bakerstreet | the i n s o m n i a meme

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the i n s o m n i a meme

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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[She smiled more as he called Bullshit. It was always interesting to see how he reacted to his books. She reached over to poke his side lightly, giving him that smile a moment longer.]

You may be right, but I want to hear the rest of the story before I decide! [Honestly, she was loving it, a lot.]

[Ah, then her smile faded as he mentioned talking about it. She tried to keep it in place, but it was clearly just put on now.]

[She shrugged, hands pushing down in her pockets a bit as they walked, the market in view.]

There's nothing to talk about. I'll get over it sooner or later. I always do. [She said, feeling that tightness in her chest again. Out of all of them, Booker would understand. But she also didn't want to burden him with it. To bring back those memories for him too.]

[It's not like her mother or brother's deaths were fresh. After all this time, after Booker managing his long time away, she had figured it out on herself, the hurt, the loneliness. It wasn't fresh, just reoccurring.]

[She definitely shouldn't have kept a check on social media about relatives. Her brothers daughters. None of it.]

[The smile was gone now, her eyes on the ground.] I'll sleep fine tomorrow.

[ It would always come back around. Booker still carried the wound but it didn't bleed as constantly as it used to. And he would reopen it if it helped her. He was the only one she could really talk about it. ]

Nile. [ He reached out and squeezed the back of her neck in his hand, meant to comfort and reassure all in one. ] We can talk about it. You're not going to break me if we talk about family.

[ Since his exile he actually talked about them a little more. The good times, not the bad ones that haunted him. It hurt in the way loss would always hurt. ] We talk and then we read and maybe this time we both sleep.

[ Emotional exhaustion was one way to get Booker to sleep. He needed it to recover from the heavier conversations. ]

['You're not going to break me if we talk about family'. The words settle in her chest. It was the last thing she wanted to do, to help reopen those wounds. She loved it when he talked about his family though. Hearing his history helped.]

[Still, she felt bad. And maybe knew she was being stupid about this. She had ALL the time to let them go, and then she did things like look them up on facebook and it was a mess all over again.]

[The hand to her neck was a comfort though, and for all of a moment she let herself lean into him as they walked, very lightly.]

I know. [she said softly, taking a moment to keep herself composed.] I just... should have outgrown this my now.

[She pushed a smile and looked to him again.] Mistakes were made. But I'll be fine. If I can't sleep again, we'll talk about it.

I'm a lot older than you and I haven't outgrown it. [ There was never enough time to let it go. To be alive and unable to see family in a world of social media was almost like going back to them. Booker understood on a deep level. ] We can talk even if you think you can fall asleep.

[ But he let her build up her walls again and let his hand drop. They could talk about it in a more private place than this open street in the middle of town.

The market was not terribly busy but vendors were ready to sell. Booker followed his nose to the first cafe and the coffee Nile desperately needed. ]

I'm going to guess you want the biggest size of coffee they have? [ There, an out to the conversation. ]

[She winced silently, knowing as soon as she said that she hadn't thought about it. Still, she thinks his loss is more tragic than hers. But she doesn't say that.]

[She doesn't say much, but nods. She'd talk about it. Tonight. And she's grateful to the distraction of coffee. She chuckled at his comment, running a hand over her face as if she were just sleepy.]

[Her smile was faint but more real at least. She was three seconds away from bouncing up to kiss his cheek, for understanding. For being him. For--she didn't. She just gave him that faint smile.]

You know me so well. Biggest they have. Black. Even if I feel rested, it feels like coffee is highly needed.

You think coffee is needed at all hours of the day.

[ Booker went up to the vendor with seemingly effortless charm and got her the largest sized coffee the man offered and a more reasonable size for himself. ]

Cream and sugar are on the side of the cart. [ He jerked his chin in the right direction as he handed her the large, hot, fresh coffee. It was a very dark roast judging from the color of the coffee and the smell. ] What should we find next now that you're properly caffeinated?

[ There were a lot of options for them. Booker was content to wander the market and find whatever she wanted. Usually, Nicky was the one who went and got provisions. ]

I'm not wrong, and I stand by that.

[she countered, and let him go to make the order. When he came back with a very tall cup, she smiled warmly, accepting this gift from the gods with open hands. She smelled it, and it smelled so fresh. No crema or sugar needed.]

Thank you. This should do for now. [Dark roast. Fresh as fresh can be. It was perfect for this kind of morning. A nice crisp day, a perfect crisp coffee. Now what?]

Bread. While it's still fresh. Then fruit. There's yogurt and granola at the house. I could go for a fruit salad.

[In truth, she didn't care what they got right now, she had coffee, and good company.]

What impresses me is that you can have coffee at six and be asleep at eight like it did nothing.

[ He preferred his coffee black as well so they start looking for bread almost immediately. There’s a lot of sweet pastry being offered which makes sense for breakfast.

Booker, though, was in the mood for rich, yeasty plain bread. It was the French in him. ]

Yogurt is not breakfast. Eggs. Ham. Cheese. That’s breakfast. [ He’s mostly kidding. He likes to tease about healthy eating because after growing up damn near starving he really doesn’t understand dieting and heath food crazes. ] We’re going to find some good ham.

[ They already have eggs and cheese back at the house. ]

It just tastes good, what can I say. Selective caffeine tolerance maybe? [She said with a grin, holding her cup in both hands for the moment and warming her face with her cup.]

[She would not deny the French in him for that type of bread. Most of them looked amazing, and she did love a good pastry, but actual bread sounded great.]

When else do you eat yogurt? Breakfast. Though I will not turn my nose up to your kind of breakfast. [She didn't eat it as a health craze, but because she liked it. Then again Nile could eat like no ones business.]

Ham does sound good... [She hummed as she considered it, then glanced to him curiously.] Are you cooking this morning then?

If Nicky's not up to cook, I'll cook. [ They could all cook and sew and other little things that they've picked up simply by being alive for as long as they have.

But they also had their preferences. Nicky liked to cook. Booker tended to organize all their stuff. He loved a good spreadsheet. ] What are you, starving?

[ Finally, he found the right sort of bread he was looking for and bought a large loaf. After a bit of conversation with the baker he got good tip on where to find well made ham in this place. ]

See any fruits you want? [ He was considering some dates as they wove their way through various stalls. It was still early but the locals who knew when it was best to get to the market were starting to appear. They wouldn't have the place to practically themselves for much longer. ]

Mmm. [She hummed as he said Nicky or he would cook. She liked when any of them cooked. She was learning to make more than crap food from them all. She was very much a military cook level of girl. So she had taken time over the eras to learn to make food.]

[Still, she loved the simple things.] I've got coffee. I can go the day without food now. But, food does sound good.

[she followed along with the other, looking over stands here and there. More people were showing up, so that was their sign they needed to hurry up. Booker would know she was very attached to Apples, especially a good crisp red apple. But also...]

These look divine. [Strawberries. A little bushel of them. Overly large and ripe. Just how she loved them.] Berries go good with ham and eggs. [She reasoned.]

[ Booker shot her a look. Yeah, they could go a day without food and be fine but it was definitely not good. It wasn't a benefit to immortality but he was still mostly of the mindset this was a curse. ]

Berries are also good with yogurt. [ He found the vendor and paid for two. One he kept in the paper bag but the other he brought out and held out to her. ] Pre-breakfast snack?

[ His smile was a little more playful almost like a silent dare. Had she ever walked around an open air market and eaten freshly bought fruit? Booker didn't know but it was a tradition worth introducing now. ]

[You know sometimes she doesn't THINK about her bad jokes like that. He gallows humor isn't the same as his real gallows. But she hadn't meant that she WOULD go all day with out, just that, like her old work days, once she had coffee she could do anything. Even forget to eat.]

[If not for the guys and their habit of actually cooking meals, she might still actually skip a few.] Yes, they are.

[As he bought two and kept one out, she blinked, then smiled fondly. It felt almost childish to be unable to wait. Out of all these years, she generally forced herself to wait for the good things. His offer (and she noticed the smile too) was nice. She reached a warmed hand out to pluck up a strawberry by the greens.]

Thank you. [She inspected it, looking at it with a pleased expression. Took a careful sniff of it, before taking a small bite at the end, humming a pleased tone at the flavor.] These... these are very good.

[His hands full with bags of bread, berries and a coffee, she thought to lift part of the large berry up to him in offering.] Bite?

They should be. It's the middle of the season. [ Booker guessed about that actually. He was a city boy. While he knew a ridiculous amount about tides and fish thanks to growing up in a port city he knew nothing about farming and seasons. ] And market stuff is always better than store bought.

[ He leaned down and carefully took a bite. The careful didn't matter though juice still went dripping down his chin and into his beard. ] Shit.

[ He laughed a little as he turned his head and rubbed his chin against his shoulder. ] That is really good. Juicy. Obviously.

[ Booker licked his lips. ] Do I look respectable again?

Is it? [Nile was most definitely a city kid. They had markets once in a great while in her time in California, but not really in Chicago. And mot the time it was a supermarket life for her. Why bother with anything else?]

[Living with the boys had taught her a lot of good things in life, but farming wasn't one of them. Farmers Markets, oh yes. She was getting used to the good tastes.]

I'm learning that. I am. I think Nicky would kick me out of the house if I mentioned I miss frozen pizza. And don't look at me like I have two heads either. I wont say that in front of HIM, but you can handle my atrocious memories.

[the Juice dripped into his beard and she chuckled. An actually amused sound in her tone. She watched him take care of it, and lick his lips, asking something. Maybe she focused too long on his lips and she had to take a sip of her coffee to recover her thoughts.]

Mmm, you? Respectable? I suppose. [She teased, then cleared her throat, finishing the bit of berry that was left and resting the greens on the top of her cup.] You look fine. Was there anything else we should get, Monsieur?

According to Nicky. [ Who actually knew how to garden and grow things. Booker, it was said, could kill a cactus. ]

He will grumble and make a fuss but if you bought some he wouldn't disown you. Joe likes you too much. [ There was no judgement about frozen food. He had survived off a lot of frozen meals while in exile and wildly too depressed to cook.

Privately he agreed with Nicky that home cooked and fresh was always better. If he caught her little slip he didn't say anything. It wasn't his style. ]

There's good ham at a butcher over there. [ He nodded his head in the right direction. ] According to the guy we got the strawberries from. We'll get some and head home. Unless you're in a hurry?

Ah, and here I thought you had some great secret. [Nicky being the one to know all about growing things always made sense. Cactus Killer Booker on the other hand... also made sense.]

[Nile had no green thumb but it wasn't black either. They just never stayed in one place long enough to get a plant.] Oh, I can deal without. When we go off on our own, I can devour the disgusting foods once again. It's fine.

[She reached over and took another strawberry, curling her arm around her cup, she broke it in half, took the green off, and offered him one half as they turned for the butcher.]

Seriously, I'm in no rush at all. It's a good morning. Good coffee, good strawberries, good company? What more can I ask for? Well, besides getting ham. [MOST Importantly, her mind was off her earlier thoughts. That was the best part. Popping a piece of straw berry in her mouth, then rubbed her hand dry on her pants hip, she gave him a smile. She meant it. The good company.]

I'll tell you a secret. [ There was that playful look in his eyes again. ] Pearl oysters are not actually oysters.

[ Booker always had some stupid fact lurking in the back of his mind. The strangest things stuck in his brain from reading damn near constantly.

He didn't like to think about when they went on their own. After his exile any sort of splitting up was hard on him. ] Well, we're doing a pretty good job expanding your pallet. Maybe we'll break you of some of those habits.

[ Once again he leaned over and for the sake of simplicity ate the whole strawberry straight from her fingers. It kept some juice from getting in his beard but it still escaped from the corners of his mouth slightly. ]

It sounds like you're questioning the good company part. A man with less of an ego might take offense. [ Inside the butcher was a great deal of meat and Booker looked like he was very happy with what he saw. ] Next time we do this, remind me to grab a bag of some sort.

[ He went up to the counter to get ham and anything else that caught his eye. They'd have to juggle things around between the two of them to get it all home. ]

[Her brow raised at his cute little fact.] What? Can't you eat them?

[She chuckled at the pallet comment, liking to not think about separating either. Sometimes they needed the breaks. A vacation, but lately they had been doing SO WELL together. It felt... proper.] You can pry hot-pockets from my warm comfy hands, thanks.

[She smiled as he at the strawberry chunk, taking up her coffee again and sipping it.] Not questioning the company. Honestly, that's the best part.

[At the butcher stand she sat her coffee down carefully, reaching to help take thing. Putting the left over strawberries in the bag, and taking it and the bread.] I've got these. Do your meat thing. We can juggle this all back just fine.

[encouraging him to get what he wanted, or at least could carry. A bag would be good though. Next time. She liked the idea of next time, as much as she knew there was no meaning to it other than they'd get up early again some time in the future.]

Pearl oysters? I imagine you can but they're not the species people eat in restaurants. They're not the same family. [ Believe it or not he had a whole book on the history of oysters and many facts had stuck in his mind.

After trading things off so that they were both carrying a little bit it was a lot easier to get a pound of good ham sliced right off the bone. He asked for a sample, torn it in half and held it out for Nile to try.

Perhaps more than the others he liked to share things with her and encourage her to explore. Seeing Nile experience the world that felt so old to him reminded him of how much there was to enjoy. ] This will be very good with that bread.

[ It was a little expensive but worth it for good food. He even tipped the butcher. It was a dying art in his opinion. ] Come on, let's go back before I make us buy half the market.

Huh. I wouldn't know. I've actually never had oysters. Or, I don't think I have. I've had crab at least. [She points out, as if that's something to be proud of. His little random facts were always interesting to her though.]

[She balanced their packages, letting him spend what he wanted on ham. The smells of the market were wonderful. The fresh foods and the meats and even just the stalls themselves smelled good. The crisp morning air helped.]

[She wasn't thinking of family. She wasn't thinking of the things she missed or wanted. Instead she was thinking about the Booker and how he interacted with the people here. So kind. So comfortable. When he offered her a bit of the sample she took it, giving it a try. A soft Mmmm of sound and she closed her eyes, savoring the bit.]

I suppose I am hungry, because that tastes wonderful. [a dying art indeed. As old as she was now, there was still so much she had to experience for the first time, or for the first time in a while, and she had always learned to savor food. There was never much of it when she was a teen, so you learned to love what you had.]

The boys should be happy with our foraging. This is a good little market. [And again, some good company. She enjoyed sharing things with Booker. She wouldn't mind making a habit of this, even if Nicky beat them to it.]

You’d remember eating oysters. They’re very distinct. [ Booker will not say it’s like swallowing a pad of salty snot because that never appeals to anyone even though it’s close to the truth. He loves them but he grew up on seafood of all kinds. ] If we ever go to Brittany, I’ll take you to get some. They’re the best there.

[ He shoulders the door open for her as they leave the butcher shop. The market is more awake now. It’s been a good hour and the locals were there to do their shopping before the tourists arrived.

Once again, he took up position by her shoulder and slightly behind her. ] Nicky might be happy that he doesn’t have to make breakfast. He might even sleep in.

[ Maybe. If Booker actually slept, Nicky was always the first one up. He looked at his watch for a second. ] We might have even given them enough time to fuck as loud as they want.

[ His tone was teasing, of course. There was nothing wrong with Joe and Nicky’s sex life and after all these centuries he didn’t give a damn if they were loud or quiet. ]

We’ll see how much they’re smiling when we get back.

[Yes, saying they re like salty snot and they are the best wouldn't have computed in her head. Instead she nods, thinking about Brittany now for a moment. She's not ready to move yet, but it's a good idea.] I'll hold you to that.

[You know, she could open a door for them, she has enough balance for opening a door, but it's nice that he always jumps to it for her. She stepped out into the still crisp morning air and ducked around a local going by with a box of fruit. It was growing busy but for some reason that just made it more charming.]

"Sleep" in he says. We both know down well they're taking the opportunity for a good fuck.

[That had taken some getting used to for Nile in the start. It never bothered her, but it was a surprise. Now it was old hat, though still charming. She sometimes got jealous about the two of them, and realized this must be ho the others had felt after so much longer together. Still, she was happy for them.]

[Starting to weave through the crowds, leading the way, she headed back for home.] Its a fools bet, but I'm willing to bet they are absolutely glowing this morning.

[ Booker laughed loudly at her comment about a good fuck. Yeah, that's definitely what Joe and Nicky were doing this morning. Not that he blamed them. He might do the same if he had a lover and a whole morning alone. ]

Then we should make Nicky cook. He always cooks better when he's in a good mood. [ He finished the last of his coffee and tossed the cup away in a nearby trash can. Now he had another hand free and he held it out, offering to take something from her. ]

Do you want me to look for work? [ They were on something of a break. More like a pause, really, between jobs. He could spend the day searching around for a worthy cause.

But they deferred to her now. Nile had stepped in to Andy's leadership role almost naturally. They could all lead though if the situation called for it. ]

[She loved it when Booker laughed. It was this rich tone that favored him. She smiled to him as they walked, giving firm and pleased nod.] Agreed. That will give you time to go back to Salt, if you wanted too.

Though... [Work. That wasn't a bad ide. They were on a short brake, yes, and it was helping everyone, she thought. Being domestic for a bit never hurt. She hummed as he took the bred from her, and considered this. The rest had been good but...]

Take a look around. If something jumps out at you, we'll consider it.

[They were huge shoes to fill, but Andy taught her well over the years. She liked to think she was doing a OK job, and she liked to think that everyone had a say in everything, so it balanced out just fine. She'd still be bit on edge about leading the team, for another century or so.]

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