A Queer Turn of Events   by Lisa Lees	Episode map Characters Extras Blog
1:1 – "Hot Times" Part 1: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Part 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

"It is so hot!" said Carys, leaning back so the air from the fan blew on her face. Deep sweat stains soaked down the sides of her shirt. She blinked, shook her head, frowned and looked at Jami, then at Tam.

"Okay. I'm taking it off." She grabbed her shirt, pulled it over her head, tossed it at the stair railing and leaned back again, eyes closed.

Tam glanced at Jami, who was watching Carys with a smile on her face.

"I know what you're thinking, Jami," said Carys, her eyes still closed. "Not even with a bag over my head."

"Au contraire," said Jami. "I'm not even thinking about grabbing a camera. There are so many less painful ways to die."

Carys opened her eyes. "You are so right." She looked at Tam. "And what's on your mind?"

"Oh, I'm just being philosophical." Sie sighed. "But I'll join you." Tam unbuttoned hir shirt, struggled out of it, and tossed it at the stair railing, missing by several feet.

Resting her chin on one hand, Carys leaned toward Tam. "You are so sexy with sweat beaded between your breasts."

Tam looked down, dabbed at the sweat with a fingertip. "The beads of sweat are about as big as my breasts."

"Hey, if I could trade, I would," said Carys, "but I like you fine the way you are."

"That's good," sighed Tam, "because I've been on hormones for three years, and I don't think they're going to get much larger."

"Past a certain, in my opinion very small, point, size in breasts isn't good for much," said Carys.

"Maybe, but it sure helps one pass, when that's important."

"You look very feminine right now," said Jami, softly. "Right," replied Tam, with a small scowl. "You do. I can prove it," said Jami. "May I take a few shots?" "Are you serious?" Tam stared at Jami. "Sure. Don't move. I'll be right back." Jami stood up gracefully and walked into the bedroom. "She could be a dancer, like Emiko or Rachel," said Carys. "She's so lithesome." Tam nodded. "My favorite Jami cat." Jami walked back into the middle section of the apartment, camera in one hand, totally naked. Carys's eyes went wide. "Jami!" "Do I need to put my skirt back on?" "No, love. But I've never seen you just walk around naked before." Sitting down again, Jami said, "I was hot, and it seemed fair for me to do something I was a little uncomfortable with, to match you two."

"You can't tell, in this light," said Tam. "So you were looking?" asked Jami. "Not that way," said Tam. "It's not like I don't know my way around your body. But of course I looked at you. I love you." Jami blew Tam a kiss. "I love you, Tam." She turned to Carys. "And what are you grinning at?" "I'm just so happy, Jami. This is such a change from six months ago." Jami set the camera on the floor and crossed her hands in her lap, palms up. "I was kind of difficult, wasn't I?" "Hell, yes! And I was worried." Carys leaned forward to hook one of her fingers around one of Jami's. "I'm sorry, Car. I never meant to upset you." "I know, love." Jami leaned forward and kissed Carys. When she leaned back, she picked up the camera. "Okay, Tam. Let me take a few shots before you get all messed up."

"Huh? I'm not taking my shorts off out here!"

"Then you're taking them off in bed, dear, because I'm getting horny," said Carys.

"Scoot over by the railing, Tam." said Jami. "The light from the kitchen window will catch you there." She took a reading, adjusted her camera. "Turn your body a little that way, look at Carys." Jami quickly took a set of photos, then set the camera against the back wall. "I'll work on those later. Come here, please." Tam scooted forward on the hardwood floor until sie was between Carys and Jami, facing them. "You're very feminine, Tam," said Jami, giving hir a quick kiss. "You'll see, when I show you the photos." "You mean after you alter them?"

"Oh, Tam." Carys reached forward with one hand, running her fingertips under Tam's right breast, letting one finger stray up to the nipple. Tam closed hir eyes.

"It feels good, but..."

Carys took Tam's hand and moved it to rest on her own breast. Tam opened hir eyes in shock. "Carys?"

"Does it feel all that much different?" said Carys, returning her hand to Tam's breast.

Tam swallowed. Carys didn't like to have her breasts touched. Sie started chewing on hir lip, but gently moved hir fingers over Carys's breast, looking in her eyes.

"Not different," said Tam, "just larger." Sie let hir hand fall back into hir lap.

"Exactly," said Carys, leaning forward to kiss Tam. Their arms went around each other, the kiss lasting for a minute or so. As they leaned back out of the kiss, Carys turned to Jami and said, "I hope you don't feel neglected?"

"Neglected? Jeez! I have goose bumps in this heat from watching you two."

"Goose bumps? So genderqueer sex doesn't make the Jami-cat all hot and bothered?" said Carys.

Tam reached out a hand toward Jami, making a pinching motion. Sie had no reservations about touching Jami's breasts.

"You must remember that I'm a cool cat," said Jami, leaning forward to gently paw at Tam's shorts. "Meow!"

Tam and Jami kissed.

"I think we need to move this discussion to the bed," said Carys. They stood up, awkwardly maintaining as much contact as possible, and headed for their bedroom.

* * *

They lay in bed in the breeze of a fan chugging back and forth by the window. Carys had her eyes closed, with Jami–in the middle as usual–spread out on top of her. Tam lay on the other side of Jami, smiling at hir partners.

"There are plenty of real problems in Michigan, plenty of people hurting in every town, plenty to be done," mumbled Carys. "There's plenty for me to do wherever I am." She shrugged. "But what about you, Tam?" "To have an academic career, you have to go to the best graduate school you can, don't you?" said Jami. "To have an academic career, yes," agreed Tam. "But having an academic career is not the same as doing philosophy. And I'm not even certain I want to do philosophy, per se." "Huh?" Carys opened her eyes and turned to look at Tam.

"I've been thinking about this a lot. The conclusion I'm reaching is that I don't want to study ethics so much as do ethics."

"Hmm," said Jami, "that sounds like politics."

"Well, yes, in the original sense of how people interact in a society, not this farce we currently call government."

"But you're good at what you're doing," said Carys. "Your professor raved about that last paper you wrote. She said it was publication quality."

"Uh, huh." Tam was silent a moment. "Tell me, Carys. Have you ever read an academic journal on ethics?"

"No."

"But you've worked as a clown, you formed a gender theater troupe, you take part in protests and were arrested earlier this summer for standing up, or rather sitting down, for what you believe in. You've already directly influenced more people than I'd ever be likely to if I go the academic route.

"And Jami, your photographs have probably already been seen by more people than would ever see any paper I would ever publish in an academic journal."

"So what will you do?" asked Carys.

"Finish my undergrad degree this coming year," said Tam, "but only apply to grad school here, and go part time if I do go. That doesn't force us to move."

"I'd certainly be okay with that," said Carys. "I'd like to do more with Wizzy Wig."

"I have more friends now than I've ever had in my life," said Jami, "but as long as the three of us are together, I'll be okay." She turned over and snuggled into Tam. Carys moved to put an arm around both of them. They stayed like that for a few moments, then Carys turned on her back.

"Speaking of Wizzy Wig..." Carys reached over to the bedside table and snagged her cell. "I think it's about time we all got together again, see what everyone else is thinking, what's happened with them the last month or so, and make some plans for fall."

To be continued...