Video (Action if you like roofs)

[not_heavens_adam]

[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?

Comments

[Action]

[kissedgoldfrog]

[She actually didn't hear his post; instead she was out running around just trying to regain the feeling of being back in uniform. Even with the stupid and pointless murder due to the nurses, it got the ranger thinking about trying to protect the travelers to the bubble city.

So as she passed by the Larmline Apartments, Madison noticed someone sitting on the roof but not who it was. So like any other human, she got curious and went up. That's when she noticed it was Johnny...which is odd, even for him.]

Is this a good place for you or something?

[Action]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He shrugged, recognizing her smell as Maddie.]

Not necessarily. It was just here and it offers a decent view.

[He had a small smile on his face, but it was fake. Horrendously so. He was finding it hard to fake convincingly the more tired he got.]

Why are you up here?

[Action]

[kissedgoldfrog]

Call me curious.

[She shrugged and sits down next to him. Why no, this doesn't look odd at all!]

You look troubled.

[Action]

[not_heavens_adam]

Me~? Of course not~ What does a vampire have to be troubled about?

[He smirks and gestures to her.]

I like the look, by the way.

[voice]

[replicatedcourage]

[He tries not to be bothered that one of the examples is falling off a building, he really does, but that's exactly his nightmare when he has them. The memory of taking that dive, of seeing pavement careening towards him, and then... nothing.

He can't bring himself to respond with a video, or go up to see Johnny in person even though he recognizes the roof of his own apartment building, but he does want to try and help his friend so he responds in voice only, tone reserved due to the late hour and the effort spent preventing himself from sounding scared.]

Did you have a nightmare, Johnny?

[voice]

[not_heavens_adam]

[Voice worked for him. He was tired and faking a smile was getting harder with his fatigue. Still, when he spoke, he tried to keep his tone light and indifferent.]

What makes you think I had a nightmare?

[voice]

[replicatedcourage]

Well you were talking about them and I don't think about nightmares unless I have them so I thought maybe it was the same for you...

[voice]

[not_heavens_adam]

....heh...you're clever, Sola.

voice

[bufudine]

[Is that what you really do with children? Well, it's not like Serph has any clue.]

Adults can still be comforted and soothed.

[A pause.]

Would you like company?

voice

[not_heavens_adam]

[Yes. He didn't really want to be left to think about the images still left in his mind...but he didn't want to talk about them, either. Not really.]

I will never turn down your company, Serph.

voice -> action FOREVER

[bufudine]

[...He thinks he recognises that rooftop.]

I'll be there, then.

[ action ! ]

[And so he is! However, because he's no vampire, Serph's gotta take the stairs to the roof. But once he is there, he'll give Johnny a nod in greeting before taking a seat beside him. Not close enough to intrude in Johnny's personal bubble, but close enough for friendly companionship.

He still doesn't know Johnny well enough, so for now, he skirts the talk of nightmares.]

Are children so different from adults?

Forever and ever? /shot

[not_heavens_adam]

[Johnny nods back and offers a small smile before returning his gaze to the forest.]

Most of them are. Some are older than their years while most are innocent and ignorant to the dangers of the world.

[Video]

[nos_servabit]

...

[Jacob listens to the explanation, and then gives a nod, looking ever so concerned.]

Nightmares aren't real...but that doesn't mean that the feelings made by them aren't, either.

Do you need company, Johnny?

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

[His smile takes a sad turn but he nods.]

Only if you're not busy, Jacob. I don't think I could deny your company if I wanted to~

[Video]

[angelphones]

Even if you're an adult, that doesn't mean you can't have nightmares, or be scared.

... Do you want company?

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

True. Though, adults are supposed to act strong. Especially for the younger ones. At least, that was the way I was raised.

[You know, way back when...]

I don't want to bother you. [But he would, yes.]

[Video] / [Action]

[angelphones]

[He just shakes his head. But -]

I'll be there soon.

[And soon enough, here he comes, climbing up the fire escape.]

Hey.

[Action]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He waves and offers a smile over his shoulder.]

Yo~

Come to enjoy the view with me~?

[Video]

[closedcircuit]

Not all children's nightmares can be easily assuaged.

...Or are just dreams. The important thing is to do what you can about your fears and to understand when there is nothing you can do.

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

Knowing there's nothing you can do is hardly a comfort.

[closedcircuit]

Sometimes there's comfort to be taken from the knowledge that you're not blowing things out of proportion. That you'll do absolutely everything that you can and in the end that will either be enough or not, but either way it will have passed.

[not_heavens_adam]

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.

Voice;

[kagayakashi]

[ Out of all the posts she's seen and heard so far, this one she could relate to the most. Gracia exhales gently. So she wasn't alone after all. ]

I...I don't think it's lying. Isn't it called protecting your loved ones, if you tell them everything will be okay?

[ She pauses, and then adds something else in one breath. ]

And won't everything be okay, in the end? [ At least, that's her deepest, sincerest wish. Even if it seems impossible at times. ]

Voice;

[not_heavens_adam]

Well, it depends on what you're protecting them from. Not all protection is good.


I hope so. It seems it is, some of the time, it depends on the nightmare.

Voice;

[kagayakashi]

How come not all protection is good?