Until Death - Red Dead Redemption II

Act VIII: Club For Queers

Me and Arthur finally had sex sober. It was great. Sex feels a lot better when you want it. However upon waking up the next day we were harassed by a group of three fellers. Killed them all. I'm beginning to scare myself, I shouldn't be so comfortable with killing someone. I took three men's lives and I didn't even feel bad. I still don't. Maybe there's something wrong with me.

Spent a long while thinking about Arthur this morning. About what I want and what he means to me, although I find it pathetic I do love him. However it's far to soon to drop that on him. For all I know he's only interested in some fling.

I keep thinking about Denise. She didn't deserve what happened to her, even after killing my way through the men who killed my world I don't feel. Content. How could someone kill let alone rape a girl no older than 10? She was my little sister, I wanted to see her grow up and become something big. She had that spark in her, she was going to be something more than her big brother. That being a homosexual outlaw with no friends.

It hurts so terribly. I haven't ever told anyone about my family. Or my life for that matter. I've never really been close to anyone, close enough to tell them something so personal. I'm just living with this hole in my soul. The day they all died a piece of me died with them. Now all I'm left with is scars and death.

I should tell someone. I should talk to Arthur. It might help to get some sort of help from someone I care about. I just want someone to comfort me, sounds idiotic when I write it out. I don't know if that part of me will ever return.

It's now spring. The cold has never bothered me. I like the rain. It's tranquil. Sometimes I wish I could just go sit up in the clouds, seems peaceful. Quiet.

It's so bizarre having a man like Arthur in any way attracted to me. He seems like the big aggressive lady's man who on a count of his looks could get any girl he wants. But that's not necessarily true. He chose me? I've been told I'm handsome but I ain't too sure about that. Even so this makes me question everything about every man I've ever met. Used to think you could tell a feller was queer just by looking or listening to them. Apparently not.

I barely ev

"Jack?" Arthur asked, the boy putting his journal in his bag.
"Now I ain't know much 'bout this place, but I do know that it's somewhere we're welcome."

Arthur had brought Jack to Saint Denis, more specifically what seems to be a basement underneath a hotel. They had to take the train here, the damn horse ran off in the middle of the night. There's no sign, there's no welcoming or signifiers to the door. It's just down a staircase leading to seemingly nowhere. But Jack trusted Arthur, so he followed him into the door.

Upon walking in Jack could hear music playing from just beyond a set of doors, they found themselves in what seemed to be a lobby of some sort.
"Take one." A man appeared out of nowhere with a handful of bandanas. Arthur took one, then handed the man a few coins it seems.
"Put it on," Arthur said, Jack looking down confused at the scrap of fabric.
"Which way?" Jack asked, Arthur scoffing.
"Lemme see it," The blonde then grabbed the garment and wrapped it around Jack's neck, "It's a symbol of sorts. Says who's the giver and who's the taker."

Jack very quickly understood what the cloth was for, he was a bit hesitant to call himself a "taker" but to be fair he has been his whole life and he doesn't imagine Arthur would be taking anything.
"You good?" Arthur asked, brushing the hair out of Jack's face. He liked to see his eyes.
"Yeah, let's go in."
"Alrighty."

Opening the doors Jack and Arthur found quite the sight. It was a bar. Of sorts. But it was a little more, well queer. The room was full of men, all of which seemingly homosexuals. Some of them were being flirtatious in the open, but nobody seemed to mind which was quite a shock.

A large group of the men were dancing together, some slow dancing some not.

It was bizarre to see so many men who would otherwise completely ignore the part of themselves the world doesn't like, to express it freely.
"Well hello there handsome!" A complete stranger appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Arthur's hand. Jack shot the stranger the dirtiest glare he'd ever produced. "Pardon me..?" The man said, hurriedly disappearing into the crowd of men.

If they weren't surrounded by others Jack would have broke that feller's arm. Arthur found Jack and himself a table, people were dancing all around it but they still were able to have a good time. It was nice being around people that just exuded joy.
"You ever been married before?" Jack asked looking at Arthur from the table.
"Engaged for a while. She broke it off."
"She?" Jack questioned with a playful elbow.
"Man, woman. It ain't matter all that much to me."

The two began to drink, not that heavily. Few shots. They smoked instead. Jack loves the smell of a cigarette and he finds it attractive when someone smells of cigarettes. Not cigars however which he cannot stand the smell of.

As the two conversed about nothing particularly noteworthy, two men sat down at their table like they were about to sell something.
"Who are you, fellas?" Arthur asked. The two were of similar height and age. Somewhere between Jack and Arthur's heights.
"I'm Thom," Thom motioned toward the man next to him, "This is Shawn."

Thom was a ginger. Clean shaven. Red hair had always been an interesting sight for Jack as it's exceedingly rare. He had noticeably thick eyebrows and a pair of large lips. His eyes were a deep brown. He wasn't Jack's type if he's entirely honest. But he's not ugly in the slightest.

Shawn was a brunette. Much like Jack but with Arthur's age. However, he was taller than Arthur. He's possibly the tallest guy in the building. He had a beard that was more of a shadow than anything. He was Jack's type. But nobody compared to Arthur in his eyes.

"Well hello Thom and Shawn. Now please kindly get lost." Arthur muttered.
"Pleasant one ain't ya'? No need to get yourself in a knot. We just noticed you two from across the bar and thought you looked interestin'."
"What's so interestin' bout us?" Jack asked, making direct eye contact with Shawn.
"Well for starters you two are incredibly good lookin' and we were wonderin' if y'all might be interested in a foursome?"

Arthur's eyes widened, Jack looking on in surprise. It was a painfully foreword question and dead god did it take the two by surprise.
"I- uh..." Arthur looked conflicted as Shawn gave him a devilish smirk.
"Lean in." He whispered, Arthur obeying. Jack watched as Arthur's eyes got wider and wider. Then they quit talking Arthur and him coming to some sort of agreement presumably by the nod Arthur gives.

Suddenly the three get up, Jack watching confused as Shawn and Thom go downstairs. Arthur wrapped around to tell Jack something.
"Meet us downstairs when you've finished your drink darlin'." Arthur pointed to Jack's shot which he did immediately after Arthur left.

Walking downstairs he found a short hallway with bedrooms. Jack had a pretty good idea of what they were for. Looking around the doors all had signs that said occupied except for one which he heard Arthur's distinct laugh echo from.

What the hell is happening?