outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

No, no, wait, I - look, Zhongli asked me to do this, okay?

[ just

hugs him? ]

[ oh.

he's tense for a long, long moment before he leans into it, resting one hand on laurence's back. ]

I need you to be upfront with me, man.

Sorry. It's just... confusing? I remember everything here, but I remember school, too.

[ he won't hold chrono there for long. ]

All of us were part of some school club. [ he doesn't even know what those are. but he does? but what. ] Me, Zhongli, Ali, and Akihiko. It was called Cleaning and Clearing, and I don't want to hear it.

[ do NOT talk to him about the maid costume he'll die for real. ]

[ he kind of wishes he'd held him there a little longer. he's so mad. this all sucks. he can't even bring himself to be amused by the maid costume. ]

One of those... things. A school club? With... all of them? [ runs a hand through his hair.

what the Fuck. ]

Okay. Sure. Keep going.

[ he might still like. hold onto chrono's wrist loosely. ]

Yeah. Apparently.

[ one guy with a whole bunch of deadzos. and till, apparently. ]

They gave us an assignment to find another student called "The Idol." That Till guy, apparently, though it seems like he doesn't remember any of it. He stole a bunch of school funds and ran off to a casino so we were supposed to get him back before he bankrupted them.

...You were there, too. In the casino. So I'm glad you made it back okay.

[ he's still super fight-response tense, so. that's probably for the best.

this all sounds nigh incomprehensible, but he's listening. ]

Okay. Like, why? And why are you hurt? [ and, more disturbed; ] I didn't... go anywhere?

Because he wanted to put on a show, apparently? He said something about karaoke.

I don't know why I'm hurt. Iris and Director Hu just shot me a little, but bullets aren't supposed to hurt. It doesn't make sense.

[ stares blankly at him. ]

You didn't? But you actually remembered me. I was worried we'd left you there...

What the fuck do you mean, bullets aren't supposed to hurt?! And, Iris? He was there?

[ oh he needs to sit down. his head hurts bad enough just listening.

weakly; ]

Take your meds. [ shoves at the bottle in his hand. ] What the hell... I didn't go anywhere. But I actually remembered you? What does that mean?

Well, they didn't? It was kind of like getting hit but by someone who didn't mean it. [ rubs face with his free hand. ] It wasn't really Iris, I think. It was his face, and his name, but he was nothing like the Iris I knew.

[ oh. he frowns at the bottle but will pop a couple in his mouth. ]

Iris didn't remember me. I don't think Director Hu knew Zhongli, either, or Ali's son. But you remembered us, and so did Lucas. And Zhongli did say that sometimes people we knew would show up.

[ he doesn't like it though? ]

If you didn't go anywhere, it's for the best. [ just confusing. ] It sounded like you'd been stuck in that casino for a long time, and you didn't want to leave with us, either.

Did you... remember us, while you were there? When Jiaoqiu talked about this, it sounded like they only remembered at certain points. It was... like bein' shown a whole other life.

[ which, given certain experiences laurence is aware of, really makes him deeply uncomfortable. ]

I've really been here. Me and... Mr. Lucas? No one else? Why us...?

Yeah, I did. But it was all... [ gestures vaguely. ] It's hard to tell which is right. It's like being two different people at once, I guess?

[ shakes his head. ]

They didn't say if they saw anyone else. I don't know why it'd be you guys, except that we cared about you?

It's still like that? [ shudders, slightly. ] I'm sorry.

[ this!!! sucks!!! because they cared about them? that ugly feeling floods his chest, again. good thing it's not emotionshare anymore.

he just leans forward, face in his free hand. ]

I'm... really glad you're back. Not knowing anything is driving me insane, I can't even-- imagine what it's like for you.

Yeah. Kind of feels like some fucked up dream, but... Zhongli gave me the ribbon so I'd know it was real.

[ which is why he's not taking it off. the ribbon stays. ]

...Sorry. I'm glad to be back, but I don't really... know how to describe it.

[ reaches out to. brush the ribbon with the back of his knuckles for a second. ]

It's good you were with him, at least. That you got to see him. [ ... ] Did he say anything else, aside from the...

I wish you could have, too - for real.

[ takes a deep breath. ]

He told me to tell you that there are still a lot of people you can trust and rely on, but he'll always listen if you aren't sure where else to go.

[ just. exhales, shakily. he's not going to cry, but it's a close thing. ]

...guess I know why he didn't reply to my letter, then. [ ugghh. ] Do you... need some space? Your head's probably a total mess, right now.

Probably. If you believe Iris, we were there for, like, three weeks.

No, no, it's fine. I wanted to talk to you about something else, anyway... before we get locked in.

Kinda messed up that he was there. Especially if it wasn't actually the him you knew.

[ ugh. uuuuggghhhhhhh awful vibes.

he stills, surprised. ]

Okay? What's up?

He helped me in the end, though. Could've been worse if I'd done what Director Hu wanted.

[ anyway ]

I meant to talk to you about it last week, but everything was a little... crazy? [ two cyoas, emotionshare, tavern... oof. ] I was still thinking about it, too, but I wanted to say - if something happens to me tonight, to try and find my book and my phone. I'll give you the password for my phone in case I can't unlock it in time, but I'll try to give you a way to find who it was with those.

...what did the Director want you to do?

[ does he want to know the answer to this? especially when the next part makes his blood run cold. he shakes, briefly, another push of tears to his eyes.

but it's practical. logical. just in case. nothing has to happen. ]

...yeah. Okay. I don't - I'll be with you, anyway, not that it ever helps anything. I'll give you mine, too. And- well, I wanted to mention something anyway. So I guess it's good timing.

[ but he's still hesitant. ]

She asked me to kill him. I never planned to, but... she tried to force it.

...Hey. [ letting his hand slip down to hold chrono's if he's allowed? he feels you shaking and kind of wishes he hadn't said anything, actually. ] I'm sorry. It - It was Saber's idea. Just in case. It doesn't mean something will happen.

[ deep and utter hatred crosses his expression for a moment. nothing is making him feel more trusting in any of this, actually.

the handhold stills him even further, for a second. there's a flash of something vulnerable that breaks the anger, before it's swallowed down, and he lets his fingers curl a bit. ]

Don't apologise. It's-- a good idea. Saber's practical like that. I'd want to know everything possible, right? You would, too.

Well, yeah, but... I'm not saying it to make you worry. You've been worried about me enough as it is. It's just the only thing I can do to try and help, you know?

If something did happen, the last thing I'd want is to leave you wondering about it like we were with Zhongli. That's all.

[ loosens his hold a little. ]

But I don't want make you think too hard about it, either. Honestly if anyone tried to come after me after this past week, I'd probably annoy them to death instead.

[ haha? listen he really has been really annoyed with everything so like. maybe. ]

You know I'm gonna overthink it anyway. Bad habit, y'know.

[ he does actually snort at the joke, but then sighs, closing his eyes. after a moment, shakes his head, resolute. ]

No, it's the right thing to do. I want to know. It's not going to ruin anything for me, don't worry. It's smart, and I'd be worse off without it. [ ... ] Thanks for trusting me.

I know, but still.

Of course I do? You're... one of the only people who haven't given me a reason not to.

[ besides zhongli. even yves, for all his kindness and care, hurt him pretty badly this weekend by killing firefly without even the slightest of warnings. meanwhile, the two of them have kind of stuck together through it all, as much as they could. it's plenty.

he is afraid to lose that, there's no guarantee that will happen, right? so it's fine. ]

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