outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

At least go sit in my room or the lobby or something.

[ idiot. he sighs. ]

Because what would be the point otherwise?

I didn't want to be too far off.

[ from taair. but. he'll get up, tip his chin forward. his room? ]

What's been the point in the first place?

I don't think he's going to do anything insane tonight. We're all exhausted.

[ sure, his room. the door is already ajar, chao and penny nowhere to be seen. god only knows where they wander off to on these nights. ]

Depends on who you ask, I guess.

I know. Just in case he needed anything.

[ but... honestly. it seems likely to be a nightmare kind of night, so he's not sure what to do at all.

no petal no penny... they're off on an adventure. chrono just retakes a sitting position with his back against laurence's bed. ]

To do that to those three...

Really wish we had more of those band-aids.

[ three cyoas and no heals? throws phone

but if chrono is sitting on the floor, so will he, but not before dragging a blanket down to toss at him. ]

Someone was always going to be hurt, no matter who it ended up being. Mary kept saying it was just a game for them.

Or Shadowheart actually did have her magic back.

[ oh. blankie. he murmurs a thanks, but kind of. holds it for a moment as if the concept of it is somehow beyond him.

the comment about mary's claims makes him tremble, instantly enraged by the idea. ]

No fuckin' kidding. Chess pieces from the start. Ugh.

Or that.

[ when will we get those back, anyway? ]

She actually said checkers. Something about it not being as strategic as chess.

[ which makes it even worse somehow, doesn't it? all of it being just a simple game, not even requiring much thought. ]

[ that makes him bark out an utterly mirthless laugh, and put his head in his hands. ]

What the fuck, actual? Managerial disputes and fucking checkers?

[ sighs and leans to the side, just enough for their shoulders to touch. ]

I don't know, man. She's not the most straightforward person. Talking to her was like pulling teeth.

[ it's almost instantly calming, the tiny bit of contact. he breathes heavily for a few moments, trying to tamp out the anger, but doesn't lift his head just yet. ]

I didn't even try to go see her. Would've just been a waste of time anyway, apparently.

I don't know if it's a total waste... The other souls did ask us to talk to her and share what she said, in case it might help find Ariel. At least she confirmed that Ariel's alive, so that's something. Maybe someone else will have gotten a better idea of where she is.

...is she still being held? What are they even planning on doing with her?

[ at least ariel's alive. he'd mentioned her to ramiel this morning, and promised to help find her. maybe he should've talked to mary. ]

Yeah, she was still there when I went to talk to Siffrin. I have no clue what they'll do with her, though. It might be up to God, when they come back.

...how- how's Mx. Siffrin?

[ he'd been fussing over taair too much to have even considered going up to see them. that, and after today's end-- he didn't know them well enough to be of any comfort. ]

[ there's a slight hesitation before he answers, a faint image of a big bundle of white huddled at the back of a cell escaping thought containment briefly. ]

...Not good. They're taking it pretty hard. [ not surprising, after... no, he shakes that thought off. ] But it sounds like they've accepted it. They said it was better it was them instead of anyone else.

[ which was more than a little upsetting to hear, but. nothing to be done for it, now. ]

[ ...yeah, that image really just... oof. ]

That's a lot of responsibility for them to take on, after-- that. Supposed to be back on Monday, but is that gonna be enough time if tomorrow goes... like usual?

Zuriel said that whatever they were doing on that side significantly sped up the healing process for their souls, so it should be okay. I just hope they'll accept that it wasn't just them, after. I know it's the possession, but they really sounded convinced they just chose to do it right now.

The letters from Mr. Lucas that I got seemed like whatever they do over there really helps with that. He seemed a lot more relaxed and understanding, so... maybe it gets explained, better.

[ god. possession sucks so fucking bad he HATES it ]

Part of the cruelty is makin' them believe it was their own choice, I guess.

None of them have really told me much about it... Lucas just sounded more worried about all of us, like he always was. So he's himself again, I guess?

[ he toys absently with the ends of the yellow ribbon on his wrist. ]

No, it definitely is. [ expression twisting into a scowl. ] Hypnosis, possession, whatever it is - it's fucked up that anyone can do that to another person.

...accepting that they didn't play a part is always goin' to be hard.

[ there's an image that flashes in his thoughts - supernatural gold eyes, lightless. familiar. he shakes it away. ]

Monday's not far off. Doesn't feel real, yet.

...I know. [ softly. ] It's still their bodies doing all that, even if their minds aren't all there.

[ just like the executions, when they all have their hands forced, no matter what side they're on. he wills his hands not to shake just thinking about it. ]

It doesn't. But it will be before we know it. [ ... ] I've really missed them.

[ chrono reaches for his hand, then. wordless, some attempt to soothe. ]

Me too. There's a lot still to do, but it'll be easier with everyone. [ ... ] It'll be loud again, but I'm looking forward to it this time.

[ he can have paw. the trembling is faint, but there. ]

They might know things we don't, too. [ ...hah. he smiles. ] So am I. And if it's ever too much, we can take a minute, right? I don't think any of them will mind.

[ ahh... he'll knit their fingers together, lightly, and in a moment of tenderness that's almost more for himself, lift the handhold to press his lips to the back of laurence's hand. ]

Bet they will. Ready to share and find a way to end this for us, and... everyone who might have to go through redemption again. [ his eyes slip closed. tired. ] Mhmm. Many hands, light work, and all that.

[ he's a little too tired to be affected too much by the kiss, sweet as it is - laurence just forces himself to take a deep breath, relax, and give his hand a light squeeze. it's okay. or it will be. ]

Even if anyone has to do it again, it'll be different. No more deaths.

[ that's something. ]

...You should really get some rest, man.

turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

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