YVES & LAURENCE VS. THE WORLD

[noirges]

Comments

[outdistanced]

Oh, yeah, they told me about that. I don't know if I really get it, but it's a big relief.

[ tilts head. ]

I'm not the only one who needs to get home, though. Don't you have things to do, too? With your guild?

[noirges]

[ there's a small beat ]

Maybe.

I'm looking at my options, and seeing what my other friends are thinking of. I don't think I'm... as eager to get home as other people are, and that's okay.

[outdistanced]

"Maybe?"

Is it because we're already dead...?

[noirges]

[ shakes head ]

It is because I chose my death, to accomplish something important. [ monches grape ] So I don't think it's as right to be as sad as other people who have more unfinished business than I do.

[ and as a little pre-emptive gesture, he'll lightly bump shoulders with laurence ]

I'm not sad about it, at least. So it's okay.

[outdistanced]

[ he says that so easily. laurence almost looks like he wants to ask, but doesn't. ]

I think even if it's for something important, you can still not want to die.

[ putting that out there. yves seems pretty confident in this, but maybe it's nice to hear, too. ]

[noirges]

[ nods in agreement ]

Of course. I think that there are plenty of people who died for something important, and wish they didn't. They might still want to go back.

... but I think that I'm in a situation that's different. I'm okay with how things ended, mostly.

[outdistanced]

[ it takes a minute, but laurence nods slowly. ]

Guess that's all that matters, then. [ that he's content. ] This redemption thing is pretty vague, anyway. It's probably easier if you don't have to worry too much about what it means.

[noirges]

[ puts a hand on laurence's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze ]

It means I get to focus on helping you.

[ a little laugh ]

I'll still try, just in case I think about going to Heaven... but you don't have to worry about me. Even if it eases my heart to hear that you do.

[outdistanced]

...Thanks. But it still feels a little wrong if I can't do something for you, too.

[ even though he doesn't know where to start. yves seems to have everything sorted out already. ]

[noirges]

[ tilts head ]

What do you mean? You're my friend. That's plenty as is.

I'm happy as long as we can hang out like this.

[outdistanced]

If you say so.

They said it's only for eight weeks, anyway - just two months. That should be plenty of time to figure it all out.

[ the hubris of a teenager who thinks they have all the time in the world ]

[noirges]

I'd think so.

[ it's fine he comes from an island where most people died at 23! he looks thoughtful ]

Did you talk to the angels...? Do you know what you'd have to reflect on for your redemption?

[outdistanced]

[ stop dying so young! ]

A little. I think I know what it's about, but Zuriel said they can only know what we tell them, so it could be wrong.

[noirges]

Have you been open with them? The angels.

[ grape monch... ]

Though I know it can be hard to just spill your life story to anybody you meet.

[outdistanced]

I don't really have anything to hide. They said no one back home has to know what's happened, so I don't mind talking about it. And they can't help us if they don't know anything, either.

[noirges]

Mm, that's good. [ nods along! ] I think they're easy to talk to, at least.

Then...? What do you think it is?

[ a little tilt of his head. like he's inviting laurence to talk ]

[outdistanced]

Zuriel's kind of annoying.

[ in the tsun way ]

...I let Iris leave the Tower. I thought it'd be better that way, but he's in danger.

[noirges]

Are they...

[ yves hasn't experienced this but he looks thoughtful ]

... your friend. How long have you known Iris?

[outdistanced]

Yes.

He's not my friend. [ first of all. ] We both grew up in the Tower, so I've known him pretty much all my life.

[noirges]

[ a soft hum, attempting to be understanding ]

It's nice of you to care so much for someone you don't even call a friend. Do you feel responsible for him...?

[outdistanced]

Well, like I said, it's kind of my fault he left in the first place. I could've stopped him, and I didn't.

[noirges]

Does that mean it's your fault?

If it sounds like he wanted to leave... isn't it okay to let him choose his own path? Wouldn't he have just found another way, if he didn't take the chance this time?

[outdistanced]

You don't get it. He's in danger because the guy he left with is a murderer. Iris might have thought he was helping and getting what he wanted, but he's just being used. And that's not even mentioning the spawncampers out there.

Besides that, even after he left, all it did was cause more trouble in the Tower. Madam's going crazy trying to find him.

[noirges]

[ yves nods along, listening well. though at the end, he puts a hand on laurence's shoulder and gently asks again: ]

... it sounds really difficult. But... does all of that mean it's your fault?

I think it's okay to feel guilty for what happened. To have regrets. But in a time that sounds really chaotic... I'm not sure it's fair to place the blame all on your shoulders, Laurence.

You're just one person.

[outdistanced]

[ this sounds so incredibly, so uncomfortably familiar that yves will feel him tense under the touch. why do people saying things like this? ]

I think it is. Because I could have stopped him, but I let him go and erased the evidence and I haven't told his mom anything because I was scared of what she'd do if she found out. And now we don't even know if he's okay.