Intriguing.

It's hard to find good Duke AMVs, I've noticed. But they do exist. I think the one I'm most intrigued by is the one set to The Killers' song Human. I imagine it with Duke in general, but also I see it fitting him specifically in my Fallen timeline.


Human lyrics

I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind

And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes, clear your heart
Cut the cord

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could

And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye, wish me well
You've gotta let me go

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know, is your heart still beating?

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer

You've gotta let me know
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Are we human or are we dancer?
Are we human or are we dancer?


( AMV below the cut )

Duke/Serenity and YGO R

I struggle back and forth over the idea of Duke/Serenity; I keep honestly getting the idea that Serenity likes Tristan better and wondering whether it's even likely that she and Duke would ever hook up. Of course, I don't like them paired anyway unless they both mature and grow up. (Serenity's what, 13? **always sees that on profiles.** And Duke's 16....)

What I've come up with so far is that maybe she likes Duke, accepting him as one of the group, but he makes her nervous. And she gravitates more to Tristan because he feels familiar and safe. Tristan spent time with her when she was still in the hospital and on the ride to Domino. Plus, he always goes overboard to make sure nothing is said that upsets her. Which, while good in one way (no sense having her get all worked up and worried about Joey when they don't know what's happening to him, for instance), it just furthers the sheltering she's gone through all her life. And if that's how he would be through them dating and their marriage, nope, that would not be a good idea. XD;

Duke is not an idealist like Yugi and the others, at least not in any traditional sense. He's negative, pessimistic, and let's face it---often realistic. Usually he just seems to let things slip without thinking, since that's how he's used to being, but then he tries to correct it when the others get angry at him. However, I can't imagine him really thinking it's a good idea to keep sheltering Serenity. And then too, he's a lot more outgoing than Tristan (at least outwardly) and of course, is somewhat a celebrity (though of course not on Kaiba's level). If going with Tristan is a familiar path, going with Duke is a twisting, uncertain road.

Of course, both Tristan and Duke need some moderation---Tristan, to not always be so sheltering, and Duke, to not always be so negative. They could both certainly change and mature over time. The only reason I really am even thinking of Duke/Serenity is because she's the main one helping Duke recover and try to start putting his life back in order after the smugglers are caught. Both of them are older in that storyline anyway (Duke is 18, so she'd be 15), and they definitely mature even more going through all of that. Serenity realizes by then how both Tristan and Duke really feel about her, and when it comes to where she has to make a decision, she chooses Duke because of how much closer they've grown and how she realizes she's come to love him the same way he loves her.

But I can't help feeling really bad for Tristan. XD; Canonically, I think he's the one who'd feel the worst if Serenity chose the other. In canon, it's really hard to know what Duke's actual motives are. I kind of think he's genuinely interested in Serenity, though, especially in the final episode's special ending where both he and Tristan are enthusiastically running to meet her. (And then there's Reshef of Destruction, of course ... but I don't accept it as canon, even though it's an intriguing AU. As far as Duke's concerned, it seems to show he is indeed genuinely interested in Serenity, but it also makes him look like an idiot. XD; Ah, guys in love.) And when he's such a mystery, it might hurt him worse than he would ever show or admit if Serenity chose Tristan.

Then there's utterly horrifying pairings such as Duke/Vivian, which SetsunaKou ships. **had never even thought of such a thing before.** I'm guessing she ships it specifically because of the fireworks that you know would erupt. Vivian would always be martial arts-kicking Duke. You *know* that. **hugs Duke protectively.** Nooo, dear heavens, no! Of course, I can't stand the thought of Vivian with anyone, as I just plain don't like her one bit, but her with Duke especially horrifies me. XD Seriously, a girl who kidnaps a poor old man to force his grandson to duel, and deliberately further injures his already-bad back, and plans that the grandson will be her love slave if she wins.... **shudders.**

In spite of that, one sole meeting between them might be amusing, where they end up deciding they can't stand the mere thought of each other. Of course, I imagine that's how shippers would get the pairing started. XD; And then start throwing them together a lot. But it would be more fun if they really did hate each other's guts and never came to like each other. At least, not like *that.*

**takes a deep breath.** And now, for something completely different. I am pondering over the backstory of Pete Coppermine. Please tell me someone else here has been reading YGO R.... And if anyone's read scanlations in the past, do you know if he shows up again after chapter 7? I can't find anything to indicate he does, which leaves me pretty much free to do anything I want. XD;

Right now, I'm thinking "Coppermine" is an alias, after the river in Oregon. Too perfect, isn't it, when I put Domino City in Oregon. I'm guessing he was actually named for the computer chip, since all the card professors names have been used as codes for computer chips, LOL. But he will have taken the name because of the river.

I'm imagining him with an older sister, for some reason, who doesn't like his goth fashion or his mercenary job. I think they're orphans and were separated by Social Services. Pete ended up in some bad foster homes and was sick of it. Finally he ran away, when he was about 16 or 17 (possibly younger, but unless I can think of something that would work, he needs to be close to legal age). He was pursued, but got away, nearly drowning in the river in the process. He survived, and since he ended up being considered dead due to them thinking he drowned in the river, he decided to take the river's name as his alias.

He made his way to Domino City, where he began to fend for himself. Lying about his age, he was able to get a room at a boarding house. Eventually he heard about card professors, professional Duel Monsters players who were hired to play against people. Deciding that would be the perfect way to make money, since he was already a fan of the game, he honed his skills and eventually entered a tournament for up-and-coming card professors. He passed, and ever since then, has been making enough money to move into his own place. Currently, he has an apartment in the same high-rise building where Duke Devlin lives, and they live across the hall from each other.

He's always wanted to find his sister, and at some point after he really is of legal age he manages to locate her. She, of course, is stunned, having believed him to be dead for years. She's somewhat angry at him for having run away, though is pacified a bit when he explains the horrible places he had ended up in. He says he was able to get along better on his own than with the foster homes' "help." She is not pleased to see how he's changed, however; he had always liked goth fashion but had not been allowed to indulge in the foster homes. Now he's free to do whatever he likes, so he dresses goth, watches horror-movie marathons, and works as a mercenary card professor. They have a mostly civil relationship, in spite of their disagreements, but his more-serious sister gets exasperated when he teases her. I had been picturing her somewhere like Seattle, but maybe I'll change that and she'll be in Domino.