F A N T A S T I C P R E S E N T A
♪ Pintar mis heridas, amante ... ♪
Mi hermana Deva ama realmente profundamente
pero desde un par de desamores,
Realmente no la he visto rendirse al romance.
Creo que está tratando de volver a aprender su corazón, de alguna manera.
♪ Ho, oh, ¿no quieres verme a la luz de la luna? ♪
Cuando la gente conoce a Deva, se sienten bastante intimidados por ella.
Ella necesita a alguien que tenga suficiente confianza en sí mismos
abrazarla en toda su gloria.
♪ Ho, oh, di que nunca me tratarás bien ... ♪
Ella definitivamente tiene sus guardias.
Pero desde que Deva se mudó a Nueva Orleans,
La he visto su propia sexualidad,
y su belleza y su cuerpo.
♪ Ho, oh, ¿no me reconoces a la luz de la luna? ♪
Me encantaría verla tener
Una experiencia alegre y romántica con alguien ...
donde pueden enamorarse por completo del abandono ...
en lugar de competir por el espacio.
- Hola. - ¿Hola, cómo estás?
- Soy Rueben. - Bueno. Soy deva
- Encantada de conocerte. Deva? - Deva, si.
- Bueno. Te ves increíble. - Gracias.
- Dime tu nombre una vez más. Rueben - Rueben
- Es un placer conocerte. - Frio.
Uh, creo, ¿deberíamos ir a tomar algo?
- Sí, entremos. - Está bien.
Tan verdadero.
Si.
Es muy bonito conocerte. Te ves muy bien esta noche.
Gracias. Lo puse todo junto para esta fecha.
Oh bien.
Te ves increíble también.
- Gracias. - Sin duda. Sin duda.
Que es ... Quien es ...?
Quiero decir, no quise tocarte ni nada de eso.
Pide consentimiento siempre.
Pero es Ulla Johnson.
Ella es una increíble diseñadora de Nueva York.
Oh. Soy de Nueva York.
De Verdad? ¿Dónde?
Soy de Marshall Heights.
Yo vivía en Harlem.
- Sin duda. - Si.
Definitivamente eres de Nueva York porque estás como, "Sin duda".
Me gusta, te veo.
- Gracias. - Hola, ¿eres mi cita?
Si.
- Hola. Soy maria Bueno conocerte. - Hola.
- ¿Puedo abrazarte? - Soy Deva Si.
- Devee? Deva - Deva.
Maria.
Bueno conocerte.
Te ves genial.
- Te ves genial. - Gracias.
Frio.
¿Cómo estás?
- Haciéndolo bien. - Si.
- Tuve un buen día libre. - Oh, lo hiciste?
Sí, un almuerzo relajante en el porche
- Y relajado en el jardín. - Frio.
Agradable. Oh!
Es tan bueno verte.
Fui y me acupunturé por primera vez antes de venir aquí.
Nunca lo había hecho antes.
Y yo estaba como, simplemente, terminó siendo,
como, justo antes de que tuviera que estar aquí.
Si.
- And it was so, like, calming. - Oh, good. I should have done that.
Right.
I suddenly was so chill,
and I suddenly just got super nervous when you walked in.
- I already know what I want. - So do I.
I want a green tea shot.
What is a green tea shot?
Well, I'm trying to drink healthier.
Oh, like actual green tea.
No, it's not actual green tea.
There's, like, Jameson Whiskey, uh...
I think peach schnapps,
um, sour and Sprite.
How is that healthier?
It has a lot of antioxidants.
Which is great for--
In the Sprite or the Jameson?
- What are you drinking? - I'll have a white Negroni with mezcal.
I'll have a white maroni with mezcal.
Negroni.
Did you say maroni?
- That's what you said. - No, I did not.
- I'll have what she's having. - Okay.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Los Angeles.
And I got to the point where I recognized that the city was going to kill me.
Oh, okay.
- At least spiritually, if not physically. - Okay.
And I went to New York and...
made something of myself,
and then got tired of New York and moved here.
Okay.
Are you, um, originally from here?
No.
Originally I am from Hawaii.
Oh. Cool.
So I left and I was in the Pacific Northwest for a while.
And then I moved to New Zealand...
Mm-hmm.
...for, like, almost seven years.
- So, why did you go to New Zealand? - Well--
It's like the growth on the neck of Australia?
- Don't say that. You can't say that. - I'm sorry.
I have too much New Zealand pride for that to slide.
When did you move here?
Four years for me in January.
- So whenever that is, 2000-- - Oh. I'm way fresher than you.
- I moved in December. - You're fresh to death?
- You're super fresh. - Straight.
- Straight fresh. - Straight fresh.
- Off the boat. - No doubt.
Why did you come here?
I, uh...
wanted a change of pace.
New York is really challenging to live in, and also be creative.
- I just put out a record last year. - Oh, great.
So that's been exciting. I've spent most of the year touring.
So now you're a singer extraordinaire.
- I mean-- - How did you get into doing that?
When I was a kid I was, like, pretty-- I didn't really fit in.
And it was hard for me to make friends.
There was, like,
some bullying and all those kinds of things when I was growing up.
And then I just discovered I really loved making music.
Like, so deeply.
Well, maybe a little later on I'm gonna have to hear a little something.
- Oh, no. - If you're open to it.
- No. - No? I've gotta pay for it?
Yeah, you've gotta pay for it. That costs money.
- People gotta pay for my stuff, only fair. - True. What do you do?
I'm a chiropractor.
Oh, my God. We gotta talk.
Often times I'm on the other side of the bar, where he is.
- Oh, you bartend? - Yeah.
I managed to get some properties.
So I live off off of rental income.
Wow. That's amazing.
So I work for a ballet company. I make costumes for them.
My grandmother was a seamstress,
and she would make all of my mom and her sisters' clothes.
Whoa.
So after she died I feel like I, like,
inherited her sewing juju somehow.
Wow.
I mean, New Orleans is such a costume town, you know?
Like, anytime you go out, like, every weekend,
- it's like, you know, looks. - I love it.
I love it. I love it.
- Well, cheers. Yeah. - Cheers, darling.
All right.
Salut. Salut.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
Oh! Careful.
Your table's ready whenever you're ready.
- Thank you. - Follow me.
- Are you ready to eat? - Yeah.
- How's your drink? - It's good, yeah.
I love me an old fashioned.
- Thank you. Thank you. - Awesome.
Thanks.
So...
Tell me about your artwork.
Oh.
- I just had an art show, actually. - Oh, you did?
Last week. I have a gallery show up on Julia Street.
- What's your last name? - Sandhammer.
I know your stuff.
- No, you don't. - Yeah.
- Do you make eye masks? - I do that too.
- Yeah. - I do that too.
Those are awesome.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
I bought one for my roommate.
- Cool. You bought one? - Yeah.
Yeah, totally.
That's cool.
Good evening, guys, my name is Scott. I'll take care of you tonight. Welcome.
- Here you are. Very welcome. - Thank you.
I would like to try the olive-cured duck.
Perfect. Good choice.
- Could I get the redfish, please? - Redfish, excellent.
No worries.
When's your birthday?
- I'm an Aries, unfortunately. - Okay.
Why unfortunately?
Not a lot of people like us.
I'm cool with Aries.
- So that's cool. That's good to know. - Yeah.
- How about yourself? Capricorn. - I'm a Capricorn.
You're on the heels of Scorpios,
who are like the bane of my existence.
No. It goes Scorpio, Sagittarius, then Capricorn.
Oh, okay, okay, okay.
Oh, my God.
That looks beautiful.
It does look beautiful, so enjoy.
So, you share food?
What's the point of ordering different things--?
- Some people don't like to share food. - Some people kick puppies.
- And... I'm just saying-- - Okay, where did you...
- I don't. - ...where did we go from food sharing
to kicking puppies?
I'm not saying that people that don't share food kick puppies.
I'm just saying they're more likely to.
I really like my family, for the most part.
They all accept me,
- even though I'm a weirdo. - Oh, tell me about that.
Are you, like, the black sheep?
Yeah, yeah, pretty much. I--
Is it because you date women or is it because...
- It's just because... - ...you're an artist?
...I've always been-- My uncle's like, "You're into art stuff."
'Cause he's from Boston.
"You're into that art stuff."
I have family in that Boston area too.
And it's very much like work,
gotta have the house, the car,
the kids.
- Yes. - So...
So, yeah, I've had a little bit of pressure surrounding that.
- Yeah. - There was one other person
who I dated briefly in New Orleans.
Mm-hmm.
Although they identified as a trans man.
- Okay. - So that was different.
You know, there's, like, so much nuance in, like, how people identify, like...
What I'm just trying to do is meet people where they're at
and, like, not make any judgments and really just support them, you know?
How long were you married for?
I was with her for eight and a half years.
Can I ask why you guys got divorced?
- She wanted to be kept. - Oh, okay.
She wasn't saying to me, "I don't want to work
so that I can stay home and cook and clean and bear your children."
It was, "I don't wanna work because I wanna live a fabulous life,
and wear lots of new clothes, and go to restaurants,
and you pay for it.
How do you feel dating a strong woman?
- I'm attracted to that. - Yeah?
Yeah.
I think a lot of people are really intimidated by me.
Don't find it...
intimidating, and a lot of times behind that...
strongness is a sensitivity and...
vulnerability.
I think... everybody on the planet is crazy.
And crazy breaks down into two categories.
You have homicidal crazy and suicidal crazy.
You know, the best you can hope for is that you don't have a partner
that will harm you.
Okay, I'm trying to follow you here, but...
I think I need a little more... explanation.
Yeah, I've had a lot of, um...
trying relationships.
What about you? What is your relationship background?
I was with somebody for, like, six and a half years.
And that's probably the most influential relationship I've ever had.
And it was really challenging to, like, move past that.
I actually also have, kind of, fully come to terms
with the fact that I'm interested in also dating women.
Uh-huh!
When I was younger, I called myself a lesbian,
but I don't think that that is accurate at all
because I've dated all genders.
I just like to...
think that we're all people.
- Yeah. - And maybe it doesn't matter
- what our genders are. - Yeah.
I agree.
This, like, being a woman is weird.
I do have, like, my qualms about it.
But, like, I haven't had to, like, question myself
in terms of, like, body dysmorphia
or, like, you know, I have my things where I'm, like,
yeah, sometimes you do feel like you're crushed under the boot of capitalism
or, like, you're just like a cog in the machine.
- Yeah. - Mm.
How long does it take for you to feel like...
you know, maybe this is...
someone I can...
see myself being with?
It really depends. Uh...
What about you?
In my head, I feel like most of the time,
- I know pretty quickly. - Mm-hmm.
Um...
I've-- Okay. Yeah.
I'll leave it at that.
Okay.
Cool.
Tell me about your music.
Well,
I'm glad you asked.
Um, I actually recorded for the very first time
when I was probably like five or six with my dad.
- And-- - Was your dad a musician?
Yeah.
Anyone that I would know?
Probably.
If you listen to American blues and roots music,
then you would know who my dad is.
Who's your dad?
Taj Mahal.
Seriously?
Okay.
No doubt.
- That's amazing. - Yeah.
- So... - Okay.
...it's, like, kind of a weird thing to talk about, but...
- So-- - My dad's also Taj Mahal.
- Now, that would be weird. - Okay, that would be really weird.
And I'd be like, "Check, please. It's time to go."
I think it's amazing, just from appreciating music,
that, like, your dad is who he is,
but you also are who you are
in terms of, like, your voice and your natural ability.
Like, I can't sing for shit. Like, at all...
And now I fully expect you to sing.
I mean, there's karaoke going on later if you wanna come join.
You are speaking my language!
- Oh, my God. - Yeah.
Is it gonna be, like, some Andrew Lloyd Webber shit? Are you gonna--?
- Like some theater shit? No. - Yes!
No fuckin' way.
You're out of your mind.
Okay, well, let's go grab a drink, shall we?
- Okay, no doubt. For sure. - Okay.
- Do you feel like we should? - I do.
- Oh, great. - All right.
- Let's go. - Let's go. I'm sorry.
- I don't wanna rush you. - No, I don't need that anymore.
It's all right. I'm done.
To the bar.
So are you ready for that karaoke challenge?
Yes.
All right, so that means I possibly might see you again?
Like, in the future, that's a possibility?
Yeah, I think so.
All right. All right. All right.
Cool. No doubt.
Um...
So, uh...
You're so smooth here. You're really, really winning.
I know... I never...
never get points on the smooth tip for sure.
Like, I never said that I had game in any capacity.
You better get some.
Earlier you were talking about your sexuality
and how you had discovered an interest
in dating women as well as men.
Would you call yourself bisexual?
I don't really deal in labels.
Not really...
- my thing, but... - Right.
What about you?
I only date bisexual women.
- Oh, interesting. - Yeah.
Why do you think that is?
Because...
Oh...
my attraction to women is such an integral part of who I am,
and how I think and how I see the world...
that if you don't...
also find women as beautiful and sexy as I do--
I have never heard that. It's very interesting.
I have to come to your bar. Here's a test.
- You have to make me a drink. - What would you want?
Well, if I had to order...
I would order a white Negroni with mezcal.
- Really? - Yes.
- All right. I got-- - So be ready.
Heard, got you. Yeah.
White Negroni with mezcal.
Okay, don't forget it.
Got you.
- All right, I'm ready for you. - Awesome.
Okay.
- Shall we...? - Yeah, no doubt.
- Okay. - All right.
Whoa, don't pull me over.
You're so silly.
You're silly.
- Is this good? - Yeah.
Okay.
Cool.
But I've had so much fun.
It's really nice to talk to somebody who I feel like
I don't have to explain too much to,
and that I already know that they kind of understand what I mean,
and that I understand them as well. It's really cool.
- Yes. - Yeah, cheers.
Cheers.
I mean, you're beautiful.
Like you are killing it.
- You're, like, really... - Oh.
Thank you.
See, now you've made me all embarrassed.
- I like to have everything on the table. - Okay.
Oh, oh, what are you doing?
- I just wanna give you a hug. - Okay.
- And a kiss. - On my cheek.
Okay.
I'm not a kiss-on-the-first-date kind of girl.
How did this feel for you? Was it cool? Did you have a good time?
- Oh, my God, it was so cool. - Yeah.
- It was so good getting to hang with you. - Yeah, you too.
- Yeah. - Super.
Um...
Okay, well, I just...
I had so much fun,
but I don't think we are each other's type.
- Okay. - Yeah, I think we can definitely hang out.
All right.
- Nice to have a new friend in New Orleans. - Yes.
Well, thank you. I'm gonna give you a hug.
All right, baby.
- It's all good. All good. - Oh, my God.
I hope you have a good night, and you get home safe.
- You too. - Okay.
All right, bye.
Bye.
Are we gonna keep in touch?
Um, yeah, I think if you...
if you can, I think you should find me on my Instagram.
- Really? - Yes.
Really?
- All right. - Okay.
- I guess this is good night. - Yeah.
- Thank you so much. - All right.
Have a wonderful night.
- You too as well. - Okay.
All right.
- All right, have a good night. - All right, good night.
Bye.
I have interesting stories. I think I have some really interesting stories.
- Like-- I be like... - Like what?
- That was awesome. - It's all right. You saved it, recovered.
Well, like, a lot of my adventures are a little bit off the beaten cuff.
- You know? - Right.
Lived in the Dominican Republic a year.
Can you speak Spanish?
Like, only when I'm drunk.
You speak, like, rum Spanish.
Yeah, it's like, you know, yeah, it's like slang
more so than anything that you need to...
Ah.
- Let's put that glass over there-- - Good save.
So slick.
Smooth operator.
I feel like...
we should commemorate this.
So I feel like we should make a wish
- into this pond. - Can I think for a second?
Yes, but here's your penny.
- I got a penny! - Yes!
- I'm into it. - Okay.
- Did you think of your wish already? - Not yet. I'll tell you when I have it.
Are you gonna tell me yours after?
- No, I'll just tell you when I have it. - I'm not gonna tell you mine either.
One, two, three.
Yay.
Oh, my gosh.
Okay, well, I...
feel like maybe we should finish our drink
and then share a Lyft home.
- Yeah. - Okay. Cool.
- Yes. - Um...
- I-- - What?
Can I kiss you now?
Yes.
Wow. Okay.
Seat belt. Safety first, for sure.
- Yes. - All right.
No doubt.
I don't know.
My seat belt game is never on point, but...
Yes.
How's your night been so far?
It's been fun.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Yeah, I think, I was, like, myself,
like, pleasantly surprised by the evening, you know?
It's great to meet, like, someone that's also been from New York.
- Oh, yeah. - Also, like...
had, uh...
so much trajectory that I have.
- So if anything... - Yeah.
uh, I would love to be, like, someone that you, like, hang out with.
Um...
Where do you wanna go next?
I'm ready to go home.
You ready to go home? All right.
- Yeah. - Cool.
Cool.
Another challenge for me is that, in addition to...
uh, finding women who are bisexual,
is that I'm poly as well.
- Oh, okay. I could've pegged you for that. - Yeah.
I mean, my poly dynamic is myself
and some number of women,
but no other men.
So if you're in a poly relationship,
can the woman that you date date other men?
No.
Don't you think that that's, like, a bit one-sided?
- No. - You don't think that that's sexist?
No.
Bueno, esta es su parada, señor.
Bueno.
Fue muy, muy interesante y esclarecedor.
Y siento que volveré a verte muy pronto.
- De acuerdo, bueno, que tengas una buena noche. - Igualmente.
Guau.
Aquí está tu parada.
Gracias.
- Espero que tengas una gran noche. - Igualmente.
- Me divertí. - Te veré pronto.
- Bueno. - Estoy fuera.
Adiós.
Muy bien, estamos aquí.
- Oh. Oh, mira, estamos en mi casa. - Oh.
Oh mira.
- Triste - Um ...
- Tengo tu número. - Si.
Puedo...
darte otro beso?
- Si. - Bueno.
Bueno.
Tenga una buena noche.
- Igualmente. Tenga una buena noche. - Bueno.
Adiós.
Bueno.
["Fuego" por Deva Mahal jugando]
♪ Largo ♪
♪ Ha tardado mucho en llegar ♪
♪ Aunque está en el fuerte ♪
♪ Una advertencia muy fuerte ♪
♪ Sí ♪
♪ Dijo oh ... ♪
Hola.
Mírate. Te ves lindo.
Te ves lindo.
Tú también.
- Hola. - ¿Cómo estás?
- ¿Como has estado? - Bueno.
Mirando...
¿Dónde debemos ir?
Uh, no lo se. Vamos hacia arriba de esa manera.
Bueno.
- ¿Debemos? - Mm-hmm.
- Te seguire. - Bueno.
♪ Dijo oh ... ♪
Tengo esa canción en mi cabeza de El mago de Oz.
¿Cúal?
♪ Dijo que no puedo ir ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ Más allá ♪
♪ Y si solo sabes ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ La oscuridad dentro de mí ♪
♪ No, oh ♪