laurence

[rippled]

tsun baby

Comments

[outdistanced]

[ headtilt. ]

Really? [ doubt. ] All the others look like they're having a hard time. Like they're in some kind of brain fog after whatever you guys just went through.

[rippled]

Are they? I'm sorry they're experiencing that. I feel okay.

[ (saber voice) i'm built different ]

[outdistanced]

[ hm. ]

Alright. So you can explain what happened, then?

[rippled]

We were looking for something.

[ they stop talking so that is apparently the end of the explanation. ]

[outdistanced]

[ he's gonna come out of this really annoyed at an injured person he can feel it ]

And what was that?

[rippled]

... I don't know. I only knew it was something important at the time.

[outdistanced]

Important enough for all of you to get injured for it?

[rippled]

... yes. It was what was driving me to move forward, at the time.

It's not like we wanted to get injured.

[outdistanced]

Obviously. No one just sets out with that in mind. I'm just trying to understand what happened, since this is probably going to keep happening.

[rippled]

... we just showed up somewhere. I had no memory of anything about myself or this place, so I assume it was the same for the others. There were times where we were together, and times where we weren't, and we were looking for something...

[ they trail off. ]

That's all. It was dangerous and we got hurt.

[outdistanced]

[ well. it's not a very satisfying explanation and he doesn't like it one bit. but he knows better than to keep pushing when it's clearly a lost cause. ]

And your injuries? You got help with them? Tell me you at least went to the hospital.

[rippled]

Yves looked at my injuries.

[ because yves literally just followed them out of the toplevel. ]

[outdistanced]

At least someone did.

...Why didn't you want anyone to help? It's not like they were going to hurt you.

[rippled]

... I didn't know who any of you were. You could have been enemies.

[outdistanced]

But enemies wouldn't try to help you...?

[ sorry he's so sheltered he doesn't understand the problem ]

[rippled]

Anyone can pretend to be a friend. Feigning kindness is easy for some people.

[outdistanced]

So you'd rather not trust anyone than risk it?

[ sounds lonely. ]

[rippled]

I guess that is what I decided, yes.

[ ... ]

Sorry, I know this isn't a happy conversation.

[outdistanced]

No, it's... It's not your fault. Whatever happened... I'm sorry that it happened at all.

I just wish we could do anything about it.

[rippled]

... I think if people just make sure everyone is looked after. The people here are kind and helpful, surprisingly so.

[outdistanced]

It's harder when they're coming back trying to attack people or don't trust us, though. [ ... ] But they are kind. Everyone here wants to help.

[rippled]

Mm...

[ they trail off instead of giving a proper response to that. stares into the distance. ]

[outdistanced]

...You okay?

[rippled]

[ they blink, then look at him. ]

Who are you?

[outdistanced]

[ ah. this again. it still stings, even knowing it's not deliberate. ]

Laurence. We're friends. You showed me a crab before, when we first saw the beach.