outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

Yeah, man, it's not easy at all. But that part's kinda fun, so it's fine.

[ train's here. please let's go and get clean. ]

Why'd you decide to start running?

It'll just make it feel better once you get there.

[ that's how laurence felt when he first summoned a portal leading outside the tower. ]

Oh, that's nothing special. [ it's not like trying to reunite with a friend or anything. ] The Tower has a big race every year for everyone under twenty-one. I wanted to give it a shot, so I started running and I just liked it.

Hope so. And hey, it's useful outside of that, anyway. Being strong and stable. [ ... ] Should probably be keepin' up with it better here, but...

[ he's been depressed sooo

oh it's not like that is it laurence. uh huh. well we don't have to bring up iris and that race again but he's definitely not forgotten about it. ]

Good enough reason as any. Probably really a fortunate choice, if you're makin' portals, right? Get through 'em faster.

Probably. But we don't have a gym or anything here, so it's harder. I kind of miss it, too. [ jock life...

ALSO STOP IT REALLY WASN'T ABOUT IRIS THIS TIME!! sometimes you really just like to run. ]

Mm, definitely. It's actually helped me a couple of times already - they had me practice by going out into some back alleys in Seattle? I came really close to getting caught by spawncampers a few times.

Wonder if that's something we could request. Sanada does training, too, right? It'd be useful.

[ jock life...!!

HEH ]

--hey, what the hell. Surely there's safer ways to get you to train?

I think he's been training with Marcoh? I don't think the angels control the locations, but maybe we could order some equipment if we really want it.

[ shrugs...? ]

Using my power is already dangerous. It's not like it matters now.

Guess getting a decent rope and some weights wouldn't be that hard.

[ just gives him an entirely flat look. ]

Unbelievable. You are such a hypocrite. Why wouldn't it matter?

I did get a jump rope the other day.

[ ???? ]

What? I can't practice while we're stuck here, spawncampers or no spawncampers.

I got onto it pretty recently. It's fun.

[ rolls his eyes ]

Not here, dumbass. When you get back. You've gotta stay safe enough to actually complete your big rescue, right?

It's fine, I guess. Just a different kind of cardio.

[ frankly he could take it or leave it but he has the rope now for reasons. he is immediately distracted though wtf? don't insult him? ]

Don't say it like that... [ that makes it sound like he cares about iris as more than just some dude who's in trouble? ] Anyway, it was about distance. Trying to go as far as I could. There's not always spawncampers in the alleys, anyway, but it's not like they can just predict where they'll be.

Sure, but...

[ why does he always say things that can be taken badly. there's a flicker of doubt, then he breathes out with a frown, thinking hard. ]

Just- I mean, stay safe, okay? I know that's priceless coming from me, but I mean it. [ sorry he only knows how to shounen speech about this so uh ] The kind of determination you had, even after finding out everything you suddenly had to deal with, it's important. And hard, to find the strength to not give up on everything after being deceived. But you can do it, y'know? You've got the power - literally, too - so... yeah. And it'd be cool, to see you with your powers at full strength someday.

[ kind of a lame ending, but ]

That's what I was tryin' to say.

[ not this shounen speech help me. laurence stares at him for a moment, stunned, and can't help but think for a second that it sounds a little familiar, though he hasn't heard anything similar in over a decade. he busies his hands with trying to remove the rest of the frosting from his hair. ]

It's not like I'm going to go running into danger first chance I get...

[ he feels a little awkward now... someone actually caring about his wellbeing outside of their job? encouragement for using his powers? unimaginable. what's he supposed to do with that?

...it's nice, though. a pleasant, warm feeling, to believe that someone actually cares. he might miss it, once they leave heaven. ]

Don't worry about me. I'll figure things out. And once I leave the Tower, I'll be able to go whatever I want, so there'll be tons of opportunities to practice.

[ not that it's special enough to show off... but part of him always wanted to try. ]

[ i'm sorry he's embarrassing but also i'm not sorry shounen's gotta shounen

despite that, he does almost immediately feel selfconscious about pretty much everything he just said, like he'd overstepped a boundary. last time he'd messed that up by running his mouth, he'd been punched in the face, and that doesn't seem entirely off the table if he messes up badly enough with laurence, either.

so it's a relief that awkwardness is the worst reaction, and surprising when the emotional echo turns unmistakably positive. he breathes a gentle laugh, and thinks at least he got something right. ]

Sorry, always gonna worry. Here, after we get back, whatever. [ sighs. ] But yeah, you'll figure things out. You're sensible, unlike a lot of us.

That's a low bar with some of you here.

[ a little exasperated, maybe, but fond. as if laurence doesn't have his moments, too. (who knew pop rocks would explode in soda?) ]

We can save worrying about all that for after we get out of here. One thing at a time.

[ gotta survive first. ]

[ haha yeah..... who knew.................... sweats ]

Mm. [ there's a contemplative, melancholic edge to the affirmative sound, chrono stretching his arms above his head. ] Y'know, maybe between the two of us, there could be a way to connect again. I've reached my hand out before and grabbed one I wasn't supposed to be able to, who says it couldn't be yours if I tried again?

[ hm ]

Or Jiaoqiu's, or Taair's. You get the idea.

Maybe. If it was the same world, that'd be one thing, but I don't know how it'd work with different versions of the same place.

Then again, Ms. Needle did say I might be able to jump right to people we care about, if I get strong enough...

Yeah. I know it's probably far-fetched, it's not like when it happened the first time I knew what was happening. Guess I'm just really tired of losing friends.

[ hm. glances at him, amused, but chooses not to say anything about laurence admitting he cares and just lets the smug, but incredibly pleased, emotional aura do the talking for him. ]

Guess I can relate to that.

[ the difference being that laurence losing friends is usually a direct result of his own actions. absolute idiot.

dsklfjadfg why are you!! like this!!!!! ignore the slight flush of embarrassment or else. nyeh. ]

Actually, nevermind, I think I'll just leave it.

[ HEH!!!!!!!!!! you can't escape he's a native in this language too!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

No takebacks, Laurence, I already heard you. You've still got frosting in your hair, if you need somethin' to mess with again.

Hey, Penny, I think you should hit this guy. And make it a good one.

[ penny don't betray him you're on his side right ]

[ penny is busy holding their mirror and turns away from both of them. she is not a tool to hit people with. hmph. ]

...Hey.

[ come oooonnnnn. she ignores him. ]

[ SMUG ]

What, you really gotta make her do it?

Ugh! You're both such a pain!

[ she will probably make him pay for this later ]

[ yeah that's what he thought. heh

but. man, he's happy. this is somehow the most relaxed he's felt for a while. maybe tsundere bickering really is the cure-all ]

Well, the idea's there, even if you're secretly talking about somethin' else. You can work towards it.

turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

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