(June 24, 2020)

Just marking the start of 1.16 for my own notes.

Box: Insomnia
Category: none
Warning: none
Word Count: 680

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At this point, Doc is sure he's seen the moon more than a few of the other Hermits.

It's currently the fifth night in a row the moon has shown down upon him. Unfortunately, it's not a rare occurrence for the creeper, though he wishes it were. Doc wishes he could see the moon less, he wishes he could sleep every night, he wishes he didn't have to occupy himself with projects so he doesn't get bored to death.

But that's all they were. Just mere wishes of something that won't happen any time soon.

He leaned against the rail in the balcony of the Town Hall, lightly grasping the sandstone wall that prevented him from falling to the stairs. Staring up at the moon though narrow but weary eyes, Doc gave the moon a weak glare from his place. Gone was the stone cold scientist, replaced with a fed up creeper-cyborg hybrid who was completely sick of the moon's taunts.

With the lack of sleep, a steadily worsening headache has been growing in his brain. If sleep was a constant thing in his life, Doc knew he wouldn't have to suffer though these migraine-like aches, but he has to wait for ages to get just one night of sleep.

And then the cycle of staying up, headaches, and spite for the moon restarts.

Again.

And again.

And again.

And-

Maybe once Doc enjoyed the fact he wasn't able to sleep regularly. He was able to finish loads of projects and work he wouldn't have been able to do in the day. He was able to fly around at night without anyone bothering him. He was able to gather resources without the possibility of having to share with anyone else who happened to be in the area.

But the novelty of being able to stay up all the time wore off long ago.

The mobs constantly pestered him, especially the phantoms. His neck always ached. There were always bags under his eyes despite the lack of exhaustion in his body and mind. He barely got anything done lately, the midnight thoughts plaguing his mind as he... 'worked'.

And he only has the moon to blame.

Sure, he's gone to Xisuma before. Maybe there was a way the admin could force Doc to sleep. Maybe he could restart Doc's code and not have the insomnia. Maybe Doc could take a potion that forces him to sleep. Heck, Doc even suggested being in a modified AFK form.

But no, according to Xisuma, being AFK was only a way to be there without being there.

Makes sense?

It didn't to Doc, but Xisuma rarely lies. (The only times he does is with the amount of sleep he gets, then another Hermit forces him to sleep. Oh, how envious Doc was. Hermits have tried before, but gave up when Doc was awake to sunrise.)

Xisuma sighed as Doc came close to begging, which was most unlike him. The admin frowned with pity in his eyes and offered to stay with the distraught creeper for now. He said that he'll try to find something that could help, and said he wouldn't stop looking until he did.

Both knew it was a lost cause, but neither mentioned anything.

That was back in Season 5, when it had started, when it had became chronic.

At some point this season, Doc had become jealous of Bdub's ability to sleep literally anywhere, even if it was slightly over the top. The envy didn't last long, but when it did, it was strong.

A ray of light shone into Doc's eyes, reflecting on the water's surface and successfully pulling the Hermit out of his thoughts. Squinting, he raised a hand and shielded his face from the incoming sunlight.

There was the sun again, rising just over the horizon.

And to Doc's dismay, he did not feel tired in the slightest.

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It's short and not my best, but I wanted to finally finish this stoopid box.

Also, just so you know, I'm working on a special one-shot, and it'll definitely take much longer than normal.

;)