Room 528, Sunday Afternoon

[icecoldfrost]

Emma had not actually slept in two weeks.

Every time she began to get tired or drift off, her body would shift, and she'd find herself wide-awake, shiny, and mildly vexed at the entire situation. She'd change back eventually, but any attempts at napping or sleep were continually thwarted.

Until this afternoon, when her body could not keep up with the demands of Emma's unconscious any longer. Between one page of her latest mystery novel and the next, Emma Frost fell asleep.

And dreamed. Nightmares, pouring in from the minds of the rest of the island; visions of hells she had not visited herself. Demon dogs, some creature with an apron of skin, large mutant terrors roaming the streets. Rivet City, reminding her of what it meant to be homeless and broke and hungry all over again. The building coming down around her and Alex, and this time, Emma didn't change. Finding Alex's broken body and screaming. Watching her classmates and teachers unravel in the bunker, and falling prey to its residents.

She didn't wake screaming; Emma had trained herself too well for that. The only sign of her distress was the way her nails cut into her palms.


[OOC: Door closed, post open, sure.]

Comments

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

Beka's been working quietly on her bed, trying not to wake up Emma as it seemed like this sleep was badly needed.

Sommat made her look up and she glanced over at the other bed. "Did I wake you?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Yes, with your hideously loud ways," Emma replied, sitting up and stretching her arms over her head to try and give herself a moment to feel centered. "Don't be silly, darling, you're quieter than a mouse."

"I can't believe I drifted off mid-chapter."

[trigons_child]

Raven's room was just down the hall, and she felt the sudden surge of panic. She'd been trying to meditate and sort out her own troubles, but she immediately abandoned that and hurried down the hall and knocked on the door. "Emma?" she called softly, guessing it was her she'd sensed and not her roommate. She was familiar with her emotional signature now, especially after having absorbed her anger in Louisiana. "It is Raven, may I come in?"


[If you don't want Raven sensing her like that, let me know. :) ]

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"I can't believe you've not drifted off sooner," Beka countered, scratching Pounce behind his ear as she tried not to look worried.

[icecoldfrost]

"It's open," Emma replied, running her fingers through her hair quickly. "What do you need, darling?"

[intraspective]

There was this thing called 'practice' which Ino was remembering to do more regularly after a stint of being non-verbal. Which meant that it was a gleeful Ino who found Emma mentally.

//I found you!// she reported cheerfully. //Without knowing where you were! And--//

Ino frowned back in her room down the hall.

//You okay?//

Concern didn't quite damp down the exuberance of having managed to find Emma. Not quite, which meant her very genuine concern was underscored by a bright bit of cheer that Ino wasn't sure if she should repress yet or not. Better to be honest, right?

[trigons_child]

Raven opened up the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her. "Are you all right?" she said, giving Emma a concerned look. "I sensed something was troubling you."

[icecoldfrost]

<<Fine, darling. Simply jolted out of a nap.>> True, mostly.

[intraspective]

//Bad nap?// Ino pressed nosily. //Can I help? And hey! You're not crystal!//

Ino approved!

[icecoldfrost]

"If I don't sleep, that means I can live two lifetimes, doesn't it?" Emma asked, contemplating the idea. "What are you up to? Not working on the weekend?"

Subject Change! See Emma, see Emma attempt to divert.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"No, it's mean you'll fall asleep mid-chapter," Beka corrected, giving Emma a look that suggested she needn't have telepathy to know what she was attempting. "Tis a report for my Lord. I've been putting it off too long."

[icecoldfrost]

"Trouble? No trouble at all," Emma lied replied. "Just jolted out of my nap unexpectedly. You know how that goes."

[icecoldfrost]

<<In the flesh, as it were,>> Emma agreed, skipping over the 'bad nap' comment. <<Diamonds don't sleep, shockingly enough."

[intraspective]

//That's not a good thing,// she mused, frowning. //Lettin' the mind get rest is super important to functioning properly.//

[trigons_child]

"I do not intentionally attempt to eavesdrop on the emotions of others," Raven said, drawing nearer. "But I cannot help it at times. Was it merely a dream? If there is anything I can do to help...."

[icecoldfrost]

"Anything interesting to report?" Emma asked curiously. She wasn't going to admit anything yet. "Or any other letters for your friends? Do I get to say hello?"

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"I've still to tell him about the world I was stuck in," she admitted, letting it slide for the moment. "I'll write Kora and Aniki later. What would you tell them?"

[icecoldfrost]

"I intentionally eavesdrop on everyone, even when I can help it," Emma teased. "They say a dream is a wish your heart makes, but if that is the case, there are some very strange people here. Sometimes I get bits of their dreams instead of my own."

[icecoldfrost]

<< I don't need to eat or drink either. I think it's simply how it works,>> she answered.

[trigons_child]

"I would hope you never get any parts of my dreams," Raven said with sudden worry. She was used to nightmares about her father, mostly, but she would never want to share them with another.

"I was concerned that you were still having difficulties with your transformation," she went on, grabbing for the subject change.

[icecoldfrost]

"That your roommate smirks when you've been canoodling with boys, Pounce is fatter than ever, and the weather is lovely," she laughed. "Sorry, Pounce."

[intraspective]

//So illogical,// Ino tsked. //Though it's nice to see you're non-sparkly some of the time now? Did it wear off?//

[icecoldfrost]

"Only difficult in that it comes and goes when it damn well wants to, and does not bother to ask my opinion," she quipped. "Don't worry, darling, it doesn't hurt."

[icecoldfrost]

<<Apparently. One moment I'm reading my book, the next, I'm waking up with page imprints on my face. Very stylish.>>

[intraspective]

//Oh no!// But that really didn't hide the giggling in her voice, no. //I promise I won't tell that you did something so pedestrian as that!//

[trigons_child]

"If you ever have need of my gifts to help you regain your true form, I would be happy to help, as I did in Bon Temps," Raven offered.

[icecoldfrost]

<<Your discretion is much appreciated,>> she deadpanned. <<If you tattled, I'd have to do something drastic.>>

[intraspective]

//Like what?// Ino's voice laughed. //Details! I need details to be afeared!//

[icecoldfrost]

"Thank you, I appreciate the offer, even if it isn't necessary," Emma answered. "Of course, should you require the services of my telepathy, I am more than happy to oblige."

[icecoldfrost]

<< Oh, but it's more fun if you don't know what's coming,>> Emma's mental voice practically purred. <<But I can get very creative.>>

[intraspective]

//I am properly chastened--maybe. I don't think I stay that way for long, sorry?//

[icecoldfrost]

<< Then take your un-chastened self and keep on evesdropping,>> Emma encouraged. << Uncovered anything interesting? >>>

[trigons_child]

"I do not know that I might ever need it, but thank you," Raven said. "I am sorry if I disturbed you. I just wished to make certain you were all right. What I felt seemed very strong."

[intraspective]

//Nothing too much,// she replied, wrinkling her nose and sounding a bit sulky. //People have boring thoughts.//

[icecoldfrost]

<< They do, >> Emma agreed. <<By-and-large the human race is incredibly dull, focused on their own petty, ridiculous dramas.>>

[intraspective]

//That's depressing,// she sulked. //They should be entertaining so that I'm more easily amused.//

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"One boy," Beka protested.

Pounce opened one purple eye to glare at her. You only say so because you envy my lean feline form.