outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

[ this might be the first and only time anyone will see chrono with his hair down this game, and it's because it's got sprite and frosting in it. he's trying to pick a chunk of it out of his spiral.

nevertheless he's kind of amused, though the background irritation is bringing him own forward more as well. ]

I'm gonna need like four showers. This sucks.

Tell me about it. And how am I supposed to get this stuff out of Penny?

[ she doesn't seem bothered for some reason? he tries to shake some sprite out of his soggy shoes. ]

Ugh. Maybe I should just replace these.

[ his sneakers......... ]

[ chrono will reach a hand out for penny to make sure she's okay. ]

Is she technically, like, ink? If she's okay now maybe it'll be fine.

[ he's wearing boots today so not faring as badly, but like. ew. ]

Probably a good idea, unless you're attached to 'em.

[ she seems fine for now. ]

I don't think so...? I'm pretty sure it's just real once Iris manifests something like this. But I don't know that'll mean for her if this stuff dries. I'm not a mechanic.

[ how do you take care of a sentient metal arm. ]

They're just shoes. I'll just have to break in a new pair to run with. It's more annoying that we had to deal with all that for nothing.

Pretty sure it's alcohol? Like, not the drinking kind, the cleaning kind.

[ he will give penny a pat on the back of her hand. glad she is okay!! ]

Ugh, blisters. Fair. [ holds up. the apple. he hates it a lot. ] This definitely seems weirdly specific.

I could probably use the drinking kind, after this.

[ penny gives chrono a thumbs up! it's a little awkward while she's still holding the coins. ]

Because we needed more apples in our lives. At least that one's not one of the temptation-style ones.

Yeah, well, too bad you're underage. [ pauses ] I think. If it's the same where you're from.

[ despite that admonishment, there's a sense of agreement.

he tosses the apple in the air and almost fumbles the catch. shut up ]

Guess I'll give it to Ramiel just in case. No way I'm eatin' this thing.

I don't think Gabriel cares...? And I've been meaning to go talk to them again, anyway.

[ he doesn't say anything but there is a spark of amusement watching chrono almost drop it. ]

Maybe someone's taunting us. Like, hey, heard you hated apples. Want some more? [ scoff. ] Like that dumb computer.

[ this fastidious nerd has never attempted to enter the bar and only knows about gabriel through taair's mentions, so...........

chrono just stares at the apple for a moment, frowning. ]

Huh? What computer?

The one in the basement of that creepy shack? It showed up last week.

[ there's like. a brief blip of sadness as he explains but it's gone quickly. ]

I didn't go down there. [ oh no you don't he caught that. ] What happened?

[ caught what. ]

Nothing really worth talking about. But you can type things in to see if anything happens, so we typed "apple." It asked if we wanted some - with a smiley face, even, so it was definitely messing with us.

We?

[ he asks, and then immediately kind of figures out what that melancholy flicker was, and regrets instantly. nausea, then, from both the realisation and response. ]

What the hell. [ ugh. apple goes back into pocket (sticky). ] This is really too much.

...Zhongli.

Yeah, it is. And we're no closer to figuring out what to do about it.

[ frustrating. but the anger's kind of bleeding out of him now - thinking of zhongli just makes him more sad than anything. ]

[ it's okay chrono can be angry (and still sad) for both of them!!! he's in half a mind to just fling this stupid apple into the horizon but. no. he should give it to the angels.

he grits his teeth and bites the anger down. emotional feedback loop like this would be. bad ]

C'mon, we should go get cleaned up. [ ugh, train seats while sticky. ] You still got that mirror?

[ he has more restraint than laurence who absolutely would just yeet without a second thought ]

Definitely.

[ once again wishing he could just teleport. ]

Don't worry, I've got it. And it actually seems pretty useful? So you can hold onto it, if you want.

[ a learned behaviour to not just chuck things, fortunately.

gives him a Look, then shakes his head. ]

Nah, you keep it. You did good work with that bear thing, and I'm still carryin' this watch around.

[ what's the look for ]

Something like this is a little different from things that'll help in trials. They might ask you to use it before long.

...The coins could be funny, though.

[ nothing!! (a flicker of something like concern, maybe.)

he shrugs and resolutely shoves his hands in his pockets. mirror's yours, buddy. ]

Yeah, I know. The watch seems kind of risky, like it could be wasted easily if used wrong. So I've been savin' it for somethin' dire.

[ ... perks up. sounds like shenanigans. ]

Oh yeah? You got somethin' in mind?

[ well okay!! he's not going to argue but the insistence feels a little odd. ]

Same reason I held onto the bear. I get it.

[ shrugs. ]

Nothing specific yet. But I bet you everyone here would have great reactions to it if we use it right. Like when Jiaoqiu turned green?

[ we have a bunch of bitchy folks here and he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world when they all decide to roast someone. just comedy gold. ]

[ it's fine!!

he just sort of tilts his head vaguely in agreement of keeping their assorted items for proper use, but adopts the sharp smirk of an experienced prankster at the rest. ]

Oh, for sure. Gotta be expert timing, though.

[ pats him on the back to get moving. makes a face immediately. sticky..... ]

It's one of those "group bonding" weeks. That sounds as good a time as any.

[ he is moving ok he hates having moist shoes ]

Hate how literal these are. At least this might make it a bit more fun.

[ let him tsun in peace. anyway off we go. everything being made of sugar makes this short trek so much worse, and he's still trying to get frosting out of his hair when they get to the station. ]

D'you think if there were any showers here they would've just been more soda?

They're not all bad... Some of the questions on the last one were kind of funny.

[ they got really into talking about holes, though, would like to pretend that part didn't happen.

he makes a face. ] Probably. Or that stuff in the lake, maybe.

[ the butterscotch. ]

Can't imagine it'll be fantastic given the weirdness of the week, but... maybe.

[ gestures between them vaguely. like, vaguely enough to be ignored. we don't have to acknowledge it.

...also makes a face. ]

Gross. Ugh, this is bad enough.

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