bondsofsuffering | limelight

Obviously not.

That'd make you the first person today.

I can see what they're thinking, but it's for practical reasons, too.

I'm guessing you don't suddenly remember your life with them, right?

[ sighs ]

No. Nothing.

Then why should you be expected to uproot your whole life and go with them when everyone and everything you know is right here?

You'd be starting from scratch all over again, surrounded by unfamiliar people who don't know a thing about who you've become since you washed up here.

Isn't that just being cruel to you?

[ gonna stop pacing and ]

Edited 2025-04-06 20:24 (UTC)

[ go over and hug him actually ]

Gods, even Nettle was like, obviously you're gonna want to go with them, River, gonna miss you, River, isn't that your name, River. I don't know, maybe Aloe's thinking that too. Maybe that is the normal thing to want.

And after I was like, no, why would I want that, was all like...they're super nice people, and they love you, and you shouldn't be shitty about them loving you — when they don't even know me.

[Oh.

Holding him in return, tight and warm.]

...

I think it's worth getting to know them. Especially if they care about you as much as they claim. But asking you to move in with people who, to you, are complete strangers? That's way too much.

...

Also, if Aloe and Nettle are going to be cowards about it, I'll be the selfish one who kicks up a fuss because I don't want you leaving.

[ a little laugh ]

...Aloe probably doesn't, either. Nettle definitely doesn't. And I get it. He got spooked and figured I was just gonna, and then like...wishes his parents were more like those people. Trust me, I wish his parents weren't super assholes, too.

But them being nice or whatever doesn't mean that they get to just, like, start being my parents.

Maybe after a lot of talking and getting to know each other again, but not after one night.

You're a person, not a plushie they're just grabbing from the lost and found.

And they're so...

[ sighs ]

They really are nice. They were mega understanding about basically everything I had to say. If you said what you just told me to them, they'd totally agree. It kind of makes me feel crazy.

-What, just like that? No tears or struggle or anything?

They'd just say things like, "we knew this wasn't going to be easy," and "you can adjust for as long as you need," and "we'll accept you no matter what," and...

...Are you sure they weren't grown in a lab??

[ BURSTS OUT LAUGHING ]

Honestly? If we were on the earth from my memories, I'd be 100% they're monsters. Only people about to kill you act that nice.

[Snickering.]

Hopefully they really are that nice! But it sounds super weird, you gotta admit.

It was super weird. I literally yelled at them, and nothing.

-Wait, seriously?

Seriously. They were just like, sorry, no, we looked really hard. And super understanding when I apologized.

It makes me feel...bad.

I mean... it's kind of a lot to have amnesia and then have people suddenly telling you they're your parents out of nowhere.

Not just that. Like...

[ hesitates ]

Do you remember when we first met? I never would've yelled at anyone for anything. I never really got mad. I couldn't see a reason to ever hate anyone. I definitely never wanted to kill anyone. I didn't have any memories of fighting. Or dying. Or wishing I had. I didn't have any reason to think I wasn't human. I was different.

They don't know any of that. They wouldn't even begin to understand it. The boat is just some stupid fun thing to them. The memories aren't real. Around them, it's just me that's all — messed up, inside.

[He listens, though at the end he's quick to answer:]

I know.

Even if you had been exactly the same as you were before when you got amnesia, between that and the events of the ship, you're not the son they remember. Chances are, you never will be, either.

That one, I can relate to, a little. My parents don't know, and I'm sure they wouldn't get it even if I tried to explain it to them. But even I've changed far less than you.

limelight_stage IC Contact;

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