Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Being a Brit in a relationship with a Canadian while sharing a body with an American whose attitude about the concept of thanksgiving could best be summarized as "What for?" meant that next week was just as week as far as Steven was concerned.

But it was still a holiday in a time of year with a multitude of them. So Steven spent his work day doing research on the various winter festivals, customs, sacred days, and so on that might apply to people living on the island. With luck he hoped to be able to put together a seasonal display that might at least give a brief education on them all.

He was, of course, interruptible should any visitors stop by.

[open]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

What about phone related interruptions, such as the arrival of a slightly blurry photograph via text message?

[hasaknightjob]

Phone related interruptions were absolutely welcome. Especially when Steven saw who it was from and what it was about.

I like it! I assume there's catnip inside?

[pocketpretzels]

of coruse. would y like to pick somethign out as will? i could fo call y oh with the video?

[hasaknightjob]

Well now Steven was suitably impressed that Llewellyn wanted to try.

That means I get to see you? I'm for it.

[pocketpretzels]

And lo, a minute or two later, Steven’s phone would be ringing!

[hasaknightjob]

And Steven was answering! "Hello, you."

[pocketpretzels]

“Hello, you! Oh…” Steven would be treated to an extreme closeup of his beau’s face for a couple moments there before Watts moved the phone back to a more reasonable distance. “It worked!”

[hasaknightjob]

"Well done!" Steven told him. Llewellyn could see Steven's own smiling face now. "What a nice view."

[pocketpretzels]

“How odd, that is just what I was going to say…” Watts replied.

[hasaknightjob]

"Funny how that works," Steven said with a grin. "So the shopping for our Raphael is going well?"

[pocketpretzels]

The camera view briefly swung down to the shopping basket, which had a couple bags of treats, and the toy he’d originally texted about.

“The treats are not just for today,” Watts explained, because there were a lot and he hadn’t even stopped by the butcher shop yet.

[hasaknightjob]

"No, no, best to pace them out," Steven agreed. Though he'd probably be giving Raphael more than he should regardless. "I was thinking - is there anything shaped like a balloon? He might like chasing that around. In addition to what you've already picked, I mean."

There was obviously no such thing as too many cat toys.

[pocketpretzels]

“A balloon…” Watts mused. “What do you think of this?” he asked, attempting to swing the camera around so Steven could see.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven squinted to get the idea of it, then smiled. "Oh I like that! That's even better than what I imagined. He'll like chasing the end bit, I think."

[pocketpretzels]

“There we go, then,” Watts said, placing the item in the basket. “A toy from you, a toy from me, and some treats from the both of us.”

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that," Steven said. "Thank you for doing the shopping. That way I can head straight home after work."

[pocketpretzels]

“You’re welcome,” Watts told him. “I’m glad to do it, anytime.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Do you want me to get dinner on the way or do you have that in hand as well?" Steven asked.

[pocketpretzels]

“That would be lovely, so long as you don’t mind,” Watts admitted.

Privately, he resolved to have dinner ready and waiting for another time, since Steven had done as much for him.

[hasaknightjob]

"It's no trouble at all," Steven said. "Are you in the mood for anything in particular?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Greek?” Watts suggested, in a truly shocking move.

[hasaknightjob]

Good thing Steven was sitting down? "Consider it done. Because it will be. After I get off work."

[pocketpretzels]

“I love you,” Watts informed him.

[hasaknightjob]

"I love you too," Steven said. "See you at home?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm looking forward to it," Watts said fondly.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven blew him a kiss for good measure.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts fumbled his phone slightly as he tried to repeat the gesture back to Steven, but did at least manage it.

It was only after he hung up that he realised something very important: he'd managed to say I love you out loud to Steven in public.

Now granted it was over a telephone and not in person but it was still- a big step. And he hadn't even thought twice about saying it, it had just slipped out.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had noticed. It was something else he was proud of his beau for, in addition to successfully navigating the technology to do the video call. It was something Steven was going to make sure to write down in his journal later that day.