«We Could Be Legends»

[Cluckcluck1215]

"We've all killed before, Wolfram, and it was all in the name of the greater good," Ash interjected with soft compassion. Seeing someone at this extreme low of mental state was bringing back violent memories and she was finding it her duty to help bring him past it. If he failed to recover from his emotionally draining kill, they'd all be at an even greater risk. "In my case, my parents were killed off exclusively because of me. My sister..."
Her throat clogged and she knew with certainty that she couldn't continue on with this evocative conversation. Hating that she'd failed so quickly, she dipped her head to him and forced her due gratitude out in a croak. "Thank you for saving my niece. I will personally forever appreciate the sacrifice you made."

Sympathy.
If there was one thing that made Wolfram freeze, was genuine sympathy. One half of him wanted it so badly it hurt, and the other half despised it with passion. Why Ash's words tore him apart, he didn't know. "Why bother?" He croaked dully, heaving his shoulders with a shrug. "What good was saving her anyway? We're all going to die sooner or later. Mapleshade'll kill us all before we know it. We're nothing but prey being hunted. We can only run for so long. You could consider yourself lucky to be the first one or two picked off. To be one of the last is torture, watching everyone you care about get picked off and murdured like rabbits." He leaned against Jenna's minivan, as if to exhausted to even hold his own weight any longer. He lifted his head to look her in the eye, his face utterly drained of all emotion. "It's only a matter of time now."

 

[Amer]

Sympathy.
If there was one thing that made Wolfram freeze, was genuine sympathy. One half of him wanted it so badly it hurt, and the other half despised it with passion. Why Ash's words tore him apart, he didn't know. "Why bother?" He croaked dully, heaving his shoulders with a shrug. "What good was saving her anyway? We're all going to die sooner or later. Mapleshade'll kill us all before we know it. We're nothing but prey being hunted. We can only run for so long. You could consider yourself lucky to be the first one or two picked off. To be one of the last is torture, watching everyone you care about get picked off and murdured like rabbits." He leaned against Jenna's minivan, as if to exhausted to even hold his own weight any longer. He lifted his head to look her in the eye, his face utterly drained of all emotion. "It's only a matter of time now."

(Yes Misty. Murdered like rabbits)
Sherri closed her eyes and emphasized, if only in her mind. Sure he was hateful, and did things without thinking, but he still hurt. She didn't like him, but whether out of fear or sympathy, she didn't provoke him.

 

[HeavensHens88]

Sympathy.
If there was one thing that made Wolfram freeze, was genuine sympathy. One half of him wanted it so badly it hurt, and the other half despised it with passion. Why Ash's words tore him apart, he didn't know. "Why bother?" He croaked dully, heaving his shoulders with a shrug. "What good was saving her anyway? We're all going to die sooner or later. Mapleshade'll kill us all before we know it. We're nothing but prey being hunted. We can only run for so long. You could consider yourself lucky to be the first one or two picked off. To be one of the last is torture, watching everyone you care about get picked off and murdured like rabbits." He leaned against Jenna's minivan, as if to exhausted to even hold his own weight any longer. He lifted his head to look her in the eye, his face utterly drained of all emotion. "It's only a matter of time now."

"If you defeat yourself before the war begins, then you have no chance at victory," Ash murmured pointedly. "I chose to stand firm in my faith that optimism can save when all defenses have fallen. That's why you bothered, even if you want to believe this is hopeless."
Her eyes were watering, but now she wasn't even sure of what to blame for the tears. Perhaps it was that she was seeing a promising young man who'd let himself die before his physical heart gave out; maybe it was that he was forcing her to accept their unanimous end.
No. We all need to remember that we've done this before and can do this now.
"But we've overcome the insurmountable before, Wolfram." She lifted her head, in turn fixing a searching gaze on each of the other adults present. She needed them to help her raise morale as only they who'd prevailed could.
"As the bunch we are, I think we may just have chances yet...even against your lovely Mapleshade."

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

"If you defeat yourself before the war begins, then you have no chance at victory," Ash murmured pointedly. "I chose to stand firm in my faith that optimism can save when all defenses have fallen. That's why you bothered, even if you want to believe this is hopeless."
Her eyes were watering, but now she wasn't even sure of what to blame for the tears. Perhaps it was that she was seeing a promising young man who'd let himself die before his physical heart gave out; maybe it was that he was forcing her to accept their unanimous end.
No. We all need to remember that we've done this before and can do this now.
"But we've overcome the insurmountable before, Wolfram." She lifted her head, in turn fixing a searching gaze on each of the other adults present. She needed them to help her raise morale as only they who'd prevailed could.
"As the bunch we are, I think we may just have chances yet...even against your lovely Mapleshade."

"Chances? Victory? Against Mapleshade?" Wolfram gave a soft snort of what could have been amusement, if he didn't look half-dead. "She defeated us one time, she can do it again. She's incredibly powerful. A silent killer. Even of you hold a gun to her head she'll still find a way to defeat you." He muttered. He leaned back even farther against the minivan, his dull gaze on Ash. "I wish I could believe you. I wish I could believe we could truly rid of Mapleshade. But I can't...I've seen her fight. There's no way. She has to many people on her side, and she's to strong." He pulled his hands to his head, giving a sigh of defeat. I want to believe you so badly...but I've seen the damage she causes... "Please just tell me this is a nightmare. Please."

 

[Thing2]

"He...he was going to k-kill A-Alice. I couldn't let her die. I couldn't. I wasn't going to kill him...but the voices....the voices...they forced me...they forced me to do it....I didn't want to....he was still my father...I still love him...but that voice controlled me...." Wolfram couldn't meet her gaze. He took a step back, eyes wild like a trapped animal. It's to much...it's just a nightmare, it's just a nightmare! I'll wake up soon...it's all fake...he's not dead...moms not dead...everything is going to be fine, it's going to be fine! It's just a nightmare!

Sympathy.
If there was one thing that made Wolfram freeze, was genuine sympathy. One half of him wanted it so badly it hurt, and the other half despised it with passion. Why Ash's words tore him apart, he didn't know. "Why bother?" He croaked dully, heaving his shoulders with a shrug. "What good was saving her anyway? We're all going to die sooner or later. Mapleshade'll kill us all before we know it. We're nothing but prey being hunted. We can only run for so long. You could consider yourself lucky to be the first one or two picked off. To be one of the last is torture, watching everyone you care about get picked off and murdured like rabbits." He leaned against Jenna's minivan, as if to exhausted to even hold his own weight any longer. He lifted his head to look her in the eye, his face utterly drained of all emotion. "It's only a matter of time now."

"If you defeat yourself before the war begins, then you have no chance at victory," Ash murmured pointedly. "I chose to stand firm in my faith that optimism can save when all defenses have fallen. That's why you bothered, even if you want to believe this is hopeless."
Her eyes were watering, but now she wasn't even sure of what to blame for the tears. Perhaps it was that she was seeing a promising young man who'd let himself die before his physical heart gave out; maybe it was that he was forcing her to accept their unanimous end.
No. We all need to remember that we've done this before and can do this now.
"But we've overcome the insurmountable before, Wolfram." She lifted her head, in turn fixing a searching gaze on each of the other adults present. She needed them to help her raise morale as only they who'd prevailed could.
"As the bunch we are, I think we may just have chances yet...even against your lovely Mapleshade."

"Chances? Victory? Against Mapleshade?" Wolfram gave a soft snort of what could have been amusement, if he didn't look half-dead. "She defeated us one time, she can do it again. She's incredibly powerful. A silent killer. Even of you hold a gun to her head she'll still find a way to defeat you." He muttered. He leaned back even farther against the minivan, his dull gaze on Ash. "I wish I could believe you. I wish I could believe we could truly rid of Mapleshade. But I can't...I've seen her fight. There's no way. She has to many people on her side, and she's to strong." He pulled his hands to his head, giving a sigh of defeat. I want to believe you so badly...but I've seen the damage she causes... "Please just tell me this is a nightmare. Please."

Brisa nodded in agreement with Ash. “Wolfram, you saved a life. That’s an amazing thing. That’s the kind of act legends and great stories are written about. You have nothing to be ashamed of, trust me. You’re incredibly brave.” She took a deep breath and glanced around at the others. “It’s okay to break. Everyone here is broken in one way or another. But we all care for each other and would do anything for each other. You’ve just demonstrated that. Are the Pure that close? Do they have that determination? No, they don’t. Plus, we’re Inhuman and they aren’t, which gives us a significant advantage.” She thought for a second before bursting out, “You know what? I pity Mapleshade! No one loves her and she loves no one. It must be miserable to live in a world of such hate.”

 

[RiverStorm]

Wolfram shook his head frantically, eyes flickering over everything. The vans, Lachlan, Ash, Conner, Brisa...and to his disappointment not Bleddyn. He looked back to Lachlan, meeting his friends intense green eyes. "M-Mapleshade and...M-Michael and the rest of t-the P-pure attacked u-us...a-and..." He paused for a heartbeat, his eyes drifting back to the vans with a look of both fear and guilt. "...a-and...they-they...I....I..." He choked on his own words, unable to speak coherently. He felt trapped, like he was suffocating, even in the open space. Like a injured animal, trapped in a cage, frightened and filled with rage. He took a step away from Lachlan, stuttering incoherent sentences, a haunted look filling his eyes. "They're going to kill us because I killed him!"

"No, no, no....that...this...is this worst thing I-I could h-have ever d-done.....t-they s-should hate m-me. I killed someone, Brisa!" He was trembling slightly, from what he wasn't sure. Cold. Grief. Pain. Fear. All of it? He couldn't tell. He didn't even care at that point. "I s-should never h-have killed h-him..."

"Hey, hey..." Oh man, oh man, oh man. Lachlan swallowed, stepping a little closer to peer into Wolfram's dulled eyes. "Listen, no one here will die, got it? You saved Alice, you didn't have a choice, Wolfram."

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Brisa nodded in agreement with Ash. “Wolfram, you saved a life. That’s an amazing thing. That’s the kind of act legends and great stories are written about. You have nothing to be ashamed of, trust me. You’re incredibly brave.” She took a deep breath and glanced around at the others. “It’s okay to break. Everyone here is broken in one way or another. But we all care for each other and would do anything for each other. You’ve just demonstrated that. Are the Pure that close? Do they have that determination? No, they don’t. Plus, we’re Inhuman and they aren’t, which gives us a significant advantage.” She thought for a second before bursting out, “You know what? I pity Mapleshade! No one loves her and she loves no one. It must be miserable to live in a world of such hate.”

"Hey, hey..." Oh man, oh man, oh man. Lachlan swallowed, stepping a little closer to peer into Wolfram's dulled eyes. "Listen, no one here will die, got it? You saved Alice, you didn't have a choice, Wolfram."

"Lies, lies, lies!" Wolfram yelped, eyes flickering from Lachlan to Brisa and back again. "We don't have a advantage, Brisa! They have guns, and poison darts, and many more people then us! What do we have? Hardly anything compared to them!" He whipped his gaze back to Lachlan. "Again, lies! People have already died. Thomas, Tayn, Michael, Silver. And probably so many more we don't know about!"

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Jessi watched Wolfram. She was conflicted. On one hand she felt bad for him, but on the other hand she didn't like him, and didn't care what he was going through. He's a total jerk. But no one should have to kill their father. Not even him. He seems to be all bark no bite. Her wing twitched. She heard Toby yelling on the phone, and found it very amusing. Yup, he's totally crushing on her. But then again, who wouldn't?
"Wolfram, I am terribly sorry for what happened. There was nothing you could have done. Yes, we may fail. But we will not know until we try. The longer we sit around not doing anything, the bigger the head start the Pure get. Would you rather die curled up in the corner, or die trying to save the world? That is your choice, but whatever you decide to do, we must do it now." Jenna said softly, but sternly.

 

[Thing2]

"Lies, lies, lies!" Wolfram yelped, eyes flickering from Lachlan to Brisa and back again. "We don't have a advantage, Brisa! They have guns, and poison darts, and many more people then us! What do we have? Hardly anything compared to them!" He whipped his gaze back to Lachlan. "Again, lies! People have already died. Thomas, Tayn, Michael, Silver. And probably so many more we don't know about!"

Jessi watched Wolfram. She was conflicted. On one hand she felt bad for him, but on the other hand she didn't like him, and didn't care what he was going through. He's a total jerk. But no one should have to kill their father. Not even him. He seems to be all bark no bite. Her wing twitched. She heard Toby yelling on the phone, and found it very amusing. Yup, he's totally crushing on her. But then again, who wouldn't?
"Wolfram, I am terribly sorry for what happened. There was nothing you could have done. Yes, we may fail. But we will not know until we try. The longer we sit around not doing anything, the bigger the head start the Pure get. Would you rather die curled up in the corner, or die trying to save the world? That is your choice, but whatever you decide to do, we must do it now." Jenna said softly, but sternly.

“Also, aside from lethal powers, we also have a good amount of highly lethal people on our side. And we’ve beaten the Pure three times now. The only time that they won was when they caught us off guard, and you know that’s true. No, we can’t make sure that no one else dies if we fight. But we don’t have any choice in the matter, really. Either we win or an entire race dies.” She said.

 

[HeavensHens88]

"Chances? Victory? Against Mapleshade?" Wolfram gave a soft snort of what could have been amusement, if he didn't look half-dead. "She defeated us one time, she can do it again. She's incredibly powerful. A silent killer. Even of you hold a gun to her head she'll still find a way to defeat you." He muttered. He leaned back even farther against the minivan, his dull gaze on Ash. "I wish I could believe you. I wish I could believe we could truly rid of Mapleshade. But I can't...I've seen her fight. There's no way. She has to many people on her side, and she's to strong." He pulled his hands to his head, giving a sigh of defeat. I want to believe you so badly...but I've seen the damage she causes... "Please just tell me this is a nightmare. Please."

Brisa nodded in agreement with Ash. “Wolfram, you saved a life. That’s an amazing thing. That’s the kind of act legends and great stories are written about. You have nothing to be ashamed of, trust me. You’re incredibly brave.” She took a deep breath and glanced around at the others. “It’s okay to break. Everyone here is broken in one way or another. But we all care for each other and would do anything for each other. You’ve just demonstrated that. Are the Pure that close? Do they have that determination? No, they don’t. Plus, we’re Inhuman and they aren’t, which gives us a significant advantage.” She thought for a second before bursting out, “You know what? I pity Mapleshade! No one loves her and she loves no one. It must be miserable to live in a world of such hate.”

"Lies, lies, lies!" Wolfram yelped, eyes flickering from Lachlan to Brisa and back again. "We don't have a advantage, Brisa! They have guns, and poison darts, and many more people then us! What do we have? Hardly anything compared to them!" He whipped his gaze back to Lachlan. "Again, lies! People have already died. Thomas, Tayn, Michael, Silver. And probably so many more we don't know about!"

“Also, aside from lethal powers, we also have a good amount of highly lethal people on our side. And we’ve beaten the Pure three times now. The only time that they won was when they caught us off guard, and you know that’s true. No, we can’t make sure that no one else dies if we fight. But we don’t have any choice in the matter, really. Either we win or an entire race dies.” She said.

"You know what we have, Wolfram?" Ash broke in quietly. "We have heart. And how do I know heart works? Because I've lived all 34 years of my life being witness to the strength of empowering determination and know that mere abstract mentalities are a force to be dang reckoned with." She brushed aside obscuring strands of her own hair and looked at him for a long emphatic while. Oh, how could they all relate to the broken boy. "I know you're hurting and rightfully so, but please don't let yourself be subjugated by the very thing that could save you. We need you too much for that."

"Kid, I don't know what's going to mollify you, but you just keep condemning yourself with your negativity," Connor added in an mildly irked undertone. He gestured around at the group with a wide sweep of his arm. "Do you want us all to die? No matter what we've lost, I, for one, think we've all got still something to live for, and that's not excluding you."