trans_9 | In which the former queen cannot believe what she has seen [Closed to BUS residents]

Arika couldn't get away from the Obs Deck fast enough. As soon as the worst of it began, she was gone. She'd steeled herself enough to watch the main course, and she'd had enough. She'd been quick to get the WITCH Bus in her low heels, moving quickly through the City despite how tired she felt, or how her feet ached so much.

She'd flung open the door to the Bus and burst in. She headed for the kitchen, eyes closed tight as she tried to block out the images of what she'd seen. This of course lead her to stumbling over the small table and fall flat onto the kitchen counter with a SMACK.

It hurt, but it did some help in distracting her from what had been circling around in her mind. Shakily, she raised herself up, staring down at the table, trying to regain control of her breathing.

She should be used to this. She had been a queen and had heard and even once or twice witnessed that kind of brutality. But in truth, Arika had a weak stomach for the kind of violence.

"...how is that even allowed?"

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Like a certain young man, Negi had sneaked over to see it. And what he did had brought back terrible flashbacks.

But being turned to stone would have been kinder than this. At least as stone, you didn't feel pain when THAT happened.

Slowly he trudged back into the bus, his face ashen. Even Chamo on his shoulder was uncharacteristically quiet. And some of the replies on Zetta's post was making his stomach churn.

"Mom..." he said looking up.

"Hey," greeted Chamo as he leaped to the table.

Arika turned around, a hand covering her mouth. Her eyes went from the floor to her son's face. She didn't really say anything, but quickly swept her son into her arms and held him close.

Negi just hugged back, unable to get a sound out. For a long while he stood there, just being held in his mothers arms before he croaked out, "Sorry... for breaking my grounding..."

"Oh Aniki," sighed Chamo as he lit up a cigarette, a real one. At least Arika wouldn't begrudge him one right now would he? Not after what the pair had seen.

"I will not penalize you," she said softly, rubbing her thumb against his cheek.

"I feel helpless," admitted Negi quietly. "That wasn't a fight I could win, or anything I could change. Even master wouldn't have appreciated it. I think. I mean, I think she wouldn't but..." Negi fumbled for words and sighed softly.

"How are we supposed to save the world... if this place keeps tearing things apart?"

Arika seated herself on the edge of the table. "We do what we can, Negi. It is not the ship, but us." She threaded her fingers through his hair and tucked his head against her neck.

"Still doesn't make me feel any better," pouted Negi like a kid, kicking at a chair leg. "We don't need the Ohm to tear us apart, it's the ship that'll do the job for them."

And he sighed as he was hugged. "Mom... I know I don't say this often but for once in my life... I'm actually really scared. I don't want to see anyone go through that again, and I certainly don't. But it's watching us. Like some kind of demented Hal 2000 or something."

Irony since there WAS a Hal before but Negi didn't know it.

Arika held Negi incredibly close in the kind of way a mother clings to her child.

"If Stacy dares to harm you, I will make her regret waking me from my long slumber." She meant every word.

Negi allowed a light smile to play across his lips. "Thanks mom."

He hugged her a little tighter, glad she was there. If there was one person he really needed to connect to, it was his mom, the woman who was never mentioned in his history, the woman who gave him life. It was definitely a comforting thing to feel her presence around him all the time.

In which the former queen cannot believe what she has seen [Closed to BUS residents]

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