Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

[misstrust]

I've seen them in your memory. [ Well, she saw his dad? ]

But if you insist, you're also my favorite drinking partner and my favorite person with pointed ears, though please don't tell the twins and Alphinaud.

[soulus]

Why would I tell them something like that? There are better uses of my time.

[misstrust]

So there are. I appreciate it, regardless.

[ Sometimes you're cute when you're like this, Rufus. ]

[soulus]

How is your leg?

[misstrust]

Still broken!

[ She says this cheerfully. Probably because this is just something to deal with at this point. ]

But the swelling's gone down. So long as I don't actually try to walk on my leg anymore, it should continue to improve.

[soulus]

It would be good if there were no poison this week.

[misstrust]

I agree.

[ There's a small shudder that runs through her at the very thought. ]

I think it'd be a problem for you if you had to run around checking on everyone again.

[soulus]

. . . I would do it for a charge.

[misstrust]

Did you charge anyone last time?

[ That night was honestly kind of a blur, but. Dorothy's pretty sure he didn't--

No, right, he'd said repay him by living. ]

[soulus]

Of course.

[He charged her.]

Nothing is free.

[misstrust]

[ That does not count. ]

As consistent as ever... [ She's not sure why that relieves her, honestly. ]

I doubt we'll have to contend with poison, however. It'll likely be more confused finger-pointing until we have more to narrow down.

[soulus]

There will most likely be three culprits this week. The evidence is bound to be abundant.

[misstrust]

The two Factions and a probable nova splintering kill.

[ That's simple enough. ]

[soulus]

Compared to previous weeks, the odds have improved.

[misstrust]

Yes, well. I imagine that would happen, now that the requirements are almost complete.

[soulus]

If the conditions are true, our numbers should swell back in time for the monster.

[misstrust]

... I have never fought a monster before in my life.

[soulus]

Is that the only thing you haven't done before here?

[misstrust]

Well, I've never had to... [ She taps her neck, where the friction burn mark has long since healed ]

And I'd never been involved in a killing challenge or been compelled to want to be close to someone.

[soulus]

Compared to those, fighting monsters isn't all that difficult.

[misstrust]

Even without a weapon?

[soulus]

It's simply a matter of exploiting any weaknesses.

[misstrust]

I suppose even a monster has openings.

[ Which. Fair enough. ]

[soulus]

If our numbers swell as planned, even just one will do.

[misstrust]

Then I think a crutch could be used as a weapon well enough.

[ Dorothy, no. ]