spark up

(TOMMY MARTINEZ, HE/HIM, CIS-MALE ) Did I just see (EDGAR MENDOZA)? This ( THIRTY) year old (RECORD STORE OWNER) has been living in Chicago for ( HIS WHOLE LIFE ). Some say that they are (THOUGHTFUL and WARM ) as well as (ESCAPIST and PRIVATE). If they had a theme song, some might say that it would be ( SPARK UP by BALL PARK MUSIC ). All I know is that I can’t wait to see what they bring to the Windy City. - (jess/24/aest/she/her) @hocstarters

“okay man, let me introduce you to our Friday night tradition,” Ed grinned at his newest employee, carrying two beers, handing one to Peyton. It was getting dark, around the time the record store started closing and the weekend began, “first, we drink,” he held up his beer, in a cheers, “and while we do that, ya gotta choose an album, any album, whatever makes you happiest. Then, we hang out, and I show you what Chicago has to offer.”

The last thing Celeste wanted was to start some kind of argument in the middle of this event. People were drinking wine and chatting and laughing. The lights were casting such a nice glow on everything. But this asshole just kept bothering her. She was about to say something about the shit he’d just spewed, but instead there was Ed coming up to the two of them, and she smiled, trying not to look too relieved. But in all honesty, she was. While Orion had worked as a paramedic, it didn’t mean that he knew how to deal with direct conflict- Celeste worked in bars and got an occasional touchy customer, but the amount of lewd comments and the reaching and trying to fondle her… she let Ed get between them, shaking her head and not answering. Was she okay? She wasn’t even sure.

Having a more masculine presence show up only added fuel to the fire. The guy was more irate now, irritable as he started motioning towards her. “I was just talkin’ to the pretty crossdresser, buddy. Why don’t you get your own?” The guy laughed, rather grossly, and Celeste said over Ed’s shoulder at the man: “Hon, I’m not interested. How can I be any more clearer?” The guy’s chest bumped into Ed’s as he tried to keep talking to Celeste and get closer to her, growling. Clearly his pride was damaged, and a wounded dog loved to bark. “You fuckin’ whore, you serious? You fuckin’ tease! You’re lucky I even tried, you fuckin’ freak!” 

“Look, we’re askin’ you nicely, back off,” they were chest to chest now, Ed trying to put as much space between Celeste and the creep as possible. He was filled with something more protective and angrier than he’d been in years. As a rule, Ed was a pacifist. He met life with easy smiles, ‘no worries’, water off a duck’s back... until it came to the people he cared for. Really cared for.  Turns out, Celeste was one of those people.  Someone he’d break the rules for if she were hurting. ”What did you call her?” Ed spat, glaring at the man. All it took was one word and Edgar snapped, his fist flying through the air, landing squarely against the man’s cheek, knocking him backwards. Pacifism? Dead. he couldn’t see how someone could go so far out of their way to ruin someone’s night. Unaccustomed to any form of violence, his fist swung again, blindly tackling the man to the ground, not caring one bit about the people watching.

08: Played any sports?

Went through a big Mighty Ducks phase... ducks fly together and all that, but I hate ice skating so it didn’t last long.

11: Do you like someone?

Yeah, I do.

21: What are your plans for this weekend?

Gotta gig this Friday, then I’ll hang out with Orion, maybe hike, maybe see what Ards is doing... I dunno seems too far away to plan these things.

68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?

James and I always kinda talk about our feelings and shit, so probably with him.

The voice wasn’t familiar at first but when she spun to get a look at her approacher, it all began to come clear. “Yes, Dani. Hi again,” she greeted with a smile, tapping her chin for a moment before snapping her fingers once. “Edgar,” she finally said confidently with a nod. She laughed slightly, at herself mostly and nodded. “I’m okay. I know this attitude isn’t what you might remember, I apologize. I just needed a rest but I’m also glad to have run into you.”

“Yup, you got it. The one with the terrible karaoke voice,” Ed confirmed with a grin and a nod, surprised she even remembered him after the blur of the night. “It’s all good,” he waved away her apology, “Do you wanna talk about it? Or... if you don’t have work we can find ya some place better to rest? Can’t imagine the steps of the hospital are too calming... they kinda give me the creeps.”

“I mean, it is your birthday gift card.” James said with a soft smile, pushing himself off the counter, moving to grab a pair of drum sticks. His hands always had to be doing something, usually tapping out some beat. “If you wanna get something for the band- whatever you want.” He said with a nod, taking his seat back on the counter, twirling the drum sticks in his hand a bit as he did so. He felt his eyebrows raise some as Ed in fact took the bait, his face breaking out into a grin as he listened to the other man talk. “Hooking up with a friend, huh?” James gave a teasing wiggle of his eyebrows, though if anything, he was beyond happy for Edgar. If anyone deserved good things to happen in their life, it was him. “But seriously, that’s great. I mean-” He waved a hand, trying to place his words. “I’m happy for you- Do you think things will get more serious for you two? Or just strictly hooking up only?” James asked, moving the drum sticks to his thigh, lightly tapping out a random beat on them as he talked with Ed. “And nah, nothing going on for me. Just either work, band stuff, or hanging out with friends.” He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. While it wasn’t much, it was more than James could have hoped for. Having a job, being a part of a band, having close friends who stuck by his side through everything he had been through. With an amused expression, James watched ad Edgar grabbed the book, his entire face lighting up at the mention of them having gigs. “Perfect! Mind if I see it so I can put it all into my phone?” Loving the fact that they were getting enough gigs that Edgar had to start to write them down. When he had started the band with Ed, all James expected from it was just messing around in the shop. But now that they were getting gigs, quite a few from the sound of it, was just beyond anything he could have hoped for. 

Ed didn’t really share parts of his romantic life often, except when it came to James. In the space of their friendship, James had watch Ed fall into love and out of love multiple times, watched the stories of people he met unfold, and fall apart. He understood just how badly his last few relationships had ended. “Uh... I dunno, honestly.” Ed messed up his curls even further with his hand, as he tried to explain the dynamic between himself and Orion, “we hook up, we hang out, uh, I dunno, it’s fun.” He paused, looking down at his hands before glancing up at James again with a deflated sigh, “I don’t wanna mess it up again, ya know? I don’t exactly have the best track record with flings... dating... any of it.” Not wanting to mess it up was at least a step in the right direction, a change from Edgar’s approach to relationships in the past. They all seemed to fail miserably, with their only common denominator being Edgar.  “Ah, we gotta get you out there, if ya want. Meet new people.” Ed said, not quite believing James didn’t have anything going on in his life. “Yeah, for sure,” he slid the book over to James, it was a little tattered, one page filled with all their upcoming dates, “go for it! Kinda weird that the band’s actually getting gigs, right? Not bad.”

….

She laughed, brushing one of his stray curls back for him sweetly. “You’re such a good cheerleader. It’s definitely weird not getting tipped. But they paid me to be here, which a lot of normal drag shows don’t do. So I guess it evens out.” She laughed, giving a shrug. There was a little table set up with wine and someone was going up to sing a few songs, so the music continued. Everything was very pretty with all the lanterns and fairy lights, and Celeste was eager to get a bit more wine. She glanced over when Ed mentioned the guy who she’d been trying to avoid. “Yeah… sometimes people get a little too into it.” She brushed it off. “Want some wine? I can grab us each a cup. Maybe I’ll lie and say we’re hanging out with two other people.” She teased, a hand resting on Ed’s chest briefly before she moved back. She was hard to miss- the tallest person in the room who also happened to be in drag. But she practically floated as she moved to the table, which was covered in little cups with the corresponding wine bottle behind them to signify what was what. The table was unoccupied, which was even better.

As she debated, she felt someones hand brushing over her lower back, a bit too close to her ass, and she whipped around, seeing that guy from before, who was already moving closer to her. “Hey gorgeous, you really got me going with that dance. You know how to drive someone wild, huh?” Her brow furrowed and she stepped back a bit. “It’s just a performance, hon.” Celeste said, getting sick of this. “You do get that, right?” The man was clearly a little bit tipsy, reaching out again. She was used to grabby bar-goers and even weird drunk bachelorette partiers grabbing wigs and dresses. She was trying not to make a scene, not wanting to be the drag queen who ruined the evening. She already felt a little out of place. But the man had grabbed her hips and gotten her ass this time and she finally gave him a push back. He seemed irritated but undeterred, which was infuriating. “C’mon, c’mon, you can’t be all dressed up like that and not want to get somethin’ in that mouth.” She rolled her eyes. 

...

As Celeste got them their wine, Edgar watched on as she floated through the crowd confidently, admiring her as he so often did. Ed ready for a nice night with Celeste, a chance for the two of them to relax, maybe dance, definitely drink. Something sweet, like most their time together. His hopes for a stress-free night were curbed at the creepy man returned, standing too close to Celeste for Ed’s liking. Just like during the show, Ed watched on, jaw tightening as the man reached for Celeste. Annoyance flared through him as the interaction continued, something boiling and protective raging inside him when the man grabbed Celeste’s hips. Pushing up off the chair, Ed stormed over to the pair, lips pressed into a tight line, eyes narrowing as he approached ,”you okay?” came his quiet concern, glancing up at Celeste, ignoring the guy completely. He knew she and Orion could handle themselves,  that didn’t mean he would sit back and do nothing. His gaze only to cut the creep when he heard of the man’s sentence, sending his blood boiling. “Hey man,” he spoke without thinking, stepping between Celeste and the drunken man, “you better back the hell off.”

1: Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

Uhhhh... I still call my mum every Sunday, even if we’re not exactly a happy family at the moment. My dad and I don’t speak about anything other than the store, but we still have big family dinners? I dunno, it’s weird

7: What did you last eat?

Cooked up this big ass plate of tofu scramble, with toast and beans and shit. It was amazing

15: Have any pets?

Yup, my cat Garbage, GB. He kinda does whatever he wants, but that’s chill with me.

It was an odd event to perform at, but Celeste had been hired to dance at weirder spots. It was the evening now, and after everyone had gotten to walk around for a wine tasting, get a little tipsy, there was a nice little spot for live music… and lipsyncing, and dance. Lanterns and hanging lights in a courtyard with music from speakers, and Celeste was having a great time. Surprisingly a good crowd, despite the weird venue. And she’d worn a nice little off-the-shoulder black gown to move in. She had been enjoying the energy, the whooping and cheers, as was usual. But there was a man who sometimes got a little too grabby- he was clearly a bit drunk, getting into the music. First he was there with some friends, but they seemed to dissipate as the night went on. But he remained. She had been focusing on Ed, who was smiling and watching from the side, but would get distracted as a hand brushed her side. She had leaned in at one point, a part of her dance, and the man said something about how high up her dress’s slit went. It was getting irritating, but she’d dealt with worse. Eventually, the number was over, and people were clapping. She felt a bit of relief, smiling and bowing and moving towards Ed with a smile. “Did you like it?” She asked, a bit breathless and pink in the cheeks. Trying not to pay attention to the guy who was still watching her from behind. 

...

Edgar clapped along with the rest of the crowd, cheering the loudest, probably too enthusiastic for a show but he didn’t care. He was always enthusiastic when it came to supporting the people he cared about. As Celeste sauntered over, Ed’s smile matched hers, his nod eagerly answering her question. “It was brilliant,” he breathed, not exaggerating at all how much enjoyed her performance, “that first bit? Pwhoa.” Ed shook his head in amazement, curls flying about as he grinned at Celeste. The grin dimmed however as Ed glanced behind her, to the man still staring at Celeste, Edgar’s discomfort returning just as quickly as it disappeared. He wasn’t naïve enough to think this was the first time someone had gotten too into the show and the performers, but seeing it actually happen was a whole different story. “What about that guy?” A subtle nod to behind Celeste was all the indication Ed gave on who he was talking about, “he was kind of a creep.” Kind of was putting it lightly.

jenwhitner:

Jennifer couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly at Edgar’s suddenly cheery tone of voice. She knew him well enough to know that it was forced, and that he was simply trying his best to make it less awkward, but she just couldn’t forget what had happened between them. As hard as she’d tried, the memories still lingered, and the hurt was still there for her. Nodding, she lifted her head slightly, but still couldn’t look him in the eyes. “Yeah, I graduated pretty recently. I’m working in an animal clinic not far from here,” she said, gesturing down at her fur covered work clothes. Then, his next statement caught her off guard, and she finally made eye contact. “I- No, I hadn’t heard. I’m sorry,” she said slowly, her voice full of sincerity as she gave him a sad smile. “He was a sweet man,” she added quietly. She wasn’t sure how this news had escaped her, but then again, she’d done her best to avoid him and anything to do with him, really. Part of her wanted to reach out and hug him, but she pushed her hands into her pockets instead. “I’m sorry,” she said again, knowing how it felt to lose someone so close to you.

jenwhitner:

Jennifer kept her gaze locked on her feet, as if it was the most interesting sight she’d ever seen. She’d spent so long managing to avoid this reunion, always staying away from anywhere that Edgar might be, but she was so exhausted from her day that she hadn’t even thought about it. Typical. Finally, as he spoke, she wrenched her eyes from the floor and looked at him. It felt like a punch in the stomach, seeing his face again after such a long time. She wasn’t sure if that was just the pain from the break up or lingering feelings, but she pushed that train of thought away immediately. Watching as he fumbled for his phone, she cleared her throat lightly. “I uh- yeah. I’m good,” she said with a small nod, trying to act as nonchalant as possible, but knowing that her face was betraying her calm and collected tone of voice. “How about you?” she asked, shuffling on her feet and picking at a loose thread on her sleeve, not wanting to look him in the eyes. 

.