outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

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. ]

[ i dont trust you for a second. redacted ass reaction ]

If I'm sending food... guess there's the option of just making more. [ usual monday activity at this point anyway. ] You're right, though. You think of anything you want to send with 'em?

Edited 2025-03-15 05:33 (UTC)

[ I am a pure and innocent ray I have never done anything wrong in my life

anyway he shrugs ]

I don't know. I might send Zhongli one of his glaze lilies, but I wouldn't know what else to send.

[ he can't just cook something, he's not an artist, he doesn't really have useful skills like some of you do ]

Hm. [ headtilt, considering. ] Somethin' you just associate with 'em? From a place you went together, or somethin' you did together?

[ unsure vibes... ]

Charlie might like something, but we didn't get much time with her. I'm not really sure what she actually likes. [ a pause, and then there's like a second of absolute spitefulness but he pushes that away. ] I'll figure something out. Some of them wouldn't care about gifts, anyway.

[ ?! dude are you good

he'll give him a startled glance at that sharp sting of negative emotion - intense?? that kind of hurt??? - but not actively pry beyond a pointedly concerned curiosity echo. ]

...sure. Your call, maybe inspiration will strike somewhere. There's just these two for me, not much to worry on.

[ ...sigh. he's reluctant but. ]

Sorry. Dojima wrote to me, too, and I'm still kind of mad at him. I know what he was trying to do, but...

[ are you ever so angry and upset with a person but still kind of happy that they cared enough to reach out anyway? ]

[ oh. yeah he's. pretty familiar with that one actually. understanding and a thread of sympathy replace the concern, but he kind of rubs his temple with the heel of his hand. ]

It's hard to put betrayals of trust like that behind you. Honestly, you shouldn't feel pressured to do anythin'. It's not your job to fix it, after all. [ ... ] That said, it's usually worth it, but like. Take your time.

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outdistanced - 2025-03-15 14:28 (UTC) - Expand