thelinebetween | 01. Insomnia Meme

the i n s o m n i a meme

It happens to everyone - sometimes, you have nights where you just can't fall asleep, no matter what you do. It could be for a number of reasons, or no reason at all. And this is what's happened now: you've been laying in bed for what feels like hours, just tossing and turning, and nothing seems to help. So what's left to do? Get out of bed and go wake someone else up, of course. If you're not getting any sleep, then why should they?

i n s t r u c t i o n s
• Post with your character (note the name and fandom in the subject).
• Other people reply to you by generating a number from 1 to 10.
• Have fun!

o p t i o n s
01 • FEAR. Maybe you're hearing strange, indeterminable noises; maybe there's a severe storm happening outside; maybe you watched a scary movie before bed? Whatever the reason, you're terrified and it's keeping you awake. You just want to wake someone else up so they can protect you from the monster in your closet.
02 • HUNGER. Your stomach is growling and it just won't stop. Or perhaps your throat is so dry you could cough up a tumbleweed? Well, you've gone to the kitchen to remedy this and hey, that was a pan that just dropped on the floor. It was loud enough to wake the dead! Oops.
03 • PAIN. Your body is completely worn out, be it from exercise, battle, sickness, or what have you. Either way you're in enough pain to keep you from sleeping, so maybe someone else has a home remedy or something, or can at least help you take your mind off of it.
04 • SOLITUDE. For some reason, your bed just feels so empty at the moment. You're feeling terribly lonely and really just want someone to keep you company for a while. Maybe it'd be easier to fall asleep if you're with them...
05 • DISCOMFORT. Your room is an oven. Either that or a freezer. Or maybe this bed is just really uncomfortable? Who knows why you can't get to sleep, it feels like it could be anything. Why even bother trying? Maybe someone else can preoccupy you until you feel tired enough to ignore your discomfort.
06 • PENSIVE. Something's on your mind, and no matter how hard you try to focus elsewhere, it's just not going to work. Your body may be tired, but your mind is incredibly busy and it's virtually impossible to get to sleep. Surely, talking it out with someone else will help?
07 • SADNESS. Something terrible has happened that day, perhaps; or you could just be severely depressed. Either way you're trying your hardest not to cry yourself to sleep, and it's not working at all. Better find a way to get it out of your system somehow; you need a shoulder to cry on.
08 • ANGER. You are just... fuming. Who knows why - that annoying dog is barking again, or maybe the people next door are getting busy and keeping you awake. Whatever the reason for your ire is, you'd better put an end to it so you can get some damn rest already! Go wake up a friend so you can complain to them.
09 • RESTLESS. You're far too energetic to sleep right now. Maybe you're just trying to do so out of necessity - you have to be up early tomorrow! But you just don't think you'll be able to fall asleep for a while now, so why waste the time trying to sleep when you could be doing something else? Namely bothering someone else - you're totally jealous because they're getting more sleep than you.
10 • WILDCARD. Choose one of the options above, or make up your own scenario.

snagged from

bakerstreet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sadistsword

[Is that how I should put it? xD')

From:

cannotcrossdress

[Ever since that rasetsu burst into her room that one night, Chizuru's faith in the protection of the Shinsengumi felt rather ill-placed. Not that she didn't trust them, but their failure to keep the creature at bay was a rude awakening.

It wasn't their fault, really. Up to this point, Chizuru had regarded them as something other than human - not much different than the rasetsu themselves - not nearly as grotesque, but every bit as much feared.

But they were human, and as such, even their fearsome skills were flawed. Now it was harder to fall asleep at night, not when the creak of the old wood floors pierced the restless night, stirring her from any possible slumber. Every sound, no matter how small, warned her of impending danger, and she couldn't possibly lose consciousness when the next sound could be yet another one of those bloodthirsty creatures bent on devouring her.]

From:

sadistsword

[As much as Sannan had worked on the ochimizu, it still seemed to be far from perfect. It was proven by the other night, which had seriously messed up the situation for them. But not only for them.

He passed the room in which the girl that was under their guard was resting. She had already seen a lot, but that just her would be the one that came under the attack of the rasetsu must have had some impact on her. Should he check on her, just to be sure?]

Chizuru-chan?

[Thankfully the paper doors were so thin or else she surely would not hear him. If she was awake, she might reply...]

From:

cannotcrossdress

[The door remains shut for a moment, but if Okita listens carefully, he can hear hands and knees skittering across the hard wood floors before pausing just before the doors.

The doors are indeed thin. Thin enough that Okita could probably hear Chizuru's shaky breathing on the other side, pausing before she quietly whispers.] Okita-san?

From:

sadistsword

[Judging from the way she spoke, she really seemed to be frightened. He had wanted to check on her, but he didn't really plan where he was going from there.]

Can I come in?

From:

cannotcrossdress

[Her breath catches at the request. 'Come in'? She won't allow herself time to contemplate what that means. If Okita of all people wanted into her room, it must be a pressing matter.]

Of course.

[Maybe stronger words than her initial sentiment, but she slides the door open anyway, but only enough to peek out and look up to him. Okita wasn't one to step aside and let others do things for him. If he wanted in, he'd open the door the rest of the way.]

From:

sadistsword

[Was she scared of him as well? Considering she didn't open the door properly for him. Not that he could really blame her, but it was a bit awkward.]

Chizuru-chan, I am not that slim.

[Perhaps some joking might relax her!]

From:

cannotcrossdress

[Chizuru backed away from the door, her face flushing slightly. He hadn't given any indication that he wanted inside, but perhaps she should have offered? It was rather rude of her not to invite him in, but...but it was Okita...]

I'm sorry. Please, come inside. [She tried to make up for the oversight with a polite gesture, but would it be enough to keep him off her case?]

From:

sadistsword

Well, thank you.

[He opens the door properly now and goes in. He looks around in her room before he sits down in a way so that he is properly able to face her.]

What keeps you awake at this hour? Shouldn't you sleep already?

From:

cannotcrossdress

[Chizuru settles back into a sitting position on her bed, folding her hands in her lap. She couldn't bring herself to look up to Okita. Admitting her apprehension--the fear of the rasetsu--would sound foolish to him. He was someone who stared death in the face every day he stepped out onto the Kyoto streets.

When she was trying so hard to fit in seamlessly, to be accepted...]

I was trying, I just...it's difficult. [She could blame it on a number of things; a chill, a stomach ache, but Okita would no doubt see through all of it.]

From:

sadistsword

Difficult? Did you try tea already? It usually calms down.

[Though he'd be surprised if she hadn't thought of it, considering she was so good at making it.]

From:

cannotcrossdress

[Chizuru gave Okita a knowing, if a bit annoyed, look.]

Do I look like Hijikata-san?

[With a face like that, maybe? Though she was grateful he didn't pry too much.]

From:

sadistsword

Sometimes.

[He reaches out to tip his finger against her forehead rather playfully.]

That worrying expression looks a lot like him, though not entirely.