#tmabb21

[art by @makeroomforthejolyghost​]

A ship on open water greeted Jon as the dream shifted. He stood on the deck, taking it all in, trying to recall, all the while, he Knew it was a statement given. 

A stranger looked Jon in the eyes, and lacked the fear that should have been. “Well, this is new.” Roots crawled at the edges of their vision as he spoke. “I never thought I’d be back here again. Normally my dreams start in my room.” Statement #0151403 came to Jon’s mind, and the Eye provided that Antonio Blake was False. He is Oliver Banks and this was his statement. 

Jon couldn’t speak. He wanted to. But he wasn’t even sure if he had a mouth here, and if he did, he’d forgotten how to use it. How long had it been since he’d done more than watch?

“Not the most talkative, are you? I mean, our first interaction you didn’t have much of a choice I suppose, but now?” Oliver relaxed against the railing, not bothering to look at the water below. “Are you even aware or just?”

Jon found he could nod. 

“Oh, Okay. So you are able to communicate. Yes or no questions I suppose. Does asking you questions bother you?” 

Jon shook his head no. 

Oliver paused in return, but nodded to make sure Jon knew he understood the response. “Huh, you know, I don’t actually have much to talk about? No idea how to do small talk, never been good at it. So um. I suppose it's more your thing to have all the questions.” 

Jon nodded again. Feeling less trapped in his body and more just annoyed he’d forgotten how speaking worked. He understood how vocal cords needed to vibrate with the airflow and how the muscles of the mouth flexed to create sound. Like just understanding wasn’t enough for Jon to actively force his body to participate. 

“I’m still in London. Will be for a while.” 

Jon seemed to perk up from his thoughts. Had Oliver been saying more?

“You could ask your questions once you’ve got a little more space from the Eye. Can you Know when I’m free, or-?” Oliver paused to give time for Jon to respond. Some of Jon’s eyes seemed to look focused? Hard to tell if that was a Jon’s thinking glance or if Jon was distracted. 

Then Jon gave a slow nod. 

“Lovely. If you don’t just show up in the next few days, I’ll just sleep again, ‘bout this time and we could figure something out? I know this sweet little coffee shop not too far from the institute. I could probably swing by there a few times this week.”

---

Jon watched the smoke rise to join the colors of the sunrise. Melanie was in a bad mood, and Basira was out. Smoking was the best thing he could think to do with his time, so he took to the alley. 

There was a lingering nag at the back of his mind that he shouldn’t have picked up smoking again. The Eye had provided him with a steady stream of facts when he picked up his first after returning. How much damage had been done to him from the years of habit. How his body was no longer addicted to nicotine. How him reaching for a pack was entirely habitual at this point.

“Christ I can’t even enjoy this…” Jon took in a deep breath of the smoky air. 

It wasn’t long like that till The Brigade started to congregate by him. Within the minute, four of its outstanding members were in petting distance, with the largest rubbing against his leg. Jon could already hear them purring. 

“That time already? I suppose you’re here to rob me blind.” Jon let out a laugh as he pulled a little baggy from his satchel. He knew the drill much as they did.

All four of the alley cats were upon him, an onslaught of chirps and meows demanding the contents. The one with the shortest tail pawed at Jon, aiming her claws at the bag as Jon bent down. He poured the contents out on the ground for them, making sure to aim for the spot that was the cleanest. 

“You cleaned me out of the kibbles I had in the archives, so I hope you enjoy the leftover chicken.” He ran his hand through the fur of the only one that tolerated pets. The other three weren’t okay unless it was on their terms. 

Once they cleaned up the chicken, the smallest of the four started to aim for Jon’s jacket pocket, trying to get his face in to search for more. 

“Sorry sir. I don’t have infinite bags of chicken. I’ll need to run to the store tonight to get you lot some more.” Jon figured they could understand him, but he had a very good idea of what they wanted. He remained slightly unsure if it was something he knew, or if he Knew it. He kind of assumed that it was the first. Cats weren’t so hard to read after getting to know them. 

Two of them ran off once Jon proved he didn’t have any more food for them, but the smallest and the largest remained a little longer. The larger one demanded pets, while the smaller remained near. They purred like a motor, watching Jon contently. 

They remained that way till Jon’s cigarette burned down to the butt and he put it out on the institute’s brick work. As he did, he got a flash of Oliver entering a coffee shop down the block. 

Jon was still technically on the clock. Just a short smoke and cat break, and he could feel the statements behind him. Not like he could get fired if he took an extended break.

Jon was off to get some coffee.

---

“Thank you for the invite? I, ah, I don’t normally get coffee with someone after I start haunting their nightmares.” Jon stirred his coffee, the cream trailing behind the spoon. 

Oliver sat, leg crossed over the other while he waited. “Good news for you, you don’t need to change that record. It’s not exactly nightmares. Just Dreams. Pretty pleasant all things considered.”

“But I’m making you relive something as horrible as your death, how is that pleasant?”

“Hmm, well I don’t exactly consider the ordeal unpleasant. Just is what it is. I welcomed it, and the dreams are just a reminder of my choice while you feed the Eye. That is what you do there? Observe the fear?” 

“Yes. I- fe-” The swirling got a little faster, even if it wasn’t needed anymore. “Yes. It’s the fear.” 

“Well, do I seem scared?”

“No. It’s- there's nothing for me to Watch. Reacting to you is more- It’s the first time I’m able to do anything other than that.”

Oliver nodded, sipping his tea to give Jon a moment to find the words. 

The pause was all Jon needed ‘til it looked like something clicked. “There isn’t anything for Beholding to feed on, so it’s hold on me is looser? So I’m able to be more there.”

“That’s sort of what I was thinking. Either that or maybe it’s frightened, at least as much as the entities can be frightened? Maybe it’s even the End that’s getting something from the dreams.”

“Interesting. I wonder if- This is entirely up to you and you can say no, but would you be willing to help me out a bit? Experiment, or show me the ropes when it comes to autonomy in dreams. You normally walk them freely, right? You’d mentioned in the statement-”

“I believe I might have. Easy to tell it all. I don’t mind, not sure how much I could help you with it, if at all. Different situations. But it’s kind of nice to dream of Point Nemo again. So a good exchange.” Oliver, despite the coffee, still looked tired. “It’ll be a nice break for both of us I think. We could also meet up more often like this as well. If you ever wanted company.”

“I think I’d like that.” They both spent the rest of the time in the cafe talking about various non-fear related topics. 

---

The jangle of keys before the click of the lock were all it took to signify Oliver’s return to his flat. A scurry of claws on hard wood chased to the door.

“Sue, I hear you there. Back up. Come on now.” The nose that had pushed through the opening door withdrew, followed by the sound of scuffling of claws. 

“That’a girl.” Closing the door behind him, a large german shepherd sat patiently, tail doing all the talking while she waited. “Alright, good girl.” 

A small pat on his leg was all the signal needed for the lady of the house to be at Oliver’s side, nose under his hand. 

Oliver scratched behind her ear, squatting to her level. “Been keeping a good eye on the place while I was out? I’m sure you have.” 

Sue wagged her tail, eyes showing an intelligence that she didn’t have a clue of what he said, but that she understood the positive undertones. 

“Bet you’re ready for it to be your turn for a break.” Oliver reached over to a lead that hung on the coat rack and attached it to her before she could get so excited that catching her became an event. 

---

Mary Anne, an older lady from down the hall, intercepted Oliver with a cheerful smile. “My, starting your walk a bit late in the eve now, aren’t we. So odd Sue let you.”

“Oh, yeah. Wasn’t much of an option. I’d been out today meeting with an old friend and it ran long. She held up well I think.” Oliver did a motion with his hand, one meant for Sue. Seeing it, she sat in the hall.

“I do hope that old friend will be around more often. Be nice for you to have some friends your own species- Not that Sue isn’t good friend material, but she can’t be much for a conversation. Not that you’re much for one either.”

“Never been one to have much to say I’m afraid.” Oliver laughed. Conversations with Mary Anne tended to run in that direction. Her worry over the weather, or her worry that Oliver never seemed to fit her idea of men his age. 

“Oh that’s fine. Having company and having conversation are very different things. Why me and my husband could go days without him saying more than a few words here and there, and I’d never had a lonely moment with him.” She started heading to the hall door. “Come now. I was about to hit up the market so keep me company at least half the way.” 

Oliver nodded. “You heard the lady. Come on Sue.” with a light tug on her leash, she was up and leading the way for the humans. 

“It's so sweet that you were able to take her in after everything that happened with that old man.“

“Yeah, was such a shock that he’d passed so suddenly. I’m just happy I’d gotten to know them both when I did. Can’t imagine Sue doing well in a shelter…”

Mary Anne made a clicking noise. “Indeed. Not often they’re able to find homes for such a large dog in London. What with all the tiny flats and business sort with too much time away from home.”

Mary Anne reached into her handbag to pull out a jerky strip for Sue while Oliver got the door for them both.

Sue took the treat eagerly.

“You know,” Mary Anne’s voice had an edge of playfulness to it. “My son is single.”

“Yeah, you’ve mentioned before. I’m sure he’s lovely.”

“Oh he is. I’m so proud of him. He's a transplant surgeon, but he doesn't just specialize in one, he can do almost any organ. That's a quite rare skill, you know? And he is darn good at it. His patients are always sent home in better shape then they came in, and rarely do they come back with any complications. The organ is always just perfect for them.”

Oliver smiled. “I sure hope they would be in better shape. Think he might have a little advantage though if he takes after you.” 

“Not sure what you mean about that.” She gave him a coy smile as the call of Flesh danced behind her eyes. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to give it a go? He could understand some of the going’s on as it were.”

“I’m sure.”

Sue starts to tug on Oliver to head to the park across the way.

“Looks like someone has places to be.” He held the lead tightly and reached to pet Sue.