outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

[ ...ah. understanding clicks into place and he with a nod, he goes to sit next to chrono. ]

They brought you mail this morning?

Yesterday. But... y'know, it was busy, so...

[ that's why he's not still in tears. ]

I thought you probably got some too, but. Dunno, felt like sharing anyway.

I did. [ bit of a wistful feeling, with that. ] I meant to write back before we fell asleep last night, but things got a little chaotic there.

[ nods at the flower. ]

He sent me a yellow one. A tulip.

[ a nod, a matching curl of wistfulness, and hesitation. ]

I've been stuck on how to respond. [ he turns the flower over in his hand. it's a cosmos, but- ] I don't know what kind this is. Should've paid attention more.

I'm still trying to figure that part out, too. Glad to hear from them, for sure, but... it's still a little strange.

It looks familiar... Maybe it's one of the ones Koharu showed me? [ thinking, thinking. ] Cosmos...?

[ !!

there's a flicker of relief and thankful understanding. ]

It is kinda strange, right? Thought I was just being stupid again. Not that I think it isn't them or anything, but...

[ but what? he's not really sure.

he blinks down at the flower, then smiles. ]

Cosmos, huh. Funny.

It's definitely them, alright. [ with a soft scoff. ] Sounds too real not to be. It's just... weird.

[ we saw them dead with our own two eyes and they can still write to us? laurence isn't saying that out loud but he's sure thinking it. ]

He probably thought it was funny, too. It suits you, with those lofty space-traveling goals of yours.

Definitely weird. Surreal. Like... it was already weird we could die twice, and now there's, what, an afterlife for the afterlife? [ jabs a thumb at his halo ] What's the point of this, then?

[ he runs a finger over the edge of the petals, a kind of soft amusement there. ]

A tulip for yours? Ain't those kinda. [ pause. no there's no other way to word this ] Romantic?

Beats me. Nothing in this place has really made sense since day one. It never felt like we were ever really dead.

[ but they still have halos so who the fuck knows.

there's a little twist of confusion at that? uhhh. ] Even if they are, he obviously didn't mean it that way. I thought roses were supposed to be the "romantic" ones.

Yeah. Stuff feels the same as being in a real body, as opposed to spirit stuff. Maybe it's a bit different for you guys who have powers, but even then, right?

[ who knows!!!

he just kind of??? shrugs. he's confused too but it's all he knows. ]

Yeah, obviously, that's not what I meant. It's flowers, man, I thought they were all for romance stuff until recently.

I guess we wouldn't even know what "spirit stuff" is supposed to be like. [ also... he shrugs. ] It's probably worse for the others. I spent most of my life not using my powers already. The weirdest thing for me is not knowing anything about where we are.

[ should he be offended by this when chrono keeps comparing him to flowers? he's not, but it just sounds so silly. ]

If they were, I wouldn't have made those bouquets before. I'm pretty sure it's only romantic if you want it to be.

Well, I do, and this ain't it. [ hm ] I didn't die, for the record. Actually, maybe that's why.

[ nvm logicked himself into a corner

also he's not comparing him!!! it was ONE comment about his hair GOD ]

I know that now. Forget I said anything, it's just frustrating that I don't know what this means, really. [ he shifts to the other paper, which has a little drawing of himself with his cards. ] Charlie's is straightforward, heh.

What is that supposed to mean? [ the spirit comment hello? as for the rest... ] ...I didn't think I did, either. Nothing big was going on before I woke up here.

[ still confused about that tbh

also it was the vines too! ]

We can look it up later if you really want, but I don't think they need to mean anything. [ leans a little closer just to peek at the drawing. nosy. ] She was always like that.

It was a Cray thing. Towards the end, when it got real messy. I'll tell you another time. [ it's stupid. ] Some people remember their deaths, though, so what's with that?

[ like he's not SURPRISED he died just... confused...

those were Literally On Him please,, ]

Guess so. [ oh. hi. he's welcome to look at it. ] Wish I'd gotten to know her more. Hope I still can.

Okay... [ well he can't help but be curious now, but. yeah. he feels the confusion, too. ] I don't know. Everyone I've talked to about it is more confused that I don't know how it happened for me.

[ it's a cute drawing ]

Yeah, me too. It's a good sign that we can send letters, though - that's a start.

[ nodding. same hat. ]

Guess some deaths are just like that, though, so it's not unreasonable to assume it was just... something we weren't conscious for.

[ makes a face. morbid. which is priceless, considering, but still.

it's very cute. he's very charmed by it. soft feelings. ]

...guess I'll write something later. I thought about it last night, but. Seemed kinda bad timing.

I guess... I've been trying not to think about it too hard.

Yeah. [ two cyoas and then 90% of the game in the same place with terrible vibes everywhere? who wants to write a heartfelt letter in those conditions. ] Maybe you should see if you can send them some of those cookies or something, too.

Me too. It's been the part that's kind of easiest to accept at face value, until this.

[ ...oh! that suggestion makes him light up, actually, a proper actual smile on his face for the first time today. ]

That's a really good idea. May be shit at words, but that I can do. I wouldn't have thought of that. [ shoulderbump. ] Thanks.

A little hard to argue it, too.

[ ...that's nice. a good feeling, to see chrono smile despite the news today, but it also makes laurence feel a little sheepish. ]

Well, you know. If they can send us flowers, we should be able to send stuff back, right? They'll probably like the chance to try them, too.

Yeah. This is an afterlife, almost for sure.

[ hm? he tilts his head a little at the feedback, a frown of confusion ghosting his expression. it was a good suggestion what's the problem. ]

Makes sense to me. I'll have to ask, and... figure out how to package things so they don't get ruined. [ ...no he can't leave it be. ] What's up?

Nothing like any I've heard of before this, though...

[ but they already kind of covered that. anyway, the sheepishness passes quickly enough. ]

Can't you use the containers you had? Or, I don't know, get some new ones? Make god pay for it since they're making us go through all this in the first place. [ ...? ] What?

[ sometimes you're just bad with compliments or gratitude, ]

Just felt funny for a sec.

[ didn't expect a tsun spike over something like that. ]

I guess. They're a bit big to post. Ain't god already payin' for all this stuff anyways? [ huh. ] Probably should be takin' more advantage of that, actually.

I'm fine, don't worry.

[ not tonight. check back in tomorrow, maybe. ]

Is it...? [ he's never had mail before how does it work. ] But you can probably find something that works if you look.

[ ?????????? my questionmarks. me, aaya

chrono on the other hand shrugs. wasn't a big deal. ]

Sure. [ his expression twists a little. ] Today doesn't seem right for it, though. Maybe after... tomorrow.

[ it's fine he's just an awkward lil dude ]

No one's going to make you run out and do it right now, dude. I haven't gotten back to them yet, either. They'll understand if we need a few to just... deal with all of this.

[ the weekends are always so bad. surely they won't hols it against them. ]

turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

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