Winners Never Quit (Josh/later Sean)

[Stefan Spencer]

Stefan was peeking into the windows of the bar like a kid trying to catch a glimpse of an R rated movie. The fact that he had lost a little weight while in jail and his suit no longer fit as is should did nothing to help this image.

The problem with being fresh out of jail, on probation, and living in Pilot Ridge was that in a small town most of his old haunts were well aware of his situation and what he'd done to get himself in it. Many of the local barkeeps wouldn't serve him anymore, even if he walked in stone cold sober and just wanted a beer to nurse for a while.

Another problem was that while Stefan was staying at the halfway house he wasn't allowed to drip a drop. Of course this did nothing to actually stop him, but it did force him to be creative. One such way was to start drinking earlier in the day so he would have time to sober up a bit before he returned home for the night. Of course it was hard to convince everyone that he was doing just fine when he strolled into a bar around noon and asked for a shot. People chalked it up to a symptom of his so called alcoholism. As if. Stefan could stop drinking anytime he wanted. And it wasn't his fault the cop who arrested him couldn't handing a little flirtation. Some people really needed to unwind and have a drink.

Stefan had had a rough day looking for work and what he really needed was a drink, but it was getting closer to evening and he wasn't even sure if he would be served here. As he paced around in front of the bar debating, he bumped into someone walk along the sidewalk. He looked up to apologize and started smiling before he even got the words out of his mouth.

"Josh Bernstein," he said, grinning. "Well isn't this a wonderful surprise."

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh had never expected Stefan to end up in jail. Although Sean had hinted (and outright stated) that their mutual friend had a problem with alcohol the attorney simply couldn't believe that was true. After all, didn't everyone bring home their friends at three in the morning because they lost track of the time while at the bar?

Of course they did.

Sean seemed to disagree, however. And while Sean's judgment was usually sound Josh just didn't see it.

He had done his best to visit his friend during his jail time, but he hadn't yet heard that Stefan was out and so it was with some surprise that he greeted the journalist.

"Stefan!" He gaped, then smiled in pleasure. "I didn't expect to see you here. Are you meeting someone?"

Stefan was always meeting someone -- Sometimes he even had prearranged plans with people.

[Stefan Spencer]

Stefan had never expected to end up in jail either. And no matter what he'd told his parole officer or the people running the halfway house, he didn't see it as his fault that he'd end up there. And definitely not his drinking fault.

He had been glad that so many of his friends had taken the time to visit him while he was in jail. Though he had made some friends on the inside at well, it had been nice to have some contact with the outside world to, to know that he hadn't been forgotten.

"Nope, I'm just open to whoever fate decides to throw at me," Stefan answered with a smile. He couldn't help but give the bar a side glance as they talked, as if maybe the bartender would walk out with a drink in hand for him.

"How about you handsome? Meeting Sean for drinks?" After all, isn't that what all sane, ration people did at the end of the day?

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh shook his head at Stefan's question, "No, he's working a bit late this evening." This statement was followed by a slight frown and then, "That's been a bit of a trend lately. But I can't complain, he was so supportive when I spent all my time on the campaign trail last year."

That had failed to pan out to his advantage, and so he wasn't sure he didn't regret it; he could have spent all that time with his partner, instead of clawing his way towards a political position. Ah, well. Better luck next time, his friends had said, but he had done nothing to prepare for a next time. Two times, and he was taking himself out.

[Stefan Spencer]

Stefan mirrored his friend's frown. "We'll I'd hate for you to be lonely. Care to join me? He gestured toward the bar he'd been peeking inside. After all, there was nothing wrong about going to the bar with a right, right. Bars served food. At least snacks. So it wouldn't look like he was marching in to get plastered.

Even if that's what he was hoping for.

Besides, Stefan didn't want to lonely either.

"We don't have to stay long, if you're busy. I'd love to catch up. What do you say, handsome?" And drink. Drink a lot.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh's frown quickly melted into a smile at Stefan's offer.

"I would love to, if you have the time."

He strode towards the bar his friend had gestured towards, not stopping to consider the implications of the other man's stint in jail and the fact that this was a bar.

[Stefan Spencer]

"For you? I'll always have the time."

Stefan was grinning now as he reached out to pat Josh's shoulder as the two walked in to find themselves a seat. He could almost feel the alcohol in the air. As if just by being in the room his nerves settled a little. He breathed deep and smiled.

He motioned for a waitress and had to stop himself from ordering a whole bottle of scotch right away. Not that he thought Josh would freak about it. But he didn't want to chance it.

"How about a pitcher of something on tap?" he asked. If Josh said no, it would be a good excuse to get something a little stronger. And if he agreed, well there was always time for something stronger later.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh hesitated a moment at the question. He had cut back on his beer intake since his hypertension diagnosis, and the move had unarguably improved his blood pressure. But he enjoyed beer, much more so than any other beverage.

And he was out with a friend he hadn't seen in awhile. Sure, Stefan had been in jail for alcoholism, but he had been to rehab.

"Well....I'm supposed to be drinking less." He admitted mournfully. "so maybe not a pitcher. I'm sure one drink wouldn't hurt, though."

[Stefan Spencer]

Stefan fought not to frown at Josh's response. It's not that he expected Josh to get sloppy drunk with him, but it was going to be hard for him to get his buzz on if Josh was expecting to nurse one drink the entire night.

Still, Stefan was happy enough to even be sitting in a bar with a handsome man friend and having just one drink. Added to that was the fact that these days his ability was working better for him. Meaning that when he was sober, his readings on people were more accurate and less what he wanted to see. So he could tell from Josh's body language that now was not the time to press the other man.

"One drink it is then," he said. Adding with a wink, "For now." He smiled leaving Josh free to take that addition as a joke or not.

"So how have you been? I haven't seen you since...I've been...back," Stefan said once the waitress had left to get their drinks.

[Joshua Bernstein]

At Stefan's reply Josh returned his attention to the waitress. "Yuengling, if you have it."

He then smiled at his friend. "Oh, you know. Work, time with Sean. Losing the election gave me more free time, which is nice. How about yourself?"

[Stefan Spencer]

Stefan nodded along, trying to give Josh his full attention, but really half of it was spent watching the waitress. Not only because he loved watching women walk, but also because he wanted to make sure she got their drinks and came right back. No, he did not have a problem...he was just...thirsty.

"I'm sorry the way things worked out about that," Stefan said. Personally he thought Josh would be a great politician, even if he did worry about the other man's ability to handle the pressures, he felt that Josh's heart was in the right place. "How's Sean? Happy to have his shining knight around, I'm sure."

"I've been fine, just fine," Stefan said. It was his go to answer these days. He needed a drink all the time, missed his home, but really at least he could come and go as he pleased for the most part. "I've been talking to my old boss at the paper about starting up there again soon."

It was a bit of a lie, more a stretching of the truth, and the same line he'd given his parole officer earlier in the week.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh's expression lit up at Stefan's news. He only wanted the best for his friends, even if his idea of "the best" and reality didn't always align.

"That's fantastic!" He enthused, his own gaze firmly on his friend rather than the waitress. He trusted her to do her job.

"Do you have a timeline for that yet?"

[Stefan Spencer]

"Uh...sorta?" Stefan said, trying to stale as he searched for the right phrasing. "I'm going to be writing up a few pieces for him soon, sort of a testing the waters kinda thing." Meaning he had been writing when he could and submitting them to his editor in the hopes that they would be acceptable and he could get his foot back in the door. For now though, it seemed his editor was still hesitant to put him back on permanent payroll or send him on any real leads past fluff pieces.

The waitress return with their drinks and Stefan took a long drink, forcing himself to set down the glass instead of chugging the entire thing.

"I needed that," he said, without thinking. He laughed a little forcefully, hoping Josh would take the comment as a joke.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh laughed along with his friend, not catching the truth behind the other man's words. "Me, too." He agreed, taking a long sip himself. "So what sort of articles have you been writing? Any news I should know about before it hits the front pages?"

[Stefan Spencer]

"I know it's not the best thing for me," Stefan continued. "But man does it feel good going down." As if to prove his point, he took another long swallow.

"Nothing that I've been working on," Stefan said. "Unless maybe I should start a 'where are they now' column for amazing almost politicians." He grinned, fully happy to be in his element again. Sitting in a bar. Drink in hand. Chatting up a beautiful man.