RUFUS CATCH-ALL

[robopriest]

Comments

[soulus]

[He will only acknowledge Sugar Daddy Hansa.]

I would rather think about business.

[robopriest]

Business involving...me, I hope?

[soulus]

Is there?

[robopriest]

You're the one keeping accepting payments from me, I hope so.

[soulus]

There's nothing to think about. I have no active request from you.

[robopriest]

Not yet, anyways. Today's just been a bad day.

[soulus]

Then please call for me when it is a good day.

[robopriest]

...

What about you? Do you want me to call on you when its a good day for you?

[soulus]

Any day is a good day when there's work.

[robopriest]

But here you are, accepting random gifts from a priest. Is that really work, for you?

[soulus]

Then why don't you request something different next time?

[robopriest]

Different?

Like what? Tell me.

[soulus]

Isn't that for the requester to decide? If you believe you're just giving me rubber and food, I am not the problem.

[robopriest]

...It's because I can't tell what you want without you saying it, Rufus.

[Is that a bit of irritation in his tone? Even his smile looks tired.]

I don't want to keep using you like you're some kind of vending machine.

[soulus]

"Using"?

[Echoing the word, he narrows his eyes.]

All you've done is pay me for answers. What you've been using is not me, but my service. There's nothing wrong with the current arrangement.

[robopriest]

...

[He kind of smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes.]

I just want to get to know you, Rufus. [He says, flatly.] But yeah. Sure. Current arrangement.

[soulus]

. . . I will be going now.

[He turns away. The current arrangement is fine.]