OSC Oneshot Collection

(Stone) Aristotle's Denial

Even though it won't admit it, a stone is feeling homesick
This is based on an au where all of the ONE contestants where sent to the first batches' world

Title if from the song "Aristotle's Denial" by Joe Hawley, I highly suggest listening to it if you haven't. Or don't, I don't control you

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It was one of those few nights that the night sky was clear and bright, thousands of stars visible to the naked eye on the San Francisco Bridge.

There was a geode stone that was leaning against the railing, staring at said stars with a watchful eye.

If it was honest with itself, it didn't know what to do. This wasn't its home.

That isn't to say they didn't like having limbs, being able to finally interact with the many things in the universe. It was the fact that this wasn't where they came from.

They compared their home universe to that of the stars, their being millions of other stones all in one place. Though that was their only comparison. Unlike the stars, the stones were always packed together, being so close that it was like they could hear each other's thoughts. Both seemed to be infinite.

They knew everything and anything, they knew the things that hadn't happened, the things that would never be revealed, and the things no one but them would understand.

They knew they weren't object beings, only made to repeat the things that must be deciphered from the universe.

But this fact leads to a complex problem.

They no longer knew everything that they should.

He didn't know why, was it because he failed his purpose? He led Liam to the universe the lantern lived in and the backpack was able to figure out how to send the trapped contestants to the universe he currently resided in. Liam had figured out how to use the kill command and he was able to intervene, getting them both out of there.

Was it because he had to destroy the computer himself? Because all the contestants were here and not their home universes? Was it because he spent so long away from his fellow stones? He wished he knew, he didn't like asking all these unanswerable questions. He felt vulnerable.

So it was stuck here, not remembering the code back home nor what the future holds. It was scary being this clueless on what could happen.

It never felt more helpless than now. It never felt more like an object being than now.

If only that damned lantern wasn't like he was. If only he hadn't found the plane it wouldn't be here, it wouldn't even be needed. Guess that was just the cruel way of the universe, the stone's only purpose being to stop a sociopathic lantern. It only infuriated the stone more; it knew he wouldn't take any responsibility for messing up all their lives, that he was the reason it wasn't with its fellow stones.

It knew nothing good would come out of attacking him on sight but it would've been so satisfying.

It sighed in its head as it stared at the stars.

It felt like hours before they heard an unusual noise. It was one they were familiar with.

They didn't need to turn around to know who had approached them. The collection of triangles had moved to float next to the geode stone, said stone turning to look at it. Stone stared at Abstracty and it seemingly stared back. Neither said anything as neither could as they didn't have a voice of their own.

The stone could only watch as the colorful mess that was Abstracty did the only trick it could do, mimicry. After a few seconds, he was staring at an abstract version of himself, it being more saturated and sharp. He rolled his eyes and turned back to looking at the night sky when he felt something hit his side.

The abstract stone had pulled them into a hug and wasn't letting go. They could only find themself staring in shock. Abstracty was a wild card, it was unknown to anyone what it would do on any given day. The abstract object confused them even in the times when they knew everything, acting without reason or rhyme. But they knew for sure that Abstracty wasn't an affectionate object.

The stone was sure Abstracty didn't understand empathy at all.

So why were they in its embrace?

They were sure they wouldn't have known even if they still knew all the secrets of the universe.

Though they found themselves returning the hug, closing their eyes as they embraced the fake stone. They weren't sure why but they felt like this was needed, like a weight was lifted off their nonexistent shoulders.

They could almost imagine that they were still home, that they were hugging one of the many other stones he lived with. That was a nice thought.

They only let go when they felt Abstracty stir, looking at the bright stone in front of them. They felt a rumbling inside, something akin to a purr, as they glanced back at the stars.

They seemed brighter today.

Stone didn't startle when the abstract stone grabbed their arm and started to lead them off the bridge and back to the land. In fact they closed their eyes. They knew they were being led back to the house they resided in.

The rumbling got so loud that he was sure even Abstracty could hear it. The universe had its reasons for leading him here and who was he to deny it.

He felt his memory of the code to his birth universe slowly fading back to his memory but waved it away.

This wasn't his home but he was a patient geode. He pried an eye open to watch as the abstract stone determinedly led them to their house and wished he had a mouth to smile with. He was sure this could quickly become his new home.