when visions in the final end must shatter like the glass [open to multiple]

[amourtician]

When Jay opens his eyes, he stares into a white wall. Around him is the noise of a city, though the rumble of automobiles is so much louder than he's used to, merging into a sort of feral buzz, a cross between angry bees and static. The noise of the crowd is interwoven into this hum, a hideous counternote. Jay shudders and tries to figure out what sort of wall he's staring at. He reaches out to touch it, then thinks better of it and instead turns around.

He's standing under a marble arch that stands at the entrance to a park. He stumbles back into the inner wall of the arch, suddenly feeling dizzy. It's the noise, the hideous noise that's tunnelling down his ears to his brain, making him feel like his whole head is vibrating. He screws his eyes shut and leans against the wall, shaking. He wants to throw up, but he's very aware that he's in public and he does not want to be unseemly.

He has no idea what's going on. It feels like he's lost some time, for he cannot remember the last thing he was doing, only the distant morning, breakfast with his twin. And now this. He shudders. He wonders, briefly, if he's hallucinating and the idea makes him moan in dismay.

To anyone who may be passing by, it appears as though a lavishly dressed, young, black person of absolutely indeterminable gender just popped into existence of nowhere. He's wearing a suit that looks like a New Romantic gone distinctly Regency, with a floor-length, pleated black skirt rather than trousers. A fur stole drapes around his shoulders; his hands are bedecked with rings, his face is painted brightly. He's wearing boots with pointy toes and high heels, elevating him to a height of 5'8", rather than his natural 5'5".

And he looks so very overwhelmed and sick.

Comments

[eliotwaugh]

Oh, what a precious forest creature of a man. Eliot exchanges a glance with Iman, having difficulty believing that Jay is for real right now. But then, he's from a completely different universe, completely different planet, and if his world is a place where one needs to be concerned for one's safety, well, Eliot's not going to laugh at that.

He suppresses his instinctual desire to smirk, feeling oddly protective of Jay now. "Oh no, sweetie," he says, giving him a reassuring pat, "this is the epicenter of queer culture in the country, or, whatever word you might use for 'queer' where you're from. The gay rights movement started literally three doors up the street from here, we are as safe as you can get." Eliot nods in the direction of Stonewall. "I mean we should go sometime, but maybe not on your first day. Things haven't been the best for, uh, people like us, but that was thirty, forty years ago, and there are still shitty places where you can't be open, but this isn't like, Nebraska." or Oregon.

Is Eliot rambling? He's rambling. He's drunk and wants to make this adorable guy feel at ease and he's talking too much, god, why is he getting all weird about it? He takes a gulp of syrupy wine, coughs, and tries to regain his cool demeanor. "Basically New York is amazing and it's crazy and busy and overwhelming but it's a city you fall in love with. It is iconic, and I'd love to show you around."

Wow, he sounds like somebody who cares about things. Janet would be so disappointed.

[etherthief]

Whoa, what? She raises her eyebrows when Eliot glances at her, as they both realize what's apparently going on here. Poor thing, and also what, did he think he was being subtle? She smiles as Eliot explains, getting really into it and referencing history that may or may not be familiar to her. She still hasn't worked out all the specific differences.

"Yeah, you're safe here," she says. "And with us. We're both gay as hell."

Not that her preferences are going to matter much to Jay, as far as she can tell, but she figures it's nice to know people understand.