Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

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Week 2: Thursday

[soulus]

[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.]

[misstrust]

[ 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.

Hi, Rufus. ]

[soulus]

[Lowering his hand onto the counter, he shifts his gaze to the bag of ice.]

How is your head?

[misstrust]

It hurts about as much as you'd expect from getting hit with a shovel, but the ice helps.

[ Aww, Rufus is being concerned or mildly curious or-- ]

Don't worry, I'm still well enough to continue our arrangement.

[soulus]

Have you learned anything since?

[misstrust]

That there's likely a Leader encouraging the killing, so either they know more than they're letting on, or they're just here to watch us destroy each other?

Or that apparently a Leader can only give a hint as to who is in the same faction once a week to only one person? They also said some of the Factions have crossed some sort of nova threshold, so at least the quota is being met.

[ Dorothy shifts the bag with a sigh. ]

Anything else I learn will probably have to be tomorrow or at the end of the week, depending. You'll have to forgive me.

[soulus]

[There's nothing to forgive, so he says nothing to that.]

Is there a benefit to knowing who's on the same team?

[misstrust]

I'd personally like to know. If some people are intent on taking this competition seriously, they might view other faction members as their allies rather than someone they might want to murder.

[ Another method of protecting herself. ]

[soulus]

Between all the limitations, it could take weeks to find everyone.

[misstrust]

And it might. I could be dead by then.

But trying is still better than just shrugging it off as an impossible effort. Besides, what kind of partner would I be if I didn't find out any kind of information for you at all?

[ A lousy one. ]

[soulus]

. . . By that point, you would no longer be a partner.

[misstrust]

Quite right. And I need to learn information as much as you do.

So I'll do what I must to do my part.

[soulus]

Are you aware of the other powers that may be at play?

[misstrust]

Other powers? Beyond the Realm, you mean?

[soulus]

The Leaders have their Realm-given powers; however, at least two participants were influenced by an unknown source last week.

[misstrust]

...

[ She blinks, one eyebrow lifting. ] Influenced in what way?

[soulus]

In the case of one, insults would become compliments when spoken.

[misstrust]

Well, that's not too terrible.

[ Maybe for the person forced to do it. ]

[soulus]

The effect itself is minor. The bigger question is what caused it.

[misstrust]

You're certain it wasn't due to something like one of the rewards?

[soulus]

It started on Wednesday, before the rewards were delivered.

[misstrust]

... Hm.

[ Honestly, that's a valid point. ]

Do you know what the other effect was?

[soulus]

No. I wasn't witness to that one.

[misstrust]

I'll see what more I can find out on that front. If there's some manner of third party, it's not something we can or should ignore.

[ She moves the ice to check the bump-- then winces as her fingers just ghost over it and back to the bump the ice goes. ]

[soulus]

[He watches her without making unnecessary comments. All things considered, she got off lucky.]

There's one more thing.