2nd Floor Common Room [Late Wednesday Night]

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge isn't all that tired, so he's out in the common room, idly flipping through channels, looking for anything that isn't a talk show. Or Dekaranger.

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

For some reason that nickname made him smile just a bit. "Slept a little longer than I meant to this afternoon and it kind of frakked me up, that's all."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ah. Sleep hangover." Parker cocked her head at him. "Water and food. Although it's almost time to go back to sleep now. No wonder you're messed up."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm thinking I might just stay up the rest of the night now. It'll make me useless in Outdoorsmanship, but I'm gonna be dragging either way." Anders shook his head.

"Stupid dreams," he added under his breath.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's head came up sharply. "Dreams? As in nightmares?" She frowned, thinking about the book Rory read. "Those were supposed to stop," she muttered.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't a nightmare," Anders said quickly, "not really. It was sort of a bad situation, but I was kind of . . . well, happy, really. Maybe. I'm not sure."

More to himself than to her, he added, "All I know is it didn't scare me."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker frowned. "Not the mummy thing, then." She leaned her head on her hand. "Happy? But you're not sure?" She paused. "You don't have to tell me, of course."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I'm not really sure," Anders admitted. "It was clearer a couple of hours ago but now it's getting kind of vague."

Granted, it wasn't as vague as he was letting on, but some of it was . . . yeah, kind of bothersome.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe it was something you ate." Parker studied him. "Or not. Hard to tell." She turned her right hand over, showing off the square silver ring. "I use this when I have dreams, to focus on. So I know it's not real."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I do kind of eat too fast. That could've been it." Anders leaned over and examined the ring. "So you just concentrate on it?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Pretty much. I keep reminding myself that it's real, and not everything else around me. Let's me feel like I have something to hang on to." She smiled a little sadly. "Professor Dream helped me out with it."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

A wistful look crossed Anders's face at the mention of Dream.

"I kind of wish he was still here to talk to about that," he said. "Last time I dreamed something like this, he told me that just because it seemed real it didn't mean it had to come true. It doesn't seem as convincing when I'm the one telling myself that."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Daisy? It doesn't have to come true." The words are simplistic, but the tone is firm. "Otherwise, I would already be in a mental hospital. Seriously. You have to believe it." She sighed. "I wish he were here too, though."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't have to," he echoed. "See, it even helps when you're the one telling me."

Anders set his jaw. "It's not gonna come true," he said determinedly. Why was there the tiniest hint of resignation in his tone, though?