Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

Comments

[misstrust]

... Thank you.

[ Hopefully this doesn't make people think Rufus is an asshole for refusing to even look at Dorothy dying tomorrow ]

[soulus]

I'm merely following your request. There's nothing to thank.

[misstrust]

It's not a term in the agreement and it's not something you're asking payment for.

So yes, I think "thank you" can still apply.

[soulus]

Why don't we make it a mutual agreement?

In exchange for my turning away, please do not look back.

[misstrust]

... That's what you want?

[soulus]

Is there a problem?

[misstrust]

No, I can agree to that... it just surprised me.

[soulus]

Then it's decided.

Is there anything else you would like to discuss before I go?

[misstrust]

Already so eager to leave me?

[ It's dry. ]

[soulus]

You're bound to have more visitors soon.

[misstrust]

You're one of the last, I think.

[ Dorothy did indeed get slammed, why do you think she looks so tired-- ]

... But for what you said earlier-- before the cookie. I have the very strong suspicion that you didn't intend to say it and I feel as though it might have caused misunderstandings for you as a result, but...

[ It had meant a lot. She doesn't have regrets. She'd fulfilled the requirement. But... ]

Thank you, Rufus.

[soulus]

[There's a moment of lengthy silence as he watches her.

Saying all that did spawn more misunderstandings than he would have liked. He can endure them, though. He just didn't expect that she would thank him for it.]

. . . It was inappropriate.

[misstrust]

In what way?

[ It's not like he said anything lewd.

Not that he would, it's Rufus. ]

[soulus]

I'm saying that I shouldn't have said anything before giving you the cookie.

[misstrust]

That really wasn't your fault, was it?

[ She's pretty positive now-- that was an effect. ]

[soulus]

If the goal was to waste time, it didn't do much.

[misstrust]

... I don't think anyone was trying to stop you. Perhaps they just decided to make the moment dramatic.

[ Dorothy lowers her gaze, frowning. ]

If anything, I feel as though most of the evidence was made to decisively point to me or Xie Lian, and with how he was hinting, it really was specifically me. And in such a way...

[ That had affected her emotions. ]

[soulus]

. . . Do you still feel it?

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy pauses to think about it, to let her thoughts stray to Xie Lian and Hua Cheng glaring at her when it was obvious that he'd been the one too close in the first place--

And she winces at the emotions that swamp her for a minute. ]

If I don't see it or think about it, it's fine.

[ Otherwise? Yeah, it's still there. ]

[soulus]

[But of course. It's too soon for the effect to have faded.]

Let's not discuss it, then.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy merely nods-- it's clear enough from the tightness to her expression that she hates this.

Why had Ochako done it? ]

[soulus]

. . . You can ask once you're there.

[misstrust]

I will.

... I don't like... feeling this manipulated.

[soulus]

. . . The memories are a blur . . . but I remember what you said then.

[It's perhaps the fragment of that encounter he recalls most clearly for how much it defines Dorothy—the belief that no one should have the right to change someone else.]

[misstrust]

[ It's difficult to remember when she had said it... and what it had been in regards to. An item, probably. She and Rufus have met up so many times, she remembers that much, and they'd shared information.

... And he had told her once, as he'd wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up, that he was feeling capricious.

Funny, how vivid that is. ]

It feels like so long ago... but I never stopped believing that.

[ It was why she'd never used those items. ]