[IC] Misc. Open Post

[curriculum_fictae]

For various overflow, misc. threads that don't fit on the comms they're for, etc.

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[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin is FAR less sprightly, but he does his best to keep up.

Also he stares at that. ]

How. How many secret things are in here.

[hijoperdido]

Ehhh there are enough.

[Already on his way up.]

[curriculum_fictae]

W-wait up!

[ he hurries after Bruno. ]

[hijoperdido]

[He does, at least, wait partway up the stairs for Martin before continuing upward. Once at the top, he does his knock routine, the last knock on the wall hitting a tile that sets the stairs back into the wall after Martin's up.]

Almost, almost out of here, almost back safe, just a little further down the hall.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Thanks Bruno. He's got longer legs but you are so fast. Also he gapes a bit at the stairs moving back into place. ]

R. Right. Good lord, this place is a maze.

[hijoperdido]

You get used to it.

[He creaks the bedroom door open and peeks outside the crack. Hears the tiles gently tapping from Casita and smiles.]

I know, thanks, Casita.

[And then opens it wider for Martin to follow after him, making sure it's closed fully behind them. Whatever confidence he had for that moment seems to shrink with his shoulders hunching up again once they're in the main house.]

Just going back the way we came.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Bruno ... what caused that? Hell, what caused him to brighten in the first place?

Martin hurries after him, arms wrapped protectively around his vision. ]

Right. Ah. Back to your ... room.

[hijoperdido]

[it Is A Mystery.mp3

He nods though.]

Yep. Back to my room. [It's easy to still sneak around while the family is out. But he can see now the sunlight's shifted, and it's getting late. They'll be coming back soon. He gets the painting door open for Martin.]

We'll have to stay quieter, they'll come back for dinner soon.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin hurries to clamber in then, also listening for voices. ]

What. What do you do during dinner? Just watch them?

[hijoperdido]

[He's quiet in response to that. Focusing on closing the painting behind them, making sure it's sealed and everything is fine while they walk.]

... Usually I'll get some of whatever Julieta is making when she isn't looking. And eat with them, they just- They don't know it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ GOD

No. No that's TOO MUCH. Martin lets out a tiny, miserable noise at the thought of being so close to his family, eating next to him, and still being invisible. It reminds him of his worst days in the Archive - right in the middle of the other employees, but seen by nothing and no one -

Fingers trembling, he oh-so-carefully settles the vision against the wall. And then he surges forward to hug Bruno. ]

[hijoperdido]

[Every meal, day in and day out, for nearly a decade now. Bruno setting up his own portions brought by Casita and the rats and listening to their conversations through the wall...

He doesn't see the hug coming, still just as stiff and unsure as the first one.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry Bruno, he's not letting go. In fact ... is he crying? Yes, he's crying just a little bit. ]

That's miserable.

[hijoperdido]

Oh boy...

[He's not used to people besides Pepa crying on him, and definitely not recently. Bruno awkwardly pats at Martin's arm............ And then is immediately not sure what to do.]

It's, I mean, sure. But it's been like this for a long time now. I-i'm used to it.

[curriculum_fictae]

That's - that's even worse. That it's gone on this long and you're just numb, because what else can you do?

[hijoperdido]

There isn't anything else I can do. Okay? So. So it's all right. This is better than it used to be, and better than it could be.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He sucks in a breath. ]

It can be better, Bruno. It doesn't have to stay like this.

[hijoperdido]

It- I mean, it probably won't be like this forever. Just. Until whatever that vision I had about Mirabel happens. Dunno what it'll be like after that.

[curriculum_fictae]

… how long until then?

[hijoperdido]

[He shrugs.]

No sé. But she's starting to look like she did in my vision of that time, so soon. Probably.

[curriculum_fictae]

Stilll. That. That’s too long. It’s been too long…

[hijoperdido]

[He's quiet for a second. His voice is low.]

What would you have me do, then?

[curriculum_fictae]

I -

[ His voice breaks a little. ]

I don't know. Leave, I'd say, but I know it isn't that simple, I just.

[ He sucks in a thick breath. ]

You deserve better than this.

[hijoperdido]

[A nod. A gentle pat on the arm.]

So do they. So do you.

[curriculum_fictae]

And I have better. I've found better. Through - through so much suffering.