audio;

[fadeling]

[Cole's been doing some thinking. Always a dangerous proposition, but unavoidable, really. It hasn't been all that long since the fire, but...well. Maybe it could have been worse, but it could have been a lot better too.

At least he's managed to make this audio. Probably entirely by accident.]

I can't tell if it's better. Is it better? [He doesn't specify what "it" is. But there's a pause for a few moments while he considers what else to say. It's hard to verbalize what he's thinking, his thoughts pulled in a thousand ways at once like they always are. He doesn't make sense at the best of times, and now he's trying to find words that probably don't exist.]

The whispers are worries, but the calls are clarion and confused. Did I do the right thing? Is it good at all?

[Another pause, longer than than the last one--almost long enough to wonder whether Cole has hung up.]

Maybe this time it's different.

Comments

[puzzlingly]

Different?

[fadeling]

There's more than one.

[puzzlingly]

... I don't understand...

[ Lies, he might do, but he doesn't want to jump into conclusions. ]

[fadeling]

They're different but the same. Two people from two places but I remember both.

[puzzlingly]

... You don't mean two different people sharing the same body, do you?

[ Look, he needs to ask. ]

[fadeling]

No. That's different.

[puzzlingly]

[ Phew! Yeah Cole might actually hear him taking a deep breath after holding it somehow. ]

It is...

So, your friend here is not exactly the same from where you're from, but it is still her... right?

[fadeling]

Yes. Sort of. [Not exactly but, you know. Whatever. Close enough.] They both help people. They're my friend.

[puzzlingly]

Hmm, good enough.

[fadeling]

Is it bad?

[puzzlingly]

Not at all, we all need someone to rely on.

[fadeling]

People need people. Not people do too.

[puzzlingly]

Hmm... Yeah...

Will you be okay?

[fadeling]

Yes. Will you?

[puzzlingly]

「 Yet again, there is an obvious silence that seems a little tense.

Meh. 」

Yeah.

[fadeling]

Do you believe it?

[puzzlingly]

I have to.

[fadeling]

Why?

[puzzlingly]

Because... It's all I've got left.

[fadeling]

There's more than nothing. There's always more than nothing.

[puzzlingly]

Like what?

[fadeling]

You have to find it.

[puzzlingly]

Hmm... You're not very helpful.

[ Ow, sorry. ]

[fadeling]

I don't help how you want. I help how you need.

[puzzlingly]

... Touché.