Trooper Station, Friday

[pocketpretzels]

Given that he had his first meeting with his new employee today, one would think Watts would be doing his best to appear as serious and diligent as possible. What Watts was actually doing was a pretty far cry from that: leaning back in his chair and tossing his hat up in the air, doing his best to try and catch it on his head.

Look, he was just demonstrating how productive an average day at the station was!

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was not any sort of employee, new or old, but he was there at lunchtime, insulated bag in hand. He stopped in the doorway of Llewellyn's office, watching him with fond amusement.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts didn't notice Steven straight away, at least not until he tossed his hat up once more and then happened to look over towards the door and-

His feet, which had been resting on his desk, slid down to the floor with a thump and he nearly fell backwards out of his chair trying to reach for his hat.

"Hello, you," he managed, trying to sound calm and collected and not as if he'd very nearly crashed to the floor.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven came forward at once, instinctively trying to catch Llewellyn even if it turned out there was no need. "Oh dear - are you all right?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Perfectly all right,” Watts said, tugging at his suit jacket in an effort to straighten it.

His dignity had perhaps suffered a little, but otherwise his statement was factually correct,

[hasaknightjob]

Steven closed the door then came over to Llewellyn. "Hello, you. My poor love. Can I make it better?"

This was very much an offer for a kiss.

[pocketpretzels]

“Ah, you always do,” Watts said, reaching out to pull Steven in close.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven put the bag on the desk so he could wrap both arms around Llewellyn and kiss him, trying to say hello and to soothe any wounds, physical or otherwise, from the stumble.

[pocketpretzels]

“Oh, now that is much better,” Watts declared.

[hasaknightjob]

"Good," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn another kiss in case that made it better still.

[pocketpretzels]

Shockingly, it did!

“How has the morning treated you?” Watts asked finally.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not bad," Steven said. "Fairly quiet. You? Not too much trouble here given the taps?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Not much at all,” Watts said. “Met the new fellow for myself finally. Seems nice enough.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Oh good," Steven said. "Hopefully he'll pop by at the party tonight. Be a good chance for him to meet people."

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

One would also think that Humphrey would try and be the model new employee and show up on time and looking presentable. Instead, he was rushing through the door a bit late, the jumble of folders and briefcase in his arms shifting as he awkwardly tried to keep a hold of them.

"So sorry for being late!" he said as he rushed in, not yet really seeing Watts at the desk as he did. "There seems to be a serious issue with the plumbing at the flat. I wasn't able to have my morning tea and it well... just threw my entire routine off!"

[pocketpretzels]

“Yes,” Watts said, catching his hat- in his hands, not on his head- and placing it on his desk.

“Well. That sort of thing does happen, this time of year. Detective Goodman, I hope?” Watts squinted at him. “Unless I’ve another meeting no one saw fit to tell me about…”

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

"Yes yes. DI Humphrey Goodman" he said as he walked over. "Detective Watts I presume?" Humphrey asked as he held out a hand, still managing to keep everything from scattering to the floor. For now.

[pocketpretzels]

“Llewellyn Watts,” Watts confirmed, standing up and, after a moment, taking that offered hand to shake it. “Detective. Also Sheriff, but I prefer to be addressed as the former. So- what is it you’re running away from?” In his experience, most people who ended up here were running from something.

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

Ok that was a very specific thing to ask. Though Watts WAS a detective so that sort of observation was pretty on par really. Humphrey considered his answer for a moment.

"A few personal things that were going on Felt like it was time for a change of scenery and a bit of a personal break" he said simply. That was the easiest way to say relationship issues he had no idea what to do with or how to respond to.

[pocketpretzels]

“Fandom’s certainly the place for that,” Watts agreed.

Watts was clearly no stranger to clutter, his own desk hardly a bastion of organization (though there was, notably, enough clear space for two people to, say, enjoy a lunch together). Facing away from Humphrey and towards Watts were two silver photo frames; if Humphrey were curious enough to try to move and get a better look he’d see one had a black and white photo of what was clearly a younger Watts alongside a pair of identical twin boys, and the other featured Watts and Steven smiling in front of the Biblioteca Joanina in Portugal.

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

Humphrey was taking a moment to walk around a little to take in the station and note the layout. He admired the photos for a moment and also the general state of the desk in general, immediately feeling a sort of kinship with Watts just for the sake of the organized chaos they both seemed to gravitate towards.

"Glad to see there's no policy against a few personal touches" he said looking at Watts with a smile after observing the photos for a moment. "It was nice to be able to have some pictures out back on Saint Marie. In London, the higher ups were such sticklers for protocols that no personal effects were allowed at the desks."

[pocketpretzels]

“Yes, well. There isn’t really an- overseeing body of the police force here, as such. Besides myself I suppose, and I was hardly about to tell myself I couldn’t put photographs out if I chose to,” Watts said. “Nor would I be hypocritical enough to say anyone else could not.”

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

"Good man, level playing field keeping all fair. I like that" Humphrey said with a smile. "Will be nice to have a bit of Saint Marie here with me" he added fondly.

[pocketpretzels]

“Saint Marie?” Watts echoed. “That was- your previous posting?”

[mess_and_i_are_friends]

"Yes, Saint Marie is a little island in the Caribbean" Humphrey noted. "I transferred there from London a few years ago."

[pocketpretzels]

“Never been,” Watts said. At least in part because that particular island didn’t exist in his world. “But I hear that part of the world is rather picturesque.”