007 [Video] / [Backdated to before boss battle]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus's communicator switches on suddenly in the middle of the night, although this is due to Kura, his Hebby Repp. Apparently, there is some to-do going on in the room next to the bedroom...]

[Most of the large pile of Spirits are snoozing, all except for the newest, Shikara. The Flowbermeow is bouncing quickly around Chuza, trying to get the Meow Wow to wake up. Come on, what if master is having nightmares again? They should go check on him! Except Chuza, being the laziest Spirit on Mars herself, is fast asleep. She tries bouncing on Chuza, but no go.]

[Obviously, this requires extra hands. Shikara then proceeds to use that boundless energy to stir awake all the other Spirits she can find...Gengo, Jyunai, Soemon, the new adopted additions Ma-ti and Linka, and of course Kura is already up. Only Yaza is nowhere to be found. Shikara bounces around, sharing that excitement. Come on, guys! If we all jump, that will wake up Chuza! Then master will have two Meow Wows being all responsible!]

[At first, just Ma-ti joins in, rolling into Chuza. That does nothing, so Linka tries bouncing on her head. Still nothing. Eventually, Soemon and Gengo begin bouncing too, all while Jyunai just scolds them in the corner. However, with both a Kooma Panda and a Thunderaffe all stomping along with the others, it's enough weight and motion to shake the entire house. Chuza doesn't wake up...but Eraqus does, and he comes storming in a moment later.]

What in the worlds is going on here?!

[Every Spirit stops in place and looks up at him. Oops, caught red-pawed. He notices the light coming from the switched-on communicator, and just buries his face in one palm, looking exasperated.]

Comments

[unrecovered]

[Someone up this late shouldn't look so amused, but Wash is used to sleeping at odd hours, or just not sleeping at all.]

Guess I should stop complaining about Carmen.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Well, he's not all that surprised that Wash is amused. At least someone is.]

As long as they are not in the habit of not sleeping when it's time for it. [He pointedly looks at Shikara, who just wags her tail.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash is always up for a little Spirit-induced schadenfreude. He gets enough of it himself, after all.]

Are you kidding? I have cats.

[voice]

[battleborndr]

...wow. [gulp] I think I'm glad I only have the one.

[letteropener]

[Celestia is not bothering to hide her amusement in the least... though why is she up to begin with? She doesn't look like she's been sleeping.]

And now they will sleep all day when you want them to be awake.

[voice]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Even one can be...a handful, depending on the kind. [He glances at Kura, who just turns about in a circle. Hey, this stomping wasn't his idea!]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus notes that, but doesn't comment on it straight away. His face does break into the smallest of smiles, though.]

Precisely. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at dream creatures more likely being nocturnal.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

At least cats are generally capable of entertaining each other when there are more than one? [Not that that would stop them from considering bothering their person to be 'entertainment.']

[unrecovered]

[Wash just gives him a long, level look.]

You've never had a cat, have you.

[letteropener]

Oh, in the sleeping worlds, I'm sure time of day has nothing to do with it... just the time that would be most inconvenient to you.

[She says that, but in truth, behind her Hero and Dizzy are curled up in a pile, snoozing as contentedly as can be. Then again, if she really was already up, maybe her point is all the more accurate for the fact.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus doesn't look to concerned about it.] No, I've never had the luxury of having any pets.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suspect that would be the case for many of them. [He does glance down towards Chuza, who is still asleep. This wouldn't be so bad if Chuza didn't nap all the time when needed, too.]

[letteropener]

I have been considering crafting a third one, but perhaps with my sister's and mine combined, we might find ourselves in a similar situation as you. And my poor sister shorts herself on sleep enough as it is.

[wavesinherheart]

I don't know, but they look like they're having fun, at least.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suppose it depends on what kind you get...although all of my attempts to determine personality by type haven't been too successful thusfar.

Hmm, she does need to consider her own rest as much regard as she does others'.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Perhaps...but I would much prefer any fun to be had during waking hours. [He gives Aqua a Look...he recalls when she and Terra stayed up for their own entertainment far beyond their bedtime, back when they were both little.]

[letteropener]

As I've told her many times. But walking in dreams is a duty of the Princess of the Night, and as we have so little opportunity to do anything else we're supposed to do here, I can't really blame her for attending it so strictly.

[If he asks whether Celestia's voice contains relief, or frustration, she wouldn't be able to answer him. On the one hoof, she's enjoying this period of relative rest and freedom; on the other, centuries of duty have ingrained themselves into her so thoroughly that without being Princess to a kingdom, she isn't even sure who or what she is.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suppose I can understand the sentiment. [He's definitely felt that same sense of duty, coupled with that extra frustration of not knowing whether his actions will ultimately have any impact, considering his complete non-future.] Just as long as she remembers that taking care of herself first is a necessity for assisting others.

[letteropener]

So I've said, but that seems to make it a challenge of how much she can give before she needs to look after herself. After all, exhaustion and a lack of sleep will eventually go away when she is needed less. [Celestia rolls her eyes, letting Luna's assertion-by-action speak for itself otherwise.] But she was also kept from her duty for a very long time, and I was not able to do it in her absence. I can't truly blame her for wanting to do it, even as I worry about her.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suppose as long as she trusts those around her to point out when she does need rest, and to listen, then we can trust her to continue her job without completely exhausting herself.

[letteropener]

We're working on that. Luna can be... headstrong.

[By Celestia's grin and her wry tone, Eraqus could certainly hear that final word meant, "stubborn as ten mules who had taken lessons from Iron Will".]

[wavesinherheart]

Could you maybe ask them about it?

[voice]

[battleborndr]

That's true. That's very true. [Especially when the darn things conspire with those of other people.]

[voice]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I had hoped that keeping them in a separate room would help with quiet, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I can't much afford more space, though.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[He remembers some of his earliest dealings with her, too.] Yes, I think that would be the appropriate word for her.