Welcome to Gaia! ::

The unusual high temperatures that summer was known for had finally started to ebb, or at least become more tolerable. The shop was quiet so far after a late morning rush, tourists coming in after being drawn by the bright colors of the display catchers in the window.

Granny was sitting behind the desk in her shop, working on one of her older catchers as the hours crawled by. It had seen better days, the color faded and the string brittle enough that she was handling it with extra care. The occasional tutting sound could be heard as she contemplated letting it go, a sad prospect for the shopkeeper but also a necessary one.

Granny looked up as the little bell above the door chimed, indicating that she had a potential customer and not just a window shopper. She set aside the cord she had been measuring and, seeing a somewhat familiar face, nodded at the young boy with a smile.

"Monty, isn't it? Come in." She lifted the catcher and set it out to the side, no longer in sight of anyone coming through the front door as it lay on a small table behind the desk for days when she needed to take her tasks at a slower pace.

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you?" Rising to her feet, Granny held out her hand to the young boy in front of her, her smile turning knowing. "Well, that's quite possible, Monty. May I see your catcher? I might be able to help with that, or at least help you be certain. Dreams are amazing things, after all. Anything can happen."

The old woman wasn't specifically focusing on his glasses nor what it meant; she had seen many a Dreamer who was outside of what was considered the norm and not all of them were in the same state of health as others. They were as varied and amazing as the dreams and nightmares they met.

"Thank you, Monty." Granny reache dout and took the boy's catcher, her pale eyes warming as she recalled his dream. A wandering melody with a hidden flautist, as she recalled.

"I'd like to help you, dear I think there are a few things you should know, first." Placing the catcher on the desk, she turned her attention back to the young teen, serious but not stern. At least one so young had caught the interest of a being that wasn't malicious.

"The reason that your dream seems so real is because it has attracted an Oneiori - a dream spirit. Something about your dream caught it's attention and it likes what it's found."

The serious expression fell from the old woman's face, replaced once more by the warmth that she was known for. After a moment's pause, Granny shook her head.

"No, not this one. There are some people in the world who do have bad dreams, and their spirits are dangerous, but not this one." She sighed after a moment, reflecting both on what she felt of the spirit and what Monty had told her. After a moment, she nodded and turned her attention back to the boy.

"I can help both you and this spirit, if you will let me. As it is now, the spirit in your dream is unable to leave, even if it wants to. It's not strong enough to leave and needs your dreams as much as you do.

"What I can do is help bind it to the catcher, to give it something to keep it in this world without hurting either of you until it is strong enough to let you sleep in peace once more. Until then, you will still have a dream, but consequences won't be as severe. You will be able to sleep more than if you refuse, and the energy drain will be less."

Granny nodded to the chair nearby, a tall-backed plush seat that was a favorite and somehow gave a sense of timelessness to a shop that otherwise would seem like a mythic collector's room.

"This should only take a few minutes, then." She set the rest of the supplies she'd been using previously to one side and gazed at the catcher for a moment, visualizing the aesthetic as well as trying to get a good idea about who and what this Oneiroi was. With as much practice as she had, it took Granny only a couple moments before she was retrieving a new batch of cord and some beads, still talking to Monty as she worked.

"There are quite a few others like you in town, Monty. Some are even close to your own age, but Dreamers - people like you with special dreams - come from all walks of life. You might find it helps to talk to someone in a situation like yours at times.

"After a while, you may notice your companion's presence is strong enough to interact with our world and speak to you even while awake. Just mind that not everyone else will hear or see him; that is something only Dreamers can do."

"Well, one step at a time will get you where you need to go." There was a pause as one of Granny's long slender fingers tapped the edge of her desk in thought. Then, after a moment, she crouched down to open one of the lower drawers, out of sight of Monty and customers when they were present. After a moment, she stood upright with a small piece of gold in hand. It was aged but not ruined, and turned out to be a piece of a flute.

"Interesting is certainly one way to put it, yes." With a wry chuckle, she began measuring the needed length of cord.

The shop retained its quiet atmosphere as Granny continued to work and Monty to sketch. She was surprised that the boy wasn't asking more questions as most tend to do, but he also gave her the impression of being a quiet person in general. Even on his first visit, he hadn't said much beyond what he fet was necessary.

As she threaded the beads and began weaving, she double-checked the details she had given him to be safe; he knew what his spirit companion was called and what it wanted, as well that it wouldn't hurt him. He knew his condition would worsen but that the catcher would prevent what woudl otherwise be the worst of his symptoms and was the key to him being able to rest peacefully once more. About the spirit himself, he seemed content to leave be. Perhaps there would be more questions in time.

"Is there anything else on your mind, Monty? You can always come back if you have questions later."