apple cider doughnuts, meringue pear pie, cherry pie, cinnamon rolls, quick lemon cheesecake... You know, the kind of food you can cook in your sleep. Okay, if I have to be totally honest, your honey-glazed pineapple fritters and your double fudge Oreo brownies will always be my favorite, but they're like... out of this world! It wouldn't be fair to compare. 

  They cooked a truly terrific feast for us — or maybe I should say they cooked a truly terrific feast for me.

  I had spent Thursday eating all day, like... day and night. Then Friday was the same, and I was beginning to smell cooking oil when I wiped my forehead. I was just so sweaty, as if I was basting in my own grease... I swear, Ryan, even you have never made me eat so much rich, fattening food! As much as I love to eat and I claim to be a glutton, it felt like I was entering completely uncharted territory.

  I had to leave my belt open after that first breakfast. The top button of my pants popped after the second breakfast... We all took our shirts off before lunch. Even so, I was struggling to catch my breath.

  How did I survive dinner? I have no idea.

  I told you I was quite drunk, so most of the evening feels like a blur... Hawk's cousins kept encouraging me, making comments and having fun. They laughed a lot, but they talked in that weird native language. I only remember a few words, when someone told me what they meant.

  Comments like... Let me think...

– “A zer zerrikumea potoloa!” 

  I know, that's quite a mouthful... It means “What a fat pig!”

  Not the nicest thing to tell your guest, I couldn't agree more. Again, it took me a while to understand what was going on around me. What can I say? At some point, Hawk and I went to bed. I remember making out with him. Then we had sex. Then... 

  Oh! sorry, you're right. Too Much Information.

  Anyway, I woke up in the middle of the night. I guess I had to take a leak. Hawk was asleep, but he's always such a sound sleeper... Why did I go downstairs? I remember I heard a few girls talking in the kitchen.

  They were cooking, of course, but that's just the thing. It was way too late for anyone to prepare another turkey for the next day, and a whole ham, and more food I could spot on the kitchen table...

  What sent shivers down my spine was their small talk, as they were all busy with the batters and the cookpots. These women were definitely talking about me, how much I had eaten for the last two days, and how much more they should make me eat next. All day. Again! I don't know, I panicked when they referred to me as their “delicious urdaimendi”. And they were so cheerful about it!

  What's that ? Oh! I think it means a “mountain of lard”... Not much of a compliment either, that's for sure.

  That's how it happened. I couldn't decide what triggered it... I suddenly felt oppressed, a lot worse than short of breath, as if I was in immediate physical danger. Call it my “spider's sense”, if you want. At that moment, I was feeling like a pig with an apple in his mouth, like a fattened goose, like a turkey about to be stuffed more than ever, and roasted!

  I thought “I have to get out of here”. 

  That's all. I didn't get fully dressed, as you have noticed. I couldn't lace my shoes. I put on my coat and I managed to leave the grounds without being noticed. I walked down the street, then I kept walking... 

  The cool night air helped me focus. When I saw the light from the 3D diner, everything felt familiar again. I knew I could count on Denise and Dennis. I could call you, so I did. Then you came to pick me up.

  If I had not left, I would be stuffing my face with salmon and lobster again, right now. Really, no question about it. I couldn't eat another bite last night. My stomach kept making more ominous sounds than a ticking time bomb...

  Why did they push me to gobble and gobble and gobble so much?

■ ■ ■

Saturday morning — in lobby, at the Pleasure Dome 

  Stealthy like a tiger, Ryan rose to an upright position in bed. Austin was fast asleep, just farting under the covers again. His blond friend tip-toed out of the room, silently walked down the stairs and made his way over to the lobby.

  He had to look in the phone book to dial Hawk's parents' number... He waited for a few seconds. Someone answered. It was a woman's voice.

– “Hello... My name is Ryan. I'm a friend of Hawk's. May I talk to him?”

– “What did you say your name was?”

– “Ryan.”

– “Okay... Just a moment.”

  He heard the woman calling Hawk in the room — then he knew it was him, at the other end of the line.

– “Ryan?”

– “Yeah... You may be looking for Austin, right now.”

– “How would you know where he is?”

– “Because he's here with me, at the Pleasure Dome.”

– “When did you drive him back there?”

– “That's a whole story in itself. Hawk...”

– “Yes?”

– “If you don't bring your ass over here today, I will spank you so hard you won't be able to sit for the rest of the year!”

  Ryan hung up. It made him feel bad immediately — that was rude... He had not slept much, he was still tired and hungry, but he shouldn't be so grumpy. Maybe the people who hanged up on him didn't feel good either.

  He couldn't say.

■ ■ ■

Saturday afternoon — in the coffee corner at the Pleasure Dome 

  Hawk had the advantage of driving by day... He was there sooner than Ryan expected.

– “Where is Austin?”

– “Upstairs in his bedroom. Sleeping.”

– “Okay...”

– “I wouldn't disturb him, if I were you.”

– “Why?”

– “He's told me about this long week-end at your parents' house. Hawk, what have you guys done to him? More to the point, what have you done to him? I hold you responsible for this... You've been asking me to feed Austin more, and more fattening foods. What were you thinking?”

  It was so unusual for Ryan to sound so angry. Hawk sat down.

– “I know... Things got out of hands.”

– “And into Austin's stomach? Seriously, Hawk...”

– “Okay, I owe you an explanation.”

– “You don't owe me anything, but I don't even know if Austin will listen to your explanation.”

– “You didn't tell him that you were calling me?”

– “Let's just say... I haven't told him yet.”

– “Ryan... When I asked you to feed Austin more and more food, I was only thinking about the best opportunity to introduce him to my family.”

– “So you knew that it would happen like this.”

– “Not quite like this. Of course, my mother would cook a huge meal for him, and the whole family would be there... I warned Austin about this. I asked you to help him get prepared for such a feast. Then I didn't expect that much food! I certainly didn't ask for it.”

– “Well... You were there. You let it happen, and unfold.”

– “That's right. You had to be there. The women in my family couldn't be stopped, once they started cooking so much for him, and feeding him...”

– “Hawk! You had to be there for your boyfriend.”

  Ryan wasn't even aware that he growled like an angry, protective bear.

– “I was there for Austin... I love him.”

– “So you do. What difference does it make if he's ready to burst?”

– “Come on... Austin ate a lot, but he wouldn't burst.”

– “His words, not mine.”

– “Austin loves to eat. He loves being fat, and growing fatter... And I love him for this. When it comes to my parents, my brothers and sisters, my cousins and the whole wild bunch, I agree, that's something else.”

– “You can say that again... Try telling Austin about it too.”

– “They're my family. Honestly! you have to understand this...”

– “Oh! I understand...” Ryan shrugged. “And don't call me Nestlé.”

■ ■ ■

Saturday evening — in Austin's bedroom 

  When Austin woke up, Ryan told him about his phone call to Hawk, who was now waiting in the hallway. The young man frowned, at first — then he nodded, allowing his boyfriend to join them... Before the door was opened, he let out one last deep, long and booming burp.

  Hawk saw his boyfriend still lying, or half-sitting in bed... Ryan had one arm around his back — and he was still rubbing his friend's smooth, soft belly with his other hand. That would be more than enough to make him jealous, but he couldn't afford to be antagonistic, when they deserved an explanation. He sat down, next to Austin's bed.

– “Okay, boys... Long story short.”

– “Long story, period.” Ryan mumbled. 

– “Come on, Hawk! There's no point beating around the bush.”

– “Okay... What you need to know is that, when I told my parents that they were going to meet my boyfriend, they didn't take the news too well. All their children are straight, so...”

– “What made them change their mind?”

– “First, I told my mother that you were fat... I told her about your big appetite, your taste for fatty foods. I knew that would win her over.”

– “Seriously?” Ryan looked a bit puzzled.

– “Well... It did.” Austin thumped his round belly.

– “Right... Okay, what else did you tell your parents?”

– “What really made the difference was when I told my mother that you were black. She was just thrilled... A young, black and greedy boyfriend? That was like a dream come true!”

– “Okay, just... Huh?” Austin had to ask. “Why?”

  That kind of explanation didn't really explain anything.

– “I swear, I had no idea that she would take it as a sign. She's always been a stickler to our old beliefs and traditions.”

– “Hawk, I'm just a simple boy from Texas. I was raised on gluttony and greed... The only thing I was taught in High School was to remember the Alamo! I don't know anything about traditions.”

– “You were raised on gluttony and greed?” Ryan asked with a smile.

– “You know... Corporate greed. Gluttony was always more personal.”

  Hawk had to tell them about his family's traditions.

– “This goes back to the seventeenth century here, boys. That's when my people fought for years in the Liskarra, the “great war” caused by two brothers in the royal family who claimed to rule over the land... That civil war marked the separation between the Iturritik and the Itsasorak. It went on and off, because the French and the English were also fighting for their imperial advantage, at the same time. When the French king lost all his possessions in Canada, the Iturritik and the Itsasorak were forced to submit to the English crown, but they also had to settle their feud according to their own traditions... After centuries of conflict, the Garaipen baketsua, the “peaceful victory” was decided with a single fight between the “living idols” of each tribe, with the ministers of our pagan rites as referees. A black living idol and a white wone.”

– “Black and white?”

– “That's right.”

– “That's so wrong...”

– “I don't know how they chose their first “living idols” for that fight... A history professor used to tell us that it was only war paint.”

– “What kind of fight?”

– “I don't know...”

– “Did your tribes live peacefully ever after?”

– “It's ancient history, now... Just the kind of friendly rivalry we have in sports games.”

– “Do you still have pagan priests or something?”

– “I don't know... I guess we do.”

– “What's that deal with a “living idol” for each tribe?”

– “That's the thing... The Iturritik and the Itsasorak chose a completely different kind of young man than your usual champions or knights to become their “living idols”. Those chosen boys had to be very handsome but untouched by women. They would be trained to grow stronger and fatter, athletic and definitely obese... The only difference between them was that the Iturritik worshipped a man with a pale, delicate complexion, while the Itsasorak went for a young man with dark skin.”

  It was finally clear for Austin — somehow.

– “Did your mother want me to become your living idol?”

– “Well...” Hawk heaved a deep sigh. “Yeah.”

– “Did she tell you about this?” Ryan asked.

– “No...”

  Knowing that her son's boyfriend was a handsome black young man, Hawk's mother had called everyone for a big family reunion, but it was quite clear now that they were also going to see how Austin would fit the part of their jainkoinduria beltza eta gizena, the “black, fat living idol” of their tribe. That was... ambitious, to say the least.

  Assuming Austin got to play that part, eventually, Ryan couldn't help thinking about the limited choice in styles and the sheer size of clothes that would still fit.

  His friend didn't look so upset anymore.

– “I wish you had told me about this...”

– “I swear, I had no idea.”

– “Didn't it feel odd to you, at some point?”

– “It did. My cousins were acting strange too, but they were drunk. I was drunk. They always act like a pack of dingoes when they get drunk.”

– “Let me guess. They aways get drunk when they get together?”

– “Yeah...”

  Ryan could tell that Austin was feeling more relaxed.

– “So, that's it. That's all... Your mom and your family only wanted to... worship your boyfriend?”

– “Pretty much.”

– “And they had to stuff him like our Thanksgiving turkey for it.”

– “You've heard me... I don't know how fat our first “living idols” were, but if you go by today's standards?”

– “Sure...”

  Austin agreed.

– “Okay, Hawk... I guess it wasn't so easy for you either.”

– “You're no longer mad at me?”

– “No, we're good... I am just stuffed.”

– “Okay.”

– “I like being stuffed, but I don't like being rushed... You tell them.”

– “I will.”

  Hawk and Ryan understood that Austin wanted to be alone for a while. Maybe he needed some time to think about all this. Maybe he needed to sleep just a little longer, with all the food he still had to digest...

  The two bearded men quietly went out of his bedroom.

– “I stand by what I told you earlier, Hawk.”

– “What do you mean?”

– “Austin was delighted to meet your family, then things took a wrong turn and he started feeling strange, uncomfortable, baited... You know, it takes a lot for a guy like him to leave a party and run away like this.”

– “That's true...”

– “You didn't see it coming, but you should have felt how it was getting worse and worse for Austin. I understand that you got distracted, drunk and confused, surrounded with other drunk guys... That's no excuse. You should have kept an eye on your boyfriend. That's what any bear in his right mind would...”

– “What? bear in mind?”

– “Something like that...” 

■ ■ ■

Sunday morning — West Vancouver, in Maiana's house

  Maiana was genuinely sad to see Guy and Lou having to leave so soon. The few days they had spent together were so much fun, for the three of them. Lou had to agree, they got along so well. After a few more meals, more than a few beers and some more talk about little things and bigger things, and everything else, he felt comfortable wearing his tight briefs and nothing else — eating meal after meal between naps in bed, nestled in his boyfriend's arms...

  Lou was still a bit tipsy, when he woke up, and still stuffed from his last late-night dinner, which was a whole feast of chicken tikka biryani with so much meat, butter, rice and fried onions, he felt that spicy aftertaste, no matter how thoroughly he had brushed his teeth before going to bed.

  His favorite pink T-shirt fit a bit snuggly today. Maiana was also curious to find out if her “special guest” had put on some significant weight.

– “Oh! well...” Lou nodded politely. “It's the least I can do.”

  Standing on the scales naked, alone in her bathroom, he was eager to confirm that he had put on no less than seventeen pounds, in three days and nights of stuffing and overeating — seventeen pounds he should try to maintain and cherish as a souvenir, with fond memories attached to it.

  His boyfriend and their hostess had really pushed his boundaries... Lou thumped his noticeably rounder tummy, stretched so much fuller, with a grateful smile. He was still quite heavily stuffed.

  Guy couldn't be prouder of him. Maiana praised him for his efforts, then she asked him again, with just the hint of a mischievous smile, when Lou told them about his apparent weight gain.

– “Would you stretch out your pointer finger for me again, so I may feel just how plump you have grown under my care?”

  Lou did just as she asked. She squeezed his forefinger a little, then she praised him for his determination to grow bigger, rounder, fatter — then for the way he looked up to Guy with that special sparkle in his eyes... It meant a lot to her, and it felt like Lou belonged to their little family now.

  He couldn't help noticing that she did squeeze a bit harder, this time.

– “Good boy! You've grown a bit fatter. You've been eating very well.”

– “Oh... I have been fed really well!”

– “You should keep it up, Lou. Eat up, gain more weight. Grow plump!”

– “I will...” He smiled, feeling actually proud of what he had done.

– “Now, my favourite nephew should feed you like a perfect glutton.”

– “Lou's not just a perfect glutton, Aunt Maiana.” Guy smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “He's the perfect boyfriend...”

– “Then he should get really fat!”

  They shared one last family hug.

– “This is still mostly food and water weight, you know... You need some beauty sleep to really turn all this into layers upon layers of lard.” 

– “I'll already get a few hours of sleep in the plane.” 

– “Maybe I should pay you a visit at the Pleasure Dome, sometimes... I have to say, I like that name you've chosen for your hotel.”

– “It would be our pleasure.” 

– “I hope to see you with a bigger, rounder and softer belly, then.”

– “It's a promise.” 

  They kissed her one last time, when their taxi showed up.

– “It went even better than I hoped.” Guy concluded.

– “I agree. That was a lot of fun... and a lot of food!”

– “Isn't she the best?”

– “Your aunt is great! And she's a great cook too, but what was that deal with squeezing my finger again like that? I was tempted to ask her if she was a witch.”

– “Oh, you should have!”

– “No way... I wouldn't dare. It's beyond rude.”

– “I'm just saying...”

  Lou turned to look at his boyfriend on the passengers' seat.

– “Is there something you wanted to tell me?”

– “Well, yes...” Guy looked away. “There's a reason why aunt Maiana's partner wasn't there to meet you. She wasn't just attending some comic book convention... She had to take part in a Wiccan event around Index, Washington.”

– “A Wiccan week-end? Seriously?”

– “That's right. Aunt Maiana and Pat are sorginak.”

– “Okay, what's that?”

– “In the old Basque country... Witches.”

– “Witches? For real?”

– “Real enough... There were witch hunts and witch trials by the French and the Spanish Inquisition for centuries, with so many men and women executed it makes you reconsider what happened later in Salem. Once, in 1610, they arrested like... seven thousand people and ended up killing at least thirty witches.”

– “How do you know all this?”

– “My grandmother always claimed that her ancestors came to Pleasance with the first coven who fled France, around that time, when they were threatened to be burned at the stake.”

– “Okay...” Lou had to think about it. This wasn't something he expected to find out about his boyfriend, but it felt kind of cool. “Okay.”

– “Yes, Lou?”

– “I guess...” He kissed him on the lips, making it last for the duration of their trip on the plane. “I understand what's so magical about you.”

■ ■ ■

Sunday early afternoon — in the lobby, at the Pleasure Dome

  Austin was still sleeping in his bed. Hawk was pacing nervously... Ryan picked up the cups and plates on the coffee table.

– “If you keep going around in circles like this, I'll fall asleep too.”

– “Sorry... What should I do now?”

– “Isn't it obvious?”

– “It's not.”

– “I'm not in your shoes, of course. I would follow my instincts.”

– “Of course, you would...”

  Ryan put a hand on Hawk's shoulder to make him pause in his walk.

– “I think you should go back to Austin, and show him just how much you love him... That's really all the explanation he needs.”

– “And you're okay with this.”

– “What can I say? I trust you when you tell me you love him.”

– “You do...”

– “I must be even dumber than you keep reminding me, but yes, I do. I've been thinking about it, if you can call that “thinking”... Don't ask me to explain this to you, when I can't explain it to myself.”

– “Then you won't tell the others about this week-end.”

– “That's not for me to tell. You ask Austin about it..”

– “I will.”

– “I don't like secrets like this, but if you want me to keep it on the QT...”

– “Please... Austin is the only cutie I care for.”

– “Okay.”

  Hawk and Austin could enjoy the rest of the week-end together now.

  The door bell rang. It was Chris. He took off his sunglasses and smiled when he saw Ryan with the coffee platter in his hands.

– “Chris! Welcome back...”

– “Hey... What happened, while I was away?”

– “Nothing.”

– “Come on! You look tired and underfed again.”

– “Do I look that bad?”

– “Of course not.” Chris shrugged. “You look hungry.”

– “I should be, but I'm really not... I should get some sleep, first.”

  As he was about to go, Ryan turned to face his friend.

– “Chris, would you...”

– “Yes?”

– “Would you join me and hold me while I sleep? Just hold me.”

– “I don't know...” Chris raised an eyebrow, teasing him just a little. “Are we both naked in bed, together, if I join you as you suggest?”

– “Of course.”

– “And you only want me to hold you in my arms. Nothing more.”

– “I know...” Ryan looked down, sheepishly. 

  Chris gently cupped his face, and kissed him.

– “You're the absolute worst, Ryan. You know that? You have such a bad influence on me, I may become a good, trustworthy person... And it will be entirely your fault.”

– “I'll take the blame...”

  Ryan kissed him back with his eyes closed. It was a gentle but a perfect kiss... They hugged each other, wiped each other's tears and smiled.

– “It feels good to be back, at the Pleasure Dome...”