Tobacco Smokes and Ember Hopes [Tags: Josh]

[Riley Adams]

The sun was beating on his back as he struggled with a particularly difficult growth on the flowerbed. "You do realise you can take off that ugly jacket of yours, right?" A soft and playful voice came from behind him and Riley turned to squint at his female colleague, Rina. He grinned behind his scruffy facial hair and shook his head in amusement. "I'm not performing a strip tease for you again, Rina." He chuckled before going back to the weed in the middle of a collection of yellow and pink tulips.

Rina's laughter was soft and tinkly as she got on her knees to help him with it. With a few tugs, the flowerbed looked perfect in all it's heart shaped glory. "Thank you Rina." Riley bowed his head slightly in appreciation with his signature grin intact. "You're very welcome, Riley." She replied in kind before getting up, dusting her jeans off. "Okay boss. I'm gonna go and gather everybody for lunch. You want to join us or continue with this?" she spread her arms across the landscape that was almost done, give or take a few shrubs that needed trimming.

"I think I'll stay for a bit. I've got my lunch packed anyway but thank you," he straightened up to his full height, towering over the 5'5" woman. "As always," she grinned with an amused shake of the head. She patted his forearm before walking away with a small wave. Riley waved back before stretching. He was getting a bit too old for bending down as indicated by the cracking of his bones as he twisted every other way to loosen his muscles.

For a few more minutes, he worked on the rest of the garden before he decided he was quite hungry. Removing his weathered and dirty gloves, he clipped it to his belt before moving to the small brown paper bag on a bench that held his beloved grilled cheese sandwich with jalapenos. Just as he was about to unwrap the paper bag to take out the ziplock bag holding his treasured food, his head snapped up at the smell of cigarette smoke.

Frowning slightly, he looked around the place to where the incriminating smell was coming from and found the culprit in the form of a suit. A suit being the corporate robots Riley named because of how much he couldn't care for them with their fancy schmancy cars and cigar smoking and looking down on guys like him. Then again, they did look sharp in those suits. Especially this one.

Maybe it was those thick rimmed glasses. Or the scruffy hair. Maybe the facial hair. Mmhmm...the facial hair did it. But Riley still felt the need to make him put out that heinous cigarette and so he did. He dropped the sandwich carefully into the paper bag and marched in the guy's direction. "Hi...d'you mind not smoking in this vicinity? I've got flowers over there that need oxygen not...um...that." Riley pointed at the vile stick.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh was very fond of his parents, as difficult as they could be, and he was willing to do a great deal for them, including moving. This did not change the fact that visits were stressful affairs that forced him to face the reality that they were deteriorating. His mother insisted on dragging him to the store with her so that he could help carry packages -- and read labels -- but as she was the one with the driver's license she was the one who drove. Her failing eyesight did not prevent her from driving as if she were a New York cabbie, fast and with little regard for the rules. And even his father's rarer and rarer lucid moments were sad; how did one comfort someone when they expressed awareness that they were confused and going senile? This was why visits inevitably ended with him outside in the parking lot, smoking.

This was a very typical state of affairs, and he had no idea that today he and his cigarette were the object of close scrutiny until suddenly the sun was blocked by a looming shadow. He glanced up. and up. and up. Wow, talk about giant, this guy had to be as tall as Sean! Maybe taller; it was difficult to do a comparison without his friend there. He removed his cigarette in order to better gape, both at the stranger's height and at the request. His flowers. He wanted a smoke-free zone because of his flowers. Was he actually hearing that?

"Sorry," He apologized, deciding to ignore the inclusion of the flowers in this request and instead to pretend like he'd been asked for the other man's sake. "I didn't realize anyone else was here." While this was a bit sad, considering that the landscapers weren't exactly silent, this was also true: he barely noticed the people who performed such menial tasks unless they were directly in his way. However, as this one had approached him and (more or less) politely requested he stop smoking he would honor this request rather than stubbornly make a scene like he would have had he been asked to stop in a more brusque manner.

He pinched out his cigarette, looking around for someplace to toss it. "So," He began at last, since it seemed in rather poor form to simply cease smoking and then ignore the guy, "You're ummm you're the gardener here?" Plants were, much like cheap labor, something Josh rarely noticed. He had once, in his youth, thought that perhaps he ought to try a plant or two in his apartment and had decided upon a nice, tiny cactus as something that wouldn't take much work. The cactus had unfortunately not survived having Josh as a caretaker; apparently even cacti needed to be watered. In general, however, he much preferred cities with their skyscrapers and noise to the relative quiet of the unsullied woodlands; his environmentalism was purely theoretical. "I don't believe I've seen you before." He added, finally spying the trashcan and heading toward it.

"I suppose the residents appreciate having you give them flowers to look at." He added doubtfully, certain that most of them stayed cooped up in their rooms if they even cared about flowers more than he did.

[Riley Adams]

The man's apology went almost unheard as Riley bit his lower lip to try and stop himself from laughing out loud at the expression the other man had on his face. With his cigarette hanging in the corner of his mouth, he looked like a deer caught in the headlights as he looked up so they were eye to eye...sort of. Deciding he should now concentrate on what the other guy was talking about.

"Maybe I should work harder on being noticed. What with all the digging and shoveling. We really don't make that much noise." It didn't make sense at all but Riley was so sure he was trying to be funny. The man's question brought a grin on Riley's face as he shrugged. "More or less yeah. It's just one project. I...I kind of do the landscaping." He formed the sentence like a question, like he was wondering if anyone outside of his world even knew what landscape artists actually do for a living.

Sure they were gardeners but their job was not to keep the garden alive, it was more to make sure the more visual people get stimulated by the vibrant colors and the prettiness of it all. Not that Riley was going to bore the guy with the tedious explanation of what he did. But at least the guy had put his smoke out. Riley's problem with cigarettes didn't just end at the smell. There was the endless possibility for disease cultivation and the yucky smell of the smoker's mouth, the stained teeth, the raspy voice...well okay the guy had perfect teeth and the voice kind of made him...dare he say it?...sexy.

Running his fingers through his salt and pepper hair, Riley shrugged once more as his new companion walked away to the trashcan to deposit his trash. "I've been here for about three weeks." He answered. "I guess we've just never bumped into each other. I'm Riley. Adams. From Patch Adams Landscape and Design." He extended his hand in a friendly manner, his smile wide and unassuming. First impressions counted so he always wanted to make a good one.

"And thanks but I'm sure most of them can't really come out of their rooms to see all this. I doubt some even know how to come out of their rooms..." Riley knew one of the patients who couldn't even remember his own name. It was pretty sad how these people are just left to their own devices in a home instead of their own homes with their own family taking care of them. Much like with Riley and when he was sent to Hammel.

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, Riley grinned widely at the bespectacled suit. "Are you visiting a patient here?"

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Ahhhh. I...I see." Only, he didn't. Wasn't that sort of the same as gardening? They at least both involved tending plants; any ideas as to what else a landscaper performed that differed from gardening currently eluded him. In any event, both jobs existed for the uneducated, the people who couldn't cut it in more intellectual fields. He thought it sad that anyone would be trapped in such a horrible, low-end job, but unfortunately those jobs were needed -- or at least wanted. At least this guy seemed relatively content, as if he wasn't simply resigned to his work but perhaps even enjoyed it. Ah, well. He may have been an uneducated landscaper but he was at least friendly and willing to speak his mind. Both of those counted for a lot.

Three weeks? And he hadn't noticed at all....his parents had been there for close to three months now. Surely their paths should have crossed before now considering how frequently he visited. But then, what reason did he have for conversing with the landscapers when he hadn't even noticed them before now? "Oh. Apparently not. I'm Joshua Bernstein. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Adams." He accepted the hand with a brusque, brief shake. "I assume the business is your family's?" Adams was a common enough name, but it would be an odd coincidence to be employed by a company that shared your name. It certainly wasn't impossible, of course, but it seemed more likely that this landscaping business was started by Riley's father or grandfather -- this Patch person, who may or may not still be involved. Probably not, though; Riley looked close to his own age, which would put his father at least at seventy, possibly older if he'd started late like Josh's parents had. Even at seventy surely retirement was justified, particularly with such a labor intense job.

"Indeed, I'm visiting my parents. Or rather, I was but I'm leaving now." He explained, toying at his glasses now that his hands weren't occupied with his cigarette. "Who knew that an 83 year old woman could be so exhausting? Hair appointments, grocery shopping, I don't know why she even needs me to go with her. She's drives." Poorly. One day her license was going to get revoked, if she didn't kill herself with her reckless driving first. "But such is the price of filial duty. At least she doesn't insist I eat with them. There seems to be some sort of rule that the cafeteria fix the blandest food possible. She claims its good, but I disagree. It isn't terrible, but if I'm going to take in calories I damn well want to taste them."

He cleared his throat. "Ah, anyway. I was just going to get lunch." He assumed that landscape artists didn't make much money, perhaps he should invite Mr. Adams along? It wasn't as if he would have much chance to eat out ordinarily; he surely couldn't afford it on a regular basis. Of course, he was also currently working, but he had to be allowed a lunch break, right? Josh knew that he could afford lunch for himself and the other man, so asking him would be altruistic. "You're welcome to come if you want. If you're allowed."

[Riley Adams]

"Bernstein?" Riley frowned slightly, trying to recall why the name sounded so familiar. Surely there weren't a lot of Bernsteins running around that Riley was familiar with. "As in Charlie and Bobby Bernstein?" He scrutinised Josh's face carefully, trying to picture the couple he always had fun visiting. Well, more Charlie than Bobby since the latter couldn't even remember Riley's name or even his visits.

Was this the lawyer son Charlie raved on and on about everytime Riley popped in to say hi? The activist, Riley was told. Acting on the greater good of the world. He had to admit in the flesh, Josh was not what Riley pictured. Charlie's description of her middle son, the prodigy, did not do him any justice. Of course he didn't know exactly what Josh did but he was sure the guy was happy with it. Or wasn't, if his habit of smoking until he had a raspy voice was any indication.

"Please, call me Riley. Mr. Adams is way too formal and uh," he paused and blushed ever so slightly. He hated using the word employee when he talked about the workers in his company so he tried another approach so not to put his status any higher than the others'. "My colleagues call me that despite my insistence they don't so anyone outside my working place need to call me Riley." He chuckled in embarrassment.

"Well, it's actually mine." Further embarrassed by the notion of actually owning the company, and the mention of family made it that much harder for Riley to maintain a genuine smile but he bit his tongue and smiled widely. "Well, my mother helped a lot so it's her company as well or more than mine." He shrugged, eager to push the conversation away from himself. "Oh, so you are Charlie's boopkie bear! I always go up there and say hi when I have break. She's a laugh and a half isn't she?" Riley chuckled.

"Um, I actually have lunch. I make my own. I'll share if you like. I hear food tastes better shared." The taller man smiled, showing the dimples the size of craters he was most known for among the girls in his company.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"You know my parents?" Josh asked, shocked. He certainly hadn't expected this landscaper to know any of the residents on a personal level, let alone his parents. Then again, his mother would make a point to know everyone, if only to boss them around. "I mean, yes, those would in fact be my parents. And Riley." He repeated, to cement in his mind that a more casual form of address was requested. Not Mr. Adams. Riley. If he ever saw the landscaper about again then he would remember to call him Riley.

He could feel his face heat up at the mention of that horrible name his mother still insisted on calling him. Every attempt he'd made at explaining to her that he was an adult and could be called by his proper name had failed miserably. It was bad enough that she called him that in public, but the realization that she was telling stories about him to people he didn't even know did not please him. "Yes, my mother is quite a character." He ground out, knowing that no amount of arguing was going to make her see just why he hated the general public knowing stories about his childhood. It was one thing for him to endure her pet names and stories while in her presence; it was quite another to realize that she went and told everyone she talked to.

"I don't want to take your food!" He declined, horrified at the thought of mooching off a stranger. A stranger who was clearly in a lower socioeconomic status and couldn't afford to share anything. "I'm sure you only brought enough for yourself." Very few of his coworkers bothered bringing their own food, and those that did rarely had enough to share. The only exception he could think of was the one woman who had a mini-fridge in her office and kept bags of candy in the filing cabinet, but a landscaper didn't have those options. Granted, Riley didn't behave as if sharing were a problem for him, but he was surely only offering out of politeness.

"And to be honest, I had my heart set on that Mexican place down the street, El Frontera or something? I can never remember the name but they have the best cheese dip. So you can keep your lunch."

[Riley Adams]

Josh's shock over him knowing his parents wasn't taken in any way but a positive one and Riley smiled with a nod, not knowing what Josh was thinking. It was times like these he wished his powers weren't just biological manipulation. "I do. I know a lot of the residents here. I go around whenever I have free time and talk to them." It helped that he usually did have free time. His powers helped him navigate through his work easily.

Riley liked the way the man said his name. It kind of conjured up images of when Michael used to say it. Dammit, the wounds were still fresh despite it already being ten freaking years since Michael passed away. He blocked those thoughts to avoid seeming upset and plastered a big smile on his face. It widened when the other man seemed to blush. The boopkie bear comment obviously irked the man. The blush suited the suit. "She sure is. She loves you, I can tell." Riley smiled halfways.

The landscape artist's eyes bugged out when Josh strongly declined his offer. It wasn't really that big a deal. And he always brought along enough for his staff, knowing they liked his food as much as he did. "Uh..." he started to tell Josh but the man was already talking about a Mexican place. "Oh yeah, I know that place. The cheese...." Riley's thought were filled with the spicy cheese dip he knew the place sold. He didn't even note the somewhat condescending way Josh seemed to put his words.

Blinking away after a few seconds of daydreaming and drooling, Riley looked at Josh and chuckled. "Okay. So uh you should go there then." He was sure it was Josh's way of inviting him for lunch so he wasn't going to embarrass himself by asking if they should get a move on if they wanted seats at the place. Besides, he still had his sandwich just waiting to be eaten. "I'll just go and start on my lunch." He smiled and started to turn to get to his food, not really expecting Josh to ask him to come along.