Dream Post XI

[wotanon]

[ sometimes NSFW is the post-bad game therapy that's needed. ]

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[at_heart]

[ Slipping into the yukata. ]

Yeah, not so much. [ Breezy. ] What's the more or less?

[wayofthehousekeeper]

Well, I can't really help you with the paperwork and such, but I can at least make sure you're on schedule and your day-to-day needs at taken care of so you don't have to worry about them.

[at_heart]

[ Gross, why is he doing paperwork. ]

I can't possibly be paying you enough for all that.

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Laughs, but it's soft and warm. ]

The pay's not the only reason why I'm here.

[at_heart]

[ Something unclenches a tiny bit to hear that, because at least you're being paid, but also wait what. ]

It's... not?

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Just Looks at him, which is probably the first time ever Aster's done that. ]

Yeah. You're the reason.

[at_heart]

[ His surprise is probably pretty comical? He is actively pointing at himself, like. Him? You're sure??? ]

Me.

[wayofthehousekeeper]

Yeah, you.

You don't have to look so surprised about it.

[at_heart]

[ He very much does, Aster. ] [ But also: dreams are weird, and being in someone else's dream is weirder, and his earlier thought that maybe he's taking on the role of someone specific here takes a while to come back to him, even fuzzily. ]

That's... [ Concerning? Power harassment??? ] Sweet.

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ idk man everything feels perfectly normal for Aster. ]

You also don't have to look so tired at the thought- you can just think of it as loyalty.

[ Quickly said as if he didn't just half-confess. ]

[at_heart]

[ And after months of working really hard not to accidentally get into any relationships in Imeeji, he somehow still finds himself in one of these conversations, thanks a lot Yvette. ]

—Aster...

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ rip Lupine. ]

[ Standing up again, offering a hand out. ]

Come on, you've still got breakfast to eat.

[at_heart]

[ ...gazes at that hand for a few seconds before taking it. ]

Yeah. Okay.

[ It would probably be slightly ridiculous to say anything anyway, right? If he's supposed to be someone else, what he feels super doesn't matter. If he's somehow not, doing the let's-just-be-friends speech in someone's dream has got to be worse than doing it through texts. ]

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Automatically reaching out to straighten his clothes once he's up. ]

At least I've got an idea of how to make sure you get up in the morning.

[at_heart]

[ what why ] [ Jumping again a little, because if he's ever had anyone straighten his clothes for him he doesn't remember it and it must've been a long time. ]

...heh. It definitely did — work.

[ Not like it's bad, kind of domestic and cute. Or. It would be, if you weren't his employee. ]

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Because showing off your chest the entire time is not actually how you're supposed to wear a yukata neatly Lupine. ]

And... you're sure you're totally awake, right? You seem a bit out of it.

[at_heart]

[ Look, he's worn worse. ]

I mean, I'm really not sure about that at all. [ 'Dream' or 'game' are definitely his guesses here, and he'd be way more sure if he'd done the dream-walking thing more than once. ] But I'm sure you, uh — did your job right.

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Chuckles, stepping back once he's done straightening Lupine's appearance. ]

If you really do need a few more minutes, I can help get them for you.

[at_heart]

[ Blank. ]

Them?

[ Breakfast? Is breakfast a them? ...Are there other people in this dream? ]

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Snorts and nudges him. ]

The minutes. I can bring breakfast in here.

[at_heart]

[ oh thank god ] [ ...........ugh, that sounds like office work. Is he going to wind up doing work in your dream just to avoid having a more awkward conversation? ]

Breakfast in bed, huh? You're gonna spoil me.

[ Evidently: yes. ] [ Also, if this sly comment as he turns away to tighten his obi in any way hits a weird note, sorry?? Flirt is an idle action, he absolutely said it without thinking. ]

[wayofthehousekeeper]

I wonder if you'll still feel the same way if I brought you paperwork in bed too.

[ Apparently dream Aster is totally fine with flirty banter, countering with his own more playful words. ]

[at_heart]

[ Oh, well, if it's gonna be like that, but Lupine's nose still wrinkles at the mention of paperwork. ]

It'd have to be really good breakfast to make up for the paperwork.

[wayofthehousekeeper]

[ Sorry but going to chuckle at that face. ]

I can guarantee the best.

[at_heart]

[ The chuckle — is fine, maybe even sort of nice. He wasn't expecting it. Lupine regards Aster for a few more seconds, then settles right back down on the bed, light. ]

Prove it.