Midnight Manor Private Residence, Wednesday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

Last night's gathering had been a success, at least by Watts and Steven's standards. Which was that a) everyone appeared to have a good time, b) no-one left hungry and c) there were enough leftovers that anyone who wanted some could take some home. Including the hosts.

They'd enjoyed some of those leftovers for lunch, Marc also making an appearance to have the jalapeno poppers Arden had made. When it had come time to contemplate dinner, though, a decision was made to veer in a completely different direction and order some Japanese takeout.

"Dinner has arrived," Watts said, triumphantly holding up the takeout bag as he made his way back in to the living room.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

After all of the prep work for the event and the accompanying anxiety, Steven was more than happy to spend a day letting Marc take over for a bit and in general wearing comfortable clothes and relaxing. Curling up on the couch with his beau and his cat to enjoy dinner was one such way of doing the latter.

Steven covered Raphael's ears where he was sleeping on the couch beside him. "Don't tell him, but you're a much cuter delivery person than he could be."

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Watts laughed. "You're not just saying that because I haven't run off to enjoy all the sushi by myself?" he asked.

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Steven let Raphael's ears go, giving him a skritch for putting up with it.

"I won't say it's not a factor. Though your handsomeness weighs heavily."

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"Flirt," Watts declared. settling down on Steven's other side and beginning to unpack their meal.

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Steven leaned in to help, and possibly gave Llewellyn a kiss on the cheek in the process. "Looking forward to this. The food yesterday was lovely but a change of pace now, I think."

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Possibly? Definitely.

"Agreed," Watts said as he unpacked the last container, one of sushi rolls. "And there we are."

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"Looks wonderful," Steven said. He gave Raphael another pet. "Sorry there's no fish to be had here. Hopefully you didn't have your heart set on anything but keeping us company."

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"Perhaps a treat later," Watts said, because he was a soft touch.

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Steven started to confirm but then remembered you weren't supposed to contradict your fellow parent in front of the child. Or cat.

"Yes. Perhaps. As dessert."

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To be fair, Watts's 'perhaps' was as good as a yes.

"Ice cream sandwiches for us," Watts told Steven. "For dessert, that is."

As opposed to dessert.

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"That'll be nice," Steven said. "Refreshing. None for cats though."

Just in case even the vegan ones weren't healthy for them.

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The vegan ones were probably even worse, honestly. Full of plant-based ingredients and all.

"All for us," Watts affirmed, divvying up the sushi, making sure Steven got the end piece with the little bit of extra filling.

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Steven noticed that and gave Llewellyn a kiss on the cheek in thanks. "I thought yesterday went well?"

The question was to see if Llewellyn agreed, not because Steven was uncertain.

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Watts nodded. "It seemed like everyone had a nice time, even with the weather being dreadfully hot."

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"At least it was easy enough for everyone to duck inside if they needed to cool off," Steven said. He took a bite of his sushi with mushrooms, making an approving noise as he tasted it. "It was good for them all to come and share in their way. Very nice. Community and all."

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"Yes," Watts said, thinking about his conversations with Kamala and Arden in particularly. "And- our boarders enjoy it here. It's not- just a place to hang one's metaphorical hat."

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Steven reached over to lightly ruffle Llewellyn's hair, metaphors about hats or no.

"Do you think we should open it up to other people?" Steven asked. "Not all the time. I think it's nice to have things just for the residents. But for friends like Steph, or Harley. Or anyone the others might care to invite."

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Watts leaned in to the touch, not entirely unlike the cat seated next to Steven.

"That- might be nice," he said after a moment's silence.

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Steven noticed the silence. "You're not sure?"

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"Well, there's some who'd have no problem accepting an invite," Watts pointed out. "Others..."

With others, it still stung.

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Steven rubbed Llewellyn's arm comfortingly. "I know. That's why I thought small round of invites to start? Plus ones, I think it's called? But we don't have to either. I'm only pondering."

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"It's certainly worth consideration," Watts said. "I suppose we could see about the 'vibe' later on."

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Steven smiled at him. "Look who's comfortable with modern slang? You."

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"Yes, well," Watts said with a crooked smile. "It's rather unavoidable."

Between some of their tenants being young as they were and the fact that he spent time with Steph on a regular basis, it really was.

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Steven kissed him. "It's charming."

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"I'm glad you think so."

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"I know so," Steven said, bumping their shoulders together. "And we can play it by ear I suppose. About including those who don't live here."

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That got a light chuckle out of Watts. "'Play it by ear'," he repeated. "Not a phrase I've ever given much thought in the past. At least, not insofar as it's literal meaning."

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Steven looked curious. "Does it mean using your ear on the keys?"

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"Not that literal," Watts said. "But to play it by ear means to- hear the music, and then be able to reproduce it. Without using sheet music or any other guides telling you which keys to press."

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"I see," Steven said. "Can't say I see myself ever able to do that. I'd have been lost without your help and stickers. Is that something people can learn?"

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"Supposedly," Watts said. "But it takes a great deal of practice and training. Essentially, you have to hear a note and be able to know definitively which note was played."

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Steven thought about all the keys on Llewellyn's piano. "That's a great deal of notes. It must take ages of practice."

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"Of course, as with all things, there are some it comes much easier to than others," Watts said.

Like his own facility with language. He was under no illusions (these days) that everyone could learn a new language as easily as he was able to.

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"Suppose that's true," Steven said. "I still think you're brilliant learning how to play at all. Far more complicated than I realized."

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"I'm finding the same," Watts said. "But I am enjoying the challenge. And sharing what I have learned with you."

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"I look forward to the next time you show me," Steven said. "Front row seat to cheer you on."

Which meant sitting on the couch in the library while Llewellyn played, but it was a front row seat all the same.

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"Well, you are my favourite audience member."

So far only, technically.

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Steven pet the cat beside him. "It's not a fair comparison. Raphael's not able to clap."

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"And you don't make a habit of walking across the keyboard," Watts replied.

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"Be disastrous if I tried," Steven agreed. "I don't have his tiny paws to get away with it."

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"It is a very strange mental image, picturing that," Watts agreed.

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"You never know," Steven said. "One day I could turn into a cat, the way this island is."

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"Should you do so, I will turn you and Raphael loose on the keyboard," Watts said. "See if you can compose a masterpiece."

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Steven chuckled. "We'll try to do Heart and Soul and try not to get our whiskers in the way."

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"That would be criminally adorable," Watts declared. "And I would know, being an officer of the law."

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Steven looked from Raphael, to himself, to Llewellyn. "Be hard to put us in handcuffs with our little paws. No wrists."

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"Ah, but I could simply pick you up and deposit you in feline jail," Watts pointed out.

As if he would ever.

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"Imagine being able to cuddle in your arms like that, though," Steven said, mistakenly thinking that if he ever turned into a cat he'd be the same size as Raphael. "I wouldn't mind that at all, actually."

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"I'd carry you everywhere," Watts admitted. "Assuming you'd let me."

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"I'd curl up with my head tucked in right here," Steven said, pointing to a spot between Llewellyn's neck and shoulder. "Purring all the while."

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"I would of course miss your regular self terribly," Watts admitted.

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"Be difficult to kiss you like that," Steven said. "No lips, after all."

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"You could bump your cute little nose against mine," Watts pointed out, booping Steven's regular human-shaped nose for emphasis.

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Steven chuckled. "Goes without saying, doesn't it?"

He leaned in to bump their noses together, then follow it with a kiss to the tip of Llewellyn's nose.

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"Still, as you say, I like these kind much better," Watts said, pulling Steven in for a proper kiss.

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"Much more personable," Steven agreed, grinning with pride at the wordplay.

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Which of course elicited a groan from Watts. "Steven Grant!"

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"You think my joke was inhumane?" Steven asked, still grinning.

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"I think you are truly incorrigible," Watts shook his head.

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"Thank you," Steven said, with a grin which showed he knew what it meant to treat being incorrigible as a compliment.

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"Scoundrel," Watts declared, before kissing him again.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm lucky you love me," Steven said as he kissed Llewellyn back.

Both for the jokes, and in general.

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"I'm lucky to have you to love."

Jokes and all.

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Steven caressed Llewellyn's cheek. "Thank you. Flirt."

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Watts nuzzled at Steven's hand. "Only for you."

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"Bloody well better be," Steven said, with mock gruffness. "You're mine."

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"Every inch of me," Watts agreed.

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"Every inch," Steven said, and gave him a kiss.

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"And just as you are mine," Watts added.

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"Also every inch," Steven said. "Inside and out."

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"And though I'm sure you'd make a wonderful cat, I prefer you just as you are."

A statement that applied to more than just his shape.

[hasaknightjob]

"The same for you." Steven caressed Llewellyn's cheek. "Though I'd bet you'd be adorable with a little hat with cat ears sticking out of the brim."

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"I've seen those," Watts said. "Been tempted to get one for Raphael, though I don't know if he'd tolerate it."

He tolerated bow ties fairly well, but a hat was something else entirely.

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"It would be adorable, no doubt," Steven said. "But yeah, don't know how he'd feel about it. Maybe long enough to indulge us in a photo?"

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"Suppose we could always try. And if he doesn't like it, well. That's that."

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"Shame we can't ask him," Steven said. He pet Raphael, lightly running his hand over the kitty head in question. "But he would look adorable. Of course he always does."

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"A handsome lad," Watts agreed. "Though," his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Once again in second place behind you."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven grinned. He whispered in return, "Thank you. I'll not tell. It can be between you and me."

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"And perhaps following dinner there can be nothing at all between you and me," Watts suggested with a wink.