arsarcana | 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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[Loki shrugs.]

I thought it was a consequence of, you know, dying. But Somnus said he felt his powers did perform as they should have either.

......what do you mean, dying?

[It's possible Bruno was just dissociating when you brought that up post-that one motive!]

[Oh, right.

Loki's hands start fidgeting, one moving to pull at the skin of the other palm.]

The last thing...I was on a ship, a space ship, before awaking here. Asgard was destroyed by the demon Surtur. We were able to escape with as much of her population as was possible and were making our way to Earth to seek refuge. But on the way we were attacked again by the beast from my picture and his army. Most of the civilians were able to make it into escape pods. Thor, myself, a few other warriors, we all stayed behind to buy them more time. The last thing I remember before waking up here was Thanos snapping my neck and everything going dark.

[Bruno sits up as the tale's told, folding his legs under him. He doesn't understand all of it, of course. But he gets the important bits.]

Oh my god...that's awful. But you - you're okay now, right? [He reaches out, laying a hand on Loki's arm.] So, you'll be okay?

I'm alive, as far as I'm aware. [The fidgeting doesn't stop, but he doesn't move away from Bruno's touch.] I don't know how, or what it means for my connection to the Alchemist. I'm not even sure there's somewhere for me to go back too if we manage to get out of here.

[He sighs, squeezing his eyes shut.] Apologies. I came here to comfort you and instead I dump my troubles at your feet.

No no no no no, it's okay!

[Bruno scoots over and a little around, to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Loki.]

Everybody's gotta be able to talk to somebody. And you've got...a LOT to talk about. You shouldn't keep it all inside.

[Loki gives a weak chuckle, leaning in to the casual physical contact. How long had it been since someone just sat next to him like this?]

I have enough troubles to fill several lifetimes. No one person should bear the brunt of my...unloading.

[Bruno goes slightly rigid. He knows exactly how long it's been for him, and it was long enough to forget how to...touch people, really. But he used to. There was a time when this would have been so ordinary.

He forces himself to relax, even lean back a little. He'll get used to it again.]

I thought my wall thing was the most depressing story you knew. [He's joking, if weakly.] You could talk to other people too, if you're worried about it, but I don't mind. You've listened to me plenty.

[Loki shakes his head.] No, I...I probably shouldn't have told you. You all have enough to deal with here as it is. [That and he doesn't want to appear as weak. Hard to say you're a prince when there's not much left to be prince of.]

You'll keep this between us?

[Bruno frowns, but...what's he gonna do?]

...yeah, of course. My lips are sealed.

Thank you.

[Tension Loki didn't realizing he was holding releases from his shoulders.]

Aren't we a pair: sitting on the floor of this dusty old room.

[Bruno snorts.]

Hey, at least we're not in the walls of the dusty old room. Three times dustier back there, at least.

[That gets a weak chuckle out of him.]

In times such as these, one must always look at the bright side.

[Bruno chuckles in return.]

Oh, yeah, I'm great at that! If a few more of my rats show up, I'll show you one of our theatre productions.

Rat-based theater productions? [It sounds absurd, but so is everything about this situation.] How do you get them to cooperate?

Years of training. A lot of cheese. I think they eat as much as I do, spoiled little things.

[His voice is fond.]

As is often the way with pets.

Heh, yeah. Gotta keep them fed, no matter what. I mean, they're actually better at stealing food than I am, they just can't carry too much of it.

A limitation I'm sure vexes them daily.

[Slowly, Loki gets to his feet before turning to offer Bruno a hand up.]

Come on. The Prince wouldn't want us to sit in this musty old room wallowing all night.

Ah...no, he wouldn't.

[Smiling ruefully, Bruno accepts the hand up.]

He'd probably be mad at me for spending this much time in there. "Bruno, what are you doing in this dusty closet? Go use this sugar scrub on your face!"

Perhaps I'll have a bubble bath in his honor.

[Bruno chuckles.]

You should! I think he'd like that. With extra bubbles, and something that smells nice.

no one and nothing can break through

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