making your insomnia everyone else's problem [video]

[tr1xx]

[ It's late, like, super late. Like 'if any of us had a clock to go off it'd probably read 3am' kind of late. The stars are shining clear in the sky and the only light on the feed is from the Heartstone, not even a fire. Wherever Cammie's settled, she's not right next to anyone else in the group for some reason or another.

Cammie is also, notably, not on any watch rotation. Also also, she's totally human, aka: neither nocturnal, nor able to get by without sleeping at all. She's fastening her ears back around her ponytail, as the live feed starts, which means she probably at least gave sleeping a go—there's even some makeshift blankets wrapped around her shoulders—but she's awake now, looking tired as anything but perky, too. Only the particular observant may note the slightly haunted look beneath the teenage bravado and energetic way she speaks. ]

Christ, I'm bored. What's a girl s'posed to do around here when it's too dark an' cold out to go on a walk or somethin', eh? Call me addicted to technology all ye like, but the Ether's a blessin' when—

[ She coughs, does not finish that sentence. She admits she's up because of nightmares and precedent from home tells her someone will stage an intervention. ]

Anyway. Some of youse must still be up, aye? Anyone wanna play like— what did people play before the Ether... —2 truths 1 lie? Truth or dare? Hell, I'd say 20 questions but I think the multiverse makes that kinda complicated. Imagine someone picks somethin' only found in their universe. Practically amounts to cheatin' and ye might not even know ye doin' it.

...but, seriously, I'm goin' out of my mind doin' nothin' right now, surely I cannae be the only one?

[ There's a nonzero chance this broadcast wakes up people who weren't, actually, already awake at 3am, but Cammie's decided that's worth the risk right now. Sorry everyone. ]

Comments

[hallelujahjunction]

Oh, this is fun.

[Dan, like Cammie, is up late - and like Cammie, even if he tried to sleep, his nightmares would intrude alongside the natural rhythm of his body. But more than that, he can see that Cammie's up for the same reasons, and he has the tact not to mention that they have that sad, stressful common ground.

He's also a little tipsy at this hour, and he's sewing and tailoring some pants he found in a troll dwelling to fit his height (or lack thereof) as he talks.]

Two truths and a lie? I can start us off. I've never had a driver's license, I've had a love affair with the Jersey Devil, and I've been convicted of sixteen felonies.

[hourglasshalfempty]

[A peeved, golden face comes into view. Raistlin wasn't sleeping, either, but that doesn't mean he wants his not-sleeping interrupted.]

Endeavor to continue investigating our immediate area. Find a book to read. Take up meditation. Only do it quietly, and without bothering the rest of us.

[hallelujahjunction]

Oh, go back to sleep, killjoy. Ain't all of us here feeling diurnal.

[the_hit_list]

[ Tim doesn’t like these kinds of games in particular, but he wants to be friendly. ]

I’m awake too. Which would you like to play, and who goes first? ]

[hourglasshalfempty]

I would love to, but some inconsiderate person woke me to demand entertainment.

[he wasn't, but not for lack of trying, and that's not going to put anyone in a good mood.]

[hallelujahjunction]

Do what I do during the day, wrap your mirror in a blanket and go sleep near the fire or some running water for some white noise.

[There's nothing condescending in Dan's tone; he's giving actual advice that's worked for him. Since their first night here, he and Bunny have had a fire safely burning away in their troll home not just for the warmth Dan, with his terrible circulation, so desperately needs, but also to dampen out some of the sound of the camp.]

[hourglasshalfempty]

[Raistlin examines Dan minutely. He is very much looking for any reason to take offense at Dan's statement, with all the focus of someone who desperately wants to pick a fight but is practical enough not to alienate people unnecessarily

Unfortunately, all he finds is earnest goodwill. Horrible. This man is certainly up to something, and merely a very good liar. Raistlin's logic is impeccable.]

...I thank you for the advice.

[tr1xx]

Geez louise who pissed in your cheerios? [ a beat ] ...well, me, I guess, but that's besides the point.

If it weren't so bloody dark out I might've kept explorin', but I'm not the most nimble of people an' I'd probably misplace a foot and break somethin' in this light. Then I'd've just woke ye all up screaming bloody murder instead.

[hourglasshalfempty]

[what the hell is a cheerio]

At least that would have been a real need, and not a childish demand for bedtime stories.

[tr1xx]

[ Oh He's Done It Now, childish is just about Cammie's least favourite word when directed at her. Shame she has such a babyface, because her expression of annoyance looks more like some cute animal puffing up their cheeks and not at all intimidating. ]

It's not childish to want some fuckin' company whilst I'm up an' about. Christ, what a ray of sunshine you are.

[hourglasshalfempty]

[Ah, just like home]

Did I ask to be your company? Did any of us? No, you merely assumed we'd be glad to see to your slightest need. Like a child

[tr1xx]

[ Cammie flashes a grin, and she settles into a more comfortable position with her blankets tucked around her. She's delighted to actually be humoured here. ]

It's gotta be that ye've never had a driver's license. That's so, like, y'know, normal soundin' that it stands out, before even touchin' anythin' else.

[millenyal_pink]

[Elle too isn't sleep, but that's partly due to her crepuscular nature.]

Oooh! I want in. Uhh...

[Elle narrows her eyes.]

I'm going to go for the sixteen felonies. Wait, you seem like the kind of person who may have a fake driver's license. Does that count?

If it does, I'm going with that. If not, I'm sticking to the felonies thing.

[tr1xx]

Listen here, you—! I'm not a kid, what is it with everyone and callin' me a child—

[ She's half-way to getting on her feet before even she realises that's a bad idea, what would she even do? ]

I didn't even assume, I asked! Not my fault the mirrors are live only! Ye can turn the damn thing over and ignore it!

[hourglasshalfempty]

[How dare she make a valid point.]

Perhaps I might want to keep it near, in case there is an emergency? For example, someone actually getting lost and hurt in the woods.

[He can make them, too.]

[tr1xx]

[ Thank god for the friendlier folks. Cammie flashes a smile again. These honestly aren't really her usual kind of thing, but she has no better ideas and is so. bored. ]

Y'know 2 truths 1 lie's probably the safer of the two, plus I think ye have to know folks better for truths and dares to actually hit right.

[ What is Truth and Dare if not a way to put your friends on the spot with weirdly specific things? ...oops, now she misses her squad. ]

An' I'll go first, I guess? [ she counts on her fingers ] 1. I'm from Edinburgh. 2. I've actually been arrested and charged. 3. I designed an' built these ears myself.

[hallelujahjunction]

Nah, that one’s true. I was born off the grid and ain’t got no official documentation. The closest I’ve had are all fakes. [Dan grins.] Which narrows it to two.

[tr1xx]

[ Fuck, that is a point. Cammie huffs. For all her protesting about not being a kid she's really bad at not coming across like a petulant child when she's pissed off. ]

Someone gets lost or hurt an' I'm sure they'll shout loud enough to be heard even if it's turned over! I wasn't shoutin' at all 'til you got all grumpy guts at me!

[tr1xx]

[ Cammie squint. ]

...is this one of those where ye got convincted of like, a different number of felonies? Or not felonies, just other shite?

[ Before all this hopping worlds and meeting these folks she'd 100% have gone for the Jersey Devil thing but it's so specific and not at all unbelievable anymore. ]

[hourglasshalfempty]

Assuming we all remain in a close enough space! Sooner or later something or someone is going to come for us. [Raistlin keeps his voice low and controlled, a practical habit for an asthmatic, and also one that drives people trying to argue with him nuts.] Whether they are friend or foe, we will have to leave this place, and we may find ourselves separated or lost over long distances. Out of earshot.

[the_hit_list]

[ He thinks about it for a moment and then goes for it. ]

1’s the lie? I heard you say on these mirrors that tech’s your thing, and there’s a lot more to Scotland than Edinburgh. Getting arrested is the sort of thing people say in these games to confuse people, so it’s probably true unless you’re bluffing.

[tr1xx]

I meant heard through the mirror even if it's turned over, ye dafty! It'll still broadcast even if it's facin' the ground and a bit muffled, christ!

[ Historically she's been very good about not waking her friends! She sleeps away from the rest of the group even here because she's never been sure if she yells when waking from a nightmare or not. She asks for company one time and gets Grumpy Guts McGee on her case. What a pain in the arse! ]

[tr1xx]

Got it in one! I'm Glasgow girl, me, so y'know, second most obvious place I coulda been from but not Edinburgh. Shame, thought I might catch someone who didnae know better. Cannae count the times Americans have made the assumption.

Got arrested for hackin' stuff. Fell for a honeypot job, real obvious in hindsight but ye know what they say about that.

[ Cammie shrugs. ]

[hallelujahjunction]

I’ve had fake licenses, you got me there, but legally I don’t exist. Born off the grid and been prudent enough to stay there.

[He counts on his fingers, thumb first.]

Possession four times, possession with intent to sell, grand theft auto, felon with a firearm three separate times, desecration of a corpse twice, breaking and entering twice, driving without a license with priors, impersonating a police officer, and a couple of DUI’s from when I was young and stupid, all under false identities. A lot of those sound less bad in the context of hunting ghosts and monsters.

My torrid love affair was with the Loch Ness Monster.

[hourglasshalfempty]

And what if they need to speak softly, because they're hiding from some threat?