Participants:
| Scene Title | "Creepy Dream Dude" |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Corbin warns Kaylee about the Nightmare Man, because he didn't know that she's already had her own warnings. |
| Date | December 14, 2009 |
Nestled in the heart of the main street marketplace, the Ichihara Bookstore is an old and crooked structure pressed between two newer high-rise tenement buildings. The old glass windows and creaking wooden door on the shop's front give it a rustic and old-world feel. Catering to both antique books and newer prints, the narrow aisles and tall shelves are packed full of literature. A single shelf for periodicals lies near the front counter, while signage both out front by the register and in the back of the store indicates that tarot card reading is done on-site at request for ten dollars per reading.
Behind the old and weathered wooden counter that contains the register and a small stack of reserved books, a narrow wooden staircase leads upwards to a black wooden door with peeling paint, revealing red paint in narrow strips beneath, a rope crossing in front of that door hangs with a small sign that reads, "Private".
The Ichihara Bookstore sits much as it had a few days ago, with much of the books the same. A new delievery of books sits in the corner for someone else to address, while Corbin sits in the chair behind the main counter, looking over the worn tarot deck that once belonged to the current owner's mother. His cellphone sits on the counter in front of him, while the evil cat noms from a recently filled bowl on the floor.
A book on tarot sits open on on his lap, though he doesn't bother to look down at it as he flips through the cards. He feels strange touching them. But…
The front door is unlocked, yet the sign is turned around, showing it as closed. The business hours state it's not open on Monday, so this may be the reason why. Doesn't mean it's not a good place for a private meeting, especially while he feeds her cat.
The door opens softly to allow Kaylee to slip into the shop, though in the quiet shop it's fairly noticeable. Dressed warmly since she's been as always working out at Summer Meadow, the telepath shivers once the door is shut. "I am ready for warmer weather already." She comments lightly as she moves further into the bookstore, offering the man behind the counter a bright smile. "Hey, Corbin, I was hoping you'd call actually." A hand snags the beanie off her head and she combs at her hair. "So…. I'm here." She moves to rest arms on the counter and tilt her head to look at what he's doing.
The sound of the bell makes Corbin put the cards down. The inside of the store isn't as warm as some places with better heaters, but a lot warmer than the outdoors. Even then, he still wears a jacket inside. It's cool enough for that. But certainly better than the alternatives, or if no one had shown up to turn on the heaters today. "I'm ready for it to warm up, and yet winter hasn't even technically started." Go figure. "Did you have more dreams?" he asks, concerned as he closes the book and puts that away too. She's alive and talking, so that's better than some people. He just wishes there was a way to get the word out more easily.
"Same one, still." Kaylee comments blandly, leaning on the counter. She glances up at him, "Book didn't really help. None of it seemed to give me any idea. I dunno.. Maybe if I just give into to what snake is trying to convince me to do.. it'll stop. I mean… it's just a nightmare right? Shouldn't hurt anything… but it just seems wrong." Her brows drop and her expression is confused.
Tucking hair behind her ear she looks a bit uncertain before she asks, "Have you ever heard of a Matilda?" Kaylee glances at him, straightening from the counter, "Cause I met this young girl.. and I think she knew Hokuto."
"I don't know. It could be a bad idea to give into it, even in the dream," Corbin says, wondering exactly how this could affect things. If she's sleepwalking, could she unconsciously use her ability to influence someone else without meaning to just because she does it in a dream? It's very possible… "Matilda? A young girl looking for Hokuto? I have no idea… she hasn't stopped by the store, at least not as long as I've been here, and I think I would remember that name being brought up." It's not a commonly found name, at the least. "What made you think she knew her?"
"She was saying stuff like.. 'He's back' and seemed really freaked out." Kaylee looks slightly concerned, hands spreading apart some in a helpless gesture. "She ran away from me, but she said that she needed to to find her… And I heard her mention Hokuto. I wasn't able to point her to the store, she was pretty intent on getting away." She chews at the corner of her lip. "I dunno.. I figured you might know.. How is your friend?"
He's back. That sounds a little too familiar. It also worries him. Corbin can't even ask the woman who might know a Matilda about her, because she's unconscious and unresponsive to anything he might do. "I'm sorry, I don't know. I— I would tell you to come back later and ask Hokuto, but she's not doing very well. She's in a coma or something." More like asleep. For a long time. People in comas aren't supposed to dream, and she's definitely dreaming. It's something different, something likely related to her ability. He doesn't project his thoughts, like some people, but he's looking visibly bothered. Doesn't take an empath to see that.
"I called cause I want to talk to you about your nightmares. About where I think they might be coming from. I— it could be these nightmares you are having are the work on an Evolved. One who seems to manipulate dreams. I don't know what he's after, but…" He reaches under the counter and pulls out some newspapers. He gets free copies. "There's been a lot of suicides in the newspaper, and— it's likely these were caused by him." Secretism is one of the maystays of the Company. This goes against everything he's usually taught. But… Hokuto told him he needed to help. And he has no idea this young woman would get this information anywhere else.
"So… the rumors I've been hearing are true?" The telepath glances down at the paper with a frown, then Kaylee glances back up at him. "There has been word getting out about it… but… you think this evolved is causing these nightmares? I mean… I haven't woken up in a river yet." She taps the papers, "Wouldn't you think my nightmare would be pushing me to kill myself? Not this guy trying to drown me?" Eyes go back to the papers, a frown tugging down the corners of her mouth. "I… don't even know what to think about it." Fingers move to turn a paper towards her and pick it up. "What's being done? Or is there anything that can be done?"
"Maybe he can't create your dreams entirely," Corbin says, curious at the thought, even to the point he has to look down at the papers. "The ones who jumped off their buildings usually lived there. Maybe you don't live in a tall building that's easy to access. Maybe the drowning was part of your subconscious this— Creepy Dream Dude— could play around with. I'm not entirely clear on how it works, I just know that… he's hurting people and that it might be connected to what you're going through."
And she's heard rumors. Which could mean she could be part of one of those groups. He's not sure how Helena choose to get the news out. She has done videos in the past, and he wants an interview sometime soon, but… "I haven't experienced anything like this, yet. Could be he only targets Evolved. I'm not, so maybe I'm safe." Or— he'd like to think he is, at any rate.
"Your not?" Kaylee asks before she thinks, she quickly waves off the question as she sets down the paper. "Well, with hope these dreams won't get worse then… though it's getting harder to resist the black snake." Her tone is a bit distracted when she mentions the snake. "Each nightmare, it pushes harder for me to…. do my thing." Fingers comb through her hair, looking tired suddenly the bag still under her eyes. She hasn't been sleeping well at all. "Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't start getting attacked by him though, cause these nightmares are not fun. I only sleep when I am too tired to stay awake.. and even then… well… it seems to starts as soon as I pass out."
"Only thing Evolved about me is my sense of humor," Corbin jokes with a playful grin, though he's sure there's some people who would disagree with that. "Maybe my fashion taste, though it's hard to tell with it being frozen winter, out here." It kills his usual fashion tastes. He can't play around with his clothing nearly as much as he might otherwise. Though he does demonstrate some of his fashion taste when he pulls out a scarf that fell behind the chair. A scarf that looks like something one of Santa's Elves might wear. Festive for the time of year.
"If that seems to be the goal of the dream, you should keep denying it, then," he speaks in a more serious tone, even as he holds onto the silly looking scarf. "I'm not sure how to stop it, or how to defeat him, but— I was told you have to find your own strength, if it happens. Something that makes you stronger. Bring that into the dream." It's not that easy, he's sure, but… "But I'd stay away from using your ability, if it seems the dream is trying to make that happen. Whatever Creepy Dream Guy wants, he probably shouldn't get."
The scarf gets a chuckle of amusement, "Nothing wrong with it. I like it in fact. Might help that I love Christmas. So your fashion tastes must not be all that bad, Corbin." Kaylee chides softly, leaning over the counter to toy with the festive thing with a smirk.
"Oh.. I won't stop denying him. Unlike Eve, I plan to not give into the temptation .. if I can help it. It's tough sometimes." She eyes him curiously, as if trying to really understand the man in front of her. "My ability doesn't make you nervous? I mean… I risk a lot you knowing, course you wouldn't be the only one that I've put my life in their hands so to speak." She smiles a bit, "Every time I tell someone, I feel like I risk losing the little I have."
"I knew about people like you before it became public," Corbin says, continuing with the truthful streak for no reason other than he feels like it. It's not something that he needs to hide— he's sure lots of people knew before the whole world did. Through families and other things. "I found out through my job, working with the newspapers." The Company approached him because of his job, perhaps even had a hand in him getting as far as he did, but it hadn't just been that way. The truth, while omitting much of the sensetive information. "So I know how to keep a secret."
Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulls out a card, with an email, a phone number, and even an address, though it's a business one, for the New York Times office. "I'm taking a leave from my job for a while— at least the office part of it. But if you need anything, you can call my number or send an email and I'll get back to you quickly."
A soft smile is given as she takes the card, "Thank you.. I should of gotten your number before… I just didn't think about it. So much going on in my life, coupled with barely sleeping." Glancing at the card something occurs to her. "Actually.. Since your taking a leave of absence, can you give me the name of a reporter?" She tucks the number into her jean pocket, "I'm working on a little project.. getting all those people in Summer Meadows Christmas trees." She sounds rather excited about this idea. "And I found a company that will give me a steep discount for a bulk order if I get the deliver covered. It's not a small story.. I mean.. a whole community getting Christmas cheer." She looks sheepish suddenly, watching him out of the corner of her eyes. "Or… am I wrong?"
"I could give you a ton of names," Corbin says quietly, but that story… "I'm mostly on leave from my desk job. Unless you'd like someone else to handle it, I could do that much. It's a favor, and I know you— and I've been trying to help with the Meadows myself. I was even going to write a story on it. First hand work in the place being the theme of it— how better to know what those who offer their time are doing than to join them. Just didn't expect Hokie to go and get sick on me."
The nickname seems like something someone would call a young child, though the woman who owns the shop isn't that— sometimes she did act like it. And right now she's sound asleep and out of touch. "I just need to be free to take care of this place a few days a week— and once every day at least. Cause of her damn cat." Speaking of Damn Cat, he has sprawled out on the floor right in front of his food bowl. Less movement, more sleepytime. It doesn't seem like the Creepy Dream Guy targets animals, cause he's sleeping soundly. Even snoring, as much as cats can snore. "But I can send you the names of a few people who work in the Community section."
"Send me someone that won't be opposed to giving that company credit for the delivery.. I'm not much of spotlight person. I just like to see their face." Kaylee comments of handedly. She gives him a soft smile. "You need to be with your friend, Corbin. I can hear it in your voice." She probably hears it in his surface thoughts too, but she doesn't say that. "So just make sure I have someone to talk too and we'll be great."
"In fact…" Kaylee places her hands against the counter and pushes her a step back, "I'll get out of your hair and let you get back to her. I have things to do.. and the guy in my dreams has gone missing… So we're looking for him on top of all this." She rolls her eyes a bit and sighs, her face falling to you a more serious look. "I'll contact you if I need anything.. same for you." She adds, pointing at him a coy smile. "It.. .was nice seeing you again."
"It was nice seeing you too," Corbin says, with a hint of a smile, as he starts going through some of the many people he could point her towards— ones who know how to advertise the companies instead of the people involved. He gets the idea, from her talk of trust and worry about her ability, that she doesn't want her face and name known. He's doesn't even know her last name! But— this is a type of world where people have a lot to fear, and a lot of reason to distrust.
"Hopefully I'll see you again soon. Just be careful with your dreams." He sounds genuinely worried, about her as well as his friend who— from the way things sound, could be a victim. "And if you see that Matilda girl again, try to give her the address. At the very least I might be able to talk to her and… find out what she needed." Though he'd think anyone who knew Hokuto would KNOW the store… maybe he's wrong. "And stay bundled up, too." All this weird talk, might as well say something normal.