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| Mercury Rising | |
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| Topic Started: Sunday, 19. January 2014, 22:07 (339 Views) | |
| Tzippy | Sunday, 19. January 2014, 22:07 Post #1 |
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Ancilla
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Brooklyn August 2003 "Wait, wait, you don't know Queen, kiddo? Seriously?" Moshe blinked slowly in the face of the comically wide eyed expression on Rich's face, shooting an uncertain look to Owen. Owen, the coward, merely shrugged and glanced back to the television, the blond perfectly content to watch Top Gear and tune out the Klein brothers entirely. The teenager huffed in resentment, making a face at the older man before turning back to confront the brother that was insisting on an answer. Not that you'd think Moshe and Rich were brothers. Nine years older than Moshe, Richard had taken after his Vietnamese mother more than the father they both shared. And then, for further differences, he had inherited the features Moshe had missed, including height, an exuberant personality, and expressive light brown eyes. Though Rich at least tried to console his brother (when he wasn't mercilessly teasing) that perhaps he'd have a late growth spurt. Teenaged boys were known for it after all. But considering Moshe was already sixteen and barely five feet tall, he doubted he'd suddenly gain all the inches he seemed to have missed out on. The other things the two seemed to share was an overabundance of freckles and dark curly hair. "I mean... I have heard of them, I suppose... Why does it matter?" A wounded noise emanated from Rich's throat, hands twitching compulsively in a way that made Moshe sincerely regret accepting the invitation to spend a weekend with his older brother and the roommate that he was rather quick in realizing was actually a boyfriend, being as there was only one bed in the sole bedroom. The rather traumatizing display of PDA once they were out of sight of the family home in Williamsburg had been another clue. Not so much that it was another guy Rich was being so lovey dovey with so much as the fact no one wanted to see their brother get that disgustingly sappy with anyone. Thankfully, a few well placed (and loud) complaints had put a stop to it, though Moshe still got a cuff upside the head from Owen for his trouble. Aside from that, it had been rather fun. The trio had spent the first night going through the first two movies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with breaks for food and the occasional argument over what would happen in the last film coming out that December. The second day, Moshe had spent goofing off in the apartment while Rich and Owen were at their classes and job respectively, relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet. There was precious little of it at the Klein family home, Simon and his cheerfully rambunctious collection of friends and family constantly in and out. And if they weren't around, there was always the twins to deal with, Xander and Zach gleefully tormenting the younger half brother that had taken up residence with them for the summer. His stepmother, Moshe didn't see as often, Hoa often distracted with her case load and clients. She at least seemed more introverted, if a bit cool towards him. Then again, Hoa was like that with everyone unless sufficiently riled. The one time he had seen her in such a state, Moshe had commented rather disbelievingly afterwards to his father that he couldn't believe Simon would provoke her deliberately. Simon had simply smiled and said something about understanding the wonders of angry sex when he was older. Ew. In any case, Moshe had been rather grateful for the rescue from Rich, who had commented that he desperately needed some socialization least he become a hermit entirely. Which, Moshe begrudgingly supposed he had a point. He hadn't really left the house since his last visit with Av- Don't think about it. Forget about it. Ignore it. "Why does it matter?! Ignorance of one of the greatest bands even and it doesn't matter! That was Bohemian Rhapsody, you uncultured brat!" Well, that was taking it a bit far. Moshe rolled his eyes. One innocent question about what Rich was humming while watching Top Gear reruns and you'd have thought he'd killed a puppy. Apparently this was a common enough occurrence judging by Owen's nonreaction that Moshe was more annoyed and amused than unnerved by it. Still, the suddenly intent expression that crossed Rich's face was enough to make him consider revising his reaction. "Owen, where's my CD player? I have work to do." "Kitchen counter, darling." "Thank you." "Wait, wh-Ow!," the teenager complained loudly as he was hauled up by his arm from the couch, hanging from Rich's grip stubbornly, "What are you doing?!" "We are going to listen to Best of Queen until you realize just how egregious your sin is." "Oweeeeeeeen!" But Owen seemed content to ignore the squabbling brothers scuffling in the doorway between kitchen and living room, merely reaching for the remote to turn up the television volume. If the occasional yelps, thuds, and then strained notes of "Fat Bottomed Girls" were heard, the man made no sign of reacting. ******** A Skype Conversation April 2004 "The blue suits you. How'd you manage to get your hair that bright? Bleaching? Seriously, I was never been able to get it to look that good when I was doing the whole rebellious thing." Moshe shrugged jerkily as he mumbled a half hearted thanks, settled cross legged in his chair, avoiding even looking at the computer screen. He had debated about making this call for weeks after exchanging only the odd email with Rich once he'd returned to Tel Aviv. They were both distracted by two very different lives and Moshe had doubted Rich would be too bothered with the half brother almost a generation younger than him dropping out of his life once more. But he was also the only one Moshe felt he could discuss something like this with. So, he had flailed and fumbled and got in more trouble than usual before finally steeling himself, waiting until his mother was asleep in her own room before signing into Skype and typing in the contact information Rich had given him the December before. But after the exchange of greetings and casual questions about work and school and family, there had been awkward silence, Rich regarded Moshe through the screen with blatant curiosity but was obviously forcing himself not to prod. Or more like, Owen was, because Moshe could see him in the background, shooting Rich the occasional look whenever he seemed ready to break from the suspense. The silence stretched out for an uncomfortable minute, Moshe tapping his fingers on the desk and Rich so very still. Murmured words broke the silence, sung under the elder's breath. The younger brother cracked a smile despite himself. The tap of fingers began to pick up the rhythm. And finally, Moshe started to sing along himself, keeping care to keep his voice low. It was three in the morning, after all. ".... I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity..." The crow of delight from the face on the other side of the screen and the other side of the planet was enough to make Moshe's shoulders twitch with suppressed laughter. "Thought you were going to hate 'em outta principle due to my education? Happened to that, kiddo?" "They grew on me, that is all," Moshe replied, not at all defensive, amusement tinging his words. With the ice broken for the moment, the horrible weight that had constricted his voice before seemed to have been temporarily alleviated. The situation lighter. Less volatile. And it suddenly seemed the right moment to reveal what exactly had been on his mind for the last few weeks. The words blurted out before his anxieties had a chance to hold him back again. "I think I might be gay." Several moments of silence that Moshe didn't quite know what to do with. Even Owen had turned in his seat in the background to watch the proceedings now. Or watch as well as a blind man could. The fact that Moshe hadn't realized Owen was blind until just before he'd left to return home to Israel was still a source of deep embarrassment. Just thinking about it now was enough to make him turn redder than he already was. And then... "Damnit, I owe your mama twenty bucks. Figured you'd wait until college for that." Moshe sputtered, hands flailing a little in outrage even as Rich turned to look at his partner in amazement, "You talk with his mother?! Where?!" Owen shrugged. "Myspace." Both brothers blinked slowly, trying to process this but then Rich was waving a hand, "You guys couldn't have known he was gay! I was totally thinking asexual. I didn't even find any viruses on my laptop when he left and come on, at that age and with access to the internet?!" "Still here!," Moshe shrilled, only quieting when he heard movement down the hallway. "Right, right," Rich turned away from Owen to focus back on the computer screen, "So, think you're gay, huh? Welcome to the queer club. You'll be receiving your tastefully arranged gift basket shortly." "Well, here is the thing," Moshe mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck, "There was this girl I met in some of the games I pl- And before you ask, yes, I'm sure she's a girl, shut up, Rich- Anyway, I met her last year. And I really liked her too. So I really was not sure, you see?" Rich shrugged, "Oh, everyone has someone they'd go outside their respective sexuality for. Mine's Gina Torres. Owen's is Jewel Staite. Makes watching Firefly weird. Except for certain sexualities that welcome all to the party. No identity crisises for those lucky bastards. Speaking of which, maybe you're a bit bi?" Moshe, as he often did when Rich went on a roll, blinked slowly, "Eh... Bi?" "Bisexual. Means you like dick and pussy. Or pansexual, maybe. Anyway, bisexual. Now, certain very stupid gay and straight people will try to say they don't exist or they're not to be trusted or stupid shit like that. Which is an affront to the great and late Freddie Mercury..." "Now you've done it," Owen muttered, "He's gonna go on his "erasure of Freddie Mercury's bisexual tendencies" rant. No stopping him now. Have fun." The teenager groaned, head falling on the desk as Rich started to pick up steam. Edited by Tzippy, Sunday, 19. January 2014, 22:15.
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3:25 PM Jul 11