13914/Friends and paychecks.

Friends and paychecks.
Date of Scene:	30 October 2021
Location:	Private Office, the Blue Lady
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Raith, Phantasm (Drago)

---

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas had told Wade that he needed t5o talk to Nick as soon as the other man was able to get in contact with him... That it was a personal matter. but he really needed to speak to him.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The requested action probably took longer than Thomas was wanting. The club owner's instinct to ask the studio owner was spot on as that man was one of the few that Bucky felt the need to give the number to Nick's burner. But, given the nature of the situation that led to Nick making him scarce, it is what it is. He didn't call. But, having caught up on his rest, he didn't need to.

Having taken a shortcut, Nick emerges. Dressed down, ballcap on, hair tucked away into the collar of his shirt. The musician makes his way to the entrance of the club. He likely doesn't match with the attire of those who typically attend the club, but right now, it doesn't seem to be an issue. Security knew him here so the walk to the office was not hindered.

There's a light knock at the doorframe, announcing his arrival.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Security definatly knew him, though Crush as always called ahead to let the Boss know that he was about to recieve visitors and just who those visitors were. So Thomas is smiling warmly as he opens his door to the light tapping. "You are a hard man to reach when you want to be." He says mildly amused giving his friend a "Bro hug" And letting him in. "What are you drinking?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The wait for the door to open is not long. Considering Thomas's traits, it'd be more surprising if he had taken longer. But, as the door opens up to reveal a familiar face he hasn't seen in months the neutral expression lightens a little, betraying a faint smile.

Hug done with, his posture settles back for a moment. "Want and need are two different words." Nick replies in reference to Thomas's comment, "Guinness if you got it." He sets foot in the office, waiting for Thomas to get settled before he does.

If he's got it. Damn Nick. He owns a bar. The NERVE. "It is good to see you."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith Chuckles, "I have it in a bottle up here, or I can call over and have Syrin Pull one properly." He says reffering to the deaf Bartender over in the VIP lounge. He gestures to the conversation area and takes a seat, bringing his own iced tea. "So how have you been. You dropped off the grid without so much as a smoke signal."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick momentarily glances to the door for a moment. "...Pulled." He decides, moving over to the indicated coversation area to take his own seat. "Well, I had to. Things kind of blew up fast in August. And a lot of things turned out to not be what they seemed." The smile dies away, "But, Got the go ahead to head back to the apartment this week so that's a plus."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods, sending a quick text to Syrin, since calling her on the phone is rather pointless. Then he nods, shooting his cuffs and tilting his head. "I was hoping I could... talk to you about something. I don't know if you can help, but I can't think of anyone else that could.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick gives a nod. "Hmm. Being I don't know what you're going to say yet I can't make any guarantees but, you won't know unless you ask."

He shifts forward in his seat, putting his hands together absentmindedly. The fingers aren't laced but instead are positioned perpendicular to their counterparts upon the other hand. "So, what is it you need to talk about?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
there is a knock and Thomas goes to get Nick's Stout and brings it over to the man. "Dreams. I've been having...really weird dreams. And since you are the person who understands dreams better then anyone, I was hoping maybe you could, I don't know, give me your opinion on it." He sips his tea and adds, "Buffy sometimes has prophetic dreams, it's part of the whole Slayer Package. I wonder if it's not a You are what you eat thing."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick reaches up to take the offered glass filled with dark liquid. "Dreams..." He repeats, "Well, they can be a lot of different things. For some it could very well be prophetic. It could also be your subconcious trying to bring your attention to something you missed. Sometimes it's the echo of your mind trying to make sense of the happenings of the previous day or a major event. Othertimes it's just an escape..." Nick pauses, "... a lot of things really. But alright. What are you dreaming about?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith shakes his head a bit, not in negation but more as though trying to get his thoughts to fall into a proper order. "Well they are dreams about... well me, but not really me? Sometimes Buffy is there, but it's like she's not quite the same person. Like I am looking through someone else's eyes... Like one of those bad comic scenerios or something with Alternate universes.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick sips his beer as he listens to Thomas's description, lowering it when Thomas comes to a stop. "The dreamer will be in the dream in some way shape or manner. So you being part of it isn't surprising. What was it about the versions of you that made them different from the actual you? Likewise with the not Buffys?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith leans back in thought. "It's small things. Like it's definitely me and her, but like we have different life experiences. For instance she is jelious there of this admittedly stunning redhead that I have never seen in my life. Or you remeber when she had her soul switched with a Vampire? Here she is split into two Buffy's.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Hmm." Nick gives a nod. "Do you remember a general feeling when she displays jealousy towards this redhead? And what makes the two Buffys different from each other?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith shrugs a bit, "That's how I know he's not ...well me. He likes that she's jealous. He doesn't nessicarily want to hurt her but it gives him an ego boost that I don't think I would get... I think in some ways he's still at the stage where he is enjoying bedding the Slayer as much if not more then being with Buffy if you understand my meaning. He hasn't fallen fully in love with her. Not yet. " He sips his drink and considers, "Well neither of them are evil if that is what you mean, but one is... well hyper agressive and the other is more like... a bubbly collage girl. Less good and evil and more Sugar and Spice.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Meaning understood." Nick responds, giving a slight frown. He sips the beer, considering the information, "Ok. So, maybe more like a 'What if? version of yourself perhaps?" Nick theorizes, "Do you ever wake up from these dreams with a general feeling about them? Or thinking about some particular topic or an actual interaction you had while in the waking realm?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith exhales and sips his tea, considering. "When I first wake up? It's hard to remember who I am. Like for a few moments I think I am still him for a few seconds. Usually then I have memories of his for an hour or so. More if I talk about them with someone. Allot of times they are terribly domestic. Then there is me trying to calm two Buffy's or flirting shamelessly with Paige, or dealing with a recently Awakened White Court..

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick frowns at this. Waking up with memories of a life that's not their own? "Is this happening every night?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith shakes his head but "washes" his face with his dry hands. "It started maybe three months ago and it was fairly rare. Now? It's about three or four times a week." He admits takeing a few deep breaths. "I just don't understand it."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Ok. So, it's safe to assume that you'll have another dream like this either tonight or tomorrow night." Nick surmises, "...This is an odd one. The thing is I can't rule out the Alternate Reality thing you mentioned earlier. Dreams themselves are like pocket dimensions, and there are some that are more of a collective dream. So with that in mind it's not too far to theorize that maybe yours is adjacent to one similar to yours. Or you have somehow ended up with a shared dream."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly sipping his tea and shaking his head. "You know what it's like? Have you ever heard a recording of yourself and thought "That's not what I sounde like?" That's how these memories feel in my head. Like it's my words and my voice, just not me speaking them.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Thomas, I'm a musician." Nick points out, giving a small smile, "Recording sessions and tours mean I have to listen to my own voice a LOT." The smile fades, "But I do know the feeling of having memories that don't seem like yours. So...added question. In the dreams are you aware that you are dreaming?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith head shakes. "It's like I am reliving scenes from his day. For lack of a better word it's like I am dreaming his dreams, if that makes any sense. I mean in the dreams it feels as real as anything.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It's becoming a bit of a pattern by now. The beer, while meant for enjoyment is also serving as a means for the musicain to gather his thoughts. The contents get downed a bit more this time as there's much to process. Drink almost done, the glass is lowered.

"It does seem to favor the alternate reality theory. Maybe there is another version of you elsewhere in existence. And maybe, There are times the both of you fall asleep close enough together that the wires get crossed. But if that's the case, then there is the reasoning that he too is experiencing the same. Maybe he's getting dreams of the vampire Buffy and whatever else you dream of when you're not dreaming from his point of view."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith looks mildly amused by that it seems and shakes his head. "I don't think I like the idea of him dreaming about my Buffy." He says with a bit of a sour smile but nodding slightly. "I don't suppose you have any suggestions on how we might go about severing that connection? Between Game of Thrones and that Superhero Netflix show, I'm swamped for things to watch anyway. Now maybe if they have past season 1 of Firefly..

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Well if he's come across this theory as well, he might think the same about you dreaming of the Buffy seasonings." Nick quips, "Bit of a balance there. As for what to do... Best I could do is step in on the dream and try to induce lucid dreaming in you so you can work towards finding a solution. Or try Raphael's Flask to see if this could be something else entirely that needs to be dealt with. But Alternate worlds? That might be a Dr. Strange conversation right there."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly consideirning his friends words. "I'll think about it. Do what I can. It may sound odd considering who my brother is, but I don't like getting magic involved when I can avoid it. You start bending reality it always seems to pick an inconveniant time to snap back.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Strange is... Well, he'd likely want to make sure to keep the realities separate. So, if that's what this is... That seems like it might fall in his jurisdiction."

If that's what they call it for Sorceror Surpremes. "Or he might say it's more to do with what month it is as for why you're getting them more frequently. Halloween tends to bring out the weirdest of dreams."