[ That's about the most Rufus-like thing he could have said, and she's nearly grateful for it. Maybe it helps, to think he doesn't care. It's just one business associate speaking to another, accomplishing a rule.
He's not going to make her dwell on it. ]
You're welcome.
[ Her voice is steady, her expression carefully composed. But her fingers tremble, just once. ]
[His gaze flits to her fingers, then back to her face. He's not going to make her dwell on it—having to share is grating enough as it is—which means it's time to fulfill his end of the bargain.]
Years ago, a greedy lizard belonging to the Iron Dragons fled the Underworld to the material world. Naturally, the bounty on his head was high for upsetting the balance of power. I pursued it and paid for my hubris with my left arm.
[The blue lines that mark his left arm now glow dimly in the greenhouse.]
I didn't see him for a while after that. When our paths crossed once more in the material world, I gave him my arm again to break his ambition for a second time.
Then I went to the technician and ordered a new arm.
[ Dorothy also stays quiet as she studies him, gaze lowering only briefly to his left arm. She's noticed the lines before, but it hadn't struck her that it's not technically his own.
[He pauses. It takes a moment for him to gather whom Dorothy is referencing.]
That way of thinking is too wistful. Your father was incapable of learning.
[Recognizing the problem, yet continuing to give in and beat his daughter with nothing to blame but his own insecurity—there was no will to be found there.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He's not going to make her dwell on it. ]
You're welcome.
[ Her voice is steady, her expression carefully composed. But her fingers tremble, just once. ]
no subject
Years ago, a greedy lizard belonging to the Iron Dragons fled the Underworld to the material world. Naturally, the bounty on his head was high for upsetting the balance of power. I pursued it and paid for my hubris with my left arm.
[The blue lines that mark his left arm now glow dimly in the greenhouse.]
I didn't see him for a while after that. When our paths crossed once more in the material world, I gave him my arm again to break his ambition for a second time.
Then I went to the technician and ordered a new arm.
no subject
And he'd lost it twice? ]
You're really something else, you know that?
no subject
[At this point it may be personal.]
no subject
no subject
no subject
Yes, I imagine that will teach him.
Still...
[ She huffs, just a little. ]
I almost wish he could have learned from you, in that regard.
[ Rufus lost his whole-ass arm. Compared to that, her father had done absolutely nothing to improve his circumstances.
Pathetic, indeed, even as the thought makes her frown. ]
no subject
That way of thinking is too wistful. Your father was incapable of learning.
[Recognizing the problem, yet continuing to give in and beat his daughter with nothing to blame but his own insecurity—there was no will to be found there.]
no subject
[ No matter how much she remembers happier times. No matter how much she still unconsciously hums their song. ]
no subject
. . . Yes. No matter how much you may want it, you can't change nor relive the past.
no subject
... Are you telling that to me, or reminding both of us?
no subject
It doesn't last. His eyes shift aside.]
What an absurd question.
no subject
[ Well, he's under no obligation to answer her, though. She knows that. ]
no subject
no subject
[ And it was deep and motivational and murderous. ]
no subject
I'll kill him . . . No matter how many memories I lose . . .
[He won't forget this anger. He will never forget.]
no subject
Dorothy wisely does not ask what if he loses the memory of wanting to kill whoever this is, because that would be a stupid question.
Instead, she merely watches him. And nods.
He doesn't need her affirmation, but she figures it's fine if he knows she's listening. ]
no subject
Our business has concluded.
Excuse me.
[He turns away to leave.]
no subject
Thank you, for sharing with me.
[ Be on your way, Rufus. ]