RUFUS CATCH-ALL

[robopriest]

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[robopriest]

And here's the man of the hour himself.

[And here Hansa comes up, with a pretty sizable paper bag, and a wolf of his own trotting at his heels, though this one has an eyepatch like him. He offers the bag.]

[If Rufus should take it, he should find:

- a heated can of drinkable tomato soup
- a peanut and butter jelly sandwich
- a bottle of some kind of soda
- an apple
- a twinkie-equivalent pastry]

Hope its to your liking.

[soulus]

[He takes it, of course. Peering inside the bag, he frowns mildly.]

This is excessive.

[Beside him, the wolf watches Hansa and his wolf.]

[robopriest]

I don't know, I think its the right amount of stuff.

[Hansa's wolf just looks between the two of them, before approaching Rufus' wolf, sniffing at it gently.]

Now you'll be well fed.

[soulus]

[She eyes the wolf blankly, then moves in to sniff exactly once.]

Are you saying that I haven't been eating well?

[robopriest]

I don't know. Are you?

[He says, lightly. His wolf gives her tail a single wag.]

[soulus]

I eat as much as I need.

[This wolf's tail, on the other hand, remains in place as she stares, watching.]

[robopriest]

That's good. Doing bounty hunting must be hard work. Can't do that on an empty stomach.

[And a pause.]

Do you mind if I sit?

[soulus]

[The bag crinkles softly in his grasp. Well, it's lunchtime. He reaches inside the paper bag to indicate that he'll be here for a while.]

Do as you please.

[robopriest]

[He does so, moving to sit right by Rufus. The wolf, in turn, moves to sit right next to Rufus' wolf, again wagging its tail. Hansa lets out a low sigh, leaning back on the couch.]

Hard to believe its been five weeks, huh.

[soulus]

[The wolf follows her new companion, never once taking her eyes off of it.]

Five weeks are close to nothing. This much is expected.

[robopriest]

Time flies when you're having fun, I guess.

[He says, dryly.]

Hey, I'm curious. What's the longest job you ever had?

[soulus]

[He pulls out the sandwich.]

I don't remember the exact length . . . but it was on the world of Aernas. My return to the Underworld was further delayed after the job.

[robopriest]

Delayed? Why?

[The wolf perks up her head, curiously looking up at Rufus.]

What happened?

[soulus]

[It's a moment before Rufus answers, because he's taken a bite of the sandwich.]

I decided to go elsewhere first. All I found was an unexpected reward.

[The wolf looks away from Hansa's creature then, resting her head on her paws and closing her eyes.]

[robopriest]

A...good reward?

[Rewards are usually good, right?]

[His wolf prods the other lightly with her snout.]

[soulus]

[The wolf opens her eyes, but otherwise does not react.]

I ran into an escaped prisoner from the Underworld. I seized his soul for the bounty.

[robopriest]

[The wolf is just going to...rest her entire head on the other, lightly, huffing.]

How nice. A little extra payment, right? That must have been a good day for you.

[soulus]

[There's a huff, but she allows it.]

Yes . . . Extra payment is always good.

[robopriest]

And then after that, you returned home with your spoils...

I wonder. Can you claim the entirety of your bounty, or is there a fee or something you have to pay?

[soulus]

Is that important? In the end, I'm still paid.

[robopriest]

Even if you get less of it, if there's a fee? It doesn't matter?

[soulus]

No. Referral fees are to be expected.

[robopriest]

...

[A sigh.]

What a thankless thing...referral fees. You deserve more than what you get, Rufus.

[soulus]

[He swallows another bite of the sandwich.]

Why do you say that?

[robopriest]

Because you basically survive job to job, and you work hard, and yet, you're treated like a machine. That isn't how you should live.