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Two Time was certain they didn't need this. They hadn't before, after all. But the other survivors insisted months ago, and they decided to give it a try. Or well, multiple tries, because the survivors kept insisting.
They're on their.. 9th, now? Therapist, that is. The others all dropped them after their first few sessions with them. Currently, they're in the waiting room, sitting perfectly straight in their seat and staring straight forward as they wait. (It's only polite to do so, after all. It's how the Spawn wanted them to act during ceremonies, and so they do it in public, too.)
Internally, they pray to the Spawn that the survivors will stop insisting they attend therapy, but they know that is a lost cause. They're only attending it now, even still, because perhaps they can sway at least one therapist to the Spawn's blessings. (Is that wrong to wish to do..? Perhaps.)
Eventually, they're brought back to a new office. It's nice, minimalistic. They read their therapist's namecard. They take a seat. This is familiar territory to them, and they look at the woman who's meant to 'help' them, or whatnot.
----
Ten minutes in, Builderman sighs as he sees yet another email. (Why they used his, he will never know.) Once again, Two Time's managed to make another therapist drop them, and he's about to go over and insist that no one uses his email for anything anymore.
He doesn't mind.. entirely, but it's bothersome to learn that Two Time has managed to go through multiple therapists in only 2 months. (Especially since they do need it.) If he didn't have common sense, he'd find a therapist for them, but he knows how that would go over. And he knows it would go poorly if they managed to make that therapist run off, too.
He runs his hand down his face, and then closes the email.
----
Two Time had felt that session was.. more productive than any of the rest. Though they were.. not all that proud that they had been dropped by this therapist, too. They even answered some of the questions, this time! (.. And maybe they glazed over Azure, but every other therapist had looked at them weirdly once they'd explained what had gone down.)
They even ignored the gendered comments! Certainly, they had done perfectly fine! And maybe they had failed in.. (was it Noob's..?) the request to tone down the mentions of the Spawn and the attempts to get their therapist to join. They'd tried, but they only stopped their pitch once their therapist requested for them to do so. And they think that's an improvement! Especially over the previous times!
... Alas, it really.. was not. And now they're waiting on the curb for one of the others to pick them up, as they're not trusted to drive, nor walk back. (Apparently they freak their fellow pedestrians out..? They're not quite that sure.) As far as they're aware, it's Noob who's to be collecting them, as she's running errands, or something similar.
Ah, that reminds them, now that they're out of that 'game', they need to find the compound. They're certain their elders will need them again soon. And perhaps, once they find him, they can bring Azure along too. (Though he.. has distanced himself from the Spawn and Two Time, they believe that he'll come back around, hopefully!)
----
Noob hadn't really driven much, at least, not to this extent in a long while. They've always preferred walking, or at least physically going somewhere without a vehicle. But, after all the survivors, and some of the ex-killers, decided to end up staying together, in some sort of messed up 'we are the only ones who will ever understand' situation, they became very aware of who could and couldn't drive.
And she was one of the few who was allowed to, and one of the few who actually went out and about. Builderman, Taph, and Dusekkar usually stay in the 'apartment complex' that all of them had taken to living in together, and Shedletsky just doesn't want to drive, out of the admins that Noob actually.. talks to. Sixer rarely leaves, as well, after the changes made were.. mostly permanent.
007n7 and Elliot could both drive, but one of them had their hands full, and the other was struggling to come to terms with the degree of separation from their previous lives that has happened. (Noob still finds him sometimes, staring at a 'help needed' ad for Builder Brothers' in the local paper)
Out of the drivers who do go out, it's themself, occasionally Chance, and Guest 1337. Though 1337 usually goes on drives to actually get things for the others, and Chance.. Noob is pretty sure that they go on joyrides. Leaving Noob to do the more.. random errands, like collecting Two Time from driving yet another therapist off. (.. She's surprised that they keep managing to land therapy appointments, too..)
Currently, they're heading to pick them up after going through the motions of exploring the local mall, because it's just a bit too crowded for 1337 to be comfortable, and because there's some things that the group has needed that isn't at some of the stores 1337 frequents. (Like specific hygiene products because SOMEONE is picky, or clothes that fit the ones who were changed by the Spectre, etc.)
----
Two Time was surprised that they weren't waiting as long as usual, before they get into the car, sitting nicely in the passenger seat, and buckling themself after being nicely reminded. (Noob is quite sweet. It's such a shame that they've turned down Two Time's offers for them to join them under the Spawn's sights.)
After a comment about needing to stop and get gas, they're off, heading towards the nearest place with a gas pump. Two Time doesn't quite.. understand the constant stops for gas? They always do when Noob picks them up, but they aren't going to complain. Usually these stops result in them getting a new drink to try when Noob heads inside to pay. (Because, apparently, they feel bad for dragging them to the gas station, and also for them not experiencing the wonderful drink that is a 'Dr. Pepper'.) ... Usually, the drinks are sugar filled and/or aren't to Two Time's tastes, though it's a nice experience nonetheless.
It also helps that Two Time is feeling closer to the other past survivor as well! They're quite nice to them, after all, and they feel as though she could be considered a friend. (.. It is.. nice to have friends, even if it's Noob and Guest 1337, two of the nicer survivors. ... Especially now that Azure has grown distant.. He's right there, and yet they miss him.) Two Time stares out the windshield, zoning out into their thoughts. Noob tends to take her time when they're out and about and so Two Time holds their patience.
----
Upon their return, Two Time thanks Noob briefly before heading to their room. It's getting close to the time they've allotted for their daily prayer, after all, and they would loathe to miss it. Especially due to something as benign as traffic. There's not very many excuses they will properly take to push back their prayer to the Spawn, after all.
They take a seat by the window, and clasp their hands together, closing their eyes as they whisper their prayer. May the Spawn hear them now, and return their blessings to them. They silently sit there, long after their whispers come to an end. This is part of their routine, after all.
... Their new one, that is. Back in the 'game', they rarely were given the time for prayer, as sleep became a necessity, and the time between rounds grew shorter. And before that... They spent their prayers alongside Azure. (... They miss him. His room is right next door, but he's not.. letting them in.)
----
Azure looks towards his door after a long moment. Two Time's finally gotten home, and he feels as though he can rest now. The other has been going out more often lately, and as much as he questions it, he's not going to ask. (... When he looks at them, he sees the multiple times he'd killed them in that 'game'.)
He's isolated himself from the others for that very reason, actually. Every one of the past survivors, when he looks at them, he sees when he'd killed them at one point. (He didn't realize. His hands shake now. His love was turned to hate, and it stung.) Azure knows he should probably try to look past that, but he can't.
He only really makes conversation with Noli and C00lkidd, as those two are the only ones who come by his room. (.. Or well, C00lkidd drags Noli over occasionally, and Azure lets them in.) .. And he also makes conversation with the plants on the balcony he'd made sure to have.
They're mainly poisonous ones and a few strains of Nightshade, but they're ones that he's known how to care for for years. (... The Nightshade also hurt to look at, but they're still his favorite. The person they remind him of is simply.. coincidence, now.) Speaking of his plants, he must water them. Grabbing the jar he keeps for the task, he moves to the tap he has in his room and fills it.
... Perhaps soon he should eat, as well. Guest 1337 had kept on top of making sure everyone had basic necessities, and Azure was quite thankful. (Especially since after the first day, the man didn't enter his room once Azure requested it.) .. If only the others had the same sense of understanding.
He often has to keep his door(s) locked, as the others.. well, mainly Two Time, they try to wander in to check on him or make conversation. He's certain that his beloved means well, but he can't handle seeing their corpse projected into his mind often. Maybe the exposure would help but.. What if it doesn't?
Instead of going outside, he uses one of his few remaining tentacles to water the plants. His.. torso hurts still, lingering pains from his death, and he's not in the mood to bend over or crouch to tend to them. Tomorrow he'll force himself to, but not for the moment. .. Mainly due to his present thoughts. The pain is worse than most days when he's in this mindspace.
Azure exhales, and pulls his tentacles back once the plants are watered and the jar is set right back into it's place. ... Perhaps he can communicate with the others without.. seeing them face to face? Notes may be a good idea, more than any other idea he's tried. (All of which resulted in his self isolation.)
----
Two Time finds their prayer interrupted by a knock on the window, and then a slip of paper pushed through the open part of it. A familliar messy and close to illegible scrawl takes up the page, and yet they read it much like it were their own handwriting; "I love you, my Nightshade, and I'm sorry for being distant."
Taped to the back of the paper is two petals from the other's nightshade plants, which Two Time sets aside for later. (They may shrivel and die soon.. But that's just how things are.) And in similarly messy handwriting, they write a response and send it over.
"love you too, azure."