JOSEPH CAPUTO > 26

Science writer

WHEN HE’S HAPPIEST On a warm night in the city with a drink and a good friend

WHAT MAKES HIM A GOOD CATCH I find people inherently interesting. I like asking a million questions, finding out what is meaningful to someone.

WILL DOWD > 26

Journalist

WHAT HIS EXES LOVED I am a gentleman.

COMEDIAN WHOSE HUMOR HE SHARES David Sedaris

WHEN HE’S HAPPIEST When I’m with family, no ifs, ands, or buts about it

7:30 P.M. FINZ, SALEM

> BEFORE THE DATE

WILL I went with a casually dressed jeans-and-scruffy look. I look older when I don’t shave.

JOSEPH I made sure to straighten my hair so I didn’t look like I just woke up from the ’80s.

WILL I entered this experience with the mentality of “A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet,” which helped calm me down.

> A SECOND CHANCE

JOSEPH The second I saw it was the Will I knew, I put my head in my hands and laughed. We didn’t exactly leave off on the best of terms last time we saw each other. I had even blocked him on Facebook.

WILL When I got to the date, I had an inkling that it might be Joseph. And turns out I wasn’t wrong. I went over and gave him a big ol’ hug.

JOSEPH Will looked a little bit like a frat boy. I have found [him] strangely attractive since we met.

> REIGNITING?

JOSEPH I was really impressed with Finz. I didn’t once feel uncomfortable because it was a “gay” date. There were even rainbow flags on the wall. Will and I shared some oysters, which were amazing. I would go back.

WILL We talked about the serendipity of the situation.

JOSEPH I was definitely a bit on the defensive, but Will was very respectful of my feelings so I eased up.

WILL I think the conversation could best be described as a tennis match, volleying back and forth without either of us dominating the conversation, which I really think is hard to come by these days. We talked about recent US Supreme Court decisions, supernovas, regional politics. . . . I think Snooki was in there somewhere.

> LIKE OLD FRIENDS

WILL As the night went on, he did seem more attractive, intellectually.

JOSEPH The time just went by. I think we left when neither of us could stay and eat any more.

WILL I could tell he was listening to me when I spoke.

JOSEPH The whole night seemed like something out of a one-act play.

> POST-MORTEM

WILL A+

JOSEPH A. This could have been a fiasco, but it was a surprisingly great evening.

> ANOTHER DATE?

JOSEPH I would, but we’d have to take it slow.

WILL I don’t think the next time we hang out we’ll go on a “date.”