no one and nothing can break through

[predecir]

[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.]

Comments

[rikonstructed]

...I'm relieved to hear it. We don't know when we might be called on to do that again.

[encelevenemus]

Were I to venture a guess, I would say 'either at the next attempted murder, or after the next successful one'.

[rikonstructed]

I would prefer the former. I suppose it was foolish to think everyone would be able to hold out for the month.

[encelevenemus]

It was. [jesus don't sugarcoat it or anything i guess-] But now there need not be any illusions regarding what any of us may be capable of.

[rikonstructed]

[Possibly terribly, this is one of the things he likes best about Somnus.]

No. That's been made clear enough. Both at the trial, and this morning. [Who's still a little bitter about Stella? Not him.] And I'm certain the Alchemist won't be content to sit back and wait, either.

[encelevenemus]

[oh sweetheart get better standards]

Of that I have no doubt. Should things get too quiet for his taste, we will no doubt find ourselves provoked again. Either with the same offer, or one yet more worth its weight in blood.

[rikonstructed]

Especially when it's so clear that he's using that blood for something. It's... frustrating, to realize we're playing so easily into his hands.

[encelevenemus]

The blood...I noticed that as well. That must have something to do with whatever purpose we were brought here for, but to what end?

[rikonstructed]

Something that couldn't be achieved just by killing us himself, it would seem. Or he would have done so before we woke in the first place.

[This is uplifting, after the day everyone's had.]

[encelevenemus]

Exactly. Something about the spectacle of the whole affair...I can not place what or why, but he needs some part of it rather than a simple mass slaughter.

[gods forbid we do anything but get right back to business]

But I have no further answers than that. I can barely make any semblance of conjecture as to his intent.

[rikonstructed]

[Nuadha pauses for a long moment as if he's considering saying something more, but ultimately shakes his head.]

I can only say the same. Tir Na Nog doesn't have any magic similar to this, or none that we have record of. For the moment there may be no meaning in speculating on his motives, when the results are what matter.

[encelevenemus]

Eos lacks any magic remotely similar to this, as well. It is as you say; we can not begin to guess when we utterly lack information. The best we can do is mitigate the damage and postpone further violence as long as we are capable.

[rikonstructed]

Yes. I'm glad to hear that you agree. [Entirely aside from Nuadha's questionable standards, the thought of fighting Somnus is not exactly bracing.] We would have been in some difficulty today without your help. You have my thanks.

[encelevenemus]

You do not need to thank me, it was nothing. Handling out of control monsters is something to which I am accustomed.

[rikonstructed]

The compact had said he was a demon. I... did not have a clear understanding of what that meant. [Local man who missed Arc 1 boss due to not being alive shocked; appalled.] Is this something you have on Eos as well?

[encelevenemus]

Yes--well, somewhat. Ours are...different, but they are no less vile and deadly creatures focused solely on their bloodlust. They do not possess the capacity to speak or any such thing--they are naught but monsters.

[rikonstructed]

More similar to our monsters, then. There's too much I don't know about other worlds.

[Not that the outcome with Jasper could probably have been reasonably predicted. He shakes his head to brush that aside.]

...For now, I suppose rest should be our first priority.

[encelevenemus]

Perhaps so, but we have not the luxury of time in abundance. Rest may be a difficult resource to come by before long.