Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

Week 0, Saturday

[misstrust]

[ 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. ]

How are those eyebrow furrows doing?

[soulus]

[Rufus looks less tired and more impatient, if nowhere at the level he appeared during the trial.]

If that's all, I'll be going.

[misstrust]

The offer to hold your hand still stands.

[ Okay, Dorothy. ]

[soulus]

[Okay, Dorothy.]

. . . The task is complete. All that remains now is payment.

[misstrust]

[ Wow, he just ignored her. ]

And you'll have it when we return home-- I'm willing to swear on that.

... But how would you feel about also entering into a mutual information exchange, during our time here?

[soulus]

Do you know something?

[misstrust]

I know my faction. And I'm determined to learn more as soon as I know what tomorrow will bring.

[ She closes her eyes, briefly. ] But the more information I have, the better. Today was a good example of what will happen if people just make wild guesses. I'm not optimistic enough to say this will never happen again.

So you could consider it something like an ongoing arrangement.

[soulus]

Given the nature of the disturbance . . . it seems I have little choice but to accept your offer.

[misstrust]

I won't be offended if you'd rather not. It does mean you'd have to talk with me fairly regularly, and I know how much that pains you.

[ Which is really just her way of saying that he does have a choice and she's not going to mind if he chooses not to go with it. ]

[soulus]

This and that are different. If it means acquiring information about the Realm, I will talk as much as necessary.

[misstrust]

... All right, then.

[ That's about the level of taciturn she expected, so all Dorothy can do is shrug and offer her hand for a nice, cordial shake to-- eh. Seal the deal? ]

Then I look forward to working with you.

[soulus]

[There's a beat before he extends his hand to take hers for a firm shake. Sealing the deal is important.]

Likewise.

[misstrust]

[ Look at him, he's improving by .3 percent, she's so proud. ]

Do you want to talk factions now or save that for another time?

[soulus]

How much are you willing to share?

[misstrust]

I could tell you my faction and that I met with the Leader, though most of what I found out from that meeting is about what I expected.

[soulus]

[That's more than he was expecting. He waits, using his silence as cue for her to go on.]

[misstrust]

I'm in the Fox faction. I don't know anyone currently within that faction and Fox mentioned wanting to wait until next week before I'd even get any indication on who else was in it.

They maintain that they really know nothing about us or our lives before we came here and that they prefer we go to them rather than the opposite because being approached by them would obviously make us more wary.

[soulus]

. . . I belong to the Wolf faction. They advised that I speak to as many participants as I can before the Leaders learn more about collecting nova.

[misstrust]

So they're still trying to focus on cooperation, then? I wonder if that will change because of what's happened.

[ Two... creatures are dead. ]

Wolf faction, though... it suits you.

[soulus]

It's mere coincidence. According to the Leader, teams were randomized.

[misstrust]

That's also what I'd heard. I don't entirely know if I believe it, though-- but I suppose I can verify it for myself once I meet any other members.

[soulus]

I will inform you of any changes on this end.

[misstrust]

And I'll do the same.

... So don't let anyone go blaming you for murders you didn't commit, all right? I need you alive.

[soulus]

. . . All right.

[misstrust]

Then I'll let you be for now.

[ Look at that, she's going to excuse herself first. ]