Who: Dana Dee Devon and Kareem Okonwo When: February 26 2012 Where: Movie Theater What: The experiment of watching Chronicle Warnings: Fluffy Dana smurf licking? Shooting homophobic fat men with arrows? Status: Not complete yet.
Dana rolled up to the theater ready to watch Chronicle with the man of few words, Kareem. He parked his red mini cooper and hopped on out pressing the automatic locker from his keychain dressed quite similarly to how Kareem met him. Dana had his own style and he didn’t need a reason to try and be a little snazzy. His jeans had plenty of fashion holes ripped just the right way underneath the classy jacket as he walked into the theater thinking he should have asked where he was supposed to meet him once he got there. So, Dana stood close to the ticket counter texting Kareem to let him know he was already there.
Kareem was humming as he hopped off the bus. The theater where they had decided to meet was an easy shot from his apartment, so he hadn't spent enough time on public transit to get annoyed with it. He'd gotten a seat by the window - as he almost always did - and watched the people he passed by. They reached their destination soon enough, and he hopped off, making sure to thank the bus driver. He grinned in the sun - despite the cold - for a moment before beginning his walk about a half a block to the theater. He was just about to step inside when his phone buzzed. Figuring that it was probably Dana, he didn't check it, just stepped in. Sure enough, there the blond man was. "Hey," he said, stepping up to him. "You just text me?"
Dana’s hand sailed up to his sandy blond bangs, blue eyes flashing up Kareem’s way as he brushed them from his face, his smile lighting up. “I did” he said sticking his phone in his pocket and then laid that hand in Kareem’s arm. “I need gummi bears. It’s the only way to watch a movie free of cares. “ Then to add an unrelated fact, “I love gummi bears on my jello. Come on come on, my fine fellow. I have the tickets. All we need is the snacks and seats.”
Kareem barely noticed the rhyming; he was busy, after all, getting lost in some baby blues. “Gummi bears, huh?” He said, gesturing Dana to lead the way into the vestibule where the concession stand was. “I'm more of a Snowcaps guy, myself, actually. But I bet we can get along with both.”
A wide eyed innocence nodded an excited yes to agree, so much more innocence than that mischievous biddy cupid really was. He may have been an angel and a ball of pink fluff, but innocent he was not. His head canted to the left as a shier shoulder lifted in a flirtatious nature adding, “A blue slushy too?” all kinds of hope in his expression.
Kareem nodded, happily, his left hand reaching down to find Dana's right. “If the gentleman wants a blue slushy, then by god, a blue slushy it will be.” He squeezed. “You don't mind a blue tongue?”
Kareem’s answer was far more than satisfactory to Dana. It was downright, “Super duper cute.” Dana said it right out loud, casting his eyes lower when he felt Kareem take his hand. Then his head jerked erect and held up his free hand, “But I bear no false fruits. A lie will not befall this tongue, red, green, pink or blue, but silver is one that won’t come through. So I bare all now. I need a blue tongue to stick out at passing children. It makes them giggle.” Then the back of his hand went to his lips with his own giggle , his chest jostling with a little wiggle.
Kareem nodded. “Kids do love them blue tongues,” Kareem agreed, wagging his still-red tongue in the air for a moment, as if somebody was gonna take a “before” picture or something. He walked with Dana over to the before picture, casting a quick glare at a fat man in a wife-beater who was giving them the side-eye for walking hand in hand. He wasn't going to be taking that. “But no silver.” He smiled. “I like that.”
Dana was so used to the world’s indecencies that he might not have noticed the man and Dana was more than used to being stared at for several reasons, looks for one, oddness for another. Somehow he seemed to attract attention but he usually wore this sort of air that seemed aloof and rather oblivious to it all, unless he had his sights set on an arrow trajectory. Then his sniper senses were on ever alert. But, seeing sweet Kareem feel the need to stand up for them, even in just the simple form of a glare, it warmed the angel’s heart. Dana’s eyes narrowed in on the man then. He was not getting out of the evening without an arrow in his ass. “Can you excuse me just a moment? I’ll be right back. I won’t be late, for this movie date.” He assured before pulling away and tucking into the men’s room. Dana used that moment to slip into the realm of in-between unseen ever armed with his trusty bow. He walked right passed Kareem in the invisible realm unknown to his date and kissed his cheek. Kareem might have even felt a strange tickly warmth when it happened. But, Dana locked and loaded, aimed for the man in the white shirt and zapped him right where he planned. The man even slapped his own ass like he was bit by a bug. Then Dana without thinking it through came out of the restrooms on the opposite side of the theater than he walked in and “accidently” pushed a male in the crowd in front of the fat man who suddenly appeared very goo-goo-eyed for this male. Dana brushed off his bangs again, a sly smirk twisting his features and jumped at Kareem’s back showing up behind him. “Boo. I’m back.”
Kareem shrugged and smiled when Dana said he had to step away, releasing his hand. He was content to just sit and watch the folks around him while his date took care of business. He just stood there, smile in place, tapping his foot, for a moment, glancing a couple times at a woman who was clearly taking her three kids to a movie. She was holding their hands, and just generally being a sweetheart, and it was nice to see. While people-watching, he shivered a little at a sudden shock of warmth. Not long after, he spotted the fat man making eyes at some other dude, and considered the idea that he might have been wrong about him after all. Soon after, he was rejoined by his date, and smirked at him. “You ready for slushy headache nirvana?”
Dana slid his hand down the line of Kareem’s spine and made his way back around to his side, tucking in under the crook of his arm as if he’d belonged there, arm wrapped around his waist and batted those blue eyes up and said, “Yes, Let’s go. I’m ready to dive into the smurf-colored wonderland.” Then he hiked a leg up like he were getting ready to march down the yellow brick road not just walk into a theater tugging Kareem along with him, but as they went through the doors, it was already dark, and the previews were running, Dana asked, “You don’t think it will be scary movie do you?”
Kareem enjoyed the feeling of the man nestling himself against him, so he was not about to protest. He pushed his shoulder into Dana's, just lightly, just teasing. The walk over to the theater was only made more exciting by Dana's insistent on treating it like a quest or something; it was fun. Soon, they were settled into their seats. “I don't think it's gonna be a happy movie, to be honest.”
Dana had a little hobby of turning things into quests. That was a really great way to put it. Dana would be most happy if he was topped with a little Zelda hat for these quests if he could. “I still cannot tell a lie. I’m just that kinda guy. I’m a crier. Quivers of rivers. Don’t make fun of me if it happens.” He was playful as he said it and even gave Kareem a bit of a nudge with his elbow in jest. Then he helped choose a seat and nestled himself into the chair, crossing his legs, right over left leaning towards the seat beside him, ready to slip his arm right through Kareem’s again the moment he took his seat.
Kareem happily say himself down right next to his date, looking forward to the start of the movie. He hoped they were still playing that little Muppets thingy when they were telling you not to talk in the movie. First of all because he adored the muppets and also because he thought that they were pretty convincing, and he hated movie-talkers. “Don't worry,” he said, “I promise not to make fun of you.”
Dana was reassured even if he was just teasing about it. Kareem really did seem like such a sweet person, sweet soul, just like he pegged him for when he met him at the dance as Andy’s brother. Now he was just seeing Kareem for Kareem and it was nice too. Dana started to sip on his blue slushie as he leaned against him and there were some teenager a couple rows in front of them that kept looking back for some reason interested in the pair. Was it races? Was it gender? Was it their good looks? Who knew? But they were being giggled at nonetheless. Dana took his straw out and flicked it letting little blue splatters rain down on the youth who only laughed more realizing they were caught and turned around whispering to themselves. Dana stuck the loose straw in his mouth and looked up at Kareem in the dark. He didn’t say anything though, just smiled as that Muppet thingy did come on which gained Dana’s attention.
Kareem didn't even notice the giggling kids, at least not until Dana made the blue rain down on them from above. He thought it was pretty funny, though, obviously, and he poked Dana in the side with his elbow and nodded his approval. This cat was up for a good prank or two. Kareem made a gleeful little noise when he discovered that the muppets were still playing in front of each movie. Then he settled down and leaned against Dana as he waited for the movie to start.
Dana found himself sinking lower and lower into his seat as the movie went on. Kareem was right. It wasn’t exactly a happy movie. It wasn’t without humor and Dana got to laughing at several things. But, it was also intense, dramatic, and not without parts that were startling and made the little angel’s body jolt, then hanker down and giggle about his reaction. He really did go most the movie without words, as their plans were. He wasn’t wrong that there was a part that made him start to tear up. He was extra sensitive when he watched good people fall apart on screen. It was his instinct as angel to protect people after all. Great cinema made him feel a little helpless wanting to reach and do what he could. Then he’d have to remind himself it was all acting and he’d get excited again the beautiful talents these actors had. He nibbled on his gummi bears and slurped in his slushie, but mostly he held himself against Kareem’s side. There was just no getting around how cuddly the guy was. Maybe it was because he was a cat? That was possible, but whatever it was, made Dana stay snugged against him throughout the entirety.
Kareem was absolutely enthralled by the movie, shaking and ducking. He joined Dana in tearing up a couple times, first with joy during the flying sequence – Kareem had always dreamed, dreamed of flying – but mostly with genuine sadness. The movie was truly well made, and kind of tragic. He did – he had to admit to himself – get a little annoyed when, once again, the black guy died first, but he stifled it and watched the story of the cousins continue to unfold until its dramatic conclusion. Of course, all of the sharp shocks just made him lean closer and closer into his date. Nothing better than a scary movie on a first date. When the lights came up, he turned to Dana with a huge grin and half a tear still on his face. “That was great,” he confessed.
Dana soon found out he wasn’t going to be the only one the tear jerker of a movie would get to and that was a good thing. Kareem kept showing off how tender hearted he really was. Dana admired this in all mankind, when they let it show. He still had Kareem’s glare at the man from earlier in his mind too. He wasn’t just a silly cupid. He was an angel of martyrs after all. He watched over those ready to stand up for what they believed in to their very deaths, sacrificing their own lives for it. Even that bit of spunk Kareem showed was right up Dana’s alley. It also seemed there was quite the wibble snuggle-in going on during the movie too. Dana always wore a wedding band on his left finger and it was never hidden. He was single, but this often confused people he met. It was with that left hand he took gentle hold of Kareem’s. “It was. If I dare? I liked the flying teddy bear.” He admitted even if the teddy was meant to scare .
Kareem stood up. He had to stretch, though, because no cat could just stand up after a good long cuddle without stretching out. Once he had gotten his muscles good and stretched out, he plopped back down and twined his fingers back with Dana's, starting to say, “did you want to get out of --” before his fingers pressed against the band. “Oh,” he said, looking down at it, face falling. “You're married?”
This was that wrinkle in time Dana’s truest colors were going to sail and often would have other ships side-eyeing God’s funny little boy like he were head case. “I am.” He answered with such enthusiasm he could have been Puck himself walking off the stage of a Mid Summer Night’s Dream. “To Love herself” His bright eyes beamed up to Kareem’s fallen face confused, but merry at the same time and kissed the ring, “She has marked my heart with her cherished brand of unconditional. I am hopelessly devoted. She’ll never be demoted.” He looked so smitten on his concept. The sweet faced cherub really just sat there and told Kareem he was married to the entity or power of love like it was a person. “One day I pray she’ll deem me worthy of her gift of marital bliss and she will bestow that happiness. Until then, I am her devoted companion and partner helping unite others against the fight of needless lonely.” This was his explanation for having his singles club, dating service, and he pulled out a card and flipped it to Kareem in offering. It bore Dana’s full name and all his businesses, including sex and relationship therapy. “If you know anyone in need give them this. Maybe I can fulfill their wish.” Dana’s heavenly purpose on earth was not as hidden as many other angels or demons with their aliases. His connection with unconditional and erotic love was too thick to cover. It made him appear a bit wonky to many. But, Dana was always too smitten with the world around him to notice.
Kareem couldn't even keep up with any of this. He just raised an eyebrow, pulling away from Dana. “Wait,” he said, “I don't get it. We're on this date and everything, and now I don't know if you have a husband or a wife or anything.” He stared at the card, trying to find a clue to what it was that the blond man was talking about. “So you're a relationship counselor, or something. Okay. Cool. So … was this a date? Or an experiment?”
Dana batted those lashes when he was pulled away from clasping his own hands together and holding them dreamily to his chest. He even stepped forward into Kareem’s space. It was hard for Dana not to speak in metaphors and lyrical terms sometimes but he tried, His eyes motioned the ring before he pouted pink lips up Kareem’s way, “It’s my symbol of devotion to what I yearn for and want to help create in the world for others. I have no body to call my spouse. Maybe someday? Who knows? But, I might call this an experiment? A date is testing a hope’s connection, weeding people out one at a time trying to find the one and hopefully finding true friendships along the way with the one’s that aren’t. Don’t you agree?” But, before Kareem could answer he placed a calming hand on Kareem’s arm, face softened by many degrees, shier than he’d appeared the entire evening, “Are you experimenting in hope with me too?”
Kareem took a deep breath. “Okay,” he said, letting his grin return. “No person that you're married to. I can work with that, wedding ring or no wedding ring.” He offered his hand to Dana again. “That's a new way of looking at it,” he said, “I've never thought of it that way, before. I guess you could say that I am 'experimenting' with you, too, then. If that's okay?”
People didn’t always give Dana the benefit of the doubt with his whimsical ways and metaphorical mind. Kareem offered his hand again and Dana placed his smaller palm with Kareem’s waiting to be led to wherever they were going next. The parking lot? The ege of his lower lip rolled from under his front teeth looking up at Kareem. “Yeah, that’s okay.” He answered back. It was right then that a pair of twins about 5 years old went scampering by, one bumped into Dana and he turned without hesitation to stick his blue tongue out at them. One was smart enough to ask if he’d had a sucker and Dana shook his head no. “I licked a smurf. They’re loose all over the cinema. Go catch them.” The children actually looked around like that could be true giggling hoping to spot one. “Such beautiful children” He said as the mother came to hold their hands. She thanked him and they were on their way. “What now?” Dana asked still waiting for Kareem to take the lead.
Kareem stepped out into the aisle, watching Dana's exchange with the twins with something akin to glee. He liked having cute people in his life. He hadn't had much of a childhood, personally, and so he tried to live in a childlike way himself. Or, at least, confront the world with childlike wonder. He had to make a little face, though, at all the smurf-licking. “I hope you don't plan on licking any more smurfs,” he joked after the kids had wandered away. “I understand that's a pretty unsanitary practice.” He started to walk out of the theater. “I dunno where to next. You want to get something to eat?”
“It’s better than Gargamel.” He teased back. “I didn’t realize a meal came with this evening.” Dana said following along. “We both drove here. We could follow each other or else one would have to bring the other back.” He thought through. “We can go anywhere though. I’m not picky.” He really was just trying to prolong the date not being so hungry after all the candy. “What about ice cream?” He suggested. Dana never didn’t like sweets. “Then you can tell me more about you and your brothers?” He asked prodding around for more.
“What?” Kareem said, “you don't like licking cats?” He smirked inwardly at his private little joke. “I think cats are much cleaner then little blue fairies who never change their footie pajamas, and I bet if you think about it, you'll find that I'm right.” He shook his head. “I took the bus,” he said, “so if you wouldn't mind giving me a lift to the second location, that would be great. But if not, I understand.” They came to the door of the theater, and Kareem held it open for Dana. “And ice cream sounds nice.”
“I’m more used to cats licking me.” Oh that cupid! Dana smirked knowing exactly what Kareem was just by reading his soul alone. He would never divulge such things. “Bus? I can drive you home you home then. It doesn’t matter when. Come come. Get in my mini cooper. I’ll take us to the ice scream scooper.” Oh there he went again. Dana really did try to not let it slip, but sometimes it just came out anyway. He unlocked the doors to sporty red car and hopped on in his driver’s side waiting for his passenger.
Kareem's eyes widened. Did he … how could he? No, he shook his head, certain it was just a coincidence brought on by his own jokes. There was simply no way that Dana could have any idea what he truly was. Unless, of course, Dana was like him, in some way, but he couldn't be. Kareem would have smelled that out, no problem. At least, he was pretty sure. He put it out of his mind. Of course he would have smelled him out. He always had before. He nodded, accepting the kind offer. “I'll definitely take a ride for some ice cream,” he said, “and I wouldn't say 'no' to a ride home if it's not too out of your way.” Kareem didn't mind the bus too much, really he didn't, but a ride home would always be the better choice. When he saw the car, he gave a little “whoop!” “Oh, man,” he said, admiring it, “I love the mini-coops. This is really cool.”
“I don’t mind at all. I’d like to see where you live.” Dana gave a giggle when the big man got in his tiny car with a whoop. When he turned on the car, contrary to what someone might think Dana would listen to, the radio blared on with Kesha’s blah blah blah song. Dana always forgot to turn the radio off when he turned the car off. He scrambled to turn it down a little looking embarrassed at how loud he was obviously jamming out the last time he was in the car. Then he decided to just work it and swayed his head like he’d meant to do it all along, cruising with his arm up on the wheel laughing knowing Kareem knew he just played that off.
Kareem hung his head a little. He was just a little embarrassed by the place that he lived. It wasn't, like, the worst, or anything, but it was a little bit … ratty. And Dana didn't seem like a guy who dealt very well with ratty. But maybe Kareem had him figured out wrong. He'd been wrong about everything else that he'd thought about Dana, so he would probably be wrong about this, as well. And if he wasn't, they could get some nice ice cream first. “Sounds good,” he said, hopping into the car. He wasn't about to let Dana feel embarrassed by his music choice, so he started bopping his head, A Night at the Roxbury style.
Dana started in a little giggle fit when Kareem jammed out Roxbury style. When he pulled into a parking lot just up the street and stopped he was still laughing and said, "I was waiting for the window to break!" as he got out the car ready to tromp the ice cream shop. He even ran around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and tugged at Kareem's hands. "They have cotton candy flavor here." He smirked as if this was heaven itself. Too bad he didn't wait for Kareem to take his seat belt off before tugging the man though.