Hmm.

Watching the Merger duel again, I'm getting a different perspective on it. Lector is really determined to get everyone out of there, himself and his friends. It's still distasteful that he tried forcibly grabbing a body twice (and of course, it's distasteful that they were trying to take bodies regardless of winning duels to get them or not!), but it is different than if he was just focused on himself. More than once Lector insists that they've all got to get out. So as much as what they're doing is distasteful and uncalled-for, and it's disgusting that they don't care about trapping the kids in there, I do like that Lector is always thinking of the rest of the Big Five too. I definitely feel he's a very loyal friend to them.

Figures I'd start looking at the duel in that way. But in any case, Lector refusing to give up Tristan's body after they all lost seemed to be an act of bitterness, especially since all of them then vacated Tristan's body, even Nesbitt, and apparently were planning to go after all the other kids instead.

Also, I'm having way too much fun writing Lector and Crump talking in my current chapter....