arsarcana | no one and nothing can break through

no one and nothing can break through

[Well! That sure did happen!

Bruno does not organize an afterparty. He's not a party organizer in general - that was Wu. But he knows he was completely useless, if not downright actively unhelpful, during that whole thing, and he already feels guilty enough. He has to be useful somehow. Otherwise, why's he even here?

So, before everyone can leave the teleportation circle in the dining room and all go their own separate ways, Bruno mumbles something about making food and takes off for the kitchen. He'll be there for a couple of hours, whipping up some quick chicken sancocho, with Olive on rice duty. Azul can be in charge of actually grabbing people and bringing them in - god forbid Bruno do anything like that - but if anyone does happen to be there to take one, he'll make them up a bowl. Otherwise, he's just gonna leave it all warming on the stove.

There's also some arroz con leche simmering for later, if anybody wants dessert! He'll put cinnamon in it, and then add some hot chocolate to the lineup as well. He's no Julieta, of course, but at least he's made something? It's not enough, but it's...something.]

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[Well that was a trial.

Katsuya left the trial room exhausted -- fighting Jasper is pretty tiring. Once he gets to the floor with the bedrooms, his stride trembles for once, but he manages to hold it together for around four feet more.

Then he stops and leans against the wall. That was...really...really exhausting, for emotional reasons too.

For a long while, Katsuya is there, against a wall, staring at nothingness. He probably won't go to the afterparty]

[Nuadha had been making his way back to Conjuration as well, slow but steady enough on his feet. There hasn't been a moment of rest since the morning, but Stella's words are still sharp in his mind. "The one who failed to protect him."

He doesn't know Katsuya enough to know how he took that. But it hits a familiar chord.]

Do you need a shoulder?

...I think I do.

[Katsuya sighs, taking off the sunglasses and folding and unfolding them over and over]

I don't know I managed to hold myself together in there.

[Nuadha takes that agreement literally, stepping in to try to take some of Katsuya's weight and support him towards the dorm.]

...You were focused on what needed to be done. It's more difficult after a battle, when the objective is gone.

[You're so appreciated, Nuadha]

I'd have preferred not to have this battle in the first place. This could have been avoided if I had done more to protect Wu.

[Not really, Jasper probably would have targeted someone else. A murder probably was unavoidable -- but it doesn't stop Katsuya from feeling dejected]

And then someone else would likely be dead. You're too quick to take responsibility on yourself. What would you have done differently? Concretely.

[Nuadha might know he's not in much position to talk, but that's never stopped him before. Despite the fact that his words are as blunt as ever, his voice is a little gentler for a change.]

I'd have gotten him to stay with me in the same dormitory, for one. I should have told him I wouldn't be out there in the early morning. I probably should have come up with warning signs he should have paid attention to.

[Katsuya really gets dejected when he feels he's at fault or when his advice is spurned -- and this is the former, that's for sure. What he says isn't the most realistic answer he could have given]

[He takes a moment to consider that as he gets the door to Conjuration open and shepherds Katsuya along. If nothing else, he really looks like he needs to be off his feet.]

...You knew him better than I did. But he did not strike me as an overly cautious man. I'm sure you're aware that it's likely none of that would have worked.

[Or if it had, Jasper could have just overpowered him outright. But for once in his life Nuadha doesn't see the need to be quite that direct.]

......

[Katsuya sits down on his bed, burying his face in his hands for a moment, before removing them and just...]

You're not wrong. Sooner or later perhaps he'd have made a mortal mistake. Even if it hadn't been this week, at some other time he'd have done something that'd have led to his death.

[Which sucks to think, if he has to be completely honest. Last thing he wants to do right now is think negatively of Wu, but there are things that can't be denied]

Edited 2022-04-06 01:22 (UTC)

[Nuadha leans himself against the wall, making at least a moderate effort not to loom while Katsuya is sitting.]

I think it's likely as well. Stella's outburst was... an understandable emotional reaction. But unfounded. There are simply limitations on what anyone could have done. Yourself, or even her.

[Despite the fact that he's still more than a little angry about her loss of control this morning, there's a thread of grudging sympathy in his voice.]

Edited 2022-04-06 05:34 (UTC)

I hardly can blame her for how she reacted...

[In a way Katsuya wishes he could have reacted the same way, but he had a job to do]

Have you seen her tonight? Is she holding up well?

I haven't seen her. And we're not on the terms to ask, if I had.

[He gives a quiet sigh. It's not like he can't understand Katsuya's concern, although he's not feeling quite as generous himself yet. It'll take a day or two more for him to come down from the morning's incident.]

...I scarcely remember being that age. But I imagine she wants to be alone rather than worrying about saving face in front of others. [Or you're just projecting, Nuadha.] If you want to talk to her, I think it would be better to do it tomorrow.

I doubt she'll want to see me for a long while. She blames me for Wu's death, after all.

[Although it's not like Katsuya doesn't blame himself too, but that's beside the point]

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[Bruno doesn't come in here for quite a while. The storage room has become his more typical sanctuary; this place is shared, it doesn't feel particularly safe or private, not in the way he needs.]

Oh... [He's like, just now realizing he hasn't really seen Katsuya since the trial.] Did you eat...?

Nothing yet. I don't think I have it in me to even try.

[He did so much effort trying to keep it together during the trial, and it was exhausting. Now that it's over, he's so tired, and so hurt about Wu's loss]

...you should at some point. Doesn't do any good to make yourself sick.

[But you're not one of the actual teens, for all that you're younger than Bruno, so he's not gonna push it too hard.]

I mean, I can't say I haven't done that before, but...just ends up being harder, later on.

I know. I must be looking foolish having to take a breather like this after everything that happened.

[He's used to being the one who has to hold strong, but he has limits -- and they're far easier to reach than you'd think]

That trial made me sick. I might feel better tomorrow.

[Emotional burders are so heavy, that's for sure. Wu's killer got caught, and he did his part to make that happen, and he fought Jasper, but at the same time it feels empty knowing he should have done more to protect Wu in the first place]

[Bruno lets out a nervous sort of chuckle, like he's not really sure if Katsuya is joking or not. He looks foolish?]

What, are you - are you serious? I spent that whole time just hiding behind my podium.

Wu trusted me and I didn't do enough to keep him alive. Jasper even used my image to lure him into a trap. If I had done more Wu probably would be alive right now.

[Not that it'd have been much better for someone else to die, that's for sure]

...it's not your fault. You had no way of knowing anything would happen.

[Unlike SOME PEOPLE HERE]

It's my job to protect people, especially in situations where they're vulnerable. To have failed to notice he could be in danger is shameful.

[That, and also it hurts his feelings because yeah, he liked Wu, and Wu trusted him so much]

You were kidnapped just like we were.

[Not like he's here as a cop, or whatever.]

That doesn't change as an officer of peace my job is to keep everyone safe during this kind of situations.

[He takes his job so seriously]

...that's sort of my job, too. Should've been, anyway. That's what the Madrigals are supposed to do, you know? But I was never good at it anyway.

I don't think there's any way you can be considered at fault for any of what happened, powers or not.

[Few people can say things like these without realizing they apply to themselves to, and Katsuya seems to be one of those people]