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

[pocketpretzels]

"He could join us on the balcony if he wished," Watts mused as he opened the balcony door. Midnight would, of course, make sure that the railings would not permit any misadventure on Raphael's part. "But he appears uninterested."

[hasaknightjob]

"Perhaps too chilly to tempt him out of our blankets," Steven said. Of course Raphael might have a different definition of "our" than Steven was using. "That's all right. More room for you and I to get comfortable."

[pocketpretzels]

"Speaking of," Watts twirl-folded himself down on to the couch, and then after making sure his cup and plate were safely on the table, patted the spot next to him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled, charmed as always by the twirl. He sat down in the indicated spot, put his cup on the table, then went to tuck the blanket around them again.

[pocketpretzels]

Naturally, Watts immediately scooted as close to Steven as possible.

[hasaknightjob]

Also naturally, Steven reached over Llewellyn's lap to tuck the blanket in around him to help keep Llewellyn nice and close.

[pocketpretzels]

Which got him a fond, appreciative look. "Love you."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven kissed Llewellyn's cheek. "I love you too, dearest."

[pocketpretzels]

"Enough to tell me a story?" Watts asked tentatively. "Though the aim is to keep me awake, not have me fall asleep."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven pondered. "Something with an adventure, perhaps? No danger but excitement?"

[pocketpretzels]

"That sounds like just the thing," Watts said after a long draw of his coffee.

[hasaknightjob]

"Right," Steven said. He put his arm around Llewellyn's shoulders. "Once upon a time there was a gift shopist in a Museum. As he was working one morning, a handsome tourist came by to ask for his help. He'd found this map, you see. Which looked as though it might lead to buried treasure..."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts listened raptly as Steven wove the tale of the handsome gift shopist and the tourist with the map, and the adventure that the two of them went on together. The adventure that, naturally, ended with a happily ever after.