don't bite the hand that feeds you if it's holding a knife

[draconite]

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[draconite]

[ Her head is throbbing.

She doesn't know how long it's been since she's slept properly. A few days, maybe. She's been making do with a few snatches of slumber here and there. Never longer than an hour or two before she's jolted awake again with the feeling of molten flame and blood on her face and her teeth. She's been trying to tell herself that none of it means anything, that being shown these dreams or visions or whatever it is won't make any change – but she knows that's a lie. Like a bud waiting to unfurl, she can feel the promise of something monstrous just waiting to come loose and that the motive has prodded and pushed it into focus now of all times was an inevitability. She only has so much time, after all, until she has to pay back her debts.

She's swaying a little on her feet as she makes her way upstairs from the dorm. Exhausted as she is, she feels an odd sense of purpose and clarity nevertheless. Even a bit of bemusement, as she comes to the potions room, as to just who she's seeking out in her moment of need. ]

... Hubert.

[ Of course he's here. Bryn's relieved that he'd lived up to her expectations. ]

I... need your help.

[twibeast]

[ Orthrus isn't someone who needs to sleep, but when you're an eternal being you come to appreciate it for different reasons. A way to past the time, something to make your endless existence slightly less insufferable. A way to briefly reunite with those you've lost.

But he's never liked nightmares. Ever since he had his first one all those millennia ago when it was still just him and Patroclus. And so he's taken to sleeping as little as possible this week, if even at all.

Tonight is yet another restless night when he just can't do it (never mind that the Friday pattern hasn't escaped his notice) and so he finds himself leaving the dorm and making it up instead up[ the tower. He ascends all the way to the top floor, harp under his arm, and makes himself comfortable in the solarium where he can see the stars. Then he starts to play, just to make the night pass faster.

Maybe it's stupid being up here this late. Or maybe he can prevent a tragedy. He doesn't know. But surely it's better than staying in that room right now. ]

[encelevenemus]

[Somnus opened his mouth to say something further to Orthrus…and then abruptly stopped when he heard something coming, head snapping up as the disposition of cold steel slammed down on brief humanity. He held up his hand slightly in the universal call for quiet, blue eyes narrowing at the door.]

[Hubert appeared in a heap on the ground, and he crossed the distance in a flash of blue to kneel at his side.]

Orthrus—quickly, do you know any healing?! Hubert, what in the name of the Fulgurian happened to you?!

[twibeast]

[ Orthrus keeps running. It's harder with his human legs and with Hubert to carry, but he can't trust Hubert to be able to stay on his backside in his current state so this'll have to do.

They get as far as the fifth floor, when Orthrus finds his own stamina and worry for Somnus AND Bryn starting to wear him down. ]

2/2

[twibeast]

[ Orthrus blinks.

He's on his bed, sitting up right and wiping down his harp as he regularly does to keep it nice and clean. He blinks a few more times, confused. ]

Did I... fall asleep sitting up...?

[ That's strange. He doesn't need to sleep so why would he... was the motive taking that much of a toll? Was he more accustomed to sleeping than he realized?

He looks around the room. Even in the dark he can tell Mei is still sound asleep but Somnus' bed is empty. That's weird, though not necessarily unusual given the mortal king's ghostly status. Maybe he went out for a patrol?

He thinks for a moment to go look for him but decides better of it. Somnus can take care of himself; loathe as he may be to admit he was one of the most capable among them so it should be fine. He'd probably only be an annoyance to the other millennia old being if he went to look anyway.

He sets his harp aside, propped against the bed, and then lays down on his side facing the wall. After a few seconds he reaches out for the plushie of Cerberus he's kept with him since Loki gave it to him all those weeks ago and holds it close.

And thus he falls asleep, unaware of why his face feels so wet. Probably just a nightmare. ]