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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Ben, Lena, Mayellen, and Art gather in Dalaran for crafting, and discuss the recent plague of nightmares. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Chain: Cobalt Company Craft Circle
Lena smiles as she and May walk into the beer garden, though she moves with a touch of weariness.
[Lena]: It's good to see you again. Good to see you awake.
[Mayellen]: You really look like you need to have a seat.
Mayellen always moves as though she's tired, so it's hard to tell any difference.
[Lena]: Let's get one.
Lena sits down heavily and sighs, starting to sort out her knitting bag. "This really is the best place to weather out the nightmare storm, if you need a port for it."
[Mayellen]: I don't think they'd let me just…. stay here.
[Ben]: Hey, y'all. We are swappin' sides, huh?
Ben summons a tired smile.
This is a reference to the fact that Lena and May are sitting on Ben’s usual side of the table, and not, like, wartime loyalties or anything.
[Mayellen]: Are you at least having any variety in your nightm– oh hi!
[Lena]: I got here first, so yeah. *Lena grins.*
Mayellen smiles at Ben.
[Mayellen]: I keep having the same one over and over, and you'd think that would make it lose its effect, but each time it's like I forget it happened before.
Ben, who had started to take his knitting from his bag, glances up. "Oh. We are talkin' about nightmares?"
[Mayellen]: I mean, I am. I thought it would help me to talk. But if you'd prefer I didn't, I can… not.
Lena looks at Mayellen with sympathy. "That sounds awful. The shield thing they got here helps a lot, but still… I mean, I always had nightmares sometimes." Lena nods over at Ben. "You havin' any trouble?"
[Ben]: It's okay, *he says to May.* You can talk if you want to.
Ben nods at Lena. "Some."
[Ben]: Better since they got that shield up I guess. Was real ugly, the first couple.
[Lena]: I'm in. For whoever wants to talk. Might make 'em lose power by sharing.
[Mayellen]: I thought, maybe if I talked about it, I'd at least… have a different one next time.
[Mayellen]: If I sort of purge it from my head.
Lena nods. She starts trying to sort out her project. The yarn is a tangle.
[Mayellen]: I wish I had a place here.
[Ben]: You can stay with me an' Mizz if you want. We got space.
[Lena]: I've got just the room. I bet I could pull some strings though, or… yeah, with Ben and Ismene.
Mayellen remembers her ostensible reason for being here and pulls out her latest sewing project, a fairly ordinary looking shirt.
[Mayellen]: I'd prefer to stay with you, Lena, if you don't mind. It seems … odd to get in a couple's space.
[Lena]: Well, I got Terri there too, most of the time… but I bet I could talk to the innkeep, get you a room. They're pretty well full up, but if you know somebody. *Lena shrugs.*
[Mayellen]: You… also have someone there. Okay.
[Ben]: May, we got room for you. We got a — what d'you call, a suite? With a bedroom an' a outer room? You can have the outer room.
[Mayellen]: I'll just… I'll figure something out.
[Lena]: How's Jonas doing?
[Mayellen]: I um, I haven't really talked to Jonas in a few.
Ben peers at Mayellen. "… he okay?"
[Mayellen]: I don't know. I haven't talked to him.
[Ben]: Are y'all two —
Ben lowers his knitting, concerned.
[Mayellen]: Again, I don't know. He hasn't come looking for me either. But I asked the landlady and she's seen him coming and going, so I know he's not, you know… asleep.
[Mayellen]: I might be avoiding him a little.
[Mayellen]: And he's… not been trying to hunt me down aggressively. Which is… probably good.
[Lena]: Did something happen? *Lena looks over, worried.*
[Ben]: … for why? He done somethin'? *Ben sits up straight, bristling.*
[Mayellen]: Not in real life. But um.
[Ben]: … oh.
[Mayellen]: Like I say, same nightmare every time I sleep.
[Ben]: And it's — oh.
[Lena]: And… it's about him.
[Mayellen]: There's two parts to it. The first one he… hurts me. Really bad.
Ben is suddenly really, really intent on his knitting.
Lena is suddenly not really focusing on her knitting at all.
[Mayellen]: And then I'm all… bleeding and barely make it to Nala's place. And all my friends are there.
[Lena]: That's a good turn, isn't it?
[Mayellen]: And none of them believe me. And Anni in particular says really mean things, calls me a liar, a man-hater, says I'm trying to ruin their friendship with him because I hate men.
Ben glances up, his expression dark.
[Mayellen]: And Nala is gentler but it's somehow worse. She obviously doesn't believe me and is trying to figure out why I'd say something like this, or how I might have mistaken someone else for him or… she just won't believe me.
[Mayellen]: And then I get so mad that I — something snaps.
[Mayellen]: And I … grow demon wings and I can feel the fel just kind of… pouring out of me and I get bigger and everyone screams and I start killing them all.
[Lena]: Oh, May. *Lena puts a hand on her shoulder.*
[Ben]: Well, sh*t, May.
Mayellen smiles wryly.
[Mayellen]: So, you know, fun times. I'm able to calm down pretty quickly once I wake up and realize where I am, but then it just happens again the next time I sleep.
[Lena]: I'd say that'd never happen, but… *Lena's gaze goes distant* I'd believe you. I promise you that.
[Mayellen]: Of course I know it wouldn't happen.
[Mayellen]: Any of it.
[Mayellen]: Well… I'm ninety per cent sure that ninety percent of it wouldn't happen.
Ben glances down at his knitting again and addresses his hands. "I dreamed… I hurt Mizzy. Real bad. Like… real bad."
Ben squints at his yarn.
[Mayellen]: Oh no, Ben. I'm so sorry.
[Ben]: Well, so I mean, it ain't just you.
[Lena]: And you wouldn't ever do that, Ben, either.
[Mayellen]: It's probably because of your dad. Things you saw when you were little.
[Ben]: Yeah, my dad is in it too.
[Mayellen]: And I've seen warlocks go bad before, so that's where that comes from. Also Anni freaking out and accusing me of stuff, that's happened.
[Ben]: You got any reason to think Jonas would do somethin' to you? Because I will handle him.
[Mayellen]: The truth is I… really only know part of Jonas. There is a lot he… doesn't really show me. So I guess I always worry a little bit.
Ben frowns.
[Mayellen]: He's very guarded, let's say. And sometimes, you know, you wonder what a man is guarding.
[Mayellen]: But he has never even hinted at hurting me.
[Lena]: Sometimes people do put on a face, till they're sure you can't get away. *Lena says quietly. She's probably not helping.*
[Mayellen]: I mean, sometimes we get… energetic about certain um… games, but it's never even a little bit really scary.
[Ben]: … reckon I did not really need to know that, Mayellen Marie Mullby, *Ben says dryly.*
[Ben]: But okay. That ain't — I mean that ain't nothin', in itself.
Mayellen blushes, genuinely embarrassed, at Ben's tease. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I was just— data."
Lena 's sober mood breaks into a little smile. "It's good you feel safe. That's important."
Ben laughs at May, not unkindly.
[Ben]: But yeah, if you ever feel like — if you ever are at all uneasy about him, you tell someone?
[Mayellen]: Well, I can definitely get away if I see anything I don't like. And I will. I love him, or at least I love what I know of him. But I'm not his slave.
[Mayellen]: I would miss him, all the things that he adds to my life, and I would be really sad about it. But I'd rather be sad than in danger.
[Ben]: Yeah. I would rather you not be in danger.
[Lena]: It might not be as simple as it sounds, talking here and not being afraid. Leaving somebody dangerous doesn't always mean you're out of danger. But… you do have friends that'd believe you, if it happened.
Ben nods somberly at Lena.
Mayellen studies Lena.
[Mayellen]: I've thought about that, you know. Jonas is a hunter. A tracker. He is really good at finding people and things. Gifted, in certain ways.
[Ben]: … that ain't reassurin' me about him.
[Mayellen]: I remember that being a huge part of the fear in the dream, when he– turned. On me. That I knew I could never, ever get away, not for real.
[Lena]: You'd have to take… steps. *Lena's not knitting at all, though her fingers are dug into the yarn.* Or I could take them for you. Or Ben.
[Mayellen]: But in real life, I would have so many people to protect me.
Lena nods.
[Ben]: Yeah. You got people would protect you.
Ben looks at Lena. "Reckon all of us in Cobalt does."
Lena looks up at Ben and tries to smile reassuringly.
[Mayellen]: So I don't really have to be afraid, even if I did have to be afraid of him. And I don't think I do.
[Lena]: I hope you never do. You two always seemed so sweet together.
[Mayellen]: But the fact that he hasn't tried to track me down in a few… that could mean a couple of things. One good and one not so good.
[Mayellen]: The good thing it could mean is that he can tell I'm avoiding him and he is respecting me and giving me space. Which is definitely in the "should not worry about him" column.
[Lena]: Yeah, that's a good respect sign.
[Ben]: What's the not-good?
[Mayellen]: And that seems kind of like him. He has never pressured me about anything or ever tried to talk me out of something other than… just really doing something self destructive. And he always lets me do it anyway if I insist.
[Mayellen]: The not-good thing is that maybe he's been dreaming the same thing I have.
[Mayellen]: And that made me wonder, like… what if it's because that's in his mind somewhere. But it makes me feel better, Ben, that you dreamed of hurting your wife, because I know you never would.
[Ben]: I never.
Ben stares at his knitting again.
[Mayellen]: So even if he is, and it's making him avoid me, it doesn't mean that it means anything for real.
[Mayellen]: It just means maybe it's hard for him to look at me right now.
[Mayellen]: Or he could just be giving me space.
[Lena]: Either way, it sounds like it means he cares about you.
[Lena]: These nightmares… from what I hear from people it seems like they're always the worst thing. The worst thing a person could have happen.
[Lena]: Mine lately, especially when I'm out of Dalaran… all pretty common stuff. I die in Icecrown, after I fail my friends. Or I think it's Icecrown, I've never actually been there. It's… a snowy place. And there's Scourge. So probably?
[Mayellen]: I'm so sorry, Lena.
[Mayellen]: So sorry for both of you. I'm glad you both get to sleep here now, if it helps.
[Ben]: Sh*t, Lena, I am sorry.
[Lena]: No, I mean it's… not even unique, I bet loads of soldiers have the same… *Lena has a bit of a death grip on her yarn ball.* I don't much remember my dreams when I'm here.
[Mayellen]: That's good. Much better.
[Mayellen]: I… I should stay at the boarding house though. Just in case he needs me. I would hate it if he finally gets the courage to ask for support and finds me gone. What would he think? Especially after I've been avoiding him.
[Mayellen]: I wonder what the landlady must think if we've both asked about each other when we live right next door, ha ha. "Does he seem okay? You've seen him out and about recently? Okay."
[Lena]: Maybe… you could reach out? If you're worried. If he's giving you space or if he's hurt in his own mind, he might appreciate it.
[Mayellen]: Maybe I could write him a little note or something.
[Mayellen]: I just don't know what to say, though. How to explain.
[Ben]: I don't reckon you owe him that, though. If you are uneasy yourself. Not-reachin'-out goes both ways, and he ain't done it neither.
[Mayellen]: But what if he's just trying to respect me?
[Mayellen]: He is so… careful.
[Mayellen]: Maybe he's just missing me and worrying and not wanting to push me away.
Ben shrugs. "Yeah, maybe."
[Lena]: A note could work. Let's him know you're approachable. If you want. Agreed, you don't owe him.
[Mayellen]: But I also still feel weird about seeing him and I don't know how to explain.
[Mayellen]: If I tell him why… I think it would devastate him.
[Mayellen]: He has tried so hard not to be the Scary Man my mom taught me all men are.
[Mayellen]: Not that he has to try that hard. I think he is naturally kind.
[Ben]: I mean. It ain't like you are the only one havin' a hell time of it right now with dreams.
[Ben]: Kind of goin' around. Reckon he would get that, maybe.
[Mayellen]: Maybe I don't say what it's about, just… that I am not in good mental shape and don't want to snap at him and be awful.
[Lena]: At least, a nightmare's what you're scared of, not what's real. *Lena manages to let go of the yarn and starts trying to sort out the different colors again. Whatever she was knitting is a mess*
Mayellen studies Lena.
[Mayellen]: And you know, too, that what you've dreamed has nothing to do with reality, right, Lena? You're brilliant and fierce and your enemies should fear you. And your friends can count on you.
[Lena]: I… *Lena looks down at the yarn.* Most of the time, yeah. I can't always… stop things from happening.
[Mayellen]: Well you're not a god or a Titan.
[Lena]: Thank the Light for that.
[Mayellen]: I'd worship you!
Lena laughs.
Mayellen giggles.
[Ben]: Sh*t, Lena, how many times you been on my squad? I will have you at my back any time. You do a hell of a job, an' you are a hell of a teammate.
[Mayellen]: See?
[Mayellen]: Listen to the bigshot squad leader.
[Ben]: That's right. I'm a bigshot.
[Mayellen]: He works with all kinds. Speaking of which, how is your latest squad?
[Ben]: We are on a break right now, which is good considerin' how all this hit.
[Mayellen]: It seems like you got a lot done with them, though.
[Ben]: Had a meetin' with the Argents, gonna regroup with them maybe for a way into Icecrown.
Mayellen looks uneasy.
[Ben]: An' hell yeah, my squad in Storm Peaks done, like — we made history an' all.
[Lena]: Oh, good, *Lena says faintly, trying to detangle some threads* We couldn't find a way in by sea.
[Mayellen]: Are you still working on that ship?
[Lena]: Mm, yeah, still am. *Lena glances up at Ben.* You're talking about the titan stuff, right? Origins of the species and stuff?
[Ben]: That's right. I mean, also the Bronzebeards. But also the titan stuff.
[Mayellen]: I've been stopping by the Explorers' League from time to time and trying to strike up discussions about the latest findings. It's all so interesting.
Ben smiles fondly at May. What a nerd.
[Lena]: Wild to think it was all just buried up here, waiting for us to come and ask questions.
[Mayellen]: Right?
Mayellen remembers she was working on sewing a shirt, and returns her attention to that.
[Mayellen]: So there wasn't anything in the newsletter about what the Company is doing next. Any ideas?
Ben squints at his knitting and shakes his head absently. "I mean. I reckon it is more work with the Argents about this Icecrown path. But then who the hell knows, with all this dream sh*t goin' on?"
[Ben]: Maybe we got somethin' to do with that, first.
[Mayellen]: Does anyone know yet what's causing it?
Ben shakes his head. "Sir Elohad's pretty sure it's the Lich King. Which makes sense, on account of the spirit world."
[Lena]: I heard some people saying there was like an attack on Teldrassil. Or like… of Teldrassil? I don't know, people make up weird stories in bars sometimes.
Mayellen listens to both of them and nods gravely at both, considering.
[Ben]: Teldrassil?
Ben looks up, blinking.
[Mayellen]: It would seem the Lich King's reach has… increased.
[Lena]: Yes, some kaldorei folk in the Hero's Welcome — they were saying the branches were all… attacking people? I just overheard, for all I know its the latest novel they were reading. But it was just so off the wall, I wondered if it was connected.
[Ben]: … huh. I ain't heard about that but I will keep an ear up, now.
[Mayellen]: You're sure they weren't talking about a dream they had?
Ben points his knitting at May.
[Ben]: Fair question, yeah.
[Lena]: Could be that, yeah, sounds like a nightmare.
Arthur is gawking around.
[Mayellen]: Oh, hello there, Mr. Reeves.
[Mayellen]: I don't know if you remember me. Mayellen Mullby.
[Arthur]: Miss Mulby! I remember.
Ben glances up from his knitting. "Oh, hey! C'mon set."
Ben nods at the bench and moves over a little.
[Mayellen]: Ben, Lena, do you know Mr. Reeves of the Cobalt Blade?
[Arthur]: A man of the needles, I see!
[Ben]: I do, yeah. Met him at Bruuk's. An' that's right, I been knittin' a couple years. Lena taught me.
Lena looks up curiously at the newcomer, Mr. Reeves. "I don't think we've met, no. Pleased to meet you, I'm Lena Coit." Lena has almost got her yarn detangled.
[Mayellen]: Did you hear about the crafting circle, Mr. Reeves, or is this a coincidental encounter?
Arthur opens a drawstring pouch at his waist and pulls out a narrow tube of knitting spread across four needles. "I think… I read about it in the newsletter? But I didn't think of going until… well, we all ended up here."
[Ben]: To be fair, I did not 'end up' here so much as show up for the craftin' circle, personally.
Ben grins at Art.
[Mayellen]: Am I the only one here who doesn't know how to knit? I sew, but I don't knit.
Mayellen holds up the shirt she's working on.
[Arthur]: I learned beccause I wondered if I would use it in an engineering design.
Lena giggles, and then looks at May. "Do you want to learn? I'm a fair teacher, I think." She nods at Ben for his assessment. "Despite present appearances."
[Ben]: Yeah, Lena is a hell of a good teacher.
[Mayellen]: I suppose growing up in a warm climate I've never really seen the point of knitted items. But I expect I'll be traveling more in the future, so, why not?
Mayellen nods.
[Mayellen]: I think this business I've been working on with a Vice-Admiral of the Alliance Navy might lead to more opportunities for important work for the Alliance in the future.
[Lena]: Oh? *Lena brightens.* You going to join the fleet, do you think?
[Mayellen]: Join the– become a sailor? Uhhh.
[Mayellen]: I don't know anything about boats at all. Ships. See? I dont even know they're called ships.
[Lena]: Like me, maybe. A fleet warlock. I don't hardly sail really.
Arthur tilts his head. "The Navy, huh?"
[Mayellen]: Is "fleet warlock" an actual thing? I thought you were the only one.
[Lena]: Maybe I'm the first of many. *Lena tilts her head.* Maybe I'm a trendsetter these days.
Mayellen grins.
[Mayellen]: What about you, Mr. Reeves? Are you much of a sailor? I know the Cobalt Blade does a lot of traveling, but I haven't read anything about high sea adventures yet.
[Arthur]: I don't know my decks from my yardarms.
[Mayellen]: I've got you beat — this is the first time I have ever heard the word 'yardarm'.
[Ben]: … what's a yardarm?
[Mayellen]: It sounds like a curse word. 'Ooohhh you make me so yardarm mad!!'
[Arthur]: No idea! It was in a book.
Ben looks to Lena.
Lena chuckles, and starts trying to start a row of stitches, finally. "It's like… a cross-piece for a sail. High up on the mast. Something like that."
[Ben]: Huh.
[Ben]: You are a proper sailor now, I guess.
Lena grins at Ben.
Arthur is a quick knitter. Only the tips of the needles really seem to move.
[Mayellen]: You like to read, Mr. Reeves? Do you have a preferred genre?
[Arthur]: Oh! Well I quite like books. Which comes in handy when studying magic and engineering. But I'll grab just about any novel in sight.
[Ben]: You like ones about ships? I got these great ones about pirates Mizzy got me couple years ago.
[Mayellen]: I don't suppose you've read the Cobalt Blade ones… they're so good. Bit of an unpopular opinion, but I think it's some of Steelbloom's best work.
Ben gives Mayellen a bit of an Eyeball at that. He does not comment.
[Lena]: Oh yes, those ones are pretty fun. They've got a Reeves in them too.
[Mayellen]: Um, Lena.
[Arthur]: I haven't! I have a bit of an embarrassment about it.
[Mayellen]: That is the Reeves in them.
Arthur turns pink.
[Mayellen]: I can understand that, Mr. Reeves. I suppose you'd have to be a bit of an egotist to rush out and read them.
Lena blinks. "What? Oh… I… *She gives a little embarassed laugh.* I suppose I did know they were real people. Sorry about that, Mr. Reeves.
[Arthur]: Hi. Arthur "Trouble" Reeves, Cobalt Blade.
Lena grins. "Pleased to meet a Cobalt celebrity."
Mayellen giggles a little, almost a squee, when Arthur says 'Trouble'.
[Mayellen]: So that's real!
[Mayellen]: I wondered if you really called each other those things.
[Arthur]: It is. We drive Vengeance mad with it.
Mayellen giggles.
[Mayellen]: Is Vengeance really like that?
[Mayellen]: She's my favorite character, I think. No offense. She's just so hilarious.
[Arthur]: I haven't read the books, but… she really is like that.
[Mayellen]: There is nothing funnier than someone who takes themselves Extremely Seriously.
Lena looks up at the sky. "It'd be interesting to meet her someday. All of the rest of you, really. I've been so apart, up here in Northrend."
[Arthur]: It's fun. We like her. She thinks we're a bit corny.
[Mayellen]: I think the artist does a really good job, too. An exaggerated sort of style but she really captures the mood of each person. Or he does. I don't actually know…
[Ben]: Tadget looks a lot like Tadget.
Mayellen laughs.
[Arthur]: You know who's a riot though? Tadget. Oh gosh.
Ben grins at Art.
Lena starts to tuck her yarn away. "Suppose it's time for me to head out. Good to see you all, though. And to meet you, of course, Trouble."
[Ben]: You know Tadget was one of the first people I met in Cobalt?
[Ben]: … hey, g'night, Lena.
[Mayellen]: Oh, good bye Lena!
[Mayellen]: Sleep well, heh.
Arthur smiles. "It's good to meet you too!"
Lena waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!
[Ben]: I should go pretty soon too.
[Mayellen]: I think my favorite of the Cobalt Blade adventures so far was the one in the Deadmines– oh, okay!
[Mayellen]: From the books, I suspect that 'Booty' has hidden depths. She's very mysterious.
[Arthur]: Zaara is fun! She is learning Common, still. but she's so attuned to water, it's so neat to listen to her.
[Mayellen]: Yes, I can't wait to see if that gets developed more in the storyline.
[Mayellen]: I mean, in real life, too, but… I only get to see the books.
[Ben]: … So she is really called 'Booty'?
Mayellen giggles.
Ben begins packing up his knitting.
[Mayellen]: I'm sure they mean it like treasure.
[Ben]: … huh.
[Arthur]: I don't call her that.
[Mayellen]: Oh, because you think it's rude?
[Arthur]: But yes, like treasure.
[Mayellen]: That's very gentlemanly of you.
Ben nods approvingly at Art.
[Arthur]: I just can't. I can't!
[Mayellen]: Awwww.
Mayellen giggles.
[Mayellen]: You're such a nice man. A very rare thing!
[Ben]: Okay, well. G'night, y'all. May, if you need — help with that stuff, you lemme know.
[Mayellen]: Of course. But I'll be fine.
Ben nods at her.
[Mayellen]: Thank you, Ben.
Arthur looks a bit curious at "that stuff," but doesn't say anything.
[Mayellen]: So are you holding up okay with all this… nightmare business, Mr. Reeves?
Mayellen sews as she talks.
[Arthur]: I don't know what's happening down there. We haven't gone near it. Gryphons are routed around it, and we've been around Dun Murogh.
[Mayellen]: And you're sleeping okay, yourself?
[Mayellen]: Feel free to tell me to stop prying. Just, you know, concerned.
[Arthur]: Here, last night. I did a lot of catching up on rest.
[Mayellen]: Oh, that's wonderful.
[Mayellen]: I'm afraid to leave my boarding house, because my boyfriend might need me. He lives there, too. I imagine they're running out of places to put people here, anyway.
[Arthur]: They'll be sleeping in shifts.
[Mayellen]: I think I handle nightmares better than many people, anyhow. They're terrifying when I'm having them, but I don't have any trouble once I wake up and realize where I am. I calm down right away.
[Arthur]: That's excellent! I generally don't remember my dreams.
[Mayellen]: Interesting. I always do, but mine are generally quite boring.
[Mayellen]: I have literally had dreams where I was just sitting and mending a dress.
[Mayellen]: It's possible I do not have the greatest imagination.
[Arthur]: That may not be bad, when it comes to these nightmares.
[Arthur]: They don't sound easy to bear.
[Mayellen]: The strange thing is… it's almost as if someone else is making up these nightmares. They are so different from my regular dreams. Far more vivid.
[Mayellen]: Feels almost like mind control.
[Arthur]: Now that's chilling!
[Mayellen]: Do you have any personal theories about what's going on? You seem like an intelligent person.
[Arthur]: Well…
[Arthur]: I don't really have a lot of grounding in this at all. But the obvious people to ask would be druids.
[Mayellen]: Druids? Why's that?
Mayellen tips her head curiously.
[Arthur]: Because they experience a different layer of reality. They call it the Emerald Dream, and druids can sleep for a long time. Centuries.
[Mayellen]: Ohhh, I had no idea they knew anything about dreams and sleep. Just … I knew about the nature magic, but that's all. I don't know any personally, really.
[Arthur]: nor do I. Ves probably does — I wonder if she's all right.
[Mayellen]: From the books at least, she seems like the sort of person who would just roll her eyes at a nightmare.
[Arthur]: Somehow I don't think she's rolling her eyes at this.
[Mayellen]: My condolences to her then. My dreams have been quite terrible. Or dream, I should say. Just the same one again and again.
[Arthur]: The same one.
[Arthur]: So it's tediously awful?
[Mayellen]: Exactly. Each time I forget about the last time and so get just as upset. Then I wake up and think, ugggh, again? Really?
Mayellen laughs.
[Arthur]: Awful. Have you talked to anyone about what the dream was?
Mayellen nods. "I told Ben and Lena earlier, and I'm hoping that will make the dream lose its grip. Like sort of purging it."
[Mayellen]: Maybe I'll at least have a different one now. That'd be nice, heh.
[Arthur]: Hopefully. Hm. You don't know you're dreaming while it's happening? I've heard some people know.
[Mayellen]: No, I don't. That would be amazing. To know that nothing you did was real… you could do anything you wanted!
[Arthur]: Oh, that's true!
[Mayellen]: It's an interesting subject to contemplate… what you might do if there were no consequences…
Arthur thinks about it for a moment.
Arthur thinks a little longer.
[Mayellen]: I don't think I would do anything too bad. Maybe try to sneak in somewhere I wasn't allowed. Or give my dad one good punch in the kisser.
[Arthur]: If I could remember afterwards I think I would… no, that wouldn't work.
[Mayellen]: Now I'm curious.
[Arthur]: I was going to say that I would test spell design but the results wouldn't mean anything.
[Mayellen]: Oh, right.
Mayellen giggles.
[Arthur]: Drat.
[Mayellen]: And I suppose even if I did sneak into some secret part of Stormwind Keep I wouldn't actually see anything real.
[Mayellen]: In fact because my imagination is so bad I would probably just see a blank room.
[Arthur]: I suppose you could dream about having a conversation with someone you really wanted to… but again, it wouldn't have really happened.
[Mayellen]: Yeah, your brain would just be making up things you wanted them to say.
[Mayellen]: And you can do that when you're awake.
Mayellen laughs.
[Mayellen]: So I'm going to go with punching my dad. It would feel good and no one would get hurt.
[Arthur]: Bah. Is being able to do whatever you wanted in a dream useful? I suppose it doesn't have to be.
[Mayellen]: It could be fun. You could jump off the Stonewrought Dam or something and not really get hurt, just feel the whoooosh…
[Mayellen]: Or run around Stormwind City with no clothes on just to see what it feels like.
[Arthur]: Okay, the naked one, you got me there. But if you want to hop off the Stonwrought dam, bring a mage.
[Mayellen]: Oh riiiight, you can kind of… float, right?
[Arthur]: Yes! The feather fall spell is one of my favorites.
[Mayellen]: I don't get anything fun like that.
[Mayellen]: Breathing underwater is kind of neat, I suppose.
[Mayellen]: But aside from that all I can do are scary, hurty things.
[Arthur]: Really neat, in the right water. A tropical reef, with pretty fish?
[Mayellen]: Yes. I really must try it in Tanaris someday.
[Mayellen]: I hear the water is beautiful along the shore there.
[Mayellen]: Or Booty Bay, maybe…
[Arthur]: I haven't been to Tanaris, but yeah, along the coast of Stranglethorn…
[Mayellen]: Now I have an amazing date idea, if I can ever get the courage to look my boyfriend in the eye again. The dreams are about him, see.
[Mayellen]: I know it wasn't real, but it's hard to unsee when it happens again and again every time you close your eyes.
[Arthur]: Oh, no. I have a guess and it's terrible.
[Mayellen]: Then you are probably right.
Mayellen winces, but doesn't seem too haunted, here in the waking world.
[Mayellen]: Well, about some of it anyway. Some of it is very… specific to him.
[Mayellen]: And then the dream ends with my friends all taking his side and then I turn into a giant demon and kill them all.
[Arthur]: No, that's no good. You have to remember the good. Tell the story out loud, eyes wide open, remember how it made you feel. Fight it with the real memories.
[Mayellen]: Oh, that's a good way of looking at it.
[Mayellen]: You seem like a very wise man, Mr. Reeves.
[Mayellen]: I used to be afraid to talk to men much at all. I think I've grown.
Arthur smiles and shakes his head. "I just like to help."
[Mayellen]: You make a perfect Cobalt hero, then.
[Mayellen]: And a lot of people want to help but say things that make no sense. I think you make sense.
[Arthur]: I'm glad it does help.
Mayellen smiles.
[Mayellen]: I should probably get back to Ironforge. I'm thinking of at least writing Jonas a letter to tell him why I've been kind of avoiding him.
[Arthur]: You should tell him. And maybe you should…
Mayellen peers at Arthur searchingly.
[Arthur]: Maybe you should hear him telling you what's real.
[Arthur]: Sso you can remember.
Arthur smiles. "He'll be glad to do it, I'm sure. Tell you that you're safe, and that he's yours to love."
Mayellen smiles warmly at Art, then looks down at the table a little shyly.
[Mayellen]: I'll do that. Thank you, Mr. Reeves.
[Mayellen]: Sleep peacefully tonight, okay? No dreams.
[Arthur]: A pleasure, Miss Mulby. I shall, and shall not.