[There's a pause from him, because man...something about that rubs him the wrong way. It doesn't go along with his memories. Sure, he doesn't remember much about Crow, but from what he did...]
If he was just an illusion, why would he help with the concert?
I know I'm not the easiest to work with, my expectations are very high. And I'm sure my other self is the same way. So why would he put up with that?
[It's a good question, and one Crow has to pause to think about. Honestly, if Elliot hadn't, he would've sunk into that quicksand of resentment towards his past self. Not that he's not already doing that...but someone's pulling him up to keep his head above it.]
Um, I don't think taking part of a concert that'd be performed in front of lots of people is how you keep a low profile.
[Just. Saying.]
Look...my other self went through some bad things in the war. He had to live in hiding, fight off giant monsters, got separated from his family, saw a town he knew destroyed ... and that's only from the fragments I remember. I'm sure there's more.
If the other Crow did have a hand in starting that war ... Elliot would've plenty of good reasons to hold a grudge against him. But he didn't. I just remember missing him.
And I don't think he was naive enough to feel that if it was all a lie.
[He wants to believe all of that so badly. It makes it seem like the whole terrorist spiel was a big misunderstanding. That Crow had his reasons and may have even been noble in some people's eyes.
But his voice, how downright awful it sounded. It makes it hard to cling to that hope. Especially when harsh reality hit him in the face.]
My past self hesitated
Rean asked him if it was all a lie, and he hesitated
It's a nice thought, thinking that I'd just gotten off the path and needed to be brought back. But a traitor is still a traitor
Especially when he was given opportunity to turn back
[... Elliot's making some pretty good points. He doesn't know the whole story. Maybe there was a reason for all of it.
He didn't know.]
I know
[Deep down, he did. That Crow is not him. He didn't physically do any of what his memories are telling him. But unfortunately, this life is shoving all the responsibility of his actions onto him.]
But it doesn't take the weight off of everything that simply
Guess the origin story doesn't really matter, anyway. You and I both know how that story ended, with my scar and all
[He's not even sure what to think about himself at this point. Sure, Elliot made sense, perfect sense in that his life was his own, and it wasn't tied to his previous one.
But he can't entirely rule out that souls just erase everything. Elliot might find it that simple, but Elliot wasn't the terrorist here.
He bites his lip.]
Heh, still helping out with your music a lifetime later
[Except this time, it was real. He...hoped it was real, at least.]
[Should Elliot send anything else, it'll just be left on read. Someone's gone to sleep...or..I guess its more accurately described as 'lying down in bed'.
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For what it's worth, I do remember my other self missing you.
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Guess you just never really know yourself up until the bomb drops
[But that last line catches him, and he tries to reason it out in his head.]
He was missing an illusion, Elliot. A mirage.
My other self hid his true colours pretty damn well...even had me fooled
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If he was just an illusion, why would he help with the concert?
I know I'm not the easiest to work with, my expectations are very high. And I'm sure my other self is the same way. So why would he put up with that?
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I
To keep a low profile?
That was his game plan
[Even in text, his answer isn't confident.]
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[Just. Saying.]
Look...my other self went through some bad things in the war. He had to live in hiding, fight off giant monsters, got separated from his family, saw a town he knew destroyed ... and that's only from the fragments I remember. I'm sure there's more.
If the other Crow did have a hand in starting that war ... Elliot would've plenty of good reasons to hold a grudge against him. But he didn't. I just remember missing him.
And I don't think he was naive enough to feel that if it was all a lie.
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But his voice, how downright awful it sounded. It makes it hard to cling to that hope. Especially when harsh reality hit him in the face.]
My past self hesitated
Rean asked him if it was all a lie, and he hesitated
It's a nice thought, thinking that I'd just gotten off the path and needed to be brought back. But a traitor is still a traitor
Especially when he was given opportunity to turn back
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Isn't that up to the ones he betrayed to decide? If a "traitor's still a traitor" or not?
You don't remember everything that led him to that point, I bet. He wasn't just "born evil".
And...even if he was, his life doesn't have any bearing on yours now. You're still my friend.
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He didn't know.]
I know
[Deep down, he did. That Crow is not him. He didn't physically do any of what his memories are telling him. But unfortunately, this life is shoving all the responsibility of his actions onto him.]
But it doesn't take the weight off of everything that simply
Guess the origin story doesn't really matter, anyway. You and I both know how that story ended, with my scar and all
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That scar is bad...but it didn't look like an injury Rean or I could've done, so I don't think it was us getting back at you.
[A scar from Rean's sword would've been smaller, and Elliot fought with bubbles man. Bubbles. ]
And you might feel that way. But for me? It's that simple.
You're not the first person I've known to have done bad things in their memories.
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[Or in his case, robot satan's tail.]
So you're saying none of this has any bearing on how things are now
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[oh my god he really is C if he uses that line.]
...Though I should probably let you know, I definitely remember a lot of the class finding those hammer of justice lines cheesy.
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But no seriously, Crow hesitates again, Eren himself being a thoroughly convincing argument all on his own.
Hell, he knows some of Eren's memories, and he's never looked down on him for it. Teased, but that's all it was. Teasing.]
Wish I could say the same for me. It's hard when it's your own voice saying it
[A pause, before a quick, definitely Crow-like argument.]
It's aesthetic
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I don't want you thinking I'm gonna be some "hammer of justice" against you. Or that you shouldn't be near me.
[...ugh okay typing Hammer of Justice sounded so corny]
Right well, usually you're great with aesthetics. You know I love your style. But maybe your aesthetic skills aren't cut out for terrorism...?
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[It sounds so hollow, even in text.]
Guess I just need time to think it all over
[Though, Elliot's final comment gets a small smile out of him.]
You're saying I suck poetically, aren't you
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Hmm, not exactly? More...we both do better work together than when we go solo.
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[He's not even sure what to think about himself at this point. Sure, Elliot made sense, perfect sense in that his life was his own, and it wasn't tied to his previous one.
But he can't entirely rule out that souls just erase everything. Elliot might find it that simple, but Elliot wasn't the terrorist here.
He bites his lip.]
Heh, still helping out with your music a lifetime later
[Except this time, it was real. He...hoped it was real, at least.]
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So don't go disappearing on me, okay?
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I won't leave the chat like Rean
[He's not a drama queen.]
I just need time
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If you need anything, I'm here.
[Also will totally hunt you down if you go silent TOO long]
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[Should Elliot send anything else, it'll just be left on read. Someone's gone to sleep...or..I guess its more accurately described as 'lying down in bed'.
Sleep isn't going to happen.]