[IC]

[thexfactor]

[ time to mortal kombat our morals ]

Comments

[wingtamer]

[ so you can't mindfuck me of course ]

[ looks a little surprised miles didn't press, but! yes good. ]

Of course!

[ well actually he kind of didn't want to but he's also agreeable to a compromise ]

[thexfactor]

Flame. We do our best to survive. Is that clear?

[wingtamer]

. . . Yes. That's clear.

But—there are certain things I can't give up.

[thexfactor]

Like what?

[wingtamer]

My bonds—my memories. . .

[ dark, his mother, harada-san, riku-san . . . his teammates, either. especially not that; he's let them go through it once, and he doesn't want that to happen again ]

[thexfactor]

Flame, if we don't give up something big enough, they will make me kill you.

[wingtamer]

Those things are far more valuable than my own life is. I can give up anything besides that.

[ EXCEPT MAYBE LIKE. . . EMOTIONS? actually fuck it I could put that on the line too ]

[thexfactor]

But you're putting me in that position. It's not just you.

[wingtamer]

[ . . . oh yes. oh yes I am being selfish again ]

What do you propose?

[thexfactor]

We both give up something large enough to counter the need for death.

[wingtamer]

I understand that.

[ lips pressed together into a thin line; he really, really doesn't want to give up his memories or bonds—they're, in his opinion, more important than his own life. but if he had to choose something that was most important to him to give up—he could. . . maybe, his memories. ]

[thexfactor]

I could . . . give up my memories.

[ exhales ] I could give up Blade.

[wingtamer]

—you—you can't do that!

[ BLADE IS DEFINITELY NOT LESS IMPORTANT THAN ME? IN FACT BLADE IS 500% MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME THIS IS NOT OKAY ]

[thexfactor]

That's enough. You cannot treat your life as disposable! It's insulting. It's insulting to you and it's insulting to me.

[wingtamer]

I'm sorry! I'm not trying to do that! It's not as if I think of my life as disposable, but that's—!

[ LIKE, I CAN'T ASK YOU TO GIVE UP SOMEONE YOU'RE DATING WHO I PRESUME TO BE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PERSON PROBABLY?? that's how romance works right ]

[thexfactor]

[ inhales, trying to calm down ]

We've done it before, we can do it again.

[wingtamer]

I'm sorry, but I don't want my own life to be saved at the expense of your relationship—! Call it feeling my life is disposable, but isn't it the same to offer that up—?

[thexfactor]

I've heard enough. It's happening, whether you agree or not.

[wingtamer]

[ HUFFS ]

[ i'm going to tell eveningstar on you ]

[thexfactor]

[ tough ]

[wingtamer]

[ telling blade on you too. ]

[thexfactor]

I can hear that.

[wingtamer]

I know you can.

[ petulantly ]

[thexfactor]

A life is just as important.

[wingtamer]

[ unable to wrap his mind around the concept that he is that important tbh ]

[ not so much that he puts himself down or anything but more like that is your love???? i don't understand ]

[ this must be one of those choice and agency things :I ]

If you think so.

[ resigned, if only to the fact that he can't change miles' mind ]

[thexfactor]

I've loved him before. It can happen again.

[wingtamer]

[ he doesn't have any doubt of that ]

[ but he is incredibly concerned for blade's sake. is that something you can ask of him to endure? ]

[thexfactor]

Blade can manage.

[wingtamer]

[ well okay. ]

[ is entirely too scared of hurting people again with having to reforge bonds and also entirely too scared of losing those bonds to even be marginally be okay with this ]

[ but you do what you do man. i'll just sulk here ]

[thexfactor]

A bond doesn't go away just because it's forgotten.

[wingtamer]

It doesn't.

[ a beat ]

But it hurts, too.

[ remembering capgras syndrome and hurting eveningstar when he vehemently denied even being her teammate and also remembering eveningstar not being able to recognize him

it sucked ]

[thexfactor]

I'm not saying it doesn't.

[wingtamer]

[ i feel like i'm mentally freaking out over this more than you are though ]

[thexfactor]

[ it's a rough life ]