[ There's nothing else he can say in the face of the sheer hopelessness radiating from someone who is clearly just a kid. He has to seem confident. He has to seem like a hero - or whatever else he can do to return even the slightest bit of life to the other's eyes. ]
.. have you ever seen a dragon before? Or heard of them?
It feels a touch reductive, but-- you know, Inigo figures that it works for what he's trying to tell the kid here, so he just nods. ]
Really big ones. In my world there was one so big that it completely blocked out the sky. [ He points up as he talks. ] Whenever you'd look up, all you would be able to see was that dragon.
[ He pauses for a moment, as if to give that statement some more impact, allow it to get processed. ]
And I stopped that dragon. A big, bad dragon like that, one that was planning on destroying the entire world. If I could stop that dragon, then surely I could also stop the people who are being so cruel to you.
[ but dragons aren't . . . real right? dolph has seen some kaiju. around the time rayman appeared, but dragons are another thing altogether. also eden is not some single entity. it is thousands of people, working together in a system.
fine. he can indulge this momentarily. until eden comes for him. ]
With the power of the Divine Dragon Naga on my side.
[ .. that's.. well, it's true in spirit, a little less true in execution. But Inigo is pretty sure Naga would excuse him for saying this sort of thing when he's doing it in order to give a young boy hope. S-She'd get it, right? ]
No matter what has to be done to keep you safe, I will do it. I promise it on my own personal honor.
[ dolph sighs. it's naivety and such hopes have been ground out of him. out of the endless beatings and abuses he has endured. he's too tired to indulge in this. heroes, dragons, saviors . . . they're all just lies eden creates. ]
You'll just die.
I bet they already killed my mom. They paid her to keep me. But there's no reason to keep her alive. My dad's dead. Anyone who's nice to me, they'll kill.
So it's not worth it. You should save your honour for dragons or whatever.
[ he's not worth anything anymore. just a weapon to be bred and created. ]
[ Well, if he doesn't want to full on lie here, then he can't promise to not die. Even though he's pretty sure the things chasing this kid aren't in this place, Inigo knows it's not like he's totally invincible.
So it's easier to focus on the part that he knows he can say with all honesty. ]
You're worth it to me.
[ He knows that it might sound wild, coming from a total stranger and all, but that's why Inigo does his best to sound confident. To sound genuine. He smiles at the poor kid. ]
Even if I get hurt, that's alright. As long as I can keep you safe, it's worth it to me.
[ that is enough to shake him out of his reverie, wide eyes fixed on inigo. dolph even trembles a little because the weight of it is so much and he's still so young, so desperate. ]
[ Inigo didn't seem to need to think about that answer.
He just says it. Because it's the natural answer to him - because it's what he's been thinking this entire time. He even smiles a little bit at the child as he says it. ]
It probably sounds a little silly, doesn't it? But I mean it.
[ Well, at least this is more familiar territory. Not for great reasons, but.. at the same time Inigo can get why the kid is saying that, or why he must be feeling it. ]
I know. [ His voice is a little softer. Almost a whisper, like it's something that's only meant for the two of them. ] When you're all the way down there.. It's hard to imagine ever feeling like that again. Or even remembering what it felt like. You know, I've been really scared sometimes too that I'd never remember how to be happy again.
They've never going to let me go. They paid for me. Locked me up.
[ dolph just can't see a world where he gets to do anything. to be anything. even his name is stripped away. this is just temporary until eden drags him back, kicking and screaming. ]
It's hard, but don't think about that part right now.
[ Mostly because Inigo knows that what did that to this kid can't do the same thing here, but-- there's no way he can convey that in a way that'll seem believable to the other. Especially when the kid's thoughts keep going back to it.
So, instead-- ]
Instead.. imagine what life would be like without them. The things you could do. The things you'd want to do.
'Of all things', because what immediately comes to mind for Inigo is-- ]
There was a beach here before. Back when I first found myself here. [ He remembers it very well, though mostly because it was.. a very embarrassing affair for him, honestly. But now he kind of wishes it stuck around for once, just so this kid could see it. ] Maybe if we're patient, it'll appear again. And then you can experience it for yourself.
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no subject
[ There's nothing else he can say in the face of the sheer hopelessness radiating from someone who is clearly just a kid. He has to seem confident. He has to seem like a hero - or whatever else he can do to return even the slightest bit of life to the other's eyes. ]
.. have you ever seen a dragon before? Or heard of them?
no subject
I think I've seen them in a storybook.
no subject
It feels a touch reductive, but-- you know, Inigo figures that it works for what he's trying to tell the kid here, so he just nods. ]
Really big ones. In my world there was one so big that it completely blocked out the sky. [ He points up as he talks. ] Whenever you'd look up, all you would be able to see was that dragon.
[ He pauses for a moment, as if to give that statement some more impact, allow it to get processed. ]
And I stopped that dragon. A big, bad dragon like that, one that was planning on destroying the entire world. If I could stop that dragon, then surely I could also stop the people who are being so cruel to you.
no subject
fine. he can indulge this momentarily. until eden comes for him. ]
And how are you going to do that?
no subject
[ That's the truth. ]
With the power of the Divine Dragon Naga on my side.
[ .. that's.. well, it's true in spirit, a little less true in execution. But Inigo is pretty sure Naga would excuse him for saying this sort of thing when he's doing it in order to give a young boy hope. S-She'd get it, right? ]
No matter what has to be done to keep you safe, I will do it. I promise it on my own personal honor.
cw: mentions of abuse, parental death
You'll just die.
I bet they already killed my mom. They paid her to keep me. But there's no reason to keep her alive. My dad's dead. Anyone who's nice to me, they'll kill.
So it's not worth it. You should save your honour for dragons or whatever.
[ he's not worth anything anymore. just a weapon to be bred and created. ]
no subject
So it's easier to focus on the part that he knows he can say with all honesty. ]
You're worth it to me.
[ He knows that it might sound wild, coming from a total stranger and all, but that's why Inigo does his best to sound confident. To sound genuine. He smiles at the poor kid. ]
Even if I get hurt, that's alright. As long as I can keep you safe, it's worth it to me.
no subject
Why? Why is it worth that?
[ it wasn't to anyone else. ]
no subject
[ Inigo didn't seem to need to think about that answer.
He just says it. Because it's the natural answer to him - because it's what he's been thinking this entire time. He even smiles a little bit at the child as he says it. ]
It probably sounds a little silly, doesn't it? But I mean it.
no subject
. . . I don't know how.
They took everything. So I don't know anymore. What it's like to be happy.
no subject
I know. [ His voice is a little softer. Almost a whisper, like it's something that's only meant for the two of them. ] When you're all the way down there.. It's hard to imagine ever feeling like that again. Or even remembering what it felt like. You know, I've been really scared sometimes too that I'd never remember how to be happy again.
no subject
[ dolph just can't see a world where he gets to do anything. to be anything. even his name is stripped away. this is just temporary until eden drags him back, kicking and screaming. ]
no subject
[ Mostly because Inigo knows that what did that to this kid can't do the same thing here, but-- there's no way he can convey that in a way that'll seem believable to the other. Especially when the kid's thoughts keep going back to it.
So, instead-- ]
Instead.. imagine what life would be like without them. The things you could do. The things you'd want to do.
no subject
I . . . used to see a picture outside my window. Of a beach.
I want to see a real one. Someday.
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'Of all things', because what immediately comes to mind for Inigo is-- ]
There was a beach here before. Back when I first found myself here. [ He remembers it very well, though mostly because it was.. a very embarrassing affair for him, honestly. But now he kind of wishes it stuck around for once, just so this kid could see it. ] Maybe if we're patient, it'll appear again. And then you can experience it for yourself.
no subject
I don't have that kind of time. Whatever brought me here . . . it's temporary.