<JETMODE> *As Jarod tracks his way down the halls, he finds them unfortunately Jimsey-free. In fact, they're rather oddly empty for this time of day. Maybe it's the middle of class or something.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod might not notice the lack of figures around -- he's concentrating on finding Jimsey. Probably without a whole heck of a lot of luck, since it's hard to keep a lock on someone he ran into for a grand total of about 10 seconds.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey may have faded out of sight, but a now-familiar presence is taking his place. Surly and miserable as usual, the boy of his nightmares is lurking close by -- sneaking, in fact, and tense.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod pauses, locking in on the boy. He settles in the back of his mind and waits a moment to see if he can pick anything else up without prying or making his presence too obvious.

<JETMODE> *He's clearly doing something he shouldn't be -- at least, he thinks he shouldn't be doing it. He seems to sense the presence that's borrowing space in the back of his mind and lets loose a flare of irritation.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs quietly to himself for giving himself up so quickly this time and tries the direct approach instead, sending a message along the lines of, "Who are you?"

<JETMODE> *The response is cross. "Leave me alone! Why won't you stop bugging me?!"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sends him an apologetic wave. "I'm sorry I keep intruding on you. I'm not going to hurt you -- but I need some answers."

<JETMODE> *There's a long silence. "What do you want?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod pauses for a moment. "Well, we could start with who you are -- and why I keep seeing your nightmares."

<JETMODE> *Another long silence. "I don't know. I don't want you in my nightmares. OR in my head."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's response has a faint edge of irritation to it. "Neither do I. But apparently there's nothing I can do about it. *pause* This might be easier if we could meet, so we wouldn't have to speak telepathically--"

<JETMODE> *The response to that is immediate. "NO."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, a little startled, "Why not?"

<JETMODE> *Before the boy gets a chance to reply, a familiar voice sounds behind Jarod. "Jarod!" It's Jukka, and she's waving.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nearly jumps, so startled that his trance and lock with the boy are completely broken. He spins around, looking considerably annoyed, but when he sees who's hailing him, his features soften and he sighs a little. "Hi, Jukka."

<JETMODE> *Hatani is standing near her, a blandly amused expression on her face. "Sorry we've been keeping her away from you, ya?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod goes over to the two, waving a hand. "Oh, heh, that's all right. I've been ... pretty busy myself. How've you been?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *cheerfully* We've been making money. *laughs* I suppose it's a little bit of a scheme..

<JETMODE> <Hatani> Feh! We dance together at her usual spots, and they pay us double -- I don't need the money, so Jukka gets double pay. *cheery grin* Least I could do.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's mouth twitches in a smirk. "Very clever. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come to any of your shows since the big festival --"

<JETMODE> *Jukka shakes her head. "It's all right -- they haven't been very interesting anyway."

<JETMODE> <Hatani> You only say that because Timya keeps asking to dance with you.

<JETMODE> *Jukka sniffs.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod chuckles. "The day your dance isn't interesting is the day we're all in trouble.."

<JETMODE> *Jukka laughs, and Hatani rolls her eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod coughs a little. "So what're you up to tonight? I'll come to your show if you're dancing again."

<JETMODE> *Hatani mutters something in gypsy to her sister, and Jukka shoots her a quelling look. "We'll be at --" She's cut off by a squawk from Hatani, who is fumbling with a small figure who just came running around the corner to bash directly into her.

<TIAMAT> *At the same moment, Jarod is hit with a wave of familiarity. He wavers for a moment, then stares down at the figure as Hatani disentangles herself from him.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> Oy, brat, why don't you --

<JETMODE> *The figure looks up at Jarod, apparently having gotten a familiar vibe, himself. An expression of stark horror flits across his face, and he takes off.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> HEY!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, simultaneously: WAIT!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Hatani --

<TIAMAT> *Jarod takes off after him.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> I'll bet he's a little thief -- *and she charges after the boy, passing Jarod like a shot*

<JETMODE> <Jukka> .. You guys!

<JETMODE> *The kid's pretty fast, but Hatani's faster. She catches up to him in no time and grabs for his tunic, tackling him to the floor. "Give it up, brat! What did you st--" She breaks off suddenly, going completely limp.

<JETMODE> *The boy squirms out from underneath her, gasping, and takes off again, favoring his leg but still moving fast.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Hatani! *she's a ways behind, but catching up*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's pretty close behind. "Hey -- wait! WAIT! *but he doesn't give chase once he catches up to Hatani, instead kneeling by her and shaking her a little. "Hatani?

<JETMODE> *Hatani is still, but alive. Her eyes are open and completely glassed over -- unlike the other victims he's seen, however, she doesn't appear to even have a partial consciousness.

<JETMODE> *Jukka skids to a halt and crouches beside her on the other side. "Hatani -- Hatani -- What happened, Jarod?!"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod still recognizes the symptoms, though, especially after having seen them on Cecil. He doesn't respond to Jukka right away. "I ... don't know. Yet. *he shakes Hatani again. "Come on, Hatani..

<JETMODE> *Several minutes pass, during which Jukka comes remarkably close to tears. Before they can completely panic, however, the girl sits up with a gasp, as if she's just come up from a long dive underwater.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod breaths a quiet sigh of relief. "Are you all right?

<JETMODE> *Jukka flings her arms around her sister's neck with a low cry, but Hatani doesn't respond immediately, taking another gulping breath. "I.. I think I am."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod waits until she's caught her breath a little and for Jukka to calm down before asking quietly, "What happened?

<JETMODE> <Hatani> I.. eh. *scratches her head with one hand, patting a still-sniffling Jukka with the other* I chased the brat .. got him down, ya? You saw that much. Well.. he gave me this LOOK.. and suddenly.. *shakes her head* Eh, it's hard to explain. *pauses* It was dark.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, a little puzzled: Did he ... hit you? Or use a spell?

<JETMODE> <Hatani> .. No. He.. he just stared at me. His eyes got sort of funny. And then I was gone.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, quiet and more to himself than anyone: Gone... *he suddenly locks eyes with Hatani, staring at her hard.

<JETMODE> *She flinches back slightly. "Oy, you're only supposed to stare at Jukka like that --"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod ignores the commment, for the moment. "How do you feel?

<JETMODE> *Hatani scoots away a little, looking at him doubtfully. "Tired, I guess.. maybe a little out of it.." She frowns. "Little dash like that shouldn't have worn me out, eh."

<JETMODE> <Hatani> *a little irritably* [Is he always this much of a weirdo?]

<JETMODE> *Jukka starts giggling, then realizes what she said and punches her in the shoulder.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod watches her for a moment longer, then breaks eye contact with her as he sighs again -- and again in relief -- and stands, offering his hands to pull the girls up. "If you two are done ..."

<JETMODE> *Jukka laughs and takes his hand, but Hatani waves him off, standing on her own.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives Hatani an apologetic look. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

<JETMODE> <Hatani> Ya, well. I'm fine, scholar-boy. *dusts herself off*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod casts her a sideways glance, then turns back to Jukka. "I'm sorry...I have to go. I'll try to come to your dance tonight -- where did you say it was?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> We're at Old Fox's tonight. It's on the fourth floor. *smiles* I'll look for you.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod returns the smile faintly. "I'll see you then. *he turns to Hatani* Hatani -- take care. *nods to both as he takes off down the corridor the direction Jansk went with a wave.