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Jeremiah Hamilton: After the near-disaster at the Arboretum Jeremiah had spent a good chunk of the next day helping to put the place back together - if mundanely, since Mastigos and Matter magic don't mix - using the work as a focus to keep what he had experienced in that eternal moment in the back of his mind for as long as he could manage. When he finally got sent home to take a break he started to head that way at first before eyeing his phone in the hands-free cradle. After a moment he pulled up Polly's number and hit Talk, fingers mentally crossed that she was able to answer.
Polly Romantic: Answer she did. It takes a few rings, but she does pick up, "Jay?" She sounds surprised, because honestly who uses a phone for talking anymore? "What's up, honey?" There's music playing in the background, as one might expect of a professional musician from time to time, though it stops a few moments later as she puts whatever she's up to on hold.
Jeremiah Hamilton: The sound of her voice brought a smile to Jeremiah's face, the Warlock relaxing a bit in his seat. "Hey...was wondering if you were up for some company. 's been a rough couple of days."
Polly Romantic: "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want me to come to you? Would that be easier? Or do you want to come here? I wasn't really planning anything grand tonight, and I've already eaten. But if you haven't, I can whip you up something at either place. Maybe a home cooked meal would help?" Polly's voice has taken on its encouraging-supportive lilt that she acquires when trying to be helpful.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I'm in the car, so I can head your way. I ate..." the words trailed off as he thought about it, "a while ago, so that wouldn't be a bad idea."
Polly Romantic: "Text me when you're at the door and I'll buzz you up. I need to get downstairs and get to cooking, then. What's your comfort food?" Polly, the ever practical in that regard.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Will do." He smirked at the question, the expression audible in his answer. "Grilled cheese. Simple, but it works."
Polly Romantic: "Well, that makes matters a lot easier for me, then!" Polly chuckles at the answer and notes, "One big hot stack of Grilled Cheese sammiches coming right up. I'll see you when you get, here, Jay. Drive safely, okay?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Sounds good, and will do."
With that the call was ended and traffic navigated until Jeremiah arrived at Polly's apartment, sending her a text upon said arrival to let her know he was on site so she could let him into the building.
Polly Romantic: Shortly after the text is sent the door clicks and lets out an interminable buzzing sound for several seconds. Once Jeremiah is through and ascended the stairs, Polly undoes her many locks and lets him into Chez Rainbow. True to her word there are a stack of grilled cheese sammiches already prepared. "I wasn't sure how you liked them done, so I made a few with a few different cheeses and finishes. These are straight american and butter. These are smoked gouda with horseradish cream instead of butter. And these are provolone with tomato and a pesto and parm finish." Because Polly can do nothing half-way, apparently. "I've got water, beer, wine, and a little probably mostly flat diet coke." She shrugs apologetically at the drink offerings.
"Oh. And a kiss and a hug." She wipes off her hands and steps on over to wrap him up in a big tight hug, hanging around his neck in the process. Then she plants one on his cheek and squeezes him again.
Jeremiah Hamilton: When the door opened Jeremiah had a cloak of weariness that almostly visibly hung from his shoulders, but a smile graced his features nonetheless as he made his way inside. "That all sounds amazing, honestly."
He looped his arms around the Torrent when she came in for a hug, giving her a tight squeeze in kind. "Water'll be good. And love the orange, by the way..."
Polly Romantic: "I know, right? This and the hot pink were really good, I think. I'm going to keep this one for a while, I think. And then go back to pink when I get bored." Polly stays looped around him for a few moments more, then leans up again to press a kiss to his lips. Mwah. "I'll get you some water, then. Grab a plate and whatever condiments you want from the fridge, and I'll meet you at the table." She slips away to do just that.
Jeremiah Hamilton: The kiss was happily returned, followed by a nod as Jeremiah nabbed a plate and claimed a spot at the table - no condiments needed, it seemed. "Were you working on something new music-wise when I called?"
Polly Romantic: "Yep! I was inspired to write. Had an idea. Sat down and recorded a few lines to try and get it arranged so I can show the rest of the band what I'm shooting for. It's super rough right now, but. It'll get there." Polly carries a pair of glasses over to the table and slides in opposite Jay. Sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt today, it seems. Real stylish. "But seriously. Don't focus on that. Tell me what's been going on."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Not that Jeremiah looked much better, admittedly, in dusty jeans and a t-shirt. "Good stuff." He nodded, taking a sip of his water before he continued. "Couple things. We had someone hit what I'm guessing is our equivalent of your freehold and almost tear the heart out of the place as a warning. Been there for most of the day helping to get things straightened up."
"Right before that, though, I went through something on a more personal level that hit hard...really damn hard, and made me understand what you go through in the dark." He thought a moment before looking Polly over. "Do you guys interact with dreams at all?"
Polly Romantic: Polly's brow knits with worry at the first part, and then true concern at the second. She even grows a little pale just thinking about it. "I-- um. Yeah. We do. Yeah. We're actually more powerful in our dreams, that's sort of what we're made out of. After a fashion. Dreams and emotion and all of that. We build bastions in our dreams and go there for answers and travel outside of them to search for secrets and so on. I can enter another's dreams, or turn up in a regular person's dreams to inspire them. Or the like. What... why? What happened?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "We can do something similar, as far as entering the dreams of others is concerned, although it's not something I've looked into too much. We can also go...deeper than that, venturing out from there to what some see as the collective soul of humanity where all the myths and stories and truths combine into one big landscape to navigate. Further in is kind of the core of...everything, the root of the universe and all that. I went with some others to that central part looking for something, and I don't know if it's always like that or just how the artifact we were using to jump back to the same place we left off worked, but the time between falling asleep and coming to on the other side was filled with...nothing. I was conscious but it...it wasn't even black, because that would mean there was color to compare it to. The first jump wasn't as bad, but the second...it felt like it went on forever."
He shook his head quietly, letting out a slow breath. "It took a minute for me to sync back up when I came through, and I've been off-kilter since."
Polly Romantic: Polly listens attentively, which is typical of her. She's a full body listener, especially when it comes to discussing other people's problems. She should probably have known better, since he outright told her he went through something like what she went through. But she was so intent on helping Jay that she ... just didn't register the risk to herself. At all. Already a little pale and shaken from the first explanation, the second clearly lands harder than the first. Her pupils dilate and she goes still and unresponsive for a few moments. And when she snaps out of it, she's definitely shaken and off her game. Distracted, if not outright confused.
Aware it's her turn to talk, she stammers a few times and then reaches for her water and takes a drink, squinting her eyes shut briefly. "I forget what I was going to say. I'm listening. I promise."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Seeing Polly go still made Jeremiah pause as well, a deep look of concern on his own face as he realized what he had likely dislodged in her own mind. "I shouldn't have gone into that much detail...I'msosorry." The apology came out in a rush, the tone pained. "What do you need me to do?"
Polly Romantic: "I'll. I'm." Polly shakes it off again, rubbing the heel of her hand into her eye socket briefly. "No, it's. I'm okay, Jay. I will be okay, anyway. It's okay. Don't apologize." Now she feels bad for feeling bad. "Can you put on some music, please? That would help. Are you okay? I know what that's like, and I know what it can do to you if it's prolonged. How do you feel?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah pulled his phone out with the quickness, queueing up the most upbeat playlist he had at his disposal before setting it back down on the table and letting the music do its thing. "There. If there's anything else I can do let me know." He offered a hand for Polly to take if she so wished, hoping that it could be an anchor in some form or fashion.
"It was worse when it happened, both getting there and coming back, but the feeling's still kind of...looming in the back of my head, if that makes any sense."
Polly Romantic: "Yeah. It does that," Polly agrees, latching onto his hand and squeezing it tightly. Because, yes. Anchors are good. She smiles a brittle smile once she latches on and states, "I just want you to know for the record that you're doing everything right. You're a great boyfriend." That little encouragement stated, she draws in a deep breath and lets out a slow, calming breath. "I tried exposure therapy. It helped a little, but it also... really messed me up for a while afterwards. You might have better luck with it, though. Your psyche is going to be a hell of a lot less brittle than mine. I'm toys in the attic, and I know it."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Good, 'cause I feel like an ass at the moment." Jeremiah gave a small smile back, rubbing the back of Polly's hand with his thumb. "May give it a try...worth a shot, at any rate."
Polly Romantic: "Have you talked to anyone else about it? Your sisters in your cadre?" Polly's getting the lingo, bit by bit, it seems. "They may be better positioned to help you with this than I can. Often we'll go into our dreams to help process trauma. Which might also help. But I'm not sure if that works the same for you or not. For wizards, I mean."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Not yet. Between shit going down and the clean-up afterwards I haven't been back home yet." Which likely explained the fact that it looked he hadn't really slept yet, either... "It might. I can go lucid while I'm dreaming when I need to, so maybe."
Polly Romantic: "Okay, so it's the same for us, then. Or similar, anyway." Polly still seems a bit not entirely with it, but she's recovered enough to be able to converse sensibly again. "Why don't you call them and tell them you're here with me and you're going to spend the night. And tell them you need to speak to them soon. So that they will help you make sure that happens. Sometimes you can get into avoidance behavior after trauma that just lets it fester. Building yourself little accountabilities like that can help." Polly gives his hand a squeeze. "Then we can go take a shower and climb into bed. I'll sing you the song I'm working on. That helps me get better after these attacks. The how and why isn't important, but it does."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Yeah...think that's part of why I stayed on to help clean up rather than heading back, so I had something else to focus on." Jeremiah nodded, giving Polly's hand a squeeze in return as he reclaimed his phone with his free hand. "Sounds good to me...and if you need me to sing to you, let me know."
Polly Romantic: "I wouldn't object to a duet," Polly offers back with another brittle smile. But a smile all the same. "See? That's okay, though, so long as you don't get trapped in avoidance. Giving yourself a break is not the same thing as leaving yourself broken. You took a break. Now let's get you to where you want you to be." Polly leans forward to lock her eyes on his and offer him an encouraging smile, "Have I ever told you how sexy I find men who are emotionally available and exhibit emotional maturity?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Neither would I." He nodded quietly, meeting her gaze easily and smiling in return. "You haven't, but good to know. I'll try to keep it up."
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