Well - Are You Satisfied Now

“Well are you satisfied now?” Brian asked Justin as the guys had only just barely got themselves into position on the floor of the loft - opposite their fake fireplace.  Brian had his arm around the kid but did not seem very happy. 

“What do you mean ‘Am I satisfied now’?” Brian Kinney,” Justin rejected Brian’s question.  “This has nothing to do with my being satisfied.  Nobody made you fly up to New York with us.  Me and Jason have seen Robert in Romeo and Julian three times since it opened off-Broadway – and this was our last chance to see him because he has to quit and get on up to Toronto to start taping the next season of his cable series – and we wanted to go one final time last night.  He makes a great Romeo, Bri.  But nobody asked you and Brandon to come along.  That was your own decision.  You guys felt guilty about ignoring Robert for the last twelve weeks.  The question should be ‘Is your conscience satisfied now?’ – or are you still feeling guilty?’” 

“Well, Robert did make a better Romeo than the very unhot guy who played the role here, JT,” Brian conceded.  “But the play is still as God-awful as it was in Pittsburgh….”
”It has sold out every performance in New York so far, Mr. Kinney,” Justin reminded him.  “Every single one.  Somebody must have liked it….”

”Yep,” Brian grinned slightly, “That crazy old bag in the front row who kept yelling out Robert’s lines before he got to say them.  She liked it.  And I bet she was also here the other couple of times you came.

Now tell the truth, Baby.  She was, wasn’t she?” 

“I might remember her, Bri,” Justin grudgingly admitted, “So I guess she was tthere…..”

”And she and a bunch of other old biddies swamped poor Robert in the lobby after the performance,” Brian pursued his perceived advantage, “And had him posing for pictures with them.  I bet they did that the other times too….”

”Well they’re like – fans of his, BK,” Justin countered.  “Naturally they’d like pictures with him …..” 

“So then, Taylor - some of them must be my fans too,” Brian bragged with a slight grin.  “That one with the purple hair said she could see that I was a friend of Robert’s - and she wanted to have her picture taken with me….”

”I noticed that, Kinney,” Justin grinned back in turn.  “I pretended not to notice – but I noticed – and I also noticed that you did have your picture taken with her – and a couple of other ones too – and you looked to me like you were enjoying the whole experience….”

”Well I was not enjoying the experience, Kiddo,” Brian denied the accusation.  “Not that it wasn’t strange enough.though.  I wasn’t sure what I should do - and I didn’t want to embarrass Robert ….” 

“Well somewhere on the internet tonight is your picture with those women,” Justin laughed, “Probably captioned, ‘Us with Robert’s father’….” 

“Well I didn’t want to go at all,” Brian grouched somewhat unconvincingly.  “It was your fault I was even there.  I did not want to go.  You like – made me go….” 

“I did not either make you go, Brian Kinney,” Justin insisted as he plopped his head onto Brian’s shoulder, “But I’m glad you did go – and I’m glad it was your own idea to go – and I’m glad you convinced Brandon to go – like I know you did - and Jason’s glad you did too - and Robert was glad you came – so you did the right thing – for a change maybe  ….”
 -
And the conversation – having finally reached a more agreeable level – faded at this point into a pause - which seemed to be appropriate.  But the guys were not completely satisfied yet. 

“So where were Malcolm and Hix yesterday, Baby?” Brian inquired as the chat resumed.  “Shouldn’t they be at every performance?” 

“Well Hix just has author credit so he doesn’t need to come at all if he doesn’t want to,” Justin informed him, “But Malcolm is the director and he should look in at least every week or so to make sure the cast is not slacking off – and he does that….” 

“Are they back in Pittsburgh then?” Brian continued his inquiry.  “I’m glad I missed Hix but I kind of thought I’d see Malcolm….” 

“You don’t need to worry, Brian,” Justin laughed.  “Malcolm will know you came.  I’ll tell him and Robert will tell him and Jason will tell him – and the lady with the purple hair will tell him about meeting Robert’s father – so he’ll know - and you’ll get credit.  Maybe I told you that there are going to be productions of Romeo and Julian in Chicago and Los Angeles this winter…..”

”Don’t tell me we’re gonna have to go to Chicago and L. A., Baby,” Brian complained.  “I’ll be ready to yell out the actors’ lines myself before they say them too if….” 

“We won’t need to go unless one of our guys is in it, Sweetheart,” Justin assured him.  “Malcolm will spend a little bit of time in both places as a resource advisor – but those productions will each have local directors so even Malcolm won’t have to be there all that much.  I advised him to ask for performance videos of live performances from each place though – and we’ll be checking out the quality of their productions – so you will have the opportunity to see them in the comfort of our own loft – if you want to….” 

“Malcolm is really lucky to have you as self-appointed unpaid advisor and assistant director, Baby,” Brian smiled at the kid, “But – will I have to watch these Chicago and L.A. videos - or will it be completely my decision?” 

“Cut it out, Brian,” Justin commanded.  “Just save the martyr bit.  What did I just say?  If you don’t want to see them, that’ll be completely your decision – and you know it too …..” 

“So it looks like our Malcolm has hit the big time, Babe,” Brian concluded.  “New York – Chicago – Los Angeles…..” 

“Yeah,” Justin agreed.  “He’s moving on up all right.  But actually he’s up in Massachusetts yesterday and today.  At the Berkshire Theater Festival specifically.  They are thinking about Romeo and Julian for next summer in their little theater.  They have this kind of aging youngish actor that they like up there.  He does something for them every summer and he has a quite a fan following- so he’s a money-maker for them – and they want to keep him as happy as they can.  Well he’s beginning to show his age some – and he’s now pressuring them to let him do Shakespeare’s  Romeo and Juliet.  They think he’s probably too old for that Romeo – but they think he might be convinced to settle for our Romeo and Julian – which would get them off the hook with him.  And Berkshire would maybe like to have Malcolm sign on to direct up there too – but I don’t think it would be such a good idea for Malcolm to get into that situation.  It could like - blow up….” 

“Well – will Malcolm get to make up his own mind about Berkshire, Baby?” Brian wondered, “Like I always get to make up my mind about everything….?” 

“Absolutely, Mr. Kinney,” Justin assured him with a trace of sarcasm.  “Malcolm is always free to make mistakes – if he insists – just like you are….” 

“So Shawn and Rick are gonna start alternating in Malcolm’s New York production when Robert bows out, eh?” Brian changed the subject – but only slightly,  “So when are you and Jason going up to see them?”

”We thought we’d go up the week-end after next and take in two performances,” Justin revealed, “And like – kill two birds with one stone – and that way we’d show no favoritism either.  You and Brandon can come along – if you want to, that is….” 

“Well maybe we’ll wait till a little later in the run, Sweetheart,” Brian predicted.  “That’d give the guys a chance to settle into the role.  I want to see them at their very best  ….” 

“OK with me, BK,” Justin smiled.  “If the lady with the purple hair asks, I’ll tell her Shawn’s dad and Rick’s dad will be in to see them a little later.  They’re only gonna do it for eight weeks.  With the soap opera and all, it’d be too much for them to go on indefinitely…..” 

“Brandon and me will go up in October, Baby,” Brian promised.  “We aren’t as attuned to the theater as you and Jason – so seeing each of them once will be enough for us …..” 

“And you’re not gonna be accusing me of like – forcing you to go,” Justin laughed, “Like you did this time.” 

“Well – if you don’t mind, Kiddo,” Brian told him as he suggestively tightened his grip on the twink, “Maybe I will – but only if you don’t mind.  It’s like – a good cover story….” 

“Be my guest, Kinney,” Justin agreed.  “Whatever you want to do is OK with me – like always.  I like it when you make your own decisions….” 

Justin had the idea that Brian had made some decisions about what would come next – and Justin – as he so often says - always likes it when Brian makes his own decisions. 

It seems that finally both of the guys were now completely satisfied.

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