FORCED HONESTY

[monster_san]

1. Post your character
2. Post to other characters: ask questions! Give unsolicited opinions! Confess!
3. Everything must be honest! No lies here.

Comments

[kanadian]

That's the Scarab!

That's not you -- and -- and I don't want to see you not be there! Unlike this world, you don't come back from indoctrination.

[khajidont]

I know, I know, but you were saying for your sake or my sake, right? Because if I got indoctrinated, I'd be a threat, with my powers. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't necessarily be, I could be like, a secret weapon, or something.

[kanadian]

But it's not --

It can hit any of us. I mean, it only takes one time, to lose yourself.

[khajidont]

I know that.

Don't you know that's why I want to help in the first place? If it can hit anyone, it can hit you. You're already dead in one universe -- I don't want you dead in this one too.

[kanadian]

Jaime...

[ Little bro... :c ]

I'm a Marine. I've -- I've almost died more times than I can count. That's what I enlisted for, so that other people don't have to.

[khajidont]

I don't care!

[Usually he's not so blunt, but... well, when they're forced to be honest, this is what happens.]

Why do people keep on saying that like I care, like just 'cause they signed up for a risky job, I'm supposed to be okay with them dying? Like because they decided to do something good by helping people, all of a sudden, dying is okay? I signed up to do what I do, but nobody let me say that dying was okay.

[Even when it seemed like it would be the best option, he had promised that he'd try something else.]

I'm tired of people saying that they signed up for it like an excuse. For once, I want to be able to stop it. That's all.

[kanadian]

What if we don't want you to? What if we -- What if seeing you die in our place isn't any better?

It's not an excuse, but I've made my peace with my decision. I've had years of training and battlefield experience to back it up. I'm a Spectre, for god's sake -- the second human in the galaxy to even get the title. I know what I'm doing, Jaime.

But you're -- I was your age when I had just killed my first man, and went through my first training -- and I didn't know anything about making decisions, and if someone let me do what you want to do? I'd never forgive them if something had happened -- hell, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself now. If you died? I don't know if I could move on like I could for another Marine.

[khajidont]

So then neither of us wanna see the other one gone. But you can't treat me like I'm some sort of kid either, Kaidan, because I'm not. I'm willing to bet that I've done more and seen more than you did, when you were my age.

My hands aren't exactly clean either. And if they're not... then I'd at least like to be able to protect the people that matter.

[kanadian]

Oh, I'd believe it.

That doesn't mean -- I can't be complacent, either. I mean, we're both stubborn enough that... [ A half-sad smile. ] I'm pretty sure you'd do it whether I approved or not. But... I can barely handle it when Shepard gets into these messes, if I have two of you to worry over, I'm not going to be the same when this is all over with.

[khajidont]

Yeah. I'd prefer it if you approved of it, though. It'd be better for us both. I just... nobody's gonna be the same after what you have to deal with is over with. I just want you to be alive at the end of it. And not just you either, Kaidan; I care about Shepard and Kasumi too.

It's dumb that a universe with so many good people in it has to face something like what you guys are facing.

[kanadian]

Maybe it is dumb, but...

We wouldn't be the same people, if we didn't, you know.

But I... I can't like it, you know. I understand it, but... you can't go out there without a little more hardcore training -- believe me, the galaxy... it's got a way of throwing surprises at you.

[khajidont]

Well... you're my trainer, aren't you?

[kanadian]

I've...trained a lot of Marines, Jaime.

I could always...amp things up.

[khajidont]

I won't say no. You already know that I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done to get better, don't you? No matter where I end up.

[kanadian]

Yeah.

I guess that's on me, isn't it? To, ah, make sure you're ready.