shacklebreaker | IC Inbox: cerealia

Yes. Come in.

[Simon's reply sounds as though he's wide awake, despite the fact he's been trying to get to sleep for several hours now. He still sleeps fitfully; getting to sleep at one or two in the morning is considered a good night for him.

This isn't one of those nights.

He sits up for Athena entering, pushing messy bed hair out of his eyes.]

What is it, Athena?

[ she opens and door and pokes her head in, not really interested in invading more of his privacy. at least, right now, anyway. ]

I'm not the only one hearing things, am I?

[ everybody dreamt of lilith's death... surely this is the same?? ]

[This is a familiar old conversation. He strains his ears, but the room is silent, so he gets up wordlessly, moving to listen closer to the open door. He still can't hear anything out of the ordinary.]

What can you hear? And from where?

Some song about death...

[ the lyrics aren't very pleasant so she doesn't want to attempt to remember the words, but she rubs her temples to try and figure out where it was coming from. ]

And I'm not sure. I could just hear it when I tried going to sleep.

[ quietly, she adds: ] I don't like it.

[He doesn't look especially disturbed, although it does bother him that it's left Athena agitated.] Is it something in your room? Like your Cerevice, perhaps.

[That would seem like someone's idea of a twisted joke. Then again, Athena would have easily been able to locate it if it was coming from her own device...]

Or perhaps someone is playing music in another apartment. Though why they'd do so at this hellish hour, I've no idea.

It's not playing anywhere. [ but in her head, she supposes. ] It only stopped when I got out of bed.

[ which attributes to hallucinations, but why would she be hallucinating...? and why just her? ]

I know I just wasn't hearing things, too.

Edited 2015-07-30 18:49 (UTC)

Then perhaps you merely dreamed that you heard it, and when you woke up, it ceased. Hardly surprising, when you've had so much on your mind lately.

[He reaches to take her hand.] Try to go back to bed. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep.

You think so?

[ it's not impossible, but she hasn't felt like she's slept at all tonight. either way, it's comforting to know that simon will watch over her until she falls asleep, so she leads him into the other room.

she sits down on the bed, then mumbles; ] If I hear it again, then what...?

[He follows her into the bedroom. This would be something Metis would be able to handle, but he isn't so sure of his own capabilities to help, when there's so little he understands about her hearing. And if it really is a hallucination, there's also very little he knows about musical hallucinations, much less their causes or how to treat them...

He'll just have to go about this in his own way, instead. He moves to sit on the edge of her bed.]

If you hear it, try to focus on listening to something else.

[... Like his heart, for instance.]

[ slowly, she pulls on the blankets, and slinks under the covers. ]

I'll try that.

[ she shifts to face the same side simon's facing, looking at him every now and then. the objective was to get some sleep, but somebody else being around there with her is also. . . well, pretty distracting. ]

Sorry. [ and she closes her eyes. athena's silent for a few good moments, before shooting up again. ]

"O, Death, won't you spare me over 'til another year"...

[He gives a start when she shoots up again so suddenly, and now even he's starting to get a little unnerved when she recites those lyrics. But without hesitation, he leans forward, clasping her shoulder.]

Ignore it, Athena. Listen to me.

[Normally there isn't much to listen to, when he's so skilled at guarding his feelings that it can only sound like nothing more than muffled noise. But just this once, he'll drop the walls around him, and let his heart become as loud and clear to her as he can possibly make it.

If she does listen, the most present feeling is worry, tinged with a little sadness. But there's also happiness as well, a strong, constant undercurrent buried under all the other emotions, a happiness of such strength that it can only be directed at one person.]

Can you hear it?

[ athena just looks at simon, a bit confused and distraught before actually doing as he says. it's a bit difficult to focus on one's heart at this time, so it takes her a while. it's only when she closes her eyes that she manages to hear the emotions so close to her that she nods. ]

I can hear it.

The song is gone.

Good. [Relieved, he lets go of her again, sitting back.] You've nothing to fear from a mere song. If it returns, I will be here to drive it away.

[Even if that means staying by her all night, he'll do it if it brings her comfort. It might give him some idea of what was causing the hallucination, too.]

I can't believe a song's causing me to many problems...!

[ why couldn't it just be one of klavier's songs?? ]

I'll just stay up, I can do it! [ simon obviously needs to get some rest too. ]

If you want the song to cease, I suggest you rest. Being exhausted will only exacerbate the problem.

[...Still running on the assumption it's a hallucination and not something else, anyway.]

But I like listening to it.

[ she moves and crawls over to where simon is, poking at his chest. ]

You can listen to this silly thing whenever you please. I imagine it will still be lodged in my chest when you awake.

[So go the eff to sleep, Athena. :'|]

It's not silly!

[ way to switch on the brat button on her right now. ]

But it better be! It's-- it's different, and nice to listen to.

[Easy ways to check if Athena is fine: say something that will make her act like a brat.]

All right, settle down. You've made your point loud and clear.

I can really listen to it any other day?

[ you'll regret this, simon blackquill. ]

...If it makes you feel better. It's not as though I've anything to hide from you.

[This is a lie.]

[ her head tilts to the side curiously. as tired as she is, she wants to pry a bit. ]

What's wrong? Did I do something again?

No, you've done nothing. I meant what I said -- my heart is yours to listen to as you please.

[He leans in to carress his hand along her cheek. Even when he's trying to open up to her like this he's still not very good at expressing himself, it seems, but at least physical affection is easier.]

Now will you focus on getting some rest?

But you said— [ it's soft, but she lets out a grumble before just letting it go. and she nods before taking simon's hands, placing it in between both of her own. ]

Sorry. I'll try again.

[He nods.]

Remember to listen to me if it returns.

[And he falls silent then, not moving an inch, so as not to disturb her.]

(no subject)

psycholawgy - 2015-08-02 04:03 (UTC) - Expand