2020-10-22 Candra's Sickness

 2020-10-22 Candra's Sickness

Candra Stevens suffered from migraines and she had a doozy today. She thought she could tough it out and go to school but by the time she got to the front steps her vision was clouded by auras and she was reeling with waves of nausea. She dug through her shoulder bag for her meds and almost cried when she didn’t find them. They were at home. She wasn’t even sure she could make it that far so she called out to her brother Justin before he dashed inside “Justin….can you please go get my meds...I’m really sick…”

Justin had been trying to get to school for an early basketball practice and he was already late “Fuck Candy...why didn’t you grab them?”

“Because I feel like shit and I’m not thinking clearly….Please Jus please….I don’t think I can even walk home right now.” Candra looked as queasy as she felt.

Justin looked at his sister and sighed “God dammit...fine…” He saw Levar running in late as well “Levar! Tell Coach Burrows I’m gonna be real late...sorry.” And he bolted for home.

Candra looked as grateful as she could muster and called after Justin “Thanks I owe you.” Her stomach lurched and she couldn’t hold it back as she threw up off the side of the steps.

Keisha Hawkins-Domino had just locked up her bike and saw Candra throwing up “Oh Candy...you need to go home…...are you ok?” She kept her distance but still offered compassion.

People were staring at Candra like she was a walking contagion now and she held up a hand “It’s not something you can catch…...ah fuck whatever…..” She couldn’t be bothered explaining migraines to the whole student body because what she needed to do instead was throw up a second time.

Tony Penhall was a little bit late, but he was alright with it.  He was finally off of his grounding by his father, having successfully learned to ‘cover his cucumber’ for two weeks, nearly.  His father had let him off a couple of days early assuming, correctly, that Tony was practicing with the real deal as well as his dedicated protection of vegetables.  Now he jogged up the stairs just in time to see Candra throwing up over the sides of the school steps.  He froze in place and stared at her, his mind going to some of his other lessons.  For example, one of the first symptoms of pregnancy was throwing up a lot.  Morning sickness.  And it was, indeed, morning.  He approached her and waited for it to pass and then spoke.  “Hey Candra.  You OK?”  they hadn’t really been speaking to each other since .. well since their first time together.

Candra hears Tony’s voice and inwardly cringes. She had been avoiding him...actively...and now he was here watching her puke. How much more embarrassment could she endure. She half turns and looks at him but the motion is not good “Ohhhhhhhhh……..Tony I uh….excuse me please….” And she forces herself down the steps and around the side of the building to throw up a third time, not wanting an audience anymore.

Keisha shuddered and jogged inside “Whatever that is...I don’t want any….bleh…”

Tristan Reinhardt walked up from the side of the street where Candra could still be seen by. He tried not to stare but it was a gruesome scene. He spotted Tony and made a face “Jesus….that’s all kinds of awful. You know puking is a Covid thing right? Do you think she has it? Candra….around the corner hurling…”

Rene Beaulieu walks with Tristan to school every chance he gets and winces at seeing Candra throwing up.  “I hope she doesn’t have it.  Mon Dieu we can’t get away from it, can we.”

Mason Stanley is walking from another direction and sees the guys talking, but can’t see Candra.  “Who has Covid?”  he wonders aloud, walking up to them.

Tony sighs deeply.  “Just go to class, guys.  Let’s talk after school, OK?  I’m off being grounded, so wherever.”  he wants to stay and see if Candra is alright, but there so many people watching the show now, he isn’t sure she’ll talk to him.

Tristan looks a little concerned but trusts all will be revealed later. He takes Rene’s hand again and heads in with a slight nod “Ok man….burger shack later?”

Justin Stevens rides up fast on a bike and looks around where Candra was before “Candy?” He calls out loudly “Fuck….” She pops out from the side of the building and waves at him. He parks the bike and pulls a little white pharmacy bag out of his backpack and walks over and hands it to her “I have to get to practice...here…” And after she takes it from him he takes the steps two at a time and is inside.

Candra fusses a bit with whatever’s inside the bag but she’s still a bit around the corner. Then she shoves it roughly into her backpack. She takes out her water bottle and sips and then gets on her phone calling, from the sound sounds of it...a parent. “Please can I go home….it’s really bad…..I know sometimes if I wait a bit it gets better…..please Mom. I’ve thrown up three times now and everyone saw me.”

The arrival of students is still in full rush mode and there are people everywhere.

A few minutes after Candra’s call to her mother, her father Wil Stevens comes out of the school looking for her in his custodial coveralls. He gives Tony a hard stare as he passes him but then looks around for his daughter “Candy?”

“Dad…” She calls back weakly and waves him over “Please let me go home.”

Wil Stevens looks compassionate but firm “How about we see if you can rest in the nurse’s office and then maybe you can make it to a few classes after? Sometimes this passes….” He puts his arm around her and begins to walk her into the school slowly.

Rene looks at Tony curiously, but goes with Tristan when he leaves.  It will be a fun afternoon out with the guys, and some answers, he hopes.

Mason nods and looks around at the crowd as if he hadn’t really noticed them, which he hadn’t.  “Burger Shack sounds good to me.”  he heads into the school, his mind categorizing, as always.

Tony nods.  “Burger Shack it is.”  he agrees and watches the crowd slowly break up.  He tries not to wince under Mr Stevens stare, and then heads into the school himself.  Her dad was still mad.  Candra was throwing up.  He had to wonder … could it be Covid?  Pregnancy?  And if it was pregnancy … what was he supposed to do … besides what his father had done?

Yuki Tanaka was having a slow day. The tourists hadn't come back of course as the season was done. And it was October so the locals kept a bit more to their own workplaces and homes too. But he would stay open for the stragglers and the brave and to his delight today’s crew included some of his favourite young teenagers, even one he had known since birth and had now become family with. He beamed as the four boys appeared in front of the shack “Tristan! Rene! Tony! Mason! I have a two for one BC seafood poutine special on just for you guys...and Tris you remember we have a dedicated French Fry fryer so it’s safe.” The poutine wasn’t officially on the menu but it was known about through word of mouth and seafood poutine had been on the chalkboard specials since the summer busy time. Giovani and Yuki both loved fusion cooking and to honour Giovanni, Yuki had kept it going.

Tristan grinned “Thank you. I do remember. How are you Yuki?” He adored Yuki. Yuki had been his grandpa Hiro’s best friend and now he was Kaitlin’s boyfriend. “I will have a poutine actually. And a gingerale please. Two for one…” He wiggled his eyebrows at Rene “It’s not your brother’s poutine but I won't tell him.” He was eager to hear Tony’s stuff from the morning but food first, always.

Rene looked at the Burger Shack with a smile.  He wasn’t completely familiar with it, although he knew that his cousin Annette’s boyfriend had known this Yuki for a long time.  It made the island feel somehow smaller and cosier.  He laughs at Tristan.  “Two for one and I will not tell Sasha, either.”

Mason had been interested in the two for one special and nodded.  “It’s really good.”  He remembered from the few times he got out of this house, usually dragged by his sister or his friends.

Tony had been unusually silent on the trip from school to the Burger Shack.  Candra had gone right back to ignoring him once her father showed up, but he was getting used to it.  But his day had been a distracted mess.  Now he just wanted to eat with friends and laugh again.  He doubted there would be much laughing and he tried to decide how to explain what had happened.  He nodded.  “Sounds good to me, Mr Tanaka.”  

Yuki beamed “2 for one means four poutines...for four growing boys. I’m good. Always better when I’m cooking or fishing. I’ll bring it out. What do the rest of you want to drink?” He had filled the gingerale already and set it down near Tristan.

Tristan had his card ready to pay Yuki “I’ll buy you guys….I mean it’s really like buying 2 and four drinks. I just got my pay transfer from the flyers. May as well enjoy it.”

Rene smiles.  “Gingerale for me, as well, please.”  he looks about the docks.  It is after school, but not the end of the business day, so they mostly had the place to themselves.

Mason nods, absently.  “Gingerale for me too, thanks.”

Tony is also absent minded.  “Yea.  Gingerale sounds good, thanks.”  he looks around and finds one of the further away picnic tables.  “Let’s sit …  OK guys …”  he offers, a bit nervously.

Tristan had paid but couldn’t help watching Tony. He was not ok. As he finds them a far away table and suggests they sit, Tristan nods and does and then leans in as he sets down his drink. He’s across from Tony “Ok...what’s going on Tony? You’re freaking me out.”

Yuki is in his glory in his little shack kitchen making seafood chowder poutine. He has tubs of chowder frozen and ready to heat up but the fries are fresh cut and made with skins on.

Rene sits near to Tristan, looking at Tony, curiously.

Mason sits, putting his bag beside him.  “Yea.  All we know is you got grounded after the dance.  That’s it.”

Tony sits and sighs.  “After the food comes and we’re alone.  OK< guys.”

Tristan frowns a bit but accepts the terms “OK…...so….” There’s an awkward space of conversation to fill while they wait “Rene…..how’s the play rehearsal stuff going? Mason….crack any interesting code or…” He coughs into the word “Hack”

Yuki’s head pops out of the window “2 minutes boys!”

Rene grins.  “The play is going to be quite nice.”  he reports.  “There will be a run until the Christmas Play and then the spring and  then the school year is over.”  he shrugs.  “Romeo seems to be getting more girls following him around, but mostly he manages to stick with his usual posse and they keep the girls away from him.  I still have a few that follow me around.”  he rolls his eyes.  They seem to be holding out hope that Tristan and homosexuality was only a phase.  He waves in acknowledgement to Yuki

Mason snorts.  “Not really.  My Dad wants me to get out of the house more.  He seems to think I’m gaining weight.”  he rolls his eyes with the same exasperation as Rene.  The truth is he IS gaining weight.  His lifestyle and hobbies kept him quite sedentary and both of his parents were getting on him about exercising.

Tony half listens to his friends, still working things out in his head.  Yuky gives him a two minute countdown and he offers a strange nervous smile of acknowledgement.

Tristan smiled at Rene as he talked and nodded about the play, laughed about Romeo and then groaned about Rene still having girls following him “I’m not much of a  fighter unfortunately. And some of those girls are bigger than me..” He snorts. “I could bore them away with D&D lore.” He nods over to Yuki “Thanks Yuki!” Tristan looked over Mason while trying to look like he wasn’t looking over Mason “Well fresh air is good for you….you know mental health and stuff too?” He offers. He was not one to ever comment on anyone’s body; weight gain or loss. He frowns a bit at Tony’s looks of nervousness and then as Yuki walks up to them he looks pointedly at Tony.

Yuki is like a  jolly poutine sprite as he delivers their orders “Here you go boys...enjoy!” He claps his hands together and then turns and heads beach to the shack just as another possible customer walks up “Hi there...what can I get for you today?”

The man looks stressed “My phone battery died...do you know the time?”

Yuki sighs “Yeah….yeah it’s 4:34. Have a good one.” He begins to tidy up.

Now Tristan gestures at Tony with his fork “So………” He looks hopeful for information now that they have food.

Tony nods at Yuki as the food is delivered and then he moves chunks around with his fork.  Looking into the dish he clears his throat.  “OK .. so .. I got grounded .. after … after Addy caught me and Candra … right after we had sex.”

Rene has lifted a forkful of poutine and is blowing it even as the cool afternoon breeze blows the steam and helps.  His eyes more to Tony and he simply stares.

Mason has taken a large mouthful but, finding it too hot is sitting with his mouth open, waving air into his mouth and trying to cool the food off.  After Tony speaks he stares, still waving air over the hot food.  “Wha de uk?”

Tristan had stabbed his fork into some poutine but it was held in mid air as he blinked at Tony “Whoa….um….” He blows out a breath “OK. Wow ….Tony.” Then the gears start turning about what they saw this morning “Did you guys use a condom? Because...she was throwing up…..” He sets down the forkful looking intensely at Tony. “Dude…..”

Rene blinks and sets his fork down.  “Mon Dieu.”  he looks at Tristan when he speaks and then back at Tony.  “But … but you’re OUR age.”

Mason stares and finally chews and swallows.  “Seriously?”  he blinks.  “But ….  OK … what was it like?”  Mason isn’t known for his candor.

Tony sighs deeply and picks at his food a little more.  Steam is still rising, so at least it isn’t stone cold yet.  “It just … happened.”  he tells them.  “We were kissing and then she was rubbing on me and I was rubbing on her and … then my pants were off and … she said she wanted me to … and so …  I did …”  he sighs and looks at Mason a bit exasperated.  “It was OK, I guess.  No fireworks or anything … and no .. we didn’t use a condom.  And now she’s throwing up …”  He blows out a breath.  “This could be bad ..  I mean .. my dad was a young father too.  And the disappointment ….”  he sighs again and takes a bite of the food.  “He and Addy taught me how to use a condom and I had to show my dad every day for two weeks that I could put it on.  Well on a cucumber.  I’ll never look at a salad the same way again.”

Tristan looks worried for Tony and then glances at Rene when he says what he does about their age. “We’re almost 14. My mom confessed to us she was 14 when she first did it. Not that there’s a rush or a right age either way…” He sort of chuckles at Mason’s question. It was valid but maybe not completely appropriate given what Tony was possibly dealing with. He listens as Tony explains how it happened and how it went “No fireworks? Like emotionally? I mean not to be indelicate…..” He grits his teeth a bit “If you’re worried she’s pregnant...the physical happened?” Then Tristan reacts to what Tony says about practicing on a cucumber with wide eyes and nervous laughter “Well I guess practice makes perfect? Jesus…..did you ask Candra? Are you guys talking?”

Rene looks at Mason and sighs.  Then he looks back at Tony about the fireworks and thinks of the shocks he sometimes gets touching or kissing Tristan.  But .. all the way … he didn’t think he was ready for that yet.

Mason seems to be thinking logically.  “I’m not sure morning sickness starts after only two weeks.  I mean … I don’t KNOW but …  yea you might have to ask.  I mean … what Tris said.  Are you two even talking?”

Tony shrugs.  “Yea.  Emotionally.  I thought it would be … mind blowing?  I mean it was exciting … it felt good and all but … I felt … I like Candra but it was like …  when I .. finished … I was just finished.  So yea ..  I came ..  I finished … but I don’t think she did.  I don’t know because literally like ten seconds after I came, Addy walked in.”  he sighs.  “And … we haven’t spoken since.  And yea …  I practiced a lot.”  he laughs to himself.  “Not just on the cucumber.”  he rolls his eyes.  “And she isn’t talking to me for me TO ask … and her father is mad at me … oh Jesus I don’t even know what to think of that.  He probably blames me.”

Tristan reflected on the emotional fireworks and the words mind blowing. He already felt that with Rene just kissing him and touching him in a PG way. He was pretty sure the rest would have fireworks when they were ready someday. “Love. You’re not in love with her. Not to sound cheesy but….that might be the fireworks thing.” He shrugs because he doesn’t totally have the context yet himself and he looks at Rene a little sheepishly. He did love Rene and Rene knew it.. Then he can’t help but laugh about the condom practice “Not just on the cucumber….my god Tony...TMI.” He snorts and then looks serious “You need to find out what’s going on with Candra or you’ll go insane. I mean maybe she just had Covid?” It’s a terrible joke.

Rene laughs a little at the references to the .. other .. cucumber, but then he has to nod along with Tristan.  "Oui. Maybe it is just because I am French, but ... love.  If not ... then sex is just ... sex?"  he glances at Tristan, thinking there would be fireworks between them.  Then he winces at Tristan's joke.   "Perhaps ... or maybe she is just ... sick .. with .. anything else."  he offers.  Finally, he tries to eat the poutine and he grins.  "Magnifique."

Mason eats slowly and snorts a little at Tristan's joke.  "Emotions can be hard to pin down."  he shugs.  "That whole fireworks thing jsut sounds a little bit too ..."  he looks at Tristan and Rene.  "And no offence to you guys, but too cheap romance novel fodder to me.  Or maybe it's jsut that I'm not in love."  he smirks.  "Although I can understand practicing on the real deal instead of a vegetable you then have to slice up and put salad dressing on."  he winces as his own words register with him.

Tony begins to eat a little.  It was really good, but it always was.  Swallowing, he nods.  "Maybe.  Sex feels great, but it doesn't live up to the books or movies or how incredible it is made to look in the movies or books or videos."  he groans at the whole cucumber thing and shrugs.  "If I can't share with you guys, who can I share with?"  he asks them.  “Who thought I’d hope anyone was just sick and not pregnant?”  he moves the poutine around a bit, then adds.  "But yea ...  I guess I have to talk to Candra."  he groans.  "I guess one hint might be if her father kills me the next time he sees me, right?"  he snorts and eats a bit more.

Tristan can’t help but smile a little at Rene being on the same page but he does look at Mason “It’s possible Rene and I are the makings of a romance novel but a classier one.” He smirks and then looks at Tony “Not judging...but god you guys are ruining salad for me....and cucumber nori rolls....dammit. This poutine rocks.” He sees Yuki glancing their way as he passes by the counter and window and gives him a thumbs up. Then he sighs “Bad taste joking about Covid. My cousins had it and it sounds really horrible. Yuki’s business partner died of it.....honestly I would rather Candra be pregnant. Women don’t tend to die in childbirth with modern medicine. But I don’t wish THAT on you guys either Tony. Why don’t you just call her? Surely you exchanged numbers before you went to the dance together? The worst she can do is tell you to fuck off right?”

Rene nods in agreement with Tristan.  They are a romantic couple, he believes.  Then he laughs.  "Oui.  I still love them, but I never thought ..."  and he blushes as his words make him think about it.  "Call her, I agree.  Communication is EVERYTHING in a relationship, no matter what kind it is."  he thinks of his parents in particular.

Mason grins as he eats while they talk.  "That, or just ask her if you two are going to be parents."  he suggests.  "Be direct."

Tony sighs.  "Yea.  I'll get over the cucumber thing.  I hope."  he eats a little and points his fork at all of them.  "But you guys should do it too ... the condom practice.  Even if its your forever lover ... it's just a good thing to know how to do and they don't teach us that in school."  he snorts.  "I sound like my dad ... but there's worse people I guess."  he licks his lips and nods, offering Mason a slight glare.  "I'll call her ... we've been friends forever.  I don't want to lose that because of all of this.  Even if she isn't pregnant ... I think things will be different now ..."

Tristan chuckles a bit at Rene’s blushing and slides a hand across his back for a second. “Yep...communication.” Then he raises a brow at Mason “Cut to the chase...” Then Tony mentions condom practice and it’s his turn to blush. “Fair point Tony. They teach us the theory side in school. But they should be making everyone learn how. Mind you....I’m guessing they ran out during the fog? How come we’re not surrounded by babies and in an STI epidemic?” He wonders. “Call her now. We’ll eat quietly.”

Rene grins and swallows his food a bit harder than he needs to when he feels the warmth of Tristan’s hand on his back.  It’s not fireworks.  Nor is it a spark.  It’s a comforting warmth he doesn’t get when anyone else touches him on the back.  He grins at the idea of practicing with a condom, but thinks it couldn’t hurt to learn.  But as far as what they did during the fog, he shrugs.  “Maybe oral sex?”  he suggests.  “Or … anal?”  he begins to concentrate on his food again while Tony calls … or doesn’t call.

Mason eats, thoughtfully.  “I don’t know what they did during the fog.”  he admits.  “The oral sex thing sounds like a good thing, but that wouldn’t necessarily protect from disease.  Can you literally wrap it up in like plastic wrap or something?”

Tony nods slowly and tries to eat, until Mason suggests wrapping it up in plastic wrap.  Then he chokes a bit.  “Dude!”  he shakes his head.  “My father told me there was oral sex and .. and that he learned Addy’s periods.  I looked it up and it’s not as reliable as the pill, but having sex right after her period is a method they used during the fog.”  he sighs and pulls out his phone.  “And probably prayer … a lot of prayer.”  he takes in a deep breath and finds Candra’s number, clicking it and listening to it ring.

Tristan is blushing deeper as he hears Rene’s voice talking about oral and anal sex. This was a simultaneously very interesting and uncomfortable conversation in so many ways. But he probably just needed to get over himself. Communication right? Eventually they’d have to talk about it all.  He inhaled and then answered Mason “Dental dams can be used for that... with women as far as I’ve read on LGBTQ2 stuff.” He has read a lot since they got the internet back. “But I doubt we had those during the fog too.” He nods along about the after period thing. He understood the biology. Then he looks at Tony as he calls.

Candra is drifting in and out of sleep as her phone rings. She sees Tony’s number come up and hesitates until the last ring and then answers “Hello...” She says tentatively.

Rene remains quiet and continues to eat.  He was relieved because Tristan was doing research.  So was he.

Mason gets back to the food as Tony makes his call, interested.  He has to admit that dealing with people in real life didn’t seem to be his thing.

Tony is waiting for the voicemail to pick up when Candra herself answers.  He inhales and tries to save at least some face by appearing confident.  “Hey.”  and then he pauses.  “You OK?  I mean … after this morning and .. stuff?”  he sort of wanted to talk about what happened and at the same time doesn’t.

Candra is pretty out of it as she’s coming off a wicked migraine “What?” She sounds groggy and confused “Oh you mean the puking? Sadly that’s nothing new for me... but a bit better now. I went home finally and got some rest. I mean sweet that you’re so worried...” She moves around on her bed and something falls with a thud in the background “Shit...” She mutters.

Tristan eats but watches Tony try to talk to Candra. She took the call at least.

Rene eats and tries to not look like he is listening to Tony’s side of the conversation.

Mason eats and looks at Tony, clearly listening in.

Tony breathes an audible sigh of relief.  She wasn’t pregnant.  “You … puke all the time?”  he is trying to keep conversing.  “Well, I was worried that …”  and then something thuds.  “What was that?”

Candra grumbles “Yeah I get migraines. It’s like bad headaches and blurred vision and sometimes puking....oh my god...” She sits straight up and then laughs “You thought I was puking for a different reason didn’t you?” She looks at the floor, not that he can see “That was my school bag hitting the floor. It’s fine. And I’m not pregnant. If that’s why you’re suddenly all concerned. My mom took me for a morning after pill. Made me kinda sick but I spend half my life feeling sick. Anyhow one time deal.” She sighs “I’m sorry Tony. We should have been smarter. I accept my half of that.”

Tristan finished his poutine and drank more of his drink. He half watched Tony and half noticed a cargo ship dock and dock workers bustling about with dollies and crates.

Rene eats the last of his food and watches the boats and the workers. It’s actually a sort of nice, peaceful autumn afternoon.

Mason finishes his food and pulls out his phone, starting to work on something not related to the real world.

Tony arches his brow at her laughing, guessing she knew he was afraid she might be pregnant.  “Oh it wasn’t ‘suddenly’.  I've been worried for a while now.”  he admits.  Then she tells him about the morning after pill and he hesitates.  “Yea .. well … now we can go back to normal.”  he tells her.  “And yea.  I own my part of it.  Never should have happened.”  he agrees.

Candra laughs but can’t help but feel a little sad at Tony’s never should have happened “I don’t know about never....maybe just not like that. I don’t regret it being you Tony. But yeah normal...whatever that is right? Thanks for calling. I....uh... I’ll see you at school?” This is all new territory for Candra too.

Tristan does tune back into Tony as it seems like there’s a hint of resolve. When Tony says they can go back to normal Tristan looks visibly relieved. It sounds like she’s not pregnant. He looks at Rene and Mason and then back to Tony.

Rene didn’t hear any yelling from the other end of the line and took that as a good sign.  He’s glad to hear that everything will go back to normal.  That was not the way to lose a friend.

Mason grins when everything seems alright, but does keep the bulk of his attention on his phone.

Tony doesn’t know what to say.  “Yea … just … not that way.  It’s supposed … oh .. never mind.”  he takes in a deep breath.  “Normal it is.  Yea .. see you.”  and he cuts the connection and breathes an audible sigh of relief.  “So I’m not going to be a father.”  he blows out another breath.  “She .. she took a morning after pill…”  he tells them, uncertainly.

Tristan looks at Tony like he’s prompting him for more “Well that’s good right? She’s not pregnant. Are you still upset about how it all went?” Tony doesn’t seem as happy as he thought he’d be.

In her room, Candra looks at her phone after the call ends and then buries her face in her pillow and cries. She’s lost something to Tony....but she feels like she lost a part of herself too. It was just empty.

Rene also looks at Tony and bites his lip.  “The .. that’s the abortion pill … right?”

Mason actually sets his phone down and gives his attention to the conversation.  “Well …”  he looks at Rene.  “Not if she’s not pregnant .. or something like that.”

Tony winces at Rene’s wording.  “Well yea .. it’s good she's not pregnant but …  if she was, she isn’t now.”  he sighs and rubs at his forehead.  “I guess I am upset.”  he admits.  “It all went too fast and I just got carried away and I can’t do it over again and … I don’t know.”

Tristan holds up a hand “I’m not trying to get into a moral debate. But from what I understand the morning after pill is a different thing than an abortion pill. There is a type of abortion where they do it with pills right? And I’m not saying the plan B thing is an ideal solution. But scientifically... medically...it’s different. And I recognize I won’t be in Tony’s situation and I also won’t be in Candra’s...or any girl’s....so I get to be detached.” He gestures at Rene and then looks at him with love  “I’m not dissing any religious viewpoints.... just coming at it from science.” He looks at Tony “You can’t do it over with Candra. But someday with someone else...figure out what you want it to be....maybe talk about it first even if it’s awkward. And no I’m not assuming you’re entering into a romance novel.” He smirks at Mason for his earlier comment.

Rene sighs deeply.  "It is difficult.  Yes, it is her choice, but the baby was not made alone.  Being gay I can be detached, but I also have sisters.  And my father does not ask his patients to pray away the pain, so I get the science of some things as well."  he shakes his head.  It is an impossible argument.  He also looks at Tony.  "Someday you will find someone and you will feel the pleasant heat of their touch, and miss it when it is taken.  The feel of their lips on yours and a longing to be with them when you are not.  And you will know that this person is for you as you are for them.  It will be so beautiful, you will not be able to deny it, no matter how hard you try."  His French accent grows a bit with his belief in what he is saying.  "And it will be worth the wait."

Mason looks around at his friends.  "What's the difference?  You take it to make sure you're not going to get pregnant ... and get rid of it if you are?  I'm not a woman and I don't know anyone who would know except for Dr McKinney and I'm not asking her."  Rene speaks and he looks at him with raised eyebrows, as if he thinks all of that is a bit melodramatic.

Tony sighs.  "I guess it doesn't matter now, no matter what I think.  But the whole thing ...  I don't like it.  So I better make damn sure not to get in this situation ever again."  he declares.  Then Rene speaks and he smiles a little.  "Yea ...  I like the sound of that.  Worth the wait..."  he nods.  "Someday."  he is a romantic at heart, like many musicians.

Tristan gulps at the first part of what Rene says and looks apologetic. But when he goes on to draw Tony a picture of how beautiful it feels to fall for someone he feels himself leaning into Rene and he takes his hand and squeezes it looking almost bursting with emotion as he nods. And God that accent! He heard Mason and Tony and nodded vaguely at each of them, smiling as Tony smiles and then turning back to Rene “I think I came off as condescending. I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry. I love you so much Rene.” He doesn’t care that he’s declaring it in front of their friends “And you’re right...that’s exactly how it goes and will for Tony...and hell even Mason someday.” He smiles and then briefly kisses Rene if he can.

Rene ignores Mason's look and nods at Tony, even as he leaning back into Tristan and squeezing his hand back.  "Non .. you are not religious.  It is very hard to balance being both a man of faith and a man of science."  he smiles and kisses Tristan back.  "Je t'aime aussi, Tristan."  he replies.  I love you too.  And he laughs and looks at Mason.  "Oui, with Mason it will be like being electrocuted by his computer."  he predicts.

Mason snorts at his friends.  "If love is going to feel like being electrocuted, I'll pass.  Thanks."  he is very happy for Tristan and Rene, but for him, he likes his zeros and ones.

Tony looks at Tristan.  "He's right ...  Rene .. not Mason."  but he smirks at Mason good naturedly.  "It's hard to get the two to make sense.  And what you two have is incredible."  he sighs.  "But I don't think I'll tell my Dad about the morning after pill thing.  He ... he wouldn't approve."  he predicts.  "But if I can get a song out of this ... it might be something I can salvage, if that makes sense."