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[ . . . sir, you are carrying me. you can do whatever you wish. ]
You may.
You may.
[He catches his gaze, and that look in Arthur's eyes stills his breathing for a moment. What a strange feeling, to still feel guilt but to have it entwined with warmth. Fondness. (Oh gods, it really is happening again.)]
Rest, and sleep. And I will grant you pleasant dreams. You deserve them, after all you have just been through.
[And yes, of course that means he will remain here with him.]
I may still lie here with you, if you wish.
Rest, and sleep. And I will grant you pleasant dreams. You deserve them, after all you have just been through.
[And yes, of course that means he will remain here with him.]
I may still lie here with you, if you wish.
[ While Arthur might not have any idea about again, it certainly is happening to the both of them. He catches Dream's gaze in turn, and... oh. He reaches up and rests his hand on the side of Dream's face. ]
You've stars in your eyes.
[ How had he never noticed that before? ]
You've stars in your eyes.
[ How had he never noticed that before? ]
Thank you.
[ He's being polite about it!! But he will carry her into the dorm if she wants. ]
[ He's being polite about it!! But he will carry her into the dorm if she wants. ]
[Instinctively, he leans into that touch, looking down at him with those same, starry-laden eyes. It is, strangely, like looking into a night sky.]
A family trait. [One that only he was given out of his entire retinue of siblings, but it's suited for an Endless called Dream.] Is it distracting?
A family trait. [One that only he was given out of his entire retinue of siblings, but it's suited for an Endless called Dream.] Is it distracting?
[ now that she's up, she does not want to come down again. also, her legs are so unsteady from sprinting up the stairs that she isn't sure she can confidently walk.
she looks at him, really looks. he's completely healed. ]
Dream... rescued you.
she looks at him, really looks. he's completely healed. ]
Dream... rescued you.
[ It does seem fitting for him. ]
No. I think it's lovely.
[ And distracting, insofar as it's derailed the previous conversation. What if... he leans over for a kiss? ]
No. I think it's lovely.
[ And distracting, insofar as it's derailed the previous conversation. What if... he leans over for a kiss? ]
[ He'll carry her down the stairs then. ]
... He did. I have since learned all I have to do is call for him and he'll hear me.
[ So you know. LESSON LEARNED. ]
... He did. I have since learned all I have to do is call for him and he'll hear me.
[ So you know. LESSON LEARNED. ]
[If he does? It's clear that any of Dream's hesitations that he harbored beneath the mistletoe are null and void -- even those that were flitting about in his head just a second ago are always swept aside for a moment of affection, of closeness.
So of course he's leaning in to meet it, the mattress shifting a little beneath their weight. This would be more... dangerous of a gesture on the bed, if not for the fact that Dream knows letting Arthur rest is the most important thing right now.
But he can indulge, can't he? The kiss is warm and lingering.]
So of course he's leaning in to meet it, the mattress shifting a little beneath their weight. This would be more... dangerous of a gesture on the bed, if not for the fact that Dream knows letting Arthur rest is the most important thing right now.
But he can indulge, can't he? The kiss is warm and lingering.]
[ ah....... he didn't know.
lowers her face down again with a little sigh. tiny sigh. her face buries in his hair ]
I never thought to tell you. I'm sorry, zaychik.
lowers her face down again with a little sigh. tiny sigh. her face buries in his hair ]
I never thought to tell you. I'm sorry, zaychik.
[ He needs this too, just as much as rest. A soft, quiet moment of warmth. Something to soothe away the sharp bite of fear and desperation that had come just moments before.
Arthur is indulging in this just as much as, if not more than, Dream is. And though he eventually pulls away, he doesn't go far. ]
Thank you. For saving me.
Arthur is indulging in this just as much as, if not more than, Dream is. And though he eventually pulls away, he doesn't go far. ]
Thank you. For saving me.
Nor did he. 'Tis not something I blame either of you for, of course. What's done is done.
[ Now that they're in the common room proper, he finds a couch to deposit them both on. ]
[ Now that they're in the common room proper, he finds a couch to deposit them both on. ]
[He is a little flushed when he pulls away, and he reaches up to brush a bit of hair from Arthur's face.]
You needn't thank me. I am only sorry I came too late.
[Very sorry for it, actually. This man is due very pleasant dreams for a very long time.]
You needn't thank me. I am only sorry I came too late.
[Very sorry for it, actually. This man is due very pleasant dreams for a very long time.]
[ Let's not talk about Arthur's hair. It's a mess, and definitely in his face. He's going to need a new hair tie. ]
You came right when I needed you.
You came right when I needed you.
[ she's going to continue to koala.
murmuring, ] Arthur... Arthur... Blood is gone, isn't it.
murmuring, ] Arthur... Arthur... Blood is gone, isn't it.
Dream... what happened was not your fault. It was not a cruel act of fate for the supposed crime of being close to you. It was not Sprezzatura's fault, either.
If the blame must go somewhere, then let it be on the Warden's shoulders for putting these monsters beneath our skin in the first place.
[ He puts his hand on the side of Dream's face again, this time as a steadying gesture. ]
The fact of the matter is Sprezzatura called on me for help, and I answered. Just as you answered me.
If the blame must go somewhere, then let it be on the Warden's shoulders for putting these monsters beneath our skin in the first place.
[ He puts his hand on the side of Dream's face again, this time as a steadying gesture. ]
The fact of the matter is Sprezzatura called on me for help, and I answered. Just as you answered me.
[He meets his eyes again, and while the gesture is steadying, it is hard to disregard the idea of simple misfortune skewing their way because of his own decisions. That has always been the case, time and time again. Such notions are not so quickly erased.
...And it should discourage him, yet it never does. Is this a curse or a blessing? One might wonder.]
And if something like this should happen again?
...And it should discourage him, yet it never does. Is this a curse or a blessing? One might wonder.]
And if something like this should happen again?
[ That's fine. He reaches up to stroke her hair. ]
It is. I think I would have destroyed it eventually, regardless. I'm sorry.
It is. I think I would have destroyed it eventually, regardless. I'm sorry.
[ Another smile. So gentle, and utterly forgiving. He presses another soft kiss to the corner of Dream's mouth. ]
Then I will call for you sooner, now that I know how. And I will not think it your fault that something bad happened in the first place.
Then I will call for you sooner, now that I know how. And I will not think it your fault that something bad happened in the first place.
[Far too forgiving. But maybe Dream is far too hard on himself, as he often is; there is a reason he is known as the gloomy one amongst his siblings, the standoffish one that is too sentimental underneath.
But how quickly he latches onto Arthur's generosity. For now, at least. The kiss helps.]
The head knows that the fault belongs to the Warden. The heart often feels quite differently.
[He strokes his hair again, then presses his lips warmly against his forehead.]
Will you rest now?
But how quickly he latches onto Arthur's generosity. For now, at least. The kiss helps.]
The head knows that the fault belongs to the Warden. The heart often feels quite differently.
[He strokes his hair again, then presses his lips warmly against his forehead.]
Will you rest now?
Heads and hearts are often difficult things to reconcile.
[ He leans into that kiss, ears lowered in a way that suggest he feels safe here. ]
I will. And I'd be glad to take you up on your offer to lay down with me.
[ He leans into that kiss, ears lowered in a way that suggest he feels safe here. ]
I will. And I'd be glad to take you up on your offer to lay down with me.
[He won't argue that point. That has always been the case.
Dream begins toeing off his boots, which is a bizarrely human-like gesture, but he's not going to lie down in his shoes, after all. He eases Arthur gently down with him until they're lying on the bed, if only because he doesn't want to let go. He's comfortable. Comforting.]
What sort of dreams would you like?
Dream begins toeing off his boots, which is a bizarrely human-like gesture, but he's not going to lie down in his shoes, after all. He eases Arthur gently down with him until they're lying on the bed, if only because he doesn't want to let go. He's comfortable. Comforting.]
What sort of dreams would you like?
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