Midnight Manor Private Residence, Sunday Night

[pocketpretzels]

Well, it sure has hell had been a day. There was a lot of bread currently populating both the private residence's and the boarding house's kitchen, let's just put it that way. And we won't even talk about the dough in the freezer.

Eventually, though, Watts had slipped into bed exhausted, falling asleep rather immediately.

The smell of vomit and sweat hit him like a wave as soon as he stepped inside.

It was overwhelming, he was practically choking on it. He wanted to run, be anywhere but here- but at the same time, he knew he needed to be here, this might be the last-

Watts awoke with a gasp, scrambling out of the bed and scribbling a quick note for Steven indicating that he'd be on the balcony. He threw on a pair of trousers and a shirt without checking whose they were- probably Steven's, honestly, judging by the softness of the fabric if nothing else- and all but flung himself out the balcony door and on to the outdoor sofa.

[ooc: details of conversation NFB please!]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven hugged Llewellyn tighter. "And now the memories are resurfacing."

[pocketpretzels]

"Every time I close my eyes, it's death, and fear, and that smell, and I can't- I can't breathe."

Hence the need to be outside.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven suddenly worried he was holding Llewellyn too tightly, given that there was a concern about a need to breathe. "Sorry - should I not be so firm?"

[pocketpretzels]

"What?" Watts tilted his head up at him, giving Steven a confused look. "No, no, you're fine," he assured Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"I didn't want to make it harder for you to breathe," Steven explained. He hugged Llewellyn again to show he'd gotten the message though. "And my poor love. So you're reliving memories, most like. Or what your mind can conjure of them."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's all- bits and pieces. Scattered," Watts confirmed.

[hasaknightjob]

"I know what that's like," Steven said. He rubbed Llewellyn's arm sympathetically. "I'm sorry you're having it over a bad memory. Connected to such a hard time as well."

[pocketpretzels]

The reminder that Steven dealt with fragmented memories on a far more regular basis had a feeling of guilt curling in Watts's stomach.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

[hasaknightjob]

"What?" Steven was completely lost. "Whatever for? It's not as though you woke me up to come out here."

[pocketpretzels]

"For- complaining," Watts tried to explain. Look, it made some sort of sense to his very sleep deprived brain.

[hasaknightjob]

"You're allowed to complain when you're unhappy, love," Steven told him. "And what you're remembering is hard. It would be hard for an adult, let alone a child."

[pocketpretzels]

"I- but I- I'm complaining about fragments of memories, and you- as you said. You deal with it much more frequently."

[hasaknightjob]

"Which means I understand what it's like," Steven said. "I can be here for you. Help. You're not hurting me at all, Llew. I promise."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh," Watts said softly. "You're certain?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I promise," Steven said. "I would tell you if it was otherwise. All it means is my heart aches for you to go through it."

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't want to fall asleep," Watts admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

"You've already lost a night," Steven pointed out. "You're likely to sleep if you care to or not."

[pocketpretzels]

"I could brew some coffee."

[hasaknightjob]

"We could," Steven agreed. "I'd rather you rested but if it frightens you too much I won't fight you on it."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's not- too much," Watts said frowning. "But it is- unpleasant. And any rest I get would be filled with said unpleasant dreams."

[hasaknightjob]

"I can't dispute trying to stay awake as an attempt to deal with sleep problems," Steven said.

He was just going to fret a lot is all.

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps it will pass, given some time," Watts sighed.

[hasaknightjob]

"There's no rush to go to bed now anyway," Steven said. "I don't mind sitting out here with you at all."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a pleasant enough night," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"I like our couch," Steven said, taking it in around them. "It was a good choice. Nice and comfortable."