A Cabin Somewhere in the Canadian Rockies, Tuesday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

Since they were planning on building a cabin (well, having a cabin built, let's be real here), Watts had spent the last little while researching potential plots of land. And also looking for places to rent for a little while in order to conduct a 'test run' of sorts, see if they really liked the location. And he had, indeed, ended up finding a little cabin for rent up near a lake, so here they were.

Emphasis on the little. "What do you think?" Watts asked, giving Steven a nervous glance. The place was... smaller, than it had seemed in the photographs. And while it did have indoor plumbing, there wasn't much in the way of other amenities: a small refrigerator and a gas stove for cooking, and a wood stove to help ward off the chill at night. Nowhere near as fancy as their usual holiday accommodations.

[ooc: for the husband, and NFB for distance.]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven meanwhile had been imagining something much smaller and more - erm - rustic. So seeing that there was actual proper indoor plumbing and access to electricity had him smiling.

"It's brilliant!"

[pocketpretzels]

Look, Watts already felt like he was asking a lot of Steven, coming to spend a few days out here in the wilderness. He wouldn't spring something like a lack of indoor plumbing on him.

"Oh," Watts let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. "Good."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like the view," Steven said, pointing back where they'd come in. "Right on the water and all. We could sit on the porch and enjoy sunsets!"

Steven would not be waking up early enough to enjoy sunrises if he could help it, thank you.

[pocketpretzels]

Yeah, no, this trip may have fewer creature comforts than their usual but waking up early was not on the agenda.

"Sounds properly romantic."

[hasaknightjob]

"Glass of wine, perhaps?" Steven suggested.

He went over to the bed so he could put down their sleeping bags. Yes, there was a bed. But they'd been told they could bring their own bedding and Steven had been excited to use the sleeping bags even if at the moment what they were doing could only be broadly defined as camping.

[pocketpretzels]

"Perfect end to the day," Watts said, likewise moving to the kitchen to begin unpacking the food they'd brought.

"Speaking of, it's a bit late for a swim but perhaps we could go for a hike?" Watts suggested.

[hasaknightjob]

"Lovely weather for it," Steven agreed. "Not too hot at all."

[pocketpretzels]

"You should be able to get some good photographs in," Watts noted. "Scenic little spot."

[hasaknightjob]

"Do you know sometimes I think about drawing?" Steven said. He smoothed down their sleeping bags, which were now set up to function as blankets. "Not to replace the photos. In addition. Things to put in a journal and the like."

[pocketpretzels]

"You do?" Watts replied. "Are you any good?" To the best of his knowledge he couldn't recall having seen Steven do any drawing before.

[hasaknightjob]

"Probably not?" Steven admitted. "Only ever drawn hieroglyphics before. And those don't really count, do they? Not much different from drawing letters, you get down to it."

[pocketpretzels]

"True enough," Watts agreed, grimacing a little as he thought of his own writing skills when it came to both Chinese and Japanese. "You could look up a tutorial on the google?" he suggested. "If you were interested in developing that skill."

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't know that I'd want to be an artist," Steven said. Not contradicting Llewellyn, simply thinking aloud. "But no harm giving it a go, right? See a tutorial, like you say."

[pocketpretzels]

"No more than looking up and trying recipes has turned either of us in to chefs," Watts pointed out, walking over to Steven so he could wrap his arms around his waist and pull him close.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned back, taking comfort from the touch.

"You know that's better than I was thinking for drawing?" he admitted. "I think we're fair hands at cooking. I'd be chuffed if I could be half as good at drawing as that."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts let his chin rest on Steven's shoulder. "It's something we both take pride in being able to do," he agreed. "But it isn't- neither of us has made it a vocation. Drawing could be like that, if you wished. Something you get better at simply because it interests you."

[hasaknightjob]

"That exactly," Steven said. "For me and maybe you to see. Or Marc."

Steven honestly couldn't guess what Marc would think of Steven's drawings. He'd care that they mattered to Steven, but that didn't necessarily translate to him wanting to see them on a regular basis.

[pocketpretzels]

"I'd be delighted if you ever chose to share them with me," Watts informed Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"Even if they're nothing but scribbles?" Steven asked. He suspected the answer, but it would be nice to hear aloud all the same.

[pocketpretzels]

"Even so. They're your scribbles," Watts said. "Meaningful to you. That is the part that matters."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned back, resting more of his weight against Llewellyn. "I'd share them with you. If I ever made something worth sharing. That is - a picture of some sort."

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you," Watts said, nuzzling at Steven's neck. "I like that you trust me with something as personal as that."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shivered. He tilted his head to give Llewellyn more neck to work with. "I like that my husband is so trustworthy. That even my most vulnerable things feel safe with you."

Steven looked thoughtful at that.

[pocketpretzels]

Standing behind him as he was, Watts couldn't see Steven's expression. But he was well-accustomed to the pauses that meant Steven was thinking about something. "Hmm?" he hummed against Steven's skin.

[hasaknightjob]

"Only that I'm the most vulnerable thing I've got," Steven said. "What I am. What I... fear myself to be. I've trusted you with that, and here I am. Safe as houses in your arms."