Text, un: Mariposa

[nonmagical]

WHO: Mirabel and the network
WHERE: In her room
WHEN: A few days after the event, late at night
WHAT: Mirabel has some questions
WARNINGS: Maybe near death mention? Possession talk.

[It’s been a few days since the fae realm ordeal. Mirabel’s learned a few things. One, she’s still furry. Two, she can’t sleep. Not after… everything that happened. She doesn’t want to talk about it, not really. But she really needs to sleep. So she has a late night question for the network.]

I’m having problems falling asleep. Either I can’t fall asleep or I keep having nightmares. Is there something I can do so I can get some sleep?

[And then she has another question. She’s very careful about asking this one, so she locks her second question from the rest of her family.]

So I’ve been reading up on possession. [A lie.] It seems like a pretty scary thing to go through. Can anyone tell me more about it? Like… what happens if it happens to you?

[A pretty innocent question, right? She hopes no one sees right through it.]

Comments

[nonmagical]

[Her dreams always seemed to end badly ever since they got back from the fae realm. Always full of guilt, and fear. She wonders if those dreams will ever let up - they had to, right?]

I could start painting when it happens.

[Maybe paint what happens? Nah, maybe that would be too morbid.]

or sewing. I don't have any new sewing projects in the works.

[wedonttalkabout]

there you go. just something to get the focus away from what's unsettling your sleep.

[It's not a fix, he knows it's not. It's putting a band-aid on a bullet wound but sometimes that's the best you can hope for.]

whatever works best for you. it's just gotta clear your mind enough that you can sleep again. or pass out from exhaustion. either-or.

[nonmagical]

thanks tio

[She's not sure what'll help. Between the nightmares, the sleepless nights, and the exhaustion she feels even when she does rest... well, she's not a pessimist. She's not. But things aren't looking so good for her right now.

But she's gotta carry on. For everyone's sake, she's gotta keep going.

She just wonders how long she can keep going like this.]

i'll try to avoid the passing out part. it's gotta let up at some point, right?

[wedonttalkabout]

anytime kid

[Hmmm. Bruno doesn't respond immediately. He's torn between brutal honesty and softening the blow with a lie. After some deliberation, he goes down the middle. ]

you never know, it might? you can only wait and see?

[Nailed it.]

[nonmagical]

yeah, it might.

[She's not confident anymore.]

i feel like i... really messed up. i've never really had that many nightmares before.

[wedonttalkabout]

it's not your fault, kid. it's just a thing that's happened, and now you need to find a way to manage it. that's all. just. a new thing to live with.

[Look, he's trying his gosh darn best here. ]

[nonmagical]

yeah... just gotta find a new way to live it.

i'll figure it out. it's going to be okay

[... It has to be.]