Even if I wear a disguise

[astudyinviolet]

Who: Sherlock and others
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut
What: Sleep Now in Sapphire and catch all stuff
Warnings: None

MANTA: Gen: Sleep Now in Sapphire

[ How quickly one gets used to sleeping for more than a brief few hours every week. However, Sherlock still has a problem. His newfound ability to sleep is locked to his apartment because he needs:

• Moon Pal
• 2 Doppelplushes (debatable sleeping assistance)
• Comfort Blahaj (large)
• Mr. Trunklops Jumbo Plush (even larger)
• Huggable Tapir Plush
• white winged horse feathers

If he needs to go anywhere else for a case, he'll have to either bring all that with him or go back to not sleeping ever when elsewhere.

Thus, the MANTA Board posting, as vague as he kept it. (He's embarrassed. He's an adult now. He shouldn't need so many child toys to sleep, and he didn't want to put it out there for everyone to see.) Hopefully, someone can help him make this more manageable.

In the meantime, Sherlock has done a little apartment rearranging in preparation of having people over. No, he hasn't cleaned the place. Objects still lay scattered or piled everywhere. Sherlock covered his clue wall with a bed sheet, and he cleared off a second chair for someone to sit in.

Someone knocks on the door and Sherlock hops to his feet. ]

One moment! I'll be right there.

MANTA: Gen: Puppy Love

[ Sherlock brings a three-headed puppy (H) over to the Conservatory. As much as he wants to keep the puppy at his apartment, even he realizes that keeping an animal that grows to the size of a horse is a bad idea. However, he couldn't leave the small creature with the irresponsible breeder nor could he take all of them to the Conservatory.

He ended up claiming the one that reminded him the most of Toby, and now he walks the Conservatory with a little puppy at his heels and a stick in his hand. ]

Come now, let's see what a doggy like you can do. Fetch!

Surasthana Cafe

[ In some odd corner, Sherlock sleeps curled up with notes and books strewn around him and the empty mug or two of coffee. He mumbles in his sleep uneasily despite the feather tucked into his casebook turned pillow. (An accidental test of a single feather's efficacy to provide good dreams while keeping away nightmares) What is he up to this time? ]

Wildcard

[ Want to do something else? Write a prompt or drop me a line at Sherry's journal, aviekokyre, or on Discord @ aviekokyre and we can plot something out. ]

Comments

Sherry don't sleep in the book nook

[empyrean_mirror]

[...On some level, Kaveh expected this, but not with Sherlock and certainly not so soon. Still, there's a reason he designed these nooks to be so comfortable, and so he very quietly clears away the mugs before he comes back with a blanket and his own sketchbook.

...Sherlock needs the sleep, that much is clear. And they haven't closed yet, so there's no harm in letting him rest for a little while--when he wakes, Kaveh will be right close by, fiddling with the designs for...something.]

Too late

[astudyinviolet]

[ He sleeps for a little while longer, whimpering at times from his nightmares. He wakes with a gasp, and Sherlock's grey eyes dart around in as he takes in his new surroundings. Seeing that he's safe, he exhales and wraps the blanket more around himself. (Where did this blanket come from?) ]

Mr. Kaveh? What time is it?

[ Ah, right. He had come to their new cafe to offer them some support and do some work. When had he fallen asleep? ]

[empyrean_mirror]

A quarter past five.

[Kaveh's gotten up now and then to serve other customers, but always returned to the table to keep a watchful eye on Sherlock. When he hasn't been there, Shadowlily has kept a close vigil over the man. In fact, she chirrups at him now.]

You didn't sleep peacefully, but I imagine if you dozed off here, you needed the rest.

[astudyinviolet]

[ He snuggles more into the blanket. Sherlock doesn't do that enough (for that would require him to stop and enjoy being in a blanket). He does sneak a hand out for Shadowlily to sniff at. While he's a dog person, he is cat coded and likes animals. ]

I am not sure I would call that rest, but I appear to have misjudged my stamina.

[ He's attempting to not drink as many cups of coffee per day, but he had gotten used to double digits and working with a cup beside him. ]

[empyrean_mirror]

For your body, at least, if not your mind.

[Though, Tighnari has often told him they are linked...bah, Tighnari's not here. He might have a tincture or tonic that could help.

Shadowlily rubs her face along Sherlock's hand and gives her most inviting trill. She's very good at being a store ambassador.]

I take it you've had no luck in solving your nightmares?

[astudyinviolet]

[ With that gesture, Sherlock starts to pet Shadowlily. Good kitty. ]

I have in the sense that accumulating enough objects said to provide good dreams has overpowered the terrible. However, it would seem I continue to suffer them when I'm not surrounded by all of them.

[ His body is still fighting Sherlock over taking better care of himself. What is a proper sleep schedule? What is eating regularly and enough? What is having a proper survival instinct? ]

When I am, however, I manage to sleep through the night or longer with rather pleasant dreams.

[empyrean_mirror]

That's at least progress...but I imagine having to lug around everything isn't convenient.

[Shadowlily is purring like a motor and in fact flops herself into the seat right next to Sherlock, pressed right up into his hand.]

Ah, then the manta board quest must have been yours?

Sleep Now in Sappphire

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[It was certainly a strange request on the MANTA board, but one that Lyney was willing to oblige by. After all, Sherlock is a friend of sorts, if not to him then to Heizou for sure, and he wants to be able to help his friends where he can. So, he brings a few different items with him before heading to Sherlock's dwelling.]

[After knocking, Lyney waits for the door to be opened, and once it is he offers a smile and a slight bow.]

Why hello, Mr. Sherlock! I hope you don't mind my sudden arrival, but I was here to inquire about your MANTA board post. Is now a good time?

[astudyinviolet]

[ He hadn't expected to see Lyney about his MANTA board post, but Sherlock steps aside and holds the door open for Lyney to enter all the same. ]

Not at all if you are here about the post. I wasn't aware you were familiar with enchantments.

[ Is that something Teyvat magicians do? ]

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[Lyney walks into Sherlock's home, offering a polite grin as he does.]

Well, if by enchantments, you mean a spectacle of magic, then of course!

[He says it with a little pose, for dramatic effect. But after a brief pause, he speaks a bit more plainly.]

Truthfully, I don't actually have any magical enchantments to help with sleep, so if that's what you're looking for I may not be able to help. But I do have a couple methods that have helped others sleep before, so I figured that if you're willing to give them a try, perhaps one of them could work for you.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sorry, not sorry that his apartment is a mess. Surely, Heizou has warned him. ]

To be perfectly clear, the issue is less falling asleep and more being able to stay asleep without nightmares. The nightmares wake me up, and if I take something that forces my body to stay asleep, my sleep isn't restful. I'm trapped in a nightmare.

[ It's strange how much easier it is to admit he has nightmares after trying to hide them for so long. ]

If you can help solve that problem, then I don't need to worry about the enchantments on... what has helped to rid me of the nightmares.

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[Oh Heizou has, but his own dwelling isn't the cleanest at times, so he's not judging. But he does hum a bit, nodding in understanding.]

Ah, yes... nightmares are never easy to deal with. Especially the ones that a simple cup of tea won't dispel. For what it's worth, there's no shame in sleeping with the lights on, or with enchanted objects, especially if they help.

[He doesn't speak in sympathy, but more in... experience. Experience which he has from his time at the House of the Hearth. Being both orphans and spies, it's no surprise that a good number of the children there deal with nightmares and broken sleep, and Lyney's no exception. It's why he doesn't judge or view the situation as silly; he's dealt with his own recurring nightmares, and even Heizou's seen him awoken in a fright because of them. So Sherlock's situation is just one other familiar person dealing with a familiar situation.]

But, if you'd like more portable options, we can try what I have here. Perhaps something will help your situation. Now, let's get started; would you like to try here on the couch, or in your room?

[astudyinviolet]

[ Something about what Lyney says and doesn't say takes a part of the nervousness away from Sherlock. He was expecting judgement, teasing, something besides... understanding? It wasn't pity either. He moves to take a seat on the couch. He did at least clear off some seating, and just like he's passed out on the settee back in Baker Street, he has done so on occasion here. ]

The enchanted objects are in my bedroom. For the sake of more accurate results, perhaps we should do so on the couch in case they interfere. I haven't fully established whether I need to be in bodily contact or just in close proximity with the stuffed toys and feathers in order for them to work.

[ Part of it is because... the sensation of being held feels nice. Like he's not as alone as he is. He sometimes indulges even when he's not trying to sleep. ]

Cafe

[scooba]

[Meanwhile, there was Freminet as he looked around to see a familiar face. Not knowing what to do, he didn't know if he should bother Sherlock or not. Either way, he had to raise an eyebrow at all of his mumblings.

While he wanted to ask one of the people of there was a blanket he could use, he didn't want to wake him up...]

Fremi always finding this man passed out somewhere

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock doesn't seem to be having a very restful sleep judging by the mumbling and the way his body tenses at times as if bracing himself to be struck by something. He doesn't stir, but should a blanket be placed upon him, he may relax a bit. Only to startle himself awake minutes after.

Otherwise, Sherlock will continue in his difficult sleep, without a moment of peace, until he eventually startles himself awake. ]

It's a running gag at this point

[scooba]

[The boy didn't want to upset Sherlock but it seems that he might not have a choice. With him shaking in his sleep, Freminet had to move in fast. He remembered how he seemed to have difficulty sleeping but he wasn't aware of just how bad it was. With that, he started to shake him a bit.]

Uh...Mr. Sherlock? Please wake up....

It truly is

[astudyinviolet]

[ His brows furrow at the shake, and his eyes move from behind his eyelids. Sherlock tries to find his way back to the waking world, away from the terrors he sees. He hears the voice and uses it as a tether. He gasps awake and jerks upright. Hopefully, he's not in danger of bumping into Freminet's head. ]

Wha--Freminet?

[ He exhales, and the tension drains from his shoulder. ]

Dear Lord, how quickly the nightmares returned.

[scooba]

[He took a step back. The sudden movement made the boy gasp in shock before looking down at the man. The moment that Sherlock appeared to be fully awake, he gave a nod or two.]

Yes, it seems to be that.

[He said before giving a small pause or two.]

...Are you okay?

[astudyinviolet]

I am much better now that I've returned to the realm of reality.

[ He rubs at his face a little. Even if Sherlock has fallen asleep in an odd place, Freminet should be able to see that the bags under Sherlock's eyes aren't nearly as dark or pronounced as they have been in the past. A restful sleep alludes him no longer... under the right conditions. ]

I thought to limit my coffee intake to see how I managed without, but I have misjudged by how much.

Sleep Now in Sapphire

[emet_sulk]

[ Upon opening the door, he'll find a faintly amused Emet-Selch on the threshold. ]

I heard you need a mage's assistance again.

[ They just seem to keep meeting! ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ They do keep meeting as if Sherlock cannot help but cross paths with people possessing unfathomable power. ]

I do. It may be easier to explain inside.

[ He opens the door so Emet-Selch can enter his messy apartment. ]

Are you familiar with enchantments?

[emet_sulk]

I would be a poor mage if I wasn't.

[ He steps inside at Sherlock's invitation, glancing at the mess. Hmm.

He turns back towards the other man with a wry smile. ]

The crystal I made for you is an enchanted object, you know.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Emet-Selch as a point there. A mage does seem the type to dabble in enchantments, and Sherlock does have the crystal. Even if he hasn't used it as much as he should. Sherlock might have made a mistake in choosing something so closely tied to his deepest fears, which he cannot control. He does still try from time to time. The crystal is not forgotten completely. ]

Very well. I have trouble sleeping without nightmares, and those nightmares wake me when I do sleep. It has only been through the collection of a number of aids promoting good dreams that have gotten any rest. However, the problem becomes when I sleep somewhere other than my apartment. The items are not so portable. The nightmares return just as strong.

[emet_sulk]

I see. Hence the need for a means to carry them all.

[ He glances around again, a briefer look than the first. ]

Where are these stuffed toys then? I shall require some sort of suitable vessel. A bag or something.

[astudyinviolet]

They are in my bedroom on my bed as they need physical contact.

[ He starts walking in that direction which isn't far in this small, messy apartment. Despite the mess, the path is relatively clear. Mostly. There may be a pile of newspapers in front of his door. ]

I suppose a way of carrying them could work if nothing else does, but that would still require packing and unpacking them, would it not?