Work Text:
“No… no… no…” Lanolin continued to mumble to herself as she made alterations to the papers in front of her. Maggie had long since fallen asleep in her wool, so she was left to her own work.
She was at the Rabbit household for her agreed upon once a week visit for a “real dinner” as Vanilla put it. The amount of effort it took Gemerl to successfully convince her honestly embarrassed her now, he made a power point and everything, but after the first couple of visits… yeah it was a good idea.
None of that mattered at this moment however as Lanolin poured through the mountain of files on the desk in front of her. The guest bedroom had been set up for her use six weeks ago and she made good use of it. Most visits she excused herself after dinner, not before cleaning the dishes of course, to do some extra work on the Emeraldville reconstruction project.
It was a quiet room near the middle of the house. Usually the only noise she could hear was the television quietly droning in the background as the family watched a movie. The room had a desk that was moved in from the attic by Gemerl. Lanolin had always meant to ask Vanilla why it was up there, but the rabbit always seemed a little emotional when looking at it so the sheep didn't pry. Everything else was your standard guest room fare, a bed that she still thinks is too soft—though she doesn’t complain, that would be rude—and a sofa/loveseat combo that she rarely used since when she wasn’t laying in bed she was working at the desk.
Lanolin has just finished up another document… only 5 more to go, probably another 4 hours. It’s at this moment when the door begins to slowly open as if waiting for permission from the sheep.
“You can come in Gemerl.” With that the door fully opened as the reborn Gizoid entered the room. He immediately made his way over to the sheep touching his forehead to the top of her front poof of wool. She returned the gesture, it was something close to an intimate gesture. It made Lanolin’s stomach feel weird sometimes… is that what intimacy is?
“Greetings, How is your task progressing?” Gemerl now stood beside the sitting sheep; he placed his hand on Lanolin’s shoulder as he looked over the mountain of paper scattered across the desk.
“Just finished the budget report. Now I’m onto the material request, construction plans, power grid specifications, supply chain instructions, and finally the safety reports… so all in all moving right along!” Lanolin smiled up at the Gizoid, a real smile which was becoming more and more common these days. Gemerl was nodding along with everything she said. It’s funny, he is the only person who never seems completely bored at her discussing her work It made her feel appreciated.
“Assessment: The amount of work left would best be saved for tomorrow. It is late and you are the last individual awake in the house. Sleep is advised.” The Gizoid’s hand tightened slightly around her shoulder not enough to hurt, never to hurt, but enough that Lanolin could feel his concern.
“I need to get these done tonight… I appreciate you caring about me, but I’ll be fine Gemerl. You know I’ve done more work with much less food and comfort,” She said as she placed a hand on top of his for a moment before getting back to work.
“Just because you are able to do something does not mean you should. This unit learned that after watching episode 57 of The Funtime Flower Brigade where Peony used her flower power for personal gain. You require rest, your performance will falter otherwise… In addition, this unit does not enjoy seeing you push yourself this much,” Gemerl said the last part a little quieter as he once again touched his head to Lanolin’s.
“Gemerl, please, just let me work. I will be okay, I promise.” She looks up at the robot who was standing completely still, she has come to learn that this meant the Gizoid was thinking. She also knew that the gem-like eye on his crest was a good show of his emotions. The eye looked concerned mostly, with maybe a bit of sadness. There was a tightening in her chest as she looked at it…
She needed to get back to work, just as the sheep goes to pick up her pencil once again Gemerl speaks. “Proposal: I shall complete the task while you go to sleep, the work will be finished and you will have adequate rest. Are those terms acceptable?” Lanolin doesn’t look up from her work this time, continuing to fill out boxes on the sheet.
“No, this is my job, not yours. I can’t have someone doing my work for me.” Lanolin waved a hand towards him as if shooing a fly. “I'm going to finish here, you don’t have to stay, why not go start that book Vanilla bought you.”
“Why will you not allow me to assist you? We are designated as partners. Vanilla has previously informed me that means we share our burdens. I desire to assist you, yet you refuse.” Now there was something in his voice, a mix of annoyance, sadness, and a touch of desperation.
“Because I shouldn’t need your help, So for the love of Gaia just let me work!” The Gizoid actually flinches at the sheep’s outburst; he’s taken a half
-step backwards and freezes for about 5 seconds.
“Please keep your voice down. Cream is asleep. I will leave now… I apologize for distracting you from your task.” With that Gemerl leaves the room and Lanolin is left sitting at the desk. Another 45 minutes pass with Lanolin accomplishing… nothing. Every time she tries to continue this… pain in her chest stops her work.
She gets up from her chair and as quietly as possible enters the main living room where she sees Gemerl sitting on the couch staring at nothing but darkness. She moves to sit next to him, the couch sagging a little under her. They both sat in silence for a long while before the sheep finally spoke in as quiet a voice as she could manage.
“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t…” a deep breath in and out “I just want to be able to do this, I don’t want to rely on you to do my work. You should be doing things you want to do, not picking up my slack.” At some point while she was talking her hand unconsciously made its way to hold Gemerl’s. When the sheep finally notices she makes no effort to move it.
“Inquiry: What if my preferred activity is to assist you?” Gemerl’s volume was lowered as well; if Lanolin wasn’t as close as she was she most likely wouldn’t have heard anything.
“Why would you want to do that… I don’t deserve- you should want better things.” She was stammering a bit now. Gemerl has learned in prior conversations this means she has run out of prepared excuses for the situation.
“I have observed that helping you, Cream, or Vanilla brings me the highest levels of satisfaction. I do not believe there is a ‘better thing’ as you say.” The Gizoid now holds Lanolin’s hand with both of his. “I understand your desire to accomplish tasks on your own; however, relying on others is important as well.”
“I need to do this Gemerl. Without this what is the point of me? This is how—this is the way I can be useful, this is how I make up for—for everything.”
“Refutation: You have many uses beyond your completion of documents. You are dedicated, caring, hardworking, humorous on occasion, kind, warm, soft, physically pleasing to the eyes, and… Please disregard the final three descriptors. This unit has said too much.” Lanolin’s ears were more than a little red at this point; she wasn’t expecting… that. She let out a shaky chuckle. How did this Gizoid always know the exact directions to her heart?
“I-I—you…” Another large exhale “you’re right aren’t you.”
“Negative, I realize my argument was equally flawed. I should not have tried to usurp your responsibility. Vanilla said as partners we should share burdens, neither of us attempted to… Revised Proposal: I will assist you in your paperwork so you may rest sooner. Are those terms acceptable?”
“Yes, I think they are. Now, you have a lot to learn so let’s not waste ti—Hey!” Without warning Lanolin was scooped up into a bridal carry by the Gizoid. “What are you doing?”
“I am simply assisting you in conserving energy as we return to your room, also I desired to hold you. I will cease if you wish.”
“I’ll allow it for now. It is very efficient I suppose,” she says as she holds herself closer to him, trying her best to hide the growing red on her face. He notices anyway. She stays like that while Gemerl brings them back to the guest room. He sets her down on the sofa before collecting the documents and bringing them to her.
“The sofa will allow us to review the documents together easier. In addition, it should increase your comfort level.” Gemerl takes his seat next to her and begins scanning each document before handing them to the sheep for corrections. This continues for almost an hour before Lanolin finally lets out a large yawn.
“Mhm, how much more do we have?”
“Two documents are yet to be completed. At our current pace we will be finished in one hour and thirty minutes. Do you require a break?”
“…I think I need to go to sleep. You seem to understand the assignment. I can trust you to finish everything, right…? What am I saying, of course I can.” With that she turns to the side and brings her head down onto the Gizoid's lap with her legs dangling over the armrests of the sofa. It doesn't look the most comfortable, but Lanolin can’t think of anywhere else she would want to be.
“Good night, Lanolin.”
“Night, Gemerl… Thank you for putting up with me. I know I’m not easy to care about.”
“Refutation: You are very easy to care about and I do so immensely… I love you.” Gemerl’s right hand then finds a spot on the closest wool poof giving it small gentle squeezes. It’s the greatest feeling in the world for both of them.
“Heh, I love you too.” After a moment Lanolin is asleep. At some point Maggie moves from her spot in the wool and floats over to rest in Lanolin’s palm.
The next morning the door to the guest room creaks open slowly as Vanilla peers into the space. She finds a stack of completed and organized papers, and a sheep still sleeping peacefully on the sofa. With that, she closes the door.