Chrollo Lucilfer

Chrollo has transformed the mansion's great hall into a Gallery of Affects. On pedestals, under glass domes, he has displayed objects: an antique book annotated in his hand, a dried rose found in Meteor City, a marked playing card (his fight against Hisoka), one of Uvogin's teeth, a needle that once belonged to a Zoldyck. Each object tells of a loss, an acquisition, an attachment. Troupe members wander, perplexed. Chrollo, seated in an armchair, observes them in silence. He has invited one person in particular tonight. He waits. He doesn't know if she'll come. He waits anyway.

Dialogue 1 — Chrollo and Machi (the thrown challenge) Machi: (leaning against the wall, arms crossed) "I can't believe you actually agreed. You didn't even smile when I called you a repressed old romantic."

Chrollo: (turning a page) "Was smiling required?"

Machi: "No, but it would've been less creepy."

Chrollo: (pause) "... I don't know how to smile on command."

Machi: (sighs) "I know, you idiot."

(A silence. Machi looks at the displayed objects.)

Machi: "That's the flower from Meteor City, isn't it? The one we found near the dump."

Chrollo: "Yes."

Machi: "Why did you keep it?"

Chrollo: "... Because it grew where nothing grows."

(Machi doesn't answer. She looks away. Her ears are slightly red.)

Machi: "... Your Valentine's Day sucks."

Chrollo: "I know."

(He smiles. Barely. Machi pretends not to see.)

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Dialogue 2 — Chrollo and Feitan (sentimental torture) Feitan: (examines an empty pedestal) "Not understand. Object? Missing."

Chrollo: "The pedestal is for you."

Feitan: "..."

Chrollo: "Place what you want. Or nothing. You decide."

(Feitan thinks. A very long time. He finally pulls a small rusty screw from his pocket.)

Feitan: "First tool. Torture. Learned alone."

Chrollo: "Why this one?"

Feitan: "Because without... not become me. Not meet Troupe."

(He places the screw on the pedestal. Chrollo nods.)

Chrollo: "That's a good choice."

Feitan: (embarrassed) "Shut up."

(He leaves quickly. Chrollo notes something in his book.)

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Dialogue 3 — Chrollo and Pakunoda (the living memory) Note: This dialogue takes place in a space outside time, a reminiscence. Pakunoda is already gone.

Pakunoda: (smiling before her own pedestal) "You put one of my memory cards. That's cheesy."

Chrollo: "It's all that's left of you."

Pakunoda: "Your memories remain."

Chrollo: "... I can't steal them. I can't read them. I can't keep them in a book."

Pakunoda: (gently) "Then keep them elsewhere. In your head. In the way you speak. In how you look at the new members."

Chrollo: "Is that enough?"

Pakunoda: "For me, yes."

(Chrollo doesn't answer. He touches the memory card with his fingertips.)

Chrollo: "... I never thanked you."

Pakunoda: "You never had to say it."

(The reminiscence fades. Chrollo remains alone before the pedestal.)

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Dialogue 4 — Chrollo and Phinks (inherited anger) Phinks: (fists clenched) "Why didn't you put something for Uvo? He deserves to be here!"

Chrollo: "He is."

Phinks: "Where? I don't see anything!"

Chrollo: (points to the empty pedestal beside his own) "There."

Phinks: "... It's empty."

Chrollo: "Because it's not for me to fill his place. It's for you. For those who knew him."

(Phinks freezes. Then he roughly places his headband on the pedestal.)

Phinks: "It was his. He lent it to me and I never gave it back. There."

Chrollo: "Thank you."

Phinks: (sniffs) "You're welcome, asshole."

(He leaves, punching the wall. Chrollo straightens the headband.)

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Dialogue 5 — Chrollo and the awaited one (She came. He no longer hoped. He faces the empty pedestal before him.)

Chrollo: "You came."

She: "You invited me."

Chrollo: "I didn't think you would..."

(He stops. He never finishes his sentences.)

She: "That I would come? That I would speak to you? That I would agree to place something on this pedestal you reserved for me?"

Chrollo: "... Yes."

(She takes a small case from her pocket. She opens it. It's empty.)

She: "I have nothing to place. You've already taken everything."

Chrollo: (finally looks at her) "I never meant to..."

She: "I know. That's why I came."

(She places the empty case on the pedestal.)

She: "I don't forgive you. I don't forget. But I've stopped waiting for you to become someone else."

Chrollo: "... I can't change."

She: "I know."

(A silence. The longest of his life.)

Chrollo: "... Will you have dinner with me?"

She: "Is that a declaration?"

Chrollo: "It's a question."

(She looks at him. A long time.)

She: "... Yes."

(Chrollo doesn't smile. But his fingers, on the cover of his book, stop trembling.)