Catch-all; Mandricardo

[momming]

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[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.

[duranduel]

...

[Yeah, he's learning to be bold, also. What. He's blinking.]

Otome, you were...tryin' to save humanity? That's a big job! N-No wonder you're so strong when it comes to this stuff...

[momming]

... I'm not so sure I'd call it strong. I think maybe I'm just good at acting that way.

[duranduel]

...

What do you mean, "acting"? You never came across that way to me.

[momming]

... I second-guess myself quite a bit and wonder all the time if I'm doing enough. Whenever something big is on the line, I become scared that I'll fail.

But what scares me more is not trying at all. So I don't feel strong at all, just... desperate, I suppose.

[duranduel]

[He sighs.]

You know, I'm...not going to say that, like, you're totally prepared or super strong and can take on anythin'. Like, it's obvious that all of us are like...a fish out of water with this place.

But you being worried that you might fail is like...normal. That means you care about what you're doin'. So...you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. And you shouldn't see it as actin', either. You're doin' your best, and you want to do your best, y'know?

[momming]

[ There's a pause, before she smiles-- a little tremulously. ]

You're surprisingly good at pep talks.

[duranduel]

Ha. Well, if my words help you out...then I'm glad.

[There's a pause.]

[And then he moves to pull her into a hug.]