Ha, I don't know that I'd mind something that instant...
[It would certainly cut down on the risks he's worrying the most about.]
But yes, whatever would be stable enough to measure. I imagine it would be harder to put something into a solid form, but you know your abilities better than I do.
Nitrous oxide would be safer than chloroform, but yeah, kind of hard to store and administer on your own. And yeah, liquids and gasses are easiest... Solids are probably possible but hard to make into pills.
A liquid sounds like the best solution, then. [chemistry joke...? no, he's not a nerd enough for that.]
Under normal circumstances, I would simply let the exhaustion eventually get to me, but... [An exhale through his nose.] It's less that I'm not getting enough rest, and more that it's taking too long to get to it.
His brow stays furrowed. Let the exhaustion get to him? Arsil. Sounds brutal.]
So, a liquid that helps you fall asleep faster. Let me work on it, see what I can do.
[He's realizing that helping people can actually be more intimidating than killing. What if he makes something intended to help and it has a profoundly negative consequence? He's no doctor and he's never done experimental trials on any of this. He only has his anecdotal experience, which is primarily concerned with whether a substance hurt someone or not, not whether it helped them.]
[Oh, you know, sometimes you just have to let it compound until you have no choice but to pass out... Not usually, but sometimes.
There's a pause as he considers. A quiet, bitter laugh leaves him, then a regretful sigh. Still, his tone stays light.]
... no, I suppose not. Between everything that's happened in the past two weeks, along with what I was already dealing with... it's starting to get to me.
[What, you think supervillains are emotionally well adjusted? Altius turns his head to look at the other man, then as he's turning to face forward again:]
Yes...
[No part of him is stupid enough to deny it, though he's still stubbornly determined to keep going regardless. He is hoping for a solution, but if Tox can't come up with a proper one, then he'll deal with it.]
... Dante has no need for sleep, funnily enough. I'm sure they've been watching me also not sleep, which is just another factor I end up worrying about.
Oh, okay, so you're worried that being awake and under the influence of something will make you lose control.
[He nods- he knows exactly what that fear like.]
Maybe chloroform would be best, then... I can't think of anything that would knock you out faster. And it's liquid, so if kept in a sealed container, it could be reused. It might give you a headache though, and it's not healthy to be exposed to it often, so you'd have to use it sparingly. Nitrous oxide would be safer, but I can't figure out how we'd dose it since it's purely gas.
[But the fact that Tox immediately moves on to the solution is... not entirely what he expected, but something he's grateful for. The idea of chloroforming himself isn't the most appealing thought, but if needs must...]
Of course. I can handle a headache, but I certainly wouldn't want to overdo it—something like that I'd use for particularly rough nights only. Perhaps with time I'll be able to get a better handle on it and I could use a different solution.
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no subject
Date: 2026-04-15 07:10 pm (UTC)From:[It would certainly cut down on the risks he's worrying the most about.]
But yes, whatever would be stable enough to measure. I imagine it would be harder to put something into a solid form, but you know your abilities better than I do.
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Date: 2026-04-15 07:17 pm (UTC)From:[He frowns, a little concerned, but curious.]
Nitrous oxide would be safer than chloroform, but yeah, kind of hard to store and administer on your own. And yeah, liquids and gasses are easiest... Solids are probably possible but hard to make into pills.
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Date: 2026-04-15 07:28 pm (UTC)From:chemistry joke...? no, he's not a nerd enough for that.]Under normal circumstances, I would simply let the exhaustion eventually get to me, but... [An exhale through his nose.] It's less that I'm not getting enough rest, and more that it's taking too long to get to it.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-15 07:37 pm (UTC)From:His brow stays furrowed. Let the exhaustion get to him? Arsil. Sounds brutal.]
So, a liquid that helps you fall asleep faster. Let me work on it, see what I can do.
[He's realizing that helping people can actually be more intimidating than killing. What if he makes something intended to help and it has a profoundly negative consequence? He's no doctor and he's never done experimental trials on any of this. He only has his anecdotal experience, which is primarily concerned with whether a substance hurt someone or not, not whether it helped them.]
Are you... Okay, though?
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Date: 2026-04-15 09:41 pm (UTC)From:There's a pause as he considers. A quiet, bitter laugh leaves him, then a regretful sigh. Still, his tone stays light.]
... no, I suppose not. Between everything that's happened in the past two weeks, along with what I was already dealing with... it's starting to get to me.
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Date: 2026-04-16 02:55 am (UTC)From:Tox turns a little more toward him on the bed, bringing his leg up so he can face him.]
That's completely understandable. You've had a lot to worry about, a lot to keep you up at night.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-16 04:03 am (UTC)From:Yes...
[No part of him is stupid enough to deny it, though he's still stubbornly determined to keep going regardless. He is hoping for a solution, but if Tox can't come up with a proper one, then he'll deal with it.]
... Dante has no need for sleep, funnily enough. I'm sure they've been watching me also not sleep, which is just another factor I end up worrying about.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-16 04:46 am (UTC)From:Hmm. Yeah, that's pretty awkward. I think I've heard rumours of some kind of mushroom here that makes you sleepy?
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Date: 2026-04-16 04:57 am (UTC)From:I fear that might make it worse in some senses.
[A slow breath leaves him as he considers how to explain.]
... You said you had difficulty controlling your magic when you were young, yes?
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Date: 2026-04-16 06:21 am (UTC)From:Yes.
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Date: 2026-04-16 02:50 pm (UTC)From:I don't entirely understand the why of it, but—it means I can't let my mind run free without risking things.
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Date: 2026-04-16 03:14 pm (UTC)From:[He nods- he knows exactly what that fear like.]
Maybe chloroform would be best, then... I can't think of anything that would knock you out faster. And it's liquid, so if kept in a sealed container, it could be reused. It might give you a headache though, and it's not healthy to be exposed to it often, so you'd have to use it sparingly. Nitrous oxide would be safer, but I can't figure out how we'd dose it since it's purely gas.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-16 03:32 pm (UTC)From:[But the fact that Tox immediately moves on to the solution is... not entirely what he expected, but something he's grateful for. The idea of chloroforming himself isn't the most appealing thought, but if needs must...]
Of course. I can handle a headache, but I certainly wouldn't want to overdo it—something like that I'd use for particularly rough nights only. Perhaps with time I'll be able to get a better handle on it and I could use a different solution.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-16 07:09 pm (UTC)From:[But aside from just the sleep,]
Is there anything else I can do to help? I might be able to offer advice on the magic control, though yours might be very different from mine.