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“[I see, Mr. Soleum. Now that you’ve eaten and regained your strength, you’re showing more of your true self… Very good!]”
Then Braun stopped, as if struck by a sudden realisation.
[Ah, but you haven’t nested at all this month, have you?]
“Ah,” he cleared his throat. “Nesting…”
[Why, Mr. Soleum, this host has noticed you didn’t nest in your old housing, but even the greatest of stars have somewhere safe to rest, no?]
Kim Soleum was reluctant to nest, he knew, but why was he reluctant? Suddenly, he couldn’t seem to remember the cause…
[Of course not, Mr. Soleum! I must say, I am truly baffled at the customs of nesting, but a warm, cozy nest, fit for an esteemed entertainer such as yourself? That, we simply cannot miss out on! Indeed, it would be a most grevious oversight to let you continue on without one.] The TV emoticon displayed, in order: a nest, Kim Soleum, and a shocked face.
[Mr. Soleum isn’t just any omega, no, he is one of a kind! As such, this host will graciously assist you with building one!]
And that was how Kim Soleum ended up standing in front of the bed he hadn’t even known he was there, clutching an armful of the softest, fluffiest blankets he’d ever had in this life. All thoughts of his squad were gone, what remained were the persistent feelings of forgetting something important, something absolutely crucial to —
[I understand you didn’t have a nest before, but this host has guaranteed your safety — wellbeing, as well!] A cheerful emoticon appeared. Braun gestured to the bed with a large, sweeping gesture. It was a big bed, enough to fit 3 of Kim Soleum length wise. Braun could stretch out on it comfortably, even with his towering, impressive physique.
…
He’d never built a nest, before. Not in this world, at least. The longing to go —
[As learned and talented as this host is, I am relatively unused to this area, but worry not, Mr. Soleum, this Braun will help you make the most exemplary nest known to all!]
And with that, Braun took one of the blankets and spread it out on the bed gingerly. Seeing Braun partake in labour — of any kind, struck Kim Soleum as odd. “Mr. Host —”
[Why not a brief detour to Braun? Just while we build Mr. Soleum’s nest?] The tone was light, the words weren’t.
Instinctive repulsion spread through him. To call Mr. Host ‘Braun’, something unimaginable! To not show Mr. Host the respect he deserved as a member of his crew was simply out of the realm of possibility. Kim Soleum said as much, hurriedly taking over the spreading of the blankets himself.
Behind him, Braun stayed hovering. Kim Soleum didn’t notice.
The stillness lasted for a second, maybe two. Braun was back to his usual dynamic self quickly, gathering the blankets Kim Soleum had dropped in his haste to take over Braun’s job.
[My friend truly is…one of a kind.] Something about the tone struck Kim Soleum as odd; he looked back. The TV screen remained black.
Kim Soleum offered a smile, hesitant. Braun was a good friend, truly, always lavishing undeserving compliments upon Kim Soleum.
The bed was big enough Kim Soleum had to kick his shoes off to drag it to the other end in order to spread the blanket out. On top of the mass of plush white mattress, the singular blanket looked far too small. “I don’t mean to doubt your expertise,” Kim Soleum started, “But this bed is rather big.”
The smile flicked back on. [Mr. Soleum may choose to take on a companion in the future, a dear friend perhaps, I simply accommodated for all of my dear friend’s needs!]
A companion…?
Something flickered at the back of his mind. Something important. Ah. His old squad had visited, did they not? They’d said to eat… eat…
Well, it probably wasn’t important. He’d find out later, at the next show, perhaps. For now he had Braun next to him, and a massive bed with only one blanket on. He used to not like making nests, because it seemed too permanent, but he was safe here, safe enough he felt like he could continue on forever, working under Mr. Host.
In the face of the promise of safety, his previous reservations about building a nest seemed light, featherless, he almost couldn’t remember why he’d thought the reasoning was sound.
The nest was constructed, article by article. Kim Soleum had no clothing apart from his own, so Braun had graciously volunteered his own suits and ties. [A gift,] he’d said, [for a precious friend], and Kim Soleum had been so grateful to have a nest that smelt safe, like a friend, like ho —
Kim Soleum generally didn’t keep track of time. There was no need to, when he had no need for sleep nor food. But today he was anticipating going back to his nest, and resting in a safe space, a cozy corner away from the world. It had been so long, too long, and he had felt it every day he worked at Daydream.
The itchiness of his glands, the coldness in his bones; all classic symptoms of not nesting for too long. It didn’t help he’d roomed with Baek Saheon, who he wouldn’t trust with a knife in any life. The fuzziness and distress and odd type of loneliness he’d felt the entire time he’d been relentlessly diving into darkness had disappeared almost entirely, next to Braun.
Yes, he thought. Braun, his most trusted confidante, his friend. Indeed, Braun was curled around him, a large hand carefully resting by his head. Kim Soleum hadn’t known Braun had needed to sleep, but in retrospect it had been shortsighted of him.
Now, Braun’s chest rose up and down in mimicry of breathing. Even in the nest, he was still dressed as in a suit, ready to entertain at the drop of a hat. Kim Soleum respected his craft, his dedication. He himself had dressed down to sleepwear. After this, he promised to himself. After this, I’ll aspire to be just as good a host as Mr. Host!
The large hand by his head shifted. [Ah, Mr. Roe Deer,] Braun’s voice rumbled. In the dark, Kim Soleum felt it more than heard it. The usual velvet quality was intensified, though the enunciation remained no less crisp. [My friend is the perfect entertainer just as he is.]
“…Thanks, Mr. Host.” Kim Soleum smiled warmly. “But professionalism comes with the job.” He curled his body into Braun’s torso, and felt completely and utterly safe. “Anything for the stage,” he promised.