Trooper Station, Friday

[pocketpretzels]

You would think that, being clones, the Troopers would all have identical daemons.

You would be incorrect.

The Trooper Station today was a veritable menagerie of animals Watts had for the most part never heard of before. Well, except for the porg, that was. Who apparently belonged to Calvin? Or Calvin belonged to her? Possibly both?

Look, it was complicated, and even though Jax had tried to explain it, it was a concept Watts was still trying to wrap his head around.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven would never stop by the Perk without picking up a snack for his husband. Thus at some point in the afternoon, there was Steven along with Selene and Ziv in Llewellyn's office doorway. "Hello? Care for a treat?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Did you bring me one?" Jax asked, as Watts looked up with a smile.

"Hello, you."

Technically not an answer to Steven's question but it would be dire circumstances indeed if the answer were 'no'.

[hasaknightjob]

Ziv came into the office and immediately went to bump up against Jax affectionately. Selene, for her part, flew up to the highest perch she could find behind Llewellyn and watched over everything.

"Hello, you," Steven said to Llewellyn. He closed the door behind him now that everyone was inside. (At least everyone Steven was aware of.)

To Jax, Steven added, "I've brought muffins. Can you have those?"

Steven, being Steven, had naturally bought extras just in case.

[pocketpretzels]

"Of course," Jax said, before turning his attention to using his beak to preen at the fur at Ziv's neck.

"Had a good morning?" Watts asked Steven- and Ziv and Selene by extension.

[hasaknightjob]

Ziv immediately flopped down onto the floor with a thump to help make Jax's job easier.

"Lots of talking, as you might imagine," Steven said, indicating the menagerie. He came over to Llewellyn's desk so he could put down the tray of two cups and paper bag he was carrying. "Can't say I've wrapped my head around it yet but there we are.

"You're well?" Selene asked, now turning her attention to Watts. She looked him over with the same searching nature she'd been giving the room moments before.

[pocketpretzels]

"I am," Watts acknowledged. He knew better to ask the same in return; he figured he'd get assurances that she was fine unless there was something that would impact Steven's- or his, he supposed- well-being. "Would you like a snack as well?" he asked, that being how he showed concern.

[hasaknightjob]

Selene tilted her head thoughtfully. "What do you have?"

She didn't need to eat but that didn't mean she wouldn't accept the gesture if the offer was appealing.

[pocketpretzels]

"There's the muffins Steven brought," Watts pointed out. "Or-" he rummaged in his pocket. "I've a chickpea salad sandwich I could share."

The same as yesterday's, yes, though assembled fresh this morning before he'd left for work.

[hasaknightjob]

Selene gave Watts an assessing look. "I'm not eating your lunch."

[pocketpretzels]

"I was thinking a quarter," Watts said. "Not the entire thing."

[hasaknightjob]

Selene fluttered her wings in a manner not dissimilar from a human wiping their hands together to indicate a topic was closed. "You need to eat. I'll share a muffin."

Whose? That she wasn't as picky about. Muffins were treats. Sandwiches had vitamins, which Watts needed.

[pocketpretzels]

"I could always order delivery if I were still hungry," Watts pointed out.

He was also going to tear off a small piece of the sandwich- less than a quarter, it should be noted- and leave it on the corner of his desk.

If Selene didn't eat it, well. There were plenty of others in the room who would.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was looking at Llewellyn with heart eyes. He unpacked the muffins, which were a half dozen of various types, including cinnamon and blueberry. "I love you, you know."

[pocketpretzels]

"I love you too," Watts replied. "That is why I accepted your offer of marriage, after all."

[hasaknightjob]

Ziv's tail could be heard thumping against the floor as she wagged it.

"That's why I was well thrilled that you accepted," Steven added. He handed Llewellyn a cup. "Here. Tea. As you like it."

[pocketpretzels]

"Aren't you sweet," Watts said, taking the cup gratefully. "Thank you, darling."

[hasaknightjob]

"Things all right here?" Steven asked as he helped himself to his own tea. "I saw the - er - crowd outside?"

By which he meant the Troopers and their assorted daemons.

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, yes," Watts nodded. "No trouble, but it's been louder than normal around these parts."

[hasaknightjob]

"Should we have taken our snacks outside?" Steven asked, looking worried that he should've checked that earlier.

[pocketpretzels]

"Inside is just fine," Watts assured him. Yes, he often preferred the out-of-doors, but he had no objections to eating inside, as years of lunch dates could attest.

[hasaknightjob]

In the meanwhile Ziv had stood up and was eyeing one of the peanut butter muffins. Seeing this, Steven scooted it closer to the edge of the desk so that she could reach it.

She gently grasped it in her mouth by the wrapper and brought it down to the floor where both she and Jax could reach.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts watched in fond amusement as Jax trilled happily at Ziv before ducking down to snap up some of that muffin in his beak.

[hasaknightjob]

Ziv waited to make sure Jax had a proper portion before settling down to eat what was left.

And oh look, the piece of Llewellyn's sandwich was gone under mysterious circumstances and the feeling of a faint breeze. Almost as though Llewellyn had known the right way to offer it to be taken.

[pocketpretzels]

Funny how that worked. Watts wasn't going to comment on it beyond the slightest quirk of his lips up into a smile.

"I think it would be wise if we skipped going to services tomorrow," he said thoughtfully.

As with all things that suddenly appeared for no particular reason in Fandom, Watts was certain the daemons would go back to where they originated from after a few days at most. That didn't mean he wanted to do anything that might artificially hasten the process.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked at the three daemons in the room worriedly. Yes, there was the chance things would be fine if they went back home. But even so, "Best not risk it, yes. Agreed."