outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

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. ]

[ ah.

it's not like he would give him any reason to, of course. he's just himself - brash, angry, overthinking. but despite everything, all the things he hasn't been able to do... well. it's nice to hear it.

he'll let the handhold drop, looking downward. ]

Guess I've got two things to tell you, now. [ with a deep breath; ] The first thing I hope is nothing. I don't want it to be something, and I'm fuckin' hoping it isn't and it's just stress gettin' to him, but... we need to keep an eye on Jiaoqiu. He was so blunt about checks last weekend but then didn't offer himself for strip checks, and when we spoke after he tried to tell me he thought-- thought Firefly was behind Zhongli's death, despite none of the evidence pointing to her. Our talks have been... just a little strange.

[ his eyes widen. he takes half a step back in shock. ]

I- What? But we don't even have any killers unaccounted for now. They usually act normal except on Thursday nights, right? So why... [ aaaaa??? ] And right when they said we shouldn't hesitate if someone's acting weird, too?

God, I hate it here. Hopefully it really is nothing, but... We can try to keep an eye out?

[ he swallows and resists the urge to reach out again. it's awful, to have to talk about this, the potential for further betrayal. ]

It really could be nothing -- he was determined to get things moving last week, and all of us make mistakes. [ ... ] Though, specifically, he talked about not being able to afford that. I don't know, but from what... what Akihiko said, it seems like the temptation of an apple doesn't just last through Thursday night. It's a slower thing, I think.

[ he squeezes his eyes closed. ]

Just-- let's keep an eye out, okay? We don't need to jump to conclusions, but I had to tell you just in case. Someone else needed to know, and you're the person I trust most. So... I'm sorry.

I mean... we all want answers, so maybe it is just that.

[ but now he's worried. this is awful, having to think about people you care about like this. the bit about the apples... is also concerning. a slow build makes sense with the orchard just kind of waiting there for them, doesn't it. ]

Okay. We'll keep an eye out and figure out where to go from there.

[ hopefully it's just the paranoia getting to them. but it's better safe than sorry, right? he simply won't think about what they're supposed to do if it's right to suspect jiaoqiu. that's a later problem. ]

Yeah. That's all we need to do. It's better if there's two of us, just... just in case.

[ on that note... it doesn't feel quite right. but he has to say something, before

before the chance slips by, again. ]

The other thing... I hope means more than nothing, but I need you to know first that it doesn't need to make anything different between us. It's just me getting my thoughts out, because bein' honest with each other is what we're doing. Can you just... promise me that, first?

[ it's a horrible feeling. probably not that different to what chrono felt on hearing about his own plans - it's smart, but not exactly comforting.

he breathes a sigh, and tries to shake that feeling off as well as he can to focus on the rest that chrono has to say. it's still a little disconcerting, the way he starts this off. laurence can't help but worry a little. ]

...Okay. I promise.

[ it takes a long moment for him to gather everything. it's not courage or confidence, at this point. just a muddle of doubt and concern that needs to be untied. ]

The past couple of weeks, you've been through so much. We've stuck together. The value in this, your trust despite... despite everything that's been hurting - the fact you listened, and noticed, and helped me when I've been losin' it. The friendship we've made, it's beyond what I expected from anyone here. I know we got along since the start, despite arguing... but...

[ he rubs his face, briefly. ]

It's become more than that, for me. There was a crossover, I guess - I don't know when, but I know how, if- if that makes sense. Wanting to reach out, more often. [ ... ] So. That's it. Just had to let you know.

[ this is so terribly upfront that laurence is already squirming and flushing a little even at the first part because he is so, so bad with this stuff, but.

huh? ]

When... When you say more...

[ he can't be hearing this right, can he? ]

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