Honko Strikes Lucky!
Hellooooooo again!!! It's me! 🎶Your favouuuuuuuurite narratooooooor!!🎶 Oh, is that applause and flowers? Oh you're too kind! Did you miss me? I sure hope so, and make sure you tell the author, this dick head thinks I'm no good! And we can't have that, can we children!?
So, what is new with you? Just kidding, I DON'T CARE! We're not here for coffee and a chit chat, we're here for Honko! Bocina! Squeakington! Bonk-Bonk! And last (but certainly not least), sweet little Wah-Wah! Let's skip the foreplay and get to the story shall we!? It's been a few months since Honko et al put down that gang of assholes, and life has been peaceful as it can be, but, pssst, here's a secret, it won't be peaceful much longer....
Honko and Squeakington had just arrived at the Rainbow Sheep club, one of the most popular LGBTQ-friendly bars in the city, located in the heavily working class South Side of the city. It was brightly lit, and mostly chrome tables and chairs.
The pair were sat on stools, Honko was looking up and down the bar for someone to serve them. He caught the attention of a young, slim man with short hair, who was wearing mascara and eyeliner, as well as a slight bit of foundation. Honko nodded internally, noting how well he put it on, and also, more than a little interested. Afterall, with all the party bookings and the stuff with Donovan, it had been a while.
"Hey there, what can I get for the lovely couple?" He asked with a smile.
Squeakington looked slightly bemused until he reminded himself where he was "oh no no, we're not a couple! I'm with a woman!" He replied, somewhat awkwardly. "And just a light beer for me!"
The barman gave a playful laugh "oh I see, pretty sure I had a beard once! But even my mom saw through that!"
Squeakington's unfamiliarity with the meaning of the word "beard" in this context only confused him further "but, but I have a beard!" He stroked the hairs on his chin, as if confirming that he hadn't gone mad.
Honko laughed loudly, straight from the belly and shook his head at the naivety of his friend. He patted him amicably on the shoulder before clarifying what "beard" meant. It always amused him that Dan, his long time friend and confident, the man who he first confessed his sexuality, was still unaware of so much of the subculture of the community. But, then again, Honko wasn't much better, his years of having to hide who he was and his fear of being cut off by his army comrades made him reluctant to explore for some years.
Honko could practically see the light bulb switch on in his friend's head and both Honko and the barman shared a joyous laugh, their eyes not quite leaving each other.
"And for you, big guy?" Honko noticed the barman's not so subtle ocular appraisal of him, his eyes locked on to Honko's cannon-sized arms.
"A mojito for me, please!"
"Sure thing! Also, the name's Shane, and this.." he stopped whilst he found a pen and a business card for the bar. He then proceeded to scribble something down before continuing "..is my number!"
Dan raised his eyebrows and nodded with an impressed look on his face damn, gay guys really do not fuck around! He thought.
Honko grinned and pocketed the card "The name's Johnny, though people call me Honko!"
This time it was Shane's turn to be confused "why Honko?"
This time Dan interjected "We're clowns! We do children's parties and such!" Honko nodded in affirmation.
"He's right, you know!" He agreed "People often get the wrong idea about clowns, that horror movie really didn't help our PR campaign"
Shane cracked a smile "Well, I for one..." he said, briefly touching Honko's arm, which, admitedly, gave him more than a little thrill "...like clowns, especially ones built like you, big guy! I'll get those drinks for you." He turned round and went to a drinks station to make the mojito, skillfully mixing the ingredients and then adding the mint leaves with a flourish. He poured the beer for Dan and set the drinks in front of them, taking the payment.
Soon after, more patrons flooded into the bar.
"Bye, Honko!" He said with a wink before attending to the customers.
Honko smiled, feeling a long-dormant thrill somewhere under his jeans. Dan could see the look of desire etched on Honko's face, and when he turned to face him, he grinned mischievously.
"Well, well! He certainly got your motor running, hey?" They both began to laugh, Dan patting him on the back in congratulations "Look at you, bro! You gonna get after it?"
Honko took a sip of the minty, liquid heaven of the mojito. Damn, that's good! He thought. He paused for a moment and looked pensive.
"Ermm, maybe! I don't know." Dan smacked him on the shoulder, with an incredulous look on his face.
"Why the fuck not, man? He gave you his number! Shake the rust off, and besides, if he's a prick, give him a piece of Shin-Snapper!"
Honko gave a non-committal shrug "maybe you're right! Life has been non-stop, maybe it's time I had some fun!"
Dan actually whooped in response "Hell yeah, my man! Now let's drink up! Chin chin, motherfucker!" they clinked glasses and began their night in earnest. After another drink, they had a feeling they were being watched, Dan said as such.
"Yep, I see them!" confirmed Honko. There was a woman at the far end of the bar, who seemed to be staring at them, they tried to pretend that they didn't notice her.
"Maybe she wants to feel like a rotisserie chicken, you know what I mean?" suggested Dan "But no way that's happening, I love Clara, she's awesome! And you....well, it's like asking a vegan to eat steak!" The L word caught Honko by surprise.
"Did you say you LOVE Clara? My guy! That's a first!" Proclaimed Honko with the widest grin he could muster "does she know?"
"Yeah, I think so, I don't think we've said it to each other yet!"
"Why the fuck not!?"
Dan became uncharacteristically sheepish at this point "I don't know, I think I'm scared of spooking her. She had a bad experience with her last boyfriend"
Honko was vaguely aware, but he never pressed Bonk-Bonk about it. He cared about her and didn't want to make things worse.
Honko took another sip of his second mojito "Well, good buddy, from what I've seen, the feeling is mutual! She seems happier than ever and even Wah-Wah is chipper, and you know how brutally honest she can be!"
They both laughed again at that thought, Wah-Wah could be an absolute menace, but she had a heart of gold and fierce love and compassion for her chosen family.
Honko glanced over to the woman at the far table, who was still staring. They stared back, Honko thought she looked somehow familiar, but could not place her face. Is she a disgruntled client? A relative of an enemy? Fuck knows! He was frustrated that neither he nor Dan had any weapons on them. After a few seconds she stood up, Dan and Honko's postures became more confrontational, ready for whatever was going to happen.
She walked up to them, hands up to show she meant no harm. Some distant memory was calling to Dan and Honko but neither was sure what it was.
"Sergeant McKinnon? Sergeant Haraldsson?" She asked. She was average height, hair dyed light Pink, her eyes sparkling blue with a long sparkling dress that draped over her slender frame.
Dan and Honko stiffened, it had been a while since they had been addressed by rank.
"What is it?" Dan responded gruffly.
"Look, I don't mean any trouble, quite the opposite, I know it's been a while but I need your help!" She said, with pleading and desperation in her eyes.
"We'll see. Firstly, tell us who you are!"
"I'm Rebecca Serrano, but you guys knew me as Ralph Rosenberg!"
