VANCE STREET by Mike Austin
nasstop@yahoo.com
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XII.
Monday morning, 1 week at work, alarm buzzing, Ivan shutting it down and almost dressed. He was ready in time to take the earlier morning bus into work and hoped Dave wouldn't worry, so sent a quick text to alert him of the early day bus and closed by thanking him again for Sunday and wished him a great day. He had stuff to tell and signed off LOL as his other 4 bus riders, and the driver made their way from the Vance St. bus stop. Arriving at work an hour early, Ivan had time to brew the coffee, down some iced water and spread his updated sketches on the table, awaiting Alex's arrival for review, as well as share thoughts about the cast choices and alternates. He was surprised when Alex too arrived early, found the coffee breed and joined Ivan in his office. Their sketch reviews and cast selections covered, they left for Alex's office and the SmartBoard. No one else had yet arrived so they had plenty of time for any feedback from the cast selections feedback to adjust their final casting selection a top priority so they could lock in the cast and get some walk-throughs done, followed by some rehearsals long before they tweaked the preview for John, later in the day. Joyce was actually the next one and first cast member to join Alex and Ivan. After some intros and Ivan giving her the event and work overview, she viewed the SmartBoard staging that Alex and Ivan had developed, with Alex simulating the female routines. In two reviews, Joyce had a real sense of her role and the female contributions. She would mime Ivan's slow walk-in, floor curl, and splaying, then slow mo stand. After just another 2 rehearsal walk-ins she had it down pat. Joyce was excited to do this and to be dancing with Alexi, but wondered how he'd take not being the male lead, she shared with Alex. "Ivan's the choreographer and male lead, end of it Joyce. If Alexi has a problem he can talk to me and John who both agree, Ivan's OUR GUY". Joyce beamed and danced away into the middle of the staging area. Two other female cast members joined but the 4th had a conflict both that morning and the day of the event so had to decline. Alex quickly tapped the next female candidate who was on her way to the staging area at that moment when Alexi joined the assembled crew. Alex explained the general roles, Alexi tensed up some, as Joyce had surmised but held his tongue. As Karen the 4th female joined in the other 3 male dancers arrived. The weak link that Ivan had considered ended up being a real trouper and performed admirably well. Both sets of dancers now on board, Ivan and Alex began their direction. Alexi watched Ivan do his start-up walk-in and slow curl and was the first to drop his jaw, then give enthusiastic applause at Ivan's skill. The envy vanished and Alexi was 100% IN after that. The plan was to get 2 walk-throughs completed and perfected before lunch, then get in two practice rehearsals and timing done before the 4:00 meeting with John and get it all recorded for any tweaking. About 2:00, Towns arrived with a full scale panel mock up as the designed backdrop example, mounted on a rolling tubular frame, winked at Ivan and staged it at the back of the performance area. Alex was convinced of Ivan's keen eye and color sense and use of the fabric as a backdrop. The cast was pumped and the Cat Theme roared again with all going through one final prelim. Ivan thought for a minute then shared with Alex and cast. "Let's skip the SmartBoard and show John a live performance and give him a real sense of the sound, lighting, cast enthusiasm and action after just ½ day of rehearsals, not filtered by the technology". Alex thought for a moment, the cast was quiet and waiting, but began to grin as Alex started nodding his head up and down and then roared "YEAH LET'S".................. He walked to his phone, buzzed John and suggested they were ready for the 4:00 preview but could he come to the staging area vs them coming to his office? John wondered if there was a problem and Alex assured him there was NOT. In a few minutes he appeared with Gracie in tow. Both carried iced coffees and were surprised to see the assembled troupe. Alex started to explain, then deferred to Ivan. Ivan picked up and explained that "while the SmartBoard technology is good for prelim work and assembling concepts, it's not the real thing. A viewer or audience is meant to experience a performance and a SmartBoard can't deliver that". With that, John looked quizzically at Alex, then Grace then at Ivan, gave a nod and sat back waiting for the "experience". Jhn had not expected tis and was afraid that so early int eh development stage, a live run through might be a waste of time but he wanted to give his new Guy the benefit of the doubt. The backdrop in place, lighting reset, cast staged, audio on and camera running to capture the first showing to a viewer, the work began and Ivan slowly and pensively stepped into center stage and folded into the curl, then flat out on the floor. Resting there, Joyce repeated the sequence from her stage right position, then both rose back to back to a full and upright and very statuesque position. The production continued from there for another 45+ minutes. At the end, John couldn't applaud long or loudly enough. He hugged Joyce, then Alex and closed with Ivan and couldn't heap on sufficient praise for the entire cast, and especially after such a short period of practice. The work was a winner and everyone knew it. Unknown to Ivan, Alex had invited Towns to join and preview Ivan's work and the background fabric. Ivan beamed with pride and thanked the cast, Alex and John repeatedly. This hard slog had been worth it and now they had about 10 days to refine and perfect it.
Alex chest bumped Ivan, said "long day we deserve a break and a drink, what d'ya say bro, Nickles again"? Ivan blinked and begged off, he wanted to share this with his folks but "def will get a raincheck from me", he said. With that, Ivan hauled his backpack and tote out to the bus stop, after badging out and again had missed Dave, recalling that Monday was a short office hour day for him and he usually left early to hit the gym. The afternoon bus driver was on time and when Ivan piled in, Stuart gave him a high five for no apparent reason and Ivan soaked in the good wishes anyway. He couldn't wait to get home, settle in, feed Birdie and Bud (new name) and get on the phone to his folks. His elation was so high he forgot again to check mail as he bounded upstairs. He beamed at the sight of his new plants, Birdie and Bud and the prospect of another session with Steve and hit the speed dial for home. His mom answered and sounded happy to hear from him but a bit preoccupied until he inquired about her and dad more, fearing something was wrong but learning she was just busy cooking lasagna. She settled into the call and listening intensely, broke into praise and some number of tears as well. As the call progressed, she passed the phone to AL so Ivan could share it 1st hand with his dad. His dad perked up when he learned his youngest might get a bonus if the donations increased and shared they might come into town for the event's celebration. Ivan suggested they likely wouldn't see much of him the day of the event or night after either, so the trip might be better planned for the following weekend. He stopped short of saying if it went well, he'd hope to be banging the fuck out of Steve OR him banging it out of me, and smiled? They ended the call, his mom promised to make lasagna for him and bring it when they came for a visit, sent her love and good byes.
Ivan lay back on the loveseat, stared at the ceiling, took in the whirring fan, flutters of Birdie and Bud outside, kids playing in the alley out back, some traffic and it punctuated by the passing bus and must have drifted off to sleep, humming the theme song. He woke to a knock at the door. Bleary-eyed, he saw it was already 7pm. Opening the door, he found Jim Hemmings shirtless, posed with a bottle of white wine and an I need to be fucked look on his face. He invited the tall, lean Scandinavian in, they shared a glass of wine, Jim admiring the furniture he'd sold them, took a spot on the loveseat, looked down at the floor somewhat dejected and asked Ivan if he was gay? Sharing a second glass of vino, Ivan admitted that he was and inquired about Jim's sexuality. Jim thought a bit, then looked into Ivan's eyes, leaned forward, wrapped his arms around him and kissed him softly but passionately. Leaning back from the kiss, Ivan blinked and responded, "well guess you are too". The two men stripped slowly, Ivan taking the lead down the long torso of his neighbor. He sucked Jim's big head and worked it slowly at first, tongueing the slit and slowly stroking the thin but hard dick. Jim reached for Ivan and found his dick continuing its growth as he moaned and felt his own dick stiff and aching. Jim gasped as Ivan's blowjob was taking him to new heights. Ivan was fully erect now and flooding pre-cum. Ivan backed off Jim's cock and led the man only a few steps to his bed, reached beneath to pull out a tube of lube, resumed blowing Jim as he lubed Jim's ass and then his own hardon. Jim lay back, legs splayed wide as Ivan pressed his hard dick slowly at first, with Jim staring deeply into Ivan's eyes. Another press to feel Ivan's huge head spread Jim open and then the slick, warmth of Jim's muscle ring give way and engorge Ivan's cock. Jim's long legs lay back as he was bent in half. Ivan gathered the thighs and knees together and held him tightly in his arms as he began one very serious fuck session. Jim took it like a pro and continued his stare into Ivan's soul. After a long rigid fuck, Ivan was close and as he'd staved off cumming last night with Steve he was fully loaded and ready to nut. Jim's eyed rolled back as Ivan's pounding fuck brought him nearer orgasm as well. He'd never had a hands-free nut but knew this would be it. Jim arched his back, took Ivan deeper and felt Ivan's huge head hammer at his spot, just before his eyes exploded wide eyed and felt his cock cumming ropes and ropes and ropes across his torso and up onto his face. His toes curled as Ivan continued the ass assault and soon Ivan's muscled body stiffened and he shot loads of cum deep in his buddy, then collapsed across his cum glazed abs and chest. Both guys needed the release and when Ivan finally stood beside the bed, urging Jim to join him in the shower, Jim finally blinked and smiled softly and asked Ivan to lay down some more. Ivan settled in and held Jim safely. The pair drifted into sleep until 10pm. They woke, showered and Jim made his way downstairs. I'm REALLY gonna enjoy living at this place, Ivan mused to himself.