Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

It had been... an interesting few days since Steven and Llewellyn had gotten back to Fandom. Coming back to find things not at all as Steven remembered them had not been good for Steven's mental state. However, they'd quickly been able to catch up on radio and deduce it was one of those Fandom things which, while not necessarily wonderful did make it real which had been Steven's first concern.

After which there'd been getting acclimated, and reassuring Midnight that no, its exterior appearance was perfectly fine and there was no need for it to try to imitate an Extended Stay, (not that Steven even knew what that was). But yes, do continue to keep the... beings? With the strange heads? out of the building, thank you. Whether or not the beings were safe they did appear to be annoying and frankly that'd been reason enough for Marc to put his foot down regardless of anyone else's opinions on the subject.

And then, well, work. Where the Museum thankfully looked the same even if so much else around the island didn't. Steven did, of course, do a walk around the building and a check in with Blathers to make sure things were still all right. Apparently there'd been some letters encouraging Blathers to start an educational children's program to be broadcast behind a paywalled cable channel instead of being immediately aired on public television for the lower income children the program was intended for. But Blathers had no idea what any of that meant, nor did Steven, because understanding cross canonical meta references were, sadly, still an ability which versions of Steven only had in memes and nowhere else. Either way Blathers had thankfully not dignified any of the letters with a response.

Once Steven was done making certain the Museum was fine he sat down behind the Welcome Desk to work. He opened one of the many souvenir maps of the island and studied it. He didn't know who made the maps, exactly, only that he was sometimes tasked with ordering new copies to give out. However he thought it might be useful to at least try updating them to reflect the current lay of the land, as it were?

Assuming such a thing was possible with how quickly things were changing.

Hmm. Maybe the way to handle it was to use pencil instead of ink.

Either way the Museum was open. Unless you were one of those strange headed beings or a certain cable company executive who shall remain nameless. In which case you might find yourself getting a truncheon aimed at your forehead.

[open!]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

Around lunchtime, it was a rather grumpy-looking Watts who burst through the museum doors. Though his expression did ease somewhat upon spotting Steven.

“I do not care for what is going on at all,” he declared.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven tried looking past Llewellyn through the glass doors of the Museum to see if any of those beings were outside. "None of them tried to harm you, did they?"

Steven was going to have strong opinions about it if so.

[pocketpretzels]

“No,” Watts assured him. Grumpily. ”They only wished to tell me about various credit cards.” Which was quite frankly more than annoying enough.

[hasaknightjob]

"Some tried getting me on memberships to gyms and subscription services and the like," Steven said. He thought about it, then took his sign for lunch and brought it towards the front door. He used a piece of tape to put the sign on the door for anyone coming by to see and then locked the front doors so no one could get in. "There. I don't trust one of them might not try something while I'm not here to watch."

And it would just be cruel to wake up Blathers to ask him to keep an eye out. This was his valuable sleep time!

[pocketpretzels]

Did Watts relax visibly at the locking of those doors? Absolutely.

“At least this does not appear to have changed,” he said, still somewhat grumpy. The changes around the island had been distressing in their own way to someone who did not care for surprises, and so seeing the Museum that he so strongly associated with being a safe space unchanged was something of a balm. As was Steven himself, of course.

[hasaknightjob]

"Blathers said strange things in the mail but no other changes," Steven said. Now that the door was safely looked he looked Llewellyn over to confirm that he was all right. "I did a walk about myself to make sure. It's all as it was. Nothing's out of place."

[pocketpretzels]

“Glad to hear it,” Watts said, depositing his hat on the welcome desk. “And you?” he peered at Steven. “You’re all right?” Beyond any attempts to press him into gym memberships, at least.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled up at him and stepped close. He tilted his head up invitingly. "I will be after a proper hello."

[pocketpretzels]

“Hello, you,” Watts said obligingly, and it was rather impossible to say that and not smile, so good job getting rid of that grumpy face, Steven. Watts stepped forward then so he might offer the second part of their usual hello.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave a kiss back and accordingly said, "Hello, you. I missed you."

It had been mere hours since they'd seen each other last. What did that matter?

[pocketpretzels]

“Missed you too,” Watts replied. And naturally that warranted another kiss, having been so long and all.

[hasaknightjob]

Horror of horrors, putting up with more kissing. "Day's certainly better for you being here."

[pocketpretzels]

“Best part of my day, that’s for certain,” Watts agreed. “Shall we, then?” he asked, pulling away just enough to hold an arm out for Steven to take.

[hasaknightjob]

"Let's," Steven said, happily taking that offered arm. "How's your day been?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Got some baking done,” Watts informed him.

Their kitchen was full of so many carbs right now. So many.

[hasaknightjob]

"I look forward to trying it," Steven said. While he didn't care for how Llewellyn was feeling stressed enough to bake so much, that didn't mean the results had to go unappreciated. "Raphael helping?"

[pocketpretzels]

“As usual,” Watts said with a fond smile. “I did bring some to have with today’s lunch.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Brilliant," Steven said. He bumped his shoulder into Llewellyn's. "Won't lie, I did hope so."

[pocketpretzels]

“You haven’t had enough of it already?” Watts checked.

[hasaknightjob]

"No such thing," Steven assured him. "I love your baking. I mean I'd rather you be doing it for fun and not because you need a distraction. But the results are always appreciated."

[pocketpretzels]

“It’s just- unsettling,” Watts shook his head. “You understand.” Given Steven’s initial reaction to finding everything so different.

“But enough about that,” he continued firmly, determined not to dwell on unpleasantness during his lunch. “Here we are.”

As per usual, he pulled Steven’s chair out for him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven knew how much his beau didn't like surprises, so even without his own reactions he still understood. But he likewise understood not wanting to dwell.

"I look forward to seeing what you've brought," Steven said as he took the offered seat. He also quietly hoped the island wasn't having another laugh like that time Llewellyn's lunch changed close to Halloween last year.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts had forgotten about that particular incident, or he would have spent the walk over periodically checking to ensure it hadn’t undergone any unwelcome transformations.

Thankfully, it had not, and Watts poured them each a bowl of soup from the thermos he’d packed, along with some rosemary focaccia for dipping.

“It does continue to be a little unseasonably warm,” Watts said apologetically. “So perhaps soup wasn’t the best choice.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took in the smell of the soup and smiled up at Llewellyn. "Tomatoes are end of summer though, aren't they? I think that makes them ideal for lunch."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts tilted his head thoughtfully as he considered that. "You've a good point there," he admitted.