InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "more than a million dollars"

Erzebet (countessgirl) wrote in the_nexus_rpg,
@ 2009-08-22 21:11:00

Does Erzebet ever sleep? Her eyes are saying she should but doesn't, and her slow, shuffling steps confirm this. It's obvious she's attempted to sleep, and smell tells you she's attempted self-medication. She looks mildly haunted, though her jaw is set in an angry line. Erzebet comes to a stop and inhales deeply, her words coming out in a rolling thunder of pique.

"Is there not a single person that has a good sleeping pill?" She looks about, glaring.

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	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 02:25 am UTC (link)
	"Not on hand," Melisan said, "but there's probably something for sale here. Or back where I come from. If all else fails, a stone with sleep or calming arcana would do it." (Reply to this) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:26 am UTC (link)
	"And where can I find these things?" She looks a slight bit annoyed. You know, how a fire looks a slight bit hot. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 02:29 am UTC (link)
	Melisan shrugged. "Try a herbalist. I normally spell myself to sleep, and I have more than a few healer friends." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:32 am UTC (link)
	"You are a magician?" Erzebet looks up and down Melisan, unimpressed. But she is more than slightly frantic at this point. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 02:34 am UTC (link)
	"An adept, yes," Melisan answered. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:37 am UTC (link)
	"Does your sleep bring about dreams?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 02:41 am UTC (link)
	"It does, unless you know a way to quit dreaming," Melisan replied. "I find that if you stay under, you won't remember the dreams until right before waking. That would require you to trust that you wouldn't need to wake for the whole night, and use the spell to stay under, rather than hope it will change into non-magical sleep when it ends." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:42 am UTC (link)
	"Worthless." She sneers. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

acloudedmoon
2009-08-23 02:47 am UTC (link)

"Well, you never asked about some way to quit dreaming, merely to aid sleep," Melisan replied. "Phrasing a question precisely, does help, you know." He paused. "The only way I would know to block dreams would be to allow a psychic adept access to your mind to block the source of the nightmares. It would require a great deal of trust that the adept would be discreet, though, and that he knows what he's doing. Frankly, I'd rather take the dreams, but if they're really bothering you..." He shrugged. "Failing that, you could take some hallucinogens, and hope the trip was better than the dreams, or stay awake until you start risking insanity."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:49 am UTC (link)
	"They don't work," she mutters to herself. "Though the mushrooms were quite lovely..." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 02:54 am UTC (link)
	"There you go. You can try a psychic or risk nightmares," Melisan replied. "Or figure out what's causing the dreams and deal with that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:56 am UTC (link)
	"'Risk' nightmares? Attempt to escape. And unless you can wipe all so-called 'priests' off the map, I doubt I can deal with those." She sniffs. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:00 am UTC (link)
	"Some kind of dreaming spell, then?" Melisan asked. "That I might be able to deal with. Priests of what god?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:02 am UTC (link)
	"Dreaming spell? Hm. And the Christian one... you tell me others still have hold?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

acloudedmoon
2009-08-23 03:07 am UTC (link)

"This is the Nexus. There are many worlds, created by many gods. In mine, most of the beliefs surround the seven Gods of Light, the Primordials, and the Exarchs of Shadow. It's perhaps the one thing most everyone agrees on about the gods, where I come from -- their existence."

Melisan had taken out a sun medallion that had been tucked inside his shirt and idly plays with it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:09 am UTC (link)
	"I... see." She looks at him warily. "In your realm, what class do you hail from?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:16 am UTC (link)
	"I'm a keeper. A priest. Given I'm from the Theocracy of Jarzon, that makes me a mid-level government toady more than any sort of spiritual counselor. My father kept more of the spiritual parts of the job, but that's probably why he never ascended past the ministering to a bunch of border villages near Kern." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:17 am UTC (link)
	"So I see." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:18 am UTC (link)
	"You?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:20 am UTC (link)
	"Countess Báthory Erzebet and unimpressed with your Christian counterparts." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:24 am UTC (link)
	"Keeper Melisan Lastin. 'Countess' is some kind of hereditary nobility title, correct?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:26 am UTC (link)
	"Yes." Interesting. Melisan seems not to know about her ancestor... (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:29 am UTC (link)
	"Huh," Melisan said. "Can't say I've ever really dealt with hereditary nobles, outside of the Lar'tyans." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:31 am UTC (link)
	"We are nobility. Nothing more." Interesting choice of words, dearie. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:34 am UTC (link)
	"Governing nobles, or just idle rich with a title?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:36 am UTC (link)
	"Governing, thank you very much." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	acloudedmoon 2009-08-23 03:41 am UTC (link)
	"Just asking," Melisan replied. "I never quite got the point of a title if it wasn't associated with a duty, past or present, myself." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:42 am UTC (link)
	"Hmph." (Reply to this) (Parent)

lost_myself
2009-08-23 02:45 am UTC (link)

"Probably somewhere. I'm on enough drugs to keep a pharmacy in business for the next decade." Thus speaks the small-ish, run-down man in the old American army jacket, mutt dog at his side. "It's best to try more natural ways of sleeping first, a lot of the shit out there is addictive as all hell and'll fuck you up almost worse than not getting sleep."

Thus speaks the voice of heavy experience, I suppose.

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	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:48 am UTC (link)
	She laughs, bitter. "As if natural sleep is even within the same country as I am. I am looking for something strong enough that dreams fear to tread close to that sleep." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_myself 2009-08-23 02:55 am UTC (link)
	A dry snort. "I wish I knew. I can't even keep them away when I'm awake, some days." His dog leans against his side, Ken idly scratches the top of his head. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 02:57 am UTC (link)
	"Hmph. Worthless, then." She sneers at Ken, making sure not to come closer. Animals are not her friend, apparently. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lost_myself
2009-08-23 03:05 am UTC (link)

Oh, he's used to that. Sneering, jeering, somehow it doesn't affect you so much after gunfire and shrapnel. "Try melatonin or valerian, if you haven't already."

Then again, neither of those have really done much for him, but...it's a suggestion, anyway.

Banzai, as if sensing her nervousness, wags his tail and comes a few steps closer. Ken's keeping a close eye on him, though.

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	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:07 am UTC (link)
	"Doesn't work, too weak, what in the world is your beast doing?" Erzebet stays put, but she turns visibly nervous. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lost_myself
2009-08-23 03:14 am UTC (link)

"Trying to say hello." Ken whistles at his dog, Banzai turns back toward him. "Banzai, come. She doesn't want to play with you."

Banzai obediently comes back to Ken and sits beside him. "Good boy."

"Doesn't work for me either, but neither have any of the prescription sleep aids they've tried." Ken shrugs. He's used to it by now, he hasn't had a night yet he hasn't woken up screaming for the last three years, at least.

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	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:16 am UTC (link)
	Erzebet looks at Banzai, licking her lips slightly. "I... see." It suddenly penetrates what else he said. "You also have intruding memories?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_myself 2009-08-23 03:25 am UTC (link)
	"Don't know about 'intruding.' They're all mine, unfortunately." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:28 am UTC (link)
	"I see. Even you are not immune, hm." Her lips quirk, humorlessly. "I am Countess Báthory Erzebet. You?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_myself 2009-08-23 03:32 am UTC (link)
	"Ken Hidaka." It's the same last name as over the breast pocket of his coat, faded to the point where it almost can't be read. "No titles or ranks for me. Not anymore." Though realizing 'Countess' is a noble title, he does bow slightly, in the respectful fashion his Japanese parents drilled into him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:34 am UTC (link)
	"How polite. Though, if I were to wonder of a past rank, where would it lie?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_myself 2009-08-23 03:40 am UTC (link)
	"Private Ken Hidaka, pilot for the 326th AHC." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:43 am UTC (link)
	"Military." What's that look on her face? It's not flirting, or angry. How strange. It's almost a small smile. "I see, Private." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_myself 2009-08-23 03:52 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah." And wow, is the world ending? "But now that the war's over, it hardly matters." He's just another fucked up vet trying to readjust to civilian life and failing miserably. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	countessgirl 2009-08-23 03:56 am UTC (link)
	"Once military, always military. Be proud of how you've protected." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lost_myself
2009-08-23 04:18 am UTC (link)

Proud of how he's protected, sure. He's more concerned about how he's failed--those are the parts that make him wake up screaming in the middle of the night. Then there's the people who'd just as rather spit on him than look at him, cross the road to walk on the other side when they see the man in the uniform jacket. How incredibly fucked up it was--and he wasn't even meant to go.

"Mm." It's a bit much to put into words.

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	countessgirl 2009-08-23 04:20 am UTC (link)
	Again, a strange look is on her face. "The military is to be respected. Strength with courage." (Reply to this) (Parent)