Chapter Text
Monty unzipped his suitcase, turning it upside-down and shaking the dust out. He looked down his list one final time, all the items crossed out, and started packing.
As usual, his snake beanie plush was put in its safe compartment- first and foremost. Along with this, he selected a book as another familiar travel companion, but put this aside for his carry-on bag.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel, deodorant. 5 pairs of socks and underwear, 5 shirts, 2 pairs of trousers and 2 jumpers- enough for a 3 day trip, including the travel days. Next was his work folder, a notebook, 2 pens (in case one ran out of ink) and a small travel game.
Lastly, he placed his suit in the case, complete with silver lizard-shaped cufflinks. A brief smile grew across his face. His partner, Gustav, had spotted them at a small jewellery shop on the Italian coast on holiday a couple of years ago. They had been a proudly worn accessory ever since; Monty even made an effort to talk with his hands more in the hope someone would ask him what species they were supposed to be.
Monty rather enjoyed travelling, which was lucky as his job required it. Despite that, he still found it somewhat challenging. He tried to minimise this feeling with careful preparation, taking comfort items with him and making a detailed "travel plan" beforehand.
He would be setting off tomorrow morning at 7am to arrive at the airport, in time to catch his plane at 10am. The plane would land in London at 1pm GMT (6pm EST) and he would then take the train to the university his conference was being held at. Concise and well-organised.
Monty sighed triumphantly, putting his bags in the corner of the room before getting into bed.
"Looking forward to your trip tomorrow?" Gustav questioned, giving Monty's curly hair a ruffle.
"I am, very much so! I'm really excited to give my presentation."
Monty reflected on his recent project as they chatted before bed. He felt he had earned the pride after months of hard work. Although he wasn't an arrogant person, Monty enjoyed talking about his job, bubbling with enthusiasm every time he did so. For him, presentations were simply a way to talk about his interest rather than an excuse to gloat.
Turning the lights off, he lay down in the peaceful darkness and repeated his speech in his head, eventually falling asleep in his partner's company.