video/action for whoever wants to join charlie at the Shop:

[charring]

[The feed clicks on, intentionally. Charlie's hand pulls away from the device and it shows her, unusually calm and surrounded by fire. Things are on fire but nothing is actually burning.]

So...I'm sure I'm awake. I heard my alarm clock and all and things were okay for a second or two but then when I got outside...

[She turns the camera and there are extra buildings, a bit warped and twisted because everything is more nightmare-ish in her dreams and there are people running from the buildings. Faceless people. People who flicker as they go because again, this is how it goes in her dreams.]

I know this place. I don't like it.

[She's not going to say why. A man approaches, faceless as usual, a scar on the left side of his face quite visible and his hair, white and tied back and he has a gun but Charlie hardly flinches. Instead, her hand reaches out and with a flick of her wrist, he's gone in a flash.]

This is a curse, right? I have twenty-four hours of this shit to put up with? [A pause.] At least the fire isn't actually harming anything.

Comments

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Yeah, he's not much happier.]

I get enough of it all in my sleep.

[Video]

[charring]

[Merlin, can Charlie have a mountain of hugs after this? She's going to need them. Being stuck in this dream is harder than she's making it look.]

I guess I spoke too soon the other day.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Yes, yes she can. He feels like he needs them too. He would like to keep the dreams where he's lost himself to the power of his magic all to himself, but, nope, denied, apparently.]

I think being left alone for a few days isn't that bad, considering. But a little too soon, maybe.

video;

[auguria]

[A fire-starter who dreams of fire. That's not so surprising to Jast. His own video is filled only with blue and clouds behind him.]

You are awake, yes.

Re: video;

[charring]

Yes. I'm pretty sure I'm awake.

video;

[auguria]

It is cruel, bringing such things to daylight.

[candothat]

What place is this?

[Referring, of course, to wherever the dream is supposed to be.]

[charring]

That's the Shop. It's where my father died.

[Oh, hey. That scar-faced man with the gun is back. Another flick of the wrist and he's gone again.] It's a memory. I get those instead of dreams. Or, in this case, nightmares.

[candothat]

Sorry. That isn't such a good thing to dream about.

video;

[oceantrauma]

Charlie-san....

What is that, where you are? [Ken just has bubbles around him.]

video;

[charring]

Hi, Ken. [She cringes a bit, not looking at the device. Just watching faceless people run around in a panic before vanishing.] This is where my father died. I was very young.

I usually only see this place while I'm sleeping. Guess that's not the case today.

video;

[oceantrauma]

That's....

[He wants to say that's horrible, but he doesn't think the word quite comes close to what this really is. Background starts moving, because, yes, of course, he's going to Charlie.]

Where are you? I can't tell.... Is it your apartment?

[sympathyforme]

Hot.

[Brilliant observation. Since nothing seems to actually be burned or harmed and he has met the woman before and she seemed harmless enough, Kira comes up behind Charlie, watching the flames.]

Wonder what exactly this curse does.

[charring]

Turns dreams into reality. [Clearly. She looks over at Kira, face expressionless.] Hi.

[sympathyforme]

Ah. [He tries to light a cigarette on the flames.]

I hope I won't get hit by that...

Video

[favoritetraitor]

Are you in need of 'rescuing'? Things are far more pleasant where I'm at...

[ooc: To explain any unusual behavior for him, Solomon is under the effects of a spell.]

Video:

[charring]

[Charlie doesn't say a word at first. Just smiles slightly and shakes her head.]

This is a recurring nightmare of mine. I just need midnight to roll around so it can go away.

Video:

[favoritetraitor]

Of course. I only meant to offer company if it was something you desired.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

I got lucky, I suppose.

... Will you be alright?

video;

[charring]

Yep. At midnight. I plan to get incredibly hammered. It's the only appropriate reaction in this situation.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

I'll join you.

[errandry]

... wonder if it'd fade from the City if we went back to sleep.

[charring]

I dunno. I think I'm too awake to test it. Plus, I'm not sure I want to take this hot mess back to my place.

[Pause and then a small, embarrassed smile.] No pun intended.

1/2

[errandry]

[ the deadest of pauses back. ]

Heh—that would've been pretty bad.

[errandry]

And yeah, but I mean—having to watch these go on for a whole day?