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[droptheious]

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Varian

I'm busy creating life-changing inventions, you're welcome. Leave a message.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

FROM: SUBJECT: JUN & HARU Hey Var, do you got a moment? JUN Just so you know, I'm fine, but I might be harder to contact. EVE Hey Varian, are you on this train? JUN Hey honey, where are you? GIL The Cube 4 GIL The Cube 3 JUN Hey Var, is this a good time to run a rather personal ethical dilemma by you? JUN Oh hey, lumber! GIL The Cube 2 GIL The Cube 1 RATIO Some while back... JUN I'm fine, I went to my room. KNI I am sorry. RATIO I will be going back to teaching on Monday. NOCTIS you okay there? JUN Date BLADE Varian. How are you doing? NOCTIS hey, you’re an engineer. JUN birthday NOCTIS hey, it's noctis. from the park? BLADE A little bird told me... ZHONGLI Hello. This is Zhongli BLADE This is Blade. Jusis told me to find you... ROSE You’re Varian, right? AMAL Loser gets adopted FERN Heyyyy V, you busy? DANNY Birthday AMAL Happy nameday to the best scientist I know! JUN Are you busy? There's something I wanted to ask you. AMAL hey varian FERN hey i just realized something great DANNY Hey. I know you're probably busy with everything... ZODIAC Happy Holiday from Zodiac! CLAUDE Hey Varian. You there? ZELOS Heeeey Varian! I'm sure you're busy... FIVE I know you might be busy right now but... FERN heyyy, did you see that guy...

TO: SUBJECT: JUN Two questions. BLADE Hey, hey hey, Blade. JUN Birthday VASH I figure it's probably about time we talk, huh? JUN 愛してるよ ???!!! AMAL Dad? You home? JUN Forgt anyting nuice I said aboout space KNI Happy birthday, Kni! MIKLEO Hey, Mikleo. Jun said it'd be okay to message you... YUUKI So hey, do you think you could... JUN So. Uh. That happened. ELLIOT Hi, Elliot. Can I talk to you about something? AMAL Dad, something happened to Fern. DANNY Hey, Bud. I've got some bad?? news? EVE Hey, Eve. I wanted to make sure AMAL Happy birthday, Dad! AMAL Hey, could I get your opinion on something? VASH Hi there! Texting ahead of time like you asked. FERN Happy birthday, you. FERN Day of Hearts WILL Hey, Will. When are you free? I've got your... ELLIOT ...Hey, Elliot. Can I ask your advice on something? SNOW Hey, you available? ELLIOT Elliot? I'm- I'm really sorry to bother you... AUGUST Hey. Can I ask a follow-up question after my last one? DANNY Hey. There's something important I need to talk to you about. FIVE Hey, I was thinking we should probably talk MOANA Hey. Remember me saying we probably needed to talk... ELLIOT Um. Hey. I wondered if we could talk. AMAL Hey. Are you busy? Can we talk? HUNTER Just so you're aware... AUGUST Can I ask some advice? DANNY Hey, Danny! I think I've figured out something... KEN Hey! The figure you wanted is all finished.

code by cawaii

Comments

[droptheious]

I know you don't. That's what makes you a good person. No matter what you're worried about, it's- it's important that you remember that, Danny. You're a good person. It took a lot to turn that possible future of you into what he was. That makes a difference.

[He has to believe it does. That the reasons behind a person breaking need to be taken into account. But then, he wouldn't be even half as charitable to himself when talking about his own past. At Danny's request, his head shakes once- firm, unmoving.

There was that stubbornness.]

No. I'm not running. Danny, you're- you're like family to me. You're like a brother. I'm not gonna abandon you.

[schrodingersghost]

[...Oh.

Danny hadn't realized until this moment just how much he'd needed to hear that. He'd spent so much time thinking about all the worst parts of himself, wondering where the flaws and weaknesses were that would let that happen. Maybe along the way he'd forgotten a little of why he was trying so hard. He blinks to hold back tears, and when that doesn't work he rubs at his eyes with the back of his wrist.

But he loses any attempt at holding back his emotions when Varian continues. He'd known they were close friends... but family? Brothers? That just...

Danny had never complained, but he'd been terribly lonely at home all this time. His parents were gone so much, and he couldn't talk to them about any of what had been happening even when they were here. And he didn't have anyone else. The idea of being family, brothers... It was something he'd never known he wanted.]

...You really mean that?

[droptheious]

[Varian notices Danny fighting his tears and reaches out to put a hand on Danny's shoulder. Part-way through, he changes his mind, instead pulling the other boy in for a hug. Varian's not exactly the huggiest person in the world- but he has a feeling Danny really needs one right now.

And maybe he does too, a little. ]

Of course I mean it.

[schrodingersghost]

[ In any kind of normal day, Danny would have protested. Hugs weren't cool, okay? (Ignoring that he had been known to tackle hug friends at emotional moments).

But Danny had been having a very bad day. A string of bad and stressful days, ending in an emotional breakdown. And right now, it was much appreciated. Danny hesitates a moment, and then hugs him back.]

Thank you. That... It just means a lot.

[The words are said quietly, but with sincerity and feeling.]

[droptheious]

[Varian awkwardly pats Danny on the back for comfort. He's really not good at this part of things, he feels. It requires a level of social skill he's never quite got a grasp on, but he'll try his best for his loved ones! ]

Anytime. I'm- I'm glad it helped.

[Genuinely. As awkward as he is, he meant every damn word of it.]

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny pulls back and lets go. He wasn't quite smiling yet, but it was closer to a real smile than he'd been for quite a while. Right now Danny mostly just felt tired and wrung out. But it was better, and that was the important thing.]

It did. I think... Maybe I was just focusing on all the worst parts. It helps to be reminded that I'm not alone. [A moment of hesitation.] I can't really talk to my parents about any of this, you know? And it kind of felt like if I talked about it to anyone it would make it more real. And I'd just make people worry.

[droptheious]

Sometimes that's too easy to do. Focusing on the worst parts, I mean. Those are the parts that usually scream the loudest. They're...harder to ignore.

[He has plenty of experience in that department. ]

And I get not wanting to...burden people with this kinda stuff. It feels like you just...deserve to bear it alone, huh? [So much experience.] I'll always listen, y'know? I don't mind. You've heard all my stuff, it's only fair.

[schrodingersghost]

Yeah... I'm starting to get that.

[Maybe trying to deal with everything himself hadn't been the best plan after all. Because after a while all he could think of was all the ways everything could go wrong.

He shrugs.]

I don't know about deserve. But it just felt like there wasn't anything else I could do. I mean, who gets this upset about an alternate future that an alternate self broke? I figured most people would just tell me that it wasn't me and that was enough.

[Never mind that maybe it wasn't his direct future, but that the possibility that something similar could happen was all too real. He still had the potential for that kind of power in him, and it scared him.

And now at least a hesitant smile.]

You're sure? It won't bother you?

[droptheious]

I think that's still a pretty understandable thing to be upset about, Danny. He might not be you, but I can see why you'd be worried you'd end up making the same choices as he did. Especially given how little we know about how these...past live things work. A little worry is...expected, I'd think.

[As much as he doesn't believe in destiny, he feels it shows how good Danny is of a person that he HAS worried about it and not dismissed it out of hand. He smiles, nodding.]

Sure thing. If I can make the whole thing easier for you, then I'm happy to help. I promise there's not much you can dump on me that I haven't already turned inward at this point.

[ Self-loathing is great. Ha ha.]

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny wasn't sure if he'd believed in destiny before this. But the idea of some future version of yourself coming back to make your life follow the same path. Well, he'd had more than a few nightmares about that.

Also apparently there was a ghost who controlled time. Only marginally less terrifying, solely because it seemed like he'd taken a liking to his other self.]

Yeah, I.... Is it strange to say that that makes it worse in some ways? Even if was the exact same future I'd know what to watch for. But I have no idea what the trigger could be now.

[Apart from being left alone. But the reason for that, it could be anything. An accident, an attack. And maybe Danny had developed quite a lot of anxiety and an urge to constantly check up on his friends because of that. But it was probably fine. Maybe it was even useful paranoia, considering everything that had happened.]

....Thanks. But tell me if I'm bothering you, okay?

[droptheious]

...Yeah I guess that's true. But again, I don't think it's your destiny. I think being in a different world, a different you changes that.

[He's going to steadfastly refuse to believe in destiny, so there!!!]

Of course, I will, but trust me, I can handle it. You don't have to worry, there. I want to help.

[schrodingersghost]

I just hope it changes it enough.

[droptheious]

I'm absolutely sure it will. I'd bet on it.

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny only wished he could be that confident about this.]

I hope you're right.

[He draws himself back onto the bench. Normally at a time like this he would try to distract himself. Make a dumb joke. Go and play video games or stargaze or anything not to think about everything that was and could go wrong.

But right now he honest just didn't have the energy for it. He was just tired.]

[droptheious]

[Varian watching Danny draw into himself, his brow furrowed. He hates seeing Danny like this. So withdrawn, so quiet. He wants to be able to pull his friend out of this funk, to give him some sort of assurance - but what can you do to make this any better? It's just gonna...dangle over his head, no matter how much Varian can assure him that he'll remain.

He can't make this better, but maybe he can make it bearable.

He reaches out to put a hand on Danny's shoulder, offering a small smile. ]

Hey. You look pretty beat, you wanna stay over at mine and Fern's tonight? We've still got that spare room. You can just...take some time for yourself.

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny contemplates going home for a long moment.

He could go home. He could. His parents tried, at least. That mattered. Even if they didn't really understand him any more. And it was beginning to feel less and less like home.

But as he thinks about it, he can't help but dread the idea of spending another night alone with this thoughts, while not being able to say a word about it.]

...I'd appreciate that. You sure I won't be a bother?

[droptheious]

Of course, you won't be a bother. We've got more than enough space for you to come and lounge around if you need it.

[schrodingersghost]

In that case I'd really appreciate it.

[His smile is small, but sincere. He didn't really want to talk about his issues with his parents (and the issue with the memories he's had with his other parents. But... the chance to put it off for even a night. It helped.]