Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

That night was Nell's birthday celebration and Steven and Llewellyn were heading out to London as early as they could come Friday. So while Steven was at work he was spending a fair bit of time on his phone working out last minute details for the weekend.

Luckily Blathers was a much more forgiving boss than the one Steven might potentially bump into in a few days.

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[pocketpretzels]

And that they could leave early tomorrow with no trouble was of course one of the perks of being one's own boss, there, in that Watts didn't need to seek anyone's permission to miss out on his shift.

Today, though, he wasn't about to miss out on lunch. Though he did check the bag on the way over just a few times to be sure it really was what he'd ordered.

"Hello, you," he greeted as he made his way over to the desk, plopping his hat down in its usual spot and leaning over to give Steven a kiss in greeting. "Come on now, break time."

[hasaknightjob]

If it wasn't for Nell's birthday dinner Steven would've taken the day off work as well. But since Steven wasn't going to miss that for the world he might as well go to work as he should.

"Hello, you." Steven gave him a kiss back before putting the sign on the desk to indicate he was taking lunch. "Island not having a laugh today? Food as it should be?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Not unless it’s been swapped out in the last two minutes,” Watts confessed, coming round the side of the desk to offer Steven his free arm for the walk. “I checked.”

Yeah, Steven had probably guessed as much, given how put out he’d been last time.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven still obsessively checked time to make sure he didn't miss appointments, he could certainly understand Llewellyn wanting to check the food.

Steven hooked his arm around Llewellyn's to follow him to their usual spot. "Crawley says everything's shipshape at the flat. He'll even leave a few things in the fridge for us if we need it for tea and the like."

[pocketpretzels]

"That's kind of him," Watts noted, as they reached their spot. He let go of Steven's arm and began unpacking their lunch: artichoke tagine, bakoula salad, and maakouda, and then sat down with his usual spin-flourish.

[hasaknightjob]

"It looks wonderful," Steven told him. He pressed a kiss to Llewellyn's cheek before sitting. "And he's been minding the flat for us while we've been here. He's good that way. Trustworthy."

[pocketpretzels]

"So we won't be unlocking the doors to be met with a cloud of dust?" Watts said with a smile.

Or a dead body, with his luck.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not unless something happens between now and tomorrow," Steven said. Which in his world couldn't be ruled out, actually.

"I was thinking when we get there I'll pop up real quick to drop off our luggage and you can grab us something to eat?" Steven said. "Give us more time to get exploring right away?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I can do that,” Watts said with a nod of agreement. “Though perhaps you might point out a couple of your favourites to me when we arrive?” he asked, referring to the street vendors Steven had mentioned. Yes, Watts could figure out which offered vegan fare on his own, but again, in the interests of saving time, it seemed prudent.

[hasaknightjob]

"That's no problem," Steven said. "How much would you like to know of what I've planned? I don't want you worrying about surprises."

[pocketpretzels]

Oh, but that simple consideration earned Steven a look of utter fondness.

“If you’ve specific destinations in mind I’d like to know,” Watts said. “But otherwise, I’m all right if the plan is to ‘play it by ear’,”

[hasaknightjob]

"Easy enough," Steven said. He smiled back at Llewellyn since the look of fondness was nice. "So tomorrow, drop things off then figured do a bit of sight seeing before the London Eye? I got us tickets for the last ride so it'll be the city all lit up, you see. But it's right across the Thames from Parliament, Westminster, the Tower and all that so we can walk about there and maybe take some tours before we have to go. Then back to the flat for dinner?"

[pocketpretzels]

“That all sounds wonderful,” Watts said. Particularly that last bit, sharing a meal at Steven’s place.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was looking forward to that part as well.

"Saturday Marc's seeing the solicitor," Steven said. Which meant Steven would have to get up early to avoid a great deal of awkwardness regardless of whether Llewellyn himself was awake for it. "Then once he's back I thought good day for the shops. Savile Row, the bookshop, any other things that catch our eye as we're out and about. Pop by to say hello to Crawley before dinner. He'll be working, mind."

[pocketpretzels]

"You'll wake me on Saturday morning?" Watts checked. "Before Mr. Spector leaves?" Look, even if he ended up going back to sleep (which he likely would), he didn't particularly want to wake up somewhere alone when he'd gone to sleep with Steven. Particularly when that somewhere was Steven's own apartment.

[hasaknightjob]

"I can if you like," Steven said. He smiled. "Give you a kiss before we go."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'd appreciate it," Watts said. "Waking up alone would feel- odd." Plus he'd never turn down an offered kiss, come on.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven reached over to give Llewellyn's hand a squeeze. "Of course. Not like I mind saying hello to you. We'll just have to behave ourselves so Marc isn't late."

[pocketpretzels]

"A difficult proposition, but one we can manage, surely," Watts said. Even though their track record with getting to work on time on days where one of them had stayed over the previous night was... not great.

[hasaknightjob]

"Sooner he leaves, sooner he comes back," Steven pointed out. "Then we've the rest of the trip to ourselves."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, there is that," Watts acknowledged. "Though- there's nothing else he'd care to do while we're there?" he checked.

[hasaknightjob]

Which got Llewellyn a look of great fondness for asking. "He'd have gone and come back in a day if it was up to him. But I love you for thinking of him."

[pocketpretzels]

“He’s my friend as well,” Watts pointed out. “I just wanted to make sure he didn’t feel obligated to make himself scarce for our sake.”

[hasaknightjob]

That earned Llewellyn a full and proper kiss. "You are the most wonderful person, Llewellyn."

[pocketpretzels]

“We had this discussion earlier this week,” Watts countered. “And I thought we’d established that it’s you that’s wonderful.”

It’s quite possible that whatever squirrel was observing this conversation was getting cavities in their little squirrel teeth by just listening.

[hasaknightjob]

That's what they got for eavesdropping.

"You worry about Marc, that's extra points I'm afraid," Steven asked. "In the rulebook, can't be questioned."

[pocketpretzels]

"Suppose if it's in the rulebook," Watts conceded.

[hasaknightjob]

"See? You're wonderful then. Can't argue it." Steven leaned over and gave him another kiss. "Right, so Sunday museum I thought? Either make a day of it or we could leave after a few hours if you're tired of it."

Assuming there was no problem for them to visit somewhere Steven was let go from.

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't think I'll grow tired of it," particularly if they spent a significant amount of time in Steven's favourite parts of the museum, because listening to Steven talk about something he was passionate about was one of Watts's favourite things. "But it is a good idea to keep our options open."

[hasaknightjob]

"There's loads of things to do in the area," Steven assured him. "And if those don't appeal we can always take public transport somewhere else. Then Monday I thought play by ear if that's all right."

Maybe by having a lie in on the last day they weren't on a tight schedule.

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, I can handle that," Watts agreed, remembering in particular how their play it by ear days in Portugal had gone. "Thank you," he said. "For going to the work of planning everything."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's no trouble," Steven said. He reached over to unnecessarily brush one of Llewellyn's curls as though it had gotten out of place. "Hardest part was getting tickets for the Eye. Is evening all right? Thought it might be pretty, all the lights and everything."

[pocketpretzels]

"Evening sounds wonderful," Watts confirmed, having only a vague idea what to expect. Yes, he'd googled the Eye and so he knew, intellectually, how high up they'd be. And he knew from their recent vacation and the handful of sojurns they'd made to the mainland that the artificial light that lit up modern cities at night was much brighter and more plentiful than in his own time. But overall this was an experience that he had nothing to really compare to.

[hasaknightjob]

"I hope you like it," Steven said. Unlike Portugal, this was his home. Both the city he'd lived in and his actual flat. Llewellyn enjoying it and feeling comfortable there meant a great deal to him. "I mean I did. I hope you will as well."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts had liked the London of his own time. He also loved Steven dearly. Therefore, he was pretty well predisposed to like Steven's version of London. "I'm certain I shall."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's a nice neighborhood," Steven said. "Loads of little shops and everything. And the street vendors. As many as you like right outside the door."

One literally right outside it but Steven didn't think Llewellyn would get particularly distracted by someone who wasn't selling food.

[pocketpretzels]

Indeed, true to form Watts's mind immediately went to food: "And hopefully someone nearby with toasted chestnuts?" Look, they were delicious and it was the right time of year for it, he was a little fixated.

[hasaknightjob]

Based on the affectionate look Steven was giving him, he didn't mind Llewellyn asking. "Pretty sure there will be. Embarrassment of choice there. Be surprised if there wasn't."