You Always Say Your Name...

[rufuself]

Who: Rude (collected_cool) & Rufus (rufuself)
When: Right after Rude's Re-Arrival
Where: 5C
Summary: Rufus and Rude meet up after Rude returns to the Facility post-termination...
Rating: PG for possible language
Warnings: A Turk and his boss? What could happen?

Comments

[rufuself]

It took a lot to rattle any Turk, but Rude in particular had a reputation around the Tower for being utterly impeturbable. One would have to be, to have Reno as their partner... and to survive being assigned to days in Rufus's office, listening to opera while the President worked his hind-end off for hours at a stretch. But it was clear this whole situation was unsettling his Turk.

Rufus could all but feel the impenetrable stare coming from behind the sunglasses. He had often thought it was a very fine tactical thing, wearing those glasses. Rude's gaze could be daunting even without them--but WITH them, it was left to the imagination what might be happening in those eyes. He responded as Tseng (and Rude!) had taught him to do: with a simple, straight look right back.

"This is the understatement of the cosmic Yuga," Rufus murmured, "but I know this is a lot to take in. Believe me, I'm just as confused--and I've had time to get accustomed to it. I do not remember Reno disappearing--or you, for that matter. When I went to bed my last night at home, everyone was where they were supposed to be. Then I woke up here, collar and all."

He stalked over to the dresser and hauled open a drawer. From within he took out a bottle of vodka, half gone, and two glasses; he put them down on the desk near Rude, poured out two helpings, and left the bottle nearby. Dark Nation tried to clamber into his lap to get at the contents of the glass, but Rufus quelled him with a look.

"It's just going to take time, Rude. I refuse to believe there's no way out--and if these Consortium bastards can bring us here like this, they can put us back. If they won't--well, there are people here from all different worlds and times, some of them with powers. Sooner or later we'll get out of here. Somehow."

Rufus narrowed his eyes and raised one eyebrow, a dangerous little quirk of motion. "There's never been a puzzle that could not be solved, after all. You know I like puzzles."

[collected_cool]

The Turks needed stability, not just Reno. Sometimes it couldn't always be the leader (though, granted, Rude wasn't the easiest to get to know). Of which, Rude would admit, Rufus was not. As of currently, with the realization the Tseng wasn't around, that would be Reno. Hmph. Like he'd take orders from Reno. Not unless he knew it was dire. That, more than anything, was the unsettling part. Things weren't adding up, and when things didn't add up Rude didn't get going. He got tough. This was a walk in the park compared to Rufus and his opera.

At least Rufus was being simple and concise. Rude wouldn't have had too much patience for an overly long explanation. And he listened. In the way that Rude always did, that Tseng did, that Rufus did it seemed-- soaking it in without a word of interruption, nodding once or twice to indicated that no, he was not off in space, just in case the point didn't get itself across.

Everyone in their place... Yes, that would be odd, wouldn't it. The collars... numbers etched into them...

It all sounded like something the science department would do. But on this large of a scale? With all the people he saw, even just marching down the hallway? Impossible for their world.

Rude frowned at this, glancing at the tumbler next to him. He mentioned he didn't want a drink-- it seemed improper to do so on the job. If this was still his job. Then again, he'd been through worse. Took the glass with a murmured, "Thank you, sir." Just didn't drink anything from it just yet, following Rufus from the dresser to Dark Nation. It was just a cub.

"I understand, sir."

Ah, but Rude knew that raised brow, if anything. He knew it well. He wasn't sure if there was anything he could explain in words. They often... didn't work. He knew what he wanted to say, and what he didn't want to say. It was just difficult to place them in the sequences that made sense. Things were beginning to piece themselves together. Slowly, but surely.

After staring a moment into his glass, Rude decided it'd be just as improper not to partake in at least a little of it, frowning over the edge of the glass before knocking back some of it in a smooth motion. Vodka was not a drink to down all at once, anyways. Regardless to say, Rude was thankful for the burn of it to clear some of the confusion. If Rufus had a plan... well, there wasn't much Rude wouldn't at least give a good try for at least once.