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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Loki's attempt to fake his death again had failed. He would have been quite fine to sneak away awhile, but that simply was not to come to pass. No, instead of being locked back in the dungeons or causing more problems on Asgard, Thor had dragged him back to Midgard to help the avengers hunting down the latest big bad.

Thor explaining while his brother's trickery can't be trusted, all things considered, there was none better on Asgard at finding the unseen.

It had been weeks, and Loki was tired. Asgardians didn't need to sleep as much as humans, but, even this was too much. Thor was off to see Jane, and had left Loki behind with Stark as he figured if anyone could stop Loki if he tried to run it would be those in Stark Tower.

Dressed in a suit and pacing as he had been for a while now. He would stop pacing now and then to look out the windows at the city he tried to conquer, then return to pacing. Muttering to himself sometimes. He wasn't keen on the fact he had not yet found who they were seeking to return to Asgard. That was what had him pacing in the open room at four am.

"You're beginning to give me a headache, you know."

Loki should know. Tony's told him a few times by time to stop pacing but Loki being Loki hasn't stopped. He seems to think that walking a line along his very nice carpet would help pass the time.

Tony rubs at his temples and then drops his head down onto the table, pounding it lightly.

"Go to sleep. Do you sleep? Maybe I can rustle you up a sedative or something."

"Why are you even awake to be getting a headache, Stark?" He asked, and yet, kept pacing for now.

Honestly, part of why he kept pacing, aside from troubles of the mind, was to annoy Tony. Telling him to stop was a good way to assure he kept going.

"Yes, I do sleep. All living things rest at some point." He finally stopped, turning to face Tony. Both hands going behind his back, feet together. Far too prim of a stance for how tired he is. "It is not that simple, and your Midgardian sedatives would not work on a god." It probably would. Caffeine sure does. "I ask again, why are you awake, fearful I will flee?"

He crosses his arms, tilting his head and listening to Loki drone on and on and on about Midgard and how he's better before he shrugs his shoulders.

"What can I say, I can't pass up the urge for riveting conversation from an actual God."

He wiggles his fingers in Loki's direction.

"What other amazing things do you want to tell me to wow me?"

The reply got a flat look in return. Loki would never admit it, not even with his dying breath. But, Stark's wit and clever comebacks did always amuse him. Even when he pretended otherwise.

"Well, then by all means, any topic could be brought forth, and we could parley as long as you desire a riveting conversation from a god." Amusement in his tone. At least he had quit pacing for now. A shake of his head at those wiggled fingers.

"Keep this up, and I may recommend you to be the new court jester in Asgard." He replied, arms crossing as he stayed still for now. "A golden city full of warrior gods is not enough of a wow for you, is it, Stark?"

"Nothing is enough for me, Loki. Don't you read the gossip rags? I'm a greedy bastard. I want more, more, more."

Always and forever. Maybe he doesn't want more in the way that people think but it's not untrue. He shrugs, though, unaffected by the words, by what he feels is the undercurrent of a threat in those words.

He's not afraid especially on his own turf.

"You seem upset. Are you not having a good time here?"

"Alas, they do not reach us in Asgard, should I?" He inquired, a playfulness in his tone. "You sound like royalty with such a claim."

As much as Loki would prefer to threaten and throw a fit, he knew if he wanted to get back into the good graces of his family, he needed to behave. Easier said than done, but he was trying.

"I am not upset, Stark. However, no, I am not. I am bored." He admitted, finally taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other. "Not that there is much that can be done about that at present." Why lie? It makes it better when he does to sprinkle truths around.

"Well, what do you usually do when you're bored?"

He doesn't know really how to entertain Asgardians. It's not like he's known any of them before Thor and his very annoying brother.

"What kind of hobbies do you have? Wait, don't tell me — "

He stops, pointing at Loki, head tilted.

"Basket weaving."

"I read, Stark, don't you?" The key to being a good liar was to always sprinkle truths in wherever he could. Loki was a huge bibliophile. It was part of how he learned so much of his magic outside his natural ability, along with lessons from Frigga and Amora.

Thor was easy to distract, give him drinks and a place to boost, or even Midgardian sports and video games and the oaf would be entertained. Loki was not the same at all.

"I believe you have me confused with my mother, but points for trying. You do not need or want to know my hobbies. Stark." He rubbed his eyes with one hand again. "Look, let me just be honest a moment. A rare peace offering, if you will." Since, he still hasn't apologized for trying to throw Tony off that roof a while back. Opps. "I have not slept in days, and it is draining my magic to keep going. That is all. Now, you can leave me to some solitude."

He assumed, knowing what was up, that Tony would go do whatever he did at night. Loki didnt pay attention to that often.

"I could leave you but...nah."

Nah, he doesn't want to leave him alone. Mostly because he doesn't trust Loki to not figure out a way to do something to wreck his compound or something. So, Loki's just going to have to deal with his presence for a little while longer.

"Do you dream when you sleep? Nightmares? Got my share of those if you wanna discuss."

"Enjoy my company that much? Well, who am I to deny my adoring public." He knew that wasn't it, Loki knew what the others think of him, or at least what he's overheard.

He deserved it for what he did to New York, but he was trying. Or, at least pretending too. Who knew, some days.

"All beings who can process thought dream, Stark." He spoke, both hands placed on his crossed knee as he sat back some. "Nightmares as well, some more than others. We could play at sharing them, but that is not what keeps me awake." It absolutely was. He was still having nightmares. The Asgardian upbringing made sharing, it was unseemly to share any pain.

"So, I asked."

He makes a gesture with his hand to elaborate because he had asked and he has time so why not see what keeps a trickster god up at night and bothers him so much that he paces around like a caged animal.

Besides that he is literally caged right now.

"What keeps you up at night? Not many people are gonna sit here and talk to you, Loki. Take advantage."

"So, you did."

Loki mirrored back, watching Tony for a quiet moment. Running options and thoughts through his head. Raised on Asgard sharing such things was often looked down on. His offer had been mostly a jest. And, yet it was tempting.

Though being literally caged, didn't help his uneasiness.

"You raise a fine point, Stark, but surely you know this is unhonorable. One does not share their private horrors. If I were to do so, and it is tempting. I would both expect the same, and ask you never tell my brother any of this. Do we have a deal?"

What did he care of honor anymore? Half, no most, of Asgard considers him completely mad. He will never see power, nor will any ever see him as equal to his brother. So, really, why did it matter?

"You wanna know what skulks around in my mind? Brave man."

Brave for both asking and brave for thinking Tony would tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But, he knows that Loki might tell the truth either.

It was a meeting of two very similar minds.

"Fine, deal. Are we gonna shake on it? Pinky swear?"

"Indeed."

A simple answer, and that expected touch of ego. He was a diva, after all. Though, at least they both knew not to expect the full truth. Sprinklings of truth of spice things up, yet. Never the full truth, never to anyone.

"Deal, and no. I'd rather not be touched if it is all the same. A gentlemen's promise will do just fine." He spoke with a wave of his hand. "Shall I fetch us a drink before we begin?"

By fetch, he just means wave his hand and make it float over. Loki was a light weight when it came to drinking, even for one raised on Asgard. Still, it was always nice to have a drink in hand when sharing anything. "Flip a coin, see who begins."

"Do you have a coin?"

He raises an eyebrow, crosses his arms.

"Because all I have is big bills and while that might work, I don't know if I trust you not to take it when my back's turned."

"You think me a thief?"

He asked as if offended. He absolutely was, he had stolen plenty of relics and books that caught his interest. Money, not so much. He could use his magic to get most he wanted. The mocked offense passed as he snapped.

A silver coin appearing in his hand. One that looked quite old and almost unworldly.

"So little trust for a god, I should be hurt. Now, heads or tails." He showed both sides, One had what looked like a Norse rune, the other side a mostly worn image. Holding it over towards Tony's way. "Lest you accuse me of cheating next." He absolutely would. He didn't want to share first. The trickster wanted to test the waters before trying to trust his brothers friends.

"I absolutely think of you as a thief. I've seen you steal things before, Loki."

So yes, he thinks his lack of trust is valid and he's definitely not going to be apologizing for it.

"Tails."

He says, crossing his arms and looking amused.

"Things that needed taken, I am certain."

He waved it off, he's amused at least. Flipping the coin up in the air. It took everything in him not to use his magic to cheat the flip. If he wanted to be better, this was a step.

The coin landing tails up. Making an annoyed face, he sat back, leaving the silver coin on the table between them. Conquering himself, that drink he had started to make fix itself. Tony's bar was close after all. Two glasses floating over on what looked like green sparks.

"I dream of death. Every time I close my eyes. Not just my own, I could deal with that. Everyone's deaths, gory and twisted. Despite what many think, I do not take pleasure in violence." A sentiment most Asgardians would disagree with, but he was an outcast back home for many reasons. "I know it is pathetic before you say so." Toxic warrior culture. Fun times.

"I wasn't going to say it's pathetic. You don't think I dream of death?"

Maybe in different ways than Loki but death is still ever present in their lives. And he dreams of his own death and those that he cares about, their deaths as well.

He dreams about being responsible for their deaths, blood on his hands, and it haunts him.

"You're not special in that manner. Death is...a commonality that we have."

"You truly were not going to say it is pathetic?"

He asked as if it wasn't plain, nodding as he listened to Tony speak. He stayed quietly for a long moment, pondering his next words.

Midgardian's dreaming of death made sense, given all the death in this realm. For different as both realms were, they were a like in a lot of ways.

"No, Stark, I did not think you would. I suppose I am wrong in that. In this, I am pleased to not be special." Taking a sip of the wine before he spoke up again. "I often drempt of deaths of battle." A shrug. "Lose of loved ones. These torturous dreams, however, are of recent. So, tell me, how do you sleep when it happens?"

"If I thought it was pathetic, I'd tell you so."

He's not shy and he doesn't have much of a filter these days. So yeah, he would have said something but he doesn't think it's pathetic.

"I don't sleep. I get up and work to try and get out of my own head. Try and not think about it. Doesn't always work but it does sometimes so I keep going with it."

"Fair enough." Stark did seem the type.

After taking another drink, Loki lofted one of his dark brows.

"Is sleep not even more important to a mortal like yourself? Working to distract makes sense, but surely that is not all. How do you get by when the exhaustion comes?" Sitting forward, still holding the glass. Curious as to what Tony will say.

"Caffeine and adrenaline work wonders."

But yes, sleep is important and sometimes he just passes out when he's gone too long without it. Is that something he's going to admit? Nah.

"You haven't been introduced to the wonders of coffee yet? Stronger the better. Can keep you going that little big extra."

tony stark — mcu.

6&9 - Post Thor 2ish

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