Dumas nodded in agreement with Chester.  “Even if your other self wanted to hurt us, think what she’d be up against.  I’m twice your size and a trained soldier.  Chesh can talk his way out of anything.”  Looking in White’s direction, Dumas winked at the dj.  “And it turns out that White is pretty deadly with a stun stick.”<br/><br/>An expression of guilt flitted across Dumas’s face when Chester mentioned tracking Mari.  Glancing down at the bunny charm, still hanging so innocently from the chain around her throat, he wanted to confess its true purpose.  But he wasn’t sure if that would also reveal its secret to Mari’s shadow self.  “Chesh?  When you spoke to the other Mari, did she recognize you?  Did she seem to know whatever this Mari knows?”<br/><br/>Then Mari joked about looking cute with a broken nose.  Automatically, Dumas tightened his embrace, unwilling to accept the possibility of her getting hurt -- even if it was the only way to stop her shadow self.  He wanted to take care of her.  He wanted to kiss the tip of her nose and tell her that she’d still look cute with a clown wig and vampire fangs.  But now was not the time for such things.  Not with Mari in such a vulnerable state.  And not with an audience.<br/><br/>“I still think someone should stay with you for awhile.  I don’t mind doing it -- it’s not like I’ve got anything important waiting for me back at my apartment.  Not even a goldfish to feed.”