You say Potato, I say Tatws. {Sean}

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean also reached for another sandwich, and as he took a bite, he briefly considered seeking out a bottle of wine later, but he pushed the thought away. There would be no drinking, even in moderation, even just a bit to take the edge off, until he and Josh had worked through this.

Thoughts of wine banished, he focused on Griff’s existential lament and nodded in agreement. “I do think that we could stand to communicate a bit more and still retain our humanity, but I’m told I’m an idealist.” He took another bite of sandwich and then said, “Trying to navigate a personal life for forty years, I’ve learned that all we can do is try our best.”

Which was why he’d indulged Josh all of these years. For what little that had done.

The psychiatrist then smiled and scoffed at the notion of fat content. “Fat has never deterred me.” To make his point, he pat his stomach with the hand not holding his sandwich. “I’ve earned these love handles and I’m proud of them.” Which was to say that he had no body issues. The few extra pounds he carried from eating baked goods and his metabolism slowing down a bit with age wasn’t a source of shame and it had never stopped him from eating. Of course, he also had the need to eat more glucose than other people, but that only encouraged cake binges; it didn’t spawn them.

“I’ll be happy to pass it along,” Sean promised, because he would after he fixed everything with Josh and convinced the other man to offer the much needed apology to Griff for his behavior. He smiled and added, “And then we can all have tea. And you and I can throw a party sometime; that will let you meet some more of my friends to widen your invitation circle.”

With that, he finished his sandwich and lay back down beside Griff as they enjoyed the companionable silence. After a moment, he reached out to pat his arm in gratitude; while an intimate gesture, it wasn’t inappropriate. He only wanted to communicate his appreciation for this.

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Griff wasn't a big drinker, the last time he'd gotten drunk was after the news about his mother. He'd had lots of scotch and pretty much knocked himself out with the alcohol. He didn't reckon he would have slept at all otherwise. Even if Sean had admitted he was going to have a bottle of wine, he would have probably accepted it with understanding. Sometimes, despite how unhealthy it was, you needed something to soften the edge off an emotional blow.

"The best is all we can do." Griff agreed, moving his hands through his hair, then looking down to his sandwich. "Idealism is a good thing, it's better than being pessimistic." He smiled, and gave Sean's arm a light squeeze. "If more people were like you the world would be a better place." He tried to comfort the older man - lessen the misery he was probably feeling.

He did laugh when Sean talked about love handles, and shook his head. "As much as I'd love to not care about my love handles, every part of me screams to be as healthy as possible." Griff shook his head. "Besides, I jog." He grinned, having another swig of tea. "Perhaps you should jog with me? Though I don't know how your timetable works in comparison to mine."

"A giant tea party? That sounds wonderful." Griff beamed, comfortable on his back and staring up at the sky once more. "Mind, if there are any grumpy ones, best they stay behind." A lopsided smile followed. He didn't want to offend MORE people.

But then the silence continued, and Griff smiled over at Sean. Nothing seemed to be wrong in the world with the bird song and the gentle sound of the wind in the breeze. He took a deep sigh and settled back with his head in his palms.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“That’s all I ever ask of anyone or of myself,” Sean said with a nod. Then the telepath smiled gratefully at the Welshman’s compliment and the reassuring touch. “I appreciate that, truly. If more people in the world were like you, everyone would be too kind to fight.” He was sure of that.

“I know,” the telepath said sympathetically. He knew of Griff’s hypochondria, as well as the side effects to his power, which was a heavy burden to bear. If their positions were reversed, if Sean had borne that burden rather than the ones caused by his telepathy, then he most likely would worry about his health more as well. “But if it makes you feel better, I certainly liked your love handles.” Which was true.

Sean considered the offer to jog. He wasn’t a jogger; his knees ached when he ran for too long, but it was still tempting. “I don’t have shifting hours from taking different appointments, but evenings would be better because I have to be at Hammel early every weekday. And it’s a kind offer; I would enjoy that.” He would enjoy spending time with the other man as well.

“I don’t have many grumpy friends, but I’ll only invite the personable ones; I promise.” Sean smiled at him and lifted one hand in a mock vow.

They lay in silence for a few minutes; Sean simply enjoying the other man’s company; the sky, the woods, the company were all soothing. Then a thought occurred to him, and he turned his head to look at Griff. “Come sailing with me sometime. I’ll pack us lunch.”

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

Griff did manage to mostly conceal the blush at Sean's compliment, and he laughed. "Well that's something then." He said cheerily. "Yours weren't too bad either, else I probably would have commented on weightloss programs and ruined the mood." That was the problem with being a doctor - he never switched off. He'd had that problem before at family gatherings, too.

"Evenings and early mornings are when I tend to go." Griff admitted. "The heat during the day right now is really offputting. I know exercise is meant to make you sweat but I can't cope with the heat. It's like putting a snowman in a fireplace." There was a light hearted laugh that followed. "Perhaps next Tuesday we can jog around the park, then come back to mine for a snack and a drink?"

As the clouds in the sky turned a little darker, Griff decided it was best to check his pulse, in case of an acute case of something nasty that could possibly kill him. He was just counting in his head when Sean's next words surprised him. "Sailing? Sounds wonderful, as long as the boat doesn't capsize and we don't drown or die of hypothermia." It was a joke, but sounded all too much like a real worry.

"But I have faith in your boating skills. And I'll bring tea. Because that's what the British are good for." Another laugh, and Griff nodded thankfully. "Thanks Sean. Honestly it sounds like a grand idea."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean chuckled as well at the remark, because he understood the same impulse. It wasn’t as though he had never watched a person behave oddly and listed off possible psychological illnesses that could be afoot, or medication side effects. He simply didn’t suffer from the same obsessive health streak (understandable given Griff’s powers) or hypochondria as the other man. “I appreciate that you didn’t. My major problem with gyms is that they don’t let you eat cake while working out.”

He then nodded in agreement because the heat could be oppressive during the height of daylight. On the other hand, it could be welcome when the snow came, and Griff had yet to experience his first Vermont winter. But there would be time for him to experience that later this year. “Tuesday would be great. Do you want me to bring anything?”

“We most likely won’t capsize,” the telepath reassured him. He couldn’t say for certain that they wouldn’t, because there was always the chance when sailing. However, it was unlikely because Sean was an experienced sailor, and unlike the younger set, he didn’t intentionally capsize for the fun of it. “And I swim well so we won’t drown, plus I have life jackets.

He smiled at the offer then, and reached out to clasp the other man’s hand in a friendly manner. “Tea would go nicely. And, no, thank you. This should be a good time.” He was sure of that, because he enjoyed Griff’s company and fully expected the shorter man to enjoy this time on the water as much as he himself did. And he would be grateful for the additional calm time.

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

"Cake is far too wonderful. I think if there is a deity up there, he made it exist because he wanted us all to become fat." Griff laughed brightly, running his hands through his hair. "The gym always concerns me because of the poor body hygiene with the gentleman there. Besides, no one wants to be asked if they've recently checked for testicular abnormalities while having a shower."

He pondered if Sean needed to bring anything. "Just a towel and yourself. You can have a shower at mine if you want." He offered gently. "I know I always like to throw myself into the water after a good jog." Griff added. "Then we can sit down for a well earned treat." There was, of course, nothing better than exercising, then putting the calories back on.

"That's a relief." He added with a chuckle. "I don't want to panic at you and drive you mad." His face broke into a grin, and he playfully nudged Sean with a shoulder. "So tea and sandwiches on the water? Sounds perfect." The doctor settled happily, giving Sean's hand a squeeze back.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much to look forward to. The smile on his face was real and honest. "Um. Sean? Is there a reason Cobalt is... not very friendly?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I could support a conspiracy to make us all fat if cake is involved,” Sean said with a smile. He then nodded in agreement with Griff’s difficulties with the gym. While he was sure that the latter wouldn’t make matters easier, his issues with the gym also extended to the body dysmorphia, which ran rampant. He didn’t need to be around that.

“That sounds marvelous, and I’ll happily do all of the above.” The jog, the shower, the sipping tea and eating cake afterward. All of that would be quite pleasant. “And yes, tea and sandwiches on the water,” he confirmed, letting is thumb idly trace the back of the other man’s hand.

The telepath felt for Griff if he’d managed to run into Cobalt Weaver in the midst of these past couple of months of drama. Cobalt was one of Josh’s close friends, and while Sean knew that Josh didn’t talk about his feelings – that as the problem – he also couldn’t imagine that the other man had kept his delusions purely to himself. Which meant that Cobalt might know about the drama, and he could only imagine what Josh had said, given how he had behaved.

That combined with the fact that Cobalt didn’t like Sean to begin with and so Griff was not only the person who had the audacity to date and sleep with Sean Neville but had also indirectly caused Josh pain, another quick way to end up on the prickly short man’s bad list. If only Cobalt were more like Danny...

The telepath’s expression was sympathetic, as he began explaining what he could, without betraying confidences. Because he knew far more about Cobalt than the attorney realized, and it wasn’t his place to explain his baggage. “Cobalt is a misanthrope because of some harsh events in his life that he doesn’t talk about. He doesn’t like people in general because he likes having a routine, and new people vary from that routine and are unexpected and certain overtures of friendliness are met with suspicion. He also detests me in particular, and it’s quite possible that he knows we dated. I apologize if you were caught in any of that crossfire. “

[Dr. Griffin Jones]

"Talking of cake, are you a fan of irish barmbrack? It's a round fruit loaf. Lovely with butter." Griff asked curiously. He'd been sent a hamper from his brother's wife with jams, non-spoiling cakes and other British goods they thought the man might have been missing. To be honest, they'd sent a bit TOO much, and Griff felt like a teenager that had left home and was receiving food parcels from his mother.

"It sounds perfect." Griff added, happily thinking of the boat already. There was nothing more wonderful than spending a peaceful time with a good friend out in the countryside. "Perhaps that lady friend of yours can bake up another of her delightful brownies." Griff had sampled Anya's work when he'd been over at Sean's house last, and was blown away by their deliciousness.

Griff did listen, though, as Sean explained in a round about way about Cobalt, and he nodded. "Ah. That'd explain the rampant hostility." He said with a small smile. First Josh, then Cobalt. What a terrible first impression he'd made on those two. He'd have to do better. "I can't understand anyone disliking you." The doctor added with a frown. "You're a very agreeable man."

Griff took a deep draught of tea, and then smiled to himself. "Don't apologise, Sean. You've done enough of that today." He hummed, taking a deep breath of country air and closing his eyes, feeling very content.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I’ve never had it,” Sean admitted. While he enjoyed most forms of baked goods and he was on his sixth decade of life, there were many that he had yet to try, and this was one of them. However, it sounded like a dessert that he would enjoy, and he continued, “but is sounds delicious.” The psychiatrist certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to try a new type of cake.

Sean then smiled at the mention of Anya. She was a wonderful friend and in some ways, reminded him of Griff, in terms of loving a proper tea and baked good session. And the short man was quite correct, because her brownies were to die for. “I think I could convince her to,” he said with a smile, “the minute she found out about my sweet tooth, she took it upon herself to make sure that I’m well stocked.”

The telepath returned the smile, although his was a bit more self-deprecating. “Unfortunately not everyone clicks.” He also had a list of reasons from direct confrontation, from psychological training, and from telepathy to know exactly why Cobalt disliked him, but those weren’t his reasons to divulge and thus he didn’t explain further. “But thank you. My self image does involve being agreeable.”

Sean lay back down on the blanket when Griff did. And a moment later he, too, closed his eyes. He could relax for a bit now, which did wonders for his mood. And then later, clear-headed, he could return to planning for what he would do about Josh.