video | 003 | day 35

[rigging]

[ He means for the broadcast to be private, but his expression and the circles under his eyes are probably indicators that sleep deprivation is the cause for his mistake. He rubs at his face and curls up more tightly, hood pulled up over his head. ]

Hey, uh. Bruce. Y'there? I gotta talk t'you about something. Remember what I told you about? I think it might be happening.

Comments

[rigging]

Don't - oh my god. [ He ends the feed. There's going to be a lot of throwing shit against the walls going on here in a minute. ]

[gleans]

Jess -- no -- fuck.

[ Galen leans back in the chair, runs his hands over his face, through his hair. It isn't supposed to be like this. Jesse isn't supposed to be afraid to come near him, especially now that he thinks the nightmare is around. Jesse is supposed to help, and he isn't helping. Galen feels unsettlingly alone.

For a few moments. ]

Oh, my baby.

Shit --

They all get scared.

[ He doesn't dare turn around... but he has to; it's pulling at him. The voice doesn't leave, nor does the image he knows goes with it. Galen turns his head... and his eyes meet those of his mother. But she's off. Wrong. ]

No... no, stop.

Your father was scared.

No, fuck --

[onteamdyson]

[She tried to give him some space when he was talking to Jesse, but hovering is kind of a state of being for Kenzi right now. She doesn't even bother knocking when she hears him. The door is flung open and she's there. Standing in front of him. Psht. Privacy. PSHT.

That is her Squishy, okay? She has to take care of him. She promised. There is a creepy, girl-eating witch out there and everyone else she knows is completely losing their shit. She's not taking any chances.]

Galen, what the hell is it? Where is it?

[gleans]

Kenzi --

[ His eyes are wide and a little wet, but as he focuses back on the wall behind Kenzi, he sees that his mom - or whatever that is - is gone. He just wants Jesse to be here, suddenly, but he isn't and he won't, so Galen takes in a choked breath and reaches for Kenzi's hand. ]

God, I'm sorry, just gimme a sec, okay -- ?

[onteamdyson]

[Hand? Hand?! No way. Instant-cling. Hair pettings and closeness. Galen, it's okay, she's got you.]

You got all the time in the world, babycakes. Just shush your face. You're safe.

[gleans]

[ In that case, he holds tight, presses against Kenzi's shoulder. It isn't real. Maybe it is the nightmare, making him dream while awake because he hasn't been sleeping -- whatever it is, it's making him shake a little. Mostly for his own sake: ] It's okay. We're alright.

[onteamdyson]

Yep! Yep, we're fine. Check us out. Fine as fiddles-- what even is that expression, okay. Ignore that. We're finer than the print in a legally binding contract! [Because that's so much better.] I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I told you.

[gleans]

[ A weary little laugh. ] You don't have to -- have to protect me.

[onteamdyson]

[Jeeze, Galen!] No one said anything about having to. Wanting to is a totes different story, dude.

[gleans]

[ He's just gonna press his forehead against her shoulder again. ] Heh -- one of these days I'll stop looking like a total wimp.

[onteamdyson]

I'm sure you will! And it will be fab and wonderful and so very, very ultra-manly! And Jesse will swooooooon and I'll be so jealous, but you'll still be my Squishy. So there. [She kisses the top of his head! Smooooch.] He's coming over. Pretty sure. Just talked to him. He said 'in a bit'.

[gleans]

[ SIGH. He's not sure if that makes him feel better, since she just confirmed that he looks like a wimp -- but whatever. His head is a mess right now. ]

Yeah, he said that yesterday, too. It's -- whatever.

[onteamdyson]

[A cute wimp! A wimp that she loves a lot. Best wimp friend. Honestly, it's not even Galen being not strong enough, It's just everything else out here being that much more terrible and Kenzi desperately wanting to spare him that.]

Not whatever. He's not-- I mean... this isn't your fault, okay? We don't know what he's been through and we're gonna help him and fix this, but it's not fair of him to blame you because that wasn't you. Right? So just caaaaaaalm down and we'll figure it out.

['We' because she wedged herself into this. Girl is clingy, but she means well.]

[gleans]

I know. I just -- [ He sighs and slumps a little. ] I know. Fuck, I'm so tired.

[onteamdyson]

................. NO! [She shouts it, pushing him over. Jesse said not to let him sleep! She's doing her job! Can't let him down. Friendship on the line. Also, probably lives, maybe, who knows. Can't sleep with a frantic bff jumping on your bed, right? Because now this is happening.]

[gleans]

Jesus -- [ He half catches himself, but looks back up at Kenzi with confusion! ] Kenz, I can't stay awake for fucking ever. Gimme like -- an hour.

[onteamdyson]

... ummmmm. [Still jumping. Looking incredibly torn here.] NOPE! Can't. I can't do that, dude. Not allowed.

[gleans]

Kenzi. [ Aaaaugh. ] I promise I haven't been having weird fucking dreams, I'm not possessed, I am just this close to falling on my fucking face.

[onteamdyson]

[But Jess said-- and she's supposed to-- BUT LOOK AT THIS FACE! AUGH! She flops mid-jump and dramatically drapes herself over Galen to use her whiny voice.] I promised I'd keep you awaaaaaaake.

[gleans]

[ Uuuuugh. He flops his head back. ] Did he actually say he'd be back?

[onteamdyson]

Pretty sure his exact words were 'see you soon' so you tell me. Also I'm amazing, but that's common knowledge. So just... little bit longer? I'll go make coffee! But I swear to god, if I go downstairs and you pass out, I am tracking down a fog horn and abusing the shit out of it, okay?

[gleans]

I can't promise I won't conk out, but. [ Urrgh. ] I'll try to stay up until he gets back, alright?