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]

"Would you like me to make some and bring it back up?" Steven asked. "Or would you rather make it together?"

Not that making coffee was complicated, but company could be important.

[pocketpretzels]

"Let's go down together," Watts decided.

Company, and also the fact that he feared he might drift off if left to his own devices.

[hasaknightjob]

"Would you like to come back here to drink it or should we take the blanket in with us?" Steven asked. Not that it would be difficult to take the blanket back out again if they needed. It just wasn't a blanket suitable for leaving outside all the time.

[pocketpretzels]

"I am enjoying the fresh air," Watts said. He didn't need it in the same capacity that Arden did, but the bedroom felt too closed-in at the moment.

[hasaknightjob]

"We can come back then," Steven said.

There was also the outdoor space on the ground floor, but even at this hour it ran the risk of perhaps seeing other people. Steven suspected Llewellyn might prefer the privacy of their balcony.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded, unfolding himself into a standing position and holding a hand out for Steven to take.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took the hand, threading their fingers together. "Perhaps we can have some of your wonderful baking as well."

Since Llewellyn had done a great deal of it that day.

[pocketpretzels]

Look, he stress-baked, it was a whole thing.

"Too bad I did not have the foresight to make biscotti," Watts mused as they headed inside. There were cookies, though, that he'd made in between all the batches of bread.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven closed the door behind them. Yes, Midnight would keep anything from coming in or out that wasn't meant to - like Raphael - but old habits died hard. "Your bread smelled wonderful. Did I remember to say Arden was grateful for the bread and wine? It did help her feel better."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, that's good, I'm glad to hear it," Watts said, clearly relieved with that news.

[hasaknightjob]

"She also asked me to pass on her apologies for everything," Steven said. "Of course I told her none were necessary, but you know her. She felt bad all the same."

[pocketpretzels]

"Of course," Watts said. "Perhaps I'll go check in on her at some point. Or check out, I suppose, given her temporary relocation to the roof."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled approvingly at the wording.

"Her - Duke?" Steven still wasn't entirely certain what the relationship there was " - said it may take days."

[pocketpretzels]

"Still remarkably faster than if she were human," Watts noted. "Though I suspect it's the psychological effects that will linger even more."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven held Llewellyn's hand tighter and more protectively. "Don't care for it happening at all. Horrible rules. Horrible thing to do to anyone, let alone a child."

Yes, Arden was in her late teens. She still counted as a child to Steven.

[pocketpretzels]

"I agree wholeheartedly," Watts said. "It churns my stomach to think that not obeying those rules would have meant even worse consequences."

[hasaknightjob]

"Absolutely unacceptable," Steven said. There was a look in his eyes that was a shadow of the reminder that in this particular instance, Marc had been the one holding Steven back.

[pocketpretzels]

And now Watts was the one giving Steven's hand a squeeze.

[hasaknightjob]

"At least it's over?" Steven said, going for optimism. "And she's safe and on her way to sound?"

[pocketpretzels]

Technically it wasn't over so much as Arden had been offered a three-year reprieve, though pointing that out wasn't going to help anything in the moment.

Instead he busied himself with putting some cookies on a plate once they entered the kitchen.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven in the meanwhile busied himself with their drinks. "Still coffee? Not tea?"

Steven had no particular preference, he was just checking in case Llewellyn had changed his mind on the way down.

[pocketpretzels]

"Coffee," Watts affirmed. "Still coffee."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'll brew us a pot then," Steven said, setting about to do just that. "The biscuits look wonderful. Smelled it as well, when you were baking them."

[pocketpretzels]

Bread was his go-to when stressed, because he found the kneading soothing. "I was craving something sweet," he said. And not surprisingly, had combined two favourites with chocolate and orange.

[hasaknightjob]

"Perhaps tomorrow we can have something nice to go with your bread," Steven said. He got out one of Llewellyn's favorite mugs for his coffee. "Soup, maybe."