Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

After Steven and Llewellyn's usual trip over to the mainland they came home for an easy Saturday afternoon. Llewellyn went to the library to practice his piano. Steven, for his part, set up dinner in the slow cooker.

Once that was done and the house began to be filled with delicious smells, Steven set himself up in the living room. He curled up on the couch with a book, happily losing track of the time. Raphael kept him company by sitting on the back of the couch and watching the fish swimming in their tank.

On the whole, Steven had no complaints. Other than the lack of his beau, of course, but that could be fixed later when Llewellyn was free.

[for the beau when he is free]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"Enjoying myself," Watts said. "Glad I decided to pick it up. There is just something about filling a space with music..."

Something that a recording couldn't quite manage, in his opinion.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm glad." Steven put Llewellyn's hand down and motioned for the other one. "It's not something that you feel weighed down by, like you have to do it because we bought the piano. You like doing it."

[pocketpretzels]

"I do," Watts said, holding out his other hand. "Nearly ready to try teaching you how to play that duet, I think."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven began to massage that hand just as he'd done the first. "That'll be exciting. Looking forward to it, to be certain. Nervous, but looking forward."

[pocketpretzels]

"I think you'll do just fine," Watts said. "And you know I would never poke fun."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's why I feel brave enough to try it," Steven said. "Don't know that I ever would on my own."

[pocketpretzels]

"A little something just for you and I," Watts smiled at him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. "Yes, I like that. Even if it's only the one song, it's still something for us. And lets me get a feel for what this is like for you. Playing."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts would happily show Steven more if he decided he enjoyed it, but he also wasn't about to put the cart before the horse here.

"It feels a little like baking, in a way?" Watts said hesitantly. "Creating something, but- by following a set of instructions."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven thought about it. "I can see that. And hopefully something you find is comforting to you? Stress relief?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts thought about it. "It is- a pleasant diversion?" he said finally.

[hasaknightjob]

"That's good, yeah?" Steven asked. He massaged each one of Llewellyn's fingers in turn. "That you like it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"So far, yes," Watts acknowledged. "It's not- comforting the way that baking is, but enjoyable all the same."

[hasaknightjob]

"Good." Steven gave Llewellyn's hand a kiss before letting it go. "I've heard it can be sort of meditative? Playing music? I imagine that's when you're able to do it without concentrating as much."

[pocketpretzels]

"I can see that," Watts agreed. Right now it was kind of the opposite, requiring a level of focus that sometimes had him losing track of the world around him.

[hasaknightjob]

"I like you doing it," Steven admitted. "Not sure why. Maybe because you feel safe enough in our home to try new things?"

[pocketpretzels]

"That is still- such a pleasant thing to hear," Watts said. "Our home, that is."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven kissed the top of Llewellyn's head. "Pleasant to have as well. I rather liked this afternoon. Me getting dinner on while you practiced. Extraordinary ordinary."

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you for that, by the way," Watts said. "Looking forward to it."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course." Steven wrapped his arms around Llewellyn's shoulders to give him a hug. "I like making dinner for us. Especially if it's something you can look forward to when you're done working or the like."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts burrowed in to that hug. "It means a great deal to me."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven happily cuddled Llewellyn close. "Does to me as well. Part of making this place a home, isn't it? Taking care of each other?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes," Watts nodded. "And- to be the kind of man who gets to come home to such things..."

Not that he'd come home to dinner tonight, since Steven had started it when they'd both been present. But in principle.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven understood. He pressed a kiss to the side of Llewellyn's head. "You very much are. You're my beau. My love. You get to come home to all the care I can give."

[pocketpretzels]

Maybe it was the advent of Pride month and the accompanying festival and parade that had him ruminating on such things.

"No sneaking about. Worrying about what the neighbours might see. Or the landlord."