Hey, Operator (Sean)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean was naturally monogamous, an attribute caused by a combination of innate character traits and preferences and the effects of his telepathy merge instinct. The psychiatrist found himself attracted to people more easily than his partner did, and, although they had never spoken about it outright, Sean had always suspected that Josh ran more gray-sexual, at least in terms of orientation rather than passion, while the telepath was extremely sexual and receptive, all factors equal. However, he had a switch in his brain that turned from “looking” to “taken” whenever he found himself in a relationship, and, once taken, his gaze never strayed. His fantasies never had room for more than one person.

Even when he indulged his partner with erotica or the occasional twincest fantasy, his own fantasies only involved Josh, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. They each possessed strong imaginations for role play, flirtation, and banter. Even if they never role played again, he would still dream only of the attorney.

He wasn’t built for open relationships or polyamory.

Which was why he never expressed disappointment with Josh’s trend in their games and banter.

To that point, he remarked, “I’m peering over to make sure you get every dust bunny.” By which he meant, he was craning his neck to get a better peek at Josh’s backside, which was, at least according to this shared fantasy, up in the air covered only in his boxer shorts.

“If I like your work, I’d be interested in arranging a live-in situation, so I had you on-call 24/7.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Live-in?" Josh asked, his persona's curiosity piqued. "That could work very well. I think the quality of my work would greatly improve if I didn't have to worry about transportation. And of course, not having to pay rent, or go home and clean my own space, I would have more energy to keep up. I'm working as hard as I can, scrubbing with aaaaall my might so that I can secure this deal. I would very much enjoy being your on call cleaning service, you know."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean felt inclined to agree with Josh’s persona’s reasoning. People often felt more prideful about their own space than others’, and so this persona most likely would develop greater incentive to keep the house spotless if he lived there as well. Market forces would also dictate the importance of keeping up with expectations, and the lack of other obligations would allow the persona to focus all of his energy on keeping the house clean and making Sean happy.

There remained a power dynamic as well, the imbalance of which would require earning his keep, which had no place in their actual relationship but could be enticing to role play from time to time. The thought of it all made him smile.

“I see that,” the telepath remarked, his tone serious but with an amorous undertone. If only they were closer together. “I’m impressed with your dedication.”

That was true, although never about cleaning, since his partner displayed none of his characteristic dedication to housework or chores. However, Josh’s passion and driven focus had been two of the traits that had first earned Sean’s interest in attraction all of those decades ago, and that had never faded. He loved this about the younger man.

“And,” his tone also became huskier, “If I may add that you’re quite graceful with your movements.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh, I'm very dedicated to satisfying my customers," Josh promised with a smirk. He, too, regretted that they couldn't be closer for this roleplay, but he would take what he could get. Flirting over the phone was certainly preferable to no contact at all while Sean was chaperoning.

The compliment brought a wider smile to his face. Although he wasn't clumsy, he also wasn't typically called graceful. But that was part of the fun of roleplay, pretending to have skills and attributes that you didn't in real life.

"Maybe I can show you some more...personal skills later, if you're enjoying this."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“That’s what I like to hear,” Sean replied, affecting as serious a tone as he could for this part of the conversation. “I won’t tolerate anything less than that.”

That was a half-truth. The telepath had a far higher tolerance for flaws and imperfections in his partners and in his relationships than many other people. That was why his sister called him a doormat, and why others in his social circle had made the occasional comment with similar, albeit more concerned, implications. They didn’t understand, because they confused his malleable and easygoing nature with an utter lack of boundaries and an inability to stand up for himself.

Nothing could be further from the truth. People rarely tapped this boundaries, but when they did, he defended himself. He had plenty of self-respect, no matter how accommodating he could be, no matter how much he genuinely enjoyed pleasing his partners.

As for pleasing partners, if only Josh could see the expression on his face right now.

“I am enjoying this,” he assured the other man. Both as his persona in the role play and as himself speaking on the phone with his partner. “And I’d be interested in seeing those ‘personal skills’ when you’re finished here, although I suppose we’d have to discuss rates.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"My rates are competitive," Josh promised, raising his eyebrows despite the fact that Sean couldn't see him. Getting into the spirit of roleplay always involved making faces, which was unfortunately worthless when speaking on the phone.

"I'm almost done with my demonstration. I'll just caress the vacuum hose seductively a minute before turning it off."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean pictured that in his mind’s eye as well, so easily because he knew what Josh looked like when he caressed objects, and because the telepath was as invested in this fantasy as his partner was, those hundreds of miles away. “Be sure to put it where it belongs,” he added, as double entendre.

Sean would have stroked his chin, as though in consideration, if they were in the same room and thus able to act on their fantasy. Instead, he would leave that to his partner’s imagination, just as he felt certain that Josh pictured any number of his facial expressions while they bantered. Just as he had imagined his partner’s expressions in his own mind’s eye.

“I like your work,” he informed the other man, as though there had been any doubt. “I’ll take you on for that live-in contract, and you can start tonight with those...private skills of yours.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Tonight?" Josh repeated, wishing that this were true. It wasn't, but he still managed to sound eager. "I guarantee you'll be satisfied. I'm going to put this where it belongs just like you asked, and then I suppose I should get to work moving in. Unless you had any other tasks for me beforehand?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

If only they could spend the night together. As he had in years past, Sean wished for astral projection, so that he could visit with his partner. He couldn’t wish for a longer range, simply because this long a range fell so far beyond the natural scope of telepathy as to be laughable; it would be the same as wishing that one could teleport to Mars. It couldn’t happen.

Instead, he had to focus on what they could share this week, and tonight, which was their fantasy and this telephone call.

“I don’t have any more tasks,” he assured the other man. Not in the conventional sense. And given the late hour, if Josh’s persona didn’t go back a bag soon, the night would have ended and the opportunity passed. “But before you leave to gather your things, I do have a request to make.” His voice turned mischievous, a surefire sign that he had something in mind.

So rarely did he disappoint when he had such ideas.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"I have put the vacuum cleaner where it belongs, and am now going to come stand in front of the armchair," Josh narrated, although in reality he stayed seated in the kitchen chair. "What is your request?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean took a deep breath, not because he was nervous, since he wasn’t; he was a grown man, talking to his partner of four and a half years and his friend of thirty-seven years, engaged in a private telephone call. Rather, he knew that he was upping the ante, and, more than that, neither of them could do anything about it once he did so.

Technically, Josh could do something about it alone, when they finished this call. The telepath wanted him to take care of himself if he felt so inclined, but Sean couldn’t. He had to continue chaperoning for the rest of the trip, and he shared a cabin with several coworkers, all younger than him. As usual, he had to suppress his physical urges until a later time.

At least he knew he could expect a wonderful “welcome home” when he returned from this trip at the end of the weekend. He looked forward to that.

He brought the phone closer to his mouth, and he lowered his voice, his tone as amorous as it had ever been with his partner. “You can get dressed, but I want you to give me your underwear. You won’t need that anymore.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Dinner was all but forgotten by this point, as Josh's attention was firmly on this flirtation with his partner. But even had he been inclined to warm up his plate again after the call ended he certainly wasn't now; instead, he silently mourned the fact that Sean didn't also have teleportation or some other form of instant travel such that they could spend the night together.

Alas.

He would have to save up all his ideas for when Sean finally returned home from this camping trip.

"All right. I'll hand those to you to do with as you will, then," He grinned. "And then I'll get dressed and go get ready for tonight."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

If only one of them had the ability to travel instantaneously across long distances, either physically through flight or teleportation, or else as a mental image through astral projection. Unfortunately, they would have to make do with their shortcomings and enjoy the phone call for what it was: the ability to spend a few minutes together while separated, and a means of enticing one another so that they could be in top form for Sean’s triumphant return home.

“Be sure to do that,” the telepath said, since he did want Josh to get ready for the night. He hadn’t heard the telltale sounds of chewing, or of Josh’s mouthful, indicating that he was eating and talking at the same time, which meant that his partner had forwent his meal, and that wouldn’t do.

“I’m putting them in my pocket,” Sean told him, “As a trophy. I expect to see you back here in a couple of hours, and I’ll set up a room for you in the meantime.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh, I'll be back," Josh promised, and then he dropped the performance, "I'm sorry to let you go so soon, but it's getting late. I love you."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

It was getting late. Even in this season, when nights were longer than they might be otherwise, it had been pitch dark for a couple of hours, and Vermont was the same way, as they were in the same part of the country on the same meridian. It was dark, it was late, and, as much as both men might wish otherwise, they couldn’t spend the entire night talking to each other.

“I love you, too,” he promised the other man. He meant that with every part of himself.

“Don’t forget to eat,” he chided his partner gently. He knew how distracted Josh could get, particularly when meals moved from the social interaction and sharing between them at the end of a long day into having to fend for himself. The fact that he didn’t think Josh had eaten any of the takeout about which he had been so excited at the beginning of this call underscored that.

“Call me tomorrow?”