Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Morning

[pocketpretzels]

The heating pad had helped a great deal to soothe the ache in his arm, though at some point during the night Watts still found himself awake and restless. He scribbled a quick note for Steven and headed downstairs to make himself a cup of tea.

Fandom being Fandom, he never made it back upstairs, and thus come Saturday morning there was a tiny Llewellyn Watts fast asleep on the library couch, one arm slung over an equally fast asleep Raphael, who was laid out next to him.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"What if we use them to make treats for animals?" Steven said. "So they get a nice meal and they're not wasted?"

[pocketpretzels]

"What kinda treats?" Still a little suspicious.

[hasaknightjob]

"We could put some nut butter on the peels and then stick seeds to the butter," Steven said. Luckily they had all those things for human consumption as well. "Then put them out on the balcony for birds to help themselves."

[pocketpretzels]

The idea of feeding birds was nice, but still Llewellyn looked reluctant when handing over the piece of orange peel.

[hasaknightjob]

"How can we make you feel better?" Steven asked, seeing that expression.

[pocketpretzels]

"What if I need to eat something later?" Llewellyn asked.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven blinked. Then blinked again. "Well... then we'd have actual food for you? Much as you'd like?"

[pocketpretzels]

And if Llewellyn knew the phrase 'sounds fake', he'd be uttering it right now, at least judging by the expression on his face.

[hasaknightjob]

"Llewellyn," Steven said, gently, "I'm here to take care of you. I promise you won't go hungry."

A thought occurred to Steven. "Would - would you care to have something else to keep in your pockets? Something you can actually eat? Would that help you feel better?"

[pocketpretzels]

"What if you're busy?" Llewellyn asked, though the question got a cautious nod.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven could at least understand anxiety overwhelming reassurances and logic. "If you needed me I would stop what I was doing to help you. But there's no harm in letting you keep a snack handy if that helps you feel better."

Steven thought about options. If this was grown up Llewellyn of course soft pretzels would be ideal, but those would not fit in tiny Llewellyn's pockets. "What about... trail mix? That's got nuts and dried fruit in it."

[pocketpretzels]

"Trail mix?" Now he was curious more than anything else.

[hasaknightjob]

"Something you're meant to take with you when you go hiking," Steven explained. "A long walk in the woods? You walk on trails, you see. So it's a mix of food that you can nibble on if you get hungry while you're there."

[pocketpretzels]

"Hmmm," Llewellyn looked thoughtful. "Can I try some first?"

He'd still eat it if he didn't like it, of course, but he wanted to know what he was getting into, here.

[hasaknightjob]

"I think that's fair," Steven said. He grinned. "Shall we shake on it again?"

[pocketpretzels]

"All right," Llewellyn stuck his hand out once again.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven of course took it and began to shake in place again.

[pocketpretzels]

Which set off another round of giggles as Llewellyn did much the same.

[hasaknightjob]

"Excellent," Steven said, letting Llewellyn's hand go once they'd established that. "I'll get you some trail mix to try."

[pocketpretzels]

Llewellyn nodded, then looked down at the ground and back up at Steven.

"I need down," he said. Because this chair was very high up.

[hasaknightjob]

"You don't want to sit while you eat?" Steven asked. Not that he had a problem with that, he was just checking.

[pocketpretzels]

Llewellyn shook his head. "Tired of sitting."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's all right then," Steven said. He went to pick Llewellyn up in much the same way as he'd lifted him onto the chair earlier. "Ready?"

[pocketpretzels]

Llewellyn nodded. "Ready."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven scooped him up and deposited him carefully on the floor. "There we are. Safe and sound."