poly_chromatic | Video | Forward dated to the middle of the night

[ Lucy is sitting up in bed, blankets rumpled around her. She's wearing pajamas and she looks exhausted because she hasn't slept well since she saw that cottage. She's twisting a strand of hair that's fallen out of a sleep-mussed ponytail around and around her finger, releasing it and twisting it again. There's a giant ginger cat curled up amidst the pillows. The edge of a sheet covered mirror can be seen not quite out of frame. She presses her lips together, teeth digging into her bottom lip before she releases it with a puff of air. ]

At what point in the whole insomnia cycle do you start seeing hallucinations? I've pretty much decided I'm going crazy because curses don't last this long. And yet...

[ She pauses, rubbing a hand over her face. ]

I'm sorry. I'm just tired and according to Fight Club, you can't die from insomnia so...[ She shrugs. ] I've lost my train of thought. Good night, City. I hope you all sleep better than I am.

[ She leans forward, flicking the recording device off. ]

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[ maybe one of these days she'll tell him. she's a little more than terrified of how he'd react. ]

If I must, I'll be beautiful. [ She huffs out a sort of half laugh and leans up, stretching to press a kiss against his cheekbone. ]

I bet I know how to make thinking completely out of the question.

You are most gracious.

[He squeezes her, smiling and, frankly, tempted.]

Lucy--as much as I enjoy not thinking, when are you going to sleep?

[ Oh! Right. She manages to look slightly guilty. ]

I'd sort of forgotten I invited you over here for sleeping instead of for naked time. Oops?

[He doesn't think she's feeling all that guilty.]

Oops? This is a convenient memory lapse. [And, less teasingly:] We should both sleep. I will stay here, I promise.

[ He's caught her. ]

Those happen fairly often in regards to you and naked time. I could have a disease. [ She teases back, touching the tip of her tongue to her lip. She sighs after a moment then nods as she pushes herself up off him to her knees then stands, holding out her hand. ]

If you're going to stay and we're both going to sleep, we might as well go to the bed where there's pillows and sheets and room.

[ Not that they'll use the room. She'll end up sleeping on top of him there as well. ]

You should be quarantined. [He wants to offer to lick her lips for her, but that won't lead to sleeping. Instead, he takes her hand and hauls himself upright.]

Your room will do for a quarantine area. Very comfortable. Will you still be my blanket?

Sadly, I think you're already infected and you'll have to be quarantined with me. [ Yeah. No. That wouldn't lead to sleeping at all.

She pretends to consider this for a moment.]

It's the least I can do. Unless you decide you need more room.

How unfortunate.

[At least they make it to her room without any detours.]

With you? Less room is always preferable.

[ Honestly, it will be a miracle if they actually make it to sleeping at all. It's going to help that Lucy will keep her pajamas on.

She can't help but smile at his words. ]

In that case, I will be happy to resume my position as a Pavel blanket.

[ Once they're at the bed, she gives him a light, playful push in an attempt to topple him onto the bed. ]

[No, they will sleep. Pavel has not behaved himself this long only to give in to temptation now.]

And I will be equally happy to be a Lucy pillow.

[He allows the light push to topple him, but not without tugging on Lucy's hand to encourage her to come along. He's grinning ear-to-ear, happy to have a calmer and less frightened Lucy in bed with him.]

[ she will be more than happy to topple down alongside him, shifting so that she's half lying on him once they've snuggled in. She reaches down and pulls a blanket over them. ]

You're so much better at being a pillow than my body pillow.

[ Calmer and less frightened is good. It has everything to do with him though. ]

Thank you. For coming over tonight and for staying.

[He pulls the blanket over their heads and kisses Lucy's nose.]

I try more than your body pillow.

[gently:] I'm always happy to stay with you, Lucy.

Mmmmm, good point. My pillow just lays there. [ She presses a kiss to his collarbone. ]

I still get to thank you. [ It's soft and she's pleased to hear that staying with her makes him happy, even when it's for nightmare reasons and include more sleeping than usual. ]

Lazy cossack. [The pillow, of course. It should really be trying harder.]

Then I will say you're welcome.

I ought to give it to Bryant and rely entirely on you for pillow purposes. [ It really should. In any case, Lucy is grinning. ]

A very appropriate response. [ She yawns widely.] And next time, I promise I'll be more fun and less sleepy.

I would not be opposed to this.

[Her yawn prompts one from him, too.] But you are cute when you're sleepy. Cuter than always.

[ She can't help but smile when he gives her compliments like that. She snuggles into him and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ]

You're going to sleep too, right? And be here when I wake up?

[ Subconsciously, that may be one reason she sleeps practically on top of him. She reasons the City can't take him away if she's lying on top of him.]

[At times like this, he wonders how he ever manages to sleep without a Lucy blanket. Now that his libido has finally given up for the night, he's wonderfully warm and sleepy and comfortable, and it doesn't really matter that Lucy blankets have bones that aren't always conducive to maximum comfort because she's right there and all is right with all of the universes.]

I'm halfway to sleep and have no intention of moving ever.

[Well. He'll have to move eventually, but he's pretty sure he wouldn't if he didn't have to.]

Mmmmmmm [ Lucy purrs a little at his words, snuggling in and relaxing entirely, giving up the idea of fighting sleep. ]

Good. Me either.

[ It's a sleepy sort of slur as she yawns once more and closes her eyes. She's at least half way to sleep.]

Video | Forward dated to the middle of the night

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End thread?