28 | Which is Full of Yawning [Dictated]

[strangewonders]

[There is the definite sound of someone yawning over the journal, as well as pages flipping, apparently from some other book]

I seem to need more tea...

[And then the soft tap of a pen]

I can't be the only one who's noticed the whole town seems to be asleep. I know we live in a fairytale castle, but this really seems to be a bit much. Has anyone come across anything like it before?

Comments

[freeslider]

[There's a yawn in answer]

I think we'll need something stronger than tea.

I've seen people use sleep as a weapon before. Well, actually, they used dreams. They didn't actually have a way to put people to sleep, though. Not like this...

[strangewonders]

I draw the line at drinking coffee, I'm afraid.

[A joke, mostly.]

The castle had used dreams before... but this is new, at least in my tenure here. I'm trying to look for older accounts but... it's all a bit tiring.

[freeslider]

Hey, what do you have against coffee?

[That joking reply would have more impact without the second following yawn.]

And I might be tired, but that was a terrible pun.

[strangewonders]

It's horribly unrefined.

[He's flagging a bit himself, though at least it's less easy to tell by voice alone]

Am I being graded now? Because I think I have larger concerns than my ability to deliver appropriately witty repartee.

[freeslider]

Tell me that when your tea doesn't do the trick...

[She sighed]

No, you're right. I think we do. The question is, what can we do about it?

[strangewonders]

I'm sure I have a spell that would help...

[Somewhere. Maybe.]

I'm not sure. Track down the source before we're all comatose? I haven't found much in the way of clues so far...

[freeslider]

Well, if there's something I can do to help with that, let me know? In the meantime, if you don't like coffee, how do you feel about cookies?

[strangewonders]

I will.

[There's a sound that might just be him stifling a yawn into his sleeve]

Cookies? I don't have any particular objection to them...

[freeslider]

Good. Where are you?

[strangewonders]

Library. Usual table.

[As though she would know his preferred table as a matter of course.]

[freeslider]

Uh huh... [She doesn't know, but nothign she can't find with a little searching] Okay, hang tight. Don't fall asleep, I'll be there soon.

[strangewonders]

I will do my best.

[Given that he's too tired to go anywhere anyway, at least half of that promise is a gimme.]

action

[freeslider]

[At least she can count on you to be lazy, Howl. But no matter, after some searching that feels longer than it probably was, Wade finally comes upon him in the library with a plate stacked full of cookies]

There you are...

action

[strangewonders]

[He gives her a vaguely tired smile, not nearly up to his usual standards, as smiles went]

A true lifesaver.

[Although it was less the cookies and more the presence of another actual human being that was likely to save him from nodding off]

The rest of the castle is drowsy as ever, I take it? I haven't set foot outside in... awhile now.

action forever

[freeslider]

Varying degrees. Some people are worse off than others, from what I've seen.

[And her usually optimistic smile falters into a frown for a moment, as she remembers Sion. Wade shakes this off quickly and pushes the plate towards him.]

Here...they're peanut butter. Should give you some energy.

[strangewonders]

Hmm. About the same then, it seems.

[He sighs, closes the book he was looking at, and takes a cookie]

Did you make them?

[freeslider]

Mmm-hmmm... [Her answer is slightly muffled by a mouthful of cookie]

[strangewonders]

Thank you, in that case.

[freeslider]

You're welcome. Seems like it's going to be my life mission to make sure you eat.

[She shakes her head a little to try to wake herself up and wishes up a latte with a sigh]

[strangewonders]

[He takes a bite and rolls his eyes a bit at her]

I can look after myself.

[freeslider]

Maybe. But it gives me something to do with my time. I miss getting to do this kind of thing for my friends.

[strangewonders]

Are your friends the utterly helpless type, then?

[freeslider]

[She chuckles] Not really. They're big boys. Of course, there's been plenty of times I've saved their bacon...

[Her smiles falls, just a little] Although a lot times I feel more like the helpless one.

[strangewonders]

[He arches an eyebrow at her slightly]

I find it difficult to believe you are the least bit helpless.

[freeslider]

[She smiles at that, although there's that sadness in it still]

Maybe not. I don't exactly like to go in the damsel in distress thing myself but I still fall kind of short from time to time. I'm not exactly extraordinary at anything like they are.

[strangewonders]

Anyone who seems extraordinary is just extraordinarily good at hiding all their faults.

[He says it with the conviction of experience, too]

[freeslider]

[Wade shrugged and pillowed her head on the table]

After awhile, you learn to look past those faults.