The Ring Cycle (Sean)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

If her mother turned eighty last month, then either Gilly was younger than Sean believed, or Gilly’s mother had given birth at quite a young age. Since those specifics were rude to ask, and the telepath didn’t believe it ethical to probe for something of that nature (nor was he interested in doing so), he merely nodded. “If she’s still in Vermont, then she lives in the right state for access to organic food.”

Perhaps her mother lived in the same retirement center as Josh’s parents. Considering the reputation of that facility, Sean wouldn’t be surprised.

One hand held the binder, while the other slipped around Josh’s waist, drawing the younger man closer to him.

Do I have carte blanche, then? Or do you have any specifics you want to include? The telepath was accommodating, and he trusted his partner’s taste. Bear shirt notwithstanding.

However, if he had carte blanche, he thought he might want to go with something subtle, but with a stone that had some color to it. He didn’t care about the purported properties of any of the gemstones, which meant that he would choose through color, availability, and other significance.

We could always get you a dampening ring, if you wanted, the telepath teased. He had no expectations that Josh would want such a thing. If so, they had deeper concerns.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh, she lives over in Burlington. She would never leave Vermont, she's far too attached."

hou have carte blanche. Josh wasn't controlling of this sort of thing. It was a gift, and he wanted Sean's input. Aloud he said, "indeed? My mother lives in Burlington, as well. And she just turned eighty six this year. How about that. I wonder if they know each other? What's your moher's name?"

"Alice Walsh," Gilly replied, clearing boxes from the counter. It was apparent that the men had ceased looking at the wares present and any purchase would be custom. "Who is your mother?"

"Charlie Bernstein. And she has mentioned your mother." Largely to express disbelief at Alice's implacable faith in the mystic, but there was no reason to mention that.

"Oh, Charlie! My mother adores her."

Definitely better not to mention what his mother had said.

"She has such strong spiritual energy."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean kept his head down and didn’t get involved in this conversation. He heard Josh’s thoughts, of course, which made him privy to Mama Bernstein’s assessments of Gilly’s mother. He agreed with his partner in that it was best not to share those assessments. There was absolutely no reason to bring that up.

Instead, he focused on the list of options for jewelry, zeroing in on the ring possibilities. The telepath mulled over stone options, mentally picturing what he thought would work best. For color options, he believed that he might prefer alexandrite. There were blue and teal shades of alexandrite.

Although, an idea came to mind, and, depending on whether it was feasible, he might choose the moonstone after all. That would depend on the metal that they used for the base of the ring; money wasn’t a problem on Sean’s end (or on Josh’s), and so he wasn’t concerned about quoted prices.

All of this was still cheaper than going through a company like Tiffany and Co.

Sean waited for a pause in the conversation, so that he wasn’t interrupting. Then he asked, “Could you make a claddagh ring?”

If not, then he was prepared to resume his perusal. There were so many options available, and if they did a fitting, then he was guaranteed satisfaction at the end of the endeavor.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Gilly retuned her attention to Sean when he began asking about design possibilities.

"Oh, indeed we can. Would you like the hands clasping a gem?"

Josh raised an eyebrow at his partner in curiosity. sentimental for your Neville heritage? he inquired mentally. Sean didn't especially go out of his way to remind everyone that his family was Irish, but he did occasionally make mention of it. Typically when drinking was involved.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

So this was possible after all. In that case, Sean had a fair idea of what he wanted to do, and thus the Hopkins family had a guaranteed sale.

Nodding in confirmation, the telepath replied, “I’d like for the heart to be a gem, yes, please.” He had seen such rings elsewhere, and thus he knew it was possible. That they were willing to accommodate this request made this all the easier.

“I’d like it set in silver, and for the ring to be a moonstone, if possible.” He found gold claddagh rings a little showier than he preferred, and besides, that wouldn’t go with the moonstone. Agate would go better for color reasons, and, after seeing the available agate, didn’t want a ring with that stone.

To his partner, he projected, That’s one way to look at it. While his mind went to the possibility of a claddagh ring because of his Irish heritage, his ethnicity wasn’t his reason. Josh was his reason; the claddagh ring was merely the vehicle by which he could express what he wished to express.

One sentimental declaration deserved another, as far as the telepath was concerned. Particularly in light of the conversation that they had shared during his birthday weekend trip.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Gilly laughed as Sean began to express his preferences. "Wait, wait! I need to find the order forms so I can write this all down."

She began to search the boxes, lifting them up and peering beneath them, but no order dorms appeared. As she did this, Josh turned his attention to his partner, leaning his head on the other man's chest.

"What would you like to do after this? I believe there is a folk band performing...oh, but there isn't much tie between that and the pie contest..."

After a moment of searching Gilly gave the men an apologetic smile. "Actually, I believe the forms are in the binder you're holding. May I look?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

At the request, Sean handed the binder over to Gilly. “Of course.” It was in everyone’s best interest for her to find the forms, and he wanted to aid her in that goal. If they couldn’t find the order forms, he was prepared to write down his specifications on a sheet of paper, coupled with his measurements, contact information, and credit card number. However, a completed order form done via standard procedure was his preference.

The telepath then tilted his head slightly, allowing him to rest his chin in his partner’s hair. “We certainly don’t want to miss the pie contest,” he remarked, as that was his priority. While it was unfortunate that he couldn’t sign up as a judge, with Josh having entered as a contestant, he still intended to be there for the entire contest to provide moral support. Even if the younger man didn’t win (and probably wouldn’t, given the professional-skills of some of the bakers in town), it was still important. More than that, it was fun.

“We have an apple fritter to eat.” That wouldn’t take the entire time period, and thus Sean mulled over possibilities. “We could always watch the glass-blowing demonstration, if there isn’t time to listen to the concert.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

As Gilly flipped through the binder, Josh listened to Sean's suggestions. "Oh! Glass blowing! I hear the demonstrator has a studio in Pilot Ridge. We should go some time, pick up something nice for the house, or maybe a gift for Michelle and Matt...."

Unique gifts were always fun, and he knew that his older brother would appreciate the artistry involved in a blown glass piece. Talia might like it, as well, though her own artistic projects had largely been limited to sewing and deign.

"Will they let us eat apple fritter while we watch?"

Most of the shows and demonstrations allowed food and drink, but Josh thought it was still polite to ask.

Before Sean could answer Gilly placed the binder on the table, triumphantly holding the form aloft. "Found it! Just fill this out for us and you'll be good to go!"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean saw no reason not to go to the glass blower’s studio, particularly since there were always opportunities to find gifts for people. Particularly this year, as the Jewish holidays were early, and Chanukah began the night before Thanksgiving. Finding a present for Matt and Michelle was a worthy goal.

Additionally, the telepath tried to support local businesses whenever he could. It was a worthy goal.

“We can find out,” he replied, answering Josh’s question. If they couldn’t eat during the demonstration, then they could quickly eat the fritter en route or while outside. Since the fritter wasn’t huge, and he and Josh were two adult men, they would polish it off quickly enough.

When Gilly announced that she had found the form, and held it out to him as evidence of that, Sean took it in hand. Picking up the pen, he then hunched over the table, neatly filling in each bit of relevant data. His name and contact information, his credit card information, and then the specifications for the ring: Moonstone in the shape of a heart, set in the middle of a sterling silver claddagh ring. Once he was finished, he returned the form and pen to her.

“Should we do the measurement now?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

While Sean filled out the form, Gilly was already searching for measuring tools so that when he asked she was prepared.

"Let's size you right now," she confirmed, extending her hand for his. "Which finger will you wear this on?"

Sizing shouldn't take long, and then he could jot down the measurmwnts on the form the customer had filled out, and later in the week she and Harold would begun work on the order.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean stepped away from his partner, as he required greater freedom of mobility to complete this exercise. As soon as they were finished, he fully intended to take Josh’s hand in his, so they could go off and find the next activity before the pie contest, as well as eat their apple fritter.

When Gilly asked the question and brought over her tools, the telepath extended his right hand toward her. “The right ring finger,” he replied, as that was the traditional location for a claddagh ring. At least for someone who was in his particular position, as he wasn’t married, but he was wholly and fully committed regardless. Or, to use the linguistic conventions associated with this particular item of jewelry, he had “found love.”

As far as he knew, the fingers on his left hand and his right hand were the same size. He had learned this through the act of switching rings between hands occasionally, when he had reason to wear them. However, as she asked for specificity, he was prepared to go with the most accurate answer available.

It had been a long while since his last fitting, and he knew that his fingers had thickened a bit since then.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Gilly took Sean's hand and began thumbing through the sizer before putting it in place. A few sizes had to be tried before she found a match, and she marked this on the form.

"Thank you, gentlemen!"

Josh held his hand out for Sean's as they left the jewelry booth, eying the fritter now that their errand was finished. "Aren't claddagh rings a type of engagement ring?" He asked once they were safely out of earshot.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean held his hand out patiently, as Gilly went through the measurement process. Eventually, she found a size that would fit him, and that sounded right to him. Such was part and parcel of having large proportions: a large torso, broad shoulders, big hands, big feet, big fingers...at least rings could fit him when specifically made for him.

When she finished, he offered her a smile and a parting wave. “And thank you. I look forward to seeing the finished ring.”

With that, he took Josh’s hand in his and walked from the jewelry booth. Although he didn’t see the hungry leer that his partner turned on the fritter, he heard the thought regardless, and so he passed the fritter to the younger man with his free hand.

He replied to the question with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “They can be. Some people use them in place of engagement rings or wedding rings. Others use them as deeply cultural as a way of signaling friendship and availability, since how you wear them signals to other people whether or not you’re in a relationship.”

His family – thoroughly Americanized – did not use claddagh rings in lieu of either engagement or wedding rings. That didn’t mean that nobody followed that symbolism.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh accepted the fritter with a thank you (which originated from his lips) and a growl (which originated from his stomach) and ripped a ravenous chunk from the treat, chewing in ecstasy while listening to Sean's explanation.

He swallowed and passed the fritter back. "So you'll be signaling to people you're unavailable?" He guessed, because there was no other possibility. They were committed and not open, after all. "If you weren't opposed to marriage I would be tempted to say i do. Is this close enough?"

It was a testament to how far he had come that whipping around to face the older man and planting a kiss on his lips in public didn't cause him to faint or at least break out into cold sweat.

"I'm lucky you're mine."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I will be, yes,” Sean confirmed with a nod. He had no intention to signal that he was available, since he most certainly wasn’t. He didn’t typically believe in signaling that, even when he was available; their culture didn’t focus on those types of demonstrations. “I’ll wear it with the heart in the center pointing towards me, which means that I’m very much smitten.”

The telepath took the fritter back from his partner and took a small bite. It was good. Aside from the burst of apple on his tongue, he could taste the deep fried oil, which was one of the many pleasures of eating faire food. He chewed quickly and swallowed, so that he wouldn’t speak with a full mouth. His ingrained politeness was second nature.

Instead of speaking, he found his lips pressed up against the younger man’s. He leaned in, returning the kiss just as Josh began it. Then, when his partner pulled back, he smiled contentedly and squeezed the other man’s hand gently. “I’d say that’s more than close enough.”

He squeezed Josh’s hand a second time. His own linguistic choices were a bit less possessive (as was his general mindset), but they conveyed the same emotions. “I’m lucky to have you too.”

He had said as much after their reconciliation, and he continued to feel that way each hour of every day.