Catch-all: Alex

[soulus]

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[soulus]

A den of pirates . . .

[Rupe is here! However, he has not dressed up for the occasion. Perhaps Alex can find a hat for him at the shop.]

[chanteuser]

[ she's immediately drops down to see if Rupe is willing to accept some pets. also, thanks for the challenge jae. i will take it up whole heartedly. ]

It looks like it.

Imagine what it must've been like when it was full of people.

[soulus]

[Rupe will accept pets. And because Alex closed in to pet him, she puts herself within a foot's distance of Rufus, whose emotions are like a series of muted waves crashing silently against the reefs. Belied by his equally cool veneer, a veil of calm covers the faint yet powerful undercurrent of anger and unease.]

There are people now, aren't there?

[chanteuser]

[ bless rupe, we love rupe in this household.

... strangely though, she does... freeze at the sudden wave of anger, but she doesn't react to it. there's no scrambling back, or any intense, sudden spark of fear. just a sort of... acceptance. maybe even familiarity.

incidentally, rufus will just feel a lowkey sense of anxiety, or dread. almost like a looming feeling. it comes and goes, less when she's distracted or busy with something, but growing in those moments she isn't. whatever's causing it, she seems to have things fairly under control when it comes to pushing that feeling back down again when it gets too intense. ]

You know what I mean. Like... actual pirates, people who would live here if we weren't in the Realm.

I don't know anything about being a pirate, so I can't say I'm doing a great job of playing a local.

[soulus]

[He takes her dread in with stride, mixing it with his own feelings. While it comes and goes, his calm and her control combined seemingly make it a nonissue for him. What's one more to the bunch?]

They're just bandits on water. Anyone can play a part such as that.

[chanteuser]

[ just yeet some more emotions into this mess they're all in this week, it's fine. ]

I kinda think the ambience would be different if it were... as it were outside of the Realm, and not full of a bunch of confused people wandering around. [ but go off, she guesses. ]

I don't think we'd be able to get far on one of those boats to do any banditing though.

[soulus]

[Something lifts amid the tension just a little. He can't help himself.]

Pirating.

[chanteuser]

Sea banditing.

[ she's using your words, rufus. ]

[soulus]

[Good enough.]

Even if we were to pillage one another's boat, there would be nothing worth taking.

[Alex is right. What a pity.]

[chanteuser]

There's nothing worth taking on the ship itself? Or in the tailor's shop?

[ like. okay it's not going to be jewels, or cashdollars but...?? something?? maybe? ]

[soulus]

[There's a pregnant pause as a feeling vaguely akin to annoyance sparks, only to sputter out when he speaks.]

. . . If you mean the large ship anchored at the dock, there may be some things of value.

[chanteuser]

[ what did the ship do to you, rufus? ]

...

Oh. There were locked chests on there, wasn't there?

[soulus]

Yes.

[He pauses again. Some of the lost tension returns as he eyes Alex anew.]

Were you able to ask after the particulars?

[chanteuser]

Of nova gathering? I got some clarification on what counts towards it, but not which one specifically give the most nova.

[ ... ] So, sort of.

[soulus]

What was the clarification?

[chanteuser]

[ oh my god jae that was so fast ]

Obviously nova gathering events count. So does killing. So does... whatever happened to my group and Won's group on Thursday. That contributes as well.

Those are three things I was able to confirm gather nova. There could be more.

[ ... ] Speaking of, did you see the change in the rankings?

[soulus]

[He doesn't feel surprised. The answers are as he expected, though faint suspicion dots his thoughts here and there.]

What about them?

[chanteuser]

[ rufus, buddy you need to relax sometimes. ]

Goat's team went from last to third. That's a pretty big jump.

[soulus]

Do you suspect that the culprit is one of Goat's?

[chanteuser]

It's a possibility.

[soulus]

And Goat?

[chanteuser]

And Goat what?

[soulus]

What are your thoughts on them?

[chanteuser]

Personally? I think they're quite nice. But I haven't spoken with them too much yet.

[ GOAT IS PERFECT ]

But that jump from bottom of the rankings to third is... [ hm. ] It's concerning? That's what I'd say, at least.

[soulus]

[Maybe Goat's perfection is what propelled their team through the ranks.]

It's certainly a jump.