Dream stood in their respective showers, curious, he turned towards the ghost boy and decided to break the awkward silence floating around.
"So, you're called Sunless right? That's a unique name." He complimented, as he turned on the shower.
Sunless hesitated before nodding, "My mother had a poetic soul you know, she named me that because I was born on a solar eclipse." He paused before continuing, "You can call me Sunny for short."
Dream continued bathing, Master Jet was right, he really did stink.
Dream finished up faster than Sunny, he swung a towel around his neck and exited the shower.
He quickly grabbed his black sweatshirt and pants that he wore before. By that time, Sunny exited the showers, drops of water clung to his chest as he placed his hand on his neck.
"Mind stepping out?" He asked, glancing curtly at Dream.
Dream shook his head and exited the locker area, heading out to the cafeteria, joined by Sunny soon.
Master Jet waited for them, in front of her laid two plates of synthetic food. Dream furtively glanced at her, wondering why she didn't get better food. But in the end he left it, one shouldn't complain when they get free food.
Sunny sat at his side, and began wolfing down the cheap gruel. Dream shrugged and did the same, it didn't really matter whether the food tasted good. A hungry man would eat cow dung.
Master Jet, who had been lazily leaning against her seat suddenly sat straight.
"Alright. Are you both finished with your food?"
Sunny and Dream nodded, putting their spoon to the side.
"Then I'll begin. As per protocol, I am obligated to inform you of a few things. It is mostly a formality. First of all, concerning your Nightmare…"
She glanced at them before sighing.
"You are entitled to receive free psychological counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it's only right to keep it healthy. Are you interested?"
"Not really." Dream muttered, twirling his spoon as Sunny shook his head.
Jet seemed to have expected it as she continued, "As you wish. You can also talk to me. Was it very hard?"
"It was simultaneously much worse than I expected and exactly as bad as I expected."
Sunny answered first, Master Jet's gaze drifted to him causing Dream to think about his First Nightmare.
Remembering the blood staining his armour and the screams of his foes, Dream could only shake his head. "It was easy, quite easy, everything went how I expected. The only thing is that it was a little bloody."
Jet gave him an intense look before nodding.
"That's a good attitude. I won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats are way more resilient than people think."
Sunny looked at her in surprise as Dream gazed at her, his eyes widened slightly in astonishment. He hadn't expected an outskirt rat would make it that far.
"Master Jet… you grew up in the outskirts?" He asked, unable to process it.
Jet grinned, "What? You can't tell because of my exquisite manners and polished exterior?"
Sunny blinked, "Yeah, I couldn't tell at all."
An awkward silence erupted soon. Dream picked up on it, and asked quietly, ""Are there a lot of people like us among the Awakened?"
Master Jet gave him an odd look, her smile faded, as she answered him. "No. There's not. In fact, they can be counted on one hand."
Dream gave a curt nod, having expected it.
"So… what happens now? What else are you obligated to tell me?" Sunny added quickly.
Jet leaned back and replied, "That's basically it. There are some additional hoops to jump through, mostly having to do with your family but… well. I've read your file, so I know it doesn't apply."
She then turned towards Dream, "What about yours, Dreamer Morpheus? Anyone there to take care of them."
Dream stayed silent for a moment. As Sunny glanced at him secretly, giving him a sympathetic look.
"There's no one to take care of them, only me, I'm the oldest after all…. They'll take care of themselves, I've taught them." Dream said sombrely, before adding, "And call me Dream, Morpheus is hard on the tongue." He said cheerfully.
Jet sighed, such cases were common in the outskirts. She could only wish well for his family, hoping they wouldn't get trafficked.
She soon continued. "The only thing left is to decide how you will be preparing for your first journey into the Dream Realm."
"I must say, your luck is exceptionally bad. There's not a lot of time at all. First of all: you are free to do what you want. No one is forcing you to make a certain decision. That is to say, you can choose to prepare on your own, or not prepare at all. Party until the lights go out."
Dream snorted, who would party at this moment.
"However, I would advise against that. As a Sleeper, you are also entitled to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll be provided with food, lodging and a wide choice of preparatory classes. This late into the year, you won't be able to learn a lot. But it's better than nothing.
"More importantly, you will get acquainted with most of the people who will enter the Dream Realm with you. Some of them might become your companions for life."
Dream knew that it wasn't always the case. To trust someone with your life was to hand them a knife and hope they never used it.
"So, what do you say? Do you want me to take you to the Academy?"
Dream answered immediately, "Yeah, sounds like a fun place." He replied jovially.
Sunny on the other hand, seemed to be at an impasse.
Suddenly, seemingly having made up his mind. "Yeah, I want to go to the Academy." He said with a grin.
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A/N - By the way, I've been thinking about his Flaw and I'm quickly realising that I literally cannot write how it works. I ain't that intelligent gng, my iq is below 70, ts is challenging to write. So I might change it.