woofus

[bisouled]

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[soulus]

[On the surface, Rufus is as indifferent as ever. The anger he's always carrying also churns unabated in the depths of his heart. But it's later in the night and their proximity unearths something else: they're both tired.

He looks down at the proffered cookie. After a moment or two passes in silence, he takes it.]

What did I do?

[bisouled]

[ life in redacted is very tiring. the good news is that he has now received a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie, and it's very good. Fiora is a good cook. ]

You helped with the trial, right? Answering people's questions and all. [ she links her hands behind her back. ] Plus, you proved you were innocent to everybody for every other week, too. I was pretty happy about that!

[soulus]

I never abide by the contract. I will only do what isn't there.

[bisouled]

... Right, you're still talking backwards...

[ poor Rufus. Not really, though, because it's a little funny. ]

It looks like being uptight can occasionally be one of your good points. It made me glad I trusted you.

[soulus]

[It is not funny.]

. . . We have our own disagreement. I will abide by that as well.

[bisouled]

Wait, are you saying you're going to break our promise?

[ hands on her hips -- then her brow furrows. ]

Or... does that mean you're abiding by the disagreement?

[soulus]

It's the former.

[bisouled]

Thank goodness for that.

[ a small chuckle. ]

That must be really irritating. Is there anything I can do to help you out while you're like this? Other than giving you cookies.

[soulus]

[Reminded of its existence, he lowers the cookie.]

. . . I do need help.

[bisouled]

[ hold on, she has to relish the fact that he just said that. ]

Oh, great! With what?

[ she knows... but she can't help herself. ]

[soulus]

[Too many people are enjoying this. He gives her a flat look that might not look as flat as he would like, power to lie and all.]

[bisouled]

Hee hee. Sorry, sorry. It's just nice to hear you rely on me for once! The offer stands, though - don't be shy.

[ what could she possibly do to help?? who knows. but sometimes knowing someone's out there is enough to help. ]

I was able to check Jeanne over during the trial, by the way. If she was involved last week, she did a really good job covering it up. So... we can probably count her out, for now.

[soulus]

[There's no deception behind her words. She really is just like this.]

You sound convinced.

[bisouled]

Well... I'm at least convinced that she didn't get hurt doing it. [ a pause. ] There was something weird, though... You know how we've sort of been able to tell how each other are feeling this week? I don't know what it was, but she felt a bit of something for a second when I pressed her.

[soulus]

What do you think it was?

[bisouled]

[ Fiora shakes her head. ]

I really don't know. It was just... different. I was thanking her for letting me investigate her when it happened. She said something like "there's no reason I wouldn't help." [ a beat. ] Maybe it was guilt, or uncertainty?

[soulus]

[He falls quiet. That can be anything or everything, really. But it gets him thinking with a twinge of something akin to bitterness.]

[bisouled]

... Not really anything, I know, but I figured I should share it with you, anyway.

[ pardner!! ]

I didn't get a chance to investigate Alyssa this week.

[soulus]

What did you think at the trial?

[bisouled]

I'm not really the suspicious type. It was odd that she came up again this week, though. Did you talk to her at all?

[soulus]

Our paths did cross this week . . .

[bisouled]

So much for that lead, huh?

[ she can't blame him when she also didn't talk to her... ]

Well... all's well that ends well, I guess. [ even though she doesn't want someone to die? Fiora frowns. ] ... I wish there was some way to solve this stuff without killing. A prison, or some such.

[soulus]

It's never too late. The distortion hasn't left its mark on the Realm.

[bisouled]

... You really think so?

[ pensive. ]

If we've already changed it once, surely we can change it again. For the better this time.

[soulus]

[That, he thinks as he lifts the cookie and takes a bite, is optimistic.]

Would you not prefer that change to do away with the deaths entirely?