revenance_comms | 7. [Action and Audio]

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7. [Action and Audio]

[Despite all he's done to try, North is still not getting enough sleep. Luna's visit helped, but Theta is still anxious, and North can't get to the end of the dream where things start to fix themselves. Theta gets stuck at the breaking apart, with memories of how he was created from the Alpha still very fresh for him. It's painful to go through, even if North is just getting the memory of the experience, and he would rather not put both of them through that.

So no sleep for Freelancer or AI.

He's hid it well enough for the past while he thinks. He's stumbled a few places, but otherwise, he's still functioning. He made it through the mansion alright after all.

Now, however. Now he'd not so sure.

He'd just wanted to go out for a walk, get some air and try and calm Theta down. It's really annoying how these streets can't be walked without encountering nightmares. It's worse that he didn't sleep at all last night because Theta had a particularly bad time. Cactus and Winnie are doing what they can, but it's hard for North to break away and put some distance between them to use his rifle effectively. Just bashing the nightmares on the head isn't doing much.

Still, he'd holding his own for the most part, until he finds himself surrounded by a few Kooma pandas and no way out. He tries to activate his shield but they're too close for it to be effective. Turns out the nightmare versions of Kooma pandas hit really hard, and North goes down. Immediately Cactus and Winnie are there and Theta's activated the shield. He's panicking, and scared because North being knocked out is not a good thing and he can't be in control. He knows he needs help so he goes to the communicator.

To his credit, he manages to sound somewhat in control.]

North's been knocked out by some nightmares. I've got the shield up but he needs help. Like, really soon.

[He can keep the shield going for as long as North's suit has power, which is a while, but he's worried about Cactus and Winnie, since he can't give them potions or anything like that]

We're in the backstreets of Traverse Town.

[ooc: Okay, so, to keep things organized, the first person to respond to this post will be the person rescuing North. Other people can respond, but Theta will tell them someone is on the way to avoid 20 people showing up to rescue North. It's a giant game of first, so have at it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Want to talk about what's been going on with you?

[York remembers when North was up in the middle of the night before; that was years ago, but Theta still probably doesn't react well to the idea of falling apart. Delta won't discuss the dreams with York, and Delta doesn't have that many triggers himself.

Of course, Wash won't get off that easily.]

North can go first, since I'm the only person here who's not a member of the insomnia club.

[North sighs. He had a feeling this talk was coming, and he wasn't quite that ready to dive right in. Still, Wash gets a look though. Even though the answer to that question is yes.

Theta dims considerably. He knows this is his fault.]

Not really, but you're gonna badger me till I do, aren't you?

It's the dreams...Theta hasn't been doing that well with them. It hits a little too close to home I guess.

[Wash gives York a dour look, but he can't deny it - not when he's been nodding off for the past hour right in front of York.]

[The comment about the dreams hitting too close to home...well, there's a reason Wash hasn't been sleeping lately.]

Then he gets anxious and you can't sleep.

D won't talk about them with me, but he doesn't keep me up. Neither of you can run forever on no sleep, though.

[Good, York. State the obvious while trying to figure out solutions. He could babysit Theta to give North a rest - if either of them were comfortable with it, which isn't likely at all - but they can't take Wash's memories away.]

Options: Sedation or waiting this out and hoping the next set of dreams aren't as awful as these are.

Delta's never really seemed to have the same problem as Theta though.

[With the added anxiety anyway. Or at least, York's more comfortable with pulling his AI than North is. Still, York does have a point.]

I'd rather not get knocked out again, so I guess Theta and I will have to work through this.

I can try.

[It's a muttered, offhanded comment. No, he can't stay awake forever, but he's been doing pretty damn well with it so far. Then again, his insomnia is willful, not (directly) caused by an AI.]

You can pull him. York and I can look after him for a few hours - long enough for you to get some sleep.

[He's pretty certain that suggestion is going to get shot down, but he had to try.]

[Well, at least he didn't have to suggest it. Still, clearly Wash needs to talk about something.]

If - only if - both of you are okay with it. It...might not be great for Theta.

[It's hard to tell where Theta is at Wash's suggestion. On the one hand, he knows it's his anxiety that's affecting North, and if pulling him makes things better for North, that's a good thing, right? But that also means being pulled and even entertaining the thought is scary because that means being on his on own and away from North. He's obviously dithering.]

I...uh...I dunno, I mean. I...I...

It's okay Theta, it was just a suggestion.

I don't think that's the best idea. Theta's got enough anxiety already. I've learned my lesson from this, so I won't let it get that bad again.

[Wash glances at Theta but doesn't say anything else. He'd known his suggestion wouldn't go over well, but he'd been surprised that Theta hadn't protested outright.]

So then what are you going to do about it?

I know I can't make either of you do it, but going around with a non-spirit partner's the best bet until you can sleep again. I'd volunteer, and there are plenty of other people who would too.

[Thankfully they were surrounded by helpful people here; enough people responded to Theta's ass o'clock AM post to show that.]

You really think it's gotten that bad that we need bodyguards?

[It's a joke, but he supposes they do.]

Although I don't think I'm going to be allowed to go that far.

[Not if Cactus has anything to say about it.]

I'd be surprised if Cactus lets you up off the bed.

[Avoiding the question about bodyguards? You betcha.]

Alright, so North is covered. I can keep an eye out for Wash, then.

[Oh dear, has Wash acquired a really annoying nanny?]

I just hope they don't last too long then.

[He wants to say more, almost wants to object, but what good would that do? He's not going anywhere, so York's plan makes sense. It's just hard to ignore that he's missed his friends.]

[Yeah, no.]

There's a reason I haven't been staying in the room, York, and you know it.

[It's almost a growl. He's not happy with the idea and he's not going along with it.]

I'm not asking you to sleep, I'm asking you to not wander off on your own on zero sleep. Like North says, we all hope the dreams end soon, but until they do and you can sleep, you're vulnerable. I will ask Ziva to help me if I have to.

Winnie's also willing to help if you need a spirit.

[Fang and Melody probably equal the weight of one Cactus. While North could attempt to push Cactus off, he'd then have to deal with an angry pricklemane.]

[Wash is full-on glaring at York now. He's been avoiding Ziva too, along with pretty much everyone else, but he's pretty sure he couldn't keep that up if York set her on his trail.]

That's cheating. And I don't need another Spirit or a bodyguard. I have a system that works, and I need you to leave it and me alone.

[It's not exactly what he means - not really. He just doesn't want them to have to put up with his screaming when he wakes up. He's exhausted, though, too much so to keep his temper in check, and so it comes spilling out in all the wrong ways.]

[Must be Tuesday.]

[If Wash thinks that being tired, crabby, and going on the offense when he's both is something York isn't familiar with, he needs to remember Carolina. York sighs.]

I know you can take care of yourself under most circumstances, Wash; I'm not saying you can't. But - sorry North - North's a pretty good demonstration of why you need someone looking out for you when you're this tired, system or not.

Much as I hate to admit it, he does have a point Wash.

[And there goes his filter.]

In case either of you haven't noticed, I'm not North. I don't have an anxious AI in my head. Just a crazy one.

[Fuck.]

That's not there anymore.

[Fuck.]

It's different.

[Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.]

The point is, I have been getting sleep and I don't need a bodyguard.

[An hour or so per night counts as getting sleep, right? Of course it does.]

[York would try to be helpful, but to be honest there's no way to save this discussion now.]

I'd believe you if you could still lie convincingly.

Whether or not there's an AI doesn't change the fact that you haven't been sleeping and it shows.

You're crabbier than usual, Wash.

[And he wishes he didn't have to say that.]

[Wash opens his mouth to retort, and that's all the further he gets, as Fang has decided that his person has said one too many hurtful things already, taken matters into his own wings, and landed emphatically on Wash's head. Stop saying mean things to your friends!]

[Wash just lets a breath out slowly - because if there's one thing in this room he can't get mad at, it's Fang - and removes Fang from his head, plunking the bat down in his lap.]

You're not helping.

[York tried to fight a grin, but really, it was adorable.]

Hopefully the dreams will stop soon.

7. [Action and Audio]

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