Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

[soulus]

[Rupe is correct.

Rufus stands near the tide with his back to the boardwalk. He isn't wearing his coat this day, most probably due to the red stain on his left sleeve where his arm meets his shoulder. When Dorothy approaches, he looks over that very shoulder at her.]

The weather isn't important.

[misstrust]

[ And there he is, being his dulcet self as always.

Dorothy doesn't pause except to test the firmness of the sand-- but she's close enough anyway that she makes her way over to join him.

There you go, Rupe. Your Master. You're free. ]

And a good day to you too, Rufus. How's your arm?

[soulus]

[Kicking up sand with his paws, Rupe bounds over to Rufus' side.]

It's been managed. Please pay it no mind.

[misstrust]

[ What must it be like to be liked by Rupe, Dorothy may never know. ]

As you say.

[ Well, she's seen enough Surprise Injuries today to not be too concerned, though it still doesn't look pleasant. ]

Did I interrupt anything? You looked fairly deep in thought.

[soulus]

[Rupe likes Dorothy just fine; however, Rufus is his number one forever.]

No. There was nothing to interrupt.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy studies him curiously-- but that's not much to respond to, so she turns her gaze out to the ocean. ]

Two more Factions need to murder to bring this to an end, but I'm sure you knew that.

[soulus]

[While she does that, he watches her.]

Yes. Yours is one of them.

[misstrust]

... Yes.

[ It's quiet. She doesn't look at him. ]

[soulus]

. . . What is it?

[misstrust]

I'm tired, Rufus.

[ There's a lot in that simple admittance, and maybe it's just a very obvious statement, but Dorothy says it anyway. Because she's tired on so many levels, of so many things. ]

And before you ask, no-- it's not going to keep me standing still. And I won't run from it. I'm sure the others feel the same, in their own way.

[soulus]

[Coming from Dorothy, it's certainly a lot. If she feels that way, though, he has nothing to add.]

Then there's only one way left to go.

[misstrust]

Forward, I know.

[ No matter what that looks like, at the very end of it. ]

[soulus]

In deference to our agreement, I will not hesitate once you've moved.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy finally looks at him, a weary sort of amusement in her eyes. ]

You don't strike me as the hesitating sort, regardless of an agreement or not.

[soulus]

[Their eyes meet.]

The agreement ensures that as fact.

[misstrust]

[ Stop targeting me, specifically, with them looking at each other-- ]

Then I'm glad we made it.

[soulus]

[There's a beat before he tears his gaze away, taking a step toward the boardwalk as he does.]

Our goal is to gather nova, after all.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy turns her head to watch-- then will carefully move her crutches to hobble after him if he keeps going. Wow, she hates sand. ]

We're almost there. Thanks for all of your hard work.

[ Rufus really does not like interaction. ]

[soulus]

[He does keep going. Once it's apparent that Dorothy intends to follow, he slows down a smidgen.]

Was it hard?

[misstrust]

[ Thanks, Rufus. Dorothy shoots him a grateful smile, but doesn't comment on it. ]

There were several times you seemed uncomfortable with it, that's all.

[soulus]

. . . When did I look uncomfortable?

[misstrust]

I wouldn't necessarily say you looked uncomfortable... more that there seemed to be some manner of tension about you.

[ Dorothy stumbles a little as one crutch slips in the sand but catches her balance. ]

The ball, for instance.

[soulus]

[Dorothy's capable of taking care of herself. Rufus doesn't lift a finger in her aid.]

The ball wasn't especially special.

[misstrust]

[ A gentleman. But he's right, she's fine. ]

You had "I'd rather not be here but if I must" in your eyes for the majority of it.

[ God, she hates sand. ]

But you seem like you prefer quieter moments, anyway.

[soulus]

I prefer to move around. I only stayed, because of the potential for gathering nova.