[ well OKAY. jiaoqiu's immediate response is to look around for laurence, to see what's going on with him. he has thoughts, but it's more important that he makes sure laurence is okay. ]
[ laurence hasn't moved just yet, instead watching the memory replay before them with resignation. there's fear in his eyes as madam picks up the marker - resentment, too, maybe even a trace of anger.
but he forces himself to look away before she starts to draw this time, taking a deep breath. ]
[ eyes trained on the floor, he nods. it's not something he's proud of. ]
She's practically worshipped in the Tower. Madam. But she's never tolerated anyone breaking the rules - no one but Iris, and even with him, he used to tell me that sometimes, she'd say these awful things to him. So I was always a little scared of her.
It was just easier to not get involved. Stay in my lane and keep my head down, so I didn't get thrown out to the spawncampers.
It's... not usually like that. The punishments for breaking the odd rule are just normal things, like maybe we’d get grounded for a few weeks or something, or maybe they’d smack some sense into us once. No one's ever been hurt like that before. It was always fine, as long as we were good.
...But I shouldn’t have abandoned him. If I hadn’t, maybe he’d still be safe.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w3, monday
cw: child abuse for the memory that's reflected back at them today. ]
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but he forces himself to look away before she starts to draw this time, taking a deep breath. ]
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Let's move, hm? Away from this. [ they can talk about it when it isn't just replaying in their faces. ]
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I'll be alright. I - It's not like I was the one who was hurt.
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[ ... ]
Your younger self told me about him, I think.
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[ he closes his eyes and nods. ]
We were still friends back then.
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She's practically worshipped in the Tower. Madam. But she's never tolerated anyone breaking the rules - no one but Iris, and even with him, he used to tell me that sometimes, she'd say these awful things to him. So I was always a little scared of her.
It was just easier to not get involved. Stay in my lane and keep my head down, so I didn't get thrown out to the spawncampers.
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[ reaches gently to pat him on the shoulder. ]
You're young, in a place that seems volatile and ready to turn on you at any moment. Not everybody can or should lead the charge.
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...But I shouldn’t have abandoned him. If I hadn’t, maybe he’d still be safe.