[ Months ago, when they were first getting to know one another and becoming friends, Ben had told Pratt that he could confide in him. That in many ways he would probably make an ideal confidant, because both of them had so clearly been through some messed up stuff - both had been made into tools of violence by bad men. Ben keeps that implicit promise, doesn't overreact, doesn't offer platitudes that do nothing, doesn't judge.
It isn't until Pratt mentions the Eden's Gate thing that Ben remembers that name coming up before. Just briefly, in passing. He had been curious.
So, this is it then. The explanation. A cult - sounds like the crazy religious kind, based on the scraps Ben's picked up - had taken Pratt, tortured him, conditioned him. On its own, horrific. Unthinkable. But taken in combination with everything else that has been happening recently... seeing that nightmarish tower where the human Cole had been left to starve in a dark hole and the spirit Cole had been born, Kieran being beaten and blinded, whatever those abominations Carlisle had summoned had been... this is just a new facet in a whole mosaic of awfulness.
Ben listens, silent, uninterrupting. The words are clearly so difficult for Pratt. But Ben's steady gaze is undaunted, and entirely unafraid.
When Pratt finally seems to be done, Ben responds, voice quiet: ]
But it was hurting people, right? That's what he wanted you to do.
[ It's what men like that always want.
Ben reaches over, slow and careful, telegraphing the movement so Pratt can pull away if he wants, and tries to take Pratt's hand, to hold it between his own, a silent gesture of sympathy and grief. He'd deserved better. He had deserved so much better than this. ]
Do you know if it's only that song?
[ He wishes he'd paid more attention, but he had at least caught snippets. Maybe it will be enough to look up the name and figure out what precautions can be taken from there. For Pratt's sake. Ben knows a little bit - just from reading - about the type of conditioning he thinks Pratt is talking about. And he should never ever ever have to hear that song again. ]
Is there- is there any way to undo it?
[ A note of hopefulness creeps into Ben's voice, there. He doesn't want his friend to have this hanging over him forever. He wants to help, to fix it. ]
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It isn't until Pratt mentions the Eden's Gate thing that Ben remembers that name coming up before. Just briefly, in passing. He had been curious.
So, this is it then. The explanation. A cult - sounds like the crazy religious kind, based on the scraps Ben's picked up - had taken Pratt, tortured him, conditioned him. On its own, horrific. Unthinkable. But taken in combination with everything else that has been happening recently... seeing that nightmarish tower where the human Cole had been left to starve in a dark hole and the spirit Cole had been born, Kieran being beaten and blinded, whatever those abominations Carlisle had summoned had been... this is just a new facet in a whole mosaic of awfulness.
Ben listens, silent, uninterrupting. The words are clearly so difficult for Pratt. But Ben's steady gaze is undaunted, and entirely unafraid.
When Pratt finally seems to be done, Ben responds, voice quiet: ]
But it was hurting people, right? That's what he wanted you to do.
[ It's what men like that always want.
Ben reaches over, slow and careful, telegraphing the movement so Pratt can pull away if he wants, and tries to take Pratt's hand, to hold it between his own, a silent gesture of sympathy and grief. He'd deserved better. He had deserved so much better than this. ]
Do you know if it's only that song?
[ He wishes he'd paid more attention, but he had at least caught snippets. Maybe it will be enough to look up the name and figure out what precautions can be taken from there. For Pratt's sake. Ben knows a little bit - just from reading - about the type of conditioning he thinks Pratt is talking about. And he should never ever ever have to hear that song again. ]
Is there- is there any way to undo it?
[ A note of hopefulness creeps into Ben's voice, there. He doesn't want his friend to have this hanging over him forever. He wants to help, to fix it. ]