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Chester wants everything to be great too. Michael seemed to be really distraught over the last few phone calls. He's starting to wonder if he's in the right place.
Author's notes: Yeah, it's a bit of a weird story. It's a set up for something bigger. Also, I've decided that Chester is going to be based off of a couple of the actual GOOD preachers, reverends, and pastors that I know - not the assholes that condemn everything and anything that doesn't tickle their dicks properly.","writing":"Old Friend\n\nShortie by Micah Weil\n\n\tThe orange juice had gone bad. It was either that, or the vodka had gone really, really good. Either way, Jacob was content with sipping at the concoction as Michael panicked. He watched the bat dart from one end of the apartment to the other, fixing things, readjusting things, and overall making himself out to be a complete and absolute wreck. He looked at his half empty glass and set it aside, knowing that it was probably best he was at least a bit sober for what he was going to do. The skunk stretched, rolled his shoulders, and, when the moment was right, reached out, caught the bat in mid dart, and pulled him onto the couch. “Mikey, you need to calm down.”\n\n\tThe bat squeaked as he plowed into the soft cushions. “Everything needs to be perfect!” The bat squirmed under the skunk's hold.\n\n\t“Everything IS perfect.” He smiled and kissed his cheek. “You are inventing problems at this point. If I have to hold you down until he gets here, I will.”\n\n\t“Stop it you! There's so much I need to do.” He squirmed, trying in vain to release himself from the big, strong arms of his boyfriend. “And if you'd stop drinking and help me, we could get it done.”\n\n\t“The guest linens are clean, dinner is in the oven, the house is so clean I could eat off of any surface I wanted. You've even gone so OCD that the pictures on the walls are perfectly level! What is left?”\n\n\t“I...” He paused for a second, but quickly resumed struggling. “I'll find it if you let me go!”\n\n\t“No.” He grinned and bit down on the bat's neck, getting a squeal to escape his lips. “I have you now! You belong to me!” He nibbled along his neck.\n\n\t“Stop! He's clergy! I don't want him seeing us doing this!” He laughed a little bit. Jacob loved doing this to him; he loved being tormented like this. It was an even exchange. “At least let me go make a snack tray!”\n\n\t“I bought one from the deli, remember?” He rested his chin on the bat's shoulder. “You're looking for a reason to panic. C'mon, it's only Chet.”\n\n\tThe dormouse was used to the Washington DC area. Big buildings, busy streets, and swarmed by police trying desperately to prevent people from going crazy and shooting up the city. Middleton wasn't quite there yet. It had the big buildings, there were few cops, and the streets weren't all that busy. The overwhelming, unfriendly feelings were gone, but he still felt out of place. He looked at the scrap of paper he'd written the directions down on again and checked his streets.\n\n\t“Chester, my friend,” he muttered to himself. “You are lost. Again.” He sighed and turned into one of the store fronts. This place was nothing like DC, so maybe the shop keeper would be friendly enough to point him in the right direction.\n\n\t“Welcome to Toby's,” the magpie behind the counter said as he entered. “How can I help you?”\n\n\tHe approached the counter quickly, passing by all the books that adorned the shelves. “Um, yes, I'm looking for this address here?” He showed the gentleman the paper. “I've just gotten into town. Visiting some friends.” He sighed. “I should have used those online maps.”\n\n\t“Not to worry,” he said with a smile. “You're on the right street. Just go in the opposite direction. That's all. It's at the fourth cross street.”\n\n\t“Ah! Thank you.” He turned for the door, but stopped. “Bookstore, right? What sort of books do you have?”\n\n\t“Used, mostly.” He leaned on the counter. “Most subjects. I refuse to carry that popular crap that the kids go crazy over.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I swear, one more kid comes in looking for the Glitter Vamp Chronicles, and I'm going to stab someone...”\n\n\t“Well, I'm not looking for that. I'm sure they'd agree with you.” He turned to one of the shelves. “Got anything for alternate lifestyles?”\n\n\t“Well, I may...”\n\n\tThe knock at the door made Michael jump straight out of Jacob's grasp. “Fuck!” Panic was instantaneous, as he rushed into the kitchen. “Jacob! Answer the door!” The skunk laughed and stood up slowly, stretching on purpose. “Jacob! I don't hear that door opening!”\n\n\t“Michael, relax! I've got it.” He wandered over to the door and opened up for their guest. “Yes?”\n\n\t“You know,” the dormouse on the other side of the portal said, looking up at the taller skunk. “He didn't have that mouth until he met you.” He smirked and offered up a hand. “I'm Chester. You must be the Jacob I've heard so much about.”\n\n\t“The one and only. Nice to meet you, Chet. Mikey will be out of the kitchen once he's done soiling himself in terror.” Both laughed as Chet dragged his suitcase in with him.\n\n\t“I heard that, Jacob!” The bat came out of the kitchen, sandwich platter in hand. “I'm just going to put this out here for now. Gotta see to dinner. Make yourself at home, Chester.” He smiled weakly and turned for the kitchen.\n\n\t“Nuh-uh.” He felt Jacob's strong hands on his shoulders. He was quickly spun around and pushed in the direction of the bemused dormouse. He watched dumbfounded as his arms, his wings were wrapped around his friend. “Now you're going to squeeze him and make with all the glee you had the moments after you got the phone call that he was coming to visit. You're going to sit there, you're going to talk with him, you're going to have fun while I take care of dinner. You are going to enjoy yourself, or so help me, I'm going to do things to you later that'll make him condemn me to Hell.” He smirked and crossed his arms, waiting for his answer.\n\n\tMichael looked at Chester, his cheeks flushed, and gave him a hug. “I missed you, Chet.”\n\n\t“I missed you too, Mikey.” The preacher smiled and returned the squeeze. “Now, let's have a seat, lest your boyfriend decide that I'm part of the act too.”\n\n\tJacob poured out some scotch after dinner at Chester's request. “It's okay,” he explained as the glass was pushed towards him. “I don't run my parish like a concentration camp.” He picked up the glass, swished the liquid around, and took a sip. “Moderation is how we are meant to enjoy things. I don't preach against alcohol, just excess.” He sighed and looked at the pair though the pale yellow liquid. “Sometimes, it just helps when unwinding.”\n\n\t“Didn't take you for someone who liked alcohol anyway,” Michael said meekly. “Never could understand the appeal to it.” Jacob gave him a reassuring squeeze as he sipped at his own. “I'm just glad nobody says anything about it.”\n\n\t“Why? It's not like you're living between frat houses where beer cans are being crushed on foreheads nightly.” The mouse took another sip. “By the metric ton.”\n\n\tJacob winced. “Experience?”\n\n\t“Two weeks while the diocese got me a better place to live.” He sighed. “It was a learning experience.”\n\n\t“I suspect it would be.” He chuckled and set his glass down. “Thanks for coming, by the way.”\n\n\t“To visit a friend? I should be thanking you for letting me stay the evening. Seeing Mikey again is as pure a joy as I can get in the world...I figure, anyway.”\n\n\tMichael sighed. “I wish you didn't have to go.”\n\n\t“Well, I do have to visit the local church here. I'll probably be visiting again before I leave for DC again.” The bat nodded sadly and lowered his head. “Mike?”\n\n\t“I didn't...no, never mind. It's me being stupid.”\n\n\tJacob tapped him on the head. “So be stupid. Say it.”\n\n\tHe shrank back at the tap. “I didn't realize how nice it is to have you around. I wish you could stay.”\n\n\t“That's not stupid.”\n\n\t“No, it's not,” Chester agreed.\n\n\t“But you have a congregation, do you not? You have people that rely on you for your spiritual needs.” He looked down at the ground. “Middleton's accepting enough as it is. I don't need any more support.”\n\n\tHe frowned. “It's still not a stupid wish.” He looked at his scotch. “Mikey? Do you want to know why I came up to visit?” The bat nodded, as did the skunk. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Your last few phone calls have had me worried.” He moved to kneel by the bat, who shrank away. “Michael.”\n\n\t“You're the only one from home, besides Mom, that still talks to me pleasantly.”\n\n\t“I know.”\n\n\t“It's...it's reassuring. That's all.” He looked at Jacob, who only nodded. “If I may?”\n\n\t“You may.” The bat got on the ground with him, wrapping him up in another winged hug. He smiled and leaned into it. “It's okay, Mikey. I'm here.”\n\n\t“I'm sorry I've been worrying you.”\n\n\t“Don't be.”\n\n\tJacob smirked and wrapped his arms around them both. “I'm HELPING!” The bat snickered and leaned against him, tugging the mouse with him.\n\n\tIt was a full month after the visit before Chester found himself at the DC diocese doors. The climate in town had become a little heavier with the upcoming elections; everyone was a bit on edge. When he had contacted the bishop, it was as if he already knew. Still, there were formalities that had to be done, and thus, here he was.\n\n\tThe bishop's office was why he came to the area in the first place. The bishop was a man of god above all else, but he knew that there was still so much life had to offer. His passion? Baseball. Chester couldn't help but smile as he passed by the cases and shelves of memorabilia. “You know, my parish speaks highly of your collection,” he said wryly.\n\n\t“Good. At least one group does.” The old collie looked up from his papers. “Have a seat, Chester. Tell me what's on your mind today.”\n\n\t“Oh, you know. The usual.” He pulled a chair up to the large desk and sat down. “Those supporting the ultra conservative candidate for the election this year are attempting to take over my church, the people who really believe in me have been clashing with them. Same old, same old.”\n\n\t“That's wonderful,” he responded dryly, templing his fingers in front of his nose. “Makes me wonder why I haven't retired yet. How was your trip to Middleton?”\n\n\tChester looked him right in the eyes.\n\n\t“That's what I wanted to talk to you about.”\n\nEND\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Old Friend
Shortie by Micah Weil
\tThe orange juice had gone bad. It was either that, or the vodka had gone really, really good. Either way, Jacob was content with sipping at the concoction as Michael panicked. He watched the bat dart from one end of the apartment to the other, fixing things, readjusting things, and overall making himself out to be a complete and absolute wreck. He looked at his half empty glass and set it aside, knowing that it was probably best he was at least a bit sober for what he was going to do. The skunk stretched, rolled his shoulders, and, when the moment was right, reached out, caught the bat in mid dart, and pulled him onto the couch. “Mikey, you need to calm down.”
\tThe bat squeaked as he plowed into the soft cushions. “Everything needs to be perfect!” The bat squirmed under the skunk's hold.
\t“Everything IS perfect.” He smiled and kissed his cheek. “You are inventing problems at this point. If I have to hold you down until he gets here, I will.”
\t“Stop it you! There's so much I need to do.” He squirmed, trying in vain to release himself from the big, strong arms of his boyfriend. “And if you'd stop drinking and help me, we could get it done.”
\t“The guest linens are clean, dinner is in the oven, the house is so clean I could eat off of any surface I wanted. You've even gone so OCD that the pictures on the walls are perfectly level! What is left?”
\t“I...” He paused for a second, but quickly resumed struggling. “I'll find it if you let me go!”
\t“No.” He grinned and bit down on the bat's neck, getting a squeal to escape his lips. “I have you now! You belong to me!” He nibbled along his neck.
\t“Stop! He's clergy! I don't want him seeing us doing this!” He laughed a little bit. Jacob loved doing this to him; he loved being tormented like this. It was an even exchange. “At least let me go make a snack tray!”
\t“I bought one from the deli, remember?” He rested his chin on the bat's shoulder. “You're looking for a reason to panic. C'mon, it's only Chet.”
\tThe dormouse was used to the Washington DC area. Big buildings, busy streets, and swarmed by police trying desperately to prevent people from going crazy and shooting up the city. Middleton wasn't quite there yet. It had the big buildings, there were few cops, and the streets weren't all that busy. The overwhelming, unfriendly feelings were gone, but he still felt out of place. He looked at the scrap of paper he'd written the directions down on again and checked his streets.
\t“Chester, my friend,” he muttered to himself. “You are lost. Again.” He sighed and turned into one of the store fronts. This place was nothing like DC, so maybe the shop keeper would be friendly enough to point him in the right direction.
\t“Welcome to Toby's,” the magpie behind the counter said as he entered. “How can I help you?”
\tHe approached the counter quickly, passing by all the books that adorned the shelves. “Um, yes, I'm looking for this address here?” He showed the gentleman the paper. “I've just gotten into town. Visiting some friends.” He sighed. “I should have used those online maps.”
\t“Not to worry,” he said with a smile. “You're on the right street. Just go in the opposite direction. That's all. It's at the fourth cross street.”
\t“Ah! Thank you.” He turned for the door, but stopped. “Bookstore, right? What sort of books do you have?”
\t“Used, mostly.” He leaned on the counter. “Most subjects. I refuse to carry that popular crap that the kids go crazy over.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I swear, one more kid comes in looking for the Glitter Vamp Chronicles, and I'm going to stab someone...”
\t“Well, I'm not looking for that. I'm sure they'd agree with you.” He turned to one of the shelves. “Got anything for alternate lifestyles?”
\t“Well, I may...”
\tThe knock at the door made Michael jump straight out of Jacob's grasp. “Fuck!” Panic was instantaneous, as he rushed into the kitchen. “Jacob! Answer the door!” The skunk laughed and stood up slowly, stretching on purpose. “Jacob! I don't hear that door opening!”
\t“Michael, relax! I've got it.” He wandered over to the door and opened up for their guest. “Yes?”
\t“You know,” the dormouse on the other side of the portal said, looking up at the taller skunk. “He didn't have that mouth until he met you.” He smirked and offered up a hand. “I'm Chester. You must be the Jacob I've heard so much about.”
\t“The one and only. Nice to meet you, Chet. Mikey will be out of the kitchen once he's done soiling himself in terror.” Both laughed as Chet dragged his suitcase in with him.
\t“I heard that, Jacob!” The bat came out of the kitchen, sandwich platter in hand. “I'm just going to put this out here for now. Gotta see to dinner. Make yourself at home, Chester.” He smiled weakly and turned for the kitchen.
\t“Nuh-uh.” He felt Jacob's strong hands on his shoulders. He was quickly spun around and pushed in the direction of the bemused dormouse. He watched dumbfounded as his arms, his wings were wrapped around his friend. “Now you're going to squeeze him and make with all the glee you had the moments after you got the phone call that he was coming to visit. You're going to sit there, you're going to talk with him, you're going to have fun while I take care of dinner. You are going to enjoy yourself, or so help me, I'm going to do things to you later that'll make him condemn me to Hell.” He smirked and crossed his arms, waiting for his answer.
\tMichael looked at Chester, his cheeks flushed, and gave him a hug. “I missed you, Chet.”
\t“I missed you too, Mikey.” The preacher smiled and returned the squeeze. “Now, let's have a seat, lest your boyfriend decide that I'm part of the act too.”
\tJacob poured out some scotch after dinner at Chester's request. “It's okay,” he explained as the glass was pushed towards him. “I don't run my parish like a concentration camp.” He picked up the glass, swished the liquid around, and took a sip. “Moderation is how we are meant to enjoy things. I don't preach against alcohol, just excess.” He sighed and looked at the pair though the pale yellow liquid. “Sometimes, it just helps when unwinding.”
\t“Didn't take you for someone who liked alcohol anyway,” Michael said meekly. “Never could understand the appeal to it.” Jacob gave him a reassuring squeeze as he sipped at his own. “I'm just glad nobody says anything about it.”
\t“Why? It's not like you're living between frat houses where beer cans are being crushed on foreheads nightly.” The mouse took another sip. “By the metric ton.”
\tJacob winced. “Experience?”
\t“Two weeks while the diocese got me a better place to live.” He sighed. “It was a learning experience.”
\t“I suspect it would be.” He chuckled and set his glass down. “Thanks for coming, by the way.”
\t“To visit a friend? I should be thanking you for letting me stay the evening. Seeing Mikey again is as pure a joy as I can get in the world...I figure, anyway.”
\tMichael sighed. “I wish you didn't have to go.”
\t“Well, I do have to visit the local church here. I'll probably be visiting again before I leave for DC again.” The bat nodded sadly and lowered his head. “Mike?”
\t“I didn't...no, never mind. It's me being stupid.”
\tJacob tapped him on the head. “So be stupid. Say it.”
\tHe shrank back at the tap. “I didn't realize how nice it is to have you around. I wish you could stay.”
\t“That's not stupid.”
\t“No, it's not,” Chester agreed.
\t“But you have a congregation, do you not? You have people that rely on you for your spiritual needs.” He looked down at the ground. “Middleton's accepting enough as it is. I don't need any more support.”
\tHe frowned. “It's still not a stupid wish.” He looked at his scotch. “Mikey? Do you want to know why I came up to visit?” The bat nodded, as did the skunk. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Your last few phone calls have had me worried.” He moved to kneel by the bat, who shrank away. “Michael.”
\t“You're the only one from home, besides Mom, that still talks to me pleasantly.”
\t“I know.”
\t“It's...it's reassuring. That's all.” He looked at Jacob, who only nodded. “If I may?”
\t“You may.” The bat got on the ground with him, wrapping him up in another winged hug. He smiled and leaned into it. “It's okay, Mikey. I'm here.”
\t“I'm sorry I've been worrying you.”
\t“Don't be.”
\tJacob smirked and wrapped his arms around them both. “I'm HELPING!” The bat snickered and leaned against him, tugging the mouse with him.
\tIt was a full month after the visit before Chester found himself at the DC diocese doors. The climate in town had become a little heavier with the upcoming elections; everyone was a bit on edge. When he had contacted the bishop, it was as if he already knew. Still, there were formalities that had to be done, and thus, here he was.
\tThe bishop's office was why he came to the area in the first place. The bishop was a man of god above all else, but he knew that there was still so much life had to offer. His passion? Baseball. Chester couldn't help but smile as he passed by the cases and shelves of memorabilia. “You know, my parish speaks highly of your collection,” he said wryly.
\t“Good. At least one group does.” The old collie looked up from his papers. “Have a seat, Chester. Tell me what's on your mind today.”
\t“Oh, you know. The usual.” He pulled a chair up to the large desk and sat down. “Those supporting the ultra conservative candidate for the election this year are attempting to take over my church, the people who really believe in me have been clashing with them. Same old, same old.”
\t“That's wonderful,” he responded dryly, templing his fingers in front of his nose. “Makes me wonder why I haven't retired yet. How was your trip to Middleton?”
\tChester looked him right in the eyes.
\t“That's what I wanted to talk to you about.”
END
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