008 [action/video]

[complexrestart]

[The video turns on, and Rika's facing the screen. It's late at night, and yet she's wide awake. She was asleep not too long ago, however she was jolted awake suddenly from a nightmare.] ... It seems as if I wasn't able to escape the nightmares either... [Her hand touches her throat for a moment, and she catches herself and places her hands in her lap.] This fog... it has something to do with it, but... I don't know what it is. It seems that everyone's dreams are very realistic, as was mine.

When I woke up, I didn't know what was real and what wasn't. I'm surprised I managed to calm myself down... [Her hand goes up to her throat again, and she scratches it lightly as she thinks of her dream. She catches herself again and quickly moves her hand away. Why is she doing this? She never reacted like this before... yet, the nightmare seemed to have had a deep effect on her.]

[She shuts off the video, but before it shuts off there's a slight mumbling--] Please... stop apologizing. I thought you were no longer doing that.



((ooc: Rika just had a dream about Hinamizawa Syndrome appearing in Johto, so she's pretty shaken up at the moment.))

Comments

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

... I had a nightmare and I couldn't fall back asleep.

[action]

[combat_butler]

Wha-- S-seriously?! How widespread this is is starting to border on horror movie levels of ridiculous...!

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

Yes... It seems as if the nightmares are also very realistic...

[action]

[combat_butler]

*The one he had the last time he slept felt like nothing too far out of what his own imagination would come up with, so he hasn't thought too hard on this, but--*

Realistic, huh... That might explain all the over-the-top reactions floating about the network...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

Yes.

I... It really frightened me.

[action]

[combat_butler]

--eh? *Hayate is pausing, before slowly crouching down a bit to take a good look at her.* Are... Are you still frightened?

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

[She really doesn't want to admit it but...] Yes. I am.

[action]

[combat_butler]

Mmm.... *scratching his cheek for a moment, before shifting to sit down beside her.* Do you want to talk about it?

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

[She's silent for a moment.] Yes, I think so. It might help to ease my fears.

[action]

[combat_butler]

Mm, all right... However-- *He's doing his best to give her a smile.* If any of it's too painful to repeat, you don't have to.

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

[She's trying to find the right way to word things.] You aren't... hearing things, are you?

[action]

[combat_butler]

--hearing things? *Taking a moment before shaking his head.* Nothing aside from the usual BGM and various Pokémon noises...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

... No footsteps?

[action]

[combat_butler]

*blink blink* Any footsteps I've been hearing I'm pretty sure belonged to one of our group...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

[She breathes a sigh of relief.] You're sure... right?

Re: [action]

[combat_butler]

Um, well... It's hard to recognize everyone's footsteps out here on the route, but I'm pretty sure, yeah.

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

... Alright. [She'll try to set aside her worries for now.]

Have you had any nightmares yet?

[action]

[combat_butler]

--eh? Ah, w-well... Not... really... *Glancing off to the side a bit* It wasn't that different from the usual when I have them...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

What was it about?

[action]

[combat_butler]

It was just a dream about the past. One that I used to have all the time. With a few minor changes, but I'm not going to let it bother me.

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

Really? ...Would you mind telling me what happened? As was mine, yet it's bothering me. Quite a bit.

[action]

[combat_butler]

Ah, well, that's... It's... It's something I finally managed to move on from, so talking about it would be a little...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

[She smiles a little.] I understand. I feel the same way. Only, I haven't been able to move on.

[action]

[combat_butler]

Aaa... I'm sorry... If I hadn't just dreamed about it again, it would be a lot easier to talk about...

In any case, it's not always easy to move on, Rika-san...

[action]

[complexrestart.livejournal.com]

It's all right. I understand, Hayate.

That's very true. Especially when it's just beginning to end. [She looks away.] I thought things wouldn't be the same here... however, that nightmare told me otherwise.