INSOMNIA MEME ASSEMBLE.

[memeswearhouse]

the i n s o m n i a meme

It happens to everyone - sometimes, you have nights where you just can't fall asleep, no matter what you do. It could be for a number of reasons, or no reason at all. And this is what's happened now: you've been laying in bed for what feels like hours, just tossing and turning, and nothing seems to help. So what's left to do? Get out of bed and go wake someone else up, of course. If you're not getting any sleep, then why should they? i n s t r u c t i o n s • Post with your character (note the name and fandom in the subject). • Other people reply to you by generating a number from 1 to 10. • Have fun! o p t i o n s 01 • FEAR. Maybe you're hearing strange, indeterminable noises; maybe there's a severe storm happening outside; maybe you watched a scary movie before bed? Whatever the reason, you're terrified and it's keeping you awake. You just want to wake someone else up so they can protect you from the monster in your closet. 02 • HUNGER. Your stomach is growling and it just won't stop. Or perhaps your throat is so dry you could cough up a tumbleweed? Well, you've gone to the kitchen to remedy this and hey, that was a pan that just dropped on the floor. It was loud enough to wake the dead! Oops. 03 • PAIN. Your body is completely worn out, be it from exercise, battle, sickness, or what have you. Either way you're in enough pain to keep you from sleeping, so maybe someone else has a home remedy or something, or can at least help you take your mind off of it. 04 • SOLITUDE. For some reason, your bed just feels so empty at the moment. You're feeling terribly lonely and really just want someone to keep you company for a while. Maybe it'd be easier to fall asleep if you're with them... 05 • DISCOMFORT. Your room is an oven. Either that or a freezer. Or maybe this bed is just really uncomfortable? Who knows why you can't get to sleep, it feels like it could be anything. Why even bother trying? Maybe someone else can preoccupy you until you feel tired enough to ignore your discomfort. 06 • PENSIVE. Something's on your mind, and no matter how hard you try to focus elsewhere, it's just not going to work. Your body may be tired, but your mind is incredibly busy and it's virtually impossible to get to sleep. Surely, talking it out with someone else will help? 07 • SADNESS. Something terrible has happened that day, perhaps; or you could just be severely depressed. Either way you're trying your hardest not to cry yourself to sleep, and it's not working at all. Better find a way to get it out of your system somehow; you need a shoulder to cry on. 08 • ANGER. You are just... fuming. Who knows why - that annoying dog is barking again, or maybe the people next door are getting busy and keeping you awake. Whatever the reason for your ire is, you'd better put an end to it so you can get some damn rest already! Go wake up a friend so you can complain to them. 09 • RESTLESS. You're far too energetic to sleep right now. Maybe you're just trying to do so out of necessity - you have to be up early tomorrow! But you just don't think you'll be able to fall asleep for a while now, so why waste the time trying to sleep when you could be doing something else? Namely bothering someone else - you're totally jealous because they're getting more sleep than you. 10 • WILDCARD. Choose one of the options above, or make up your own scenario.

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Vivi » Final Fantasy IX » OTA

[littlehat]

7

[promisedspear]

[Arianne has been trapped in her gilded cage for days now. At first the silence of her servants led to anger, but at this point, she's become sullen and withdrawn. She wants to just sleep and do little else, but it doesn't come easily. She can feel the loneliness gnawing away at her along with the guilt of Arys' fate. When she did manage to fall asleep, through the ache in her chest and the tears in her eyes, she only found more pain, more guilt, and more loneliness. How ever horrific the shade of Arys was in her mind's eye, she dreaded waking knowing that her white knight would still be gone where she could not reach him.

It's only then, lying in the dark, she realizes this is the way her father intends to break her, to make her suffer. Taking off her head would be too kind a punishment for what she's done. He wants her to rot here.

After enough restless tossing and turning, Arianne decides she doesn't want to give in to her father's punishment. Not yet. She had thought for a time that he would pass his judgement and then she could plea for his mercy, but now she doesn't want it. Prince Doran had spit on her far too many times. She kicks off her blankets and wanders about her quarters, flitting from sitting by the window to sitting at the cyvasse table until finally she decides consequences be damned. She needs to get out of here.

The Dornish princess tries the door, frowning when she finds it curiously unlocked. The hinges creak softly as she pulls the door slowly open only to find not a single soul in the corridor, not even a guard. She wonders briefly if she's dreaming, but she chances it. She steps from her cell and leaves it as quickly and as quietly as she can.

Is she looking for the Sand Snakes? For her father? Arianne doesn't know. She just doesn't want to be left alone in that room with her thoughts any longer.

[littlehat]

[Vivi doesn't need to sleep as much as other people he's met. This is both a good thing, in that he can spend more time exploring, and a bad thing, in that he's left to himself a lot. He's learned to deal with it, though, remembering to inquire after local sites and libraries, and to generally embrace being by himself. He's not used to it. Not since his grandpa died.]

[Tonight, he pulls himself up on a ledge in the moonlight, looking out over a small garden. He's a guest here and he doesn't want to overstay his welcome, or go places that he's not allowed. Especially while his companions are asleep. Vivi's nervous nature seemed to lead others to assume that he was guilty of trespassing, when he rarely was.]

[That's when he hears the footsteps nearby, and blinks his glowing eyes, peering into the darkness. Hopefully this isn't a guard telling him that he needs to go back to his room. There's nothing to do there.]

[promisedspear]

[Arianne certainly isn't a guard. Though not as ostentatious as she prefers when entertaining guests, Arianne is still dressed in her silks and scarves meant to tantalize the imagination and her jewelry jingles quietly, shimmering against what little light the moon offers. To most men (and plenty of women), this would be a blessed image, no doubt. And the way she carries herself, the slight sashay to her hips as she walks, indicates she's well aware of what she does to men and women alike.

She doesn't hesitate or break her stride when she sees the small child. For one, she has absolutely nothing to fear from a child. For another, her pride refused to show fear at the sight of the outside world she has been missing for a week or more now.

The glowing eyes are a curiosity and make her question her wakefulness again, but it is dark and it always has a way of playing with you eyes.]

And who might you be? A guest of Prince Doran?

[Not likely given how she's never seen this boy or his strange garb before. She knew her father did not often entertain strangers in person lest they discover his gout.]

A well-wisher for the little princess Myrcella perhaps?

[Could news of how badly she had been hurt spread outside the walls of Sunspear already? Then again, it was wishful thinking on Arianne's part that Myrcella Baratheon had not perished and she felt a pang of guilt she didn't allow to cross her face all over again.]

[littlehat]

[Vivi blinks, when the pretty lady talks to him. He'd assumed she would just move on. He's anything but an important guest. His companions are the important ones. Still, when she speaks, he sits up a little straighter and twiddles his thumbs nervously.]

Oh, um... I'm just here with my friends. They're the ones who know someone. V-Vivi! My name is Vivi.

[He looks at his feet, wishing he were more eloquent, like her.]

[promisedspear]

Vivi?

[The name doesn't come to her mind as someone she ought to know. Nor does it seem to be a name of someone known by such a person. Still, it matters little to her. He's just a child and if he managed to sneak past the guards (wherever they were tonight), that was fine by her.

Casually, Arianne leans on the ledge beside him where he's seated.]

Well met, Vivi. My name is Arianne Martell, daughter and rightful heir to Prince Doran Martell.

[littlehat]

It's nice to meet you... Princess?

[That means she's a Princess, right? Vivi's a little confused by all of these politics. But she gets a bright look, underneath the hat brim, and a little stammer as he gets the words out. Girls always make him feel awkward. Even Eiko, who calls him stupid and weird and is as familiar to him as a little sister.]

I hope it's okay that I'm here... It's very beautiful.

[promisedspear]

[Arianne smiles a little. She's not usually so serious, but it's been a trying past few days, so even a smile is somewhat of a struggle now. Still, she manages it for her little visitor.]

That's the way of Dorne. It's all very beautiful, but it's quite dangerous, too. [As were its inhabitants apparently. Someone told. But who? And why?] It's difficult and dangerous to travel the desert. I hope your journey here wasn't too perilous.

[littlehat]

[Vivi shakes his head.]

My friends and I can take care of ourselves. It wasn't too bad. But it was... very warm, too. I guess you're used to it, though.

[He'd cast Blizzard a few times instead of Fire, just because the added heat was so unpleasant.]

[promisedspear]

[Arianne laughs softly and nods.]

I was born and raised here in Sunspear. And where are you from exactly?

[The thing with conversation is that you must be careful and subtle in redirecting it to the direction you want. Which is precisely why she didn't take the window of opportunity to ask directly why his friends were there.

Arianne is curious about Vivi for certain, but if she can get him to start talking about himself, perhaps he can tell her more about why his friends are here without her having to ask too directly. He must have some idea. He wouldn't have come otherwise.]

[littlehat]

[That's a complicated question. Vivi doesn't know the answer, either. So he decides to list the location he last came from, because he doesn't remember where his grandpa lived.]

I'm from Alexandria. Most of my friends are, too.

[Except for Zidane. Zidane came from... well, presumably, Lindblum. Right?]

[promisedspear]

[Arianne has never heard of such a place. She's not sure if he's lying or making it up, but she doesn't interrogate him. (If he was an adult, that'd be a different story.)

But now Arianne is somewhat concerned. If it is a distant land, did they bring a suitor of sorts? Is that her father's plan to punish her? Arianne maintains her calm exterior.]

Are they here as diplomats then?

[littlehat]

[He blinks. Now he's not sure what category they're all in.]

U-um, maybe. I think we're just here to talk to someone and ask for help.

[Vivi offers her a simple, apologetic shrug, pulling down the brim of his hat a little.]

Couldn't sleep?

[promisedspear]

[Arianne's smile faltered.]

I assume that's why you're out here as well?

[littlehat]

[Vivi took in the falter of her smile and hoped it wasn't his fault.]

Yeah. Just... thinking.

[promisedspear]

[She laughs gently. Arianne is also quick to jump on what might be plaguing his mind over her own. Those are certainly not thoughts to bother anyone with, much less a child.]

And what would a young man like you have on your mind? [Arianne grins a little wider.] A fair maid, perhaps?

[littlehat]

[If he could blush, Vivi would be blushing. He looks at his feet quickly.]

N-no. I was thinking about... why we're all here. What our purpose is.

[You know, the typical thoughts of someone who looks nine years old. Except... not.]

[promisedspear]

[Arianne can't help but frown a little.]

In Sunspear?

[That's more of what she's hoping he means.]

[littlehat]

That too... But mostly why I'm here.

[He sounds a little lost.]

[promisedspear]

[He isn't so young that she'd called him a babe, but Vivi still seems far too young to be contemplating his mortality.]

Why do you think?

[littlehat]

I... I don't know. To be kind to others? To help them?

[Vivi shakes his head a little. He doesn't know, and it bothers him.]

[promisedspear]

Well now, those are things people should do.

[Not that Arianne was very good about doing what she should do if this latest trouble she found herself was any indication.]

But I wouldn't worry over it so much, Vivi. You're still young.

[littlehat]

[He looks at his hands. Young? Maybe. Maybe not... Still, it's not exactly a light conversation topic.]

I guess so. What about you? Is something keeping you up?

9 with shades of 4; omg hi

[flewfromthecage]

[Dagger does not like interminable waiting.

It's not that she's impatient, it's just that she can't stand being unable to do anything to help, even if she knows there's nothing that can be done. Similarly, she dislikes waiting for things to happen, too. Waiting for uncertain things, like Zidane's return, is difficult -- no, no, it will happen, it will just take time... But on the other hand, waiting for inevitable outcomes is harder.

Tonight, on a night she's so fully charged with anxiety that it doesn't even feel like fatigue anymore, seems like as good a night as any to talk to Vivi about something that's been weighing on her. Sneaking out seems easier than it probably should, even in the same familiar White Mage cloak she'd used the very first time she'd tried such a thing, but she thinks she may have Beatrix's occasional bouts of leniency to thank for that.

Although she knows he's in town somewhere for tonight, she has no idea where he'd spend his sleepless hours, and it troubles her that asking herself, "Where would I go if I were Vivi now?" only eliminates a few possibilities. And she can't move around as freely right now...

The answer to this problem turns out to be flagging down Kupo where he's asleep in the chapel and pestering him enough to go scouring for Vivi, with the promise of a Kupo Nut or twelve in return. Of course. As for Dagger, though, she decides to climb up the chapel ladder to the rooftops, hoping the view will help her.]

((OOC: Hopefully there is enough of an opening there? ;; Aaaaah, Vivi...!!))

Hai! And yes! <3

[littlehat]

[Vivi had a habit of late-night wandering, and usually he did so in shopping areas that were open later in the evening. Music wafted out of open doors, and laughter spilled into the night; it soothed his nerves, whenever he needed it. Tonight he's listening to a small chamber group, several feet from the restaurant they're playing in, when Kupo finds him and informs him that Dagger wants to talk.]

O-okay!

[Getting up, he follows the Moogle, asking him little questions along the way. Small talk. He's okay at that, now, at least with them. Finally, he finds himself approaching the chapel.]

Dagger...?