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week 7; tuesday
[Yeager usually stops by Duke's room early - he likes keeping tabs on the people who are important to him and it's especially important with Duke. He's still not convinced that Duke is entirely safe, so these check-ins put his mind at ease (at least until the end of the day, usually).
He knocks loudly and obnoxiously on Duke's door, as he's done every morning since after Leo's execution.]
Good morning, Duke~!
He knocks loudly and obnoxiously on Duke's door, as he's done every morning since after Leo's execution.]
Good morning, Duke~!
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[why does it have to be blackmail...]
I'm afraid that doesn't mean anything to me, though. Do you recognize the name?
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... No, I do not.
I've assumed it's likely someone involved in this business. Although, I do not know if this person is present in this hotel.
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[ Duke would not be surprised if there was another dead body lying around besides Sandra's. This place was literally just like that. ]
I believe that is all on my side.
[ He'll choose this moment to fall a bit silent, as he's thinking over present events, and especially this week. But before he thinks of proceeding where he may... ]
And I presume nothing more happened on your end as well? It was just once with Hazama?
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[He's not sure what good it will do, since he apparently had a good enough response to Hazama's message, but who knows.]
...It's probably strange to say it, but I'm... glad I had another opportunity to speak with him. Of course I don't approve of what he did, but... I was fond of him, I suppose.
[Of all the deaths to take hard of course it's Hazama's he's having difficulties with.]
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[ Duke wasn't as close to Hazama, and didn't like what he did, but he knows that bonds and feelings can remain regardless of what a person's done.
Maybe from experience now... ]
You made a close bond with him of some sort I believe, so perhaps, to me it does not sound quite so strange.
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[...For obvious reasons, probably.]
I think it's for the best that he's dead. He was dangerous and if that was how he was going to entertain himself then we're all better off without him.
...But even so... Ah, this is the sort of thing I usually don't allow myself to think about. I've always done what's in my own best interest, even if that does mean getting rid of the people I like.
[Don Whitehorse is a prime example of that and something Yeager still hasn't allowed himself to process for longer than five minutes. It's easier that way.]
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[ ... and he'll just leave it at that for now, regarding the incident.
He takes pause, regarding the other man. Duke knows he himself is the type to think on matters for quite a lengthy amount of time. ]
... Sometimes there are things you cannot help but dwell on.
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[He rests his hand over the blastia for a moment before he forces himself to let go.]
Ah, but speaking of that! Is that secret of yours too terrible?
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His eyes flicker to the side. ]
... Yes.
[ He takes a small breath. Duke figures Yeager will be knowing soon enough, and so he decides to explain it completely before he loses the nerve. ]
Before Yuri and his friends were able to rescue the world with help, I had foolishly fought against them. However, that was not the only thing.
I was stubborn and would not heed their words at that point... and attempted to use Tarquaron to save the world. The secret lists that I did try to use Tarquaron, but also the simple fact that if I had been successful, humanity would be no more. I knew the consequences of this as well.
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But it's not really fair to jump straight to conclusions without at least hearing an explanation first.]
I'm assuming Tarquaron would be able to stop the Adephagos you mentioned, correct? Why were you willing to sacrifice all of humanity to reach that goal?
[The words are carefully spoken and even, though there's some hesitation behind them, like he's not sure he's even asking the right question to begin with.]
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[ Duke's barely able to get the words out, and he's trying to keep from literally shutting down because he is afraid that, as far as he's concerned, he has burned the bridge of the person he is the closest to.
Regardless, he does his best to explain nonetheless. ]
I foolishly thought it was the only way to defeat the Adephagos. At the time, it was the only way I knew of, however...when Yuri and his comrades were able to detail me of another plan, I stubbornly thought of their plan as nonsensical because of it changing the Entelexia to "spirits". I had also thought my way was the only way to ensure the world was saved, and given the size of the Adephagos, whatever alternative that was proposed seemed ludicrous... as well as likely to be ineffective.
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So even if it meant a world without any humans at all... it was better than losing everything, ja?
[If Duke really thought there was no other option...]
Well, that certainly is a nasty little secret! Does Yuri already know about this?
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[ It was a good idea he at least changed his mind, but still. Duke had been kind of thinking this type of thing would never be revealed, so uh. ]
... And yes, he does. He asked for everything that occurred after Heracles, and so I told him relatively early on.
We did move on from that subject relatively quickly, however.
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[That'll make things a little easier on Duke, at least. Yeager tips his head a bit before finally shrugging.]
I can't say I agree, obviously, but everything turned out fine in the end. I doubt everyone here will taking hearing a secret like that well, so if anyone gives you any problems you come to me. I won't let anything happen to you, Duke.
[He's serious when he says it, of course.]
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I will, I promise you that.
[ He knows he'd do the same for Yeager in a heartbeat, and he knows he wishes that there is more he wishes to say. ]
Yeager, I'll always remain grateful for everything you have done. Even if it has just been continuing to remain by my side. I am not sure if there can ever be a way to express the entirety of this or how I feel in mere words, and yet...
I also wish for you to know that, regardless of whatever may happen, I will make sure that you are still with me by the end of this.
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[He reaches up to play with his bangs for a moment before he forces himself to stop.]
Your secret is terrible too - even worse than mine, really. But we'll stand together, ja? I won't let this break me, not when I've made it through everything else. I have to return home to Droite and Gauche.
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[ It just sort of...happened. Kinda like how Duke's murderplot did-- nothing quite goes as planned. He's sure Yeager can understand the feeling.
It also helps that knowing Yeager also does not want his secret revealed (he already knew this, but still), and he's suddenly gathering up words he is a little unsure of still, but wishes to believe in. ]
... I do not know how the others will react exactly, but I don't have any delusions they will be favorable. Yet, if you are here with me, it is enough, and I know that it is not the end. We will make it. It will be enough, and soon, once we arrive home, we can ...
...
[ He makes a small pause and he reaches his hand out to Yeager. It's not like he doesn't want to finish, but it's more like he doesn't know how. ]
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Once we arrive home we're going to have quite a few things to figure out, ja? Will we be in your timeline or mine or Yuri's? Once we've determined that we can work out how to proceed - I'll have plenty to attend to no matter what, but I'd like it if you accompanied me. If you don't have anything pressing to do, that is!
[Concrete goals are always better than vague statements in his opinion, and focusing on the things he should do when he returns home makes all of this a lot easier. It makes it seem like they really will get out of here at some point. He can at least try to offer Duke that much.]
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... My own, if that is alright. However, if you wish to return to your own, or Yuri's, I will still gladly accompany you on the way there.
[ So far them saying they will go home and come out of it alive has worked out well enough so far. Why not this? ]
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[He shakes his head after a moment though; the smile hasn't faded at all.]
But it doesn't matter which version of Terca Lumireis we end up in. I can work with whatever I'm given and having a chance to return is... well, it means a lot to me.
[He's made a lot of mistakes but he's still alive and that has to count for something.]
I don't want to return without you and Yuri. It wouldn't feel right, ja? So whatever we decide... I believe we should decide together.
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Very well. It's a reasonable conclusion to make.
I suppose that when we all gather to decide, it should be relatively sooner than later... if possible.
[ ... Saying so because Duke does not know the 'when' part would happen otherwise. It is odd, planning for things like this. ]
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[Duke and Top Dollar are great and they've been keeping him sane, but he wouldn't have made it this far if he ever stopped to consider that he couldn't go home. They might not make it out of here - that's a possibility he's only briefly considered and stopping to think about it now will only break him. The only way for him to survive is to keep moving and assume that everything will work out, somehow.]
It's strange to think about. No matter where we end up going, two of us are going to be feeling very odd in the world. If we go to yours, Yuri and I will have a lot to catch up on. If we go to his, you and I will have to relive experiences. I still don't know how it's possible for them to pull us from different points in time.
[And it's kind of strange to think about too. Does that mean that Duke's world has a different Yuri?]
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[ ... To both things. Duke knows for sure if he looked at things from a pessimistic angle, then that would be all he needed to spiral out of control. What he had done with Tarquaron was because he was too cynical and pessimistic of anything else working out in the first place. It seems like remaining optimistic was key... ]
I am not sure either... and I am also not sure if I would be able to comprehend it even if an explanation somehow managed to make itself apparent along the way.
[ He takes a small pause. Does he want to relive experiences? He just ... makes a sort of face at that (kind of like he doesn't know what expression to pick but it is possibly closest to 'unsure'). ]
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Don't worry too much about it right now, ja? We still have plenty of things to work through first!
[Like whatever mess will happen at the end of this week (yikes) and the aftermath of the secrets reveal (yikes)... Not to mention whatever happens next week...]
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