ic contact;

[coexistent]

"I'm not around, so... leave a message, I guess."

Comments

[coexistent]

I wouldn't say it was okay if I didn't think it was okay.

[it's not like lying is a thing he does, generally.]

[immobileyes]

I know... [ But she's also scrunching her nose up at that. ]

[coexistent]

So it's fine. That's what friends are for.

[immobileyes]

It's because we're friends that I don't wanna wake you up! And if I do and you wanna go back to sleep, tell me, okay? I think just seeing you will probably help.

[coexistent]

Yeah. We can always figure out that part later anyway and... just see what happens when the time comes.

[immobileyes]

I'd be happy if it never came again...

[ It's never a pleasant time. ]

[coexistent]

Yeah... I guess that would be better, huh...

[but:] I don't think it's easy to just make dreams stop, so we'll be ready for next time.

[immobileyes]

... Yeah. Maybe I just need to be thinking of happy things when I go to sleep.

[ Mary, no, it's going to happen. ]

[coexistent]

I wonder if that would work...

[it sounds good in theory.]

[immobileyes]

I don't know... I don't think I've ever really tried it.

[coexistent]

I guess we can both try it...

[immobileyes]

You don't have bad dreams still, do you?

[ ... Asking "can Nobodies dream" seems to be way too rude... and besides, he'd had nightmares when he was sick, just like she had. ]

[coexistent]

Not always but.... sometimes I do.

[but he had those before cerealia too, so he doesn't think it's all that strange.]

[immobileyes]

... Do you remember yours?

[ Maybe it's just her. ]

[coexistent]

Sometimes. Not always but... I remember a lot of them.

[even if they usually don't make much sense.]

[immobileyes]

I wonder... if it'd be better to remember them or not. I mean maybe then I'd know how to make them stop.

[ Or it might make it worse... ]

[coexistent]

I dunno... I guess it probably depends on what they are, right? Maybe it would help but... [he worries it would scare her more to remember.]

[immobileyes]

I guess there's not really a way to know for sure, unless I remember them on my own. And that... hasn't happened.

[ Ever. ]

[coexistent]

Yeah... Maybe we'll just stick to trying the other thing and hoping it works.

[maybe it will?]

[immobileyes]

I still hope it doesn't come to that.

[ Uuugh she doesn't wanna wake him up... ]

[coexistent]

But if it does... it'll be okay.

[he'd wake up for her!!]

[immobileyes]

...

I guess. [ She seems largely unconvinced, but it'll happen sooner rather than later, probably. ]

[coexistent]

Maybe we should just... not worry about it for now.

[? would that be better? he just doesn't know.]

[immobileyes]

You mean, think of something else? That's a good idea.

[ She's still mildly distressed as is. ]

[coexistent]

Yeah. I dunno what, but... I think anything would be better than bad dreams, right?