RUFUS CATCH-ALL

[robopriest]

Comments

[soulus]

. . . What kind of child?

[robopriest]

Just a child from the country.

[There's something...distant in his gaze, when he says this.]

He wanted to go to the city, so Emet-Selch and I took him there, and we lived there for ten years as the boy grew up.

[soulus]

Was that all?

[robopriest]

...

[He shakes his head.]

Of course not.

[soulus]

Then what was the rest?

[robopriest]

[His smile is...thin.]

Its complicated, but... [He shakes his head, his tone distant.] My son is dead, Rufus.

[soulus]

. . . How so?

[robopriest]

It's a long story.

[He's silent, before he gestures at a nearby bench.]

I'll tell it to you. Want to sit for a while, Rufus?

[soulus]

[If he's going to hear the story, they may as well sit down. He goes to the indicated bench.]

[robopriest]

[He sits down, too, folding his hands in his lap.]

...Randomly. Rufus, do you have children?

[soulus]

[Seated together, Rufus looks straight ahead at the town.]

No.

[robopriest]

Hm. Would you ever want to have some?

[soulus]

I haven't thought about it.