Hello to you, too, Rufus. [ Fiora grins, then gestures around them. ] Isn't this place amazing? I was just thinking about home, and all of a sudden, I'm there! It's so wild.
Oh... Hmm. I don't know yet. There's a lot to choose from.
[ what does she actually want to share - that's the bigger question. There's a lot, yes, but a lot of it, she'd rather bury. Not that it shows on her face; she's still looking carefree as she taps a finger on her chin. ]
Well, are you curious about anything? I'll try to answer your request... within reason. A girl's got to have her secrets.
I suppose I can share some memories of my home. We're already here, after all. This was my house, [ she says, gesturing to the building. ] I lived here with my big brother, Dunban. Our parents died when we were young, so it was just the two of us -- but we got by all right. Everyone else in the Colony looked out for us, too. We did have to rebuild the house a few times because of the Mechon attacks... and other things.
[ she smiles to herself, a little sheepishly. ]
I definitely broke that window once when I was little.
But he doesn't treat her memory all too lightly. It's information she's sharing with him, so he looks when she gestures and listens when she speaks. He looks at the window in question, too.]
We're on the Bionis right now - or my memory of it, I guess. Colony 9's a bit behind its knee. See up there? That's the Bionis's upper leg. [ gesturing to the huge pillar of land above them in the clouds. ] And the Telethia are... a sort of monster. They've got nothing to do with the colony, though.
[ she's not picking up that he's indirectly asking about the Mechon. ]
[ well, she doesn't have many good memories of them, but... ]
They're a race of machines that were at war with us for a long time. It should be over now, but they terrorized all us on the Bionis for ages.
[ as she thinks about them, the skies darken as if storm clouds are rolling in, obviously not on purpose. But when she thinks about the Mechon and Colony 9, her thoughts can't help but drift back to that day. Which she is definitely not talking about!! She shakes her head. ]
All of it, if they wanted to. It's not like it's a secret.
[ he's somewhat hard to read; she can't tell if he's bored with her or if he's actually listening intently. She hopes it's the latter, but she'd sooner bet on the former. ]
... Is that what you want to hear? Something I won't tell other people?
I believe business and private matters should be kept separate, but the rule demands otherwise. In this case, I would prefer to learn something of value based on its uniqueness.
[ on the bright side, even if he's hard to read, he is unfalteringly straightforward - if nothing else. She's quiet for a moment, biting her lip, and then sighs, resigned, as she points across the lake, where another portion of the town is visible. ]
Over there... The last time the Mechon attacked Colony 9, I went to stop them. That's where I died.
[ a nod. It's odd to talk about it with someone outside of her immediate circle of friends - everyone back home knew already what had happened to her. In the moment, she finds herself grateful that Rufus isn't the type to get emotional or start pitying her. ]
Something like that. Parts of me are still Homs, but I'm mostly Mechon now. For a while, I had no control over my body at all. [ Fiora pauses, a little awkwardly. ] Don't tell the others, okay? I don't want people to feel more sorry for me than they already do. I'm all right now.
[The fact that she asks is ridiculous, if understandable. Rufus turns back to Fiora. Her body makes more sense now, and it doesn't change much of anything for him.
Pity is a waste of time and energy. He refuses to encourage or otherwise engage in it.]
Not to worry. This is our exchange. I have no interest in gossip, either.
[ she figured as much, but it doesn't hurt to confirm. Fiora smiles, giving him a nod. ]
Thanks. I knew I could count on you. [ if only because he doesn't care... which isn't great, either, but it's expected. ] You don't sound that surprised. I guess someone your age has seen it all.
[ nice awkward pause... she sighs in slight exasperation when he finally comes out with a bone-dry "thank you" and nothing else. Why did she decide to partner up with this guy, again...
luckily, an easy topic change is in sight! ]
That's right! Fair is fair. I want to hear a memory of your home, too! Have you got any family, Rufus?
[His expression darkens at her question. Family is the last thing he wants to talk about, but that's what makes this an equal exchange. Fortunately, talking about it here means that he never has to speak of it elsewhere again.
His tone as he relives the memory is slow, flat, and controlled.]
. . . I had family, of course.
The day my father vanished, my mother felt an indescribable loss. She collapsed, and there was nobody left to help her once she fell ill.
She fell . . . and the only one at her side was me. I was a child with no means of providing the treatment she needed. She would tell me that she felt better while she stood out in the wilderness, waiting for someone who never returned. No matter how many times I told her the outside air wasn't good . . . she waited.
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[He'll greet her, provided that she make it worth his time, because that's how it works.]
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Okay, but you have to say it first. It's a greeting, after all.
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Hello.
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Hello to you, too, Rufus. [ Fiora grins, then gestures around them. ] Isn't this place amazing? I was just thinking about home, and all of a sudden, I'm there! It's so wild.
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Is the memory you intend to share about your home?
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[ what does she actually want to share - that's the bigger question. There's a lot, yes, but a lot of it, she'd rather bury. Not that it shows on her face; she's still looking carefree as she taps a finger on her chin. ]
Well, are you curious about anything? I'll try to answer your request... within reason. A girl's got to have her secrets.
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[Exclusive rights make a piece of information that much more valuable. Surely she understands this.]
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[ Dryly. Rufus is no fun. ]
I suppose I can share some memories of my home. We're already here, after all. This was my house, [ she says, gesturing to the building. ] I lived here with my big brother, Dunban. Our parents died when we were young, so it was just the two of us -- but we got by all right. Everyone else in the Colony looked out for us, too. We did have to rebuild the house a few times because of the Mechon attacks... and other things.
[ she smiles to herself, a little sheepishly. ]
I definitely broke that window once when I was little.
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But he doesn't treat her memory all too lightly. It's information she's sharing with him, so he looks when she gestures and listens when she speaks. He looks at the window in question, too.]
You mentioned the Bionis and Telethia.
[Not the Mechon, though.]
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We're on the Bionis right now - or my memory of it, I guess. Colony 9's a bit behind its knee. See up there? That's the Bionis's upper leg. [ gesturing to the huge pillar of land above them in the clouds. ] And the Telethia are... a sort of monster. They've got nothing to do with the colony, though.
[ she's not picking up that he's indirectly asking about the Mechon. ]
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It's curious, though—all of this.]
What about the Mechon?
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[ well, she doesn't have many good memories of them, but... ]
They're a race of machines that were at war with us for a long time. It should be over now, but they terrorized all us on the Bionis for ages.
[ as she thinks about them, the skies darken as if storm clouds are rolling in, obviously not on purpose. But when she thinks about the Mechon and Colony 9, her thoughts can't help but drift back to that day. Which she is definitely not talking about!! She shakes her head. ]
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Which part of this do the other participants know?
[They won't talk about it, then.]
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[ he's somewhat hard to read; she can't tell if he's bored with her or if he's actually listening intently. She hopes it's the latter, but she'd sooner bet on the former. ]
... Is that what you want to hear? Something I won't tell other people?
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I believe business and private matters should be kept separate, but the rule demands otherwise. In this case, I would prefer to learn something of value based on its uniqueness.
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... Then you have to tell me a secret memory, too. That's the rule - we're sharing.
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Over there... The last time the Mechon attacked Colony 9, I went to stop them. That's where I died.
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He doesn't look back right away. He's busy trying to fit the pieces together.]
You died . . . and they revived you as one of them.
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Something like that. Parts of me are still Homs, but I'm mostly Mechon now. For a while, I had no control over my body at all. [ Fiora pauses, a little awkwardly. ] Don't tell the others, okay? I don't want people to feel more sorry for me than they already do. I'm all right now.
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Pity is a waste of time and energy. He refuses to encourage or otherwise engage in it.]
Not to worry. This is our exchange. I have no interest in gossip, either.
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Thanks. I knew I could count on you. [ if only because he doesn't care... which isn't great, either, but it's expected. ] You don't sound that surprised. I guess someone your age has seen it all.
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Thank you for sharing.
. . . I suppose it's my turn now.
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luckily, an easy topic change is in sight! ]
That's right! Fair is fair. I want to hear a memory of your home, too! Have you got any family, Rufus?
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His tone as he relives the memory is slow, flat, and controlled.]
. . . I had family, of course.
The day my father vanished, my mother felt an indescribable loss. She collapsed, and there was nobody left to help her once she fell ill.
She fell . . . and the only one at her side was me. I was a child with no means of providing the treatment she needed. She would tell me that she felt better while she stood out in the wilderness, waiting for someone who never returned. No matter how many times I told her the outside air wasn't good . . . she waited.
Until the day she passed away, she waited.
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