Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

Week 1: Sunday

[soulus]

[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 . . . ]

What brings you here?

[misstrust]

It's peaceful.

[ 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.

[soulus]

Are you thinking about the competition?

[misstrust]

I am.

... Congratulations on winning again, by the way.

[soulus]

The category of prizes increased. The winning team and the team that has collected the most nova to date will receive items at the end of the week.

[misstrust]

Was it candy again?

[soulus]

It was cotton candy.

[misstrust]

... Do you have a sweet tooth, Rufus?

[soulus]

Do I?

[misstrust]

... That's not something I can answer.

[soulus]

I do not remember the last time I had something sweet.

[misstrust]

[ A blink. ]

Did you not eat the candy they gave you or the cotton candy this time?

[soulus]

No.

[He still has them. He can't even get rid of them, because people might wonder from where they came.]

[misstrust]

... Are you worried they're poisoned?

[soulus]

I have no interest in them.

[misstrust]

You should probably just eat them or give them to someone else, then. If you don't know if you developed a sweet tooth since years ago, might as well try now?

[soulus]

I'm not interested in developing anything like that . . .

[misstrust]

Then just don't waste food! People have starved, you know!

[soulus]

Then why don't you take them?

[misstrust]

Fine, I will!

[ FRIENDSHIP. ]

[soulus]

[He fishes out a giant lollipop and cotton candy, both wrapped, and holds them out to her.]

[misstrust]

You're sure you don't want to share?

[ This man has no joy in his life. ]

[soulus]

Carrying them around puts me at risk. I would rather get rid of them now than later.

[And he does not want to test whether he's developed a sweet tooth or not in the last century.]

[misstrust]

[ In response, Dorothy unwraps the cotton candy, pinches a bit of it off in her fingers, and holds it out to him. ]

Just a bit, then.

[soulus]

[He stares at the candy pinched between her fingers, then ignores it.]

The other reward was different. It was something of mine.