Quin

Taocc performer

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*sniff* O-okay...

*Starro scoots over and hugs Conny, his grip loose and defeated as he leans his head on her shoulder.*

You're the best....

she hugs him back, rubbing his back a little.

I love you mi chico estrella.

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....

*Starro reaches over and squeezes Conny's hand. He wipes his eyes a bit.*

I don't know what I'm doing. I don't wanna hurt you, though.

I know, I dont know what to do either...but we can work through it together im sure.

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*He doesn't know if he feels reassured by that or not.*

.... I love you, Conny.. you know that, right..? And you know that'll never change?

*At least that part is truthful.*

yes, I know, and I love you too, I really do.

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'Mkay... I'd like that.

.... I'm really sorry this all had to happen.. I... didn't know what else to do.

(I don't know how I can talk to you so you aren't as worried about this...)

it's okay, im not mad at you.

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*Well, it definitely seems guaranteed that at least Starro and Quin won't get back together, but undoubtedly he has some pretty complex feelings about all of this, and some about his own worth as a partner if he really wasn't a very good partner to them. All of that seems to weigh really heavily on him.*

..... I think I'm going to pull out an air mattress to sleep on for the night. Would you like to stay with us..?

yeah I think I will..

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*Once again, the silence is terribly tense. Starro feels as if his heart is racing. He looks over at Conny, as if trying to see how she feels about all of this.*

her face is kinda unreadable as she has no idea how to feel about any of this. This is something that she has clearly never gone through with anyone and she's not sure what advice to even give.

She tries not to think about the past they have, its not really much of her business anyways. Right now to her quin is just a person who she's helping after a very rough time. And there is a quiet hope that starro doesnt see it as anything more than that either.

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*He seems a bit less stressed but a bit more depressed about the whole situation, hugging his legs as best as he can while staring down the hallway. His thumb gently rubs back and forth on one of his legs inner coils, before pausing as Conny comes back.*

Thanks...

she hands it to him and sits down again.

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... yeah-. I'd like that... grazie, ciccina.

*He turns his head to kiss her hand a bit before leaning it back on the door.*

she gets up to go make him some and comes back after a bit.

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*Starro leans his head on her hand. He has too many thoughts and feelings to really put any of them into words, and it's not helping the guilt he was starting to feel about his relationship with Conny from earlier.*

would you like me to make some tea for you too?

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*He wants to smile, knowing they're finally resting, but it doesn't set on his face. He just ends up sitting down against the door after closing it, taking off his button-up and balling it up in his lap.*

(Lu... what would you do in this situation...?)

LU LU!?!?! IS THAT WHO I THINK IT ISSSSSS OMGGG

Ahem, conny sits down next to him, rubbing his shoulder.

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*Starro kinda shrugs and looks off to the side. His stars are barely glowing.*

Yeah.... probably-.

*He peeks his head back inside to check on Quin.*

they are out cold, which is a good thing of course.

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I don't either, which... considering how much she hated me before we knew, is a shock.

But... when she has her health back, we're gonna have an actual talk. A real one. Probably a long one. We both need it.

But only once he has his strength back and has healed up, I... I'm not gonna make them talk in this state.

she nods.

I dont think I would've even let you try, but yeah they definitely need some time and so do you.

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(Don't break down, don't start crying, don't make this about your guilt, Starro... just state the facts. Be mature about this.)

*He takes a second to think of what he wants to say before saying it.*

... we dated in real life, and I broke up with her before I k-.... before I came here. We realized before he abstracted, but it turned into a fight and we didn't talk about it any more. And... I didn't realize it then, but- I was... really bad to her. So I just... apologized. For everything. Even things I didn't realize until that moment.

I got her to kind of listen and calm down, and then they just... emerged from the abstraction like a cocoon. And then I brought them here.

Oh...so that was...

She pauses for a moment, thinking about how to respond to that.

Well I dont think they're angry at you...

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Yeah... exactly-.

She... was trying to keep me in there. She didn't want me to leave, I think, which.. sorta makes sense- but she also wasn't violent, just wanted me to stay there with them. They tried tying me in some of the webbing.

She nods, covering her mouth with one hand as she let's him continue.

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Well- I went in, and it was... a mess. Like, chairs ripped out everywhere, some stuck to the ceiling, there were gooey black webs everywhere- it was insanely dark too, like I had to hold my breath to see anything for a bit.

And... they were there too. Abstracted. I don't know how long, but probably- no, definitely a really, really long time...

....starro that theater has been closed for a year, that is a year they have probably been trapped in there abstracted...oh my gods...

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Um...

*Starro rubs the back of his neck.*

So-... for starters, um... did I tell you who Quin actually is..? Or... who they were in the real world...?

n-no I dont think so, I-I meant what happened in the theater? Let's start there, what happened while you were in there?

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... Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up.

*He moves a couple pillows closer to their head so it's a bit more supported, stars all sorts of swirling shades of blue and indigo.*

conny also makes sure they're alright and comfortable before pulling starro out to talk with him.

So what happened?