Being the Boss
Cleo: *sigh* Honestly...
Euden: You look exhausted. Is it Durant?
Cleo: Indeed. Whenever I try to heal him, he flies into a fury and refuses. I can see why they call him "Mad Dog."
Euden: Heh. He's certainly a handful.
Cleo: I have not been struggling alone, however.
Euden: Hm?
Euden: Oh, you're Durant's men.
Underling 1: We can't thank you enough for helpin' out the boss—and us too, of course.
Euden: It's nothing. I never could've left him like that.
Euden: I was impressed by you two, by the way.
Euden: You didn't even hesitate to protect your leader with your lives. Not many people could do that.
Underling 2: Yeah, well, we owe him our lives.
Euden: You mean because he risked his own to save you the other day?
Underling 1: Sure—but that wasn't the first time. Without Durant, we'd be dead in some alley in Valkaheim.
Euden: I've heard that city is a cold meritocracy.
Underling 2: Man, you've got no idea. We were livin' like garbage back then, until Durant found us and gave us the strength that comes from pack life.
Durant: Doesn't matter where ya come from, or how strong ya are—together, you're always stronger!
Durant: Keep lettin' this town smack ya around, and you're just gonna be helpless mutts forever!
Euden: He brought you together, huh?
Cleo: I suppose his coarseness is a product of surviving in Valkaheim.
Underling 1: Yeah. Pretty words don't mean nothin' there.
Underling 2: He's not all bad, though. He took in a stray puppy and raised it, for one.
Underling 1: Took a couple'a days, but we eventually realized it was really a wolf pup. Definitely ate like one...
Cleo: I struggle to picture him nursing anything but a sore jaw.
Underling 1: Eh, that's just Durant. But lemme tell ya, there's no one we respect more!
Euden: I believe it. And I hope he can open his heart to us one day too.
Cleo: Oh, I suspect we won't be waiting long. You have your own knack for winning others over.
Cleo: But in order to see that happen, he must first allow me to treat his wounds.
A few days later...
Cleo: Durant! Where are you going?! Your wounds have yet to heal!
Euden: Hey, you should really listen to Cleo.
Durant: Shut up and get lost.
Underlings: ......
Cleo: Why are you two just standing there?! Stop him, for goodness sake!
Underling 1: No can do. We know what this means to him.
Euden: Do you know where he's going?
Underling 2: He's got a job only he can do.
Euden: Huh...?
Later that night...
Durant: ...Dammit.
Euden: That sounded like Durant.
Euden: So, you're back... Wait, are those wounds?! What happened?!
Durant: What do you care? Not like we're friends.
Euden: Maybe not, but I think anyone would be worried seeing you like this.
Durant: Keep your concerns to yourself.
Durant: What's your deal, anyway? You just let anyone off the street into your castle?
Euden: Well, er...
Durant: Little slow in the head, huh? Good luck rulin' a kingdom.
Euden: I make judgments when I have to.
Durant: Yeah? Let's test that.
Durant: Say your most trusted pal betrays you. If you don't put him down, the rest of the pack'll be in danger. But then, you have so many memories together...
Durant: Good times, bad times; any time ya can think of, you've had it with this guy.
Durant: What would you do? Take their life? Could ya even DO that?
Euden: I...
Durant: Me? I'd kill 'em right there. For the sake of the pack.
Durant: That's my job as the boss.
Euden: Your job... Wait, did you go out today to—
Durant: Lemme make somethin' crystal clear. You're lackin' as a leader, blondie.
Durant: You've got ideals and pretty words, but do ya have the raw GRIT it takes to make your dreams happen?!
Durant: Crawlin' though garbage, lying, stealing... Doin' whatever it takes to survive.
Durant: And then when the time comes, pullin' yourself up outta the muck to move up the food chain.
Durant: That's how this world is. Unless ya get your hands dirty, you won't change a damn thing in this kingdom.
Durant: But it's not all bad.
Durant: One thing you do have is strength, and I can put that to good use. So go on, bend the ol' knee and swear allegiance to me.
Euden: No.
Durant: Whaddya mean, "no"? I'm askin' ya nicely, blondie—don't go coppin' an attitude.
Euden: Say whatever you want—but I'm going to govern this land my way.
Euden: The idea of my allies betraying me is something I'd rather not think about...
Euden: But if that time does come, I'll be sure to make a proper decision.
Euden: A good, even decision that I won't regret.
Euden: I'm going back to my room. You should think about doing the same. Good night.
Durant: ...The hell's with that guy?
Durant: Every time he opens his damn mouth, nothin' but pretty words fall out! Makes me SICK!
Durant: The only way to get what you want is by gettin' down and dirty.
Durant: You can't keep clean and expect to make anything happen. The world doesn't work like that!
Durant: ...Right? I mean, if it did, what would that mean for me, covered in the blood of my comrades...?
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