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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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[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?

Call me curious.

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

You look troubled.

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.

And I can smell BS.

[She sees that fake front and sighs.]

It's been awhile since I put this on but I can talk about that later. What's really going on?

[He looks away and shrugs.]

I'm just enjoying the view.

...I couldn't sleep.

[Doesn't believe you Johnny. Sorry man.]

I can understand not wanting to spill everything in front of a stranger. Despite you driving me up the wall sometimes, I don't mind listening.

You're not a stranger, Maddie.

[How can you be when you're in his nightmares too? Clearly, that means something, at least.]

I've just...been having nightmares.

[She was? Crap man.]

...did they involve the time you were gone from here?

Sort of. It's difficult to explain.

[No it wasn't, but that was easier to say than the truth.]

Well, try the best you can then.

....They featured someone from home.

It doesn't matter, though, he's gone now.

It does if they're causing you not to sleep.

[Honestly, she doesn't know what to do except put a gloved hand over one of his.]

[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~

Senile would be worse.

Mmm. Cherry thinks I've already gone senile.

No, you still have your mind.

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.

[He's quiet a moment.]

What do you do when you have nightmares, Maddie?

Edited 2012-04-11 05:47 (UTC)

[That was kind of strange.]

Normally? I go out for air to clear my head. Nothing really but it seems to work.

Hmm. Okay. Thanks.

[Frsh air wasn't helping, but he'd thought he might as well ask.]

[And she kind of hangs her head in shame.]

Sorry I'm not much help.

[He can tell what he did wrong and puts a hand on her shoulder.]

Don't worry about it~ I don't know if I could answer much better should someone ask me.

[He didn't want to risk her asking more details about the dreams so he tried changing the topic.]

You never explained the uniform~

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