[ catch-all log for January ]

[hypnagothic]

WHO: Morpheus (hypnagothic) & various
WHAT: varies!
WHERE: depends on the starter
WHEN: throughout January
WARNINGS: none yet, but will update as it comes up

Comments

Loki, Hob, and Dream

[100more]

[ Now that things have calmed down a little after the New Year and Hob is doing much better, it seems like the right time to focus some attention on Loki and what he needs. Hob feels bad that his injury may have delayed some things, especially when it comes to helping Loki with his sleeping problems.

Since both Loki and Dream agreed it would be good to have him there, on the decided night, Hob escorts Dream to Loki’s apartment. Once there, Hob knocks, but then takes a key out of his pocket and unlocks the door, letting them both in. ]

Loki? We’re here.

[abit_ofboth]

[Ever since he checked out the exhibit with Johanna, Loki’s sleeping has gotten worse. Now he doesn’t just dream of his death before arriving here, but his death in the photo as well. He still hasn’t given Hob the details, hating to think about it at all, but as he waits for him and Dream to arrive, he sees the folly in his plan.

Though he is expecting them, he jumps slightly at the knock and opening of the door. Loki jumps up from his couch where he’s been sitting and fretting and greets them with a strained smile. He’s dressed casually in simple black slacks and a light green sweater.]

Hi, yes hello. Welcome! [Ah yes, that didn’t sound nervous at all. He walks over to meet them properly, he nods politely at Dream and leans in to kiss Hob on the cheek.] Thank you both for coming.

[hypnagothic]

[ Dream doesn't respond aloud to the greeting, giving a single nod in return, but then his eyes narrow as he takes in Loki, watching him with a very unsubtle stare as he and Hob exchange greetings. he lets Hob step in before him, gaze still caught on Loki, but finally speaks up once they're all inside and the door closed behind them once again. ]

Something else has occurred to you.

[100more]

[ Hob understands if Loki is nervous about this, but he tries to reassure Loki with a warm look. The affectionate greeting gets a little blush out of Hob, who touches Loki's side with a brush of his fingers.

Dream's remark then earns a curious, ]

Hm? What's that?

[abit_ofboth]

[Oh Dream, straight to the point as always.

Loki only doesn’t break out in a nervous sweat because Hob’s presence is a calming one.]

Is it that obvious?

[He shoots Hob an apologetic look.] I did mean to say, but it never felt like the right time. My sleeping issue has gotten worse since I went to the exhibit with Johanna.

[hypnagothic]

[ look, if it's about his area of expertise, he's going to be straight-forward about it. there's a very subtle rising of his eyebrows at the mention of Constantine though.]

What exhibit is this?

[100more]

[ Hob raises his brow at the news. Given how this city likes to torment them, he can only guess what might have happened. There's also a frown that follows, since Hob hadn't realized something was bothering Loki, but Dream noticed right away. Probably because of Loki's lack of sleep, but still, he frowns.

Not wishing to interrupt the explanation, Hob just looks from Dream to Loki, expectantly. ]

[abit_ofboth]

[Once the door is closed, Loki offers to take their jackets (or cloaks) before moving them into the living room area.]

You haven’t heard about the exhibit? In the museum that opened in District 4 there is an exhibit on all the other iterations of this place. In it there is a photo of each one displaying a rather intense disaster scene with a button below the display.

[As he explains, his voice displays the discomfort he’s feeling about the memory and he reaches out for Hob’s hand, needing to touch him.]

After the messy business with Ethan and his alternate form, I made Johanna promise me she would call me if she were about to try something possibly dangerous. And much to my surprise, she did.

[hypnagothic]

[ his eyebrows visibly rise higher. ]

That certainly is surprising of her.

[100more]

[ Hob slips off his coat and hands it over to Loki, though he doubts Dream will remove his own. He also follows Loki further into the apartment as they speak.

Hearing that Johanna actually did as Hob hoped she would does make him smile a little. He doesn't want Loki to be in danger, but he'd still rather she ask for help and have someone reliable like Loki watching her back.

The touch of Loki's hand is responded to with a squeeze, holding his hand securely. ]

I'm guessing she pushed a button.

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki nods in response to Dream.] Yes, I was rather surprised myself. And honestly relieved. If she is going to do something dangerous, I would rather be there to try and help.

[Though neither of them had been much help to each other at the time. He is still glad she trusted him enough to call.

He turns to Hob and smiles a bit sadly.] We actually pressed it together. I am sorry I did not tell you sooner, but at the moment I felt I needed to get to her as quickly as possible or she would’ve done it alone. And after… well I do not like thinking about what happened.

[hypnagothic]

Then What you saw is causing new nightmares.

[100more]

[ Hob shakes his head a little and smiles softly to Loki. ]

It's okay. You did the right thing, going with her, but I'm sorry what you saw upset you.

[ Enough that he's losing sleep over it. ]

Even if you don't want to, you are still thinking about it, if it's causing you nightmares, so maybe we can help.

[ Hob looks hopefully over to Dream. ]

backdated { led by a single star | she came from very far | to seek where shadows are

[matermali]

[ There has been no shortage of things to write about, but everything is either terrible or foreboding in some form. Even the joys come with fears. The fragile love she has been given comes with threat of loss, and more uncertainty than ever before. And she has never felt more powerless.

She would normally carry out her writing at a desk, but this room is lacking. Instead, she's relaxed against a scattering of pillows on the bed in one of her more modest nightgowns, penning her thoughts into the muted journal she has propped against her knees.

What else would she be doing? Sleeping? Not until she is physically incapable of keeping her eyes open, or Morpheus convinces her. He isn't here tonight, so she expects it to be a long evening. The nightstand is already piled with candy wrappers and juice cans. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ it is indeed a long evening before Morpheus finishes his task, only finishing with Loki and Hob very late into the night (or perhaps early into the morning?). he risks one more expenditure of power to get to Vanessa's faster, and thankfully fate seems to favor him this time by actually arriving where he intended to be.

which happens to be Vanessa's residence! though perhaps his aim was a little off which results in a less than elegant landing, suddenly appearing in one of the darkened corners of her bedroom with a bit of a stumble, catching his balance with a hand on the wall. it seems like he really pushed his limits tonight ... ]

[matermali]

[ While she is accustomed to his sudden appearances, the spot he appears just out of the corner of her eye is nearly enough to give her a start. With the pen she'd been chewing on dropped to her lap, she sits up as soon as he stumbles.

His powers do sometimes act up. Had it thrown him into the wall or something? ]

Morpheus?

[ The notebook slips from her lap as she quickly hops from the bed to go and greet him with a hug. An unexpected surprise!

...Though, his energy is noticeably off, and something tells her she should be the one to lean on for the embrace if he should need steadying. ]

[hypnagothic]

My apologies, beloved. I had thought you might already be asleep.

[ he normally would be able to tell if she had been asleep from across the city, but this City had limited his senses even before he pushed himself so he can only feel someone's sleep or dreams if he was in close proximity.

as it is, his hand is still on the wall to hold himself up even as Vanessa moves to hug him, his free hand settling on her waist in a half-return of the embrace. he is definitely off tonight, his usual stick-up-his-ass composure given way to an exhausted slouch without actually leaning on Vanessa. his pride is still intact then. like an embarrassed cat that tries to play off a fumble by furiously grooming itself after. ]

[matermali]

[ Any bewilderment quickly morphs into concern, and she keeps close while turning to slowly lead him to the bed so that he can sit. ]

What has happened?

[hypnagothic]

[ okay he has to lean more against her since the wall goes away, leaning fairly heavily for someone as skinny as he is. he sits heavily on the edge of the bed when they get there. ]

I believe I mentioned my plans to examine the limitations placed on me by assisting with the cause of someone's nightmares this evening?

[ he mentioned it in passing, hardly any details beyond that he may or may not return tonight. ]

[matermali]

[ Wads of paper are knocked out of the way before she sits next to him, reaching to brush back his hair. ]

Yes.

[ Did a nightmare hurt him? She'll fight a nightmare, where is it. ]

Was it too much at once?

[hypnagothic]

It was a test of my limitations. In that, it was successful.

[ he turns into her hand, leaning slightly into the petting, his eyes slipping closed. ]

[matermali]

[ Of course, he would not want to say anything was 'too much', but he says enough. His weariness is palpable. ]

Hm... Perhaps you need a moment to recover. Using your power to come here as well could only have...tested your limitations even further.

[ Her thumb strokes at his temple before her hand drops away, and she moves to stand while gesturing to the pillows behind him. ]

Sit back, and I will go fetch you some tea.

[hypnagothic]

I knew that it would, though I had little desire to walk here.

[ his eyes reopen and he sits up a little straighter as she stands, tilting his head to look up at her. ]

And for yourself?

[matermali]

[ Cupping his face, she can't resist leaning back down to once more brush back his hair, this time dusting a light kiss to his forehead. ]

I fear I may have over indulged in too many of the canned fruit juices.

[ Which she will clean up later.

The sight of him so sleepy-eyed is endearing to the point that she almost decides to stay. But if he has been weakened at all, then she wants to help. She can try to bring food after the tea, perhaps. ]

Concern yourself over nothing but remaining at rest. It won't take but a moment.

[ Green tea is useful for that. White tea even more. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ he should look more put out at the suggestion of needing rest, but he knows that he truly does. so he doesn't protest it. much. ]

Shall I join you in the kitchen, at the least?