FIVE.

[blessingone]

[Action]

[Ever since Shirley disappeared to another dimension, Fenimore hasn't been getting much sleep. The previous night hasn't been an exception, as she spends most of it tossing in her bed. Eventually, in the wee hours of the morning before it's even light out--possibly even just a few minutes before everyone returns from the Closed Space and she could stop worrying--she gives up.

Throwing on some clothes, she leaves the house to start wandering the village, keeping to the roads. She's not entirely sure what she expects to accomplish by doing so. She's come to the conclusion that Shirley has probably been mallynapped and the only other possibility she can think of is that Shirley was kidnapped by a villager. In either case, she isn't going to be able to help her any by walking through the streets in the dark, but she has spent the storm day yesterday cooped up in the house surrounded by people who were fretting just as much as she was, in their varied ways. She didn't want to spend any more time sitting in the kitchen, wondering what Shirley would be doing if she were still there.

Early dawn finds on a bench in the village centre. It seems four nights of little, restless sleep had caught up to her. She's asleep, with her head resting on her open journal, her legs curling slightly, and her arms crossing across her chest. Too tired to notice the light that filters through the clouds today, she'll be asleep either until mid-morning or until someone interrupts her.]

[Accidental "Voice"]

[It seems that before she fell asleep, she was debating asking whether such a silent mallynap as this one was normal--the only ones she had encountered were either the loud ones that made it over the journal or one that had involved a smashed window. So, with the journal half-ready for an intentional post, it doesn't take much for it to accidentally turn on in her sleep as they are wont to do.

This results in an extreme close-up of Fenimore's face and, due to the proximity, a fairly loud rendition of the normal slow breathing of someone who is fast asleep. At least she's not snoring.

The page also looks like it's getting wet, though the actual moisture is not transmitted any more than the actual ink in an ink spill would be in more standard written transmissions. Since it's not raining today, that water must be coming from Fenimore. Perhaps...tears?

...But a closer examination of its source will easily determine that it's just a little drool as she breathes open-mouthed on her journal-pillow. Her eyes are dry and there's no sign that she's upset at all as she drifts in peaceful unconsciousness.

To anyone who wakes her up, I apologise in advance. Fretting over her best friend + four nights of restless sleep = a very rude and cranky Fenimore. ...Correction: a ruder and crankier Fenimore.]

Comments

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Try drinking warm milk before you sleep. It will do wonders.

[Action]

[blessingone]

Are you sure that's not just some kind of old wives' tale?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Who knows? I've never been married!

[Action]

[blessingone]

[It takes her a moment to try to figure out what marrying has to do with drinking warm milk. Oh, right, old wives.] What, you're planning on becoming an old wife?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[... well that fell flat.] Actually I meant I've never had a wife. Young or old.

[Action]

[blessingone]

[She had assumed that was it, but she's feeling ornery.] I never said it had to be yours.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Well I heard it from my gran. She's old, but she's not married anymore. [No, wait.] Actually, she is married again. So I guess it does count as one.

[Action]

[blessingone]

So you've never actually tried it yourself.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

I never have trouble sleeping.

[Action]

[blessingone]

Lucky you.

...Well, it's not like it can hurt.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Good luck! If that doesn't work, I know of a few other tricks to getting to sleep.

[Action]

[blessingone]

Even if you've never needed any of them?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

It didn't stop Gran from telling me.

[Action]

[blessingone]

So what you're saying is that if your Gran's not right about one way to get some sleep, you know plenty of other ways to get to sleep she's wrong about.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

That's not exactly how I'd put it...

[Action]

[blessingone]

Of course you wouldn't. No one likes sounding like an idiot.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Don't go turning this around on me now.

[Action]

[blessingone]

I'm n--Are you saying I sound like an idiot?!

[Action]

[markofthewise]

I'm not-! No! Neither of us are idiots!

[Action]

[blessingone]

Then how is it turning it around on you?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Because I was the one making the broad accusations.

[Action]

[blessingone]

... [HUFFS.] And you think to let you go back to being the one making broad accusations? Especially when they're at me!

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[After a moment of deliberation, he shrugs.]

I could make some broad accusations about the weather, if you like.

[Action]

[blessingone]

...The weather.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Yes. Why, if I was Aunt Wu... [He gestures vaguely at a cloud.] I would say that one that looks like a turtle duck means that you're going to see a close friend very soon.