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[viscontree]

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network username: julius

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[p66]

[ It's only a while later that she wakes, feeling the warmth from the blanket draped over her shoulders. Her first thought is confusion, given how there's only one blanket and -

- and... he's not there anymore.

Instantly she sits up, jolted into full wakefulness before she fumbles with her magitek. Calling up the tracking app, her panic only eases when she spots him on the map.

Why is he there? It seems she'll only find out if she goes to find him. So she does, her footsteps nearly silent in the dark chilly night. ]

[viscontree]

[He's just standing outside, gazing out into the distance by himself. There's noting particularly strange about it.

Though, soon enough he realizes she's there.]

Reika, you're awake.

[p66]

[ It's cold and she's wearing nothing but her inner uniform, so it's more through their natural endurance that she's made it this far. Her breath fogs up in the moonless night. ]

Julius...? Why are you here?

[viscontree]

I can't sleep well. I needed some air.

You should go back inside. [He'll go back soon enough.]

[p66]

[ There's something wrong but she doubts he'll tell now. ]

Okay... Let me know where you're going next time?

[ So she wouldn't have to wake up in a horrible panic again. ]

I'll wait for you.

[viscontree]

Alright, I'll let you know.

We should return. [He's done here. Julius walks back to their room before Reika gets sick.]

[p66]

[ She trails behind him all the way, unsure. His voice is quiet, but it's too dark for her to see his face and gauge how he feels. On the way back she sneezes once or twice, but she successfully managed to keep them quiet.

Now that they're back, he can go to sleep. She sets the blanket on the bed again. ]

[viscontree]

[You know he wasn't lying when he said he couldn't sleep. Julius can't even rest on his return.

He's just lying there wordlessly on the bed. Reika might have been asleep by now.]

[p66]

[ She would have if she wasn't concerned about him. After a while she sits up in her chair and turns over. ]

Julius...?

[ Is he awake? ]

[viscontree]

[He's asleep, but his body is tensing up. Julius shifts around unsteadily until he lets out a scream.

He's having some sort of nightmare apparently.]

[p66]

[ His unease in turn makes her anxious, so she's risen from her seat to watch him - but then he cries out, and she's at his side in an instant. He sounded like he was very much in pain, which is ten levels of worrying. ]

Julius? Can you hear me?

[ She shakes him gently by the shoulder. ]

[viscontree]

[He groans in response and clutches onto his chest.

Julius can't hear her until she shakes him a bit. Eventually he wakes up with his eyes unfocused.]

Reika....?

[p66]

[ He really needs to stop scaring her. ]

I'm right here... [ Just what is happening? ] How do you feel?

[viscontree]

It was just a dream.

I don't feel good. [Julius drops himself back onto the bed.]

[p66]

[ 'Just' a dream? ]

... I can get you some water...?

[ She's very much at a loss of what's to do. ]

[viscontree]

Of course.

[Julius takes in a few deep breaths attempting to calm down. This happens every night.

He isn't paying much mind to it.]

[p66]

[ She pours him a glass of water and hands it to him before returning to her seat. Having nothing to say, she'll just watch him in the dim light.

If it's going to continue affecting his sleep, he won't have enough energy. And yet... how does she solve this problem? ]

[viscontree]

[Eventually he finishes drinking the glass he's given. Julius hands are unsteady and he can't calm himself down.]

I'm sorry.

[The only words he can muster up to say. ]

[p66]

[ Reika sets the glass on the table and moves to sit next to him. He looks unsettled and needs reassurance, but how? ]

Don't apologize... it's not your fault.

[ She's had nightmares too. If his are so bad, she can only guess at the reason that caused them. ]

[viscontree]

[He doesn't feel like talking so he continues to drink water.

Julius gets like this sometimes, maybe Reika already knew.]

[p66]

[ It's one of his moods, yes. So she too sits in silence until he talks, falls asleep, or she falls asleep herself. ]

[viscontree]

[He's shaking even as he's resting.

Julius isn't able to calm down easily after having a nightmare.]

[p66]

[ After a while she shuffles closer and strokes his hair gently, hoping that it'll help.

She's careful to be as gentle as possible. ]

[viscontree]

[Julius clutches onto her hand without warning.]

I...don't want to be alone.

[He never has pleasant dreams, but at the very least he just wants to stay with her a bit. It's kind of selfish.]

[p66]

[ Reika has to will herself to not jump when he moves so suddenly - at least he's trying to tell her what's on his mind. Maybe the year (and then some) of loneliness is getting to him and giving him bad dreams.

She thinks back to when she first arrived and he asked her to stay with him. He's not alone when she's in the same room, so he probably meant something else. ]

I'll stay with you.

[ She moves so she's seated on the bed instead of at the side. He can hold onto her hand for as long as he wants. ]