Conflicting Ultimata

The fireplace was lit and the residents had just positioned themselves on the floor facing it. Brian had a question for which he was not especially eager to hear the answer – or was he?

“OK, Baby,” he ventured. “You stopped into the office this afternoon and I was busy. I saw you talking to Cynthia. I was only busy for a little while and when I was free you were gone. You usually wait for a while when you come to see me. And Cynthia didn’t seem to want to tell me what you two were talking about. I think that’s bad news. Did you come to see me or did you come just to see Cynthia and hatch some plot?”

“Well I came to see you,” Justin explained, “but it was nothing important. I just happened to be in the neighborhood and I like to visit the office every once in a while …”

“Like you don’t trust me to tell you all that you need to know or something,” Brian laughed. “Like if I hired some really good-looking twink as an apprentice maybe?”

“That might depend on what skills he was honing as an apprentice, Sweetheart,” Justin laughed. “But maybe you don’t tell me everything from the office either …”

“So you found something out during your fifteen minutes in the outside office, eh,” Brian wondered. “And you weren’t even gonna tell me about it?”

“Very wrong, Mr. Kinney. I was absolutely going to tell you about it,” Justin pointed out, “if you had given me a chance. But maybe you have a guilty conscience – cause you brought up the subject first.”

“Well I don’t exactly know what subject I brought up, Sweetheart,” Brian laughed. “But I have a feeling I’m going to find out – very soon – and that bit about a guilty conscience – like – I’m surprised you think I even have a conscience.”

“Yep,” Justin told him. “You do have a conscience – she’s named Cynthia. Well she told me something that I wanted to talk to you about. I think she thought I already knew about it. She may even have thought it was my fault. Anyhow, I didn’t tell her I didn’t know – and I thought it would be better for us to talk about it here by the fireplace…”

“Now I am in a real quandary, Baby,” Brian seemed amused. “I may not want to talk about it – whatever it is – but I really do want to know what the hell Cynthia would ever think was your fault. That defies imagination. Cynthia thinks you’re more perfect than you do.”

“Let’s not try to change the subject, Sweetheart,” Justin stopped him. “It won’t work.”

“And what was I trying to change the subject from, Honey?” Brian wondered. “It’s hard to change the subject when there isn’t any subject to change …”

“Vail is the subject, Kinney,” Justin informed him at that point. “Vail, Colorado, is the subject. That convention that you advertisers have every year in Vail and that we used to always go to – but we didn’t go last year – and I didn’t hear anything about this year either …”

“Well I was thinking of not going again this year so…” Brian attempted to explain.

“This year you have been invited to deliver some kind of report which would be a big plus for Kinnetics, Brian – and you should go,” Justin advised him. “It’s important. I think maybe Cynthia thought you weren’t going because I didn’t want you to go – because of how crazy you get on the ski slopes.”

“And you do want me to go?” Brian requested reassurance. “Even if there are still ski slopes in Vail.”

“I certainly do,” Justin confirmed. “Actually I think I may insist that you go. Sometimes I gotta do that - for your own good, of course – not to be like – bossy or anything.”

“If you say so, Baby,” Brian gave in – just a little too easily. “I suppose I’ll have to go. I didn’t think you’d trust me out there – near all those ski slopes – without you along to nag …”

“Who said anything about ‘without me,’ Kinney?” Justin interrupted. “Don’t you think I’d want to be there when you give this important report? To like - share your triumph?”

“So why do I figure you’ll be out on those aforementioned ski slopes while I’m having my forensic triumph back at the lodge, JT?” Brian smiled at him. “I guess I sometimes misread your intense interest in the field of advertising … But you know what? You are such a distraction to me – a good distraction but still a distraction nevertheless – and I’m sure my report would be even a greater triumph without any distractions – even good ones – like you.”

“If you and that crazy Edgar from Phoenix didn’t get you killed or maimed before your triumphal report ever happened, Sweetheart,” Justin pointed out. “If you’ll remember, Edgar broke his leg two years ago - and that could have been you – if I hadn’t been there…”

“Now why would I want to break Edgar’s leg, Sweetheart?” Brian grinned. “Edgar is quite capable of breaking his own leg.”

“Cut it out, Kinney,” Justin insisted. “This is no joking matter. I do not want to be sitting for years next to you in a coma in some hospital bed…”

“Geez, Kiddo,” Brian laughed. “I’m in a coma for years – lying in a hospital bed – and the story is still about you.”

“OK, Brian,” Justin smiled slightly but suppressing any laughter. “It’s settled. We’re both going to Vail and that’s that.”

“On two conditions, Boss,” Brian asserted himself. “I get to go on the advanced slopes – only with you along if I have to – and you only go on the advanced slope when I’m there. You’re not the only one who could sit for years next to somebody in a coma.”

“But I take care of myself…” Justin protested.

“Take it or leave it, Sweetheart,” Brian stayed firm. “It’s my way or we don’t go – either of us…”

“Damn it, Brian,” Justin complained. “OK – but if that crazy Edgar is there too, I can’t watch you both…”

“I don’t think you need to worry about Edgar, Baby,” Brian confided. “Edgar got married last year and from what I hear, Mary Ann is as big a wet blanket as you are – and she’ll be at Vail too. She wouldn’t let Edgar go without her.”

“A wet blanket after my own heart,” Justin laughed. “Not that I’m making any admissions wet-blanket-wise. But you’ll still be a handful by yourself, Kinney. Maybe I can get some help from Mary Ann…”

“Or maybe from Abelard and Malcolm, Baby,” Brian suggested. “They’re both expert skiers – better even than you…”

“What are you talking about, Brian?” Justin seemed perplexed. “What about Abe and Malcolm?”

“Well I asked them and they’re gonna be in Vail during the convention,” Brian revealed. “They have been wanting to get away for a ski trip together for years and this was a good chance for them. And then Brandon and Jason decided they wanted to come too…”

“Wait a minute, Brian Kinney,” Justin demanded. “What’s going on here? I wasn’t even supposed to be going…”

”Wanna see your plane ticket?” Brian grinned at him.

“But you didn’t even know if I could get away…” Justin reasoned.

“I think you’ll be able to get away, Sweetheart,” Brian told him. “But if you can’t, then I’m not going either – and that is my absolutely final word on the subject…”

“Brian Kinney,” Justin reasoned. “Cynthia had to know all this … You guys set me up – the whole bunch of you. I’m not surprised about you - but Cynthia…”

“I guess you’ll never be able to trust Cynthia again, Baby,” Brian squeezed the twink gently.

“Beware, Brian Kinney,” Justin retorted, moving in closer to Brian. “Cynthia owes me big after this trick – and I’ll let her know it too. Are there any other surprises left – or is this all for now?”

“Well, Baby,” Brian cuddled him even closer, “I guess I better tell you. I did hire a really cute twink as an apprentice. His name is Rupert …”

”Is Rupert going to Vail, Bri?” Justin asked as he traced his fingers across Brian’s cheek.

“Nope,” Brian confirmed.

“Then I guess that will be OK,” Justin concluded, “But I may just stop by the office a little more often – for a while anyhow … Not that I think I have anything to worry about.”

Brian didn’t think so either.
 

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