Fandom Island Museum, Tuesday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was running late. It was on purpose this time, and he'd cleared it with Blathers. Still, once he was done keeping Liz company he raced over to the museum, not even stopping back at the flat to get changed.

So it was a Steven wearing a dark grey suit, tie, and white shirt who was behind the welcome counter at the museum today. Name tag was the same though. Priorities, after all.

[open!]

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[pocketpretzels]

Watts, meanwhile, was right on time for lunchtime.

“Hello, you,” he greeted as he came up to the welcome desk. “Time to take a break.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was glad for the distraction, particularly given the form it came in. "Hello, you. Gladly."

[pocketpretzels]

“All right then,” Watts said. His hat got set down in its usual spot on the welcome desk. “Off we go.” And he was holding out his arm for Steven to take.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at the gesture. Possibly it was only due to them being alone but it was still a public place.

He put out the sign he was taking lunch then in turn took Llewellyn's arm in his. "Lead on."

[pocketpretzels]

That was exactly his reasoning, yes. Small steps.

Metaphorically. Regular steps were taking them to their usual spot in the fish exhibit.

Once they reached the table, Watts unpacked some jollof rice, vegetable kebabs, and moin moin.

"I don't know if you've had any of this before, it's from Nigeria?" he asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"Kebabs yes, the rest no," Steven said. "It looks wonderful, Llew."

Steven wasn't sure if a hug would be too much so he kept himself to giving a light squeeze to Llewellyn's arm when he had to let go.

[pocketpretzels]

Much like yesterday, the look Steven got in return was very much a promise for later.

“Well, let’s hope it lives up to expectations.” As if they’d been disappointed by any of these lunches yet.

[hasaknightjob]

"Even if the food is bad the company won't be," Steven said. Not that he thought the food would be bad.

[pocketpretzels]

“Perhaps I- woke on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and am as a result exceedingly grumpy,” Watts countered. The smile he had to bite back at being called good company probably gave lie to that statement though.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was about to ask what was wrong when he saw Llewellyn's expression. "I see. And which side is the wrong one?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Before nine in the morning,” Watts replied. Truthfully, he preferred to sleep in later than that (as Steven well knew), but nine was about as early as he ever got up if given a choice.

[hasaknightjob]

That got a laugh out of Steven. "Can understand that. Especially today."

Getting up extra early to be there for Liz was worth it, but it wasn't something Steven would do for fun if he had the choice.

[pocketpretzels]

"Is everything all r- did-," and now Watts was grimacing as he tried to find the right way to ask the question- "How did that go, this morning?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell came in late in the afternoon, looking a little rueful. "Got another letter," she said quietly. "Looks like I'll be leaving this Friday. I wanted you'un to know as soon as I heard."

[hasaknightjob]

"So soon?" Steven said, because it was the first thing he thought of. Then he remembered the bigger picture. "I mean - not for you. Obviously. I'm sorry."

[mylandmyrules]

"No, no, you'un is fine," Nell said, shaking her head. "In a way it's better. If I'm going it's better to go than have it hanging over my head."

And being in their way in the apartment, she thought, but wouldn't say.

[hasaknightjob]

Just as well, because Steven would've had to insist on reminding her she wasn't.

"Can understand that, I suppose," he said instead. "Still. Even more real now, isn't it?"

He meant for both of them. One thing to know about her leaving in the abstract, another to actually have the date.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded. "Very real now," she agreed. And a bit nerve-wracking, heading back without knowing what she was walking into. "So, two more days and then... I'll be off. I think, if you don't mind, that I'll ask if you could donate my clothes somewhere and - I just, I can't take my things with me, but I haven't quite steeled myself to donate them myself either."

She looked down at the floor. "I know it's a lot to ask."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was taken aback, but again it was mainly due to how real it all was now. Nell of course needed to make concrete plans for her things.

"Yes, of course," Steven said. He couldn't think of somewhere off of the top of his head, but he could research it. "I'll find somewhere nice. It's a shame it can't all come with you. I know you liked them."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'd never be able to wear them," Nell said. "Just having them would be a problem. I'll wear the clothes I came with. There are places enough to tuck away my phone and charger, just in case I can still stay in touch, and maybe a book or two and some seeds and cuttings. Everything else, well, it will be hard enough to explain where I've been without returning with things that wouldn't be approved of."

[hasaknightjob]

"Call anytime you need, if you can," Steven said. Which she probably knew but it was Nell, no harm in reminding her it wouldn't be considered a bother. "Day or night. I mean night not really a problem for Marc and me, obviously."

Not that Steven and Marc stayed up all night as a rule but you couldn't be the avatar of the god of the moon and night sky without being open to late hours.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded. "I don't know enough about whether I could call from the house. We're rather remote. But maybe when I go into town on market days."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven also wondered how safe it would be for Nell to try calling from the house, technology or no. But he kept that thought to himself. "Whatever's right. For you I mean. Me or Marc, obviously."

The topic and the earlier meeting with Liz had Steven briefly thinking of a history of voice mails, but he pushed that firmly to the back of his thoughts.

[mylandmyrules]

It would definitely be best that John not know she had a phone, much less that she was calling strange men, but she couldn't quite give up at least the chance that she might be able to stay in touch.

"I'll do what I can," she said. "Obviously I couldn't be seen to be talking to men."

[hasaknightjob]

"Right," Steven said. He reminded himself that right now her sisters were still living in that environment without the benefit of Nell being there to help them. "Er - anything else I can do? Besides the clothing?"