Change of Venue

“We were already gonna be out of town over Labor Day anyhow, Kiddo,” Brian was countering Justin’s protest as the residents of the loft got themselves into position on the floor facing their fake fireplace. “And we were already gonna take Brandon and Jason with us too – and we were gonna do some business over the holiday. None of that has changed at all…..”

“And Linz and Mel are having their party the next week so we won’t miss that,” Justin unexpectedly helped him out. “And we’ve mixed business with pleasure before and …..”

“And so there’s just one slight change - in the location, Baby,” Brian picked up the exposition. “And it’s not the change of location that’s the real problem for you either. The real problem is that the change was not your idea….”

“When Wil and Alan were here for the Kennywood picnic, they asked you and Brandon for some help on something that Alan is doing at the bank,” Justin recounted patiently. “And we decided we’d all go down to Atlanta over Labor Day and have some fun there - and you and Brandon could see what Alan’s problems were. That’s what we decided – if memory serves….”

“I think memory serves correctly, JT,” Brian agreed. “But you should remember that we also found out then that Alan and Wil are big fans of that soap opera that Ricky and Shawn are on - and that pornographic cable series that Robert is on too. They were surprised that we were friends of Rickshaw and Robert and they made you promise that you’d fix it up so they could meet them sometime.”

“Yep,” Justin agreed. “That’s just what happened and I was trying to figure a way to do that very thing…..”

“So now you don’t have to worry,” Brian reasoned. “Dave called and wanted us to go to New York for the holiday and I told him we couldn’t because we had other plans…..”

“Which we did, Kinney,” Justin pointed out. “Plans to go to Atlanta…..”

“That’s what I told Dave, Sweetheart,” Brian told him. “Exactly what I told him. Dave doesn’t even know Alan and Wil but he tracked them down somehow and invited them to move our meeting to New York….. Alan was flattered – he knew about Dave of course – anybody in the finance business would - so he would want to go anyway – to see that exclusive pent-house – and hob-nob with the billionaire.”

“So Alan called you to see if we could move our meeting to New York,” Justin continued, “and you told him that maybe we could all meet with Ricky and Robert and Shawn while we were up there and Alan like – swooned. Then you called and fixed it up with Dave – a dinner party where the starry-eyed meet the stars….”

“That’s where we’re at all right, Baby,” Brian confirmed. “You should be glad about it. Alan and Wil get to meet the TV stars – and you always like to see them too. They’ll probably need your advice on a whole lot of stuff anyhow….”

“I don’t think so, Bri,” Justin had to smile. “I’m on the internet with them at least a couple of times a week so they’re always up-to-date with advice from me – which they don’t always take by the way. People have to do their own thing…. But that’s OK, I guess….”

“Well just what is it about this trip that you’re upset about, Taylor?” Brian wanted to know. “Something’s bothering you. New York can be just as exciting as Atlanta – and you love New York - but if you want to stick to Atlanta all that much – that’s what we’ll do. You’ll have to explain to Wil and Alan why they’re missing their big meeting with the New York guys…..”

“That’s like – what my problem is, Bri,” Justin told him. “Dave keeps like – interfering – like he’s making things better…..”

“But in his defense, Honey,” Brian rebutted. “He is making things better – in a way. Billionaires have ways of doing stuff like that.”

“Well maybe I resent that he’s a billionaire, Brian,” Justin smiled. “He can do stuff that we can’t do….”

“Seems to me that when you first met Dave you had a good shot with him yourself,” Brian teased. “But you decided to stick with poor impoverished Brian Kinney instead – so you like – farmed him out to Wendell. If you’d have picked Dave then, you could have…..”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin assured him. “That’s not what I mean at all. That was never a possibility. Dave’s a nice guy but he wasn’t for me. That’s your job and you do it pretty well – sometimes – even if we are poor and impoverished….”

It was at that point in the discussion that it paused for a while. Just Brian doing his job - with no objection from the other guy involved – neither of them feeling either poor or impoverished at that moment.

“So it’s up to you whether we go to New York or to Atlanta for Labor Day, Sunshine,” Brian resumed the discussion. “Brandon and I will be able to give Alan our opinions on his project either way – and that’s the purpose of the trip. You can think about it for a while if you need to but we’ll need to know in a few days….”

“Darn it, Brian,” Justin replied. “Everybody seems to want to go to New York – so I don’t think I should make that big a fuss about it. New York it is – if that’s what you all want. We’ll have a good time….”

“But you still have some reservations, I think,” Brian read the kid’s mind.

“Yeah,” Justin affirmed. “I do. Philosophical reservations – about billionaires always getting their own way. It bothers me some – but New York will be the best choice this time.”

“I guess it’s tough being a philosopher, Kiddo,” Brian grinned at him. “I never have any like – philosophic reservations – about anything - so it’s a lot easier for me….”

“Cut it out, Brian,” Justin laughed. “You’re teasing me – because I have principles which sometimes keep me from doing just what I want to do…..”

“And it bothers you that billionaires like Dave can pretty much get what they want when they want it?” Brian reiterated.

“Exactly,” Justin agreed.

“Well you know that new procedural cops and robbers TV program that you like so much,” Brian asked him. “That we have to record if you can’t be here to see it?”

“Yeah,” Justin answered quizzically, “But that’s not on till tomorrow night so….”

“You know what I think you like most about that program, Babe?” Brian smiled. “I think it’s that cute, brilliant, young blond kid who’s the forensic expert – the one who looks at the body and out-does Sherlock Holmes with his analysis – and practically solves the crime for the coppers….”

“I don’t know why you’d think that,” Justin made an unconvincing argument. “But that kid is a very good actor….”

“Well Dave said he could invite that ‘very good actor’ to the big dinner party if you wanted him to,” Brian revealed, “but maybe that would just like – be another instance of the billionaire getting his own way so maybe….”

“But maybe that kid would be thrilled to be invited and if you told Dave not to….” Justin conjectured. “And maybe it would do him some good to get to know Rick and Robert and Shawn – to say nothing of Dave. We shouldn’t stand in the way of what’s good for that kid. We shouldn’t be meddling…..”

“Philosophic principles again, I guess?” Brian laughed. “I can see them at work.”

“Yep,” Justin replied.
 

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