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!]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"Do you make a custom of dining with your waiter?" Watts asked, as they reached the table.

[hasaknightjob]

"One specific one in particular," Steven said. "I'd dine with him anywhere."

[pocketpretzels]

"That works out nicely," Watts said. "As I'd like to take you out all sorts of places."

The perils of dating someone who experienced semi-regular bouts of wanderlust, Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"I hear Portugal is nice," Steven said. "Could try going there sometime. Are you doing anything in a few weeks?"

[pocketpretzels]

"It is a good time of year to go," Watts mused. "Not too crowded with folks there for the beaches. I think I could make the time."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's a date then," Steven said, smiling at him. More seriously he added, "Still need to figure out what I'm packing. First time in a while I'm going on a trip where I get to plan for it."

[pocketpretzels]

"First of many, I hope," Watts said. "It can be the start of a new trend for you."

[hasaknightjob]

"New memories," Steven said with a smile. He indicated the food in front of them. "Like this. It looks wonderful. Can tell you put a lot of thought in."

[pocketpretzels]

"I know we're not really- following tradition to the letter tonight, but I wanted the food to be appropriate regardless," Watts said, clearly pleased at Steven's approval.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven reached for Llewellyn's hand to press a kiss to the back of it. "You did brilliantly. Thank you. I know it's hard. Traditional dinner can be a bit meat heavy, isn't it? Typical for holidays in general, really."

[pocketpretzels]

"It isn't as if I made it myself," Watts felt compelled to point out. "Lucky for us the diner staff is quite willing to make just about anything."

[hasaknightjob]

"Did the research, didn't you?" Steven pointed out. "Knew what to ask for. That's still work, you ask me."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, well," Watts said, back to being pleased and a little flustered. "The Google is good for that."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave Llewellyn's hand a squeeze before letting go. "It means a great deal to me. Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps... perhaps by next year I'll have done my research and we could celebrate properly," Watts said.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'd like that," Steven said. He had no idea how Marc would feel about the subject but then Marc wasn't dating Llewellyn, was he? "I was chatting with Stark about the holidays earlier. Got to thinking it might be nice to do something for Hanukkah. I mean doing something already, obviously. Love to do it with you. But maybe some sort of gathering as well. Friends and anyone who celebrates."

[pocketpretzels]

"That," Watts said, uncorking the wine he'd brought over and pouring them each a glass. "Sounds like a lovely idea. I'm in for certain." No surprise there.

[hasaknightjob]

"Nice bit is that there's eight nights," Steven said. "So could do something just you and me and have plenty of chances for something with other people. Don't know where we'd have it, though. Marc and my's flat would be a bit awkward, if people didn't know the truth about us. Too obvious he's not using that bedroom."

No, Marc had not done anything more with the bedroom now that Nell wasn't using it. He'd simply moved his things back now that Nell didn't need the space.

[pocketpretzels]

"I've plenty of space," Watts pointed out. "Could have it here." Which was certainly a statement, wasn't it? Steven putting something together and having the event itself at Watts's place.

[hasaknightjob]

Which was quite the offer, but Steven knew how Llewellyn felt about crowds. So he had to check, "Are you certain? Could be a lot of people all in here."

Or maybe no one would show up, but Steven was inherently optimistic after all.

[pocketpretzels]

He'd voluntarily attended all three days of the Parents' Weekend events, hadn't he?

"I don't mind," Watts confirmed. "Besides," he added, "there's a rather nice gentleman across the hall who might let me borrow his space should I find myself in need of a few minutes of solitude."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had actually been thinking of just such a suggestion. "He might. I hear he fancies you."

[pocketpretzels]

"That works out nicely, don't you think?" Watts mused. "Since I'm rather sweet on him as well."

[hasaknightjob]

"They do say if you have something sweet it will bring you sweetness all year," Steven pointed out. He might have been looking for any opportunity to make that joke.

[pocketpretzels]

"Then it seems I," and now Watts was reaching out to pull Steven in closer, "am destined for a very sweet year indeed."