perfectible | (no subject)

[ Sleep seemed to want to keep as far away from Betty as possible lately. And when it came, it was an overwhelmingly negative experience, full of nightmares and night terrors. There were some nights she was locked in her body, unable to move and panicking until it passed, the Black Hood creeping around in the shadows, threatening the lives of the people who cared about her, threatening her life.

It's no wonder that Betty dozes off in one of the reading nooks out of pure exhaustion, her book still in her hand.

She's only asleep for about an hour before a few tears start to slip down her cheeks and then she starts to twitch, followed by soft whimpers and her hands clenching into fists, her sounds of distress growing louder with every passing moment.]

[Gansey is just getting his day started after a couple of hours of sleep himself. Still in his pajamas, he wanders down towards the kitchen. On his way, he hears a loud whimper, stopping him in his tracks. Diverting towards the sound, he comes upon Betty in one of the myriad of reading nooks. Definitely asleep but in distress. He notices the tears and figures it must be a nightmare.

Sitting on the edge of the seat, watching for another minute or two, he decides to take action--whatever was going on was unpleasant. He frowns and puts a gentle hand on Betty's arm with a light shake as he whispers:]

Betty.

[ It's the Black Hood's hand on her arm, it's that robotic, computerized voice that says her name and tries to rouse her. And it works, she screams the loudest she's ever screamed, but it's all in her dream. Outwardly, it comes out as the most plaintive sound, a gasped No as she's flung towards consciousness.

She sits up, suddenly, backing quickly away from the Black Hood's touch, Gansey's touch. Her silent tears quickly turn into gasping sobs as she struggles with being awake. Her breathing is labored, she takes in her surroundings, the reading nook, the blankets she'd gotten her tangled in, the book whose pages were now a little torn.

And Gansey.]

Gansey? [ It's only Gansey and yet, her brow furrows in shame and exhausted and defeat.] I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[Gansey is startled enough by her reaction that he's jumped back a bit too, the hand that had been on her arm now withdrawn. Betty's reaction is disturbing--Gansey isn't sure that nightmares that aren't based in reality can cause this kind of distress.

His brows are furrowed, expression soft and concerned.]

Shhh, Betty no need to apologize.

[Slowly he relaxes his posture, trying not to startle her.]

What happened?

[Because of course it was a nightmare. No need to ask that.]

[ Her body's posture is less tense as she comes back to reality, although she does end up tucking her legs against her chest. She wipes at her eyes, taking in a few evening breaths before she looks at him, shaking her head.]

It was a bad dream, I... [ She's too tired to try and spin the truth into something sugary and something that her mother would deem appropriate for public consumption.]

I didn't mean to fall asleep here, I just... [ Her brow furrows. She prefers to have her nightmares in the privacy of her own room where no one can hear her crying. She doesn't like feeling this weak, this out of control.] I'm so tired. And they don't stop.

[Gansey knows a thing or two about being tired and falling asleep in less than ideal settings. As far as nightmares go? He thinks his brain is too tired to get creative most of the time, luckily.

Seeing sweet, smiling, sunny Betty brought low by nightmares sends a pang through him. She reminds Gansey a bit of himself. He otherwise would have no idea she was suffering through these.

He sidles a bit closer to her.]

What are they about?

[ She doesn't move away from him when he moves closer, she's too tired and disoriented to put on a front. And well, there's no denying it now, no hiding behind a brave smile and an apple pie. She's too shaken up to do much else but be herself, to be honest.

She misses Jughead.

Glancing at him, she lets out a breath. The last person she'd told about this in this house was Adam and he'd been as supportive as someone like him, someone who has been through as much as he has can be. She couldn't blame people for their reactions, it all sounded insane.

Did she want to unload more trauma onto another person? ]

Back home, [ she wipes at her eyes again, resting her chin on her knee as her legs stay drawn up to her chest.] There's a serial killer in my town and he... he was using me as a play thing. I was... part of his obsession.

Mon dieu, [he murmurs incredulously. Considering everything they went through with the Greywaren and Greenmantle, he's no stranger to murderous or ill intent. He doesn't move any closer at this point--if their positions were swapped and he was vulnerable like this, he would want some space.]

And you've been having nightmares like that the entire time you've been here?

[ She lets out a tearful half-laugh at his use of French, sniffling as she wipes at her eyes once again.

She nods a little.] Since I got back, yes.

[He offers a little quirk of a smile that she managed to laugh a bit. Letting out a bit of a sigh, he offers:]
I don't sleep that well myself.

[If she's ever been awake at any time of night, Gansey is either perched in one of the various reading nooks with a book or in his room painting cardboard models.]

If you're up for it, I know someone that may be able to help.

Really? [ She'd probably seen him around late at night but she thought that was just a random occurrence.

When he mentions that someone, she nods.] Magnus? He offered. I might have to take him up on it.

[He nods in confirmation, though pleasantly surprised not everyone knew about his little insomnia problem.]

He's helped me a few times already.

I don't want him to... I'm afraid of giving someone else these nightmares.

I don't think he sees much. He's helped Ronan as well. Multiple times as far as I'm aware. If Magnus can handle that, I think it should be okay.

[ Her lips purse together worriedly. Magnus had told her the same thing but she'd been skeptical that he was just trying to help and was bending the truth so that she'd let him. He seemed like the kind of nice guy who'd do anything to help someone who needed it.]

He helped us dream my room.

Oh! Then you're familiar with how his seidr works then.

[He smiles, recalling how pleasant it is when Magnus helps him go to sleep.]

Magnus would tell us.

Yes, it was... unbelievable and beautiful. [ The whole experience was surreal.

She looks exhausted, letting her legs slip away from her chest, laying them flat. ]

I'll ask him tomorrow.

Good. I think it will help you immensely.

[He's glad to see her physically relax, even a little bit.]

If you can't sleep, you're always welcome to come to my room for company. I'm usually awake.

[ She looks at him with a gentle smile.] Gansey, thank you. [ She glances towards the window next to her, her expression a little hopeful when she looks back at him.] What are you doing right now?

[He smiles back at her, happy to see Betty look more like herself.]

Of course.

[He looks outside to see if there's anything that she's looking at, then back to her when she addresses him.]

Right now, nothing in particular. Why?

[ She looks something in between sheepish and shy, her gaze lowering.] I... don't really want to be alone... [ It's difficult to admit that.] if you wouldn't mind some company now...?

[For some reason, he wasn't expecting that at all.]

Oh, [is his initial ridiculous response.

He recovers with:]

Of course. I wouldn't mind at all. Would you like to remain here or go elsewhere?

[ His 'oh' gives her pause.] Please, don't feel obligated. [ She recognizes a soul that matches her own and suddenly she feels selfish for asking because like her, he wouldn't say no even if he wanted to.]

I can go to Archie's, if you need to be somewhere else.

I don't at all. I've just woken up and haven't made plans for the day.

[He moves himself further onto the nook by turning to face her more squarely, bringing one leg up to rest on the edge.]

[ She tilts her chin upward, trying to catch his gaze.] Are you sure? We can go to your room or somewhere else if you want...

action; for gansey (disentombs)

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