[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]

[ Yeah. Yeah Martin knows that cold too well. He shivers a bit. God, this poor sad alternate Jon … ]

I - I know we’ve only just met, but can I hug you?

[hijoperdido]

Uh.

[He looks a little surprised by that request. Looks around nervously.]

I mean, sure, but I'm not sure why you'd want to, cause, I mean, I mean look at me. Not the hugger type really, not good for it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That just gets a soft, warm smile. ]

Oh, I know. You’re all elbows and joints. But I’ve got enough softness for both of us, and I’m guessing you need it.

[hijoperdido]

[Yeah, he's still a little lost on that. Why would anyone want to hug him?]

You probably shouldn't, you know? May get stuck with a bad prophecy and then it's "oh I hugged Bruno and then broke my leg, he's bad luck!" Or something. How it usually goes.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ The more Bruno goes on, the softer Martin’s expression gets. Until he just surges forward to scoop Bruno up into a warm hug. ]

[hijoperdido]

[He's rambling still until the hug and he goes completely stiff. Just no idea how to react to being hugged.]

I-i um.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry Bruno. Martin is gentle at least? He holds the skinny little rat man for a moment to give him a chance to relax, maybe, but he won’t force it if that doesn’t happen. ]

Hey. It’s all right. I promise you’re not bad luck.

[hijoperdido]

Uh. You are probably the only one that thinks that, and that's just because I haven't given you a prophecy. Trust me, if I did, you'd agree I'm bad luck.

[curriculum_fictae]

Mm, well. The person I’m closest to back home has the same problem.

[ He gently sets Bruno back down. ]

[hijoperdido]

[Back on his feet, Bruno hunches in on himself, shoulders up by his ears.]

Y-yeah? Well. Least he's got you. That's - You're good at hugging, but you'll probably regret it later.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Every time Bruno opens his mouth, Martin aches even more for this little man. ]

Why are you so sure I’m going to regret it?

[hijoperdido]

Everyone does.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He looks over at that crack in the wall, the sad place setting. ]

And do they all insist they won’t right up until they do?

[hijoperdido]

Sometimes, sure, but right up to my last prophecy, Mamá was the last one who really believed they could be any good, so y'know, I just kinda- I just.

It's better if I don't.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. Even without this man looking so much like Jon/ah, Martin would desperately feel for him. And the mother figure, well … he hides a small wince of his own. ]

Your mother? What happened?

[hijoperdido]

[He shrugs, flopping down into his chair again, letting a few of the rats crawl onto him.]

My gift wasn't helping the family. It just... made everything worse, everyone upset. Got- got blamed for stuff going wrong.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin snags the chair from the table, then, and sits there.

(Gee, he understands THAT thought too.) ]

Some people - some people don’t understand no matter what you do. It’s not your fault.

[hijoperdido]

Yeah so. So no matter what I did it didn't matter. Just better to... To just not.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - I get it. Yeah. I wish I’d figured that one out.

[ A deep breath. ]

I’m sorry, Bruno.

[hijoperdido]

Eh...

[He shrugs, trying to kick that mood out. It's fine, everything's fine.]

It's just me, just- Bruno. So it's fine. I've been fine back here, family's happy and perfect out there, everything's great.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He gives Bruno a Look. ]

You really don’t have to pretend with me. Just - trust me, okay?

[hijoperdido]

I'm not pretending, it's- It's really fine.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He just stares at you Bruno. ]

Look me in the eye and say that.

[hijoperdido]

[Bruno does look at him. Hesitates, then shakes his head.]

Look, I-iii don't know why you're here or how you got here, but. But Abuela should probably know about it and she can help you. Probably.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah, that’s what he thought. ]

Your mother?