[Zack's first impression of Arlecchino was that she was actually pretty nice. She helped him with bird watching stickers, and they chatted about how to take care of kids and enrich teenagers...
Which is why it's a little confusing to hear Freminet explain that. Zack raises an eyebrow.]
[How was he going to explain this? The more he thought about it, the more he wondered what this a good idea. He didn't want to stress Zack out anymore than he already is now! All he could do was stay silent before mumbling a bit.]
...I'm sorry but can you promise that you won't judge them?
[Zack frowns a bit but only because he wants to help.]
I think you've told me before that you've had some rough stuff happen in your life, Freminet. But that's not going to change how I see you. I'm not going to be upset, I promise. I've got you.
[It was then that Freminet looked at him in awe. That wasn't the answer he was expecting to hear. He was fully prepared for Zack to reprimand or even reject him. That was why all he could do was widen his eyes before taking a step back.]
...Do...do you really mean that?
[He wasn't sure how else to respond. He almost found himself falling to his knees at the realization that Zack was willing to hear him out.]
[Zack keeps that steady expression, although his eyes soften slightly.]
Life's not always fair, I think I understand that more than most people. Whatever you had to do and your reasons for doing them... Doesn't change how I feel about you. You're a good kid and I know it.
[He liked to believe Zack's words but it was just so hard to believe. He was already preparing himself for when he gets rejected. But he wasn't. Instead, he was being reassured that everything was going to be okay.]
H-How do you know? I'm just...
[He said with a mumble or two.]
...I'm an assassin. I want to do what's best for my family but...does that really make me a good person...?
[Freminet looks like he's about to start shaking like a leaf in the wind.]
Assassin or not, you thought you were doing what you had to do. Right?
[...]
I'm a soldier, Freminet. I've killed a lot of people in the name of both doing my duty and trying to do what had I had to do. It's not easy. And it never will be. But does that change if I'm a good person or not? I'm not sure.
[He likes to think that he does right by the people around him. And that's really all they can do. Right?]
I...I think you're a good person. Even if you have to kill a lot of people, it was part of your job and to help others.
[It was funny. When it came to other people, Freminet could see the good in them. When it came to himself, he was much harsher. He could see what Zack was trying to say but it was just so odd when he found someone similar to him.
[There we go. Zack gives a bit of a rueful smile.]
Well, I think you're a good person too. That's what I think.
[Now, he doesn't know the full extent of Freminet's meaning behind of all this. He wants to give the boy a chance to explain his story. But he's sure this part won't change.]
[For a moment, Freminet had to wonder a bit. It was already a miracle he managed to say what his real job was but to explain it was another. And yet, he was already far too deep into this, he had no idea how to move forward.]
....I was an orphan. I was trained to be a solider too and kill anyone that was a threat to my family. It was that or I was going to be killed as I was forced to fight my other 'siblings'.
[He said with a pause.]
While I no longer have to fight any of my siblings, I still have to kill those who are still a threat to my family. However, unlike years ago, I do it out of my love for them.
[Zack's voice is still soft. It's distressing to hear that the boy had come out of such a dark situation. To have to fight or be killed. To fight his siblings?! Zack was a young soldier as well and started training to fight and kill when he was about fourteen but to have to fight family like that?]
Sorry, but I have to ask. What kind of threats would be so bad that you have to go that far? I get protecting your family by any means necessary. But why was it that rough? Did someone have something against your family or orphanage?
It's more that our family is associated with a group of people that have some rather terrible things to our world.
[He said with a pause or two. He really didn't know how to explain this before looking downward.]
...Our family adopts orphans for the sake of training them to be a part of that group. However, my Father has been trying to find a way to get ourselves out of it.
[Honestly, it sounds like the Turks in a weird sort of way. A group of people that are used to do some other group's shitty dirty work...]
Your Father? Arlecchino. She seemed pretty hardcore but also seemed liked she cares about you and Lyney a lot. She's seriously trying to get you guys out of it somehow?
[That's a relief to hear. Even if Zack was as young as Freminet when he started to fight, he understands how hard it is to be in places full of monsters.]
[Because how can she? With an organization as big as the Fatui, it was almost impossible to escape from them. Not only that, even if she did, it would only be a matter of time before they caught up to them. With a sigh, he looked downward.]
But...I think so. I'll be okay, it's just a lot right now.
[When he was given the hug, Freminet suddenly froze up. IT was one thing that his brother gives him a hug but it was another when it was someone whom he didn't know. That's why he didn't say anything and just...let it happen.]
...That's....very kind of you.
[Because as he kept freezing up, he found himself letting the scene play out. After all, he wasn't sure what to do when his body just froze.]
[He'll give the kid a good, firm hug before letting him go. No need to make him freeze up if he's not ready for big brother Zack bear hugs. He pats Freminet's shoulders and smiles, instead.]
No need to sweat it. Do you feel a little better?
[He knows this was a pretty heavy conversation but it must have felt good to get some of that crazy backstory off his chest... Poor Freminet.]
[As his mind was trying to comprehend what had just happened, he didn't know what he could possibly say. He felt as though he would make it more awkward than it already is.
But still...]
Yes, a little bit. Thank you, M-...Zack. For everything.
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Which is why it's a little confusing to hear Freminet explain that. Zack raises an eyebrow.]
What kind of situation? Are you guys okay?
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[How was he going to explain this? The more he thought about it, the more he wondered what this a good idea. He didn't want to stress Zack out anymore than he already is now! All he could do was stay silent before mumbling a bit.]
...I'm sorry but can you promise that you won't judge them?
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[He's worried!]
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[He said before giving a pause or two. As he wanted to say something, he found himself at a loss. What was he to say about this?]
It's just....I'm not sure how you'll react once I tell you what happens next. I just don't want you to be upset.
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I think you've told me before that you've had some rough stuff happen in your life, Freminet. But that's not going to change how I see you. I'm not going to be upset, I promise. I've got you.
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[He said with a long pause in his words. Feeling anxious, he found himself not knowing what to do.]
...Even when I had to kill people...?
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Even if you've had to kill people.
[Because Zack's had to do that too. That's life sometimes for people like them.]
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...Do...do you really mean that?
[He wasn't sure how else to respond. He almost found himself falling to his knees at the realization that Zack was willing to hear him out.]
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[Zack keeps that steady expression, although his eyes soften slightly.]
Life's not always fair, I think I understand that more than most people. Whatever you had to do and your reasons for doing them... Doesn't change how I feel about you. You're a good kid and I know it.
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H-How do you know? I'm just...
[He said with a mumble or two.]
...I'm an assassin. I want to do what's best for my family but...does that really make me a good person...?
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Assassin or not, you thought you were doing what you had to do. Right?
[...]
I'm a soldier, Freminet. I've killed a lot of people in the name of both doing my duty and trying to do what had I had to do. It's not easy. And it never will be. But does that change if I'm a good person or not? I'm not sure.
[He likes to think that he does right by the people around him. And that's really all they can do. Right?]
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[It was funny. When it came to other people, Freminet could see the good in them. When it came to himself, he was much harsher. He could see what Zack was trying to say but it was just so odd when he found someone similar to him.
At least, someone outside of his own family.]
...That's what I think.
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Well, I think you're a good person too. That's what I think.
[Now, he doesn't know the full extent of Freminet's meaning behind of all this. He wants to give the boy a chance to explain his story. But he's sure this part won't change.]
What did you have to do? And why?
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....I was an orphan. I was trained to be a solider too and kill anyone that was a threat to my family. It was that or I was going to be killed as I was forced to fight my other 'siblings'.
[He said with a pause.]
While I no longer have to fight any of my siblings, I still have to kill those who are still a threat to my family. However, unlike years ago, I do it out of my love for them.
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[Zack's voice is still soft. It's distressing to hear that the boy had come out of such a dark situation. To have to fight or be killed. To fight his siblings?! Zack was a young soldier as well and started training to fight and kill when he was about fourteen but to have to fight family like that?]
Sorry, but I have to ask. What kind of threats would be so bad that you have to go that far? I get protecting your family by any means necessary. But why was it that rough? Did someone have something against your family or orphanage?
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[He said with a pause or two. He really didn't know how to explain this before looking downward.]
...Our family adopts orphans for the sake of training them to be a part of that group. However, my Father has been trying to find a way to get ourselves out of it.
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Your Father? Arlecchino. She seemed pretty hardcore but also seemed liked she cares about you and Lyney a lot. She's seriously trying to get you guys out of it somehow?
[That's a relief to hear. Even if Zack was as young as Freminet when he started to fight, he understands how hard it is to be in places full of monsters.]
Are you doing okay, there?
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[Because how can she? With an organization as big as the Fatui, it was almost impossible to escape from them. Not only that, even if she did, it would only be a matter of time before they caught up to them. With a sigh, he looked downward.]
But...I think so. I'll be okay, it's just a lot right now.
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[Zack shakes his head.]
If there's any problems that show up, make sure you tell me, Cloud or Tifa too. Alright? We'll protect you and your brother too.
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[He said before he found himself holding back a sob.]
...I really don't know how I can ever repay you for your kindness.
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[Now Zack's going to move so he can offer the kid a big hug if he needs one.]
There's no need to repay anything. We're here together and we're going to stick together. That's what we do on this crew.
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...That's....very kind of you.
[Because as he kept freezing up, he found himself letting the scene play out. After all, he wasn't sure what to do when his body just froze.]
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No need to sweat it. Do you feel a little better?
[He knows this was a pretty heavy conversation but it must have felt good to get some of that crazy backstory off his chest... Poor Freminet.]
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But still...]
Yes, a little bit. Thank you, M-...Zack. For everything.
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[Freminet is a good kid at heart...]
Want to wrap it up?
🎀