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-------------------------------- Loving Conor - Chapter 22
"...welcome... tooooo... THE HOUSE!
Cheers and whistles sounded out in the darkness, and visions of the blackout orgy filled my mind. Instinctively, I put myself between any potential groping hands and the two ladies before Conor could finish his opening greeting. Drums sounded again, starting off at a slow rhythm then increasing in tempo before being accompanied by guitars and an angelic voice singing in Russian. I found myself quickly taken in by the sweet melody, and it appeared I wasn't the only one as the guests fell silent.
Two fluorescent dots suddenly appeared. Purple dots, morphing into lines that switched directions, stopping and starting until they began taking shape. The melody turned more haunting as the glowing lines became breastbones, ribs, arms, legs, and lastly skulls. The beautiful voice faded, the drums beat faster, and I felt my heart follow the increasing tempo, then... darkness, silence, and nothing. A thunderous BOOM sounded out as the two glowing skeletons appeared again, this time holding up a brilliantly lit female. I easily recognized the nude form of Rachel, her entire body glowing with every color of the rainbow.
It quickly became clear that a battle of life and death was taking place before us. As the music played on, the two skeletons tugged and pulled at their prey in a sadistic game of cat and mouse. Each time it seemed the glowing form of Life would get away, one of the skeletons would trap her again, then toss her in the air to the other. My heart raced with each toss, each flip, and each seemingly close call. Soon the wicked dance of death took its toll on Life and she began to falter. Her efforts became weak and futile, until she finally crumbled to the ground. The death dealers danced wildly at their victory, then reached down to complete their terrible task. Bony hands grasped and ripped at Life's weak form until she lay perfectly still and finally blinked from existence.
The music slowed and nearly stopped. The two skeletons faded out for a split second... and then there were three. Bony fingers pointed at the crowd as if we were next. Slightly freaked out and a bit baffled, everyone just stood quietly, then the big drum sounded... Boom! Boom! Boom! The drum became illuminated, and so did the girl playing it. Kat, who needed no paint to glow in the black light, was on her knees in front of the drum. The tattooed girl raised her arms, then arched back until her head touched the ground. Flame covered breasts rose as she Inhaled deeply, let out an eerie scream, then flung herself back up to land a solid blow on the drum.
Suddenly everyone's attention was drawn back to the three creepy ghouls. Splashes of light appeared, hitting each skeleton like sword strikes. The bony figures reeled and held onto glowing wounds that formed across their mid-sections, chests, and faces. Liquid light flung out again and again, scoring hits on the ghastly beasts until multi-colored flesh formed where there was once only bone. With each strike, the undead creatures clawed at the unwanted flesh, which only served to further spread the light, and soon death was replaced by life. Guitars and drums now played a happy tune, the three new life forms began to dance, and my jaw dropped.
Two life forms, which I knew to be Conor and Dimitri, picked the third up and tossed her into the air. Rachel fell gracefully into a cradle of muscle, then was tossed again, high enough to flip on her way down. For the third toss Rachel flipped on the way up, then straightened her body out and literally dove down as if she were diving into the ocean. Many gasps accompanied mine as Rachel came down to a fall that surely would have crippled or even killed her... but expert hands reached out and grabbed an arm and leg each, swinging her like a pendulum just inches from the ground, then back up to a handstand with one arm on each of the men's shoulders. Rachel held the pose, then I heard Dimitri's voice shout out a cue.
"Kip!" At the sound of the word, the two men seemed to step into each other, then switch sides with Rachel somehow still in her handstand. "Kip, kip, kip, kip!" Glowing legs moved with speed and grace, and with each call the two men switched places, back and forth, faster and faster until they were a blur. It wasn't until Rachel spread her legs into a split that I understood the illusion. Instead of switching places, Conor and Dimitri were, with very fancy footwork, rotating in a large circle. A final "Kip!" was called, and Rachel flipped to the ground. No sooner had her feet touched the floor then the two men flipped up into one arm handstands on each of Rachel's shoulders. The handstands lasted for only a brief moment before they swung around and down, then Rachel swung back up between the two men. Again, Rachel swung down, and the process repeated over and over, faster and faster until the three were a blur. Another "Kip!" was called while Rachel was in her handstand, then both men dropped down into scissor splits. Rachel popped herself up and flipped forward in the air, landing with her feet on each of the men's shoulders. She flipped again to her hands, then to her feet. The flipping continued as, with incredible strength, Conor and Dimitri pulled their legs together until they were once again standing. In the deepest recesses of my mind I thought I caught a familiar sound between drum beats, then listened for it... and realized Conor was laughing.
Rachel flipped once more, then landed on the ground with Conor between her and her brother. Conor went to one knee then, while Dimitri and Rachel grabbed each other's hand over his head, then stood with both feet on each shoulder.
The drum tempo picked up to a roll, and I glanced over at Kat who, even in the black light I could see was glistening with sweat. Kat moved quickly back and forth between drums, the flames on her body swaying and gyrating as if fire had come to life. Another "Kip!" pulled me back to the trio.
The twins balanced on Conor's shoulders, holding hands in the middle with their opposite arms spread out to their sides. Conor grabbed an ankle on each shoulder then started rising. Slow and steady, inch by inch, I could see my Love's glowing muscles ripple and quiver under the stress until he stood at full height. The amount of strength and focus it took to pull off the trick boggled my mind, but the crafty team wasn't finished. Another "Kip!" sounded, then Conor began to turn. Slowly at first, giving me the opportunity to admire his muscular form in all it's glory. Every square inch of his body was working in tandem to stay on task. I couldn't help but marvel at my Love. I had called Rachel and Dimitri demigods, but Conor was certainly no less of one, and in my eyes, even more.
Conor made one complete turn, then started another. His feet moved faster, more sure with each step, and soon I was both in awe and frightened out of my mind. In a seemingly impossible chorus of strength and balance, the twins stayed upright as Conor went from turning to literally spinning around. Even Kat had trouble keeping pace with the human top, and I was completely convinced there was no way they could continue and no way for them to stop. A final "Kip!" proved me wrong. The twins pulled into each other, then Conor simply spun out from under them and they landed on their feet.
As the regular house lights came back on, the three bowed and then were joined by Kat, Sean, Luke, Sun, and Moon who all had a part to play in the amazing show. If we hadn't been standing, everyone would have jumped to their feet. As it was, the cheering and applause was deafening. The crowd soon swept in. I lost sight of my Love and our entertainers... all but one who snuck through. I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked to see Rachel. I kissed my friend and hugged her tight.
"That was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, but you scared the hell out of me. What were you thinking with no nets, no ropes... I thought you were going to die out there!"
"I did die, that was the point. Life always gives way to death. That's why we need to live each day as if it's our last."
I noticed Nancy and Chloe looking in my direction and realized introductions were in order.
"Oh, this is Conor's mother, Nancy, and Sean's mom Chloe. This is Rachel, one of my best friends."
Somehow it didn't seem the slightest bit strange when Rachel greeted each of the women with a kiss. Neither Nancy or Chloe seemed put off by the gesture or by the fact that Rachel was naked. Instead, they went on about how much they enjoyed the show and how beautiful she was. I glanced at Jim who grinned and shrugged his shoulders, then the entire room vibrated with another bang on the drum. A voice boomed from the sound system, one I didn't recognize until I saw Carl holding the microphone.
"We'll start the regularly scheduled event soon enough, but for now, crack your glow sticks and grab your tits and dicks because it's time to DANCE!"
Electronic music kicked in as the main lights dropped out and multiple black lights came on. The room was suddenly full of glowing people dressed in a spectacular array of neon colors. I looked over to see Nancy pulling Jim and Chloe to the dance floor, then followed as Rachel pulled me out too.
Being my first "rave", I was hesitant to dance until I looked around the room. Julie and I had taken lessons together, and I knew how to waltz, tango, mambo, and two-step, but it appeared none of that would fit in. Everyone seemed to have their own style, shuffling their feet, pumping their fists, jumping up and down, and generally acting possessed. As a child of the 80s, it was exactly the type of dancing I could relate to... except for the part where I was dancing with a glowing, perfectly formed nude woman. Rachel smiled at me, I smiled back, then shrugged off the strangeness and went with it. After all, I knew it was something I would never forget and something that would never happen again... or so I thought.
Only a few minutes into my dance with Rachel and I was shaking my head and laughing. Just like every 80s dance I had been to, the girl I was dancing with ended up dancing with another girl. Unlike any dance I had ever been to, however, the other girl also happened to be glowing and naked. Kat joined our little duo making it a trio, and the surrealism grew tenfold. The two girls were quite a site... polar opposites like ice and fire, but both shared incredible beauty. I laughed again and wished I could record everything and send it back to my middle school self. Besides a few hip and butt bumps, the exotic dancing didn't turn erotic, and the two never made me feel left out. It was shaping up to be a great evening, but there was one person I knew could make it incredible... another naked, glowing, person I wanted to dance with even more than two gorgeous women.
I looked around for my Love amidst the bright pinks, yellows, purples, and blues, but there was no sign of him. I looked for Sean and didn't see him or Luke. My dancing slowed to a near stop as I realized that even Nancy, Jim and Chloe seemed to have vanished.
A hip bump on either side of my body jarred me from my search. I started to back away from the dance floor but Rachel grabbed my left hand and Kat grabbed my right, dancing seductively as if to pull me back into the strange world I had been lost in. I feigned ignorance, smiled and kept dancing, but slowly worked my way back to the edge of the black lights where bright color faded to darkness. When Rachel grabbed my hand again, I pulled her into me and put my lips to her ear...
"What are you trying to distract me from? What's going on?"
My friend simply laughed at my inquiry and kissed my cheek, then the black lights went out and the music faded to silence. One heartbeat later, a single light shone straight down, shattering the darkness and my mind. In the center of the light, was the most stunning being I had ever seen. So beautiful was the vision before me, my knees gave way.
A million ballistic thoughts all bounced around inside my skull. I grabbed one and examined it... "You're dreaming!" I grabbed another... "None of this is real!" and another... "Seriously, could any of this be happening?"
Completely convinced I had fallen into another strange dream, I leaned hard on phantom Rachel then felt an arm on my other side hold me up. I had no idea who the other dream phantom was, but I was too enchanted to pull my gaze away from the vision in the light...
...the beautiful god with green eyes... short red-tinted hair... dressed... in a suit.
Another light came on, revealing the one face that had always grounded me, had always brought me back to reality, and had always revealed the truth. The smiling face of Rose, sitting in a wheelchair. Rose rolled up to me, then stood and placed her hand on my chest.
"It's time, Brandon. It's your time."
Before I could respond, Rose backed away and a long sheet was pulled in front of me. I realized then that Dimitri was standing to my side holding a garment bag and a pair of shoes, and had been the one holding me up before. Rachel pulled the neon scarves off my body, then grabbed the bottom of my t-shirt and lifted it over my head. I reached down too late as my shorts were already being pulled to my ankles... and remembered I had gone commando.
More lights had come on while my dumbfounded self was being dressed. The sheet was moved away and I saw him again... with that smirk I knew so well and a teardrop rolling down his face. Belief crept in. I had just started to accept that things were real when Rose wheeled up beside me guiding two people, and my knees nearly buckled once more. Dimitri steadied me as my lips formed the words but no sound left my mouth...
"Mom? Dad?"
My parents, the ones I hadn't seen in years, here in The House? If the warm touch of my mother's face on mine wasn't enough, the strong embrace and sobs of my father jerked me to reality. I had never seen the General cry nor had any reason to think I ever would. No... it was all too completely bizarre to be a dream. Through my own tears, I looked down to see Rose wink at me, then back away. A long note sounded out, and the unmistakable sound of Irish pipe music filled the air.
As the sweet music played, Jim and Nancy led Conor to Rose, and my parents, despite the impossibility of it all, walked by my side. A myriad of questioning voices in my mind demanded answers... commanded me to stop and shout until I got them! The shining star before me melted the questions away like so many snowflakes in the sunlight. Plans and logic be damned, this was my time! This was what I wanted more than anything else in the world, and this was really happening!
My footsteps lightened with each step until it felt as if I were floating. The crowd around us blurred as my vision narrowed to the focal point of my Love's face. His enchanting eyes took hold of mine, his ruby lips burned to be kissed. I leaned in...
"Not yet boys. We have a ceremony to perform first. I promise to keep it short."
I saw the faintest blush on his cheeks as those lips formed a smile... then heard chuckles around me as I took a small step back and nodded. Rose tapped the microphone twice to ensure it was on, then began.
"We gather here today, not by the legal standards of humankind, but under the authority of Love. To define love is to diminish it. To define who can love who, is sacrilege! To know love, one simply has to look at the faces before me. If any of you has cause to believe these two should not be wed... don't let the door hit your backside on the way out!"
Rose looked around the room with an "I didn't think so!" look on her face.
"Good. Gentlemen, may I have your engagement rings?"
I looked at my hand, then submitted the ring I had only worn for a few hours to Rose. After taking Conor's ring, Rose pulled two chains from her pocket, threading one through each as she continued.
"I was told of the significance of these rings. The symbolism of friendship, love, and loyalty. Will the mothers come forward, please?"
Nancy and my mother took the few steps to us, then Rose stood to her feet and placed the chains around their necks.
"I am honored to see you support your sons. I believe the symbolism of these rings applies to you as well... and yes, boys, you may hug your mothers."
Leave it to Rose to know what we were thinking. My entire being was crying out to hug my mother, and Conor must have felt the same way. Though the hug was brief, I knew in my heart that there were many more hugs to come. The two ladies stepped back and the proceedings went on.
"Tradition would have vows be spoken as rings are exchanged. Obviously we've strayed from tradition, and I doubt either of you have memorized any vows yet. So speak if you will, but know that your love for each other has spoken volumes already. Brandon, your ring?"
A moment of confusion and panic gripped me like a vice. Then I saw the grin on Rose's face and matched it as I reached into the breast pocket of my jacket. Sure enough...
I took Conor's left hand. The words came so easy as his emerald gaze held mine.
"I um... So much of my life has felt like a dream lately. The fact is, not even in my dreams could I imagine this place or the events that have led up to this moment. Not in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned you, much less fathomed the possibility of being loved by you. It's time to stop dreaming and start living the dream. With this ring, I give you my life, my heart and my love. Today, and for all my days, I am yours alone, Conor O'Keefe."
I had placed the same ring on the same finger once before. There was no hesitation when he said "yes" to becoming my fiancee that day, and no reservations in his eyes as I placed the ring on a second time... on the day he would become my husband.
I hesitated to let go until Conor reached out and took my left hand and, with heavy with emotion, started speaking.
"People talk..."
Conor's voice cracked and faltered. He smiled through his tears and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm just so happy right now."
"People talk about the luck of the Irish, and honestly, I've always thought they were full of shite. I know now that I was wrong. I know, because today... today, I'm the luckiest man alive. I cannot give you my heart, Brandon Van Duren. I cannot give you something that you already have. My heart has, and will always belong to you. Without you I'm incomplete. Only with you am I fully alive. I make only one vow this day. With this ring, I vow "go dtí go deo", until forever."
Through cloudy eyes I looked at my hand. Given the short time he had it, I fully expected to see my old ring exactly the way I had given it to Conor, but the golden band being placed on my finger bore no resemblance. Thicker and heavier, the beautiful ring looked as though it had been forged by hand, with hundreds of golden facets, and a single stone set in the center... an emerald.
My heart thumped and I forgot how to breathe. I looked up from one emerald into two. Conor winked, then looked to his right. Unsure what was next, I glanced at Rose, who held up an item and continued.
"This braided cord represents an unbreakable bond, and so as it is wrapped and tied, a bond it shall become for you two. Will the fathers come forward please?"
Rose took our hands and placed them together as I watched Jim and my father step into view. I questioned the General's motives, but saw no malice in his eyes as they met mine. My emotions were already on full tilt as it was, and then I looked at the cord being draped over my wrist... the red-tinted braid of hair with strands of green silk running through... and I lost it.
His hand in mine became my world. I barely noticed the baritone voice that began speaking...
"May it be known today, as observed by these witnesses..."
I hardly registered the hands wrapping the cord three times...
"...that these men before me have accepted the bonds of marriage,"
Or grasped how intricate the celtic knot was tied...
"...and, by the powers vested in me,"
Or comprehended my father's words...
"...by the state of Florida,"
Only my Love's firm grip...
"...that from this day forward,"
And the gentle eyes that held my soul...
"Brandon and Conor, shall be called,"
And the one word that meant everything to me...
"...husbands!"
To be continued...