About Conventional Wisdom
Written by TC Blue
63 pages / 31250 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-769-5, 1-60370-769-7
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, Sony-optimized pdf, epub
When B-list syndicated TV star Lucas runs into Gaming-goth-geek Trent in the hotel bar the night before the convention starts, he isn't expecting to become attached. And since Trent is obviously out of touch with television, Lucas figures he's safe using his 'con name', Bill Speare. When Trent-- Mainstream Video clerk and goth with big dreams--meets a stellar hottie who seems to be into him, he goes with it, happy to be free of his recent dry spell.
But one night turns into so much more, and when he finds out that his very temporary lover has been lying to him about something as unimportant yet vital as his name, he gets... miffed. Thanks to a new acquaintance, Cindy Lou, Trent works through his anger in a drunken evening, and when he finally goes to see Bill--Lucas-- he's figured it all out.
So has Lucas, and the two men do what comes naturally to them, but can they come to an explosive and enjoyable conclusion?
Review
Kiernan Kelly, author of Outland, writes: Lucas Merrifield’s life is as complicated and stressful as they come. As a gainfully employed actor starring in a paranormal television show, his face is easily recognizable to millions, his life is an open book for the tabloids, and he is forced to keep his sexual orientation securely under wraps lest it threaten his career.
When Lucas arrives a day early for a science fiction convention where he’s to do meet-and-greets with his adoring fans, he seizes on the rare opportunity for anonymity. In the hotel bar, he meets Trent, a decidedly “out” goth gamer, who seems perfect for an incognito one night stand -- he’s attracted to Lucas, and doesn’t recognize him. Lucas gives Trent a fake name, and before either of them can say “Trekkie,” they’re up in Lucas’ suite playing hide the light saber.
TC Blue pens a marvelous tale that is witty and fresh, and incredibly
sexy, while at the same time managing to bring to life the quirky lifestyles
of con-goers. The backdrop of this story made me smile -- anyone who’s ever
gone to a large sci-fi convention will instantly recognize and appreciate
the author’s descriptions of costumes and panels. Lucas’ predicament is very
believable and his character sympathetic; Trent is sweet and funny,
particularly considering his own background. Together, they are a winning
pair that I hope Blue will bring out to play again soon!
Sample
Three hours of driving, and Lucas Merrifield felt better for it. At least, he did in the sense that getting into his car and leaving his grandfather’s place outside Raleigh a day early had kept him from wrapping his fingers around the old bastard’s throat and squeezing until those too-sharp, too-knowing eyes popped out of that age-seamed, wizened face.
He almost wished he’d decided to fly from California, but it had been so long since the last time he’d made a road trip, Lucas hadn’t been able to resist the idea. Stopping to see Gramps, on the other hand? Maybe not his brightest notion.
"You got a good thing goin’, boy. Don’t you go screwin’ it up like you done everything else in your life. And don’t be thinkin’ you can come crawlin’ back here for more than a visit, either. This ain’t your home no more. Got it?"
Yeah, those were some damned fine words of love and affection the old geezer had shared with him that morning. True words, yes, but… would it have killed Chadwick Merrifield to have offered him a "good job, boy" or even -- in Lucas’ dreams -- an "I’m proud of you"?
Well, maybe it would, Lucas told himself with a sigh. Gramps had never really been the sort of man to go around offering kind words. Not even to his own kids when they’d been alive, though Lucas had almost gotten a smile from the curmudgeonly ancient once. Exactly once. When Lucas was seven years old and had somehow managed to catch a fly ball that should by all rights have been far beyond his grasp.
Of course, he’d landed badly and broken his arm… and the almost-smile had disappeared under muttered accusations. Because clearly Lucas had done it on purpose, just to make Gramps shell out hundreds of dollars to the hospital for X-rays and casts and doctor visits. Yeah.
"You done gone Hollywood on me, boy, but even them flag-burnin’ liberals you got out there in Los Angeleez won’t want nothin’ to do with you if you go startin’ up again like you did at that fancy school what put you out." The remembered words still stung, damn it.
Yeah, thanks, Gramps. Like you have any idea of why that happened. You never wanted to know, did you? You always just assumed.
And that was true, too, even if Lucas was only thinking it rather than saying it to the old man who wasn’t even there. Of course, even when Lucas had been growing up and Gramps was less than twenty feet away most of the time, the old man had never really been there. Not for him. And definitely not after that night when Lucas had been fifteen. Gramps had walked in at exactly the wrong moment, and Lucas had never felt welcome in Chadwick Merrifield’s house, afterward.
Regardless, though…. one more not so subtle dig and Lucas really thought he might have done something that would have made the papers.
But screw it. He was going to this convention thing. And that should be interesting. Lucas did like meeting his fans, after all. They usually treated him like a God.
He found himself laughing at the thought, and the amusement stayed with him for the rest of the drive, though that wasn’t long. Fifteen or so more miles on the highway, then a short ten minutes of city streets until he found the hotel. He pulled into the valet zone out front and handed the jacketed attendant his keys, even as he pulled his suitcase from the passenger seat.
"Be careful with my baby," he told the man with a grin. "She’s had a rough couple weeks." And yeah, his poor car had taken a bit of a beating since he’d left L.A. Fine German craftsmanship wasn’t really designed for tooling around the pothole and roadkill infested byways of middle America. He’d have to remember to have her tuned up before he drove back. "I don’t know what room I’ll be in," he added, "but it’s under Bill Speare, okay?"
Less than a moment later, Lucas slipped a twenty into the man’s free hand and then he was in the lobby, which was surprisingly nice, considering the sort of event that was being hosted there. Yeah… maybe Richmond wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
Lucas ignored the stares from the young woman behind the front desk. Partly because he was used to it, but also because he was fairly sure she was usually too professional to giggle and blush. She would have to be, or she wouldn’t have the position she did. Besides which, she was extraordinarily attractive, with long, blonde hair and wide, blue eyes. Flawless skin that still held just a bit of sun-kissed glow, though it had been too chilly for sunbathing for at least a month. She was just the sort of woman he was supposed to flirt with, be seen with, spend time with.
Jason would have been all over him, Lucas knew, just prodding and poking and hinting until Lucas gave in and asked the girl out just to shut him up. But Jason wasn’t there. Yet. And what Lucas’ manager didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Either of them.
As usual, thinking about Jason made Lucas grin. He couldn’t help it. They’d been best friends and roommates in college, and when Lucas’ scholarship had been rescinded after that last injury, Jason had jumped right in. Sure, Jason had connections, but that didn’t mean he’d had to use them for Lucas’ benefit. He had, though, and Lucas knew he would always owe his friend. Forever.
"I know I’m early," Lucas said patiently to the desk clerk who was actually helping him. "I wasn’t supposed to be here until tomorrow. I made better time than I thought, so I’m hoping you can maybe find me something. Anything." Lucas smiled, flashing his straight, white teeth and trying to look helpless, which took a hell of a lot of effort. He hadn’t been helpless since childhood.
Fortunately, there weren’t many problems that a titanium AmEx card couldn’t solve, which was how he found himself in the suite that had been reserved for "Bill Speare" a day early.
It was a nice suite, Lucas thought, once the entirely unnecessary bellman had put his suitcase in the bedroom and departed. Not the best he'd ever stayed in, by any means, but… good enough to live in for the next five days, anyway. Assuming room service would deliver full-sized bottles of liquor, rather than those tiny-ass one-shot teasers that usually lived in the mini-bar.
He would find out soon enough, Lucas promised himself, but first… he had to make a phone call.