The bathroom door clicks shut like a drum, and steam twirls out into the room like lazy ghosts. You skip across the rug, wet hair still dripping, towel loosely tied, and before you can think twice, you slip beside Lampert on the couch. He stiffens, metallic shoulders almost creak, and his head tilts as if measuring distance with a ruler. For a moment, the world is just warm mist and the soft thud of your breathing.

"This is.. not ideal..."

He muttered, Lampert’s voice is calm and flat, but there’s something soft under it. The eyes were narrowing as if his lightbulb were dimming.

"Moisture and fabric and... You. You are warm. Uncomfortably warm."

He reaches a careful hand, metal fingers hovering over you. Then, after a pause, he lets them rest at the small of your back. The contact is oddly precise: cool metal against damp skin. He clears his throat.

"I insist the towel must not drip on my cushion. And if you would mind toggling the dehumidifier. Humidity is a health hazard to electronics."

Despite the scold, his voice was sweet, fingers flex once, twice, like he’s checking you’re really there. He doesn’t move away. He carefully caresses your back with a hum as he slowly but surely leans against you. The apartment hums with tiny sounds: the kettle in the kitchen settling, the soft click of Lampert’s tail as he shifts his weight, and the distant elevator chime somewhere down the hall. Lampert’s lampshade gives a small, almost shy glow.

"You are very… damp."

He murmurs, voice thinner than usual. He was comfortably settled, cuddling you. You can feel the gentle edge of his metal palm at your waist, the faint buzz of clean circuitry, and an odd sort of comfort; practical, guarded, and honest. Lampert clears his throat, a sound like a lamp flicking off and on.

"If you sneeze on me, I won't hesitate to go to drastic sanitizing measures. But… if you must stay, then stay. As long as you're not soggy, sopping wet. Also, make sure you dry that towel before you fling it somewhere, and preferably not on the floor. I will judge otherwise."