Then you better try. Who am I supposed to trust here if something happens to you?
[ a bit more plaintive than even Fiora expected, but she looks like she means it, picking up her head to give him a hard stare before gently releasing him.
As the weeks go by, she knows less and less who she can trust - with Virid being the first to betray what she believed. Rufus, though, has been exactly as he seemed since day one - and while parts of that can be irritating, above all else, it's made him more reliable than anyone else. She's sure he doesn't see her as a friend, not the way she'd like him to, but she can be satisfied with having a partner. ]
... It's hard to trust a lot of people when they're out there stabbing each other in the back every week.
[ more honest than she usually is. Fiora's usually trying to keep everyone's spirits up. There's not really a point in doing that with Rufus, though; he'll be dour no matter what, and what's more, he'd criticize her optimism, too. So she won't pretend otherwise. ]
[He could tell her that he'd told her so—that having expectations of others will only lead to the feeling of betrayal in the end. He could, but he doesn't. She's already had a taste of that bitter medicine, and he has no interest in pouring salt over festering wounds.]
The removals can be attributed to the splintering of nova.
[He stays in position for a while longer before stowing his things, including the hand, for disposal in the near future. There isn't much time left on this night. Sparing no glance at Fiora—he's imposed enough—he settles against a large stone and closes his eyes, listening to the fire as it crackles, in anticipation of their oncoming unconsciousness.
It's time to rest. There's no telling if either of them will remain awake tonight.]
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[ a bit more plaintive than even Fiora expected, but she looks like she means it, picking up her head to give him a hard stare before gently releasing him.
As the weeks go by, she knows less and less who she can trust - with Virid being the first to betray what she believed. Rufus, though, has been exactly as he seemed since day one - and while parts of that can be irritating, above all else, it's made him more reliable than anyone else. She's sure he doesn't see her as a friend, not the way she'd like him to, but she can be satisfied with having a partner. ]
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What happened to trusting a lot of people?
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[ more honest than she usually is. Fiora's usually trying to keep everyone's spirits up. There's not really a point in doing that with Rufus, though; he'll be dour no matter what, and what's more, he'd criticize her optimism, too. So she won't pretend otherwise. ]
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The removals can be attributed to the splintering of nova.
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[ Fiora shakes her head. ]
Anyway... your hand, should we...?
[ what do they do with it now. this is a situation she never thought she'd be in. ]
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[And he swallowed some painkillers earlier. It does next to nothing, but it's something.
His gaze falls on the dagger he set down.]
Your blades . . . I will clean them.
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You don't have to, Rufus. You're already injured so badly. I can handle it.
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I wouldn't call this severe.
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You do know you just cut off your hand, don't you? If that's not severe, I hardly know what is!
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Listen. I appreciate the thought... I really do. But if you really want to pay me back, then you'll just rest for tonight. All right?
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[ she sits back again, resting her hands in her lap with a small metallic sound. ]
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It's time to rest. There's no telling if either of them will remain awake tonight.]