The write-ups for Cole's memories will go in the comments below, with the name of the character receiving the memory in the header!**
Handy links here:
RenAkechiBlueAhsokaEspioLeoAerithTuring**note that in any memories from Asunder (the pre-game novel), Cole doesn't have his Signature Hat yet.
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Ren
Commentary: This is a montage of memories with Rhys spanning roughly a year since they first met, which mostly takes place in The Pit (the expanse of underground levels & dungeons beneath the White Spire which is a big ol' tower) though when Rhys first sees Cole, he's ventured up into the Spire proper. Cole doesn't like to go up there often, but sometimes he'll explore and just kinda lurk since no one can see him, which is what he was doing then. Cole didn't know Rhys could see him at that point ofc, so it's pretty startling when it turns out Rhys can actually see him?? He's spent so long living like a ghost that it's as amazing as it is terrifying, and having to actually talk about himself to someone after never having anyone to talk to at all is, unsurprisingly, difficult. Once he's sure Rhys won't turn him over to the templars or forget him like everyone else who gets a glimpse of him does, he starts to open up more, and Rhys becomes A Friend… well, his only friend. The only person to remind him he's real.
Like Rhys mentions, they spend most of their time playing card or board games and chatting, and Cole shows him some of the secrets of The Pit, which is so old and sprawling there's lots of forgotten passageways and rooms and stuff down there. Rhys himself is a mage who lives in the White Spire, and has the rare skill of being a spirit medium, which means he can sense and communicate with spirits and demons. He also used to research spirits. He doesn't sense anything to indicate Cole is a spirit and believes he's a mage with some unusual natural talents.
Rhys also tries to puzzle out Cole's strange abilities and how to help him undo them, without much success, in part because Cole is cagey about himself or being helped. When Rhys' visits grow more sparse he falls harder into depression, with no way to know when Rhys would visit next, if he ever would. Having a friend is great and all, except for when it reminds you of how incredibly alone you are when he's not around and could potentially forget you at any moment, which he often believes to be the case when Rhys is away. Despite that, he is genuinely happy to have Rhys' company when he's there. He's kind to him and wants to spend time with him. He doesn't try to hurt him and treats him like he's real, which he craves since it's not even clear if he's real or not, and that's terrifying. But Rhys can see him, so he must be real, right?
Cole is a bit childish despite his apparent age, and that's especially apparent in his last meeting with Rhys in this memory. He wants Rhys' friendship, but he pushes him away because he doesn't want the pain that comes with being left behind or forgotten by someone you care about. He wants to be seen and remembered, but he's afraid to give anyone else the chance to remember him because he doesn't want the Templars or anyone else to be able to hurt him. He wants to leave, but there's nowhere for him to go and as much as he wants to be seen, being seen is frightening too. He just wants to keep Rhys' friendship and not be afraid anymore, but unfortunately things aren't that simple.
Tl;dr Cole befriends Rhys, which is good, but he can only see Rhys once in a while and has to spend the rest of the time alone and invisible and forgotten, which is bad.