Salubrious part 37

Charlie didn’t really know much about anime, nor did he really care. But, his boyfriend did, and a simple request of, “I need you to be my protector at the next anime convention,” made Charlie realize he had to make an effort.

Walking him early at 4am to start picking out outfits, makeup looks and matching shoes was not a part of his daily routine but he did it for Allan.

He even spent half the night talking with Allan who was having pre-convention jitters and anxiety. The lack of sleep didn’t bother Charlie, because he knew that Allan felt more comfortable with everything by the morning.

Pim was right about him not really watching anime before dating Allan and no, just watching stray Dragon Ball Z as a kid didn’t necessarily count. They were all right, but that didn’t change anything, especially since Charlie was going to his first anime convention with his boyfriend today.

Allan took three and half hours to get fully ready. Shower, makeup, dress, tutu, accessories, wig, hair accessories, shoes. It all made Charlie wonder why Allan tortured himself to death just to look pretty at a public convention hall.

And Charlie had to admit it.

“You look so pretty,” Charlie said to him.

“Thanks, dude,” Allan smiled, kissing Charlie on the cheek. “You helped make this happen.”

Allan was in stiletto ballet shoes and did a twirl. Charlie clapped, looking impressed.

“Dude, you make me almost like all this weird sh-I mean stuff. It’s kinda cool, in a super nerdy, kind of strange way,” Charlie stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Will Glep be able to make it?”

Allan shook his head. “No. He has things to do with his wife, apparently. I’d be a bit annoyed at him usually. It’s great… that you’re doing this. It won’t feel as weird with you with me.”

“So, what are you cosplaying?”

“I’m Princess Tutu. But I’m also a little shy duck in disguise, quack!” Allan made a convincing duck noise, making Charlie laugh nervously.

“Oh, wow. That’s… cute,” Charlie said.

Allan blushed, giving him a lingering look, then quickly fixed his tutu, clearing his throat.

“Uh, so you ready to leave?” Charlie said, clearing his throat and looking at the floor.

“Uh-huh,” Allan said, taking Charlie by the hand. “You sure you don’t want any kind of look? A costume or something?”

“Uh-huh,” Charlie repeated. “I don’t really do..”

“Costumes, I know,” Allan answered as they got to the car. “But you could’ve dressed up as Uh-Huh from The Little Rascals. All you would have to do is just say, “Uh-huh,” to everything and everyone.”

“Damn. What a lost opportunity,” Charlie rolled his eyes.

“It fits your personality perfectly and you don’t have to have conversations with people!” Allan teased. Charlie laughed sarcastically.

“Wow, you know me so well, Allan. That sounds so fun.”

They started driving as Allan kept adjusting his look in the mirror.

“Dude you look great. Don’t worry.”

Allan scoffed. “I put a lot of thought into this look. I can’t let a single detail go unnoticed.”

“Or, maybe just have fun a little. You know?”

Allan smiled despite his serious face. “You can help me have fun.”

“Me? Mr. Grumpy? I don’t know. You may be right I may be a sunny color but I’m gonna stick out like a sore, angry thumb.” He leaned into Allan’s shoulder. “All you have to do is start quacking like a duck and I will be having a ton of fun.”

Allan laughed with a bit of haughty humor. “Oh, haha, Charlie. You’re gonna have to really try to really have fun if you want me to become a duck.”

Charlie laughed, fixing his GPS and the radio for a moment.

“So…” Charlie started to say. “When do you think you’ll be fully moved in to our place?”

“Our place?” Allan said with widened eyes. Charlie took hold of Allan by the hand, squeezing it. They locked gazes, then Charlie looked back at the road and Allan adjusted a feather in his wig.

“Fuck yeah. Well, you were kinda living with me before but now it’s…”

“Real,” Allan finished the sentence.

“Yeah. So do you need me and Pim to help bring over boxes or furniture?”

“Um, yeah. By next week. I think that will be good. I already signed the notice to vacate and cancelled any renewal to the lease agreement.”

“Glad you’ll be getting out of there?”

Allan sighed. “Oh hell-yess-uhh… I’m so glad for that.”

“Glad you’ll be with me?”

“Yes,” Allan answered quickly, then looked down.

“And? I sense there’s something on your mind, dude.”

“I’m so happy don’t get me wrong, Charlie. I just wonder about the fact that we’re so opposite, if that could—you know, be something we need to talk about more.”

Charlie sighed. “I mean, sure, we’re opposites. But opposites attract.”

“I think that this is where we should start actually talking. Like as soon as I bring up a difficult topic, you immediately do that thing where everything is like an overused country saying or something,” Allan said calmly.

“It’s how I cope with my own shortcomings, dude,” Charlie lightly teased but saw Allan cross his arms, looking away.

“Listen, honey, I swear we’ll have a real talk about it. Soon,” Charlie said sincerely.

“Oh, well, sure we can. We can work out logistics. I know things will be ok…Charlie! You missed the exit!!” Allan yelled.

“Damn! Ok, ok, this damn WiFi is so screwy around here. Allan? Can you fix the… yeah… my phone isn’t working right today, get the address from the website and just plug into your GPS…”

Allan scrambled to get his phone working as they pulled over, silently looking annoyed and anxious. They finally got back on the road and got to the convention center. Charlie felt an invisible divide between them as he drove to the entrance.

“Sorry about all that, man. Okay, I’ll drop you off and find parking. See you soon,” Charlie said as he pulled over, kissing Allan on the mouth.

“Did that mess up the lipstick?” Allan asked.

“No. Well, a little.” Charlie cleared his throat. “Come here, hon, just a sec.”

Allan leaned into the car, and Charlie did a quick thumb swipe of some lipstick that got smudged.

“It looks better now,” Charlie said.

“Why thank you, dearest,” Allan curtsied to Charlie. Charlie bowed his head.

Allan waved, skipping off to go inside.

Charlie watched him go inside safely and then parked, thinking about Allan’s cut off speech about being so opposite.

It made him feel anxiety but he tried to push it down as he went inside.

He went through the crowd, feeling wholly helpless and socially isolated. The entirety of the crowd had some degree of cosplay on, either elaborate or simple, and Charlie easily got lost in the sea of colorful characters, where there were some interesting fabrics, homemade robotics, masks and more.

Wearing just a faded white hoodie, his iconic brown hat and slacks, he was worried that everyone would judge him for not being weird. Or as weird anyway.

He also couldn’t find Allan anywhere and was going to resort to texting or calling but his phone’s coverage was not so great.

He was reverting to staring at the crowd, saying hello and trying to look not as grumpy. He was starting to feel the weight of not getting enough sleep last night, leaning on a wall, staring at random people, almost nodding off.

“Hey bud what did you dress up as? Jim from The Office?”

Charlie heard the jab coming from a man in the crowd.

“Dude, that’s so funny. Just cause Jim doesn’t like to dress up, I’m guessing you’re saying that’s me, or something,” Charlie tried to make a joke out of it but felt hot in the face, making a woman with a Gomora cosplay on laugh. The whole scene felt like pieces of different parts of fabrics woven together in a tight and twisted pattern that felt wrong, with textures that didn’t fit. And he knew he didn’t fit most of all.

“Why’d he come here if he just wanted to make fun of people.”

Another group stopped, took a few pictures and laughed. Another person stopped for a moment, looking at Charlie.

“He looks lost,” someone said to their group nearby.

“I’m sure he’s just waiting for someone.”

“Yeah, don’t worry.”

The crowd shifted as Charlie felt swallowed up in the critical reception of his indifferent look. He tried to keep up with the different costumes, giving someone that looked like Master Chief a nod. The nod wasn’t returned.

“Are you serious? Aren’t you people supposed to be all inclusive and respectful and welcoming?” Charlie muttered to himself.

“Well, you seem angry to be here!” The original guy yelled.

“And you keep giving us looks. Don’t think my friends and I didn’t notice,” a woman with fairy wings said.

“Dude, I’m just truly amazed you all are so mean to outsiders. Being that you’re all outsiders, I would expect you to understand how I feel. Shit, this is getting ridiculous.” Charlie sighed. “Has anyone seen a tall looking Princess Tutu?”

They all shook their head.

“He’s.. he’s tall and pretty… he’s my boyfriend. I can’t find him…” Charlie stuttered.

The woman that had laughed at him looked at Charlie sadly. “Oh no, omg. I’m sorry to hear that.” She jabs her elbow at the guy that mocked him for being Jim from The Office. “Come on, Buster.”

The guy said quietly, “Yeah sorry. Honestly it would’ve surprised me more if you owned the Jim thing and just said that you.. you know, been like, ‘Yeah I’m Jim? So what,’ haha.”

“I honestly didn’t think that far ahead..” Charlie said back. “I’m feeling sick. I might throw up.”

The group backed away and left, leaving Charlie as the waves of crowds gathered, cheered, laughed and hugged.

Suddenly Charlie saw a flash of something that felt familiar. He saw a light pink skirt and they were tall….

“Hey! Allan?!”

The person turned.

It wasn’t Allan.

“Fuck. Fuck my luck,” Charlie muttered. He started to walk on foot.

“What’s your fandom, dude?” Another guy in a Hulk costume asked.

Charlie blurted out, “Grand Strategy IV.”

The guy gave him a quick glance from his mask. “There’s not really a big fandom there.”

“Ah, okay,” Charlie snorted, looking annoyed. “Allan!! Allan! Uh…” he yelled, walking through the festive atmosphere like a sinking scarecrow, thinking of a last ditch effort to get Allan’s attention wherever he was, “Princess Tutu! Princess TUTU!”

He was feeling sweaty, exhausted and losing hope fast.

“Dude, he must be apart of an acting troupe, I bet he’s looking for a missing character?” Someone surmised.

A person nearby added, “I just have no idea what his character is supposed to be…”

“Princess Tutu?!” He yelled, feeling foolish, but when some people started clapping at him, he started blushing, covering his face.

Finally, his yelling gets the attention of an attendee that worked there.

“Are you lost, sir?”

Charlie frowned. “Yes. So lost.”

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Yeah. Why is everyone talking about me like.. I don’t know… I’m so confused honestly.”

She smiled at him, “Oh, they think you’re doing a bit. Something cute for another fanbase.”

He felt so overwhelmed and overheated, he just started laughing at the irony, saying, “I’m looking for my boyfriend. It’s not a bit.” He looked around dizzily, thinking maybe he didn’t understand this whole situation as well as he thought.

“Some people were wondering if you were part of the program, like performance art. Sorry for your experience so far…” she explained.

“I think he’s acting rude screaming all over the place, honestly. It’s just bad manners,” someone complained to the staff. Charlie wanted to fall down and die from embarrassment at this point, and felt emotionally drained.

Suddenly, he heard a voice. It was like he found the answer to the most annoying riddle in Alice In Wonderland.

He saw a flash of pink heels, deciding to move in.

“Who are you? What’s your name?” He heard someone ask, as a flurry of people huddled around who Charlie assumed was his Allan.

"My name is Duck. Yes, like the bird. Take it up with my parents! They never loved me!"

He knew that thin, bored sounding voice, that was unmistakably Allan, his Allan, and that direct quote from the show was …

“He literally said that me this morning practicing in costume… shit, Allan…” Charlie said anxiously under his breath.

Everything melted away as he finally caught a glimpse of red. He knew that red beyond all other hues and colors.

As people were taking photos, he stopped for a moment. He saw for a perfect moment Allan at his peak happiness, dramatically making ballet movements and looking ethereal. He felt like he was in an anime scene and Allan was full of sparkles and stars.

It was then the colorful moment fell flat into reality as Allan saw Charlie, a huge wave of recognition hit his face as he excused himself from the booming crowd.

Charlie blurted out excitedly, “PRINCESS TUTU!”

Allan grinned, running over to Charlie.

“Oh, my prince!” Allan musically said.

They collapsed in each other’s arms, almost falling to the floor.

“Awwwww!” A group of fans cried out.

“Please save me,” Charlie whimpered to Allan.

“Of course I will.”

“I failed,” Charlie almost cried, clenching his fists.

Allan looked at him concerned, “Failed what? I looked for you everywhere. I’m sorry I couldn’t find you, Charlie. You look like you were lost in translation like the movie,” he laughed sadly.

“I never saw that movie,” Charlie said as they both stood up. “I failed as your.. your boyfriend, or some stupid shit like that. I should’ve been with you the whole time.”

Allan frowned. “No you didn’t fail me, Charlie. We should’ve never been separated.”

“Oh how romantic!” Someone yelled.

“This isn’t part of the cosplay!” Allan said back.

“Damn.. too bad it isn’t…” Charlie teased.

Allan smiled, “Why? I’m not allowed to tell you that I… I can’t say how I feel in canon… especially to you, my prince.”

Charlie winked. “But I can, my princess…”

Allan nodded. “True.”

Charlie leaned in, kissing him lightly on the lips. People started whooping and cheering.

“Knock it off!” Allan said in an exaggerated voice, making them all laugh.

“No, it’s okay if they think we’re in a cosplay. Just for now….” Charlie said seriously.

Allan gave him a appreciative look. “You’ll have to tell me what happened.”

Charlie sighed. “I was literally like a lost idiot in your world. I took everything wrong. I didn’t understand shit.”

“So what, you couldn’t understand this world, that’s not why I wanted you here.”

“Then why?”

Allan leaned forward and their faces touched. “I wanted you by my side. It doesn’t matter if it’s this world or another. I just want you.”

Charlie sighed in relief. “That’s what I wanted all along too.”