[ AUDIENCE: BRADLEY BAIN ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[darksubverted]

[The smile makes him feel a little silly. Not in a bad way. It just feels like the smile an adult gives you when you both know you've been a big dumb.]

I know... Before... I probably would have considered it.

[battling]

[Gentle curiosity.]

Tryin' to use magic to change the past?

[darksubverted]

[He shakes his head.]

Just... changing the past in general.

[battling]

Somethin' everybody wants to change.

[ The tiniest pang of betrayal.

A small shrug of his shoulders. ]

's better to learn and move forward.

[darksubverted]

[For a long moment, he peers at Bradley. There's curiosity, but a hesitation to pry.]

You're right.

[battling]

[He smiles back.]

Ya can ask, if you're interested.

[darksubverted]

[It feels intrusive, inappropriate. He glances down, and then back up again.]

The memory I saw before...?

[battling]

[It's not something either Nero or Bradley like to acknowledge. Nero because he pretends they've never met.

Bradley, however, clearly still loves this man, even if there's an edge of complication there.]

Yeah. When we were younger I didn't understand what he meant. Nero didn't understand how special he was to me.

[It's not resentment, just resignment. The past is an unchanging thing. Change... for the better. Or try to.]

So he chose what felt like his only option.

[Get Bradley caught, send him to prison. He can't die if he's there, right?]

[darksubverted]

[Hmm. His lips pull into a thin frown. It hits home a little bit actually. More than he'd like to admit.

He looks away.]

Are you mad?

[battling]

[Did Riku feel an hint of anger in here?

He did not.]

Nah. Can't be mad at him for doin' what he thought was right.

[darksubverted]

[LOOK, no, but he was worried about Sora being mad!!! SO clearly Bradley can be mad maybe.]

Even if... it was something that hurt you?

[battling]

[He could be mad.

He's not. There's nothing here but love and affection.]

I hurt him a lot, without meanin' to.

[This is fair, isn't it? A hurt for a hurt.]

He was just... worried, in the end.

[darksubverted]

[Something pings from him--surprise and understanding. The expression on his face softens a bit.]

I get it.

[battling]

[A little smile in response- understanding, familiarity.]

No wonder I ended up in yer dorm.

[darksubverted]

You're all probably there for a reason, yeah.

[Even though Bradley is almost a strange outlier.

Sometimes you're a soft criminal.]

[battling]

[ He'll complain so much if he's called out for his softness. ]

Go rest. Been a long ass weekend.

Just wanted to check in on ya after all of that.

[ His emotions are probably a little less chaotic than Fall as a whole. Just fond protectiveness now. ]

[darksubverted]

[Oh. Same hat! That's why fall dorm.]

I know.

[The worst part of being tired is after all the adrenaline has worn off. Like right now.]

Thanks, Bradley. I'll be okay.