Apt #14, MHA, Saturday Evening

[hasaknightjob]

Steven hadn't seen Llewellyn since Thursday. Actually Steven hadn't seen anyone since Thursday, having needed to take a some time to himself. But, unsurprisingly, Llewellyn was the one Steven most wanted to see once he felt ready to take over the body again. So he and Llewellyn agreed to have a dinner date that night.

Steven wanted to make things a bit more special than usual, though. So in addition to having dinner delivered and ready to go by the time Llewellyn got there, the table was set with the nicest plates and silverware that Steven and Marc owned. Tea candles were placed on the table and the electric lights dimmed to provide a more intimate atmosphere. A playlist of songs provided soft background music with selections both romantic and appropriate for slow dancing later, should they be so inclined.

In honor of the Lunar new year, dinner was a meant to be shared assortment of scallion pancakes, potstickers, spring rolls, and shumai, along with fried rice and Buddha's Delight for the main. Dessert consisted of sweet dumplings and cookies shaped like rabbits.

Food and water bowls had been set up for Raphael on the floor of the dining area and, since Raphael would likely have been fed already, the food bowl only had a few treats in it for Raphael to nibble on should he be so inclined. The cat toys that lived in the flat were out in the living room, placed in such a way for Raphael to have the fun of discovering them as much as playing with them.

For his part, Steven wasn't dressed in a full suit - in spite of who he was dating, that still felt too formal to him for a night in. But he did have on a nice pair of navy blue slacks and a similarly nice lighter blue button down shirt.

All in all Steven wanted - hoped that the effect would be that Llewellyn felt like he was being treated a little extra special than their more casual dates. The only thing left was to wait and see if it worked.

Waiting nervously, of course. It was Steven after all.

[ooc: for the beau. Fine to say they had date night, contents of conversation NFB please]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"To me as well," Steven said. "Being with you, I mean. That's what makes it special, isn't it? Doing a bit extra."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'd say you've done far more than a bit, darling," Watts told him.

[hasaknightjob]

"Food's all right?" Steven asked. "I know you like Greek but it being Lunar new year and all, thought this might be fun."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'd no idea that was this weekend until I heard mention of it on the radio," Watts admitted. Well, truthfully he really had only the vaguest idea what Lunar New Year even encompassed, beyond it being a Chinese holiday. "But though Greek is a particular favourite, this is all," he waved a hand to indicate the various dishes, "quite delicious so far. So- well done."

[hasaknightjob]

"And it's good for sharing," Steven pointed out. He offered up a piece of shumai with his chopsticks. "There's long noodles in the soup as well, for good luck."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts leaned over to take the offered dumpling. "I feel plenty lucky already," he said, once he'd finished swallowing. "But I'll not object to more."

[hasaknightjob]

"Can never have too much," Steven agreed. "Good luck, at least. Bad luck we can all do without."

Fortunately Friday the 13th hadn't been too significant that month.

[pocketpretzels]

Well, unless you were the Cheese Panda. Then it had been an extremely unlucky day, all that cheese ending up in the lake and all. "You'll find no argument from me there," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"We could all use some luck this year, couldn't we?" Steven said. "Babies being born, hard times for some of our friends, me and Marc trying a new way of handling things, to say nothing of - "

Steven trailed off, thinking of the time of year and how soon February and March would arrive.

[pocketpretzels]

"To say nothing of what, darling?" Watts prompted.

[hasaknightjob]

"Be the anniversary of me and Marc soon," Steven said. He made a motion with his hand to indicate something upright, then falling. "Wall coming down."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts reached for that hand to give it a gentle, reassuring squeeze, because if that was soon then so too was the anniversary of the catalyst for that.

“You can lean on me, both of you, however you need to,” Watts told him. “I’m here.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven accepted the comfort. He gave Llewellyn a grateful look for how he understood that the anniversary of things changing with Steven and Marc was not entirely a pleasant one, even if the result of it had been.

"I know. Thank you. Don't know what it'll be like, actually. Lot - lot of parts of it. We've not even talked about it. Not in a rush to do so either. But I know you'll be there. For both of us."

[pocketpretzels]

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” Watts told him seriously.

[hasaknightjob]

"Because you see me too," Steven said. "You understand. And - it's not for a while yet. We've our trip to look forward to well before then."

Well before, about a week before, close enough.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. “I made an appointment with the tailor for next Saturday, if that’s all right?” he asked. “Shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven thought about it. "I don't think we have any plans? But don't let me forget to check my schedule."

Steven would do that now but his mobile was not near the table. He was focusing on Llewellyn, after all.

"Could make a day of it?" Steven suggested. "Or half day? Get a meal while we're out?"

[pocketpretzels]

Saturdays were often quiet for all three of them, which is why Watts had booked it then, though he was realizing he had something of a habit of doing that and checking afterwards. Something to work on, be noted to himself.

“I am always happy to share a meal with you,” Watts said by way of agreement to this plan.

[hasaknightjob]

Given how often Steven invited himself into Llewellyn's life as part of the start of their relationship, could Llewellyn really be blamed for such a habit?

"I don't mind extra excuse to spend time with you," Steven said. "And meals have worked out rather well for us, as a habit."

[pocketpretzels]

“They have, haven’t they?” Watts agreed. “This one in particular continues to be splendid.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Think it's the company doing that," Steven said, giving Llewellyn a direct look. "At least it is for me."

[pocketpretzels]

“Now that you mention it, I am sat here with my favourite person,” Watts said.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven grinned. "Raphael? He is charming."

[pocketpretzels]

Which elicited a slight eyeroll, but only because Watts ought to have anticipated that response.

“That is true, but not who I meant at all, and you know that perfectly well.”

[hasaknightjob]

Llewellyn really should have.

"Jordie and Ellis then?" Steven asked, meaning the fish.