Fifth Unused Utility Belt | Video and Spam, backdated to late last night

[hellofist]

[It's late, it's been dark for hours and she's pretty sure everyone else is sleeping, but Cass can't. It's not really a new thing, since generally crime fighters are out all night anyway, but the events of the port haven't helped much.

She's in her room when she turns the feed on, dressed in her Batgirl costume except for the cowl and gloves. She feels more like herself, dressed this way.]

What are... tips, for sleeping? Or... to do, to make tired? Don't say reading.

Is anyone else... even up?



[He said she could visit when she wanted. She even told him it might be at night and he said it was okay. That's why Cass is at Merlin's door in the middle of the night, not knocking before she just goes right in. The door was unlocked, so maybe he remembered she said she'd visit. She doesn't look around before she closes the door behind her because she's not really sneaking, so getting caught isn't exactly on her mind.

It's dark inside, which is good. It means he's sleeping instead of staying up all night doing magic things, or whatever it is Merlins do in their spare time. She makes her way to his bed, then climbs onto it to sit beside him and poke him in the shoulder.]

Hi, Merlin.

Comments

[secretasshole]

Yes. [Robot don't sleep they wait.] Why not reading?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[Ahaha what is sleep. Tim doesn't even know if he should reply, really, given the things he said to her in the hotel...but it would be worse not to.]

Being read to. [Yep that's an offer if she doesn't hate him, but he doesn't expect her to take him up on it. Besides, reading to them was more Dick's thing.]

I'm...I'm really sorry, Cass.

[hellofist]

How come? It's late.

[Someone is a hypocrite, oops.]

Don't know how.

Spam

[takeyouapart]

[Merlin had said okay to nocturnal visits mostly because he kept his door locked with magic when he was asleep. Usually. But after a few days' worth of coma at the Overlook Hotel, and with Reaver having graduated, he's been a little disoriented.

And disorientation makes him forgetful.

Generally he doesn't sleep very long, or very heavily; force of habit. When he's being prodded awake, it's more often because something bad's happened than because he's overslept. So here and now he jolts into sudden wakefulness, sitting upright, and the candle on his nightstand flares into life without him really thinking about it because it's dark and he needs a better look at - ]

Cass?

[He blinks owlishly and tugs at the collar of his nightshirt.]

Has something happened?

[Private]

[hellofist]

Not a baby.

[It's not meant to come out that harshly, but that's a leftover feeling from the stupid port, something she's still a little touchy about. She chews her lip a moment, then sighs and shakes her head.]

Wasn't you. [That doesn't mean much though. It doesn't make what he said go away.] Why are... you awake?

[truth_is_cold]

I still have plenty of turkey, if you're not opposed to that shortcut.

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[He doesn't flinch, just catches his lower lip between his teeth for a moment. He can't blame her at all, so he runs a hand through his hair. He isn't in his room; it looks like he's in one of the common rooms.]

Can't sleep. [That isn't entirely the truth, and he pauses before adding,] I don't really want to.

Spam

[hellofist]

[She sees it just before he pops up that his body is reacting in a less than positive way, so when he's suddenly sitting up she reaches for his shoulders to steady him and gives him a reassuring smile.]

Nothing's wrong. Said I'd visit. Surprise?

[She feels a little guilty for scaring him, but the candle thing was neat and she's focused on that.]

Made it light... without even trying. Impressive.

[hellofist]

Turkey? How does... that help?

[She's never celebrated Thanksgiving, so the whole turkey coma thing is something Cass isn't aware of.]

[fuckingvisions]

Have you looked into sleeping medication? That's pretty much the only reason I can sleep sober.

I'd say walk about until your tired or something, maybe find somethin' mind numbin' to watch.

Spam

[takeyouapart]

Thanks. [He'd mostly trained himself himself out of that sort of thoughtless magic in Camelot, not unless someone's life was on the line, and he's not sure if he needs to be worried about it sneaking back in.

For now, though, he relaxes a little and rearranges himself, sitting up properly and crossing his legs under the thin blanket.]

Can't sleep?

[truth_is_cold]

[Rhade did the traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday because... his hands hurt and that's when he got the food. He couldn't have before then thanks to the hotel. But he doesn't really recognize what it's for, being literally from another planet. He just knows the historical meaning.]

Turkey is high in carbohydrates. A large spoonful of peanut butter should also work, if you have any on hand.

[Private]

[hellofist]

[It says a lot that he clarifies that instead of hiding it. He's really trying and it's hard for Cass not to instantly forgive him. She'd held Barbara calling her stupid in the heat of the moment against her for so long, but she knows better now. It's easier to just let it go. She'd rather do that, because it means she gets him back.]

How come?

[hellofist]

No drugs. [She hasn't had the best experiences with that kind of stuff, so really she'd rather just suffer through some sleepless nights.]

Tried fighting, in hologram room. [That's not what it's called, but it's a good enough name when she can't remember the real one.] Body's tired, mind isn't. Keeping me up. Sucks.

Spam

[hellofist]

No. Haven't, since port.

[Her hands settle back into her lap, but Cass scoots forward a little to make sure they're still close together. She doesn't like that his blanket is thin. What if he gets cold at night and gets sick?]

Need new blanket.

1/2

[fuckingvisions]

Ahh, I know that feelin' love. That's what gets me most of the time. Sadly outside of that I don't know what to tell you, maybe talk to someone? Sometimes it helps to get it out... Though... Wait a second!

Spam

[takeyouapart]

This one's alright. [He snags a corner and offers it to her in a 'you may share this blanket if you like' gesture.] Do you want to talk about it?

2/2 private

[fuckingvisions]

Go to a woman named Arkady, shes a psychic of sorts. She helped me out when I was in a bad way. She might be able to help you love. She works at the bar with me so if you want I could talk to her and let her know you might be needin' some help. Just let me know.

[looksfine]

[This was the first time Aya had dared acknowledge the Network since their departure from Overlook. But she'd recognized Cass' voice. Interested that one would be posting at such an hour, when most organic beings had already retired to their sleep cycles.]

I...do not sleep.

[hellofist]

[With her metabolism, Cass would probably have to eat several turkeys for that to work.]

Didn't know... food could do that.

I'm sorry my character exists.

[truth_is_cold]

A large amount of food can make you tired, for a number of reasons. And a slow walk- nothing too active. Sex can make you tired, too, but I'm not going to jump to any conclusions about partners or feasibility.

Spam

[hellofist]

[Yep, she's definitely scooting around so she can get under the blanket with him. This is exactly the kind of thing she needed, someone that would just let her be close by. And normally she would't want to talk about it, but maybe it's time. She's shared everything else with him.]

Just... the port. Brought things back. Things I don't... want to think about.

[She really thought she was done feeling sorry for herself for everything that happened when she was a child, that she'd moved past feeling like a dumb failure, now that she was trying to learn to read. The port made her look at all of that again and now, she can't just ignore it. It's all out in the light of day and it won't go away.]

[secretasshole]

I don't require sleep. Has anyone offered to teach you?

Spam

[takeyouapart]

[If she doesn't want to think about them, he doesn't know how much she'll want to talk about them - and he doesn't want to push. God knows he's not especially forthcoming himself, when he's unhappy.

So he nods, and his expression is attentive and sympathetic; after a moment's hesitation he reaches out to take her hand. If she's going to say more he'll listen, but he's not going to press either way.]

[hellofist]

No psychics!

[Oh, she didn't mean to shout that and as soon as she does, she looks apologetic. The last time someone messed around in her mind, they gave her the power to speak but it made her lose her ability to read body language. She couldn't fight effectively anymore and Batman took her off active duty. She can't lose those things again.]

Sorry, I- it could... go wrong. Don't want to take chance. But, thank you. [After a pause, that apology doesn't seem like enough.] Sorry, Doyle.