Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

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[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.]

[misstrust]

[ Well. Color her surprised.

Not so surprised that she can't touch the tip of one pointed ear in fascination before she lowers her hand and takes stock of her new position.

Huh! ]

I don't know if you can charge me for this if we didn't agree to it beforehand.

[ Is all she can really think to say, musingly. ]

[soulus]

[His ear does not react to her touch, because he's no dog.]

I'm feeling capricious.

[Thankfully, the inn isn't too far from the Planetarium. He means to deposit her in front of her room—for free, sounds like.]

[misstrust]

[ It's fine, she just wanted to feel it. Dorothy's curiosity has been satisfied.

Except that now her curiosity is more focused on the fact that Rufus, of all people, is going out of his way to do something for free and that is... a lot to wrap her hazy mind around at the moment. ]

Ah, I'm growing on you.

[ It's more of a thoughtful mumble than anything, as she leans her head against his shoulder. ]

[soulus]

[He is absolutely not giving her a response to that.

To PAVO, they go. The trip is short and swift. Once they're there, he moves to put her down in front of her door.]