originallutece | ic contact;

I'd say tamed is the wrong word. Some could be reasoned with, I believe. Others only contained.

[ he doesn't even remember the names of all those who could enter dreams. he wishes he had more specific things to tell her, but without a trip to the library -- without a trip to the library, he doesn't, and the library is gone, swallowed by the storm like the rest of the folly. ]

Mm.

[She trusts he's telling her all he remembers, but it isn't much. Still, it's proof that whatever had been tormenting them, it hadn't been the byproduct of sleep deprivation and a few clever blades. She'd wondered, towards the end. She'd doubted everything she'd seen towards the end, and part of her had wondered if they'd all simply shared a mass hallucination . . . but no.]

There was . . . I suppose you'd call it a bird, but unlike any bird I've ever seen. Massive. Bloodthirsty. We couldn't even see it most of the time, it was pitch black, but-- well. It could see us, I suppose. I suppose it hardly matters; it's not as if it was required to follow any kind of logic.

It, ah . . . . it appeared within our dreams, you see. And it would attack. That's all it was intent on doing, attacking and tearing us apart. There's some who lost limbs, or fingers . . . I suppose I was lucky.

[She hesitates, then shifts slightly, showing off her back. There's bandages all up it, spotted with browned, dried blood.]

It could have severed my spine. It's a miracle it hadn't, frankly. But I think I'll always have a particularly interesting set of scars to show off.

[She isn't looking at him, and so she adds softly:]

I'm glad you've heard of something like this.

[ it isn't much, no. it's been a century since he sat on a school bench and learned about magical creatures. he's learned a great deal about a great many of them since and he's done a fair amount of research in the libraries, but he hasn't encountered ones like she's describing himself, so there'd been no reason for research. all that's left are vague memories of his time in school. ]

I'm glad to hear that it didn't manage that.

[ glad to see it, too.

he lifts a hand, touching her shoulder briefly. ] I'm sorry I don't have more to tell you. But I'd say whatever it was precisely, it was very real indeed.

That's more of an assurance than you'd think.

[Of course it was real. Of course it was, she and all the other prisoners have the scars to prove it. But at the same time . . . what kind of creature travels through dreams? What on earth kind of animal could possibly do harm to them through their minds?

And yet magic makes it so.]

. . . I'm all right, you know. Or I'll be all right, anyway. You don't have to worry.

If you don't mind, [ thomas offers her a slight smile, clasping his hands together in front of his body. ] I'll worry until you're entirely all right.

Ah.

[A soft statement, and she glances down for a moment. Ah, and she really has no idea what to say to that, how to successfully articulate that it means a great deal to her without being soppy.]

. . . well. I suppose I can't stop you.

[She glances up back at him.]

. . . tell me what you've been up to.

[Distract me.]

[ indeed: she cannot stop him. he nods, briefly holding her gaze before he lets the moment pass. ]

Do you know Eggsy Unwin?

[ he doesn’t wait for a n answer before continuing. ] I’ve been watching his dog.

I'm very familiar with him.

[And his dog, though it's clear Thomas has spent a great deal more time with him.]

Has he been that unable to watch after him?

[ "very familiar". thomas lifts an eyebrow for a moment, but then continues - ]

I think initially, he simply meant for JB not to get in the way when he went off on a rescue mission.

[She returns his look, but doesn't elaborate, not yet.]

And now? Have you become a proper uncle to him?

Perhaps an uncle twice removed.

[ the thought earns a smile. ]

Eggsy was hurt during the rescue operation, so I've been watching the dog a little longer.

That's kind of you. Though I didn't realize he was that injured. Was there more beyond his arm?

Mostly the arm.

[ both arms, really, but one worse than the other. but thomas will discuss eggsy's injuries no more than he would discuss rosalind's with someone else. ]

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