[ rufus the protag of tox2 ]

[recrowns]

Comments

[recrowns]

[he hums thoughtfully]

... how much do you need to be paid in order to tell me your current team?

[soulus]

You would need to tell me yours.

[recrowns]

Hmm...

[he seems like he's thinking about this - ]

Next week then.

[soulus]

Is there a reason why?

[recrowns]

The common wisdom is that you ought to trade your team to others no more than three times per week - but I'm afraid that I have some people already in mind this week.

But the information that you just mentioned seemed relevant to something else I'm investigating, so I was wondering how quickly I should try to put those puzzle pieces together...

[soulus]

What investigation is that?

[recrowns]

How Leaders get information, when they get information, and how far that information can spread based on who they tell.

[soulus]

How many pieces have you put together?

[recrowns]

At this point, I know at least one person on every team and I have leads for two of my questions.

Knowing who your leader is will help me discern how quickly the news travels.

[soulus]

If I tell you now, I expect to hear yours at the beginning of next week.

[recrowns]

[he nods]

Very well, that should suffice.

[soulus]

My Leader is Wolf.

[recrowns]

Not entirely too surprising.

[what do they talk about!! he wants to know so bad!!]

When did they tell you about returning the removed to their worlds, and did your PHS show the animal icon flashing this past week?

[soulus]

[He will never know.]

I've yet to notice anything like that; however, I mentioned the souls' repatriation yesterday.

[recrowns]

[he nods at that]

And Wolf gave you that answer....

[ . . . hmmm, he looks thoughtful before nodding.]

Thank you.

Do you know exactly why your team is at the top? If there's anything in particular that seems to be generating more nova?

[soulus]

No answer I received was conclusive. They referred to the generation of nova by way of independent removal as a theory.

[recrowns]

[he nods at that]

It is a theory - though I've heard of other things. It sounds as though large amounts of nova are generated over the weekend as well, which lends strength to the idea that it's about strong emotions.

I've also heard that our bonds to each other, as well as our Leaders, may also generate nova.

So I wonder if people just feel very strongly about Wolf.

[soulus]

That's a possibility.

[For a variety of reasons.]

[recrowns]

Do you like them very much?

[soulus]

Me? . . . I have no feelings toward them.

[recrowns]

Do you have feelings toward anyone here, Rufus?

[soulus]

. . . No.

[recrowns]

[what if

he tries to walk a step closer to get in the emotion share bubble]

Really?

[soulus]

[Rufus won't stop him.

If he steps into the bubble, a burst of annoyance will greet Soo-won. Once the initial wave of feeling recedes, it leaves behind a trail of doubt, apprehension, resentment, and growing anger. Buried deep is more anger; even deeper, the faintest emotion yet of hurt.]

Yes.

[recrowns]

[ . . . . . . . oh.

and rufus will meet soo-won's own emotions - they're layered, but everything except the topmost layer of curiosity and concern is probably hard to get through to.

given how sincere and clear the emotions may feel, like the chime of a bell.]

.... it seems like you're carrying a lot with you, Rufus.