abstracts | Alternative Methods.

Here Arcade looks to Neil with pointed interest. "You've been holding out," he accuses.

Richards has no time for this. "Find out his birthday," he orders. "So this town can do something rightfully embarrassing for him."

Neil smiles blandly at Arcade before he regards Richards. "You got it," he says almost brightly. "He won't ever see it coming."

After all, Alex deserves the embarrassment, the blatant appreciation from folks who know him. He needs to understand that there was more to his actions in the year before than the blood across the sand.

Richards smiles at Neil briefly. "You let me know."

Arcade thinks to sigh. Richards has other ideas. "I'm sure you boys had another reasons for coming here other than helping my patients and planning surprises. What can I help you with?"

Oh, fuck. That's right. Neil, against his will, again turns a nice shade of crimson. "Shit. Right. I'll, uh, try to keep this short," he qualifies. "To sum it up, I need to know...alternatives to...anal. I know how ridiculous this sounds, but this is my first relationship, and I really don't want to fuck it up."

The admission rings as painful, and Neil swallows to keep his expression even. "Alex suggested I ask someone and gave me a list of sources. As you can probably guess, he named you as one of them."

Short, sweet, and incredibly retarded to hear again. Neil is so damn thankful this is the last guy.

Edited 2017-06-04 05:53 (UTC)

Oh, wow. Neil jumps right in. Arcade gives him credit.

Though Alex Richards has another reaction, one different from those who were asked before.

That is to say, he bursts out laughing, covering his mouth and chortling.

...Well. That crimson's turning a bit purple from sheer embarrassment. Neil flattens his lips and says nothing, trying very hard not to veer toward one emotional extreme or the other. Let this guy have his laugh or whatever.

Richards sobers in a moment, waving his hand. "Don't be offended. I've just never met someone so genuinely truthful in their wants before. Don't think I've ever seen anyone that earnest. Especially," he adds. "As it's about bettering a relationship with another person."

...Smile, smile.

Geez, do all guys named Alex have the exact same smile? Neil sighs, pretending the act has nothing to do with relief. "I ain't offended," he mutters. "I'm the one asking you for a favor, after all." Requesting directions on how to better his relationship, yup.

Richards waves Neil over to a chair, and he perches a hip on a nearby cot. "Tell me more details. I don't know how to answer something vague like that. And tell Doctor Gannon if he should stay or go for this conversation."

Arcade is split on that himself. Leave and escape it, or stay and find some possibly amusing things to use as ammo later--if he doesn't provide any against himself as well.

More details. Okay, he can do this, but first-- Before Neil takes his chance on the gestured chair, he glances over at Arcade, eyebrows raised.

"It's up to you. You're the one with the more active imagination." Picturing things that wreck and damage. Actually, maybe he should be away from this. "No, wait. I'd recommend leaving. I owe you enough as it is."

Edited 2017-06-04 20:35 (UTC)

Here, Arcade would likely surprise all, most of all himself. "You don't owe me anything," he gives, heading to the doorway of the tent. "We're friends, Neil Park."

Richards watches with open interest. "You seem to attract the hero types," he comments to Neil.

That declaration heats in a way that has Neil softening, allowing him to avoid sputtering at Richards' comment. Instead, he nods solemnly. "Kind of weird, that," he tells the doctor. "It's probably more accurate to say they like weirdos."

"Don't we all?" the good doctor replies, again gesturing at the chair.

"So tell me more about your situation."

Neil plops down onto the chair, mind working on gathering the info regarding his "situation."

"The abridged version?" he starts. "I haven't been involved with anyone before Alex, casual or whatever. Never had the inkling to. Then the Courier happens, and he, er, hits harder than most, I hear. Sexually."

Before Richards thinks the hitting's literal.

"So I wanted to know if there were other ways to get off. I don't want to have to tell him no, but it's all starting to get a bit much." Physically, of course, but throughout this quest, Neil's starting to wonder if the other aspects are falling into play as well. "That's when I asked him and got the list. Ended up going all over the Mojave with Arcade Gannon because he's awesome like that."

...Richards swallows his amusement at Neil's choice of words. The summary bears little fruit, but it could be ascertaining that Neil's been the one bottoming, and it's starting to become a little... uncomfortable. That's simple enough. The fact that Neil agreed to go on a quest around the west is a little more telling, but Richards is a medical doctor, not a psychologist.

"And what other ways have you found so far?"

"Uh." Neil recalls the methods obtained thus far, from the general explanation to the visual demonstration that Jimmy so thoroughly provided. "Handjobs, mutual masturbation, oral, and the one that sounds like a drink... Oh, right. Frottage."

"So the basics," Richards comments. "I certainly have a bit more that I could add to your knowledge. Question, Neil," he says suddenly.

"Explain to me exactly why you're doing this. This isn't something just anyone would do for someone they're with."

The question takes him aback, even as it has been brought up before by Ignacio. Why? Why go to such lengths for a SO? Remember, Neil Park, that a question for a question can be a fair trade.

He breathes in slowly, praying the oxygen will be enough for him to present the truth. "This might seem off-topic, but you're the guy who taught Alex the ropes on more advanced medicine, right?" he starts awkwardly. "In Maryland, I had an...unexpected and ill-prepared craniotomy. Got a chunk of my frontal lobe taken out which funnily enough, wasn't the bigger issue. The infection was."

The man taps the faded scar above his left eyebrow. "Alex took care of that as best as he could, thanks to your training," continues Neil. "Ended up taking care of a lot of my things in our trip to and from D.C. Taking care of me when I didn't do jack shit for him." No matter how much Alex claims otherwise.

"It's too one-sided. Too selfish. I want to-- I need to change that." Or there is no point for them to remain together.

The truth Neil gives is unexpected and a bit impressive, but Richards isn't here to pass judgment for better or worse. No, his intentions are more straightforward.

"Do you really think that different sexual acts will make things more balanced between you?"

Not really. Not by itself. However--

"It would be a start," Neil gives quietly. "The first of many steps in the right direction."

"You know your relationship best," Richards gives. He moves his eyes skyward in consideration. "Let's see...

"Until recently we were fighting a group that believed themselves to be the New Roman Empire. In Rome, there were male-male relationships that were considered normal: Close 'friends', or a teacher and a student. Penetrative sex was saved for their wives, so they did the same act between the thighs. Using oil or other lubrication, you get the same act without penetration."

"You know your relationship best." It is a sentiment given before by others, even as Neil questions its validity. Nevertheless, Alex Richards seems satisfied, enough to provide one technique.

Neil straightens in his seat, mulling over the mechanics. "Sounds simple enough." More in line with their tastes. Maybe. "Though, could I ask you a dumb question?"

Richards gives the go-ahead with a gesture, and Neil continues, "Why is non-penetrative sex considered acceptable between friends, but everyone goes apeshit at sodomy?"

Richards gives a sardonic smile, the edges bitter. "Sodomy is emasculating, of course. You're not a 'real' man if you take it, to the common person. You're playing the woman's role.

"Except not a one of those saying that kind of hate have ever been in that kind of situation. When I was your age, I switched between top and bottom, but given the choice, bottoming is far more intense. It's always been funny for me to hear those words, when those people will never get to experience that kind of intensity."

"It is kinda overwhelming," Neil mutters. The intricacies of sex just boggles his mind, particularly when there exists etiquette that goes beyond mere consent. And let's not touch the matter of consent, not with something still lurking in his recent history.

"Is it easy to switch between top and bottom?" he asks instead. "I feel like you could seriously mess up the, uh, topping part."

"It's easy to switch up," he replies, feeling fond of this young man. "But it seems like your beau has experience with that, so have him teach you that. It's sometimes risky, but as long as you have control of yourself and consideration of your partner, the rest falls into place."

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