oh, you look tired.

[stregadoro]

wake up, wake up, it's only a bad dream meme

bad dreams are ordeals, sometimes seemingly endless. when you wake up, your heart pounds, your head hurts, and you end up drenched in sweat. even if you know none of it was real, it takes a while to orient yourself. it is pretty nice to have someone there to wake you up or to soothe you out of it and remind you that... it's only a dream. ••• the usual rules apply. post with your character and preferences and then tag around, have your characters comfort others.

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Ezra Bridger | Star Wars Rebels

[lothrat]

[learningcurves]

[Objects flying around in a frenzy isn't exactly anything new to Seras, not since entering this galaxy far, far away but oh so close. It isn't even anything new in the terms of her new companion.

It just takes some practice. He's curled up on his side, moaning and sweaty, brow furrowed, and she finally ducks a rather large boulder just as she reaches his side.

Seras doesn't waste a moment, no-- she immediately smooths hair back from his brow.]

Shhh, hey...it's alright. You're fine.

[lothrat]

[Flying boulders might not be something entirely new for Ezra either, but startling awake at someone's touch, nightmares fresh in his mind, only to see a rock flying this close to your head, to her head, is... Well. Maybe he can be forgiven for the way he yelps and scrambles back, eyes wide and unfocused.]

What-! Where-?

[He tries to blink the sleep from his eyes, rushing adrenaline not enough for everything to make sense.]

Seras?

[learningcurves]

[slowly, slowly, Seras holds her arms out to him, palms open and unthreatening.]

Yes, it's me. You're safe, you're fine. Are you okay?

[She makes sure to keep her voice soft and even; its all very frightening for him, she's sure.]

[lothrat]

[It takes a moment, a rapid stuttering of heartbeats, before awareness sinks in and the last vestiges of his dream register as just that, a dream. Ezra releases a shuddering breath, and along with it releases...

Oh.

He hadn't even realized he'd reached for the Force, until abruptly the rocks all fall to the ground. Ezra jumps, then winces with each loud thump.]

I- I'm fine. Just... Never mind. What about you?

[He didn't just hit her with one of those rocks, did he?]

[learningcurves]

[her palms still open, Seras lays them on his shoulders gently, her smile soft.]

I'm just dandy-- you know me, I'm light on my feet. Nothing a few pebbles can do to me. Do you want some water or something?

[lothrat]

[Maybe under other circumstances he might have felt a little awkward at that contact. Closeness with someone isn't exactly something he got a lot of after he was orphaned. But here and now, still shaken by the dream, and by what he just did...

Well, maybe it's selfish, but he actually leans in. Just a little.]

N-no, I'm good. Sorry, that doesn't usually happen.

[Shouldn't have happened at all.]

I'm glad you're alright.

[learningcurves]

[Seras slowly pats his shoulders, rubs them softly. Her smile remains.]

If you're sure...and it's fine-- well, it's not fine.

[her brows furrow:]

Do you want to talk about it?

[lothrat]

[There's two ways he could interpret that question, he realizes. Talk about his dreams? Or about using the Force like that? Because in some ways, one is just as disturbing as the other.

But just as he isn't used to casual hugs or shoulder pats, he's really not used to talking about his nightmares. And why should he, when they're not real, and when he has something more concrete to worry about? Easier to stuff that sort of thing in a mental shoebox and try to forget it exists.]

What, you mean this?

[He gestures at the rocks, mouth twisting into an expression that isn't sure if it's unhappy.]

I- You know I can use the Force. It just shouldn't have been that easy. If I did that when I was half-asleep, just because of a dream...

[It means he used the Force through fear.]

[learningcurves]

[She....for all she's seen, she knows of the force, the aweinspiring lifeforce through all things. supposedly. is it a religion? a way of life? spooks?

She's seen Some Shit. That's for sure. But that isn't what she meant. She's used to Jedi having control, if anything.]

Either you're very good, which I never doubted, or...it sounded like you were having a row.

[lothrat]

[He tries to quirk his mouth up at her words. Or, well, at least at the first half.]

It'd be nice if I was that good.

[Nicer still if defending himself with humor actually worked. He pulls in a breath and blows it out, trying to will his feelings to go out with it. Release your feelings into the Force, Ezra... He can almost hear Kanan's voice.]

It was just a dream. Just... just a bad dream. I guess it just felt real while I was asleep, and I... [He gestures vaguely again.] Reacted.

[He's pretty sure she can put the pieces together.]

[learningcurves]

[she smiles, continues to rub his shoulders. He's trying, she knows. But some things you can't shake off so easily, so quick.]

Understandable. You know, you wouldn't believe how many times I lost it when I first obtained my powers. Crushing buildings, that sort of thing. It happens to everyone. But what helps....

[lothrat]

[He'd never admit it to anyone who asked, but those shoulder rubs are comforting in an intangible way he's not sure he even has words for. Just a feeling, an impression, a memory of his mom. He keeps leaning in, trying to just appreciate it, and not dwell on what that memory brings.

Fortunately, Seras provides a ready distraction. He perks up, latching onto that hint.]

There's something that helps? I mean, I know what you do isn't really the same thing, but it could be close enough. Right?

[learningcurves]

[Well that's good! That's real good, it's real telling, because she pulls him into a side hug, then. Yes, this will help.]

Is talking. Or meditation, I suppose, but I always fall asleep when I try that. [then she winks]

[lothrat]

[That succeeds in getting Ezra to make a face right there.]

Ugh, please don't tell me I need to meditate. I get enough of that from Kanan already.

[Dodging that subtle nudge to talk? Yes, yes he is. At least he's still accepting the hug.]

[learningcurves]

He is your teacher-- he isn't given that title for the fancy ponytail or anything of the sort.

[and then she's just going to loop her arm around him yup you're going to accept this hug even more. Seras is quiet for a moment, and then:]

You know, when I first changed, I had this awful dream. It wasn't what was happening to me so much as...what I did. The kind of person I was then-- I didn't know what kind except everything was different and I didn't know where it left me....

[lothrat]

Yeah, he is my teacher. [He quirks a small smile, half at her description, half at his own attempt at humor here.] I don't need another one.

[The power of a memory of his mom's hug can only keep Ezra docile for so long, though. No longer feeling quite as vulnerable, embarrassment at being hugged creeps in. He sits up a little straighter, trying to subtly pull away.]

What did you do? Or did you just mean the destroying buildings thing?

[That would be pretty disturbing.

Even more if you didn't mean to.]

[learningcurves]

No, but it doesn't hurt to have a few more friends.

[Seras isn't completely naive; she knows that social cue well enough, and slides her arms from him, taking a step back.]

I hurt the people I cared about in these dreams. I didn't even recognize myself, but this person who had my face...knew things about me. They knew me, they were me.

[lothrat]

Do friends have to lecture me about meditation, too?

[He asks that, almost teasing, even as he relaxes a little bit. Thanks for not making that awkward, Seras.

Of course, the moment of humor fades when she shifts back to the topic of her dream. That description... Ezra shivers. It hits a little too close for him.]

What did you do about... well, about you? Or was that why it was a nightmare? Because you couldn't stop yourself?

[learningcurves]

They absolutely do. At least about talking it over.

[she winks at him, and then softens as her dream comes to light.]

I had to confront myself. Confront the truth, about the changes in my life....and instead of just letting this happen, I took charge. Now don't get me wrong, it was hard.

[lothrat]

How do you even know what's true, though? What if... What if both sides of you are real?

[Despite his resolve not to talk about his dream, it's hard not to dismiss it from his mind either. His gut twists with the memory, even if it was just a dream.]

What if you confront yourself only to realize you are that person? That you could... That you could really do those horrible things?

[learningcurves]

[Seras searches his face for a quiet moment, into those frightened wide eyes of the boy trying so hard not to become that person.]

You don't. You know yourself better than anyone-- and in the case where you don't notice the signs....you have an entire family who will be there for you, to guide you. You're a good man. This won't happen to you.

[lothrat]

[Ezra's quiet for a moment after that, trying, really trying, to absorb that message and what it means for him. Tries to let it reassure him.

He's not sure how much he actually succeeds.

Still, they're enough to remind him that he's not alone, even if he's not sure about himself. He's got Kanan and Hera, Sabine and Zeb and Chopper, and even Seras now. What's family for, if not to catch you when you fall? He manages a smile, fear fading for now.]

Yeah. Yeah, you're right, Seras.

[This time, he's the one initiating a hug, quick and one-armed from the side, but no less heartfelt.]

Thanks. For waking me up and talking.

[learningcurves]

[awwww...! A gentle gloved hand ruffles his hair as she grins at him. She knows, she knows its easier said than done, that Ezra will have to work hard to ensure this doesn't happen. That mistakes happen. But redemption and growing is always there if you listen for it.]

Of course. That's what friends are for! I'll kick anyone's ass who thinks they can take you down the wrong path.

[lothrat]

[The smile that comes to his mouth is more genuine now, even though he does try to duck that hair ruffling. Come on, Seras, isn't he a little old for that?]

Even my own?

[The question's half teasing, half serious.]