Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

[soulus]

There is nothing that can be done about it now.

[misstrust]

... What's your take on all of this, Rufus?

[soulus]

The moment it became a possibility, it was bound to happen.

[misstrust]

So it's even more likely that it's going to continue... especially now that the murder or murderers managed to get away with it.

[soulus]

Supposedly, one of the Leaders encouraged last week's distortion.

[misstrust]

... [ Her eyes flick to him and she straightens. ]

Encouraged it how?

[soulus]

For someone to resort to killing, there must have been a reason to believe that it would win them favor in the competition.

[misstrust]

So one of the Leaders led them to believe that accomplishing a murder would put them that much closer to granting their wish?

[ Dorothy snorts, a little bitterly. ]

I suppose that's not incorrect, considering the amount of nova that must have been gathered by a highly emotional gathering, not to mention the murder itself.

[soulus]

That's the prevailing theory.

[He'd also wondered it on the day Virid had outed himself.]

Will you be speaking with your Leader about this?

[misstrust]

I plan to, yes. I can't exactly hold up my end of our deal if I don't continue to learn as much as I can.

... Even moreso now. There's no guarantee we won't be targeted if this continues.

[ It's a rather daunting thought, but she can't say that it won't happen. ]

[soulus]

. . . What will you do if you are?

[misstrust]

If I'm targeted?

... [ She slowly tilts her head. ]

Well, I'd probably die?

[soulus]

Are you incapable of combat?

[misstrust]

It's not something they tend to teach young ladies.

[ With a sigh. ]

I think I could try to defend myself-- rather, I would try to, but I'm not too confident about overpowering an attacker.

[soulus]

What if you were to flee until the morning?

[misstrust]

Then obviously I would.

I might not have a wish, but I don't want to die, either. I'm at least confident in my ability to get away from a situation I don't want to be a part of.

[ You know. Because of her father. ]

[soulus]

[Ah, yes, the pathetic man.]

Even in the event that you're targeted . . . would you still refuse to use your reward?

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy looks over at him then, frowning. She'd thought so, seeing some of the results of the pocket search, but... ]

Do you know exactly what mine does? I thought it might be like what it was the week before, where everyone got the same thing, more or less...

But it seems it's been different for others.

[soulus]

[He stares. Asking like that, it almost sounds ominous.]

If that's true, the effects may depend on the appearance of the stone.

[misstrust]

[ In response, Dorothy reaches into a pocket, revealing a blue gem resting in the middle of her palm. ]

Does yours look like this?

[soulus]

[Similarly, he reaches into one of his pockets and pulls out an aquamarine. It's close, but not quite.]

This one affects the user.

[misstrust]

Then they're different. Mine affects another person.

[soulus]

. . . I suppose the effect is unimportant if you have no intention of using it.

[misstrust]

... You don't think I'm lying about that?

[soulus]

[Well, she was drugged up when she admitted to it.]

Even if you are, it benefits you to keep it a secret.

Should you use it to no avail—or to take a life—the ones who will be at a disadvantage are the participants who attend the trial. In other words, it will no longer have anything to do with you.