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

[queenofcalamity.livejournal.com]

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?"

Comments

[queenofcalamity.livejournal.com]

Arika narrowed her eyes, settling a stone-wall serious face upon her facial features. "If you ask my son what had happend then you will be pouring salt upon a fresh wound."

[fanservicesnegi.livejournal.com]

Asuna felt sweat bead down her face, and not the kind that might show up in a humorous situation. Still, she closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Maybe cooler heads would prevail; wasn't that Negi's way of handling things?

"...Then please tell me...what's happened? None of my other friends are here anymore, I don't know 1/2 the people that you do and the only person I'm closest to here, you won't let me bring it up with him at all! Who else can I turn to about this?"

[queenofcalamity.livejournal.com]

Arika looked at Asuna. Seriously. Asuna was before Negi. Just about there when she'd been opening herself up as a person. Asuna had been precious to Arika, just as she still was now. She still had that stubborn personality to her, grown and strong.

"...a crewmate was dismembered before a crowd of observers."

[fanservicesnegi.livejournal.com]

Asuna's eyes widened just a bit as she listened intently to Arika's explanation, expression anything but fearful. Her tone however, spoke otherwise.

"...Negi was there, wasn't he?" There were times that Asuna's stubbornness was like a two-edged sword. While she wouldn't back down from anything put in her path or directed at Negi, a part of her also held herself accountable for whatever happened to the young teacher no matter if she'd been there or not.

[queenofcalamity.livejournal.com]

Arika nodded grimly. "Yes. He was." She then pushed Asuna out of the way, and continued to the halls, and then down them.

[fanservicesnegi.livejournal.com]

Normally, Asuna would've responded quite loudly to anyone who pushed her in that manner. This time, she just allowed her hands to ball into fists while hitting the wall with one of them.

I might not have been there for him then...but I'll be there for you now, baka Negi! If silence was golden, then Asuna would do her best to keep what she'd heard to herself. At least around Negi, anyway.