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

[pocketpretzels]

"Put the potatoes in?" Watts said, once he had the bowl of ice water on the counter.

[hasaknightjob]

"Just sort of - er - dump them in?" Steven asked, to be sure.

[pocketpretzels]

"Just so," Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"Easily done," Steven said. He went to put the potatoes into the water, then winced when some of the water splashed out as a result. "Sorry! Sorry."

[pocketpretzels]

"No harm done," Watts said, reaching for a kitchen towel. "Only water, darling."

[hasaknightjob]

"It doesn't ruin the recipe?" Steven asked, worried.

He was thinking of baking, where measurements had to be precise.

[pocketpretzels]

"Not at all," Watts assured him. "So long as all the slices get soaked in the ice water, the amount of water itself doesn't need to be precise."

[hasaknightjob]

"All right," Steven said. He took a breath to let some of his worry go. "I trust you."

[pocketpretzels]

"And now, we can engage in a most pleasant diversion," Watts said, pulling Steven close again.

[hasaknightjob]

"Is it a diversion if it's a required step?" Steven asked, as he wrapped his arms around Llewellyn's shoulders. "Because that's how I wrote it in my notes"

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, good point," Watts said thoughtfully. "I suppose I hadn't considered how working with a partner would alter the process."

[hasaknightjob]

"Raphael didn't try to lend a paw to help?" Steven asked, grinning.

[pocketpretzels]

"He tried, but found the water too cold to his liking," Watts told Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven chuckled fondly. "Poor little lad. At least he gave it a go. For his dad, I imagine."

[pocketpretzels]

"He keeps to supervising, these days," Watts said with a nod.

[hasaknightjob]

"Rather proud of him," Steven said. "Suited to management already."

[pocketpretzels]

"Keeps his own hours, coming and going as he pleases." Take now, for example, where Raphael was definitely not present in the kitchen.

[hasaknightjob]

"Probably for the best when it comes time for the frying," Steven said. "No worries he'll risk getting hurt."

Steven was perhaps worried about getting hurt himself when the time came.

[pocketpretzels]

"Precisely my thoughts," Watts agreed, leading Steven around the kitchen in a not-quite-waltz as they waited.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled, delighted. He started humming a song for them to dance to.

[pocketpretzels]

Which, naturally, led to Watts's own smile becoming even more besotted as they moved around the kitchen.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven got lost in his enjoyment, and started adding words to the traditional waltz without realizing. Nothing elaborate. Things like "Da da da da da, dance dance, dance dance..."

[pocketpretzels]

They went on like that for a little while, until Watts couldn't hold it back anymore, an utterly delighted "I love you," bursting forth.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven didn't know what the inspiration for that outburst was, but neither did he mind hearing it. "I love you too, my love."

[pocketpretzels]

"You bring so much joy in to my life," Watts added. "I am incredibly grateful for you."