"This whole thing is kind of exciting," Aster admits. "I'm not glad it's happening -" people are dying, and that isn't anything to be happy about - "but it isn't boring at all."

The lure of a mystery and something to do about it really invigorates him in the morning, it turns out, in a way that resisting the grinding persistence of Goluboy's intent to take his place from him and undo all the ways it's special isn't.

And now that he has Anna working the florist, and Dan helping out at the farm, he has more time for mystery, more time for painting and candy too, the passion projects he lets himself have a little of each day as an antidote to the crushing grind of resisting this town. He grins as Dan groans at the taste of the chocolate. Finally got him.

He must be doing a good job as a boss, for Dan to be so comfortable playing piano with his shirt off, sitting on the porch in his underwear and assuming he's not going to get bothered for it. If he pointed out that Dan doing these things catches his eye, it would be inappropriate, even if it would stop Dan doing these things - Aster's never had a crush on an employee and he's not sure how to handle it in a way that is ethical except to just not speak on it.

"I'll keep it up then. Make another batch tomorrow." He straightens up, distracted from his own ethical problems, renewing his search for mist.