Bruno Madrigal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sandinmyhair) wrote2022-04-11 05:10 am
sandinmyhair) wrote2022-04-11 05:10 am
Ryslig IC Inbox
[Insert automated greeting here]
[It's a few days after the encounter on the street that a message pops up, typed out by shaking hands in the dark.]
Bruno, hallo.
I want to apologizze for everything the o
ther day. I feel terr ible. I was not myself, I did not mean any of it! I was not well!
I care very much for you, Bruno, I hope that you know
that. I would nevvver want to be crue
l to you like I was.
You are not the only one
who I hurt.
I am so sorry.
Bruno, hallo.
I want to apologizze for everything the o
ther day. I feel terr ible. I was not myself, I did not mean any of it! I was not well!
I care very much for you, Bruno, I hope that you know
that. I would nevvver want to be crue
l to you like I was.
You are not the only one
who I hurt.
I am so sorry.
[And it's a day or so after that before Bruno has the energy to even look at the network, let alone do anything else. He reads this curled up in a nest of blankets, listlessly pushing spoonfuls of ice cream into his mouth. He stares at the words for several beats before sleepily typing:]
i wasnt really myself, either. i let things grind me down until i didnt have any patience left. i wasnt thinking and i kind of lashed out.
was it because you hadnt fed/ thisll sound weird but i hope you managed to feed okay. but i think i know the answer to that. was it someone you knew/
i forgive you, though. that hunger can really mess with a person's head.
i wasnt really myself, either. i let things grind me down until i didnt have any patience left. i wasnt thinking and i kind of lashed out.
was it because you hadnt fed/ thisll sound weird but i hope you managed to feed okay. but i think i know the answer to that. was it someone you knew/
i forgive you, though. that hunger can really mess with a person's head.
I think we are both guilty of thaat.
Yes. I knew that I nee
ded to, but I...I couldn't do it. After seei ng that terrible broadcast I couldnt do it. So I tried not to, and...it was foolish. It was stupid.
...I did. Three people, Bruno . Three. And one was my friend Harry. Reverie had to snap me out of it. I couldn''t stop.
Thank you for forgiving me. I
I can't stand this. Not souls. I need to find a better way.
Yes. I knew that I nee
ded to, but I...I couldn't do it. After seei ng that terrible broadcast I couldnt do it. So I tried not to, and...it was foolish. It was stupid.
...I did. Three people, Bruno . Three. And one was my friend Harry. Reverie had to snap me out of it. I couldn''t stop.
Thank you for forgiving me. I
I can't stand this. Not souls. I need to find a better way.
oh no
oh, no, alfred i am so sorry
souls
brillanto pointed something out to me, that theyre energy and energy cant be created or destroyed, only changed, so it
maybe still goes on to an afterlife or reborn or something
i hope
i mean i really really hope
i wish we didnt have to do this
oh, no, alfred i am so sorry
souls
brillanto pointed something out to me, that theyre energy and energy cant be created or destroyed, only changed, so it
maybe still goes on to an afterlife or reborn or something
i hope
i mean i really really hope
i wish we didnt have to do this
Edited 2022-04-12 06:18 (UTC)
I have been throu
gh many things, but that may have been the worst thing I have ever been through. I did somethin g terrifying with my powers without even knowwing. i've been having nightmares since.
That is a go
od point. I hope it is true
I wish we didn't, either. I know sometimes people change monsters, or ask things of Mana.
Maybe th ere is a way to ask to feed differently, too?
I just can't do THAT again
I was horrible
gh many things, but that may have been the worst thing I have ever been through. I did somethin g terrifying with my powers without even knowwing. i've been having nightmares since.
That is a go
od point. I hope it is true
I wish we didn't, either. I know sometimes people change monsters, or ask things of Mana.
Maybe th ere is a way to ask to feed differently, too?
I just can't do THAT again
I was horrible
there is a way but la manas price is high. ive heard a lot of talk about how you have to collect a lot of those coins.
you
you werent horrible
it wasnt you it was what the fog has done to us. the fog wants us to suffer as much as she wants the humans to suffer. we have no choice.
we can redefine what it means to be a monster.
you
you werent horrible
it wasnt you it was what the fog has done to us. the fog wants us to suffer as much as she wants the humans to suffer. we have no choice.
we can redefine what it means to be a monster.
Thanks to the Fog, it only took two days and nights for Seras to recover from the Night of The Goblin to a comfortable enough extent that she felt alright to explore the world again. Well, comfortable enough that her housemate and interim caretaker, Alfred, could be convinced to let her go back out again. Bless him, she couldn't blame him for not wanting to have put all that worry and work into putting her back together just for her to overexert herself and end up bedridden again.
But her pooka instincts had her getting restless, by the third day she couldn't stay confined to the bed, she couldn't stay cooped up in the castle for any longer. She'd snuck off to see her friend Nanami earlier in the afternoon-- but thanks to a similarly terrifying ordeal, Nanami had also ended up injured, and that sent Seras spiraling even further. It's one thing for her to get hurt doing something stupid, but... someone as sweet as Nanami shouldn't have to deal with that! After her visit, she decided it wouldn't be a good idea to go back home, she couldn't unload this on her already frazzled housemate, and really the last thing she wanted was to spend another night in that bed so soon. Not alone, anyway.
The pursuit of quelling her loneliness and anxiety eventually led her Bruno's doorstep. He'd told her a number of times that she was always welcome to drop by, but she felt rude for stopping by without notice... Still. She was here already, and she had to hope he was, too. Of the people she'd befriended in this godforsaken town, she realized he was one of very few who actually registered as a comforting presence to her. Bruno was always warm and kind, a welcome distraction from her own mind, and right now she finds herself needing that more than anything.
Seras swallows her uncertainty and knocks on his door, bouncing idly on her toes as she awaits a response.
But her pooka instincts had her getting restless, by the third day she couldn't stay confined to the bed, she couldn't stay cooped up in the castle for any longer. She'd snuck off to see her friend Nanami earlier in the afternoon-- but thanks to a similarly terrifying ordeal, Nanami had also ended up injured, and that sent Seras spiraling even further. It's one thing for her to get hurt doing something stupid, but... someone as sweet as Nanami shouldn't have to deal with that! After her visit, she decided it wouldn't be a good idea to go back home, she couldn't unload this on her already frazzled housemate, and really the last thing she wanted was to spend another night in that bed so soon. Not alone, anyway.
The pursuit of quelling her loneliness and anxiety eventually led her Bruno's doorstep. He'd told her a number of times that she was always welcome to drop by, but she felt rude for stopping by without notice... Still. She was here already, and she had to hope he was, too. Of the people she'd befriended in this godforsaken town, she realized he was one of very few who actually registered as a comforting presence to her. Bruno was always warm and kind, a welcome distraction from her own mind, and right now she finds herself needing that more than anything.
Seras swallows her uncertainty and knocks on his door, bouncing idly on her toes as she awaits a response.
It's a moment before there's the sound of movement on the other side of the door. After a beat he pulls the door open, and a myriad of scents waft out on warm, slightly smoky air. He blinks, puzzled that anyone would be on his doorstep, before shaking off that confusion.
"Seras," he says, a slight smile twitching at the corners of his mouth at her presence, fighting with the worry that crosses the rest of his face. "Are... Are you okay? Ah, come in."
He steps back so that she can step inside.
The room is rather dimly lit with lamps and dominated by a giant conglomeration of pillows and cushions and blankets, decorative cloths and faerie lights. Pungent smoke rises lazily from something on a low table almost within that construction.
Bruno, himself, looks a bit different, more human than Pooka in appearance, though his ears and teeth give it away.
"Seras," he says, a slight smile twitching at the corners of his mouth at her presence, fighting with the worry that crosses the rest of his face. "Are... Are you okay? Ah, come in."
He steps back so that she can step inside.
The room is rather dimly lit with lamps and dominated by a giant conglomeration of pillows and cushions and blankets, decorative cloths and faerie lights. Pungent smoke rises lazily from something on a low table almost within that construction.
Bruno, himself, looks a bit different, more human than Pooka in appearance, though his ears and teeth give it away.
A few things catch her off guard when he opens the door. For one, it's Bruno. He's not the adorable little rat man she snuggled drunkenly on their grand pooka outing, he's not the living shadow she'd first met. He's... a whole man? Sure, still adorable, especially with his little rodent teeth and those precious round rat ears, but this is not how she remembered seeing him last!
The other thing was that... smoke smell. It's unfamiliar, not quite like the usual incense musk she's used to from him, but it's not terribly unpleasant. She doesn't note the source immediately and can't really be bothered to care right this second, since she can't seem to take her eyes off him. Since when was he semi-human?
"Ah-- Bruno? You-- wh. How. ...How did you--" Oh wait, he's inviting her in, she should maybe at least come inside. Nervously, Seras hops over the threshold, keeping her attention on him for now. "Ah, S-sorry for poppin' up like this. I was just... in the neighborhood! And thought maybe I'd just see if you'd... mind a little company?"
The other thing was that... smoke smell. It's unfamiliar, not quite like the usual incense musk she's used to from him, but it's not terribly unpleasant. She doesn't note the source immediately and can't really be bothered to care right this second, since she can't seem to take her eyes off him. Since when was he semi-human?
"Ah-- Bruno? You-- wh. How. ...How did you--" Oh wait, he's inviting her in, she should maybe at least come inside. Nervously, Seras hops over the threshold, keeping her attention on him for now. "Ah, S-sorry for poppin' up like this. I was just... in the neighborhood! And thought maybe I'd just see if you'd... mind a little company?"
He's much more human-looking, yes, but still very small--narrowly-built and a bit delicate, too-large clothes still hanging from his frame. He's even still more or less just as short as he is as a full Pooka, and his jade-green eyes are still just as big and sad-looking.
"It's okay, I'm glad to have some company. Even if being 'in the neighbourhood' isn't really convincing," he chides gently, his smile warm. "This house is pretty remote, after all."
Closer to, the incense smell is still there, as it has permeated everything in the room. After a beat, he goes in to give her a soft hug. "Doesn't matter, though. D'you wanna sit down?"
"It's okay, I'm glad to have some company. Even if being 'in the neighbourhood' isn't really convincing," he chides gently, his smile warm. "This house is pretty remote, after all."
Closer to, the incense smell is still there, as it has permeated everything in the room. After a beat, he goes in to give her a soft hug. "Doesn't matter, though. D'you wanna sit down?"
Caught, she can't help but hang in embarrassment, ears swiveling and lying flat against the back of her head as she settles back on her haunches, gathering her paws against her chest.
"H-heh, yeah... Guess it isn't, huh..." Seras has never been a very good liar, but this was just so obviously untrue it was silly. Though now that she's not so stuck on his new face, she realizes he is not, in fact, the whole man-- their bodies are still quite similar, even if she's still a bit... larger. Though that's a given, what with her being a rabbit and his being a rat, right?
She hums softly when he moves to hug her, wrapping her arms tight around his neck and nuzzling into his curls. It takes her a long moment to realize that she's practically clinging to him, in apparent need of this embrace. Though once the realization does finally hit, she finds herself pulling back with a nervous laugh and a nod.
"Yes, ah-- let's do that. S-sorry."
"H-heh, yeah... Guess it isn't, huh..." Seras has never been a very good liar, but this was just so obviously untrue it was silly. Though now that she's not so stuck on his new face, she realizes he is not, in fact, the whole man-- their bodies are still quite similar, even if she's still a bit... larger. Though that's a given, what with her being a rabbit and his being a rat, right?
She hums softly when he moves to hug her, wrapping her arms tight around his neck and nuzzling into his curls. It takes her a long moment to realize that she's practically clinging to him, in apparent need of this embrace. Though once the realization does finally hit, she finds herself pulling back with a nervous laugh and a nod.
"Yes, ah-- let's do that. S-sorry."
She's not the only one who seems to need this. His embrace is snug and he trembles a little, relaxing into it when she nuzzles into his hair. He even looks a bit sad when she pulls away, but just a bit.
Instead of dwelling on that, he leads her to the cushion pile, dropping onto all fours to crawl inside. Once he's inside he pushes a few pillows here and there and lies down, shifting about until he's quite comfortable. He's made room for her to join him, even curl up against him if she likes, the way he's putting the cushions with a soft smile.
"Come on in."
The smoke turns out to come from what looks like an odd kind of cigarette, though the smell is nothing like tobacco and, in fact, might make one light-headed....
Instead of dwelling on that, he leads her to the cushion pile, dropping onto all fours to crawl inside. Once he's inside he pushes a few pillows here and there and lies down, shifting about until he's quite comfortable. He's made room for her to join him, even curl up against him if she likes, the way he's putting the cushions with a soft smile.
"Come on in."
The smoke turns out to come from what looks like an odd kind of cigarette, though the smell is nothing like tobacco and, in fact, might make one light-headed....
Worry not, Bruno. She's right behind you.
Accepting the offered space, she does opt to make herself comfortable next to him, though she seems to be preoccupied with taking in the neat little burrow he's made for himself first. The cushions are nice and plush, the fairy lights cutting shapes in the smoke creating a dreamy sort of atmosphere and giving her a sort of floaty feeling... This is nice. Maybe she'll steal this idea and make her own burrow back home in the castle and invite him over next time.
"Y'know, I think I could live like this." she giggles, snuggling up against him. "This is way better than a coffin. Still gives you that cocooned feeling without being too claustrophobic, y'know?"
The smoke is mmmmaybe starting to get to her though. She has to blink a few times and rub at her eyes before she can squint at the source, she finally puts two and two together, dusting off memories from her time at the police academy. Oh, wow, that's--
"Are you-- is that..." She points towards the ashtray, fighting and losing to the urge to laugh. "You're smoking weed in here?" Not that she sounds like she's judging him or anything, but more like she actually expected it and yet managed to be surprised anyway.
Of course Bruno smokes weed in the most comfortable pillow fort Ryslig has to offer. Of course he does!
Accepting the offered space, she does opt to make herself comfortable next to him, though she seems to be preoccupied with taking in the neat little burrow he's made for himself first. The cushions are nice and plush, the fairy lights cutting shapes in the smoke creating a dreamy sort of atmosphere and giving her a sort of floaty feeling... This is nice. Maybe she'll steal this idea and make her own burrow back home in the castle and invite him over next time.
"Y'know, I think I could live like this." she giggles, snuggling up against him. "This is way better than a coffin. Still gives you that cocooned feeling without being too claustrophobic, y'know?"
The smoke is mmmmaybe starting to get to her though. She has to blink a few times and rub at her eyes before she can squint at the source, she finally puts two and two together, dusting off memories from her time at the police academy. Oh, wow, that's--
"Are you-- is that..." She points towards the ashtray, fighting and losing to the urge to laugh. "You're smoking weed in here?" Not that she sounds like she's judging him or anything, but more like she actually expected it and yet managed to be surprised anyway.
Of course Bruno smokes weed in the most comfortable pillow fort Ryslig has to offer. Of course he does!
When she snuggles in with him he curls one arm around her, the other hand resting on his middle.
"I can't imagine what sleeping in a coffin would be like, but I won't judge." A beat. "Though I bet it's kinda comfy with all that satin."
At the mention of the weed he looks at it and a wry smile touches his face. "Yeah. It's been... well, it's been a really... nerve-wracking couple of days."
As though reminded of it, he picks the joint up and takes a nice, long drag from it, blowing the smoke off to the side with a contented sigh. "Mmmh, takes the edge off the constant panic."
The fact that he doesn't cough on it despite no doubt having delicate rodent lungs speaks to how accustomed he's gotten to it. It explains a lot. But it really is congruent with his gentle and comforting personality.
After a moment, he adds, "Being a Pooka means being high-strung. D'you wanna try some?"
"I can't imagine what sleeping in a coffin would be like, but I won't judge." A beat. "Though I bet it's kinda comfy with all that satin."
At the mention of the weed he looks at it and a wry smile touches his face. "Yeah. It's been... well, it's been a really... nerve-wracking couple of days."
As though reminded of it, he picks the joint up and takes a nice, long drag from it, blowing the smoke off to the side with a contented sigh. "Mmmh, takes the edge off the constant panic."
The fact that he doesn't cough on it despite no doubt having delicate rodent lungs speaks to how accustomed he's gotten to it. It explains a lot. But it really is congruent with his gentle and comforting personality.
After a moment, he adds, "Being a Pooka means being high-strung. D'you wanna try some?"
"Yeah? No kidding..." she mutters, exhaling a long, world-weary sigh. She looks down at the bandages on her arm before slipping it up to hide beneath her chest, resting her hand on his leg.
"Did something weird happen t'you, too?" She watches him take his hit with an apprehensive sort of curiosity, far from put off, but still fairly uncertain as to whether or not she should ask to partake. Even if she'd never really been a smoker herself, she couldn't deny that it certainly made others look pretty cool.
She's struggling to take her eyes off of him again-- the light illuminating the swirling smoke around his silhouette makes this moment almost frameable, like she would hang this vision on her wall if she could. ...Wow, is she catching some sort of buzz already? That felt like a high thought on its own.
"Ah..." she hesitates, glancing between the joint and his expression, warm and inviting, not the slightest hint of pressure. Maybe... it would be okay if she did. It's not like she isn't already breathing the stuff in, right?
"Y'know, maybe... maybe I could. Just this once."
"Did something weird happen t'you, too?" She watches him take his hit with an apprehensive sort of curiosity, far from put off, but still fairly uncertain as to whether or not she should ask to partake. Even if she'd never really been a smoker herself, she couldn't deny that it certainly made others look pretty cool.
She's struggling to take her eyes off of him again-- the light illuminating the swirling smoke around his silhouette makes this moment almost frameable, like she would hang this vision on her wall if she could. ...Wow, is she catching some sort of buzz already? That felt like a high thought on its own.
"Ah..." she hesitates, glancing between the joint and his expression, warm and inviting, not the slightest hint of pressure. Maybe... it would be okay if she did. It's not like she isn't already breathing the stuff in, right?
"Y'know, maybe... maybe I could. Just this once."
He'd wonder why anyone would want to frame a picture of him. He doesn't have what he figures anyone would consider a conventionally attractive face--it's too pale, in his mind, too tired-looking. He's not as sickly-looking as he was, but he's still not exactly the picture of robust health.
He underestimates how charming his smile is.
Gently, he moves his hand toward her, offering the joint. On closer inspection, said hand still has a bit of a ratlike look to it, narrow and delicate, with very short, blunted claws instead of nails. Pooka claws are notoriously tough, one wonders how long he spends filing them down.
"Weird? Yeah." His expression goes a bit mournful at that. "I'm still trying to figure it out--it wasn't anything like a frenzy." Context, Bruno. He puts his thoughts together a little more slowly than usual right now. "Normán, he.... Until we all changed, he was an Arachne, but he became... what was it, not a Demon... a Goblin. And this latest Fog, it got into our minds, brought out more of our Monster nature, made us more likely to frenzy, but with him it was more like another personality took over." His brows knit with confusion. "A really... evil personality. I know him--well, as well as anyone can know people, here--he's very kind and generous, a good person. What came over him at that carnival was... scarier than a lot of things in this place."
He finds he's trembling again and shakes his head as though to rattle the memory out of place.
He underestimates how charming his smile is.
Gently, he moves his hand toward her, offering the joint. On closer inspection, said hand still has a bit of a ratlike look to it, narrow and delicate, with very short, blunted claws instead of nails. Pooka claws are notoriously tough, one wonders how long he spends filing them down.
"Weird? Yeah." His expression goes a bit mournful at that. "I'm still trying to figure it out--it wasn't anything like a frenzy." Context, Bruno. He puts his thoughts together a little more slowly than usual right now. "Normán, he.... Until we all changed, he was an Arachne, but he became... what was it, not a Demon... a Goblin. And this latest Fog, it got into our minds, brought out more of our Monster nature, made us more likely to frenzy, but with him it was more like another personality took over." His brows knit with confusion. "A really... evil personality. I know him--well, as well as anyone can know people, here--he's very kind and generous, a good person. What came over him at that carnival was... scarier than a lot of things in this place."
He finds he's trembling again and shakes his head as though to rattle the memory out of place.
Robust health is a lie. No one ever feels as good as they look, anyway.
Her own appearance belies the harrowing life she's led, the terrors she's witnessed, the obstacles she's overcome. She would probably out-wrinkle him by a country mile if it weren't for the vampirism stunting her growth so many decades ago. It didn't take very long for Seras to understand why her Master valued human's ability to age the way they do; there's such beauty to be found in laugh lines and "crow's feet," dark circles and scars, especially when framing a charming smile. It all tells a story about him she hopes she'll get to hear from him one day.
She accepts the joint in her own, decidedly fuzzier little paw, swallowing her nerves before lifting the roll to her lips to take a drag. It's not that unpleasant, but it hits her almost immediately that her poor little pooka lungs weren't prepared to be assaulted by smoke. She hands it back quickly, moving to cover her mouth with both paws, body wracked with coughs for a few seconds. She waves for him to continue, not wanting to interrupt him.
By the time she's gotten her breathing back to normal, she finds herself transfixed on that story, the word 'goblin' alone enough to send a shiver up her spine, raising her hackles.
"W-wait-- you. You know him." she swallows, eying Bruno warily. It feels like her heart is going to beat out of her chest. Though, she's not sure if it's from nearly choking to death, or simply recalling that terrible creature's expression above her--
"Did he hurt you, too?" She knows she wasn't able to stop him, but did that mean... did that mean he was able to go on and hurt others as well?
Her own appearance belies the harrowing life she's led, the terrors she's witnessed, the obstacles she's overcome. She would probably out-wrinkle him by a country mile if it weren't for the vampirism stunting her growth so many decades ago. It didn't take very long for Seras to understand why her Master valued human's ability to age the way they do; there's such beauty to be found in laugh lines and "crow's feet," dark circles and scars, especially when framing a charming smile. It all tells a story about him she hopes she'll get to hear from him one day.
She accepts the joint in her own, decidedly fuzzier little paw, swallowing her nerves before lifting the roll to her lips to take a drag. It's not that unpleasant, but it hits her almost immediately that her poor little pooka lungs weren't prepared to be assaulted by smoke. She hands it back quickly, moving to cover her mouth with both paws, body wracked with coughs for a few seconds. She waves for him to continue, not wanting to interrupt him.
By the time she's gotten her breathing back to normal, she finds herself transfixed on that story, the word 'goblin' alone enough to send a shiver up her spine, raising her hackles.
"W-wait-- you. You know him." she swallows, eying Bruno warily. It feels like her heart is going to beat out of her chest. Though, she's not sure if it's from nearly choking to death, or simply recalling that terrible creature's expression above her--
"Did he hurt you, too?" She knows she wasn't able to stop him, but did that mean... did that mean he was able to go on and hurt others as well?
Bruno has definitely got a lived-in kind of look, even beyond his careworn face. His soft, snuggly fur covered how delicate he is, how much he looks like he's recovering from something. It's quite a story, one he probably wouldn't mind telling except that it's kind of depressing.
When she starts coughing he rubs her back with one hand, making warm little circles, remembering the dreadful coughing fits it used to give him a long time ago.
"I... knew him. I'm not sure what to think, anymore. I... I could probably ask Otto a few questions, they knew each other in their home universe." He sighs, still gently rubbing her back. His gaze drops--he doesn't want to worry her further, but he should be honest. "Yeah. He did," he whispers. Then he shrugs, smiling a wry smile. "I'm okay, now."
He returns the joint to its little resting place and curls both his arms around her, partially to soothe her, partially to soothe himself, to stop his trembling. "It's okay... we'll get through this. I've gotten kinda good at it since coming here."
When she starts coughing he rubs her back with one hand, making warm little circles, remembering the dreadful coughing fits it used to give him a long time ago.
"I... knew him. I'm not sure what to think, anymore. I... I could probably ask Otto a few questions, they knew each other in their home universe." He sighs, still gently rubbing her back. His gaze drops--he doesn't want to worry her further, but he should be honest. "Yeah. He did," he whispers. Then he shrugs, smiling a wry smile. "I'm okay, now."
He returns the joint to its little resting place and curls both his arms around her, partially to soothe her, partially to soothe himself, to stop his trembling. "It's okay... we'll get through this. I've gotten kinda good at it since coming here."
Seras wants to be upset. She wants to be angry in this moment, furious with this Norman person for hurting not just herself, but Bruno as well. What kind of maniac could bring themselves to hurt sweet Bruno? Furthermore, who else did that lunatic get his hands on? What other innocent person was he able to hurt because she couldn't stop him? She can't help but feel responsible for this, somehow, but--
But she can see Bruno trying to stave off those feelings, too. He's hurt in more ways than one, by someone he knows, someone who was a friend, and... he doesn't want to think about it right now. She thinks that maybe she shouldn't force him to. He's already curled up in his comfort zone and trying to calm down from it all, so it would certainly be rude to drudge up that panic all over again. Besides, her head's starting to feel as cloudy as the little blanket fort they're curled up in, so thinking is already becoming a little difficult as it stands.
"I'm... sorry I wasn't there to help." She sighs, turning to face him and nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, slipping her arms around his middle. There's not much to him, sure, but damnit he's so warm...
"I'm just... so glad you're alright." Of course, she was less so, but... that's neither here nor there. She could ignore it, for now.
But she can see Bruno trying to stave off those feelings, too. He's hurt in more ways than one, by someone he knows, someone who was a friend, and... he doesn't want to think about it right now. She thinks that maybe she shouldn't force him to. He's already curled up in his comfort zone and trying to calm down from it all, so it would certainly be rude to drudge up that panic all over again. Besides, her head's starting to feel as cloudy as the little blanket fort they're curled up in, so thinking is already becoming a little difficult as it stands.
"I'm... sorry I wasn't there to help." She sighs, turning to face him and nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, slipping her arms around his middle. There's not much to him, sure, but damnit he's so warm...
"I'm just... so glad you're alright." Of course, she was less so, but... that's neither here nor there. She could ignore it, for now.
"You couldn't have known," Bruno murmurs, holding her snugly to him. Her face against his neck sends heat twirling lazily down his spine and he finds himself caught in an indecision. They're so warm here in this moment, this quiet, trembling point in time that could go in one of a multitude of directions. She can probably hear how his pulse has quickened, his breath coming a little harder around this pull of anticipation in his chest.
"I'm alright," he whispers, slipping warm fingers through her hair. "Are you?"
"I'm alright," he whispers, slipping warm fingers through her hair. "Are you?"
"I could have stopped him-- I... I tried to." She whimpers, gripping tight to the soft fabric of his ruana for just a moment before the tension in her shoulders releases and she just slumps uselessly against him with a sigh. She can't let herself get upset. She pulls back just enough to look up at him, offering him a sheepish smile.
"I'm... I'm okay, now. It's fine." She says softly, nodding her head, as if trying to reassure herself that this is true.
Seras leans in, bumping her nose against his with a hum. "As long as you're okay, I'm okay."
"I'm... I'm okay, now. It's fine." She says softly, nodding her head, as if trying to reassure herself that this is true.
Seras leans in, bumping her nose against his with a hum. "As long as you're okay, I'm okay."
Edited 2022-05-30 06:01 (UTC)
It always tugs a little painfully at his heart when people say they're alright even though they aren't. What made them have to hide their pain or sorrow? Are all worlds like his where you have no choice but to smile and keep going?
Best not to think on such things. There are much more immediate concerns. She's but a breath away, her scent filling his nose and wicking into his brain and he wonders if his own scent is as heavy as it feels.
"I am, I'm... more than okay, I'm..." His slow, whispered words trail off and his lips brush against hers, hot and soft and gentle. He goes still, hoping he hasn't overstepped, taking a breath to apologise.
Best not to think on such things. There are much more immediate concerns. She's but a breath away, her scent filling his nose and wicking into his brain and he wonders if his own scent is as heavy as it feels.
"I am, I'm... more than okay, I'm..." His slow, whispered words trail off and his lips brush against hers, hot and soft and gentle. He goes still, hoping he hasn't overstepped, taking a breath to apologise.
Page 1 of 3