alright. Later ;)
Lou clicked off his phone, slipping it back in his pocket.
“So… Louis Quincey,” Matt mumbled with a grin. He had Bean propped up in his lap, petting the dog’s stomach.
Lou gulped. “You used my full name. What did I do now?”
“Nothing, and that’s the issue,” he grumbled, rolling his chocolate eyes with a charming smile. “We need to get you an outfit tonight that doesn’t scream ‘nerd.’ Sí?”
Lou sighed— a very long one. “All I have are ‘nerd’ clothes.”
Matt smirked with the lift of an eyebrow. “Well, we’re just going to have to change that, AREN’T WE??”
With a pump of his fist he kicked from the chair, marching out of the cafe with Bean wrapped up in his arms. Lou stumbled out after him, almost choking on his coffee.
Marco tugged on Jay's arm. "Let's gooooo." he complained. He led Jay through the museum, babbling a little as he pointed out things and told "secret" histories of LGBTQ portions of history that weren't really even mentioned in the museum. Jay didn't know how or where or when Marco had learned these things, but he just listened and smiled.
Lou walked out of the changing room, looking in the mirror and seeing himself wearing a black bomber jacket over a pure white hoodie. It looked clean, with his black ripped jeans that were accompanied by an elaborate chain. His white shoes looked sharp, complementary with his white hoodie.
“This is just…,” Lou muttered, but Matt cut him off.
“Sexy. Hot. Handsome?” he finished with his own words.
“Not me,” Lou replied. “I mean, it looks fine…”
Matt walked over, leaving Bean on the small chair beside the mirror. He took Lou’s glasses from his face, hanging them on the collar of shirt as he fixed Lou’s hair. The curly strands now stood up, revealing his bright blue eyes.
“I guess…” Lou began. “I guess it’s not that bad.”
He yanked the glasses back from Matt, putting them back on his own face. At least he could see himself now.
“We’re taking it all,” Matt muttered. “Consider it an early birthday gift.”
Marco kept chattering on, especially focusing on cross-dressers and drag queens and anything trans, since Marco was afab, and identified as a demi-boy. Marco had undergone transition, and was physically fully male, and had been for a long time. Jay knew that it was sometimes hard for his friend, since some of his family still addressed him using his deadname, refusing to honor his wishes.
Matt rolled up Lou’s sleeves, showing his paler skin and leather bracelets. He forced Lou to continue posing in the mirror until he agreed to let Matt buy the clothes.
“Fine,” Lou muttered. “But let me pay for some of it.”
“No,” Matt said plainly.
And Lou knew Matt was stubborn as ever.
“My treat to you,” Matt continued, not seeming to pay attention as he was paying. Instead, his eyes were wandering across Lou’s hair.
“You need a hair cut, hijo,” he said.
“And you need to stop,” Lou replied with a laugh. “It’s been two hours, man.”
“And we can spend two more making you better looking,” Matt answered. “Now come with me, amigo.”
He picked up the bag filled with Lou’s new outfit and marched out the door. Lou looked down at the small terrier he held in his arms, smiling.
“What are we gonna do,” he said to Bean, laughing softly.
Without wanting a reply, Lou walked out after the man.
(do we wanna just timeskip?)
By this time, they had moved on to the next location. Marco was still dragging Jay around while Jay purchased coffee at every coffee shop they found, guzzling it to try and stay awake.
(Sure. To like 7:30 when they meet at the hotel?)
(sure! I gtg soon though, so can you do it please?)
Lou walked nervously and uncomfortably next to Matt, constantly fixing his shorter hair. It was re-shaved on the sides and trimmed on the top, looking sharp. He kept adjusting his jacket, rolling up the sleeves and putting his hands in his pockets.
Matt looked like he always did— a black long sleeve that seemed too tight with a coat over it and skinny jeans. He looked like he could be a model on the cover of men’s fashion. Honestly… Lou wouldn’t be surprised if he was.
Lou rounded the corner, stopping outside of Jay’s hotel. He nervously adjusted his glasses, giving Matt a sly smile.
Jay and Marco were waiting outside, talking. Jay was gesturing animatedly with his hands, while Marco had his hands clasped behind his back. Jay was in skinny jeans and a black t shirt, accompanied by a nice looking jacket. His brown hair had been combed just a little bit, and he wore a light smattering of makeup, courtesy of Marco. Marco, for his part, looked stunning. Slim, form fitting black pants, and a t shirt with the trans flag on it, with a black suit jacket thrown loosely over top of that. His curly hair had been styled just so, with sharp, stunning makeup.
“Well bonjour,” Lou crooned with a smile. All worries melted away when he saw Jay.
Louis gestured up to Matt.
“This is Matt, one of my friends from… like, preschool. Matt, this is Jay and.. Marco?” Lou said.
Matt held out his hand to the men, flashing a perfect smile. Lou wouldn’t have been surprised if it did the sparkle some cartoons did on TV.
Jay greeted Lou with a happy hug, kissing his cheek. "You look sharp." He complimented, then looked at Matt, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you, Matt. And yeah, this is Marco." He smiled.
Marco shook Matt's hand, returning the other man's smile with an easy one of his own. "Bonjour." He greeted.
“Hola,” Matt said, his Hispanic accent thick. He shot a slight wink at Marco, then turned swiftly to Lou.
“Me gusta este hombre,” he said quietly.
“For the last time, Matt, english or french,” Lou muttered with a laugh. Matt chuckled.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Matt replied. Louis shook his head, running a hand through his hair.
“Well, shall we?” Lou asked, turning. He looked quickly over his shoulder, smiling at Jay. “How good of a bowler are you?”
Matt whispered something inaudible into Louis’ ear. Lou turned a bright red instantly, looking extremely embarrassed.
Lou bit back, snapping a harsh, “Shut it.”
Matt just snickered.
Jay looked between Matt and Lou, curious as to what had been said, and shrugged. "Hmm. Depends on who I'm playing against." He replied with a soft laugh, sliding his hand into Lou's and twining his fingers with the other boy's.
Marco grinned a little, putting his hands in his pockets.
Lou smiled softly, happily holding on to the man’s hand. “Well, you’re in luck. I’m absolutely terrible at it.”
“He is,” Matt shot in with a chuckle, grinning. “A five-year-old could beat him.”
The Frenchman sighed with a shake of his head, keeping his smile. “He isn’t wrong.”
As they walked, Lou lowered his voice to address just Jay as Matt began talking to Marco animatedly. Most likely spewing jokes about Lou, but he didn’t necessarily care. He knew what he had signed up for.
“Sorry if you had to drink your weight in caffeine today,” Lou apologized.
Jay laughed, talking happily to Lou, looking up at the Frenchman with happiness in his hazel eyes. "Nah, don't worry about it. Half of it's the jet lag still." He replied with a shrug.
Marco smiled as Matt spoke, occasionally adding in his own jokes or facts about Jay, but otherwise rather quiet.
Lou walked until a giant LED sign came into sight, hanging outside a colorful looking place. It read:
“The Locomotive” in bold, calligraphy-like lettering. Lou hadn’t been there in a long while, but he knew it like the back of his hand. He and Matt had spent countless days here, but nonetheless, Lou still found a way to lose every time.
He pushed the door open with his free hand, having it linger open as Matt stopped it and let Marco pass before him. Lou kept Jay’s hand held gently, tugging him in slightly after.
Jay looked over at Marco. "Oi, go easy on the rest of us."
Marco's eyes glittered mischievously. "Who, me? Why on Earth would I do that?" He replied with a laugh, striking a dramatic pose and laughing.
Jay groaned softly. "Just remember that I know where you sleep."
"Is that a threat, monsieur?" Marco gasped in mock horror, putting a hand on his heart.
"Only if you take it that way."
Lou chuckled softly at the brotherly banter between the two, beginning to converse with the woman at the front counter. He took his shoes, gesturing for the others to do the same. Matt followed the lead and the two took seats at adjacent chairs, lacing up.
Lou looked up from his hunched position while tying his shoes. Normally, his hair would have fallen down, but with the way Matt styled it, it kept its position rather well. When he finished, he shuffled to the closest empty lane, inputting names already.
Jay smiled at Marco, then put on the bowling shoes, tying them on. He looked over at Lou, kissing the Frenchman's cheek contentedly.
Marco glanced over at Matt, half shyly, half flirtatiously, then put on his own shoes, running a hand through his hair. He adjusted his t shirt, the trans flag on display to any who looked.
Matt stuck by Marco’s side rather loyally, talking with him the most. But Lou didn’t mind sharing his friend.
Once the names were inputted, Lou picked up a 14 pound ball, trying to seem stronger for Jay. It took him most of his strength to continuously hold it with one hand, but he did it anyway.
“Marco,” Lou called, nodding toward the board overhead. “You’re up first.”
Marco blinked, and picked up a ball, weighing it in his hands, then nodding to himself. "Alright, alright." he replied, walking up to their lane. He thought for a moment, then threw the ball, watching it go down the lane with his head slightly cocked to the side.
Jay picked up a ball, holding it in his hands.
Lou bumped his shoulder into Jay’s, quietly getting his attention.
“Hey,” he said, just loud enough to be heard over the music. “How’d the museums go today? What places did your class end up dragging you?”
Jay smiled at Lou. "The museums went great! Marco babbled on and on about the LGBTQ histories that the museums weren't talking about, and he dragged me everywhere." he laughed a little bit. "And we went to…god, I don't remember the names."
