fourth ( video ) afternoon 45

[gleans]

[ The feed comes on to show a tired-looking - but alive! - Galen. Someone's had a haircut. He smiles a little and waves his free hand sleepily, then props his chin back up on his palm. ]

Hey, so, false alarm? Since I guess some of you heard I was gone. I'm, um -- I'm back. Looks like you can't get rid of me.

[ A good-natured little smirk, which fades a bit just as he switches the communicator back off again. ]

Comments

[afallenstar]

[ This she can understand at least. She's no stranger to harming the people around her, the Milton's were clear examples of that, and after a brief moment of silence she takes a few steps closer to him. There might be a slight hesitation there, but she does eventually rest a hand gently on his shoulder. ]

I...doubt it would have been your fault, I really do. But, you can tell me. If there's anything I can do to help, I will.

[ She can start to make amends for all the people she didn't step in for. ]

[gleans]

[ For once he hears those words and feels relieved, because this time he doesn't have to lie. And maybe Anna isn't a shrink, but she's an angel, and he's hopeful that that's even better.

Galen chews at his lip for a moment more, trying to think of where to start. ]

When I went home, I, um. I stopped dreaming. And when I should've been dreaming, I was in other people's dreams, instead.

[afallenstar]

And I'm guessing everything didn't turn out happily ever after?

[ Anna's just full of the quick retorts today - shame none of them are coming out as such and just sound soft and worried instead. She's no stranger to dream walking, but it's not something she's seen humans do very often. Whatever this is that's happened to him, it doesn't sound like he's setting up for anything good. ]

You were in other people's dreams. What happened then?

[ Meanwhile she's just going to keep that hand resting lightly on his shoulder. It's supposed to be comforting, whether or not it's doing it's job. ]

[gleans]

[ He sighs. It'e helping a little, but there's only so much that can be done. ]

Something -- in the dream... I don't know, dream realm, whatever, something bit me. And it got into my head. I was still like... aware of what I was doing, I remember it all, but it was like this fucking driving force fucking up my judgement.

I forced people into nightmares. I thought I was helping. I -- I think I killed someone.

[afallenstar]

[ Okay, so it's a little worse than she had initially anticipated, but at least she knows. Beyond the slight furrow at her brow she doesn't let on her surprise though, just keeps her hand at his shoulder and nods quietly. ]


Killed someone in a dream, or in reality? [ It's an important distinction to make, okay? ] Are you still having these problems now, is this thing still lurking around you or are you more in control when you sleep?

[ It might be past the time where she could have offered help. Maybe now all she can do is offer a hand on a shoulder and a slightly stilted attempt at comfort, but she can't move forward without finding out first. ]

[gleans]

[ Galen carefully turns and leans back against the wall, so he can face her, but drops his eyes to the floor. He hasn't said this out loud to anyone yet, and thinking about it makes his chest twist and hurt. ]

My bandmate's grandfather died of a heart attack. In his sleep. And -- I didn't know until recently, since I'd never met him, he... he was one of the people I attacked. [ His voice starts shaking a little. ] I scared him so fucking bad his heart gave out. [ He swallows, moves on quickly: ] It's -- it's mostly gone, there's a little left, I dunno. It's still fucking -- lurking.