Don&#39;t believe in no-win scenarios

While Jim explains, Viatorus takes out a notepad to jot down a few of the details. During a brief pause, he takes out a leather folder and then returns his attention to the description. There's a lot to take in, a lot of gaps being filled. This is going to make talking to Naugus about it much easier.

"Thank you for telling me. I know that must not have been nice to recall," he says straight off. Opening the folder, he takes out a few thick sheets of paper where watercolours and sketches have depicted the creatures that haunt Naugus' dreams. "Are these the beings you saw?" A little more hopefully he asks, "Can you put their names to their image?"

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"...Yeah. That's them, mostly. The lobster thing is Suguna. The bat is Nusgau, and the big guy is Agunus." Jim leans back away from the sketches initially, but points to each in turn with his claw and names them.

"When I asked how I could help, they told me to tell Naugus their names. I don't know how it's supposed to help, but they wouldn't give me much in the way of details. I don't know if they were bound by magic to not say, or what." Jim shrugs. He doesn't understand any of it. Ghosts, magic. It's all foreign to him.

"They seemed genuinely concerned about my well being, at least."

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Pencil in hand, Viatorus is quick to jot down the names of each under their respective images. He's so focused on taking down the information with hands that are much too large that he barely hears himself natter on. "Names are invaluable. The power they hold is... almost beyond measure, to the right person."

Names noted, he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, turning his mind to the matter of explaining this. "When we dream... we are free from so many distractions, even our own consciousness is quietened. That's how you were able to meet these beings. Unless you know what to look for, and how to, they are very difficult to meet in the waking world. As far as I've observed, they can't affect Naugus much at all except by emphasising certain emotions. Not when he's awake."

Viatorus lets his hand fall and leans forward to reassure Jim. "You mustn't worry, they can't harm you. Whatever Naugus has done keeps them where they are. They might give you some nightmares, but I have remedies for that."

"But..." A frown crosses his features then and his voice takes on a warning tone. "You mustn't trust them either. Beings like that... They'll trick you. They will do anything they can to get what they want. Sometimes they just want fear, sometimes they want a body. You are stronger than them, but you must remember that, and not to allow them anything. I have tea that will give you dreamless sleep. I'm going to ask you to ignore them. After I'm returned to my own body I'll talk to Naugus about it. But until then, please don't tell him, and please don't listen to them."

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"So we're finding solutions for being possessed thanks to Schon, and you've got being haunted covered. This is good news. But I'll be honest, I"m more worried about Naugus than I am his headprison full of spirits." Jim sighs and rubs at his right temple with his one functional hand.

"They're Ixis too, I'm not trusting them." Jim reassures Viatorus. The more he talks to folks, the more opinions he's getting that these spirits are no good. Maybe Ixis did lock them up there, but if they're Ixis too, maybe they're just as bad as he is, if not worse.

It certainly seems plausible enough. One Ixis is enough trouble. Four is just goddamn ridiculous.

"Sure, whatever you suggest. I won't tell him. I've been trying to avoid him best as I can until this blows over." Jim pauses, gives Viatorus a long look. "Thank you. You had plenty of reason to not want to help me, so....thanks. Sorry I was rude to you the only other time we met."

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"Being possessed?" Viatorus blinks at Jim in surprise. "Did they threaten they would possess you too?"

It doesn't make sense for them to. They tried the nice angle first with him, he's sure they would do the same with Jim. But... threats don't seem implausible either... After a moment's thought he's certain possession isn't a real threat for Jim, but it's still alarming to hear.

The apology is met with a small smile and a shake of his head. "It's alright. Dreams are personal things. I understand why people wouldn't want to talk about them to a stranger, but I also would hate to leave someone worrying about their dreams. I'm happy to share what I know, if I'm asked."

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"They didn't, no. They were only ever kind to me, if not desperate sounding." Jim rubs at the back of his squat neck and sighs. He really really wants his own body back. "They said Ixis could do it anytime he wanted once we got swapped back. And Ixis himself kept saying he's possessed bodies before, and he had no qualms about killing mine if it annoyed him too much...."

There's a weak shrug from the captain-in-a-goblin's-body.

"It just seems like every time I think this swap might not be the end of the world, something else comes up."

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That... was not the response he'd expected. Viatorus is silent for a long moment as he slowly tidies away the papers and thinks. He doesn't believe Naugus would do that to Jim, but... everything will become uncertain after he talks to Naugus about his dreams. So, instead of reassurances, Viatorus settles on some advice.

He hesitantly meets the captain's eyes and talks gently, quietly. "If you do... get possessed..... Fight. Hold onto yourself. Your memories, your thoughts... Hold onto them and don't let go. Know yourself." He breaks his gaze to look at his bag, closing it up as a helpful distraction. "You have plenty of friends here who can help you if that happens."

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A knock at the door is promptly answered by Schön stepping to it from the other room. "It's about time," he snaps to the deliverybeing, before stepping outside and closing the door to see to the matter of dumpling transactions and late penalties.

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"Oh Schon, we're about done in here if you guys want to come back." Jim gives a grateful smile Viatorus' way as though to confirm it.

"Thank you. I really mean it. Once we get the body swap thing sorted out, let me buy you a drink. I owe you at least that much for coming out in the middle of the night to deal with me." He'd be even more grateful that Viatorus came if he knew the recent events between him and Verity.

He'll have to ask Schon and Verity what they'd like. Schon seemed to enjoy that drink he'd brought to thank him for the Samhain ball, but Jim doesn't want to do the same thing twice. This is a much more healthy line of thought than previous lines he's had this evening.

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Verity's leaning in the doorway, watching but not joining the scene until invited. Familiar territory for her. With Schön having stepped out and Jim not needing to deal with it, she's going to just stay here so V doesn't freak out again.

It's safer that way.

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"It's quite alright. I'm always happy to help a concerned dreamer."

The sudden reappearance of Schön and Verity has him looking between everyone and then ducking his head as he roots out something from his bag. A small paper bag and a pen. After he jots something down on the bag, he hands it over to Jim.

"Some tea to help keep the dreams away. Verity knows how to make it. I've put my number down there in case you need me again." He tucks the pen away again and does another glance around the room, his gaze falling especially quickly from Verity. "I-If that's all I can help with, I should leave you to enjoy your food."

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"-inexcusable, it isn't as if there are that many sphinx-based row-houses in this part of the Nexus, and what sort of fool tries to take a shortcut? Those never work." The door opens again, admitting Schön and a brown paper bag in which reside a family of take-out containers. He sighs, nudging it closed with a foot. "Well, triumph at least, we have our feast." He's just in time to have missed Viatorus' announced intention to depart.

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Jim doesn't want to keep Viatorus any later than he already has especially since the man seems eager to get back, presumably to Harrowheart and that kid they've all been swapped with. He gives the dream walker a grateful wave in farewell as he's getting up to go.

"I uh...I think I've got most everything sorted out on my end." Jim pipes up, poking at the bag of dream-free tea. "Viatorus gave me some tea and some advice on the whole possession front, too, so there's much less to be worried about." Verity gets a glance and a smile, as does Schon in turn. "So...late night snack time?"

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Verity shrinks back into the shadows of the doorway after V's made it clear he's too uncomfortable to be around her. Not even the promise of her favorite Chinese food can coax her out right now.

"That's the tea I made you before," she points out to Jim, quietly enough to go unheard or ignored. "It'll be good for you."

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He's certainly not going to sit around watching everyone eat pretending that he's in his own body and nothing has happened, enduring awkward silences instead of conversations that can't be had before he apologises to Verity privately. No, better to leave everyone to settle down and become comfortable without his awkward presence.

"I'll say goodnight to you all then. I hope you sleep better in future Jim. Call me if you need me." He tips his head to Verity, unwilling to bridge the gap that she's putting between them just now. "Verity." And then he tries a smile for Schön, since his hands are rather full to go offering a handshake. "It was nice to meet you, Schön. I only wish it were under better circumstances."

"Enjoy your meal," he says before heading to the door.

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It's amazing, how Viatorus can blame Verity for his choices and actions without saying a word. The thin man regards him for a moment, then answers the smile with a nod. "Circumstances are often what we make them. Thank you for answering the call, and go safely."

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Jim is trash enough at relationships that he doesn't notice any awkwardness in the least, or if he does he assumes it's for entirely other reasons. Verity's been stressed since this whole thing started, and Viatorus is looking after not one but two people in his body swap situation, one of which Jim is convinced is like fifteen max.

That's got to be hella stressful too.

"G'night man." Jim calls as Viatorus leaves, before nodding up to Verity. "When...oh. That time." Jim gives a conceding nod, but he doesn't want to talk about that here or at all. "Well, that's two of three concerns sorted, and I think I can manage the last one if I can suck it up for a bit longer."

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"Goodnight, darling." She's too tired to care about whether or not she should call him that.

She wasn't going to talk about it, Jim, don't worry. She knows better than that. "Yeah, if Naugus tries to hurt your body on purpose, he knows he's coming home to me, and nobody wants to deal with me when I'm that mad." Nothing to worry about on that front, really.

She's pretty sure.

"This is a really nice place, Schön. One of your rentals?"

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"Indeed," he confirms, suppressing any appearance of curiosity at what is apparently a verboten subject. Instead, he opens up the little take-out boxes into plates of a variety of treats--duck dumplings, sesame chicken, beef with broccoli, some kind of everything-fried rice. It's a portable feast. "Between tenants, at the moment, I'm afraid, but that does make it ideal for moments like this."

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"Not enough evil geniuses to warrant a place in a Sphinx. If you do volcano bases too, I'm out of here." Jim tries to joke, but it feels half hearted to say the least. He sighs heavily before moving over to the food. A bit of broccoli, and a dumpling seems safe...

No, he's not in his body.

Jim is going to try some of everything. Screw the rules, Jim Kirk has a free pass to eat everything-ville for at least another night.

"I didn't know you were into real estate, by the by." Jim gives Verity a sideways glance. "Or that you two were such good friends." He mostly sees Schon one on one, after all.

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"Volcano bases are so last year. Tropical islands are where it's at." She'll try to play along, but she's not really into it either. Even the food only gets halfhearted attention, though there's a flicker of a smile when she sees Jim enjoying the chance to enjoy it all.

Once Schön's sat down and taken some food for herself she takes whatever dumplings are left. No seconds for either of them. So selfish.

"Schön's one of the first people I met here, and he helped me relocate and gave me a job when I needed it." Surprise, Jim, while you've been wallowing in old hurts Verity's had this whole life happening that you've missed out on. "Once we got over the initial difficulties of being, you know, us, turns out we get along pretty well."

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"The only volcano around is claimed by a tribe of dwarves, anyway. I'm hardly going to wrest it away from them."

Schön's chief focus is the sesame chicken. Claiming just a couple duck dumplings for himself, Verity is more than welcome to the rest. "I try to keep a finger in many delectable pies," he admits to Jim, between bites.

"Nexus real estate is a matter at once simple and complex--there are vast tracts of unclaimed structures, rooms, and land, but the problem is securing them. With the anti-violence field, a thief or other malfeasant could simply walk into your home and rifle through your valuables in front of you, safe from reprisal. The places I manage are less about ownership," although he does own them, "than about safety."

"May I say, by the way, that you are doing excellent work, Verity?"

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"There's actually a volcano around here? And that's...not a concern to anyone?" Jim has had a rather poor history with volcanoes.

Jim's had life happening! He can have a life and be depressed at the same time. It's called multi-tasking. Verity knows how that is, surely. Besides, he's been doing better since he started taking some of her advice.

"That seems about right. Schon really helped me out when I got here too. I'd have never got home if it weren't for him."

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"Lots of places have volcanoes," she points out between dumplings. Seriously, is she even chewing or is she just inhaling them?

Yes, she knows all about having to keep going while grieving. That's part of what he's been missing.

"Thank you." Schön gets a faint but warm smile for the compliment. But, oh wait, there's another thing Jim's missed. "Schön's opening a museum and asked me to be the business manager for it. It's going to be a while before it's finished, but it's pretty exciting."

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