hasaknightjob | Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

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]

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From:

hasaknightjob

"Of course," Steven said. He made sure Raphael had fresh water as well. "He's a good lad. He should be well taken care of."

And possibly spoiled but that was neither here nor there.

From:

pocketpretzels

"And although he cannot take a turn preparing dinner, he takes care of us in his own way as well," Watts noted.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Such as keeping a watchful eye on our fish," Steven said. He looked at their dinner. "Would you like to carry the tray and I'll have our glasses and the wine bottle? Or vice versa?"

From:

pocketpretzels

Or strategically deploying the kitty nap field!

"I'll take the tray, yes."

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven kissed him on the cheek in thanks. "Brilliant. After you then?"

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts picked up the tray and took it to the living room, setting it down on the coffee table without any of his typical flourishes, aware that that was just asking for trouble when it came to bowls full of hot stew.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven followed along, likewise glad he did not have to worry about full glasses, merely the delicacy of glass objects in general. He did put them down with a small flourish, though, since there was no chance of spilling. "Voila! Dinner is served."

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts smiled fondly at that flourish, then went to pour the wine. "I look forward to trying what you've made for us," he said. Yes, there had been that sample spoonful, but that was different than sitting down to eat properly.

From:

hasaknightjob

Steven sat down, angling himself sideways so that it was easier for him to face Llewellyn. "Looking forward to trying it with your bread. Gravy always tastes better when it's sopped up like that."

From:

pocketpretzels

Watts likewise sat down so he was facing Steven. "Good thing, I suppose, that we had a suitable loaf on hand, hm?"

Though Watts would have absolutely baked something upon request had Steven asked him to.

From:

hasaknightjob

"It's possible I picked something knowing we did," Steven said with a smile. "But that did make it handy it was available, yeah."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Good thinking, then," Watts amended. "Thank you, darling, for seeing to the preparations."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Thank you for helping bring it all in," Steven said. He held up his glass for a toast. "To dinner."

From:

pocketpretzels

"To dinner," Watts echoed, clinking his glass lightly against Steven's. "And a proper toast."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Perhaps we can do that tomorrow at breakfast as well," Steven said. "Have proper toast."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Is French pro- Steven Grant."

Yes, it took him a moment. Shhh.

From:

hasaknightjob

"I was actually going to say your French toast would go down a treat," Steven admitted. Because in his own way a joking thought had turned more serious.

From:

pocketpretzels

"French toast it is, then," Watts said decisively. He scooped up a spoonful of stew. "Oh, that's lovely," he said, after giving himself a moment to savour it.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Something to look forward to tomorrow then," Steven said. He then smiled more at Llewellyn's verdict. "Yeah? Smelled nice, didn't it? I like how it made everything smell nice."

With that he took his own spoonful and nodded his approval. That was the one downside of slow cooking. You couldn't really sample as you went. Not without interfering with the cooking process.

From:

pocketpretzels

"I'm fairly certain Midnight had a hand in making sure I was aware of how nice it smelled, during my practice session," Watts said, since the library was on the complete opposite end of the house and all.

From:

hasaknightjob

"Very kind of it," Steven said. He gave a salute with his glass in the direction of the walls, since that was the best approximation for addressing Midnight in such moments. "Certainly didn't let me hear much of your practicing. Could hear you were doing it, not much by way of specifics."

From:

pocketpretzels

"Good," Watts said. "I mean- I do want you to hear it again. Eventually. Perhaps another week or two? And then I can show you that duet."

From:

hasaknightjob

"Of course," Steven said. He dipped some bread into his stew and then took an approving bite. Luckily he remembered to chew and swallow before continuing. "When you're comfortable, not before. Of course I look forward to hearing it, but only when you're ready."