let's meme

[blastiafreak]

☹ HURT / COMFORT ☺ MEME
Taken from here.

Post a comment, others will reply with a scenario--pick from the list, use the RNG, or just make one up--then let the comforting begin.

1. INJURY: Maybe a tiger bit you in the arm, maybe you got attacked by some douchebag with a knife, who knows? The point is, you're hurt and probably bleeding! Better do something before that gets infected. Severity of the injury is up to you, from a papercut to outright guro.

2. SICKNESS: So much for that amazing immune system of yours. Cold? Flu? Some rare illness only one in thirty million people ever get? You've caught something. Chicken noodle soup, anyone? Or, you know, a trip to the hospital. Depends.

3. FEAR/ANXIETY: You're terrified! Don't ask me why, though. You just are. (Unless that tiger from example one is back and it's staring you down...) Hyperventilation! Trembling! Sweating! The works. How unpleasant for you.

4. LOSS OF SENSES: Perfect eyesight? Godlike hearing? Say goodbye to those! Sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell are all fair game here. And though it's not exactly a 'sense', 'ability to speak' will be added under this umbrella too.

5. DESPAIR/DEPRESSION: Nothing is beautiful and everything hurts. You feel helpless and hopeless! This sudden sorrow came from nowhere and it seems pretty hard to shake, but maybe someone will be able to pull you out of your dark, gloomy emotional rut?

6. PARALYSIS: You can't move your legs, or perhaps it's your arms that are affected... Or even your whole body if you're especially unlucky. Unfortunately, you've been paralyzed somehow. If you're a Pokemon, you'd better hope someone has a Parlyz Heal or two on hand.

7. HALLUCINATION/DELUSION: There is most definitely something in the corner waiting to spring at you! ...Except when you take another look? No, there isn't. You've suddenly started hearing and seeing things that just don't exist, as the other person in the room will gladly tell you. The hallucinations can't hurt you physically, but your mental state, on the other hand...

8. MEMORY PROBLEMS: What's your name? Where are you from? These questions might become awfully hard to answer. Your memory is deteriorating as we speak; you can't remember what the conversation you just had was about, and you may well forget that you were having a conversation at all.

9. NIGHTMARES: Went to take a peaceful nap? Time for a nightmare! Hit in the head and knocked unconscious? You're getting a nightmare too, buddy, to increase the unpleasantness of your predicament. It'll be a little hard to wake you up from your bad dream, though it will be possible. While the dream may have ended, that doesn't mean it's completely out of your mind.

10. WEAKNESS/TIREDNESS: You're tired, exhausted, and you want to rest. All of your strength has left you. It's actually requiring all of your willpower not to just fall over on the floor. You should really find a bed soon.

Comments

[blastiafreak]

[She tilts her head, a little more concerned.]

What do you mean, "usual"? You don't have nightmares all the time, do you?

[Although she thinks she might understand why if he does.]

[stargathering]

[ He looks down to her knees. ]

Most of them don't have people I know, but... It's gotten more common in the past few years...

[blastiafreak]

[The Soul Eater, she thinks. Rita looks at his face in worry. Nightmares like that can't be easy on him...]

...Sorry. I don't think I can do anything about dreams.

[stargathering]

[ He glances back up to see her face and how she's looking at him. She can't really be blaming herself for this.

He reaches a hand out to hold her knee. ] They're just dreams... I didn't expect you to do anything about them... [ That'd be like taking the life out of the rune, taking its memories. ] Just don't let yourself... Make sure you take care of yourself.

[blastiafreak]

[She might not be directly blaming herself, but she still wishes she could come up with something to help him. Blastia can't do anything about nightmares, though.

Her hand moves over his and gives it a gentle squeeze. He seems like he could use the reassurance.] I will. I'll be careful. But you need to take care of yourself, too.

[stargathering]

[ He turns his hand around to hold her hand. He won't pretend that he doesn't want the support. ] I do... I can't do anything about this, though...

[ And there's no guarantee that the Soul Eater's completely restrained. He could watch her die, too...

Even though he doesn't want to think about that, he can't get it off his mind. ]

[blastiafreak]

[She holds it firmly but not roughly. Somehow, Tyr being so obviously in need of comfort worries her more than usual--maybe because he always seems so strong. At the same time, though, she relieved he's sharing it with her. It makes her want to help him out even more.]

I know...Have you ever tried asking a doctor? Maybe medicine could help...

[stargathering]

[ He shakes his head. It seems pointless to ask for medicine like that. ] They're not... These ones aren't normal nightmares... [ He strokes the back of her hand with his thumb. He really doesn't want more regrets. ] They're like memories... It's not natural.

[blastiafreak]

[She leans forward a bit, with the worry obvious on her face. She doesn't understand, but she won't accept that there's nothing they can do if it's affecting him this badly.] What do you mean, they aren't natural? I mean...Nightmares...They're usually a lot like memories, just--worse.

[stargathering]

[ He looks up at her and wishes he could make her worry less. She doesn't even know what he dreamt about. ] I guess... It just doesn't feel right...

It's hard to explain. That was the problem before, too...

[blastiafreak]

[She squeezes his hand gently, just trying what she can do right now.] Can you try? I can't guarantee it'll help, but...

[stargathering]

[ He almost wants to close his eyes again and relax. It's comfortable.

He takes a second to collect his thought and speaks more softly. He doubts she'll be able to help him, but he doesn't keep anything from her now. ] ... Yeah, I'll try...

[ His eyes slipped closed a little. ] When I have these dreams, they feel real—in a lot of ways. Even though they're not familiar, but they feel that way, like I should know them... And besides that... It bothers me that one night I can dream of something normal and nice, and the next the people I dreamed of are ripped apart... I hate that, seeing it all the time...

[blastiafreak]

[She listens closely, the least she can do to help him right now, and shifts a bit nearer. As Tyr describes it, her brows furrow in worry and concentration, and his admission at the end twists at her heart. Tyr shouldn't have to go through this all the time...]

...I know. I think it's normal for dreams to be a little erratic, but...Nightmares like that shouldn't be so common. [Not that she's any kind of expert on sleeping habits--far from it. But she wants to try and figure something out for him.]

[stargathering]

They didn't use to be... [ He thinks, at least. It's so easy to blame everything on the Soul Eater, he wonders if that's all he's doing. He stares blankly at her shirt, going almost expressionless. It's sick to think all his nightmares are just some sort of internalised issue. ] I know nightmares shouldn't be common, at least, and I remember sleeping normally before. Without these kinds of dreams.

[blastiafreak]

...And this has been going on for a few years? [She shakes her head, trying to imagine how he did it.] This isn't just the City, then...

[stargathering]

No... [ It didn't occur to him that she might think it was only a curse or some other effect the City could have. ] It's been going on for a few years now.

[blastiafreak]

[It was a possibility, though she isn't sure what difference it would have made either way. Rita squeezes his hand and wracks her brain, despite coming up with only blanks.] And...nothing you've done has ever stopped them?

[stargathering]

[ He always feels ashamed when he has to admit to himself and anyone else: ] I don't know what I can do. I just keep going...

[blastiafreak]

[...He's strong, she thinks. She wishes she could protect him from these nightmares. But right now, all she can do is clasp his hand with both of hers.] And you'll keep going. But maybe-[No, no maybes]--there has to be something. Let's figure it out.

[stargathering]

[ He opens his eyes fully again and looks up at her. She's strong too, he thinks, and he knows she's not just saying things. ] Do you have any ideas?

[blastiafreak]

...Not yet. [She's honest--lying won't do Tyr any good--and she's also determined.] But there's a library here, right? They must have studies on sleeping and dreams. I could ask around, too.

[stargathering]

[ He gives a little smile at her, happy that she's always trying to help him. ] Yeah, someone here must know about sleep problems.

[blastiafreak]

[And she thinks she wants to keep that smile and make it better. Tyr should get the chance to be free of his nightmares. Encouraged, she nods along.] Yeah. And it's not like regular nightmares are rare or anything--nobody has to know it's you.

[stargathering]

[ He wasn't worried about anonymity—like she said, nightmares aren't rare—but he appreciates she thought of him. ] Thanks...

[ He gives her hand a little squeeze, his voice turning thoughtful. ] ...You're a really good friend to me.

[blastiafreak]

[Her blush this time is only slight. She's still partly focused on where to start with helping him, but she also can't deny that she cares about him at this point.] ...I'm just worried about you.