Chapter 17
Klynn
“You are scheduled for far too many meetings with the same people.” Was there any logic in his schedule? “Why are you meeting with the food people three times in two days?”
My mate shrugged as he glanced down at our version of what he would call a tablet. “Yesterday they wanted to talk about something related to our diets but they got distracted on fast food and it got completely off track. So I assumed we were going to try again to have the original discussion?”
“You need to guard your time as a dragon would.” Or a mage who thought very highly of themselves.
“You’re going to lecture me again if I point out that I’m here to answer questions, aren’t you?” His question indicated that I nod to make my opinion clear but it got a smile from him.
I was not as cute as he seemed to think.
“Alright.” Shifting his expression to one that looked more like work, he slowly nodded to indicate he was processing.
“We won’t change the schedule today because that would probably be rude.
But we’re going to see who’s actually planning all this out and make sure they don’t get any more time unless they have a good explanation for it. ”
“I will agree to that rule.” And as I folded the magical paper-like device, I told myself I would make sure no one else had access to his calendar. “I will also be the one to apply stern manners if the situation needs them.”
It seemed like everyone had been given access to his time and no one was managing it for him…including himself.
My human agent smirked but did not laugh. “I think I’m going to like watching you use stern manners.”
Responding to that would only encourage him, so I did the human huff and did not react to his flirting. “You are important and you need to remember that.”
He could remember safewords and facts about toys but not about his own worth. It was no wonder the people labeled as Dominants needed someone in their life to take care of them. In watching out for others, they forgot themselves.
“I think you’re going to help me with that, so how about I just say thank you?” His smile gave his game away and he gave me another kiss, looking very pleased with himself. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.” He was also naughty but we did not have time for that. Someone had scheduled him for a breakfast meeting. “Now we must go.”
Because we had to build in time for others to stop us and ask him questions as well.
“Yes.” Standing straighter, my mate got into his Agent Murphy headspace, smoothing out his shirt and looking down at himself. “Time to be professional and get work done.”
“That does not mean answering questions about toilets all day long.” They looked very similar so there was no need for that many questions.
“And you’re going to help me remember not to talk to myself.” His tone was grumbling but it did not last long. “I think I’m ready.”
“Good.” I would keep him safe from harm and ridiculous mages, but it would be a long day. “What do you do if you need privacy?”
He had already explained that he would need breaks for hugs and cuddles on a regular basis, so we had planned how that would work. A reminder for new things was important, however.
“I explain that I need to run back to my room for a moment and you’ll say you’ll accompany me.” He gave me another kiss, smiling as he showed his silly side again. “I don’t have to give a specific reason because it’s bad manners to ask.”
Nearly everyone was using questionable manners around the people of Earth.
“Someone might assume I don’t know that, and if they ask, I can just say I need to make some notes for my boss. That kind of hierarchy is clearly understood and respected.” He went back to looking like his regular self when I nodded. “We’ve got this.”
“Yes. We do.” English had the most interesting ways of expressing things.
But as my agent stepped closer to the doorway, he paused and frowned. “If we’ve got this, who do we got?”
English.
“Your schedule indicates the local version of the TBD notation. To be determined.” Reading the lawyer books had been helpful. “That usually means there was a power struggle behind the scenes and it was not known who would win.”
That got a laugh from my agent.
“Every time it feels like I’m on an alien world your people make me feel like I’m right at home.” Shaking his head, my mate put his professional expression on again as we started exiting his rooms. “Now I’m ready.”
My mate was dawdling.
“At the end of our day, we will spend quiet time together.” Hmm. “Agents who do a good job and do not tell people they are frustrating even when they are being frustrating will be rewarded.”
Chuckling, my mate looked…possibly guilty or something close to that. He did not wear the expression often enough for me to know right away. “Okay, I’m dragging my feet, but in my defense, I don’t usually have something this amazing waiting for me at home.”
Me.
I was his amazing.
“I will be with you today, so you will not have the chance to miss me.” I would be with him always but I would remind him about that after our date.
Hmm.
“Who knows?” I shrugged and did my best to look sorry and confused. “I may be so annoying you have to punish me.”
Ha.
He growled.
He was such a dragon at heart.
My mate was so possessive he wrapped his arms around me again and his mouth came down to nibble on my neck. “That was not a good way to get me to leave the house.”
It wasn’t?
Oh dear.
“Agent Murphy?”
Shoot.
“I took off the privacy thing.” My mate whispered out his frustration as his head crashed to my shoulder. “Fuck.”
I agreed.
“Work time.” My mate was an important person and his role couldn’t be ignored.
“Yes.” Straightening, he did his get ready motions again. “Work.”
As he made the door open, looking as if he had been interacting with our technological magic for his entire life, my human agent looked professional and stern as the door opened. “Professor Zorin, how can I help you?”
His pout was not professional at all, but it showed he had been practicing his Earth expressions. I could not decide if he should be criticized for his behavior or praised for his practice. So ignoring it seemed to be the best option.
“I was given the task of explaining your morning meeting.” He did his best to give my agent a pleasant look but there was a power play behind his words. “Two departments are requesting your presence and are not willing to back down.”
Yes, power plays.
My mate was professional and made a curious sound that the professor understood indicated he wanted information.
“What you would call the history department is having a morning meal of eggs and what we think is something close to the food bacon if it was described correctly by Wren of Earth.” Professor Zorin shifted slightly to show displeasure.
“The regional tradesmen are exploring new food based on the description of breakfast desserts.”
Exploring?
“That sounds…interesting.” My agent managed not to wince, which was commendable. “It sounds like I’m supposed to choose where to go?”
He did not like it when the professor nodded, but he did a wonderful job of keeping what they called a straight face.
English.
“You were expressing an interest in our history.” At least, that was what I assumed part of his desire for story time had been. “I’m sure the tradesmen would understand your interest.”
When my mate nodded, I turned to the professor. “Please explain the situation to the tradesmen and offer to have several of the Earth people at their meeting.”
They would not be happy at the original slight but additional visitors would make them feel important.
“I think that would be a wise choice.” Even the professor didn’t seem excited about their food options. “I am not sure they understood their goal.”
My mate pressed his lips together but did not react in a way that I thought the professor would understand.
“I don’t mind helping them but I think one of the other visitors was a baker when they were younger.
They might be better served talking to Beatrice about the food and Hugh about how we handle small businesses. ”
That was a much better plan and would leave more time open in my mate’s schedule for more productive conversations about how commerce would be handled through the portal and his thoughts on funishments.
Sometimes first-hand experience was necessary to truly understand a custom.
“That sounds like a reasonable plan.” Professor Zorin looked like he wanted to sigh but he seemed to have decided to behave himself. “Are you ready to go to the large conference room?”
I assumed the answer would be yes but my mate paused and frowned like he was thinking. “One minute. The history department changes things.”
As he turned around, he focused on me. “I’ll be right back. I have something for them.”
I gave him the correct version of a nod as he went back to his sleeping space but the professor shifted and indicated curiosity.
Ignoring him would’ve pleased me, but I was acting in a professional capacity for my mate.
“Because I was kept away from Agent Murphy, we have not had enough time to review his plans for each department.”
Hmm.
He wanted to wiggle like a fish trapped on a hook.
Fishing.
Yes.
Was Professor Zorin behind us needing to be separated?
“Ready.” My human agent came back to us with a stack of books in his hand.
Books.
For someone else.
My mate wore a smile that made me think he understood what I was thinking. He smirked. Naughty, naughty mate.
“I’ll show you the other gifts I brought when we’re done with meetings for the day.” My mate was clearly pleased with himself, making me wonder if he’d brought me something as well. “I should get more organized and I’ll need some help with that.”
“Of course.” I nodded my head to indicate understanding and kept my tone neutral. “I would be happy to help.”
The professor was watching us closely but kept his questions to himself.
His restraint was remarkable given how impulsive he seemed to be.
“Now I’m ready.” My human agent was presenting himself professionally but he was enjoying making the professor curious and enjoying my frustration. “Thank you for being patient.”
Brat.
He knew I was not the type to appreciate waiting.
“You are welcome.” The professor stayed with us as we left my mate’s rooms and kept me from being able to ask any questions. He was smart and kept his questions to himself, though, which showed he was smarter than he appeared because I had to work on my control.
Being able to indulge in a complete lack of control the previous night made me wish to indulge myself but that was not reasonable.
My people did not behave that way…and never in public.
Somehow my mate understood my struggle but all it took was one firm glance to settle my behavior and improve my ability to control my emotions.
Good.
That was his job and he understood his role…and I hoped he remembered it later when it came to finding a reason to explore funishments.
But it was not the time to distract myself or my mate with those kinds of thoughts.
My mate needed all of his focus to deal with the historians and those who studied the different aspects of our history. Humans used scientific methods to search for details in how the world was organized in the past, but we had not done the same.
Our thoughts were always on how magic could be used and not the more human ways of doing things. Before I had read my books, I would have said magic would always provide an answer, but I was starting to understand why human processes weren’t always a bad thing.
We had studied magic using a variety of methods and had never come up with dino nuggets.
Or tater tots.
The list of wonderful books we had not created was also amazing, and as we approached the conference room, I could not help but wonder if our magic had helped or hindered us.
But those thoughts would have to wait…we had work to do that did not involve overthinking our entire way of life.