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[dresscode]

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[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.

[dresscode]

[ Yay! Operation: Bedtime is go!

Haruaki isn't going to gloat about his victory, though.

(Not right now. Not in front of Akira. He is absolutely going to gloat privately to someone else.)

No, instead he only reaches across the table and pats Akira's hand soothingly. ]

I know why you push yourself so hard, Akira-kun, but you have to start taking better care of yourself, too. If I was doing what you're doing, you'd tell me the same thing. Right?

[seeinside]

I would. For the reasons I just stated.

[ Said softly, knowing he's already been defeated, but still stubborn regardless. ]

But...I know. I know you're right, and you mean well with it, so I can't even be upset with you.

[dresscode]

[ He wouldn't be Akira if he wasn't stubborn, and Haruaki wouldn't be Haruaki if it didn't roll right off his back like a duck in the rain. ]

You can be upset with me, as long as you give our deal a fair chance!

[ One more pat, and then he pulls back, stretching his arms high overhead with an enormous yawn before settling back down and grinning wide. ]

And I'll be awake to make sure you do. So I'll see you for bedtime tonight!

[seeinside]

Awake? But your bedtime is ten o'clock, you're going to stay up all the way to midnight?

[dresscode]

[ And now? He's DETERMINED. Fists clenched and everything! ]

I'm going to try! But if I fail, I'm going to set a bunch of alarms so I wake up and drag you to bed!!!

[seeinside]

[ All of which gets a good natured giggle out of him. ]

I've seen you sleepy! If you can stay upright long enough to get me there it'll be an honest miracle.

Not that I'll be fighting you, mind. I make good on my promises.