Fractalized

Chapter 9
 

“Morning, Dads,” Curtis said with a laugh as he entered the kitchen. He was learning to enjoy the sound of that word “Dad” and all it implied.

“Sit down, my son,” Hector grinned. “Your breakfast is ready.”

They all dug into their food and ate in silence for a bit.

“Curtis, have you thought about Brian Kinney’s proposal for the party? It’s really up to you whether we take him up on the offer or not,” Raph explained.

Curtis frowned and looked at his new father. “It’s fine,” he said. “We can have the party with them. Everybody I would have invited to my party will be there anyway.”

“I get the feeling that this idea is not quite as all right as you would like us to believe,” Raph observed.

“It’s fine … really,” Curtis repeated.

“Curtis, I’m new at this parenting thing, but being a little closer to your age than Raph is, I think I detect a bit of the teenage ‘you’re going to do it your way, so I might as well say it’s okay’ blues. Am I right?” Hector asked.

“Tell us what’s wrong. We don’t have to have the party with the Kinney-Taylor’s,” Raph repeated.

“It’s, well, it’s Gus’ birthday. It’s his night, and Mr. Taylor’s.”

“And yours,” Hector added squeezing Curtis’ hand.

“I … I kinda really wanted my own party,” Curtis admitted.

“Then we’ll have one,” Raph said.

“But it was awfully nice of Mr. Kinney to offer for us to join them, especially after what I did to him,” Curtis said shoving his cereal around in the bowl and not eating any of it.

“So what are you telling us?” Raph asked. “I’m not getting a clear message.”

“I’m saying we should accept Mr. Kinney’s offer,” Curtis said. “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Then I’ll call him today and let him know,” Raph said.

“Good,” Curtis agreed, still shoving his cereal around the bowl.

“Are you going to eat that or beat it to death?” Hector asked after a minute.

“I think Curtis would still like a party of his own,” Raph said as he observed Curtis’ actions.

“Huh?” Curtis said looking up at Raph.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Well, yeah, kinda…”

“What if we go to the party with the Kinney-Taylor’s and then after midterms are over you have a kids’ party with Gus and JR and anybody else you’d like to have? You can invite them over here … to your new home.”

“You mean it?” Curtis asked his face brightening with a big smile.

“I absolutely do,” Raph grinned back.

“Okay with you, Dad?” Curtis asked Hector. Hector nodded in agreement. “My two dads are the best,” Curtis stated. He dug into his cereal suddenly finding his appetite. The two men smiled at each other across the table.

 

*****
 

“Hi Justin!” the twins greeted their partner in art. Troi` and Tre` had completed the editing of their film, including the credits. And since Gus had participated with his photos and videos, the boys thought it only fitting that he receive his share of the credit as well.

“Gus will be thrilled. Who knows, maybe he’ll want to apply here. He’s been taking pictures for a long time and interning at Kinnetik. He may have found his career,” Justin said as he watched the credits roll.

“I can’t believe we’re really finished,” Tre` commented with some disappointment in his voice.

“I wish we could work together forever,” Troi` sighed. The twins were going to miss working with Justin and they had a severe case of idol worship going on. Justin was oblivious but shared their feelings of loss. Justin always felt a little let down at the conclusion of his projects.

“Guys, I have a feeling we’ll be working together on another project,” Justin said as he checked his watch, noting it was time for lunch. “When’s your next class?”

“Not until three,” Troi` responded.

“Why don’t I take you two to lunch at the diner,” Justin suggested and the twins agreed. Comfort food was just what the doctor ordered. “We have much to celebrate and you’ll be there at my show, won’t you?” Justin turned his innocent flirty blue eyes at the twin. No one could ever say no to that look.

“We’ll be there,” the twins confirmed as Justin shepherded 'his boys’ out the door.

 

*****
 

“Sweetheart!” Debbie gushed as Justin, followed by his twins, walked into the diner. “And with bookends, I see!” Debbie gave Justin a warning glare.

“Deb, this is Troi` and Tre`. They’re art students at PIFA and we’ve just finished a very important project and we’re hungry,” Justin explained hoping to tap into Debbie’s maternal instincts and not the instincts that would trigger a lecture on fidelity and monogamy toward one’s life partner.

“Well, that starving artist shit is so overrated. Take a booth, boys, we’ll be with you in a minute,” Debbie said pleasantly, lecture avoided … for now. Lacy was working the lunch shift so she came to their table.

“Hi Justin!” Lacy greeted her mentor cheerfully.

“Lacy, how are you? How’s it going with Rage?” Meaning, was Michael giving her a difficult time.

“It’s all going great. The tips you’ve given me have helped so much. I love the work I’m doing,” Lacy said with enthusiasm. “Don’t I know you guys?” Lacy asked the twins. “I’ve seen you on campus, haven’t I?”

“Yes,” the twins answered as one. “But we mostly stick to the computer lab.”

“That’s right! I’ve seen some of your stuff at the student art shows. It’s so cool.”

“Thank you,” Troi` replied.

“We love your Sateeena,” Tre` said.

“You know?” Lacy still couldn’t believe how well her drawings were received by the community.

“We do. Have you ever considered turning Rage into a cartoon?” Troi` asked both Lacy and Justin.

“Michael and I thought about it when we were working on the movie but at the time we had to table it. We just wanted to get the movie made. We had enough trouble with Brett Keller,” Justin explained.

“Justin, do you think we could do it ourselves? I mean just us; you, me, Michael and the guys. They can animate anything and I wouldn’t do it without you. And you know Michael would have to have his say in it,” Lacy asked hopefully. The twins’ faces lit up.

Justin considered it for all of two seconds, then looked around the busy diner. He leaned in closer to whisper. “Lacy, when do you get off?”

“I don’t have classes today so I’m doing a double. I get off at seven.”

“Guys, when do you get out of school tonight?”

“Around five,” the twins answered.

“Michael closes up around six,” Justin murmured then took out his phone to call Michael. After a quick and quiet conversation, Justin snapped his phone shut. “Okay, we meet here around six. We order some takeout then go back to the loft for a meeting. I think we’ve found our next project,” Justin said with a smug smile as he leaned back against the seat. The twins giggled with delight as Lacy beamed.

They ordered their lunch as the Liberty Diner patrons gossiped about the beautiful former King of Babylon holding court with his lovely raven haired subjects.

 

*****

 

“So, do you think you can do it?” Brian asked Pittsburgh’s premiere event planner. Brian was at the bistro confirming his scheme with Emmett.

“Decorating the buffet table to reflect the seasons is easy but all that electronic equipment is way too complicated to me,” Emmett said with a frown. But Emmett would do anything for Brian, especially since his request was for Justin.

“What about Sean?”

“He’s a pastry chef not a computer geek,” Emmett sighed. Brian gave no thought to Emmett’s drag queen waiters. Besides, it wouldn’t do for any one of them to break a nail.

“Who do we know that’s computer savvy and Sidney wouldn’t give two shits about seeing helping you out,” Brian muttered to himself then broke out into a mischievous grin. “What about Gus?”

“Gus? Your son, Gus.”

“What the fuck other Gus do you know? Of course, my son, Gus,” Brian griped.

“Just checking. What about him?” Emmett asked for clarification as Brian glared. Brian thought it was all quite clear.

“It’s well known that Gus has been working odd jobs here and there, earning money to buy his first car.”

“How do you feel about that, Dad?” Emmett snarked.

“Emm, I don’t mind telling you, it’s scaring the shit out of me. But this is not about me; it’s about Justin and his little twins. Gus is a wonder with computers and other electronics. He’ll be just another one of your minions setting up the buffet table. But while you and Sean handle the gourmet part of the buffet, Gus will handle the electronic display. You often have a centerpiece or central feature on your table. This time it will be a discreetly hidden flat screen monitor with the computer out of the way hidden somewhere. We can run the program just as Sidney starts flapping his gums with his blah, blah speech and his invitation to all to help themselves to your impeccable delectables. I’m hoping that the curiosity factor will kick in and someone will demand an explanation. That’s when our little Mary Sunshine will do his thing. One of the twins or Gus can start the program from the beginning with the sound. Voila! A staah is born.”

Emmett stared back at his friend in awe. “How do you come up with all of these plans?” Emmett asked, not only referring to the current plan but all the plans and schemes Brian had had a hand in over the years.

“It’s a gift,” was all Brian could say with a shrug of his shoulders. “So you’ll do it?”

“Consider it done. Now I’ll need the monitor so I can prepare it.”

“I’ll pick up Gus after school and we’ll go shopping. I’ll drop it off later at your apartment.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. And Brian,” Emmett began before sliding a freshly baked popover to his friend. “You’re a very good man. Don’t let anyone ever make you think otherwise. You’re a good friend, partner and father.”

Brian felt his face grow warm as he took the popover then grumbled something about nelly ass fairies. Emmett just smiled as he passed the butter.

 

*****
 

Gus and Brian entered the electronics store. A rather good looking and very obviously gay salesperson rushed up to them, asking if he could be of any assistance. He looked the father and son up and down, admiring both.

“If you can keep your eyes to yourself and your dick in your pants, you might make a good sized sale,” Brian growled. He didn’t mind being cruised, but he didn’t want this guy hitting on his son.

Gus giggled. He couldn’t help himself. He knew his father so well.

“Um … yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” the salesman apologized. “What are you looking for?”

“We need a very high quality monitor. Show us what you have,” Brian ordered.

The man hustled them to the back of the store to stand in front of the bank of TV monitors that were located there. Gus got into a discussion with the man about what they were going to be doing and what equipment would work best.

While they were talking, Brian wandered into the computer area. He still needed a gift for Gus for his birthday. He had been thinking about getting him a new laptop. He stopped in front of one that was pencil thin and weighed less than five pounds according to the sign above it. That was a definite possibility. He continued down the aisle and stopped in front of what were labeled tablet PC’s. They were laptops with a monitor that seemed to have two sides that could be swiveled around. He studied them for a minute and then started reading the blurb that went with it. That’s where Gus found him some minutes later.

“What are you doing, Pop?” Gus asked as he came up beside him.

“Maybe looking at your birthday present. Know anything about these things?” Brian asked gesturing at the tablet computers.

“Yeah, they’re really good for college where the profs don’t like you having computers open while they’re lecturing. You can write on them in handwriting and they translate it into word docs for you.”

“That’s what I was reading,” Brian said with a smirk. “How would one of these be as your gift?” Brian asked.

Gus frowned and then said, “I was kind of hoping…”

“That I’d buy you a car,” Brian finished the statement. “Bree told me. I didn’t much like you roping her into your scheme to get a car.”

Gus hung his head. “Sorry, Pop.”

“Bree feels responsible for getting you are car.”

“Oh, no! No, that’s not what I wanted to happen. I just thought…”

“That she could put some pressure on me,” Brian said completing another sentence for his son.

Gus nodded and looked at the floor. “Stupid, huh?”

“Very! I thought I raised a smarter son.”

“You did, Pop. I should have known better.”

“You know better now.”

“Yeah, I do, and you don’t have to get me anything for my birthday. I really am sorry…”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “I think you need to talk to Bree and apologize to her, not to me.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Then in lieu of a car, what do you think about one of these?”

“Really? That would be great!”

“Where’s that salesman?” Brian asked.

“He was taking the monitor I chose to the front cash,” Gus explained.

“I’m back,” the guy said reappearing at that moment. “Is there something else I can get for you?”

“What’s the best one of these?” Brian asked with a smirk.

The salesman started his longwinded explanation which Brian quickly tuned out. He walked around the end of the aisle and stood debating if maybe he should get Gus a car after all. The boy was a good kid, and Gus really wanted a car. Brian knew what that was like. Maybe he should just give in and get Gus a car. Then he remembered all the things he had discussed with Lindsay and Justin. Brian remembered how he had so wanted a car when he was Gus’ age, but he never got it. He finally got a car when he could afford to buy one for himself. That hadn’t hurt him. In the long run, it had made him appreciate his first car even more when he was finally able to buy it for himself. Next year was soon enough for Gus to get a car.

“Pop,” Gus said, coming around the end of the aisle. “Where did you get to? We made a decision. Come see which one I like.”

“Sure, Sonny Boy,” Brian replied and followed Gus around the aisle. Brian had made his decision too.

Back in front of the computers Brian listened to his son regale him with all the features of the new computer he had selected. When Gus was finished they made their way to the front of the store where the salesman waited for them with their purchases.

“It was lovely serving you,” the guy said holding out his hand.

Brian shook it perfunctorily. “I hope I got a good deal, because if I didn’t I’ll be back.”

The man blanched, and then smiled and assured his handsome customer that he was getting a good deal. He helped them take the boxes out to the car and load them inside. When he headed back to the store, Gus looked at his father.

“Do you think I’ll ever be able to make people quake in their shoes the way you do?” Gus asked.

“I gave you my genes. I don’t see why not,” Brian said with a chuckle. “You may need some practice before you master it.”

“I think I need a lot of practice.”

“Just remember that you’re my son. You can do anything and be anything you want to be.”

Gus smiled. “That’s good to know.”

Brian frowned. “But not all my traits are good ones. I hope you also learn to discriminate.”

“I already have, Pop, I already have.”

Brian stared at his son as Gus got into the car. He wasn’t quite sure what that statement meant.

 

*****
 

Justin led the twins and the others into the loft. They were laden with food from the diner, ready to get stoked with nourishment both from food and ideas. They quickly got plates of food and sat around the living room as they ate.

After a couple of minutes, Justin explained once again what he had in mind as far as the Rage cartoon went.

“Isn’t that a bit ambitious?” Michael asked looking at the twins who were touted as having the skills with animation to pull this off.

“Ambitious how, Michael?” Justin asked. “We either make a cartoon or we don’t.”

“Yeah, but you’re talking about distributing this to theaters. And … we’re working with amateurs, kids who haven’t even graduated yet.”

“Michael, that’s very unfair. You haven’t even seen Troi` and Tre`’s work. I chose them out of all the people at PIFA to work with. They’re good,” Justin said in defense of the two men. The twins smiled at him.

“But they’re not Brett Keller,” Michael continued.

“Look where working with Brett Keller got me last time,” Justin said sarcastically.

Michael shook his head. So much for that argument. “They’re so young and … inexperienced,” he continued.

“I prefer to think of it as young and fresh, as in their ideas and thinking.” Justin wanted to add, ‘unlike you, Michael’, but he bit his tongue.

“I don’t know,” Michael said shaking his head. “I think we could do better.”

“That’s what you thought about Lacy, I seem to remember. I was right that time, wasn’t I?” Justin asked.

“Well, that was different,” Michael said eyeing the twins skeptically.

“Michael, you’re being pissy!” Justin told him. Tre` and Troi` stifled laughs.

“I am not. I just…”

Tre` and Troi` looked at each other then nodded. “If you don’t want us as part of this,” Tre` said.

“We can leave … right now,” Troi` added.

“I want you,” Justin said quickly. “You’re staying.”

“And so do I,” Lacy jumped in. The twins smiled at her. “When you see their work, Michael, you’ll know why we want them as part of this. They’re really good.”

“Maybe they can show me some of their work … soon,” Michael conceded. He knew when he was being outvoted.

Justin smiled. They had him now.

“We’ll be happy to,” Troi` said.

Michael shook his head a couple of more times. He still didn’t like this, but what was he going to do. He said, “So what will the storyline of this cartoon be about?”

“Rage!” they all said.

Michael had to laugh, as they got down to business planning what their cartoon might look like.

 

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