Trooper Station, Friday

[pocketpretzels]

Watts had not one, but two mysteries to deal with today. The first was, of course, the more pressing: no-one had heard from Gladio or Prompto for three, going on four days now. He had the Troopers out doing regular rounds of the island but so far none of them had much of anything to report.

Well, beyond the fact that apparently several people were missing items. Nothing big or important- a jar of change, a pair of boots, several forks and a remote control were among the items being reported as missing.

A connection to the missing people seemed unlikely, but Watts supposed it was still possible.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Something else that was possible was a beau showing up at lunchtime. Because come lunchtime, there one was in Llewellyn's office doorway. "Hello, you."

[pocketpretzels]

Possible, yes, and certainly no mystery. Watts looked up from the paperwork he was filling out regarding a missing keychain. Not the keys, mind. Just the keychain itself.

“Hello, you,” he said, a wide smile spreading across his face as he looked up.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. He came inside, closing the door behind him. "How are you? Any leads on Gladio and Prompto?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I’m all right,” Watts said. “Aside, that is, from a frustrating lack of leads regarding those two.” He sighed. “There’s been a rash of thefts of small items. But nothing so far to suggest a broader connection between the two. Of possible interest is two squirrels who came in earlier to report a missing friend, a chipmunk by the name of Charles. I’ve sent a couple Troopers out to the woods to take a look.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Oh dear," Steven said. Then, because you had to ask, "Human Troopers?"

[pocketpretzels]

“The only kind we employ, so far as I am aware,” Watts confirmed. “Why?”

[hasaknightjob]

"Only curious if you had animal Troopers for animal related cases," Steven said.

He realized he'd been distracted far too long and the conversation could continue once he'd taken care of an important matter. Which was to put the insulated lunch bag down on Llewellyn's desk and then come around to give Llewellyn a kiss. "Here I almost didn't greet you properly."

[pocketpretzels]

You certainly didn’t need to tell Watts twice. “Much better,” he declared.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave him another kiss to make up for taking oh so long to do it. "Indeed. Here, let me get lunch on while you keep telling me about your day. A chipmunk as well? You don't think he's been the one doing the crimes, do you?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I don’t believe so, as the little fellow has apparently been missing since at least Tuesday, possibly Monday. And in the meantime the thefts have continued to occur.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven began unpacking their lunch, which consisted of picadillo served with roasted plantains and a strawberry and mango smoothie. The latter of which was not as neatly put together as the photos that had come with the recipe, but it was a good effort all the same.

Steven also smiled with pride at his beau. "Someone's clever. Knowing it couldn't be the chipmunk if he's gone missing. I wouldn't have thought of that."

[pocketpretzels]

The smoothie layers may not be as defined as they were in the picture, but as far as a Watts was concerned the drink looked appealing. As did the rest of it, really. “This all looks wonderful,” he noted.

[hasaknightjob]

"I thought you might enjoy some mangoes since they're in season," Steven said. He'd already portioned out the main meal before he got there, so it was only a matter of making sure to give Llewellyn the one that had more of his favorite things in it. "And it looked fun. Supposed to be a traffic light, though the order of the lights is all wrong."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts looked at it. “It is, isn’t it?” Traffic lights weren’t something they had back in his time, but after a year in the future he was familiar enough with them. “Well, I can forgive that so long as it tastes good,” he said with a wink.

[hasaknightjob]

"It did when I tried it at home," Steven promised. He took his usual seat. "And nothing on Prompto and Gladio? That's unfortunate. Poor Liz is beside herself. Understandably."

[pocketpretzels]

“I can imagine,” Watts said solemnly.

Mostly because he did not actually have to imagine what it felt like.

[hasaknightjob]

"Unfortunate thing is it's most likely a portal," Steven said.

Unless the chipmunk had disappeared in the exact same way they had but what were the odds of that?

[pocketpretzels]

What were the odds, indeed?

“Given their history, it does seem the most likely scenario,” Watts agreed. “Except, of course, that Mr. Scientia is still present and accounted for.”

[hasaknightjob]

"I was going to ask about him so that's good to know," Steven said. "Liz said she'd been checking in with him regularly as well. So if he does go missing it won't be long before it's found out. Though hopefully he won't at all."

[pocketpretzels]

“Indeed,” Watts said. “I know the complaint around here is that there is often very little to do, but I will take boredom over missing persons any day.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Boredom's better than people being worried or hurt," Steven agreed. "Especially when there's nothing to go on. I think it's the not knowing that can be the worst."

Not that there was a little nudge in there for certain people Steven shared a body with or anything.

[pocketpretzels]

“It absolutely is,” Watts confirmed.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven reached over to give Llewellyn's hand a squeeze. "My poor love. Are you doing all right?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts gave Steven a small smile, touched by the concern. “I’m all right. Just hoping we get answers sooner rather than later.”

[hasaknightjob]

"If anyone could do it, it's you," Steven said. Not that he was at all biased about his beau compared to anyone else on the island who could try to search for missing people professionally or anything.