by Jeremy Gordon (gordon8_26@yahoo.com)
Note: All write and no reviews make SDM a dull boy. Seriously, review it if you read it. The reviews are always encouraging to write more. Anyways, the story is still developing. In this chapter, I'm going to focus more on characterization and development of the character relationships more than the story. I do support Thomas/Cecile; it's the most obvious pairing in the game, besides the stated ones (Iku/Franz, etc). Well...Luc/Sarah is fairly obvious as well. You people...I'm getting more turned on to Hugo/Chris as I think about it. We'll see...Now, onto the story! Read/review, I need it.
Previously...
Geddoe and the mercenaries are missing in action. Lucia, Futch, Viki, Sasarai, and Lilly have embarked on a quest to find the former Stars of Destiny. Pesmerga has come to Budehuc, and killed Yuber. He has decided to stay until the events play out.
"Y'know Hugo, that Pesmerga guy creeps me out." Fourteen-year old Kidd told the teen sitting across from him, while sticking a spoon full of Mantik into his mouth. "I've been watching him for a few days...he doesn't eat, ever! Plus, he doesn't even sleep! I asked Mio if she had made a room for him, and she said that he turned down one. That's pretty creepy, I guess."
"Probably because he's a demon, and all." Sitting across from the grey-capped detective, Hugo took a swig of freshly made orange juice. "Man...Mamie sure is a good cook."
"Anyways, I get the feeling he isn't really a 'people person', get my drift? Seems like he'd rather kill people than help them. Heck, I asked Apple, and she said he was a borderline psychopath when she knew him!" Kidd's eyes widened, as he voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't know...I don't feel like I can trust him."
"Oh, back off." Hugo retorted, slightly miffed. "Thomas said his rune is supposed to make him calm...he might have been crazy before, but that's all countered now. I think we should just try to accept him for now. Well...as much as one can accept a hulking dark knight dressed in black armor. I'm going to get some more Mantik. You want any more?"
"Nah, I'm good. Koichi looks like he wants some. Who's a good doggie? Who's a good doggie?" As his friend tickled the red bandana'd dog under his chin, Hugo could only stare in disbelief.
Nash found Chris sitting in her room, staring out the ship window. "Now, what's a gal like you doing in a place like this?" Recognizing the voice, Chris turned around and tried to put on a smile, but Nash saw right through it. "Hey--what's wrong? You aren't frowning for no reason."
"This may sound stupid, but..." Chris started to say, but paused as she turned her head to the side, shaking her head. "It's Hugo. He...he said he would kill me, because of what I did to him and his people. I've just...never seen such fury in someone so young, directed at me. It unnerves me. I actually believe him, that he'll try to kill me once this war is over."
"Hmmm..." The Harmonian spy thought to himself, placing a finger on his chin. "I know Hugo...that seems odd of him. I'll talk to him."
"Oh, don't bother Nash." Chris turned around only to see a swinging door. "...damn."
Hugo glared at his opponent, trying to keep a mask of solitude on. His eyebrow twitching, he drew...what would happen next depended on luck. Hugo sighed, and put his cards down.
"Eight. No more cards." Across him, the wily gamesman Mike smiled, brushing his red hair out of his eyes.
"As you say. Dealer draws....eight. Eight plus Ace makes nine. Kabu. I win." As Hugo blinked in disbelief, he scratched his head in wonderment.
"You...aargh, that was my last hundred potch too." Hugo grumbled, reaching into his pockets to pull out the small bag of coins. He handed them over to the chuckling man, who swiftly pocketed it. "Man, you must be the richest man in Budehuc."
"Oh...I don't know about that. Martha is pretty rich, what with the racket she and Piccolo have going..." Mike stopped to muse a second, but stopped when he saw a familiar blond-haired man walk up to Hugo. "Oh, Nash! What's up?"
"Nothing much. I have to talk to Hugo. Hugo, will you walk with me?" Cocking his head in wonderment, Hugo complied, taking his place next to Nash, as they walked outside the sideroom and to the outside of Budehuc.
"Nash...what do you want to talk to me about?" Hugo asked, still puzzled. He had never gotten the chance to talk to the Harmonian spy, because...well, their interests had never really collided.
"Chris." Nash tilted his head to see Hugo's reaction, and saw none. "She's upset because of this whole problem, between you and her."
"Not my problem." Hugo said nonchalantly, brushing the hair out of his face. Nash frowned, obviously getting nowhere. "She may not have a problem with me, but I have a problem with her. I'd like to keep it that way."
"Why would you?" Nash pressed on, sensing something amiss here. He had noticed that Hugo was always quiet whenever Chris was mentioned. "You can tell me."
Yeah, right. Hugo thought, rolling his eyes. Ah...what the hell. "This'll seem sort of dumb...but when I first saw Chris, I thought she was really beautiful. I started falling in love with her...but then, she killed Lulu. It shames me, but I wasn't truly angry at her. By not being angry with her, I...I shamed the memory of Lulu. It confused me. She had killed my best friend, but I still couldn't feel any true hatred towards her. I knew...if I pushed her away, if I hurt her, then I could stifle any feelings I had for her." Nash was stunned, obviously not expecting such a complex answer.
"I see." Nash said, in a simple, yet understanding tone. "I've got to go. Bye." Before Hugo noticed, Nash Latkje had left.
Chris was still in the same spot when Nash returned to her room. Seeing him, she straightened up and began to ask. "Well? What did he say?"
"I can't tell you...but know this, looks are decieving. Don't neglect him just because he neglects you. It's the only way to gain his trust." Nash explained, then adapted a kinder face. Turning around, he began to walk out until Chris asked him another question.
"Nash...?" Chris' voice was light, and Nash could sense an important question coming on. "You never told me...who is your 'missus'?" For a second, Nash blushed, and Chris could see his ears turn bright red. Chuckling silently, she waited for an answer.
"Ah..well..er...you see...um...her name is Sierra Mikain. Ask our new guest about her." Before Chris could ask something else, Nash walked in a hurry out the door.
"New guest...?" Chris thought for a second, as the answer dawned upon her. "Oh! Pesmerga!"
"On the count of three, name your dream person. One...two...three!"
"Chris!"
"Lady Chris!"
"Wan Fu!"
"..."
"...I think I'll be getting out of the bath right now."
"What? Oh no! I didn't mean it like that! Melville, don't go!"
"I think I'll be going too. Good luck with that, Rody."
"You too Louis? Oh, that's not fair!"
"Aaaah....uh...."
"Aroooooooo!"
".....Juliet....aaaaah...."
"Arooooo!"
"Bzzt. Bzzzzt. Bzzt."
"Huh? Where am I?"
"Aroooooo!"
"Aaaaaaah....."
As the audience of Alanis, Shabon, and Emily pelted the cast with garbage, Nadir couldn't help but feel sad. Tuta, Koroku, Ruby, and Viki...a cast doomed to fail.
"Pesmerga?" Chris asked, her voice a melodious echo. "Um, can I ask you something?" Entering the room, she felt a shudder come over her.
"Ask." Pesmerga answered without emotion, without even looking at her.
"What do you know about Sierra Mikain? A friend of mine is married to her, and I---"
"Sierra? Married to a human?" Pesmerga's voice got higher, and it was the most emotion Chris had ever seen from him in the week that he had been at Budehuc. "Haha! Ahahaha! That would be a sight to see! That poor fool!" Chris was puzzled by Pesmerga's answer, and decided to leave it at that.
"Uh, okay." With that, Chris turned and left the still chuckling dark knight to his own means.
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