daybreakacademy | hollow plots and zombens

Oh. Oh. Peter pales instantly as the implication hits him. Painful and horrifying, awesome. That Hollow definitely could have pulverized Héctor's arm if it had wanted to. Good thing it stuck to just breaking it and moving on.

"Uh, I like limbs too," he says. "And I don't really wanna find out what happens if I attach a full prosthetic to a magical skeleton." Would it get covered in flesh? Would Héctor just have a robot arm? That - would actually be an interesting engineering project, but. Focus, Peter.

He clambers up what's left of the gazebo and fishes his backpack out of the wreckage. Well ... the good news is that the tape seems all right, so he pulls it out. The bad news is that the monster skewered a hole through his backpack, so. Uh. Yep. That's a ruined set of homework. At least the practice notebook was shoved aside, so that's intact. Not so much his exercises and the textbook itself. Sigh.

"Lemme at least get it back in place," he says, holding up the tape. "That's the least I can do."

Since this is kind of his fault and all.

It's honestly such a ridiculous statement pulled out of its context, he can't help but laugh. Hooray limbs. Maybe the stress of all this is getting to him.

"I have the feeling that whatever way we did it, things wouldn't quite work out as planned," He agrees. He doesn't really want to imagine it too much beyond the image of him leaning, lopsided, to the heavier prosthetic arm.

When they reach the gazebo he sighs sadly, seeing his old haunt torn to bits. Probably for the best, but still.

He looks relieved to see the tape, even know what's coming. "Okay. I'm going to put this as well in place as I can and you tape it fast and thorough as you can. But don't layer the tape too much, this is still still going under flesh." And all he has to do is try not to make too much noise. He can do this.

He sucks in a breath, hold out his upper arm, then quickly connects the lover half along the break line. He doesn't quite get it fit exact on the first try but he does eventually get it with minimal whimpering.

"Okay, go, go," He says, once he's got it. His head bows as Peter tapes. He really can't wait for the pain of this one to fade.

Lopsided, overweight, all of those things probably. Which means Peter would have a lot of fun designing it but Héctor probably wouldn't enjoy testing it.

Anyway. He's got more important things to do. Like - watch Héctor set his own freaking bones, holy crap. He winces just watching the guy do it, remembering his own broken bones from childhood. Also from Spider-Man-hood. At least after he started getting tossed into buildings he had a healing factor to make up for it? But then he'd had to set his bones himself instead of going to a doctor so. Uh. Yeah, he's feeling way too much sympathy pain.

"You're way too good at that," he says, immediately leaning in to tape once everything's in place. He's at least a good hand with it, and his strength means he doesn't really need to wrestle with even a shitty roll of tape like this. Wrap, tape, and tear. Move on to the next section. "How many times've you broken something?"

And does it hurt like this every time? That's the implied question here.

That sounds about right.

He laughs weakly once more, knowing it's not meant to be a complement, but also feeling that laughing about it is easier right now. It covers up any noises of pain while Peter tapes it up.

"Are we talking break breaks or are we counting cracks?" He asks. And then immediately realizes that's maybe not the best thing to ask or even think about.

"Thankfully, not too many more breaks than the ones I've told you about. For whatever healed... broke my arm as kid while alive, got my head a little but nothing serious. I had a few small breaks here and there when I first woke up dead but, uh..." How does he put this? He ponders it-- and he'll give peter this, it does distract him.

"When my kind first wakes up dead it looks... different? The bones are really clean and they can still heal a bit. Not superhuman fast or anything, but heal. Our markings are usually brighter. But then... over time... the bones start to get more yellow and dusty... weaker... our bodies are looser, easier to come apart. Our markings usually fade until there's just the indents. By that time there's no more healing anything. We just replace and hold together what we can. We all helped each other too, so, technically, I had some practice on others." Even if he was more a general disaster than those others.

He's missed the implied question but he's probably given something worse.

That's. Uh. Yeah, that answer is way worse than anything else Peter was picturing. He's alarmed by the long list of breaks to begin with, but when Héctor starts talking about his markings fading and the bones just not healing any more? He sucks in a sharp little breath, immediately turning to look at Héctor's face. Marks are still there, right? Maybe not visible right this second but present right?? Thanks Héctor, he has a new nightmare to go along with Hollow!Ben attacking him.

"What happens if you can't heal at all?" he asks, even as he carefully finishes setting the tape. The tape is probably an answer in and of itself but. He has to ask, despite knowing he doesn't really want the answer. "Does - does the magic run out? Do you just fall apart completely?"

Héctor has said before that he doesn't know how much time he has. Is that what he meant?

Thankfully, he's still got some good color to his markings. There's fading, certainly, but they're not completely rubbed out.

Less thankfully is the realization that he's an idiot and scaring an already doubly traumatized kid.

"Ah, the healing only lasts for a little while after death. Like, two, three years, maybe five or six. I just meant my breaks are pretty much what you can see. It's really just a fresh-bone thing to be able to heal. Not healing isn't necessarily too indicative of anything," He assures. Because he's not healing. He's told Peter he doesn't. Except with Ekkehardt's help that is.

As for the rest of that... "I'm not sure if this is the best time to talk about all that stuff. You've had a long night."

Even if he hadn't told Peter, the kid would have figured it out anyway. What with the taping and needing to go to Ekkehardt in the first place. THat's sort of why he was asking in the first place. If Héctor's already in that state, well ...

He swallows, thickly. This probably isn't a good night to talk about it, no. He's still raw and bleeding on the inside, even if he's not especially injured physically. "You still need to take care of yourself," he says, unhappy but not pushing for more explanations. For now. "You need to stay as long as possible."

Because this damn kid attached to you now, Héctor, and you're going to make him incredibly sad if you manage to get yourself faded or killed. Tonight has just hammered that home.

One mortality crisis at a time is preferable if they can't just skip having those altogether. He doesn't really know if he wants to talk about that stuff on a better night, but he knows he will if Peter asks.

He looks sadly over at the boy. "I know," He sighs, quiet. "I'm trying to. I still want to get home someday." He wants to see his girl. He wants to be there for her as long as he can. He can't do that if he's going to dust before he makes it to Mexico.

"...But that doesn't mean I was going to let you get hurt back there," He says. "I don't regret this. I'll say the same to you. Keep yourself safe while I can't be there, okay?"

He can trust Héctor on that front at least. If he's trying to get home to his girl, he probably won't get himself killed. Probably. Peter can hope.

At that request, Peter hesitates. But - it's the same thing he's requesting from Héctor, right? Right. "I'll try," he says. "I've - I've gotta do something about this. But it's no good if this thing kills me so."

He'll get into danger, that much is for sure. But he'll try not to die.

He nods at that answer. He's still worried. He doesn't fully trust Peter to look after himself as much as he should. But he can't always be there even if he wants to. He doesn't have a choice.

His taped up arm is lowered down with a wince and a strained breath. But then in turn his other hand rises, touching gently to Peter's face before smoothing back his hair and then dropping. "Do your best, Mijo. Whatever you've got to to be safe."

He turns back to the wreckage, scanning it all until he sees something shine. From the rubble he tugs free his new cane, now warped out of shape. He looks sadly at it then tucks it under his arm, sifting about some more with his food. "You don't see my guitar do you?"

Every time Héctor calls him mijo it's completely unfair. Just. Completely. How is he supposed to put himself in danger when Héctor is obviously that fond? Ugh. He leans into Héctor's hand for a moment, then just. Nods. He'll be careful. He has to be, now.

Guitar? Shit, there was a guitar here, wasn't there? "I don't now," he says, looking around. "Was it in the gazebo?" If so it might have been wrecked too, oops. But maybe it was thrown clear?

He's also eying that cane too. Holding out a hand to take it from Héctor if Héctor will let him.

That's the trick isn't it? Can't go risking life and limb when someone cares. So he hopes.

He passes the cane to Peter when he sees the boy hold out his hand. Even if Peter were to do more damage to it, it's of no use to him now anyway.

He kneels a little more into the wreckage, pulling bits of wood aside when he feels those familiar strings until fingers. It doesn't make any sort of twang like it should. Gingerly, he curls his hand around the neck of it that he can see and pulls upward. He cringes as it rises, seeing the neck hang back by the stings in two places. The base of it pulls free and from there he can see the hole dented into the corner.

He breathes deep, in and out. "It's okay," He says, when it's clearly not. "I... I can fix this... It'll just take some time. I wasn't playing it lately anyway."

Hmm. It sure is dented pretty good? Peter isn't sure he can actually undo all of it - his hands leave imprints no matter what he does - but the major bits of crookedness he can definitely do something about. He just sort of grips one end of it firmly, then moves the other hand down the length of it, working out the kinks as he goes. Kind of idly working on it while Héctor gets the ... oh.

"Man, I'm sorry," he says, wincing. "I guess I've literally ruined your music for you now."

First by looking up Ernesto, and now with his uncle's Hollow.

It hurts to look at. And yet, when he hears Peter's reaction, he can't help but laugh. It surprises himself.

"You didn't ruin music for me," He assures. "This isn't the first guitar that's been through the wringer. And as far as everything else, none of that was you either."

That was his own stupidity, his family's grief, and Ernesto's dumb and selfish ego.

"No... I fished this girl out of the trash. My last guitar before her? She got caught pretty badly the wheel compartment of a plane." He smiles up at Peter hoping that, if nothing else, the story can distract him from the situation. "So don't worry about it. These things happen."

Edited 2019-01-29 03:27 (UTC)

Well. Okay. True and valid points but. "I was still the catalyst?" he says. "I mean, it probably wouldn't be broken without me."

But okay, okay, he'll accept that explanation. And the story too, which even gets a smile out of him. ""How the heck did your previous one get into the wheel compartment of a plane?" Because that sounds like a story right there.

Meanwhile, he's still working on the cane. He's doing pretty well? After a bit more work, he taps it against the ground carefully. Look, 99% straight again. Just ignore the imprints of his fingers on it.

His brows lift, challenging Peter without a word. He's certain that there were more than a few catalysts here. Like leaving or dying in the first place.

"Travel scheme," He says. "When just catching a plane the normal way didn't work out... or hiding in the luggage... well, thought I'd do it like the movies do. Only it didn't work like the movies do. La guitarra made a great sacrifice for me and I slipped and missed the flight. Who'd have thought jumping on to a moving plane could be so dangerous?"

He shrugs as though he really couldn't have guessed. Then brightens at the sight of the cane. "Ah! You fixed it!"

LOOK. Look He won't argue that point any more, okay. He gets it.

But first he's gonna stare at Héctor for that. Like - what the heck man. "Please tell me you were already a skeleton at that point." He's assuming so, because otherwise why not just take a plane like a normal person? But he'll judge you a little either way okay.

He offers the cane, though. Nearly good as new. "Sure, it was just kinda crooked," he says. "Super strength, remember?"

One point to Tío Héctor. Which he immediately loses. He makes a face at Peter. "Of course I was a skeleton! Why else would I need to do that? I'm not some criminal!" He pauses. "Wasn't. Wasn't some criminal. But look, I've never broken a law while alive, therefore it shouldn't count."

In his totally unbiased opinion.

He sets the broken guitar down and takes the cane nevertheless, looking pleased despite the finger dents. He kind of likes them actually. "Super strength. Heh, how could I forget? You saved us more than a few times back there with it." He taps the cane on the ground, happy to see it hold.

"Alright, I'm going to going to make myself more human. If you want to turn around for it."

Be real careful about arguing what you get to do because you're not alive, Héctor. That sure is gonna come back to bite you in, like, a couple weeks probably.

"I guess you're technically right," he says. Still judging Héctor, but. Now intrigued by the premise? How do you prosecute a dead person, anyway. You sure can't give them the death penalty. Or life in prison. Anyway.

The dents add character, probably; they definitely add Peter's own personal touch, at least. A little flawed still, but functional. He shrugs a little at the compliment, distinctly pleased. He'd rather use his strength for good purposes like - well, like anything but fighting, honestly.

That warning though. Peter swallows a bit, gladly turning. Grateful for Héctor not making him watch it accidentally. "Sorry," he says, now facing away from him. "I dunno what it is. I'm good with you being a skeleton, but all that glowing dust really gets to me."

He's going to be regretting a lot of things in a few weeks, never even mind that. But probably including that.

Anyway, prosecuting a dead person usually went somewhere between adding to his record, giving a fine he can't afford, and blacking out when his energy wore out only to wake somewhere unpleasant. Still not a good time but he'll leave those details out.

The dents add a specically "Peter" character. He could be sentimental even when he didn't talk much of it.

"It's alright," He says, and it is. It's preferable to Peter fearing the skeleton part. "It's probably a phobia you didn't realize you had. Like people who are scared of bugs." He lets his power work, body shifting over and getting heavier. He gives a hiss as his arm forms back not-quite-right and with the general sap of energy he finds himself grateful for that cane to brace on. A few strained breaths later and he straightens.

"Okay. We're good. Might need your help with the guitar though, I'm not sure I can carry it."

Edited 2019-01-29 13:07 (UTC)

"A phobia?" That. Would make sense? "Maybe, yeah. I guess." He still thinks it's weird as heck, but ... well, some people are weird about things. He gets weird creepy crawlies looking at lots of little holes next to each other, so maybe it's the same thing.

(It's not, of course, but he has no way of knowing that yet.)

In any case, he keeps turned away until Héctor tells him it's okay. And then he looks back. That arm looks ... painful. He winces even just glancing at the poor thing. "Yeah, for sure," he says, moving to do just that. He'll just tuck the pieces under one arm and look back over at Héctor again, still concerned. "I can carry you too, y'know."

In case that cane is too awkward to use with one broken arm.

It's the only thing Héctor can think of at this time. It'll probably fall into that future list of regrets.

He gives another downward glance at his arm, sure it's going to swell and bruise. Oh well. At least he has an arm.

He laughs then. "I'm sure you can!" He smiles Peter's way. "But I'm not entirely helpless. Forgive me for just a little bit of pride."

He'll manage, he's sure. Just as long as no more monsters show up.

Edited 2019-01-29 13:25 (UTC)

That's still concerning Héctor! Gosh! It still looks kind of broken okay.

But fine, fine, if Héctor wants a little pride, then what can Peter do but allow it? He sighs, though. "If anything else shows up, you're not getting a choice." But if it's quiet enough, then sure. He'll let you do that.

That's because it is. And held together by tape. But at this point in unlife he takes what he can get.

He laughs again. "If anything shows up again I don't want you to give me a choice." Better carried than crushed.

The walk isn't comfortable the way back. Even beyond watching fearful for anything along their path, Peter's got a lot to weigh on his mind and distracting the boy tends to draw him back to looking at his broken body. There's not a lot of good going on here, but they try to make do with it.

They don't turn in for their dorm, instead, heading to infirmary where, mostly likely, Ekkehardt is still lingering. He pushes at the door with his better shoulder, giving room for Peter to step on through-- with the broken guitar still. Maybe they should've put that back. Oh well.

"¡Hola, Ekkehardt...!" Héctor greets with a sheepish grin, and in that moment Ekkehardt will also be greeted with the sight of a definitely freshly broken arm, a cane dented with fingertips from an attempt to straighten it, and two very tired looking blighted people. "We need to see you for a drop in."

Edited 2019-01-30 02:55 (UTC)

To Ekkehardt's credit, he doesn't say much when greeted by the sight of two obviously beaten up people, one of which has a broken arm.

"Gotten yourself in trouble, have you?" His voice is mild, rather than judgemental, but the again? of that sentence is implicit in his tone. He rises from his chair, stepping over to inspect the most immediate damage. Héctor will feel the light sensation of magic as Ekkehardt figures out what, exactly, he'll need to do to fix his arm.

"Please. Sit. Whatever you did, I'm sure you're weary from it." He says please, but there's a little bit of an undertone in it that suggests obedience would be strongly recommended.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject