MHA #15, Monday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

The weekend had been successful, Watts couldn't help but think. He'd finally gotten to meet Layla, who Steven spoke so highly of and Marc was typically close-lipped about. George had met Steven (albeit not Marc, which was unfortunate, but there had been a desire not to complicate things considering George was only here for the weekend) and Layla as well, and had even ended up with an idea for a new novel out of the experience. And there had been other interesting people he'd met as well, including Annie's friend Kimiko, who despite her inability to speak managed to communicate quite well in a way that Watts frankly found refreshing because it was just so... honest. Less successful had been the pumpkin-carving he'd attempted yet again, so the less said about that the better.

But now it was date night, which Watts also hoped would be successful. Everything was laid out on the table: apples and honey, butternut squash soup, seven vegetable couscous, brussels sprouts with pomegranate molasses, honeyed carrots and roasted chickpeas and vegan challah.

Had he prepared any of this himself? Absolutely not. He'd not even sliced the apples; those he'd picked up from the store pre-sliced, and everything else had been picked off a list of suggested menu items when he'd stopped by Luke's to place the order. And then there was of course whatever Steven was bringing for dessert. Was it likely way too much food for two people? Yeah. But hey, who didn't like leftovers, right?

For after dinner, Watts had his speaker queued up with a waltz-appropriate playlist that he'd compiled for dancing lessons. Now, of course, all he needed was the boyfriend.

[ooc: for the dance partner!]

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[hasaknightjob]

This was, of course, not going to be a traditional celebration by any stretch. There'd been no time to teach Llewellyn all about it. And there was the matter of how certain religious observations had become... fraught, this year, for him and especially Marc.

Yes, Steven wasn't going to linger on that. Putting that absolutely to the side. No further thought being given to it.

Instead it was a time to focus on good things. Happier things. Like how well the weekend had gone. And get together with food and good company was always welcome, and fit nicely with desires for the rest of the year.

Steven knew in advance he was going to wear a suit for this, so he went with dark blue for the coat and trousers, light blue for the shirt, and a dark blue tie with thin green diagonal stripes on it.

For dessert, because if you had too much food you were already well on your way to doing it right, Steven had cupcakes inspired by a drink from Peru and a cheesecake he hoped Llewellyn might appreciate the choice of given the events on Saturday.

All that was left was to go to Llewellyn's flat. Which required some juggling of the bakery boxes but Steven was able to manage it long enough to get across the corridor and knock on Llewellyn's door.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts, meanwhile, had opted for the plaid suit, with the dragonfly-embroidered waistcoat and a mint-green tie.

“Hello, you,” he greeted as he opened the door. The only reason Steven wasn’t getting immediately jumped was out of respect for the bakery boxes he was currently carrying.

[hasaknightjob]

What a coincidence, as that was the only reason Llewellyn wasn't being jumped as well. "Hello, you. Is there somewhere I can put these?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Kitchen, for now," Watts directed, closing the door behind him once Steven had stepped inside.

[hasaknightjob]

Luckily the kitchen wasn't far. Steven was able to put the boxes on a free space on the counter in short order and then pounce on Llewellyn for a kiss.

[pocketpretzels]

“Now there’s a proper hello,” Watts said, pleased. And then was kissing Steven again, because hello.

[hasaknightjob]

"I missed you," Steven murmured, between kisses. Yes, they'd seen each other repeatedly all weekend, but not like this.

[pocketpretzels]

“Hmm, me as well,” Watts admitted. Still plenty of kisses owed, but they were hitting the ground running. So to speak.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave Llewellyn a tight hug, because he'd missed being able to do that as well. "How are you? George get home all right?"

[pocketpretzels]

The way Watts melted into that hug was a fairly good indication of how much he had missed those. He nodded. “Saw him to the end of the causeway, where a cab picked him up.” The horse-drawn kind, obviously. “He said he’d write once he arrived back in Toronto, so I should have a letter in hand confirming that by tomorrow.”

“And Ms. El-Faouly?”

[hasaknightjob]

"Back home safe as houses," Steven said. "Well, safe as she ever is, all she does. But she's got Taweret watching out for her so that's all right. George was nice. I liked him."

[pocketpretzels]

"He's a good man," Watts agreed. "I'm lucky to know him," he added, unknowingly mirroring George's comment regarding Steven's presence in his life.

[hasaknightjob]

"I like him as a friend for you," Steven said. The fact that George had been protective of Llewellyn's secret went very far indeed, as far as Steven was concerned. And Layla liked you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I admit the idea she might not was... troubling," Watts told Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"She thought you were wonderful so no fear there," Steven told him. Layla may not have used that word specifically but the sentiment was similar enough.

[pocketpretzels]

"I liked her too," Watts shared. "Though speaking of both her and George- did she tell you? She showed us the armour she wears as the Scarlet Scarab. He found it rather inspiring, as it happens, and so I believe there is a new novel in the works."

[hasaknightjob]

"She looks amazing, doesn't she?" Steven said. "Taweret did such a good job. And is he? That's brilliant. Layla deserves something like that. Being honored."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, while my Gentleman Knight's look is certainly my favourite, hers was impressive," Watts agreed. "She seemed flattered by the idea of the book. Wanted a copy and everything after it's published."

[hasaknightjob]

If Llewellyn was going to call him that he was going to get a kiss. There was no way around it.

"I will as well," Steven said about the book. "That'll be wonderful for her. I know it means a lot, her being a hero. There's no other ones in Egypt where we're from, far as we know. Not that every country's got one but the ones we do have sort of congregate. Lot of them in New York, for some reason."

[pocketpretzels]

He absolutely was going to keep calling him that, yes.

"Does New York see a lot of the sort of trouble that would need many superheroes?" Watts wondered.

[hasaknightjob]

"It's a good question," Steven said. "It did get attacked twice, by aliens. Don't know why that's where they picked, though. Loads of other cities with big populations. Not that I'd wish it, but you see what I mean about the logic? Don't know why New York stands out to them."

[pocketpretzels]

"Strange," Watts said, shaking his head.

Then again, who knew why a tiny island off the coast of Maryland got attacked as often as it did? Not that it had been so since either Steven & Marc or Watts had arrived, but with nothing to do at the station most days, he'd read a lot of reports regarding past incidents.

[hasaknightjob]

"Anyway, I know it means a lot to her," Steven said. "Being a hero little ones can look up to, especially when there's no others about. Can't wait to see what George does with it."

[pocketpretzels]

“His working title was The Fantastical Adventures of the Scarlet Scarab so I’m sure it will be quite the tale. And I suppose I ought to let you know your assistance has been promised as well,” he added.

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said. "It's no problem. Already told him I'd be happy to help with anything Egyptian. Do it anyway but any friend of yours, obviously."