applesaucedream | Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare [Open to All]

Current Music: Evening July 27th/Morning July 28th

Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare [Open to All]

The woods are dark and deep, but not particularly lovely. If anything, they feel dangerous, as if something terrible might come lurching out from behind any given tree and tear into the nearest warm body. What that terrible thing might be is anyone's guess. A cat with hands? Slenderman? Stegosaurus? Actual cannibal Shia LaBeouf? All of the above in a horrible mob? It's anyone's guess. But every dreamer will be absolutely convinced that there is something unspeakable out there, and that it's after them.

The dreamers have two things on their side. The first is that there is actually nothing dangerous lurking in these woods (with the possible exception of other dreamers). The pervasive terror the dreamers are feeling is just that: a rift-given feeling, nothing more and nothing less. That snapping twig or rustle in the undergrowth is almost certainly just a squirrel or something else equally harmless.

The second is that no dreamer is alone. They all will be reunited with - or introduced to - their dæmons, a source of comfort in this dark, intimidating wilderness. However frightened the dreamers might be, at least they have someone with them who definitely doesn't want them dead.

[OOC: as ever, any and all are welcome! You don't have to be in the game to join the fun. Dreamers can remember or forget the events of the dream at the players' discretion. And the party only stops when you want it to; feel free to backtag forever.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Meanwhile, Seth just gives Sephronia a small glare, which she seems entirely unbothered by.

"No," he answers, a tad glumly. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't." He sighs and looks upwards at the dark sky, frustrated. He doesn't want it to bother him. Daniel is a great guy. It shouldn't matter.

"And yeah, Gabe hit on him too. A lot. Probably with the sole intention of making me uncomfortable," he continues. Because some of the things he said are still making Seth feel embarrassed. It's quite impressive really. "Gabe called him 'Chippendale'," he adds, reaching up to run a hand down his face. Johnny is probably the only one who would really understand what a surprisingly stressful meal that was.

"For fuck's sake," sighs Johnny. "Of course he did. He's such a dick." He leans over only somewhat awkwardly and gives Seth a firm pat on the shoulder. "Well... you never know, right?" Fuck, that sounds so stupid. He pulls his hand back to rake it through his hair.

"He's a rifty?" he says, grasping for another line of conversation, since he's so fucking helpful with the whole dating advice thing.

Well, at least Seth has someone who knows Gabe and can sympathise. Both with Gabe being a dick, and the confusion of suddenly liking a guy. He shoots Johnny a small smile at his support.

"Yeah, I met him like... last Thursday? He'd been here less than a week at that point," Seth replies. "We've sort of ended up talking, uhh..." He pauses for a bit, trying to count in his head. "Seven times now. Sort of. Some it bled together, cause four of those were dreams." So it's not like they were even making the effort that much, it's just kept happening. But. It's still a lot for a very short space of time, and several of them were pretty intense.

"Fun," says Johnny, mostly dry. Meeting in dreams can be nice, but it usually isn't, as he and Seth ought to know. "Well look, you should probably like... uh, talk to him or whatever. I mean that's, that's the most basic thing." He rubs at the back of his neck awkwardly. Like he's any great fucking expert on talking shit out. He's gotten better at it lately, but...

"I'm not saying you have to do it like, RIGHT NOW," Johnny stresses quickly. "Take your time and whatever, but. At some point you should try to figure out where he, uh, sits on that... fence."

He shrugs. Is any of this helpful? He has no idea.

Seth nods thoughtfully. He's not terrible at talking things through, as long as he gets there in his own time. He needs to suss out his feelings, and figure out how to formulate things, and find the right time to bring things up... At least so far Daniel has proved himself very willing to talk about things, and be almost intensely understanding. When he realistically thinks about it, Seth doesn't really think Daniel will make any of it into a problem, regardless of whether he's interested or not. It's just Seth who makes it a problem, because of all his fucking issues. Rational thinking doesn't make those kind of issues go away though, and sometimes Seth gets lost in them. Like how he just figures even if Daniel likes guys, he wouldn't be interested in Seth.

"Yeah, I will. Thanks," he responds finally. He's pretty sure this 'talk' will be entirely focused on figuring out where Daniel stands on relationships and such, completely unconnected to Seth, and definitely without actually revealing his own interest. Because at the moment that doesn't seem even slightly feasible.

"Anyway," he says, with the air of quite obviously and awkwardly changing the subject while pretending the topic isn't weighing heavy on him. "How are you doing? Things okay with Gabe and everything?"

"Um." The subject shift is totally fair, but it still catches Johnny off guard. "Fine. Yeah. Things are fine." He scans around the woods. "I hope I run into him. His, uh, his thing is a freaking griffin." He grins faintly, remembering the first time. "Last time this happened, uh, we weren't, you know, seeing each other yet, so it was all kinda weird."

Nova noses at him gently, like an acknowledgment of an inside joke, but instead of a joke it's a weird little moment of shared affection. He strokes his thumb over her head. Just like last time, he kind of wishes he always had this point of contact with his - inner self or whatever.

Somehow 'fine' makes Seth think that there's a bit more to that answer, but he's not going to pry. He'd been a little bit worried after that conversation with Gabe about three weeks ago, with Gabe saying they loved each other too much somehow, but he hasn't heard anything about it since then.

"Of course it is," he comments at the news of what Gabe's inner animal is. Seth is just in sort of relaxed self-contained co-existence with his own, Sephronia padding along next to them. Neither of them are really all that vocal, nor eager to seek out affection or give it unwanted. Seth knows that part of is just left over touch aversion from being locked up, when pretty much every physical touch he endured was either outright aggressive, or exploitative use of his power. It's a lot better now, especially with people he trusts, but he knows he's still a lot more withdrawn than he used to be.

"That was like... end of May, wasn't it?" he asks, thinking back to when he heard about it happening. "Like a week after you guys met?" He remembers Johnny telling him about how they'd met during the Godzilla incident, and well, Seth's not about to forget that one in a hurry.

Johnny gives Seth a sideways glance, a little surprised at the accuracy of the date. "Uh, yeah, I think," he says. "Seems like ages ago now. Fuck, it seems like I've been here forever, but it's really just been like... three months." He shakes his head. "Yeah, that was back when he was obviously into me, for like, you know, potential sex. And I was still kind of convincing myself I wasn't interested. Or maybe I wasn't yet. It's sort of hard to... I mean, was it like I always could have been into dudes and no one had really made it possible before, or was it just Gabe? I don't fucking know."

He shrugs. This kind of conversation doesn't come easy but somehow Seth makes it easier. "I can't really remember not being attracted to him?" he says. "I mean, I remember that dream, what he did for me-"

He shuts up briefly. He doesn't want to talk about Zagreus. Not right now. Especially not when there's a chance he could be out there now, with that - that thing. Nova paws at him gently, part comfort and part to remind him to keep talking. He hugs her closer, pulling one arm around himself, his hand going automatically to the shoulder where the snake-head bit him.

"I got into a bad spot and he got me out," he says lamely. "I remember him like, picking me up, sitting really close to me - I mean you know him, he's really handsy. It was sorta weird but sorta nice."

He's getting lost now, mired in his thoughts. God, since when does he talk so much about his fucking feelings? Ridiculous.

"I try not to overthink it," he mumbles, feeling embarrassed.

Seth can really identify with feeling like he's been here forever. Of course, he has actually been here for three quarters of a year now, three times as long as Johnny. And part of that time felt, well, interminable.

He listens quietly and with interest, noddding every now and then. Hearing about Johnny's experiences helps him examine his own too. He knows now, thinking back, that it's not just Daniel. After Johnny had kissed him, and then Gabe had found out and prodded him about it, he had perhaps started to realise he found Johnny attractive, even if he wouldn't really consciously admit it to himself.

He also suddenly realises with a pang that he'd probably found Daniel attractive from the moment he walked into the pub, even before he knew what kind of person he was. It's interesting how those are the two people he's really considered it with though, considering how vastly different they are, both in appearance and personality. Johnny feels a lot more like someone Seth could end up with, both pretty messed up, but Seth doesn't have a crush on Johnny, of that he's pretty certain. He has extremely different reactions to Gabe flirting with Johnny than Gabe flirting with Daniel, after all.

"Something like that happened with me and Daniel too," Seth says. "Except, I mean, he's not...uh, handsy, or you know, flirty."

"Yeah?" Johnny smiles slightly at the thought of someone helping Seth out - someone else, that is, people with dreams like they've got tend to need more than one support friend. Then he hesitates, frowning thoughtfully. "Wait, Daniel. That rings a bell. Big blond white guy? Glasses?"

Yeah, okay. He can see it. Not his 'type', whatever that is (rude magically empowered sassmasters apparently), but it's fair enough.

"I met him in the last party dream," he says. "He seemed like a nice guy."

That dredges up some pretty shit memories. Ugh. Let's just set those aside.

Seth looks up at Johnny apparently recognising him, and nods in affirmation at the description. What with all the shared dreams him and Daniel have been having, it takes him a brief moment to remember which was the big shared one, since Seth didn't really get to interact with anyone else in that one. He was a bit busy dying.

"He is. Very," he answers with a smile, glad Johnny seems positively inclined towards him. Daniel is almost aggressively nice, so Seth has no hesitation in confirming it. Hopefully the two of them had a slightly less traumatic encounter, though Seth wouldn't put money on that hope.

"I met him the day before, so that was our first shared dream. Literally the first thing he did in it was save my life." Not that he'd have died, but they didn't know that at the time, so the intention definitely still stands.

Johnny nods. That's how he met Jodie. He'd found out through sort of abrupt circumstances the other day that Jodie and Aiden are apparently gone, presumably back home. Apparently that happens sometimes. Sort of scary to think about. He's gonna miss them. Well, he's gonna miss Jodie.

"Well, that's a good first thing," he volunteers, brushing away these melancholy thoughts. "Sounds like an all right guy. I should probably meet him sometime when we're not both asleep and freaking out."

"I dunno, that sounds like half my interactions with him. With a lot of people, really," Seth replies, then shrugs. It's a common theme. "But yeah, I can invite you over sometime," he adds with a smile. And hell, even if Johnny and Daniel hadn't met before, after meeting Gabe and dealing with it decently (well, staring and freaking out about Literal Archangel Gabriel aside), Daniel should be able to handle any of Seth's friends.

"He, uh, already knows about the rebel base thing, and my power," he says, since it's probably alright for Johnny to be aware of what's safe to talk about. "And the drug dealing. Just not the, uh... use."

Which... let's not think about how that could affect their friendship. Johnny's the only one of the people Seth's pretty close with who knows about that, and Seth's not inclined to let anyone else know.

"Okay." Johnny's not sure what else to say to that. He feels kinda weird that he's apparently the only person who knows about Seth's habit, but he doesn't feel like he can say anything about that - or at least, this isn't the time.

Nova pokes her head up. "Don't you think you should tell Gabe? He might be able to help."

Oh right. Internal dialogue has a way of just coming out when she's around. Johnny grunts at her and she nudges him, a rabbitlike shrug.

"No," Seth answers immediately, both him and Sephronia seeming suddenly defensive. He's not sure what the specific reason is he's so intensely set against it. Part of it is the reason he'd given Johnny, that Gabe hadn't liked him dealing heavier stuff, and thus would definitely disapprove of using it, and so he'd probably get angry. Another reason is the fear that Gabe would simply be disappointed, that Seth will have let him down, make him feel like he doesn't deserve the help he's been given. Maybe Gabe would even decide Seth's more trouble than he's worth and just cut him loose. Now, Seth knows that possibility is an irrational fear, but it's still hard to tamp down.

"It's not Gabe's problem," Sephronia says, for once backing him up, even if Seth would rather leave it there, with a simple no that Johnny would have to respect. "He's got enough to deal with." At least Johnny should be unable to disagree with that. That fact that Gabe might still want to help is irrelevant.

And then of course lastly, there's the possibility that Gabe will simply put an end to it regardless of consequences, deciding he knows what's best for Seth. It wouldn't be completely out of character. And sure, not being dependent on drugs would be good. But it would also probably mean that...

"Without the drugs, we wouldn't be able to use the powers. There'd be no way to stop someone from doing the same thing to us again," Sephronia says, giving voice to Seth's fear, even if he'd rather not discuss that possibility. He doesn't comment, just shoots her a look. He's just not ready to face the idea that he might once again be powerless, merely a tool for others to use, and without any real way to defend himself. It had almost broken him before. Johnny's been inside one of those dreams, he's seen what a mess Seth was in there. Seth's not sure he would survive a second round.

It not being Gabe's problem isn't good enough, and Johnny's about to say as much - it doesn't matter what Gabe said in the past, he refuses to believe that he would be angry over something outside of Seth's control, or let that anger overrule the desire to help his friend - but the rest of it stops him. He chews his lip; he can feel Nova's dissatisfaction, but she doesn't say anything either. Are Seth's powers more important than his health? Well, no, but Johnny's not in any position to say so.

"I'm not gonna tell him," he says, since it might bear repeating. "I mean, I was never planning on it, it's just - I just worry about you, man."

He's seen this before, been here before, and he knows where this can go. Even when you're being smart about it. Especially then, because it sneaks up on you all the better.

"I'm doing fine, really," he replies, with a small reassuring smile over at Johnny.

He's got his powers, he can take care of himself, especially with the help he's already receiving from Gabe. Getting to live somewhere for free definitely helps a lot with any money problems. It gives him a certain sense of security, and a place of safety. And really, just knowing he can call upon Gabe if something goes really badly wrong, that's also helping a lot when it comes to worrying about what might happen. His reassurances to Johnny only feels like a white lie, but probably largely because of his ability to live in denial.

Truth is, even with not having to pay rent, morphine is expensive. And there's plenty of other living expenses, and between spending time with Daniel and Gabe and Johnny, and working at the clinic, and dealing, and traveling back and forth between these things, there's only so much dealing he can actually do. And while he knows he could easily get his hands on more lucrative business, he absolutely refuses to get involved in deals that seem shady, or in dealing harder stuff. While he knows he could easily ask Gabe for monetary help, that Gabe could probably literally materialise solid gold from thin air, there's the fear that he'll want to know where it's going, and how the hell Seth is blowing all his money so quickly. It doesn't help that his habit seems to be slowly but surely increasing in frequency and/or volume.

At least Sephronia doesn't contradict him this time. Probably because neither him nor his subconscious or soul or whatever wants to lay his troubles on Johnny. At least as long as it's troubles they can't really do much about. Johnny is already being helpful with the emotional support, and that will have to be enough.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare [Open to All]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

JOHNNY WILL TALK ABOUT HIS FEELINGS AND THEN BRAID UR HAIR

Seth is a good listener but I don't think he wants braided hair

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject