A night with human monsters and a night with monstrous friends

I had a dream that I went into work for a serving shift and my ex-bestie, Erica, was there. She acted very friendly and said hi to me but I made a bigger deal than I should have and asked my manager without answering her “why is she here.” I repeated myself until someone said she was just part time. After I realized the kitchen was looking at me completely shocked I cleaned up my attitude and gave her a big hug.. I loved her but it was a tainted sort of feeling and I wasn’t sure our relationship could be patched up. After our shift we decided to go out on the town. Everywhere I take her, Erica is being hit on and I’m scared that my bag is going to be stolen. At one point in time I need to pee and find my loose leaf money so I go into a stall that won’t close all the way and pee on the ground into a pile of puke bc the toilet is too full of shit and piss and paper. I took Erica outside, it was dark, it show her this beautiful fountain show in old town and some mountain peaks across the way but she waves it off like she isn’t impressed and it pisses me off. I tell her this is my home now and it’s beautiful and means the world to me. She says it’s not her style. Later, two more girls pop up, more ex-friends, one of which I’ve forgiven over time and talk to occasionally- her name is Kayce. The other one is Connor. Well Connor and Erica start acting up immediately saying the OT is too nice and that they want to rile up the streets. Conor pulls a gun out and starts waving it around, yelling. Erica is verbally assaulting people in the street. We end up at a bar with karaoke and I grab Kayce to step out for a Cigarette. The other two try to follow but I get Kayce alone and tell her to fucking muzzle Connor or I’m going to knock her out. OT is a nice respectable place and I wasn’t going to sit and watch them disrespect it. Kayce agrees and goes to talk to them. At this new bar my best friend Syd is there, and then my other bestie, Grace, pops up and gives me the longest hug. I almost start crying I’m so relieved they are there now. Outside I see James, my ex boyfriend, and I walk out to grab some Easter eggs to paint while I have a drink. He’s sitting with two other girls. Erica follows me out which sours in my mouth since he cheated on me with her for years. In the dream I’m not mad at James like I am Erica though. I want to talk to him. Eventually I catch his eye and I pretend to be super shocked to see him. We get to talking and I tell him my place of work is hiring if he wanted a job. I said I’d love to have all my favorite people in one place but it sounds… dangerous coming out of my mouth. Like thinking I can tread fast water and then finding out it’s too much for me to push against. The last part of my dream was strange and took a turn. An older man took me “home” I don’t know if I was his assistant or what but he seemed to know me and I knew him and we had a decent connection. He took me down into a dark creepy basement as big as a city. It was filled with these intricate metal pieces like animal-human hybrids , alien shaped creatures, creative beings I’ve never seen before. When we came into the subterranean city and shut the massive iron doors behind us everything folded up into life, lights turned on, streets of buildings came into view … and then it all came to life. A massive, scary talking head with Nicholas Cage’s face and voice welcomed us warmly. The streets were black with gothic iron buildings, and filled with vendors, couples, and teens racing around dark corners. I went around hugging and shaking amphibious hands, petting behind furry ears, and sharing shots with people I felt safe and friendly with. It was a town of monsters but we popped a cork. I set my purse down on a chair, knowing I was safe to leave it with this crowd and carried on into the night happier than I had felt since the dream started.