king and lionheart

[hugoxdiaz]

benji-evans​:

Benji watched as the boy did what he said and he did his best to walk him through. He quirked a brow at the boy’s statement and nodded, “you could say that. I used to be real bad off mentally, so panic attacks were pretty normal.” He moved his hand away, instead moving to sit fully next to the kid once he saw that he was coming down from the panic. “Don’t apologize, I’m just doing what I would hope someone would do for me if situations were reversed. Don’t take it to heart if you don’t feel strong– I think… in a city like this, strength is only held by those who are in power but everyone has something they’re strong with.” Benji scanned the area around them, looking for a similar looking girl to the boy, before casting his curious blue gaze back to him, “I’m assuming you got separated from your sister? I got separated from my people, too. We can stick together until we can leave, how about that?” He posed the question before reaching a hand out, “Benji.”

Hugo briefly leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes with every deep breath, welcoming the calm wash away the panic. “I’m not that comfortable in public settings or just around people in general, but I think mine really intensified after my sister got sick.” He wasn’t certain why he was telling the opposite male this information, but it held a grim note of truth to the matter. Hugo watched Fiora struggle keeping their entire family afloat in the midst of these unfortunate tribulations, the only choice he could make was depending on her for financial and moral support. Most days, Fi is the one person keeping him sane. “Funny how those in power are now scrabbling with the little guys. Everyone’s equal when they’re dead. And...that sounded morbid.” Hugo dropped a gaze to his hands, wiping the sweat along the legs of his jeans repeatedly. “We all find our real strengths eventually, though. Some faster than others.” He nodded once in confirmation, “In the shuffle, I went one way and she went the other. I’d, um, I’d...like that.” He took Benji’s hand politely and shook it, “Hugo.” 

[hugoxdiaz]

benji-evans​:

Benji squatted next to the boy, placing a gentle hand on his back, “just focus on the sound of my voice, okay? You can handle it, all you have to do is focus on something else for a moment and take as deep of breaths as you can.” He simulated the deep breathing, a meditation he taught himself when he used to have frequent panic attacks. “If you survived an earthquake, you can survive anything, you know.”

Hugo’s head jerked up, forcing himself to focus on the other boy’s comforting touch and his words. Mimic and breathe, mimic and breathe. He gathered as much oxygen that could fit inside his lungs before releasing it and used Benji’s guidance to repeat the action. “Sounds like this is looking in a mirror for you.” Hugo mumbled in between breathing exercises. “I don’t feel that strong, you know? I’m...I’m sorry you have to fuss over me. Usually, that’s my sister’s job.” 

[hugoxdiaz]

sid-huxley​:

Gently, Sid began to rub the boy’s back as soothingly as she could. “We’re in one of the safest parts of the city, Hugo, I know it doesn’t look like much, but we’ll be okay,” Isidora said quietly, her eyes scanning the people around her to try and find the woman that she was familiar with. She’d known Hugo and Fiora when she took over as Fiora’s primary doctor, and now taking care of their father. Their family just couldn’t catch a break. “I haven’t seen her in my rounds so far here, but how about you stick with me and I’ll help you find her, okay?”

Hugo dropped his head in his hands and focused on the circular motions of Sid’s gentle rubbing, silently describing to himself exactly how it felt from the light pressure of her fingers to the small outline of a ring Sid was wearing. The thought distracted him enough to slow down his breathing. “The safest part isn’t always safe, Doctor Huxley. Earthquakes can have a residual aftershock I’m not ready for.” The male’s eyes squeezed closed and then slowly peeled open, almost expecting Fiora to magically appear in front of him. How easy it was to feel like a lost child again. “Alright. Just promise you’ll stay with me.” Hugo sucked in air and released it, “I mean, if you have to leave to help someone else, it’s okay. I’ll...I’ll manage.”

[hugoxdiaz]

everlyxsommers​:

Are you hurt? Were caught you under any debris? 

No, no, no, it’s not that. I think...I think I’m having a panic attack.

[hugoxdiaz]

sid-huxley​:

Hey, Hugo– just focus on me and my voice, you may be having a panic attack but I’m right here with you and I’m not going anywhere.

You have to take slow, deep breaths, not short ones, okay?

Hugo shook his head rapidly, heart continuing to pound at a mile per minute. He could still feel the ground shaking beneath him, how the walls sounded as they cracked and crumbled. “I don’t think I-...what if it happens again?” He clutched both hands to his skull and closed his eyes, trying to breathe slowly like Sid suggested. “I need my sister.”

[hugoxdiaz]

benji-evans​:

Here, sit down– put your head between your knees.

Hugo pressed his back against the wall and slid down until reaching a seated position, gripping his head in his hands and immediately tucking it between his legs as instructed. “It feels like I’m being choked. I can’t do this. I can’t handle this.”

[hugoxdiaz]

I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.

[hugoxdiaz]

carter-cabello​:

Have you thought about coming to Greenpoint?

I mean, she doesn’t really have to know. Could just be an anonymous donation of sorts, she can’t return it it she doesn’t know who it’s from.

We have, makes my body sweat. Not that you’d find that pleasant to see, but what I mean is, it could be our only option eventually.

Oh. Oh, Carter, that would be asking you too much. You know how terrible I am at keeping secrets and I don’t want to risk spilling who made the donation.

[hugoxdiaz]

carmenxmueller​:

Hi.

Oh, hi...hi, me?

[hugoxdiaz]

fiora-diaz​:

Her eyes flicked towards her brother, a frown marring her face as she thought. There were so many pros and cons weighing in her head about leaving that it was a struggle to keep them straight. In leaving, they’d have to move their father, lose their house, lose what little friends they… well, she had left. With the staying, she’d most likely have to close her business down, fall even further in debt, and stay in a faction that was crumbling and could potentially get worse– not to mention her brother was slowly losing people he was close to. “You know… we could leave, Hewie, we just need to think of the logistics for it,” Fiora said quietly, as she finished leafing through her stack, holding a measly few that were actually staying in Davenport. This wouldn’t be enough with the cost to run the place– she’d have to raise the prices. “If we stay I… I don’t know what I would do without it. We’re barely paying off the creditors as it is.”

Hugo didn’t have many friends if any at all, the only thing stopping him from packing a car and leaving with the hoard was his sister and father. If it wasn’t Fiora’s now failing business keeping the family in Davenport or the financial burdens, it was their only remaining parent’s illness pulling the anchor to the ground. “I don’t want to leave, Fi. Even the idea of going somewhere new just brings up this anxiety that I would rather forget.” He placed the papers down entirely and rung his hands together in his lap, breaking Fiora’s gaze. He knew he wasn’t equip living in this city, the constant threat of death arriving enough to send Hugo into a mini panic, but what other option did they have? “I know how you feel about asking for assistance, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe we can talk to Delia, I’m sure she’d be willing.”

[hugoxdiaz]

carter-cabello​:

Can’t really say that my sister’s hands weren’t forced, she didn’t want to do it this way.

Do you two need help? Just because I’m not in Davenport anymore doesn’t mean I’m not going to look out for you two.

It’s a growing trend for our faction, unfortunately. Never-ending disappointment.

Financially? I wish I could say my sister would accept the help, but I know she’ll refuse the minute it comes out of your mouth.

[hugoxdiaz]

fiora-diaz​:

“Especially for businesses,” Fiora said with a small sigh. She looked at her brother with a small smile before turning to the papers in front of her. “There were. A lot of them are leaving with the borders closing down or just because they don’t want to be Davenport anymore. Not to mention I’m losing a lot of my part-time care helpers,” Fiora squeezed the pen in between her fingers, it probably would be easier to leave with everyone, but she didn’t want to leave Davenport. “We just have to separate who’s leaving with who’s staying.”

Hugo picked up the stack and leafed through a few of the pages, reading over files of children under his sister’s care and wondering how many were now either leaving Davenport or part of a different faction. Who lived where would be easy enough to sort the children that could no longer stick around, so that’s where he began. “We’re the select few that went against the grain and didn’t pack our bags the first sign of deserting. The little friends I had jumped the fence already.” He separated everything in two even piles as Fi instructed, who stayed and who went. “You can’t run a day care without kids, Fiora. If it reaches a point, you might need to consider closing the doors temporarily.”

[hugoxdiaz]

carter-cabello​:

I wouldn’t be surprised, Hugo.

How are you and your sister doing with everything?

You and your family really brought the party.

Hanging on by a thread it feels like. I think Fiora’s had to shut down the day care with the borders closing. Everyone else followed suit after you all left.

[hugoxdiaz]

islaxking​:

To get coffee for my brother.

I know a few coffee shops around this place if you needed some really good recommendations. I live and breathe coffee. And caffeine and sugar, literally anything that gives me energy.

[hugoxdiaz]

fiora-diaz​:

To be fair, I don’t think I ever expected a mass exodus from Davenport.

You might as well sit down, it’s gonna take a bit.

This place straight up turned apocalyptic overnight.

“You shouldn’t be drowning in this by yourself, Fi.” Hugo slid in the chair across the table from her, nudging a small pile of papers in his direction and glancing over the words, “There’s really this many kids in your care?”

[hugoxdiaz]

carter-cabello​:

If you’re coming to complain to me about what happened, I don’t want to hear it.

Davenport might just go to shit without you guys. All I wanted to say.

[hugoxdiaz]

islaxking​:

Hi— sorry. Do you mind if I ask you for directions?

I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life and I still don’t know where I’m going sometimes.

That’s why the gods invented GPS. Where you headed?