sixthiterationlogs | Nightmares, Dreams, and Questioning Reality

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Nightmares, Dreams, and Questioning Reality

WHO: Riza Hawkeye
WHERE: Inn, Fountain, Woods
WHEN: January 1st - 2nd
OPEN TO: ALL; though the first one is probably only open to people sleeping at the inn
WARNINGS: Hallucinations, Creepy Shadow Child, Monsters and Violence
STATUS: Open
NOTE: Riza is experiencing some hallucinations I got her. Any monsters or characters I mention are all just happening in her head...though that might not be obvious to others at first ;D

I. Inn - Middle of the Night
It started with a nightmare she'd had before. The sound of scraping claws and a terrible shriek behind her. She was running through the decimated streets of Manhattan, the streets blurring together until she couldn't tell if she was heading towards the Strand or away from it. The Strand was safety though, if she could just make it there. She just had to get to Harry, Rosette, and the others first though. However, the creature chasing her was persistent. She'd never faced a crab that she couldn't lose and yet this one was not giving up on her trail.

She slammed into a wall. Had she not been paying attention? Riza started to walk out but then turned when she heard the snapping sound of over-large mandibles behind her. She brought her gun up to bare, taking aim and then pulling the trigger. The creature shrieked, managing to dodge the gunfire with its ungodly speed. She clipped it once, but it wasn't enough. The monster jumped at Riza, knocking her down on her back. She went down hard, the gun flying from her grasp and skittering across the concrete. She reached for another but the over-grown parasite gave her no time and its jaws went for her neck.

In reality, Riza tossed in her bed. Probably not enough noise to even disturb the inn's cats, at least, not until she kicked at something and then went falling off of the bed with a loud THUMP. Whether it was landing on the floor or the attack in her dream, Riza's reddish-brown eyes snapped open. She could have written it off as just a dream then, after all she was on the floor of her room in the Inn. The only problem was that looming over her prone form on the floor was the creature from her dream. It hissed at her, snapping its jaws together just as it had done in the dream but here she didn't even have the protection of a gun.

Riza cried out in surprise, grabbing the first weapon at hand (in this case a lantern beside her bed) and hurled it at the creature. She scrambled up to her feet trying to get away even as the parasite screeched -- the lantern shattering on the floor. She knew what that thing could do -- what it's bite meant -- and they didn't have the luxury of a cure or Healers here. Riza reached under her pillow for one of the knives she'd gotten from her Christmas gifts and turned to throw it. Instead, she was greeted by an empty room and an open door.

Riza didn't question it, didn't have time to, because she started running out of her room and down the stairs. She had to make sure everyone was safe. She couldn't let that thing get to the people she cared about in the inn! Outside her room now, she looked around, including up at the ceiling, but there was no trace of it.

"What the hell!"

II. Fountain - Morning of Next Day
She hadn't gotten much sleep that night, but Riza didn't let that stop her from trying to continue with her usual routine the next day. She was frustrated because while the parasites from Project Daisychain had been light on their feet they still should have left tracks in the snow. She'd searched everywhere around the inn but there was nothing. They'd faced strange creatures here, so it wasn't out of the question, but in the light of day Riza couldn't help but question what had happened last night. Maybe it had just been a continuation of the nightmare and she hadn't been as awake as she thought.

Whatever the case, a walk in the snow was actually welcoming at this point. She'd check the fountain for new arrivals and then maybe stop by some of the houses and speak to the people she now considered friends. Maybe she'd just been hanging around the inn too much. She didn't mind the quiet for the moment and a chance to gather her thoughts. She wondered who would be the best to speak to about this. Ravi and Helen were doctors so maybe she could start there. Then again, Jo had experienced multiple dimensions before and might understand her situation a little before or even Cougar who had seen the creature they'd hunted and also dealt with his memories being taken. In the middle of her thoughts, she almost didn't notice the figure standing on the fountain's edge until his tall, lanky form blocked the light.

Riza looked up and froze, her eyes widening because she'd honestly given up on waiting for him to show up for her. Standing on the fountain's lip was a tall man in a black duster and carrying a long staff. He wasn't looking at her but at the fountain, like he was trying to figure it out. He dipped his staff in the water and Riza breathed out, "Harry?"

The man turned. Riza wasn't sure how this was possible. He wasn't in the scrubs and he wasn't wet, so he'd somehow gotten here on his own volition. He'd sworn that he would, all those months ago when they'd decided it was best to return to their homes. It was why he had given her the pendant, though she'd imagined him arriving in Amestris not...here. Yet, here he was. Harry gave her a crooked smile, holding up the very pendent she'd been thinking about, "You realize this would have worked a lot better if you'd been actually wearing it."

"I didn't get much of a choice," Riza replied. She was torn. A part of her wanted to rush towards him and embrace him -- she'd missed him so much. The other part of her was less trusting. This place was already messing with her in so many ways, what was to make this something that wasn't too good to be true. "How did you get here?"

Harry pocketed the pendent again, shrugging, "Magic. How else?" He looked over his shoulder at the fountain, frowning, before turning his gaze back to her, "Look. The window here is really small. This is taking more power than even I thought it would. If you want to get out of here we need to go...now."

Riza looked at his outstretched hand, past him to the fountain, and then back again, "Harry. I can't. There are other people here. It's like Project Daisychain all over again. Help me bring them out of this too."

His eyes widened, "Hell's Bells are you serious?" He rubbed at his neck, her news delivering a blow he hadn't expected. Riza wished she could just drop everything and follow him, but she wasn't that kind of person. She couldn't just abandon all these people -- she'd never be able to live with herself. Harry looked deep in thought and then his image flickered. He gripped his staff tighter and scowled, "No. Not now." His gaze shot back to meet Riza's, "There's no time! I can't rescue them I can only take you Riza. Please."

Harry's image flickered again, like he wasn't a person but a bad connection. Riza had no knowledge of magic and very limited understanding of inter-dimensional travel, but it did seem that he couldn't maintain the power to stay here much longer. He had punched through who knew how many dimensions to find her and now he couldn't even maintain the strength to pull her out. She felt tears at the corner of her eyes but she shook her head, "You'll just have to find me again." It took everything not to run at him, he looked at her pleadingly, trying to get her to take his hand and leave this place. He flickered again and straightened.

"All right. I'll find you. I'll find Mag--," he disappeared.

Riza stood in the snow, making sure he was gone for real, before collapsing on a nearby bench and letting out a sob.

III. Surrounding Woods - Afternoon
Her walk to the fountain had turned into a walk into the woods. She had so many questions, but right now none of them could be answered. Had Harry really been there? Had he found a way to get to this mysterious village? She hadn't seen him again that day, nor had she seen the parasite creature again. Granted, finding his way back here and with a plan to rescue everyone might take some time. Their time together had taught Riza that if Harry Dresden was one thing he was stubborn as hell. She knew he wouldn't give up until he had come through on his promise. The problem was...she couldn't be sure if that had really been Harry or not. It just...it didn't seem real and she had no evidence that he'd really been there. Granted, it could have been because he was trying to cross through dimensions with magic to get to her -- but there were no footprints on the fountain and no one else had been there to see him.

She needed to think and, honestly, she probably needed to talk to someone about all of this. However, she honestly just wanted to be alone for a few more minutes. She could talk after night had fallen. She crossed into a clearing and paused. She felt someone watching her. Riza reached behind her, hand grasping the handle of a knife. After the attack last night and the previous assaults, Riza didn't want to be caught unprepared. The shadows shifted in the trees nearby and she heard a disturbingly familiar chuckle from behind her.

"Honestly Lieutenant. You should know better than that working on me," a voice said, somehow echoing around her. She felt something brush her hand and she felt her heart rate increase. "Did you miss me, Lieutenant?"

Pride. How could Pride be here? Were the people behind this truly that insane? She looked down at her hand where she thought she'd felt his touch but there was nothing there. Riza then let her gaze drift off into the woods, trying to catch sight of the boy homunculus. The homunculus that Edward had sworn would never torment them again. "He's just Selim now. That's all," had been his reassurance as he handed the tiny babe to Mrs. Bradley. But hadn't she heard others talk of being from different time periods? Could Pride have shown up here before Edward's fight with him?

"What are you doing here?"

The trees rustled around her and then the shadows cast by the setting sun erupted with thousands of red eyes. She still didn't see Selim, but she'd never forget the feeling of those eyes on her. There was a laugh, but she still couldn't pinpoint it, "Watching you, Lieutenant. You and all of your new little friends." She thought she heard the sound of lips being licked, a soft laugh, "I like that Miss Kate. Do you think she'd take care of me like Mrs. Bradley has?" The eyes slanted with amusement, Riza trying to keep her eyes on the shifting shadows while also looking for Selim's body. There was nothing, he was just too damn good at hiding. Riza was going to have to keep him talking.

"I doubt she'll be as accommodating of you if I tell her your true nature, homunculus," she hissed. The shadows stirred again, disappointment written in the red eyes. Riza felt something brush her neck and spun, raising the knife in defense. It was all she had and yet she knew it would ultimately be useless. However, it wasn't Selim standing behind her. Her eyes widened as she recognized the person from the village, "How did you--"

She looked back over her shoulder, but the eyes and the shadows were gone. She shuddered, lowering the knife, "We need to get out of here."

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Peggy's been watching the whole thing with the eye of a critical woman who's used to seeing madness. Typically, it lurks in Howard's eyes, just out of sight, but she's seen it more recently in both Whitney Frost and Jason Wilkes, enough to scare her into being overtly cautious when it comes to dealing with anyone with that particular look in their eyes. She's just not sure she ever expected it to be Riza. "What's the matter?" she asks, trying to remain calm. "Where do we need to go?"

Humouring her, for the moment, Peggy evaluates the area around them as if doing recon, trying to make sure that she's taking into account all the signs, but there's no snapping of twigs, nothing but the faint sound in the distance of the people in the village. Here, in the woods, it's just Peggy and Riza, and there's a knife. That sharp edge is making Peggy nervous and she wishes that it weren't the case.

"What's the matter?"

There's no where to go. Nowhere they can go to get away from those eyes. Riza knew that all too well. She takes a breath. She can't lose it. Not here. Not when there are people that Pride is clearly going to manipulate. She knows what he can do, what he's willing to do, and this isn't Selim. This isn't the boy Edward brought back -- this is clearly before that. Riza takes another breath.

"The...the inn. Or a house. Somewhere else," she finds herself saying, even while she knows there is no where they could possibly go. Even now, she feels like she's being watched--though they eyes are no longer there. Riza can still feel him. Why isn't he attacking? They're both vulnerable right now. Easy to pick off. 'There has to be a reason, think, what does he gain by letting you go,' she tries to think.

"I'll explain when we're inside," Riza says, her tone still unsure because it doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense. The wind starts to pick up, blowing snow around and from the surrounding branches. She notices movement to her left and turns. There, in the bushes, a small boy peeks out, smiling wickedly with cold red eyes. The shadows swirl around him, cloaking his body. He slowly brings a finger up to his mouth and the gesture is as clear as if he had spoken them himself, 'Keep your mouth shut Lieutenant.' From where she's standing she sees the shadow reach out tendrils, snaking across the ground towards Peggy.

It's in that moment Riza makes a decision. She grits her teeth, reaches for Peggy's hand with her free one, and hurls the knife in the opposite direction at the bush. "Run!" she calls as she tries to pull Peggy away and hopes the knife through Pride's face will buy her enough time.

Peggy opens her mouth when the knife is hurled away, eager to insist that it could come in handy. If it comes down to a fight, Peggy will have to use her fists, she doesn't mind that, but it seems mad to throw away the sharp edge of advantage. She runs, though, when her hand is yanked, too used to having to take off at the drop of a pin when danger is near.

"Riza," she shouts sharply, even as she keeps up, glad that her added workout regiment is preventing her from getting out of breath. "If we need a safe haven, then let me lead," she insists, because if Riza thinks they're being followed, then Peggy has an idea.

"Are you okay?"

Moana had no idea what she'd just walked into. She had arrived four days before and she was hoping to pay another visit to the fountain. At this point she knew that it was some sort of portal but so far it was safe to assume that it was one way trip. That didn't mean that she didn't want to look at it and maybe see how it worked. Legends, lore, everything from her world was different so maybe if she found one clue...

She shook her head, stopping the thought and focusing on the woman in front of her. Riza was obviously in distress and Moana had been trained to be there for the people. Yes, it was the people on her island, the people who had come to depend on her as their future chief, but she couldn't just walk pass someone crying on a bench and do nothing.

Moana took a tentative step forward, her fingers pulling at the sleeve of her coat. She was wearing too many layers to be comfortable but it was at least warm. She moved awkwardly and as she stepped closer she tripped over the edge of her boot. "Whoa." She caught and steadied herself with what she hoped was a confident smile. "I know I'm a stranger and I haven't been here very long but you look like you could use someone to talk to."

Riza's just glad that Peggy doesn't fight her on this, it makes it easier. Keeping an eye out for moving shadows and a small, inhuman child is difficult though. So when Peggy offers to lead Riza's eyes dart behind them while she also nods, "Please." Riza trusts the woman to have a plan if she makes that offer...she just wished she had a gun to better watch their backs.

"Make it fast though. I've lost sight of him," she added cautiously.

The point of waiting to leave his room until the middle of the night, Alex knows, had been to avoid running into anyone else currently staying in the inn, with the added benefit of allowing him to fool himself into thinking that he was awake this late for a reason, rather than the reality that he simply couldn't sleep. And it was difficult, avoiding people so entirely when he was currently staying in a place that at any given time housed about a dozen other people, but somehow the alternative seemed even worse to him.

A house would have felt so empty. So cold. So... final. Inns, at least, were temporary creatures.

None of which made Riza rushing down the stairs in a thunder without any warning easier for Alex and his admittedly stretched thin nerves (Alex knew there had to be an upward limit to how thin a person's nerves could be pulled before they snapped, and he has an awful feeling that a year straight is already pushing it).

He startles violently, chair clattering loudly to the ground behind him as he drops down below the table, a paltry sort of cover for a danger that his eyes are already desperately scanning his surroundings for. His eyes eventually settle on Riza when nothing else jumps out at him as alarming. Slowly, cautiously, he eases his way back to his feet, righting the chair behind him without taking his eyes off of Riza.

"Is... is something wrong?" He asks, when an explanation isn't immediately forthcoming.

If this is all in Riza's head or if this is someone who knows Riza's habits, it stands to reason that if Peggy takes lead, she can lead them in a direction that they won't be followed. She grabs at Riza's hand and directs them towards the mill, thinking that there's a chance that they can hide out there, but also that it might have someone else to help defend them, if need be.

"I need more details," is her calm demand as they move. "I need you to tell me what it is that we're running from." And maybe then she can establish whether this is real or not real.

At some point Riza had put her head in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. The sob had been loud, but had only happened once. She hadn't been able to stop crying right away, so for once someone was able to sneak up on her. Riza wasn't usually one to let her guard down like that but it had just been too much. Seeing Harry again after so long had just been the straw to shatter everything.

It wasn't until she heard the soft voice that she looked up. She sniffed, wiping her hands down her face in hopes of clearing away the tears. On the plus side there was no makeup here to smear -- though the red in her eyes was probably sign enough that she'd been crying. She couldn't explain why, but the woman reminded her of Giselle. Maybe it was the honest concern in her features or just the fact that she'd been speaking to Harry and was now thinking of all the people she'd left behind back in Manhattan.

"We're all strangers to each other here...for the most part. I probably could...but I'm not sure it will make sense," she admitted. She could use someone to talk through this though -- but she wasn't sure if she wanted to do it with a stranger.

Moana kept her expression soft but confident. She didn’t feel confident and there were notes of uncertainty in her expression for people to see but she was stubbornly trying her best to be supportive; the way she’d been taught to be.

"That’s true but I’m getting used to things not making sense." She smiled then, her expression a little bit more relaxed. "And you don’t have to." Moana paused, her fingers curled into fists and lightly bumped against her thigh. "But if you want to I’m here. I only arrived here a few days ago." She wasn’t used to think place at all: the snow, the cold, the clothing. Moana was making up her mind about a lot of things and while she sometimes felt like crying she held it back, feeling the pressure build uncomfortably in her chest.

"I can keep you company or walk you somewhere. I’m staying at the inn." Staying in a house by herself sounded too depressing so she’d opted for the noise of the inn. "We could also stop being strangers." She held out her hand to Riza. "I’m Moana."

Riza was not so jumpy as to be startled by the voice near one of the tables. Although she is surprised someone is up this late -- especially when she turns and realizes it's one of the younger residents. The boy, however, only looks startled by her presence, and not some monster. Granted, she must look a sight -- blonde hair tousled and falling all over while she holds a knife tightly in her hand, her eyes wide with anxiety and perhaps a little fear. But still---if he'd seen what she had---but it doesn't make sense. Where else could it have gone? There were no screams. No sounds of a fight going on upstairs and this floor seemed just as empty. She lowered the knife, though she still appeared to be scanning the room.

She decided she better confirm her suspicions and asked, "Did you see something come through? A creature?"

"A homunculus -- he can control shadows and make them as sharp as blades. He looks like --," she trailed off as Pride's voice cut through, stopping her thought and explanation.

"Remember Lieutenant. You aren't supposed to go sharing family secrets. You were put in place to serve my family remember. Serve us like a good little hostage." Selim's voice whispered.

It may have been whispered, but honestly it was as clear as a bell to her and it should have been to Peggy as well. Riza studied her for a reaction, her mind starting to put some pieces together from the past 24 hours.

Definitely like Giselle then. It was going to be hard not to talk to her, Riza had never really shared the "big" stuff with Giselle and this woman definitely seemed much younger -- but at the same time it was hard to turn away from someone who seemed to legitimately be concerned about you -- even when they didn't know you at all. Riza couldn't help but smile, not exactly with her lips but there was definitely a twinkle in her eye that hadn't been there before.

"Riza Hawkeye. Coincidentally, I live at the inn as well. Perhaps we've just been missing each other," she said as she took the offered hand.

After the handshake, Riza turned her gaze back to the fountain, almost hoping that Harry would appear there again. Nothing happened, however, and her amusement faded a little. "If I'm being honest Moana...I've been having a pretty rough time the past 24 hours. I think it might be getting to me." She shifted her attention back to the young woman beside her, "This may sound like it's crazy -- but do you know anything about visions?"

"Well I've only been here for a few days." It wouldn't surprise Moana that they had missed each other since she rose with the sun and usually left the Inn to go inspect the snow or some location around the fountain. She was attempting to wrap her head around the snow and cold. Her current conclusion was that she didn't like it but it was interesting.

There were so many new things here.

Moana considered Riza's question for a moment and then nodded her head. "Sort of. When I was very young I had a dream or I think it was a dream. The ocean played with me... it's a little hard to explain exactly what happened." It was something she'd never forgotten though. "Are you having vision?" It sounded reasonable though the concern in Moana's face returned. "You said it might be getting to you. What is it"

His tense muscles ease slightly as Riza lowers her knife. Not that he's under any sort of illusion that it can't become an issue again very quickly, of course, but at least now he would have a second or two to react before then.

Alex bites down on his immediate answer of: other than yourself? because even if he's in the habit of antagonizing people threatening him he's not quite so far gone to encourage that sort of animosity without at least some kind of overture from the other person first.

Instead, he scans the room himself, slowly, eyes ending back on her as he carefully shakes his head. "No, you're the first activity I've seen in awhile, sorry."

Peggy doubles back in order to get Riza to keep moving, pushing at her as they head towards Peggy's first house, the one that she had moved out of thanks to the water damage. No one spends any time there, she knows, because she'd left it in a right state when she'd left, seeing as the water had warped nearly everything on the first story. "Tell me when we're inside," she says, grabbing at Riza's hand to get her to run a little more.

Finally, she sees the house, pushing for Riza to go along the back. "In one of the windows," she says quietly, something just spoken between the two of them. She's heard nothing at all, just Riza trailing off, and she needs her to keep going.

Riza sighed. She'd always had trouble owning up to being weak, after all she'd accomplished and as far as she'd come in life it was a hard thing to admit to, even more so to a complete stranger who would see her in this light.

"I'm not sure," she admits honestly, in reply to the visions. "But I've been seeing things that shouldn't be here and no one else seems to see them either. Because of that I didn't get much sleep last night which makes me think that might be making it worse."

How was that possible? A creature like that--there was no way it could have slipped past anyone, let alone someone as observant as she believed Alex was. She glanced back at the stairs, but still nothing stirred. Those creatures were mindless, animalistic. It wasn't in their nature to plan and be sneaky. They attacked for food and to kill -- they didn't really hunt or coordinate attacks. They didn't have the brain power for it. And yet...somehow it had slipped away.

Or...had it just been an intense dream? A nightmare brought on by who knew what.

She sighed, shoulders dropping as her adrenaline started to fade and more questions just sprang in their place. She looked back towards Alex, "Sorry for disturbing you. Maybe I wasn't as awake as I thought." Even as she said it, it didn't feel right. Something was off about this, but she wasn't sure where to even begin with that.

Riza snapped back to attention and followed Peggy. One problem at a time and right now it would be better if she didn't do this outside. Riza slipped into the ruined house, glancing over her shoulder one last time. Pride was no where in sight and she couldn't be sure if the shifting shadows were from the wind in the trees or Pride's power.

His imagined power.

As soon as they were inside, Riza put her back to a wall. It was solid and real and oh so reassuring to her. A sniper could trust a wall at their back. Riza closed her eyes, letting the events play back for her. She had to ask because she had to know and in doing that she needed to see Peggy's face when she got the response, "You didn't hear anyone, did you? Out there, no one spoke except the two of us?" Riza did her best to keep her voice steady and to most people she probably would have fooled them, but Peggy was observant and she would probably pick up on the slight tremor in Riza's voice or the tremble in her hands as she folded them in front of her.

Peggy still makes sure that she boards up the window they'd just come in with whatever piece of furniture she could use, trying not to look back at Riza just yet. When she does, though, she confirms that suspicion with a nod of her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear a thing," she confesses.

"The only voice I heard was yours," she says matter-of-factly, not entirely sure what that means. Given this place, she can't even trust that it means that something is afoot, because maybe it's Peggy who's having troubles. She can tell that Riza is certainly troubled, but she's not sure how to calm her. "What do you think is after us?"

"Probably." Moana agreed with a simple nod of her head. "Do you think they’re visions? My grandmother would tell me that the spirits of those past will speak to us and tell us things that we needed to know. To heal or help us even though they aren’t with us now. Maybe because we’re in a different realm it’s someone from your home or someone who’s thinking about you; if their spirit is able to reach out to you, even here." It sounded like wishful thinking when she said it.

She really didn’t know, the whole idea had been extrapolated from something she’d heard about the dead. "In my village we get tattoos of the animal that is our spirit." She spoke a little softer. "Those souls sometimes become guides. Not that I think someone is dead but… I don’t know. This place is weird. Maybe if someone’s trying to communicate with you and you just need to listen."

Moan wasn’t sure if she made any sense and she didn’t want to upset the woman further.

Alex watches her quietly while she talk herself down and can't help but notice the measure of doubt still present in her eyes at the end. He's well aware of how bad waking nightmares can be, but you can almost always recognize them for what they are at the tail end of them, so if she's still unconvinced...

"I was already awake, don't worry about it." He assures her easily, still studying her expression with a thoughtful look. "What did it look like?" Alex asks her after a moment, because it honestly never hurts to be careful, even if she did think that she had just been seeing things.

"Whatever you thought you followed down here, I mean."

It wasn't the most reassuring thing to hear. Riza trusted Peggy, especially for someone she'd only known a short time. However, it was difficult in situations like this NOT to start trusting people a little sooner than she might have in her normal life. Heh. But what was normal for Riza Hawkeye any more? She thought the last thing that would fail her would be her senses. But what was she to make of this turn of events.

She doesn't see what leverage Selim would have over her here though. Back home, he'd been holding people hostage but he wouldn't have that power here, at least, not politically. The people here were capable and wouldn't necessarily fall to his schemes--but only if she could convince them they were occuring in the first place. Riza took a breath, "It's called a homunculus. They look like humans and can pass just as easily, but at their core is what is called a Philosopher's Stone; they also have special abilities and are difficult to kill. There were seven of them and each of them was used by their creator to manipulate our country into creating a giant philosopher's stone so they could be immortal." She paused, eyes narrowed and settled on the boarded window, "The one that I thought was here was probably one of the worst of them. He'd taken on the appearance of a small child named Selim Bradley. He was posing as the son of the Fuhrer of our country...who I might also add was discovered to be a homunculus as well."

Due to the circumstances here, she'd mostly only talked to people about her experiences in Manhattan with Project Daisychain. This was probably one of the first times she'd even mentioned the homunculus and their plot. Of course, there hadn't really seemed a need to since prior to this they hadn't made an appearance nor had she considered them a threat since all but Selim were killed and Selim was supposedly a normal boy now. At least, she had thought that the case until today. The only one she'd want to ever see less than Selim would probably be a tie between the one that called herself Lust or the Fuhrer himself.

Riza didn't hear anything coming from the other side -- no eminent attack, no rushing of moving shadows. She decided to press on, "He's...not the first thing to attack I've seen in the past 24 hours. I'm starting to think something might be wrong with me, Peggy."

Harry, well, she wasn't sure about him. Although, as Moana explained it that would imply that he might be dead. She couldn't know one way or another, but she didn't want to think she'd lost him like that -- message or no. The other thing she had seen though, well, she really hoped that wasn't a vision. She wasn't sure the crabs would be very effective at communicating anyway.

Instead, she offered an amused smile, "About a year ago I wouldn't have believed any of that. I've experienced a lot in the past year though...so I know that could be a possibility." It certainly wasn't any stranger than some of the things Harry had shown her. "It would be better if they weren't dead. He made me a promise that he'd come find me some day--I was hoping that would be outside of any afterlife," she replied with a tone of amusement. "Still...maybe it is some kind of message. The man I saw, the vision, he is a wizard in his world. It could be he was able to put something together to communicate here without actually being here." She wants that to be the case, though the other thing she saw -- well, she can't explain that as easily.

Moana bobbed her head with a firm shake and eager shake. "Yes. Just like that." She didn't want to think that Riza's friend was dead but maybe he was trying to talk to her. "You said that he was a wizard? Does that mean that he found a way here and then left?"

She didn't really understand that part. The word wizard was a little strange to her. "You don't have to answer that." She added quickly feeling like she was pressing Riza to much. "I'm not familiar with the term wizard but that is someone who can do magic right?" She's gotten pretty good at inference.

Peggy's not entirely sure what to do. The truth is that even if Riza is seeing something, there's not much that she could offer apart from whatever support and defense that she's giving right now. There are no brain scans that she can run, her medical knowledge suitable in the field when it comes to brief injuries, but this is beyond her scope. "Can you recall the first time it happened?" She might not be a doctor, but she's a very good spy and there's a good chance she'll be able to get to the bottom of it, if she has enough evidence at her disposal.

"Perhaps something you ate? Something you were around?" she prods, hoping that because the issue is barely a day old, they might still be able to find some answers without them evaporating into recent history.

There weren't exactly the easiest of creatures to describe, considering they looked like nothing natural. She knew as soon as she tried to put it to words it wouldn't do it justice. Still, she felt like she should try because otherwise it seemed rather pointless.

"It was large, slightly bigger than your average human adult. It looked a lot like an insect might if they could get that big: eight long legs, a bulbous head, thorax, and a mandible. Despite it's size it moves very fast and tends to prefer dark places like sewers or subway tunnels." She shuddered, because the memories of her encounters with creatures like that were not great. "They aren't difficult to take down if you have the right weapon, but they can also overpower a person fairly easily, especially if they outnumber you."

Before she'd been taken to Manhattan, she wouldn't have believed a lot of things. The fact that wizards existed was certainly one of them. Harry hadn't been shy about it though, and she'd seen him do things that certainly weren't in the realm of the alchemy she was familiar with. "He wasn't physically here...that much I know. But, yes, I saw him and he was able to tell me a few things before he left," she confirmed.

She decided to keep what he said to herself. She couldn't trust herself right now and it would be better not to spread false hope or false news in case this was just another hallucination, like the parasite had been in the inn.

Riza nodded at Moana's other question, "As far as I understood it back when I was with him, magic is a big part of being a wizard, yes."

That part was easy enough to answer. She wasn't going to forget seeing those things again any time soon. "Last night. It wasn't the same though...I woke up and thought one of the creatures from the last place I was stuck in like this was attacking me. I fought it off and thought it was going to start attacking people in the inn. But no one was hurt and one of the inn residents reported seeing nothing come down the stairs." At the time, she'd written it off as a nightmare -- perhaps too much stress. However, it had felt so real, just like this and just like...

She hesitated, looking off in the direction of the fountain. She knew where it was, even though they were indoors and didn't have a direct line of sight to it. Riza refocused her attention on Peggy -- still asking questions that might help bring answers. "M-maybe...but I eat the same things everyone else does at the inn. It's not like my diet is any different than anyone else." She looks back up at Peggy, "So if that were the case, wouldn't there be others also," she hesitates to admit it, but forces it out, "hallucinating?"

Moana thought about what Riza had said and her curiousity got the better of her. "What did he say? Was it about here or..." Her lips tugged into a frown. She didn't want to ask if he was something personal to Riza but at the same time it was a wizard.

There were mystic men in her village and then those like her grandmother who were wise.

"If he is a wizard. Then maybe he can help?"

Peggy's mind is racing, even as she works to make sure that the entrances are blocked up and that no one will interrupt them. There's one distinct possibility in her mind, but it's not one that she likes to think about too much, because truthfully, it brings her to frustration every time it comes up.

"I think that the most likely culprit is that someone watching us or something to do with this place is responsible," she says, her brow furrowing. "That group you were with, the one that found the pod. Are any of them exhibiting similar symptoms?" Perhaps whatever this is had been caused by that?

Riza looked away, back towards the fountain and remembering her conversation with him. At the same time, she recalled the other things she'd been seeing lately. She shook her head, "I'd...rather not say." Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she willed them not to fall. "Moana, I hate to ask this of you, but I can't even tell if he was really here or not. I don't...I don't want to get people thinking that someone might be coming to help us when it could just be a false vision. So, please, don't mention this to the others?"

Riza probably would have come to that conclusion eventually as well. It made the most sense, given where they were, but she couldn't remember anyone else suffering from hallucinations before. Another puzzle piece that just meant more suffering for them, especially if others were to follow similar fates.

"I haven't spoken with any of them since this started, so I can't be sure," she admitted. The only one from the pod group she'd been close to was really Cougar and he didn't seem likely to share that kind of thing with her if he had. Although, he had dealt with that memory loss awhile back...but that had been prior to the pod discovery.

Peggy makes a note to follow up with some of them in order to see if they were having similar issues, but the important thing now was Riza's safety and honestly, Peggy is struggling to figure out how to distinguish reality from the hallucinations. "What if we put a blindfold on you and earplugs?" she suggests. "If you can't see or hear anything, maybe whatever it is that you're seeing won't impact you."

Barring finding some miraculous drug to help, she has the feeling that there won't be another solution that she can come up with, apart from hiding Riza. "I don't think this is going to be a very pleasant time for you, I'm sorry."

Moana looked panicked when it seemed like Riza would cry again. Her palms rose and her fingers curled while a nervous cringe pulled at her lips. "Oh, ah. I'm sorry. I won't ask anymore or tell anyone. Do you want to go or walk you home?"

She felt very awkward.

Oh Moana. Riza felt bad dumping this in the young girl's lap, but sometimes things didn't work out the way you would like them to. Most of Riza's life had been a lesson in that. She took a breath, calming herself again and willing herself to stop. She'd had a lot of practice in doing that over the years.

"It's all right, Moana. I really appreciate your concern." She considered the offer and pulled her coat a little more tightly around herself, "I'd...actually like to stay out here a little longer. It's quite for the moment and if I go back to the inn it might just be more questions." She wouldn't admit it, even to herself, but there was a small part that secretly hoped if she lingered by the fountain a little longer she might see him again.

Riza frowned. She does give the suggestion serious thought, but at the same time she wanted to immediately dismiss it. What good would blindfolds and earplugs do if it was less her senses and more her own mind recreating nightmares from her past. Not to mention it would just make her a burden -- something she already felt she was teetering on the edge of given that her skill set was limited in its application here. It was something she always admonished her Colonel for and she certainly didn't want to fall into that category.

"I don't want to be useless," she finally said, a crisp dismissal of the idea.

At that size there's absolutely no chance he missed it barreling it's way down the stairs, no matter how fast it moves. He doesn't point any of this out though, because whether Riza simply imagined it or... or whatever this place might have done to her to make her think she was seeing something like that, there was hardly any harm in taking note of the information anyway.

"You only saw one of them this time though, right?" He asks, because the concept of being outnumbered is never a comforting one, no matter the situation. And then, "is it native to this place, or from your home?"

"You might have to ensure what you see, then," Peggy warns, because she doesn't think that she can actually stop what Riza is seeing, no matter how many plans she can concoct off the top of her head. "Perhaps we're dealing with this the wrong way. Rather than trying to stop them, what if we thought up some way for you to cope with them," is her suggestion. "Some sort of technique to make it background noise? Or something to remind you that it's not real?"

Moana didn’t fully understand but she didn’t want to push. She’d only just met Riza and knew only what the woman had offered to share with her. After a moment of silence Moana nodded her head, accepting Riza’s decision to stay outside. It was another thing that Moana just couldn’t understand.

"Okay, if you want company I’ll be at the Inn." She really disliked the cold.

Before turning to go Moana offered Riza another smile. "I was nice talking to you." She liked meeting those who lived in the village. She was so used to knowing everyone, growing up with everyone but this time she got to learn about her surroundings and the people around her. It made Moana feel very much like an eager child, when the world was still so new.

If Alex had said it aloud, she would have agreed. They could be stealthy -- but usually only if they had the dark on their side and the inn was hardly dark enough to conceal something like that, even if it had used the advantage of climbing on the ceiling.

She folder her arms over her chest. She'd honestly prefer someone else to talk to about this, but Alex was as good a source of company as any right now. "Just the one...and as far as I know they aren't native to either," she paused, it wasn't like she kept it a secret that she had experienced another situation like this one. "At least, I don't think they are native here. I actually encountered them in another world I was abducted too." It always troubled her how similar these situations were and while time had shown her that there were even more differences, there was still a sinking suspicion sometimes that this was only Project Daisychain part two.

Riza offered her a small smile in return. It wasn't much, but at least it was a positive sign that she probably wasn't going to start crying again as soon as Moana left. "I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure we'll see each other more often," she said.

She nodded in agreement. It had been nice to talk to Moana, her presence was comforting in its own way--comforting and kind. Riza didn't encounter that very often.

Well, it's not a bad plan and Riza would love to follow it. However, as she thinks it over she focuses on that first night. She remembers feeling the weight of the crab on her chest. Riza debates bringing it up, knowing it will only cause more concern for her. She doesn't want to do that, but she knows at the same time it will only hurt in the long run if she isn't honest. Especially since Peggy is only trying to help her.

"If it was just seeing things that wouldn't be the concern," Riza finally admits. Peggy already knew about the hearing, so Riza doesn't expand on it just yet. "I am not sure if there is a technique that will help with that."

"Should we write something on your arms? Some sort of reminder that what you're hearing and seeing isn't real? Or you could stay with someone for a while," Peggy suggests. "Perhaps you might stay with someone until this is over, so you can have a second opinion. Someone who hasn't got any idea of your history, that way they're an unbiased source who couldn't possibly feed you information."

Of course, that could also backfire if the hallucinations also extended to people, but she doesn't say that.

Riza knows Peggy is only trying to help, but in some ways her suggestions make Riza feel even more helpless. She doesn't want to have to burden other people because of her suffering. "I still live at the inn. That's probably enough eyes on me to keep me from doing anything too crazy," she suggests. It's not perfect, but she likes where she is at and it's familiar. The people there don't really know her entire history, very few people here do actually, so she isn't too worried about that.

Peggy still makes a note to try and have a word with Kate, or perhaps one of the others, just to make sure that whatever is going on with Riza isn't going to affect her too negatively, especially since she'd seemed so passionately convinced of what she'd been seeing and hearing. "You could come and stay on my sofa, if you're truly worried. I can keep you down, if that's what's required," Peggy says, not in a way that means to be threatening.

"Tell me what you need," Peggy says, trying not to be too presumptive.

"Honestly? I don't know. I have no idea what's happening and it really could be any number of things," she manages not to sound as upset as she feels, keeping her emotions in check again. She takes a breath, "I'm just relieved he's not actually here."

She tilts her head back, looking up at the ceiling as she tries to process her thoughts. "I think for the moment I'll take my chances at the inn. If I see anything strange I'll just try to go where people are and see if they can see it too. I won't risk going on patrols for the time being...until this passes."

"Come and see me if anything changes," Peggy says, still rather worried about what's happening to Riza at this particular moment, but also keenly aware that there's very little that she can do to help her apart from being someone to physically be there as a presence to keep her from escaping. "Promise me," she says, a touch severely, but wanting to impart how serious she is about this. "If anything gets worse, you will come and see me."

Riza closes her eyes for a moment. Peggy has the voice of a commanding officer, that's for sure. Her recent run in with Pride has her thinking back of home and her colonel. She has to fight the urge to say something along those lines or ask snidely if 'that's an order.' Now isn't the time, not after everything Peggy has done for her.

"I will," she says, opening her eyes and looking at Peggy so the other woman can see that she is being honest and sincere, "I promise."

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Nightmares, Dreams, and Questioning Reality

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II. Fountain - Morning of Next Day

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I. Inn

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being vague cause i wasn't sure if we should hand wave them having "met"

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handwaving works for me

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end?