Broken Hourglass (Sanscest Multiship)

Chapter 23 - Danger: Beware Flying Books

Four days. He'd been in the group home for four days when he finally got the message to grab his belongings. Lust wasn't sure if he was more surprised or relieved.

The beat-up maroon car was new, but still just as shitty as every other car he'd known Ilex to have. Speaking of Ilex, the dark skinned human seemed to not have changed much since they last saw each other, although his curly black hair had been cut back to his shoulders. It had been 8 years, so he figured some change was to be expected.

The teen got into the car without a word, ignoring Ilex when he waved.

They drove in silence for a while.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left," Ilex started. "I knew things were bad, but I didn't know they'd get THAT bad. I wish I'd stayed or taken you with me, or anything." He was rambling by the end, clearly blaming himself.

Lust felt like he was about to start crying again, but he didn't have the energy for it. He leaned against the window, not letting the other see his face. "Yeah, I wish that stuff too."
—
Lust was alone. He'd never been so grateful for that, well not in a very long time. The room that he had set up shop in was about as big as his apartment back home, except without as many appliances.

He was officially sharing the room with Nightmare, or Night and Mare, or whatever that situation was, but they mostly wandered around, only coming back to sleep when he left the room. Which wasn't very long.

Occasionally he'd catch glimpses of some of the others. Cross and Fell stuck together, but Sci had abandoned their little group after a day or so. Dust and Error met up every once in a while, but he hadn't caught sight of any other of their teammates. They were probably off doing their own things.

Lust was browsing a shop full of rocks when he became suddenly aware of people stepping up next to him.

"Now what's a pretty guy like you doing here all by yourself?" Dust asked with a cocky grin. Lust had half a mind to hit him, both for scaring him and for acting stupid, but Error beat him to it, elbowing Dust in the chest. "Ow. I was just joking."

"I know," the glitchy skeleton replied. To Lust's great satisfaction both of them had to look up at him, Dust barely so, but still. With that thought, he felt his leather boots gain a slight heel. It was still a strange sensation, how the clothing changed with passing thoughts.

Error checked xyr time distorter. "We have 5 hours left."

Lust felt a wave of nerves at the countdown. Even though it wasn't his time it was counting down, knowing what was going to happen, made him feel almost sick. Not only were they leaving the civilians to die, they were going to intentionally cause their deaths. It wasn't much better than directly killing anyone.

He started at his time distorter wondering how anyone could grow so cold. The watch looking devices had many more functions than just time travel and communications even though just those two things were insane for such a small device. They could also be used as incredibly sophisticated holocomputers and monitor certain biometrics. Even Sci was fascinated by them.

Error held up a small shiny chunk of rainbow metal, looking it over in fascination.

"Bismuth," Lust said, happy for the distraction. "It's technically a metal and not a gemstone, but they usually sell it with stones because it's pretty. That rainbow effect is due to surface oxidation." Working a night shift at a somewhat remote gas station meant Lust had a lot of time to read, and books on rocks had quickly become his favorite. Liking shiny things was considered too girly when he was young, so it was a tiny bit of rebellion.

Error nodded. "It's pretty."

They walked around some more, mostly just looking at things to avoid thinking about the inevitable. Eventually, Lust locked eyes with Fresh who walked directly at him, but appeared to not notice until they bumped shoulders.