pocketpretzels | The Beach Near Midnight Manor, Sunday Afternoon

The Beach Near Midnight Manor, Sunday Afternoon

Layla had said she wanted some time to talk to Watts without either Steven or Marc around, and so they’d made plans today to go for a walk and grab some coffee. The walk itself had consisted of a mix of idle chit-chat interspersed with Watts occasionally pointing out a location of interest; the real talk was being saved for when they found a nice spot to sit and enjoy those coffees.

“I know just the place,” Watts said, leading Layla to a spot on the beach where they had a good view of the Manor, and there were rocks and logs scattered about that were large enough to serve as seats.

[ooc: for she who be mentioned!]

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“Last year I was afforded a glimpse of- a possible future. Wherein you and Marc were once again involved romantically. It was- the four of us had- a good life. I don’t know if that future will be our future, but- it happens somewhere, at least, which means it’s possible here,” Watts told her.

Layla's eyebrows raised, and then raised some more. "That one did not make it to me."

Funny how Marc had felt no need to mention it.

"It sounds nice," Layla said. Look, she'd had a decade of building something of a life with Marc. She'd be lying if she said part of her didn't still wish it might happen. "Right now he and I are - we're letting things be. He needs to work on himself if he's going to be with anyone. And we've agreed that for either of us if something comes up in the meanwhile there's nothing holding us back from trying it."

"That seems- reasonable. Fair," Watts agreed. "You shouldn't- put your life on hold waiting for someone else to catch up."

Said in the tone of someone who had tried doing just that.

Layla noticed the tone and gave him a sympathetic look. She'd listen if he wanted to talk, but she didn't think it was her place to press.

"Regardless," Layla said. "No matter what happens I would never try to interfere with what you and Steven have. That - I know that's a strange thing to say. Like you and Steven need my permission somehow. But Marc tried making decisions about us without consulting me so I think it matters for everybody to know there's got to be respect all around. Everyone's got to have an equal say in how things are handled."

“I appreciate that,” Watts said. “You mean a great deal to Steven. Your opinion certainly carries more weight with him than that of anyone else I know, except Marc of course.”

Well, and himself, but that didn’t count when the topic was him.

"If Marc and I ever got back together I'd expect the same in return," Layla said. "But you seem to understand that."

If nothing else Layla hadn't picked up on any sense of resentment that Watts had slept alone Friday night while Layla and Marc had stayed up late talking about some of the very topics Layla and Watts were talking about now.

Well, none about Watts sleeping without Steven. The cat ending up with Layla had been another matter.

"I guess it helps that you knew about the two of them coming into it."

Watts nodded. “That was- Steven and I had quite a lengthy discussion, regarding expectations, when he agreed to giving courting a try. Non-negotiable was respecting Marc’s need for a life of his own.” That Marc hadn’t seen a need for a life of his own wasn’t the point.

Edited 2023-10-01 20:55 (UTC)

Yeah, Layla was used to how it was typically Marc who threw the wrench into the works. At least in the relationship related things.

"That sounds like Steven," Layla said, a fond smile on her face. "He even tried fixing things with me and Marc. Telling me why Marc was being such an asshole."

Which had been extra impressive given Steven's obvious crush. (One that admittedly Layla hadn't discouraged, but in her defense it was a confusing time and Steven was very sweet.)

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Watts said, his own expression mirroring Layla’s. “He wants so badly for Marc to be happy.”

"He's not alone in that," Layla said. She brushed sand off of her pant leg. "Even after everything he's done, I don't want him to suffer. I want him to - "

Layla realized what she was about to say and gave a wry look. " - get his head on straight. You know what I mean. Stop being such an asshole, really. But at least I think he understands that now. He's not ready to open up but he knows he's not ready for a relationship either until he's able to."

Watts nodded. “I am in agreement there as well,” he offered. “And I think- his position as the one to oversee Midnight’s function as a boarding house has been- a step in the right direction. He’s not happy, but he has something to focus on beyond being Khonshu’s hand.” Did Watts know that was one of Marc’s actual titles? No. It just seemed like an appropriate turn of phrase.

"Marc being adopted by a house is hilarious," Layla said. Or maybe Marc had done the adopting. Either way it was funny. "But he could use something to focus on. I don't know what's going on with the gods. Tawaret doesn't mind me using my powers to help out back home but I've no more idea of what she or Khonshu or any of the others are worried about these days than Marc does."

“Is that not the nature of gods?” Watts asked. “To be incomprehensible to us mere mortals?”

"Typically for them to be assholes," Layla said. "Tawaret's not too bad but don't turn your back on Khonshu for an instant. He gladly sacrificed Marc for his war and he'd do it again if he had to."

"Another gift that glimpse of the future has given me," Watts told her. "Not that I was inclined to think highly of Khonshu based on what I've been told in the here and now, but my future self held nothing but disdain for him. Gained, it seems, via experience." Not that Khonshu would have any sort of dealings with him personally, of course. Watts was far too unimportant for that.

"Marc feels indebted to Khonshu," Layla said. "I don't think the new deal between them changed that at all. Khonshu has no problem taking advantage of that. The one good thing is Steven's looking out for him. I don't know that it actually changes the terms of the arrangement at all but maybe it will help keep Marc from throwing himself away because Khonshu told him to."

"Marc won't sacrifice himself so long as it means Steven's end as well," Watts said certainly. "At least, not in one go. Piece by piece- well. That is what we are all trying to prevent."

"Exactly," Layla said. "And Steven won't let him go away either. Not anymore, at least. That's important too."

Certainly a far cry from how things had started when Steven had found out about things. Not that Layla could blame him.

"Marc... is very stubborn," Layla said. The faint, fond look was back. "It can make you want to shake him as much as love him. Much though he wishes that wasn't true."

Layla gave Watts a grin since he knew what she was talking about.

Watts answered her grin with one of his own because yes, yes he did.

"And that is very much a trait he shares with Steven," Watts said. "The stubbornness, that is."

"I'd say they deserve each other but does that even apply?" Layla said. And then, since it was sort of on the topic, "The mirror thing is wild. That's not just me, right?"

"I've found it incredibly helpful," Watts admitted. "But then, I was so accustomed to the way they spoke to each other that I found myself looking at reflective surfaces even though I knew I would not be seeing what they saw."

"Oh no, it's definitely helpful," Layla said. "To be honest, it's easier than when they both talk at once from... I guess the body is the only way to put it? But that's what they managed to do before they left Cairo. Luckily it's easy to know which one is talking but it just feels better to make different eye contact."

Also to know how to interact physically, though Layla supposed Watts dealt with that much more these days than she did.

“One of the many ways Midnight has been a boon in our lives,” Watts said with obvious fondness.

"It's a nice house," Layla said. She hadn't taken advantage of any of the illusions beyond being able to talk to Marc and Steven at the same time, but it certainly looked nice. And as for the building's history - if she dismissed things because they hurt or killed people she'd frankly have to stop talking to herself, let alone Marc. At least Midnight didn't seem to want to hurt anybody? "The bathroom's nicer than most I've used."

"Isn't it, though?" Watts said. And she hadn't even seen Watts's and Steven's, with its ridiculous tub. "We spent a truly ridiculous amount of time designing those." Layla could probably guess who 'we' encompassed, here.

(Though Marc likely agreed with the 'truly ridiculous' assessment.)

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