[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/84cd9e32-7705-4e5c-a965-c7b68c2d13f4.jpg[/img][/center][center][/center][hr][center][color=CC99FF][b]Location[/b][/color]: ???
[color=CC99FF][b]Skills[/b][/color]: [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/392257844256440322/1220897088322277436/Screenshot_20240322_204856_Instagram.jpg?ex=66109c05&is=65fe2705&hm=639d58a538e21bf7ab4251ae2cd57815ec479bf241a93e68c915e7f911234b1e&]Work Out Fit[/url][/center]
[hr][hr]


Dorian was nervous to say the least. He checked again and again to ensure his necklace was secured and on around him, blocking out any telepathic intrusions. Including Sabine. He wanted to believe she hadn't done it. That maybe Vicky was wrong about the whole thing. But he needed to be sure now. He'd texted her telling her he wanted to talk, in private. There was a small pathway he'd asked for her to meet him at, he mostly had used it with Percy recently. Before that it was a quiet place to sit and think and hardly a single person ever came this way. So he figured it was the best place to have a conversation. Alone. Secluded. Where others couldn't hear.

Sabine was hesitant to say the least. After her conversation with Danni she wondered if he told Dorian about it and she was going to get chewed out by him for making Danni cry. She would stand her ground, of course.

She had never been to the pathway Dorian led her to. But she made her approach, cautiously. It was lonely over here. Was that intentional? Her senses were on high alert as she got closer.

[Color=CC99FF]” ‘ey.”[/color] Was all he could say at first when he finally saw Sabine approach him. He looked back down on the ground, wondering how to even start this crazy conversation. His thumb rubbing against his crystal absentmindedly. 

Sabine waved slightly. [color=A2797E]”Hey yourself.”[/color] Was this supposed to be awkward? [color=A2797E]”So, what’s up? There a reason you wanted to speak over here away from everyone else? If this is so you can finally kill me, kudos I guess.”[/color] She joked, but there was a tenseness to it.

Dorian tensed when she mentioned killing. It was along that subject that he'd wanted to meet. Was she somehow able to read his surface thoughts? No. She couldn't. It was possible. [Color=CC99FF]”I don't kill. We bot’ know t'at. But t’ere is somet'in’ I don't know. Somet'in’ I'm a bit afraid to ask to know…”[/color] He said finally tucking his necklace away underneath his shirt. 

Sabine hated this. What the hell was going on? [color=A2797E]”It was a joke Dorian.”[/color] He was being awkward and that made her feel tense. [color=A2797E]”Well, go ahead then. If it’s that bad I’d rather you ask quickly than to keep beating around the bush.”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”DidyoufuckwithArcadesmind?!”[/color] Dorians words came crashing out one after another. Not a single pause between them before he collected himself a bit. [Color=CC99FF]”I mean…is it true t'at you messed wit’ Arcades mind?”[/color] He couldn't even look at her as he asked. He didn't want to taint the image that he had of Sabine in his mind with this thought. She couldn't be one of the bad ones. She just couldnt.

Sabine stared at him for a moment. What kind of question was that? [color=A2797E]”Did I…fuck with his mind? That’s what you asked?”[/color] She figured it was bad but…was this bad? Didn’t everyone know she helped in that way? She assumed it was common knowledge. [color=A2797E]”If you are asking if I helped Arcade change and want to be better, then yes I ‘fucked with his mind’. Why is this something you wanted to know so badly you called me out here out of nowhere?”[/color]

Dorian deflated at her answer. She didn't even see what she had done. Maybe Pops was right, maybe every telepath was bad. [Color=CC99FF]”I t'ought…I t'ought ‘e saw t'e errors of ‘is own on ‘is own. You didn't give ‘im a choice. Not a chance to want to change did you?”[/color] 

Sabine was stunned. Did he…did he think she altered him? She had been thinking about it on her own, but to think someone else would judge her for it. [color=A2797E]”Now hold on. First, even if that is what I did, he killed us and was planning on continuing to do so, so let’s get off the moral high ground. Second, no I didn’t change him. I went inside his mind and saw his trauma, saw what he had went through, and allowed him the chance to see what he had done and make that choice for himself. He could have easily went the other way.”[/color] That’s what she did…right? [color=A2797E]”He’s getting help and we lived to tell the tale. But I won’t stand for being judged for something you know little about.”[/color]

Dorian was quiet for a moment. Letting Sabines words sink in. She, gave him a chance. A mental offer? Was Arcade, no, was Ed aware of it? Did he choose to take it? To reform? [Color=CC99FF]”I. I wasn't tryin' to judge I just want to understand. It doesn't make sense, none of it makes sense. What you did was good, it was technically fundamentally good. But, if you ‘adn’t given ‘im a choice it'd be bad. But t'en if ‘e didn't regret ot'ers would've killed ‘I'm so technically it's good what you did saved a life but…”[/color] Dorian pulled his legs closer to his chest. Wrapping his arms around them as he buried his face underneath it all.

[Color=CC99FF]”You can't be one of t'e bad ones right? You aren't a bad telepat’...right?”[/color]

Sabine was hurt. She felt herself tense, felt blood surge to her brain. She thought they were good. She thought they were friends. What friend assumed this about another? [color=A2797E]”If you have to ask that, would my answer suffice?”[/color] The fact he didn’t think the answer was a resounding no hurt more than the words.

Sabine felt herself growing upset, felt the burning tears forming but she held firm. [color=A2797E]”The others wanted to kill him. I didn’t. I wanted him to be better so I gave him the opportunity to do so. I saw what he went through and could see why he went that route, but I made sure there was good there too. So you tell me, am I ‘one of the good ones’ Dorian?”[/color]

Dorian wanted to say yes. To scream it. She had to be. She was one of the few ones that didn't want to kill him. That meant something. But yet, he worried that the same could happen to him. That she could just make him agree to say yes and pretend this never happened. Dorian gripped his necklace tight, an imprint leaving itself in his palm. [Color=CC99FF]”I want to believe t'at you are. I want to trust t'at you are. T'at you'd give someone t'e choice and t'at you wouldn't make it for t'em. I just…”[/color] His hands shook, wavering in his conviction as he was faced with this dilemma. But he needed to see the good in people. That's what Heros do. 

Dorian removed his anti-telepathy necklace, placing it on the ground a foot away from him so that it wasn't active anymore. [Color=CC99FF]”I need to ‘ear you say it. You gave ‘im a chance.”[/color] His voice wavered as tears threatened to spill. 

Sabine watched, mind boggled, as Dorian had some conscious battle going on inside his head. He was gripping his necklace. And then it hit her. It was that necklace. Dorian had told her about his sword and, now, necklace. It was there to help prevent telepaths from entering his mind.

And he brought it there. To see her.

Sabine clenched her fists. She wanted to punch something. Break something. [color=A2797E]”I gave him a choice.”[/color] She stared into his eyes, once full of care, now anger. [color=A2797E]”You can put it back on now.”[/color] 

[Color=CC99FF]”Why?! Should I need it around you?! I took it off because I want to trust you. To show you t'at I'm tryin’ ‘ere! My family ‘as ‘ad not'in but rotten luck so far when it comes to mutants wit’ t'e gift of t'e mind. But yet I chose to befriend you! I want to trust you! So you tell me, should I need to put it back on?”[/color] Anger now laced his words as he spoke through gritted teeth. Pain lingering behind each one. He was trying to show her he cared, how could she not see that. How was he the bad guy?

[color=A2797E]”The fact you brought it here at all tells me you don’t!”[/color] Sabine was heated now. She knew his past, respected it, understood it even. Hell, she had her own past to come to terms with. But she trusted him. Trusted their whole friend group. She wore her heart on her sleeve more often than not. [color=A2797E]”I thought we were friends Dorian. And now I know all you see me as is a threat. Was that always the case? Did we have any friendship at all or was it always ‘sleeping with one eye open’ with you?”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”I won't lie and say I was never wary. I was in t'e beginnin’ when I just knew you as Danni's friend. But when I got to know you, I didn't t'ink twice about your powers or any t'reat. Because I saw ‘ow good you were. You seemed. Even when Arcade changed I gave you t'e benefit of not t'inkin’ you'd ever rob someone of free will. But t'en Vicky mentioned you changed his mind and I didn't know what to t'ink. It's been eatin’ at me for days. I wanted to just forget, to tell myself I was bein’ stupid but I couldn't. I needed to ‘ear it from you. But comin’ ‘ere, meetin’ you…yes today I was worried. Today I was afraid. Because what if I was wrong? What if I trusted wrong and it got people ‘urt?”[/color]

Sabine…calmed down. Not the whole way, but some. [color=A2797E]”You listened to Vicky over me?”[/color] That hurt too. [color=A2797E]”And all of that trust is, what, thrown out the window because Vicky said so? Do you honestly think Danni would be friends with me if I was that bad? Would Apr-...”[/color] Sabine bit her tongue. No, April wasn’t there anymore. [color=A2797E]” Regardless, you could have asked.”[/color]

So now what were they? Was the trust forever broken now? Would he always look at her and be scared?

[Color=CC99FF]”I did ask. Just now. It's why I wanted to speak so privately. Because even wit' all my fear, all my doubts, I wanted to give you a space where no one could over’ear or misinterpreted t'is and give you a bad name. I wanted us to be open and candid. I didn't want to fight. I just…I just wanted my friend back.”[/color] The final words bringing tears down Dorians cheeks as he spoke them. [Color=CC99FF]”I knew Vicky ‘ad to be wrong but I was so afraid of what if she was right? What if I truly was so naive t'at as a ‘ero I'd be a failure. Everyt'in I worked up to bein’”[/color]

[color=A2797E]”Your friend never left Dorian. You pushed her away.”[/color] Sabine also knew she couldn’t fully blame him. [color=A2797E]”It hurts you doubted me for even a second. I get your past, I do. But I would have thought I showed enough of myself to warrant trust. To warrant coming to see me without the necklace, or at the very least, not have it on you immediately.”[/color]

Sabine was mad and she felt she had a right to be. [color=A2797E]”I’m genuinely hurt. But I get it. It sucks, but I get it.”[/color]

Dorian stood up, facing Sabine as he wiped tears from his face. [Color=CC99FF]”I really am naive and stupid huh? I didn't meant to push you away. To ‘urt you. I just. I know you say you get it, and I don't doubt you do, but t'at doesn't make it right eit'er. I can't stop wearin’ my necklace. But know it isn't for you, it isn't because of you. T'ere are ot'ers out t'ere wit’ far less of a kind ‘eart t'an you. But I don't want you to feel ‘urt by it.”[/color] 

Sabine knew, deep down, she had similar thoughts. Her powers were a part of her, made her feel good, but it was dangerous too. [color=A2797E]”You are a bit stupid.”[/color] A little mirth in her voice. She walked closer and put her arms around Dorian. She did understand. It still hurt, but friends hurt each other sometimes. 

Twice now Dr. Whitehall’s advice seemed to work. She may just attend her next scheduled session.