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

[torrefied]

Yeah. I do. Thanks.

[Which all comes out sounding a little strained. But it's true; attempting to rule and/or save the world takes a lot of focus.]

Honestly, I can't understand people who set such a low bar for themselves.

[strangelic]

Perhaps, not. But it's... To err is human, I suppose. Though I'd hardly call it erring to be human. Sexual arousal is perfectly natural, and--alcohol, of course, is a drug, and quite addictive.

[torrefied]

[Mello almost cannot believe this is an actual conversation he's having. What is his life.]

Sex is one of the things included on the very bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. People should at least try to aim higher than the bottom of something.

[strangelic]

Well, that's very cynical. In fact, I'd say that the person who made that hierarchy likely wasn't getting enough of it himself--or herself.

[torrefied]

Him. And I don't have any data on that one way or the other.

[How exactly did Mello get caught up in speculation about Abraham Maslow's sex life. FUCK HIS LIFE FOREVER.]

[strangelic]

Mm. Well, in any case, I suppose priorities are different for everyone. The pace of civilization doesn't seem dependent on them.

[torrefied]

Yeah ...

[Some people have the wrong priorities. A Mello's Opinion.]

Well, I'm sure this place fits a textbook definition of "civilization," but I'd argue just barely.

[strangelic]

I wouldn't call it that. It's hardly a sufficient number to guarantee any kind of survival, and civilization, of course, has time to make art.

[torrefied]

Well, you've got the market cornered on origami, anyway.

[strangelic]

I suppose. It's not very useful.

[torrefied]

Is any art useful?

[strangelic]

There are useful things which are also art. I suppose I'm flawed in that I can see the Creator's hand in everything. Bees, for example. They're so very beautiful up close.

[torrefied]

Bees also serve a function - pollenating plants so they continue to reproduce.

[strangelic]

And they make honey. [ He perks up, at once. ] And dance.

There aren't any here.

[torrefied]

Maybe we can trade in some of the combustible fireflies.

[strangelic]

Do you think they would? I miss the sound of their happy humming.

[torrefied]

Maybe you should ask. I hear the gods here will do things for people, sometimes.

[strangelic]

Things like bringing back bees? Really?

[torrefied]

If they're gods, shouldn't they be able to do anything?

[strangelic]

That's the wrong kind of god.

[torrefied]

Most self-proclaimed gods are.