QUASIPLATONICROMANTIC NOT-MESS

[chanteuser]

i'm still wheezing y'all

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week 6, sunday post execution

[chanteuser]

[ well. they don't have to go far after everything that just happened -- alex just turns and walks further up the beach, away from everything. when she's walked a good distance from the scene of dorothy's execution, she just flops down into the sand and tugs her knees up to her chest. ]

[robopriest]

[He'll follow, of course he will, not even looking back. When she flops down, Hansa blinks, before sitting next to her.]

[He leans against her, heaving a sigh.]

[chanteuser]

[ she just immediately leans into him and tucks her head against his shoulder. ]

...

You holding up?

[robopriest]

...Yeah.

[He rests his head against hers, his voice quiet.]

Are you?

[chanteuser]

... As much as can be expected.

[ she just

sighs. ]

I thought she was going to be okay there. I'm not... even mad she was involved, I'm just mad any of this had to happen at all.

[robopriest]

Oh, wish I could say that about the whole damn experience.

[Wow, that sounds more like the Hansa everyone knows and loves.]

I thought she would be saved, but...Ange went too far. Really didn't expect that of her.

[chanteuser]

[ ... she moves so she can look at him properly again. ]

...

[ oh. ]

Usually the execution methods are set in stone, aren't they? ... But she was... very cold about it, yes.

[ seems like there was always a lot more to ange than she'd realised. ]

[robopriest]

[He looks back at her, raising an eyebrow at that look.]

She was. It was unbecoming of her sweet nature, but...then again, I guess at this point, we shouldn't be surprised, about the fact that some of us have two sides to them.

[chanteuser]

[ she just reaches up a hand to brush through his hair. ]

...


Did you get something through on your PHS after the removal, Hansa?

[robopriest]

[He smiles at that, nodding.]

Yeah. You could say that it feels like waking up from a week-long dream. I wasn't acting like myself, huh.

[arkitect]

[he's... here, that's about all that can be said for him at the moment! emet-selch is sitting in the sand as well, facing the ocean, slouched over there just as he used to always be.

his mask's held in his hands, as he just silently looks out to sea; he's probably listening, but he has little to say right now.]

[robopriest]

Hey.

[Hansa just rests a hand gently on his shoulder.]

We'll see him soon. Chiron, I mean. We'll make that happen.

[arkitect]

... I know. We are too far now to fail; I gave him leave to volunteer with that in mind.

[a slight shake of his head.]

I-- knew, later. That he was chosen. I have already had the time to come to terms with that.

[robopriest]

...

Yeah, we expected it, didn't we.

[He shakes his head as well, pensive.]

I mean, you have a point. We were prepared. Doesn't make it hurt less, though.

[arkitect]

It does not make him any less absent, no.

[he breathes out a slow sigh.]

But with the requirements fulfilled, then perhaps he will not be missing for long.

[robopriest]

Exactly. Let's focus on that.

[And a long pause.]

Hey. Did you get something back, Emet-Selch?

[arkitect]

...I did. I remembered the years that I lost, along with- what truly became of my world, and myself.

[even having known it before-- to have it all return in a rush is still heavy, and he is still settling back into the knowledge once more.

but he pauses for several long moments, before:]

I also recalled something separate that I had forgotten.

[robopriest]

...I see.

[Yeah, it was nice to have him so...hopeful, almost, but...that was a false hope. Even he, during this week with his mind in a million different places, was scared of suddenly referring to all of that in front of him.]

[The last part makes him furrow his eyebrows, however.]

What is it?

[chanteuser]

[ oh dear.

well. she can assume if hansa got a memory back, emet-selch probably did as well, but she... can't be quite as sure what he regained as she is with what hansa regained. ]

...

[ i'm assuming he's close enough that she can lean and just lightly knock her knee against his side. ]

Emet-Selch?

[arkitect]

[he doesn't flinch from the touch, at least, or reject it-- though he also doesn't turn to fully face her.]

Alex. ... you need not concern yourself overmuch with me.

[chanteuser]

If you're feeling low enough to stare silently out at the ocean like this, I'm going to be a bit concerned.

[ that's not something she can just turn on and off. ]

[arkitect]

I will be well enough. Just- allow me a bit of time to readjust.

[hansa is not the only one who's back to normal this week.]

[chanteuser]

... [ ah. ]

...

Alright. Just... don't isolate yourself. Okay?

[arkitect]

I am here, am I not?

[chanteuser]

You are.

[ it hasn’t gone unnoticed. ]

But in general. Not just right this second. We can always put aside some time to just do nothing, but not alone.