rupert

[outsidebones]

Comments

[agleam]

[he nods, mirroring her frown. with a sigh:]

I hope that doesn't mean whoever it was is going to kill again next week, too.

[outsidebones]

I hope so, too. [she chews her lip.] But we don't know for certain one way or another.

[agleam]

Me, neither. Aquarius said either option was a possibility, and couldn't really give me more than that.

[he rubs at the back of his neck for a moment.]

[outsidebones]

[oof. a sigh.]

Who do you think was responsible?

[agleam]

[he sighs.]

I really don't know. We narrowed it down, but even the people who could have fit in those clothes... I mean, that can be faked. Someone could have gotten bigger clothes.

[outsidebones]

[she nods, chewing on her lip.]

I still believe...I believe the boots were a match. The culprit ought to be someone who would fit.

[agleam]

So if it wasn't Bucky... It would've been Kazunari, Tsurumaru, Mollymauk, Claude, Dokja, or Rin. Right?

[outsidebones]

Quite. And left handed or ambidextrous, of course.

[agleam]

What was the list, for that, again?

[outsidebones]

We never managed to make one. Too easy to falsify, I suppose. But Dokja was using his left.

[agleam]

[he bites at his lip.]

...Even if it was him, we don't have a way to know whether it's already left him.

[outsidebones]

Yes. [a sigh.] And you may think me a fool for it, but I... knowing how deeply Yoo Joonghyuk cares for him...

[agleam]

[his expression softens, at that.]

I'd never say something like that is foolish.

[outsidebones]

Hmm. I think it a bit foolish. I will think it more foolish while I'm being beaten to death with a vending machine by Kim Dokja this coming Thursday.

[agleam]

—Please don't joke about that, oh my gosh.

[but more importantly...]

Caring about how other people feel is a good thing, though! Not foolish at all.

[outsidebones]

So I have heard.

[a small, amused smile.]

[agleam]

What, are you unconvinced?

[he sounds a little amused, even if the vibes are bad today.]

[outsidebones]

I tend to be a little more...I am something of a pragmatic thinker, or at least I try to be. I often fault myself for being too emotional, even if others would not think so.

[agleam]

[he tilts his head slightly, curious.]

Because of the way you grew up, I'm guessing...?

[outsidebones]

[she clears her throat. a bit on the nose.]

You are an heir? Surely there are expectations of you.

[agleam]

I was, yeah. And... There definitely were, especially when I was growing up. My mom in particular had very, um, specific expectations for me and the kind of life I would live. It seems like we came from very different places, but... I do think that I get what it might have been like, for you.

[a little pause.]

Duty and your people before your heart, right?

[outsidebones]

Yes. [she answers very immediately, without reservation.] I suppose you aren't sure you agree with that.

[agleam]

Well... I think both are important.

[thinking it over for another moment, before he gives a little shrug.]

But I think the best leaders listen to what their heart is telling them to do. It's not necessarily selfish to follow that feeling. You know?

[corny!!]