caughtinanetwork | Video (Action if you like roofs)

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Video (Action if you like roofs)

[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 sounds a little embarrassed when he responds, though the worry is still evident in his tone.]

Not really...

Um... hold on.

[There's the quiet noise of fabric rustling as Sola rises before the SFC turns off. Several minutes later the Hylian arrives on the roof and slips his arms around Johnny from behind in a tight hug, his cheek pressed against Johnny's back and hoping the embrace gives as much comfort as he receives when Signless or Ion does this for him.]

Edited 2012-04-02 22:01 (UTC)

[Johnny tensed for only a second before relaxing again. The contact was surprising, foreign, but it was nice. Comforting.

He'd never tell the boy, but Sola had been in his nightmares before. The fact he was alive, whole, and hugging Johnny was more comfort than any words the vampire could have thought of.]

...thank you.

[With a simple nod, Sola remains where he is at Johnny's back, afraid to go any nearer the edge of the building but unwilling to let go when his friend so obviously needs comfort.]

Hugs make me feel better, so I thought you could use one.

[He reached back to lay a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.]

They seem to have a magic of their own, don't they.

It helps a lot.

Good.

[He smiles a little, resting his chin on Johnny's shoulder though keeping his eyes closed lest he get vertigo from seeing the drop out in front of his friend. He doesn't let go, arms rigid.]

Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes talking helps.

[He was quiet a moment.]

It was about someone from home doing terrible things. He's gone now, so it shouldn't matter.

[But it did.]

[Sola is usually very much a naive kid. He doesn't know about things that most others would at his apparent age, but he does know about suffering and he knows that pain doesn't simply vanish when the one who's caused it is out of sight. He doesn't respond verbally right away but merely remains with his arms locked around his friend, not daring to open his eyes but clearly understanding how Johnny must be feeling.

It's a strange thing, empathy, and Sola very much would like to make Johnny feel better because no one should feel the way he assumes he does at the moment..]

It shouldn't but it does anyway, right? When someone does something bad to you or your friends, you can't stop thinking about it even if that person is gone, because you want to do something about it...

[A small sigh.]

It's hard when you can't, I know.

[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..]

[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?

[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?

[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.

I understand, most mortals aren't comfortable with heights.

[He sat on the roof and turned his gaze to the ocean beyond the bubble. A little unrealistically, he was hoping Sola didn't ask about the nightmares.

He didn't know if he wanted to share much, if any, of what they'd been about.

Just roofs, not everything. I still like to climb trees.

[Sola plunks down next to Johnny, actively deciding not to push the vampire into talking. He knows how hard it is for him to speak about his own nightmares, even to those who knew what happened. He's certain Johnny doesn't want to, if it's just as bad.

Instead the Hylian slips his hand, ungloved since he'd come from his apartment, into Johnny's and curls their fingers together silently.]

[Johnny's eyes drift to the roof. He gains more comfort from that one gesture than he can say. And it makes him think.]

...You're very kind, Sola. Even to people that don't deserve it. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

Edited 2012-04-13 04:42 (UTC)

[Sola blushes a bit, glad it's dark and Johnny likely can't see his face.]

Nu-uh, I just don't like it when my friends are sad.

[He curls his fingers just a little bit tighter.]

[It might be dark, but Johnny's a vampire. He sees the blush but lets it slide with his only reaction being a slightly larger smile.]

And that's what makes you kind. A good friend.

[Sola screws up his face in embarrassment. Tsun everywhere]

Shut up, so're you!

[He just laughs and reaches up to ruffle Sola's hair a bit. Cute.]

If you say so~

You're cute when you get embarrassed~

[And now he's going to distract you with teasing.[

I'm not cute! Cute is for babies and animals!

[Oh look Johnny you've got him flailing! And blushing pretty profusely there...

He ducks his head to avoid more hair ruffling and waves his arms around to bat the vampire's hands away.]

[He just smirks and leans back on his hands instead.]

Aaah~ If you say so~

Though...you're not disproving my claim~

I came up here to help you! You don't have to call me a baby.

[Geeze Johnny! He's a growing boy of (physically) seventeen!]

[He smirks and puts an arm around Sola's shoulders.]

I didn't mean it like that. You're no child...though...you can still be cute.

I don't mean to offend..

[MIGHTY POUT but he doesn't move away or anything.]

I'm not mad, just don't call me cute.

[Tsuntsuntsun...]

[He just hums in amusement.]

If you say so~

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