Nancy closes the door to the phone booth securely behind her, making sure no one is near as she slides her quarter into the coin slot and picks up the phone. She dials the number she had carefully copied from the yellow pages and waits patiently as it rings once, twice, and then is picked up.
“Boston Public Library, where-”
She hangs up the phone swiftly, panting, heart racing, suddenly out of breath. She can’t do this… No, she could do this. She has to do this. She slots another quarter into the payphone and re-dials the number.
“Boston Public Library, where can I direct your call?” Nancy takes a deep breath in.
“I need information on a Dewey Decimal.” she whispers, throat tight.
“Hold please” says the voice before she hears a click. The line goes silent, the only sound being the rapid pounding of her heart as her ears grew hotter and hotter.
“Library Services, how may I help you?” a new voice sings as the line comes back to life. Nancy clutches the phone in her hand tightly, trembling.
“I need to know a Decimal… for research” she winces at herself as she blurts out the reasoning for her request. It wasn’t a lie, not really.
“Topic?” the librarian questions, voice perfectly calm and even, as if Nancy wasn’t about to ask them the most earth shattering question possible.
“Uhm…” she swallows, “H-homosexuality? Um… Lesbian..ism?” she says more like a question than a statement. There is a pause, no indication that the librarian is disturbed by this request. Nancy feels like she's going to pass out. The sound of pages turning filters through the phone as the librarian looks through the most recent index book.
“It depends on what you’re looking for exactly, but you’ll want to start in 159, Abnormal Psychology, specifically 159.9734746. Sexual Inversion, or, Homosexuality. I’ll wait for you to write that down.” Abnormal psychology... Nancy grimaces, finishing her scribble. She had only remembered the first six numbers, but she didn’t want to ask again.
“Ok, thank you. Um… are there others?” she asks, hoping that the anxious warble isn’t coming across the phone line.
“Like I said. It depends on your research, but you could also find more information on homosexuality in 132, Mental Derangements, or 616, Neurological Disorders.” Nancy feels like she’s being crushed, her mind instantly thinking of sweet, funny, beautiful Robin Buckley. Sexual Inversion, Mental Derangements, Neurological Disorders - the categories shooting from a judges mouth, each one slicing through her with their implications.
“Hello? I asked if you needed any more reference numbers?” Nancy jumps, nearly dropping the receiver.
“Hi, no, thank you. That was all.” she practically shouts, earning her a grunt from the librarian.
“Have a lovely day.” click. She hears the dull thunk of her quarter within the machine as the line disconnects, and puts the phone back in its cradle with trembling hands.
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Tojoctober Day 1 - Dance
(All this energy's got us inspired now)
Alt title is from “Dance!”, the P4D opening song
It's Zhao's birthday! Can he and Ichiban convince the party to bust a move?
(Joon-gi Han drink link spoilers)
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The local bar of Survive never had a dull night once Ichiban Kasuga and his ragtag team declared it as their hideout months ago. Music would often be loud enough for anyone passing to hear the tunes, along with the rambunctious cheers and infectious joy of the party. Typically, there wouldn't be a rime or reason for the music to play (despite Ichiban's reason of "bonding") but today was a special occasion.
The locals who knew of Survive would know it's typically occupied by the owner and his assistant, but they are nowhere to be found. Behind the bar instead stood a large assortment of balloons and a big helium tank. Streamers and banners adorned the ceiling and walls, along with a small pile of gifts on a table near the door. The record player, commonly finding a home on the bookshelf, now sat on the piano, and the karaoke machine was fully loaded with yen, as the people celebrating took turns with the machine.
Serenading the room this go around was Tianyou Zhao, with his rendition of "The Future I Dreamed Of." Ichiban is usually insistent on being the one to sing that song ("It's my theme! I have to sing it!") but the man in question sat next to the bar with a big grin on his face. How could he say no to Zhao, since it was his birthday?
The others in the room were everyone who Ichiban considered a member of his party: Nanba, Adachi, Saeko, and Eri were crowded around the karaoke stage. They'd usually clap along, but they were all enthralled by the birthday boy. Even Joon-gi Han, who was so dedicated to his self-imposed role as lookout, found himself cracking a small smile at Zhao's sweet tones.
Zhao finishes the song with a flourish, and the audience breaks into uproarious applause. Ichiban walks up and swings an arm around the man's shoulder, an even wider grin on his face.
"Zhao-san! Since when could you do that???"
"Yeah man, what the fuck? I knew Kasuga could serenade and scream, but you too?" Adachi chimes in, walking back to the bar, stealing Ichiban's seat, and pouring himself another drink. The bartender leaving the place to the party is a semi-common occurrence, especially late into the night. How Zhao got that to happen much earlier, along with almost free reign of the drinks, was beyond most of the party, but Adachi wasn't one to complain.
Zhao laughs at the remarks from his comrades.
"Consider it my birthday gift to you all."
Saeko beams at the man. "Well, it was very nice, Zhao. Thank you." Eri, sitting next to her, also made a noise of agreement.
Zhao flashed the women a grin before clapping his hands together. "Well then! Time for the main event." He exclaims, his eyes darting around to everyone before settling on the man next to him.
Everyone's faces became overrun with confusion, except for Ichiban, who's eyes went wild with excitement.
"YEAH!" Ichiban exclaims in return, walking towards the record player. He only stops when he feels Nanba grab his wrist.
"Hey, Ichiban... what the hell is Zhao going to surprise us with this time?"
Ichiban grins widely as his best friend. "Don't worry, Nanba. It won't be anything bad."
While that doesn’t do anything to settle Nanba's worries, he does let go of Ichiban, who completes his journey over to the record player. He sorts through the records before finding the one Zhao requested he start with when it was time.
Soon, a classic 80s hit fills the room with a sense of vigor. Zhao grins again, and leans down, offering his hands to Eri.
Eri gave a glance of hesitation towards Ichiban. He waves at her to say "go on!"
Eri takes Zhao's hands, and Zhao pulls her up into the middle of the room. A sound of surprise, then laughter comes from Eri as they begin to dance. Their movements are a bit awkward, but they quickly settle into the beat and rhythm of the song.
Ichiban, as part of Zhao's plan, goes over to Nanba, hoisting him up by his shoulders.
"Oi, Ichibaaaah!" Nanba's protests made the man laugh, as Ichiban gives Nanba a lighthearted shove towards the ones already dancing, then sliding up next to him as he himself begins to join the dance.
Adachi, who is at this point too intoxicated to consider something like embarrassment, jumps in between Ichiban and Eri and attempts to break dance. He ends up falling on his face, lacking the skills that Ichiban surprised them all with many months ago. Saeko laughs, and assists the older man up, before settling on a position between Zhao and Nanba as she begins to groove.
The six members of the party dance in their circle, their own little slice of joy, laughing and swaying to the beat. It's not until a lull in the music, as Ichiban walks over to the record player to set up a loop of danceable songs, when Eri glances over at the last seated member of the party.
"Aren't you going to join in?"
The remaining member, Joon-gi Han, shrugs.
"Dancing... isn't my thing. I'll be fine." He resumes what he was doing, looking out the window of the bar, before another voice draws his attention back inside.
"Oh come now, Han-kun, you can't humor us just this once?"
Joon-gi Han spins around, prepared to retort, but falls short when the party is all staring at him.
"Come on, Joon-gi Han!"
"Join us, won't you?"
"Do it for me, Han-kun. It's my birthday, after all!"
The party beckons him towards the circle with outstretched hands and arms, and Joon-gi Han shores up his defenses, ready to deny and ignore, despite the dull ache in his heart.
This is when Ichiban, done with the records, as the first song he put on begins to fill the space, walks over to Joon-gi Han's seat. He leans in close, his voice dropping to a whisper intent for him and him alone.
"Yeonsu-san. What's the harm in having fun?"
Oh.
If there's one thing Joon-gi Han never expected Ichiban to do, it was to catch him off guard. Joon-gi Han was supposed to be prepared, all the time. For anything. The last thing he expected was for Yeonsu to be asked something.
The loudest voice in his mind screams no, to go back to surveying the situation for threats, to walk away from the bar entirely, anything to not let his guard down.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, the man makes a choice. The quietest voice in his mind, one suppressed for years on end. What's the harm in listening to it once in a while, especially in trusted company?
Joon-gi Han takes a deep breath, and gives a genuine smile to the man who knew his name.
"You're right."
Ichiban's eyes widen, blush rushing up his cheeks, as Joon-gi Han rises from where he sat, and slowly makes his way to the circle with Ichiban. Nanba and Saeko create an opening, as Joon-gi Han stands awkwardly, all eyes on him, mouths agape in shock.
"I hate to admit this... but how does one dance?"
Those who walked past Survive on a regular basis, who are used to hearing 6 unique sounds of laughter, were puzzled but brightened when a 7th voice joined the choir. For the first time in a while, Survive enjoyed a night of pure bliss and only bliss.
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