hotel: rupert

[shaft]

Comments

[shaft]

Hopefully.

Have you been keeping busy on this side?

[agleam]

Pretty busy, yeah. There was - a situation last week, but we solved it, so that's good...

[our cannibal]

[shaft]

Right, your cannibal...

I assume Virgo wasn't in the mood to answer any questions about him?

[agleam]

I haven't asked them yet, but it's probably a good idea to tread lightly. I heard they were... understandably unhappy about everything that happened.

[waves a hand, though]

Enough about that. Are you alright? I mean, how are you feeling...? Have you had a chance to settle in yet?

[shaft]

[ oh! yeah! he died ]

I'm... alright. It's easier for me to focus on fixing problems than dwell, I think.

... I am worried about Dimitri, though.

[agleam]

...I'm worried about both of you, honestly. I can't imagine what that must have been like.

[shaft]

[ he stares ahead for a moment, lost in thought ]

My usual method of dealing with grief is pretending that it doesn't exist.

[agleam]

I... would suggest a different method, maybe.

[shaft]

I'm not sure I know any other methods...

[agleam]

There's always talking about your feelings...?

[oh no]

[shaft]

[ uncomfortable ]

I don't... know. About that.

[agleam]

I mean, I'm not going to force you, but... I think it might help more than you expect, no matter who you talk to about it.

[shaft]

[ his shoulders slump ]

It's just... depressing, you know?

[agleam]

Isn't that even more of a reason to get it off your chest?

[shaft]

I wouldn't want to bum you out, Rupert. I'm sure you deal with that plenty already.

[agleam]

Again, I'm not going to force you, but... You don't have to worry about that. I offered, you know? I really don't mind listening to stuff like that.

[shaft]

[ rupert is really doing his best but sometimes you are insecure.

he almost looks a little nervous. ]

Ah, well. Promise you won't think I'm petty?

[agleam]

[he nods]

Promise.

[shaft]

[ he still hesitates a little, before sighing and leaning back. he's probably sitting on his bed or something. ]

My first thought when I realized that I was going to die was that I should've killed someone first so at least my hostage could be safe.

[agleam]

[after a moment of pause:]

I don't think it's petty to be worried about what's going to happen to them. Not knowing whether they're okay is really hard.

[shaft]

It does make me feel like I'm playing right into the Nightman's trap.

... But I'm still angry. Wondering if the "high road" was worth it.

[agleam]

Right. It's tough feeling like there's no good option, right? Even if we decided not to hurt anyone, even that brings a risk of someone else getting hurt as a result. I think it's worth being angry about.

[...]

And for what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.

[shaft]

[ he smiles a little ]

Yeah, I think so too. Getting killed is still pretty traumatic.

[ speaking of which, ] How are you holding up? It seems you have more on your shoulders than I realized.

[agleam]

Right... It must have been even worse if it was a friend doing it. I'm sorry, Claude.

[he blinks, though.]

What do you mean?

[shaft]

Your letter... You mentioned the darkness in your world.