(sequel) FANCIFUL FEAR -prinxiety-

7. 'Sandwiches are basically weirdly cooked pizzas, or vice versa'

IF YOU HAVE A PRINXIETY FANFICTION THEN COMMENT RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW I WANT TO READ THEM ALLLLLL

Roman

Well, Thomas doesn't know. Anything.

I tried to see if he knew anything without letting him know that anything is, well, something- which is awkward and difficult conversational yoga by the way- and he appears to fully believe that he is indeed just a new kid in an old school. Which doesn't improve our situation.

How do you wake up someone in real life if the only person you can access is their unaware dream self? I don't believe there's a manual for that. And Anxiety isn't even trying to help. He just sits there, watching.

With shaky hands and frequent swallowing, eyes darting from place to place and uneven breathing. I opted to not point it out for most of the day, but instead tried to reassure him without Anxiety realizing that that was my intention. 

I've learned many things about him; how to calm him is still somewhat of a mystery, but I've got a few ideas as to what I can do. It helps to keep him in the loop, updated, knowing what I'm thinking and considering doing next so nothing jumps at him. It helps to be close to him, but not actually touch him. It helps to set an example pace for his breathing... He tends to imitate mine more often than he thinks I notice.

When we reach my established base and residence Rain is already there, this time not in the kitchen but the living room. He greets us but doesn't speak much more- he's got that Anxiety-like look in his eyes. Not fear, but sorrow.

I'm starting to realize what Rain would represent in terms of personality traits.

Anxiety and I take to the kitchen, quickly having realized what human "hunger" is and not taking well to the experience- never before have I had to label any feeling of mine with the word "void" and particularly not paired with the word "vaccuum"... I assume there is a first time for everything, though.

"What are you doing?" I ask him, eyeing the third of these sandwiches (not containing actual sand or any witches, strangely) that Anxiety is preparing.

"Maybe Rain would like something to eat. Food always cheered me up." So I wasn't the only one to pick up on his mood, then. I wonder why he's my family member in this dream, rather than Anxiety's... 

We finish the sandwiches, honestly not really knowing what we put on them (Morality's the one who pays attention to eating habits, I never did more than to the extent of pizza and mozzarella sticks). Rain looks up when we enter the living room, sitting down in the furniture that he isn't occupying (a sixth of the three-spot couch, because he's relatively small. In terms of facets of personality, is that a good thing). 

"Here." Anxiety hands him a plate, and he accepts it with his mouth hanging open. Anxiety tries a smile, but it doesn't really work, and neither does Rain's attempt at one. Those two should be the brothers!

"Uh... Thank you." Anxiety nods, choosing to seat himself in a large armchair by the couch while I sit between the two, in the space remaining on the couch. 

We eat in silence, mostly due to Anxiety and I's unfamiliarity with the dish in question. (It's basically a mini-pizza, right?) Rain doesn't seem to be noticing though, much too occupied with the television. Something non-disney is playing so I disregard it entirely.

"Do you ever feel like nothing around you is real and you're the only one who's aware of it?" Anxiety mumbles, picking at his hoodie. I would have wanted to scold him for revealing information we should be cautious with, but he's asked this question many times before any of this happened as well. 

I wasn't as concerned then as I am now, about his past self. I mean, now I know how that feels... It's not great.

"Yeah, I do..." Rain responds, not moving his eyes from the TV, 

"it started a few days ago." 

I have to force myself to sit down and write these but when I'm actually writing it's a lot of fun. Why does it work like this (better than the opposite, perhaps...) 

I have a bunch of serious tests next week and several more scattered across the months until mid-May, so every-other-day updates will be a bit hard. Hoping for every third, or fourth right now.

ALSO bribing yourself into writing with the promise of cherry tomatoes is effective.