[ Dorothy may have spent most of the day engaging in being overly affectionate (which may not be all that unusual for her), but now? She's alone, settled in a quiet spot in the forest and thankfully not surrounded by woodland critters because that kind of weirds her out.
She is humming, under her breath, and seemingly lost in thought, but gradually, she moves to head back out the way she came. Still humming, but at least she seems to feel like being productive now.
[She may not be surrounded by woodland critters, but Rupe is here now and bounding in her direction. Soundlessly approaching her with no owner in sight just yet, he stops to look up at her. Perhaps the humming summoned him.]
[Rupe roams these days, which is understandable. When Rufus next looks for him, he finds him in the forest with Dorothy . . . feeding him something strange.]
What's that?
[He can't quite make it out from here. As he closes the gap, the harsh scratches on his face become more visible.]
[ She'd honestly been considering finding a bear or the like who'd just get rid of this problem in one gulp, but maybe Rupe will like it as a chew toy and will mangle it beyond recognition--
Sadly, it's still recognizable as a person by the time Rufus draws closer, and as Dorothy looks up, she blinks.
[ Well, wherever the heck Rufus chooses to be-- Dorothy will make an appearance soon enough, looking a little more tired than her usual, but still present and pleasant. ]
[ It sure is bizarre here, and while Dorothy loves exploring the unknown, there are certain places that make her feel a wee bit uneasy.
Like this creepy garden, but as luck would have it, there's Rufus and when has Dorothy ever passed up a chance to harass bond with him?
She hasn't, probably much to his chagrin.
She also immediately moves in close to nudge his shoulder because Dorothy does not give a shit about personal space when she's not actually compelled to want to invade it. ]
[It's later in the day and Rufus has tucked himself away in the corner of the strange greenhouse. He stands before a section of strange plants, but that's not what has his attention. When Dorothy nudges his shoulder, he closes his fingers around a small plush of a forlorn woman that he lowers to his side.]
Foods from the Underworld aren't too different from those of the material world.
[The forest is as good of a place as any to explore for the umpteenth time while he waits. Along the way—or perhaps he's subconsciously drawn to the familiarity—he comes upon a song he recognizes as . . . ]
[ Dorothy has changed outfits into something a little more suitably pirate (you know the one), and she is once again lightly humming as she investigates this town and the ship.
Which is where she finds Rufus, curiously stepping closer. ]
[Somewhere in the Realm—perhaps the pub—Rufus sits with a gold coin pinched between his thumb and index finger. He's been appraising it for a while now, and the feelings with which he does so can be described as glum at best. But, as ever, his expression is even in spite of how he feels.
It's curious, he thinks, that almost everything else vanished while this remains.]
[ Dorothy's stride isn't as jaunty or purposeful today. In fact, she's still holding what looks to be a bag of ice to that beautiful bruised bump on her head when she enters the pub-- and just wordlessly slides onto a stool a foot away with a tired nod of acknowledgment.
[ Dorothy is-- drunk! Or drunk-feeling, and she half-expected it, but it's nice(??) to know she can confirm it.
But more importantly... she's a little downcast despite that, and even as she walks (slightly wobbly) with no real purpose, she's still looking for someone. Perhaps just anyone. And she finds-- ]
[Rufus has stopped walking since the last dizzy spell and is working on regaining his sense of balance when Dorothy appears. He eyes her with visible displeasure at the title.]
[ It's dark when Dorothy stirs again. Or, well. Darker?? Regardless, she's not ready to just spend the whole night in this empty room and so Dorothy tests her balance first...
And moves forward, out of the inn. She's not sure where she's going and wherever it is, she's not moving very quickly, but that's fine.
[The fact that it's getting dark does nothing for Rufus, who still cannot see. Consequently, he relies on texture and sound to guide himself back to the bridge when the wind carries a familiar tune from nearby. He stops, considers his choices, then turns back around to seek out Dorothy somewhere in the jungle.]
[ Rufus, no. That is not the bridge. That way has a Dorothy.
A Dorothy, who thankfully, doesn't seem to realize anyone's heading her way, which means the humming will continue until he's close enough for her to spot him.
[ Dorothy is... unconscious. She doesn't know how long and the moments between people checking on her and the blood loss making her lose consciousness again are kind of blurry.
But she's awake longer now, enough to try and piece her thoughts together and that's when she realizes on a chance glance that there's a shadow that can be glimpsed through the crack in her propped door.
Rufus may just honestly be walking by with no reason to be here, but suddenly the door swings open more and there's Dorothy, precariously hanging onto the doorknob to keep herself upright. ]
[He was definitely walking by with no reason to be here. But Rufus doesn't turn away when Dorothy appears on the other side of the doorway, and it's the utter lack of shame that keeps him standing there in spite of his bloody appearance.]
[The sound of a monkey's cries cut through the forest's calm that evening. Should Dorothy approach, she'll come across the scene of Rufus' grabbing the monkey by the scruff of its neck as it attempts to flee up a tree with his PHS. Not today, monkey.]
... So really all she can hear is a whole lot of screeching chaos and she kind of freezes in place, one crutch extended sort of defensively like she's ready to smack a bitch if necessary. ]
[ Dorothy is... in the saloon, surprise, surprise. She's got her crutches propped against the table and is nursing a scotch, seemingly thinking about nothing in particular.
Which is never really true with her, but still. Join her? ]
[This time, he leans against a tree with his eyes closed and his arms folded in front of his chest. He's hard of hearing, so not even a song—if she were to still remember it—would grab his attention. The forest is ideal, because it's harder to run into people here when he can barely comprehend their words.
[ It sure is not. Although Dorothy most certainly isn't humming-- mostly because the melody itself is lost to her.
But so far she's already encountered two people who have had difficulties hearing her, and her own problem is... mildly annoying.
So instead, she stops in front of him, waiting to see if he'll register another presence and open his eyes before she has to try and tap his shoulder or something. ]
[He's been out for a while. Now that he's back where there's shade and—more importantly—a means of hydrating himself, he heads for the counter to order the same glass of water as always. Anything else would be dehydrating.
They both saw what Bucky attempted. He won't turn around and go, just because she happens to be here, but he won't comment on the obvious effect it had as he takes a sip.]
[Before Rufus even hits the gardens, Rupe wanders over to the gazebo Dorothy has taken up temporary residence, mostly due to her familiar scent. With his presence not needed elsewhere, he sits on the ground and looks up at her, watching quietly.]
Wherever Rufus is, Dorothy's horse will find him first. Though the mare appears irritable, tossing her mane back and forth, she at least pauses to nudge his leg.
And then there's Dorothy, nowhere near as fast, but present and accounted for.
[ Bless Wolf, honestly, because Dorothy would probably have chosen to spend yet another day in bed-- but no, she's up and about, sporting some blood-stained bandages wrapped around her head and still on her crutches because why wouldn't she be.
She also appears to be testing them out on the sand, which is not going so hot, but the sand is apparently where Rufus is, according to Rupe.
Or maybe he's just wandering and doesn't really care, but she does need to get the little guy back to his owner. ]
Rufus stands near the tide with his back to the boardwalk. He isn't wearing his coat this day, most probably due to the red stain on his left sleeve where his arm meets his shoulder. When Dorothy approaches, he looks over that very shoulder at her.]
[Later, Rufus drops by the employee lounge. Rupe accompanies him, but quickly bounds forward to pad up to Dorothy with an inquisitive stare. How is she doing?]
[The knock is one thing. Her voice, giving away her identity, is another.
This was going to happen sooner or later. (Sooner is better than later, and most likely for the best.) There's a pause before Rufus gets up to silently open the door.]
[It's on his way out, not in, that Rufus notices Dorothy by the inn. He stops to regard her silently as he closes the door behind him: After all, there are no certainties to discuss forthwith.]
[ Dorothy's quietly humming to herself (he knows the one). It takes a minute, to realize that Rufus is not only there, but looking at her, and she blinks back at him. ]
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Week 0, Monday
She is humming, under her breath, and seemingly lost in thought, but gradually, she moves to head back out the way she came. Still humming, but at least she seems to feel like being productive now.
Maybe.
Prove her wrong. ]
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Week 0: Friday
What's that?
[He can't quite make it out from here. As he closes the gap, the harsh scratches on his face become more visible.]
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Sadly, it's still recognizable as a person by the time Rufus draws closer, and as Dorothy looks up, she blinks.
And doesn't answer his question because-- ]
What on earth happened to your face?
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Week 0, Saturday
How are those eyebrow furrows doing?
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If that's all, I'll be going.
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Week 0: Sunday
Have you seen the rankings?
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Yep, there it is. ]
I have.
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Week 1: Monday
Like this creepy garden, but as luck would have it, there's Rufus and when has Dorothy ever passed up a chance to
harassbond with him?She hasn't, probably much to his chagrin.
She also immediately moves in close to nudge his shoulder because Dorothy does not give a shit about personal space when she's not actually compelled to want to invade it. ]
Anything from home?
[ Do plants even grow in the underworld? ]
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Foods from the Underworld aren't too different from those of the material world.
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Week 1: Friday
As expected, nothing happens. When he exits, he catches Dorothy in his periphery and cranes his neck in her direction. What's happening with her?]
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And staring off at nothing in particular, gaze distant.
Sorry, Rufus, for once, she's not even realizing you're there. ]
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Week 1, Saturday
On the non-bright side, the... whole trial happened, and she does what she always does when she doesn't want to linger on something. She walks.
She pauses when she spots someone on the bridge-- but, upon seeing who it is, she walks over to join him. ]
And here we are again.
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On the bright side, she isn't hobbling toward him.]
Yes.
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Week 1: Sunday
What brings you here?
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[ Dorothy stops her humming in order to answer him, head tilted. ]
Things always get a little chaotic at the end of the week and I can't think like that.
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Week 2, Monday
Which is where she finds Rufus, curiously stepping closer. ]
Does the underworld have an ocean?
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If it does, it no longer exists.
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Week 2: Thursday
It's curious, he thinks, that almost everything else vanished while this remains.]
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Hi, Rufus. ]
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Week 2, Friday
But more importantly... she's a little downcast despite that, and even as she walks (slightly wobbly) with no real purpose, she's still looking for someone. Perhaps just anyone. And she finds-- ]
Ah, my competitive partner.
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. . . Business partner.
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Week 2, Saturday
And moves forward, out of the inn. She's not sure where she's going and wherever it is, she's not moving very quickly, but that's fine.
Once again, a familiar figure. ]
... Rufus.
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You look worse.
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Week 3: Monday
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A Dorothy, who thankfully, doesn't seem to realize anyone's heading her way, which means the humming will continue until he's close enough for her to spot him.
Huh. He's... not walking too confidently. ]
I'm starting to think you like my company.
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Week 3, Thursday
But she's awake longer now, enough to try and piece her thoughts together and that's when she realizes on a chance glance that there's a shadow that can be glimpsed through the crack in her propped door.
Rufus may just honestly be walking by with no reason to be here, but suddenly the door swings open more and there's Dorothy, precariously hanging onto the doorknob to keep herself upright. ]
Oh... it is you.
[ She's a little surprised. ]
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. . . You've stabilized.
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Week 3: Saturday
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... So really all she can hear is a whole lot of screeching chaos and she kind of freezes in place, one crutch extended sort of defensively like she's ready to smack a bitch if necessary. ]
Hello?
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Week 4, Monday
Which is never really true with her, but still. Join her? ]
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I have a question for you.
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Week 4: Friday
Of course, that solitude isn't bound to last.]
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But so far she's already encountered two people who have had difficulties hearing her, and her own problem is... mildly annoying.
So instead, she stops in front of him, waiting to see if he'll register another presence and open his eyes before she has to try and tap his shoulder or something. ]
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Week 4, Sunday
But she's at the saloon for one last drink and only bothers to glance up when someone enters.
To which she just silently holds up her tankard in greeting. ]
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They both saw what Bucky attempted. He won't turn around and go, just because she happens to be here, but he won't comment on the obvious effect it had as he takes a sip.]
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Week 5: Monday
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And Dorothy, a little surprised, nonetheless smiles and leans down as best as she can to scratch his ears. ]
What are you doing here, Rupe? He's going to be looking for you.
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Week 5, Friday
Wherever Rufus is, Dorothy's horse will find him first. Though the mare appears irritable, tossing her mane back and forth, she at least pauses to nudge his leg.
And then there's Dorothy, nowhere near as fast, but present and accounted for.
Also she smells like delicious bread. ]
People certainly became serious this week.
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It may have been necessary to prevent a repeat of the last time.
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Week 5: Saturday
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But gradually, there's the sound of shuffling and other noises and Dorothy gets the door open.
She's extremely pale and shivering, listing to one side on her uninjured leg, but she focuses on his face after a minute. ]
... Rufus?
[ Hi. ]
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Week 6, Monday
She also appears to be testing them out on the sand, which is not going so hot, but the sand is apparently where Rufus is, according to Rupe.
Or maybe he's just wandering and doesn't really care, but she does need to get the little guy back to his owner. ]
At least the weather's nice.
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Rufus stands near the tide with his back to the boardwalk. He isn't wearing his coat this day, most probably due to the red stain on his left sleeve where his arm meets his shoulder. When Dorothy approaches, he looks over that very shoulder at her.]
The weather isn't important.
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Week 6: Saturday
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But Dorothy smiles at him. She's clearly exhausted, but the smile's warm enough. ]
Hello, Rupe. Hello, Rufus.
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Week 7, Friday
She may never have enough time to get herself as composed as she would like, but eventually, she finds herself in front of his door.
She knocks one foot against it. ]
Rufus.
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This was going to happen sooner or later. (Sooner is better than later, and most likely for the best.) There's a pause before Rufus gets up to silently open the door.]
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Week 7: Saturday
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Going for a walk?
[ In this creepy glitchy place? ]
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