Dan

[nola_peralta]

Zeke had been pretty sure that this year's Pride would go much the same as last year's: Dan out having fun in his adorable "I have a boyfriend he's just at work" shirt, and Zeke stuck at the hospital with just a bi flag pin on his white coat and some residual glitter from treating people who'd come in from the festivities, mostly overheated or dehydrated or with minor party injuries. But his attending had told him he could cut out early, and sure, early from his shift actually meant late at night, but if he hurried he might be able to catch the last hour or two of whatever party Dan was at and at least get to dance a little.

Forty-five minutes later, he was tapping Dan on the shoulder in the middle of a dancefloor, grinning and wearing the shirt he'd stashed in his locker at the hospital, just in case. It said "I'm the boyfriend."

Will

[nola_northstar]

Funnily enough, Pride was starting to make New Orleans feel a little more like home to Seth. He had told his representation that he wanted to be involved in local festivities -- since he was filming here, since his strongest foothold of fame was as an out actor, since the town was playing his gay indie drama as a Pride event -- and it was affording him access to a stream of parties, lunches, and events. He was starting to recognize faces, queer organizers and journalists and performers, and he was starting to feel like he was finding his groove.

It probably also helped that his personal life had a new clarity: he had a new romance, he wasn't ignorant about, well, the Northstar of it all, and he was really pleased with the work he had done on the TV show in its first season.

Which meant that he was taking to this party as a VIP with ease: he circled the room, chatting with interesting people and vaguely familiar ones, making new connections and trading jokes with cool individuals.

He was letting a server re-fill his champagne glass when he saw a familiar face, but it was familiar in a specific, singular, and completely jarring way. Over there, not five steps away, was Bobby Drake. Something in Jean-Paul's secret heart leapt; he looked good, and he looked happy. And he was here, at a queer party, where he belonged.

Seth smiled at him, this Bobby-not-Bobby, and when he looked Seth's way, he raised his glass in a gentle hello.