I am SO SO SOOO sorry about the wait…honestly, I know that it was ridiculously long, and I will try my damndest to never make you wait this long again.
I am currently looking for a beta for this story…its really hard to find someone using the beta thing we have on this site, so instead I'm asking my readers to either volunteer or to find me someone.
My grammar and spelling are okay, but I need someone good in dialogue and characterization. I also need someone who's going to be brutally honest with me, but won't be offended if sometimes I don't take their advice. They have to be okay with slash, smut, and drug use (if they've actually used opiates, that'd be helpful). I'll need to read some of their writing beforehand.
If you guys could help me out with that, I'd love you forever.
I do not own RENT. I can't even pay mine.
Life is a Circus
"Well, thank you, Mr. Cohen. We'll give you a call by Tuesday to let you know when to come in." the man, Mark thought he had called himself 'Randy', said, shaking his hand with a very practiced fake smile.
Mark thanked him with a less enthused fake smile and left. He had applied to many places, but only two had called him in for an interview. The interview at Fed-Ex hadn't gone well; despite Mark's insistence, they hadn't believed that he could lift fifty pounds over his head. But, it now seemed as if he had a job at Eat'ems: a small diner that served "All-American" food...which was code for overly greasy hamburgers and bacon and eggs.
He was going to be a waiter/busboy, which he was fine with since he knew he could pull good tips. He may not have been a cute girl in a short skirt, but he knew how to be polite and patient and he could be quite charming when he wanted to be.
With a sigh, he pedaled off towards the cafe. A job was a mixed blessing: they could always use the money, but it meant a great loss of his time. And that meant not being able to go to the cafe everyday. It also meant that he and Marshall would have to work around two schedules now.
He locked up his bike and went in to tell Reye the good/bad news. He got about three steps into the room before he was floored by Reye. Dazed, he looked up in confusion at the teenager, who was currently on top of him and hugging him quite enthusiastically.
"Uh...its nice to be loved, Reye...but I'm kinda dating your brother." he joked.
She laughed and got up, helping him to his feet. As soon as he was standing she went to hug him again, but he quickly put a hand out. "What's going on?" he asked with a laugh.
She grinned, shouting, "I'm not pregnant!"
Mark took a moment to soak that in before he grinned widely and seized her in a bear hug. "That's wonderful!"
"I know, right? I don't think I've ever been so relieved before in my life." she went over to her place, hopping up on the counter.
"We should celebrate tonight...have a party or go out or something." Mark suggested.
Reye readily agreed before a mischievous smile crossed her face, making Mark a little uneasy. "We should celebrate right now, too!"
"Uh, how? You're at work."
She grinned. "Let's smoke...we can get away with it if we do it in the back."
"I don't know about this, Reye..." Mark said but the barista was already locking the register and putting up her "Be Back in 5" sign.
Going under the counter, she emerged with a small purse. "Come on!" She persuaded, pulling him along by his arm.
They went into the backroom, a glorified closet, really. Shelves of ingredients lined the walls, a door to a walk-in fridge stood to the left, and a rickety card table and two chairs sat in front of the bathroom, which had a shower curtain in lieu of a door.
As Mark wandered about, looking at the ingredients, Reye took an extra shelf and propped it under the doorknob, locking them in, and then went to preparing the heroin. Mark still felt unsure about chasing at Reye's job, but pushed his anxiety away when Reye waved him over to the table. There were never that many customers, outside of her regulars whom Mark knew well enough to know they wouldn't care, and her manager was nearly nonexistent.
After a while, they wandered back into the café, laying behind the counter and talking softly. Reye had to rouse herself long enough to serve a customer a few times, but mostly they just laid there. Mark made sure his high was nearly gone before he went home.
LINELINELINELINELINE
"The circus?! Are you serious?"
Marshall pouted. "Yeah. It'll be fun."
"Fun? Do you have any idea how they treat those animals? I don't blame them for turning on their trainers, I really don't." Mark argued.
Marshall sighed. "Mark, you know I know about the animal issues...but for once can we just forget about all that stuff...just for one night? You'll have fun, I promise...and this circus can't be that bad, otherwise half our friends would've already shut it down." he joked with a pleading smile.
Mark sighed. When it came down to it, he couldn't say no to Marshall, especially when he begged. "Okay, fine...I hope Maureen never finds out because she'll kill me."
Marshall laughed, swooping down to give Mark a swift kiss. "Thank you, babes...and if you really want to lessen your guilt, Reye says there's an animal rights protest outside of the university lab in a few days."
Mark laughed. "You hypocrite!" but he kissed Marshall to show he wasn't serious. "So when are we going?"
"Tonight. Reye gets off work at five, and it starts at seven. I already have the tickets."
Mark laughed, incredulous. "I know that you knew I'd have an ethical problem with it, but you knew I'd cave?"
Marshall smirked. "I figured you would...and if you didn't, I'd just tell you the truth."
"The truth?" Marshall stole a kiss and then leaned forward to speak in his ear,
"Its an all-human circus...they don't use any animals, for ethical reasons." Mark shoved him off.
"You bastard!" he laughed. "I can't believe you-mmph..." he was cut off by a deep kiss, Marshall grinning at him cheekily as they parted.
"I know...I just wanted to see if you'd let me convince you."
"So what are we going to do until the all-human circus?" Mark asked.
Marshall smiled, stretching back on the couch and pulling Mark on top of him. "I think I have an idea..." he murmured, kissing Mark's neck.
LINELINELINELINELINELINE
Mark rubbed at the slight red spot located right above his collar bone, frowning at his image. Marshall came into the bathroom, hugging Mark from behind.
"Oh come on, babes...I said I was sorry." Mark sighed in annoyance.
"Yeah, but you know that I don't like hickeys, Marshall."
"I know...I just forgot in the moment, you're so hard to resist." he teased, nipping Mark's earlobe. When he didn't get a reaction he sighed. "I really am sorry..." he kissed Mark's neck for a moment.
"Its not that big of a mark." he offered.
"Because I stopped you." Mark retorted, but without much feeling. He was already done being angry...it was hard to stay angry at Marshall for long.
"Yeah...we could see if Reye has any light make-up...I mean, she's a lot darker than you, but she could have something."
"Okay." Mark agreed, rubbing at the mark again, frown still in place. Marshall kissed his neck again before letting him go.
"Why don't you like hickeys anyway?"
Mark shrugged. "I don't know...I never have...To me, it's kind of like the person placing a sign that says: 'I own you, bitch!'...and everyone sees that."
Marshall chuckled, but then quickly nodded at Mark's sharp look. "I guess I see that...so you're saying I don't get to own you?" he joked.
Mark shook his head. "Nope! Nobody owns me but me...no offense, but that's the way it'll always be...I really don't like that whole possessive thing."
Marshall smiled, "Duly noted...although I'll have to return that collar now...and I guess I'll have to cancel the tattoo appointment, too." he teased lightly.
LINELINELINE
Mark laughed as Marshall swiped another wisp of cotton candy from Reye, dodging her smack. It was never a good idea to get between Reye and her sugar, but Marshall was always happy to try. He grinned as he stuffed the cotton in his mouth, Mark laughing as Reye tried to lick her entire cotton candy puff, in order to claim it, before realizing that wasn't the best idea. A sudden hand on his neck brought him in for a syrupy kiss, Marshall deftly taking his caramel apple from his hand in the process.
"Hey! Give that back!" he laughed, pulling away in order to reach for it.
Marshall took a bite before handing it back. Mark laughed. Marshall had refused to buy himself anything, claiming that circus food was too unhealthy for him, and yet he had been stealing Reye's and his food all night.
Mark had to admit, he'd had fun. The circus was good, and true to his word, there wasn't a single animal involved (although three performers had come out dressed as a lion and another tried to tame them). Some of the acrobatics, trapeze and daredevil acts had been mindboggling and amazing. A couple of the acts had political implications, and Mark made sure to remind himself to tell Maureen about it.
Mark was glad he'd turned down Reye's offer to give him some acid before hand, and he knew she was glad she'd let him talk her out of doing it herself. He wasn't opposed to trying it at some point…but the night of a circus had to be too intense to stay sane. Marshall would've gotten pissed if they'd had to leave early because him and Reye had started screaming.
They walked home, Reye stopping off in their apartment while Marshall finished walking Mark home.
"Admit it." Marshall teased.
"Okay, okay…I had fun." Mark relented with a grin.
"Good." Marshall leaned in, kissing him goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow, babes."
LINELINELINELINE
I wanted to make this longer…but opted not to at the last minute. I have none of the next chapter done, but I know that one big thing is going to happen so I'll shape it around that. This week is Dead Week, and next week is finals week…but that doesn't mean too much since I'm a major procrastinator and I've been doing blah in school all year. …I'll try to get the next chapter out much faster, promise.
