(no subject)

[cagedlamb]

The nightmares are the worst.

Precious few nights since she'd come here weren't wracked by them. For the most part, she'd been able to keep them to herself without Booker noticing, to turn over and wait to fall back into a fitful sleep, but some got bad. Waking up after seeing the Daisy drenched in her own blood and stumbling toward her to attack her was the kind of thing she couldn't fall asleep after.

She didn't want to wake Booker. She didn't want to lie in bed either, like it invited the ghosts that haunted her dreams to keep coming after her. In a fit of desperation, Elizabeth stood and dressed herself quietly, taking the key to the apartment she shared and some of this city's form of currency as she went. She needed air, she needed time for herself.

There was a tiny diner near their apartment. She knew it was open all night - the sign outside said so - and it was the destination she ultimately decided on, not wanting to be outside in the dark alone either. The diner was quiet when she entered, a single waitress at the helm of the entire establishment. She came over with a kindly smile, offering to sit her at a table, offering her the menu when she got her to one of the ones near the door.

She waved the menu off and simply asked for a cup of tea. It didn't take her long to return with some hot water with a tea bag in it, placing it gently in front of her. She offered a small smile to the woman before looking down at her tea and trying to focus on calming down.

It was a little while later - she was on her second cup of tea - when she heard the telltale sounds of someone else entering the diner. Glancing up for the first time since she asked for another cup, she looked over to the door, admittedly curious as to who else was up at such an hour.

Comments

[notyourcaptain]

Carolyn kept the inquisitive gaze and after a moment of staring, gave her a shrug. That was a good question, actually, but it was also one to which Carolyn didn't have a clear answer. "I guess," she said, then gave a short, dry laugh. This woman was probably just being polite, but Carolyn was too tired to know when someone wanted a real answer, and when they were making small talk. "Alright enough, anyway."

[cagedlamb]

"I thought I'd be the only one in here," she admitted. She was a little timid about trying to pry any more than what she was given. Elizabeth's interactions with people were limited, and her attempts at trying to get Booker to open up only served to make him upset more often than not. After a moment's pause, she added, "The tea is good here, if you need something to calm you down. It's been helping me, at least."

[notyourcaptain]

"I usually am the only one in here." Carolyn nodded slowly, eying the tea before looking down at her coffee. "I think I'll stick with coffee." Maybe it didn't help her calm down, but it did help her stay awake, and Carolyn only knew that falling asleep felt too risky, not when it was still dark out.

She hesitated once, eying Elizabeth without much shame. "Are...uh, are you okay?"

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth wasn't put off by how she was watching her. If it were when she first showed up, it would make her nervous, but Booker was so sure they were safe here. He'd never been wrong before, and she had no reason to distrust him. Not about that, anyway.

"Bad night," she said with a somewhat sad and weary smile. Sometimes when she closed her eyes even when she was awake, even now, she could see the crumpled body in front of her, could feel her blood on her hands. Daisy had been about to do something horrible, but it didn't excuse her sin. "I didn't want to wake up who I'm staying with, so I came here."

[notyourcaptain]

"Most nights are bad nights, aren't they?" Carolyn just got the sense this woman felt the same way. She did find herself thinking that if Riddick were staying even just in the same building as her, she might actually sleep some. But he'd been nowhere to be found since their last confrontation. "Might be easier if you weren't up by yourself."

[cagedlamb]

"Maybe," she agreed, both to the idea that the nights were the worst part and that she probably ought to not be alone. But Booker worried about her too much already, and she wanted to be okay. How not okay she was about things scared even her most of the time. She offered the woman a small smile again, cradling her tea mug in her hands. "But I'm not up alone tonight, at least."

[notyourcaptain]

It actually took Carolyn a second to realize what she meant, and it earned Elizabeth a sheepish smile. "Yeah-" Carolyn didn't have a lot of experience being afraid of the dark, but she did have experience in loneliness, and in being unable to sleep. She slurped on her coffee as she watched the other woman carefully. "So- why are you here then?"

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth considered the question, pausing to sip at her tea before she decided on how to respond. Telling the truth might bring on questions, but she also couldn't really explain herself in any other manner.

"Nightmares," she admitted once she put her mug down, looking sheepish. "It startled me enough to get me up. I stay with someone, so when I couldn't return to sleep I decided to take a walk. You?"

[notyourcaptain]

"Can't even fall asleep to get woken up by nightmares," Carolyn said dryly, giving Elizabeth a small, wry smile. Birds of a feather, apparently. "I come here almost every night now. It's the closest place to my apartment." Close enough that she could get here before the dark closed in and she had a panic attack on the sidewalk. "Whoever you stay with know you can't sleep?"

[cagedlamb]

The question made Elizabeth sigh, which probably was all the answer the woman needed. She wondered what her dreams were about that so badly affected her. She didn't dare ask - knew better not to - but it made her sad to know people besides her dealt with such things.

"I...don't want to bother him with it. This place is close to my apartment, too," she replied, biting her lip. "I know he'd worry, and I don't really want him to. I'm hoping it'll go away eventually."

[notyourcaptain]

"Having someone to worry for you can be nice," Carolyn said carefully, fully aware that her opinion had not been solicited. She wasn't sure whatever it was Riddick felt over her counted as worry. Possession. Or guilt, probably.

[cagedlamb]

"He worries enough," Elizabeth sighed. They were worries she couldn't help him with, either. Worries she had, too, about their world following them here. Adding to it just seemed cruel. "But you're right. I probably should talk to him if it continues. Do you have anyone here for you?"

[notyourcaptain]

That was a complicated question, and it showed on Carolyn's face. "I have someone who follows me around, claiming he's keeping an eye on me, but I'm not so sure what his motives are." She sighed and rubbed at her eyes. The coffee was starting to make her jittery. She should probably switch to tea. "Worry isn't really the right word."