09 ❄ ( AUDIO )

[wintershepherd]

[ It's later in the evening (what passes for his morning, after sleeping through the heat of the day) and this is coming from a public cafe console tagged with Jack's ID (he doesn't know how to make it anonymous anyway). He fidgets with the speaker for a moment causing a smidge of feedback before seeming to reach a decision and soldiering forward with his question. ]

Hey I... know everyone's busy with, uh, getting things back together after last week but-- does anyone know a good way to tell dreams from memories if you... don't remember whether it happened or not?

Comments

audio;

[insecrets]

[Finnick thinks about not replying. Easier to be quiet now and laugh it off later when he's better, but...]

There's usually something about dreams [nightmares] that isn't quite realistic. At least for me.

[A long pause.] Something up?

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

[ wryly, though he appreciates the perspective ]

I think the problem is that my "realistic" doesn't really match a lot of other people's.

Just... a lot of dreams lately.

[ he will call them dreams until he figures this out ]

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

[Hard being the normal one in a group of magically-inclined people.]

That depends. How outside of the norm are your dreams?

About what? Memories? [A soft snort.] I have those, too.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

It's hard to say, I don't... usually need to sleep. So dreams used to be really infrequent, you know?

[ wow suddenly awkward reminder that he's not technically human anymore ]

You do? You can tell them apart?

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

But now you're dreaming more than usual? Or sleeping more?

[Not that he's any sort of doctor, but that's weird either way, Jack.]

After I'm awake, generally. My dreams tend to distort my memories.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

Both. I sleep more because the heat makes me tired, so I'm dreaming more... but it's been worse this last week.

[ the silence on the line seems to indicate he's thinking that over ]

Do you trust your memories though? When you're awake and all?

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

Any reason for that in particular, you think? Last week was... [he doesn't really want to think about last week honestly, and there's a long pause before he finally finishes his sentence.] stressful.

[Hm.] I don't really trust my reality all that often, but my memories... I know they're mine. I trust what's happened.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

[ wryly: ] I'd be really surprised if last week didn't have anything to do with making it worse but I'm not sure it's the cause of the problem.

That's good. That's... important.

[ he wishes he had that ]

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

But I'm sure it's not helping. [A chuckle.] Yeah, it's my lifeline.

[He makes a thoughtful noise.] What do you think started all of your dreams?

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

Probably because my staff was broken. Before I had a chance to fix it, I felt... like I was barely holding together-- literally, not metaphorically.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

So that staff of yours, it's like... a lifeline? [He sounds unsure as he says it, for good reason. That's some weird stuff.]

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack sounds almost as unsure describing it. ]

It helps... focus me, I guess. When it was broken I felt like I would just... get pulled apart by the littlest thing.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

It's dangerous, to have such a powerful weakness. [The way Finnick says it, it sounds as though he understands exactly how that feels.]

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, probably. Can't do much about it though.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

We rarely ever can, no matter what our weaknesses are.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

But there's one way to make up for weaknesses.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

Yeah? What's that? [Because he'd sure like to know that secret.]

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

Friends. People you can trust.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

[A soft laugh.] What if those are your weaknesses? What do you do then?

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

You review your definition of weakness.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

I'll take it under advisement, see how I can change definitions around.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

Just don't think it's impossible, okay? Remember you made friends with a guy you couldn't see or hear at first, everything can seem easy next to that.

[ He cares, water bro. ]

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

[He knows, Jack. That gets a laugh out of him.] At this point, I don't think there is such a thing as impossible when it comes to this place anymore.

Re: audio;

[wintershepherd]

That's the spirit!

[ no Jack don't get started on puns ]

How about we have another fishing trip soon? Just to get away for a while.

Re: audio;

[insecrets]

You know what, i could use a relaxing fishing trip. You're on, Jack, just you and me.