[ it's amazing. miraculous, even. But it only takes one look at Rufus's face - and a glimpse into those memories - to see that this isn't the outcome that he wanted. ]
But... that person was just taking advantage of you. Both of you. That's awful.
[ it's all strange and surreal, the idea that the dead could come back - maybe Fiora is an example of it, herself, but it would be closer to say she was mortally wounded. Rufus's mother on the other hand, died of illness, and came back long afterwards. ]
[Tristan could have used him for millennia—had used him for centuries. Rufus would have endured many more long years of indentured servitude for his mother's sake, but then Tristan had to go and ruin everything by mistreating her. The weasel.
He's irritated, yet there's nowhere to unleash his building rage.]
[ she had a feeling that was the case. from his demeanor, from what she already knows of him - if he'd happily reunited with her, he wouldn't be like this anymore, would he? Fiora's gaze drops again, looking at the ground, or at Rupe. ]
... That's so unfair. After everything you've done - and everything you're still doing...
[ there's not much she can say that will help him; he's not the type for words, and he's so closed off that even if he was, she doesn't think hers would reach him. Still, they're all she has. ]
That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. It doesn't mean I don't feel badly for you, either. I do. I'm sorry that it happened to you at all.
[ she wonders what he used to be like. by those memories and his apparent age, it must have been an incredibly long time ago - the time before he was this bitter and vengeful. is there any of that Rufus left in him? there must be, right? ]
... But I'm glad you're fighting for her. I'm sure if she knew, she would be, too.
[ she makes a small startled noise at that sudden reveal. It's out of left field, but forgivable; she's quite sure he doesn't want to stay on this topic, and, as always, Fiora doubts that he's listening much to anything she says. ]
-- Really? I knew it... [ she'll take the deflection and run with it. There's no need to make Rufus feel worse about his mother. ] What do you know about them? Anything much? We've never spoken.
[ she takes a step closer, listening intently; another handful of bubbles are already forming behind her. ]
[ that's something they have in common. she's not looking for gossip, though - she's looking for information. the "leaders" and their teams are the key to stopping this. ]
[ at that, she blinks in surprise, clearly taken off-guard. after how angry he seemed a moment ago, and dismissive of her words, to boot, she wasn't expecting him to say something nice. Or nice-adjacent, at least. For Rufus, this might be as close as it gets. ]
... Your connection to Swan, huh? [ she gives a little half-smile, but doesn't press on it more. ] Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I'd better try.
[ but the bubble forming behind her is swelling, and, as if on cue, it expands right into the tip of one of her drones, bursting on impact and blanketing the both of them in dark fog and a memory of a conversation from another world. ]
[The memory envelopes them and confirms a few things—chiefly, the fact that she isn't long for her world. There are also certain words that take him back while his gaze loses focus between her memories and his thoughts.
When one is fueled by love, that person consumes one's heart and soul. Just seeing that person again makes everything worth it. Just knowing that person is okay makes everything worth it. For all the hatred he harbors, Rufus understands that there's no emotion more potent than love, which can survive even death.
Of course, there's more to the memory than just that. He blinks, and Fiora is within his line of sight once more.]
[If there was something that could be done, he wouldn't have felt that twinge of envy from her those few weeks prior. Her days are apparently more numbered than he anticipated, but even that knowledge doesn't surprise him very much.]
The Realm is capable of maintaining the deceased in the same plane as the living. It's doubtful that the core sustaining you will give out here.
[ she doesn't look or sound entirely convinced, however. her body's feeling as bad as it ever has, and she's been losing consciousness here and there - although she's not about to tell him that. ]
... Could you keep this a secret? I don't want people to know. They'd just worry about me. [ ... ] It's been nice, having everyone just treat me normally. I don't want that to stop.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But... that person was just taking advantage of you. Both of you. That's awful.
[ it's all strange and surreal, the idea that the dead could come back - maybe Fiora is an example of it, herself, but it would be closer to say she was mortally wounded. Rufus's mother on the other hand, died of illness, and came back long afterwards. ]
Did you get to be with her again, after that?
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He's irritated, yet there's nowhere to unleash his building rage.]
No. I never saw her again.
i keep thinking that's an angry tsun blush icon
... That's so unfair. After everything you've done - and everything you're still doing...
[ there's not much she can say that will help him; he's not the type for words, and he's so closed off that even if he was, she doesn't think hers would reach him. Still, they're all she has. ]
I'm sorry.
(cries) it's an angry don't-ask-about-money icon.
Are you Tristan?
[What a ridiculous thing to say. She isn't, so apologies from her are unnecessary. Rufus' frown deepens.]
Hardly anything in the world is fair.
pretends it's an angry tsun blush icon
[ she wonders what he used to be like. by those memories and his apparent age, it must have been an incredibly long time ago - the time before he was this bitter and vengeful. is there any of that Rufus left in him? there must be, right? ]
... But I'm glad you're fighting for her. I'm sure if she knew, she would be, too.
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. . . You were correct. My Leader is Wolf.
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-- Really? I knew it... [ she'll take the deflection and run with it. There's no need to make Rufus feel worse about his mother. ] What do you know about them? Anything much? We've never spoken.
[ she takes a step closer, listening intently; another handful of bubbles are already forming behind her. ]
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[He didn't share that factoid for the sake of gossip, so he moves on as quickly as he introduced it.]
Did your team icon flash the other day?
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It didn't. Not that I noticed, at least. Yours?
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. . . At present, you are my sole connection to Swan. I would appreciate it if you didn't splinter and get removed.
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... Your connection to Swan, huh? [ she gives a little half-smile, but doesn't press on it more. ] Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I'd better try.
[ but the bubble forming behind her is swelling, and, as if on cue, it expands right into the tip of one of her drones, bursting on impact and blanketing the both of them in dark fog and a memory of a conversation from another world. ]
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When one is fueled by love, that person consumes one's heart and soul. Just seeing that person again makes everything worth it. Just knowing that person is okay makes everything worth it. For all the hatred he harbors, Rufus understands that there's no emotion more potent than love, which can survive even death.
Of course, there's more to the memory than just that. He blinks, and Fiora is within his line of sight once more.]
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... I'm guessing you saw that, too.
[ she's not sure where to begin, especially with that memory coming after what Rufus just told her. ]
Before you ask... there's nothing that can be done. But I've made it this long already, right?
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The Realm is capable of maintaining the deceased in the same plane as the living. It's doubtful that the core sustaining you will give out here.
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[ she doesn't look or sound entirely convinced, however. her body's feeling as bad as it ever has, and she's been losing consciousness here and there - although she's not about to tell him that. ]
... Could you keep this a secret? I don't want people to know. They'd just worry about me. [ ... ] It's been nice, having everyone just treat me normally. I don't want that to stop.
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... I still meant what I said before. I won't die before we solve this - not without a fight. Even if my body wants to give out, I won't let it.
[ she won't leave him just yet. ]
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[ she says it in a lighthearted manner, trying to lift the mood a bit. ]
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