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]

"You like being able to meet the challenge and get to the other side?" Steven guessed.

[pocketpretzels]

"Precisely," Watts nodded. "If there was no challenge, it wouldn't be- as satisfying, I feel."

[hasaknightjob]

"Not as much of an accomplishment," Steven suggested.

[pocketpretzels]

"That's it, yes," Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"And so you see?" Steven said. "I admire you doing it, even when it's hard."

[pocketpretzels]

"I do appreciate your support in that matter," Watts said. "Especially when it means I disappear in to the library for a time."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course." Steven lightly bumped his shoulder into Llewellyn's. "It's all right when you get stuck in to a thing. Long as I can lure you out for dinner when the time comes.

[pocketpretzels]

"You do have a talent for that," Watts replied fondly.

[hasaknightjob]

"Helps that I like making sure you're fed," Steven replied with a grin. Then he remembered to add, "Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"You've a talent for that, as well," Watts added. "It's how you began courting me, after all."

Before they were officially courting, but... details.

[hasaknightjob]

That officially was a key qualifier, yes. As indicated by Steven's blush.

"I worried about you," Steven said. "New to modern life and all."

[pocketpretzels]

"Very gentlemanly of you," Watts said, finishing the last of his potatoes and going to wrap his arms around Steven again. "I welcomed it, even if my situation were nowhere near as dire as you were imagining."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled up at him. "I wasn't going to risk it. Worked out well for me, I'd say. No regrets."

[pocketpretzels]

"None at all?" Watts asked, with a smile.

[hasaknightjob]

"None," Steven said. He grinned. "Wait, one."

Steven turned around so he could give Llewellyn a kiss. "There. Now none."

[pocketpretzels]

"Flirt," Watts declared. "My flirt," he added, after a moment.

[hasaknightjob]

"And you're mine," Steven said. His smile grew wider. "See? Courting worked out for me. I'd not done it before either. Not with any sort of success."

[pocketpretzels]

"Hadn't found the right match," Watts said, tucking a lock of Steven's hair behind his ear. "Not until me."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's nice that you like my attempts," Steven said. "Before... didn't get as appreciated as I would have wanted."

[pocketpretzels]

"I hate that," Watts said, holding on to Steven a little tighter. "Thinking of your feelings being hurt by the callous behaviour of others. But also I am selfishly glad it means I get to have you instead."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven wrapped his arms around Llewellyn to hold him close. "You appreciated me from the start. Goes to show how much you were the one."

[pocketpretzels]

"There was plenty to appreciate," Watts said. "Still is, each and every day."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave Llewellyn's cheek a kiss. "Even when I flirt with you over potatoes?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I should hope you would flirt with me over the potatoes," Watts said, with a particular emphasis on 'over' that made it clear he meant 'instead of'.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven giggled. "Even if they swear they only have eyes for me?"