Homoween 2019: Hollywood Coven

Day 16: Hocus Poke-us

Luke was put into a cell with three drag queens that looked like the Sanderson Sisters. He finally shook the fuzziness out of his brain and felt the cool touch of a wash cloth on his forehead. Which was strange since usually he was the one on the cool side.

"He's awake-" The Sarah impersonator said with an Irish lilt to her voice. "Don't crowd him."

"Long night hunty?" Not-Mary said from the other end of the bench. 

"Or not long enough?" Winifred asked with an appropriate but not too loud of a cackle.

"Just let me sit up," Luke said, sitting up. His head was spinning still.

"Did someone slip something in your drink?" Sarah asked.

"Uhh- no. More- complicated than that I think. Where-"

"You're in the drunk tank. Your mug shot probably isn't very good. You were pretty comatose still when you came in. And you were babbling." Winifred said, now using a mostly broken nail file that had been hidden in her perky fake bosoms. They were obviously pros at this. And while Luke had been in jail a few times as a lad (as most Welsh lads can attest), this was his first time being in jail in America. And suffice it to say, he was not comfortable with how he might have ended up here.

"About what?"

"We don't know. It was- foreign. You did say the name Nicholas a few times. Was that your lover honey? Did he dump you?" Mary asked.

"No- it's my-" Luke thought for a moment. "Yes, actually I suppose."

"Oh, fuck bud. Nothing wrong with that-" Sarah said kindly.

"How hung is he?" Mary asked.

"We'd love to see pictures if you have your phone- oh wait-" Winifred smirked.

"Thank you for looking after me ladies."

"To quote Raven- we're men in damn dresses. And nobody here is a lady. Not even Sarah."

"Hey!"

"That's fair. How long are people usually held?"

"Well you weren't speeding, so it's likely you'll just have a short fine and a bail hearing in the next couple of hours. Drunks usually do better than speeding."

"I wasn't drunk. I was drugged."

"You seemed pretty drunk to us honey."

"I know it was-"

"- something in the blood. Yes."

"You know?"

"We're not stupid. And while we're not interested in being your maidens- we're weirdos ourselves. Not supernatural but weird enough to pass."

"Oh!" Luke said. "Well maybe you can tell me some information that you've heard around. I came to Vegas-"

"Luke! You're gonna get yourself on the front page of TMZ man!" Channing said as the drunk tank lock unlocked and slid back with a metallic screech. The Sanderson Drag Sisters seemed to melt away. Far away from Channing. They looked as though they might try to claw their way to California they were so far back.

Luke rearranged his face with the skill of a man who'd been to many holiday parties. 

"How sweet of you to come check on me. How did you know I was in here?"

"Oh, my friend saw you get drugged at the Hard Rock man. It's a bad scene. There was a whole bunch of ghb in your glass. I was worried-" Channing was a great actor judging by the eyes. They were the window to the soul and his was nothing more than window dressing at the moment. "- I got your bail brother and you're fine to go home. Which should probably be back to LA."

"Oh. I don't know about that, I came with Derek."

"He's already on his way back," Channing nodded. "He heard about what happened and turned tail and ran. You know, darndest thing. He seemed to think it was an omen and you know how wolves are about omens, right?" Channing said with a dark, smooth voice. He put his arm over Luke's congenially. The cops didn't seem to shrink from him as much as they didn't seem to register either of their presences with Luke directly in Channing's orbit.

"They are superstitious. But the car was his-"

"No problem. Use one of mine. You can drop it off for me. I won it in a card game but it's like the worst shade of yellow right? You understand. Rep to maintain."

"Right. Reputation?"

They were somehow out now in the early morning sun. 

"So you'll go?" Channing asked, standing there. Luke began to falter. It didn't sound like a bad idea, did it? There was nothing but trouble and distraction here. Nothing good. It was just stupid jewelry. Probably a prank. Dominic had quit, Nick was waiting for him. Derek had already left. 

Luke struggled to form words.

"Alright! Good man!" Channing said, clapping Luke on the arm and pointing out the yellow car with his luggage already in the backseat. "Have a good drive back!"

And then Channing was gone and Luke was left there with key in hand, stupidly blinking and weighing the pros and cons of returning to Los Angeles.