The Daydreamer Project: Teatime

You clear your throat. Not in the deliberate, 'ahem' sort of way that people who think they have something important to say often do before speaking, but as a way to buy yourself another second while fumbling over the right words in your head.

You finally settle on, "Do you remember the cat?"

"Of course I remember the cat," he replies. "It's still that dreadful cat?"

"Yeah-" You stop yourself. "Well, no. I mean..."
And then you take a deep breath and sit back down, because the answer is a lot more complicated than either of those responses.



"It's still waiting for me when I end up in its room instead of yours. And, yeah, it still looks like a cat. But... that's the thing. It's not the same cat you're thinking of, all chewed up and toothy. It's just a cat.

It's gotten so sluggish lately. Lazy, even. He doesn't chase me anymore, just stalks and taunts me in the dark. He's been more rude than terrifying, to be frank.

I feel like I should be happy about that, you know? But something about watching it sulk around in the corner of the room like that, it's... unnerving. I think...



"...I think it creeps me out, because I know that it's still watching us. I know it's still trying to get in here. But I can't imagine what it would do anymore if it did - or if it even knows, itself.

What does that mean, Professor? Have I just finally outgrown it? Or is my own nightmare bored of me? It's like... it's like..."



"Lynette." Professor Goodnight leans in against the table and raises his voice, cutting you off. "You're overthinking this matter, my dear. It sounds to me that the old tyrant is running out of material - that can only be a good thing. We have enough candle-wax that you should never be afraid of it getting up here, regardless."

"I suppose," you reply, trying your best to let his words reassure you that everything will be fine. "Thank you, Professor."

Professor Goodnight gives you a stern nod. "Of course, dear. And speaking of candle-wax, we'll need to make you your own candle before you leave. If you're truly so insistent on this 'job' ordeal, you must take one of my candles with you into the lands outside."



You look down at the candle sitting in the middle of the table. For as long as you can remember, Professor Goodnight's special candles have protected you and all your friends in this place from the influence of your nightmare.

It would be a remarkibly versatile tool to have with you at work. The candle's light exposes hiding nightmares, its heat repulses them, and its wax can be used to close up the rips that nightmares make to dig their way into good dreams.

How does Professor Goodnight make these things, again?
You've heard the story countless times at this point, but you're always forgetting a few details.

---

Author's NotesShow

Hmm this slightly remind me slightly of an old adventure called "daydremaer.inc" Except the style was more cartoony. Was that by you ?

Yes! The Daydreamer Project is part of a reimagining of an older mspa forum adventure called Daydreamers, Inc. It's the prelude to a full-on reboot, as I've planned it, but this is a story that's important to tell first before I get back to the cast from the original adventure. To anyone who read that quest back in the day; it's great to have you back on board all these years later!