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[Johnny sits on the edge of the Larmline apartment's roof, looking contemplative. His question today isn't as innocnet or light-hearted as usual but he still asks it in that generic 'observer's tone.']

Nightmare: 'A frightening or unpleasant dream.' Or: 'A terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect.'

Nightmares are the bane of every child's existence. They consist of monsters under beds or hiding in closets until mommy and daddy are safely gone and the child is vulnerable. Sometimes they consist of our worst fears warped into a seemingly impossible situation that feels real all the while you dream.

But, whether it's a monster in the closet or falling off a building or some mass-murderer come to hack us to pieces in our sleep, they're still just dreams, yes?

There's nothing really to fear from nightmares, is there?

When a child has a nightmare you comfort and sooth them, assure them nothing is going to hurt them, and send them back to bed. But what about an adult? Adults dream. Adults have fears. And adults know better than to believe the age-old promise of 'nothing will hurt you.' So what can you do for an adult whose fears grow out of control?

What if the nightmares are warped memories? What then? Is there truly nothing to fear from a nightmare or do we lie to children to let them get on with their lives until they realize the truth?

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[Johnny reached over and laid a hand on Katsu's shoulder, offering a small smile before looking away again.]

Yeah...I think that 'joke' shook everyone up a bit.

I wish I had some solid cure for nightmares to offer you, but... [If he did, he wouldn't be having this problem.]

[He nods, and leans into him a little bit.]

... Hey, Johnny? Have you ever... found out something that you wish you didn't know, just because it made everything so complicated?

[Johnny was silent a moment before he tapped Sola's arms and turned so he was facing his friend with a small smile.]

You're right..it's never as easy as we'd like it to be.

Especially in a place like this...[A place where the dead could come back..]

I suppose, yes. It doesn't make things much easier, though, when are things ever easy?

How would you help a child with nightmares? I'm curious.

[He gives her a smile, thankful for the gesture, but then one of his self-deprecating smiles take over and he looks away again.]

Aaah, I'm sure I'm just being silly~ Going senile in my old age and all that~

[Johnny considers that a moment and shrugs.]

I suppose. If an adult hasn't lost their innocence along the way. Heh...I imagine such a life would be pleasant.

Although, such people would always have the threat of having that innocence ripped away looming over them.

Sometimes people protect the ones they love from imaginary threats or shelter them too much, and so, only end up hurting the ones they love when that protection finally fails.

You can't protect someone forever, try as hard as you might.

[He gives the question some thought. One thing came to mind, but did he not want to know that? It had made him happy...but it had certainly made things complicated as well.

Of course, then his mind came up with the situation he currently found himself in and he realized it fit that description perfectly...]

Unfortunately, yes, I have. Why do you ask? Is something wrong?

Senile would be worse.

[ That definitely definitely hits close to home. But she can't accept that so readily. No, she can't. She cries out in grief and shakes her head as she replies. ]

No, that can't be true! Why? Why is that impossible? To protect your loved ones is something we should always do, right?

I don't have much experience with children. But I've always found my faith of personal comfort.

Sort of... the day I came here, I found out something about myself and my cousin I wish I didn't know. It explained a lot, but I...

[... He sighs, and rubs his face before speaking again.]

... Do you know the story of Cain and Abel, Johnny?

[Sola withdraws when Johnny taps his arm, standing behind him in a tense posture and nodding at his words, but now that he's no longer hugging the vampire the edge of the building looms large and frightening and he can't quite stand it anymore.]

U-umm.. can.. I'm sorry but can we talk somewhere away from the edge?

Mmm. Cherry thinks I've already gone senile.

[She can't see it, but his expression turns to one of mixed sadness and sympathy.]

We should always try, yes. But...that doesn't mean we'll always succeed.

Your faith? I suppose that could be a comfort, yes. Perhaps He can sooth a child's fear better than any adult.

[Not that it could possibly bring him any relief. Vampires like him couldn't have faith.]

[He froze for a moment. That struck a little close to home. Still, he nodded.]

I do, yes...the children of Adam and Eve.

No, you still have your mind.

[He looks confused a moment before remembering that just because ledges and heights weren't a big deal for him that didn't mean that was true for others.]

Sorry. Of course. [A smile and he stands, leading them closer to the middle of the roof.]

Is this good or would you rather get off the roof in general?

Hmm? What makes you so sure?

Call it a hunch.

Heh. I doubt many would agree with you~

But thank you.

Well if that's what they want to believe, screw them.

[Heights had never been an issue for Sola before, but taking a nosedive from a building's edge can change that very quickly. Once away from the edge his shoulders lose much of their tension and he seems to relax a bit, the haunted look leaving his features somewhat though not entirely. It's nicer closer to Psiioniic's beehives, though the insects are all asleep among the combs so there's no comforting hum of wings at this hour.]

It's okay here, I just don't like the edge.

In... in my world, after Cain killed Abel... Abel's essence scattered and was inherited by many over the years. I'm one of those people. That's complicated enough, but... Cain had it much worse than just what the Bible says.

He keeps reincarnating. And he remembers everything, each time. ... And the most recent incarnation is very close to me. I want to help him, but I don't know how.

[He's not tearing up he's not tearing up he's not tearing up - ;w; ]

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