Sandals Royal Resort, Barbados, Monday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

Yesterday had involved trying an activity new to both Watts and Steven: snorkeling. They’d had a wonderful time, swimming around and spotting all sorts of tropical fish and other creatures.

Today was a much more relaxed sort of day, spent for the most part lounging on the beach. At least until late afternoon, when it was time to head back to the hotel room and start getting ready for dinner. Which was, as far as Steven knew, at one of the many restaurants on the property.

Well, he was… partially right? The food would be from one of those restaurants but the location was a private gazebo on a small pier. Not that Watts was giving that away just yet, instead asking Steven if he’d mind taking a short walk along the shoreline before dinner.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said. He straightened up proudly. "Goes with my new suit, doesn't it? Have to do my best to look smart."

[pocketpretzels]

“You do,” Watts said. “Very much so.”

“Shall we get going?” he asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"Let's," Steven said. "Lead on."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts held his arm out for Steven to take as they headed out of their hotel room and down to the beach. The sun hadn’t quite begun to set, but was well on its way.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gladly took that arm, happy Llewellyn was comfortable with it. "It's lovely out. Don't mind a walk when it's like this."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. “We could have had a car sent for us, but it isn’t a long walk at all, and as you say- the weather is lovely.”

And he needed to soak up as much of it as he possibly could, like a cat.

[hasaknightjob]

"No, no," Steven said. "If it was far, maybe. Or raining. But this is wonderful. Good for a walk even if we didn't have a destination in mind."

[pocketpretzels]

“The beach back in Fandom is nice in its own way, but there’s really no comparison,” Watts said. “Particularly this time of year.”

[hasaknightjob]

"You know, I think I almost prefer the one back home in winter?" Steven said. "I mean, not for swimming. But for the view. There's something nice about looking out and seeing the water even when it's cold."

[pocketpretzels]

"You don't care for this view?" Watts asked, concerned.

Which wasn't quite what Steven had said, but considering his plans for dinner tonight, well. He worried.

[hasaknightjob]

"What?" Steven asked, briefly confused. "Oh, no! No, I do like it. I meant when we are at home I think I prefer that view in winter. It's moodier? Lively in spite of the cold and dark? But here I like this as it is now. Warm and colorful."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh," Watts said, visibly relieved. "Oh. Good. I'm glad."

[hasaknightjob]

"I would have told you if I found this location unpleasant," Steven promised. "Either before we came or when I realized it if I didn't know until we arrived."

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you," Watts said, as they continued their walk down the beach, drawing near to a small pier upon which was set a gazebo. Not quite visible at this point was the fact that underneath said gazebo was a table for two.

[hasaknightjob]

It did catch Steven's eye though. "That looks nice. I wonder what it's for?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps we ought to go take a peek?" Watts asked, doing his best to bite back a smile.

[hasaknightjob]

"Do we have time?" Steven asked. "It looks like a nice view out there."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts reached for his pocketwatch with his free hand, flipping it open with his thumb. "We've a few minutes to spare, as it happens," he told Steven, before tucking the watch back into his waistcoat pocket.

[hasaknightjob]

"Let's take a look then," Steven said, tugging on Llewellyn's arm. "The sunset looks beautiful on the water."

[pocketpretzels]

"It does, doesn't it?" Watts agreed. As they approached the gazebo, Steven would be able to see the table with two place settings, decorated with various tropical flowers, and a centerpiece with candles blazing.

Standing near the table was the man who Steven may or may not recognize as their butler for the week.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took in the table, and the settings, and the man. He then looked at Llewellyn with a smile starting to peek out. "Is - is this for us?"

[pocketpretzels]

"It is," Watts said, grinning back at him. The only reason he didn't then move to pull Steven's chair out for him was that the butler- also their waiter for the evening, had already moved to do so.

[hasaknightjob]

It was good that he had, because sitting felt like a wise idea in that moment. "Llew, this is - no one's ever done anything like this for me."

[pocketpretzels]

"I- you're very dear to me," Watts said, stumbling a little over the phrasing because saying I love you in front of others was still difficult, even when the person in question was doing his best to be as unobtrusive as possible. "I wanted to- do something special. To show you." How much I love you.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven nodded. Even dazed, he'd suspected Llewellyn's comfort level, which was why he'd gone with "Llew" instead of "Love."

"This is - " Steven started to say, then began to pat himself down for his mobile. "We need pictures. Loads of them."