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Part 1 - Loomings
Kyle descended the stairs of the Academy atrium and brightened as he caught Jay-Den’s eyes across the room. The rainbow planet flag of the Academy’s Queer Pride Club fluttered behind his boyfriend, and something sparkled in the back of Kyle’s mind, the stirring of a plan.
Part 2 - A Conspiracy Hatched
Genesis hadn’t expected Kyle to approach her, but the human’s cheery energy was always a breath of fresh air.
“I need some advice, or maybe some help,” he said, smiling and almost breathless.
“Ok, shoot.”
“I want to take Jay-Den somewhere fun, and I have the best idea, but I think it might be a bit…well, a bit much. And I don’t want to freak him out.”
Genesis narrowed her brows. “Okay…”
Kyle barrelled on. “And I think he’d be more comfortable if you could convince your other friends to go as well. You know, Sam and Darem and Caleb and—”
Genesis cut him off with a raised hand. “I get the picture. Where do you want to go?”
He told her. Her eyes widened. The seeds of Kyle’s evil plans wormed into her heart and she smiled. “I can make that happen.”
Part 3 - The Thief and the Princess
Tarima narrowed her eyes at Caleb. “You can’t be serious. You really want to go?”
Caleb had the presence of mind to look sheepish. “Well, I don’t know if I want to go. But I owe Jay-Den. He’s a good guy. And you can come! It’ll be fun. Maybe.”
Tarima pursed her lips. “Wouldn’t we stand out a bit?”
Caleb waved a hand. “Nah, this place isn’t like that. It’s for everyone! Besides, we’ve both…you know… It’s no big deal!”
She considered for a moment. “Ok, I’ll go, but only if you let me pick out your outfit.”
A flush of deep red crept up Caleb’s neck. “W-What do you mean?”
She cocked her head and her eyes flashed with a twinkle that may have been mirth and may have been pure evil. “I just want you to look nice.”
He stared at her for a few moments, his heart thundering in his sternum. Finally, he said, “Fine. But it has to be something normal!”
She winked at him.
Part 4 - Light and Shadow
Sam—she had to work hard not to think of herself as SAM—cycled through a few different outfits in preparation for their trip. Genesis had insisted it was purely optional and she shouldn’t feel obligated, but Sam had jumped at the opportunity. Since her injury and recovery on Kasq, she’d felt like her past self had been this distorted ghost who kept haunting her, leering from mirrors or in shadows, that person’s naive ebullience a constant embarrassment, like seeing a younger sister blurting out painful secrets at a family gathering.
But Genesis’ idea was something new. A chance to be herself, the REAL Sam, and get a feel for how her reality intersected with those of her friends. A painful twinge at the back of her mind reminded her that she may not be as close with everyone as she had been before.
She quickly dismissed that idea, reminding herself that everyone had embraced her and loved her when she’d returned. And while there were still dark moments, her friends were the burning branches she could use to chase her demons away into the shadows.
Settling on a sexy iridescent top whose colour matched the ridges above Genesis’ eyes and some lightweight blue pants that flowed around her legs like water, she began picking out hairstyles that matched and thinking of how she was going to invite Ocam.
She picked something with intricate braids that would move when she danced and grinned. She was going to be the hottest one on that dancefloor.
Part 5 - The Approaching Storm
Jay-Den shuffled in his seat on the transport. The air hummed with the eager buzz of his friends and family all comparing notes of what they were going to do once they got to Sarona 8. Everyone beamed with excitement. The only ones who seemed hesitant were Caleb—who kept hissing at Tarima to tell him what she’d chosen while she simply smiled, her eyes alight with mischief—and Darem who kept giving Genesis looks he couldn’t understand. She’d joked that she’d blackmailed him to join them, but maybe she hadn’t been joking…
Jay-Den leaned over to Kyle—already enthusiastically decked out in metallic booty shorts and a neon pink harness with streaks of glitter on his cheeks and in his hair—and muttered, “I may be having second thoughts.”
Kyle gave him one of his warm adorable smiles and grabbed one of his large hands in both of his. “I know it’s a lot. But everyone else will be there. You won’t be alone. This is a legendary place. It’s been here in one form or another for like fifteen hundred years! It survived the Burn! It’s living history. And it’s going to be amazing. Plus,” he added, pulling Jay-Den’s hand to his lips and giving it a gentle kiss. “You’re here with me.”
Jay-Den felt a bloom of warmth join the butterflies in his stomach and he nodded. “I’ll trust you.”
Part 6 - A Stately Pleasure Dome
Ocam looked at the small bar and cocked his head. “It’s…a bit smaller than I thought it would be.”
A holographic bird preened out front, sending shimmers of sparks across the doorway as Ocam approached the Blue Parrot Bar. At least it looked clean and inviting.
“Ocam,” came an exasperated voice behind him. He allowed Sam to spin him about and point him towards the massive building across the street. He followed her outstretched arm to the flashing words emblazoned across the gorgeous building which resembled a royal-residence-turned-concert-hall. Rose quartz shimmered on the facade and clean white marble lined the walkway up to the entrance. Lights swept across every surface, moving in time with the distant thump of music from inside.
The Zanza Men’s Dance Palace.
Part 7 - Clothed in Moonlight
Caleb shuffled from the changing room and handed his bag to the Trill behind the coat check counter. The lightweight fabric of his outfit barely whispered against his skin and he blushed at a memory of him being beamed into a classroom full of cadets buck fucking naked.
He saw Tarima in a black outfit that seemed entirely composed of satin strips of fabric that strategically covered the important parts, leaving the rest gleaming in the blue light of the lobby. She was affixing a jeweled butterfly pin to Genesis’ hair and laughing about something. She stopped as soon as she saw Caleb and her eyes widened at the silvery tank top and shorts she’d picked out for him.
“You look really good,” he said, grinning at Tarima.
“So do you. I do believe you owe me an apology for doubting my choices.”
He caught a look of himself in one of the mirrors that lined the wall. “I dunno. This isn’t really my thing, and you forgot the second glove.” He held up a black leather accessory that seemed like a wrist brace and an opera glove had a kinky child.
She shook her head and plucked it from him, sliding it onto his right arm. “It’s an asymmetrical look. I promise, it looks good.”
At that moment, Darem came out, wearing a simple black tank top and black pants. His only accessory was a delicate silver chain. He grimaced ostentatiously at Caleb's outfit. “Did they hire you to be one of the light fixtures, Mir?”
“You wish you looked this good, Reymi," Caleb said with a slight thrust of his hips at Darem which caused the Khionian's eyes to bug out for a brief moment before he got them under control. Caleb smirked. "And what’s up with that low effort outfit?” At that, Caleb turned to Tarima and whispered in her ear. “I’m never doubting your choices again. You're amazing.”
She giggled and squeezed his bare arm.
Finally Jay-Den and Kyle joined them. Caleb approached Jay-Den who was wearing a sleek black sleeveless shirt and a leather skirt that made him look like a vengeful protector next to Kyle’s bright and shiny outfit. “Looking good, man.” Then he leaned forward. “You doing okay?”
Jay-Den nodded. “I think so.” Kyle squeezed himself closer to Jay-Den’s side.
“Well I didn’t put all this effort into looking this hot to stay out here,” Sam said. “Let’s do this!”
Part 8 - A Joyful Heart
Darem felt like the security detail for a group of children on holiday, looming off to the side as they all threw themselves onto the dancefloor, losing themselves in the frantic energy of the club-goers. He was impressed at the Palace's history, an enduring haven for queer beings from any planet. Many came here at great risk to their safety back home simply to revel in the joy of being wholly free. Darem wished he'd had someone to come here with in the past.
“And if you’re just joining us,” the DJ screamed into the microphone, “know that we don’t really need an excuse to celebrate, but today we’re doubly celebrating because my planet, J’naii, has finally codified gender freedom and marriage equality into law! Love is love, people!” The crowd exploded into cheers and sobbing screams as partygoers embraced friends and complete strangers.
Darem felt a twitch to reach to someone, but noticed everyone he cared about were all too far away, so he folded his hands against his chest and did another scan of the crowd.
Sam and Genesis were dancing with two Andorian women. He saw Ocam weaving through the crowd looking lost and carrying a drink, his eyes brightening when he finally saw Sam. Caleb and Tarima had attracted a duo of outrageously hunky men and, while they were dancing with one another, Darem noticed that they both took every chance to grind against their new friends. Jay-Den and Kyle were stumbling over each other’s feet, cackling with laughter amid a crowd of cheering onlookers.
Darem nodded, pleased that they were all safe and happy. He met Genesis’ eye and something in her face suggested a question. He stepped towards her and bumped into a Flaxian in impeccable opulent drag.
“Wanna dance, handsome?” the Flaxian asked with a wink.
Darem blushed and then saw Genesis nodding towards him and mouthing “Go on.” When he remained frozen, she waved him away and mouthed “Have fun.”
He took a breath and did what he was told. Turning to the Flaxian, he turned on the charm and said, “Did you make that outfit yourself? It looks phenomenal.”
“If I could design and sew like this, I wouldn’t be running cargo. You’re sweet to suggest such a thing, though! My husband made it for me.”
Darem grinned. “Is he here with you?”
“I think he’s dancing with someone nearby!” Darem turned the Flaxian into a graceful twirl that showed off the beautiful flow of the sunset-coloured gown.
At that, Darem felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Caleb looming over him. The sweat from his dancing beaded on his chest and ran down his neck and Darem had a panicked moment where he asked himself, Wait, is Caleb really fucking hot?
“When you’re done being moody or whatever, come join us.”
Darem brushed him off and turned to his dance partner. But when the current slower song ended, The Flaxian’s husband—a smooth elegant Vulcan—returned, nodded at Darem, and then whisked his partner towards the tables that dotted the ede of the dancefloor.
Darem turned and made his way back to his friends who had all clustered together and were dancing together. Genesis came over, leaned over, and yelled in his ear as an upbeat dance track started, “You’re allowed to enjoy yourself, you know.”
After that, Ocam brought him some kind of shot and nodded encouragingly as he gulped the sweet and very alcoholic concoction down to the cheers of his friends. He jogged over and set the glass on the bar counter seconds before the drink stripped away just enough of the gloomy crust that had built up around his soul to let him contemplate having fun for this one night.
After that, it was only a matter of time before he and Caleb had climbed into the public-use gogo platforms, chucked their shirts into the screaming crowd and danced like absolute idiots.
He knew he’d feel like a waterlogged piece of driftwood tomorrow, but for tonight, it actually felt good to just…be himself.
Epilogue: All is Mended
Kyle leaned against Jay-Den as they meandered through the street outside the club. Sweaty, makeup smeared, and hair sticking out in messy spikes, Kyle looked as though he’d been thrown down a waterfall, but he couldn’t stop smiling. He’d noticed when Jay-Den’s social meter had run out and had suggested they step outside to get some air, to which his boyfriend had eagerly agreed. And now they were just two people quietly drifting through the warm breezes of Sarona 8’s languid nights.
“So?”
“So what?” Jay-Den asked.
“Did you have fun?”
Jay-Den frowned as he considered the question, and for a moment, Kyle was worried he had miscalculated, but then Jay-Den finally said, “I am grateful that you encouraged me to come.” A breath, and then he added, “It was inspiring to see so many people in relationships like ours being accepted and celebrated for who they are.”
“That’s a little ‘presidential speech’ of you,” Kyle said, playfully punching the Klingon’s bicep. “What do you really think?” He put a hand on Jay-Den’s chest. “Here.”
Jay-Den gave a small growl and drew Kyle up into a kiss that exploded in his mind like a firework. It was a full ten seconds before he realized his feet weren’t even touching the ground.
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