--- (nightmare)

[absinthe_eyed]

This nightmare is a chaotic roar, a confused jumble of moments that may or may not have happened. The world is fractured like a broken funhouse mirror and, in each distorted shard, a story plays out. Sounds and sights and emotions overlap. It’s overwhelming. If, however, the mind can focus on one of the multiple and simultaneous shards of

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[cuffyoutwice]

She's moving too fast to make sense of the images that surround her and worse; the ideas running through her head. Beckett's aware by now that something isn't right, but she's can't put her finger on just what's happening.

Bits and pieces, that's all she can recognize but it's enough combined with what she knows of Justin to piece something together. The biggest issue here being that apparently her assistant can't tell the difference between trying to break a suspect and being honest.

"Justin...?"

[absinthe_eyed]

Justin starts, the old balcony separating him from a long drop creaking ominously. He stares at Beckett--no, beyond Beckett. He sees a different brunette police officer.

"Cassie." The name is choked out around fear and desperation. Justin moves away from the balcony's edge. "I just want a chance... I want to start over."

[cuffyoutwice]

She's got no idea what's going on right now, but she takes a step toward Justin. Usually she'd jump to correct him, but Kate's sure it won't help anything this time around.

"It's okay, Justin. Just-- come inside. We can talk about it."

[absinthe_eyed]

"We already did." There's a sharpness to the statement, but it's tempered by defeat. "You said you'd take care of me. After what I did--you said you'd help me."

[cry_reaper]

She has no context for anything she's seen, only the recognition that this was Justin and based on nightmares she's had in the past, she can imagine his life has been a traumatic one.

Her own dreaming mind simply takes this as normal. So she wanders up and sits with him, giving him some space, but enjoying the view with him nonetheless.

"I like the ocean."

[absinthe_eyed]

He doesn't have to look over his shoulder to know it's Mara, even though he doesn't know her all that well. "It's beautiful, in a strange way. To think about the vastness of it... that can make you feel lost. Insignificant." Justin glances at her briefly as if to ascertain that, yes, someone else is indeed here and he's not just talking to himself. "It's the Pacific. Have you seen it before?"

[cry_reaper]

"No, just the Atlantic."

She looks out for a moment, then back at him. "Did you live here?"

[absinthe_eyed]

Justin nods. Her question almost gets a smile.

"No. This was a vacant property that Richard's family owned... we came here to get away from home." One has to wonder why, however. The building doesn't look particularly habitable or structurally sound. "I thought about stepping off of this balcony a thousand times."

The ocean below, visible through some of the larger holes in the wood floor, becomes louder. It's a gentle roar rather than a threatening one... beckoning, almost.

latecomer is late and will continue to be late, if that's ok...? ;_;

[had_not_lived]

Outside of his own mind, Neil's lucky enough to be whole again. He's nervous, though, shaking; standing further back on the balcony and staring, disoriented. He coughs lightly, as much to ground himself in his own body (or the imagination thereof, of course,) as to get Justin's attention.

backdating is my bread and butter, bb <3

[absinthe_eyed]

He has Justin's attention. The balcony creaks as Justin turns to face Neil--a whole Neil, not the one from the nightmare.

With the tone of one reciting a quote and a perfectly blank face, he says, "There are strange objects in the great abyss, and the seeker of dreams must take care not to stir up or meet the wrong ones."

[had_not_lived]

He leans against what remains of the doorframe, still not quite trusting his feet to hold him.

"That seems like sound advice."

[absinthe_eyed]

"Lovecraft."

The doorframe snaps; the piece of wood supporting Neil clatters to the musty floor. Justin looks back to the ocean. "Sit down. It's all too unsound to stand much longer."