turbo heaven 🌼 kaworu

[outdistanced]

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[peripheries]

I know they were forced to do it. Forced to this to their friends. Or at least people they were friendly with. And then they die for something they didn't choose to do.

We must save them. They shouldn't suffer for something they didn't choose.

[Just gonna lean on Laurence a little but his voice is firm.]

[outdistanced]

I know we have to, but... I really don't want more people to die. I wish we could just stop it already.

[peripheries]

Me too.

I hate feeling-

[He laces his fingers together again, just like the day before, when he struggled to find words for feelings that were so new and yet so powerful.]

Helpless.

[outdistanced]

Guess you aren't really used to that feeling, huh?

[ laurence is, but he wouldn't wish it on anyone. ]

At least you aren't alone in wanting to know what happened. We're all going to try, tomorrow. We'll just have to work harder this time.

[peripheries]

Not at all. I had been raised to be content with my fate being controlled. I never felt-

[He hates to even use the word again, instead he just shrugs his shoulders to indicate everything happening around them.]

Like this.

[He scrubs at an eye.]

I miss him so much. It hurts.

[outdistanced]

Yeah... I know the feeling. It's different when you're given some kind of choice.

[ not quite the same, from seele to the tower, but close enough in this sense, maybe. ]

Me, too. And I don't think it'll be any easier, tomorrow, either. [ never is. ] We should try to take it easy tonight, though. Make sure we're as rested as possible for tomorrow.

[peripheries]

You can understand a person's choice, even if you don't agree with or support it.

[He agrees, then he looks at Laurence, eyes wide and curious.]

You seem determined about what happens tomorrow.

[outdistanced]

I guess so.

[ it's kind of how he'd felt with iris, right up until the point he'd left the tower. ]

...Yves always tried to reassure me that we'd do our best, no matter what. And he got that message about how we can't hesitate if someone's acting strange, too. [ expression grim. ] If they are possessed, it sounds like we don't really have time to let them go.

[peripheries]

He was always reassuring. He was one of the first to be kind to me after we all arrived. He checked in on me often.

[This used to be easier. It's easier when the person isn't in front of him. The resolve could vanish when he sees a familiar face... But he tries to remember the truth-]

By acting quickly, we spare them from a worse fate.

[outdistanced]

That's just the kind of person he is. Always looking out for everyone else.

[ the thought makes laurence's breath catch, even if he knows it's true. it's still terrifying, to think of what could happen. ]

...There are some of us who won't hesitate, if it comes down to that.

[peripheries]

Yes. Even if I'll see him again, while he's gone, I think of how he was in those moments.

[He grips Laurence's shoulder a little.]

There are. So don't feel like you must do anything you don't want to do. Things like that change your heart.

[outdistanced]

Me, too. Sometimes I wish I was as good with people as he is. He always had a way to help.

[ takes a deep breath and nods. ]

I'll just... stay out of the way, if it comes to that tomorrow.

[peripheries]

...You were easy for me to talk to. And I've felt better talking to you.

[The worst person to ever give that compliment. But he means it.]

Just protect yourself. That's all.

[outdistanced]

...I'm glad someone does.

[ genuinely! even if he is still shit at this. ]

That goes for you, too, you know.

[peripheries]

[Smiles at him. It's innocent and that makes it unnerving at the same time.]

I don't fear those kind of things. Ah-

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper and hands it to Laurence.]

Claude sent me this. And I feel like I remember saying you like flowers. So I thought you might like it too.

[outdistanced]

You don't - fear them? Because of how you were raised?

[ hhhh he still doesn't like that

...but the poster is a distraction. it surprises him just to hear that, and when he unfolds it... huh. ]

The language of flowers. People keep mentioning that, but I never really looked into it. [ looks it over... and taps gently on the zinnia. ] Maybe we should send some of those.

[peripheries]

Because of what I experienced. I know what it's like to have someone spare you from terrible and prolonged suffering.

[WELL YOU SHOULDN'T. But he'll like it if Laurence likes the picture. He fishes another thing out of his pocket - a peony preserved by being pressed.]

He gave me this too. That picture helped me understand what it meant. It almost worked better than words.

[outdistanced]

I... really don't like that you know about something like that, man.

[ but, he supposes, they all must have died somehow. ]

Oh. I've been doing that, too - pressing some flowers. Waner showed me. Does this kind of thing not screw with your allergies? [ glances back at the paper... hm. ] I think he should still say it, too.

[peripheries]

Oh. Next time I won't say anything.

[Well then he turns a little red!!]

It doesn't and they're not that bad.

[THEY'RE TERRIBLE. He traces fingers over the flower.]

It's enough for now. I'll see him again. Right?

[outdistanced]

Not what I meant. I just mean your options shouldn't be just that or whatever hell they threw us into.

[ raises eyebrow ]

They clearly were. [ but anyway. ] We will see them again. And if he doesn't say it properly, I'll punch him in the face.

[peripheries]

[Makes a noise. It's something like a giggle.]

You'd punch... Claude in the face?

[outdistanced]

[ raises an eyebrow ]

If he deserves it?

[peripheries]

[Trying not to giggle again so he'll just spend a few seconds coughing. But he seems a little happier at least.]

Does he deserve it if he doesn't write?

[outdistanced]

[ squinting. what is happening. ]

Not writing is a little different, but I guess it depends.

[peripheries]

[YOU'RE THREATENING TO PUNCH PEOPLE! It's funny!]

Depends on?