Log

[a_sin_for_him]

Who: Lust and Shark House. Lust and OPEN

Where: Goldenrod

When: Sometime late at night

Summary: Lust can't sleep

Rating: PG-13ish?

Log:



A: Closed to House Members

[Lust can't remember the dream that shook her from sleep, but this has been the third night in a row. Even an extra glass of wine before bed hasn't made a difference, and it always used to. It's distressing. Moreso that she can't remember the dreams.]

[So it's some god awful hour of the night and Lust is puttering around the kitchen, making tea simply because that's what every single human being on television does when they can't sleep. Her pair of Munna trail after her, and she pauses with whistling kettle in hand to glare at them.]

Don't look at me like that, you porcelain knickknacks come to life, you're supposed to keep this sort of thing from happening. I'm very disappointed in you, Lady Pennywhistle, Dame Applebrook.

[She hasn't been sleeping very well. Which is likely why she stumbles right over Guttle, dropping the kettle and cursing loudly, sending both Munna and the Spheal into a noisy panic...]

B: Goldenrod Streets - Open

[When all else fails, there's always the classic 'going for a walk'. Lust pulls a long coat with a hood over her pajamas and calls her Houndoom and heads out into the night. Maybe she can simply wander and exhaust herself. She only wishes she could remember what she's been dreaming about, for her own peace of mind. Considering the chatter on the network and everywhere else, she knows she's hardly alone in troubled sleep, but she hates not being able to remember her own dreams. Bad enough she can't remember her own life...]

[Well, it's probably for the best. She knows the sort of things she has nightmares about. And it's a nice night for wandering and contemplating these sorts of things, dreary and chilly and drizzling. Very atmospheric. Though...hmmm.]

I didn't realize there were so many Drowzee in Goldenrod...

[Or maybe she's just seeing the same one repeatedly. Stranger things have happened. Stranger things are always happening. Still... she pauses a moment, just to watch, because it almost looks as though that Drowzee is peeping on someone. Do they do that? She can't honestly remember what they do right now, beyond look like they wandered off a children's puppet show.]

Comments

A

[exeggutorhead]

[Lust isn't the only member of the house who hasn't been sleeping well.]

[Not that that's unusual, really, given who all lives here, but it seems like ever since Envy's come home, it's gotten...both worse and weirder. Usually if he's sleeping badly he'll at least remember why, but now it's every night that he's both restless and with no memory of what caused it.]

[Except for when he's awoken by the clamor downstairs. He can tell by the twisted sheets that he's been tossing, just like all the other nights, but waking up suddenly he can sort of remember the last bit...]

[Not that he's really thinking about that, or inclined to look out the window to see the swiftly vanishing yellow shape. He's a lot more focused on what the hell all the noise downstairs was. Did Wrath come in through the Pokemon door and decide to try cooking again? He hops out of bed, hurrying downstairs more out of curiosity than worry. For all the noise, it hadn't sounded like an emergency.]

Wha-aaahht's [he can't help the yawn that takes over the word] all the noise for, none of us're able to sleep already...

[He says this as he walks into the kitchen, before he really catches sight of what exactly is going on.]

[a_sin_for_him]

[Well, that didn't take long. Lust sighs and rakes back the stray hair that's escaped from her braid, looking up from shooing the Pokemon away from the spill when Envy wanders in. It's clear there's no emergency, only a frustrated and tired Lust.]

I dropped the tea kettle. Be careful, the floor's wet.

[At least dispersed water cools quickly. She bends and picks up the kettle, scowling more at herself than anything else.]

I'm sorry I woke you.

B

[cyan_maid]

[It's a bit late to be out at night alone, but in a relatively safe world with living creatures you can befriend who will launch any incoming threats into the air with an attack, Jane doesn't mind taking a later shift at the Pokemon Center. It's why she's walking home tonight with her jacket draped over both her own head and Dinah's. While Jane doesn't seem to notice the Drowzee that might be peering out at them from around a corner, Dinah's ears are certainly twitching in its direction, and the Audino is throwing some very tired, sharp glares at it. Her aura is clear: stay away from my trainer!

But people they both know are a different story. Jane pauses a ways down the sidewalk when she sees someone approach, and when she recognizes Lust in the distance, she nudges Dinah and moves to close the gap.]

Miss Lust! Good evening - how have you been?

[It should be noted that Jane, too, looks more tired and worn-out than just from a long work shift. Seems her sleep is less than restful as well.

[a_sin_for_him]

Oh, Jane, hello.

[Lust offers a tired smile from under her hood as she sees the other woman and recognizes who it is. Amoz perks his ears up and extends his head, sniffing the air, but the large houndoom makes no other sort of move. There's clearly no threat, here.]

I wasn't expecting to run into anyone, this late. I've been...fine. Restless, I suppose, but fine. And you?

[cyan_maid]

Oh, I'm on my way home from work, that's all. [She smiles as well, stifling a yawn.] Hmm, it feels like a restless sort of few weeks, I'll agree. And I'm alright.

[Dinah trills a greeting to Amoz, perking up somewhat. A Pokemon that isn't a creeper following them? Sign her up!]

[a_sin_for_him]

Ah, yes, of course. Henry often works night shifts, he gets in at all hours.

[Lust waves her hand, almost in a dismissive fashion. No wonder Jane looks tired, if she's working late shifts. Lust is forever glad she doesn't have to worry about long hours.]

Not just me, then? I suppose it's the season...things tend to get restless around here come the fall.

[Amoz's ears stay swung forward and the large Houndoom 'doooms' low in reply.]

[cyan_maid]

[Ear twitchies from Dinah! She nods, patting Jane's side. She's out here 'cause of this girl right here, it's goot to be out with your girls, isn't it?]

Yeah...I remmeber last year. But it was kind of sweet and fun with all the Mimikyu. This year is...definitely something else.

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes, last year was different. It always is. One never knows quite what's coming, only that something is.

[Lust frowns thoughtfully, glancing toward the darkened windows of the houses around them. She pulls her jacket more tightly around her, though she doesn't need it for warmth. The shirt she stole from Timothy to sleep in is remarkably warm and comfortable, for a thin thing. But she's chilled all the same, on some level beyond the physical.]

And it seems a state of poor sleep has fallen over most of us. I don't like that combination.

[Amoz butts his head against Lust's hip and wanders off to circle around both her and Jane, making sure no spying Drowzee are lurking.]

[cyan_maid]

[Dinah will keep a lookout, too - let's protect the girls!]

Mm, I know what you mean...I can't remember my dreams at all, just...this sense of utter shame about them. I wake up in a tizzy every couple of hours, lately, and since it's not just me, I very well can't blow it off as a problem...

[a_sin_for_him]

...Yes, it's been the same for me. I don't quite remember what I've been dreaming, but I wake up distressed and upset. Which is very rare, I have a pair of Munna I sleep with.

[Lust sighs. It's more a sound of frustration than anything else, she likes her sleep.]

It's rather early, though, usually these things happen at the end of the month. This month in particular, I mean. Well. Halloween certainly never disappoints, I suppose.

[cyan_maid]

Hm...perhaps whatever eerie, spooky Halloween shenanigans are doing their preparations early?

[a_sin_for_him]

It would seem so... now I trust those Drowzee even less. They're eerie enough, but given the context...

[Suddenly a walk doesn't seem like the best way to get to sleep. Now she's going to be paranoid about psychic Pokemon peeping through her windows.]

You work at the Pokemon Center, has anyone been complaining of their Drowzee acting oddly?

[cyan_maid]

Hm...no, not any trained Drowzee. Not in this way. I think they're usually living out on the route before Goldenrod, though...maybe they're wild, and came from that way?

[a_sin_for_him]

Oh, do they live on the surrounding route? I was wondering where they came from, I know they don't live in the city. I really should travel more...

[But that's neither here nor there.]

Well, if you're heading home, and I've no destination in mind, why don't I walk with you?

[cyan_maid]

Yes! I train out there sometimes. We see them pretty frequently.

[Jane shrugs.] If you'd like - I won't begrudge the company in the least. The girls are all probably asleep anyway.

[a_sin_for_him]

I don't spend much time on the routes, myself. I haven't gone very far from Goldenrod in ages, beyond the occasional weekend trip.

[She whistles to catch Amoz's attention, bringing the Houndoom back to her side.]

The rest of my household is sleeping, or trying to. As most people are this time of night. Besides, safety in numbers, in case any Drowzee get ideas.

[cyan_maid]

[Dinah toddles over, too, returning to Jane's side and taking her hand. They're all clear for now!]

I know what you mean. The warping is pretty convenient...[She nods.] I hope the others are asleep. Aside from this, it's been a tough couple of months anyway. Our friends keep...going home.

[a_sin_for_him]

It really is. And I only go to Violet or Ecruteak, it's not as though I take long journeys. Though Timothy and I took a weekend trip to Kanto, a couple of months ago. That was nice.

[Lust resumes walking, holding her jacket closed tightly around herself.]

I'm sorry. That's always difficult. But one of the truths of staying here for an extended length of time.

[cyan_maid]

I know...a lot of people have made sure to tell me since I've arrived. It...just sort of makes a girl wonder, you know? How long will I be here? How many people are going to come and go?

[a_sin_for_him]

No one knows. I've been here so many years now. I'm coming up on my fourth birthday in this place, or...perhaps fifth. I made and lost my very first friend here, I've lost family, I've lost my first husband. But my brother's still here, and he was here years before I arrived.

[Lust sighs. She thinks about this sort of thing often, is all too aware of how precious time in this place is.]

[cyan_maid]

...

[Jane sighs.]

It would be nice to stay for good. Just...no worrying about if you're going to drop off the face of the planet.

[a_sin_for_him]

Maybe some of us can. I hope to. My life is here, everything that matters to me is here.

[And she has no life left anywhere else. There's nothing but the void.]

I can't begin to guess how it all works. But I want to stay here, with my family. None of us want to go back where we came from.

[cyan_maid]

Do you think...there's the Legendary Pokemon, right? Like...oodles of them. And the space llama god one. Maybe...asking all of them to keep us here might help?

[a_sin_for_him]

I ask every day. I don't know if I'm heard, but I ask.

[Or pray, is more like it, but it all amounts to the same thing.]

[cyan_maid]

...Perhaps more of us need to be asking with you.

[She's not a very religious child, but if it means no more Sburb...she'd like to stay.]

B

[pipers_son]

[Even as Lust stays to watch, there's a small chittering near her waist and something tugs at it. When she looks, she'll find a Phantump... and a certain someone jogging up the street as well with a Larvesta tucked in his hoodie.]

[Joker looks like shit, but then, with October being the busy month that it is, that's nothing new.]

Creepy buggers, ain't they? The Drowzee, I mean.

[a_sin_for_him]

They are...I've never paid much attention, but I keep seeing them. Or one of them. I think it's spying on people...

[She turns to Joker with a tired smile as he jogs up, adjusting her hood. Her hair's still pulled into the braid she wears to sleep and it hands down over her shoulder to her waist. She pats at the Phantump in a distracted manner,]

Out for a late night jog? Or just getting done for the evening?

[pipers_son]

S'exactly why they're creepy.

[Stopping before her, he smiles down to the Phantump that bobs back upwards to chitter at Ash. The two have become quite good friends, he's found.]

And yeah, somethin' like that. Realized I couldn't feel my arse, so I thought I'd move a bit before tuckin' in for the night. how about yerself?

[a_sin_for_him]

Do they do that normally? That's unsettling.

[Lust wrinkles her nose, casting a glance to where she'd last seen the Pokemon. It's gone now, but... the whole thing is just vaguely eerie. Or perhaps it's simply the chill, gloom weather lending it that air.]

A wise decision. I simply couldn't sleep, and rather than continue making noise when the rest of the house was trying to sleep, I thought I'd try a walk.

[pipers_son]

No clue. Never had one myself, honestly... But my girl here- [He nods down to Wisp.] Sure doesn't seem ta like 'em. I think she's been fidgety all month so far.

[Indeed, she's frowning a bit as she floats about Ash, fussing over the bug pokemon.]

Well, if the two of us don't have anythin' better ta do, mind if I escort a pretty lady? All sorts are lurkin' around at night, y'know how it is.

[a_sin_for_him]

No, I've never had one, either. Or...known any, I don't think. But psychic Pokemon in general can be...unsettling.

[She has Munna and an Espurr, after all. But Joker's offer of company is welcome.]

And given the time of year...well, it's no wonder I can't sleep, I suppose. Yes, thank you, I think I'd prefer the company. The night's turned a touch grim, all things considered.

[pipers_son]

Makes me glad for Angel. She's always been a good one.

[Well, so long as you aren't horrified of clowns, anyway. She's still loads better than a Mr. Mime however. With his Pokemon coming along, he settles in besides her.]

So, any ideas of where ta go on this cold night?

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes, I have Munna and an Espurr. They're eerie, but...pleasant. Though Henry - the Espurr - is one of the most nervous creatures I've ever met.

[Hence his name, in honor of Henry-the-Human.]

Hmm. I'd suggest a cup of cocoa, but I've no idea what's open at this time. I'm rarely out after sunset... Good god, when did I turn into such a boring house frau?

[Two years ago, she'd be able to rattle off every cafe and bar open right now.]

[pipers_son]

[Lust's despair at her own state of affairs has Joker laugh a little bit, and he offers his arm to her as they walk on.]

I might be able ta help ya out there. I know a bunch of places thanks ta a bit of networkin' for the circus. Hungry, too?

[a_sin_for_him]

I wouldn't mind a bite to eat.

[Lust takes Joker's arm, honestly glad for the offer. She hadn't really been planning on just wandering aimlessly in the drizzle for hours, but she's certainly not ready to return home and to bed.]

I just find myself so busy during the days. The house takes a great deal, not to mention the Pokemon. And Wrath, when he's at home. I'm attempting to give him some form of proper education, god knows that's not easy.

[pipers_son]

Oh, lord. [Fond exasperation is in the tons with just those two words.] What are ya teachin' him? Or tryin' ta, at any rate.

[Joker can only imagine it.]

[a_sin_for_him]

Well, a bit of everything, I suppose. What a boy his age should know. Reading, writing, his numbers and simple math... logic problems, social conduct... I try and use games and toys, trick him into it.

[Sometimes it's the only way with Wrath. Lust knows she takes shortcuts with him, but he's a very special case. As long as he's learning, she doesn't give a damn. He deserves to be a normal little boy, and he needs to know things normal little boys know. And the more his mind can be filled with new ideas and fresh concepts, the further back the old ones will fade.]

I've given up on hygiene for the moment.

[pipers_son]

Oh, social conduct...

[Will Wrath every learn? Then again, Joker used to be a street rat who stole from people and slept in the literal gutters, so maybe there's hope for the boy. That doesn't mean he won't pat her in sympathy.]

Well, if ya ever need help, let me know. I bribe Wrath when I want 'im ta listen ta me.