Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

Watts had promised to teach Steven how to make homemade crisps, and so following their usual services on the mainland he departed from his usual routine of baking something in favour of doing so.

"It's quite a straightforward process," he said to Steven, once they had everything ready to go, including salt and spices for possible seasonings. "With a sometimes maddening amount of waiting."

Luckily they had ways of occupying themselves during such times.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"This is exciting," Steven said. He had pen and paper ready to take notes.

[pocketpretzels]

"I do hope you'll still think so once we get started," Watts said. "As the first step is peeling all of these," he indicated their bowl of potatoes.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven grinned at him. "I'm rather certain that is not the first step."

[pocketpretzels]

"You are?" Watts gave him a puzzled look.

You'd think he'd know by now what Steven considered the first step to most, if not all, of their recipe-related ventures.

[hasaknightjob]

"The first step is a kiss," Steven said. Then, to be clear, "Between you and me."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh!" Watts grinned. "Yes, yes. You are correct." He reached out to pull Steven in close and wrap his arms around his waist.

[hasaknightjob]

"Had it in my notes and all," Steven said, pointing to show that was true.

[pocketpretzels]

"Can you forgive me my misstep?" Watts asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"Always." Steven grinned up at him. "Long as I get that kiss."

[pocketpretzels]

"Of course," Watts said, leaning down to kiss him soundly.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven made a happy sound into the kiss. "Hmmm. Wonderful. Successful recipe so far I would say."

[pocketpretzels]

"Off to a very pleasant start," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled up at him. "Now then, we do something with our spuds?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Peel," Watts said. "And then slice. Thankfully not with a knife, for that second part, as they need to be- paper thin, nearly."

[hasaknightjob]

"Peeling I can manage," Steven said, getting a peeler so he could do just that. "We have what the recipe called for for slicing? A mandolin?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I purchased one when I first started making these," Watts said, pointing out the kitchen device in question.

Perhaps someday he'd have the thought that he could use it to slice things that didn't specifically call for use of a mandoline.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned over to peer at it. "Isn't that clever? Not familiar with them. I'll get to try it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a helpful little device." Watts nodded. "And of course."

[hasaknightjob]

"Wonderful!" Steven said. He got to peeling. "That'll make two new things learned then. I'm doing well with my new year already."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts's potato peels were, predictably, flying everywhere as he also got to peeling. "Two new things, while also keeping up some traditions," he grinned.

[hasaknightjob]

"Will you practice your piano later?" Steven asked, as long as they were on the topic of things normally done.

[pocketpretzels]

"That was my intent," Watts confirmed.

[hasaknightjob]

"I admire you for that, you know," Steven said. "Keeping at it all this time. Proud of you, actually."

[pocketpretzels]

"You do?" Watts asked. "You are?"

[hasaknightjob]

"You've been at it for ages now," Steven said. "Still going even when it's not easy. I think that's admirable, don't you?"