Disclaimer: Just going to be saying this all week: I don't own Dr. STONE.

Authoress' Note: And here's another one for TKS' DCST Ships week! Gotta admit, this is the biggest week I've ever participated in, with a total of 12 prompts that I want to write for. Whether I do or not depends on a lot of things, of course, but I do hope everyone will enjoy the stories that I do post!

Day 1: Fake Dating

A Different Dynamic

"Master Ryusui, if you do not make haste, you will be late. Your father would not be pleased if you were to embarrass him by arriving late."

"Yes, I got it, Francois, just hold it for a few more minutes!"

The butler of many talents sighed through a professional smile. "That is what you said fifteen minutes ago, Master Ryusui," they replied with fake irritation, a short chuckle at the back of their throat when they heard the irritated groan in return.

Francois was not at all annoyed, despite how the tones may appear to someone on the outside looking in. Out of all of those in employ with the Nanami Conglomerate, they were about the only one that didn't hold any sort of negative feelings – public or private – towards the young heir. They had worked with him since he was barely a pre-teen, being the one to serve his every need and whim with utmost accuracy and professionalism. Whereas others had simply grown to dislike him for his greedy and self-serving lifestyle choices, Francois did not.

That was just their dynamic. He was their master, and they were his servant.

Although, for a brief moment as Francois played with the cuffs on their white gloves, they looked down at their frame, pondering the state of dress chosen for this evening's event. Something that Ryusui was a little too eager to gift them when the subject of the event came up the first time.

"You're coming with me as my date, Francois!"

Those words caused a crack in their usually stoic demeanor. A date? A master asking their servant out for such a thing? A common trope of romantic media, they knew that from the amount of times it's been fluttered about with some of the younger and more naive of the female staff, but it wasn't something they had ever thought of being realistic.

Although Ryusui was quick to correct his words upon seeing Francois' blanched face, realizing his attempt at humor actually caused more distress than what it should've. What was to come wasn't actually a date in the traditional sense, but rather something he wanted them to attend with him not as an employee, but as his most honored guest. This event was meant to be one of several celebrations for his 18th birthday, and given the many years of service that Francois had offered him over his formative years as well as unconditional support for his frivolous, greedy lifestyle, it was only fair that he had them attend the party as well. It was then when he gave them the box that held the uniform they were wearing now, ordering them to wear it the night of the event.

Never one to disobey an order, they agreed, although with some level of reasonable hesitation.

It wasn't as though the suit they were wearing was terrible by any means. It was actually quite wonderful, if they could be so honest. A rich indigo coat that fastened with tarnished gold clasps with tails that billowed out behind like half of a blooming flower, an ivory-colored frilly shirt beneath adorned with a black cravat around the collar, matching indigo trousers with hems that hid beneath that of knee-length black boots, tied very neatly with a bow at the top and with one-inch platforms as what they had always preferred. The outfit was something that truly fit their ambiguous style, showing Ryusui's attention to detail.

Still, as they appeared in the mirror after putting it on, brushing through the natural curls of their dark blonde hair to fix any ruffles made while getting dressed, they couldn't help but feel a bit out of place. Such a gift was not something a servant like them should receive, let alone accept and wear. This was an unorthodox matter for what their relationship called for. But they could also just not accept it, not when their master was so adamant. When Ryusui placed his mind on something that he desired, no matter how big or small, important or insignificant, nothing can stop him. They knew this better than anyone.

Umber lips curled into a faint frown. Unorthodox, indeed... suddenly, the butler with foresight to plan and predict many steps ahead felt entirely at a loss. While, yes, there was a sense of honor in their master's kindness, they were not in their element. This was not common for their dynamic. To not be dressed in typical fashion for their job, to know that they would be going to a function filled with those of their clients' high-class friends and business partners, expected to be treated as a guest and not an employee... it was not normal in the slightest. And while, yes, they could easily keep their face and act with every bit of the professionalism and manners they always use, they could still feel the unease in their chest from the anxiety of what was to come. Master Ryusui really should've picked one of his many girlfriends or boyfriends to have gone with him, not his faithful butler. They were not someone that should be treated with such kind gestures and treatment by their master. It was all so improper!

"Francois, can you come in here, please?"

The call of duty broke them from their reverie, filling the breaks in their expression quickly before opening the door to Ryusei's room, seeing him putting the finishing touches on his outfit. "Does everything look right?" he asked for confirmation of what he was seeing in the mirror.

"You are missing your pocket square, but that is all that I can see that is out of place," the reply came quickly, before Francois blinked and took in an extra detail, "I also see that you have chosen an outfit that matches mine."

"Ha, but of course!" the dragon said with a laugh, "It is only appropriate given that we are going together, right?"

They nodded their head, keeping the anxious words stuck to their tongue. Eyes followed as he grabbed the missing cloth needed to finish his attire, adding it to the breast pocket of the coat, before grabbing something else that was in a small square box, trailing upward to meet his excited gaze as he approached, motioning for them to raise their hands. They did as tell, the small box being placed gently into their gloved palms.

"Open it up."

Following the order, delicately they removed the top of the box, revealing a beautiful, white rose boutonniere. They blinked again, taken aback by the floral addition. "It is quite lovely, Master Ryusui," they complimented, raising a brow in confusion as their gaze returned from the object and back to him, "But may I ask what is this for?"

"It's for you, obviously," he said with another classic laugh, removing the boutonniere from the box, motioning for Francois to lower their arms to allow him access to pin it into the lapel of their coat, "I thought of it at the last minute, thinking it'd look nice with your suit. Such a thing should be worn by one's date to a fancy event, after all."

They froze up again at hearing the word "date", but knowing that it was meant to be part of his joke, they didn't react in the same way as before. His hands moved away, and they looked down to see the new gift in its proper place, the white flower a perfect compliment to the indigo suit. He really did put a lot of thought into this. Too much thought.

"I am grateful, Master Ryusui, but... why?"

The words escaped before they could stop them, and they inwardly flinched at how unprofessionally they had sounded. One shouldn't question their masters, only obey! That's their job, after all! Anxiety grew as they watched his face become unreadable and confused by the sudden question.

"Why? I told you already."

"Yes, you did. However, I still do not understand. This... is not proper."

"Proper?"

They nodded their head, and he tilted his head to one side, brow raised and etched confusion still on his face. "I guess, yeah, it's not really normal for someone like me to take their butler to such a fancy event," he said in contemplation as he crossed his arms over his chest, debating their words carefully, before smirking and relaxing their stance, snapping their fingers in their typical response, causing Francois to react in reflex to the sound.

"But who cares about normalcy? It's my birthday party; I'm allowed to bring whoever I want. And if I want to bring you, then why should being proper matter? You're not coming as my butler. You're coming as someone that had been my close companion since I was a kid."

The anxiety that welled up in Francois' chest started to dissipate as they listened, their eyes reflecting the lightning of surprise that filled their being. To hear such honest words, to be called a companion and not a butler... something about his tone, his grin, his sincerity caused them to smile at last, nodding once again.

"Thank you, Master Ryusui, for such kindness. I am very grateful, from the depths of my heart, to be in the employ of such a wonderful man like you," they replied with a traditional bow, the action being brushed off with a scoff.

"Hey, none of that! You're just going to call me Ryusui tonight, understand? That's an order!"

"Yes, I understand. Ryusui."

He smirked as they smiled, and he extended a bent arm out to them, asking without words for their hand. They agreed, following all proper protocol as he escorted them out of the room, leading down the halls and stairs to the limo that had been patiently waiting downstairs for their riders to arrive.

Francois stole a sideways glance at Ryusui as he guided them, and the smile strengthened as their steps became lighter than feathers. There was still reservations, they felt it, but the feeling was faint and fading further. Yes, the pair was still master and servant, and once this evening was over with, that will return and remain. Although, they suppose, for one night, playing a different dynamic was not so bad.

- end -