[ch. 7] post-trial, w/ varian

[asswipe]

[JUST. ZOOMING OVER TO HIM ONCE ALL IS SAID AND DONE. He may or may not be getting hugged.]

Hey— We did it!

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[alchemenace]

[ oomph that sure is a hug ]

Y-yeah, we did.

[ it feels ... surreal ]

[asswipe]

[It's a stan hug.

But also— she hears that stutter.]

What's wrong? Still shocked we didn't fuck it up?

[alchemenace]

A little?

[ he laughs, awkward, nervous. ]

It's... weird to think we're all going back home tomorrow.

[asswipe]

... I know. It's, it feels like it's been ages since this starting. It's jarring to know we won't be here after tomorrow.

[...]

I'm really going to miss you, you know?

[alchemenace]

I'm-- I'm going to miss you too, V. A lot.

[ like. a lot a lot. ]

[asswipe]

[mood. being 100% excited is Hard when you're going to miss everyone.]

I wonder... I wonder if there's a way all of us could stay in touch. Like as penpals, or whatever. But how much ink would that take?

[alchemenace]

You'd want that?

[ varian doesn't even know. if he'd get mail in prison. but regardless: ]

We could always-- we could always ask? I'm sure there's other people who'd be interested in it.

[asswipe]

Of course I'd want to.

[wtf, varian. write yourself out of prison!!]

It's worth a try. If there's a way we could make it happen, I'd like to try. Besides... I think I'd go insane wondering if you dumbasses were alright if we couldn't stay in touch.

[Like. Stephanie's reckless ass??? Stephanie will become a torso if they don't shame her?????????]

[alchemenace]

[ someone tell him to do it because he's a dumb bitch ]

Ha. How much trouble could we get into? [ varian says knowing full well his circumstances ] But, I-- it'd be nice. To be able to keep in touch. I've never had a penpal before.

[asswipe]

Is that a serious question?

[VARIAN...]

Me neither. But I'd like to be able to write to you guys, or... Anything to stay in touch, really. I'll take whatever we can get.

[alchemenace]

No, I was kind of imprisoned back in Corona.

[ just. deadpan. anyway :) ]

There's got to be a way. I mean, some people are going to completely different worlds than their own, aren't they?

[ or at least dazai said it loudly and varian hated listening to any word of it ]

[asswipe]

[...]

Oh, what the fuck.

[VARIAN??? YOU'RE FOURTEEN????????]

Wait, wait. Hold on. Please tell me you're using your ink to get yourself out of prison? Or to grab your dad and run away to another world?

[alchemenace]

Did I not tell you?

[ like genuinely he cannot keep track of what he told people in his breakdown and just assumed everyone knew because he told one person. ]

I-- I don't think the Princess would let me rewrite anything about Corona-- [ mostly because honestly she's not dumb she knows he might do something, uh, drastic, but-- ] Is that, is that even possible?

[asswipe]

You may have failed to mention that part.

[DISTRESS.]

I could care less about what the princess wants, Jesus Christ. [SORRY, RAPUNZEL. She stans.] I— I don't know. Ask tomorrow, if Tiger and Dragon don't murder each other. It's your ink. You should use it to be happy.

[alchemenace]

Um. Sorry. It was kind of a big part of why I needed to make sure my dad would be okay without me. Since I-- since if I made it back but Rapunzel didn't, I'd be-- [ hanged, probably. ] you get it. I thought you knew. I said... a lot of stuff last week.

[ anyway. she's just. leaving him kind of speechless there. ]

I, I don't. I don't know, I-- I just wanted to save my dad. I haven't really thought about anything after that.

[ beyond, like. revenge. but that was less making himself happy and more about justice and so he's kind of. less into that now. but only less ]

[asswipe]

You don't have to apologize. I... I get it.

[Why is Corona fucked up. She's so distressed. Oh my god.]

... No offense, but you're way past that first step. Now it's time to plan for the future. [Varian, please.] You and your dad deserve to live somewhere nice after everything you've been through. Together. Not in prison, okay? Prison's not exactly a five star hotel.

[alchemenace]

Well, technically speaking, he's not in prison. [ not the time, varian. ] I don't-- It's not like I want to go back, but what if I can't-- bring him?

[ he didn't go through all that trouble to like. not. have his dad back. ]

[asswipe]

[VARIAN...]

We won't know until you ask. [Tragically...] If... If it's not possible, then rewrite your story and move to another kingdom. Just because you live in Corona doesn't mean you have to stay in Corona.

[alchemenace]

I. I guess? I-- [ this is suddenly a whole lot of potential choices opening up to him and it's. a lot. he heaves out a sigh. ] I'll think about it. What are you going to do?

[asswipe]

... Don't think about it too hard. You should be happy, too.

[This is all hinging on Tiger and Dragon not shanking each other and ruining this for them, anyway. The suspense is fun.]

I think— I think I'm going back home? [saying that feels jarring.] It's going to be weird knowing I'm the only one who's changed, but... I want to give being normal another try. And someone needs to keep my high school from self-destructing, anyway.

[alchemenace]

[ that veronica is so certain of it is a lot to unpack so he. doesn't, yet. ]

Well... If there's someone who's good at keeping things from self-destructing, it's you. I think you're gonna be great.