20 | Accidental Video - action for housemates

[firstaid]

[She's in a room that's not her own, alone in her bed, tossing and turning, making unintelligible mumbles, slightly crying out as if she's afraid. The sheets on the bed are a mess as she breathes heavily, as she's experiencing a nightmare.]

No... I'm sorry... I understand...

[She's always spoken in her sleep, and it's no different here. After a few moments, her shaking subsides as she finally seems calm and wakes up. She's not surprised in the least as she starts seemingly counting on her fingers. 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...]

This was my eighth one. Just two more to go.

[She takes a deep breath as she slides out of her bed, grabbing a wrap to put around her as she looks to the device and notices it on. No doubt someone had to have seen that as she just gives it a soft smile before turning it off before heading down to the kitchen.]

Comments

video;

[oceantrauma]

Estellise-san, are you alright? Just two more what to go? [He can almost guess, but it doesn't make any sense, counting nightmares and having only a SET amount of them. That can't be right.]

video;

[firstaid]

It's nothing to be worried about. [Her smile is still soft as she gives a reaffirming nod to the screen.] Just two more nights before the store starts stocking the herbs that help me sleep again!

[It's a lie, it's very obviously a lie, but right now, she doesn't want to tell the truth.]

video;

[oceantrauma]

[He's done the same thing before, does it quite a bit, actually, so he notices that lie. He's young, but not stupid. Ken frowns. On the one hand, he's worried, but what is calling her on it going to do? Sometimes it just hurts to talk about it, right? But....]

I don't think that's it, but if you don't want to talk about it, I understand.

I'm just worried for you, is all.

video;

[firstaid]

Thank you for worrying for me, but I assure you that I'm fine.

[Her expression is soft, but her eyes are evasive, looking down, bottom of the screen. It's something she doesn't want to talk about, something she believes she should be bearing by herself.]

video; private;

[oceantrauma]

Estellise-san, just don't forget that if you have friends then you no longer have to do everything alone. We talked about that some, didn't we?

Don't forget that.

[He doesn't want to pressure her or make her talk about something she doesn't want to, but in the event she might want to speak of it, he wants to make sure she knows she can count on him. And that it's no burden.]

[negativegate]

[This whole thing has felt wrong to Rita from the start, ever since Estelle moved to a different room. Rita respected that her friend might need the space after everything that happened, though--not that it stopped her from worrying.

Especially now that she's seen this. Rita wastes absolutely no time in heading straight for Estelle's room.]

Estelle--I saw that video. What's going on?

[firstaid]

[She knew as soon as that video was posted that Rita would probably be the first one to confront her. She just shakes her head, looking at her with tired eyes, but wearing a smile. Sleep has not been coming easy to her for the past week or so now.]

I'm just having nightmares thanks to what happened in the desert city. I'm rather positive they will wear off soon.

[negativegate]

Nightmares?

[Rita only finds her worry increasing. Estelle looks so tired, but she's still being strong, as always...

She shakes her head, though, and comes to stand in front of her. There's just something wrong going on here.]

Are you saying it was the nightmares you were counting?

[firstaid]

Well, yes. [She can't lie now that Rita's mostly figured it out. She can't help but look at her friend now, one of her implanted memories being of her death. Another of betrayal, and another where she massacred everyone. They're memories now, and the only reasons she knows they're not real is because they were implanted in her via nightmares and was told they would be. So vivid... those images...]

Everything will be okay. I just need some milk to help...

[If Rita notices, she's shaking just a little. A natural response from waking up from a nightmare, right?]

[negativegate]

[Rita is too tuned to everything about Estelle right now not to notice. She doesn't even hesitate now to close the last bit of distance between them and take Estelle's hands in her own.]

You're not okay, Estelle--look, you're shaking!

[Are they really nightmares? Why was Estelle counting them? And how bad must they be to shake her up so much? Rita wants to get to the bottom of everything.]

[lightspins]

... are you alright, Estellise?

[firstaid]

Marta... Yes, I'm fine. I have just been haunted by nightmares lately, more than likely due to what occurred in the desert city.

[lightspins]

It was pretty bad there, huh... Well, at least that nightmare's over now, right?

[firstaid]

Yes it is. [Not a lie, because that nightmare she had, is over.] How have you been doing now that the City is normal?

[errandry]

... hey. Hey—Estelle, wake up!

[firstaid]

[Estelle laughs a little, but it's very weak, giving him a small smile.] I'm awake now.

[errandry]

You were kinda mumbling at the end there. ... You okay?

[firstaid]

Y-yes, I'm fine. I was just experiencing a nightmare.

[Video:]

[closetpervert]

[He watched suspiciously. The one thing he damned himself was for his keen senses. The counting wasn't coincidental. Klarth gave an uneasy look]

Estelle, that counting...

[Video:]

[firstaid]

I have been having nightmares for quite a new nights in a row...

[No need to hide it anymore. She can say she's experiencing nightmares, right?]

[Video:]

[closetpervert]

Nightmares?

[His look turned to one of concern.]

Though it seems this doesn't surprise you... as if you have been anticipating it from the start.

[vesperian]

Eighth-- what? Are you okay?

[firstaid]

I believe this was my eighth nightmare I have experienced. E-everything that happened in the desert city must be finally catching up to me.

[She gives him a sheepish smile, wanting him to believe what she said.]

[vesperian]

And you know you're going to get exactly two more...how?

[firstaid]

Just... a feeling, I suppose.