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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no subject
[A shake of his head, and a little huff of disbelief.]
No, I think I owe it to them being as capable as they are. More than anything.
[They're all varying degrees of insomniac, sure. But he'd rather praise them, than say that.]
[Only to wince, slightly, turning his head away. Maybe there was room for embarrassment, after all. Or shame. Maybe he just doesn't want the open concern to be too visible on his face.]
I know you... you can do that. I know you could lose a lot more than I could, and walk away. [Logically, he knows it. Emotionally? Well. His heart's always leaped before his head.] I guess it just - it never gets easier.
[His jaw works. Muscles tensing despite the aches settling in deep. Your mind is plagued - and every time this happens, there are more mental images to add to the parade. More and more. He will never blame Nicky for that. Not once, not ever. But what if -]
Seeing it happen. It doesn't get easier. I'm sorry.
no subject
(Nicolo dismisses Shiro's deflection with a lilting tease in his voice. He refused to buy Shiro's "It's Not Me, It's Everyone Else Who's Amazing" mantras.
Shiro's explanation makes something squeeze in the pit of his chest. He swallows thickly, looking carefully at Shiro, and he feels a flicker of guilt.)
No, it probably doesn't. (Nicky turns his head back against the wall behind them, staring up through the tree line and to the skies. At least the stars were beautiful over Deerington.)
I honestly have not had any lasting relationship with a mortal since I first died. I've spent so much time trying to avoid being known by people like you. (The people he dedicated his entire life to.) I forget that this is not something you're used to.
(He looks at Shiro again, his gaze gentler this time, understanding.)
I've spent my life dying for mortals so that maybe I could help some of you live a little longer. Even if only by a day. Forgive me. I did not mean to brush aside your concerns. I'm...Rusty. With this.
no subject
[There he goes again. Someone shake him. As much as other people try and knock some sense into him with that regard, he just can't seem to grasp it.]
[His eyes are firmly on his feet. On the ground around them. It's easier than trying to meet Nicky's gaze right then. He can feel it on him for a while, and doesn't trust himself not to crack if he looks back.]
I'm... usually the one who's throwing himself into the explosion for someone else. [Or the literal arena, in one case.] I guess now I know why they always get upset when I do.
[Those eyes on him again. Something like shame twisting around in his chest. He'd made a friend, and here he was making him feel guilty. That's the last thing Shiro ever wanted. From anyone.]
You don't - there's nothing to forgive. It's fine. You'll be okay.
[And he needs to accept this. It's all his issue. Right?]
no subject
I think you can cut yourself a break. It is only me here. If you accept a compliment I won't tell anyone.
(He winks at Shiro then mostly because he actually had an eyeball to wink with now. That and, well, why not? It seemed like the Right Thing to Do.)
Maybe you'll be a bit more careful in the future now. For their sake.
(Since clearly, Shiro wasn't about to do it for his own sake. It wasn't the healthiest mentality to live with, but Nicolo did admire his selflessness. He rests his hand over his own hip, glad to feel it mostly intact. He moves his leg back and forth, testing it out.)
I was a priest before I was a knight. Forgiveness is practically the core of my personality one way or another. If it makes you feel better, I think I'm on the upswing right now. I can feel my toes again.
no subject
[His laugh is weak, a little forced.]
Hey, I'd know. [But there's definitely no hiding the way his cheekbones color. Yep. He saw that wink.]
I... I'd like it. If I could be. [But he knows himself too well by now. He knows, if someone needed him, he'd throw himself into the fray in a heartbeat. For their sake.] Hey, easy. Don't move too much yet.
[Because he's still worried. Shifting nearer to try and support him if need be.]
Anything else I can do...?