But... where does Scratch end and Alan Wake begin? Who- [ Who is Alan Wake, anyway? ] If so many people can't tell us apart... Are you the only one who can? [ The question slips out, and when it does, Alan realizes that if Jesse really is the only one who can tell the two of them apart, that's actually something of a relief. ] Wait. Why didn't I think of it that way before? If you can tell us apart, that's good. And... And of course you can tell us apart.
[ His brow furrows as he tries to grab hold of quickly disappearing threads of conversation. ]
We talked about this, didn't we? Scratch only wants to destroy, to take... to destroy me. To destroy what I have and take it for himself. He doesn't love you; he just thinks that taking you will hurt me.
But going into the Lake was my fault. Alice being in there was my fault. I had to go in, to save her, to fix everything. That's always going to be it, isn't it? I have to go in, go deeper, to fix what I broke.
[ A note of exhaustion sounds in his voice, but he has to push that exhaustion aside. He has to straighten up, he has to toughen up and march into the fight without a second's thought.
I don't know if I can do it. The thought plays itself out in his mind again, but he knows he has no choice. ]
No, you won't. [ Maybe exhaustion is rolling off him in waves now; maybe the urge to simply lie down and let things happen is stronger than ever. But Alan can't do that. He can't afford that. He can't let Jesse shoulder the burden that's his to carry, knowing she'd have to pay the cost of carrying it. He won't let her pay that price.
He leans in, intend on closing whatever distance still lies between them; he wants to kiss her, to press his lips against hers deeply and not let up until they both need to come up for air. But first, he has more to say. First, he needs to get these words out, and then he can give her that kiss. ]
I have to do it. It's me who needs to put an end to it. It's always been me.
[ It's always been my fault, and I've always had to be the one to fix it. No one else can take this on. No one else should take this on. ]
I'll- I'll do it, and finally this will all end. [ And I can finally sleep. ]
no subject
[ His brow furrows as he tries to grab hold of quickly disappearing threads of conversation. ]
We talked about this, didn't we? Scratch only wants to destroy, to take... to destroy me. To destroy what I have and take it for himself. He doesn't love you; he just thinks that taking you will hurt me.
But going into the Lake was my fault. Alice being in there was my fault. I had to go in, to save her, to fix everything. That's always going to be it, isn't it? I have to go in, go deeper, to fix what I broke.
[ A note of exhaustion sounds in his voice, but he has to push that exhaustion aside. He has to straighten up, he has to toughen up and march into the fight without a second's thought.
I don't know if I can do it. The thought plays itself out in his mind again, but he knows he has no choice. ]
No, you won't. [ Maybe exhaustion is rolling off him in waves now; maybe the urge to simply lie down and let things happen is stronger than ever. But Alan can't do that. He can't afford that. He can't let Jesse shoulder the burden that's his to carry, knowing she'd have to pay the cost of carrying it. He won't let her pay that price.
He leans in, intend on closing whatever distance still lies between them; he wants to kiss her, to press his lips against hers deeply and not let up until they both need to come up for air. But first, he has more to say. First, he needs to get these words out, and then he can give her that kiss. ]
I have to do it. It's me who needs to put an end to it. It's always been me.
[ It's always been my fault, and I've always had to be the one to fix it. No one else can take this on. No one else should take this on. ]
I'll- I'll do it, and finally this will all end. [ And I can finally sleep. ]