Language Classes, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Hello.

First, I would like to remind those of you who have not yet done so to complete the poll on classes for next semester. Unless, of course, you are done studying languages.

Languages of Europe: Go to the computer terminals in the lab and play French verb hangman. You will get extra credit for telling me which verbs you played with and conjugating them appropriately.

Cat: I already told Miss Hopeless-Savage this, but I am suspending classes in cat-form for the remainder of the semester. I believe it would be irresponsible for me not to do so, given the plague of involuntary animal transformations at the school. Today, you may read through the web archives of "Cat and Girl", by Dorothy Gambrell. The cat in this strip is drawn largely in human form; discuss how its body language remains feline.

Comments

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Um, sir?" Rory asks, knocking on the doorframe. "You wanted to, um, see me? About my nightmares?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream rises from his chair. "If you do not mind discussing them," he says.

[OOC: Headed home in a few. Pick this up around 7?]

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I don't," Rory says, fidgeting. "I mean, if you think you can help, or something."

[ooc: Sure thing!]

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream pulls his cloak around him. His expression is one of concern. "I have some power over dreams," he says, simplifying things considerably. "The dream that Bridge alerted me to was terrible. You are an excellent student, and you know pain enough."

He taps a finger against his chin. "Is the dream something that happened to you, as you remember it?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Rory says softly. "It's like living it over again."

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

"That changes my options," Dream says. "Let me lay them out, and you can pick.

I could erase that area of the Dreaming. It would be gone, as would your dreams. That always feels like a violation, and I do it only as a last resort.

I can drop a cloud over your dreams, so you will not remember them. They will still come, though.

I can assign a guardian to supervise the dreams and protect you if at all possible.

Or I can teach you some techniques that will help you fight them, to control them and be aware they are only dreams. That helped Miss Parker and Miss D'ancanto, I believe."

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Um, the last one, I guess," Rory says hesitantly. "You helped Parker and Rogue, too?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Dream says. "Many students here have troubling dreams."

He glides over to his bookshelf. "The main technique I would suggest is something called lucid dreaming. If you are aware a dream is a dream, you retain power over it; you can turn the situation to your advantage, or leave it altogether. Turn the vampire into a kitten, for example, or overpower him yourself, if that is your wish." He hands Rory a slim blue volume. "Here (http://www.lucidity.com/) is a text on the subject."

"As a secondary control, I had one student select an object that she could focus on during the dream. Maintaining awareness of the trinket allowed her to rise above the horror around her. Do you have any jewelry, or personal objects, that might work that way for you?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory's hand automatically goes up to the necklace (http://pics.livejournal.com/rory__gilmore/pic/000065rp/) she's wearing, and she frowns thoughtfully. "Will it work if it's an object I associate with...him?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream glances at the looped cross. "It might even be more powerful," he says honestly. "Does it have other personal significance? Did you buy it in a store, or is it something someone gave you?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"My boyfriend gave it to me," Rory nods. "Will that help?"

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

"Very much," Dream says. With one index finger, he lightly touches Rory's necklace, then just as quickly withdraws his hand. "Wear it all the time. As you fall asleep, think about it; think that it keeps you safe, that it means you are needed and connected to this world. Awareness of it should link your place in the Dreaming with your waking mind."

"These methods may take some time, but they will most often work."

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory nods. "Okay. Um. Thank you."

Re: Office Hours & Language Lab, 12/01

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. It is only my job."