outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

And go over the messages and voicemails we've all gotten after those Thursday things, because apparently Mary implied her boss's motives might be hidden in those somewhere.

[ what's a little extra homework at this point? ]

I didn't get any, no. Sounds like it was Uruha, Shadowheart, Fidelio, and Till for some reason. Might've all said something similar, though.

...d'you think it could have something to do with the old god? Sometimes old management doesn't take well to new recruits. Not the god specifically, but someone around them, maybe.

[ if mary was a plant, who's to say one of the others isn't as well? ugh. awful thought. there's so much to go over, and it's fucking thursday. there's really no breaks anymore. his head tips against the window, too, and he closes his eyes. ]

Okay. Thanks for telling me. Today was such a fuckin' mess, I don't think half of what happened even registered properly.

[ crawls back in now that my letters are done jesus christ. ]

They said something went wrong in the transition between the old god and the new one. Apparently there's a theory going around that someone's upset with the old god for giving anyone the chance for redemption so easily - and it did sound like this whole program was supposed to be a lot easier than it is now.

[ nods, breathes out a sigh, and busies his hands with shaking out the polaroid a little. ]

Yeah, I feel you on that. This afternoon was an absolute disaster.

[ three?? THREE??? ]

[ oh fuck my letters. okay task for later Anyway

chrono makes a face. management. there's always someone unhappy and ready to kick up a fuss. is this what ibuki dealt with all the fucking time? just with (usually) less murder? maybe he's too harsh on the guy-- no. but still. that's what this whole thing boils down to? uuugghhhhh.

he'll breathe out a matching sigh, head tipping back and pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment, and then shuffle forward to peer at the polaroid. ]

Three. All of them really awful. I wonder if Ariel's trapped in one of those things, too? Some side dimension.

[ it's really just the stars, but he pauses to let chrono look. ]

Could be. [ good thought... ] She's definitely alive, the question is just where.

...Not that we can do anything about it right now.

[ even given the situation, he shifts a little awkwardly at the approving thought, focusing on the photo to ignore how warm his neck feels. even if it's just the stars, that's his kind of thing! makes him smile. ]

Nice one. [ he'll take out his phone, and snap a photo of the area below. not as pointed, but a memory anyway. ] Yeah. Maybe the angels can find a way in, to search places like that. But given... things, it'll have to be after the weekend.

I've been trying to take more for Yves and the others. [ since they can't see it themselves.

he shrugs. ]

We can ask them. Honestly, I have no idea how much freedom they have. I thought they were basically trapped in here with us, but maybe not.

...The good thing is Mary's been contained. The possession probably won't happen again, after tonight.

[ but they are still locked in for now. ]

Hmm. You can give 'em a whole album when we see them again.

[ not long now, hopefully. with all this new information... he's starting to feel worse about how distrustful he was of the guardian angels, even if his suspicions had somewhat been validated given mary.

he presses a hand to his head and groans. ]

One more night of it, huh?

I've been sending some with letters so they don't feel like they're missing out.

[ which he admits kind of sheepishly. it feels a little silly? childish, maybe, but it's better than just awkwardly written letters. ]

Hopefully just the one.

[ ah, cute. good idea. ]

You put a lot of thought into it, huh? I've just been sending food.

[ he doesn't even know what everyone likes! just making guesses. ]

...my head hurts. Can't even imagine being at the tavern right now.

[ flushes a little. tsun activated. ]

They're the ones who started sending things first. I just thought the flowers would get old. And food isn't a bad thing to send, anyway - I bet they loved it.

I'm sure they're all being as insane as usual over there. Maybe more, with Gabriel's drinks in the mix.

[ heh. ]

The flowers were nice, too. You could pair them? Send a flower that matches the mood of the photo? Like one of those amaryllis you gave me with this one.

[ he's going to just go pop a couple of painkillers for this, actually. ]

Their drinks really go down easy, huh. [ old people love alcohol!!! ] It's a good way to take their minds off it, as long as everyone's looked after.

...I hadn't really thought of something like that. That might be a little harder to do, though.

[ but for a moment or two there are brief thought bubble flashes of different flowers and different sights in heaven, particularly the train cars and equestria. ]

I don't think all of them will be drinking, at least. Someone'll keep an eye on them. [ ... ] You sure you're okay?

I dunno, man. Seems like you're on top of it.

[ smiles at him amusedly before chugging like, half a bottle of tea. that's better. ]

Hope they're at least tryin' to have a good night. [ hums, and stretches his arms above his head. ] I'm okay. Just a lot to think about, on top of everything.

I don't know about that.

[ just watches him with a frown. ]

We don't have to think about it all right now. An hour's not going make much difference.

I do. You'll figure somethin' out.

[ another look, this time fondly exasperated, as he sort of. kicks the blanket pile into a final Shape and settles himself into the corner, watching the sky out the window. beautiful. ]

Yeah, I know, but it's not like there's much else to do. I'm still happy to be here, though.

Whatever, man.

[ he'll come and settle in, too, with a soft sigh. ]

Can't be quiet and lively. But I like it here. It's not that bad, for an archive. [ ... ] Still don't recognize any of these stars, though.

Mm, me neither. Think this might be a totally different sky.

[ he'll shift for comfort, not getting tucked in yet. his head's already feeling better, at least, though the thoughts of a usual Thursday Situation still lurk under the coziness he's seeking. ]

Still real pretty, though. You gonna get some reading in?

Probably shouldn't be so surprising, right? Different islands in heaven and all. They're all like entirely different worlds.

[ glances at his book and all its colorful little sticky tabs with a frown. he does not want to bring up the thursday situation yet again but that is in fact the main reason he brought it, just in case. same with the gun. ]

...Nah, I don't think so. I'm not feeling very studious right now. It's kind of boring after a while, anyway.

Probably. There were some astronomy books in the classrooms, but mostly about navigation and not the stars themselves.

[ also glances at the book. understanding seems to dawn on him anyway, and he just kind of nods, keeping neutrality. though it breaks in a positive direction, actually, with a little laugh at the reasoning. ]

You have been at it for a while, along with everythin' else. You deserve a break.

I knew they used to do that ages ago, but I don't think I'll ever understand how.

[ it is so impressive and beyond him he will never understand the ancients but good for them. good for them!! he will just live with his internal sense of global coordinates instead. ]

Thank you, I was definitely waiting for your permission. [ hah. ] It's just us here, anyway, so it won't hurt to just relax for tonight, right?

It's something I'll probably have to learn, once I get to university. It's definitely confusing, but really cool.

[ manual navigation... a sort of "just in case" thing, but important. probably. he'll have to ask his friend from yale about that one.

breathes a laugh. ]

Yeah, you're welcome. [ lets his eyes slip closed, briefly. ] Just us. Definitely not the worst third date I've been on, even though it's the only one.

[ a thoughtful hum. ]

Maybe you're the one who should've been studying tonight, then. Too bad you didn't nab one of those book.

[ he's kind half-sunken to the floor from where he's leaning on the wall, to the point that he kind of has to look up at chrono with an eyebrow raised. ]

Is it a date if we didn't plan it that way? Though I guess Yves would say so, huh. [ ... ] Wait, you can't say it like that if it's the only third date you've had, come on.

They're back in my room. Not in much of a studying mood tonight either.

[ and it was for like. boat navigation. for a sky like this. whatever

amused; ]

He'd definitely say so. Can't I? [ he'll lean over him a little to meet his eyes. fond ] Pretty sure I can define it however, since that's the case.

[ well laurence doesn't know they're about boat navigation it could be anything ok. it counts ]

Yves says a lot of things. [ huffs. ] Well, find a better way to do it, then.

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