10. [text/video]

[brodakota]

If anyone's having any trouble with the latest round of dreams, I can help. Or at least listen if you want.

I figure I owe you guys since I got helped last time.

[A little while later, the video's on and there's a variety of holograms appearing. Some fireworks, a few dream eaters, a moogle. All a familiar red and blue colour. Theta's trying his best to cheer people up.]


[ooc: timing for this is nebulous and can easily become action if that's what you want. Just let me know the subject line or somewhere how you want to do this.]

Comments

[unrecovered]

They're treating you and Theta a little better this time around, huh.

[Wash doesn't actually look like death warmed over - at least, not more so than he usually does. The dreams aren't great, but they're nothing he can't handle.]

[brodakota]

Thankfully.

[Mostly dreams about fights with South, and past combat scenarios.]

What about you? How are you doing?

[And you're getting the look that suggests that he won't take "fine" as an answer.]

[unrecovered]

Good.

[He relives that last battle with Tex and the Meta every night, waking up at the point in the fight when he lost consciousness. It's not fun, but it could definitely be worse.]

I'm okay. It's better than it could have been.

[brodakota]

[North seems to relax at that answer. Wash does looke like he's been sleeping, as well as anyone can.]

That's good to hear. Guess we both got lucky.

[unrecovered]

[He's not reliving his own personal mental breakdown every night. Anything above that is going to be an improvement.]

It's a nice change. Can't say the same for everyone, though.

[Someone is concerned for Ziva and Luna.]

[brodakota]

That's kind of why I'm doing this. I figure I might be able to help out somehow.

[unrecovered]

Never figured you'd be the local therapist.

[brodakota]

I don't know about advice, but I can at least listen.

[unrecovered]

Yeah, you're pretty good at that.

[brodakota]

It would be a bit better if I could offer decent advice. I'm still not the best at that part.

[unrecovered]

What advice do you even give for that? 'I'm sorry your dreams suck?'

[He shrugs a bit helplessly. This is advice he could use, but he can't quite come up with it himself.]

[brodakota]

[That's about as far as North's gotten as well.]

I figure there has to be something better.

[unrecovered]

There probably is. I just can't figure it out.

[He's tried. Nothing is working.]

[brodakota]

You and me both.

Filtered to North

[unrecovered]

Has Ziva...told you anything? I can't get her to talk to me.

[He sees those first few comments, at least, and he assumes there's a filtered conversation there somewhere.]

Filtered to Wash

[brodakota]

[North pauses, trying to find the right way to go about this.]

She's...mentioned some things. The dreams are troubling her.

Permafilter

[unrecovered]

I know that much. I just can't get her to tell me what she's dreaming about - what she's been through. She's acting like she thinks she has to take care of everything herself. She-

[He stops, momentarily struck dumb by a realization that's much easier to see from the outside. When he speaks again a few seconds later, his voice is low and quiet.]

She's...doing the same thing I do, isn't she.

Permafilter

[brodakota]

Wash, look, I get the feeling this information's pretty sensitive, and personal. I trust you, but I don't think it's my place to really share it, unless Ziva gives me the okay to.

[There's a pause as North sighs. Welcome to his world. (Although e's victim of it to).]

And yeah. She is.

[unrecovered]

I didn't think you would. Just- as long as she's talking to someone.

[Even if that someone isn't him. It's hard to even let go that much. He wants to help her; leaving that in someone else's hands is difficult.]

[And now that the shoe's on the other foot...]

Pretty sure I owe you an apology.

[brodakota]

I'm pretty sure I've done it to, but if you really want to apologize, I'll take it.

[unrecovered]

[North may have done it once or twice, but Wash has made pushing people away into a way of life. He pauses, trying to find the right words for this.]

Sorry. For keeping you out.

[His apology is almost immediately ruined by a thunderaffe that has woken up from its nap, decided it wants to play, and knocked him clean off the bed in its enthusiasm. As the communicator, knocked askew, continues recording, Wash's next words can be heard from the floor.]

God damn it, Puddles!

[brodakota]

[North is about to respond, but watching the Thunderaffe put whatever he was going to say out of his mind. Yeah, he's laughing. Thank god Trouble wasn't that bad.]

[unrecovered]

[Still on the floor? Still on the floor.]

You want him? I'll trade.

[brodakota]

I think I'm alright.

You okay?

[unrecovered]

Seriously. "Free to a good home: one giraffe-shaped lap dog." Someone has to go for it.

I'm fine. I've fallen and I can't get up.