Your regularly scheduled creepy visitor

[killedwithlove]

Who: Cole and anyone who needs him... or wants to chat to him
Broadcast: No
Action: On any ship except Marsiva, Tourist or Red Fish because he avoids visiting two and can't visit the third.
When: While the fleet is moving and probably a bit after

[There is this thing Cole does.

He visits other ships. Sometimes he put the Pathstone alongside to visit and sometimes he takes a shuttle, but he's constantly wandering all over the fleet, being with people, circulating.

He hasn't done it in a while. He got a nasty fright and went into hiding for a while.

But the creepy psychic being is back! Sticking his large nose into all the business.]

Comments

[killedwithlove]

I... think Riona helped. Mortals emotions affect me. She cared. A lot. Enough that she agreed to kill me if I was going to hurt people.

[That, oddly, was the most compassionate part. Understanding that the idea of hurting people scared him more than anything.]

[nerdeology]

[Ahaha... well, that's. Not comforting to hear, but it's not like he hasn't heard that before. Zaveid's felt the same way about hellions - and dragons in particular - and just because Mikleo disagrees doesn't mean they can't talk about it.]

So... you really would rather die...

[killedwithlove]

Yes?

I don't want to hurt people. And I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

[Cole doesn't say things he doesn't mean. He's too straight forward and plain speaking for that.]

[nerdeology]

That, at least, I can understand...

[He's honestly not sure what he'd want if he was in that kind of situation. With most hellions, the transformation can be reversed. But older seraphim than him have talked about the hopelessness of becoming a dragon. It conflicts with the optimism in Sorey that he wants, needs to believe in.

If it was him, would things be different? Would purification even do a thing for something like a demon?]

We've been warned against pushing our ideals on other people, since things work so differently here. It's just hard not to, when it's someone's life on the line.

I'm sorry about before.

[killedwithlove]

Most people can't just experience what others have to know them and what it's like for them.

I killed people before. I though I was helping them, but I wasn't. I was just killing them. I don't want to ever do that again. And if I'm Despair... I'll not just kill people. I'll make them hurt so bad they kill themselves. So I'd rather someone killed me, before I did that to others. Yeah?

[He thinks that explains it with less of the emotion of before.]

It's okay. You're very passionate about saving people.

[nerdeology]

[It's hard to take all of that in, but it's just more of the mentality he's heard from others- the necessity of death, of killing, even. From Rose, from Zaveid, even Dezel to an extent. He'd always shared Sorey's mentality- never take more life than is necessary.

But who can say what is really "necessary" in situations that aren't just black and white?]

Passion is a reason, but not necessarily an excuse. I'll... try to be more careful next time. Wanting to save someone means listening more than speaking.

[killedwithlove]

[Cole nods. That was pretty much it exactly. Mikleo hadn't been listening to him, he had been putting his own meanings on what Cole was telling him.]

Yes. Listening always helps more. But you know that and it'll be better next time.

[nerdeology]

[He can at least try. He knows he can be kind of (really) stubborn, so...]

Is there anything you need in the meantime, or are you just visiting?

[killedwithlove]

Just visiting. I like visiting. I like meeting people and seeing them regularly. Knowing they're okay and don't need me.

[nerdeology]

I guess in your case, it would be better if your presence was wanted, more than needed... though the same could be said of many people, really.

[Compassion is important and all, but so is companionship.]

[killedwithlove]

Varric once told me I should be visible to people even when they don't need me, because they might want to talk to me.

I've tried to be visible since then. And talk to people just because I can, not just because they need me.

[nerdeology]

Have you noticed a difference, since you started that? Not just with others, but with yourself, as well.

[killedwithlove]

Yes. I'm learning a lot more about mortals now. I can help them better, because I understand not just how to stop the hurt, but actually make them happy.

[nerdeology]

Being around each other, being able to communicate- it's the best way to strengthen the bonds between people who are different. I grew up learning that with Sorey.

[killedwithlove]

I know people when I meet them. Sometimes before. And no one's like me. But Varric said I have to let them know me like I know them.

[nerdeology]

People often find it disconcerting that you know as much as you do, though, isn't that so? It might benefit you both to let them tell you, instead.

[killedwithlove]

[He nods.]

But, they don't talk about those things. They nurse them.

[nerdeology]

Sometimes, yes. Often for a very long time. But when trust is built up companions, they're more likely to share their sorrows. That's what I mean.

[killedwithlove]

But I can help faster than that.

I don't tell people spoilers, though. When I remember.

[nerdeology]

"Spoilers"?

[killedwithlove]

Yes.

Telling people things they will find out before they get there.

[nerdeology]

[whaaaaaaat]

You... know the future!?

[killedwithlove]

No.

Not like you're thinking.

I can see outcomes, though. Where people's feelings will take them.

[nerdeology]

I'm... not sure I understand.

Sorry, I dropped the ball

[killedwithlove]

... I don't know if a rock will fall on someone's head, but I can pretty well know what they're going to say to their sweetheart and how their sweetheart will react.

More sense?