Daybreak IC Inbox

[unpocoloco]

Héctor
UN: OLLIN

STATUS: Graduate Student / Teacher's Assistant

ACCOLADES: I write music, know how to play a few instruments, mostly la guitarra.

BIO: !Hola¡ Soy Héctor. Yo hablo español y un poco inglés. I've come to Daybreak to learn a little about all this magic stuff and help out around the Campus. If you need an odd job taken care of, I'm your guy! (Unless you are la policía. Or someone I have borrowed from. If that is the case, do not contact me, por favor.)

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[unpocoloco]

[That's weird. Really weird. But in fairness, it's been a nightmare of a day. He's quick to answer back.]

No. Not at the moment. Just looking after the kid. Tobias. I think he's asleep now though.

[Is everything okay?

He types that, then deletes it.]

Do you need me in the infirmary or with anything else?

[spelleton]

Not particularly.

[ This doesn't really count as a need. ]

I just wanted to spend time with you, I suppose.

[ 'I wanted to talk to you' sounds far too serious. Though it is serious, he guesses, but not really for Héctor (for once).

There's no emergency, unless the tangle in his head is an emergency. ]

[unpocoloco]

[They spend time together. It happens in groups and they happen upon each other. But Ekkehardt's not really one to ask.

The timing doesn't seem coincidental.

However Ekkehardt thinks of it, this is important.]

Of course, my friend. I'd be glad to see you. Where can I find you?

[spelleton]

The infirmary or my room. Whatever is convenient for you.

>action

[unpocoloco]

Your room then. You work too hard as it is. Don't need to keep you there.

I'll be over shortly.

[His word holds true in this instance of it. He heads out, checking Toby quick before he goes. In no time, he's there, knocking lightly.]

It's Héctor. Can I come in?

[spelleton]

At this point, you don't need to ask. [ He opens the door, standing aside to let him in.

Ekkehardt's room isn't exactly barren, but it's not particularly lavishly furnished, either. There are personal belongings, certainly - children's drawings on the wall, magical lights, a dock for his Switch and a charger for his phone. Books stacked neatly on the desk and an ornament here or there. For the most part, though, it's a room much like any other offered by the academy.

After Héctor enters, he closes the door and takes a seat on his casket. The chair by the desk is left turned out and empty. ]

How are you doing, after today?

[ He's not very good with talking about himself. It's easier to talk about other people. Besides, it's only polite. ]

[unpocoloco]

[He smiles on his friend and shrugs his shoulders.]

You never know when someone needs the courtesy.

[It's not the bright smile he wears when usually greeting a friend , strained around the edges, but he's still happy to see Ekkehardt. He's worn down, not less fond. Especially as he takes in the room, the signs of work and his home and love between. Even the casket brings amusement. He remembers resting well in one of those.

But the past is fleeting and now is now. He takes a seat on the chair. For a moment his head bobs, thinking how to answer. Then his mouth presses and he runs a hand through his hair.]

I'm... you know, I was always better at looking after other people. I know I'm a mess on a good day so that doesn't say much but whenever I need to set something aside for someone... I can do that. I've been looking after Tobias since we got back. But this is...

[He shakes his head. It's more than he can put to words.]

I'm angry, Ekkehardt. [It comes out soft but it burns like a venom in him.] A kid, a little kid, paid the price for this cause. A kid I've been living with went missing and all this time suffered-- something I dont know how to deal with. And I was here. I want to... make those bastards hurt. It's stupid and impossible but I catch myself envisioning it.

But you know? The actual worst thing? I'm relieved. I feel like the worst kind of... but I'm relieved. Because Coco could have been here. She could've been taken by one group or another. And if she had, Ekkehardt, I think I'd have actually lost my mind.

[He doesn't know what he'd do. Something ineffective probably. But he shakes his head again.]

It's just hard to wrap my head around. They'll get through this. And at the same time they never will. You're the only other person I think understands what it's like not just to lose some piece of yourself like that but to have to see all that again. So, I'm going to take a swing and guess you're feeling two steps from screaming too.

[He looks up with a sad, pained smile.]

[spelleton]

Then we're feeling about the same way.

I suspected as much.

[ His shoulders sink a little. What else is there to say? They were children, and someone saw fit to torture them. Some of them were colleagues. Some of them were new, some of them were old...

If he thinks about it too much, he returns to the place inside him as cold and bitter as ice. It's not something he lets show in pleasant company, so he closes it off.

He just looks exhausted, rather than the usual untouched, professional manner he strives to project otherwise. Vulnerable and diminished in a way he usually isn't. ]

They'll never get another chance to try it again. It could have been worse. But it's cold comfort, regardless.

[unpocoloco]

[That sad smile doesn't last. It was never going to. He watches the drop to Ekkehardt's shoulders, notices how heavy the world settles on his man, who has always seemed to be able to carry anything.

But he has the funny revelation, something he thought he'd realized long ago but he guesses never really clicked. Ekkehardt was human once.

They're both still human, in a sense of the word.

He bobs his head with what Ekkehardt says, hearing the factual truth but knowing in his heart that it doesn't help. It doesn't help either of them. And so he stand up, moving to that casket where Ekkehardt sits. He settles down beside him.]

You've been there for me. For as long as I've been here you've been there, but especially with that and I never really thought about how much that would hurt. I haven't dealt with this long enough to know if there's some kind of word or thing to make it better. There's probably not.

[Things could never just be that simple, that easy.]

I know I don't seem like someone you can really count on, and that's fair, honestly. But I want you to know, this doesn't have to go one way. I'm here for you too. And if you need me, I'll be here. You can kick my butt at video games or we can play music. I can sit and listen or I can just be around. Whatever you need, it's all the same to me. So, at the end of day, if you think you just need a break from being strong for everyone else, you can call me. I'll be here.

[He looks at Ekkehardt, just a hint of uncertainty enough to make him hesitate. And then he leans forward and pulls the man in a tight hug.]

[spelleton]

[ The hug is surprising, but not so surprising that he doesn't hug back. Some of the tension in his frame, something he's been holding for a while, loosens in a way Héctor can feel. ]

Now you're just underselling yourself, [ he says, after a moment, and he sounds exasperated but in a fond sort of way. ] Just because I forget I need these things doesn't mean I think you're unreliable.

[unpocoloco]

[He wasn't really sure how Ekkehardt would take to a hug right now, really. More than anything, he doesn't want to upset the man further.

But then he feels arms around him and, even better, he feels that tension ease. His heart lifts and he eases too, hugging just the slightest bit tighter while his eyes close and a smile forms.]

Eehh, it was more a general you than you specifically. [A little bit of teasing before his tone softens again.] But that's fine then. If you forget you need things, that just means I'll have to find ways to remind you.