daybreakacademy | Lost through time and that's all I need, so much love, then one day buried

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Lost through time and that's all I need, so much love, then one day buried

WHO: Héctor, semi-open
WHERE: Around the Academy
WHEN: Post Hollow plot.
WHAT: Sad trauma skeleton. Not a single happy prompt in sight.
WARNINGS: Standard spoilers, possible mentions of death, murder, body horror, etc

A - [Closed to Peter]

He wakes with a gasp. His body stings with cold, weighed down with it, but he pushes immediately upward, against the lid of the freezer, scrambling for the light the breaks through on shivering limbs. The climb out is almost never graceful.

But the climb out doesn't usually feature somebody else, right there and ready for him. First his mind's got to register what he's seeing. Then, all the last few weeks come crashing back. It's enough to make him forget the ice stuck to his bones and his hair. He tries to focus on the boy.

"M-Mi-jo? Wh-what are you doing here?"

B - [Closed to Imelda]

It's not the moment he wakes, like he promised. He feels a little guilty about that, but it couldn't be helped. Still, he does show up as soon as he's able. Wearing a grey blanket like a veil. Looking around him, seeing the hall's empty for now, he reaches out with bare-boned knuckles and lets them sound upon her door.

There's a fear in him he can't push down. Maybe he dreamed it all up, tricked himself. Maybe she really did just say it to keep him calm. Maybe he'll have ruined things to the point it doesn't matter if she meant it then.

He dares to speak. "...Imelda? Are you awake?"

C - Open

He'll give it right back. He will. Not like those other times he thought he'd give something back like those backpacks or that van or Chich's femur. Definitely not like those times.

The hoodie he takes from the lost and found would probably be too small for his frame on a normal day, but it's perfect right now, when he can't bear being flesh a minute more than he's got to. He'll be alright. He always pushes through. He just needs a little more time.

The hoodie keeps him hidden, his hands can hide in (borrowed) gloves and the hood can mostly hide his head. Ducking it and wearing a scarf on the lower half of his face does the rest of the job. It's still quiet at night and he's still got the ability to go part way on his power last minute if he needs to. If he's going to keep seeing Imelda, speaking to her, he can't just hide in his dorm. He's got no choice but creep his way across the grounds through the night, only the cane revealing who it could be, but he grips it like a lifeline. Or a weapon. Sneaking up now wouldn't be the best idea.

On the other hand, any person lingering outside of the Lumiere dorm might catch him going still and abruptly turning back at the sight of them.

D- Open

He sets up on a path close to the school. It's as far as he can will himself to go. He's got no picture for the man, no piece saved he can leave. But he's got a small candle lit and he's got a bottle of cheap brandy with two glasses. He knows the man isn't coming back to drink it. Not even his ghost. But Garcie deserved more than to be killed in an alley. The dead in general deserved to be remembered.

So he sits there, in a hood and blanket on the path, facing the candle, the fencing, and the filled glass he won't touch.

"You never did tell me who Valentin was, amigo..."

E - Open

There were more than a few people he needed to see. At least a few he needed to talk to. Orihime. Ekkehardt. Maya, Minako, Tyzias. All the kids he was tutoring or generally making promises to that he couldn't keep. Gamma. He doesn't know when it became such a list but it seemed that it was now.

In at least some cases, he might have messaged those people, or even found the nerve to knock on their door. Others he might have run into by now. But for a good portion of time, he's in his room and that's where he stays, running out of things to mark and work to do and things to write. Sitting in his bones because if something, anything, touches him right now he might scream. He certainly startles to hear a knock at his door.

He gets up, walks to it, presses close, but doesn't open it. There's a pause before he calls, "Who is it? What do you want?"

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She's wandering.

Reira was given a dorm in 'Lumiere', the 'Yellow' building. And over all it's very nice. ~~She's on Imelda's floor even, Oop.~~ But with the sudden freedom to wander where she likes, Reira has thus taken to wandering just about everywhere she can manage to carry her little self to.

Which includes the other dorm- which, by the time she's hit floor three, she's determined to be the same as Lumiere (except Red).

The knocking wasn't intended admittedly. It was more like a 'drop'- a book she was carrying, tumbling against the ground and the door beside it. And for a moment when Reira hears someone speak from behind the door she freezes, hands around that book still.

Except she realizes she recognizes that voice, and...

"..."

And it feels like something is...wrong, maybe. "...are you...hurt?", comes Reira's voice from the other side of the door. It's not quite the right word. The feeling behind the question at least is right. Someone's stressed out, upset, and so on. A jumble of precise emotions that Reira doesn't actually have any proper words for.

So it counts as hurt, she figures.

Just like he assumes it's a knock he hears, he likewise assumes it's going to be someone he knows. After all that time, who would still be coming to him to request a thing?

There's a silence. Oh god is he hearing things? He can't go crazy now. But no, there is a voice, a small one asking after him. He frowns. He knows that voice. But where...

"Riera...?" He asks through the door, confused. "What... what are you doing here?" No, more importantly here; "You're supposed to be in the infirmary, niña, do you know how late it is?"

It's probably not at all the best way to break good news, but 1- Good news is better than getting in trouble, and 2- Reira suspects good news is what the man needs.

"...I have a dorm now," she explains, perhaps with a slight edge of cheer to it. It is, after all, a Very Big Deal. "...They said I have to go to school now, and I get a room with a desk and a tall bed." ....That's a loft kiddo but alright.

Anyway. "...umn...you didn't answer the question though...does that mean you are..?" Are you like a cat, sir. Are you hiding pain,

Oh. That's good! That is good news. Did that happen last week? Earlier...? He opens his mouth, pretend to congratulate her. Only for Riera to bring her question back. He winces.

"I'm..." He weighs his words carefully. "...I'm not hurt, no. But I'm not... feeling well? I get sick sometimes. It got bad not too long ago. But I'm getting better. "

All the hurt's in the past now and in his own head. "I'm really glad to hear you get to join us in class now though," He says, with some genuine cheer. "Have you gone to any classes yet? Made any friends?"

Well on the upside, 'being sick' is something Reira can just take and from there nod about. That sucks. But!

"Oh- that's good. Then you'll feel better later," she determines, in more ways than one. "...Being sick counts as hurting though. It's okay to say that." She is of course, assuming 'not hurt' was a matter of putting up a brave face rather than the simple matter of 'illness' not being equated to that in most situations- but she at least seems to mostly understand the concept.

And...hm. "Umn...I had...one day of classes? ...I met a lot of people, but I don't know what makes one a 'friend' yet."

Rex probably counts.

Also, that one black cat who showed her what cheesecake is.

(And probably Héctor himself by that logic)

He laughs softly. There was something about it, the simplicity of her view and her comment, where it almost becomes reassurance, even if unintended.

"Si, I will be." Hopefully sooner rather than later. Another laugh follows. He turns, slides down to sit upon the floor with his back to the door.

"That's fair," He says. But saying he's sick keeps people from trying to check in. Injuries aren't contagious. A topic for another time, maybe.

"Ah, well, that's okay if it's only your first day. Still getting to know people. But a friend is, ah, someone who spends time with you and who you like to spend time with too. They make you happy. And if they're a good friend they'll look out for you too. It's a bit intuitive though, so you'll have to tell that for yourself."

"Good." She listens as the sound of the other sitting down comes across the door, before deciding to do the same. It's not like he's going to be opening it, evidently.

Reira mentally goes over the checklist in her head. Spends time with, that she...wants to spend time with, she supposes. And they make each other happy...

"...How much time counts as 'spending time'?" Important questions here.

It makes him smile, to hear the girl sit down at the other side. It's a little nerve-wracking, wondering if he's going to be found out, but mostly it's nice just to talk to people. And especially to see those people still carrying on with life.

"Ah, it depends," He admits. He's quiet, stroking his chin as he thinks it over. It's ad that a kid this age needs basic concepts like this explained but, by this point, he's starting to get used to it. It had happened. Better to handle it than worry about it.

"It could be a while," He says. "Or it might not take very long at all. It could also go really fast but still take a long time to say that you want to be friends. You can spend time only for someone to realize they don't want to be friends-- and that's okay! So long as no one's mean about it. But that can still make people sad and make them want to wait and be really sure before they decide someone is their friend. It all depends on you and what you're comfortable with."

He hopes that covers the bases of it.

"Hmmnnnn..." It takes time huh. Well that's something to consider for sure- especially the other point. "....You have to ask if they want to be friends back then?" she asks, turning to the door.

"...How will I know when it's okay to ask though?"

"Mmm, sometimes you ask. Not always," He says. He taps his chin.

"Usually you ask if the both of you are younger." Which Reira was but he didn't know what age her friends were at. "Or if, say, you go a long time together but you're not really sure. Most of the time you don't have to ask though. They'll seek out your company like you do theirs and you'll spend so much time together that eventually you'll just... know. Again, it's really intuitive and a lot of it's up to you."

Hmmm. Not always... Reira has to ponder that, especially when Héctor continues explaining the matter. "Oh...Only when both are?" Hmm. "...And it has to be a long time..?" she adds, still looking for clarifications.

This whole matter of it being intuitive just makes things so tricky.

"Hmnnnh..." Too tricky!

He frowns a little sadly at the door. This is really bothering her isn't it?

"Well see, it's less about time and more about, ah, how much is holding you both together. The things you go through and bond over and the good times you have. The things you share. It's all about the memories you build. So, usually it takes a while to do that, but sometimes a lot can happen really fast too."

He wonders if he's made that clearer at all or just more confusing.

"I'm sorry none of this is really easy to understand. But you'll get better with it as you go. Promise."

It's bothering her for one single, silly silly reason at that.

"Oh..." is all she says, sounding a little disappointed. And then quietly, about 50 to 70% of the entire conversation likely makes a lot more sense.

"...I thought maybe you were a friend..." Héctor just, sadly, kept not matching with certain parts like knowing her a long time or being close to her age, and such. "...does this mean... ...you're not?"

"Wha?" It takes a second for things to click. "Oh. Oh niña..."

Ay, he is a fool sometimes, isn't he? He turns closer to the door, hoping that will make his voice easier to hear, easier to reach.

"No, no it doesn't mean that. I didn't realize you were asking about me. I'm an adult, see, and most kids usually just make friends with other kids. But... that doesn't mean we can't be. I like you. And I guess you like me. And we spend time with each other so, if you really want, then we can be friends. Would you like that, Reira?"

"...Mnh, I didn't see any other 'kids' first though. That's all..." She'll probably still have an awkward time with friends in her class, but hey, she'll get there. But-

She does sound happy, as she speaks. "...Yeah..! ...We can play more paper games... ...and you can meet Moon, and the others I guess..." And hopefully Moon won't use any magic, because it would be rather alarming to disappear in front of Héctor just like that.

He listens to that, the happiness in her voice, and it makes his heart ache. His eyes close and his head rests back against the door.

"That sounds real nice, Reirita," He says softly. "We can do games that aren't all on paper now too, if you like. Who's Moon? A friend of yours?" Literally La Luna? He guesses he couldn't judge to much were it the latter.

"She's one of the sprites, in my bracelets. She's the one that hides me from things the best, as long as there's no moon," she explains, nodding from the other side of the door. "...but...she's also easiest to get to come out if there's no danger," she adds. That's the most important part when trying to get large fluffy moth rabbits to meet people.

Also-

".................what kind of not paper games?" (There's non-paper games!?!?)

"Sprites?" He repeats. Sprites in her bracelet. There's a story there. He thinks of Orihime, the fairies in her pins. Maybe this was something like that?

But of course, he shouldn't be surprised the kid is less interested in what's normal for her and more interested in what's new.

"Remember how I said there's more games than I could ever count, niña?" He laughs a little. "There's sports. Like fútbol! That's my favorite. Not- not the dumb one in the states, the real one. And there's other games like dominoes, which aren't paper but are pretty fun if you're not into sports. Or there's dancing! Which isn't a game but it's probably something you couldn't do much of in the infirmary. There's lots! You should ask the friends you make to show you some when you can."

"Mn." Reira nods- not that he's going to see that. "There's four...someone gave them to me once, but I can't remember who," she explains calmly. "...Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon..."

But, they aren't the important thing right now. What's important is...um. "....foohtball?" So close! "...There's a fake one and a real one..?" That's a bit confusing isn't it??

"...Can you do any through doors?" she asks, not really thinking about how she's probably not supposed to be here that long.

Flower, bird, Wind, and Moon. He'll tuck that information away later. And that someone passed them along. He can only hope it was with good intention and not more contract nonsense.

"¡Sí! There's the regular one where you kick the ball around and try to score points in the other team's net and there's... there's the American one with... honestly, I don't know how that one works I just know it's complicated and everybody's tackling each other. But in some places they call the better one 'Soccer', I think."

(Héctor doesn't notice any issue with Riera's pronunciation. He's using the spanish name anyway.)

For that second question he has to think. And then sigh. "Sorry, Rierita. I don't think there are. If there are, I don't know them. Maybe we can play a game some other time."

On the one hand, it was very good intentions. On the other, that someone absolutely has their own brand of contract nonsense going on.

Oh well.

Reira tries to at least log away this information about football in her mind as well. And although she doesn't really catch any possible hints to get going to her own dorm, she at least recognizes the futility in asking about more games.

So Reira nods (again unseen), and just sighs. "Mnh... ..That's okay. ...but we definitely have to play that 'other time' then," she insists in reply to the offer. "...Especially since you said it."

He laughs softly, head back again against the door and eyes closing. Cute kid. It was sweet she wanted to play.

"You got it, Rierita. We'll find something or other." Sometime. When he stopped imagining hands and teeth shifting through his organs. He suppresses a shudder at the thought.

"For now though, you should head to bed. Okay?"

Well. With a sigh, she relents. "...okay," she decides, standing up to head away from the hall. The girl pauses though, to add-

"...I hope you feel better soon though. ...You seem really, um... 'Hurt'. Not like getting a cut hurt, but, your feelings, I mean..." And obviously anyone who wasn't feeling well would probably risk that, but it bears voicing a hope she thinks.

"Goodnight, though."

He wishes he could laugh at that. He wishes it was as simple as hurt feelings or wounded pride.

"I'm okay, Reirita," He lies. "Just sick, like I said. Buenas Noches."

"Umnh! ...N... Nochi," she answers back, before walking away.

Hopefully for his own sake he gets better soon.

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Lost through time and that's all I need, so much love, then one day buried

E is for. Um. EXPLORING..yeah

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