Tenderness (Josh)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

((OOC: This thread occurs on Friday, February 15, 2013.))


Valentine’s Day had never held great personal significance to Sean. He primarily celebrated it with his romantic partners because it was culturally expected and because the occasion typically held some significance to those partners. The telepath did always enjoy making his partners happy, particularly when that partner was Josh.

Not that the attorney typically assigned great significance to the holiday either. Two years ago, they hadn’t been on speaking terms due to the botched intervention, and Josh hadn’t even noticed the day when it came and went. Last year had been an unmitigated disaster, since Josh had agreed to help Sean chaperone the Valentine’s Day dance at Hammel, and the telepath had happened upon Vincent Verax and Brendan James making out in the hallway. That had resulted in a headache and no fun that night at the Neville-Bernstein home, and then Brendan’s resignation from Hammel the next day.

Perhaps that was why Josh had wanted to do something more significant this year. Sean had immediately agreed, although doing anything on Valentine’s Day proper proved difficult, since it fell on a Thursday. As such, they had decided to take a weekend to themselves, the weekend immediately after Valentine’s Day. To that end, Sean had kept his afternoon light so that he could leave early, and Josh had done the same. The telepath had taken their bags with him to Hammel that morning, and he picked up Josh at his office before hitting the highway.

A few hours later, they were in Boston and had checked into their bed and breakfast and had decided to get supper, since lunch had been hours ago and quite light. A stroll through downtown Boston had brought them to Fire and Ice, a Mongolian buffet that boasted varied choices for food and a large drink menu. The restaurant had been a little crowded but nothing unmanageable when they first arrived.

Within fifteen minutes of being seated, the wait was over an hour.

The music was modern and left something to be desired, but otherwise the atmosphere was quite nice. The booth was comfortable, and the fire bowl they had decided to split had quite the kick to it.

It was already far better than last year.

“Boston was a good choice,” Sean remarked to his partner, before taking another sip of their punch.

[Joshua Bernstein]

The bustle of people packed together, sharing tables with strangers, gave Josh an energy lift. Even though he wasn't talking to the people sharing their table he still felt the buzz of excitement that came from large crowds. Ordinarily he would have done more than smile and nod in greeting, but this was very specifically a date, and he wanted to focus his attention on Sean.

"Boston was a wonderful choice." He agreed, leaning back and sighing contentedly as he watched the chef work his magic. This performance art mixed with cooking had always intrigued him; in the past, with his lack of cooking prowess, it had seemed almost magical.

Now....

It still seemed almost magical.

Even the best cooks he knew didn't do fancy knife tricks.

At least, they didn't as far as he knew. Somehow he couldn't quite imagine Riley tossing knives around for fun. Maybe that was something that Anya secretly enjoyed, though...

"D'you know if Ryan and Shiya are in town? Or are they off being in love, as well?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

From the corner of his eye, Sean could see the two chefs manning the stone grill in the center of the restaurant working on the food from the bowls that patrons had brought to them. Pastas and vegetables, meats and seafood, and the people whose food was being prepared circled around the grill. The buffet certainly kept it entertaining, and everyone around them appeared to be having a good time.

That always made outings better, since he didn’t have to contend with resentful thoughts. Amorous ones were far easier, and better when he was out with his partner.

After taking another sip, the telepath shook his head. “They’re in love wherever they are, which is the nice part about being in your early twenties. But they’re back in New York meeting up with some friends for the weekend, a triple date it sounded like. Something about a costume weekend.”

Ryan certainly enjoyed those types of gatherings. Fortunately, so did Shiya and the rest of his friends.

“If they’re back in town before we leave, I can give them a call. But I don’t want to interrupt.” He said that with a knowing smile.

He wouldn’t have appreciated that when he had been Ryan’s age. Actually, he wouldn’t appreciate interruption now, although he dealt with it calmly.

“You’ll have to settle for my company all weekend. I know it’s a poor consolation prize.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh supposed that it wasn't surprising that Sean's nephew and said nephew's girlfriend had plans. They had been together for awhile now, so of course they would have plans. Plans that didn't involve spending time with two senior citizens.

"I think I will survive." He responded with a smile to the knowledge his weekend would be spent solely with his partner. "Gives me more of a license to misbehave if there aren't young people around."

He would try not to get too frisky around Ryan and Shiya, but there were no guarantees.

"Oh! Did you want to find a coffee shop after dinner? Maybe get some dessert? Preferably someplace that has some privacy. Or if not, we can just get coffee to go and take a walk."

A walk, however, assumed that the weather would be manageable. And while he had certainly brought along the whole winter ensemble, any amount of time spent outside for too long allowed the chill to seep into even his thickest clothes.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean returned the other man’s smile. “I should hope so,” he remarked, tone teasing. “But, just in case, I promise that I’ll make it up to you.”

Which was to say that the telepath intended to use this weekend to live up to the typical expectations of Valentine’s Day. He thought that his partner might enjoy that, as surely as he himself would.

Josh’s inclusion of the word “privacy” when making his proposal caused Sean not to point out that their current restaurant had a rather impressive dessert menu. His partner obviously wanted to have some time to themselves, or as close to time to themselves as could be achieved while in public. The current venue would not achieve that goal, considering how crowded it was and how it would likely only become more crowded.

Surely, their restaurant would want to turn over their table quickly.

“That would be nice,” he answered with a slight nod. They were in Boston; there were likely dozens of cafes to be found, as well as bakeries and ice cream parlors. One of those had to have an available booth that they could use to talk. He assumed that his partner wanted to talk, since otherwise Josh would propose they go back to the hotel for that type of privacy.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh beamed when Sean accepted his suggestion. The only downside to this was that he was now going to be a bit antsy about getting to that point; he typically disliked Important Discussions, finding them to be inherently uncomfortable and full of vulnerability he didn't like to face. But when he had made a decision to have one he wanted to just do it, instead of lingering in anticipation. Only the reality that he was supposed to be enjoying himself prevented him from scarfing down the remainder of his food and flagging down a server for their bill.

Sean probably wouldn't have appreciated that.

"This food is wonderful." He remarked, willing himself patience. "How did you hear of this place?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“Through Ryan,” Sean replied, before he took a few bites from his plate. He had decided to start with beef, vegetables, and rice for this course, although he thought he might try the pastas when he went for seconds.

After washing down those bites with a sip from their fire bowl, he continued, “He took me here once for brunch when I came in to visit him, after talking it up for so long. Their menu was different because it was brunch, and they cooked fresh crepes and French toast on the hot stone.” Thinking about it made him smile; it had been a very nice treat.

“After living in Boston for so long, he knows so many of the more popular areas, as well as the hidden gems,” the telepath added. As opposed to Sean who knew more of the historical sites and then a few clubs that he had visited over the years.

“But it is good. I’m quite impressed with their variety.” Additionally, they didn’t water down their alcohol, which was always appreciated. Sean far preferred that his liquor have the proper kick to it, if he was going to drink.

“I’m glad that you’re enjoying it.” The telepath reached across the table to brush his hand against Josh’s briefly.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"It's nice of him to share and not keep these places to himself." Josh joked, stretching his own hand to meet Sean's. Given how many people were packed into the place it obviously wasn't any great secret, even had Ryan wished to keep it that way. Still, they had made it in without much of a wait, and he was able to enjoy the fruits of Ryan's knowledge, and so he was grateful.

"And the alcohol is definitely a plus. Kudos to the bartenders."

Despite his attempts at patience his plate was now empty.

"Now the question is go get more? Or save room for dessert? So many decisions."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

A smile lit Sean’s features, and despite the other man’s joke, he spoke more seriously. “Ryan is a giver.” He took after the telepath that way, and his uncle was proud of him for it. Ryan was such a conscientious and enthusiastic young man, and he wanted others to benefit from his knowledge.

Sean continued to pick at the food on his plate until he had finished off the last morsel of food. “I plan to get another serving,” he informed his partner. “If that helps you to make your decision.”

The telepath could hear his partner’s thoughts, even through his shields and over the many, many other minds that clambered for attention when within his telepathic range. That was the effect of being in sync with the younger man. While he knew that Josh was anxious for their adventure to find a café, and for the conversation that they would have, the telepath was still hungry. He would do a lot to accommodate his partner’s comfort and plans, but Sean had to eat.

Moreover, they had the table, and the time, and this was a buffet. There was no harm in having a second helping. They could always find conversation to pass the time.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Sean's reply made up Josh's mind for him. As anxious as he was to have this Discussion, there was nothing more awkward than sitting around while someone else ate.

Not that he particularly minded; the food was excellent. And so he got up, following the other man to the buffet. There were seemingly hundreds of people milling about, but this only served to make him more enthusiastic. This also, helpfully, took his mind off the impending Talk he had requested.

"The food is worth seconds..." He agreed before piling some of everything onto his plate. That had been his strategy for the first go round, and as it hadn't failed him he saw no reason to change.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“It is,” Sean agreed. He had thoroughly enjoyed his first portion, although the telepath planned to choose different items for this next plate. There were several types of chicken, and so he tried a bit of the lemon and pepper, and then a bit of the barbecue. Unable to make up his mind about which type of pasta, he did a portion of rice noodles and then a portion of bowties. He added peppers and pineapple, because there was no reason not to mix flavors.

Once he had made all of his selections, he crossed over to the hot stone circle in the center of the restaurant, and he handed his bowl to one of the chefs. The man took it and then poured it into a vertical line on the stone to cook.

There was nothing to do but wait.

“I checked on Paul Simon’s concert dates, because there was an announcement that tour dates had been set,” he began wistfully. “All but one of them are in Australia. That last date is in Singapore.”

It was a shame, since the telepath would love to see Paul Simon in concert again. “Perhaps there will be more in time for my birthday. Or the holidays this year.”

Or at any time. Given enough advance warning, Sean was capable of shifting his schedule around. He would do so for a Paul Simon concert, provided that it wasn’t an unreasonable distance from home.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh shook his head sympathetically as he listened to his partner lament about the lack of local concerts. While he wouldn't call himself a fan, not in the same way Sean was, he enjoyed Paul Simon well enough if only due to constant exposure. And he still had fond memories of their excursion into Central Park.

Everything had been so different then; the City was such a different place than the city he had grown up in.

"You don't want to take a trip out to Australia?" He raised an eyebrow as they waited for their food to prepare. "I could take off work...."

Maybe. Not that he truly expected his partner to do something so frivolous as travel just to see a concert. He would in fact have been rather concerned had that been the case.

"But if he comes State side we'll be sure to make the effort to see him. Are there petitions?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

It was impossible to live with Sean, either in the past or the present, without becoming intimately familiar with the musical accomplishments of Paul Simon. The telepath had no regrets about that, and he was grateful that Josh never seemed to tire of the musical selection. Sean had his favorites.

“You would have to take off work. I don’t think the court would let you telephone conference from Sydney,” he remarked.

The telepath watched as the chefs prepared their food, going around the circular hot stone to tend to each line of food that had been placed there. At his partner’s question, he shrugged slightly. “Not that I know of, but I also don’t belong to any of those fanatic mailing lists.”

While Sean unequivocally counted amongst Paul Simon’s fans, and he greatly admired all of the older man’s music, he drew lines. He believed that the musician was still entitled to a personal life, and he had no desire to participate in a culture that, at best, was voyeuristic, and, at worst, bordered on stalking. That prevented him from accessing certain channels, but he felt fine about that.

“But if he sets dates for anywhere reasonably accessible, I’ll do everything in my power to get tickets.” Not caring about the other people around them, he wrapped an arm around his partner’s shoulders. “I’m glad that you’re onboard for that.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Of course I am!" Josh leaned into the embrace momentarily, only to be drawn out again by the promise of second helpings finally being ready for his consumption.

Or at least for a return to their table.


"I like Paul Simon. And better yet, I like spending time with you.


And Paul Simon had significance for them, on some level. At least, Josh thought that he did, although perhaps his interpretation was overly sentimental. If nothing else, he associated the musician with Sean, and nobody else. Somehow, he thought that if he had met anyone else who loved Paul Simon he wouldn't have been able to date them.

Then again, he had never been very good with dating anyway. And he had what and who he wanted.

He glanced over to see if the telepath was ready, not wanting to return to their table if the other man was still waiting on his food. He didn't really care too much that this meant he was making other people wait.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean squeezed Josh close to him for a brief moment, but then he slipped his arm from around his partner. This was a restaurant, not a party; they had to maintain some degree of propriety.

“I would hope that you did. Otherwise, you’re in for a long and miserable twenty-five years.” That was an approximation. The telepath hoped to reach at least twenty-five years with his partner, if not more than that, although one couldn’t account for lifespans.

Sean was also glad that Josh enjoyed Paul Simon’s music. Otherwise, it would also be a long and potentially miserable association. Music tastes were one of those aspects of relationships that couldn’t always reach a compromise.

Their conversation was interrupted by the chefs finishing with their food, and preparing plates. First Josh was handed his, and then Sean received his. The telepath smiled and thanked the chefs, and then gestured back at their table.

The walk back to their table was short, although it was complicated mildly by the number of people around and through whom they had to walk. When they settled, Sean placed his napkin in his lap and reached for his fork and knife.

“We could use one of these in Pilot Ridge,” he remarked.