They say everything comes in threes. You know the one superstition where if bad luck befalls someone, then it is more likely that a second and third string of unluckiness is sure to follow?
For Julian Berkowitz, it was his week for unlucky threes. First, he got fired from his job as a cosmetics sales rep at Lacey's department store after arguing with a customer about the quantity of free samples he was allowed to give. Second, he got evicted from his apartment after his thieving roommate stole three months of rent money forcing their landlord to boost him out of their home. Lastly, he caught his boyfriend of four years cheating on him with a coworker from his ex's job. Could this week get any worse?
Apparently it had. Financially destitute, homeless, and unemployed he ended up crashing at his best friend Zelma's place for the week hoping to figure out the next plan of action in his life.
Right now, he needed a job. Any job would suffice. Zelma made him offer but the position did not exactly meet his standards for good reason. It was as a make-up artist on a gay porn set.
"Okay Julian, here are the rules," she told him. The statuesque, African American twenty five year old beauty took her job seriously and Julian knew from experience she meant business. "I know this is really out of character for both of us but the money is really good as long as you do your job and not place judgments."
Julian inhaled. Sure, he was gay and watched a porn flick with his ex-boyfriend when they were still dating. Hell, he has even surfed adult sites on the internet but to actually be around a bunch of naked people having sex in front of a camera just gave him the willies! Face it. Julian Berkowitz was as prudish as they come.
Even his ex-boyfriend thought so. The twenty three old, slender, brown haired, brown eyed Julian refused to leave the lights on during sex. Their sex life was adventurous as watching paint drying. Julian was just so boring in bed; it resulted in the demise of their relationship. If sex seemed awkward for him, how was he going to function on a porn set? This was going to be a complete nightmare for him.
"Don't think about naked people having sex," explained Zelma. "Think of it as one big gay rave where you have a bunch folks completely uninhibited dancing to techno music."
"I think it is more like bad jazz music," he snickered. "Bow chica wow wow." Zelma shot him an angry look. "Okay, shutting up now."
"Yes Julian I realize this whole vibe is weird. I get it," she told him. "But these people are professionals at what they do. Plus, it is easy cash. They are offering $400 per performer we cover up in foundation. You cover the pimples on the asses of three guys and you get to go home with $1200! See easy money."
"Easy money..sure," he hesitated. "How do you not let it all get to your head?"
"Simple," Zelma laughed. "Think ca-ching ca-ching. When you have that in your pocket, it can buy you plenty of antidepressants. Plus, I get to ogle lots of nude hunks even if they are gay. What's not to love? Don't worry you'll be fine. If the director likes your work, they might book you on future productions."
"I see your point. Beggars can't be choosers. I did say I was desperate for money," said Julian. He inhaled another breath. "Okay, let's get through with this." He gathered his cosmetics case, opened the lid, and prepared to set everything out.
"That's my boy!" squealed Zelma. She gave him a pat on the back. "You'll be fine."
As he began organizing his brushes, color primers, and powders Julian could not help but notice how everyone was immersed in their own activities.
The lighting crew worked on extending power cables to various outlets. The sound board operators fiddled with various dials on their system while checking the overhead microphones to ensure they were in place. Carpenters and set designers put the finishing touches on the scenery of a bedroom set in a medieval castle by decorating it in a motif from the Middle Ages. From all appearances, the studio seemed liked a regular Hollywood movie. However Julian's illusions shattered the moment the male performers walked out on stage in nothing but their bathrobes.
"It's time to get them ready," said Zelma.
She instructed her guy to disrobe which he casually did turning his back toward them while she applied foundation to his bare ass. She gave Julian a signal with her eyes as the other performer assigned to him began to unknot his robe.
"Ummm...er...okay...just do you thing then," Julian managed to say.
His guy gave him a flirty wink causing Julian to blush but not before he took a mental note of the hunk. His porn performer was absolutely gorgeous! Tanned, blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled face, amazing chest combined with sculpted abs best described this man. Julian quickly wiped away all illicit thoughts especially the ones involving waving his junk in his face.
"Hey I haven't seen you in any of our sets," the male performer inquired in a deep voice. "You're new, right?"
"Uhhh...yeah. Just helping my friend Zelma here." he replied. The robe fell down around the performer's ankles. Julian then saw what laid hidden beneath the terrycloth.
"Names Rick Kadence," he introduced himself to Julian. Rick extended a hand to Julian who kept trying to avert his eyes away from Rick's package. Instead he shook his pinky.
The man was huge! We're talking having his own zip code for real estate. Julian considered using his cock as a billy club to beat his ex and new boyfriend with. He grabbed one of his make-up brushes from the table to apply foundation around Rick's midsection.
"Julian Berkowitz," he answered. "Please to meet you...um...could you move...your...uh...I need to apply powder to your thigh. It's in the way."
Rick happily obliged shifting his cock to the left while Julian tickled his skin with the cosmetics brush. Julian's face turned beet red each time the bristles touched Rick's thigh so he made sure to focus his eyes on his knee. Each time he needed to reapply more make-up to Rick, Zelma gave Julian a wicked smile flicking a profane tongue at him.
"I know I'm being straightforward here," said Rick. "Would you..."
A shriek interrupted the conversation. It came from the dressing room nearby as the door slammed open rattling the walls of the studio causing the microphone to crash on to the ground. A rat faced skinny male performer in a pink bathrobe stomped out with a short, balding man following right after him. The rest of the crew ran away from the rat face's incoming path as the performer flew into a frenzied rage.
"Uh-oh, the diva's here," warned Zelma. "Sounds like he's on his cycle again."
"Who is that?" asked Julian.
"Mick Angel, the star of this picture," answered Rick who quickly put on his bathrobe. "He is a complete prima donna. None of the guys want to work with him because he is such a queen bitch."
"Who is that bald guy he is talking to?" he asked.
"Harold Jacobs," explained Rick. "He's won every adult film award and the man who discovered Mick Angel. He is the man that directed all the great X-rated film classics like Good Will Humping, Pulp Friction, and Bone With the Wind. This one we're working on they say is supposed to be his next masterpiece."
"Porn has masterpieces? Who would have thunk?" Julian snorted.
Annoyed, Zelma slapped the back of his head making Rick laugh at the inside joke.
"THAT IS NOT WHAT WE AGREE UPON HAROLD!" screamed Mick. "I AM NOT DOING A DP SCENE! PLUS, I SAID I NEED TO GET PAID $5000 PER PERFORMER I WORK WITH. I'M DOING A FOURSOME! THAT MEANS ME AND THREE OTHER GUYS! THAT'S THREE DICKS! THREE DICKS TIMES $5000 IS $15,000! I SHOULD BE PAID $15,000!"
