· Four ( Video/Action ) ·

[padme_amidala]

( Padmé has been adjusting to day to day life and trying to heal. It's frightfully easy to forget what occurred before her arrival - and she has let herself forget - yet quiet moments bring certain thoughts and feelings into plain view. This morning has been particularly hard on her and she rose early and took a walk to clear her mind and lessen the ache of her heart.

She pauses by a garden and smiles, faintly, at the blooms, recalling her own home on Naboo. There had been a garden there, a lake, plenty of walks, plenty of laughter and love...

Is she really only 27? She feels so much older. But it doesn't do her any good to focus on that, so instead she pulls out her journal. )

Does a cure for nightmares exist? I feel like I'm having them even in the daytime.

( It's difficult for her to reveal her weakness; she knows she can overcome this...right? )

I wouldn't ask if they hadn't become bothersome. I am quite capable of caring for myself, but without adequate rest...

( As well as the fear that she might be bothering Anakin and Luke... )

I fear I cannot think clearly.

Comments

[Voice] - heading to sleep so will be late with replies but wanted to placehold <3

[geniustheveil]

A cute for nightmares?

[Ami seems to take this quite seriously for a moment, and of course she does take it seriously except that it isn't the sort of thing to write a prescription for right away. So instead, she tries to be reassuring.]

I don't have medicine for them, but I think some tea and some time to rest might help after all. If you'd like to talk about them, I'll listen to you, too.

[After all, stress-induced nightmares... the best help she can offer first is a listening ear to untangle the thoughts behind them. She offers one more reassurance, quietly.]

And I don't think Anakin and Luke consider it a bother to help you at all.

[Voice] <3333

[padme_amidala]

I realize it sounds silly. ( She crosses her arms over her chest and waits for Ami to speak. ) I believe you know what they detail. There is much I -

( A long sigh and then... )

I cannot help wondering what I could have done differently...for them. ( For herself. )

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

I don't think it sounds silly at all. Everyone has things that trouble them.

If you're thinking about it, though, what do you think you could have done instead? [Because this is something she knows all too well, searching through every word, tone, nuance, act, and decision of a situation to try to piece together how it could have been helped, how it could have been stopped.]

[Voice]

[padme_amidala]

I...

I wouldn't have let myself be blind. I would have paid attention to the clues and not let my love take precedence.

( Or perhaps she should have let her love take more precedence. She was selfish to ignore Anakin's turmoil and pain. )

By the time I faced the truth, it was too late. If I had faced it before then...

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

[Ami knows something about blaming yourself for what-ifs; and that's why she argues.]

You couldn't have known what would happen next. Even if it feels like there was something more you should have seen, isn't it true that you did the best you could with everything you knew?

[Voice]

[mountain_sage]

...Are these merely bad dreams?

[The fact that she mentioned having them during the day prompts the question. She may sleep during the day, or it could be a different kind of nightmare from the ones that occur while one sleeps.]

In any case, I find that talking about the nightmares with someone will help to overcome them.

[Voice]

[padme_amidala]

I'm afraid not. ( It hurts to think about them and it hurts to put them into words. She knows even if she does tell someone of them, nothing will change. ) I will consider telling someone. But it won't change anything.

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[Nightmares? Well...that...certainly isn't good.]

Mother, you're having trouble sleeping? Nightmares?

[Video]

[padme_amidala]

Yes. The same ones. ( He can probably guess the content. ) Can I call them nightmares when they're real?

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[He can readily enough.]

Yes. They're not happening, and they won't happen. You're safe here, as safe as I can make you.

And I may be able to help. I...know a bit about controlling dreams.

[Video]

[padme_amidala]

Is that a Jedi trick? ( She is trying to lighten the mood. Unsuccessfully. ) Luke, I don't wish to put any burden on your shoulders. You have too much of that as it is.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

I'm... I'm very sorry to hear that, Padme. I wish that there was a magical potion that cured nightmares. But all I've got is some ways that can help.

[Voice]

[padme_amidala]

I'd love to hear them, Aang. ( A pause because the last time she saw him, he had seemed...off. ) How are you faring?

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

I'd be glad to tell you. And I - I've been okay. Some things have changed recently, but... things are okay. [His fear shift may be gone - but so are some of his friends from home.]

[Voice]

[padme_amidala]

If you need to talk, I'm here to listen. ( He has done the same for her since she arrived. She would like to return the favor. )

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

[Nightmares. There's something Eleanor is unfortunately very familiar with.]

No.

[She pauses.]

All you can do is remind yourself that they aren't real.

[voice]

[padme_amidala]

( But they are real. At her home, her nightmares are in the making. )

You sound familiar with them.

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

I have them all the time.

[voice]

[padme_amidala]

I'm sorry to hear that. If I hear of any cure, I will inform you immediately.

[Video]

[spohkh]

That would entirely depend on how adequately you can control your mind.

[Spock tilts his head in curiosity...]

It is unfortunate that you are experiencing these waking nightmares.

[Video]

[padme_amidala]

I thought I had control over my mind. I don't let my thoughts wander overly much.

( Yet the same nightmares visit her again and again. )

Do you have any techniques for calming my mind?

Re: [Video]

[spohkh]

Vulcans subscribe to a very specific method of meditation and emotional control...
If you so desire, I would be amenable to show you this technique?

[Video]

[padme_amidala]

I would be very grateful. ( She blushes faintly. ) I must sound desperate.

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

I've found chamomile tea can help with insomnia, but in my experience, the best cure for nightmares is sleeping with someone else. I have them far less often now that I share my bed with a friend.

[Voice]

[padme_amidala]

I do share a bed with someone. ( When he's not out exploring. ) They come nonetheless. ( Because they are centered around him. ) I will try the tea.