woofus

[bisouled]

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[soulus]

I did die . . . but that was weeks ago.

[Either way, he's alive and well now.]

It was similar on our end, which means what you saw shouldn't be real.

[bisouled]

Oh, don't just say things like that! You're awful.

[ but it's so very Rufus that she can't be that mad at him. She sighs, her head dropping a little. He's exactly the same as he always is, which is simultaneously a comfort and a big frightening unknown. ]

I guess I don't really have room to talk. All those things I said about holding on didn't mean much, in the end. [ she looks apologetic - genuinely. and she knows Rufus is going to brush her off, but she has to say it. ] ... I'm sorry I left you here like that. I fought as hard as I could.

[soulus]

. . . Would you have removed her if you had the chance?

[bisouled]

In that fight, you mean?

[ she doesn't know what answer he wants to hear, but all she can do is be honest. ]

... You know me. I'd rather not remove anybody. But... If I had to do it, to survive? I would.

[soulus]

Then there's no need to apologize.

[bisouled]

... You don't always have to act tough in front of me.

[ this kind of thing matters a lot to him, doesn't it? promises, partnerships, people sticking around for him. Fiora doesn't say it out loud, though. She can't imagine he'd appreciate having it pointed it out. ]

But, hey. You never came to get me like you said you would.

[soulus]

[The fact of the matter is that she tried to stay for him. No one else—not even his dearly beloved mother—can say the same.]

Is it still difficult to trust others?

[bisouled]

A little.

[ everyone she trusted - truly almost everyone - was keeping a secret from her. They all killed people. That stings, no matter how much Fiora acts like it doesn't bother her. ]

A lot of people here... aren't who I thought they were.

[soulus]

Was it that surprising?

[It's a simple question, and one devoid of any accusation or condescension in his tone.]

[bisouled]

Of course it was.

[ she puts a hand to her chest, thinking a moment. ]

Well... maybe not with you. [ a beat. ] I know why you didn't, but... you could have told me. I would have forgiven you.

[soulus]

I don't need forgiveness . . . and I was under a vow of silence. It wasn't because of you.

[bisouled]

Right... That's what Hikaru thought, too.

[ that he couldn't say anything about it for other reasons. It shouldn't make her feel better, but it does. ]

Really, it's not really my place to forgive you, anyway - that's not what I meant, exactly. Just that... [ Hikaru is the one who can decide whether or not he gets forgiven - she already has, as far as Fiora can tell, but that's between them. Fiora hesitates, looking for the proper words. ] -- To be honest, I knew you might hurt someone. You told me as much yourself. But you never tried to deceive me. You've always just been you, Rufus. And if you ever weren't who I thought you were, it's because you were better than that person.

[ she pauses, looking earnest. ]

I guess what I'm trying to say is... maybe I don't agree with all the things you do, or did, and maybe it's hard to trust people here, but... from the beginning, I've never been wrong to trust you. And I still do. [ a beat. ] Someday, I'll make up for all this and win your trust, too. That's why we're partners.

[soulus]

[She speaks, and he listens. Once she's said her piece, there's a prolonged stretch of silence before Rufus slides a hand into one of his pockets.]

Please give me your hand.

[bisouled]

[ well, he didn't just brush her off, which is what she was expecting? So that's good. She knows he does listen to her, even if he doesn't always show it - and even if she's not sure he's getting the message she's trying to send. ]

Sure...?

[ despite her mild confusion, she holds a hand out for him to take without hesitation. ]

[soulus]

[He won't take her hand. Rather, his fist comes away from the pocket with a length of chain dangling from his grasp. He deposits the item in her palm and pulls his hand back to reveal a simple locket.]

Opening it will reveal whether what someone has said was the truth or a lie.

[bisouled]

[ no handholding for Fiora. At least she got a present. Her fingers close around it as she looks curiously at it, then him. ]

A gift from the Realm?

[soulus]

[His hand returns to his side.]

Yes.

I would like you to hold onto it.

[bisouled]

[ huh. ]

You're sure...? Why me?

[ it's Rufus, so she assumes there's a practical reason for this - he's not the gift-giving type. ]

[soulus]

You're more prone to voicing your suspicions than I am. The nature of this item suits you better than me.

[bisouled]

... I don't think we're having another trial, you know.

[ but her tone is light, and she smiles a little. does this mean he's accepting what she said? either way, it's not like him to give her anything. she doesn't really have a pocket to put it in, so she just moves to clasp it around her neck. ]

But thanks, Rufus. I'll think of a good use for it.

[soulus]

. . . How does your body feel now?

[bisouled]

[ glancing down at herself. ]

The same as usual, really... I haven't got a big hole in it anymore, at least.

[soulus]

Was the hole there when you regained consciousness after that night?

[bisouled]

... Well, it was, actually, but I think everyone had old injuries reappear that week. It didn't hurt or anything.

[ the graveyard suffered the same effects, rip. ]

[soulus]

I saw Kano's injury. His head was detached from his body.