madcuriosity | labyrinthum Inbox

[It's been a while now since the events with the wolves. Katsuki's managed to get off with only some injuries - the usual bites and scratches that he can certainly take on a good day. He's tough, and too stubborn to go down if it's not swinging. Of course...not everyone is like him, and he's had to deliver some very difficult news to several people in Somnius. It feels awful, that taste of sheer failure that every Hero deals with at least once. He felt it was coming, too...which hits the hardest. Katsuki felt something bad was coming, and yet he did nothing. What could he do? Even he knows that going at things alone is unwise. Isn't what what he said to that damn nerd before he took a hit for him? Pfft...

Whatever, little to be said over what happened, it's in the past now. They can only move forward. And Katsuki has several people to check in on, but first and foremost...the one person he was most concerned about (even if he'll never say out loud). He knew her being on her own wasn't a good idea, but what else was there? Hopefully something like this doesn't happen again, or he can get to people - to kids like her - sooner. ...Again, hindsight. He grunts and shakes his head as he trudges over to where he's heard Alice is staying for the time. The church, a place he'd never think to visit. Katsuki isn't religious in the slightest, and certainly not in the western practice of faith. With his foul mouth and crappy personality...no priest or holy person would want him near.

And yet...he's got a small basket hanging from his arm with a cloth draped over it, an he's abnormally quiet, looking around for a particular person.]

[Alice's left arm is in a sling, while healers were able to heal the entire wound, what remained were two crescent moon scars on either side of her shoulder. They thought it best she rest it and not move it too much.

She has stayed in the church since Katsuki brought her to it, never daring to venture outside while the wolves and everything else is going on. Alice has tried her best to stay out of the way and not underfoot. She understands that an emergency is going on, bodies are being brought in and some can be saved, some... it was more to just let the families know.

But she's still just a child. A little girl amongst all the chaos with no guardian. Whenever a goblin or Gelfling adult comes over to ask her if there is someone they should contact, her answer is "no... no one."

Alice was curled up on a windowsill, again, trying desperately to stay out of trouble and out of the way, with a chess board in front of her that she's contemplating. A goblin had pointed Katsuki in her direction and when she looked up from the board, she saw Katsuki and she suddenly brightened up considerably.]

MR. BAKUGOU! [She shuffles off the windowsill and runs up to him, her one free arm wrapping around him in a hug.]

[This was why Katsuki wanted to find her someplace to stay, so she wouldn't be alone. So she would have someone to contact, to be like a guardian for her. He wanted to find a place that she could feel safe in, welcome in, with other kids her age to befriend. He never liked the idea of a child being on their own, and now more than ever he feels somewhat...responsible. Alice never should have left his sight the day he met her. He shouldn't have bent to her fears about not wanting to go to an orphanage, and being put to work. He should have taken her there, reassured her, or...or...

Seeing the small girl alone at the windowsill, in her sling but looking physically alright, he allows the contact despite never really liking being touched. She rushes to him, holds him, and he simply braces and lets it happen, moving the basket aside so nothing is knocked aside. His one hand lifts, but hesitates before finally just plopping down on the top of her head gently. He's still new to this, and has a hell of a lot on his mind. Katsuki can't stay here long, but he had to at least check in on her.]

...Mm. You okay?

[Alice has come to learn that Bakugou's means of showing her affection is to rest a hand atop her head, perhaps because he's not fond of hugging or perhaps because she is so much shorter than him bending down is uncomfortable. She doesn't mind, in any case. She nods, looking up at him and pulling away, grabbing his hand with her good arm and pulling him to her chessboard.]

Oh yes, I'm winning, at the moment, the other me is giving a solid run of it. Do you know how to play chess, Mr. Bakugou? I found it in one of the cupboards, and one of the goblins said I could play with it as long as I like. The pieces are rather quiet today, though. I don't think they're awake much like how the garden isn't awake.

[Alice tilted her head at the sight of the basket and made a noise of curiosity, a noise she makes often.] What is in your basket, Mr. Bakugou?

[He just isn't the affectionate type, really, and it takes him a while to feel comfortable with being touched even by close friends. The occasional hand on the shoulder or back is fine, but more than that gets dicey. It's easier for him to show how he feels through gestures, actions, and his hands have always been at the forefront of everything he does - his quirk, his general fighting abilities, etc. Besides...he's failed to take a hand in the past, so maybe he ought to be the one reaching out from time to time.

He allows himself to be manhandled, though there is a tired sort of resignation on his face as well. Just the 'this might as well be happening' sort of expression of an older person falling to the whims of the younger and going along with it. He does, however, raise an eyebrow to the chess board. Huh...that's not usually a game kids he knows, play.]

Mm, not really. My dad can, but he hasn't in a while. Teach me the rules and I bet I could smoke you, Pipsqueak. Easy. [He grins, wickedly, confidently, but also to try and goad her into competing with him. Yes, Katsuki is bratty enough to compete with a child, but it's also a decent enough distraction...before she notes what he brought.] Tch, why don't you look inside and find out?

[He will offer it out to her by the handle.]

No, you won't. [She shot back immediately and with quite a bit of assured confidence.] I can even beat daddy, he stopped letting me win when I was five, and he's been playing me properly ever since. When his colleagues give him gruff [She means guff.] or don't believe him, they play me too, they're quick to get their tongues caught by my cats. If you do beat me, I promise it won't be easy, Mr. Bakugou.

[She took the basket with her good arm and put it on the windowsill, lifting up the cloth to look inside.]

Edited 2023-03-05 03:43 (UTC)

[Oh? Did he just light a competitive fuse in this little brat? Good, those types are always more fun to be around, because Katsuki himself is extremely competitive, and he feeds off that energy. Besides, he wants to see if that confidence is misplaced or not - kids are smart, and especially when it comes to young kids with a certain skill. He wants to give her a run for her money.

Or at least a challenge against someone tough, once he figures out the game himself.]

Haah? That right? Well, if the best of the best is teaching me...wouldn't it make sense I'd be able to beat the master some day? Your days are numbered, brat.

[He grins, folding his arms over his chest and patiently waiting for Alice to unwrap her little gift. Inside is a plastic baggy of teddybear butter cookies, some chocolate truffles make to also look like bears and piggies from the month's chocolate craze, and...a new night gown, folded neatly to the side.]

That is right. [She responded with ease. She paused as she contemplated the rest of what he said and then grinned, spinning around to face him again.] So then, you're going to be my chess partner? Only daddy will be my chess partner anymore, Lizzie gave up ages ago and mother won't play. It's been a very long time since I've had a chess partner outside of daddy, I've learned all of his tricks and opening moves.

[How terribly exciting! To have a new chess partner! Someone she didn't know and didn't know her! She pulled him to stand beside her, wanting to remain close to Katsuki and her eyes widened as she looked at everything in the basket. They... they were adorable!

She hugged Katsuki again with her good arm.]

You really are a hero. [She whispered.] You're my hero.

[Hah, cute... Katsuki had to admit the little brat has grown on him, and seeing her in better spirits is a small relief. He had hoped she wouldn't internalize the trauma too much and while he knows this is just a slight distraction from the horrors that happened to her...well. He's willing to be that distraction.]

Aa, if it means being the best at something else, then I'll give it a shot. Knock down the the little braggart on her throne and take the crown. That's what it means to be number o--

[You're my hero.]

[HRRRRRNBNGHJGHJCHJHF--gross.

His chest feels tight and Katsuki knows his ears are burning with embarrassment from those heartfelt and extremely cheesy words. He normally takes praise like that with a grain of salt - he's amazing, of course he is! He can do whatever he sets his mind to and has always overcome all obstacles in his path. People have been hanging off his accomplishments since he was five. It got to his head, because any kid treated like hot shit would twist that, and he's only now learning to control that ugly part of him that has to always be the best at everything - that inferiority/superiority complex he does still have, though far less awful than what it used to be... He soaked up the praise until it was all white noise, but now?

Now he's learning what it's like to be, well...on the receiving end of something a bit more profound than just a pat on the ass. It's weird. Hot. Itchy. Uncomfortable. But not unpleasant, either. Katsuki just doesn't do this sort of thing, has no idea how to dissect it, and his embarrassment makes him feel weird, like it shouldn't be a thing. Scratching his nose, he scoffs loudly and tries to play it off.]

Tch!! You think I was making that up?! B-Brat... Just wait until I get my gear back, I'll be even stronger.

[And it won't get as bad as it did. He will be stronger. Better.]

No, I know you're a hero, but you're my hero.

[She smiled up at him and then, without realizing the impact she had made, carefully put everything away, well, she put everything away except one teddybear cookie, nibbling on her treat as she linked her fingers with Katsuki's fingers and pulled him over to the chessboard.]

Let me show you how to play, so then I can fairly, soundly, and properly beat you. [She giggled.]

Edited 2023-03-12 01:33 (UTC)

[HE FEELS ITCHY AND HE DOESN'T WIKE IT!!!

With a hushed grumble and an obnoxious heat to his ears, Katsuki's brows pinch together and he's led to where she's set up the game board. He isn't...very good with holding hands, it's a bit of a thing, but he allows it for just that moment before shaking her off a little bit and taking a long look at each piece and the board itself. He's seen them all before - like he said, his dad used to play - but he's never really cared to learn.

His mouth quirks up at the corners and he crosses his legs, squaring his shoulders. He likes this brat's confidence.]

Can't wait to make you eat those words. Let's get started then, sensei.

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Action | sometime after no awoo $200 fine

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1/3 - SHE'S SO CUTE, JAX, HOW DARE YOU HURT ME THIS WAY.

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we can probably wrap here, for this one!! ♥♥