devoutish | IC contact for snowblindrpg

No, it's a bit different with him, I think. He punishes himself. Watson does the same. But you don't, do you.

No. I did once, but- that was before I 'committed to the bit', so to speak. But I didn't know then if something was forcing my hand or if I was just evil.

I still don't understand the point of beating yourself up for something you couldn't stop. It's not like Al or Watson are the ones doing terrible things to people, unless they're actually forced.

But surely you've got some understanding of the mindset, if you used to have it yourself.

I was never as bad as they were. I felt bad, sure- terrible. But it wasn't like I failed to stop a murder, or didn't keep people from getting hurt. I killed someone without even thinking about it and realized what I'd done when the blood was on my hands.

A lot like the brainwashing here, but there wasn't anything back home but me and my ability.

So of course I get why John felt bad after that one night when people got randomly murderous, but when it's just that you didn't protect someone? No one can do everything. I guess it's just an amplified version of the same idea, though.

You understand, then, even if you think they're being fucking idiots about it.

[Or maybe a bit less on-the-nose than that, Alfie.]

Ha. Yeah, okay. I guess that's true. At least I managed to talk Al down from blaming himself for the whole convert thing. He understood what I was saying, too.

Not sure if John'll ever stop martyring himself, but maybe? He is reasonable sometimes.

Did it really work with Al? Has he changed his behavior, going forward from that?

Yeah, it did. I mean, he hasn't been brainwashed since then, so I don't know if it'll come up again, but he hasn't been as hard on himself as he used to be. Showing it to him from the perspective of him not accepting the reality of the situation has made him more thoughtful about it.

And if it's not a kneejerk response, he's a really reasonable guy.

[ At the very least, it's a lot less exhausting on Gabriel's end. ]

Huh.

[That Al had listened is a surprise to Alfie, but not an unpleasant one.]

Yeah, he's not a bad kid. Bit annoying, bit of a know-it-all, but--

[ Gabriel laughs lightly, and the fondness comes back into his voice. ] Yeah, he is. But most of it's earned. He and his brother studied science for years- since he was five, I think. He has a real trust in it. Really helps with being able to talk to him.

Well, that and he's had his principles tested a lot. Makes him think about what he's doing more. Kid's probably more mature than half the adults in this town, honestly.

[ And yeah, that definitely includes himself. ]

That's not the sort of impression I've gotten from him at all.

Why's that? Something happen between you two? Or is it just his stubborn optimism?

A bit of this, a bit of that. Nothing too terrible.

[And nothing he plans to recount in detail to Sylar.]

Well, as long as it's not too terrible. I mean, I know how people can change here better than anyone. Maybe he's changed a little, too.

Or maybe you both got stubborn on something most of us wouldn't care about. That's also possible.

[ If Alfie isn't going to tell him, he's just going to make guesses. ]

It's not one incident alone, mate. He just strikes me as very much a kid, yeah? That's all. But here's the question, right - if we were at odds over something that none of the rest of you cared about, would that automatically make that thing silly and unimportant?

Hmmm, interesting question. But no, even if I don't care about it, I can understand why someone does...most times.

[ He's thinking specifically about the feud between Alfie and House. He didn't really care about most of it, but he understood their complaints were important to both of them. So he poked them both a little and moved on. ]

Of course, if you were both arguing about something like color choice or something? Then yeah, that'd be pretty unimportant.

Does Elric often argue about color choice?

Ha. No, I don't think it's something he'd ever get upset about. I was just reaching for an example. No, I'd guess the two of you would argue over morals, and that's something I'm not exactly the best about, anyway.

I'm surprised you put up with each other, but John and I do the same, don't we.

[Though he's pretty sure that by this point, Sylar and Al are closer than he and Watson are.]

[ He chuckles. ]

I was surprised too, but- it's not the same as you and John. I generally just let him have his way as far as the morals go. He's been right too many times for me to argue.

John and I argue less than we used to.

What, so it's just a constant low grumbling between you two now?

Something like that, yeah. A bit of angry glaring from time to time.

Weird how that can happen here. I'd never wish this place on my worst enemy- well, okay, maybe on my worst enemy- [ But that's really not the point. ] And yet we've all found friends here, just about. People we wouldn't have even imagined.

[ Including the person he's trying to distract both of them from, he realizes rather too late. ]

[Alfie exhales, and just that sound alone manages to sound pained.]

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