Surprises and Treats (Sean)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean smiled at her. “Consider it done. I’ll dip into my secret supply.” Not so secret, in fact.

“I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I speak with Josh,” Sean promised. He would make that a priority, so that she and Vincent would have plenty of time to prepare for guests. He did so dislike making other people wait.

The telepath shook his head again, this time in response to one of the remarks she had made, although he agreed with the overarching message of her comments. “I don’t find the liberal aspects extreme; I find them in line with the supposed acts and teachings of the man they supposedly follow.” Sean couldn’t remember the last time that he had been in a position to explain Catholicism in a positive light, and he was rusty, speaking as he was, largely an outsider. Albeit one with some insight as a past member. “Love one another is a simple, relatable, positive message but it has long since been lost. And it is bound up in a purely theological dogma, even when it doesn't have to be.”

That was a matter over which he and Kathleen had argued many times, back when they had still been on speaking terms.

“And you’re certainly right about that. The Catholic Church opposes all forms of manmade birth control, and about ninety-eight percent of American Catholic women have used artificial birth control at some point in life. Just to take one example.” When he had still identified as Catholic, he had engaged in non-procreative sex, sex outside of marriage, sodomy, he had used birth control, and he had been in a loving relationship with another young man who wasn’t even Christian. None of that had prevented him from going to church.

Until he admitted to himself that he no longer believed. When he disregarded one aspect, the other pieces began to unravel until there had been nothing left for him.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

There was something in his tone that made the woman curb her temper and relax a little more. Her words had been a bit all-encompassing. "I'm sorry for my harshness," she apologized. "I've always been one to think that love is a force unto itself and is sacred regardless of its origin or who speaks of it. It seems somewhat... silly, I suppose, to take the ideas of one man and turn them into a religion."


Ideology was one thing; idolatry was something quite a bit different.


She nodded in understanding of his point, even if it wasn't the one she had been thinking of. It was an important job of a physician to prescribe the proper medication to their patients, and when children were denied the options to explore their sexuality things tended to spiral rapidly out of control. She had been forced to defer a number of her teenage female patients to other doctors because of accidental (and often unwanted) pregnancies; something that likely wouldn't have happened if sexual education was more streamlined and understood by school.


Which actually reminded her of something.


"Out of curiosity, have you spoke to a girl by the name of Takchawee lately? She came to me with a few questions, and I directed her to you for some psychological aid as well." While Nik knew Sean was a telepath and she was well within rights to alert him of a potential visit by a student, she would not speak of specific matters pertaining to the girl's health, as it went against her oaths of secrecy. Still, she was curious if the young lady had received the aid she was seeking the last time she'd seen her.


They reached the counter then, and the pale lady gestured for the psychiatrist to take the first order. She could very easily pay for herself as well, and it was polite to offer to him first.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean smiled and waved off the apology with a small gesture, without interrupting her or telling her that it was unnecessary. As with her husband, he understood the cultural differences, and he tried to accommodate others. “I agree with you on that point,” he informed her, which was part of his own personal philosophy. “I think that love is something of which we are all capable and that morality isn’t related to religion alone. People behave well without being instructed to and people behave horribly in the name of their beliefs.” And they did everything in between those two poles as well.

The telepath had many opinions about sexuality and prohibition, particularly when adolescents were concerned. His disagreements with the Catholic Church on that topic alone could last the entire afternoon and well into the evening. That was before considering other aspects of religion that were ignore when they didn’t apply and either gave people the opportunity to balance their faith with their needs or which resulted in raging hypocrisy.

At her question, Sean nodded. “I have spoken with her, and we have a plan of action.” He also intended to continue meeting with her throughout her pregnancy.

The telepath paused, since he was used to letting others go ahead of him. However, he wouldn’t make a fuss or otherwise show that he was ungrateful for the opportunity. As such, with a smile of thanks, he stepped up to place his order, for a gingerbread latte and an apple spice muffin. Then, turning back to Nik, he said, “Go ahead. My treat.”

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

The doctor nodded. "Yes, exactly," she agreed. "A person's belief structure can shape their view of the world, but it won't dictate their actions. Just the reasons for them." Given that they were in a more public setting and neither her office nor home, Nik left the discussion on such things there. They would have many opportunities to discuss further when they had time at length and people weren't around to get offended. She wondered, vaguely, if Vincent ever worried about that.


Probably not. He was one of those people to speak his mind, even if he chose his words carefully.


A slight sigh of relief escaped the pale woman, and her hand rested against her chest as the tension of that subject left her. "Thank goodness," she murmured gently. "I was hoping she wouldn't have to go through this by herself." She had the medical records, of course, and she could give advice and bring some relief for symptoms, but there was little she could do to aid the process as a whole.


A smile of amusement and gratitude flickered over Nik's face, and she thanked him before placing her order for a peppermint mocha and raspberry scone. Se'd always been partial to crumbly treats, and she'd had a few from the staff lounge a few weeks back that were wonderful.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean sensed that she wasn’t entirely comfortable continuing this conversation in public, and he dropped it without further remark. There would always be time and opportunity to continue this later, either at Hammel or elsewhere, not surrounded by crowds hoping to nab the last deal before Christmas.

The telepath understood her concern, and he shook his head slightly, to perish the thought. “Nobody needs to go through something that earth-shattering on her own, as long as I’m available and she’s willing to accept the aid.”

Pregnancy was difficult, time-consuming, energy-consuming, and life-changing. It was all the more difficult when one was a teenager and one didn’t know the identity of the father. She required patience and understanding. “But I hope that she doesn’t feel pressured,” he added with another shake of his head. That was impossible given their culture, but he wanted to minimize it for all students, particularly for Tak, who was in the greatest need at the moment.

Once they had both placed their orders, Sean pulled out his wallet to pay for both of them. The change found its way into the tip jar, and he thanked the cashier for her assistance. A moment later, a muffin was handed over to him, and a scone over to Nik. With that, he slid down the line to wait for their drinks.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

"No, they shouldn't." The statement held a trace of memory in it, but Nik's memories were often emotive when they involved her family, thus not disclosing any pictures or words. Even with that, her own mental blocks on her powers tended to shield her somewhat from psychic powers, if not as well as her husband. She banished the sensation of nostalgia with a smile, and added, "But I believe she understands that there are people there to help her, so with all due luck, things should work out."


Accepting the pastry with a statement of thanks, the pale woman followed her colleague, breaking pieces of the scone off with her fingers before consuming the bite-size bits. It wasn't too sweet or too powdery, and the cinnamon in the dough accented the raspberry jam very well. With a smile, she looked up at the tall man beside her. "Out of curiosity, what is your favorite pastry? I know Vincent's itching to bake again once his hands have fully healed, so knowing him he'll bring something to the school when we can't eat any more."


That was actually kind of an understatement. After cooking meals two to three times daily for most of his life, the trainer was in a slightly grumpier mood than normal at home, though it had been dimmed by the idea that they could visit the restaurants in the area and try new cuisine. Even still, the agitation amused her in a way that only a married person could be amused by their partner's quirks.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“With a bit of good fortune,” Sean agreed with a nod. “Admittedly, I don’t have the ability to share anecdotes from my life with her, which is the misfortune of decades of bachelorhood.”

He hadn’t been a bachelor in the way often portrayed in television and movies. Most of his adulthood had been spent in relationships; he enjoyed being coupled, and he had wanted to settle down and have a family. More than that, he had wanted children. Yet, no matter how serious his relationships became (and, male or female partners, there had been some very serious relationships), none had resulted in official family planning. As a result, when with cisgendered female partners, he and she had taken careful pains to avoid pregnancy.

“I can share some stories from when my sister was pregnant with my nephew, but that was a wholly separate situation.” She had been a married, adult woman who had planned with her husband to have a child. In addition to financial support, she had had her husband, her older brother, her parents, his parents, and his siblings all heavily interested in her health and wellbeing.

The telepath tore off a piece of his muffin and tasted it, his expression settled into a smile. This had been an excellent choice.

“I don’t know if I have a favorite pastry,” he said, his smile turning rueful at the admission. “I’m fond of so many, and I’m easy to please.”

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

Nakia chuckled, an oddly throaty sound from such a petite woman, but it suited her somehow. "Indeed," she agreed. "Unless you have been through the highs and lows of child-rearing yourself, it's rather difficult to tell any stories. Though, I'm surprised to hear that you've never married. Does the life-style not suit you?"


The inquisitiveness in her face and tone was well-meaning; she'd known a number of people where the idea of attaching themselves to one person for years made them uneasy.


"With a Catholic background, I would imagine so," she replied. It was no secret in the general scheme of things that Christian families of all sorts demanded marriage before children, and she would imagine that Sean's family may have been even more strict on such things. "Does she have much in the way of family to support her?"


The physician laughed, completely understanding. There were so many choices in the world of baked goods that she doubted that she could pick something either. "Well played," she replied. "I suppose we'll have to wait and see what he comes up with, then. Honestly, we may well be tied up for weeks with them, since he refuses to cook on New Year's."


It was actually a tradition that had mostly been foregone across much of Japan (what with the more hectic lifestyle of the 21st Century), but it was one that the Meian family stuck to out of stubbornness. The week following Christmas, the house would be filled with foods that would last for days. Immediately prior to New Year's, food would be made for the next two days and the family would eat those foods alone. It was an odd tradition from a cultural perspective, but it was something they had as a family.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean’s expression didn’t dim, although the smile on his lips became rueful rather than humorous. He was very much a family man at heart, even if he had never had the opportunity to express that to its greatest potential. For all of his relationships, none had been entered into for the purposes of casual intimacy. He’d wanted to settle down, each time he had wanted to settle down, but the relationships had always ended.

Typically for the same reason.

But he had Josh now, and thus that should be the end of the cycle.

Shaking his head, he answered, “Relationships with telepaths aren’t for everyone.” With, not as.

He would leave it at that.

“She does have family,” the psychiatrist confirmed with a slight nod. Tak and he had discussed her family situation and when she would make the revelation. He had given her a means of contacting him, should she desire the additional support before, during, or after her conversation with her parents on the topic. “She seemed optimistic, and I hope that optimism wasn’t misplaced.”

Only time would tell, since he had yet to receive that call from her.

Once their coffee drinks were prepared, their names were called. Sean stepped over to the second counter to pick up their drinks. He handed Nakia hers, and then he took a sip from his latte, smiling to himself as the rich flavor blossomed on his tongue. This had been well worth trying, he decided; he might even return here before the end of the holiday season to have another.

Admittedly, Sean was unfamiliar with the Japanese cultural tradition of not cooking on New Year’s, but he was interested, as he was interested in most cultural traditions when he learned of them. Leftovers were common during the holiday season, but that came from not wanting to waste food, rather than a refusal to cook. “I hope that he comes up with something good,” he remarked, as he guided her towards a table where they could converse and drink with some degree of privacy and comfort.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

The tone of voice and expression on the older man's face warned the doctor too late that she'd struck a nerve. Rather than apologizing however (as Sean had made it clear that such things were unnecessary numerous times), she simply let the subject drop away without any further comment. She could understand the issues on both sides of the relationship and chose not to push the matter.


"Oh good." Nik breathed a sigh of relief; aside from her brother and husband, she'd had no outside support from family. Mostly, this was because she and Vincent had no other family to speak of.


The mocha passed to her was absolutely delightful and warmed the physician's pale hands with ease. The scent of peppermint was strong, though the flavor was not, and the sweetness of the beverage was more than enough to counter the bitterness of its main ingredient. Walking with the tall man to the table, she set the bag on her arm down on a chair, almost immediately covering it with her coat to save space. "He always does," she replied, sliding into her seat gratefully. "Everything served on New Year's is generally cold, pickled, and or soup, but all kinds of breaded things are in our home regularly. And, should you and your partner decide to join us, we would not be adverse to the idea if you brought something of your own."


They would gladly feed the pair, of course, and did not demand anything be brought to the celebration. It was simply a matter of culture differences an wanting to make their guests as comfortable as possible while sticking to their own traditions.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean was relieved that no further conversation would follow on the topic of relationships with telepaths. It was a complicated matter, one that was ill-befitting a café in a mall during the holiday rush.

The psychiatrist then nodded, agreeing with the expression of relief. “I was heartened for her too,” he assured Nakia. Not that many people asked him for his opinions about child-rearing, pregnancy, and family involvement, but everyone should have support if they wanted and required it. A teenager embarking on pregnancy (and choosing to carry to term) required a great amount of support. Relying on potential fathers, all of whom were teenagers as well, and isolated school staff was no substitute for a supportive family.

Settling at the table, the telepath set his cup down and then returned to eating his pastry. The afternoon pick-me-up was of great help, since he could feel the jolt of the caffeine and the glucose boost.

He listened carefully as Nakia described the typical holiday spread; he mentally made note of that, since there were only so many recipes he knew that involved cold or pickled dishes. He had some variety of soups. “Aside from that preparation, is there a type of theme for the food? I know a pickled cabbage recipe, but I don’t want to bring something inappropriate.”

He didn’t mind cooking and bringing a dish; he was used to potlucks. Moreover, he considered it polite to bring dessert or alcohol when going to someone’s home for a meal. If they requested something that was neither of the above, then he was happy to oblige.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

Nik had been in the middle of a sip when Sean asked again about the New Year's foods, and her blue eyes grew wide for a moment as she swallowed. A smile creased her face, and she shook her head. "Don't worry over it too much," she laughed. "We can handle the traditional foods - bring whatever you like! I'm sure it'll be a treat for the girls, and it will give you something more familiar to eat if our dishes don't suit your palate."


Japanese dishes certainly weren't for everyone. There were even some Japanese citizens who didn't much like traditional foods, even on holidays - her brother was one. Nik understood that, and she was fairly certain that Vincent would, too; he'd had a few friends from the Forces who had come over for the holidays once or twice when he was involved, and they were occasionally from overseas which meant bringing their own dishes sometimes. It was simply the way things were.


"The traditional spread tends to be much like a sushi platter, only with much more vegetables," she continued. "There is some fruit as well, but everything on the plate is either stewed with sugar or pickled in vinegar. As for the soups, cold soba noodles with beef broth is generally what we tend to serve, though we can easily use a chicken broth if either of you have dietary restrictions. We'll also have cream buns and mooncakes left over from the Christmas festivities, as well as some mochi in a few different flavors for dessert."


"Other than that, you may bring anything you like," the physician concluded. "It will offend us not at all to have a multicultural New Year."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean nodded his comprehension and acceptance of that. If he was allowed to branch out and use recipes that he knew, then he could more easily confine himself to the restrictions. He had a traditional pickled cabbage recipe that he typically saved for Saint Patrick’s Day, and of which he was rather fond. “Then I know just what to make,” he said with a smile, before lifting his drink as though in toast for that.

The telepath liked to try new foods, although he didn’t consider himself a foodie. He was sure that he would enjoy whatever Vincent made, as far as traditional dishes. He was also sure that Josh would enjoy trying whatever was served, as his partner wasn’t picky about foods.

He nodded again, listening as the other doctor described of what the traditional menu consisted. “We both eat beef,” he assured her. Neither he nor Josh were vegetarian or recovering from bypass surgery. Josh didn’t keep kosher, and even if he did, there wasn’t a prohibition of beef, and so they would be fine. “And those desserts sound delicious.”

If he prepared an entrée, he knew that Josh would want to prepare a dessert, since the younger man’s culinary skills remained concentrated in that area. Fortunately, there were plenty of options.

He took another sip of his beverage and then smiled at her. “I look forward to this celebration.”