The fun develops instantly.

[lightconductor]

Who: Watson and You
When: Post Info Meeting
Where: Anywhere you care to be.
Summary: Watson has a Polaroid camera and he's trying to distract himself. That's about it.


It's a lot of complicated feelings that everyone's dealing with. Even if Watson knew some of the details, he didn't know all of it, and now that everyone knows the permanency of their current situation, and things are not working the way they have been... it's a lot.

And he doesn't know what to do with that.

So Watson, with the late 1990s Polaroid camera that he got in a gift box for some reason, is attempting to distract himself by taking candid photos of people. He's not the most gifted of photographers, and this is quite a bit fancier than even the most portable cameras of his own era, but the joy of autofocus does make the entire process a lot simpler.

Reading in the library? Leaning dramatically over the edge of the railing? Some other place where you think you might be alone in your thoughts? Be prepared for the sudden click and whirr of a camera, and Watson will come over, smiling, to offer you the developing photo.


Closed to César:

It is late, and someone needs to come to bed. After a bit of hunting, though, Watson finds César in the library, at work and oblivious of the time. He sighs, equally parts fond and exasperated, and takes a moment to take a picture of this, too. Surprise.

"It's late, and you ought to be sleeping."

Comments

[lightconductor]

"It is. I thought I had better come make sure you hadn't fallen overboard or some such thing."

Watson bends to kiss César briefly, and offers him the still-developing photo. "You did make for a rather charming subject, but also, I am taking the opportunity to gently nag you into remembering you need to sleep at some point."

[pineapplesalmon]

"I'd hope to have better sea legs than that by now."

The brief kiss is wonderful, and César takes the photo, smiling down at it. "You're getting better at framing your shots." César smile softens. "I really don't like staying up past the two of you. I always feel guilty when I wake you two up."

[lightconductor]

"Considering how calm these waters are, I would be very concerned indeed."

Watson gives a little laugh. "I have a notion it's somewhat easier to master this than the pocket cameras of my day, but thank you all the same. And honestly, I wouldn't worry about waking us up. I haven't been -- I mean, I'm not a sound sleeper at the best of times, but I'm not out here chasing you down to prevent you from waking me up."

[pineapplesalmon]

"And I would be very embarrassed."

"It still takes effort and skill." César gently sets down the photograph to where he can flick his gaze back to it as he starts gathering his papers. "I know, I know. But I like to at least put in some effort to not be rude to my fiancés."

There's that lovely little word again.

[lightconductor]

Watson smiles, the sort of smile that lights up his whole face. It is a very nice word.

"Your fiancé is mostly worried about you getting enough sleep. That happens when you're romantically entangled with a physician, you know. Endless nagging about your health. I'm told I'm relentless." He smooths his hands over César's shoulders, lingering. "This is mad, you know. The three of us, trying to define anything in a place like this. But it's quite lovely."

[pineapplesalmon]

César pauses and looks up at him as he talks, smiling so warmly, shoulder relaxed under his touch.

"You are relentless. I've lost the moment you walk into the door." César smirks, if only softly. "And you are romantically entangled with a mad scientist. I know madness. And it's quite lovely." A laugh. "And now we're raising a son together in this craziness. A son!"

[lightconductor]

"A son," Watson repeats, smiling. "A very peculiar family in a very peculiar situation, because I suppose we must find comfort where we can. And you are hopelessly sentimental, and this is me saying this, so you know your case is serious. Come on, dear fellow. Are you ready to leave this, like a sensible man?"

[pineapplesalmon]

"I am. Hopelessly and seriously sentimental... and ready to go to bed." Then, César waggles his eyebrows. "But only after you give me another kiss."

[lightconductor]

He obliges, bending again to kiss César -- gently, but a little more lingering. Not too much so, not when just anyone could walk in, but a little bit.

"As though you really need to bargain for kisses," Watson tsks. "Come on, put your work away, and take my arm."

[pineapplesalmon]

The lingering kiss with Watson leaning over him is perfect in every way. César looks up at him with the softest gaze. He then blinks before visibly processing what Watson just said.

"Oops, I forgot." He laughs a little, grabbing the rest of his papers and shoving them into his bag. "Must be tired."

César then looks up at Watson innocently again, pretending like he forgot the next step.

[lightconductor]

"Oh, for heaven's sake."

Watson takes César by the arm and gently pulls him to his feet. "However did you get anything done before you had Johnny and I to look out for you? Mad, indeed. No wonder all the mad scientists of literature go wrong, without someone to keep them fed and rested."

CW: :( Parental Death

[pineapplesalmon]

César starts laughing as he's pulled to his feet, grabbing his bag naturally along the way. He's still laughing as Watson jokingly chides him. But then what Watson said fully catches up with him, and the laughter dies.

Grief isn't linear.

His voice is quiet, expression lost. "I... I lived with my parents and usually hyperfocused on my work. And after, the world would end if I didn't, making all of my work urgent enough to do."

[lightconductor]

"It was a rhetorical question, love."

His voice is soft, and for a moment Watson leans his head against César's shoulder: gentle, heavy, reassuring. "I only meant to tease a little. I am sorry to have reminded you of such dark things."

He pauses, considering. "Would it help to tell me or would you prefer to let the moment pass?"

[pineapplesalmon]

"I know. I know." He replies softly, managing a weak smile. "But you know... my brain makes connections anyway."

César doesn't look away, just looks down at Watson, almost grateful. "They died saving the world. On September 21st."

He looks guilty. "I... hadn't even noticed the date pass until a few days ago."

[lightconductor]

"Sometimes it's easy to miss dates like that. I didn't like to say it, but the day of Mary's death wasn't so very long ago, either."

He may have retreated and sulked a little, that day. Maybe.

"It's little comfort, but saving the world is not a terrible way to die, for some people."

[pineapplesalmon]

César's expression melts into one of shared, softened grief. Not one that steals his breath away, but one that still hurts. Words can't convey how grateful yet sad he is that Watson understands.

So he doesn't use them. César turns without letting go of Watson's arm, taking a step to angle himself differently. Enough that his free hand can gently cup Watson's chin to look up towards him, calluses brushing over today's new stubble. He leans in for a gentle, reassuring kiss.

They're not alone, and that means everything in the world.

[lightconductor]

Watson gently kisses him for a moment, letting César angle his face up. There is something rather nice about being kissed by someone taller than himself. There is also something rather nice about kissing someone shorter than himself, so really, he has the best of both worlds in his life right now.

"Come on," he says, his voice soft. "Let's get you some place where we can at least pretend that we have no troubles, for a little while."

[pineapplesalmon]

Funny, the author of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was also British and living at the same time as Watson. He gets the best of both worlds. César has to be sitting to get some taste of that.

"Bed does sound nice." César murmurs, as he reaches over to take his bag off the table, and then he mutters in pretend annoyance as he smirks. "Even if I fell out of it last night."

Look, it happens occasionally when César sleeps on the outside and rolls over. He... forgets. Until he's reminded by gravity assisting the floor in reminding him.

[lightconductor]

"I shall have to hold on to you all the tighter, then. Or put a leash on you, one of these days."

Said casually enough.

"Come on, dear boy. Perhaps we can keep you in the middle tonight."

[pineapplesalmon]

"No leashes while sleeping, but perhaps I should sleep in the middle tonight." César steps back so they can walk properly, pushing in the chair with the side of his thigh. "Let's head home."