[Suddenly Cole is touching him, not what he expected, and he tries not to flinch away. He's never been afraid of physical contact but Cole is a spirit, no matter how Human he's trying to be. There are deeply rooted prejudices there, worries that Hawke may not always acknowledge but he has nonetheless. Spirits and demons are so intertwined in Chantry doctrine - mostly in that possession by any of them makes a mage an abomination - and he never had a Circle education if they even teach anything different. He isn't a spirit healer or medium, so his experience with them is limited. He knows there is a difference but never how to tell what it is other than one is apparently benevolent and the other wants to wear his body like pajamas. Justice - Vengeance - he's spent the most time with but at the cost of Anders' autonomy. It doesn't fill him with confidence.
Cole is a spirit, though, and one of compassion at that. Hawke berates himself internally for even having the want to flinch, then hangs his head because he's certain Cole can hear all of that turmoil anyway.
To his credit, though, he doesn't move away or remove Cole's hand. If anything, it's the most comforting thing anyone's done for him since he's arrived in the fleet.]
I won't. I try not to mistreat anyone. Or... anything, I suppose.
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Cole is a spirit, though, and one of compassion at that. Hawke berates himself internally for even having the want to flinch, then hangs his head because he's certain Cole can hear all of that turmoil anyway.
To his credit, though, he doesn't move away or remove Cole's hand. If anything, it's the most comforting thing anyone's done for him since he's arrived in the fleet.]
I won't. I try not to mistreat anyone. Or... anything, I suppose.