... It's the name my parents gave me, apparently. That's it. [a beat.] Don't actually call me Charles, though. I don't know why they had such shitty naming sense.
... Well, you just proved that people probably think White's my real name. If I say it's not, they're going to wonder why I went by something else in the first place.
[he presses his partially melted ice pack against the back of his neck.]
... Not much to say.
[he shrugs, trying to look casual.]
Figured—again, until recently—that my parents abandoned me when I was born. I don't remember them at all.
Worked at a factory, until Ares and Caleb came along, killed all the adult workers, told us kids to fight to the death if we wanted to live, and took me in for winning. [that's a nice way of saying they kidnapped him. it's fine.] They called me White since that was the colour of my uniform tag.
[so, honestly, it's more of a label than a proper name. but, well, it was an upgrade from being called a number as he was in the factory, so white couldn't complain. it's what he's used to, by now.]
I said it before, right? What usually happens to the monsters? —This isn't about calling myself one, so don't start.
[but in the end—]
It's not that I left, but that everyone else died. Ares was killed... well, I'd killed Caleb myself before that, but anyway, the rest of us were wiped out along with Ares that day.
Not that we didn't have it coming.
[given... everything. he's not torn up over the demans' loss.]
[ . . . it's hard for mineo to say one thing or the other. because in a way - that's what's to be expected. murderers will meet their end. if you're part of a terrible group of people who oppresses others, then you're going to face some sort of punishment. he doesn't want to say justice, because he doesn't think that's always right.
but.]
.... what have you been doing since then?
[at least white made it out.
and selfishly mineo thinks that's better than if he ended up dying with the rest. maybe it's unequal, and maybe mineo's wrong for picking and choosing his sentiments.
Got roped into helping my shitty geezer of a god, 'cause he's a moron who can't stay out of trouble.
[it's said in the same sort of exasperated tone that white has when he calls mineo an idiot. that is, not exactly without fondness.]
... Well, I can't complain too much about him being a bleeding heart, since he's the reason I made it out alive that day. We were enemies, but he still chose to protect me.
[lessa saw something in white worth saving, so what he could hope to do but try and repay that kindness?]
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White wasn't your real name?!
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Forget it.
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he realizes he did something wrong at least, reaching out to nudge white gently where.....ever he didn't hit him earlier.]
I -
Come on, don't give me that.... That was a big thing to trust me with, right? I was paying attention, promise.
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... It's the name my parents gave me, apparently. That's it. [a beat.] Don't actually call me Charles, though. I don't know why they had such shitty naming sense.
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.... just 'White' is fine then....?
[he figures if
he's been trusted with his real name then there's no real point is putting up any more honorific barriers between them]
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[... just that his real name, for all that he thinks it's a lame one, holds a lot of meaning to him.]
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Okay.
.... thanks for trusting me with it. I won't forget it, even if you aren't a fan of it.
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... A secret for a secret. Don't get too mushy.
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Is there a reason why...?
For it to be a secret.
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... Well, you just proved that people probably think White's my real name. If I say it's not, they're going to wonder why I went by something else in the first place.
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Related to what you did before?
[his criminal job?]
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Didn't learn that I did until pretty recently.
[the only gift the parents he never knew left behind.]
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.... you don't have to, if you don't want to -
But if you want to start from the beginning... I'll listen.
[to white's whole story, rather than the bits and pieces they've given each other]
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... Not much to say.
[he shrugs, trying to look casual.]
Figured—again, until recently—that my parents abandoned me when I was born. I don't remember them at all.
Worked at a factory, until Ares and Caleb came along, killed all the adult workers, told us kids to fight to the death if we wanted to live, and took me in for winning. [that's a nice way of saying they kidnapped him. it's fine.] They called me White since that was the colour of my uniform tag.
[so, honestly, it's more of a label than a proper name. but, well, it was an upgrade from being called a number as he was in the factory, so white couldn't complain. it's what he's used to, by now.]
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.... and you stayed with them? This Ares guy was your old boss, right?
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[he does the airquotes.]
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And then -
You left?
[mineo at least got the sense that white didn't do that anymore]
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I said it before, right? What usually happens to the monsters? —This isn't about calling myself one, so don't start.
[but in the end—]
It's not that I left, but that everyone else died. Ares was killed... well, I'd killed Caleb myself before that, but anyway, the rest of us were wiped out along with Ares that day.
Not that we didn't have it coming.
[given... everything. he's not torn up over the demans' loss.]
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but.]
.... what have you been doing since then?
[at least white made it out.
and selfishly mineo thinks that's better than if he ended up dying with the rest. maybe it's unequal, and maybe mineo's wrong for picking and choosing his sentiments.
he doesn't know how to do anything else, though.]
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he makes a vague gesture.]
Got roped into helping my shitty geezer of a god, 'cause he's a moron who can't stay out of trouble.
[it's said in the same sort of exasperated tone that white has when he calls mineo an idiot. that is, not exactly without fondness.]
... Well, I can't complain too much about him being a bleeding heart, since he's the reason I made it out alive that day. We were enemies, but he still chose to protect me.
[lessa saw something in white worth saving, so what he could hope to do but try and repay that kindness?]
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mineo listens thoughtfully to that, but he just nods in understanding.]
I'm glad he did. [genuinely and sincerely]
... and I'm glad that you have someone worth following after.
[who white can stick with, so he's not left in some weird nexus]
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by the time lessa waltzed back into white's life, he didn't want to have anything to do with anyone anymore. and yet, things ended up this way.]
... Feels more like babysitting sometimes, but... me too, I guess.
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... we don't really know what path life'll take us, right?
[a beat]
... you sure you don't want me to use your real name at all? I'll call you whatever you want, so...
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It's hard to make something that doesn't sound lame out of my name. Something like "Freddy"...?
[he shrugs.]
Either way, I'm pretty used to White, even if it's not really a name.
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[it is a weird name but - ]
... I'll keep calling you White but - I won't forget what you've trusted me with either.
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