noirges | YVES & LAURENCE VS. THE WORLD

[ penny reaches over to pat him on the shoulder. there, there. ]

Yeah. Knowing what happened... doesn't change how awful it is.

[ he thought it should at least be nice to have that closure, but no. ]

I'm sorry. That he picked Mr. Adolphe. He really didn't deserve it.

[ he

takes a deep breath at that ]

... he didn't. He never does. Trouble always finds him when he's really such a peaceful person.

[ a little snort ] I know it's not my fault but... really can't believe I just... slept through it all.

...That's how it is for a lot of people, isn't it.

[ hmmm ]

Everyone who was at the library probably feels the same way. How any of us could sleep through that and come out unscathed? And when your friend was in trouble, too... [ shakes head. ] If they're right about magic, it must be really strong.

... right.

[ magic. he hums softly and tries to learn how to accept that, as something he never knew before this ]

... I'll just have to accept being too late, again.

Again...?

Wait, was he - who you meant before? You said... someone had died a while before you.

[ well ]

... most of my friends have already died before me, Laurence.

It's why I offered.

[ to die, when he has less to go back to ]

...I'm sorry, Yves.

[ laurence may be sheltered and privileged to have never faced real loss before, but he believes no one should have to live through something like that. ]

[ he laughs a little bit, but it's more of a sad sound ]

Yeah. Me too.

[ but he'll just pat laurence's arm ]

I won't try what I did today again. I know when to quit. But... I don't want anyone to think it's because I don't want to be here with you. I do.

... I just want to acknowledge my situation is different.

I know. I didn't forget what you said before.

[ understanding how that feels is a different matter. he can only try, but it's so far from his own experience that it's difficult to pull together. ]

I just don't think anyone wants to vote for someone who wasn't responsible. Especially if - if they're right about it being some kind of illness or mind control or something. Because what if it doesn't go away, or anything? What if it was for nothing?

At least... that's what I thought.

And you're right. I think that's really reasonable.

[ yves also voted for hawke! he's not a madman with a death wish! but he'll just lean against laurence lightly ]

... but I think I hate separating people who love each other. If it's anything like what I felt on Friday... it makes my heart ache so badly that I want to take their pain away, even if it makes me selfish. I just want to buy them a little bit more time together.

I think having to watch someone you care about do things they wouldn't normally is even worse. It's not the same person they... [ hesitates. ] ...loved. Not anymore.

[ but maybe that's just him! maybe he's projecting! ]

A trial like that doesn't give us any good choices.

Maybe they could be saved?

[ who knows! wouldn't that be nice! and then it wouldn't be for nothing :) but that's admittedly just what yves was thinking, however incorrect ]

But... you're right. There were no good options that you could feel okay about, at the end. [ and he does pat laurence's arm ] Have you talked to Samuel? You were really worried about her, right?

I hope there is a way to do that, but I don't know if hoping for it is enough to risk someone else's life...

[ he's just not as optimistic as yves. ]

...A little bit. She still looks like she thinks she's in danger.

It's alright to not think so.

[ yves is just the type of insanely reckless person that he'll always risk his life for others. uh oh ]

Are you good friends?

[ is this going in his ship chart? ]

I'm obviously not the only one who did. It still feels bad.

[ slaps the ship chart down. ]

I don't know if I'd say that. We get along, but I still don't think I know her all that well... and what I do know, I'm not sure I understand.

... but you clearly care about her. Doesn't everything else come secondary to that?

I guess so...? And I would call her a friend, but I think we're also just really different.

[ nods... ]

Well, I still think that's fine. Both my closest friends at home were really different from me.

It's fine, sure.

[ he and iris were never that alike, either. not in the ways that mattered, in the end. ]

It just makes it a little harder, I think.

[ tilts head ]

In which ways...? To... understand?

Yeah. Like... she said something about wanting to see whole other planets? And for me, it’s enough to stay home in the Tower, where it’s safe. I can hardly even imagine traveling to a different city, let alone a new planet.

Do you want to? Travel?

[ shrug. ]

I’ve never wanted to. It was never really an option, anyway, but the Tower was always plenty for me.

[ a soft wondering noise ]

Did you like it better than being here? [ a beat ] Pretend that here isn't dangerous.

[ there's a long, thoughtful pause. ]

I... don't know. This place is really confusing, and kind of overwhelming. At least in the Tower, I know what to expect.

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