rupert

[unrecked]

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[unrecked]

[POOR RUPERT. Jason does not answer the door ever again.

No, he will open the door. He's clean now! Thank God. Because he was not before. He seems kind of tired and a bit subdued, actually, and he pauses for a second,

then just steps back to let Rupert in.]

[agleam]

[and in he comes, clearly concerned.]

I heard about what happened... Are you going to be alright?

[unrecked]

[He runs a hand back through his hair as he shuts the door, but winces and draws away when he passes the backside.]

Yeah. I'll be alright. [Will he.] You can sit down if you want.

[agleam]

[he does indeed come in to sit down! porridge toddles in behind him. after a moment:]

Did you - have some kind of dream, when you were in there?

[unrecked]

[Oh noooo, Porridge!!! He lets Porridge in, of course. A very good dragon, even if Jason teases.]

Yeah. Almost didn't feel like a dream. Or maybe this still feels kind of like a dream. Kept digging my way out of the grave.

[agleam]

...It's not a dream. You're here, you're safe.

[he still sounds concerned as he says that, though.]

[unrecked]

[Briefly, he looks a bit skeptical, but seems mostly alright.]

Not sure I would call this place safe, but. Yeah. I'm here.

[agleam]

...Right.

[a pause. he assumes he knows how he'll answer, but.]

Do you want to talk about it...?

[unrecked]

[His lips thin, but not in the clam up sort of way. He looks Rupert over, then glances away with just his eyes.]

It's like I said... kept digging out of a grave. Had to get out, got buried right before I could. Had to do it all over again. Over and over.

[agleam]

[after another long moment, with some anger in his voice:]

This place is so messed up.

[unrecked]

[His expression doesn't change drastically, but he seems sort of surprised by Rupert's anger on his behalf.]

Yeah, it is. I'll be alright. Uh... been through worse. Kind of.

[agleam]

...I'm sorry to hear that, then.

[after a beat, though:]

Hey - I have something for you, by the way.

[unrecked]

I can feel how much you love my terrible jokes from here.

[Which is not at all. He cants his head to the side.]

Something for me...? Why? Is this where you lift your gun and shoot me because I know too much, or something?

[agleam]

Stop. You're not supposed to ruin the surprise. Now the fun is over.

[incredibly deadpan, before he pulls out a key with this attached on it. should jason take it, he'll get the sense that this object, while important, should be kept highly secret for now - particularly from the staff.]

[unrecked]

Sorry, I can't hel...p...

[??????????

He looks suddenly confused, but also serious and curious. Did someone hit him too hard before...? He looks it over slowly.]

Where'd you get this?

[agleam]

I got it on the Sunday before last... It just showed up in my room, on the desk. I don't know how it got there.

[a pause.]

I have no idea what it's for, but being able to unlock something is probably going to come in handy sometime... And I get the feeling you're better at investigating stuff than I would be. So. I hereby bequeath it to you.

[unrecked]

[His expression says "weird..." at the explanation.]

Ru, I can't-- [He looks briefly conflicted, almost like he wants to try holding the key back out.] Maybe you're supposed to have this for a reason?

...Have you tried it on anything?

[agleam]

[he is trying so hard not to look amused but also]

Did you just call me Ru? [anyways,] No, I haven't, yet. Seriously, though, I'm not doing this on a whim. You should take it.

[unrecked]

Rupert.

[Immediately losing the cute Ru privileges. (no) He frowns at the key and keychain, then sort of frowns at Rupert.]

Suspicious. You tell anyone else about this thing?

[agleam]

[he shakes his head.]

No. I felt like I shouldn't...?

[unrecked]

Okay.

[He sort of hesitates again, or maybe he's thinking, and then he puts the key in his pocket.]

If something happens to me, and you can't find it on me, [he nods toward his bed] I'll leave it under my mattress.

[agleam]

[with a little bit more concern:]

...Do you think something's going to happen to you?

[unrecked]

Something could happen to any of us. Just in case something does, and you need to get it back. That's where it'll be if it's not on me. Bringing it somewhere like the trials will just make people ask questions.

Though I probably would hide it in my boot.

[agleam]

...Just try to not let something like that happen. Okay?

[unrecked]

I'll try my best...?