Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

After their usual jaunt over to the mainland, Watts had headed to the kitchen to do a bit of baking, and then to the library for some piano practice.

And as he'd told Steven the other day at lunch, he was close to mastering the piece he was currently working on. Maddeningly close, in fact. So absorbed was he in getting to the point where he could play it through without a stumble that he did not notice as the hour ticked over past that where he usually stopped for the evening so he and Steven could have dinner together. Instead, he kept playing, and playing, single-minded in his determination to finally master the piece.

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Watts admitted. "The way you keep the sharp edges of the world from being- too much."

[hasaknightjob]

"Is piano playing sharp?" Steven asked, curious. He put his soup down and picked up his tofu paid thai. "Like when you have difficulty with the piece?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts shook his head. "The opposite, really. Easy to get lost in. To forget about everything else but the notes. Mistakes are- frustrating, yes, but all I can think about is getting it right."

[hasaknightjob]

"Like a puzzle?" Steven guessed. "Something you want to sink your teeth in and solve?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes, precisely," Watts said, smiling brilliantly at Steven, pleased that he understood.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. "Something we have in common in our own way. Things we like to get stuck in on. Topics or hobbies we can get lost in for hours. That's part of how I stayed up nights. Reading about Egypt, things like that."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, I would have had you read to me," Watts said. "Tell me all sorts of interesting things about Egypt and the like."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven tried to picture it. "That... could be nice, actually. You keeping me company. Head in my lap, maybe."

[pocketpretzels]

"So long as you didn't let me fall asleep," Watts said. "Because- that's- it's very comfortable. In your lap."

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't mind when you do," Steven said. He offered Llewellyn a piece of tofu from his dish. "I like that you feel comfortable enough for that."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts leaned over to take the offered tofu with a smile. "But then I'm- not very good company. If I'm asleep."

[hasaknightjob]

"It'd be rude if we were having a conversation," Steven said. "If I'm reading I could go back to it. Not out loud anymore, is all."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm," Watts said. "But in this hypothetical- where I knew you before. If I were trying to stay awake to keep you company."

[hasaknightjob]

"Ah, I see," Steven said. "I thought you meant now. Yes, if you were helping me to stay awake that wouldn't be good. Might be hard for you to sleep regardless. I'd play things as well. Podcasts and the like."

[pocketpretzels]

"Podcasts are- those recorded shows where it's just sound?" Watts checked. "No moving pictures?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Correct," Steven said. "People interviewing other people, or talking about topics they're experts in, that sort of thing."

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps I ought to look in to those," Watts mused.

And then he'd fall down a rabbit-hole of true crime shows or something.

[hasaknightjob]

"There's all sorts of topics," Steven said. "You're bound to find something you like. Might even be ones about learning to play the piano."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts pinched the bridge of his nose. "So much information available all the time, from anywhere, so easily. I confess I'm still not entirely accustomed to that."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven freed a hand to rub Llewellyn's arm. "Is it too much? Sharp?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a fan of innovation. And sometimes it's- useful. Having so much at one's fingertips. But it is also, yes, overwhelming, at times."

There was a reason he hadn't touched his mobile telephone during their camping trip aside from taking some photographs.

[hasaknightjob]

"I can understand that," Steven said. "Sometimes it feels as though the mind can only handle so much at once. At least mine does. Though maybe it's because mine's crowded."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mine feels crowded at times even with only me in there," Watts admitted. "Thoughts- going every which way. Like a startled flock of sparrows."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven couldn't help a small smile. "Is it bad if I think that's poetic?"

[pocketpretzels]

"My intent was to evoke a vivid mental image, so I suppose I can hardly claim offense if I succeeded," Watts said.