Video

[killedwithlove]

Who: Cole
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Pathstone unless asked to go somewhere
When: Now-ish?


[The broadcast is very unusual, coming from Cole. He replies, sometimes, but he very rarely initiates communication through the network.

The camera points at the ceiling, catching just the edge of Cole's hat. He has it in his lap but doesn't try to look into it.]

I need someone who is able to kill me if I turn into a demon. Cassandra promised to, but she's gone and Jove and Solas said they would, but with them gone, I need someone to make sure I'm not a danger to people.

Comments

[killedwithlove]

[He would, because Sorey cared about everyone and everything, in that all encompassing, achingly familiar way.]

But what if I hurt one of you?

[nerdeology]

That wouldn't scare us away. Where I come from, such creatures are called hellions, but such corruption isn't limited just to spirits. We've both devoted our lives to fighting them.

More importantly, together we have the power to purify the corruption, and change the hellions back to what they used to be. To save them, not kill them.

[killedwithlove]

... It's not a corruption. Blight is a corruption. Demons are just what mortals call spirits that prey on them. Solas says, said, that there's no difference except in the minds of mortals.

It's not a sickness. It just... is. Like ageing.

[nerdeology]

[Yeah, not deterred here.]

Even so. We can still try, can't we? Spirit or otherwise, any life is worth saving. There's no way to know if it'll work unless we give it a shot.

[killedwithlove]

[Cole hums, a low and uncertain sound.]

I don't want you or Sorey risking yourselves. I don't want to hurt you. But I would if I was a demon.

[nerdeology]

And both of us would rather be hurt trying to save someone than stand back and let them die just to save ourselves.

[killedwithlove]

I don't want to kill you!

[nerdeology]

That's what we're trying to prevent, don't you see?

And don't assume we'd let that happen, anyway. We're a lot harder to kill than you think.

[killedwithlove]

[Cole makes a small, distressed sounding noise.]

I'm very good at killing. I'm good at helping, but I'm good at killing. Quick, clean, kindly.

[He wants to go and sit with Jove and hide his face in her shoulder.]

[nerdeology]

Well.

[He can't really agree that there's a kind way to kill anyone, but.]

We're very good at saving people who are trying to kill.

[killedwithlove]

Despair... would target Sorey. Because it would hurt me.

[nerdeology]

I've spent my entire life keeping him out of trouble. Believe me, I'll protect him no matter what.

[killedwithlove]

I know you will. You'll protect him. I hope you can stop me before I do anything that can't be healed.

[nerdeology]

You're a spirit, aren't you? Try to have some faith- in us, and in yourself. Focus on how we can stop this from happening in the first place.

[killedwithlove]

I am.

But I don't know Faith. I'm just Compassion. Sometimes Mercy. Cole.

[nerdeology]

Faith isn't something you have to be. Sometimes it's a thing you have. It's a kind of belief.

[killedwithlove]

Yes.

But I am Compassion. Faith is Cassandra, Faith is Leliana. Faith is powerful, it moves nations and rewrites history.

Compassion is quiet. Compassion is small.

I don't know Faith, or Valor, or Wisdom.

[nerdeology]

Then let others teach you, until you know. You can't do everything on your own.

[killedwithlove]

No. I can't do lots of things.

But I still don't understand faith.

[nerdeology]

You might, one day. Just let us help you. It has to be worth a shot.

[killedwithlove]

All right.

[He's been won over.]

If you want to help, I won't try and stop you.

[nerdeology]

...Okay.

[He can't - doesn't want to - hide his relief at that. The whole conversation had been pretty alarming.]

I'll speak with Sorey about this. I'm sure we can figure something out together.

[killedwithlove]

Okay.

I'm going now, I need to find some sticky thing to put up Elize's pictures.

[nerdeology]

[He nods. Hopefully some soul-searching will do him some good.]

We'll be in touch.