Copy This (Open)

[Daniel Taylor]

Daniel sighed. The stupid copier machine wasn't working. Daniel wanted to make copies of the next assignment he was going to give to his students. The copier machine had spat out five copies. Daniel had punched in twenty copies. The machine screen had a spinning thinking wheel. Daniel pinched the bridge of the his nose.

Daniel left the room and went to the staff lounge. He entered the lounge. Daniel made himself a cup of coffee. He took his cup and sat down. He didn't need the copies of the assignment right away, but he would like them before his next class. Maybe he could find someone who knows how to use the copier.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

((OOC: Although the first post was on Christmas, I’m backdating the thread to before the Hammel winter break for timeline purposes.))


Sean was the resident Luddite of Hammel, as well as among his social circle. The telepath knew how to work technology, of course, and he had a cellphone and a personal computer; he didn’t think that technology was the downfall of civilization, which was why he didn’t count as a true Luddite. Still, he didn’t own a smartphone or a laptop or a tablet or an e-reader or even an iPod; he didn’t use Apple technology at all. He had a desktop in his study at home and another one in his office at Hammel, and he preferred talking on the phone to either using email or texting, even if he used whatever was at his disposal at the time.

He was more old-fashioned that way, and he didn’t care that, occasionally, his students, a coworker, or a friend made a teasing remark on the topic.

The psychiatrist came to the staff lounge as he so often did between sessions, in search of a cup of coffee and whatever baked goods were left over from his early morning delivery of Josh’s homework the night before. Today, he spied a leftover raspberry bar, and he claimed it before pouring himself some coffee.

“Daniel,” he greeted, his coworker with a nod, as he filled his cup. “You don’t look in good spirits.”

[Daniel Taylor]

"Hello Sean." Daniel greeted Sean when he came in. "I am having trouble with the copier. I want twenty copies and I get five plus the never ending spinning thinking wheel." Daniel took a long sip of coffee. Why were things like that seem to always happen Dan? He knew these things happen to other too. The man felt that klutziness and bad luck seemed to follow him everywhere.

"How are you doing?" Hopefully Sean as having a better day than Dan.

"I am so ready for this up coming break," he muttered and took another sip of coffee.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean sympathized with the younger man, as technology problems were a never-ending source of frustration, particularly with how important technology was in this modern world of theirs. Moreover, he had come to learn over the years that the copy machine was a constant source of frustration for the teachers and administrative staff who needed to make photo copies of their assignments and other documents.

He kept a printer in his office and another at home; he didn’t envy anyone using industrial machines.

“I’d offer to take a look at it, but I don’t know how useful I’d be.” He could change a tire and complete minor home repairs; he could restart the fusebox, make coffee over an open flame, and build a birdhouse. However, this might prove outside of his element.

Rather than answer the younger man’s question, the psychiatrist instead nodded heavily in agreement. “So am I,” he admitted. Chanukah was already underway, which meant that the holidays in the Neville-Bernstein house had already begun, but he appreciated the month of break as much as the students and the rest of the faculty did. It had been a long term, and he could use a break. “Do you have anything special planned?”

[Daniel Taylor]

Dan smiled at Sean’s offer. “Take a look if you want. Maybe I over looked something.” Usually when Dan got someone to help the problem would go away and Dan looked like a fool. How did the man survived while living alone?

Dan took another sip of his coffee before answering Sean’s question. “I’m going to my dad’s place. Hit the slopes for some skiing.” Nothing overly special. Dan was happy that he was going to be spending time with his family. That was special enough for him. “What you? Do you have anything planned?”

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean considered that briefly, before he replied, “I can try, but I make no promises.” His lack of experience with the copy machine boded poorly for his ability to fix whatever was wrong with it. However, he would make the attempt for a fellow staff member.

“My partner celebrates Chanukah,” he explained, since that was the family holiday. Sean was rather ambivalent towards Christmas as a whole, since he no longer considered it an important religious holiday (for himself), and Josh so balked at secular Christmas that they forewent many of the customs and traditions. Not all of them, since he had been slowly inoculating his partner regarding the customs that they could enjoy, such as mistletoe, and since Josh didn’t object to food and drink like cookies, peppermint ice cream, or eggnog. “So our holidays are underway, but the courts shut down for a week, and if it doesn’t snow, I hope we can get out to Boston for a few days.”

There were museums and restaurants and all manner of cultural events for them to enjoy during their break period.

“And I plan to visit the Campbells.” Campbell Christmas remained a tradition for Sean since 2004. That was Christmas enough for everyone.

“I’ve never gone skiing,” he admitted. “What do you like about it?”