#coronascuriosities

Alice didn’t sleep well, for reasons long and predictable. As a general rule, she slept fitfully and lightly. Catnaps during the day, curled awkwardly onto her well-worn sofa, pressed somewhere in between fretful midnight dozing, ear ceaselessly attuned to the sound of the front doorknob turning. There were blankets and quilts all around her flat – on the sofa, the chair, piled messily onto her bed where she’d kicked them restlessly around – in a vague, subconscious hope that she might tempt herself into sleeping properly. 

Mostly it just meant there was always something around for when someone like Sebastian Moran decided to fall asleep on her couch, boots kicked off, stretched out like he lived there.

But sometimes – rarely – Alice fell into the sort of sleep that kept her unconscious for hours, undisturbed. Varying doses and lengths of reaction times meant that she never drew the connection between proper sleep and Ulysses’ visits, but that didn’t stop the connection from being there. Drugged, Alice’s sleep was deep and unbroken, tiny little interlinking ingredients keeping her sedated and still, undisturbed until the chemicals wore off and allowed her to blink back to consciousness again. There was nothing but blackness, nothing but nothing itself.

Or, rather, nothing that she remembered.

“…to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”

Alice blinked slowly, head foggy. The light was different than when she’d fallen asleep, curled up on the couch with the television muted – sunset, maybe. Or sunrise. There was no way to tell. Where had she put her watch?

“I’ve g-got you, it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”

Normally, she’d have startled. As it was, she merely turned her head to the sound of the voice, finding herself little more than vaguely surprised to find Nathan there, eyebrows furrowed in concern as he looked down at her.

“Hey.” Her voice came out raspier than she’d have wanted, and she cleared her throat before trying again. “Sorry, I fell asleep. Let yourself in?”

“You were um…shaking. In your sleep.” He looked like a schoolboy, caught out snooping where he shouldn’t have been. She became aware that he had his hand on her shoulder. Careful. Comforting. She could practically feel his uncertainty bleeding into her. “I thought…are you okay?”

Slowly coming back to herself, Alice tried to draw herself back together. Enough, at least, to muster up a vague, wry smile. She pushed herself up onto one elbow, biting down the wince that threatened when she moved her back the wrong way after too long in one position. “I think a few nightmares are the base minimum cost, don’t you?” 

Sitting up properly, Alice shook her head, like shaking water out of her hair. Or cobwebs out of her mind. “I don’t remember what it was.” Thank God.

[text] Hey, Nathan. I know it’s late. Just checking in.

[Text] Is everything alright?

[text] Yeah, of course. I was seeing how you are.

[Text] I’m well, thank you. How are you?

[Unsent text] It’s good to hear from y

1: Let’s start with a tricky one; what is the real reason you are confused right now?

Why are all the men in my life a bunch of morons? I don’t understand why my newspaper has started disappearing. Who steals newspapers anymore?

10: What are you listening to?

The television is on. Someone is nattering on about bridges in London, I’m not really paying attention.

20: What was your last thought before you went to bed last night?

I should start locking the door. I think about it almost every night, and never do it. 

30: Would it be hard seeing someone else kiss the last person you kissed?

I…yes. Probably, yes. Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good for both of us.

40: Have you ever regretted kissing someone?

Yes.

50: Why aren’t you pursuing the person you like?

There isn’t anyone.

60: Have you ever played Spin the Bottle?

Yes.

70: Are you a monogamous person or do you believe in open-ended relationships?

When I was younger I didn’t care. Now though, I’d be more monogamous, if it came up.

80: Would you get involved with someone if they had a child already?

Depended on the person. My life isn’t exactly tailored for the safety of children.

90: Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old flame after a time of more than 3 months of no communication?

…Yes.

110: If you could kiss anyone who would it be?

[Text] Oh, well. - N

[Text] There is a lot to do. - N