04; [video]

[hoaryhosts]

[The video starts up to show Stephen standing in what appears to be a very sparsely decorated living room. If anyone's familiar with New York architecture, it appears to be in an older brownstone. The high ceilings, cracked sheet rock, and slightly skewed crown moldings are a pretty dead give away. The place looks more or less clean, but there's

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[iknowyourfear]

[ a little pause. ]

Hey, Doc.

[hoaryhosts]

Hello.

It's been a while since we've spoken, I believe.

[iknowyourfear]

[ an exhale. ]

Yeah. I've been busy. School and stuff. [ a beat. ] Listen, Doc. I need a favor.

[hoaryhosts]

Understandable.

What's on your mind, Terrance?

[iknowyourfear]

[ clearly uncomfortable, but at length: ]

Did you have a way to protect a person from my father's powers? Back home.

[hoaryhosts]

Nothing entirely fool proof. As I'm sure you're aware, Nightmare is very, very powerful.

... You're concerned for someone.

[iknowyourfear]

Well, I'm not my father. And I'm not as strong as him either.

[ a pause. then, neither exactly agreeing or disagreeing with the good doctor's conclusion: ]

You could come up with something to protect someone from me, right?

[hoaryhosts]

Theoretically.

You realize, of course, I've never actually seen your powers at work.

[iknowyourfear]

Would you need to?

[hoaryhosts]

Probably. I understand the basic concept behind your powers but practice and theory are two very different things.

[iknowyourfear]

[ flatly: ]

Well, I can't just show you. We both know my powers need a victim.

[hoaryhosts]

And I can't volunteer myself?

[iknowyourfear]

Do you really want me reading your mind?

[hoaryhosts]

I'm familiar enough with the process of mind reading to know how to shield any information I'd want to keep from you.

[iknowyourfear]

Alright, fine. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[hoaryhosts]

I won't.