Errand closed Sweet Dreams, Fellow Insomniacs

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Jackson Valentine | MENTIONING n/a[/font]

Once again, he had remained quiet. It wasn't something that she was used to, particularly after the train ride back to Hogwarts after the winter holidays where he had expended a great deal of breath to regale her with the tail of D'Spacito's obnoxious assault at the Masquerade Ball. Moreover, there remained to be very few students at Hogwarts who were more inclined to listen than to speak. Admittedly, she had thought Valentine to be among them. Tonight, however, he had proved otherwise, demonstrating a rather introspective nature not unlike her own. She was prepared for it this time, however. And as he fell into silence, chewing on her words as she suspected, she left him to his peace and simply directed her attention heavenward.

When finally he broke the silence, she craned her neck just a touch in his direction, eyes following suit to train on his profile. Burrows furrowed a moment later, however, while lips crimped to give a hint to her minute disapproval. There would be no mystery as to why exactly she had reacted in such a way to his appreciation, as she replied immediately with, "Decipio…", to correct him. With her tendency to employ surnames to address her peers, even the use of her first name was far too familiar for her liking. He had gone as far as to contract even that, though, calling her Eve. That simply wouldn't do. But not wishing to spoil the moment or to give the impression that she hadn't acknowledged his gratitude, she added with the softening of her countenance, "…and you're welcome."

At his suggestion to shift the scope of conversation and break for refreshment, she shifted her stance to accommodate. Shoulders rose and fell a moment later as she straightened her back even further, neck rolling one way and then the other to stretch it out. "Yes, I think that sounds lovely," she agreed. As far as she was concerned, it was always tea time, and right now, she felt that a nice chamomile would be just the thing. "Are you quite sure you're prepared for me to speak on Quidditch, though?" she wondered, turning on the spot in preparation to accompany him to find some warm drinks for their bellies. With a quirk of a brow and the shadow of a smirk, she continued with feigned warning, "I'm really not sure you would have much of a chance stopping me once I've gotten started, and there really is quite a lot to teach you if you're to really appreciate the sport…"

And truly…to her credit, she really would talk his ear off for the remainder of the night until he put a stop to it or simply fell asleep. Beyond just the types of balls and the roles to occupy, there were the various plays of action and the fouls and strategies. Not to mention the history of how the game came to be in the first place, and how the snitch was actually based on a real bird that had first entered into the game quite by accident and had spurred the hunting of the little creature near to extinction. She could even go on to share all the statistics for the various Hogwarts players current and past that she had collected, projections for the games to come, players to keep his eye on should he come to watch, as well as all the…

[font=century gothic]Evelynn has Fearless, and thus is not impacted by Professor Chiadovini's Terrible Presence | ERRAND PROGRESS[/font]

Katrina had always had night time troubles. When she was younger, her parents would always sing her to sleep, even after it was normal. Without the songs, she wouldn’t be able to find refuge in sleep for hours. The few sleepovers she’d had with friends, she wasn’t ever able to sleep. When she had first come to Hogwarts, her insomnia had worsened dramatically. She struggled to silence her mind and would often find herself awake far into the nights. After the tragic fire, Katrina’s insomnia had been replaced by nightmares. For the next two years it switched back and forth, either she was able to fall asleep with ease but wake up with terrible night terrors, or she wasn’t able to find refuge in sleep for hours. Recently, it had been the nightmares.

Upon hearing of the sleepover in the Astronomy tower, Katrina’s interest had instantly been piqued. Stories, the night sky, fellow insomniacs. It was as if an errand had been created just for her. Katrina had taken a while to find Boomerang so by the time she’d made it to the top of the Astronomy tower with her teal chunky knit blanket and an anticipation of a fun night, there were already students all around.

Katrina wandered around quietly as to not wake the few sleeping students. She grabbed a chocolate frog and sat in front of one of the windows, looking up to the stars. There was an air of calm and quiet, heavy and draped over her shoulders like a weighted blanket. But there was an unsettling chill that she couldn’t quite shake, it was just enough to keep her alert. The starts had always been a refuge for Katrina. When she'd been younger, her fathers fascination of the night sky had worn off on her. The sky was predictable. It was the same night after night. There were no surprises or tragedies amongst the stars, they were simply there. For a while Katrina sat at the window when she heard the Astronomy Professor speaking not too far away.

She scootched herself closer and listened in. He seemed to be talking about ways to fall asleep or something along those lines. She followed along as he talked about the ‘Four-Seven-Eight’ Method. She breathed in letting her mind think about everything for a moment, her school work, her slight paranoia, her dueling match coming up, Bridget, Boomerang, Liam. Then she held her breath, letting those thoughts dissipate. She let herself breathe out, counting to eight in her head. She continued the cycle, letting her mind clear more and more, feeling herself grow drowsy. It was… actually working? The thought startled Katrina as she rolled her shoulders and returned to the room.

Katrina listened through the next method, it wasn’t nearly as effective, but it was something. She hadn’t really tried to do anything but just force herself to sleep. She hadn’t thought other methods would work, or be anywhere near effective for her. It seemed, they were. She was fascinated by the fact that several students fell asleep, just like that. She'd been close to it as well, but she'd still wanted to be alert for a while. Imagine just being able to sleep, just like that. Close your eyes and just... sleep; without worries of nightmares or memories resurfacing.

Katrina didn’t want to fall asleep quite yet, she had heard that the professor was going to teach them how to Lucid Dream. Perhaps it had just been a rumor or a joke, but if he were to give a talk or demonstration for that, she certainly wanted to be awake. The professor left to patrol the Observation tower and Katrina stayed in her spot for a little. She assumed he'd come back down for the next talk and she wanted to be there.

The sleeping students all seemed so peaceful. Were these really the same students who set fire to one another and faced hags? Students who kept secret parts of who they were? They were the same students lying on their sides, faces calm and relaxed, deep in dreams. Katrina had memories she locked away, secrets about the terrors she'd faced, she had a mask she always wore-- hiding her emotions, her stress, her paranoia-- sometimes the mask was friendly and cordial, other times it was abrasive or indifferent. It seemed like she could hardly ever be herself. But in sleep, she was just like the rest of the students. She had some time that she was calm and resting.

Katrina returned to the window again, ears alert for any signs of the Professor starting another talk. This was honestly so nice. The calm atmosphere. The sleeping students. The ambient noise. It was almost like Katrina could let her mask slide away. Let herself relax some. Boomerang started pawing at the teal blanket before curling up and drifting away to sleep.

WC: 823/800 | Open to Interactions

Terrible Presence in effect.
| Aura of Unease Present |

Leonardo was observing narrowly the going-ons on the Observation deck. He began to reluctantly realize that he would soon have to return to the classroom environment for his second lecture, and in order to either counsel or mediate individuals who had especially pertinent cases.

Before he had left for the observatory however, a hand had raised in order to call his attention (@Henry Knight). Glancing about the classroom to ensure that nobody else had anything else to say, Leonardo had crossed across the area to stand before the young boy and the small, mostly female posse which accompanied him (@Rose Moon, @Rosalie Rutherford, @Logan Baird, & @Michael Miller). Standing before them quietly for but a second, Leonardo quirked a brow before nodding at the hand.

Words and more words had tumbled out of the boy’s mouth, and Leonardo found himself trying to pay attention to the most important bits. A bit of a ramble, but then again, many intent thoughts were. It seemed that he would have to take one question at a time. About halfway through the boy’s musing, Leonardo raised a hand, wordlessly asking for pause. ”Let us take your questions one at a time, Mister?” He dried for a name, as he usually did. Regardless of being given or not given an answer, he would try to follow the questions. ”Dreaming of memories is not an uncommon dream; certainly, perhaps you remember having a dream about your younger life, which would most assuredly be a product of R.E.M. dreaming. As I said earlier, you often do not remember your N.R.E.M. memories, if only because your brain is unable to retain and organize the low grade energy in a way that can be stored. However, it is to be noted that dreams and memories mesh together in a peculiar way.” As he said this, he locked his fingers together in front of him to visualize. “Occasionally, you can dream of something so vivid, you think that the events of your dream occurred. This is called lucid dreaming, and it is a topic I will be covering later. However, on the other hand, dreaming of a specific memory is itself a curious event, since it may not be entirely accurate. You may envision yourself having said or taking a different action than you really had, perhaps involving items or colors which were different than what actually were present. This is a phenomenon which is not entirely understood, but what you have created is what is called a ‘learned memory’. Learned memories are curious in the sense that they are a type of deja vu, a sensation that makes you think that you did something you did not actually do, or remembering something that did not actually occur. I think I answered your original question.”

Deep breath, still much more to share. “As far as I understand, it is not possible to skip N2 and N3 stages of N.R.E.M. Each of the stages are just as needed, since each event that takes place over the span of going to sleep is needed to both relax and prepare the body to be fully able to benefit from the sleep it experiences. You could, rhetorically, be shaken awake, or if you are a practiced Lucid dreamer, you can wake up whenever you wish. I will actually be covering this in the second lecture in a few minutes.”

“There are, in fact, several cases of not waking up from R.E.M. or experiencing incidental self harm during that time. You may recognize this event as entering a coma or, in the case of being unable to breathe during sleep, sleep apnea. Comas are intended to protect the body from further conscious trauma or shock in being aware of the severity of illness or physical injury; a self-defense against itself, if you would. Sleep apnea on the other hand, would require breathing assistance, as your body is not receiving enough oxygen to maintain heart muscle function. As far as self-harm, there is another malady called ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’, in which your body does not fully paralyze the muscles in your body, and thus you are more likely to thrash or act out your dreams in N.R.E.M. or R.E.M. Restless Leg Syndrome often needs medical attention or diagnosis in order to be properly remedied. Similarly, sleep-walking, scientifically known as somnambulism, occurs in N3 of N.R.E.M., the deep sleep just before R.E.M. Once again, the body is incapable of paralyzing the muscles, and so a person begins to act out things that occur in their dreams, such as performing household tasks or even walking about the neighborhood. For the most part, somnambulism is relatively harmless, especially if the individual has a safe environment in their house. However, severe cases can include people walking up to miles away from their houses down familiar areas before waking up, walking on or nearby train tracks and highways, and even entering other residences and common locations such as markets, shops, or other places of business.”

Letting the boy finish his questions, Leonardo nodded along with weary eyes before continuing his answering spree. “There isn’t one specific branch of science which studies sleep, but generally the studies of sleep is aptly named Sleep Psychology. The type of study? Well, it is likely that Polysomnography was utilized. Also called a sleep study, its use is a comprehensive test used to diagnose sleep disorders by recording brain waves, the oxygen level in blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements. The study of dreams, on the other hand, is called Oneirology.”

Leonardo closed his eyes. “Endurance and awareness... tell me, have you ever felt without energy or awareness whenever you do not get a good night’s sleep? Common sense and experience. It is a matter of having a more efficient bodily function, physical and mental. As far as potions are concerned... Mister Barlow may be a better subject to ask. However, Forgetfulness potion affects the mind, specifically in already created memory. It doesn’t prevent more memories from being formed or affect sleep specifically. Wolfsbane; well, I am not a lycanthrope myself, so I cannot say that I understand its effects well, but from what I know of the potion’s effects, by taking the potion, not only will a lycanthrope keep its mind for the night, but the werewolf will also be rendered drowsy. So, I suppose that lycanthropes may find themselves able to sleep through their transformation night, given that they have followed their necessary doses. There is indeed a potion which can prevent you from having dreams altogether...” Leonardo hesitated for a moment. He had already shared once the potion which he himself used to prevent himself from experiencing sleep paralysis or repetitive nightmares. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to confide in another small group of children. “A potion of dreamless sleep can nearly circumvent a person from having either dreams or nightmares altogether.”

Without answering any other questions, Leonardo had then departed to the Observatory.

He was watching everyone carefully, the redhead girl and the boy that were speaking to one another (@Evelynn Decipio & @Jackson Valentine), the arrival of a dark-haired girl (@Opeila Winters), and two other girls (@Calypso Starling & @Rhea Miller), one of which had greeted him. She was returned the greeting by a small, wordless nod. Mister Brumby (@Kelsey Brumby);had arrived as well, guitar in tow, and had struck up a surprisingly pleasant melody which encouraged the Professor’s eyes to flutter shut for a moment. Though Leonardo would never admit it, music was a bit of his weakness, something that caused his usually raised hackles and defenses to waver and let down. Macbeth, ever the creature with a mind of his own, woke up long enough to fly the distance between Leonardo and Brumby, perching on Brumby’s shoulder in turn. Opening his mouth as if to begin a complaint, Leonardo thought better of it and instead turned his head, clearing his throat to himself. Macbeth would be fine. God help Brumby if Leonardo somehow discovered otherwise.

After waiting a bit longer, just long enough to assure himself that there would be no fighting or attempts to leap off of the deck, a flutter of velvet would flicker by the stairway, and the Professor returned down the steps without a sound, creeping on silent feet towards the classroom once again. He would begin to count again, noting his first few individuals, the full-of-questions boy and his small group, the young girl who had been left almost entirely alone (@Katie Palsorette), two new girls (@Starlee Kennedy & @Cassandra Ironwoods) one of them with jarring purple hair, a girl reading a book in peace (@Piper Clark), a girl who was out cold in sleep (@Ashley Coulson), a girl (@Katrina Walker) and her small orange and white cat which was curled up in sleep... perhaps.

Reducio

Rolled a quick d100 to see if Leonardo notices Xailah off the bat (due to ’s Grace): <26 indicates failure:
d100: 65 (success)

Another individual, off to the sides, who appeared to be watching with inquisitive golden, catlike eyes (@Xailah Alptraum). Perhaps it was the pseudo-glow of them that caught the Seer’s attention, or perhaps it was the dark locks of hair which almost seemed to be moving in the dimly lit area. He would lock eyes with her for a moment before turning away, acknowledging that she was present.

Then there were two boys which had arrived at different times; one, the boy that Leonardo had first noticed, who had a large book with him (@Kazuo Shimada), but the other boy was more like a reflection of Leonardo himself... if Leonardo was a young boy again with yellowed eyes instead of grey, and slanted features instead of sharp (@Selim Faust). Small, wan, almost decrepit despite the youth which was easily noted. It was unnervingly like looking in a mirror; the dark eyes, the grim expression, black hair (lacking a silver streak at the temple as Leonardo expressed) and corpse-like skin. The boy had arrived in the middle of Leonardo’s first lecture, almost attempting to hide his presence from the Seer.

Keeping a narrowed eye on his reflection in the form of the boy, Leonardo crossed to the door of the Astronomy tower, unsheathing his wand and casting in a low voice; ”Colloportus.” With an affirming ‘click’, Leonardo nodded and turned back to the class, the doors now securely closed and thus ensuring that the students held therein would be contained for the night.

With that out of the way, Leonardo stood in the middle of the classroom and then quietly tapped his cane on the ground to attract attention without being disruptive or interrupting lingering conversations. ”Now that we are properly gathered and able to find some methods of falling asleep semi-reliably, I think it time to share methods to better wake up on time and rested, as well as common sleep disorders which you may or may not be familiar with.” His fingers tapped his jade wand’s snake head as he noticed the night sky seeming to glitter brighter with the combined lights of stars and moon overhead.

After offering time to refocus and pay attention to the lecture if they so chose, Leonardo began his second lecture. “The first thing to understand when wishing to pursue a method of consistent sleep schedule maintenance is that your body will naturally follow its own natural pattern, called natural circadian rhythm. Natural circadian rhythm is responsible for your feeling awake and aware or groggy and asleep depending on the time of day that you are most accustomed to. In my case, I, teaching and acting mostly at night, express Nocturnal natural circadian rhythm, meaning that I am inclined to feel more awake and aware during the night, and have a tendency to feel tired or exhausted when morning comes. Most of you should be partaking in an Diurnal natural circadian rhythm, feeling aware during the day and inclined to sleep during the night, but as I mentioned earlier, there are certain sleep-disorders, such as insomnia, which can either disturb or completely confuse your body’s ability to recognize when it should be awake and when it should rest.”

He glanced around the class to make sure that some people were at least giving the impression that they were following along. ”Typically, unless you are exceptionally over-aware of your sleep cycle or are a practiced sleeper, it helps to be woken up naturally, as opposed to being woken by sudden noise or from incessant jostling. Building off of that, even if you do wake up under the weather, try to expose yourself to natural light. Melatonin, the hormone that is produced in the pineal gland of your brain to induce drowsiness, is responsible for making you feel restful, and being exposed to natural light can remind you that it is time to wake up and begin your day. Now, for some of our population, doing such may be an... uncomfortable experience, to say the least. Another method instead is to adjust your body’s clock, especially if you have to wake up earlier than usual. As mentioned earlier, the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night, and a growing adolescent should sometimes have more. Instead of forcing yourself to wake up in the morning on the day of, try to prepare for that day by going to sleep sooner and naturally waking yourself earlier. The exact number is not completely agreed upon, but usually your natural circadian cycle can usually take a deviation of about 15-20 minutes at any point in time, so if you are currently on a sleep cycle of 10:00 to 6:00 and have an appointment at 5:00, go to bed at 9:40 and wake at 5:40. Then, the next night, sleep from 9:20 to 5:20. Keep following this cycle until reach the date of appointment. Keep in mind that this cycle works both forward and backward, and getting too much sleep is just as dangerous as not getting enough.”

And now, for the fun part; sleep disorders. There was no magic, no showmanship. Sleep disorders were very real and unglamorous. Being afflicted with such a sleep disorder, Leonardo could not bring himself to glorify the inability or the over-ability to sleep. Instead, the students would have to pay attention, listening with their ears and not with their eyes which perhaps desired to be impressed by trivial magic. “These next sleep disorders are very real. I will not be glorifying or praising them in any capacity, only sharing them for what they are; a disorder which desires the need to be remedied.” With that statement in place, Leonardo began. “As perhaps the name of this errand suggests, Insomnia is indeed a very well-known sleep disorder. Its effects include the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or result in waking early and being unable to fall asleep again. Such sleep deprivation often results in mood swings, an inability to think clearly or concentrate, increased paranoia, depression or anxiety, and ironically; creating a worry about falling asleep. Chronic insomnia is a common culprit, a result of extreme stress, or in the case of adolescents, a changing internal clock. There is no cure for Insomnia, though melatonin medications may assist. Other lifestyle changes, such as ignoring the urge to nap during the day, limiting the intake of your caffeine intake, and generally staying active during the week can also help to temper it.” Hypocrite in more than one aspect, Leonardo could not function without his coffee, and he never sought help. Here he was telling others to find help if they had such issues.

”On the other hand, Narcolepsy is almost the complete opposite of insomnia. Whereas insomnia is characterized by the inability to sleep soundly, narcolepsy is the inability to remain awake. There are two commonly known types of narcolepsy, Type 1; Cataplexy, results from strong emotion such as anxiety or extreme distress, often resulting in a loss of muscle tone. Type 2 Narcolepsy is non-cataplectic. Narcolepsy, in exchange for an inability to sleep regularly, also sacrifices the ability to sleep reliably, and as such, individuals with narcolepsy can also experience insomnia, hallucinations, sleep-paralysis, daytime sleepiness, among other symptoms. Once again, Narcolepsy is non-curable, but must be coped with and lived with with support and methods of managing.”

“These next three disorders are often associated with one another; Sleepwalking, also known as Somnambulism, Night Terrors, and Restless Leg Syndrome. Restless Leg Sydrome is a disorder in which your body does not completely paralyze your muscles in order to prevent you from moving, and instead, you act out or physically partake in your dreams. When combined with Somnambulism— occurring in the N3 stage of N.R.E.M. a person may find themselves in a state between sleep and wakefulness. Often, Somnambulism is not terribly dangerous, unless the individual wanders out of the house and miles away onto a highway or another heavily active traffic area. Night terrors occur during the N.R.E.M. stage of sleep as well, often during the N2 phase, but also at any undesired time. Night terrors are commonly misconstrued with nightmares, but are far more intense, resulting in bouts of screaming, panic, or other uncontrollable sensations of fear. Thankfully, longer bouts only last for 10 minutes, and are most commonly found in young children, but the bouts themselves are not to be taken lightly.”

“The last disorder I will talk about now is Sleep Paralysis. Remember that during the N3 stage, your muscles paralyze themselves to prepare for R.E.M. at this point, individuals should be unaware. Sleep paralysis occurs when for some reason a person become aware at any point. This results in the inability to move, yet being aware that you are awake and are unable to move, speak, or in intense situations; breathe. It often occurs either when you are in the process of falling asleep or when you are beginning to wake up. Hallucinations are possible and common, since your mind is attempting to comprehend the feeling of being unable to move. While not life-threatening, Sleep Paralysis can be anxiety-inducing, beginning as early as adolescence and becoming more and more frequent ages 20-30.

“Usually, there are three different types of sleep paralysis:
Intruder: In this paralysis, one fears that there may be a person nearby who wishes them harm, though they are unable to see or otherwise sense the entity. They may experience sounds of doorknobs opening, shuffling footsteps, a shadow man, or sense of a threatening presence in the room.
Incubus: Named after the seductive demon, this sleep paralysis can sometimes be the most intense and dangerous, and individuals may feel pressure on their chest, experience difficulty breathing and may sense that they are being abused or otherwise assaulted by malevolent being. The individual may believe they are about to die.
Vestibular-motor: Typically a sense of spinning, falling, floating, flying, an individual may been as if they are hovering over their own body or may experience another type of out-of-body experience. This paralysis tend to be more disorienting and nauseating than the aforementioned.”

Blinking slowly and looking about the class, he briefly glanced at the pair of boys that had inadvertently caught Leonardo’s attention (Selim & Kazuo) before letting the words sink in as he averted his gaze again. Despite himself, his fingers curled and uncurled around his wand, a signature ‘tell’ of his current mental security. “If anyone has any questions... I am willing to answer them for you.”

That being said, he backed away, taking his place at the lecture podium and quietly watching the proceedings.

The doors of the Astronomy Tower are now locked. If you need to enter, you must state that you arrived here before this post. You are now not permitted to leave the room.

Reducio

@Henry Knight, @Selim Faust, & @Kazuo Shimada

I can't change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sails to always reach
my destination.

closed to interactions
──────
sta 6 | eva 7 | str 0 | wis 7 | arc 4 | acc 6
seer
#b76e79

Sleep was a fickle thing for Everly.

Not that she didn't get any of it. It was difficult for her to fall asleep, and stay asleep. Even the slightest loud noise - a distant sound from outside, things falling over, or a screech from one of her siblings could cause her to twitch and wake, breathing heavily, confused and brain muzzled. She inherited this habit from her mom; she couldn't stay asleep even when she wanted to. And when she did, dreamless nights were rare. Sleep was especially hard with noise or light nearby; she absolutely despised snoring and Muggle nightlights. But the young girl did learn to value the sleep she was able to acquire.

The flyer was grasped loosely in her hand as she flopped on her back on the four poster bed in the first year Gryffindor girls dormitory, her feet stuck up in the air as she stared at the ceiling, still doubtful. To attend the sleepover or not to? A soft meow brought her attention to Tzahala, the cat was laying on Everly's bed, her tail flicking back and forth, and looking very sleepy herself. "Okay, fine," Everly said. "I'm going to the sleepover, but you're coming with me too." She rubbed the cat delicately on the head, who purred in response.

That's how about an hour later, Everly found herself holding the blankets and pillow in one hand and a book in the other. Tzahala pawed eagerly at her feet, causing Everly to look downwards at the bengal. Shaking her head, she walked around the room until she found space for her things, Tzahala following her footsteps. There were several books along the side with a handwritten sign that indicated to take one book, on it scrawled in handwriting, "Take One." The Astronomy Tower also seemed to be ready for some stargazing, with the Observation deck open. There seemed to be around twenty people already inside, doing various activities and talking. Everly tittered along the side, looking for a place to put her stuff down. Then, once she found enough space, she spread her blankets across the floor and threw her pillow on top, collapsing on the pile and pulling her book out. Gaze trailing upwards, she sat up, leaning on her elbows as she took a look around to see what was available and decide what to do.

At that moment, the sound of a spell caused her to change direction. The Astronomy Professor, Professor Chiadovini, had locked the door shut. It seemed that Everly had been just in time... or perhaps was now locked inside for good.

And with that happy note, Professor Chiadovini began a talk. Everly shifted on her elbows, rolling herself into the blanket to keep warm. Her head was up to signal she was listening, although she was also still shifting on her side. Finally resting in a comfortable position, she turned towards the front to give Chiadovini her full attention.

Finally, the professor ending his lecture with sleep disorders, Everly wandered over to the Observation deck, Tzahala draped in her arms. Holding the cat tight in her arms, Everly could feel the tiny cat heart beating and the soft breathes and purrs she made. Subconsciously aware of all the noise and things going around her, she sat down with the cat in her lap, peering up towards the stars and the night sky. Slowly as the minutes passed, the noise ticked down, and Everly's breathing became slower. After some time of gazing up at the sky, Everly went back in to peer through the selection of books offered, and as the sign prompted, intending to take one book.

Wandering back over to her sleeping area with her blankets spread across, Everly laid down with her pillow pushed against the wall, curling up with Tzahala next to her. She made a sort of cage shape, Tzahala sleeping across her arms as she read through the book from the table and the book that she had brought herself. She could hear the sounds of sleeping students around her, some still awake like her, and she prickled at the sound of soft snores, but she sighed, knowing she'd deal with it somehow. At that, the young Gryffindor took the two books, laid her book down next to her and got up, padding softly over to return the book to the table before walking back over. She wrapped her arms around her cat and curled up under the blankets that offered her warmth. With a soft sigh, she tucked her hands under the pillow, closed her eyes and drifted off.

The last thought that she had was that this sleepover hadn't gone quite as badly as she thought it would've originally before the droopiness of sleep washed over and Everly drifted calmly off to sleep, unaware of the things going on.

Word Count: 809/800
Errand Complete

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"And one late night, my insomnia paid another me a visit, just to see if it still had the power to drive me insane." - Nupxx

Actions: Accidentially shattering a teacup in his hands after being startled by noises only he hears. Casually having a break from reality while bleeding from cuts on his palms (As one does).

[Rolled to see if Selim Broke the Teacup, above 10 being yes. He got a twelve]

Interacting with @Cassandra Ironwoods & @Opeila Winters

Reducio

The Outfit

The Stuffed

Starlee was relieved when the beater said it was okay and that they would tell Starlee what was wrong. Even if their friendship had become quite strong in the few short months they had known each other, Starlee never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable, or to do something they didn't want to do.

However, they were briefly interrupted when Opeila sat down next to them with her cat. Cash had mentioned she invited another friend, but perhaps Cash wasn't expecting to have all their emotions come out up here in the astronomy tower. She smiled at the other older student and said, "Yep, I'm Starlee! Nice ta meet ya!" She paused for a moment and then said, "Yea, I think it is!" As Opeila got up, Starlee turned her full attention to Cash, ready for the story of a lifetime.

It took a moment for Cash to begin, it seemed like there was quite a lot going on in the beaters life, and they said something in Spanish that Starlee certainly wasn't able to understand, especially not with how she had failed her Spanish classes when she went to muggle school before Hogwarts.

And then, Cash began. Began telling the story about how her father had suddenly gone missing. Starlee opened her mouth a little in concern, knowing how sad she would be if her dad had suddenly disappeared. Starlee had no idea Cash was dealing with this all last semester. And not just that, but the ministry visited them over the holiday break... to say her father was dead. Gone. Starlee audibly gasped this time, clapping her hands to her mouth to silence her emotions, as she knew that Professor Chiadovini was in the middle of another lecture. She held her hands to cover her mouth as cash continued, saying they weren't allowed to see the body, their mother was acting as if nothing had happened, that possibly, her mother was seeing another man, and then to top it all off, that Cash had a brother. An actual brother. Whoa. This whole thing sounded like one of the stories from her mum's American soap operas that she loved so much.

Starlee slowly removed her hands from covering her mouth and pondered this for a moment. She scoffed a little as Cash ended, saying it was 'Quite the Story.' No kidding. "Wow... I'm so so so sorry you lost your dad Cash." she whispered back to the older student. "I'm sorry your mum is being... well... weird. But I'm happy you were there for her when she needed it. But also..." Starlee's tone changed to a little more upbeat than before and continued, "It's so exciting you have a brother!" she beamed. Even though her little sister was quite the troublemaker, she loved both her and her older brother dearly. She couldn't imagine living in a world without them, or being an only child. She had also thought that the only child stereotype Cash described was true, but it made sense with both parents so wrapped up in their work, that it would be different.

However, Starlee knew that all of this happening in such a short amount of time was a lot to take in. Starlee really cared for the older student. She would almost do anything for them and comforting Cash in their time of need was what Starlee needed to do now. She opened up her arms to give Cash a hug, and possibly some friendly cuddles if Cash needed it. She then whispered, "I'm here for you Cash, whatever you need."

It seemed Selim's immediate displeasure with him had passed, at least outwardly. Kazuo watched the older boy with open curiosity as the other settled down beside him and accepted the tea. He didn't know the cause of Selim's sleeplessness or the fractures he had seen in Selim's persona. One might say that a smart person would head in the opposite direction as the troubled boy. The truth was that it was the smart ones, paired with curiosity, who would be drawn to the puzzling and dangerous dilemma that was Selim. So the too curious, too carefree first year hoped to pry Selim's secrets from him, to find the root of the boy's troubles.

He listened as Selim spoke with venom, unbothered by his foul disposition. There was an honesty to Selim's responses that he appreciated. "Girl scout gathering?" He snickered at the comparison, glancing around at the other students gathered in their pyjamas and blankets. Where Selim gazed upon them with scorn, Kazuo's gaze was one of interest. Which of these children truly suffered from insomnia? Which were haunted by nightmares? Which were here because they thought it would be a slumber party full of pillow fights and gossip?

Certainly, Henry Knight had shown interest in the topic, firing questions at Chiadovini-sensei. His gaze followed the professor as he drifted up to the observation deck. The answers he had given Henry had been interesting, especially the last part. The potion. Which Selim seemed so very opposed to. Why? A wizard who loathed magic. "Akuma-senpai, if the potion is a solution - ah, no, not a solution…" He shook his head, rephrasing his words to match his intentions. "An aide, something that can give you respite from this ghostly state once in a while, is it not worth it to use? Why do you abhor the idea of using it?" Selim's attention had drifted away from him, skittering about the room. He attempted to regain the older boy's attention, to draw his focus away from whoever else was in the room yet he would fail as Chiadovini-sensei returned from the observation deck and turned his attention on them. He watched Selim and the Professor gaze at each other, a recognition passing between them, of shared suffering. Then the moment passed and Chiadovini-sensei was back to his place, starting the next lecture.

He had wondered why the Astronomy Professor had chosen to host this gathering. It seemed he might have a bit of empathy for those students who suffered, perhaps because he knew the malady personally. Kazuo fell silent, giving Chiadovini-sensei most of his attention, yet also sliding his gaze to Selim from time to time.

Selim was clearly uninterested in most of Chiadovini-sensei's lecture but something changed when the Professor began to speak of sleep paralysis. A tightening of the boy's grip on his cup, a tension in his body that was not reflected in his expression. The fine porcelain cracked. Kazuo stared at Selim’s hand, surprised. “Oh, no, it’s fine…” He replied to the apology, picking up the larger pieces and setting them aside. “I can get you another cup…” He trailed off as Selim curled in on himself, reacting to things Kazuo could neither see nor hear. The younger boy’s expression grew troubled as he watched Selim put his hands over his ears, chanting the same word over and over.

“Selim.” He spoke firmly, reaching out to grip Selim’s hands. If the older boy allowed it, he would pull them down and carefully pick the shards of the cup out of his flesh. “私と話してください。 私に焦点を当てます。(Talk to me, please. Focus on me.)” The Professor had finished his lecture but Kazuo hadn’t noticed, nor the Professor’s gaze on them; Selim had his complete focus. “Akuma-senpai, you didn’t answer me. About the drawing.” He switched to a topic he felt would be safe, hoping to distract Selim from what had triggered this strange response. Something the professor had said, something in his sleep paralysis description. Did Selim suffer from sleep paralysis? “Akuma-senpai, can you hear me?”

Outfit Reducio Interacting with: @Selim Faust Mentioning: @Leonardo Chiadovini Action: Triggering Selim apparently. Oops. Cleaning the shards of teacup out of Selim's hand and trying to calm him down?

Stats Stamina 5 Evasion 7 Strength 5 Wisdom 6 Arcane Power 6 Accuracy 6 Abilities Perfectionist

Word Count: 413 (this post) + 222 (last post) + 215 (first post) = 840 (total count) / 800 (total needed amount) ~ errand completed ✓

Closed to interactions

Piper took it back. The professor's (who had returned from upstairs and locked the door) droning combined with her late bedtime tore her away from her textbook, to attention, and soon after into a daze. It truly was a fascinating lecture - it sure explained the causes behind sleep paralysis well - but she was just too tired. The idea that a growing adolescent might need more than 9 hours of sleep was admittedly horrifying. Piper was no stranger to all-nighters, and the Slytherin students tearing their hair out over O.W.L.s in the common room were rather scary. If her homework load and sleep schedule were at their best now, Piper would hate to see them later.

While Piper wasn't an insomniac and was able to fall asleep quite quickly, she still found the lecture informative. However, she was eleven and had SO much homework to do, and felt a right to be tired. Her stress about her more recent failing grades had also reached sky-high levels; her grandmother would be so disappointed if she heard! She put her wand away and resolved to focus on herself.

The other thing keeping Piper awake was the deadline-induced adrenaline that the post author is currently experiencing about her History of Magic essay. Her grade was at an A, and she had to understand the concepts to bring it up by the end of the year. Piper had a special talent for writing even when she didn't understand the concepts, but the fact remained that she'd pass no quiz without a firm remembrance of goblins such as Emeric the Evil...or was it Emeric the Eager? Piper wanted to bang her head against the wall. Repeatedly.

Glancing about the room, she wondered again why she was here and did her best to relax, trying not to let herself get nervous about the fact she was locked in a tower with other students and a professor for the night. The essay wasn't due for another day or two. This was a time to relax and allow herself to de-stress; she could learn some valuable lessons. Sighing, Piper closed her book, opened her sleeping bag, and laid down. It was surprisingly cushy, and Piper allowed all her muscles to relax. She pushed her worries away. It'll be okay. And with that, Piper allowed the gentle whispers of sleep to consume her.

Closed to Interaction, Exited Thread
WC: 400
573+400=973, Errand Complete

Interacting with: No one | Open to Interactions

It was a little strange for her to just be chilling in the tower in the middle of the night. Normally, being here at this time meant that they were meant to stay awake and study as it was time for astronomy class. However, today was very different. Today, Serena was lounging around the tower in very casual clothing. A pair of thick boots and socks to keep her warm, a cosy jumper that was perhaps a bit too long for her and a pair of woolly leggings. It was very comfortable and the layers were helping to keep her warm in the castle but still, it was not what she was used to. She normally would not have left the common room like this. It made a nice change, in a way.

She crossed her legs, leaning back against a wall as her eyes searched the room. The Astronomy Professor gave her a bad feeling for some reason. He did not seem unfriendly or anything, she just... It was hard to describe but something just didn't feel super right about him. Nonetheless, she remained where she was and tried to listen to him as he started to speak. He was talking about sleep it seemed, which was a bit odd given they were all staying up at this very moment and asked if anyone had any questions.

For a moment, she pondered. She had questions. A lot of them. Not necessarily about sleep but about life. Though, perhaps, he was not the person that could answer these questions. She sighed softly as she looked up towards the skies. At the very least, it was a beautiful night. The dark seemed a lot less scary when it was filled with stars. The moonlight was one of her favourite things, in a strange way. It was not as bright or powerful as the sun's light but it prevailed through the dark, preventing it from getting pitch black dark at times. The stars and moon made the skies a little nicer when the shadows came. A soft smile appeared on her face as the realisation dawned on her. Her head of house had told her something that she recalled now, about making your own light in the darkness. In a way, they had to be the stars and provide light for others. It was almost... peaceful.

The darkness would not win. Not again. Serena had absolutely no idea how to ensure that was the case but she knew she had to try. Since she was not engaging in conversation with anyone, she allowed her mind to wonder on these thoughts, on the things that caused her nightmares or disturbed her sleep at times. But in a way, just staring at the stars also just felt peaceful. Eating another chocolate frog and looking at the phial she had taken for a brief moment before staring back up at the sky, she could not really help but allow her mind to wonder as she buried herself in her jumper to stay warm.

WC: 608 + 508 = 1116 so far