Commentary: Rhys is pretty on point here; Cole knows what Rhys is going to ask him, yet he was waiting for him anyway. Rhys is his only friend, the only person who knows he even exists, who can see him and spends time with him- but Rhys' visits are sparse, and Cole struggles to hold onto himself, to stay real.
He knows what he's been doing is wrong, on some level- though the fact that it makes Rhys unhappy is what makes him feel the worst. He tries to explain but he doesn't know how to make him understand this deep terrifying darkness he feels like he's going to slip into if he doesn't do this, that it's more than just some metaphor for loneliness. That the importance they give him when he kills them, ending their suffering and fear, anchors him here. Even if Rhys has tried to help him, he doesn't know what's really wrong with him. How can he know that he won't really disappear if he doesn't do this to stay real?
Rhys has never tried to force him to do anything before, and it feels like a betrayal. He's his friend, he's not supposed to make him face the Templars, people who would hurt him. He knows he's messed everything up, and as much as he's terrified, he doesn't want to lose Rhys either. So he does what he usually does when he's too afraid to face his problems; he runs.
Except Rhys doesn't let him, this time.
The strike of magic doesn't hit him, but the explosion is jarring and the fact that Rhys attacked him is another betrayal, horrifying and awful. He doesn't want to hurt Rhys, but his fear of being hurt overrides that. He draws his dagger, prepared to defend himself. He really, really doesn't want to have to.
The idea that he would kill Rhys because he can see him too was a connection that didn't even occur to him, and the accusation cuts painfully deep. But it helps him realize, he can't win this- he doesn't want to. Rhys betrayed him, but he's betraying him too, pulling his blade on him like he might kill him, the way he killed those mages who wanted to die. He'd never do that to Rhys. He won't hurt Rhys. He won't.
But he can't go with him, either. The Templars terrify him. They'll hurt him, or kill him, or make him Tranquil.
So again, he runs, and Rhys continues to chase him.
Blue
Commentary: Rhys is pretty on point here; Cole knows what Rhys is going to ask him, yet he was waiting for him anyway. Rhys is his only friend, the only person who knows he even exists, who can see him and spends time with him- but Rhys' visits are sparse, and Cole struggles to hold onto himself, to stay real.
He knows what he's been doing is wrong, on some level- though the fact that it makes Rhys unhappy is what makes him feel the worst. He tries to explain but he doesn't know how to make him understand this deep terrifying darkness he feels like he's going to slip into if he doesn't do this, that it's more than just some metaphor for loneliness. That the importance they give him when he kills them, ending their suffering and fear, anchors him here. Even if Rhys has tried to help him, he doesn't know what's really wrong with him. How can he know that he won't really disappear if he doesn't do this to stay real?
Rhys has never tried to force him to do anything before, and it feels like a betrayal. He's his friend, he's not supposed to make him face the Templars, people who would hurt him. He knows he's messed everything up, and as much as he's terrified, he doesn't want to lose Rhys either. So he does what he usually does when he's too afraid to face his problems; he runs.
Except Rhys doesn't let him, this time.
The strike of magic doesn't hit him, but the explosion is jarring and the fact that Rhys attacked him is another betrayal, horrifying and awful. He doesn't want to hurt Rhys, but his fear of being hurt overrides that. He draws his dagger, prepared to defend himself. He really, really doesn't want to have to.
The idea that he would kill Rhys because he can see him too was a connection that didn't even occur to him, and the accusation cuts painfully deep. But it helps him realize, he can't win this- he doesn't want to. Rhys betrayed him, but he's betraying him too, pulling his blade on him like he might kill him, the way he killed those mages who wanted to die. He'd never do that to Rhys. He won't hurt Rhys. He won't.
But he can't go with him, either. The Templars terrify him. They'll hurt him, or kill him, or make him Tranquil.
So again, he runs, and Rhys continues to chase him.