Playing Games

It seemed just like any other night in the loft. The guys were seated on the floor facing the flickering flames in their fake fireplace. What made it just a little bit different from usual was that Brian started the conversation.

"You wanna hear some stuff about the office?" he asked the kid.

"I always want to hear stuff about the office but you never tell me anything about the office unless there's something I have to do," Justin replied, "So I guess there's something I have to do or you wouldn't be offering to tell me. You never talk about work and I really do want to know. I've complained about that a lot, but you never listen."

"If I didn't listen to you complaining, Honey," Brian retorted, "I'd forget what your voice sounds like. Well this does affect you, I guess, but you don't have to do anything."

"I wonder about that," Justin decided, "But go ahead. I'm interested."

"Well you're going to notice a difference in me starting next week," Brian told him. "I'm going to become nice."

"I'm not laughing at you," Justin broke in, "But the whole idea is really mind-boggling. Are you sure you want to become nice, Bri.? It'd be a big change in life style."

"You'll see," Brian insisted. "I've got a new account with these management specialists and they're pushing this program on executive niceness. They think I could do a better job with their campaign if I sat in on their two-day workshop. So I'm bound to be a lot nicer after that experience."

"These guys think they can make a nice guy out of Brian Kinney in two days?" Justin chortled.

"You're just jealous because they're going to do it in two days and you've been working on the same project for two years," Brian gibed.

"Maybe I would be jealous if I thought they had any chance of succeeding," Justin allowed. "I'm sure it will be interesting. I can't wait to see how it turns out."

"You don't have much confidence in me, Baby," Brian seemed to pout.

"Oh no, Honey," Justin informed him. "I have all the confidence in the world in you. I don't have much confidence in them."

"Well my advertising stuff will convince you," Brian pointed out. "When I get the campaign worked out even you will be convinced."

"And what if you don't think you're nicer after you do the workshop?" Justin asked, "Won't that make your program harder to develop?"

"Nah," Brian told him. "I've sold a lot of crap in my time."

"You're the best in the business, Brian," Justin assured him.

Brian wasn't sure how to take that last comment from the twink so the conversation went into a lull. Things returned somewhat to normal though because it was Justin who broke the silence

"This whole business is some kind of a joke, isn't it, Kinney?" Justin wondered. "Your playing games with me, aren't you?"

"Why would you ever think a thing like that?" Brian asked back, showing a sly smile on his face.

"Because you're Brian Kinney, that's why," Justin smiled back at him knowingly, "And you like to play mind games. You're Brian Kinney and you're not nice and you like to play mind games, that's why."

"Well I guess you can't be sure then, can you?" Brian crowed. "Maybe you'll never know."

"What did Cynthia have to say about this workshop?" Justin asked innocently, "Presuming she knows about it which she would if it was real because she knows everything that goes on in that office."

"She thinks it's a good idea," Brian answered. "She says I act like a tiger around the office, and it would be better if I were nicer. She also said that you would like the idea. Now that should be enough to make you a believer."

"Well I'm not sure if that makes me a believer or not," Justin responded, "And it doesn't tell me for sure if there's going to be a workshop or not, but it does tell me that you're putting me on, Bri. You don't expect to be any nicer after this workshop than you are now."

"And may I ask how you came to that conclusion?" Brian challenged him.

"Elementary, my dear Brian," Justin responded. "Cynthia knows a lot about me and I know a lot about Cynthia. She would never tell you I would like the idea of you getting nicer."

"You wouldn't?" Brian sounded surprised.

"Of course I would, I guess," Justin replied, "But Cynthia always tells me she thinks I like the way you're a big fierce tiger around every body else and just a great big pussy cat around me."

"A great big pussy cat," Brian exclaimed. "Well maybe I'll show you that the great big pussy cat can turn into a tiger when provoked."

"Are you provoked then, Sweetheart?" Justin asked him.

Brian broke out laughing. "Now it's you who's playing the mind games, Baby," Brian told him. "It might be a lot easier on you if you're playing mind games."

"Well I guess you can't be sure then, can you?" Justin crowed. "Maybe you'll never know."

"Oh I'll know all right," Brian assured him. "I'll ask Cynthia."

Brian mussed up Justin's hair so they both knew the situation was well in hand. They could therefore just sit for a while enjoying their togetherness. Again it was Brian who resumed the conversation.

"So you don't think Delphi Management Consortium can make people nicer with a two-day workshop?" He asked.

"Oh I don't know about that," Justin informed him. "Maybe they can if the people are properly motivated. I just don't think you're properly motivated."

"Do you want me to get nicer?" Brian wanted to know.

"I don't know Brian," Justin replied. "You know I love you just the way you are. You couldn't be any nicer to me. I think you should make your own decision about the workshop and I'll complain later if I don't like the new Brian Kinney."

"I can't believe you would ever complain," Brian said. "It's just not in your nature."

"More mind games, Bri?" Justin laughed. "But I do want to tell you I was playing games when I said you were a big pussy cat."

"You were?" Brian seemed surprised.

Justin mussed up Brian's hair to return the favor. "Of course, I was," he assured Brian. "You are every bit the tiger around here."

Brian smiled as he pulled the kid closer to him. "I don't think so," he told Justin.

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