Lunch date with friends

[Josef Muller]

Josef hadn’t often been to Damien’s office, which was a shame. He got along with most of the people there, after all. He was good friends with Josh, had met and seemed to have Janice’s approval, and seemed to generally be settling in well. But most of the time, when it came to lunches, he and Damien either went out or wound up at the self-defense clinic.

Partially it was his fault. Josef was busy and had a lot to manage, and so often didn’t have the time to trudge to Damien’s office. But this time, he’d decided to work on spacing his classes more. Having them start and end ten minutes earlier or later allowed him to have more time, and so he’d told Damien that he’d meet him at his office for a change and, in return, had brought him lunch.

Things had been going so incredibly well. Josef wondered if he was jinxing things by thinking that. But he was settling in with the pets and living with Damien wasn’t…difficult. Sure, it had its ups and downs, and there were some debates here and there, but even though he’d had his initial doubts it had all worked out and he was…happy. Honestly happy.

He just told himself he shouldn’t be worried about messing it up. That was a good way to jinx it.

He’d brought along some of his pastries for Josh and anyone else in the office, and was carrying all food items in a paper bag. He stepped into the office and glanced around.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh was just hanging up the phone, having finished a stressful phone call with a client unhappy their case hadn't been scheduled until after the new year, when he heard a familiar voice. It wasn't a voice he was used to hearing at his firm proper, and he furrowed his brow in concern. What could Josef want? Advice on legal matters, perhaps? He was passingly familiar with his friend's history, and wondered if perhaps something had come up with the ex.

He lurched out of his chair, snatching his coat off the hook on the door -- even with the heat on, the building was frigid. Shuffling into the foyer, he gave Josef a tense smile. "Josef! How unexpected! I hope you aren't here for any serious reason...?"

[Niko Gallo]

Having been sent off on an errand to accounting for a few files that needed processing, Niko was a little on the out of breath side when he walked back across the foyer to see Josh talking with someone he hadn't met yet. A client, maybe? The guy looked kinda familiar - maybe he'd seen him around town. And his boss looked a little tense - was everything okay?

Brushing the gelled (and trying to escape) bangs out of his face, the younger man walked forward, still holding the accounting papers he needed to give over to Damien when he made his way back to the desks. He smiled bright and cheerily, looking first to this new guy and then to his boss. "Mr. Bernstein, it's kinda cold out here in the foyer. I can grab you two some coffee after I drop this with Damien, but you guys should talk in your office."

It really was hella cold in the foyer, though to be fair things weren't much better anywhere else outside the conference room or Janice and Josh's offices. But, if this was a social call, at least Niko was being friendly. If it was for a case, then he was being polite. Win win, yeah?

[Josef Muller]

Josef spun around as Josh came bolting out of his office, and his brows climbed. Did he really come to visit that little? He hadn’t thought it was quite that bad. Clearly, he needed to visit more. He offered Josh a smile.

“No, no, I’m not here for anything serious or legal advice. Really, you can—uh, hi.” He turned as another man came in, and then laughed. “I’m not here for a meeting, I swear. I don’t have any legal troubles. I’m Damien’s boyfriend. Remember Josh? I’m just here to have lunch with him.” He held up the bag. “I bought enough pastries for everyone. Homemade. But can I move out of here? It really is freezing.” And while he was all bundled up, he would definitely appreciate a warmer setting.

[Joshua Bernstein]

The reassurance -- and reminder -- elicited a sheepish chuckle from the older man. This reasoning made perfect sense, far more than legal troubles. Of course Josef would want to meet Damien on occasion at the office; he knew they met outside of it quite a bit, but there was no reason they couldn't meet here.

Except that Janice teased.

"Oh! Ah...oh." He scratched his chin awkwardly before realizing that both his intern and his friend had commented on the cold and requested a move elsewhere. "Ah..we could move into the conference room. It's slightly warmer there."

Only because it wasn't immediately beside the door to outside.

"And coffee would be great, Niko. Just be sure to let Damien know. And Janice, if you can find her. Maybe you can get her to help you bring in coffee, since you'll need five of them."

[Niko Gallo]

Huh! So this was Damien's boyfriend! Though a little shorter than Niko had thought, he definitely had the build of a martial artist, even under all the winter clothes. And... oh cool; he brought food. Awesome. Josef just jumped up automatically in approval rating in the intern's book.

"Sure thing, boss!" he replied cheerily. "I'll grab the doors for you on the way in and then let him know." Taking off quickly, the younger man opened the heavier outer door before stepping in after the other two men. "Be right back," he called over his shoulder, then turned about again when he remembered, "Oh yeah - how do you like your coffee?"

Orders taken (he already knew Josh liked his black), the clerk jogged over to where he and Damien did most of their work, putting the accounting documents on the right desk. "Here's those files you wanted. Also, Josh and your boyfriend are in the conference room having a chat. Pretty sure he's here to see you, though."

[Damien Tremblay]

Damien had been holed up in his office for the better part of the day. Files were starting to stack up for cases in the new year, and he was trying to get Josh and Janice as organized and prepared as he could. Plus there was the monthly cost reports from accounting he was supposed to be filing... Needless to say, he was busy. And getting Niko to help in any way the younger man could. That sadly included doing things like running up to the accounting offices above that they worked with.

He barely looked up when the files were set down, reading through an old case he was hoping he could use as a reference point in one of Josh's upcoming cases for the new year. As such, it took a moment for what Niko had said to sink in. He'd heard voices out in the foyer, yes, but...

"Sorry, what?" He glanced up at Niko properly now, blinking before a smile spread over his face. Only Josef seemed to elicit that reaction from him. "Right! Thanks, Niko." He remembered Josef saying something about that the other night, and he'd probably gotten a text or something that he'd been too busy to see. Well. He could make up for that now.

He got to his feet after bookmarking the site he'd been reading and grabbed his jacket. Last time he'd been in the conference room it had been chilly, and he didn't expect it to be much different today. Trying not to bound down the hallway like a lovesick teenager, he headed into the conference room and went straight to Josef. "Hey!" Okay, yes. He was secretly a lovesick teenager.

[Josef Muller]

Josef nodded. “Perfect. And I can dispense the baked goods there.” He figured Josh wouldn’t mind, even if he had managed to learn to bake his own pretty well. Apparently, Damien had mentioned Josef to this Niko fellow. He was a little worried by that, but decided that he couldn’t let old habits get in the way. He’d relax and not think too much of it.

“Black, please.” Josef offered the younger man a smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” He was wondering where Damien had gotten to. He had mentioned the lunch, right? He could be forgetful at times, but he still thought he would’ve remembered to bring it up… Oh well. “Here’s the snacks,” he said, pulling out a small donut box full of things he’d baked at home. He put it out on one of the paper plates and pushed it in Josh’s direction. “I should visit more often. Wouldn’t want you to keep thinking I’m in legal trouble. Dig in.”

He turned as the door opened, and then grinned as Damien arrived. He wasn’t one for public displays of affection, so only brushed his lips against the man’s cheek and clasped his hands briefly. “It’s good to see you. I brought you lunch. And this room is much warmer.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "You don't have to visit, but you know you're always welcome to."

After all, Josef had been a friend before he had begun seeing Damien; he wasn't suddenly unwelcome just because he might distract one of the employees. Actually, scratch might; the reaction Damien had put this into the realm of definitely distract.

Not that Josh could judge; he had been just as smitten when he'd first begun seeing Sean. Maybe still was, to some extent.

"Would the two of you like some privacy?" He asked, inching toward the box of goodies with head craned to see what was inside. "We can all disperse and let you have couple time."