Trooper Station, Friday

[pocketpretzels]

Watts had given serious thought to throwing his mobile telephone into the ocean this morning. But no, it would not do to be unable to be contacted, and so he endured. The volume button on the device at least allowed him to turn the incessant noise down, though in a way having it almost but not quite inaudible was worse.

The computer that typically sat at his desk as well as the corded telephone had been unplugged and rather unceremoniously delegated to the area of the station outside of his office. He'd considered adding his own telephone to the pile, but had eventually opted to wrap it in a handkerchief and stuff it in a desk drawer, where at least it was... reasonably accessible. Sort of. Inaudible, in any case, except for when he periodically removed it to check for any missed calls or texts.

All this was of course exacerbated by the fact that the Troopers were (maddeningly enough, in perfect tune) singing what he assumed were the lyrics to the song.

Joyfully they ring, while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here

The Trooper Station was open, the Sheriff's door was closed but knockable.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Come lunchtime there was a Steven. Marc's mobile was in one coat pocket and firmly turned off so it was silent. Steven's was in another pocket and set to vibrate because he wasn't going to risk missing a message if Llewellyn needed him. Didn't stop any subsequent notifications from buzzing in time with the song, but at least it was something?

Between the mobiles and the noises from outside and even things like the kitchen timers having a go that morning, Steven had a fair idea of what sort of laugh the island was having that day.

Which meant that when Steven got to Llewellyn's office, insulated lunch bag in hand and his oddly stuffed looking satchel slung over his shoulder, he quickly let himself in and closed the door back up behind him and asked, "Hello, you. Would you like to escape?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Hello, you," and Watts was up like a shot and where normally there would be a kiss in greeting, instead he was burying his face in Steven's shoulder. "Please. Please."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's all right," Steven said, giving him a tight hug back. "Here. It's not as bad if we're outside. Long as we turn our mobiles off."

And if they were together, they could certainly do that for a while.

[pocketpretzels]

"Right, of course, let me just-" Watts pulled out of the hug, rummaging through the desk drawer until he found the wadded-up handkerchief, which he shook open, catching his mobile telephone as it fell loose. "Off you go," he told it, switching the device off and tucking it in to his suit jacket.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven did the same with his mobile. He reached out a hand to take Llewllyn's, then hesitated, glancing towards the door. "Er - is that all right?"

Since they'd be walking past the Troopers after all.

[pocketpretzels]

"It's all right," Watts affirmed, giving Steven an appreciatively fond look for checking.

[hasaknightjob]

"Right then." Steven took Llewellyn's hand with his free one. "We're going to the park."

Which was luckily a short distance away.

[pocketpretzels]

"If we do so only to find that the resident birds musical talents have expanded to include a song about Christmas cheer, I am going to take a walk into the ocean," Watts warned.

[hasaknightjob]

"Near as I can tell it's quiet?" Steven said. He'd swung by the park before going to the station just to be sure.

Steven led the two of them into the park and towards the water, since that seemed like it would be far enough from any technology to help muffle any persistent songs. Once there, Steven gave Llewellyn's hand a squeeze and then let go. He put the insulated lunch bag down on the ground, then opened his satchel and pulled out an old table cloth. "Here. Thought we could put this down for a picnic."

[pocketpretzels]

"You are absolutely wonderful," Watts said, heart-eyes out in full force.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven put the cloth down as best he could, using the weight of the insulated bag put right in the middle to help keep it in place. Then he reached into his bag again and pulled out a thin blanket. "Here. In case it's too much of a chill. I know you didn't plan on being outside."

[pocketpretzels]

"My Gentleman Knight," Watts said, taking the offered blanket and spreading it across his lap as he sat, making sure to leave enough room for Steven to tuck in to said blanket if he wished.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had suspected they might need to eat outdoors so he was dressed for the weather. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to take any excuse to share a blanket with his beau.

"Now the meal. I sort of went two ways with this. Would you like the food or the drink first?"

[pocketpretzels]

And Watts did as a rule tend to wear more layers than the average person, so it worked out even if he hadn't realised he'd be spending his lunch hour outside today.

"The drink, I suppose."

[hasaknightjob]

"All right," Steven said. He reached into the insulated bag and pulled out a thermos, inside of which was a green smoothie.

He presented this to Llewellyn with a flourish. "It's made of things that are supposed to help ease the nerves. Anti-stress, you see."

[pocketpretzels]

Whatever made Steven think Watts would need something like that?

Watts took the thermos and unscrewed the lid, peering curiously at the contents. “Is there chloral in here?” he asked curiously.

[hasaknightjob]

A wild guess!

"Er - not sure?" Steven admitted, since he didn't know what that was. "There's cinnamon?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I shall take that as a no,” Watts said, looking visibly relieved. “It is the sort of thing you would very much know if you had added in,” he explained. “I keep a small bottle in the medicine cabinet. For- those times when it is necessary.”

[hasaknightjob]

"There's only food in it," Steven said. But, given Llewellyn's relief, he was a little confused. "You keep something you don't wish to take?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Well, not right now, certainly,” Watts said. “But- were I to have a couple sleepless nights in a row. Then I might take some in a cup of tea at night. That sort of thing.”

[hasaknightjob]

"I see," Steven said. "Well there's nothing like that in here. Just foods that are meant to be soothing. Don't know if they actually work but I thought the sentiment might help? One line of defense against the noise?"

[pocketpretzels]

“That is very thoughtful of you,” Watts said, beaming at him. “To go to such trouble.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven bumped their shoulders together. "Doing my best to protect my beau. Would you like to see the main now? Different idea from the drink far as helping."

[pocketpretzels]

“Please,” Watts said. “And you’re doing most admirably.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Right, so - " Steven took out the container with their meal, which was vegan nachos. He smiled up at Llewellyn when he lifted the lid to show. "See? There's crisps. They're very loud when you eat them, so if we'd stayed in the station it might have drowned out the music."