Y'all look like you could use a bite (Sean)

[Sophie Tillman]

In Sophie's opinion, the timing for her return from the trip to Georgia couldn't have been better. Sure, she had been thrilled to make the trip; she wouldn't miss Anthony's wedding for the world. The ceremony and reception had been absolutely lovely, which meant her brother had probably had next to no hand in the proceedings - Sophie loved the man, but truth be told, his taste was just as dull as rice. No head for party planning at all. But as wonderful as it had been to see her family and help out, the fact was that it was Pride Weekend, and Sophie felt needed in Pilot Ridge, too.

Today was a relatively small event, at least compared to everything else that would take place that weekend, but it was one Sophie did her best to make time for when it came around every couple of years or so. The screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So" was typically not very well attended, which she thought was a shame; whether the viewer was Christian or not, the film featured useful and interesting information regarding pro-queer interpretations of the Bible. At the very least, it was helpful when one needed to shut down a bigot who insisted on using scripture as ammunition. For viewers who were looking to maintain their faith while coming to terms with an identity that many believed only existed as a direct contradiction to it, Sophie knew, it provided a different kind of aid. Her own views, instilled in her by her Baptist upbringing, had been very much up in the air for some time, but knowing that she didn't have to abandon them outright had been a comfort while she sorted it out.

When Sophie strolled into the center an hour before showtime, she balanced a saran-wrapped tray of frosted cookies on one arm and an enormous jug of sweet tea in the other. As serious as the material was, what kind of movie screening didn't offer refreshments? None that she had ever volunteered with, that was for sure. She stopped at the reception desk to deposit her treats on a flat surface, then turned to the nearest face to add, in a drawl that had been stronger since her return, "Ah've got some plastic cups in mah car, ah'll just run out for a second trip."

((I took a couple liberties as far as what sort of stuff happens at the center based on the stuff my local center does, hope that's okay))

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean did not volunteer for movie nights unless the LGBT Youth Center was shorthanded. Most adult volunteers were capable of doing the movie night or other activity night shifts, whereas fewer adults qualified as mental health professionals sufficient to lead the peer groups or handle therapeutic mentoring. The telepath believed that everyone who wanted to volunteer (and who passed the intake process designed to weed out predators and those who desired to harass) should have the opportunity to do so without people like him taking all of the available slots. He encouraged everyone to volunteer who had the ability and the slightest inclination.

That was how Josh had started volunteering here.

Although Sean typically did not volunteer on movie night, he had come in for an emergency meeting with one of the teenagers. After a long conversation and some planning, that teenager was no longer in crisis. For that, the telepath was both grateful and accomplished.

However, it put him at the Center outside of his typical hours. The least he could do was help to set up for the movie night.

He recognized Sophie when she entered the room, and he turned his attention to her, pausing in his task of setting chairs into rows in front of the screen. He smiled in greeting as he asked, “Do you need help unloading your car?”

[Sophie Tillman]

When Sophie recognized Dr. Neville, her face lit up with the warm smile she usually had reserved for him. It had been several years since she'd been either his patient or student, but she still regarded him with great respect. Sophie knew what kind of work he did, after all - the doc had been instrumental in getting her out of adolescence in one piece.

"Ah'd quite appreciate it, Doctor," she replied as she set the tray and jug carefully on the table that had been set up near the entrance. "Ah've got some brownies to grab as well, so an extra han' would be lovely."

Okay, so maybe she'd gone a little overboard, preparing so many snacks when maybe half would get eaten if she was lucky. But that was situation normal for Sophie, bein familiar by trade with the prevalence of allergies. If she was going to bring food, then there'd have to be regular, sugar-free, gluten-free and so on. The cookies were color-coded by frosting, the brownies by the ribbons she'd tied their baggies with.

"It's jus' righ out here," she said, nodding towards her little blue sedan parked nearby while she held the door for the man. "So how you been keepin', Doctor? Ah miss anything big while ah was away?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean returned the smile, his eyes crinkling as tended to happen at his age. The smile widened at the mention of brownies. The stereotypical adage was false, in that the way to his heart was complicated; however, the quickest way to put a smile on his face was the mention, or presence, or baked goods. Brownies were a particular favorite. “Are the brownies for the youth only? Or can volunteers have one?”

If she had set the brownies aside as a treat for the youth at movie night, or for the movie night activity itself (in which he had no intention of participating fully), then he would accept that without complaint. Still, if brownies were available to him, he would eat one before leaving.

With that, the telepath followed her out of the building back towards her vehicle. He took the door from her with a murmur of gratitude, before they approached the sedan. “I always keep busy,” he said with a smile and a light chuckle. Between work at Hammel, his volunteering here, his relationship with Josh, and maintaining their social circle, he often had something to occupy him.

“What do you consider ‘big’?” That would make the difference in answering her question. “More importantly, how have you been?”

[Sophie Tillman]

Sophie couldn't help laughing upon hearing the doctor's request. Not that wanting a brownie was inherently ridiculous, but with as many as she knew would be left over at the end of the night, she'd have to be awful stingy to refuse him one.

"Oh, help y'self, there's plenty to go round," she told him. "Ah don't know what ah was thinking, makin' so many."

As they approached the car, Sophie unlocked it with a small beep of the key fob.

"They're in a bin in the front seat," she instructed, swinging around to the other side. The sleeves of plastic cups sat behind the driver's seat, waiting to be snatched up.

"Y'know, big for Pilot Ridge," Sophie elaborated as she straightened up, cups in hand, and shut the door. "Life that power outage last month - we had a generator ready at the clinic so it wasn't too bad there, but just gen'ral havoc, ah suppose."

Sophie was genuinely interested in news of what she'd missed of her hometown - of course she was, she loved the place and it felt like something was always going haywire here - but she couldn't help being pleased when Dr. Neville asked after her own news.

"Did ah tell you ah was away for Tony's wedding?" she asked, beaming with excitement. "Took him just forever to propose to his girlfriend, can't imagine why, she's just such a sweetheart." Although Sophie didn't get back to Georgia but two or three times a year, whenever she'd spent time with her new sister-in-law, the woman was a downright delight. Yes, Tony had done well for himself. "Ah was afraid they'd have her and the bridesmaids wearin' boots, you know that's mighty popular right now with folks who've never even seen a ranch, but no, it was just lovely, ah have to say."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean smiled. “I’ll be sure to leave some for the children.” While there was no danger of him eating all of the brownies since he knew that there were others, eating an entire platter was only something of an exaggeration. He could polish them off over the course of a day or two on his own, if left to his own devices.

With the car unlocked, Sean pulled open the passenger door and spied the bin easily. He leaned over, easily lifting the container into one arm. Through the clear plastic, he could see the chocolate treats, and they certainly looked moist, although only a taste test would prove that definitively. “Is there anything else I can help with?” He asked, poking his head about; he had another free hand, and if she needed help with bags, he could dangle those from one of his arms or shoulders.

He chuckled lightly. “What would life in Pilot Ridge be without the occasional general havoc?” A town as small as this one could hardly exist without some degree of chaos, not with their population. They were the meta-human capital of the United States, and many of those meta-humans were only just learning how to control their powers. Add to that the general eccentricities that often accompanied small-town life (and certain stereotypes about Vermont) and it left them with the unique makeup of Pilot Ridge.

He shook his head and smiled, as he carefully shut the door of her car, making sure not to lose his grip on the brownies. “You didn’t mention that, but tell me all about it.”

[Sophie Tillman]

"Nah, that should be everything." Sophie had managed to get most of her goodies in on the first trip, and spreading the second between two people made it no work at all. "Thanks a bunch, Doctor."

His comment about Pilot Ridge being a havoc magnet was certainly true enough. Sophie wouldn't describe herself as being on the front lines whenever events went pear-shaped around here, but one of the "perks" of her job was that when something was amiss, it didn't take her long to find out. She imagined the same was true over at Maddock General, although probably to a more hectic degree.

But right now, chaos was at a relative minimum, and Dr. Neville was asking about Tony's wedding, and gushing about that was much more fun than wondering what sort of disaster would strike the town next.

"Oh mah goodness, where to start?" Sophie wondered aloud, grin spreading wide across her face. "Well of course the ceremony was wonderful - they had it in the same Baptist church we all went to before ah moved up here, but ah have never seen the place that fulla flowers but for Easter services. Mandy's niece - oh, Mandy is Tony's wife, ah forgot to mention - anyway her little niece was the flower girl and ah don't think you coulda found a cuter child if you searched the whole state, she was so excited...."

As they headed back from the parking lot, Sophie listing off detail after detail, she realized she was chattering about a mile a minute, but who could blame her? It wasn't every day your favorite brother got married to the love of his life, after all.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean dusted his hands once they had returned to the room and he had placed down his burden. “You’re most welcome. Let me help you set up.” He would intersperse that with nibbling on brownies, as Sophie had given him permission to do so, and he only turned away baked goods when ill or so deep in a black mood as to be wholly bereft of appetite.

The telepath busied himself arranging chairs for the movie night, although he turned his head to focus on her as she began describing the wedding.

Sean liked weddings when they weren’t ostentatious. Although he did not envision himself getting married for reasons that he and Josh had discussed last year, namely that marriage was neither necessary nor sufficient for a healthy relationship, he never begrudged anyone their decision to marry. What worked for one couple did not work for others, and everyone who was not abusive or coercive deserved to be happy. Besides, he liked food and he liked to see other people in the element of their cultures and their families.

“It sounds like a lovely ceremony. How many people were there in total?” It sounded from first description like it had been intimate, but first appearances could be deceiving.