A Cracked Lens PV Finished

Vincent stuttered through his hello and started to explain his apology, though slowly. “Thank you for bringing it back. I’d hate to have to break in to acquire it.” She gave a small chuckle with a crooked half-smile. The notion of attempting to break into the Ravenclaw tower while guarded by that large dhampir was ridiculous. “Don’t worry about it doing the maintenance on it is something I enjoy doing.” More importantly, it told her that he hadn’t got through her bag. While there was nothing extraordinary in there besides the photos themselves, it did mean that she wouldn’t hate him.

As much as he didn’t explain a whole ton, Santario remembered everything up to the impact of the ground. After that, things were fuzzy, but she remembered flying with Bridget and finally resting in the infirmary. “Sure we can talk more another day. To be fair, we would have gotten out find if that one kid didn’t throw a plate that the mosp that was minding its own business.” She responded a little out of order her mind primarily on the film residing in that bag, but it didn’t make her point any less.

[color=#00640]“Thank you for stopping by Bridget. Enjoy the rest of your day.”[/color] She didn’t expect most of them to stay long if she was going to be fair. There wasn’t a lot to talk about, and when it came down to it, she knew that visiting people while injured or sick could get very dull, very quick. She turned her attention to Alan as Bridget left. “Got stung too. Some gobshite* threw a plate at one of the purple mosps that was minding its own business. Made it angry and impossible for anyone else to leave. So I flipendoed it, but it wasn’t enough, and it got me.” Her hand moved to her chest, where the stingers had punctured her flesh.

“Vincent here was originally going to carry me out, but Professor Vernatis showed up and gave us his broom. The problem was is, is I saw it correctly, it was a Silver Arrow. Since they are so fast, they can be temperamental and hard to handle. So we fell. I don’t think it was that far, though… Well, far enough to scrambled my brain a little. I’ll be alright, though.” Santario would, in fact, persevere through anything life threw at her.

@Bridget Collins | @Alan Vanes | @Vincent d'Arque
*Gobshite: Someone who does something irrevocably stupid that has negative repercussions to more than just the person who performed the action.

After Vincent had finished his rather awkward monologue, he just stood there both in anticipation and trepidation about what would happen next. There really was no telling how Santario or their savior would react to him appearing here, he could very well imagine they both would react a little aloof. Much to his relief that turned out to be an unfounded fear. Santario was fast with her response, jokingly thanking him for bringing her camera bag back and for saving her from a burglary trip into the Ravenclaw tower. She went on saying she didn’t mind doing some maintenance to the camera herself, before mentioning the possibility to discuss things some other time. Vincent got the impression she wasn’t too keen on it, though. With a short insight on her view of how the trouble had started, with her getting stung, she ended the conversation and she turned her attention shortly to Bridget to bid her farewell and then to the boy who introduced himself as Alan.

The girl who had flown Santario back to the castle and into the obviously capable hands of the nurses here was equally quick to react, as she shook his outstretched hand, introducing herself as Bridget. From her reply to his expression of thanks he could make out she wasn’t very impressed with what she had done to help out, although Vincent had a different opinion about that. He felt he owed her one for helping out, but as Vincent was almost certain she wouldn’t have any of it, he decided to keep it to himself for the time being. It wasn’t for now anyway, regardless whether he had wanted to act upon his feeling or not, because a few seconds later Bridget announced her leave. She smiled to the three of them and walked towards the exit. Vincent watched her go. Either way, he wasn’t going to forget her helping him and Santario and if he got the chance he’d return the favor. Perhaps someday the occasion would rise where she needed help with something so he could settle his debt.

Vincent turned back to Santario, who was offering Alan a summarized description of the occurrences of the evening that had so disastrously ended. Alan apparently hadn’t heard the whole story yet and, despite devoid of details, Santario’s strongly shortened version conjured a worried expression on his face. He seemed genuinely concerned with her wellbeing. Deciding there was no reason for him to stay much longer, as he had apologized and gave Santario her camera back, Vincent looked at her while he waited for a pause in the conversation to metion the fact he was going, only then noticing the resemblance between her and Angelica. It was so striking Vincent wondered if it was a coincidence or not. Before he could ponder on the thought, though, there was a moment of silence which he seized to address both Santario. “I… sorry I’m interrupting, but I… well, I think it’s best I leave now.” He said. “I’m glad you will fully recover, Santario, I wish you all the best. Perhaps… no, never mind. Take care, Santario, get well soon.” He turned to Alan and said goodbye, before walking to the exit.

Alan's eyes widened when she began to explain to him what happened to her during the blossom ball and paled a little when she mentioned that she had been stung. Alan knew there was no way he could have prevented Santario from getting stung since he did not even know that she was there, but it reminded him of the fact that he might have been able to prevent that girl with the dark dress if he didn't freeze. He should have done more, helped more. It should have been his first duty to protect everyone within the changing rooms, since after all he had been the oldest, yet the most useless throughout the whole situation.

When @Vincent d'Arque announced his leave, Alan would give him a slight nod, still in shock about this whole story. "Th-Thanks for helping her, Vincent," he muttered genuinely and the hint of a tense smile on his lips. "I hope t-to see you around sometime," the third year would add honestly. He was happy to hear that he had wanted to help San and could have saved her from lots of harm if he had been successful; not that Alan could blame him for his failure. So any friend of San couldn't be that bad, right? Then again she was friends with that Erik guy, which was still in-explainable to the third year. He was kind of rude, but he knew that Santario must have her reasons. But in this situation he genuinely believed Vincent to be a good kid.

"I am also happy t-to hear th-that you are recovering," he would let Santario know with a sweet little smile. "Do you need rest or do you want me t-to stay?" He would leave the choice up to her, since she actually did not know what her exact condition at this very moment was.

Santario offered Vincent a small smile as he announced his departure. It seemed like there was a lot more that he wanted to say that he wasn’t, and that piqued her curiosity. Words left unsaid were a waste; she knew that more than most. “You were interrupting nothing, but please enjoy the rest of your day”Santario always manage to have an air of a well brought up child, even from her sickbed. Looking back at Alan now and offered him a small shrug when he asked if she would rather be alone to rest now. “It doesn’t really matter honestly. I woke up not too long before you came in, and I have nothing else to do but sleep. Though I know your day is probably super busy, so please don’t feel badly if you need to go.”

For once in her life, she was failing to think of anything to talk about because the only thing that was interesting to talk about, she had already spoken of. Well, besides, the chance meeting of the person she endearingly referred to as Reaper. She was keeping that one to herself for now. There was something different to that boy, and she wanted time to figure out the human Rubik’s cube.

@Alan Vanes | @Vincent d'Arque

When Santario mentioned that he must be busy, he coughed slightly, feeling caught. He was kind of busy, he had yet to report to his parents about the ball. He honestly did not want to because he knew they would worry more than necessary. His mother never really liked how much Alan got into trouble, but he usually was not in immediate danger. "Not t-too busy t-to visit a friend," he would let the Slytherin girl know anyway, smiling warmly at her.

"Get better soon, San, I am glad th-that the nurse could fix you!" Alan was glad that Santario was doing more or less well. He had hoped she would feel better but he assumed it would take a bit until she would feel like herself again. "Catch up with me when you're released from th-the nurse, 'kay?", he prompted, giving her a wave before he would get to the door and leave San in peace so that she could focus on getting some rest so that she would feel better soon again. He himself had homework to finish and this stupid letter to write. Perhaps he could just not write the letter and avoid getting into trouble. It's not like his mother could find out about this, right

Aaron had gradually been working up the courage to pay another visit to the Hospital Wing. After dropping off Lydia immediately following the Blossom Ball, he had kind of retreated into himself. So many of his friends had been stung by those creatures - the vampyr mosps - and he was one of the few on the front lines that made it out unscathed. Lyida, Atlas, Willow, Santario. These were the people he needed to check on and apologize to, but- he found it so hard. This wasn't like when he had to apologize to George for almost punching him. In this situation, people had actually gotten hurt, and Aaron was one of the undeniable main reasons.

When he heard that @Santario Martin was finally being allowed visitors, Aaron quickly found himself on the third-floor corridor. He didn't know all the details - just that she had been among the sting victims - but he knew he needed to own up to it. He was the one who had invited her to the ball - in fact, she might not have even come if he hadn't asked her to work as the photographer.

As he stared at the doors to the Hospital Wing, Aaron wrung his hands in hesitation. This was going to be rough. How was he supposed to start? Sorry for inviting you to the ball where you almost died? Well, no one that had been stung had been close to death apparently- so maybe, sorry for inviting you to the ball where you probably got traumatised?

It got to a point where people were walking in and out, and Aaron was the odd kid just standing outside in the corridor. Finally, he entered the hospital wing. He found Santario's bed easily enough, spotting her from the entryway. As he walked over, he could feel his mouth getting dry and he swallowed heavily.

"Hi, Santario," he greeted weakly. Somehow, Aaron was using the curtains meant for her bed to hide behind, even though it was drawn open. He was clearly hesitant to approach her. "Is now a good time?" He was almost hoping she would say no - that she would be mad at him or just be too tired to talk. He wasn't wearing his usual bright smile - just an incredibly nervous expression.

The cough gave Alan away that he did have somewhere else to be, but that was fine as she had said. People couldn’t sit with her all day every day, especially when there just wasn’t anything to talk about. “Thanks, we have extremely competent healers here.” He mentioned catching up after she got out, and she gave him a nod, not willing to make a promise she might not keep. She had to accomplish quite a few things before the end of the school year. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

Santario sighed softly as she watched Alan walkout, realizing that she was more comfortable being alone than other people. She felt alone when others were around anyway, only more awkward, so it was just better to be on your own. Not like people really cared to understand what you were going through, none of them even asked about it after the fact. More bricks went up, and the walls got higher, keeping everyone at arm’s length was easier.

Her eyes snapped up to the infirmary door as it creaked opened admitted another boy, but it was one she hadn’t expected; it was Aaron. She smiled at him as he walked towards her bed and seemed to wish that he could disappear into the drapery around her bed. “Hey Aaron, of course. There is a chair if you’d like to sit, I’m not sure the draperies make for a good support system.” She offered him a crooked half-smile and a soft chuckle.

@Alan Vanes | @Aaron Jones

Aaron nodded at Santario's invitation. It was clear that the sight of him didn't immediately repulse her, so she probably wasn't upset with him... but the whole reason he was here now was to accept responsibility for her being at the ball in the first place (and to make sure she was okay, of course).

Aaron cleared his throat, suddenly feeling parched as he stepped out from behind the curtains. He approached the raven-haired girl's bedside and took the proffered seat. He clasped his hands together in his lap, trying to keep from fidgeting too much.

"I was sorry to hear you got stung." Aaron said, his dark-eyed gaze taking in the sight of his friend in a hospital bed. "You're feeling better though?" he asked hopefully. He had not heard about anything other than the sting, so he imagined that she was probably healed by now. "Lydia got stung, and Atlas, too," he shared, unsure if she knew. Of course she would've met them while she was taking pictures before the Blossom Ball had properly started. "I came close a couple of times, but I guess I was one of the lucky ones," he said, trying to make a joke of it as he offered a slightly awkward grin. He avoided eye contact, instead looking at things like her shoulder or her forehead. Looking into her eyes would surely make him lose his resolve.

@Santario Martin

Santario observed Aaron carefully as he moved from behind the curtains and took a seat. He seemed very timid, almost as if he were a mouse approaching a viper. Lucky for him, she was not a viper, and he was not a mouse. She listened quietly as he went through his apology, updated her on Lydia and Atlas, and told her that he had made it out lucky. Lydia, she remembers better because San thought that when the light hit her just right, she looked like a moving painting.

She did notice that he refused to look her in the eye, and that made her think that he probably had survivors’ guilt. He probably would have felt less badly if he was lying in a hospital bed as well, but San thought that notion was silly. “I managed a concussion too. A Ravenclaw tried to fly me out, but the broom was temperamental, and I do not think he was very experienced, so we fell. They tell me that they will let me out on Friday to make sure there are no lasting effects. Better safe than sorry. You know there is no reason to feel bad just because you didn’t get hurt. Unless, of course, you planned on the mosps showing up, which I doubt.” That was the main point anyway, it’s not like he meant for them to get hurt, he didn’t purposefully lure the mosps to the pitch. Nor did he realize that there was another plot afoot, one he would never control, and that revolved around Marion, Victor, and Vladimir.

@Aaron Jones

Aaron's eyes finally found Santario's when she mentioned the concussion, concern flooding his expression. She FELL from a broom? "That's awful, you must've been so scared," he said, looking at her sympathetically. He only said that because it's exactly how he would have felt falling from a broom. Just the thought made a shiver travel down his spine. He would never admit it to anyone, but falling was probably one of his biggest fears. Not heights, but falling. The only reason he was able to fly was because he was so confident in his abilities - he did not believe he would fall from his broom. But if he ever did, it would not be a pretty sight. Screaming. Crying. Probably the whole nine. He shuddered at the thought.

As she continued on about not feeling bad, he shuffled his feet slightly and once again averted his gaze. "I mean, yeah, we didn't plan for them to show up - but like, it's still kinda our fault. My fault. Pericles even told us it was a bad idea from the get go, and I helped convince him otherwise," he explained, looking down at his feet as he swung them below his chair. He gripped the sides of his chair, a slightly unpleasant look on his face, "And like- I even told Gris that it would be super safe!" He seemed to be talking more to himself than to the girl in the hospital bed at this point, but he quickly realized his mistake.

Aaron raised his head again, offering a small smile to (hopefully) reassure her that he was fine. "But I'm fine, really. I just really wanted to check on you and apologize - again - that you even ended up here. I mean, if I hadn't asked you to photograph, maybe you wouldn't have even been there!"

@Santario Martin