Here in the dark, in these final hours, I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power

[unpocoloco]

WHO: Héctor, OTA Catch All
WHERE: Around the school
WHEN: Various times after the 9th and/or the Valentines dance
WHAT: Various opens in the late evening
WARNINGS: Standard spoilers

You can't turn around a bad day, week, month, year, decade... you can't turn any of that without trying first. And so, once the monster's beaten back, his lost arm is returned, and the dance wraps up, so begins his annual rejuvenation. It's his return to the grind, starting every January (late this year but, well, he's doing his best), when he goes back to the drawing board and renews his plans-- only this time, not just for his return home. He's got a few things in mind this year, and isn't that exciting in and of itself?

A - OTA

With his arm back in place and whole again (gone for that week of the 2nd to the 9th and leaving him looking more like a zombie to people than he'd ever let himself before), he can actually get back to repairing the other one who took some hits this past while.

Rather than steal from the shop class, this time Héctor has decided to break in. Which, considering how much they let him use this place for doing repairs around the school, it isn't really breaking in is it? He doesn't think so. And so, upon a work table, in the dead of night, he's lain out a broken guitar. He's got nails and tools, bits of wood and scrap metal, anything he thought he could need for trying to repair the old thing. The guitar's not going to sound good when he's done, but it'll be something.

Despite everything, he's not quite ready to give up on music yet. In fact, he takes to humming a little as he works, breaking into soft song only to quiet again into humming as he hammers and cuts and sands away at the guitar. Until he hears footsteps and abruptly stops, that is.

B - Aube

Not every night can be spent on fixing the guitar. He's still got occasional evening classes to TA for, things to mark, essays to read. On those nights, he settles in the Aube common room, quietly working this time.

Being nocturnal as he is means bad news for any kids sneaking out of the dorm late in the night. "Ah, ah!" He says to any looking a little too ready to go, eyes lifting from his work to them and brows lifting higher. "Did you text Bee for this little excursion?"

C - Aube

Of course, not every child getting up in the night is looking for rowdy adventure. He knows all too well by now that some of these kids have had more adventure than they ever asked or bargained for. Those quiet wanderers, or ones who settle in corners, they're no less apt to get his attention.

He gives them their moment of space and quiet. Just a moment. Then, trying not to scare or disturb them, he walks over, placing a hand to the back of any given chair and tilting his head down at them.

"Hey," He says, soft as he can. "You okay? Can't sleep?"

D - OTA

In the early mornings, for any early risers who seek him (and not one of the smarter or more experienced of adults in this place) he's of course there to tutor those who need it. He may not always know what he's doing with magic but he can work out a lesson and, more than that, he can work with kids.

He draws another example upon paper when he can't simply show it, and he presents it, explaining each piece and part. "Do you understand?" He asks.

Perhaps you're the one he's tutoring. Or, perhaps, you're catching him just as the last kid wanders off and he's gathering up the books and papers, time soon running out with the coming dawn. But he might have time for one more.

E - OTA

He doesn't know the first thing about this, any of this. He keeps telling himself he's not a fighter, but more and more he's coming to realize he might need to be. It's not just about him anymore.

That evening he finds himself in one of the training areas. The bow he takes up is tall and heavy, heavier than a guitar. He's got the dexterity for that and the experiencing of firing... his arm. But it's not the same and he hasn't entirely got the strength built in him for using this thing. He's not sure if he can build the strength or if what he's got is as good as it's going to get. But he can't see himself yet using anything else.

So, there he is in the range, practicing. His shots mostly miss but every now and again he gets somewhere and he's encouraged to go farther. He gives a little laugh of victory and surprise in these moments. Hopefully he's not interrupting anything.

Of course in all his focus, anyone interrupting him is almost certain to make him jump and yelp and send and arrow flying far off target.

F - OTA

At some point before the library's closing for the night, he's managed to surround himself so thoroughly in books that he's built something of a wall around himself. His hand is half tangled in his hair and his brow is knit with concentration, pencil tapping absentmindedly in his other hand as he reads. The books seem to be all about defensive and offensive runes and spells.

"Wait, what?" He straightens up, flipping pages back, and then to his current page, comparing them. "That doesn't make sense, how can you-- what?"

G -[Closed to Orihime]

"Orihime?"

The call comes with a knock. Finally, at long last, he can repay this girl. He's ready at her door, smiling in his newly repaired clothing and holding a bag of tools and materials (nabbed from the shop class as usual).

As the door opens he laughs and say, "Repair service! Is now a good time?"

H - St. Valentine's eve - [Closed to close CR and/or those who ask first]

He's only been here so long, only saved up so much and a lot of it goes towards his hopeful plans. But for this, he can spare a small expense.

The shopkeeper had eyed him curiously, as exhausted and nervous as he'd appeared to be that morning of the thirteenth, pushing the limits of his magic into the day. He knows, in some sense, that he shouldn't. He really, really shouldn't.

But it's the first time in ten years he could do anything and... well, she deserves something. After ten years she deserves so much and a simple carnation or rose just isn't cutting it. Even this doesn't quite but... he can't push more, because even with this, the best gift he could give is his distance.

The note simply reads "for Imelda Rivera" in fancy calligraphic script. He presses the tiny card to his lips then places it back into the bouquet. It's a bright one, colorful, with full, giant blooms. There's soft pinks and bright ones, oranges and reds and blues, greenery, and vivid purples-- her favorite. It'll remind her of home, he's sure.

Off he goes into the night, bringing his delivery to the Lumiere dorms. He just needs to leave it at her door and go. So far so good. He won't get to see her reaction like this, but that's fine. She doesn't need to be happy with him, he just needs her to be happy. That's what he tells himself as he slowly and quietly works his way back, turns the corner-- and freezes, a deer in headlights as the second worst thing that could happen here, does.

I - Other, Make your own

Comments

[unpocoloco]

The return to warmth is much appreciated. No matter how much he tries to get used to it, he can't make himself like the cold.

He laughs when, upon making it to the common room, he catches her diving like that. He doesn't follow after her, instead returning to his seat and his essay marking.

Though he does say, "Not too late now. Don't forget you have classes."

[hattersgonnahat]

"I wooon't," she says while clinging to one of the cousin pillows. It's trapped in a headlock now, no one is ever getting it back.

Or at least, until she gets too bored playing with it. Which doesn't last long. And eventually tries to peer over at whatever Hector was scoring. ...As close as she can get from the arm rest anyway.

"You grading stuff?"

[unpocoloco]

He shouldn't-- who knew if it would just encourage the behavior-- but he can't help that soft laugh at her little whine, or the goofing around. The difficulty of resisting that is second only to the difficulty of thinking how he's already missed this sort of silliness with his girl.

And so, he dives into focusing upon the papers. For as long as he can anyway.

"That's right," He says, not looking up. "Some grade ten spell theory and a little grade eight history."

[hattersgonnahat]

Grades ten and eight, huh. Puella at some point laid down on her back, taking up as much space possible on the sofa.

"Darn, nothing I can use then."

As in, cheat for upcoming tests? What no - she would never...

[unpocoloco]

He laughs louder this time. A terrible kid. Now she's reminding him of himself.

"Now, niña, that would get us both in trouble," He points out. He struggles and fails to hide a grin.

"What grade are you anyway?"

[hattersgonnahat]

Terrible to the max. It's fortunate that only those nice to her are spared from a tiny wrath.

And Puella definitely felt more encouraged by the laugh. She rolled over to her stomach now, but attempts to keep her mischievous, gremlin face hidden behind the armrest. She was having too much fun messing around.

"Seven~"

[unpocoloco]

"Ooh seven!" He says, as though impressed.

He doesn't believe it for a second. But just to be sure...

He flips through his paper pile, muttering, "Seven, seven... Oh!" He looks up at her. "What did you say your name was, niña?"

[hattersgonnahat]

Oh? Does that mean he had papers from it after all?

"It's Puella!"

[unpocoloco]

Oh. That didn't come with a moment's hesitation. He stares at her a moment longer. Then goes flipping a little further through the paper pile.

Then looks up once more and says, "Really? Grade seven?"

[hattersgonnahat]

"Yep!" She was rather proud of this fact. Although, no wonder she felt a little bit pressured about certain things.

"I got moved up."

[unpocoloco]

Dios... the kids here... was it normal for there to be such a wide range of prodigies and the struggling?

"Wow, uh... well... I don't seem to have anything of yours here but, I'll keep an eye out. In the future. " He offers a small smile. Maybe he could afford some kind of sticker sheet...

[hattersgonnahat]

Well, this was primarily a school for the gifted or unique abilities.

"Awww..."

Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise though. Who knows how weird it would be having your own work judged right in front of you. Especially if it wasn't that great.

Which most of Puella's papers probably fell under, unless it was something for basic runes.

"That's too bad."

[unpocoloco]

He shoots a wry look her way, then returns back to his papers, still smiling.

"Don't you worry too much. I'm sure I'll come across one of yours at some point. Los Professors get muy busy around this time and need all kinds of help." Just like the kids do, ironically.

"I'll leave you a little sign if and when I do. Something the older kids won't have, probably."

[hattersgonnahat]

"Oh really?" Now she's curious. "What is it?"

[unpocoloco]

"Hmm, I don't know yet." He grins a little wider. "I could write 'Héctor Rivera was here', or I could mark it with a funny checkmark... or I could draw something... I might even be able to afford some stickers..." He was a poor man but even he could manage that.

"What would you like, puelita?"

[hattersgonnahat]

"--You have stickers?" It is about all a small child could ask for. After all normal schools practically have it ingrained as a currency at a young age, and unfortunately it hasn't quite worn off yet.

[unpocoloco]

Ding, ding. That was a winner. And he has still got it.

"I'll find you some nice ones," He promises. He doesn't see anything unfortunate about this. "Every time I mark something of yours, you'll get one."

Stars would be good. She seemed to like the sky.

[hattersgonnahat]

Héctor is slowly becoming her favorite adult on the whole campus. Stars or anything space themed. Planets and moons were acceptable too.

"No one else does that. I think I'll find you pretty quickly."

[unpocoloco]

"For shame. Homework is always improved with stickers." He nods sagely.

"Now, you better head to bed. Be ready for class and finish some homework for me."

[hattersgonnahat]

Puella made a small, disapproving whine. "But I'm not that tired."

That may have been a lie. But it was much more exciting here than in her dorm room, there was someone to keep her entertained. She keeps her mind occupied by hugging one of the pillows again.

[unpocoloco]

Oh yeah, he's heard that one before. It gets another soft laugh.

"Maybe not right now. But if you stay up, you'll be tired tomorrow, and then you might miss the stars. They could be even better tomorrow than they were tonight."

It's a mild warning, but it's one he's had to live by since his... death. Though, he remembers, sleep didn't always come as easily as things in his situation. Which is why he says, "But, if you're having trouble, I can tell you a trick."

[hattersgonnahat]

"There's a trick?"

[unpocoloco]

"There was for me," He says. "And for my daughter." She's young enough, he thinks, she won't think too much of that.

"The trick we always did was that when it was time for bed, we'd sing. That way, it was something to look forward to, and that even though we had to sleep..." Or leave. "We would know we always had tomorrow."

[hattersgonnahat]

"You mean like a lullaby?" That is pretty cliche, even for her. "C'mon, I'm too old for that..."

That kind of thing was more for like...actual babies.

[unpocoloco]

He laughs and grins wide. "Never too old! It worked for me," He says amused. "But okay, I'll be serious. Here's what I think you should do; close your eyes, make it dark. Try not to let too many thoughts interrupt that dark. Then, start imagining your stars. Picture the constellations. Keep doing that until you fall asleep. After a while, it will be easy to fall asleep." Probably.