Dreaming a dream as someone who hates dreams but needs sleep

Aiastes just let her do what she wanted to. It was like he had no strength to deny her anything when she was in the state she was in right now. The kiss on his cheek felt too good. But he had to remind himself that he couldn't be selfish. He didn't belong in her world and she didn't belong in his. And yet he laid down with her, pulling her in close so she could sleep as close to him as she wanted to. "I've missed you too," he finally admitted before she properly fell asleep.

A few days passed. Aiastes had kept his promise, staying with her, helping her eat and get the proper rest she needed. They even went on walks and minor dates. If you could even call it a date to simply walk out and sit for a coffee at a small café. Regardless he was starting to feel restless. He didn't bode well in all of this, but he stuck it out because she needed him. They had both missed each other, that much was clear, but on the fifth day he had to sit down with her. He felt nervous, reaching out to take her hand in his. "We need to talk," he spoke in a gentle yet serious tone. He needed them to figure this out, because he couldn't handle leaving her only to return to the same scenario. "I can maybe stretch my visit for a little while longer .. but I do have to return for a bit .. I'm working on something rather special, and the sooner I have it done, the sooner I can return to you," he spoke gently, not wanting to upset her now that she was starting to hopefully feel better.

He felt their fingers entangle, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He knew it wasn't wise leading her on like this. Didn't she realize that he would never be able to make her truly happy, despite how much he was trying to ignore that fact himself? Humming at the mention of structure he nodded, "that is what I'm working on," he said without going into too much detail. He sighed softly, leaning in to connect their foreheads, "but perhaps it would be good for you to start mingling with other people from the waking world." It hurt his ancient heart to even say that, but it would help her build up someone she could rely on when he wasn't there. "You need people around you that you can count on when I can't be there," they had been lucky this time around that he could actually release himself from his duties, but they might not be so lucky next time.
It was with great defeat that he spoke the next words, "I know we both feel an attraction, but the more we let it grow the more it will hurt being apart," they had to be reasonable here. "I know we cannot change how we feel .. but I need to say that going forward it will only be as friends." He hated that. He didn't want to be her friend, he wanted to be so much more. But alas it was not written in the stars for him to be with a mortal.

It was brutal of him, wasn't it? Just ripping this piece of them out, but he had to. Even if she saw no logic to it, it had to be done. She couldn't spend her life waiting around for him, as that wouldn't really be living the life she deserved. But maybe she could not see that in this he was also protecting her from the curse of his existence. Belonging to someone, and a mortal no less, would only cause heartache and pain. It was the same old vicious cycle that threaded on and on for eternity. Oh how he wished he could do something but this was how it was going to be. She removed the pendant, and he just stared at it as she just denied his request. Was what they had had not worth having a friendship over? He felt offended and hurt, but his face showed no sign of this, staring at the pendant as he heard the door close. It felt awful. It was painful.
"I'm sorry, master," Lucienne spoke in a soft tone having arrived just in time. Aiastes got up, taking the pendant and putting it inside his coat, "it had to be done." Maybe not the answer he had wanted to give, but it was what was required of him. He and Lucienne returned to his realm, and with a heavy heart he buried himself in his work, distracting himself from the heartache.

George was just coming home from his tutoring job, carrying a good stack of books as he saw Mari in the hallway. "Hello beautiful," he smiled before he saw her teary eyes. He stopped her if he could, "woah, hey .. what's going on?" He asked with a worried frown. She wasn't wearing a jacket or anything and he wouldn't let her go out in the weather they had right now. At least not without borrowing something from him. "Give me a sec to drop these books off .. let me come with you at least?" Letting her leave in this state made him worry too much, and he hoped she would accept if she wasn't coming into his apartment.

She was so visibly upset that George had a sinking feeling in his chest. As she tried to push past him he just shook his head no, reaching out to her and pulling her into his arms, holding her close. "Oi stupid, don't be like this," he muttered, holding onto her even if she could break free he felt this was best. Just holding her he slowly started to guide her to his apartment, and once inside he just dropped his books on the floor in the entrance. He helped her further inside, feeling how she was shivering and shaking. This wasn't good by any means, and he had actually had half a brain to read up on pregnancy. And what she was doing right now was not good for her body nor the baby.
"Alright, what you need right now is the Sullivan special treatment," he said with a nod, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around her. Even if she refused him, he would just lean down and lift her up in his arms, carrying her into his bedroom. Sure, anyone else doing this it might've been creepy, but she had seen his bedroom before and it was far from some deranged sex dungeon. He placed her on the bed, a pair of warning eyes, "stay there." His voice almost pleading as he left briefly. He grabbed the sweets he had at home, mostly chocolate and put on some water for tea. He didn't know what she preferred but he had some different once that she could choose from. Once he had everything he placed it on a tray along with a big glass of water so she wouldn't get dehydrated from crying so much.
Returning he placed the tray on the nightstand. "There we go, have something to drink," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed, handing her stuff if she wanted anything else on the tray.

She didn't want it? He wasn't even sure what she was referring to, but he thought it was the stuff he had brought on the tray. She laid down on her side and he sighed before crawling into bed with her. He laid on top of the covers, not joining her underneath as that seemed strange in that sense as they were supposed to be friends. Sure friends could cuddle, but it felt a little odd if her boyfriend was just down the hallway or wherever he was. Safe to say the human hadn't been very impressed by Mari's choice in men. But it was also easy for him to judge. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close. He probably smelled a bit of sweat and his cologne, but he hoped it wasn't too bad. "It's okay .. we don't have to do anything," he promised her, stroking her hair gently and running his other hand soothingly up and down her back. "It's just the two of us," as if he was trying to assure her that no-one would be there to snoop around or check on them.

He wasn't aware of what had happened, but in the state she was all he could really do was comfort her. Even if she felt like being alone, he had seen plenty of people just be thankful afterwards that they weren't. She pulled away and he saw a confliction in her eyes, reaching up to caress her cheek gently. He was about to say something as she pulled him in, kissing him. He felt like an out of body experience at first, his lips moving against hers gently and almost lovingly before his brain registered what was going on. He broke the kiss, panting softly as he kept his eyes closed. He didn't want her to see how much that act had hurt him. "I don't want to fuck up your relationship or our friendship," he pleaded with her. He leaned in, connecting their foreheads, "I like you a lot .. but if this is some sort of revenge plot for your boyfriend then please don't use me like that .. I only want you to kiss me because you want to, not because you feel pressured to."

As she seemed to spill it all he opened his eyes to look at her, watching as she curled up in a ball, but he didn't move away from her. He was there if she needed him, and it seemed so clear in everything he did, only she would perhaps never recognize that. George knew that what he felt for Mari was more than a typical friendship, but they also hadn't known each other very long, and he wasn't going to push any narrative. He let her finish speaking, or rather crying her sentences out before the last sentence struck a nerve with him. "You are loved," he said in a serious tone. He couldn't confess to his feelings, not the way he wanted to, but he did care for her. "Your co-workers love you; even the kid in your stomach loves you and he hasn't even met you yet," he said, touching her arm gently, wanting to soothe her. But what he said next surprised even him. "And whether you believe it or not I love you .. you're easy to love, Mari." He wasn't sure if he was going to regret just blurting it out at a moment like this. No, it wasn't ideal nor was it fair to put her in such a position. "Love is weird and fucked up .. but it's about more than just romantic interest," fuck he just had to add insult to injury didn't he? He felt like he was only making it worse. "Listen, I care about you a lot, and I can't pretend like I'm not attracted to you - but I also don't feel like being a rebound, because I think that would suck when I really genuinely fancy you."

It would always be like that, wouldn't it? The fact that the one you seemingly cared for and wanted wouldn't ever be available like that. Maybe it was just a human condition. A curse perhaps. But either way he wasn't sure how he liked the sentiment of Mari going home, at least on her own. He got out of the bed, walking to her and taking her hand carefully. "Let me escort you at least," he could accept if she wanted to go home, and he suspected she might not mean the apartment down the hall. "Please? If not for your sake then for my own peace of mind?" He really hoped she would let him, but either way he would supply her with a big warm hoodie and a jacket before she even headed out in the weather that was brewing. He could see the dark clouds in the horizon.

It wouldn't be good for them. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was stupid to even think that she was even remotely in the right state of mind. And maybe he wasn't either. Then she started to apologize, but he shook his head no, "meaning you won't see me again?" He asked. He wasn't sure what to say. Because that would make him feel rather panicked. She was one of the best things about living here. Having someone he could so easily pop by that he could talk to about everything and nothing at the same time. He had really grown to value their friendship, even if they hadn't known each other for long.
She spoke about embarrassing herself, but to him she hadn't done that. Sure, she had kissed him in an effort to soothe her own hurting, and while it had hurt him, he couldn't deny that there was a small part of him that wanted her to take advantage of him. Wasn't that weird? He lifted his hand, caressing her cheek before he leaned in, kissing her lips gently as he felt like he wanted to show her that he did care. That he cared about her, even if she would hurt him in the end. Breaking the kiss he panted softly, "let me come with you." He muttered against her lips before pulling away, his eyes shifting between hers.

He wasn't really too sure what he was getting into, but it seemed that it wasn't a logical decision. It was perhaps more out of fear of losing that connection he had gotten with her. He was silent as they walked as well, returning the small squeezes, but he felt beside himself still. Like his mind had tapped out and he was only moving because of instinct. Arriving at her apartment it was so clear to him that this was her place. It fit her so much better than the other apartment, and besides the dust it looked really cozy. She let go of his hand, and he was just left standing there in her livingroom, unsure of what to really do with himself, so he just looked around at the decorations. He wasn't really sure how or what he felt. Maybe a bit scared? Maybe a bit sad? Deep down he knew this wasn't a good idea, he feared it would ruin what they had, but wouldn't it be ruined if she couldn't even see him? He moved over, opening a window just to look out at the city.

Feeling her arms around him he felt a sense of relief. He couldn't quite explain it. In fact, he wondered if he was just pretending to not hurt himself. Her hands against his skin made him sigh, closing his eyes as she gave him a last warning. It was sweet of her, but he simply turned around in her arms, taking her face in his hands as he just looked at her. He had made up his mind. He didn't even care if she would pretend he was someone else. "Mess or not, I don't want to leave you," he said in an honest tone. So what if he was a rebound. If that would help her he had done her a favor, right? And he didn't think she would want to see him again either way. He just touched her face gently, "you're so beautiful," he just said. It felt good to just state it. No teasing remarks or beating around the bush. No, he was straight to the point.
"But .. before we just dive into it all .. is it safe for you and-" one hand moved down, touching her stomach gently. He wouldn't want to do anything that would have them end up in the doctors office nor a hospital. In fact he just wanted to be good to her like she deserved. He didn't care that she was pregnant, but he did care of her health and the health of her unborn. "I guess I just want to know what we can and can't do." It was clear he was on uncharted territory here, but perhaps she wasn't even aware of what they could do. They were both adults. And they needed to be a little bit mindful of her state.

She refused his compliment but he also couldn't force her to just accept how he saw her. Noting down that he should be mindful of her stomach wasn't that far fetched to him. He had at least thought that far. As she leaned in to kiss him, he moved too, greeting her lips and reciprocating that longing feeling. Sure, she wasn't longing for him, but he was an alright substitute - or so he hoped. Pulling her slightly back until he felt the windowsill against his back, he pulled her closer yet before moving his lips from hers and down her neck. His hands moved behind her back, grasping lightly at her clothes, feeling the need for her rise like he hadn't felt before. And yet in the back of his mind he had to remind himself that this act meant nothing to her. It was just himself getting played right now.
Removing his lips from her neck he looked at her, pulling lightly at her shirt as if asking if he could remove it. He wanted to take things slow, even if she was maybe in a rush to get it over and done with. If he was allowed he would remove her shirt to then remove his own, pulling her back close to let her soak up his heat. Feeling the slight bump against his stomach made him feel good in a way he couldn't explain. Maybe because he felt so protective about her, and feeling her this close he knew that he could keep her safe. "You're so soft," he whispered in a hasty breath, leaning down to connect their lips once more, his warm hands just exploring her skin, feeling and heating her up along the way.