woofus

[bisouled]

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week 7, saturday

[bisouled]

[ it's late at night by the time she shows up at Rufus's door - not where she planned to show up, exactly, and nothing either of them had discussed, but it's where her feet end up taking her. Right up until the end, he's the one she finds herself going back to. This time, she knocks; she's got a scroll of some kind tucked under one arm, and looks a lot less ill than she had after the fight earlier. ]

Rufus? Are you there?

[soulus]

[Like the evening prior, the door opens to reveal Rufus. Of course, Rupe is there as well.]

What is it?

[bisouled]

[ great question. ]

... I haven't got a place to stay tonight.

[ which is a statement she'd normally coach in "it's not what it sounds like," talking to a boy, but it's Rufus, so there's no need to bother. ]

[soulus]

[There's a beat before he turns away, leaving the door open for Fiora to help herself inside.]

[bisouled]

[ gratitude fills her expression, and she takes the silent invitation, walking in and sitting herself down on a chair heavily - she's a bit too tired to be prim. ]

Thanks, Rufus. It feels like you're always helping me out lately.

[soulus]

[While she sits, he rearranges the pillows and pulls the sheet down to prepare for sleep with his back to her.]

It would be a waste to let an extra bed go unused.

[bisouled]

[ Fiora blinks at him... and then she just giggles. ]

You know... I've been thinking. Are you actually just shy?

[soulus]

[He pauses.]

Are you saying that I'm nervous?

[bisouled]

[ she shakes her head, then reaches over her back to start detaching her drones as she speaks. ]

No, I mean you're embarrassed to show people that you care, or how you're feeling - that kind of thing.

[soulus]

There's no monetary benefit to expressing how I feel at a given time. It would just be a waste of energy.

[bisouled]

[ hmm. hmmmmmmm...

is rufus cute? maybe. if she looks at his behavior through that lens, then suddenly, he kind of is. Fiora sets her drones on her lap, looking gently amused. ]

Hehe... Right. Nothing to gain at all. [ not like she ever thought he'd give her a straight answer. ] Is your face feeling okay? That was a nasty bruise.

[soulus]

[Nothing but heartbreak, really.]

I've sustained worse. Please don't mind it.

[bisouled]

[ unless... ]

Last time you said that, it was when all the skin on your hand fell off, so forgive me if I don't entirely believe you.

[ he's so stubborn!! ]

[soulus]

. . . That wasn't a lie.

[bisouled]

I know. You're missing a whole arm, too, aren't you?

[ he's like her in that small sense. She gently sets her drones on the ground. ]

But getting injured really badly one time doesn't mean you stop feeling lesser pain after. You know I'll take care of you if you need it. And not just me, either.

[soulus]

I took a pill and put ice on it earlier. It doesn't hurt.

[bisouled]

Well, good! Glad to hear it.

[ see, rufus, that wasn't so hard!! Fiora nods, satisfied. ]

... Really, though. Thanks for letting me stay here. And thanks for watching my back earlier during the fight, too. [ she actually didn't mean to come in here and start nagging him immediately... ] Do you think we'll make it this time?

[soulus]

As of now, there are no guarantees. But the distortion did appear, and we dealt with it as tasked.

[bisouled]

Yeah. There is still a lot of distortion outside, though. It's creepy out there.

[ when she's inside, she can nearly forget about it - but it reminds her of when she was little, too, hiding in Dunban's room with him during a thunderstorm. There's an ominous sense of impending something that's hard to shake. With her drones removed, she gets up to go sit on the (non-Rufus-occupied) bed. ]

... Well, whatever happens, I'm ready for it.

[soulus]

[Rufus stares down at the empty bed in front of him before looking over his shoulder.]

There's nothing else to be done tonight. You should rest while there's time.

[bisouled]

Easier said than done.

[ there's a lot to think about. Fiora sighs, flopping back on the bed. She is tired, though... ]

Are you worried?

[soulus]

Worrying is a waste of time . . . but so is wondering aimlessly.

[bisouled]

You're really just calm...?

[ glancing over his way. his ability to completely kill his feelings would be impressive if it wasn't depressing. ]

[soulus]

Should I be something else?

[bisouled]

Not that. Just... everything's riding on what happens tomorrow. Our lives... your revenge.

[ a beat. ]

... Don't you feel like screaming?

[ he'd said he was young, too, after all... ]