thespherelogs | Out and About In December

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Out and About In December

Who: Llewellyn Watts and anyone!
When: Through the month of December
Where: Recreational dome, Dorm Dome 2, his P.I. office, and the library
What: Open Logs
Warnings: Referenced kidnapping and attempted murder in thread with Rhy.
Note: I’m happy to match with action brackets if that’s a preference! Also if you want something personalized, poke me over on

whimsicalspook or Discord: WhimsicalSpook#8219
Any closed log top levels will be in the comments with the character name included in the header as they’re decided/written!

Pup Training - Recreational Dome - With Pretzel!

Some downtime during the afternoon found Llewellyn sitting on the arm of a bench in the recreational dome, a box of biscuits open on the bench next to him along with a pile of dog treats. Pretzel was circling excitedly as the man tried to calm him down with a treat or two, his intention today was to finally resume training.

Giving short, simple commands and rewarding the basset hound pup with a treat (and maybe himself with a biscuit), or rewarding him for getting it partially right at least. Llewellyn wasn’t great at this yet, but he was trying his best based on what he’d been reading in books over the last little while. If they could just make a little more progress... he might finally be able to get down to business on teaching the dog scent tracking.

It was fun, and rather cute considering outside basic short commands, he still spoke to Pretzel like he would anyone else. “I know you can do this, Pretzel. You don’t get a treat unless you listen... no— don’t give me those eyes!”

Shared Spaces - Dorm Dome 2 - Something is burning in the kitchen >>...

He tried to spend some of his time at the dormitory, checking in on people (without making it obvious) or making use of the kitchen for snacking purposes... It wasn’t as often as other places, Llewellyn didn’t even really sleep there much anymore. His occasional nightmares made living with people uncomfortable, so (unless he was spending the night at Rhy’s place) passing out at his office on the sofa was usually more appealing. Then there was the fact that Pretzel was still rather rambunctious to deal with some days, though the pup got along with the younger residents easily enough...

Today found him with little to do at the office though, and people were busy, so Llewellyn was around the dorm.

Anyone around might find him fussing about in the kitchen... Much to what was probably everyone’s displeasure, he was trying his hand at cooking again. A bad idea, considering he didn’t have the attention span for cooking on top of his lack of experience. A pan of burning scrambled eggs on the stove, Llewellyn hovering over it with one of his more disgruntled, disappointed expressions. Thick brows knit together in annoyance as he tried to salvage at least some of it...

(Sorry about the smell of burnt food, everyone.)

Strange things afoot... - P.I. Office - December Nightmare Themed!

Llewellyn usually liked having company, he was fairly sociable despite how awkward he tended to be. What he did not like, however, was being watched or followed without any knowledge of the intent behind it. He was paranoid, it’s what happened when you were used to being taken by surprise in unpleasant ways from a young age.

So coming into his office to find a small, strange looking doll sitting on his desk as though it belonged there was more than a little unsettling. It was soft, kind of droopy if it didn’t have anything to lean against... It’s expression was kind of creepy if he was being honest, like it knew something you didn’t and it was amused by that.

“Well... Where did you come from?” He picked it up, staring it in the eye for a moment before glancing down at Pretzel... It didn’t look like it had anything that could be dangerous for a dog so... He gave it a little shake over the dog’s nose, watching with a wrinkled brow as the pup gave a couple excited barks before he let him catch a hold of it. With a few playful tugs, he let go and let his companion run off with it.

The detective took a while, going over his office carefully and looking for things out of place. He even went so far as to check the lock to see if it had been tampered with... It hadn’t been, and he found himself wondering if the doll had been brought in while he was there, and it was just one of those weird situations where his memory had slipped on him again.

Well, wherever it came from? It would keep the dog occupied while he worked on a few things.

...At least... until Pretzel somehow tossed it onto furniture that he couldn’t get on top of and needed the detective to retrieve the toy every so often. That was what the detective thought was going on with the doll anyway, having yet to witness Pretzel doing that.

Keeping his mind busy - Library - Books and music!

Llewellyn had recently been made aware of the fact that the audio section of the library might be of particular interest to him. So his down time had found him cooped up in the section, skimming through music selections from other eras and worlds curiously.

He liked music in general; it was relaxing... and one of the only memories he still had of his mother was her softly singing when he was small. It wasn’t something he spoke of often, or at all usually, but there was nothing nicer than getting a comfortable place to sit and listen either while he read or worked on something.

One day in his own world, he hoped to purchase one of those fancy phonographs like the one that the morgue had. He wasn’t particularly fond of any particular kind of music, though he did rather enjoy listening to people sing, and tunes with unique rhythms or those that were slightly softer were definitely his preference to listen to.

When he wasn’t doing that, the detective could be found wandering down aisles and pulling books on various subjects to read. Either things of interest to him, or on topics that seemed important based on things he’d heard or realized he needed to get a little more educated on over the last month...

Anyone who approached would get his attention fairly easily, if only because he tried to be aware of his surroundings at all times if no one was distracting him. Llewellyn did not like to be surprised or approached from behind...

He’d take suggestions happily, or strike up a conversation easily enough.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He warms at the other’s words, knowing it was true as odd as it still is to hear sometimes... He moved a little closer to meet Rhy, eager to share both more time and the surprise with him. Llewellyn’s mood was definitely on the lighter side that day, so eager to share and to please his love. “Then I will be grateful for your attention, dearest.”

The question of ‘what’s up?’ Gets a silly, light little shrug of his shoulders. “I was just thinking it might be nice to have dinner together and, well...” Shifting his weight slightly from one foot to the other, “I’ve been wanting to give you something for a little while now. It just uh— took some time to get right.” He’d fussed for ages with the bow, wanting to get it to sit just right after he’d been shown how.

And he gently brought the bouquet out from behind his back, holding it out carefully. His smile was both gentle and hopeful, watching Rhy’s expression carefully. To see what he thought of this little expression of his feelings, collected together in such lovely delicate blooms.

He's learning slang. Let him be. And he looks excited at the idea of a gift, a display of affection.

Only to have his face fall at what was presented to him. Fall sharply and pointedly, with a small parting of his lips like the man had caused him physical pain.

"I... if you didn't wish to be with me anymore, you could have said it plainly!"

Rhy’s excited expression had been encouraging, infectious even. He wanted to give the man something meaningful, and this had seemed like an excellent way to go. Almost perfect, really...

Then that excited expression changed so drastically in mere moments, the delight was gone entirely. It was almost as though he had wounded the man. When he spoke up, Llewellyn’s brain visibly ground to a halt at the distress in Rhy’s voice.

“What...?” Popped out first, tone so quiet and confused.

Llewellyn stared for a moment then, as though he might have mistaken the other’s words somehow. Surely he hadn’t heard him correctly, right? But no, he hadn’t been mistaken. His eyes finally darted to the flowers and then back to Rhy as anxiety started to rise. So much for that burst of confidence... “What do you mean, I didn’t— I don’t...? I don’t understand? That couldn’t be further from what I wish, Rhy?”

Why would he have come here, so full of hope and cheer, if his intention were to (and it hurt to even think it) end things?

"Then why cornflowers, cornflowers of all things?" Rhy asks, backing away further and looking upset. "No one gives cornflowers, save in grief or to say 'I do not want you'. It's... It's dismissive!"

Oh yes, he's agitated now. How could he do this to him?!

The cornflowers...? Of all the things to upset him? The fact that it was one of Llewellyn’s favourite selections for the bouquet based upon its meaning (as he knew it) just puzzled him further. “Because it’s—!” He paused as Rhy’s next words sank in.

“It... what? No, it doesn’t mean that at all? Why would I put a flower that means something like that in a bouquet meant to symbolize—” Oh... Llewellyn slowed down a moment as the one point that had escaped him when he’d been so caught up in the idea finally worked its way far enough along his train of thought.

“Oh, no...” He mumbled, a panicked look of realization crossing his face before he hid it behind a hand. Oh, Llewellyn, you are such a fool...

"Yes, why would you?" Rhy asks, looking vaguely irritated. "This design is all wrong."

This bouquet is absolutely horrid for meaning. And Rhy was hurting for it. Hurting enough that it hadn't occurred to him that the meaning was different for Watts and his world.

Llewellyn’s mind warred between distress at hearing Rhy sounding so hurt, knowing that he’d made the man he cared so deeply for feel that way and embarrassment for making such an incredibly stupid mistake. He knew their worlds were different in many ways, why wouldn’t floriography be different as well? He groans behind his hand, head and heart both hurting as he tried to pull together some semblance of an answer. “Because when it comes to how I feel about you, I apparently lose my ability to think clearly.” He mumbled back, more to himself than to Rhy.

Dragging the hand down his face and then dropping it to his side, he looked at the bouquet as though it had betrayed him. He needed to make this right, somehow. Softly he spoke up, anxious thoughts that the damage might have already cut too deeply racing through his head. “But you’re right. It is wrong, it’s all wrong. For you that is... I’m such a fool, my dearest.”

Awkwardly, he looked at the blooms sadly before lowering them as well. If he could make them disappear (or perhaps undo this entire exchange) he would. “Now I must beg your forgiveness, for all that it doesn’t change anything now. I um— I need to explain.” Please, let me explain... He thought to himself, wanting the chance to at least... ease the hurt he’d so clearly caused.

Explain. The man really looks confused. And at last it comes to Rhy.

Oh dear.

"They mean different things in your world, don't they? The flowers have different code. I... Please tell me."

He nodded, expression still worried and apologetic. Llewellyn was glad that Rhy had worked out that he hadn’t intended to offend. But that didn’t undo the mistake on his part. “Yes, they do... I’m sorry, I should have thought of it before now. It seems so logical now, that it would be different. I just um... got caught up in the idea. I wanted to share something with you that I know well. To express my love through something beautiful. Something fitting of you...”

Glancing at the bouquet again, he reached out to gently run a hand over the blooms carefully. Fussing to calm his nerves a bit, wanting to explain this right for the other man. “In my world, blush roses are for a blossoming romance, sweet william stands for gallantry, honeysuckle is for devoted affections.” Moving on to the main problem at last, he risked a small glance at Rhy. “Cornflowers, they uh... they stand for hope in love.” Hope that he had been feeling for the first time in ages.

Oh no. Hope in love. And Rhy had stomped on it. He moved forward to embrace his lover, holding him tightly. He would keep the flowers, all of them. But it's just a thing.

He had hurt Watts, and he hates it.

"Oh my love. Oh dear, I'm sorry."

Llewellyn wasn’t sure how the explanation would be received, but he hoped it at least eased some of the upset that his mistake had caused. He had certainly not expected to find himself wrapped in the arms of his love, the embrace grounding him and finally interrupting the worried thoughts rolling around in his head that the mistake had been too great. That he’d messed up entirely again.

A moment later, he heard Rhy apologize and drew his arms up around the man in return. Why on earth he thought he needed to apologize was beyond Llewellyn. “You have nothing to be sorry for, dearest. It was my mistake, I should have thought of it.”

"There was no reason for you to think that there would be a difference. I mean... First of all, I happen to speak the same language as you, that is coincidence enough, isn't it?"

So if High Royal was the same as English, why shouldn't the flower language overlap?

"What if... What if I had a bouquet made for you, one that conveys a similar message as it would be arranged in Arnes?"

His thoughts wanted to insist that it was still a very foolish mistake on his part, but Rhy’s words combatted them rather well. He couldn’t help but smile a little, face hidden slightly as he considered the other’s comment further. His arms drawing Rhy closer affectionately for a moment, “You make too much sense for me to deny that, love... It’s a good point. I just wish I hadn’t caused you such pain before I realized. It was... an unfortunate mm... miscommunication.”

He drew back a moment later at the question, eyes brightening with curiosity. “You don’t have to, but... I would like that a lot.” He would cherish it, more like. Probably press the blooms to preserve them. Like others he had collected, but certainly more important than they ever had been. “It would be a nice way to share from both our worlds, I would like to know what the flowers mean in Arnes.”

Oh Watts, if he had known, he never would have reacted so powerfully. Miscommunication was always a risk.

"Arnes puts a lot of value on roses. It's a... secondary symbol of my family."

He nodded, glancing down at the blush roses collected in the bouquet. “I see...” Llewellyn responded with a small smile, tension finally bleeding away as his curiosity took over. “Is it a specific kind of rose that’s a symbol of your family?”

"Scarlet and gold, they are most symbolic of my family," he offers, voice soft.

Llewellyn smiled gently at that, taking a moment to commit this to memory. He recalled Rhy mentioning they were also his family colours. “They would compliment each other well to be paired together in an arrangement, that’s lovely, dear.”

Absently, he wondered if he could somehow find a way to incorporate that into something for the man... If it might be something that he’d like better.

Then he spoke again, voice warm as he wanted to know something more. “Are there... flowers that you are partial to, either by meaning or appearance?”

"We could discuss the flowers another time. For now, let's get this into water. Then I shall have to think of how to explain this. Ah, if only I had the treatise."

He looked at the bouquet again, before nodding. “Oh— yes, of course...” Holding the flowers up again, and moving to the kitchen with Rhy.

The mention of the treatise does get a small, thoughtful sound from Llewellyn. “Mm... A reference would definitely be convenient. I would study it thoroughly.” He responded with a smile. Llewellyn would make sure he knew things... Important things for Rhy. It helped that flowers were already something he was fascinated with, but he would try to learn more about other things for his love as well if it were deemed important.

“I’m not sure if it’s possible for that, but the library does house most published works from across our worlds?”

"Do the flowers mean that much?" Rhy asks, rushing to the kitchen to grab a cup and water. "I find them lovely, and the linguistics so nice. But..."

But he doesn't know how to convey that he doesn't know how to apologize for such a horrible reaction he had.

Llewellyn, of course, would have thought an apology was unnecessary if he knew what was on Rhy’s mind. After all, neither of them could have known. Rhy had said as much, and Llewellyn was simply relieved that they had cleared it up.

The question gives him pause though, stopping to consider it as he watched Rhy getting a cup of water for the blooms. “Oh... Well, they’re not important to everyone. It’s not even used nearly so much.” He smiled softly at Rhy, hoping to reassure him.

He loved flowers, but he was so careful about sharing his interests back home given the way people tended to be around him. Were it not for a conversation with Inesa, he might have still been hesitant here. “I’ve just always liked flowers, if I had the space I probably would have had a garden I think... And I’m good at languages so floriography was always fascinating connection.”

Inesa is a very good woman, encouraging them. All these people encouraging them.

"Perhaps we can put some potted flowers into your office?"

It was true. Inesa, and indeed others, were very quick to support and encourage. It was strange, but in a very nice kind of way...

Llewellyn smiled at the idea, “I hadn’t considered that, but that’s actually a nice idea, dearest.” He hummed a little, leaning against the counter as he continued, “It would be easier than trying to keep any at the dorm.” Though, now that Eddie and Richie had gone home, his reasons for staying at the dorm at all were gone... He had begun to consider moving.

Still, plants in his office could be very beneficial. “And It would be good for when I need a distraction if I’m trying to work a problem out. Sometimes I find that I need to focus on something else for a moment, if I’m stuck on something.”

"And when the pup isn't enough, a plant might be nice?" Rhy suggests. "I admit, I didn't spend much time with them growing up. Managing plants was the job of priests around the palace, those who could hold the elements in delicate balance."

Not people like him.

That gets a small grin out of him, Pretzel did already help with his need for distractions after all. “Yes, sometimes he does need naps. He sleeps more regularly than I do.”

Llewellyn couldn’t help but laugh softly, he knows he’s a busy and sometime exhausting man. Always on the move, always looking for more to do. He had a lot of energy to work out, and his mind worked better for the distractions when he got stuck. “I never got to tend plans myself either, I lived in a boarding house back in my world. Small, with very little lighting to tend to plants. Always like admiring the gardens outside people’s homes though.”

Glancing at Rhy again, he added more brightly, “Well... Here we do have the chances to learn new things, right? You’ve been learning to sew, after all. Maybe I should try to learn a little more about actually taking care of plants instead of just collecting and pressing the flowers.” Branching outside the usual... might be nice.

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