The aftermath is less than unpleasant.

The entirety of the scene had been swift and unexpected, so much so that David's head is still spinning even after the last vestiges of light had gone. He does not know when he had reached out towards Rush, does not know when he had attempted to lunge forward but he is kneeling on the ground now, unsure as well of how broken his visage is and he lowers his hands down, hanging his head between his shoulders on all fours.

How could… this happen?

"My Lord?"

Emmy.

He does not move when she approaches, or when she rests a gentle hand upon his shoulder. He has failed, ultimately, in protecting Rush, in protecting one of his own and he feels his head pound from the loss, and it is especially more unbearable knowing that he was the one to do it.

"If I had not hesitated…" He whispers and knows he could have done something to prevent this, could have acted sooner, and he squeezes his eyes shut firmly, beating back the brimming heat at his eyelids. He is Marquis, a leader. Loss of his own men is not uncommon, and he has learnt to strive past it, to not make their deaths meaningless.

Ah, but Rush is not dead.

Then why is he mourning so?

"My Lord, you could not have known. He had… seemed cordial enough to the notion of cooperation." Torgal moves in now to the other side of him, and though he does not initiate contact like Emmy does, he feels his concern all the same.

The Marquis breathes, exhaling and inhaling slowly. It has been a long time since he has had to resort to breathing exercises, but his nerves have been incredibly frayed. First, he has to worry about the Conqueror but now… now these individuals coming from the future and only adding to the problem. "Are those who time travel not obligated to make their present better by helping the past?" He asks suddenly, slowly sitting up and looking forward, out to the open of his beloved city. "Do they not come to erase the source of their regrets?" He wonders, then, when Irina and her parents will get back and what exactly he will say to them.

"Perhaps they are helping, but in a far different way than we can imagine or even understand." Pagus answers him, shuffling forward and David accepts Blocter's silent offer of help, the yama hauling him to his feet successfully. "You are sometimes unpredictable, Lord David. Maybe even to yourself."

David stays silent for a moment longer. All of their words made sense—he is not foolish enough to deny them and insist upon his own beliefs. He trusts his Generals, and in turn they trust him back.

But do they trust him?

"Do you believe my older self will harm Rush?" He asks quietly of the four of them. As they are silent, he bends down, picking up the sword he had dropped earlier and slides it into its sheath. His counterpart, he had noticed, had borne something similar to Rush's own weapon.

It is Emmy who finally answers, and her voice is soft and sweet. She takes after her mother in this moment, and he sees Emmy in her own right, a great fighter and someone who cares deeply for those she is loyal to. He is grateful. "Lord David… did you not say it yourself?" She presses, and moves before him to look at him. "And you said it, not your counterpart. You love Rush, and it is clear that… he does as well."

Ah, so it boils down to that.

David had not known it himself. He had not known how deep his feelings for Rush had gotten, distracted as he has been with gaining independence for Athlum, finding Rush's sister, stopping the Conqueror—he had not paid attention to his own feelings at all yet on occasion, he has enjoyed talking to Rush, has found the other male amusing and fun to be with. He could not think of a life without him now that Rush has literally blundered his way into his own, with no formality to speak of. They had entered into their relationship as equals—not as a peasant and lord, but as friends—, and that… that is what touched David the most.

He had not realised that he loved him until he saw his counterpart and Rush… interact.

Sure, he has seen both men and women hit on the Sykes alike. Whatever city they ventured into, there is always someone who found Rush's charm appealing, someone who had wanted him for themselves and therethere David did not mind. He witnessed these flirtations, has seen individuals make the move on Rush but not once, not once has Rush ever responded. Perhaps he'll brush it off with an amused laugh or a joke, but there has not been a single hint of him accepting any requests of being dated nor being taken to bed. David had rationalized it to there being a sweetheart waiting for Rush at home, but upon that line of questioning, Rush had responded otherwise.

'No.' He'd said, laughing, and had clapped David on the shoulder. 'Nothing of the sort, Dave. You know you're the only for me~'

Never before had the Marquis taken something so literally, especially subconsciously.

He had not assumed they were dating from then, because there was mirth in Rush's eyes, jest at the idea that they could actually be together and perhaps there was some unexpected deflation at that notion, but David had just shrugged it off, as always.

But seeing his counterpart move to Rush, despite touching him so much more simply than all the other individuals within the pubs… it fires up David more than he can possibly imagine. When Rush's hand had been taken, when it'd been kissed and when his older self had requested something so personal—it is not exactly those actions that had gotten to the Marquis. No, it is the way Rush had responded that set fire to David's veins. Rush had looked at his counterpart, and saw someone special, someone incredibly important to him and David was not oblivious to how taken Rush had been, so enamoured

That should've been me.

He almost surprises himself with how possessive he sounds.

Almost.

It is a strange thought nonetheless, for it is himself that Rush has responded to. Yet, his future self felt… off somehow. Disconnected and…

He could not find the word.

"Thank you." He says finally and his words are laden with his gratitude. He turns to his Generals, and once more is glad that they stay with him, especially in light of these events for encountering the concept of time travel is not something that they are used to, he imagines. Indeed, the only experience they've had with it is Rush's Timeshift, which is incredibly limited…

Of course.

He starts to pace.

"What do you all think of my future self?" David asks first. "From my personal observations, he is… rather determined to do things on his own. He did not ask any of us for help nor try to explain the current situation." Inwardly, he is restraining himself from showing how absolutely furious he is. Perhaps there is the slightest twitch of his jaw to indicate such a thing, but otherwise, the Marquis is utterly composed.

It doesn't seem to fool those who have both raised and grew up with him, however.

"My Lord." Torgal steps forward, both sets of arms crossed against his torso. "I agree with what you have proposed. Your counterpart is indeed someone who is used to operating alone. From the looks of how he has handled things, I suspect…" A short cough escapes the Sovani, and it is then he looks away. "I suspect he has not had anyone with him for a long time."

Some of David's anger abates; he cannot imagine acting alone. He operates solely with his team and that will not change, not if he can help it. Still, his outrage is not appeased entirely. "I cannot imagine what hardships he has endured, but that does not excuse his behaviour." Fists clench by his sides and he shifts away from his Generals, unable to hold back his fury. "To control a friend—to control Rush like that… it is one thing to bind him but it is another thing entirely to enthral him." Never… never under any circumstances would he enforce his will upon another person, least of all someone he considered close to him. Perhaps his other self had thought it necessary, but it is crucial to ask opinions first, not to just decide on his own. "He has not confided in us as he should have and instead has taken matters into his own hands." He turns back to his Generals. "If he saw it fit to control Rush, someone he should have consulted beforehand, then he holds no trust in us either. I see no reason not to return the sentiment."

He steps forward, and they stand at attention. Sweeping his arm before him, tan features are hardened by years of command and he speaks with all the experience behind words that are clear and strong. "If you engage my counterpart at any time, then you are to take him down by any means necessary. Do not hesitate. He may be your Lord in the future, but I am your Lord right here, right now. Disregard any connection he may have to me, and I to him. You are not to see him as the future Duke of Athlum, but as the enemy."

He sees the hesitation within their faces, he sees the wariness and uncertainty that comes with such an order but they all nod in agreement, saluting as one. "Yes, My Lord!"

"I apologise. I am essentially pitting you all against myself but know that I do not make this decision lightly. It is clear that he will be a threat unless his intentions are explained." It will be hard for them to fight his counterpart at all, he is sure, and so that is why David decides to make the number one priority intercepting him first out of them all. David will have no trouble fighting his future self.

"And the other matter, My Lord?" Torgal asks, stepping forward. It is a vague question and to anyone else it is confusing for the Sovani does not elaborate. David, however, nods in understanding.

"I did not know that Rush is a Remnant. That was information not disclosed to me." He wonders if Rush knows it himself; really, David should have guessed, after hearing that the group of lights upon the Tracking Remnant had been Rush's counterpart, but even then, perhaps there had been a part of him that was suspicious, else he would be far more shocked. "In any case, no one is to know about this. It is to be kept secret unless Rush wishes to share it." Nods follow from his Generals.

Does this mean Rush is not Marina and John Sykes' son? David continues in his mind, turning away from them; brows are furrowed together, and he does not know what to think. Are he and Irina unrelated? Perhaps it is best to consults the Sykes about this. If anything, they should clear up the confusion.

"What is your next course of action, My Lord?" Pagus' voice interrupts his thoughts.

David pauses once before beginning to voice his inner machinations aloud. "I admit, it does not sit well with me that Rush is within my counterpart's hands. That, I imagine, will be the first thing to take care of. The Conqueror can wait—"

"The Conqueror cannot wait." Came a young voice, and David stills briefly before focusing on the approaching visitor, eyes wide upon the young boy that now strides into the throne room, steps sure and proud.

"My Lord-!" David steps forward, and rapidly does he compose his features for the Duke must not see his emotional state. Not right now. He cannot afford to let anyone else be privy to the time travelling situation at hand. He can only hope that the other had not been eavesdropping.

The Duke of Qubine shakes his head, lifting a hand. "Please, David, inform me that you will not put the Conqueror on the backburner. Duke Ghor and myself have devised something rather important for you to hear…"

Apparently, independence for Athlum is to come sooner than he has expected.