Luo Binghe has been avoiding Claudius' dreams. It would be an easy arena to torment him further, one with no social consequences, as long as it seemed to be a natural dream. He thought of doing exactly that after releasing Claudius from the blood parasites, his petty desire to hurt Claudius still not sated despite Nina's excellent counsel. But he did not want to betray Nina's faith in him. And after the childhood curse, the thought of interacting with Claudius at all stirred a tempest of emotion that threatened to drown him if he tried.
Perhaps that is why this dream catches his attention: because Claudius is a child. Luo Binghe watches it, discomfited by how strongly averse he is to seeing this child in distress. When the nightmare creature starts to pull off his skin, like the Skinner Demon from Luo Binghe's disciple days, he freezes the dream without thinking. Afterward comes the flood of justifications—Luo Binghe swore to protect this child, and he keeps his word; he repays his debts, and the child Claudius did him a service, even if his adult self would not have deigned to.
Then he is caught. The nightmare women's talons have peeled half of Claudius' face off; the rest is twisted in terror. Luo Binghe cannot let Claudius' mind regain control of the dream, so he must choose something to replace it, and every choice is fraught.
He no longer wishes to torment Claudius, not even if no one would know it was his doing. It would say something about Luo Binghe that is all too clear after their compelled conversation. But neither can he stand to give Claudius an idyllic dream like the one he gave Sagramore's husband.
However... Claudius does not know Luo Binghe can manipulate dreams. Whatever Luo Binghe shows him, he will believe it is the product of his unconscious mind. So perhaps the question is, what would be most amusing for Claudius to believe he imagined of his own accord?
When he comes back to his awareness, Claudius will be an adult man once again, in a lounge redolent with incense and perfume. He will be dressed in fine yet provocative silks, and surrounded by beautiful women. These are the quarters of Luo Binghe's harem. Let him picture himself as one of Luo Binghe's wives; let him gossip with Zhu Naonao and Qin Wanyue, speculating about when their handsome and virile husband will come tend to them. Let his heart leap with excitement at a footfall by the door, hoping it is Luo Binghe; let disappointment settle over him like a shroud when Luo Binghe chooses another wife as an evening companion. Let him wonder, on awakening, what hidden desires inspired this vision.
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Perhaps that is why this dream catches his attention: because Claudius is a child. Luo Binghe watches it, discomfited by how strongly averse he is to seeing this child in distress. When the nightmare creature starts to pull off his skin, like the Skinner Demon from Luo Binghe's disciple days, he freezes the dream without thinking. Afterward comes the flood of justifications—Luo Binghe swore to protect this child, and he keeps his word; he repays his debts, and the child Claudius did him a service, even if his adult self would not have deigned to.
Then he is caught. The nightmare women's talons have peeled half of Claudius' face off; the rest is twisted in terror. Luo Binghe cannot let Claudius' mind regain control of the dream, so he must choose something to replace it, and every choice is fraught.
He no longer wishes to torment Claudius, not even if no one would know it was his doing. It would say something about Luo Binghe that is all too clear after their compelled conversation. But neither can he stand to give Claudius an idyllic dream like the one he gave Sagramore's husband.
However... Claudius does not know Luo Binghe can manipulate dreams. Whatever Luo Binghe shows him, he will believe it is the product of his unconscious mind. So perhaps the question is, what would be most amusing for Claudius to believe he imagined of his own accord?
When he comes back to his awareness, Claudius will be an adult man once again, in a lounge redolent with incense and perfume. He will be dressed in fine yet provocative silks, and surrounded by beautiful women. These are the quarters of Luo Binghe's harem. Let him picture himself as one of Luo Binghe's wives; let him gossip with Zhu Naonao and Qin Wanyue, speculating about when their handsome and virile husband will come tend to them. Let his heart leap with excitement at a footfall by the door, hoping it is Luo Binghe; let disappointment settle over him like a shroud when Luo Binghe chooses another wife as an evening companion. Let him wonder, on awakening, what hidden desires inspired this vision.