Misfit Toys (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Of course it is." Josh jutted his chin upward slightly, straightening his posture until he was as tall as he could manage. "Haven't you noticed my incredible diplomacy skills? I could go into politics and wow everyone with my incredible combination of oratory and diplomacy. I'll be on the cover of Times magazine, maybe win a Nobel Peace Prize. It'll take a year, because everyone will just be so utterly impressed. As they should be."

He changed his gait to a jaunty saunter, his expression self-satisfied as he talked, before returning to a more natural grin. "What do you think? Can I pull it off? Janice would probably murder me for leaving her with the intern before I could do anything remotely worth winning notice."

He leaned against his partner as they waited for the mother to fish her credit card from her purse. "Very well. Grocery shopping tomorrow will be entirely up to your whims, since you're tolerating mine today." Besides, he would enjoy most anything his partner decided to pick up; he wasn't too picky about what he ate, and if it were home-made then all the better.

Although he still rather considered Sean (and Anya and Riley and....) to be miracle workers. Cookbooks looked downright confusing as far as he was concerned, almost as confusing as maps, maybe even more so.

"I suppose I should pick up some of that white tea dad likes so much." He mused. He wasn't on a restricted diet, and even if he didn't always seem to remember who his son was bringing him something that would make him smile was always worthwhile.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean affected a serious expression in response to his partner’s words, expression and strut. “Janice wouldn’t murder you; she’d call Riley and have him make sad faces at you until apologized and came back to the firm at severely reduced pay.” An absurd suggestion and behavior deserved another absurd suggestion. “Besides, you know where I stand on the judge issue.”

Sean had suggested to the other man that he could successfully run for judge in this area, and the telepath would support him in that endeavor.

The telepath wrapped his arm around Josh’s waist when his partner leaned against him, and then he rolled his eyes affectionately. “It’s grocery shopping; there’s absolutely nothing exciting or whimsical about it.” They needed fruit and since it was now firmly autumn and growing ever closer to winter, the fruit selection was less than optimal, but they would make do. They also needed Half and Half and Sean wanted to buy chicken breasts. Additionally...We do need to pick up another pack of condoms tomorrow so don’t let me forget.

The suggestion of tea for Josh’s father was easily accommodated and the telepath nodded. “We can be sure to find a box of that. Should we get something for your mother too?”

The mother and daughter ahead of them finished checking out and left. Sean stepped up to the register and set the basket down, waiting for the cashier to ring them up.

[Joshua Bernstein]

The very thought of receiving sad faces from Riley was enough for Josh to recoil in horror. "No! Not sad Riley faces, anything but that!" The tone wasn't serious, but the sentiment behind it was; his giant friend was so gentle and kind any expressions of hurt on his part would easily induce guilt. Janice hadn't quite the same personality as her older brother, but that wasn't wholly unexpected. His siblings shared some of his traits, but certainly nowhere near all of them.

He shot an amused smile as his partner once again dredged up the specter of judgeship. "If you keep saying that you might actually convince me." He warned lightly. He was perfectly happy with his job, but with not one but two firms specializing in Civil Rights in one rather small town there wasn't necessarily much work without branching out into other areas of law. He knew Cobalt and Leila had done so, particularly with regards to family law, which Cobalt seemed rather passionate about whenever he discussed it. Work was one of the few areas the other attorney allowed himself to express such sentiments, as the two friends tried not to discuss feelings too often. Not that it never happened, but Josh was more likely to falter against their tacit agreement than Cobalt was.

Heaven forbid I let you forget those. It was shocking that they were anywhere near out; he'd thought Sean had them stashed everywhere.

"Maybe some chocolate covered pretzels, she's fond of those." He suggested as the cashier began ringing up his purchases. He reached into his back pocket, drawing out his wallet. "She'll be thrilled enough to see us." It was unlikely his father would get the same amount of joy from their visit. "But you're right, I shouldn't leave her out."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

His partner reacted to the telepath’s prediction regarding Janice and Riley as expected. The other man was prone to guilt and Riley was, intentionally or otherwise, an excellent catalyst for that if sad or disappointed. “I suppose that means that you can’t quit until Vincent has completed his internship.” More was the pity for that. At least his partner had learned a valuable lesson.

The telepath returned the smile with a quirk of his eyebrow. “I’ll stop bringing it up but since you mentioned politics, I thought it was a fair point to make.” However, he could drop it. Besides, Election Day had just passed and so it wasn’t as though it was anything to tend to immediately even if Josh did take this seriously.

The other man’s concern was understandable, but they weren’t anywhere near out. Their supply was merely lower than he found comfortable, although admittedly his zone of comfort was different from most other people. There had been less need earlier in the autumn since Josh had withdrawn, but now that they were back to their routine, they ran through supplies. Also, he’d put two boxes in the bathroom closest to Emma’s guest room, just in case.

Not that he was concerned about intimacy with Josh, but habit was habit.

“If you plan to buy chocolate covered pretzels, then we should make another stop while we’re here. There’s a specialty store.” The grocery store would have chocolate covered pretzels as well, but of a different brand and quality.

Sean stood back and let the other man prepare to pay, because he didn’t want to get into a debate about whose decorations these were. Until they had a joint account which would solve those problems for the most part.

“I’m sure she will be.” The telepath didn’t doubt that, and he knew that Josh’s father experienced the world differently from the rest of them because of his illness and the tea would be both comforting and compensation in a way. Still, he was in the habit of bringing gifts for everyone. “We can call it a holiday prelude and let the treats start early this year.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"No, I can't." Josh agreed. "So it's a good thing I'm not planning on quitting anytime soon." Sean's belief he should run for judgeship notwithstanding; the idea was one he always verbally dismissed as soon as it came up, although he'd toyed with it mentally on occasion. He wasn't sure it was something he would do, or that he would actually have a chance if he did, but it made for a nice fantasy on occasion.

As the cashier scanned the last of their items and read him the total he swiped his card, then pressed his PIN number. "We can make another stop. You don't think the grocery store has any?" He didn't always have the most discerning of palates.

"A holiday prelude." He smiled, using the pen to scrawl his name across the electronic pad, signing his name to the purchase. "I'm sure she'll approve." If that was the plan then he was rather glad neither of his siblings would be in attendance until later in December for the holiday proper; they had long since agreed not to purchase presents for one another and instead keep gifts to the children. Josh hadn't readily agreed to this, as he rather liked buying presents, and if he were going to do a holiday prelude he would have to buy them gifts and then argue with them about it.

That would rather go against the spirit of the occasion.

"Do you need to get anything for Ryan?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I think the specialty shop would have a better selection,” the telepath replied honestly. He was sure that the grocery store would have some brand of chocolate covered pretzels, but the specialty store would have a higher quality, and that was important. Particularly if they were calling this a holiday prelude, then quality was all the more important.

Besides, he didn’t think that his partner would mind spending five or ten minutes at a chocolatier.

As Josh paid for the purchases, Sean reached out to take two of the bags. He waited for Josh to have his credit card returned to him, and then grab the remaining bags, before he started towards the exit. They could go through the second floor mall exit and look for the Hallmark store from there.

He smiled at the mention of his nephew, who could be difficult to shop for at times. Sean had looked through a couple of websites for ideas, but he could always simply ask Ryan what he wanted, since the young man was old enough to not care about surprises. “Eventually I have to, but not today. He’s complicated to shop for.”

The boy’s collection of comic book memorabilia meant he had to take care not to buy him something he already owned.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Then by all means, let's go to this specialty store." Josh agreed, though the only selections he could think of that were applicable to chocolate covered pretzels was whether they were covered in white or black chocolate. Still, he wasn't going to argue about it; perhaps there would be other chocolates worth purchasing while they were there.

"Oh." He'd never had difficulty shopping for his nieces and nephews, but that was because when they'd been younger his siblings had told him what they wanted and with each bar and bat mitzvah gifts had turned into donations to charities in their names when Hanukkah rolled around. Birthdays were largely delegated to their parents; he would give them money, and they would tell him what they bought for the birthday person.

He couldn't expect that Sean would be able to do the same with Kathleen, however, so he suggested, "What about a gift card?" While reaching out his hands in an offer to relieve his partner of all the bags.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

It appeared, then, that they had a plan to buy chocolates when they finished with the Hallmark store. Sean considered that a successful agreement, as he was sure that they would find chocolate covered pretzels for Josh’s mother, and anything else they might want while they were there.

The telepath shook his head, which was meant to deny two matters: Josh’s offer to take the bags he carried, since Sean could easily carry the two in his hands, and the suggestion that he get Ryan a gift card for Christmas. That was the rest of the family’s solution to Ryan’s hobbies, and he knew that his nephew was inundated with gift cards to Best Buy and Barnes and Noble (and formerly Border’s Books before they went out of business). There was nothing inherently wrong with gift cards but his nephew deserved an actual present.

“I’ll talk to him and see if he needs any costume apparel. Maybe he and Shiya want something that can match for their next convention.” Or a video game. There were always new video games and Ryan didn’t own all of them.

The telepath walked with Josh through the store and exited onto the second floor of the mall. There was a mall directory just outside of the store which told them that the Hallmark store was halfway down this corridor, and he began to walk in that direction.

[Joshua Bernstein]

At the rejection of his services Josh dropped his hands back to his side, unwilling to turn this into an argument. And as he was too wrapped up in discussing gifts and plans he didn't remark on the fact that they were now listening to Little Drummer Boy or that the display windows of the store they were passing was nothing but nutcrackers.

"Costume pieces, is it? He takes after you." This was said with a meaningful smile; while Sean didn't attend conventions, he had trunks full of costume pieces, and he and Josh found a great deal of enjoyment in both using them and in adding to their collection. "There's infinite variety to be had there." He noted, wondering how that could be a complication in shopping, "Even if he already has a hat or pocketwatch, they aren't all the same, you know. Give him the ability to mix and match, that's always fun."

As he followed his partner towards the Hallmark the Christmas spirit loomed greater and greater, until it was so overwhelming he could no longer ignore it.

"Are you sure Hallmark will have Hanukkah garlands?" He wondered, tone reverting to grouchiness as he surveyed the Christmas wonderland the store had transformed into. "It looks to me like they ought to just rename their store Merry Christmas and be done with it."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I suppose he does,” the telepath said with a smile. Ryan did take after him in a variety of ways, although he didn’t consider the dressing up for conventions to be one of them. He knew that costumes were simply part and parcel of that brand of youth culture and Ryan fit in so well. But the suggestion of a pocket watch or a hat was a good one. “I could try a hat or a watch. Or maybe a replica prop.”

Admittedly, the Hallmark store did nothing to disguise its love of the Christmas holiday, between their person lines of Christmas ornaments and cards, as well as the decorations adorning the store windows and the music piped in from the stereo system. Still, Sean knew that they did have some semblance of Chanukah decorations, because there had been Passover items the past spring. Additionally, since it was a party store of sorts, it was the place most likely to have garlands.

It was worth the attempt.

“If you don’t want to go in, you can wait outside, and I’ll go in for you,” he offered, since it was of no consequence to him. Of course, being outside in the mall proper listening to Christmas music wasn’t appreciatively better for Josh, but Sean was trying.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh glanced up at the ceiling as if it were to blame for the Christmas music assaulting his ears; it wasn't the same song as was being played in the store proper, but either way he couldn't exactly avoid the holiday. In any event, it wouldn't be fair to Sean to force him to do the attorney's shopping, even if there had been any escaping the Christmas cheer, and so he grimaced and said, "No, but thank you for the offer. I can't ask you to do my shopping for me."

That didn't stop him from taking an exaggerated fortifying breath before marching into the store, eying the Christmas section as if it might jump off the shelves and give him a red-and-green make over as he made his way to the more soothingly colored Hanukkah section tucked all the way in the back.

"Of course it would be in the back," He muttered darkly, annoyed that whoever had decided where to place things would force him to march through aisle upon aisle of Christmas, and rather offended that they felt the need to hide it, as well.

What had Hanukkah ever done that it deserved to be so mistreated?

He breathed a sign of relief, however, at spying a shelf full of garlands; they could surely be in and out of the store before he was mugged by Christmas lights.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

There was no use arguing that it wasn’t merely Josh’s shopping that they were engaged in, since the plan was to decorate the house that they shared. If the other man wanted to go through the Hallmark store and subject himself to more concentrated Christmas music and themes, Sean wouldn’t stop him. As such, he didn’t correct Josh; he merely nodded his comprehension and entered the store with the other man.

The interior of the Hallmark store was exactly as expected, including the Christmas village and train display near the front. As they passed the Christmas ornaments, the telepath made note of a couple he might want to give as gifts to James, Anya, and considering there was a Spiderman one, to Ryan as well. But those were errands for another day.

Reaching the back of the store, they found the garlands and lo and behold, there were blue and white and blue and silver ones for Chanukah; Sean had been right after all. They need only pick out a few and then leave.

He gestured with one arm, since he had a bag in each hand. “How many strings do you think we need?”

They would need to check the footage of them to make a final determination, but a ballpark guess wouldn’t hurt.

[Joshua Bernstein]

The question of garland number was met with furrowed brow as the attorney attempted to do mental calculations. They would need a garland for the stairwell, of course, and for the tops of the bookshelves, which meant living room and drawing room and bedrooms. And they would need one for the hutch in the kitchen. He wasn't planning on the door frames or the kitchen cabinets because he didn't want to get too out of hand.

"I think we'll only need about five or six." He decided, moving closer to the garlands in order to better examine the offerings. He wanted classy, not cheerfully tacky, and it was rather difficult to pull that off with plastic and tinsel. He also wanted the garland to all be the same rather than mixing and matching, so he had to be sure that whatever they picked had enough to cover the amount they needed.

Fortunately making a selection proved easy enough, and he carried his chosen garlands to the counter, falling into line behind a couple of women around their own age, all of whom seemed to be sporting Christmas out the ears.

He managed not to grimace at that.

"So is this specialty store the last stop do you think?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Five or six. The telepath calculated that out mentally, envisioning what the house would look like with the garland in place. He overheard the other man’s thoughts and found that they were roughly in sync, which was all the better. As such, he nodded his assent and followed the other man up to the register.

They passed the Christmas ornaments again, which Sean turned briefly to eye, but he would look at those online when they were home. There was no rush on buying gift ornaments after all. Settling beside his partner inline, and glancing at what the women ahead of them had. Christmas decorations and one of them had a few stuffed animals wearing Santa hats, which meant somewhere there were children involved. That was nice.

He nodded in response to Josh’s question. “I think it is. Obviously, if we passed somewhere else that you wanted to stop, we could.” That was unlikely, since Josh reacted so poorly to the decorative atmosphere of the mall and all of the stores were similarly engaged; still, he wanted to put the offer on the table. “Otherwise, we’ll buy chocolate and then drive home. We can put some of this up now, and then grocery shopping tomorrow.”

Sean had an exciting life, but one wouldn’t know that from his errand list. He preferred life that way.

[Joshua Bernstein]

The women in front of them were all checking out separately, which was not particularly a surprise but it did leave them in Christmas territory for that much longer. Josh clutched his Hanukkah garlands protectively, edging nearer to Sean, eying the women in front of them warily, as if one of them might snidely remark upon the fact that they were clearly gearing up to celebrate Hanukkah rather than Christmas, possibly with some implication that not celebrating Christmas was un-American.

"I can't think of anything else we need to get." He murmured, although that was as much for the reasons Sean had accurately guessed as because there was truly no other reason to stop.

As his partner detailed their plans for the rest of the day and the next he nodded his agreement. "That sounds like a wonderful plan." He didn't necessarily find grocery shopping scintillating, but he didn't mind because he would be spending time with Sean. And while he counted neither his life nor his errands as exciting (he wasn't a telepath with connections to a powerful government-backed school and nor was he aware of the various affiliations and affairs of the people he associated with) he was satisfied with it.

The first woman finally paid and moved to the side to await her friends, and the line inched forward. "After we've decorated we need to make some hot chocolate and read Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins." He decided, feeling as if he ought to contribute somewhat to their planning. " It had been his nephew Noah's favorite book when he was in elementary school, and he'd very thoughtfully given his uncle a copy when he was five and sharing his favorite book with adults had seemed the most important thing in the world.

That meant, of course, that it had become something of a tradition to read it aloud, though usually he read it to his mother because she thought it was adorable. She would probably insist that he read it to her regardless of how many other times he'd read it in the weeks leading up to Hanukkah, but that wouldn't stop him from inflicting it upon his partner.