the i n s o m n i a meme

[bababooey]

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.

Comments

[duckflails]

[It honestly would have been stranger if Donald had managed to step out of the hammock gracefully! At least he's used to falls like this, and he won't stay down for long.

Donald is surprised to find Louie wandering at this hour, and also frustrated that he's not in bed. But he also knows that Louie wouldn't come to him in the middle of the night for no reason. Louie could be the hardest to read of his children, especially with his tendencies to trick others, but in this moment he still wanted to believe him.]

Nonsense! [He squawks back.] I'm not getting back to sleep anytime soon, so we may as well talk.

[He manages to push himself into a sitting position and pats the floor near him.]

Come on. Something's the matter, and we're going to get to the bottom of this! [And hopefully end in going back to sleep.] You know you can tell me anything, Louie.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Maybe all of his tricks and schemes are really a clever diversion to keep anyone from getting too close... or something. He's no psychiatrist. He just knows the thought of being honest with others makes him want to gag sometimes. Lying is easier. Lying is familiar. It keeps things from getting too real.

He scoots over a little closer, sitting side-by-side with Donald. He pulls his knees up to his chest, taking on a bit of a guarded stance. Nothing new, really. ]

I know I can. But I mean... you're supposed to say that, right? That's always what adults tell us. [ When you know what lying looks like, it gets hard to believe what others say, after a while. Even if you know they care. ]

[duckflails]

[He knows that Louie's still a good kid at his heart, and there's something sincere under the tricks and plans. It's just not always easy getting through that. But if there's anything Donald will go the extra mile for, it's helping the kids.

As Louie sits by his side, he smiles a little as he glances towards the kid.]

I'm not just any adult, I'm your Uncle Donald! [He protests quietly.] I'm saying that because I really mean it. I'm here to help!

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Louie hides a tiny smile as he huddles into a smaller, more protective ball. Having Uncle Donald around really is a comfort... and not quite in the same way as Scrooge or Beakley. He knows those two will protect him from anything that could harm him physically, but Uncle Donald was more of an emotional comfort. He was always the one to comfort him after a bad dream or chase away the monsters under the bed, after all.

And he could also fight off real monsters for him. So really, he could do it all, just by sheer force of will. Louie secretly admired that about him. ]

I know you are. I guess I just... don't really know what I need help with.

[duckflails]

[Donald watches Louie, with the hint of a reassuring smile on his beak. It seemed like this would be no simple problem to crack, but Donald will not rest until they've tackled it. He'll just have to keep on talking to him and making sure that Louie feels comfortable talking about his problems. That feels like the strategy to take here!]

That makes this trickier. [After a brief pause, he goes on.] Why don't we start with this. What kept you from staying in bed and going to sleep like you're supposed to? [Just a little mild scolding as he inquires!]

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Getting Louie to open up isn't always easy... Unless he's actively in distress, in which case his emotions spill a little too freely. But putting him in life-threatening situations to get him to open up? That was something only Scrooge would try. At least Louie hopes so. ]

I was trying to go to sleep! But I just... couldn't. [ And it had nothing to do with Huey's snoring or the way Dewey's tossing and turning shook the entire bunk bed. ] I'm tired, but it's like I can't turn my brain off.

[duckflails]

[He won't have to worry about that from Donald especially, not being a big fan of either life-threatening situations or Uncle Scrooge's methods.]

I hate it when that happens. [He says with a sigh. It's like that sometimes. His thoughts keep on worrying about the kids or Della, or replaying every embarrassing moment from his life.]

What do you think about that's keeping it going?

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

Everything. And also nothing. It's stupid, like I said. [ He sighs, holding himself a little tighter as he stares at the floor. He's not sure he has the right words to describe any of this - an unfamiliar feeling. He's so used to talking his way out of things.

But this is Uncle Donald, who won't care if Louie isn't as articulate as usual, or if he stumbles over his words a little. There's no one he'd feel safer telling these things to. ]

I mean... sometimes I'm thinking about old monsters and stuff. That we fought with Uncle Scrooge. Or people like Magica, or Ma Beagle - anyone who might want revenge, you know? And I know we live in a huge mansion with all this crazy security, so I'll be fine, at least for the night, but... I can't stop thinking about it anyways. And I don't know how Huey and Dewey just deal with it, you know? Because I can't.

[duckflails]

It's not stupid. I know exactly how that feels like.

[He says with a soft frown and a shake of his head. He reaches to place a hand on Louie's shoulder, in an attempt at a comforting gesture.]

I've been thinking about stuff like that since the day we set foot in the mansion. That's why I wanted to stay at the Marina back then... to protect you all from this life. From all the danger that comes with adventure.

[His head sinks as he thinks about it. Was it a failure of his or not that they ended up at the mansion? Well that depends.]

I just have to remind myself of what I trusted Uncle Scrooge with. To teach you kids how to get out of trouble. You all have skills that will help you in an emergency... but more than that, you have all of us. Me, Miss Beakley, Duckworth, Uncle Scrooge... We're all looking out for you, and we'll do everything we can to stop them all from getting to you.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ He's unusually quiet as Donald speaks, and stays quiet for a few moments after, trying to process everything he's said. Reasonably, he knows he's safe... but these thoughts are far from reasonable in the first place. Still, Donald has a point - his family would do anything to keep him safe. He'd learned this time and time again. ]

...I know that.

[ He mumbles it, though not with a whole lot of conviction. It should be true, at least. In theory. ]

I guess this stuff just runs in the family, huh?

[ He says it as a joke, trying to brush it off once again... but he's not wrong. ]

[duckflails]

Yeah. [He acknowledges with a weary nod.] And sometimes it runs after the family too!

[He adds that as a little joke and pauses for laughter.]

But at least we're all in this together.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Louie chuckles with him, and after a moment of quiet, flops to one side, leaning his head on Donald's shoulder. He's smiling - almost imperceptibly, but it's there if you're looking for it. ]

Thanks, Uncle Donald.

[duckflails]

[Donald can tell he's made progress when Louie's head is on his shoulder. He feels like he doesn't need to see his face to know that he's smiling on some level. He keeps an arm wrapped Louie protectively.]

Always glad to help.

[He feels like it's Time now. For That. And so, he starts to hum.]

Look to the stars, my darling baby boys.
Life is strange and vast, filled with wonders and joys.
Face each new sun with eyes clear and true...

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Louie lets his eyes fall closed. If he was thinking, he might stop himself from drifting off on the floor, but his thoughts drift away as soon as that familiar songs hits him. Exhaustion takes over quickly, and by the time he's done, Louie's fast asleep against his side, peaceful once more.

Donald's never been much of a singer, but at times like this, Louie couldn't be more grateful to hear his voice. ]

[duckflails]

[Donald's nearly sung himself to sleep as well. But he knows he can't doze now, not while his work is not yet done. He smiles proudly at Louie sleeping peacefully, before he carefully proceeds in picking up the duck and depositing him in Donald's hammock. He then drapes a blanket over him and then slumps over onto the floor as he falls asleep.

He knows this may not be the end of Louie's worries, but he'll be satisfied with this victory for now. He's seen the kids through to the end of another day. A peaceful rest. And that's one of the best things a parent could hope for.]