.01. - Open

[duomaxwell]

He really should have known better. He was the kind of person capable of getting in to trouble just walking across the street, what made him think that going exploring in the castle alone was a good idea?

Well, really, he never thought it was a good idea. It was just an idea. One that he did despite the possible risk of it.

And now he was regretting that.

Having made his way up to a flat, almost roof like area of the castle, he was simply looking around the edges, thinking it was about time to start heading back to his room since there really hadn't been anything of interest around there except for a couple of barrels he couldn't open in another room. He leaned over one of the little ledges that hung over another area below, spotting what looked like train tracks.

Well that was interesting! But not something he wanted to keep to himself. His double would sure as hell want to know about that, right? He kind of wished he'd brought something to draw a map out with, but he knew if he went back now he could recall the path there from memory alone.

He turned to start the trek back, and it was that moment fate decided to remind Duo Maxwell that his luck was good, but never as good as he would have liked it to be.

Loose, crumbling stone fell away from where his right foot was, and his balance was lost. He felt a sickening sensation in the pit of his stomach as he fell backwards. A yelp sounded from him as he grabbed what was left of the ledge, feet dangling high above the stone floor below. If he fell, it was going to hurt. A lot. If it didn't kill him.

"Damnit...!"

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[duomaxwell]

His eyes fell on the chain as well, a huff of annoyance escaping him. He stood with his hands on his hips for a minute before finally giving in, knowing there wasn't any other way down. He jumped on the chain, grumbling as he shimmied down it.

"What about any of this is normal... ?"

[stillshinigami]

"Nothin, but I can dream can't I?" Duo watched him go down and waited til he was down before jumping over himself, slipping slightly before getting a hand on the chain. He cursed as he pinched one of his fingers. Nothin' was going right for him just then. He climbed down and dropped off, passing a glance to his partner and started off towards the stairs.

"At least we know that there's something more then just the castle. There's something sinister after us. We're gonna need to let people know about that."

[duomaxwell]

"We both can, apparently."

Another huff, this one more morose than irritated, left him as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, trying to ignore just how much his face was starting to hurt. Stupid things didn't throw their punches. Reminded him of a certain Japanese pilot he knew.

"How d'you propose we do that? Stand on a street corner and say 'the shadow things are coming' until some one listens?"

[stillshinigami]

They'll try and help him out with that when they get to the common room. He walked along side Duo, letting him pass him up the stairs before following behind. How to do that? Hm.

"As if. You get into a conversation with someone, you tell em. Either that or we could find some chalk and write it on the wall. Don't think anyone can ignore that." He snorted at the thought and shook his head. Once they were up the stairs he shrugged. "Do whatever, just make sure that people know what's going on."

[duomaxwell]

"... right," Duo muttered, wondering if he actually could find any chalk somewhere in the castle. Chalk, or at least something to draw on the walls with.

Now that they were finally nearing the living quarters, he chanced a glance over his shoulder curiously.

"What'd you wanna talk to me about anyway?"

[stillshinigami]

Burn some wood and you have char coal. They could always use that! But he didn't think getting the job done itself would be too overly difficult. He shrugged.

He moved in step now with his double across the bridge, mulling it over. "I have some good news, actually. I'm not you after all."

He pauses.

"Actually I'm not sure if it's good news or not. It's just that you don't grow up to be me. Our timelines don't match up."

[duomaxwell]

Duo... wasn't really sure what to say to that. He couldn't really say he was relieved because he hadn't gotten much in the way of information to know what had caused the change between him and his double. But it still was odd and a little unnerving to hear. Their timelines didn't match up? What did that really mean?

"... okay..." was all he could really say at the end of it, confusion written on his features.

[stillshinigami]

"I got to talking to Heero when I met him here. He told me the war ended on Christmas 195. That didn't happen for me." He explained, still walking as they entered the residential room. From there he headed over to the table, nobody was there so they may as well just talk there. He took a seat, frowning a bit. Aaah. Yeah. He wasn't gonna be happy with this information.

"Instead, the Bartons went ahead with Operation Meteor."

[duomaxwell]

He had been following behind a few paces, but the words spoken made him stop and stare, mouth agape.

"... they... they did what?"

[stillshinigami]

That feeling was back. A shame that churned his stomach and made him feel ill. Adding that on top of what he'd just experienced, he was beginning to feel awful. He leaned his arms into the table and sighed.

His voice was low and flat, a bit of a shake with his final words. "They dropped the colony onto the Earth. And we didn't make it in time to stop em."

[duomaxwell]

There was that saying, about the rug being pulled out from under one's feet. Duo was feeling that right then, only when the rug was pulled it seemed his equilibrium and strength went with it. His knees trembled for a moment only to collapse completely. He fell backwards, not even noticing how much it hurt to hit the ground that hard.

He couldn't speak. His voice only caught in his throat uselessly. His hands moved over his face, head shaking slowly.

There was nothing he could say.

[stillshinigami]

There was a long silence between them. After his curt conversation with Heero, he didn't really think it would actually be this hard to talk about it. Then again, much like his initial encounter with his double, he compartmentalized and focused at the task at hand. Looking back at his double, watching his reaction-- it was clear it was no small ordeal.

"D--.." He started. "Don't. Okay?" He folded his hands in front of him and rested his jaw on his knuckles. "I already feel bad enough-- and..." Oh man, he put his hands to his face and let out a shaky breath. He really didn't know what else to say himself. Felt like he just said the most horrible thing in the world.

Worse yet? He still felt cold. He shivered and settled back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest for the warmth.

[duomaxwell]

Duo still didn't say anything. Try as he might he just couldn't wrap his mind around the level of destruction, death and chaos that had to have caused. There was a million questions, yet none he could voice without his throat closing up on him.

"I can't--..." was all he managed to get out before his voice cracked and he went silent again.

[stillshinigami]

It was a massacre. All of the people on the colony and then the race of immigrants to outer space. He took in a deep breath and exhaled, trying to focus on other things. Some of the good that has come out of the war despite everything. Despite everything.

"I know." He said, shaking his head. What could he say? They had the same hangups about operation Meteor. They probably made the same decision to go to Earth. There was just nothing he could say to make things right. Maybe...

"Listen." He said, glancing longingly at the bedroom doors on the far side of the room. That corridor that at the moment looked so far away. "I won't say anymore. You don't need to carry that."

[duomaxwell]

"Little late for that, don'tcha think?" Duo grunted, finally lowering his hands. He felt sick, but a harsh swallow kept it down for the time being.

[stillshinigami]

Duo groaned. He didn't want to feel this way, and he didn't think the kid would react so much to the news. Heero hadn't, but then they still had so much to sort through that his news probably didn't feel all that important. That? Duo just didn't want to see himself looking like that.

"Does it matter? It doesn't effect you--! It's done! It happened! And your world is still safe!" Duo paused, looking down at the table.

"And I don't wanna think about it anymore."

[duomaxwell]

But it did matter. He couldn't say how it mattered, though, which was enough to keep him from arguing. Instead he just nodded, getting to his feet. Nausea was working in his stomach now, but he swallowed hard enough to fight it back.

He still didn't know what to say.

[stillshinigami]

Nothing to say? That was fine. That was how things had gone all the last few years. He pushed himself to his feet and walked forward, almost past his double. He patted the boy lightly on the shoulder, trying to get the message across that he did actually understand. Only problem was that he couldn't watch him like that anymore.

"I'm goin' to bed." He said simply, in hopes he could just push it all back into the recesses of his mind.

[duomaxwell]

"... 'kay..." was the only response he'd get upon passing. Duo didn't move, at least not right away.

It would be another few minutes after his other left before he shuffled off to his room, curling up on his bed while staring at the dark wall blankly.