OPEN - Follow me home, if you dare to

[helpinghidinghaunting]

WHO: Cole and YOU!
WHAT: Catch-all for Cole's first month!
WHEN: September
WHERE: Various - the Gallows, Kirkwall, possibly TBD
NOTES: Astarion thread: CW - Mentions of abuse, torture, murder, and starving

If you want something special, let me know and I will write us a starter! And a reminder, you can fill out Cole's permissions HERE if you would like him to read your character's pain/past!

Starters in comments.

Comments

same tho

[notathreat]

"You joined?" Ellie asks with a small jolt. She'd been thinking of him more as a spirit than a boy, an apparition instead of somebody who could put on armor and pick up a book or sword.

"You're fighting against Corypheus? Don't spirits have to be... I dunno, neutral in human junk like that?"

Fuck if she knows how spirits are supposed to work.

[helpinghidinghaunting]

"I think so. I want to."

He can tell she is shocked, surprised - but her being stunned doesn't surprise Cole in return. Spirits are an uncertain thing, and likely even more for Rifters.

"...We don't have to be anything," he rasps, giving a little shrug of his thin shoulders. "And I am...different. I shouldn't be solid, stuck, but I am. So I want to help if I am here."

[notathreat]

Ellie frowns, concern instantly leaking into her eyes, showing in the curve of her mouth. She knows what it is to be different, to be something else, something you can't change even if you wanted to.

To want to help, from your unique position.

He reminds her of her more optimistic days, back when the hurt was localized, when the weight of the world rested newly on her shoulders. When she thought there was something she could do about it all. It was what she was meant for, too.

"Okay," she says softly.

"Do you need help?"

[helpinghidinghaunting]

Oblivious to most of her reverie, he simply nods, pleased with her acceptance of his answer -

And then stops short at her question.

He hasn't been asked that in a very long time.

"...I don't know," he admits, anxiety clear in his dusty little tone. "I...wish more people would help other people. But I don't know if I need anything."

[notathreat]

Ellie nods, thinking hard to herself. The question's so broad it's a hard one to answer, anyway. People need so many things -- but what does a spirit need?

"Well-"

Hesitating, she reaches into her pocket. Comes up with a few coins, and holds them out in her palm for him to take.

"Here. If you're gonna give away any more food, you wanna make sure you buy it first. Even if they can't see you, they'll notice their stuff's gone."

[helpinghidinghaunting]

Cole watches her as she thinks, still smelling the bloodied water, the air heavy with spores, the dust and grime of places left to decay and overgrow -

But then she is holding out the coins, and he stares at them. Surprised. And then moved.

Gently, oh-so-gently, he takes the coins, looking them over before looking back to her. "...Thank you," he says softly, the tiniest little smile playing at the corners of his lips. "This is kind. This will help me feed a frail family a fraction."

He nods, with conviction.

"Someone will eat tonight because of you, Ellie."

[notathreat]

It leaves Ellie self-conscious and unsure. The gratitude doesn't rest easily on her shoulders. It's not something she's used to. It's a few coins, something that won't hurt her to give up, since she's got a roof and food and warmth and safety.

It's not like it was any big sacrifice; just something to ensure that Cole won't inadvertently get into any trouble while trying to help. Inadequate in the face of what she owes.

"They were going to anyway, if you kept up with that," Ellie says uncomfortably, shrugging her shoulders.

"Anyway, um. If you're going to join Riftwatch, I'll probably see you again."

... she realizes, a beat too late, that being able to see Cole will be all the more significant for it.

[helpinghidinghaunting]

The Spirit has always thought it...funny, in a way. The way that some people get uncomfortable with the idea of helping. It comes from guilt, he knows, a feeling of failing, of not deserving the credit for a good deed.

But in his eyes, a good deed is still a good deed. He can feel that she is recoiling, though, and she doesn't need to be needled...so he lets it go, tucking the coins in his pocket.

"Yes," he finally answers, his expression difficult to read.

"I am...glad to meet you."

bow on this?

[notathreat]

Ellie's grateful that he doesn't press, is gentle enough to realize when she can't stand kindness. It's the one thing that can really break her down, even if some deeply buried part of her desperately needs it.

But then, people reject their vulnerabilities, when they're afraid of being hurt, or putting their faith in things.

She relaxes when he lets it go, her body language slowly opening up again. Her expression softening.

"... you too, Cole."