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"In the morning of"
[It is now the morning. The time is between 8 and 8:30 am. Duke is still sleeping in front of his bedroom door and on the floor. Fierdan opens his bedroom door and glances around blearily. Then he steps outside and rubs his eyes. Then he spots Duke...]
Fierdan: *stretches his arms up as he yawns, then looks down at Duke with a suspicious and confused look on his face* Huh? What are you doing here? Why are you on the floor?
Duke: *is still sleeping*
Fierdan: *shrugs* At least it's the weekend. *walks away to go to the bathroom*
Duke: *wakes up and sits up*
[Two minutes later.]
Duke: 'Sup, Danny boy.
Fierdan: *walks toward Duke with caution, then says loudly* Ryen! Why is he *almost pokes Duke with his right index finger* here?
Duke: Whoa, watch where you're putting your fingers, Danny boy.
Fierdan: That sounds wrong, and don't call me that. *then is basically yelling* Ryen!
Ryen: *opens his bedroom door, sounds annoyed* What?
Fierdan: *looks at Ryen, then looks at Duke* When did he come back?
Ryen: In the middle of the night.
Fierdan: When?
Ryen: Close to 3 am.
Fierdan: And to think I was actually asleep when Duke comes barging in here.
Duke: So you weren't actually sleeping?
Fierdan: No, I was! It's ironic because I've only been able to sleep quote-in-quote "normally" fairly recently.
Duke: Hmm.
Ryen: Duke, why didn't you sleep in your bed?
Duke: *stands up* I didn't feel like it. I don't think I belong there.
Ryen: What do you mean?
Duke: It feels wrong for me to, that's why.
Fierdan: Yeah, if you're gonna suddenly come home, you can at least act normal.
Duke: Says who? You? Oh, that's funny.
Fierdan: You nearly scared the hell out of me.
Duke: I'm not sure why, but that sentence sounds hilarious to me.
Ryen: No, not happening. I'm not just gonna stand here and watch you two argue over nothing.
Duke: Ugh, fine! You want to know why? It's because I don't deserve any luxuries! I don't deserve to sleep in a bed! Even being allowed inside the house at that hour and sleeping on the carpeted floor were luxuries. I don't deserve the rights to those things!
Fierdan: What are you screaming about this time?
Duke: *grumbles and goes to the bathroom, slams door behind him*
Ryen: Hey Duke, does this have anything to do with what we talked about last night? Uh, about what you talked about?
Fierdan: What did you talk about?
Ryen: Some ... things.
Fierdan: *rolls eyes* Thanks, my good brother.
Ryen: He can tell you. *faces bathroom door* Can you at least tell us why you came home?
Fierdan: There's no break from classes last time I checked. You can't just come home every weekend, Duke. *speaks quietly to Ryen* Did he even bring anything with him?
Ryen: *speaks quietly back* No. In fact, he brought nothing with him. Not even a jacket.
Fierdan: *yells at the bathroom door* It's late October, you idiot! You could have at least worn a jacket or brought one with you!
Duke: *from inside the bathroom* That's correct. There is no break happening now. I just decided to come home to visit you guys, that's all.
Fierdan: The weather report says the temperature drops to the 40s (Fahrenheit) at night. Did you use your fire to keep yourself warm?
Duke: *sounds annoyed* What are you? My mother?
Fierdan: Yeah, I'm basically the equivalent of a mother to you.
Duke: Are you being sarcastic? I can't tell.
Fierdan: I am, I'm not.
Duke: Well, you're not!
Fierdan: Obviously, I'm not! But in your life now.. no, in your existence.. I have that mother role over you.
Ryen: *sighs* Please stop it. I'll make us breakfast. How's that?
Fierdan: *ignores Ryen* I want to make sure you're safe! Is that so hard to comprehend? That I care about people?
[Instead of saying anything back, Duke opens the bathroom door. He steps back into the hallway. In each of his hands, there is a razor blade. He is frowning.]
Fierdan: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where did you get those?
Ryen: *is worried and concerned* Put those down. Walk away from then.
Duke: Why? They're just blades from two shavers I found in the bathroom.
Fierdan: We all know what you did with those kinds of things. This isn't funny, Duke! Put them away!
Duke: And why would I do that? *holds up the razor blades*
Fierdan: Ryen, do something!
Duke: I just broke your shavers, that's all.
Ryen: Why did you do that?
Duke: *flips the razor blade in his right hand between his index and middle fingers* So I could have these two bad boys. They're not harmful, guys, relax.
Fierdan: How about you stop playing with those weapons you made by destroying Ryen's stuff, and you tell us the real reason you're here.
Duke: Dude, you have to chill. There's no reason to be so hostile.
Ryen: Can you please tell us?
Duke: *ignores what they said* Are you telling me that they both belong to Ryen? What's that? You don't have your own shaver? Do you have to share with him, Fierdan?
Fierdan: Answer our question.
Duke: Do you shave? I've never seen you with any facial hair. Do you even get any? I'm assuming you get some down there--
Fierdan: *is annoyed* Shut up! You know I don't get facial hair. And I do have a shaver. You just broke two of Ryen's.
Duke: What? You can't grow a beard? Is that why Soulless called you weak? Is it because you're lacking in the masculinity department?
Fierdan: Stop avoiding the question we asked you first! Your questions are gross, considering I know you want to ask me if I use mine to shave my pub--
Duke: *laughs* Wow, you sound so defensive!
Fierdan: --ic hair.
Ryen: *groans* You two are unbelievable. You're both gross. Now answer my question, Duke.
Duke: *suddenly has a different look in his eyes, holds the razor blades differently* Okay, you want to know why? It's better if I left my college now than wait. Before you ask, there's no reason for me to stay. *tightens his grip on the razor blades* I was supposed to die for real before it came time for me to move into my dorm. Which, for the record, is small as hell! I can't get any goddamn privacy over there!
Ryen: I've been there before. I know what it feels like. You just have to take time to adjust.
Duke: You don't get it! Stop pretending you do!
Ryen: Oh, I'm sorry. It doesn't matter what particular school it is.
Duke: *has a certain look in his eyes that I don't know how to describe* I'm failing, okay? I'm so close to being flunked out of my classes, so I just left that place.
Fierdan: So you didn't bring anything with you?
Duke: I'm a failure! I don't deserve anything! I'm a far worse person than you, so why didn't you kill me? Please let me die!
Fierdan: I promised I would never kill you. You're not going to die.
Duke: Well, I better try!
Ryen: Stop it.
Duke: I'm so stupid! I don't know anything! I never know what I'm doing! I never get any privacy! I can always tell when someone is staring at me. I know they're all just strangers, but I know. I know they know! They can sense it!
Ryen: Sense what exactly?
Duke: I wonder how college is going for Twinkle. Does she also feel their stares digging knives into her back?
Fierdan: What are you talking about?
Duke: And Dawn! Will she feel them when she leaves? Does she feel them at school? How come I didn't notice them when I was in high school? They were there the entire time!
Ryen: Feel what? What's there?
Fierdan: Didn't you hear him? The people around him who see him and are staring at him. They feel like knives in Duke's back.
Ryen: But what are they sensing?
Duke: They all know I'm the weird one. That I'm the scary one. That I'm the screwed up one. They all know!
Fierdan: You are only assuming things. No one is judging you. And if they are, they're the ones in the wrong.
Duke: There's something about my appearance. Maybe my voice and also my scent. Something about mine is off compared to theirs. I'll always be an outcast. No one wants to get close to me.
Ryen: *moves a few steps closer to Duke* I'm here.
Duke: *gets defensive, points a razor blade towards Ryen's lower chest* Don't come any closer! Or I swear, I swear I'll...
Ryen: *slowly takes two steps back*
Duke: *voice shakes* God! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! *closes his hands into loose fists*
Fierdan: Your mental state seems off. I've noticed the whole time, but I didn't think I would have to call you out on it.
Duke: What is wrong with me? I hate myself! No wonder why everyone thinks I'm dangerous. It's because I am! *focuses on Fierdan and Ryen again* I know my mental state is bad. I'm sickening.
Fierdan: You are not a monster. And if you are one, it's because of what those cruel people did to you. Myself included, I'll admit.
Duke: *voice sounds like it's breaking down again* They can sense I'm weird and a dangerous person. They can tell I have hidden scars all over my body. They know I inflicted them onto myself. And hey, maybe they know I survived abuse, and hey, maybe they know I'm a traumatized sick excuse of a human being. My behavior, my actions, are so weird compared to any normal person's. Of course I'm being judged when people don't know anything about me see me! *opens his hands, drops the razor blades on the floor* I can't focus, which makes me look even dumber than I really am. *falls on his knees* I need to get away from them. I need to live isolated from society for my own good. For my own sake.
Fierdan: Hey, hey, hey. You're just assuming things. *goes up to Duke, crouches to pick up the razor blades to later throw them away outside*
Ryen: I'll make some hot drink. Do you want coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
Fierdan: *stands up* I'll have whatever Duke wants.
Duke: *looks at the floor, says quietly* Hot chocolate, please.
Ryen: Sure thing! *goes downstairs*
[A few minutes later. Duke and Fierdan are also downstairs. Fierdan threw the razor blades in the garbage bin outside. Now they are in the kitchen waiting for the hot chocolate to be ready. Ryen is standing by the stove. Duke and Fierdan are sitting at the kitchen table.]
Duke: *scratches chin* Wait, it's the weekend?
Fierdan: Uh.. yes?
Duke: Then where's the rest of them? Dawn, Ardere, Fauna?
Ryen: Oh, they're not home. They went somewhere yesterday afternoon and didn't come back yet. Don't worry, nobody else heard our conversation.
Duke: Oh okay.
Ryen: Yeah, it's going to be okay. Maybe a little break could do you some good.
Fierdan: Yeah, it's not the end of the world. Life can get better. *takes out a business-like card from his jeans pocket* Maybe you can use this. *pushes the card across the table to Duke*
Duke: *grabs the card, looks at it* What is this?
Fierdan: It's Help. It is useful to me, and I think it's time you'll need it too. I know I'm informing you about this a little late, but I need to remember to not minimize your pain. You've also been through a lot.
Duke: I.. I don't know. It sounds scary.
Fierdan: It is. Well, at first. But hey, all new things are scary, right?
Ryen: *chuckles* Maybe you are more like a mom than I thought.
Fierdan: *looks at Ryen* Maybe I am. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?
Ryen: Nope.
Duke: Thanks. Thanks for giving me this, Fierdan. I'll.. think about it.
Fierdan: *smiles, like genuinely smiles at Duke* That's good to hear.
Duke: But about what you said, what do you mean that you don't get facial hair? You worded it like you can't rather than you choose not to.
Fierdan: *looks down at the table, sighs*
Ryen: The hot chocolate is ready! *brings two cups of it to the table for Duke and Fierdan, goes back to fetch the third one for himself*
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aww ;v; warm, soft, pure,,,
My boys! ;~; <3
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