Duster 2 & 3 (for ask game)
2: Favorite canon thing about this character?
As dark a subject as it may be, I think Duster is a really good representation of how familial abuse often works, and how it can impact a person long-term… His situation with Wess is realistic in ways I've never quite seen portrayed elsewhere. Wess is charming towards & well-respected by the other villagers pre-timeskip, so his treatment of Duster flies under everyone's radar. He takes accountability for injuring Duster's leg - but never apologizes for it. Or for keeping him isolated from the community. Or for constantly screaming at him, berating him, undermining his self-worth. Wess knows the way he treats his son is harsh; he deliberately hides it from his neighbors. But he believes it's necessary to fulfill his role in the community, and his role as a father. It's very much the "tough love" sort of abuse. Which can easily go overlooked, even in tight-knit communities where folks are expected to look out for one another.
( I've seen people in the fandom excuse it as if it's not that big a deal, assuming Wess' insults are just playful teasing or ordinary discipline, Duster doesn't take it to heart, etc. This is what bystanders often assume in situations like this irl, thus allowing the abuse to continue. Which isn't me trying to morally condemn fans who downplay Duster's situation, I swear. I just think it's a testament to how believably written Wess & Duster are. Like. It's genuinely fascinating that ppl respond to Duster's abuse & irl abuse in similar ways. )
I love how Duster is a painstakingly selfless person. He'll drop everything at a moment's notice to be there for others in need. He's so fucking sweet, a social outcast who turns out to be one of the kindest members of his community, one of the kindest characters in the series tbh. But I do think it stems directly from how he was raised. Wess never allowed him to develop self-worth, or any purpose beyond his assigned role. Thus, Duster doesn't commit to his own wants & needs. He wants to stay with DCMC, but leaves the matter up to "fate". Even as an amnesiac, he still doesn't feel like he has any say in what he does with his life. I think that reveals a lot about Wess' impact on him. Moreso than Lucas or Kuma, whose families are directly on the line, Duster tags along because he supposes he's supposed to. (iirc I once made a post about how his personal commitment to the cause at the 6th Needle temple is significant, cuz it's the first time we see him vocalize a choice on his own accord 🥲.)
And like. On Tanetane Island, where everyone's deepest fears manifest before our eyes - Duster doesn't see his dad screaming at him. He sees his dad apologizing to him. God. That's so fucking real. What would he even do with an apology, at this point? What would it even change? He returns to Wess, and Wess missed him. But Wess still berates him, and still isn't sorry. And Duster never expresses resentment over this. At least not in any way we can see. That's another great aspect of his writing. Some victims hate & resent their abusive parents (totally valid), but others simply don't. Or can't bring themselves to. Or it's just complicated. In a game very much centered around familial love, I get the impression Duster still loves his father, for better or worse. I like how M3 is willing to leave that hanging in the air, let the player sort out how they feel about it.
Lastly (sorry this is so long haha) I never see media depictions of disabled adults who're stuck living with their abusive aging parents. It's such a common thing that happens irl. It's really tragic and complicated. And people in these situations are often deliberately ignored, disregarded by society. I hope Duster has made at least some of those people feel seen. And I think M3 does a good job of prompting the uncomfortable feelings & issues that arise in situations like that. Right down to the quiet agonies of like? How could your neighbors let this go on for so long. What do you do with your life when you finally get out. What do you do when your dad's forced into a nursing home. How do you feel when he's still not sorry. How would you feel if he was. Agghhhh. Duster invokes so many deep and real and raw questions, for a character who says so little.
3: Least favorite canon thing about this character?
That line where he apparently calls Kumatora cute at the end, spurring a neverending fountain of ppl ignoring all other context & insisting that these two are a "canon" ship. Or whatever.
As always with M3 characters tho, it'd also be nice if Duster had some more dialogue in the later chapters. Doesn't have to be a lot. Just some more.
