[open] November catch-all

[theforgottenboy]

Who: Cole & you
What: General shenanigans
Where: Around the void
When: Post-event and throughout November
Content Warnings: that one statue. you know the one.

Prompts are in the toplevels, but you can make your own if you want to wildcard it!


source

Comments

[theforgottenboy]

[Sorry if that felt bad, because he's probably not going to like this either.]

You saw a part of what I was, back when I was still friends with Rhys. I'd forgotten what I was, that I should have been trying to help people. I killed people who needed my help, because I thought I had to. Then I didn't care about helping anyone but Rhys, even if it meant sinking into the dark.

[He doesn't entirely regret killing those templars. It's the way he was when he did it. He'd have mercilessly cut down anyone to protect Rhys, or avenge him. Helping anyone else was the last thing on his mind.]

[The mages he killed, though, that way of "helping" was wrong. Not that he even told Leo about that part before now.]

I can't be that again. If I ever forget, if I become something that hurts instead of helps, will you stop me? You'll kill me?

[The nightmare could have easily done that to him, like it did to Leo. He's glad it didn't. But nightmares aren't the only place where that can happen, for him.]

[bachagain]

[ hahahahaha. what the hell, cole. he's a normie idol? that's something you ask a jrpg character?

leo absolutely didn't expect that to be the question, judging from the way his eyes widen. actually, considering what just happened with izumi back in mementos, he-- the phrase "you'll kill me" absolutely makes him sick, even if izumi turned out okay. physically okay, anyway. he can only imagine that sword back in his hand and izumi's falling body, and leo, um. leo tries not to but his hands start shaking lightly at the thought of having to kill cole. as he thinks back to the fact that, in his mind, he killed izumi.

that wound's pretty fresh. now that he knows what death means when it's like that, he definitely, definitely, definitely knows he can't do that.

can you ask me something else, he wants to say, but he'd said he'd answer it seriously. he owes cole at least that much, so he tries to collect his slightly panicked breath. ]

I can't-- I can't promise that, you know? Sorry. Sorry, I know you're trusting me with it, but... I don't want you to die, Ko.

[ is that the wrong answer? it's the only answer leo can give, honestly. maybe it's cowardly. maybe it's another betrayal to cole, but he can't lie. ]

I can try to stop you, but I can't--

[ thanks for triggering his trauma and his guilt cole, super appreciated here. ]

[theforgottenboy]

[In this scenario, with Leo, it's not a betrayal so much as it's just... disappointing. At least Leo acknowledges it's something he wants to trust him with, unlike Ahsoka who just flatly refused the idea on the whole.]

[He just barely notices the way his hands shake. Does he hate the idea that much? He really is too kind. He won't force Leo to say yes. He needs to find someone here who will, but it doesn't have to be him.]

If you won't, then I'll ask someone else.

[It's not an accusation, just a statement of what he needs to do.]

But... I'll try not to die.

[Even if he'd rather die than become a monster, he'd still like to continue living, and helping.]

I can't promise you that I won't ever leave. But I can try... being friends.

[bachagain]

[ ... he's still trying to control himself here. it's pathetic enough showing this much, but everything about this is still so recent and raw that it's difficult to. this sure is a curveball that cole threw at him so mercilessly.

jesus.

leo wishes he was strong enough to say yes to that. he knows that if it came down to it, if this place made him do something like he just did, he'd want someone else to cut him down too.

with that in mind, maybe later on leo'll reconsider the offer. he... doubts even then he could agree, but it's better than thinking he's destined to let cole down forever. he stills his shaking hands, calms his breath, and attempts to focus on the rest of what cole says.

with the "i can try", leo can manage a smile. ]

It's okay. I'm the last person that can complain if someone leaves, so... I'll remember and treasure you for whatever time I have.

[ earnestly. ]

... And you better try real hard. To not die, I mean. I can't do what you want me to, but I can kick your ass if you ever go back! You won't, I know you won't, but I'm just saying.

[theforgottenboy]

[Leo just gets a vague nod and awkward silence in response to those earnest feelings. It still doesn't feel quite real, like those are just fleeting feelings that Leo will forget soon enough. That's what he's used to. He hardly knows what to do with something like that if it doesn't disappear.]

[But he said he would try.]

Thank you.

[Sincerely. On both counts.]

[bachagain]

[ ... that does the rest of the job for grounding leo. he... didn't come into this conversation expecting to be wholly admonished, as much as he feared it, or as much as he would've understood it...

but he didn't walk into it expecting to be thanked, either. that he could get even a little closer to cole -- he's grateful for that, even if it's still a clumsy, tentative thing between the both of them. ]

Mmm. You don't needa thank me for something like that? Especially when I should be the one saying that. I should be saying... Thanks for letting me in even though I hurt you. Thanks for reaching your hand out to meet mine even when it's scary.

[ he knows firsthand how that feels.

he pauses here, now, hesitant over his next words. this is something he should say, something he needs to say, so-- ]

... Or something like: I'm sorry, Ko. I'll do better, so I don't betray the trust you put in me.

[ or so he doesn't get mcstabbed again but either way.

they're? friends? however fragile it may be. and like leo said, he'll treasure that for as long as he can. ]