video;

[chiroptophobic]

[ There's no telling how much effort it takes for Bruce to actually look tired in a video feed. It's something he's taught himself not to do: awake is awake, and stolen moments of sleep are sleep--cautious, batarang under the pillow sleep. The moments have to be separate, with very little in between, and so Bruce hardly knows tired any more.

What does the trick in the end - what really gives him the worn, haunted look of a man desperately looking for something that he can't find - is the memory of his parents, ghostly and just out of reach, talking to him with words that he just can't hear; a residual image left behind by the mask. He adopts it, weaves it into his story: gaunt, eyes dark from supposed lack of sleep, Bruce fumbles his device and turns it on as though he's just woken - in fact he's been awake for hours, scheming - staring bleakly down into the lens. ]

This place gets to you even in your sleep. [ A deliberate shudder, eyes jumping from one corner of his room to the other, as though something might leap from the shadows. ] Is anyone else awake?

[ Audio; Private to Crane, 5 minutes later ]

I don't suppose I might have a moment of your time? I know it's late, but this really can't wait.

Comments

[ private video, what's another thread?

[firms]

[ Rachel is currently in the fourteenth floor kitchen making somebody's coffee. She's not really thinking that it's somebody's. Just that it's communal. She's also wide away as she takes a sip and faces her device. ]

Nightmares? [ She sets down the cup. Needless to say, she's awake and very used to getting up early. It's something she can't shake. ]

[ private video, gold?!

[chiroptophobic]

[ Bruce's hair is very loose about his face. It's from his attempts to look as though he just woke up, and he smiles at the familiar face, reassured; a wry smile. ]

Memories. The two cross over sometimes, and they have a way of becoming...embellished.

[ private video, it's practically glittering

[firms]

[ The attempts work. She assumes he's just woken up. GJ, Bruce. ]

Dreams do that. I can't tell you how many times I've dreamt about college. But, it was never right. Either the buildings were all wrong or all my classmates were friends from childhood. Dreams throw everything off kilter.

Glad to be awake?

[ private video

[chiroptophobic]

More than glad. Really, I'd...like to take my mind off it.

You're not in your room, maybe I could join you?

[ private video

[firms]

Sure.

[ She has nothing better to do. ]

Fourteenth floor kitchen. Where we met before I showed you the pool. [ The pool she'd found, anyway. There are multiple. ]

[ private video

[chiroptophobic]

I'll be there in a moment. Let me get presentable.

[ He signs off to go drag a comb through his hair, and he'll show up momentarily in a suit, shirt buttons open, still looking haphazardly put together in a purely intentional way. ]

video;

[theshabbiestofmen]

I take the precaution of a good book and a mug of hot milk. Are you all right?

video;

[chiroptophobic]

I will be, I hope. Warm milk, rather than something more potent?

video;

[theshabbiestofmen]

Well, it's a slippery slope, isn't it? Besides: milk tastes better.

video;

[chiroptophobic]

[ Bruce seems to consider for a moment, seeming awkward. He doesn't know how kitchens work, okay. ]

Do you just replace it with the water in the electric kettle, or is there a better way?

video;

[theshabbiestofmen]

I personally use a pot-- you can get the skin off the milk that way. Have you never made warm milk for yourself?

text|

[redwinged]

it gets you everywhere.

text|

[chiroptophobic]

Maybe that's the point.

[ Caution, now. This is risky, much too risky. His finger is on the shortcut key that implements his encryption, he'll hit it if he has to. ]

text|

[redwinged]

whose point?

text|

[chiroptophobic]

The ship's, maybe. Or perhaps God's.

text|

[redwinged]

implying both are sentient.







and present.

video;

[inebriety]

[On the other hand, Tony had very genuine bags under his eyes as a result of his insomnia. But like Bruce, despite appearances, he was able to function as normal. He's slouched in a chair dressed in a rumpled suit of his that he didn't know how to care for.]

Insomniacs are.

[He languidly raises an arm and waves.]

video;

[chiroptophobic]

[ There are an awful lot of them on board, actually. Tony looks terrible, to tell the truth; significantly enough that Bruce feels bad for his own lack of true sleeplessness. He managed to sleep like clockwork, was even an avid fan of oversleeping after a particularly hard night. If he lacked the ability to recharge on just a few hours, his hobby would have killed him by now. ]

I take it you speak for all insomniacs?

video;

[inebriety]

[He laughs, it's very relaxed and nonchalant. Two things Tony hasn't been in a long time.]

Judging by the definition of the word I'd be okay to say I do.

video;

[chiroptophobic]

[ Clever and awake at odd times of the night. Bruce smiles. ]

Anything to offer in terms of advice? Although I suppose if you knew how to get back to sleep, you'd probably be sleeping.

I might be asking the wrong people.

video;

[inebriety]

A post made at the designated night hours really isn't the best time. Having said that, the medbay has sleeping pills and I find having a drink helps as well. However the quality here leaves much to be desired. A Ritz Sidecar it is definitely not.

[One day he'll probably get desperate enough to try and create a chemical that makes it taste like what he's used to.]

[ Video ]

[akidfrombrooklyn]

You looking for company? [ Not that he needs as much sleep as the average human, but he still looks tired, worn, resting back against the wall of his room, a book just visible to the side of the shot, pages splayed open on the pillow beside him. ] 'Cause I've got no immediate plans to sleep.

[ Video ]

[chiroptophobic]

You know, I'm told that isn't really very good for you. As if I can talk.

[ A wary smile. Bruce is faking how terrible he looks; Steve actually legitimately looks wrecked. ]

What would you have in mind?

[ Video ]

[akidfrombrooklyn]

[ He huffs a laugh that's more tired than humorous. ]

Yeah, I've heard that one, too, but no rest for the wicked, huh?

[ Usually he turns to the gym to burn off enough energy to find rest, but that's not really their problem. ]

Heard there's hot cocoa in the kitchens, it might be just the trick.

[ Video ]

[chiroptophobic]

[ Well he doesn't think of himself as wicked, or unrested. It feels almost as though he's taking advantage pretending to be lacking on sleep when there are clearly a number of people on board who are not so lucky. ]

Sure thing, but you'll have to show me how to make it.

Which kitchen do you have in mind?