Errand closed Sweet Dreams, Fellow Insomniacs

Henry was glad he had someone as amazing as Logan, the girl particularly knew him and she seemed like the one person that he could trust no matter the situation. The boy was glad they met in their first year and would esepcailly not wish for an better best friend as he nodded a bit to her statement about the notebook.

Crossing his legs as he sat next to her and looking over her shoulder, Henry smiled as he spoke " the notebook does seem like something that would hold memorizing items," smiling a bit toward her as he starched the back of Loki's neck a bit when the cat decided to sit down for a moment next to him.

However the boy was taken back when the astronomy professor approached them and started answering his many, many questions. His anxiety started to increase as the boy looked in the direction of the man and only slightly nodded when he finished however all the twelve year old could muster out to say was " thanks you professor, that was informative," when the man left and Henry took a deep breath and waited a minute or so because of his anxiety before speaking toward Logan, " was it just me or was that a panicking moment," breaking out into a light laughter a bit since he could already imagine the girl's response as he looked back over at the notebook in her arms.

Loki however seemed to have gotten bored with laying down and went off to explore or see someone else.

The feline would jog happily toward Cash the purple haired slytherin whom was one of Henry's friends, before giving them a short meow and touching the slytherin with his paw as if to ask then to pet him. Loki would sit by Cash for a bit longer and occasionally leaned up against them but for some odd reason the orange feline wasn't paying attention to Starlee or anyone else in the tower for that matter.

Henry would look up and notice that his cat ran off again before looking around and letting his eyes fall on Cash which was where his cat was, giving a slight wave to Cash while he mouth 'hey' to them before giving a small smile to Starlee. Henry then talked his fingernails on the ground for a minute which was the cue for Loki to come back.

Loki would touch Cash with his paw one last time before walking back toward Henry and deciding to take a spot next to Sherlock.

Turning toward Logan, with a smile on his face while he spoke " shall we continue then?"

Terrible Presence in effect.
| Aura of Unease Present |

A final girl had slipped in before Leonardo had closed the door (@Everly Charlton). He had held it open for a bit longer, watching her dart in before shrugging and locking it. She had missed a good part of the lectures thus far, but perhaps she would remain conscious enough for the one he had been about to share.

The lecture itself had been uneventful, and the seer watched around the room for any signals of misbehaving or anything else of the sort. There was the boy with all the questions, who had seemed shy and withdrawn after Leonardo had answered them all for him (@Henry Knight) a few individuals mostly to themselves or with a small cluster of friends (@Starlee Kennedy & @Serena Towers). Even a few that had dropped off either during or just after he had finished (@Katie Palsorette & @Piper Clark).

But it was as soon as Leonardo shared with the class the disorder which was arguably the most dangerous and hampering of them all, Sleep Paralysis, that things began to take a noticeably concerning turn. The sound of shattered glass and the splashing of undoubtedly hot and burning tea caused Leonardo’s eye to twitch once again, registering the unpleasant sound and the possible consequences of such misdemeanor almost instantly.

The words were on his tongue; call the nurse. But lo and behold, here came the gap-toothed wonder, hastening down the stairs towards the child reflection and the boy who accompanied him (@Selim Faust & @Kazuo Shimada). Leonardo’s gaze settled on them as he completed his lecture, watching the actions of the wan boy; the covering of the ears, curling inwards in a fashion reminiscent of a small, terrified animal. There was something more primal than human about the actions, the desire to shrink away and block out, as a foreign tongue fluttered into the air. The accomplice seemed to act immediately, as did Brumby with Macbeth on his shoulder.

The flurry of action was something that almost caused Leonardo to shrink away himself. Action meant danger, danger meant a threat, and a threat called for instant assessment and reaction. His eyes tracked the room, searching. Children... their trivial conversations. The injuries of the boy, far from it. Uncaused, unprovoked, perhaps connected to something Leonardo had said. A reality too close to home?

Reducio

Rolled for Ferula casting:
DC: ?
Roll: d20(19) + 17 = 36

*Because of Advanced Casting/Indiscriminate Knowledge, this is a Critically Successful Cast.*

“Ferula.” A small, inaudible whisper and a point, and a bundle of bandages neatly appeared and wrapped themselves to each other at the fray, laying upon the floor in anticipation of being used. Not only had they appeared, but a small salve was found on each’s gauze, part and parcel of a rogue success that the Seer could only attribute to uncanny intuition and precision that had followed him ever since his teenage years. Leonardo knew little about how to care for an individual’s physical health, or how to treat China glass cuts. He knew Magic, and he knew beneficial dueling spells. Help where he could, and leave what was needed to lie.

Leonardo glanced at Brumby, Macbeth looked back before staring inquisitively at the dark boy with large golden eyes. The screech owl curiously tipped its head, shifting weight from foot to foot as he observed the events unfolding before him.

After a few more moments of assessment, Leonardo spoke up again. “Prognosis? Should this be attended to in your Wing?” Directed towards Brumby, though the grey eyes never wavered from the hands of the young boy and the blood and glass which welled and lay shattered there. “I must attend to the others here for a while longer if you choose to leave. Should you need me, send Macbeth back with a note, and I shall not tarry.” Flat and disinterested, a recitation because of honor of his position. This was his event, these were the charges who were left in his responsible care. This was his responsibility to manage and deal with whatever came of his words and actions.

When the decision had been made ||whatever happens, I suppose. If you leave, Leo will have unlocked the door for you and may follow shortly if needed|| and the situation had wrapped itself up for a conclusion, the third and final lecture was prepared and ready to be executed.

“Those of you still with us, I applaud you for your patience and understanding. As promised, there is one more topic I desire to cover in this event; that being the phenomenon of Lucid Dreaming.” Ah yes, the supposed cream de la creme of the night’s events. Something viscerally satisfying to the practiced dreamer, and a difficult and elusive practice to others. “Lucid dreaming, by definition, is the event of being conscious that you are partaking in a dream during R.E.M. Some of these dreams may be so enrapturing or real that you may believe that you indeed lived your dream and obtain ‘learned memories’ from the event. In other cases, in recognizing that the events around you are a dream, you may find yourself able to manipulate the environment of the dream itself; the people, the environment, or the ‘storyline’ of the dream itself. The first recorded practices of reliable Lucid Dreaming can be found in Hindi and Buddhist practices as a part of ritual meditations, religious practices, and philosophy.

“At the turn of AD, Greece and Islamic culture too became interested in the concept of dreams and dream interpretations, a belief that dreams had the ability to guide and influence man’s waking moments through thoughts and actions; learned memories, to a degree. Another culture, the Christians, would also recognize Lucid dreaming during the Dark Ages, though their perception of it would be much more negative: believing that certain dreams were sent by the Devil, and thus these lifelike dreams were of Satan’s dominion.

“However, the dark ages of Lucid Dreaming would not last long, and with the Renaissance and its enlightenment came a fresh view upon dreams, their meanings, and their uses in divining a man’s subtle subconscious and inner mind. From then on, Lucid Dreaming was accepted as just that: dreaming. Albeit a special sort of dreaming.”

Not too many more were with him at this point, most of the participants sleeping to their hearts’ contents. Well, at least Leonardo could do one thing right; get individuals in his errand to do exactly what they had signed up for. Still, just a bit more to get through, and then he could finally wrap up the lectures for the night and try to get some shuteye himself.

“Now, insofar as the art of entering a Lucid Dream at your desire. There are a few methods to enter an aware R.E.M. state, but there are also things that you can do to encourage more active dreams before attempting.
1. Maintain a dream journal. Writing down dreams forces you to remember them, and thus making them more real. As soon as you wake up from a dream, record it. Read those recorded dreams regularly in order to familiarize your mind with dreaming and entering a dream more frequently.

2. Practice ‘reality-testing’ during your dreams. This can be useful if you desire your dream to turn lucid, or if you are suffering from a nightmare and want a way to quickly wake yourself up. Common ‘reality-checks’ include:
- Finger through palm. Push your fingers against your opposite palm. If they pass through, you can be sure that you are dreaming.
- Mirrors. In a dream state, your reflection will not look normal. It may change shape, have more desirable features, or you may not possess a reflection altogether.
- Nose pinch. Pinch your nose. If you are able to breathe it is likely you are in a dream.
- Reading. If you are looking at a book or other text, look away from it and then look back again. In a dream, the text will likely change to reflect a swimming subconscious.
- Familiar body markings. If you have tattoos, birthmarks, or other unique markings on your body, look at them carefully. They will look different or change shape in a dream.
Sometimes these reality checks are just enough to adjust your mind in a way that will permit you enough freedom to manipulate your dreamscape.

3. When going to sleep, try to wake up five hours after you first go to bed. If you were dreaming before you woke, write down your dream and then go back to sleep. Your chances of entering a lucid dream will increase. Alternatively, while going to sleep, tell yourself that you will be lucidly dreaming. This may trick your mind into being aware during your R.E.M.

4. Establish a ‘dream token’. I seem to remember there being a Muggle film with an idea not unlike this. The idea is that you remember an object special to you, an object that you know cannot be replaced or tampered with. Manifest this ‘dream token’ in your sleep often. Eventually you may be able to manifest it at will and thus remember the differences between the dream world and the real.”

Close to concluded. Only explaining the benefits and the risks of Lucid Dreaming remained.

“Lucid dreams have several benefits, some of which include reducing stress, anxiety, depressive disorders, and nightmares. The reason being for this is that by ‘playing God’ in your dreams, it permits you a sense of freedom and control over an aspect of your life, if only in your sleep. Lucid dreaming can also increase your motor skills and increase creativity.

“However, just as there are benefits to Lucid dreaming, there are risks. While Lucid dreams can improve and reduce depressive and anxious tendencies, it can also increase them due to dreams becoming too lifelike for comfort. Derealization and dissociation, the inability to divide real life from the dream world is also a possibility. Make sure that you are aware enough to realize that your dreams are just that— dreams— before falling too deep into the rabbit hole of a lifelike dream state. My lectures are concluded. Sleep well and I do hope that I have taught you something beneficial, if only for repeating small facts for entertainment or a party trick.”

Leonardo waited a bit longer for any incoming questions, before quickly exiting back up the stairs to the Observation Deck, his full round complete and his night only just beginning.

Reducio

@Kelsey Brumby, @Selim Faust, & @Kazuo Shimada

"'Insomnia' is just another word for talking to the demons in your head."

Actions: Casually having a break from reality while bleeding from cuts on his palms (As one does). Laughing like a madman and also hyperventilating because he can't breathe due to said laughter. So basically normal Selim things.

Katrina sat around as the night grew long. Her eyes slowly started getting heavier. Her thoughts calmer. Her breaths slower. She listened in to the final talk from the Professor. Lucid dreaming. One of the reasons she’d come. By now, however, she was incredibly sleepy, against her other wishes. Words were spoken, the meaning lost to the tired girl. There was silence for a few moments.

Sleep. Katrina didn’t remember lying down. She remembered a talk on Lucid Dreaming, and then she was asleep. Mind in another realm. There was too much noise though. From the outside she was asleep, but she wasn’t in deep sleep. REM sleep, wasn’t that what the Professor had called it. Not all the way asleep. Where dreams were… where nightmares were. They lurked, just below the surface, hinting at the frights that were always there, the uncertainties, the paranoia.

Katrina was walking down on the Grounds, it was raining, but she wasn’t wet. The trees were reach out to her, pulling her in, suffocating. She was on the ground, bound, but she couldn’t move. Beckett was unleashing spell after spell, she couldn’t move. In the real world, Katrina gasped. Beckett was gone now, the shack too. She was in the forest, Kyle was there, in his werewolf form. But Kyle wasn’t there, his humanity was gone. He didn’t protect her, he was chasing her. Right into the train car. Pierre was unconscious. People needed her help. The train crashed, but backwards. Then the fire spell. But hadn’t that happened before?

It may have been the same nightmare Katrina had faced night after night for weeks. Years if you didn’t count the added things. But there was a part of her that told her it was real. Her friends were in danger. She needed to help. It was real, sure it was. It was frightening, therefore it had to be real.

The fire from the train morphed into the fire at her childhood home. Though it had now been a few years since she’d seen it. Some details were blurry, but not for long. There were her parents screams. Her brother’s screams, although she knew he’d made it out. Fire. So much fire and a heat. She was loosing her parents but she still couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything at all. Then there was a deranged laughter. That wasn’t supposed to be there. The dream started fading, and Katrina lurched forward in the dream, running to her home as it got farther away. She reached the door just as the house collapsed and she woke up.

“NOOOO!” Katrina cried out in anguish, in real life. She lost her parents. Her brother. Her friends. Everything she held close. She was alone again. It was dark. Katrina stumbled to her feet, recognizing the warmth of tears welling up. Where was she? Had she been kidnapped again? Her bed wasn’t there, nor was the window that gave moonlight by her bed, she was in a different room. There were students around her, on the floor, eyes closed. Were they dead? Had she let them die? Boomerang was leaning on her, reality came crushing down. The sleepover errand in the astronomy classroom. Bloody hell, she just cried out in real life about her nightmare.

Katrina quickly wiped at her eyes, looking around in hopes that nobody was watching her. What a wonderful night for a nightmare.

Apologies for launching into another sideplot while Selim is having a moment but I wasn't patient enough to wait... Open to interactions

The broken teacup had drawn attention and Kazuo wasn't sure if that was a good thing. He knew Selim avoided adults and while Kazuo had his own suspicions regarding the school's staff, he knew that Selim needed more help than he could provide. He was smart enough to recognize when something was beyond his capabilities. Yet forcing adult attention on Selim wasn't what he had intended when he'd invited tricked Selim up to this event. Would the presence of adults merely make things worse for Selim?

His gaze turned to the Astronomy Professor as Selim jerked away from him, but it was Brumby-sensei who was headed in their direction. He arched a brow in surprise. Hadn't he been upstairs? Did the nurse have a supernatural sense for injury? Well he wasn't going to complain. He certainly hadn’t packed bandages for this sleepover. He made a mental note to speak with Chiadovini-sensei sometime later, in private, about the topic that seemed to have sent Selim into this state. At this moment, however, all he could do was stay by his senpai's side, try to keep him safe, knowing full well that he was the reason for Selim's current trauma. There was a growing feeling of helplessness in him and perhaps a side of guilt. He did not like the feeling.

"Brumby-sensei," Kazuo greeted the nurse as he approached. "He- I-" He paused, frowning, unsure how to explain the situation. "I think something in Chiadovini-sensei's lecture may have triggered Selim, sir. A panic attack or..."

It was barely an explanation but he wasn’t entirely sure if he should venture his thoughts on what Selim might be suffering from. He had only his personal studies and observations to back it up and surely the nurse wouldn’t take the opinions of a child seriously. As he considered what else to say, Selim broke out in a terrifying bout of laughter. He snapped his head around to look at the older boy in confusion and surprise. Truly Selim seemed to have lost his grip on sanity in that moment and it was fascinating to witness, yet beneath his curiosity, there was also a thread of concern. “Selim?” He spoke quietly, voice wavering with uncertainty.

Outfit Reducio Interacting with: @Selim Faust @Kelsey Brumby Mentioning: @Leonardo Chiadovini Action: Maybe slightly panicking

Stats Stamina 5 Evasion 7 Strength 5 Wisdom 6 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 6 Abilities Perfectionist

Interact with : @Starlee Kennedy | Opeila Winters (briefly) | Loki (Henry Knight's cat) Mention : Henry Knight • The attendees in general

Hex Code : #004080 - English #008080 - Spanish

In the middle of retelling the story of their life to Starlee, finally Opeila showed up. Good thing Cash had stopped crying a few minutes before Opeila entered the Astronomy tower. But the puffiness and the redness around and in their eyes still palpable. "Hei"Cash greeted their dorm mate back. Their throat dry and when Cash spoke up there a crack in it.

The green eyes then clear their throat. There's no way Starlee or Opeila did not picked that up. Opeila then sending her gratitude for the little note that Cash had left on top of Opeila's bed back in Narcissa dorm. "No problem, really"Cash said to Opeila. "If not because this one,"Cash jerked their head toward Starlee. "I would have miss this too"Cash then shot a smile to Opeila.

Opeila then greeted Starlee and introduced her name. Starlee also did the same. When Opeila asked if the observatory opened and Starlee confirmed it, Opeila stood up from where she was situated. "See you around, Pei"Cash stated. They did not know if Opeila heard it or not. Then the beater averted their eyes from Opeila, back to Starlee.

"It is what it is"Cash replied back when Starlee sent her condolences about Cash's father death. "I can not change the past"They added with empty and hollow tone. "Thanks, anyway"The green eyes added. When Starlee said their mother acting weird, the purple hair let out a teary laugh. "That one way to put it"Cash expressed it in sarcastic tone.

Starlee then beamed up when she mentioned about the new found brother of Cash. The green eyes can tell from how Starlee reacted, the first year have sibling(s) whose she loves dearly. Cash on the other had, did not know what to do upon that feeling and information. From young age Cash already know how to hide their disappointment and other feelings.

"I do not know about that"The young socialite told Starlee the truth. "I mean I do not know this guy. All I know from my uncle is his name. Ares Frederico Vinícius Alvarez"Cash informed Starlee. In the middle of their conversation with Starlee, they heard a soft meow and a soft paw touching their cheek. Cash then glance at the source of the voice.

"Hello there"The green eyes greet. Cash unlocked their intertwined hands from behind their head and scratch softly at the cat. By now Cash know that cat belong to one Henry Knight. The cat cuddle into Cash's hand, giving a small purred. Cash smiled at the cat. If Loki was around, then Henry must be attended this thing too.

Then when Cash eyes found Henry's, the other boy saw them too. Henry gave a slight wave and mouthed 'hey'. The green eyes lifted their head a bit from the makeshift pillow (their dark blue fleece star blanket) and mouthed 'hey' back to Henry. Loki seems to averted his gazed from the attention that Cash gave to the cat.

With one more touch from the cat to the second year, then he went back toward Henry. Once the cat out of sight, Cash laid down again on the sleeping bag. Cash sighed. Loki was a nice distraction but it still not enough to calm the raging storm of thoughts inside their head. The green eyes was wiggling to find a comfortable position but not avail.

Until Starlee opened her arms to hug the Beater. At first Cash could ignore the warm gesture and let Starlee lower her arms but Cash done the opposite. The young socialite scooted a bit closer to Starlee. They will let Starlee engulf them with hug. Once Starlee done so, Cash will put their head right above Starlee's heart. The steady beat of another living human heart give tranquility to them.

"I'm here for you Cash, whatever you need"Whispered the adorable wide eye blonde girl. That small statement broke all of Cash wall. With one simple gesture, Cash let the anguish all out. They sob in Starlee's embrace. Cash never feel that kind of warm before. Their parents failed to do so. Once their cried subsided, Cash will close their eyes.

With all the crying the done for tonight, drained them so much. Cash took a deep breath as Starlee's heart beat make them calm even more. They can feel Starlee softly caressed their hair. The last time someone done so was their mother but it was ages ago. Cash feel their eyes getting heavier and heavier. They still can feel the soft touch from Starlee.

Steady heartbeat, soft touch, warm embrace; finally the green eyes relax. Their mind less chaotic. "Thank you"Cash stated and let out a small yawn. For Starlee being a great listener and for her warm embrace. Starlee keep caressing their hair until Cash closed their eyes, breath even out and finally fall into slumber.

Interacting with @Cassandra Ironwoods & Henry Knight's , Loki

Reducio

The Outfit

The Stuffed

Starlee continued to listen intently as they explained the situation with their brother. Cash at least knows their brother's name... but in the wizarding world that was still not much to go off of.

A cat suddenly appeared between the two that Starlee didn't recognize, but it seemed that Cash did. They gave the cat some good scratches, and it appeared that the cat certainly approved. Starlee smiled at it and reached her hand out to give the cat a few pets herself. The cat then made its departure, looking as if it went back toward Henry. However, now was not the time for more idle chit-chat. Cash was bottling in their feelings, and there comes a time when you have to let them out.

And Cash accepted Starlee's open arms with a fit of tears to go along with it. She hugged the beater back warmly as the beater let out all their pent up emotions. Starlee began to run her fingers through Cash's bright purple hair, and Starlee thought back to their first meeting. It was Cash's bright purple hair that caught Starlee's gaze in the first place, and here she was now, comforting them. She heard Cash whisper a small 'thank you,' and shortly after they began to fall asleep. Once Starlee could hear the gentle breathing of one being asleep, she pulled her arms back to herself. She grabbed her stuffed cat, cuddled it close, closed her eyes, and fell asleep swiftly next to the older student, happy to have been of help, and happy to have Cash as a friend.

Starlee leaves the thread.

@Selim Faust @Kazuo Shimada @Leonardo Chiadovini
OOC note: Hisoka is likely the name Kels' will learn for Selim, though if that past thread changes, I might edit this

Terrible Presence in effect.
| Aura of Unease Present |

Mister Brumby appeared to have the situation under control for the most part, utilizing the bandages that Leonardo had conjured and attempting to coax the young boy into being treated. Throughout his lecture, he had kept half an ear open, listening inconspicuously to the proceedings. The partner to the dark boy had called the boy ‘Selim’, and the Seer immediately tried to remember the names that he had once committed to memory. Surely such an exotic name would not be easily forgotten from now on, but the Seer had also never had a mind for remembering people or names. They were just pale faces in the perpetual fog, moving and shifting without rhyme or reason, individuals that he didn’t care much for... unless they gave themselves reason for him to consider them threats.

The splitting cackle of Selim filled the air, and despite himself, Leonardo’s left index finger twitched on the cane’s jade snake head. A small duelist’s instinct. The boy looked to be uncontrollably wheezing and laughing without constraint, something that perhaps could have caused fear to those of fainter hear, those with little wits about them, or those who had had experience with this sort of volatile reaction.

A reaction not unlike a father a touch too inbred, product of paranoia stretching the entire lineage’s history that he was. Though those reactions had been more... violent and easier to subdue and remedy depending on the moment, the causation was the same. Natural for a mind influenced by curious turn of fate and pedigree.

As for Macbeth, he seemed fully happy to stay by Brumby’s side, at times looking at Selim and at other times looking at the comrade of Selim, occasionally trying to lift a claw in order to touch the wildly laughing boy but never daring to draw close, twittering and chirping with confusion as it observed the situation more.

Another girl awoke with a scream (@Katrina Walker) and Leonardo’s eyes flicked to her, not turning his head as his concentration was split between the two individuals suffering their own bouts.

“I believe that it is a case much more deeply set than you believe; anxiety or panic-ridden affliction aside.” Was all Leonardo quietly quipped in response to both the student and the nurse, voice barely audible over Selim’s laughter. He then turned fully to face the girl, his brows creased firmly and his face dark.

She looked distraught, but more in the way that a softer individual is distraught. Sharing feeling through common methods which are unable to be contained reliably in one’s own mind. We’re it not for the situation going on behind him, he would have asked Brumby to attend to the girl, for he himself was no councilor beyond that of an interpreter or a answered of questions. As it was, it seemed that the Seer was on his own for this endeavor.

There was a cat nearby, and Leonardo watched it in particular with shifting eyes, wary of the claws and the teeth that it bore. It looked small, almost like Macbeth, but if he had learned anything in his time, it was the smallest targets which proved themselves the most threat. They took a bit longer to wear down, to subdue... but they caused pain while trying to do such a thing as containing or engaging. Leonardo was living proof of such, a pawn standing against a king.

He crossed on silent feet to the girl and stood before her, looking down upon her and her cat. He noticed a teal streak against her amber hair, sign of unnatural dying.

“Something troubles you?” He said softly, careful not to rouse other students nearby. The last thing he needed was to become an attraction.

He left it at that openly. Still splitting his attention to Selim, Leonardo half wondered what was causing this sort of unrest in his tower. He had expected some uncertainty because of his unpleasant aura, but surely it was not enough to evoke this sort of reaction. Had she not been sleeping quietly a few moments prior? Then what as the cause of this reaction?

Reducio

@Kelsey Brumby, @Selim Faust, @Katrina Walker & @Kazuo Shimada