Isolated Interview

Three Strikes: Travis Fletcher

I am such an actual fuckup.

The problem here was the hangover, not the drinking. The drinking was fine. The mostly empty bottle that he had downed himself, in one night, that was the problem. If it were fuller he would be less hungover. It wasn't his fault.

Travis covered his face with a rough hand, feeling like he could hear every blood vessel in his head. It was horrible. If I am lucky my brain will just explode and melt out of my ears... And with that lovely thought, I need to get up. A hot shower would make things better. It would be an improvement. Was Leo here tonight? Travis smacked a hand over to the side. Nope. Empty bed. Air. He must be close to the edge. He slept in the middle when he was drunk and alone though. The hand on his face switched over, and he smacked to the other side. Probably best that Leo wasn't in bed because he was swinging a bit too hard.

"Shit!" He sat up when his knuckles made direct contact with a wall. "Fuck! The fuck?!" His splitting headache continued to threaten to overtake him, but he was forcing his eyes open. His knuckles were bleeding, but more concerning was the brick wall beside the apparently twin sized bed. Twin sized. He hadn't had a bed this size in fucking years.

Where am I? He sat up, a hand swiping over his head. No horns or halo. Not dead. His hair was still there. He needed a mirror. Where was his phone? No phone. He stumbled around the room in some silky navy boxers that he definitely hadn't bought for himself. Sounded like the sort of garbage present his mother would give him.

You need to dress nicely. You always look like you just rolled out from under a car.

That's because I did, Ma.

She did not understand his wardrobe, and he did not understand her need to nag and meddle. So how had he ended up in these?

Fuck... did I hook up with some crazy girl? Or guy... oh they can be worse. Leon wouldn't do this... Shit, shit, shit... He continued looking around, even as his stomach lurched every other step. He should really slow down. He found clothing that did not belong to him, but fit him. He didn't bother to check the sizes. He just pulled things on and appreciated that nothing ripped or popped before he was finished. Stupidly comfortable blue jeans, some cotton socks, boots, a white tank, and a gray long sleeved shirt. Was it cold? He was not immediately sure of the month. No... yes. Yes. It was probably a bit chilly. That was fine.

Still no phone though. If he did hook up with some rando, he was going to need to explain it to Leon. Sure maybe he had the freedom to do so, but if he was going to go out of the familiar bed he should at least do it intentionally. This was a sloppy mess and he really hadn't even been wanting to stray. He looked around. No condoms, no actual signs of sex, but he could not know. He should just look outside and get his bearings.

Outside did not help in the slightest. Where the hell did I end up? Kamp Kikakee? He took in the sparse surroundings. Or maybe Camp Crystal Lake... His head hurt too much to be properly paranoid. He followed the mulch path between his own building and one of the two other standing structures. It was bigger than the third building, and Travis didn't look back at where he came from. It wasn't very big, but he wasn't trying to take dimensions.

The new building opened up easily, no lock. Travis looked at the door from the inside. It definitely had a lock, but it wasn't in use. Someone is probably here then. The air conditioning running added additional credibility to his assumption. It was a swanky enough lobby for a campground looking location. Maybe people around here went "glamping." Ugh... fuck glamping... Just go to a fucking cabin or stay at a hotel. Now was not the time for Travis to judge people who liked nature but not traditional camping. He needed something to drink, honestly.

Travis walked right through the next door only to find some guy sitting on a couch. He stood up upon Travis intrusion. They made eye contact. The man looked particularly calm, but a bit judgmental, and Travis had no idea what he looked like. Sickly, perhaps.

"Who are you?"

"You may call me Titus, if you like."

"... I'm just going to assume that is your name, and you have some weird formal thing going on." "Titus" did not seem to care about Travis' comment one way or the other. "... I guess you look like someone I'd do."

Now came a couple of surprised blinks. Or... not?

"Did we fuck?"

"..." Titus apparently didn't expect that question. "No. We did not."

Okay, one down, rest of the population to go. "Is there someone else around that I did?"

Titus cleared his throat. "No. You have not had any sexual relations since arriving here."

"How did I get in some other guy's boxers?"

He sighed, "Consider them complimentary."

"But how did my ass get in them? Who stripped me?"

"It does not work that way. You are here for a simple interview."

"I already have a job." Two, in fact.

"Not that kind of interview."

"What kind of interview?"

"A personal interview. Personal to you. It is merely a chance to explore aspects of your life openly."

"Doesn't sound like me. I'll pass."

"You are not free to go home until the interview has concluded. It is not terribly long."

So I'm a hostage at Camp Crystal Lake, minus the lake, with some uptight butler who wants to explore my psyche. "Fucking hell this is stupid..." He placed a hand over his face. He didn't bother to groan. His throat felt dry, his head hurt, and he was pretty sure he was dizzy. It might just be the headache. "If I cooperate, I go home?" Titus nodded. "Do you at least have something to drink?"

Titus gestured to a nearby setup. Two ornate bottles. One green, one clear. The clear one had something orange inside. The green's contents looked darker. "Yeah sure." He didn't bother to ask. He opened them both. The clear bottle smelled like orange juice, so he poured himself. A glass. If he was getting roofied, they were playing the dumb game. He had been perfectly passed out earlier.

Travis sat down after having a large drink, and refilling his fancy, probably crystal, glass. It tasted like orange juice, but ridiculously smooth. His shoulders settled into a relaxed posture and he leaned back against the back of the sofa.

"Hit me."

Titus pulled out a clipboard and looked down at it. "Try to answer with full honesty, as thoroughly as you believe is necessary, without sidestepping the intention of the question."

Yeah, sure, whatever.

"First question, what is your full name?"

"Travis Ronald Fletcher." He wouldn't mind if all the questions were sheer facts.

"How old are you currently?"

"Thirty two."

"What is your sexuality?"

"Equal opportunity fucker... bisexual." He sipped the juice. Way too smooth. Like several things around here.

"What is your relationship status?"

"Hopefully not fucked up by ending up here..."

Titus waited.

"... In a relationship." Of some kind, at least. Romantic? Eh? Sexual? Yes. Partners? Uh... well, it was a relationship of some kind. Leon was his, and Travis was willing to be Leon's also.

"And why do you like your significant other?"

Travis worked to keep himself in a situation where he did not have to answer to anyone, but maybe he liked being asked by Leo, and knowing the answer would make Leo happy. He sometimes wondered when he became slightly less dickish. His young employee might actually be a good influence, and not just a wild temptation. "He's a good kid." Not a kid, really. "He's got drive." He found himself smiling. He stopped to take another drink. Damn good. The drink, and Leo too. "Grade A ass too." He laughed. "I'd hate to sound like I'm in love with him or anything. Can't get too mushy."

"Are you in love with him?"

Travis frowned, looking at his drink, then back up to Titus. "Is that on your list?"

"No."

"Then I guess that's between me and the boy, huh?"

"I guess so."

Travis decided that he liked this guy. He wasn't too terrible. "What about you? You got a lover someplace?"

Titus sighed, "This is not about me."

"Oh come on... that isn't fun. Tit for tat. I promise I only mean verbally." He resisted winking. No winking. He had just found out he hadn't cheated on Leo. He needed to count his blessings. He finished the glass, and got up to refill it.

"I am not in a romantic relationship. Is that sufficient?"

"I guess. What's next?" He put the bottle back down. How much had he had? It didn't seem like he'd already poured two glasses out. Oh well. He took his seat again.

"What does he not know that you don't want him to find out?"

"Well why would I want you to know something I don't even want him to know?"

Was that a smirk? Definitely a smirk. Yes, Travis liked him. "Consider me an impartial observer. You may air your grievances, share your fears, admit your desires-"

"Saucy."

He did not stop to consider Travis' interruption, "and be as honest as you are willing to be. It may be an exercise in personal growth. You must answer, but if you limit yourself, that only short changes you, not me."

"Do you want to fuck me?"

There was an actually amused look. Success! "No. I do not."

"Then you shouldn't tease me like you are. It gives a guy the wrong impression." He laughed. Titus didn't. He couldn't tell just how much he was getting through to him, but he was enjoying it. He could tell. There was something behind that mask. Something that he might want if he were hungry.

Too bad he was satisfied.

Travis leaned back, confused with himself and frankly unsure if he was pleased or angry.

Titus did not pay him any mind. This was not a social call.

"So. What does he not know that you don't want him to find out?"

Travis cared far more about impressing Leon than he did about looking good in front of the hot stranger. "Amanda. Anything. Everything. My fears. I don't want him to know I fear. He needs me to be strong." Travis sighed. "I need to be strong with him. We have our roles. I like mine." He leaned forward. "I do not want him to know... how pathetic I was with her. Just how... far a man can bend... and break, and look like nothing is wrong." His eyes moved about the room. "Who I was is not who I am now. I do not want him to know that if I had not met her, I would have fallen into him far faster. Far harder. To think that I hesitate. I do. I don't want him to feel it. I would rather he never notice." Finally Travis sat up again and shrugged.

"What is your greatest fear regarding your significant other?"

There were many things that Travis worried about with Leo, but they were more worries for Leo, and did not feel like what the question was probing for. Or maybe it was exactly right. "Two things... first, that his family will drag him down." He was sure Leo wouldn't like that answer, but Leo wasn't here to frown at him, so it was fine. "Second, that my ex will use that relationship to keep me from our son." That was the less likely, but most concerning. If she could find anything, she would use it. Johnny would absolutely hate it, but Amanda didn't seem to care. Leo wasn't a blight on Travis' life, but the relationship opened him up to more vulnerability, and making his personal business a bit more public. That was never good, but it wasn't enough to warrant real alarm on most days.

"What is your greatest fear... unrelated to your significant other?"

That was probably one more appropriate to mention Amanda. He kept thinking of her name, and he didn't like it. "That my ex will manage to keep my kid from me, and poison him against me. He's a smart kid, but she's a manipulative cunt...so," he shrugged, drinking the last of the glass. He should wait for a refill.

"Sounds like she is a major part of your life."

Well, he'd waited long enough. "Is this a therapy session or an interview? She birthed my kid, she's involved. There is no getting around it. Don't stick your dick in crazy, I'm told." He poured himself yet another. The bottle still looked pretty full so maybe he hadn't had that much.

"What is a negative memory that you think impacts you to this day?"

Travis took a sip, leaned back and examining the pristine ceiling. Did someone dust up there? Weird.

"Getting the visitation finalized? When my ex took Johnny out east... I don't have some traumatic event with nightmares. That's the closest I've got."

"What is a vice or bad habit that you have?"

"Oh, we're just moving right along? Great. She's a bitch, I like moving on." He said, as if this somehow made it more believable. He wasn't normally stuck on her, but it was his mood, and the topics he was trying to approach honestly. That tripped him up. "Drinking too much, sleeping around. Shutting people out. Keeping things casual even if I might be alright with more but... I'm not willing to deal with that drama."

"Do you consider yourself open with your significant other?"

Travis arched a brow at Titus. "Really? That was the follow up to me saying I shut people out?"

A shrug, "It is on the list."

"Fiiiiine. I'm going to keep answering and going down the shit list and drinking your... this isn't orange juice is it?"

He shook his head slowly. Travis caught the hint of a smile.

"Well, it makes my head stop hurting so oh well. What was the question?"

Titus repeated, "Do you consider yourself open with your significant other?"

Yes or no. Oh, if he could just keep it that simple. "Eeeeeeeh." He gestured a sort of wavering scale with his hand. "Some from column A, some from column B." He left it there, looking at Titus until the man looked back down at his paper. Accepting that this was the answer he was getting.

"If you received $10,000 in a contest with the condition of spending it in the next month, and time off, what would you do with the money?"

"Casino. Boom." Titus paused, looking surprised. "Is that too short? Yeah, it's a dumb answer. Actually I think Leo would hate it, so... no. Not just because he'd hate it, I could go without him, but... why? Can't buy a house with that kind of cash... Okay, maybe a couple thousand for a night with business partners in Vegas. I live near Vegas. Did you know that?" He saw Titus look off. "So that's a yes. Stalker. Anyway, uh... yeah, I think that would be good... then spend the rest on two things. First, make sure Leo has reliable transportation. Whether he's got the bike he wants, or a car that isn't going to break down on him. Then the rest goes to taking him out east. I can hire a mechanic to handle the shop while I'm gone, and give Leo whatever money he needs to handle things here. Whatever that takes, so we have time off to go out. He can see some snow, we can chill, and he can meet my son. Plus I don't get to see Johnny during the year most of the time so... that will be nice, even if Leo doesn't want to meet him. He can stay at the hotel. I don't care. I'll have enough fun there. Yeah, definitely not orange juice." He exhaled, then looked down into the glass. There was a censor somewhere in there, maybe he'd find it at the bottom of the glass.

"What are three things on your bucket list."

"Step one. Make bucket list. Step two." He paused to think of something. Titus looked blank. "Have a sketch artist draw your face. Step three. Don't die until steps one and two are complete."

Maybe seeing Johnny graduate high school, purchase a house or apartment... He wasn't paying attention to Titus. He doubted that any of this would come up in a relevant conversation, but he still wanted to hit the minimum. Even if he wouldn't be sincere with Titus on such a dumb question. Titus is a weird name... Like, is he dating Ariel? Whatever... Sell the brothel. At least the management side. I'd like to not die owning a brothel... that would probably go to Johnny... yeah... maybe not so much. Yeah, that's three.

"That all?"

"Yes. Next?"

He sighed, "What do you think that you are worst at in your relationship, and how would you like to improve that?"

"Committing to someone. Actually having a relationship. I don't have them enough to suck at them. Maybe you can chalk it up to opening up to people." Chalk it up to a high sex drive and a lack of interest in interpersonal conversation. Leo was special, and different, and Travis intended to keep him. He was nothing like Travis' ex, he was actually a kind person. A bit broken, a lot bent, but independent. He could live on his own, but Travis preferred that he live closer. Preferably at the same address moving forward.

"What is a kink or sexual preference in your relationship that is new or unexpected?"

In their relationship, sex had played a key role. Start to, well, finish... but did he have any new kinks? The Daddy thing. It had started as a joke. A joke that it would never exist but... well. Even now. To Titus, but even to Leo he would not admit. It was real. It was actually embarrassing. Since when did a kink embarrass the man who ran a brothel? Titus was not about to hear about it.

"Nothing."

Titus looked like he was going to ask, but Travis continued to stare at him. There was nothing there. Nothing. Titus averted his gaze finally.

Submission.

Move. On.

"What do you think of your significant other's family?"

"Deadbeats who don't appreciate him, young or old, and it pisses me off." Maybe the extra adjectives would help carry it.

"What does your family think of your significant other? And do you think that is fair?"

"They've never met him, or heard of him. They think nothing. I think its very fair." He mentally scurried the conversation along .

"Mm. This is the last question.

Thank god.

"This one is the most intricate though. You need to describe a hypothetical road trip with only you and your significant other, from West to East coast USA. You may start on either side as you see fit. Describe your preparations, and three designated stops along the way."

"Are you fucking with me? Why?" Was it hard? Not... exactly. Time consuming, but also odd. "It's a good thing I like driving." He groaned when Titus did not shock him by saying this was all a joke. "Yeah, fine. Where to start? Apparently I would find some time off by closing up the shop, or finding someone to take over for us while we are gone."

He wasn't in the frame of mind to be planning long excursions, so he decided to wing it. Did it really matter if things were entirely possible? "West coast so we can end near my kid. Start... in Portland? Sure. Not California. I think there's a zoo there, so... do that... head to Big Sky because its got a lot of snow... and Leo likes snow... or he hasn't really experienced it... so he can then. Then... Cleveland, Ohio... got some museums there. I don't know if he cares, but if not, there are bars. I have a friend living there, we can stay with him. Pack our bags before we leave, trade off driving... get a good night's sleep before leaving. The usual? Head over to see my son in New York before we head back this way. We might have to rent a car. That way we can fly back. If it were a round trip, I would take my car."

"Alright."

"Alright?"

"That was the last question. You are free to head out that door." He gestured over to the way that Travis had come in. "Leave the glass though."

Travis made sure his glass was empty, before setting it back on the tray. He looked at Titus, who was looking over the clipboard. That was fine. He took a few steps over to the door. No reaction. Fine. Travis continued through, finding himself suddenly in his bathroom. He turned around, there was his room. Empty. Dark, but he knew the familiar air and the feeling of stillness. That digital alarm clock reading 12:01 in its sterile red font.

Travis turned back to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. No worse for wear. No vomit on the floor. No mess to speak of. This was no less weird feeling. The mechanic wandered his apartment for about ten minutes before picking up his phone.

Hey.
My bed's warm.
Do you have a solution for that?

Whether or not he would have a response to that mattered slightly less than sending it. It felt normal, even as he sat on his couch, drinking plain water, not ready to try to sleep yet.