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[dresscode]

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hey so, gray first actually

[seeinside]

[ Haruaki's sleep schedule is more reliable to plan around than the rising and setting of the sun itself.

He goes to bed every evening at 10 pm, 'when good kids go to sleep', and wakes up exactly seven hours later at 5 am. Akira's advised that eight hours is the sweet spot for most humans, but the routine is so thoroughly ingrained it's not likely to change even in a strange new reality.

Meanwhile, Haruaki has never caught Akira sleeping. He's awake when Haruaki goes to bed, awake when he gets up, when he leaves for errands, when he gets home from errands...Akira seems tired every now and then, sure, but it's never clear when he actually gets any kind of rest.

Like now, for instance. It's a little after 5 in the morning and Akira's at his coffee table in the living room, nose deep in a book and dog (mostly) out like a light on his lap. When Haruaki comes out of his new bedroom, Akira of course looks up from his book with a smile as energetic as ever. ]

Ah, good morning Abe-sensei.

GRAY FIRST GRAY FOREVER

[dresscode]

[ Haruaki has noticed Akira seldom sleeps.

Of course he has. Very little escapes his watchful eye, whether people realize it or not, and he has much less to watch in this world than he did back home. Other people are becoming important to him, of course, but... of course Akira will always be a special case, being his only person from home. And he's the person Haruaki sees most often by a long shot besides. It's impossible not to be observant of his behaviors, his habits, his patterns.

And the one pattern Haruaki hasn't managed to pin down at all is when the hell he sleeps.

Haruaki scrubs at his eyes as he emerges into the living room, trying to rub away that last bit of grogginess that clings before he's had breakfast and tea, his words coming through a yawn: ]

Good morning, Takahashi-sensei~

[ He'd say good morning to Hana too, but like all creatures with good sense at five in the morning, she's snoozing away. Haruaki smiles at her, then turns his attention back to Akira, eyes going wide. ]

You didn't sleep at all? Again? It was like that yesterday morning, and the day before that, and the day before that...

GRAY UNTIL THE END OF TIME.......

[seeinside]

I didn't?

[ He glances up towards the ceiling, thinking back. ]

Ah, suppose I didn't. I get a little caught up in work, you know?

[ Said with a smile, as if he's being accused of skipping one cheeky night's worth of sleep and not...many. So many.

But he isn't denying it, either. ]

POUNCES ON THIS. LET'S GO

[dresscode]

[ Hmm. ]

What work were you caught up in tonight?

[ If he's gearing up for a little lecture – and he might be! – there's no sign of it. Only good natured curiosity.

However.

This is a test. ]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[seeinside]

Work for the clinic, of course.

[ Seeing no danger, he'll just go right into rattling things off. ]

I had help with the more clerical side of things back home, but here I have to run all of the numbers--how much of certain supplies we have, how much we use in a day, that sort of thing. I also keep detailed records on every patient, as you know, and what concerns they come to me with just in case there turns out to be something special I need to work with them on, or if there's another odd epidemic on the rise. That's become a much more involved process with new species from new worlds with their own sets of rules to take into consideration.

[dresscode]

[ Throughout Akira's explanation, Haruaki takes a seat across the table from him, chin resting on his palms as he watches and listens carefully.

He'd never tell Akira not to be as dedicated to his work as he is, especially not in a place like this that needs him, but at the same time... ]

There is a lot to do... Have you tried asking anyone for help?

[seeinside]

I've advertised spaces open for staff.

[ A pause. ]

I think?

[ Another pause, bringing a hand up to his chin as he keeps on thinking, perhaps a little slower than usual. ]

I know I've told people there are positions...

[dresscode]

Akira-kun...

[ The exasperation is fond, at least.

Haruaki folds his hands down on the table, sits up straighter. ]

Do you want to make a deal with me?

[seeinside]

Mm? What kind of deal?

[dresscode]

I'll help you out with the clerical stuff for the clinic, since it's not like I have a job right now anyway...

[ And then he points straight at Akira. ]

If! If you promise to pause work at midnight each night and go to bed.

[seeinside]

At midnight?

[ Oops, that stirs Hana a bit. He'll give her some gentle pets, lowering his volume. ]

Oniisan, that's so early.

[dresscode]

Eh? I thought I was being pretty fair! I was going to say ten at first...

[ Wait a minute. ]

When you aren't caught up in work, what time do you go to sleep?

[seeinside]

When I'm not... [ He trails off, like it's an entirely foreign concept.

And then.

Simply turns his head away. Still smiling. ]

[dresscode]

[ Caught. ]

You didn't finish your sentence, Akira-kun~

[seeinside]

When I'm not caught up in work.

[ Still not looking. ]

[dresscode]

That's not an answer, Akira-kun~

[seeinside]

Dunno.

FREAK. STOP

[dresscode]

[ Gee. Wonder what the medical literature says about long term sleep deprivation?

Haruaki won't lose this battle. ]

If you can stick to midnight for a couple weeks, then we can bump it up to 2 AM. Okay?

(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

[seeinside]

How long is "a couple weeks"?

[dresscode]

A couple weeks is two weeks, or fourteen days.

[ He loves teaching the days of the week! They can do that, if Akira wants! ]

By the way, if you don't agree, I have a plan B.

[seeinside]

Eh? What's plan B...?

[ Should he be afraid? He's already afraid, but. ]

[dresscode]

I'll stay up with you every single night and tell you to go to bed every two minutes, so you can't get any work done and I'll start suffering from sleep deprivation. I wonder what will happen to me!

[seeinside]

Oniisan, you don't have spiritual energy reserves like I do! Not to mention with how used to your sleeping rhythm your body is, it'll get to you so much faster!

[ Ope, Hana's officially awake now. What's wrong, what are papas talking about so early in the morning? ]

[dresscode]

Oh, no. You're right.

[ Shrug! ]

Oh well! So, do we have a deal?

[ Sorry, Hana. Papas are Talking. ]

[seeinside]

[ This...this devious, dastardly, underhanded snake of a man...!

In the next few seconds he tries his hardest to come up with something, anything to strike back with, but...well. Maybe lack of sleep really is taking its toll.

With a sigh, he slumps. ]

Fine. Fine, alright, we have a deal.