video;

[strangelic]

[ The man who appears on screen is wearing white hospital clothes, despite attempts to get him into something a little more him. They're comfortable, he protests. Over this he's wearing a much loved and heavily dry-cleaned (thanks, Dean) beige colored coat, the combination of the two making him look like a businessman - or perhaps a P.I. - who's had a little bit of a mental breakdown. Which...it's not far off from the truth.

In any case, he's sitting in the dark, looking drawn and tired, like he's either been trying very hard not to sleep, or the sleep hasn't been very good. It's a combination of the two, actually. ]

Did you know that human minds are most susceptible to influence when you're dreaming? If you wanted to teach yourselves how to communicate telepathically, for instance, it would be far better to do it when you're sleeping, when your brain isn't fettered by the constant needs of your body. Itching. Twitching. Fidgeting. All its aches and grumbles and complaints. Emotions. Recollections. Listening to other people chatter incessantly. Television. Arousal. You get the idea. It's all very distracting.

[ Seriously. Who let Castiel talk? Like ever.]

And let me tell you, some of those thoughts take up a lot of your time.

I--where was I? Ah. That is to say, I haven't ever slept before. I've visited dreams, of course, but experiencing my own is something else entirely. Something I'd rather avoid, if it's at all possible. So-- [ Deep breath. ] --I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Mnemonics, perhaps. The opposite of counting sheep. I'd drink coffee but I'm afraid I've discovered it has much the same effect on me as alcohol, which is to say I'd have to drink most of a plantation in order to have any kind of success.

Your assistance, please. I can't repay you, per se, but... Oh. [ He lifts his hands in front of him, and cups them together, and when he lifts them apart there is a little origami swan between his palms. ] I can do this.

Comments

permaction

[kickingand]

[ Dean is meandering his way out of the kitchen with his five hundredth mug of coffee. No more dreams, please god. No more. Which is where he finds Cas speaking to the network and he outright cringes behind the rim of it, rubbing at his face blearily. ]

Hey. Cas.

[ The damage control he's going to have to do because of this... he can feel it now. ]

[strangelic]

[ The smell of coffee is intricate and interesting, but it doesn't affect him; his angel physiology protects him from those kinds of drugs and vices. Unfortunately. Not that it seems to be doing Dean much good anyway, he looks just as exhausted.

He couldn't exactly fix lack of sleep. The best he could do would be to knock Dean out, and that probably wouldn't stop the dreaming, only bring it on.

But he smiles at him, and offers the swan toward him. ]

Here. Take it.

[kickingand]

Uh.

[ Dean rearranges himself and his mug so that he can reach down and take the little crane, picking it up gently and looking it over in his fingers, eyebrows furrowed. Before speaking he takes another sip, mulling to himself for a moment before he gives a quiet 'oookay.' ]

When'd you take up the ancient art of origami?

[strangelic]

It wasn't always an ancient art, Dean. I first tried it when it was brand new, in fact.

[ He carefully puts all his things away and gathers himself up off the ground. ]

Do you like it?

[kickingand]

Course you did. [ But he nods, making his way over to the couch to gently plop the little crane down onto the arm rest. ]

It's great. Better than anything I could've done.

permavoice.

[torrefied]

[Dryly:] Folding paper. That's ... real helpful.

[strangelic]

I can fold other things. What would you consider helpful?

[torrefied]

Any chance you can fold dimensions and send those of us with important business back to where we came from? I realize I probably know the answer to this already, but since you've asked.

[strangelic]

The powers of this place didn't think to leave me with that ability--perhaps because they prefer us to be captive. Normally speaking, it wouldn't be a problem.

video;

[watashinonamaewa]

[ Talking about humans like you aren't human, hm? Yes, hello. Here is Cibo. ]

Lights on, for one thing. Helps the brain observe more detail in your surroundings. That'll keep it busy for a while. Except nothing to really cure the boredom when that hits. A long, thoughtful discussion, maybe? I just don't think there is an easy way to stimulate the human mind like you want with what is available to us.

[ There's a lot more science to it. Those are just the basics. ]

video;

[strangelic]

I see as well in the light as in the dark, but I suppose it's worth trying.

[ He raises his eyes away from the screen for a moment, and every light in the apartment comes on at once, shining brighter than perhaps they're meant to. Then, with a satisfied nod, he looks back down. ]

Your other suggestion--a long, thoughtful discussion? It would be enough to discuss things with the other people trapped here?

[watashinonamaewa]

[ Well. She wasn't expecting that. Very neat trick there, mister. ]

Yes. At least I'd think so for a short time. Perhaps over whatever books there are in the library or something that is important to you?

To be fair, I don't need to sleep like they do. And I don't dream either. I've never tried to stave it off, though I've found my own ways to pass the time.

[strangelic]

[ His specialty is lights. But mostly exploding them. ]

I didn't, until I challenged this place's god over the process. [ It's not true, but he's not about to discuss his catatonic coma just now. ]

What are you, that you don't sleep?

[notjustinthemirror]

There's a serial killer who leaves those things on his victims. You could take up a new hobby to avoid sleeping.

[strangelic]

[ That makes his expression falter, quickly shifting to uncertainty. ]

Are you suggesting I should become a serial killer?

[notjustinthemirror]

It would keep you awake wouldn't it?

[strangelic]

...I.

I'm not sure what to make of that suggestion. I hope it's merely that your sense of humor is a little worse than my own.

voice

[unitas]

Have you downloaded Pong for your phone? [ if he hasn't, well, here's his lucky day. she sends him the download link, made by Hadriel's own Rhys. ] It's a good time waster.

voice

[strangelic]

Oh-- [ Delight as he realizes what has just happened, what he's clicked on. It reaches his voice. ] This is wonderful! Just wonderful, thank you! I've worn out the buttons on the version of this I discovered in the amphitheater. This will do nicely.

voice

[unitas]

[ sharon sounds... slightly amused. ] Well, just try not to wear out your phone. I doubt you'll be able to find another here, at least not without asking Hope for one.

voice

[strangelic]

These gods seem to be very willing to give things. It's not the first time I've heard it mentioned. Is that something that people commonly do around here? What do they ask for in return?

video

[prespangled]

How'd you do that? With the-

[Steve pauses, and then just nods at the swan. He's so tired that he's starting to forget words, words like 'paper'.]

video

[strangelic]

This? [ He lifts the little swan up slightly. ] Ah, well. I suppose you could say it's a miracle of time and physics, but mostly I just...folded paper.

[ Very quickly. ]

video

[prespangled]

Huh. It's nice. Like art.

[Steve takes another look at the swan and then a better look at him. A guy with Steve's number of conditions and a ma who was a nurse is sure to recognize those clothes.]

Were you in the hospital?

video

[strangelic]

I believe so. I don't remember it, however. I was...

[ Not asleep. He hadn't been sleeping, he'd just been trapped. Trapped, that's a good word. ]

--I was trapped there. [ And he taps his head. ]