video; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

[Oh hi Shiro, long time no see on the network. That's because this is a last-ditch effort. He looks pretty darn not great, despite the fact it's Sleep Season for Warmbloods. Maybe it's the Arena. Maybe it's the River. Something honestly, sincerely traumatic that's happened already.]

[His face is in his hands, hunched over the counter in his kitchen. The omni in front of him. Voice haggard and quiet. Like he has a migraine.]

I will pay... however much anyone wants. For coffee beans. Espresso beans. Don't even have to be cooked. Roasted. Doesn't matter.

[... Or it's caffeine withdrawl.]

Or tea leaves. I don't care.

[Please, he is Suffering.]

Comments

[shiro2hero]

I guess because the 'waking world' means we have to be awake.

Constantly.

[frogfear]

Maybe they have some kind of caffeine substitute or something?

[shiro2hero]

They do have tea... mushroom tea.

So - we just have to see if that's caffeinated or herbal. That's all I've got right now.

[frogfear]

Mushroom... tea?

[But, Shiro, isn't that just soup? It doesn't appetizing either.]

Are you, um, going to try it?

[shiro2hero]

Sure?

I'm desperate, and they didn't say anything was wrong with it.

[And honestly he's ... had worse.]

[frogfear]

That, um. That doesn't mean there's not anything wrong with it.

[Please be careful, Shiro. She doesn't know you, but she doesn't want to see you poisoned or cursed.]

[shiro2hero]

If they're drinking it, won't it be all right?

[frogfear]

I dunno, maybe. Or maybe it will react to Sleepers specifically. It's hard to say. I mean, look at all the weird stuff that used to happen in Deerington.

[shiro2hero]

I think they're a Sleeper themselves so...

I appreciate the concern, I really do. But I'm also desperate.

[frogfear]

Oh, that makes a difference, then. I hope it works out, and it turns out the tea is caffeinated. You're probably not the only one having trouble going without.

[shiro2hero]

If it does, I'll be sure to let the network know.

What kind of 'waking world' doesn't have caffeine?

[frogfear]

Yeah, if we've lost coffee, that's pretty messed up. Even Deerington had coffee. What? Is this place trying to be worse or something? 'Cause, I mean, that would be an accomplishment and all, but not exactly something to strive for.

[shiro2hero]

There has to be something. I mean, how else do these people get going?

[frogfear]

I've heard some people have a lot of get up and go without caffeine. I just don't really know how. I've been a "burn the candle at both ends" kind of girl since high school, personally.

[She gives him a good humoured grin.]

They're probably either liars or it's something supernatural.

[shiro2hero]

That... definitely sounds supernatural. Completely supernatural. I don't think they're serious.

[Morning people are fake.]

[frogfear]

Yup, I'm with you on that one.

I guess we could keep watching the boardwalk for coffee and just... I dunno, stock up? They've got all kinds of other things from home there. They might get coffee eventually?

[shiro2hero]

It can't hurt.

I'm down that way pretty often - I can keep an eye out for it.

[Because he's watching for new, familiar arrivals, but that doesn't need to be said.]

[frogfear]

Yeah, so am I. We can keep an eye out for each other, maybe?

[For the exact same reason, of course.]

[shiro2hero]

Sounds fine to me.

Can't miss me. It's the hair.

[frogfear]

[She grins.]

Me too. I'm Willow.

[shiro2hero]

Nice to meet you.

I'm Shiro.