Video ; UN: suneater

[takoyakitori]

[The video feed is of a mostly dark room with a window that's letting SOME light in, but not enough to really show much of Tamaki himself, who is mostly in shadow. From the sound of sheets and blankets shifting he's probably still in bed. He's not a morning person.]

I really didn't want to ask like this... But I don't know what else to do.

I've been here for a month but I'm having trouble sleeping.
I'm not used to it, it's too different from home, or the dorms.

If it's not too much trouble...
Does anyone... have any advice?

[He groans and then mutters "embarrassing" to himself before he cuts the video out to wait and see if he can get advice.]

Comments

video, un: draconium

[blue_ice]

Either find a project to work on or train more, until you collapse. Exhaust your body and mind.

[ Judging by the sour expression, this guy isn't doing all that well on that front either. ]

[takoyakitori]

I was pretty sure this was some of the advice I was going to get. I've been working with the magic but it's just frustrating, not tiring. It's like I'm starting from the beginning all over again...

[He sighs. It's not like him to complain, not like this. He doesn't want to give up on magic training, but it doesn't make him tired.]

[blue_ice]

So you had a form of magic before.

[ He can't relate, but...yeah, that would be frustrating. ]

Is your roommate the problem? Or just the inn?

video; un: botanybunny

[hopticulture]

[ah! it's this guy! Haru's got to wonder why he's using video to relay this message when he's barely visible, but she'll use video too for the sake of consistency, even if she's more of a text or phonecall kind of girl.

but she's a morning person. or at least used to getting up early in the morning because that's the best time to work in a garden.]

It sounds like you're used to sleeping with roommates. Are you still staying at the hotel?

[takoyakitori]

[It's because he's stupid. Or maybe because it's less intimidating to talk to people through video when they're not looking right at him. Who knows.]

Haru. [He remembers her, at least her username.]

Yeah. I hadn't figured out anything else. We have our own rooms at the dorm, but it feels different.

[hopticulture]

Ah good, you remember me!

[she seems genuinely pleased.]

It could be homesickness, since this is very different from living in a dorm knowing you can head back home for the holidays. Either that, or... [hmmmmm] you're missing someone in particular?

voice; un: smoking_bomb

[bakudan_bambino]

Do you usually sleep in a quiet dark place? I would suggest pinning sheets over the windows to help block out any light.

Or... if you need noise, look for something on your device that will play some white noise.

Seems like you need to mimic the environment you slept in if it's the change in location that's making it difficult.

[takoyakitori]

My dorm room isn't too different from this.

It's just knowing I'm not home that makes it different. I'm not sure if this place would have something familiar to listen to... but how different could the sound of the ocean be?

[It's not as familiar as TV shows he knows or the din of familiar voices, but he's not holding out hope for that.]

[bakudan_bambino]

I can't suggest anything for sentimentality. Perhaps get new clothes so whatever you wore into this world still retains the scent it had?

I think the ocean would sound the same, yeah. Try playing it quietly. There are other programs on the phone that can play other noises. Some even mimic background noises like the sound of pages being turned in a library, or the bustle of people in a coffee shop. You're sure to find something eventually.

If all else fails, I know where you're staying. I could just knock you out.

[Yeah that's a threat, but he doesn't say it like it is. Just... an offer.]

video; un: q

[monostich]

I always found it easier to sleep when I wasn't alone, but... I know that doesn't work for everyone.

[But it was comforting! Comfortable things help with sleep!]

Maybe you could try making the bed feel better to sleep on...? More pillows or blankets or something.

i missed this tag somehow, I'm so sorry!

[takoyakitori]

I'm used to sleeping alone, at least at home. It's not like I share a bed with anyone.

I could try some different pillows to start with. Blankets could be next... Just trying one new thing at a time.

[It's something to start with anyway, right?]

Thank you, for the advice.

o9 it's all good!

[monostich]

You don't have to share a bed to not be sleeping alone...

[He sounds almost amused.]

You could just share the room, but if you're already used to being alone... It might prove more distracting. My apologies.

[Does he have to apologize for ill-suited advice? Probably not. Is he? Yes.]

I hope something helps you, at least.

audio

[mithrarin]

I'm not used to sleeping indoors at all. I still don't, every night... but what helped was to get a roommate I'm comfortable with. It's easier to sleep when a friend is there too.

[takoyakitori]

[He's curious about the sleeping outside bit, but he's not quite bold enough to ask. Instead, he focuses on what's said last.]

I don't think I know anyone here I'm comfortable enough to be roommates with.

[mithrarin]

Neither did I. That didn't stop my roommate from dragging me in. Get to know some people, and maybe you'll have the same luck.

video; un: bluerose

[birdflipping]

Have you checked out the fairy traders before? They sell this rock thing they claim helps people sleep better.

Dunno if it actually works, but it couldn't hurt to try.

[takoyakitori]

[This guy.]

I haven't, but that's good to know. I could try it. If nothing else works first, anyway.

[magical/fairy means seem like a last-ditch effort, kind of how you want to avoid sleep aides.]

un: shepheredess

[troubadamsel]

First, there is hardly any shame in asking. When one is forcibly removed from their home, of course natural sleep is going to be difficult to achieve. So, allow yourself some ease - Tis' hardly any trouble to ask for advice.

Secondly, allow me to ask you some questions in turn, so we can see what solutions would work best. How are your meals?

[takoyakitori]

You're being too kind... [He always seems to have trouble accepting kindness like this, but he's doing his best.]

I don't have to pay as much attention to what I eat here since my quirk doesn't work, but I'm eating normally for my age, I think.

video | un: prismpink

[prismatically]

Oh Goddddd, insomnia is the worst! I get it, I totally get it!

[ She's making her point VERY emphatically, given how shaky her camera ends up as she gestures at it. ]

I had a TON of trouble sleeping when I first got here, so I guess I was just unsettled from the whole... [ She makes a vague hand gesture to encompass the whole... everything of being plopped into Avalon with no warning. ] You know? And I was used to sleeping with roomies, so being on my own again was kinda weird in that way...

Anyway, mostly I just started doing those wind-down routines, really strict ones. Like, do all your getting ready for bed stuff at the exact same time and just get straight into bed and leave your phone alone, and eventually it like, tricks your brain into winding itself down on its own because it goes "oh right, all this stuff means it's bedtime". It takes a while to get into the routine but it usually helps me! And then if I really can't switch off, I put my earbuds in and listen to calming stuff online... ocean sounds and nature noises, all that kinda white noise meditation stuff.

And then if all that doesn't work, I take melatonin gummies and lay there feeling mad about it.

[takoyakitori]

[Oh. She is... so much. A little like Nejire, maybe. Dialed up a few degrees, just going by her body language. She seems much more keyed up.]

I don't think it's a routine thing... I think it's the weird environment. But you're the second person to suggest sounds. I should probably try that.

I'll try that before medicine.

text | un: shigeru

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru gets this so hard. Though for him the newness of the place has worn off and yet he...still falls into his bad habits out of compulsion and his OCD. But at least he's gotten better with sleeping. ]

There's a good herbal tea blend I like to use for insomnia. But maybe you could set up your room to look like your dorm room? It might not be a bad thing...to have a familiar surrounding.

[takoyakitori]

[familiar would be nice. He wasn't really sure how much customizing he could do here, but it's at least a suggestion.]

That... could work. The decorating.

...what kind of tea is it? [he's clearly willing to try a lot of things.]

text; un: fireprince

[rediscovering]

i have sleep troubles often.

1. do you feel safe when you go to bed? if not, then there's your problem.

2. otherwise:
• dont exercise before bed, it won't tire you out, itll wake you up
• meditate for as long as you can before you sleep, the dark helps
• drink tea especially chamomile, dont drink green tea or ginseng cuz those will wake you up too
• you can keep certain herbs in your pillow like lavender, mugwort, hops, the smell helps calm your mind
• stretch and massage pressure points to help your chi flow freely
• always wake up with the sun.

[takoyakitori]

this is really well organized... thank you.

I think some of it has to do with feeling safe, or everything feeling unfamiliar. But it's also not knowing what to do with myself while stuck here. It feels like I'm spinning my wheels, and having to start over with training is frustrating.

So I think... trying a few of these things will help. Lavender is nice.