Lonely (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh sprawled out across the bed he and Sean shared. He had literally kicked off his shoes, which were upside down and against the wall. He had loosened but not taken off his tie, his jacket was thrown on the bed beside him, and his glasses were on the bedside table, the only item to be treated with care.

He had worked late, ordering food at the office, waiting to go home until after the curfew sean had given.He was the only person home, unless one counted Mopsy, and despite decades of living on his own this huge empty house felt so lonely.

He could have spent the time working on his campaign, but instead he chose to pull the cell out of his trouser pockets, flipping to Sean's number without bothering to check. He could dial this number in his sleep.

Phone was lifted to his ear, and he waited for the other man to pick up, hoping he wasn't occupied with naughty students.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Yesterday had comprised of a bus ride, of assigning students to cabins and making certain that everyone was properly settled. There had been a campfire and cookout, the nature hikes had begun, all while staff were also getting settled.

The second day had been jam-packed with activities. Nature hikes, watercraft and swimming, all manner of other games. Sean had his chaperoning work cut out for him, which meant that he couldn’t relax with a book and a water bottle, as he might otherwise do while on a camping excursion. Instead, he had to keep an eye on the students and make sure that their activities didn’t turn malicious or risqué. Otherwise, it would be a long bus-ride home, one that would be early, and with which the psychiatrist would be quite displeased.

However, the students had survived the day without real incident, and Sean (along with the other faculty members), had seen to curfew and bed check. With the students safely in their cabins, and the campfire safely extinguished, this gave the various adults a bit of free time.

Sean’s free time would be spent on the telephone – a fact underscored by the ringing from his pocket.

The telepath excused himself from the others in his cabin, going out towards the forest so that he would have privacy (and so his voice wouldn’t disturb anyone else). Once then, he answered the phone, quite certain of who it was without actually checking first.

“I was about to call you,” he said, since he didn’t want his partner to think that he had forgotten about him. “How are you doing?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

When his partner picked up Josh'a face brightened. "I miss you," he answered, his expression at odds with the dolorous tone he put on just for this occasion. "How long is this trip again?"

He already knew the answer, but five days felt like an eternity and so it was necessary to sigh melodramatically about the whole affair. He would probably have to get used to this being a yearly tradition; Sean had chaperoned this trip before they had reconciled and would continue to do so, no matter Josh's selfish desires.

"I'm visiting Tomer tomorrow. I can't believe he didn't want to go."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I miss you too,” Sean was quick to assure his partner. He did miss Josh, and his greatest regret with the Hammel camping retreat is that spouses and domestic partners weren’t allowed. Rather, spouses who were not also employed by Hammel were prohibited; married couples wherein both spouses were Hammel staff were allowed to spend the retreat together.

The telepath had previously had little reason to argue the policy. He now had reason, but little hope, of successfully changing that prohibition. Chaperoning a dance for a couple of hours differed greatly from a five-day retreat isolated in the woods, in terms of liability risk by individuals who had not been vetted properly or extensively.

“Five days.” He didn’t chide Josh or remind the younger man that he was already aware of that. It was a long time, since they didn’t like to be parted. At the same time, they had survived the separation last year, and he had great confidence in their ability to do so this year as well.

“Bailey is fine,” he added, since he was sure that Josh would want to know how their foster daughter was doing.

At the mention of Josh’s nephew, Sean said, “I’m sure he’ll appreciate the visit.” Of course, he also had a different interpretation of want to go than his partner did. “It isn’t easy for Tomer to go camping.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"I'm glad. Does she have nice cabin mates?"

He knew that she had shared rooms while living in group homes, but she had her very own room now, and most if not all of the other students were living with roommate situations. So he hoped that she was adjusting well, even if it was only for a week.

"Do the cabins not have disability access?"

That was concerning.

"I will be sure to discuss this with the owners so that he can attend next year. It isn't fair if they don't provide proper access for disadvantaged students."

Evidently his misery had been forgotten in favor of his second favorite past time of complaining.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“They’re fine.” Sean had tried to put her with the younger students, as opposed to the older ones more likely to create inappropriate mischief. “Bailey seems to get on with them.” If she didn’t, he could intervene as necessary.

“The cabins have disability access,” Sean said, quickly cutting off his partner before Josh could take them through the preliminary groundwork for a suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). They had only limited time during which to talk, and the telepath didn’t want to spend the entire conversation with Josh riled up over sleights with no basis in reality. “The cabins are ground level, and the mess hall has a ramp.”

Hammel would not take students to a place that offered no accommodations.

However, technical compliance with the ADA did not create a fun atmosphere for someone possessed of Tomer’s disability. “But he can’t go for hikes, or go swimming or play other sports. He’s also very introverted.”

It was, actually, for the best that Tomer was not here for this week. Given some of the other students who had attended, Sean believed that Josh’s nephew would find himself miserable long before the trip ended.

Then the telepath changed the subject. “I wish I could astrally project myself to you so we could spend the night together.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh considered Sean's claims for a moment, scratching at his chin. Admittedly, his partner was probably correct; the camping experience would be difficult for his nephew, given his disabilities.

They would have to make up for it this week by participating in other fun activities.

But before he could voice those thoughts, Sean ahead begun on one of their fantasies. This was much more interesting at the moment than any future plans, and so he was effectively distracted.

"That would be an experience. Can astral forms be made out with? This is an important detail for me to know."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean was certain that he was correct. While he wasn’t an expert in the field of meta-human side effects, he had been with Hammel for over two decades in an administrative capacity, and he’d had his own abilities for twice that long. He knew how difficult it could be to cope with more serious side effects in an environment like the camping trip.

Additionally, the presence of certain other students on the trip could also potentially make it miserable. The telepath still had to keep close tabs on several students who might earn an early trip home. Sadly, it was best to avoid the entire affair, even if – absent those factors – Tomer would have a great time.

Perhaps next year.

Focused on the fantasy, Sean continued to walk the path until he had sufficient privacy that he could stop. His night vision wasn’t the best, and so the telepath walked carefully, feeling along to see if he might happen upon a sideways tree, a stump, or a boulder to use as a chair.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to try,” he pointed out. Since he didn’t have an astral form, he wasn’t personally familiar with the mechanics. “I think there’s some degree of corporeal interaction, so it’s possible?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh reached across the bed to grab a pillow, shifting so he could place it under his neck for support.

"Possible is good. That's better than no. I definitely would make out with your astral form if you projected yourself here. A little kissing here, a little groping there. It wouldn't be as fun as you being here in reality, but astral sean is better than no Sean at all."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I’m inclined to agree,” Sean replied, and he did for more than one reason. Despite not being able to astral project, the telepath was more comfortable with the full range of psychic powers than was the average non-psychic. As such, he found nothing strange about the notion of trying to interact with an astral form, even in the context of romantic or other intimate physical interactions. Additionally, since he couldn’t interact physically with his partner, he would find this an acceptable substitute.

If only it was possible.

“It would actually work out well, since that way, I could spend the night. Or at least until you fell asleep.” It was far preferable to having to rely on the clumsy medium of the telephone to otherwise sate them during their five-day separation.

“Ryan always talks about the array of powers that so many of his superheroes have. It’s absurd, of course, but if only powers actually worked that way. I could visit you, and I could feel you in ways I can’t, as though there weren’t hundreds of miles between us right now.”

The telepath heaved a wistful sigh as he continued to slowly shuffle through the darkness in search of a place to sit.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"If only." Josh replied. Then no distance would be enough to separate them; together no matter what.

But would that have compounded their troubles from their undergraduate days?

He chose to shake off that question, focusing instead on the present.

"Instead I will have to satisfy myself with your voice. No matter, it is a lovely voice. So rich and deep and patient and sensual."

Just so long as his partner refrained from using his voice for singing.

"And while you're gone I will use this time to think of all the ways that I can greet you when you come home again."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“You’re the only one who thinks that way,” Sean quipped, although that wasn’t entirely true. Several people had complimented him on his speaking voice, as it was a rich and distinguished baritone largely devoid of the more grating accents associated with his birthplace and childhood home. However, his singing voice was more atrocious than words could express, and, though Josh had heard him sing before, he still complimented his voice. Which meant that the attorney was more patient and forgiving than he typically gave himself due credit.

“Are you in bed?” He inquired, since his next suggestion hinged on his partner being somewhere comfortable. “If you are, I can use that voice to tell you a bedtime story.”

It wouldn’t quite match the material of Josh’s preferred bedtime stories, in that Sean hadn’t committed any of that material to memory, and he certainly hadn’t packed it with him as a camping essential. Still, he could make something up on the spot, even if he doubted the soothing or erotic potential.

Ryan was the only creative-type in the family.

He chuckled to himself at the younger man’s suggestion. “What a coincidence. I planned on doing the same thing over the next few days.”

Of course, in the immediate aftermath of their return, he would want to get Bailey settled and comfortable. He intended to order takeout, since it would be an exhausting trip home, and they would return late enough that the telepath wouldn’t want to cook. Afterward, however, there would be time for personal greetings with his partner.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"I am," Josh confirmed. "Or...on it. I haven't quite made it to the in part yet. Haven't even changed clothes"

That particular part of the bedtime ritual wouldn't be difficult, given that he slept in his boxers, but there was still hygiene to consider. There was no rule that he couldn't put that off for a story, however, especially given that he'd already delayed to make this phone call.

"You know I couldn't turn down a bedtime story from you."

He hoped that Sean was somewhere nobody else would overhear this; he knew his partner's (deserved) reputation, and it might traumatize some of his students and coworkers to hear him engaging in erotic storytelling.

"Is this a choose your own adventure story? Audience participation? Or just sit back and listen?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Finally, Sean found a rock large enough for him to use as a chair. With his free hand, he felt around for the perch, before he sat down to make himself as comfortable as was possible in the woods.

Once seated, he cocked his head, listening to make sure that they were undisturbed. He sensed none of the students near enough to be within earshot (they were all in bed at this hour). That allowed him to continue with this plan, sine he had gained interest from his partner and didn’t want to disappoint.

“You’re welcome to participate as much as you want,” the telepath remarked. “You know half the fun is to have your reactions, and since I can’t see your face or use any of my other senses, all I’ll have is your participation.”

Which would be enough, given that this was all that they could manage with the distance between them. Moreover, Sean preferred telling stories that Josh wanted to hear. If his partner wasn’t enjoying the attempt, then the telepath wanted to have the ability to change direction in order to rekindle his partner’s interest.

“On that note, do you have a theme you want me to start with?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh, good." Josh enthused, clasping his phone between shoulder and ear so he could begin unbuttoning his shirt. "Participation is almost as fun as listening to you."

Sean could have read him a technical manual and he would have enjoyed the sound of the other man's voice, but naughty stories added a level of investment.

The question about subject matter caused him to pause in consideration. "I think as you're camping the only appropriate theme for this is bears," he suggested.