[Troublemaker or not, she still acts. She's taken steps to gather information and share it with him. She's voted all these weeks. She has the capacity, and he's seen less willing hearts than hers around here. As long as she remains an active participant, he will honor their agreement.]
However, I will continue to play by the rules until we've learned more about the Realm and its distortion.
[As for what he does afterward, that much is even his guess.]
[ the strong statement catches her by surprise - when Rufus is actually supportive, he always does. She's used to his cool tolerance. Maybe that's why this direct response feels so heated; Fiora can't help but be warmed by it, despite the conditions he lays down beside it.
At least one person is on her side. That's enough. She lowers her head, eyes shutting, fists clenching - but they're trembling. ]
Thank you. Really... Thank you. [ she bites her lip. ] I don't know what to do... but I know I can't do it alone.
Rest assured. As long as we have our agreement, I will be on your side.
[His view of matters isn't so black and white as for him to think that there are clear sides. Most of them probably overlap. But this much is clear: provided that conditions are met, he will be wherever she stands.
[ she wears her heart on her sleeve; when she looks up at him, it's obvious she's touched, and more than that, extraordinarily grateful. After tonight, she'd felt more alone than ever; she doesn't know it yet, but tomorrow will only make that feeling worse. She's lost her memories of Shulk, of Reyn, of her humanity. This moment - and those words - keep her head above water. ]
You don't know how much that means to me. [ she can't quite bring herself to smile, but her features soften a little. ] I'm on your side, too. Whatever happens after this.
[ a pause. ]
... I'm glad you're my friend, Rufus. Even if you don't think of it that way.
[He knows that he doesn't think of it that way, chiefly because he refuses to look at anyone in that light. She's getting more attached than he would advise, but it's also true that she'll keep his loyalty for as long as she carries her share of the weight. Rufus closes his eyes.]
. . . I prefer to maintain a professional relationship.
[ she's not that naive. Still, it doesn't seem to bother her too much - perhaps because she saw it coming. ]
Too bad there's nothing you can do about my preferences.
[ she thinks of him as a friend, and that's all there is to it. ]
... I'll keep doing what I have to do, too. But I'm done killing things - except maybe that monster everyone's talking about. That's what I'm going to focus on from here on out.
[Setting their previous topic aside, he gives her his blessing to focus on the monster. It's not like that isn't a priority. In fact, the disruption technically makes the top of the list.]
Please keep me apprised of news regarding the disruption.
[ she doesn't need his approval, but it feels nice to have it regardless. ]
You know I will. That's our deal, right?
[ despite her earlier comment, she plays along with the role he's given her - exactly because she likes him. finally, she offers a little smile, then shakes her head. ]
I'm not thinking too hard about it. Just a little bit.
[ though she knows the reason behind his cool mien is that he's been through the wringer and had most of his capacity for caring squeezed out of him. she can't be all that jealous. ]
It's all right. I'm not going to change. I think I've already changed enough lately.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Are we not all in the same place?
[He also hates repeating what has been said. There are better ways to utilize this time.]
In the end, action matters above words.
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You're not wrong. I'm not sure how much of a difference I can make acting alone, though. Mob had a point.
[ she may be headstrong, but she was listening. ]
... But I doubt many people will be interested in acting with me after today. I'm a troublemaker now - between that and what happened in the trial.
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[Troublemaker or not, she still acts. She's taken steps to gather information and share it with him. She's voted all these weeks. She has the capacity, and he's seen less willing hearts than hers around here. As long as she remains an active participant, he will honor their agreement.]
However, I will continue to play by the rules until we've learned more about the Realm and its distortion.
[As for what he does afterward, that much is even his guess.]
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[ the strong statement catches her by surprise - when Rufus is actually supportive, he always does. She's used to his cool tolerance. Maybe that's why this direct response feels so heated; Fiora can't help but be warmed by it, despite the conditions he lays down beside it.
At least one person is on her side. That's enough. She lowers her head, eyes shutting, fists clenching - but they're trembling. ]
Thank you. Really... Thank you. [ she bites her lip. ] I don't know what to do... but I know I can't do it alone.
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Rest assured. As long as we have our agreement, I will be on your side.
[His view of matters isn't so black and white as for him to think that there are clear sides. Most of them probably overlap. But this much is clear: provided that conditions are met, he will be wherever she stands.
That's what it means to abide by the contract.]
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You don't know how much that means to me. [ she can't quite bring herself to smile, but her features soften a little. ] I'm on your side, too. Whatever happens after this.
[ a pause. ]
... I'm glad you're my friend, Rufus. Even if you don't think of it that way.
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. . . I prefer to maintain a professional relationship.
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[ she's not that naive. Still, it doesn't seem to bother her too much - perhaps because she saw it coming. ]
Too bad there's nothing you can do about my preferences.
[ she thinks of him as a friend, and that's all there is to it. ]
... I'll keep doing what I have to do, too. But I'm done killing things - except maybe that monster everyone's talking about. That's what I'm going to focus on from here on out.
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[Setting their previous topic aside, he gives her his blessing to focus on the monster. It's not like that isn't a priority. In fact, the disruption technically makes the top of the list.]
Please keep me apprised of news regarding the disruption.
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You know I will. That's our deal, right?
[ despite her earlier comment, she plays along with the role he's given her - exactly because she likes him. finally, she offers a little smile, then shakes her head. ]
... I'm jealous of you, you know.
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You're so calm and collected about all of this. I wish that I could be.
[ but she can't stop herself from speaking out, or trying to fight back - it's the way she's always been. ]
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[ though she knows the reason behind his cool mien is that he's been through the wringer and had most of his capacity for caring squeezed out of him. she can't be all that jealous. ]
It's all right. I'm not going to change. I think I've already changed enough lately.
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