[ When Brook says he has no idea how to help, Nikolai feels a jolt of disappointment. It would have been nice, if Brook could have simply taught him. Some ancient secret method of retaining lucidity in sleep that probably required burning herbs and special breathing.

But of course it's not that easy. Nothing is ever easy.

Nikolai doesn't give in to despair. He feels like just in talking to Brook and reasoning it all out, he's made an inch of progress. That's better than nothing. ]

A century without sleep. You must've gotten an awful lot done.

[ And what does it say about Nikolai, that his first thought about hearing that Brook didn't sleep is that he must have had the time to accomplish a lot of tasks. For Nikolai, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day. Too many obligations pulling him in too many directions, all of them urgent and complex. ]

You may not want to make that offer until you see what you're dealing with.

[ As much as Nikolai wants to immediately take Brook up on it - say yes please he would love the security that comes from knowing he has a safeguard like that - he is wary. What if he blithely accepted the offer and ended up maiming or horribly traumatizing Brook? No, he wouldn't let that happen.

Nikolai rubs at the back of his neck. ]

I'm doubting neither your skills nor your willingness. It's just- you've been very kind to me already. I'd hate to make you regret that generosity.