RUFUS CATCH-ALL

[robopriest]

Comments

[soulus]

Didn't you hear what I said? Word of mouth is important for collecting requests. It's bad business if the client takes offense.

[robopriest]

I see.

[Your business lives or dies by your reputation...]

Sounds rough, honestly. Were you always in the profession?

[soulus]

Is that important? I don't see the point of this conversation.

[robopriest]

Well, what are we going to talk about, me? I mean, sure, if you want me to talk about priestly duties and recite Holy Scripture to you for the next half hour, I'll drum some excerpts up.

[soulus]

What do you oversee?

[robopriest]

[That actually nets him a surprised look for a second, before it eases into his customary smirk.]

I don't know...maybe I should ask for payment before giving out that kind of information?

[soulus]

[Just a simple priest, huh.]

If it has no bearing on this place, I have no interest in paying.

[robopriest]

Haha. Who's to say if it does or doesn't?

[But after a beat.]

Its just some relics that belong to the Church. That's what I oversee.

[soulus]

[Pondering payment and then just giving him information for free . . . ]

Including magic cups?

[robopriest]

Who knows?

[He might be giving information, but he's going to be an ass about it.]

[soulus]

[He closes his eyes, ready to dismiss Hansa altogether when the impulse strikes mid inhalation. The urge is so powerful that he moves without a mind of his own. He wordlessly strides through the darkness of the planetarium, up to his conversation partner, and loops his arms around Hansa's torso.]

[robopriest]

[.............?]

[?????????????????????????????????]

[Hansa just. Blinks. Is this a joke? Is this happening right now? Hansa lifts a hand and just...starts patting the other's head? Wait, why is he doing that? Well, at least his hair is nice and soft.]

Uh. Rufus...?

[soulus]

[Rufus exhales through his nose, even as his arms tighten gently around Hansa.

This is a joke. Stop touching his head. It's too familiar.]

Please pay it no mind, and I will return the favor.

[robopriest]

[Yeah, this is bizarre. Appreciate how solid Hansa's torso is, Rufus, while Hansa just stares down, perplexed, as he keeps petting the other's hair.]

Sure, I won't. I don't really understand what's happening. It's like I'm moving on my own.

[he shouldn't say it he shouldn't say it he shouldn't say it he shouldn't say it-]

But.................I didn't know I'd be petting two cute cats for the price of one.

[kill him now]

[soulus]

[He frowns, but doesn't say anything.

That is, until after a protracted moment . . . ]

That's a wolf.

[robopriest]

...It is?

[oh my god??]

Wolves are supposed to be large animals, though? Are they that small where you come from?

[soulus]

He's not fully grown.

[He shifts, and it looks like he's about to pull bac—no, he just shifted to make himself more comfortable. Wonderful.]

But they're self-sufficient creatures.

[robopriest]

[....Yeah, he's definitely going to mentally put this moment away to bother Rufus about it later.]

[Just going to keep petting his head, a little slower this time.]

...Sounds a lot like you, huh?

[soulus]

[Stop petting.]

When you have expectations, you set yourself up for betrayal.

[robopriest]

[He can't. Darn affectionate curse thing.]

I don't know. Lots of good things can come too in response to your expectations. If you don't open doors, the Lord can't come to meet you. Something like that.

[soulus]

[Hiss.]

Then it's fortunate that I have no plans to meet the Lord.

[robopriest]

That's fine. I'm like an intermediary. You're like halfway there.

[soulus]

I'd rather not be there at all.

[robopriest]

Toooo bad.

[A beat.]

So, have you got your hug quota for the week, yet?

[soulus]

[The worst part is that it's only Tuesday.

Somehow, the words have a mystifying effect on the urge. His arms relax just a tad. He hasn't fully let go, but he's getting there.]

. . . Not yet. It should be over soon.