He might not entirely understand it, the way Cole's very identity is fundamentally tied up in a particular attitude towards the world, a particular kind of action he believes he must always take. But Ben doesn't have to get it to believe Cole when he talks about it. If he says he's gotta help to be himself, that must be the way it is. And Cole's right, that some things are worth trying, no matter how painful they may be.
It's just a balance Ben is going to have to work on finding, in the future. The thin line between cowardice and avoiding anything painful even if it's the right thing to do, and on the other side, letting ideas about correct courses of action make him unfeeling and cruel, like his father had been. There has to be a way, to walk between the two without falling...
"But I'm still not going to let you do it alone."
Whether or not Ami is actually possessed by a demon or something and really dangerous, Ben's convinced it would be distressing enough for Cole that he should have somebody there in his corner. Ben doesn't abandon people. It's not his style. He'll have Cole's back, for whatever that's worth.
"That conversation... those were your friends from back home, right? You should tell me more about them. I mean. If you want to."
Now that the matter of Ami is settled (well, not settled, he'll need to arrange a meeting and there's more to follow after that...), Ben is back to his original and primary goal in being here: to spend some time with Cole. And Cole knows all sorts of things about Ben's life, but the reverse isn't true. Ben has bits and pieces, yes, but no more.
He's not the easiest person to get to know, Cole. But it is like he'd said. Hard isn't a good reason not to try.
no subject
He might not entirely understand it, the way Cole's very identity is fundamentally tied up in a particular attitude towards the world, a particular kind of action he believes he must always take. But Ben doesn't have to get it to believe Cole when he talks about it. If he says he's gotta help to be himself, that must be the way it is. And Cole's right, that some things are worth trying, no matter how painful they may be.
It's just a balance Ben is going to have to work on finding, in the future. The thin line between cowardice and avoiding anything painful even if it's the right thing to do, and on the other side, letting ideas about correct courses of action make him unfeeling and cruel, like his father had been. There has to be a way, to walk between the two without falling...
"But I'm still not going to let you do it alone."
Whether or not Ami is actually possessed by a demon or something and really dangerous, Ben's convinced it would be distressing enough for Cole that he should have somebody there in his corner. Ben doesn't abandon people. It's not his style. He'll have Cole's back, for whatever that's worth.
"That conversation... those were your friends from back home, right? You should tell me more about them. I mean. If you want to."
Now that the matter of Ami is settled (well, not settled, he'll need to arrange a meeting and there's more to follow after that...), Ben is back to his original and primary goal in being here: to spend some time with Cole. And Cole knows all sorts of things about Ben's life, but the reverse isn't true. Ben has bits and pieces, yes, but no more.
He's not the easiest person to get to know, Cole. But it is like he'd said. Hard isn't a good reason not to try.