Midnight Manor Private Residence, Wednesday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

Look, just because statistically speaking they generally didn’t get around to actually watching a movie the majority of the time, didn’t mean that Watts and Steven were going to stop attempting to do so.

The one thing they had agreed on was no musicals today. Yesterday hadn’t been particularly terrible, all things considered, but they’d had enough of singing for a while.

So. There was popcorn and two bottles of cola on the coffee table, all Watts needed now was, well- his date.

[ooc: for the beau and NFB please.]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

It was possible Steven had snuck back into the kitchen to get some of the few remaining orange squares for them to snack on as well. "Here we are. In case we want something sweet."

[pocketpretzels]

“I already had that in your company,” Watts said with a smile. “But I don’t mind snacks as well.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven snickered. He put the plate of squares on the coffee table, then sat down as close to Llewellyn as space on the couch allowed. "Are you certain that's not you? Feel like I've had my dessert already, a comment like that."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts looked as if he were thinking it over. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s you,” he affirmed, snuggling in close.

[hasaknightjob]

It's possible Steven tried to angle himself so that if Llewellyn was in the mood to put his arm around someone's shoulders, Steven was in a good position for just such a thing.

"Could agree to a tie?" Steven suggested.

[pocketpretzels]

He was of a mood to put his arm around Steven’s shoulders, certainly.

“I’ll allow it,” Watts decided.

[hasaknightjob]

"Excellent," Steven said. Possibly about the compromise, possibly about having Llewellyn's arm around him, possibly both. Regardless, he snuggled in against Llewellyn's side and made himself comfortable. "I'd hate to have to object. Or think of more legal terms."

[pocketpretzels]

“Mmm, I wouldn’t want you objecting either,” Watts said, pressing a kiss to the top of Steven’s head.

[hasaknightjob]

"My only objection is if you move," Steven said. He slipped an arm around Llewellyn's waist. "You're very comfortable."

[pocketpretzels]

“I am very comfortable indeed,” Watts replied with a smirk. “Any thoughts on what sort of picture to watch?”

Assuming they got that far.

[hasaknightjob]

"Something easy?" Steven suggested. "Nothing that requires too much thought or paying attention?"

[pocketpretzels]

“A comedy, then?” Watts mused.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'd like that," Steven said. "Maybe something older? Something like Marx Brothers?"

[pocketpretzels]

Their existence as a comedy act was a bit past Watts’s own time, but he’d also been in the future long enough to recognize the name.

“Oh! Yes. Let’s!” he beamed at Steven.

For all that he didn’t want to return to that time period, he did like sharing things from it (give or take a few years) with Steven on occasion.

[hasaknightjob]

The beaming got Llewellyn a kiss, because Steven liked seeing him happy. Though given that topic, "You're doing all right? After yesterday, I mean?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes," Watts nodded. That brief interlude between love songs where he'd expressed some of the frustration he normally kept bottled up had been enough to convince him that staying home was the better choice. "Yourself?"

Marc had come home looking in need of a stiff drink yesterday evening, but that was Marc.

[hasaknightjob]

"I liked it," Steven admitted. Even if Marc had been grumpy about Steven singing at him. "But I know it wasn't easy for you. Others seemed to be mixed in their reactions as well. Marc just sort of gave in to the inevitable."

And denial. Lots of denial.

[pocketpretzels]

"There were... parts of it that I liked," Watts admitted.

Had he spent part of today putting together a playlist based on looking up what lyrics he could remember through the Google? Perhaps. "All in all, I am relieved you were the only witness to my singing."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like your singing," Steven said. "I know you didn't mean to and some of yesterday was more personal than you'd prefer. But I like hearing what you have to say in any way you say it."

[pocketpretzels]

"There is nothing about me that I would ever endeavor to hide from you," Watts said. Which was different than talking openly about it, but. Details.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked him in the eyes. "Your troubles are my own. Don't forget that, Llew. I'm here for you. Always."

[pocketpretzels]

"You did make that abundantly clear yesterday," Watts said, leaning down to give him a quick kiss.

[hasaknightjob]

"Does it help?" Steven asked. "Knowing it's true feelings? Least that's what the songs seemed to be for people. Something they really felt or wanted to say. In my case it's that I love you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Not that I doubted you," Watts said. "But it was- reassuring, in a way." His expression turned curious. "And what of you?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I can see what you mean about reassuring," Steven said. He hugged Llewellyn closer. "I didn't doubt that you love me, but it was wonderful hearing you be so romantic and poetic about it.

"Though I'm sorry you have such hard thoughts weighing you down as well. I know they're not easy to chase away, but I wish I could for you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I love the life that I have now," Watts said. "Please never doubt that."

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't." Steven reached up to gently brush a lock of Llewellyn's hair back behind his ear. "I only wish I could ease all your heartaches. I know it takes time. I wish it didn't have to is all."

[pocketpretzels]

"You see?" Watts said. "There you are. Being sweet."

[hasaknightjob]

"Being in love with you," Steven said. "Wanting you to be happy, when it's possible. Though I know it's not always. So wanting to be there for you when it's not."

[pocketpretzels]

"And you are," Watts said. "You are there to take away the sharp edges of the word. I can- rely on you to do that for me."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that," Steven said, as he gave the words some thought. "Rely. Means you know I'll be there. Which I will. Good times and bad."

[pocketpretzels]

"I too would prefer mostly good times," Watts said. "But the comfort you bring in the bad ones is- unparalleled. I never truly had anything like that, before you."

Perhaps when he'd been very small and his parents still alive, but it wasn't as if he remembered that time, so it didn't truly count.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked up at him. "You do now and always will, I have anything to say about it. And I'm glad. That I do that for you. You do the same for me. Part of why yesterday wasn't so scary was because you were there. I knew it was real."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts's arm tightened around Steven's shoulders. "Yes, I can see how something like yesterday could have seemed- very surreal. Quite literally like something out of fiction."

Hence why musicals had been declared off-limits tonight.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not something I'd write," Steven admitted. He looked sheepish. "Couldn't come up with the lyrics anyway."

[pocketpretzels]

"You and me both," Watts assured him. "How is that going? The writing class, I mean?"

[hasaknightjob]

"...Interesting?" Steven said, when he wasn't sure how else to put it. "The name hasn't come up since, so no problems there. As for the rest I'm not sure about the lessons?"

[pocketpretzels]

"That's a relief about the name," Watts said. "What are you not sure about?"

[hasaknightjob]

"She says some things that I'm not certain we're meant to listen to?" Steven said. "Sort of... learn what to avoid more than what to accomplish?"

[pocketpretzels]

"That seems like a somewhat convoluted way to go about things," Watts admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

"Maybe it's meant to spark your imagination?" Steven said. He wasn't sure about that one but surely the teacher had a point, right? And knew what she was talking about?

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps," Watts said. "I suppose as long as you are getting some sort of value out of it?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I think so," Steven said. "I get things to practice. I wouldn't come up with those on my own."

Plus it was giving him all sorts of things to look up on the google, albeit to find out the right way to do them.

[pocketpretzels]

"Good," Watts said. "I'm glad, then. Even if it wasn't what you were expecting."

[hasaknightjob]

"Confusing but fun," Steven said. "And it's only the start. Who knows what the weeks ahead will hold? I'm enjoying it at least?"

[pocketpretzels]

“The most important part,” Watts said.