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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"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."

"Oh, no, I know of coffee. Dr. Foster and Miss Lewis educated me on that delight." In short, got him addicted to it already. Which is how he's been functioning. "It might keep me awake and somewhat sharp, but it does not allow my seidr to recharge."

The trickster explained with a wave of his free hand.

"They even showed me the bitter small ones." Espresso. "It only helps so much, but I prefer not bother others with these unbecoming issues."

"So, you guys — Asgardians — you don't need sleep?"

That's handy. He wishes he could have those days where he just doesn't have to sleep. He could just turn that need off and keep working or whatever else he was doing.

He rubs a hand across his brow.

"How does your seidr charge, then? Sleep? Or do Asgardians work it a different way too?"

"Oh, no, we require sleep. Simply less than Midgardian's do. Five hours is more than sufficient for a night, more if we are injured." It's also possible that that's Loki's Jotann nature, more than Aesir needs. "There are spells that will allow you to stay awake longer, but there is a risk in that magic. It can affect the mind."

Which, given his mental state, even before he fell through space to Thanos... He probably used that spell on himself a few times.

"Rest and fuel, as with most energies. While we live longer and are harder to kill, many of the same rules apply." He waved a hand as he said it. He could feel the headache forming at the back of his eyes.

"But when you sleep, you see blood and death. Makes sleep hard."

He understands. Maybe they don't see the same things when they close their eyes at night but the concept is very, very similar.

"You tried drugs?" he asks before waving a hand. "Not hard drugs but I'm sure I can get some therapist to show up and prescribe you some Ambien."

"That is an accurate summary, yes."

A perfect description. He had to give Stark that, he cut right to the quick of it. Taking another drink of his wine, he shrugged.

"Herbs and draughts for sleep, though none work long." Waving a hand again. "I'll give it a try, Stark. At this point, I will try whatever Midgard can offer. I am not useful if my reserves are low. Does this Ambien work for you?"

"Sometimes."

If he takes it in larger doses which is not what he should be doing but when does Tony Stark ever do what he should be doing?

"It'll probably work on you for a few days until you grow a tolerance. But a few days of sleep is better than just staring at the ceiling all those days, isn't it?"

Sometimes was better than none.

"A few days is better than no sleep. If it works, I can work with the base and make something stronger."

Oh, he has no idea about Midgard's medicines. He's thinking it's a herbal mix of some kind that he can weave magic into.

"Thank you, Stark." It felt odd to thank someone, but he meant it.

"Yeah, yeah, don't thank me till you know it works."

And even then, it's probably weird. Makes them feel like friends or something when Tony's more of a...frenemy? He doesn't even know the right label.

"If that doesn't work, there's always putting on a suit and knocking you out."

That might be fun.

"Fair enough. How long will it take to procure?"

A simple question, as tired as he is, it is worth asking. Loki had no label for the Avengers, nor Stark. Like with Sif and the Warriors three, those were Thor's friends. All of them. He was tired enough though to let some of his walls down, if that made them more of frienimies than not, he wouldn't argue it.

"I might take you up on that, so long as it is not Banner." Yeah, he's that tired. "Perhaps for not, I should return to my quarters to allow you to attempt rest as well." The trickster had a few books he could read at least.

"Probably day or so."

He'd have to talk to his doctor, tell him the story, see what he could get out of him without seeming like some sort of drug seeker. Which he's not but just up and out of the blue asking about sleeping aides might seem odd.

"But hey, I agree with you on the Banner part. I wouldn't want to be punched by him either. Unless he's in Bruce form. I think I could take him them."

Not as the green guy. That would just be a deathwish.

"That will be fine."

Not like he will really sleep before then. That and if he got Tony in trouble, Thor would probably rat him out to their parents. He did not want his punishment extended if possible.

"Believe me, it is one of the worst pains I have ever experienced." As old as he is and from a warrior culture? Yeah, Hulk was terrifying. "Banner himself is very intelligent, though. I respect that. If the suit is involved, my money would be on you, though in that hypothetical brawl."

Pushing himself up, and taking up the wine glass. "I will see you tomorrow, Stark. A good evening to you." It was weird, but comforting to know he wasn't the only one who couldn't see. This was Tony getting to see a bit of what Loki was like before his identity crisis, the brother Thor spoke of.

"Sweet dreams."

Tony calls that after him but doesn't move. He doesn't think he's going to sleep tonight so he doubts he's going to even try.

There's always some kind of work to be done.

Loki didn't respond to it. That was too much like sentiment for him to respond. No, he kept true to what he said. Keeping to the room he was staying in and burying himself in books. He had dozed off a time or two, but not long enough to replenish his depleted reserves.

Of course, when morning comes, he is one of the first ones there ready for coffee, a glamour in place to hide how tired he is. Glamours never took much seidr at all, unless he was projecting it far from his actual body.

Once he had the coffee, he was off by himself with the book. Thor, still out from his outing with Jane. The Sorcerer was never the most social person, even before trying to take over the world.

Eventually, Tony appears. He's fresh from about two hours of sleep and he's feeling good. Well, actually he's feeling pretty exhausted but he's made sure to not look it.

It looks like Loki's beat him to the coffee but that doesn't stop Tony from holding up a hand to stop any sort of conversation before he gets a mug. It's piping hot and he drinks half of it before he finally sighs and looks in Loki's direction.

"Get any sleep?"

A trait two divas had in common. Suffer quietly and put on the best act before everyone else.

Though, Loki did wait when Tony held up the hand. He's done that one enough to people since he learned of coffee. If only they had that on Asgard all these long years of life. Coffee was one of Midgard's beauties.

"No." Even if he looks fine, under the glamour he is not, but he had to put his best foot forward. "Not anything worthwhile, as it were. Yourself?" Loki asked, taking another drink from his mug, the book set aside on the nearest surface for now.

"An hour or two so I'm good for another few days."

Except he'd probably crash spectacularly later this evening and Pepper would lecture him afterward but he's good for now. He's going to drink his coffee and act like all is well.

"Guess it's a good thing you don't have too much to do today. You can just kick your feet up and look out the window and relax."

"We must find a solution for you, Stark." He spoke low into his coffee. He had a lot longer to live, and while the lack of sleep might crack more at his already questionable sanity. Tony was a genius, and that was most of what made him standable to Loki. Sleep was important to gods and mortals.

That Pepper lecture certainly would come, hopefully he would get some reasonable sleep beforehand, though.

"Do I look like the type who likes to kick my feet up and relax? I can not stand to be idle." An actual grumble to his tone as he took another drink of his coffee. "I am at least to make use of this time, I have one of my books from Asgard, I am looking into an enchantment to help."

"Oh, quit worrying about me. I might start to think you care," he says dismissively, waving a hand. He's fine, Loki, and he will continue to be fine. If anyone's going to keep him in line, it'll be Pepper and he knows it.

He rubs a hand across his face and takes another sip of the coffee before he sits himself down and stretches his legs out.

"Have you ever kicked your legs up and tried to relax?" Tony doubts it.

"I could say the same of you." An easy quip returned with an amused tone. Loki doubted he was fine, but he knew enough of Pepper through the grapevine that he shouldn't question it. Thor speaks very highly of Pepper Potts. "I don't, for the record."

If that was true or not, who knows.

Instead of sitting down, Loki sat his book down near Tony, but kept the coffee in hand, standing near, but a respectable distance. "That sounds rather droll, if you ask me. No, I haven't, unless you count research." He hated to be idle, it was one of those habits that still followed him from before Thor's coronation. If he stayed busy, his demons can't catch up. "If that what you intend to do?"

"For a little while, at least."

He's got work to do and he can actually get down to the lab and do it whereas Loki was kind of shackled with what he can do. But, right now, he's going to kick his feet up on the table and sip his coffee.

"It's really not that hard. I think even an Asgardian can do it and not fail."

"Mmm, I see."

It was spoken easily, though giving a judging look at Tony's feet on the table. It's Tony's table, so he can't complain as much as he would like too.

"It is more of a lack of desire to be idle, I would assume you would understand. I suppose I have a few more books I could go through. Today does seem to be shaping up to be quite droll."

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oof I missed that typo.