The Coast (Josh)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

One of the small and often overlooked pleasures of being coupled was the ability to share sunscreen duties. Instead of being responsible for himself, Sean was responsible for Josh and vice versa. That led to a very pleasant pre-outdoors experience, each and every time.

That was merely the prelude.

To take advantage of the beautiful weather, the telepath and his partner had utilized the hotel’s marina privileges. They had rented a sailboat from the hotel, with which Sean had taken a few minutes to familiarize himself. It was a bit bigger than his personal boat, although that made it a treat. As was typical for them when sailing, they’d packed a cooler with food and beverages, and intended to make several hours of the trip.

Considering that he didn’t make a to-do about his birthday, this was a pleasant present.

Having dropped anchor out in the water, Sean had moved from the helm to the back of the boat. Plopping himself down beside his partner, he reached for the younger man’s hand. “I’m having a good time,” he informed Josh. He wanted his partner to know that he appreciated both the gesture of the trip and the specific arrangements that had been made.

After all, Sean never passed up the chance to sail.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Not everyone would consider this weekend excursion special. The only plans Josh had made involved renting a boat and reservations at nice restaurants. No theaters, no museums, not even bar hopping. He had wanted a vacation that was both low key and would involve activities Sean enjoyed, and while they both enjoyed the tourist aspects of visiting Boston the lack of other activities gave them abundant time for sailing.

Sean's comment was a good indication that the attorney had made the right plans. He accepted the hand, then lifted his sunglasses up with the remaining one, giving his partner a smile.

"I thought you would. Is it too early to break out the drinks? Perhaps a toast to another year of the best friendship a man could ask for."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“It isn’t,” Sean confirmed, since they had already dropped anchor, and the telepath prided himself on his ability to do so correctly. Even though he wasn’t as intimately familiar with this boat as he was with his own back in Vermont, he remained confident that they wouldn’t drift.

That meant that they could drink. Even if Sean wouldn’t allow himself to become inebriated, as sailing while drunk was on the short list of incredibly poor ideas. Sailing while drunk across state lines would be even worse.

After giving the younger man’s hand a squeeze, the telepath rose from where he had settled a moment ago to fetch the cooler. He pulled out an ice-cold bottle of Yuengling for his partner and a vodka cooler for himself.

Bringing the drinks back over, he handed the beer to his partner and then settled down again. If he was smaller, or if Josh was larger, Sean would have settled in the younger man’s lap. As that wouldn’t end well, he chose instead to scoot close to the attorney and drape one arm around his shoulders.

“The best friendship a man could ask for?” He echoed, a hint of inquisitiveness which he meant purely as teasing. “Are you sure about that? I seem to remember that some friends plan heists or go on tour together playing songs they write.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh gave Sean a grateful smile as he took the beer. "I'm not sure if heists or singing would be worse for our reputation. Just think of the headlines they would produce when I run for president!"

Not that he actually planned on running for president; his interest in politics didn't extend that far. Perhaps some local position, if his doctor didn't think that would be too stressful. But how stressful could a position in Pilot Ridge's government really be?

He popped the lid off his bottle, nuzzling against his partner as the older man leaned close.

"But I'm serious. It's the best because of you, not because of activities."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean clinked his bottle against Josh’s beer, tilting his in a facsimile of a toast. Then he untwisted the top and took a sip. It was quite refreshing, for which he was grateful. The weather was picturesque, but sunlight in the North East invariably brought humidity, and they were on the water.

“I don’t think heists would be the biggest scandal if you ran for president.” Josh was Jewish, which was unfortunately a problem in the current election board. He was also gay and in an unmarried relationship, for which Sean felt no shame. He hoped that his partner felt less conflicted about that after their conversation, since he had meant every word of what he’d described of his feelings and beliefs.

The biggest problem, besides some of their individual and collective activities, was Sean’s status as a telepath. He doubted that they could survive the scrutiny inherent in that level of politics. From beginning to end, rumors would abound regarding equity. While this hadn’t been tested, since meta-human status wasn’t a protected class, Sean wondered whether some opponent would seek an injunction to prevent him from using his powers.

As though Sean would cheat by mere virtue of being a telepath.

He chose to put that out of his mind. Instead, he wanted to focus on the gorgeous day and the alone time with his partner.

“I feel the same way about you,” he promised. He had for decades, which was why Josh’s tirade two years ago had been so hurtful. Fortunately, they had put that behind them.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh's past was full of incidents of the sort young activists were prone to getting into, the sort that would be spread all over the media if he ran for president. However, his own thoughts on that matter echoed Sean's.

President was a position he might daydream about, but nothing more.

"To friends," he grinned as his partner initiated the toast. Whatever problems there were in the world he felt he could face them with Sean by his side. That they could now engage in romantic activities without worrying that they were crossing boundaries built up after the Break Up was only to the better.

"I'm so glad the weather held up," he added, crossing his ankles and staring out at the sporadic clouds drifting across the sky. "I'm sure we could have come up with substitutes but..."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean wouldn’t discourage his partner’s daydreaming. Josh’s idealism was one of the traits that had initially drawn him to the younger man, and, although it could be impractical in middle age, he still found the less disastrous and emotionally draining aspects of his idealism to be endearing. Besides, there was potential for this Presidential fantasy, although he would save that for later.

As though to illustrate how nice it was that they could engage in romantic acts without concern for emotional fallout, the telepath leaned in to press a kiss to Josh’s lips. It was gentle and chaste, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

His arm tightened around the younger man’s shoulders for a moment, before he relaxed. His posture matched the easygoing nature of the day, and he intended to keep it that way for as long as they were anchored. “So am I.” If it had rained, they would have found indoor activities with museums or shopping. If it hadn’t rained but the water had proved too unpredictable, they could always sightsee. Boston was historic, and there was never a shortage of places to go and sites to see.

However, the telepath enjoyed sailing, and he couldn’t think of a better way to spend the weekend. “A jug of wine, a ship to sail, and thou,” he murmured, with a smile on his lips.

[Joshua Bernstein]

It was apt,Josh thought, that Sean chose to quote a poet known better amongst his contemporaries for his work in more scientific fields. Sean wrote articles for medical journals, was respected for his career, but although he didn't write poetry Josh felt that his scientific side only masked a romantic spirit.

"Beside me sailing in the wilderness," he quipped in response. "Or perhaps not quite the wilderness. We're too close to civilization for that designation, I think."

Which was perfectly fine by him.

He laced his fingers through the other man's, tipping back his beer at the same time a breeze wafted across the decks. He sighed in contentment. If only every day could be this relaxing!

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean was a pragmatic individual with a good head on his shoulders. However, he was in touch with his emotions; in fact, he thought that sharing thoughts and emotions led to closer bonding in relationships and was necessary as a means of clearing the air and getting on in life. Alone with Josh, he was at liberty to let his hair down and share more of himself. He didn’t have to be Doctor Neville, the psychiatrist; he could be Sean, the man.

When Josh entwined their fingers together, Sean stroked the younger man’s palm with his thumb. “The wilderness can be whatever we want it to be.”

They were a short ride – and even if they had to swim, the distance was not very far – trip from the land, and thus the hotel and civilization. However, as far as their privacy and enjoyment were concerned, they were as deep in the wilderness as could be. This afternoon was entirely about them: their relaxation, their enjoyment, their relationship. Everything else was a mere afterthought.

Another sip from his vodka, and then he said, “If this boat was bigger and had a real cabin, I’d propose we get a bit friendlier.”

Unfortunately, that would have to wait for the hotel. While they were alone on their own terms, Sean wasn’t adventurous enough to risk being caught in public sea space.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"In that case this is the wilderness. How dud the rest of the poem go? So etching about the wilderness being enough. I can't remember."

He enjoyed literature but he wasn't necessarily able to spout of quotations with ease. On,y on occasion, and on,y for a line or two. Enough to share his enjoyment but not enough to continue their banter along this path indefinitely.

But then the talk returned to the possibilities of the day, and their...friendship.

"Don't say that! You'll make me regret not renting a bigger boat,and we were having such a nice time."

However, he filed this idea away mentally. Next time he proposed they rent a boat, are sure it had a real cabin.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean closed his eyes and leaned back against his partner. “O, Wilderness, were paradise enow. Some for the glories of this world, and some sigh for the Prophet’s paradise to come; ah, take the cash, and let the credit go, nor heed the rumble of a distant drum...”

The telepath wasn’t a poet but he had a good memory. As such, he could recite a fair amount of verse with some prompting, since he had read a fair amount of poetry over the years. As long as the poem wasn’t esoteric.

He didn’t want to think about how disappointing it would be when his memory began to fail him. So, he chose not to do so.

At his partner’s protest, the telepath opened one eye and reached out with his hand – the one holding his vodka, as his other hand was already occupied – to awkwardly touch Josh’s face. “You shouldn’t regret anything; I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”

There would be plenty of time for lovemaking later. As it was, they would need to avoid the sun after too much exposure, and they could take that siesta break for activities other than napping. Sean didn’t think that Josh would require much convincing when they reached that portion of the day.

For now, he was quite content with how they were.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh was impressed with Sean's ability to continue on with the poem. Of course, he found himself impressed with Sean on a regular basis, even after decades. Perhaps it wasn't entirely due to his partner's skills and was rather due to his own self-perception.

Not likely. Sean was just impressive.

"I'm glad. It would be disappointing if you weren't enjoying yourself, especially for a birthday getaway."

Even if the occasion had been simply a vacation he would have been disappointed had Sean not enjoyed the itinerary he'd planned for them. He wanted to think he had some idea of what Sean liked; more than that he wanted the other man to enjoy himself.

Sitting here with Sean, drinking beer and chatting, was definitely Josh's idea of fun, but as the sun continued to beat down upon them he couldn't help but yawn.

"Where's the sunscreen? I think I need to reapply."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean didn’t consider himself anywhere near as impressive as he knew that Josh found him. The telepath was more connected to reality than his partner was, and, while self-confident, he didn’t have a narcissistic streak that would put his thoughts in line with Josh’s, insofar as he was the subject.

However, he also saw no reason to argue with his partner about this.

“It would be disappointing,” the telepath agreed. Fortunately, they needn’t concern themselves with that possibility, as he was most thoroughly enjoying himself.

“I put it in the supply bag,” Sean replied. After taking another sip from his drink, he set the bottle down and rose to his feet. “If you take off your shirt, I can give you another coat,” he offered.

It was necessary to have a full coat of sunscreen, given their respective ages and the fact that neither he nor Josh tanned well. For himself, Sean attributed that to the fact that his ethnicity was incredibly Irish.

Even if they tanned well, they didn’t need to increase their risk of skin cancer.

The telepath went to the supply bag and easily found the bottle of sunscreen. After pulling it out, he returned to his partners side and resumed his seat, although he turned so that he was facing the other man.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh placed his beer on the deck and pulled his polo shirt over his head. It was nautical themed, with little anchors against a navy stripe across the chest; he felt it necessary to give a sartorial nod to their activity of choice. This combined with khaki shorts and sperry's completed his outfit for the day. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but casual for the attorney.

He turned so that his back was to Sean's chair, allowing his partner access to the parts he couldn't reach by himself. He leaned down to retrieve his beverage, taking a sip with a satisfied sigh.

"Thank you very much."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

One Josh had his back to Sean, the telepath scooted closer so that he could more easily reach every area of his partner’s back that required sunscreen. He opened the bottle and poured a generous portion of lotion into his hands. Unlike with the massage oil, he didn’t rub it into his hands to warm it first; that would defeat the purpose (particularly as the palms of one’s hands were impervious to sunburn) and the sun warmed them enough as it was.

Leaning over, his two large hands began at the top of the younger man’s back, right under his neck. His touch was light, as this wasn’t a massage; instead, he was charged with the task of rubbing the lotion into his partner’s skin and nothing more.

“What are lovers for?” He queried in return, choosing that word specifically due to their previous topic of conversation, and the entire purpose of this trip. He could easily reach, when Josh couldn’t do so; more than that, it was an excuse to, quite literally, run his hands all over his partner’s body.

The telepath’s hands trailed lower, moving to Josh’s shoulders and then lower still.

“Besides, I assume that you’d be willing to return the favor later.”