#like we knew purgatory wasn’t gonna be forgotten. especially between red and bad specifically. but for it to show through etoiles first

[zeb-z]

etoiles who tries to be patient and tries to be kind and tries to help bad in his state of memory loss and confusion after purgatory, but still can’t help be suspicious of him. who works around how well he knows bad, because he knows bad is a liar, but he doesn’t say as much he just quietly puts in his own tests and precautions to gauge properly what level of fucked bad’s head is. who won’t stop reminding him of purgatory. does he remember the eggs? does he remember his home? does he remember how he slaughtered his friends ruthlessly over and over and over again? does he remember jaiden? charlie? does he remember how defenseless etoiles was when he stabbed him in the back? etoiles who knows how bad feels just by body language, who used to have the upmost respect and trust for his friend, his ally, his brother in arms - now holds him at arms length even at his most vulnerable.

something about etoiles asking what bad is hungry for, offering to fight (wanting to fight, now that the ground is even, now that he’s not defenseless, after bad had killed him when he was), and bad going “fight? why would I fight you, I thought we were friends?” and all etoiles can do is scoff. something about how even the most honorable and most patient have limits. something about how the consequences for bads actions - to himself and to others - are all finally compounding. how etoiles and bad’s relationship is forever changed by what happened in purgatory, and etoiles may still extend his hand to help him, give him strategies to remember things, but he’s doing so with a bitterness and a resentment.

things won’t be the same. things will never be the same. and the way etoiles can’t help bad without being sharp and angry about it proves this. because two weeks ago bad was family - and now, at bads worst, his most afflicted, most vulnerable, sure etoiles still offers help, and is more level headed than most about it, but he is in no means gentle or kind. he doesn’t want to help him. and that says everything.

#idk man. etoiles reaction not being ‘oh poor bad’ but being startled and then ‘oh of fucking course he’d just forget everything’ is telling #like we knew purgatory wasn’t gonna be forgotten. especially between red and bad specifically. but for it to show through etoiles first #to see etoiles genuinely bitter and resentful and taking no stock nor trust in what bad is saying or showing. yeah. Yeah #like. etoiles helping. he still cares a little. he’s not gonna leave bad to fend for himself he’s gonna help because that’s what he does he #helps #but it’s like. etoiles is saving him with a resentment because he knows bad wouldn’t do the same #(as far as he’s concerned at least. from what purgatory has shown him at least) #or not saving so much as helping to correct my phrasing a little bit jfjskfkrk #idk the fact that it’s etoiles out of everyone back so far. the fact that it’s etoiles and bads relationship that’s in shambles #out of all the friendships and mutual trust and respect and love #like. yeah. yeah. purgatory won’t just be forgotten. as much as bad has forgotten no one else will forget #mcyt #qsmp #q!etoiles #q!bbh #z speaks