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Post by brett on Sept 18, 2007 22:30:56 GMT -5
Regulus sighed at Gemma's words as his mind began an inner struggle. He had already revealed more than a comfortable amount of information and was fighting a strong urge to play it off as if he had just been messing with Gemma and he slept like a baby every night. But another part of him was hungry for knowledge and desperate to know how he could make the nightmares stop. "If you know so much why are you still having nightmares?" Reg asked a little ruder than he had intended, but it certainly seemed a valid question. After all would you take advice from a schizophrenic as to how to stop the voices in your head?
"I mean if you can't fix yourself, what makes you think you could fix me?" Reg fixed the tone on his second attempt now more curious and pleading, skeptical, but not rude. Of course he probably could have worded it a little nicer. Of course it seemed Gemma at least understood how hard this was for him. Hopefully that would be enough to allow her to look past the abrupt phrasing and see the true reason behind the question. Letting people in was not what Regulus Black did, and the dreams were personal, no one else even knew he was having them.
"Also, If I'm being made to spill the contents of my subconscious, I expect the same from you," Reg said bargaining with Gemma now knowing that his desire to sleep well tonight would override all. Even if all she could do was give him false hope and a vague meaning behind his dream, it would be better than nothing. It seemed a fair request and of course the deal had one other stipulation, "And if you reveal anything I have told you or will tell you to anyone, needless to say there will be unpleasant consequences," he added his face as serious as stone.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 21, 2007 19:56:57 GMT -5
Gemma raked her fingers through her hair in an attempt to flatten it, as she was absolutely sure that it had fluffed and now resembled a lion’s mane as it often did when she first dried it. She took everything, even Reg’s nasty tone which had prickled her defenses earlier, in stride and with a generally calm look on her face. After all, Gemma had just prodded and asked some sensitive questions which she herself would have reacted similarly to….
“I won’t tell if you won’t, I don’t exactly want any of your mates pranking me because I can’t sleep at night ya know… And I’m sure you don’t want any of my mates pranking you either…” Gemma told Reg after he’d finished with everything he had to say “ And my problem is a bit more complicated than yours anyways…” she said with just a bit of chill creeping into her tone. Gemma sighed and sat under the tree she’d previously been sleeping under, still running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make it flatten. “You’ve kind of got it easy compared to me… You know what’s causing your problems, it’s nightmares, I have no idea. I went to some doctors when it first started, they said I should take sleeping meds. That didn’t work for me…
“SO I went to a therapist. They said I was bottling emotions from my mom kicking me out of the house and I should start meditating and stuff to relax… Also didn’t work.
“I tried a bunch of stuff, sleeping potions were even suggested but they can be chancy sometimes so my grandparents didn’t want to try anything that could hurt me… What I’ve got wrong with my sleeping pattern is a mystery, nothing seems to work on it. In the end, no matter what I try, I always just end up tired and with an extensive amount of knowledge on the brain and different things you can do to sleep better.” She explained simply. And then Gemma quieted, now it was time to see if Regulus would jeer at her or what…
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Post by brett on Sept 21, 2007 20:33:32 GMT -5
"What is it with Gryffindors and getting kicked out of there houses?" Regulus asked. A rather insensitive comment he supposed, but hopefully his tone would give away that he was trying to lighten the dreary mood. He assumed anyone who got kicked out of there homes was like Sirius in that they welcomed the change and had a better life, but perhaps this was a misconception.
"I can see how not knowing the problem can be frustrating, but I can't say getting stabbed in your sleep is much fun either, especially when you can feel it," Reg said unconsciously moving his hand to the spot where the previous nights dream had left an invisible scar. Sadly that was one of the more docile dreams at least he had been alone in his suffering. In others there were voices taunting him as they tortured him, all the while feeling each stab, each drop of blood, every sensation indicated that what he felt was real, but when he woke he would be left with only a strange numbness where once had been searing pain.
"I'm completely aware in these dreams, I feel everything, from the flex of my muscle to the drops of blood that seep from my wounds, but when I wake up, obviously, I'm not bleeding, as far as I can tell I haven't moved and the only pain I feel is a tingling numbness where I had been injured in the dream," Regulus explained not meeting Gemma's eyes the whole time he spoke. He would regret revealing this weakness, he knew it. "Got anything for that?" he asked doubtful with just a glimmer of hope.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 21, 2007 20:56:25 GMT -5
Gemma concentrated deeply, browsing through her mental archives for every sleep related bit of information she had stormed up there. Even deep in thought though a light smile did appear on her face at his attempt to lighten the mood of the situation, though his tone didn’t fit her circumstances of being kicked out.
“What you’ve got is rare, but I think I’ve heard of something similar… Any Muggle doctor would probably suggest pain medications that could numb you’re body while you sleep to the point where even mentally induced pain doesn’t affect you, but being a pureblood I’m sure you don’t want to try that…” she muttered, basically just thinking aloud at that point.
“Probably you just have an extremely strong Mind-Body Connection, very similar to a seers connection to the psychic world that gives them visions… Maybe finding someone to help you learn Legilimency and Occlumency would help you get control of that connection…” she added a bit after her first comment, this one actually directed at Regulus rather than just in general.
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Post by brett on Sept 21, 2007 22:49:47 GMT -5
Regulus couldn't help, but cringe slightly and even if Gemma was just thinking out loud he couldn't help himself from responding with a sarcastic, "How did you know." He hated Muggles, it wasn't a secret, he was raised in a family that would disown any member who married a mudblood. Reg himself didn't see too much harm in socializing with the mudbloods as long as they minded there manners he would mind his. Of course his overwhelming superiority was often hard for most of them to accept resulting in conflict.
"I suppose learning Occlumency couldn't hurt in any case," Reg muttered. It was now his turn to think out loud. While the thought of volunteering to have someone breech the gentle framework of his mind, to reveal his secrets, was less than appealing, but if it would stop his haunted nights it may be worth a shot. Of course he would need to find someone he trusted.
"Uh...thanks...I guess," Regulus managed awkwardly. He wasn't used to being in debt to anyone or asking for advice so those words hardly left his mouth...at least without a sarcastic undertone. But now he was left with the problem of what was causing Gemma's sleep problems. "So, what are we going to do with your issue?" Reg asked shaking off the earlier awkwardness. It was time for him to repay the favor.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 21, 2007 23:21:55 GMT -5
Gemma looked at Regulus with a suspicious curiosity. She hadn’t expected him to take her advice so easily… Or offer to help her with her won sleeping problems. Especially the helping her thing…
Maybe he was up to something…
Gemma shook off even the notion that Reg would suddenly switch sides on her, though the suspicion still slightly remained, and smiled slightly.
“Wow no offense but it’s hard to believe that you, Regulus Black a usually stereotype Slytherin, are going to both take my advice and help me, Gemma Avery a Gryffindor…” she told him, voicing her thoughts “But I guess I might as well take your help, you might actually help me get over my sleeping problems…” she added simply, then sighed.
“I don’t know what to do though… Sorry, but like I said my problem’s kind of a mystery… Both in the Muggle and Wizarding world… But if you can figure it out I’d owe you BIG TIME, I really would…” Gemma told him with a slight smile.
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Post by brett on Sept 21, 2007 23:44:37 GMT -5
"You shouldn't bother questioning when someone offers to help you," Regulus scolded a small smile crossing his face. Of course her doubts were justified so why not offer the girl an explanation? "I may be a stereotypical Slytherin, but I'm also sleep deprived, so I'll take advice from just about anyone if it means a good nights sleep," he stated making it clear that he wasn't doing her any favors although it didn't hurt that she was a cute girl...Reg's one true weakness.
"As for the whole helping you out thing, not to shoot down your dreams, but it's really a matter of pride. Regulus Black is in debt to no one, you helped me so now I'll help you, simple as that," Reg explained. He had even brought out a third person reference so you know he was getting a bit arrogant, but no less willing to help.
"Well I have no knowledge on sleeping disorders, but I still need to do something. So...I'll spend the night with you. We'll camp out under the stars and I won't fall asleep until you do," Reg said having already made the decision. This wasn't really a negotiation, but he had to make Gemma feel like she had some input, "Sound fair?" he asked looking to set the final plan.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 22, 2007 0:03:31 GMT -5
A blush, that was a very Gryffindor color of crimson found it’s way onto Gemma’s cheeks when Regulus told her his plan. Th-this wasn’t appropriate at all! Not that Gemma had ever really been a stickler for the rules of anything… And it’s not like it’s be the first time she’d ever stayed out with guys! I mean, she’d spent tons of nights over at Cue, Danny Boy, or Zero’s! And vice-Versa! But this was WAY different than that! I mean, the guys were like her brothers or something… And Regulus… Well Regulus Black was a reallycute Slytherin boy she had a crush on and had met at boarding school!
No! NO WAY! She was definitely just blowing this out of proportions! After all, Reg himself had said he just didn’t want to be in debt to her! And it was a perfectly logical plan for him to monitor her sleep to see what was wrong! And she’d had it done billions of times before at hospitals by doctors trying to figure out what was wrong! This wasn’t going to be any different! Definitely not different in anyway!
Gemma took a deep breath, lots of them actually, and calmed herself down. At least physically…
“Yeah, that sounds good… I had my sleep monitored a few times by Muggle doctors…” she told him with a seemingly calm smile, though on the inside she was still freaking out “When and where should we meet? And how are we going to go without being noticed? If we’re missing after lights out someone in one of our dorms, at least, is going to notice if we leave…” she pointed out, expecting for Reg to have all the answers since it was his plan.
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Post by brett on Sept 22, 2007 0:37:45 GMT -5
"Oh Gemma, my poor sweet, innocent Gryffindor," Regulus smirked it was almost cute that she had never snuck out for a night before. "Considering your prefect I don't think it'll be a problem that you spend a night out of the dorm," he explained still smirking. Not only was Remus one of the marauders, but he was also no stranger to spending a night out oh say...once a month?
"But if it concerns you we can meet after lights out, seeing as I don't have to worry about you falling a sleep and forgetting," Reg continued to unveil his plan unable to conceal a small smile. Looks like Gemmas sleepless nights could come in handy. "You should be pretty safe, but make sure and where your cloak just in case, that way even if the caretaker sees you he won't know who it is," he added each thought as it came to him. It was much easier to just sneak up from the dungeons then come down from the tower, but if Sirius and James could pull it off how hard could it be?
"One more thing, we'll probably be best off in the Forbidden Forest," Regulus said not sure how this news would be met, but he didn't exactly want anyone to find them down by the lake. Disillusionment charms would hide them, but it wouldn't stop anyone from walking into them accidentally. Plus it would be easier to hide from the groundskeeper. "i'll bring the tent and take care of protection and disillusionment charms," he added as a bit of comfort.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 22, 2007 0:55:05 GMT -5
’Our Prefect…?’ Gemma thought as Regulus first brought that up ‘Does he mean… Remus Lupin? I know he apart of the Marauders, but what does he have to do with sneaking out?’ she mentally questioned herself, but then pushed that mystery out of her mind and concentrated on the plans of sneaking out.
The plans did sound good, but Regulus had left out an important detail… The when. He hadn’t said what night they’d be meeting in the Forbidden Forest for his observation of her sleeping… The thought of which, by the way, still made Gemma slightly blush. She was just lucky Reg hadn’t noticed.
“Alright… This all sounds pretty good to me…” Gemma told Reg with a smile “Should we meet tonight? And how long after lights out?” she added quickly.
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Post by brett on Sept 22, 2007 1:19:50 GMT -5
"Tonight works...Lets say as soon as Lupin goes back to the boys dorm. From what I know that shouldn't be to long after lights out," Brett said unable to really accurately guess Moony's sleeping habits, but Lupin seemed like the kinda kid who called it a night relatively early so that he can be well rested for the next day. Hopefully he would be right. "I'll be waiting in the great hall," Reg decided he would sneak out early, stick to the shadows if the caretaker decided to come poking around and then they could be off.
It was a solid plan and should work. Reg had been far to caught up in planning ten steps ahead that he had missed the fact that the whole ordeal seemed to be making Gemma blush. "I will see you tonight then?" Regulus asked looking to call this the end of their first meeting. It had been a rather interesting afternoon, but it would be best not to linger here especially in the presence of a Gryffindor.
Of course he was rather enjoying the company. He had to say he was glad he had decided to dump her in the water. Then again he probably would have been regardless of what happened between them.
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Post by gemma0avery on Sept 22, 2007 13:26:21 GMT -5
“Yeah, I’ll meet you in the Great Hall after lights out.” Gemma agreed as she got up and quickly grabbed her tie and cloak up from under the tree “I hope this helps on figuring out what I have, and I hope Legilimency and Occlumency work for you.” She added with a quick smile before starting to head off towards the school, waving slightly as she did.
What Gemma had said was true, she really did hope this observation would help her and Legilimency and Occlumency would help Regulus. And maybe, just maybe, things would go well enough that she and Reg could meet up again sometime… Hopefully next time just to hang out as friends… Or maybe for a date.
Gemma blushed as she pushed open the doors to the castle, how could she think that? They weren’t even really friends yet, just two people working together to solve each others sleeping problems! Yeah, that was it…
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