bakerstreet | Insomnia

Insomnia

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
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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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[And here's the eye roll! But it's only a slight one, just enough to be playful with.]

You might be onto somethin' there, yeah. [Come to think of it - Loki... probably... knows much more about him at this point. Yeah. He considers this for a few moments, then silently nods his head.

He wiggles his fingers some, trying to draw attention to his dreadfully lonely hand as it sits on the table between them.]

You might be right about that too. The whole overhaul thing.

[But that's neither here nor there at the moment. There are more pressing matters to address!!

Once Loki takes hold of his hand, Mobius can breathe a sigh of relief. He wastes no time lacing their fingers together, and he grins at the way Loki squeezes his hand.]

Doin' better now? Just a little? [He lifts their joined hands, pressing a light kiss to the back of his partner's.]

[The eye roll causes a smirk to pull at Loki’s lips. Everyone around this place might think he’s a bit too uptight, and they would all be wrong. They just hadn’t bothered to get to know Mobius. His smile only widens when he sees Mobius wriggle his fingers.

Who knew that holding hands could be so delightful?]

Of course I’m right. I’m always right. I know you know that. [He’s already speaking before his brain catches up with his mouth and he realizes the totality of what Mobius has said.]

You… agree with the overhaul? [He sounds incredulous.

The feeling of Mobius’ warm hand squeezing around his own feels nicer than Loki ever could’ve imagined. It’s a sign, along with Mobius asking him if he was feeling better, that shows he really cares. Something Loki had thought impossible when it came to him until very recently.

His heart flutters at the kiss and he hangs his head to hide both his smile and his blush.]

Yes, I am feeling a little better. I am truly sorry I woke you for such trivial things. I do appreciate you listening though.

[He nods at that. Several times, actually. A smile still on his face as they hold hands. Of course Loki is always right, and of course he knows that.]

Well - aspects of the overhaul, yeah. Some of the ideas are intriguing enough. But I'm sure we can have a more nuanced discussion about it at some other time. [When they're not sharing an intimate chat session in the kitchen and waiting on tea.]

No need to apologize. [Loki gets another kiss to his hand - since it's currently being held hostage (affectionately).] I'm happy to listen, and I'm glad we could hash this out together.

Y'still want tea? [He sits up straighter in his chair, peeking over at the kettle on the stove as steam begins to creep out from the spout.]

[A part of Loki knew that Mobius would agree, but at the same time, he is also skeptical that he truly believes all of that. It is part of their schtick, isn’t it? That they both make bold claims and tease each other? Though as he looks across the table at the other man, he also sees that Mobius is telling the truth as well. And that realization fills his chest with something akin to happiness and love.]

I’d like that. [His voice comes out hushed, almost reverent. Loki knows he can be a pain and as such, people don’t often listen to him even when he is actually trying to help. The fact that Mobius is willing to listen is as much or more than the gentle kiss to his hand.]

I admit I am not used to this. [What he really means is he’s not used to deserving this, but he suspects Mobius might already understand that.

Loki startles at the mention of the tea, having completely forgotten. Mobius really is so very distracting.] I suppose, if you do. [Loki would honestly be just as happy to go back to bed and wrap himself around the other man, hoping he’ll never have to let him go.]

We can make it happen! Promise. [Mobius is so earnest about it, nearly forgetting to keep his voice down to a hush. It's supposed to be night time, their brief rest period between work. But despite it all, he's rather awake, his energy renewed from having such an intimate conversation with his love.]

Me neither. [Pause.] But it's nice. [He chuckles softly, suddenly shy.] I think it's nice... [He nods once, twice. Yeah. It's nice.]

'Course. [A smile.] Have a few sips, get nice and warm. Then it's back to bed, yeah? [Because he won't be able to say no to cuddling up either. But they might as well since the water's boiling already...]

Here. Lemme get it. [Mobius gives Loki's hand a squeeze before finally letting go. Getting up from his chair, he doesn't move past where Loki sits without dropping a kiss to his hair along the way. Pouring the tea for them both is the least he can do, especially since his partner's been having such a restless time. He enjoys doting, and he does it with a spring in his step while humming softly to himself.]

Do you really think so? Are there others that feel the same? [Loki won’t even pretend to know what others at the TVA think, except maybe their mutual dislike for him. But maybe they have a common goal?

For maybe the first time that night, Loki smiles. Mobius’ slight hesitance is so purely him, Loki can’t help but love it. And him.] I agree. It is definitely nice. But maybe I think everything with you is nice.

Loki nods in response. He’s about to get up to get the tea when Mobius suddenly offers and is up before Loki can even move. Somehow the doting, the soft kisses, all the small little things add up to so much. It means more to him than he ever thought possible. “Thank you. And not just for the tea.”

There might be. Best we can do is have a little hope. [He isn't speaking in definites, but at least he's maintaining an air of optimism. That's also so like Mobius.]

I've heard I'm a pretty nice guy so I guess that checks out. [Loki gets a playful little grin at that. It's almost like he's pretending to preen from the compliment. There's a definite sway in his step - anything to show off on his way to the stove. Keep it light and fun.]

It's my pleasure. Really. [Mobius checks the containers of tea, rifling around for something that's considered the sleepiest type. (He's never been much of a tea guy, but Loki's converted him. Now he's hoarding whatever he can find in his room.) He pours the hot water from the kettle into their mugs, humming softly as he watches the water darken from the tea bags.]

Here ya go, sweetheart. [He says once he's carrying the mugs back over to the table.] Let it steep a little.

[He sets one down right in front of Loki, not forgetting to press another soft kiss to his hair before settling back down in his chair. Mobius starts blowing on his tea as soon as he can.]

[Hope isn’t something that comes naturally to Loki. All his life he’s had to plot and scheme to get anything he wanted or needed. Or at least that is how it has always felt. With Mobius by his side though, maybe he can risk this hope thing. He only nods in response, not really knowing if he could voice that yet.]

Hmm, perhaps. Things with you are nice, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are nice. After all, there must be something less than nice about you if you like me. [Despite the slight self-deprecation in that, Loki smiles genuinely. He’s both teasing and means it.

Loki takes a moment to just watch Mobius work. Moving around the kitchen as he prepares their tea. Sometimes he thinks he’d be happy just watching Mobius do about anything. He blushes slightly at being called ‘sweetheart’ and looks down into his tea, a small smile on his face.]

I don’t know if it’s sweet, but I am glad you think so. And thank you again.

We all have our deep, dark secrets. [There's a playful lilt when he says this. Loki is right, and they both know it. Sure, Mobius is nice, but that would be rather two-dimensional now wouldn't it? He's only human.]

No no - it's pretty sweet. I have it on good authority. [And he lifts up his mug, taking a cautious first sip to make sure he doesn't scald his mouth.

...There's minor flinching - perhaps it's still too hot - but he doesn't complain. Just waits a moment before trying again. The second attempt is more successful, and then he's blowing on the tea some more between the sips after that, enjoying the feeling of the warm mug in his hands.]

Is that so? [Loki doubts very much that Mobius has anything that dark in his past. He just seems like too good of a person for anything like that. Someone that’s willing to give the likes of him a second chance can’t possibly have anything quite that dark looming over them. Not to say Mobius is all sunshine and light, Loki just can’t really imagine him doing anything truly bad.

Mobius’ next words take Loki even more by surprise.] Oh? And whose authority is that? [He laughs a little incredulously at the thought that someone else might agree with Mobius on the topic of Loki’s heart. He’s pretty sure more people think of him the way B-15 does.

Loki shakes his head, still smiling as he takes a sip of his own tea. It is quite hot, but he likes it. He might be a little biased about anything Mobius does though.]

Mmhm! [Just a rather cheerful noise of agreement between sips of too-hot tea. The most disarming sort of duality, really, once one takes the time to think about it. If Loki is even taking said time to try and consider. Everyone has their secrets, their scar tissue - even honored senior analysts like this guy right here. There's always rain before the rainbow.]

Mine. [He grins, gesturing towards himself with his mug. No one else has even bothered trying to know Loki (or Lokis in general) as well as Mobius has. So yes - he's the authority here. And he's feeling rather smug about it.]

I'm the expert here, remember? [Loki gets a playful wink with that comment.]

[Loki raises a skeptical eyebrow.] I am not naive, I know that many if not most people have some darkness in their past, but it must pale in comparison to… certain others. [Loki is actually aware that Mobius isn’t all good. It’s partly why he likes him so much, but whatever skeletons are in his closet, Loki can’t imagine they come even marginally close to the awfulness Loki has managed to spread in his life. It’s not exactly a competition he’s happy to win, but that doesn’t change the facts.]

And you think the others will allow you to simply do as you please when it comes to me? [Loki is actually really touched that Mobius would stand up for him like that, and has already done just that in a number of ways. He also just thinks he’ll run out of rope eventually.]

Yeah, yeah... minor technicalities... [Mobius sips at his mug, gives a shrug of his shoulders. Everything is technicalities. Everything is context and open to subjectivity.]

To a point, yeah. [Said with the utmost optimism.] I'll fight if I have to. Do everything I can. [He's already fought this much for Loki, what's a little more? Or a lot more? The analyst stands by everything he's promised, and he has more than enough to back it up.]

You worry too much. [The slightest chuckle.] That causes lines y'know. [And there's the joke, the attempt to lighten the mood.]

[And that, he thinks, is why they get along so well. Mobius might seem like the uptight company man, but when he sees something he wants, he finds a way to make it happen. Even if he has to bend the rules a little bit.

What’s more surprising is that Mobius continues to fight for him, even after everything he’s done. Even if Mobius is willing to bend the rules, he must have a breaking point.

Though really, which how their relationship has evolved Loki suspects his morals might be more flexible than he initially believed. In turn, Loki does not plan on trying to see how far he can push him. It’s too much of a risk and he’s not willing to screw up what they have now.]

I still have perfectly youthful skin, thank you very much. I’ll have you know I am the equivalent of about twenty-three of your years. I will not see a wrinkle for centuries to come.

[He huffs slightly, but there’s a glint of amusement in his eyes that shows he got the joke and is running with it.]

[While they sit and sip at their tea, one of Mobius's hands creeps back across the table top, seeking out one of Loki's. He can spare it! They only need one each for their mugs which frees up the other for plenty of holding. If he doesn't get what he wants, he'll just keep poking and prodding until he can lace their fingers together again.]

Well. You look great for your age. [A little grin.] You're the most gorgeous person I know, actually.

[It doesn’t take much for Loki to give into a good hand-hold. At least not with Mobius instigating it. Loki takes his hand easily and threads their fingers together the moment Mobius’ fingers reach him.]

Flattery will get you everywhere. [A grin in return.] However I think you should take a look in the mirror. No one can pull off Silver Fox like you can.

[Loki has been told before that he’s physically attractive, but to him, nothing beats the beauty he can see inside Mobius and how it matches how he looks on the outside.]

Silver Fox, huh? [Mobius tightens his hold on Loki's hand, chuckling softly. He brushes along his partner's knuckles with the pad of his thumb. There's a faint blush coloring his cheeks again.] Never been called that one before.

[...At least not that he can recall.

He lifts their joined hands and pulls Loki's closer just so he can press a little kiss to the back of it.]

Thanks, darlin'. You're real sweet. [There's another hand kiss just because! And then Mobius is returning to his tea, still holding hands.]

We gonna keep flirting all night or what? [He shoots Loki a playful wink over the lip of his mug before taking a sip.] Mm. You feelin' any better?

No? [Loki smiles. He’s very much surprised by that. He’s sure he’s not the only one to find Mobius attractive. There really is something about an older man. Or, he suppose in this case, simply a more mature man.] Perhaps they simply have not said it to your face.

[It’s Loki’s turn to blush a bit, his eyes watching closely as Mobius’ lips touch his hand. He still doesn’t quite know how he got so lucky, but he’s will to do anything to keep it.]

You’ve never been called a Silver Fox, and I’ve never been called sweet. I suppose we are, what is the saying? Two peas in the same pod?

[Loki’s eyes fall to the table as he grins to himself.] I happen to like flirting with you, but yes, I am feeling much better. I… thank you. You are far too good to me.

[Nope. Not going to dwell on the Silver Fox comment more than he has to. He knows he's talked about behind his back. Word travels faster than the speed of light in this place. Always has, always will. The last thing Mobius wants to know is who's spreading gossip like that specifically about him.

Thank gods he manages to distract himself and veer the topic away with a simple kiss or two (or five) to the back of Loki's hand.]

Two peas in a pod. Birds of a feather. Sittin' in the same boat. [A shrug.] It's not exact, but it's close enough and that's fine by me.

[Easy to please as always. That's Mobius.

He clears his throat after finishing most of the contents of his mug, setting it down before getting... rather serious? In demeanor and response.]

Listen. You deserve it - and don't try fightin' me and sayin' you don't, alright? [He gives Loki's hand a gentle squeeze.]

[If anything, Loki is surprised that Mobius hasn’t heard. The agent might try to come off as laid back and casual, but Loki knows better than most that Mobius is hyper aware of all the inner workings of the TVA and its employees.

But, he decides not to push. It’s much nicer receiving the attention in the form of kisses from his favourite person.]

Well then, so long as you are fine with it.

[Loki smirks, clearly he is feeling better and not just saying it to try and appease Mobius.

The smirk fades as Mobius grows serious. He’s not sure he does believe he deserves it, but he does believe that Mobius thinks that. And that is as good as anything, Loki thinks. If only Mobius believed in him for the rest of time, Loki would consider himself the luckiest god in all the Nine.]

I wouldn’t dream of it.

[Mobius has heard plenty, but he's also managed to push it out of mind. For once his business is none of theirs and he'd like to keep it that way.]

More than fine. [He emphasizes this with a slow nod and a little smile.]

Good. Glad. [And then he's soft again, raising that hand for a tender kiss. He gives it a slight tug, motioning to get up from his seat.]

Wanna try the whole sleep thing again? [He's awake, sure, but looks like he's on the verge of yawning up a storm at any given moment.] Could make some more tea if that's what y'need. Just say the word.

Edited 2025-01-04 03:20 (UTC)

[There’s something about keeping things private that actually appeals to Loki. One might not think that of him when first meeting him. He does tend to put on a persona of big and flashy, but there’s something so personal about what he has with Mobius that he wants to keep it close. It’s theirs and it’s precious and he would protect it with his life.

Loki ducks his head, a light blush tinting his cheeks at the kiss. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to this, but mostly he doesn’t want to. He smiles and gives Mobius a quick nod as he stands when prompted. He can see how tired Mobius is and doesn’t want to keep him up any more.

Also, the idea of snuggling up in bed isn’t a bad one.]

Let’s try the sleep thing again. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your beauty sleep.

[Oh yeah, he must be feeling better if he’s back to teasing.]

Beauty sleep huh? Not sure how much of a snooze'll help fix this mug...

[A casual jab at himself played for laughs. Mobius chuckles lightly, not leaving his spot beside the table until Loki moves past him. It's only then he'll place a hand at the small of his partner's back, then lovingly guide him back towards the bedroom. Keeping close, keeping contact, letting his hand rub gently while they shuffle to bed.]

C'mon darlin'. I got a feeling this Sleepytime is really gonna do wonders for us.

[Is he yawning again? A little. Of course he opted for the tea that makes you snooze. It seemed like the best option here given the circumstances.]

Oh please. You are quite handsome and you know it. Or do we need to have the silver fox conversation again?

[There’s amusement in Loki’s tone, but he means every word. There’s just something about Mobius that goes far beyond just his good looks. It’s in everything he does, in how he treats Loki as if he’s worth something. The way he so clearly cares.

The feel of Mobius’ hand on his back steadies him, fills him with real confidence. Not the feigned kind he’s more used to.]

I think maybe you have done wonder for me.

[His voice is soft, even smitten as he allows Mobius to guide him back to their bed.]

I heard it the first time. The reminder is pretty nice though... [A playful grin. Someone's just fishing for compliments at this point. (Either that or it's a quick way to turn being down on himself into something funny and cute. Take your pick. As long as Loki's amused he considers it a win.)]

Oh yeah? I've swaddled you in the gossamer blanket of night or whatever? [He presses a kiss to Loki's cheek, giving him a gentle squeeze of a side hug.]

Go on - get nice and comfy. [The bed is just as they left it - blankets and sheets pulled down and ready for them. Another squeeze to Loki's side before he slips away to round the bed and climb in on his side. He'll be there with open arms for cuddles once Loki settles in.]

Insomnia

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Sorry for the delay!

sorry for mine too! but i'm here!!

No problem!

:D

I can’t believe I switched styles mid post and didn’t realize…

it happens to all of us!!

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i'm alive i swear!!

So am I, barely!

december really... decembered lol

And how!

:)

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