woofus

[bisouled]

Comments

[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?

[bisouled]

[ it is actually a very good cookie. Fiora's cooking is no joke. ]

Of course I would. This world is made of all of us - so it should reflect what we all want. I know most of us don't want this. [ she shakes her head. ] We just need to find out how. I need to work harder.

[soulus]

[It is, he concedes inwardly, the best cookie he's ever had in his long-lived life. He also can't remember the last time he ate a cookie.]

How do you intend to do that?