“Um,” Paul said. “Why is that, exactly?”
“Because you’re a chub,” Charlie said. “Exactly what they look for. Boy, you’d be mauled in a bear attack like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Whoa,” Paul breathed. “But I only have three chest hairs!”
Charlie shook his head. “Wouldn’t matter. You’ve got meat on your bones. It’d be like chum in shark-infested waters.”
Vince’s brow furrowed. “So everyone would know how hot Paul is?”
“They would.”
Vince’s frown disappeared into a sunny smile. “Then why the hell haven’t we gone there before? Fuck Jack It and the twinks. That place can suck my left nut. Let’s go be leather bears!” He bared his teeth and growled. “Rawr.”
Wheels responded by growling right back at him.
Paul patted his feet, looking a little dazed. “Maybe let’s hear what Charlie has to say before we decide to join the leather community.”
“It’s… different,” Charlie said. “More intense, but strangely also more laid back. I love Jack It because of the queens and the history the place has. It’s where I met Vaguyna and where I felt like I could breathe for the first time. But it’s also… vapid. And I get that times are changing and I sound like a grumpy old fart, but it’s not like it used to be. There’s always been the hookup culture, but it seems like it’s gotten mean. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
I knew what he meant. Jack It was growing to be the equivalent of Grindr, and there didn’t seem to be much to do to change that. Mike, the oily owner of Jack It, was a savvy businessman, and he understood that the name of the game was sex. It used to be that three or four nights a week were dedicated for drag shows. The big ones were Wednesdays and Saturdays, with Sandy hosting both. The other nights were given to lesser-known queens just getting started.
But then Mike decided that all those drag shows weren’t necessary and replaced them with theme nights that usually ended up with mostly-naked white boys dancing on podiums while people shoved dollar bills in their jockstraps. He and Sandy had argued bitterly over it, especially after Sandy chose not to try out for Miss Gay America, the national drag competition. Mike was supposed to pay Helena’s way through the local levels, but Sandy didn’t trust him, especially after he’d bullshitted about almost losing the bar. Sandy had managed to keep two nights a week dedicated to drag: Friday for the newer queens and Saturday for his show. He hadn’t been happy about it, but Mike wasn’t budging.
“These things come in waves,” Charlie said. “And I’m sure ten years from now it won’t be like it is today, either good or bad. And while I won’t deny that stupid shit happens at the leather bar, it’s… I don’t know. It feels more inclusive.”
“Only for those in the leather community, though, right?” Darren asked.
Charlie shook his head. “No. We try and welcome everyone who wants to come in. Sure, we get the usual tourists and daddy-hunters, but this is a tight-knit community that welcomes anyone who wants to learn and respect the rules. Yes, there’s a sexual component to it—it’s part of life—but it’s not just about sex.”
“I performed there once,” Sandy said. “They were all very kind to me.”
“That was a good night,” Charlie agreed.
“It sounds great and everything,” Paul said. “I just don’t know what this has to do with Corey.”
I was wondering the same thing. I never really had any interest in leather. My only experience with the community had been Charlie and the Dairy Queens.
Charlie looked conflicted. “It’s—I’m not trying to out anyone, but I don’t know that it’s a secret. He’s pretty well known. I don’t know why I didn’t see it.”
The blood started rushing in my ears.
“The Mr. Leatherman competition is starting to ramp up,” Charlie continued. “Each year Tucson’s leather community elects Mr. Leatherman of the Year. He’s the face of the leather community for that year, and when his reign comes to an end, he’s the MC for the next year’s competition when a new Mr. Leatherman is elected.”
“Sounds like a beauty pageant,” Vince said.
Charlie snorted. “I guess it a way it is. Mr. Leatherman has certain responsibilities that come with it. Appearances, fund-raisers, speaking engagements in the leather community. It’s a pretty big responsibility. And it comes with prestige. It’s something to be proud of.”
“Did you ever hold the title?” Sandy asked.
“Once,” Charlie said. He looked down at his hands. “A few years after I met Vaguyna. She pushed me into competing, and it was… nice. One of the nicest things that ever happened to me. It helped me feel like I belonged. I almost didn’t participate. I was new on the scene and didn’t quite have a hold on the politics of it all. But Vaguyna said that some of the opportunities we miss in life are because of the chances we didn’t take.”
“Does Robert know?” Vince asked. Wheels was snoring on his chest.
Charlie looked even more uncomfortable. “Yes. Only because he has a connection to the scene that I didn’t expect. He’s part of the reason I’m here.”
Oh god.
“What is it?” Paul asked.