Catch-all; Mandricardo

[momming]

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[momming]

... Ah.

[ aaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Otome's instantly hurrying over there, dropping down into a crouch beside him. ]

Is it bleeding? Let me see.

[duranduel]

N-No...it just hurts...

[He looks like a shy turtle with the way he pulls his knees to himself as she approaches.]

[momming]

Yes, well, you're a little too big to have a place like that as a hiding spot.

[ And she offers him a soft, sad smile ]

Mandricardo, please come out?

[duranduel]

...

[He just looks to the side.]

Why?

[momming]

Well, I can't exactly hug you while you're under there.

Also, it doesn't feel right returning to the dorm without everyone present.

[duranduel]

[He shifts out from under the table, but he doesn't make a move towards her, yet.]

I don't know what to do, Otome.

[momming]

... Do you know what you'd want to do? Barring any reason why you feel as though you couldn't.

[duranduel]

[He closes his eyes, pained.]

I don't know whether to...protect her. Or let things happen as they will.

[momming]

[ There's a long pause, as she searches for the words to say. There's... no real right answer here. ]

I don't think she'd want you to protect her.

... But I also don't think we know the whole story, either. This entire situation was unfair the instant they made us the judges.

[duranduel]

I'm her Servant.

[It's what he kept repeating back there. Like it meant anything.]

And I know. Maybe they're just...following a script. Maybe nobody is actually dead. But...it still doesn't change much, I think.

[momming]

In the end, it's still the taking of a life. I think I know how she feels, though maybe not the extent of it.

[ She sighs, tiredly. ]

But your feelings are important-- you know that, right? If you want to protect her, I'm not going to tell you not to. If you don't, that's fine too. I think she would understand, either way. But I also don't think you need to make that decision immediately.

[duranduel]

...

[He just stares past her shoulder.]

What if she ends up dead tomorrow? Even...outside of the execution.

[momming]

... I... don't think that will happen?

[ Hopefully?? ]

[duranduel]

But we know she's one of the killers. She helped Rupert.

[He feels very cold.]

I don't think people will just allow her to walk around like it means nothing.

[momming]

... If anyone tries to attack her, I'm going to protect her. [ quietly. ]

I can't... protect people on Thursday. I can't stop these executions from happening. But regardless, I can't let someone take a life if there's anything I can do to prevent it. No matter what happens, I don't agree with the idea that it has to be a life for a life.

[duranduel]

[A hollow laugh.]

That's my job. And I don't even know if I have the guts to do it.

[Does he even have the feeling to do it?]

...That's nice of you, Otome. But I don't like the idea of you putting yourself in harms way.

[momming]

I'm used to that. I did that all the time back home.

[ And thus Mandricardo doesn't have to worry(??) ]

[duranduel]

Even so...

[He frowns.]

It feels too much. If you're doing such a thing...you shouldn't be doin' it alone.

[momming]

... All the same, Mandricardo... I can't let people try to kill her. Whether that means I'm alone or not, that won't change how I feel about it.

[duranduel]

...

What if she kills again?

[momming]

... [ She hesitates, then closes her eyes. ]

Then we vote for her.

[duranduel]

Even if...someone innocent has to die for it?

[It just feels like...they've backed themselves into a moral corner, here.]

[momming]

There's no black or white answer, unfortunately. I thought that way once, but...

Things have always been more grey than I've been willing to admit.

[duranduel]

...I think most things are, Otome.

[He reaches for her hand to give it a squeeze.]

When you talk about saving people...do you mean that literally?

[momming]

[ Look at him, being bold and initiating??

After a short pause, she squeezes his hand in return. Her own hand is still pretty cold from all the outside time she's been doing. ]

I mean mostly as a doctor, though I was also trying to save humanity from being wiped out back home. But here, there's not exactly some... Big Bad Threat I can face and know that if I defeat it, everything will be all right.

Here, the biggest threats seem to be ourselves and the world itself.