Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

The blob of... whatever that had been in the display on the lower floor was gone. Which was good as frankly neither Blathers nor Steven had wanted to touch it. They both agreed that it was best not to wonder where it had gotten to and to simply be glad it wasn't around anymore.

The tomato plant upstairs was also... gone? Sort of? Last week it had been tall and fruiting (tomatoing?) Now in its place a tiny sprout remained. Steven had no idea what to make of it and wondered if he should give Nell a call to see if it was all right. But for now it neither seemed hurt nor was hurting anybody, so once again Steven and Blathers left it be.

Otherwise Steven was downstairs at his usual spot behind the Welcome Desk. After making sure the brochure rack was properly filled up, of course.

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[pocketpretzels]

And come lunchtime, there was the usual visitor.

"Hello, you."

[hasaknightjob]

There was, likewise, the usual smile. "Hello, you. Feels like it's been ages."

Since that morning. Mere hours.

[pocketpretzels]

"Essentially forever," Watts agreed.

Again: hours.

"How's your morning been?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Quiet," Steven said. He put out the sign saying he was taking lunch. "Won't lie and say I'm not pleased about that. Yours?"

[pocketpretzels]

"The most exciting part of the morning was Raphael deciding he wanted to try a sip of my coffee," Watts shared, placing his hat down on the desk.

"He was not impressed."

It also was not the first time by far that Raphael had attempted to drink from a coffee mug. Apparently some lessons just did not stick.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shook his head. "I've tried explaining to him that hot drinks aren't for cats. He doesn't listen."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's as if he expects a different result each time he tries," Watts agreed, holding out his free arm for Steven to take before they started walking to their usual spot.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took the offered arm gladly. "I suppose to his mind we keep drinking it, so surely there's a reason."

[pocketpretzels]

"Fair enough," Watts acknowledged. "I hadn't considered it that way."

[hasaknightjob]

"I wonder how he'd react if we tried drinking his water or eating his food?" Steven said.

Then, to be clear, "I've no desire to, mind."

[pocketpretzels]

That shocked a bark of laughter out of Watts. "It is an amusing mental image," he admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven chuckled as well. "Can you imagine his little face? He'd be so put off."

[pocketpretzels]

"How dare we, honestly," Watts shook his head.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not how things are done," Steven said, as though agreeing with Raphael on the matter. "There's a process to be respected."

[pocketpretzels]

"Nobody consulted him about this," Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"Completely ignoring his boundaries," Steven added.

[pocketpretzels]

"That he has no such compunction to acknowledge our boundaries is, of course, entirely different," Watts continued.

[hasaknightjob]

"He's trying to test our food to be sure it's safe," Steven said. "That's entirely different."

[pocketpretzels]

"Is that what he's been doing?" Watts exclaimed as they reached their usual spot and he let go of Steven's arm to pull out his chair for him- with the requisite twirl, of course, as he did so.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled, charmed as always by the taking out of the chair and the twirl while he did it. "Oh yes. Protecting us, you see."

[pocketpretzels]

"What a kind soul," Watts remarked as he sat.

[hasaknightjob]

"Runs in the family," Steven said. He reached over to unnecessarily brush a piece of lint off of the front of Llewellyn's coat. "Protecting each other. And kind souls."

[pocketpretzels]

"Aren't you sweet," Watts said, blushing slightly.

[hasaknightjob]

"Kind hearts too," Steven said, looking right at him.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts smiled, ducking his head and scratching at his chin with a somewhat bashful expression on his face.