Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

[misstrust]

... So someone hired you to find bonding participants?

[ ... Oh, boy. ]

That almost feels a little lazy of them.

[soulus]

They were thinking about it, so I offered to find conversation partners.

[misstrust]

For a price.

[soulus]

. . . Take this to Wolf.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gold coin.]

[misstrust]

[ Instinctively, she holds out her palm. Good luck finding it, Rufus. ]

Is Wolf your client?

[ Rufus?? ]

[soulus]

[He continues to hold it out for her to take.]

Is there a problem?

[misstrust]

No. I'm just a little surprised.

[ ... Okay, she'll just take it. ]

I really thought for a moment you were seeking me out to engage in pleasant bonding conversation.

[ She did not. It would have been nice, but she knows better. ]

[soulus]

[He lowers his hand and angles his head closer to her voice. But, as with this entire encounter, he has yet to make eye contact.]

. . . I followed the song.

[misstrust]

The song...?

[ Dorothy pauses-- half the time, she doesn't even know she's humming it, apparently.

No, wait, more importantly-- it finally clicks. The way he's tilted his head, how he didn't just hand her the coin, how he doesn't stare at her... ]

... You can't see.

[soulus]

No.

[He admits it plainly. It's not something he can hide for long.]

And yourself?

[misstrust]

Just my sense of taste. Annoying, but tolerable.

Will you let me help you back?

[soulus]

I've made it this far on my own . . .

[misstrust]

So you did. You can just tell me no and I won't.

[ You don't have to tell her you're a big boy, Rufus. ]

[soulus]

. . . Are you headed back now?

[misstrust]

I think now's a good time for it. It'll be too dark before too long.

[soulus]

Then I will stay. The dark doesn't matter to me.

[misstrust]

Well, if that's what you want.

[ There might have been a pause there, but if he doesn't want her help in this case, she won't press. ]

Then if that's all... I'll talk to you later, Rufus.