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

[fadeling]

I don't know. I'm not supposed to listen without asking.

[puzzlingly]

... huh? You mean... me?

[fadeling]

Or anyone. They don't like when I listen.

[puzzlingly]

But you still do.

[fadeling]

It's too loud. It all runs together.

[puzzlingly]

Do you actually want to listen?

[fadeling]

I can't help if I can't hear.

[puzzlingly]

And you like helping...

「 So he wants to... Why so complicated, Cole? 」

[fadeling]

I have to help. I can't hear it and not help.

[puzzlingly]

Then why don't you simply ask?

[fadeling]

Because sometimes they don't know what hurts. Or sometimes they don't say it.

[puzzlingly]

That's gotta suck...

[fadeling]

Why?

[puzzlingly]

Well, you cannot help them if they don't want the help, it must hurt you in some way, doesn't it?

[fadeling]

Sometimes. I can help anyway. They'll forget they saw me. I can be too small to see.

[puzzlingly]

Why would you do that?

[fadeling]

Because it doesn't matter if they remember me. What matters is I helped.

[puzzlingly]

No, you're wrong. You matter too.

[fadeling]

I know I helped. They don't have to, always.

[puzzlingly]

... I would like to remember you if that happened.

[fadeling]

...alright. Most people don't want to.

[puzzlingly]

Why not?

[fadeling]

Because they're afraid.

[puzzlingly]

Of you?

[fadeling]

Yes. Or of remembering. They're scared when it hurts.