(I don't know if I put this in anywhere, but Drew is five and Carter's twelve, if that gives you an idea of their likes and stuff?)
Drew just crossed his arms a little bit, still not happy about the whole situation. Maybe I can just freak him out enough to get him away from Daddy? He pouted a little more when he heard the other man use his dad's first name, "His name's not Graham, his name is Daddy." (I am dying at the moment) Carter looked out the window, trying not to laugh. Graham sighed a little bit, looking back at the road, "Let's hope so."
Evan leaned in a bit and whispered into Graham's ear to tease him. "Daddy~ I like the sound of that." Before he pulled away completely straight faced. He then reached into the bag and pulled out the little painting things and handed them back. "I'm not sure how crafty you boys are but I thought that you guys would like to do some crafting? I've spent most of my day painting so I won't be helping, but I want to make sure you two approve. I also brought Mario Kart, and Call of Duty but, I'll wait for the violent video games until the boys are older." He smiled back at the boys, leaving Graham a blushing mess.
Graham blushed a little bit more, just trying to focus on the road, "Evan, you're the worst." He grumbled a little bit as he pulled into a parking garage and was now looking for a spot. "Oh, Drew and I love to paint and stuff, right Drew?" Drew just gave him the stink eye over his shoulder before turning to look back out the window. "And I love Mario Kart and stuff, we also have Super Smash Bros- wait, would you play the games with us? Dad sometimes plays, but he gets busy and it would be fun to play against someone new."
"I know Graham I know. I love playing videogames, just know I'm REALLY good at them. I think Drew in time will warm up." He smiled a bit. "I didn't know if you guys liked dogs but, tried to find something pretty kid friendly. They had cat ones. I can't believe how gendered they were. The cat one was all in pinks and purples and the dog one has what's to be considered more masculine colors. Like I'm a huge cat dad, I can't wait for the boys to meet Mozzart. I found myself offended. But oh well. I just hope you cute kiddo's enjoy them."
"Pink and purple?" Drew said, now sort of smiling, he really loved those two colours, and although today he really wasn't wearing anything with too much of those colors showing up, he would normally wear something that had pink on it. But when the boy heard about the cat, he was now sort of excited, "You have a cat, wow, I want a kitty, but Daddy says we have to wait a little bit."
"Smart choice. I volunteer down at the local cat shelter. Sounds like your dad would like to bring you down sometimes. So maybe not too much longer." He noticed the little bit of lightening up in Drew's eyes and voice,and made a mental note of it.
After a few more minutes Graham finally found a parking spot and pulled into it. Drew now seemed a little bit happier and Carter unbuckled him before climbing out of the car. The two were now sort of studying Evan, now getting a better idea of what he looked like, and to be honest, they were both sort of chill with him now, although Drew wasn't too keen on the idea of his dad dating, yet.
(okay, so this might be another little note but like, Drew happens to love skirts and things of that nature, but like gets teased for it and crap, so uhm, yeah, I should just make character forms for these two…)
(naw don't worry about it. I prefer learning through storyline.) Evan smiled at the boys, when his phone dinged. His sister was sending him a few pictures and saying there was a sale at his favorite shop at the mall. "Oh wow look at those skirts…I do need a new one…I'll have to head down there tomorrow." He texted her back then shut off his phone. "Gayby why don't you shut off your phone too? No distractions just getting to know one another." He held Graham's hand as they all headed inside.
"Skirts?" Drew said, looking up at Grham a small smile on his face. His father knew what he was thinking, and shook his head, "Maybe another time Drew, alright?" He took Carter's hand and Drew for some reason decided to take Evan's, his small hand in the other's. "Alright Evan, I'll turn off my phone." he said, taking his hand from Evan's and then powering off his phone before slipping it back into his pocket before taking the other man's hand. As they waited for their table, Drew began looking curiously at Evan, just studying him a little bit more, his gaze just studying him. Then he turned to whisper to Carter who was sitting next to him, "Do you think he knows about, us?" Carter shook his head before tucking in a loose wire on his arm, "Dad will tell him later, I think?"
Evan gave Drew's hand a soft smile and leaned to whisper Graham's ear. "I told you they'd warm up to me Rambler." He kissed his lovers cheek a few times,already feeling really homely with the boys and his boyfriend.
Graham just grumbled a little bit, blushing slightly, "I think what really made Drew like you was the colours and clothing choices. Carter, he's a bean, he loves everyone, but Drew, well he's a little bit tougher, but he loves his skirts and stuff, so that might have helped you out a little bit." He said with a chuckle, kissing the man gently on the cheek.
"Hey at least he isn't going to be a grump, and I can see where he gets his pouty nature from." He said, poking Graham in the side a bit with a soft smile in his face. He tickled Graham's side a bit, watching him squirm and laughing a bit.
"Oh hush." Graham said with a grin, rolling his eyes a little bit, "I am not a grump, and I don't pout, too much." He said playfully swatting Evan's arms, "S-stop tickling me Evan, please?" He said scootching away a little bit from the other man.
"Alright alright." He wraps his arms around Graham and hugs him close, kissing his cheek. "I'm just being a bit of a tease. I promise if you don't like something or need your personal space, all you have to do is ask. I only want to make you more comfortable." He sighed and noticed a waitress wave them over to be seated. Evan got up and trailed next too Graham, holding his hand tightly.
The kiddos got up as well, Drew walking next to Carter as the two were watching them interact. Carter smiled a little bit as he saw the two hold hands, "Wow, dad seems kinda happy, he's never been this happy when he's taken us on other dates." He whispered to Drew and the younger boy just shrugged climbing up into the booth.
Graham just shrugged a little bit, "I don't mind, I just, tickling is just, well I don't have any good memories of that, but I don't mind you doing it, but maybe not in public dearest, if you'd on't mind."
"Of course not dear. I'm just used to being with my family and stuff so teasing and tickle fights are sort of normal. I'll make sure to keep more of a careful eye on that." He gave Graham another kiss on the cheek and sat down in his booth, and opened up the menu. "Hi I'm Karen I'll be taking your orders today. What can I get you lovely friends to start with to drink today?" "I'll take a pepsi please." Chirped up Evan. (This is the Karen that no matter how gay people are acting they'll obliviously say 'They're just really close friends :D')
(OOf, we all have that Karen in our lives)
"Erm, I'll just have a water, no lemon please?" He said quietly, slipping his arm around Evan's waist, "Drew, Carter what would you like?" The boys thought for a second, "Do they have lemonade?" Drew said quietly, "And I'll just have water please." Carter said looking over at his father.
(I don't but I've seen enough internet to know)
She nods and then looks at the two. "Will there be any ladies joining you? Possible dates?" Evan shook his head. "We ARE on a date." Her mouth made the shape of a butthole as the crudely pink chipped lipstick seemed to only make her wrinkles more apparant. "A friend date? Hm. I'll be right back with those drinks." She then turned away and hurried off. "Keep an eye on your drinks, she might just have the nerve to spit in it."
"Hhm, I hope not, but well I wish she didn't have the nerve to ask so many questions about our business. Whever I've gone out on dates, people normally don't question it, but I guess that's not the norm. But, uhm, t-the kids." He said, motioning to them. Carter was staring at her, with a sort of confused look on his face, "Why was she talking about girls?"
Evan shrugged. "Our waitress isn't very open minded and isn't very accepting of gays. There are many different sexualties out there, and she thinks everyone should be a heterosexual or straight. It's insulting. Just remember Carter. You can't please everyone, the only person you should ever please is yourself. If it makes you happy, do it. And if anyone else judges, just shrug them off. I do drag shows and the like, and I LOVE doing them. Still there is a handful of people out there who complain about it. I just ignore them and move on. It's my craft and my joy, and no one should ever be afraid to walk along to their own beat." He sighed and looked at Graham. "If they're old enough to ask then they're old enough to know. Except for the ah, birds and the bees for young Drew. Once they hit 10 I think anyone honestly is old enough to know anything they ask about. Even this. As long as it's done in a respectful well thought out manner."
"Oh, but isn't that?" He stopped trying to think. He had always figured that being gay was the normal thing, since most of his father's friends were gay, and well he'd never really seen Graham in a relationship with a woman. Although he knew that being gay was looked down upon, he really didn't see why. But he wasn't going to complain about it now. Drew on the other hand just heard birds and bees and looked up sort of confused. "Huh?" Carter just shook his head, "Later, okay?" He tucked in another loose wire in his arm before looking back at Evan, "I don't like that though, people can be different and other's shouldn't judge. I don't think she'd like it if we judged her." Before Graham could say anything the lady came back, placing their drinks down onto the table, then walked away. "That was weird, isn't she supposed to get our orders?" Graham said looking over at Evan.
Evan shrugged. "Let's hope we get a new server. If she brings over the manager…" He only shook his head, then looked at Carter. "Yes you'd think so. But keep in mind everyone is raised differently, and comes from many different backgrounds. What people are taught and see in the world, changes their whole entire core values. It's interesting but can hurt a whole group of people. Which really just sucks. But it's life. Ya gotta learn to fight for yourself always. And be willing to be proud of yourself."
"Mmkay?" He took a sip of his water, nodding a little bit. I am proud of myself, I think? I mean people can do what they want, I mean if it isn't hurting them or others, but why shouldn't I be proud? Well, not the bad proud, the good proud. My dad's great and so is my brother, and well I don't know about his boyfriend, but Evan seems pretty cool.
Drew just sipped his lemonade, not really paying attention to anything other than the fact that it was pink lemonade, and that made him really happy. Cutting into the conversation, he showed Graham his cup happily, as if boasting about the color his father had already seen. "See it's pink lemonade!" He said with a giggle, before going back to drinking the juice.
Graham, just nodded, "I hope that we get a new server too, and well she can't kick us out for being out on a date, can she?" He said with a sigh, taking a sip of his water. It had happened to him before, the owners of the restaurant were extremely religious and well, they weren't too happy to see Graham and his last boyfriend kissing, although they ignored the two teenagers in the booth behind them making out. He hated it, and although it wasn't extremely legal what they had done, they still didn't get prosecuted in court or anything. "Maybe we should just go somewhere else to not cause any issues?"
"No Graham don't worry about it. Arguing with Karens is fun." (And now the frosting on the cake) Over walked Liam. "Hello I am Liam I will be your server today-" He started as per usual while getting out his notebook. "I am so sorry for the inconvenince, have you all decided on your meals ye-why hello Evan." He looked over at Graham and glared a bit, then returned his attention to Evan. "Graham. Boys. This is my friend from my theater troupe." Liam nodded a bit, leaned down, and whispers in Evan's ear. "Are you sure you want to be dating a family? Why not be with me? Be a free bird." Evan pushed Liam away. "Please just take our orders. I will take the chicken alfredo please with garlic bread." Liam rolled his eyes and began to write down the orders.
"Uhm, no, I mean I don't think so, I'd rather not cause any conflict." He said before taking another sip of his water. He glanced up when he heard the other waiter come to the table. "Oh uhm, so you're Liam, it's so nice to- oh, uhm, okay." He said lowering his gaze when he felt the man glaring at him. When he saw the other man lean over though, he slipped his arm around Evan's waist, pulling him towards himself, "I'll have the lasagna, and they'll have?" Drew looked up at the new waiter and smiled, "Can I have spaghetti and meatballs?" Carter looked up and mumbled, "Could I just have fettuccini alfredo?"
Liam nodded and walked off,as Evan shook his head and leaned even more into Liam. "I have a feeling he's gonna be trouble. But. We'll get there when we get there. Let's just enjoy our evening." He took a sip of his soda and smiled. "Now then I don't know alot about what you boys like. Tell me a bit about yourselves."
"Let's hope not," Graham muttered still glaring at the other man. He ate a piece of his bread before looking back at his sons.
Carter was about to say something, but then Drew cut him off, just talking about just clothes and things like that. He wasn't exactly making much sense since he had had a lot of sugar. Graham took his glass before giving him his water. "No more sugar today, alright Drew?"
Evan laughed. "Apologize Drew that was rude. You should practice good table manners, especially in public." He nodded once and put his head into Graham's neck a bit. "Now then Drew. What do you like to do? Any special interests?"
Drew at this point was having a mini sugar crash, and was just sipping his water quietly. He glanced over at Carter as if to ask him to speak for him. "He likes to paint, draw, and currently he loves to play dress up or what he calls fashion show with his dolls." Drew nodded in an agreement, "And Carter just likes to play videogames, all the time, he never wants to play dress-up with me." Carter grumbled a little bit, "I don't like wearing skirts and dresses, is that so bad?"
When Graham noticed that the two were beginning to argue a little bit, he cut in, "No, if you don't want to wear dresses you don't have to, it's a choice, just like playing dress-up, right Drew, you wouldn't want to play your brother's games would you?" The little boy shook his head so violently that Graham worried a little that it might just snap off, "Exactly, so just because you two don't like the same things doesn't mean anything, you still do other stuff together and that fine."
Evan nodded and kissed Graham's cheek. "Nice save dad. Anyways. I think that's wonderful that you both are so different. The world would be boring without difference. Drew, would you like me to sew you a little pink princess dress? I have a lot of free time on my hands and wouldn't mind it at all. And I volunteer in 2 days so you boys can come down to the cat house and check them out."
