Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

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Week 1: Friday

[soulus]

[Just to be sure, he enters the Planetarium.

As expected, nothing happens. When he exits, he catches Dorothy in his periphery and cranes his neck in her direction. What's happening with her?]

[misstrust]

[ Oh, she's just leaning.

And staring off at nothing in particular, gaze distant.

Sorry, Rufus, for once, she's not even realizing you're there. ]

[soulus]

[Is she catatonic? She's obviously not dead, but the display is unusual enough that he approaches.]

. . . What is this?

[misstrust]

... Oh, Rufus.

[ Her eyes flick to him and then she beams, offering him a lazy wave. ]

Hiii. Can you believe we've got more dead?

[soulus]

[Never mind. Is she drunk?]

Believing otherwise would mean denying reality.

[misstrust]

[ Rude, she is not. ]

... Right. [ She slowly shakes her head. ]

I know how this looks, but this is... going to be informative, trust me. I know that's what you're into.

[soulus]

. . . Is this about where you slept?

[misstrust]

Mm-hm.

[ She hums in affirmation. And then, a little dreamily, she starts to hum more lyrically until-- she pauses. ]

The garden... it was four of us. We felt fine before we lost consciousness.

[soulus]

How do you feel now?

[misstrust]

[ With a brilliant smile-- ]

Extremely calm. Almost amused.

... Which I shouldn't be feeling because two people are dead.

[ So she's well-aware this is unnatural. ]

[soulus]

[That sounds more like she's inebriated.]

It will be three, if not four, by the end of the week.

[misstrust]

And you won't be one of them.

[ You'd best defend yourself this round, Rufus. ]

[soulus]

. . . Why do you say that?

[misstrust]

Well, did you kill them?

[ It's a very simple question. ]

[soulus]

[It's a simple question that takes a while to answer.]

No.

[misstrust]

Then you won't be one.

[ This doesn't take her long to answer in response. ]

I'll vouch for you.

[soulus]

[He frowns.]

Anyone can lie.

[misstrust]

So they can.

But you, specifically, don't really gain anything by telling me that you didn't do it.

I mean, our agreement would still stand if you had, but I'll take you at your word.

[soulus]

Please do not vouch for claims of that nature. It will only hinder the process.

[misstrust]

The process of what, exactly?

[soulus]

Rather than arguing about who must have been telling the truth, it would be better to spend that time analyzing the evidence.

[misstrust]

And I will.

[ Well, that's easy enough. ]

I'm just saying that if anyone thinks you did it, I'll just have to waste a good few minutes telling them that you don't do anything you think is unnecessary, which they should know by now.

[ But one never knows. ]

And I also know that you didn't break into the garden just to smoke heavily enough to affect the rest of us.

... Can I touch your ears?

[ ... Look, she's-- trying. ]

[soulus]

[Excuse him?]

. . . You've been drugged.

[misstrust]

[ Again, she hums in agreement. ]

[soulus]

[Rufus stares at Dorothy—really, truly stares at her—for a very, very long time before closing his eyes for a beat. When his eyes open again, he crouches down to pick her up in the form of a bridal carry.

Maybe she can touch his ears now.]