kore_logs | For Fear of Nightmares

Who: Martha and Open
When: Day 104
Where: Around the Island
What: Martha is not sleeping much at all. It's going to catch up.
Note: None for now...

Martha took a sip of water to sooth her throat, and crawled out her window yet again. She doubted her roommate would notice, but still, it was easier to just leave.

The latest nightmare had been really difficult. She had relived Japan again, but this time she saw it from The Valiant. A last look before her own execution. Her screams woke her before he could kill her, but she was shaken.

The sleepless nights were starting to catch up to her. She was trying to eat, but she was too exhausted to even feel hungry. And all possible exertion had to be saved for clinic duties. And helping people from the sea monster attack. So a few nibbles of crackers here and some canned something or other there was how she nourished herself. Ned would not be pleased.

If she were honest with herself, Martha knew she had to sleep. Had to deal with it. But the nightmares... she couldn't keep facing them. She'd rather die than be forced to watch Japan burn again. Or any of the other things she kept reliving. And so Martha walked through the night, hoping to find distraction until morning.

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They may never know exactly what happened, since Rat himself has no memory of it, but the bruises themselves are proof enough that something happened, and Balthazar's idea about abduction was right.

"I... guess I got overlooked." He smiles gently, "It's okay. I've got somewhere to crash now. Balthazar's been good to me." He gives a slight jerk of his head to indicate the house who's porch he's sitting on. "And I've got Ellen's full permission to play at the bar. Honestly, most of the time this place isn't so bad."

Edited 2013-08-30 11:26 (UTC)

"I'm glad of it. That you have somewhere to crash. And somewhere to play. What do you play?"

She doesn't have anything to say on this place. Martha was less than happy being stuck here. And while she wouldn't tell anyone else what they should think of it, she was not going to say anything nice about the Island. Perhaps saying nothing at all would be a good idea.

"Mostly blues, but I can fake other styles as needed. I only have a guitar these days, though." He's lucky he had that with him, when he got pulled to this place, but it's the most important thing he owns and he keeps it with him out necessity anyway.

"I'll have to stop by the pub and hear you play sometime," she says with a smile.

Music had been a big part of the Resistance. Resistance camps were just like any other refugee camps. Being quiet didn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things because the Spheres would find them anyway. And if they suddenly got cagey, The Master would know that something was happening.

People played music. Guitars seemed to be the most ubiquitous item. Sometimes a harmonica or two. Singing for before or after the stories that Martha told.

"I'm not all that musical. I was too busy studying for med school all the time. But I can sing a little."

"I'd offer to play right now, but my guitar's inside and Chuck's probably sleeping..." He's trying hard to respect his housemates, since he doesn't take his own being there for granted.

He's never been in such desperate circumstances as she's seen, but he knows firsthand the need for music among people with little left to lose. "Med school is probably a nobler pursuit." He smiles gently. "But self-expression is important. I used to teach, but mostly junior high. Adults are usually a lot more reluctant to learn."

"Best leave the few that are asleep sleeping," Martha agrees. She's run into so many people tonight though, she's impressed there are those who are unconscious.

"Teaching is just as noble," she counters. "I have plenty of respect for teachers. I wouldn't be able to do it. And I will always respect those who follow the performing arts. It always looked like so much fun."

Rat gives a gentle smile, much more relaxed now than the first time she met him. "I don't know about noble, but I like kids, and I liked watching them discover music. Art isn't just about performing, it's about self-expression and connecting with people on a level you can't any other way."

She smiles as he says it, but Martha's thoughts are far away. She's remembering a particular cave in the United States. There was a small band there and they played music. Plenty of folk music. Martha had sung along to the ones she knew and listened when she didn't. She had danced. It had almost felt like home...

A few days after moving on, she found out the Master had executed them all. Him and his blasted Spheres.

Shaking herself out of her memory, Martha clears her throat and tries to keep her voice light. "It helps people... forget momentarily. Forget their situation..."

The words aren't coming out right and she falls silent before she says more than she wants to.

The friendly smile fades into a look of concern. Rat's noticed the shift in mood, some subtle clues in her face. "That's just what the blues are all about. Forgetting your troubles... or at least sharing them. You okay?" He reaches a hand to rub her shoulder gently, fatherly.

His touch is unexpected, but not unwelcome. After a brief moment of tension, she relaxes into it. But she nods at his question and forces a smile.

"Fine. Just blindsided by a memory. It'll pass."

He gives her a gentle smile, and rubs her shoulder a moment more before letting his hand drop away. Rat doesn't want the gesture to be taken the wrong way, but everyone in this place seems so badly in need of a little extra reassurance. "I know the feeling. If you ever need a friendly ear, don't hesitate to ask?"

Martha hesitates before nodding. "Thank you Marcus. I'll keep that in mind."

She won't take him up on the offer though. Not yet. There are certain things you just don't share with someone you've met only twice. Especially when one of those meetings was as his doctor. But she would keep it in mind.

He's not going to pry, but he does mean the offer. "You should come by the bar sometime... Ellen lets me play the blues there. Sometimes a good song and some quiet company helps." Rat looks out into the night, and leans against the porch railing comfortably. Possibly he should go back to bed shortly.

"I'll definitely drop by," she replied with a small smile.

Martha watched him lean against the porch rail and finally stood up. "I think it's about time I made my way back to my house and you got some sleep. Thank you..."

"You try to get some sleep too, okay?" He gives her a friendly, if sleepy smile.

“Of course,” Martha replied. She gave him a small wave and then continued up the path.

For Fear of Nightmares

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