woofus

[bisouled]

Comments

[soulus]

Between the two, the latter is most likely the case. The former risks losing more than gaining. Of course, we have no way of knowing for certain; it could be neither.

[bisouled]

You don't need to remind me...

[ urgh. she's not a detective!! she's a jock robot. ]

How about you - do you have any ideas? You're a bounty hunter, so maybe you've had to track mysterious people down before. I've only hunted monsters. They're not nearly this subtle.

[soulus]

The bounties I've hunted already had established identities. This is different.

I have my suspicions . . . but airing them without proof would be no better than gossip.

[bisouled]

Well... That's okay, isn't it? You can just share them with me - I won't spread them around.

[ looking up from her slump at him, eyes hopeful. ]

We can at least trade ideas. We're partners, after all, right?

[soulus]

[Although his gaze is trained on the floor, he feels her eyes on him. He considers rejecting the offer and nearly does.]

What ideas do you have?

[bisouled]

[ don't be mean, rufus. ]

I don't have any proof, either. But... Jeanne seemed like a likely suspect to me, between her hair and her weapon.

[soulus]

[Jeanne, huh.]

I suspect the academician was involved somehow.

[bisouled]

The academician?

[ Fiora blinks, not sure who he's referring to; it takes her a moment to remember. ]

That's... the lady with the short blonde hair? Alyssa?

[ it's evident from her curious tone alone that she never considered her as a possibility. ]

[soulus]

The length of the hair might not have matched, but that wasn't the only point of suspicion.

[In his mind, she was never entirely cleared.]

[bisouled]

I know. That's just how I was remembering her.

[ she looks thoughtful. ]

I don't know much about her...

[soulus]

She's educated and perceptive. Of the group with injuries, she was the last to surface when they found her during the initial investigation.

[bisouled]

Hmm... All right, I've got an idea, Rufus.

[ it's obvious she's trying to bring her energy back up, but there's still a solemness to her bearing. ]

Why don't we try looking into those two - Jeanne and Alyssa? Maybe we'll find something out.

[soulus]

How do you intend to do that?

[bisouled]

Talking to them, obviously! That's the best way to learn more about anyone.

[soulus]

And if our suspicions turn out to be false? We would have wasted all that time for nothing.

[bisouled]

[ frowning. ]

Then I assume you've got a better idea? I'm listening.

[soulus]

I will talk to them for the purpose of gathering information about the Realm. Anything else will be supplementary.

[bisouled]

[ a sigh. ]

Gathering information was the point, you know. I'm not looking to go exact revenge on them or anything.

[soulus]

. . . Does that mean you'll keep the identity of the culprit a secret once you find out?

[bisouled]

[ she's quiet. ]

I don't know. It depends on what they say to me, I suppose. But sharing it would be making them a target. [ a beat. ] I don't want more people to die.

[soulus]

People die every day. Covering for them will also make you an accomplice if they remove another participant.

[bisouled]

They do not die every day, Rufus - it's been once a week at most, and you know it. Stop being difficult.

[ a bit frustrated. ]

I'd be getting someone killed if I outed them, too! Either way, it's bad.

[soulus]

Yes. Either way, someone will die. The trials aren't so different in that regard. In the end, you're only choosing who dies.