#rivervale_lodge

“It’s like I said earlier…” trying to keep the annoyance from her tone, she softens it. I don’t want to start that fight again. “Your got that dream catcher from your quest as something YOU needed, then gave it away. Maybe the Dreaming that granted it to you sees you as like, not generous, but ungrateful.”

"Pretty much" Vali nods "Don't get me wrong, only my omen shifted the ink, it's not like the dreaming is out to get you so deliberately..." A consideration "But you spurned a gift it said you might need. You're going to have nightmares until that item is returned. "

Jonas blinks "But it doesn't affect kithain"

"No...but May was one of the most powerful dreamers in the history of Bergen. I don't think the Dreaming is just mad at you. I think it's helping her, by taking her nightmares and putting them into you. Let me guess, you were shorter in these dreams?"

"I.. think I was" Jonas says surprised

Piper frowns. “I’m going to go talk to Dagmar.”

"PIper, hold up" Vali says "Please."

She pauses, then says, “oh! Of course.”

Putting her shirt back on.

"May needs to keep it for another week" Vali asserts

Jonas looks more curious than offended

“I’m going to talk to her. After all…”she considers. “Maybe the thing isn’t helping as much as she thinks. What if it’s just a simple thing, meant for babies? It’s not FIXING anything. Just like, a bandaid. If the dreams come back right when the Dreamcatcher is gone, then it didn’t HELP.”

"It's a bandaid she needs. That WE need her to have" Vali says

"How so?" Jonas says

“This is Dagmar’s dreamer and HER thing to fix.” Clearly annoyed.

“And it seems like the Dreaming agrees.”

"Piper? Mountain to Piper?" Vali says "you take that off her now, the county may be swarmed with nightmare Chimera. We need to remuse her towards happier dreams"

“So you want Jonas to suffer for another WEEK of waking up screaming from nightmares that aren’t of his making?” Clearly upset. “If this was YOUR lover suffering I can’t imagine you’d be so blasé about it! And the county was FINE before he handed it over, so it really sounds like an over exaggeration here.”

“And, frankly, yes. I choose Jonas over the whole damn county if I get a choice.”

Jonas' brow knits then he says "I'll do it. Piper, this is my fault.. and maybe you choose me over the county, but I don't. "

“Of course not! BIG STROLL TROLL MUST SUFFER FOR THE GOOD.”

"One week" Vali holds up a finger, "Piper... she's off her meds... she needs time to make the transition back to the happier dreams we know she favors. Frankly I'd like to keep it for two. You came to me to ask about what to do about this. I'm telling you. You do not want nightmare chimera or even nervousa near you or your unborn children"

At THAT jonas looks horrified, then grows resolute "YOu're angry with me.. Piper. I understand. You're right I don't take enough time for myself, but this? This? I can endure it."

“Then I won’t be here. I need to go talk to my moms anyway.” Trolls can be stubborn, but so can goats.

Jonas looks at her "Piper, please. It's not fair to Siv for you to leave her like this. Me ? I deserve... but what of Siv?"

“You’re asking me to watch you suffer!”

"I think I can help with that" Vali says "If you'll let me?"

“If you can help-“ she rounds on Vali now, “why didn’t you help MAY?”

So this is how Frank feels some days. I really owe the Emeritus a drink Vali considers "Because she has been in California most of this time like this and is only recently back in our lives? I only recently heard about her troubles? Piper, you've a right to be upset, but this is not May's fault. She was mused to darkness, and to STOP from hurting folks, she gave up dreaming period by pills and more. Only now is she recovering, and yes, the item not meant for her is helping her, for a price. A price Jonas is willing to pay. I am not claiming Jonas deserves this level of punishment. I'm saying he can save her, and in doing so, help save innocent kithain who might get a ttacked by monsters. And I CAN help his nightmares by use of Winter magics that still his fear"

“May is here now, why don’t you use your winter on her?”

"Because she's had her passions chemically stilled for months, and winter is the last thing she needs. "

"Piper, if he's willing to still my fears now and then, I won't suffer. It's only a week, please stay with me?" Jonas says, and looks troubled "I.. I need you"

“I’m not mad at May.” She gives Vali a hurt look. “I’m upset, I’m not unreasonable. She’s clearly a victim here. But- oh, I hate all of this!!”

"I know," Vali says "Not a fan myself. Look, Jonas didn't think this through. May faced a challenge and she cowarded out of it. Dagmar ghosted her a bit. But no one person is responsible for this. Not even the redcap who mused May. SOmetimes bad shit hits from all sides and it's not fair or right to anyone but it is a challenge we can't ignore. Let me help"

Piper pauses. “What redcap?” Puzzled by this new piece.

"Dayana" he says "Student in California. Saw a nice juicy dreamer struggling... and tried to 'help' her. Redcap style. Turned her dreams from fluffy to nightmares. Probably thought it was an improvement? May didn't like the way her dreams were going. So she switched to accounting.. took pills that made her dreams wither. And on some level, she knew her nightmares were hurting people. She commited a creativity lobotomy to spare herself and others her nightmares. That was.. heroic and cowardly at the same time. If she had stood by her own visions, things would be better"

She is quiet a bit thinking.

“If the nightmares can be redirected… why can’t they be redirected back? I mean, sure, redcaps love that kind of sick horror shit… but I bet my final note that they don’t like it happening to THEM.”

"Because Jonas has created a temporary link on him. Not Dayana. " Vali says "My chilling his panic and the nightmares going over him is the safest Solution to this"

“I don’t like it. But it’s not my nightmares or my choice.” A bit clipped, but more controlled. “So I guess do what you think is best.” Clearly unhappy.

Jonas ponder then says "Then, so you don't leave Siv... I will find another place to sleep for awhile. You're right this isn't fair to you. I'll be elsewhere in town. Mountain Vali will chill my nightmares for a week."

“Quit! Being! A! Martyr!” She poke Jonas in the chest, getting frustrated again!

"Really, Jonas... it's getting annoying even to your fellow trolls" Vali adds

"Piper, please ...I just want.." Jonas blinks at Vali's comment

“As mythical freakin’ creatures of dreams ourselves I’m pissed we can’t dream up a better idea!”

Vali reaches for his coffee

(Perception plus Empathy for Piper)

/roll 4

Wait.. is Vali trying to hide behind his coffee? And that's not a smile he's hiding.