(ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATORS)

Dream stood in the art gallery's café, preparing a drink for a waiting customer. His movements were sluggish and clumsy. Multiple times he had almost spilled a drink, and once he had to redo an order because he had prepared the wrong beverage. He was constantly fighting the urge to fall apart. He couldn't concentrate on anything else.

The two monsters who were working the shift with Dream noticed his strange behaviour. The short peafowl-like monster and the tall human man exchanged words about him, worry lining their whispers.

"Stars, what's up with you today?" Ink complained. He was leaning over the other side of the counter. "I've gotten a number of complaints about you. Snap out of it, already."

Frustration was added to the flood of emotion Dream was feeling. "Why don't you do it then, if you're so concerned?"

"I'm busy with running the gallery!"

You sit around being a smartass all day, is what Dream wanted to say, or you seem to be free enough to antagonise me about how to do my job. Instead he simply replied with; "OK."

Ink gave a cocky nod, as if he had made some sort of victory. As we strode away, a feathered hand was placed on Dream's shoulder.

"Dream, why don't you join me in the back for a moment? I need your help with something." Said Song, the peafowl-like monster.

Dream nodded, going into the back and leaving their human co-worker to tend to the customers. The back was a place for storage. Ingredients for various beverages and spare paintings and other works of art were stored there. Song pulled up a couple chairs, claiming one and offering the other to Dream. Dream joined her.

"What did you need my help with?" Dream asked. His voice was quiet and fragile.

"You need a break," the bird monster concluded. "So, you're going to help me find a lover of my own."

"What? Song, I don't have time for this. I'll be fired-"

"Legally Ink is required to let you take a break. You never take your breaks, so I thick you'll be off the hook this time. Come on, help me out here."

Dream sighed. Song smiled, nodding in victory and pulling out her phone.

"I don't see how I can help you get a lover."

"You managed to find yourself a keeper." Song leaned towards Dream, showing him her phone and the dating app it was open on. "I want to find someone just like Cross."

Dream raised a bonebrow. "Just like Cross?"

"Yep. Come on, humour me."

"Alright, fine. But only five minutes."

The next few moments involved Song scrolling through various potential partners and Dream occasionally giving a recommendation based off what their profiles said. None of the recommended partners seemed to meet Song's standards, however, and it appeared that they were getting nowhere.

"She seems nice," Dream mumbled.

"I looked at her social media," Song replied. "She likes to brag about how she keeps getting away with cheating."

"Ugh..." The skeleton leaned back in his chair, drowsiness washing over him like a wave. "What are you looking for in people again?"

"I told you, I want someone like Cross."

"You're not going to find someone exactly like him. That's impossible."

"I never said I wanted someone exactly like him. Just similar qualities. List off a few attributes, will you?"

Dream tried to rub the tiredness out of his eyes. "Well, he's kind."

"And...?"

"He's also very considerate. And brave, and strong. He can be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he always means well."

"Go on."

A small smile grew on Dream. "Handsome, sweet, protective. He's always there and he always knows what I need. He knows when he needs me, too. He's everything I could ever hope for. The love of my life..." Dream glanced up at Song, who was smiling brightly at him. "Oh, I see what you're doing."

"Like I said, you've got yourself a keeper." Song winked. "Don't you worry what Ink has to say, because his opinion doesn't matter. It's not as if he's done anything for you in the past except screw things over, so why should you care? Just focus on what Cross has to say."

The skeleton nodded slightly.

"On that note; If you find someone who you think might be a good match for me, mind giving me their number?"

Dream let out a chuckle. "Will do. Thanks Song."