Let's Give Them A Show!

"...Yeah? I mean, if she's dead, and has been dead the entire time, then it's not her fault and everything just sucks. But if she's still alive? Never said where she was going, or even that she had to leave in the first place, never sent a message to let Rhea know she was alive and dandy and that she was on some fuck-ass mission? Hello??"

"And Rhea him. I just hope she sees it that way," Rose whispered. "I really do. Because her mind is telling her something different."

"Yeah, see, that's where shit-talking her mom comes in."

"Miss Venus?" Emma whispered.

"...What can I rag on him for???"

"...But if there's one thing I do know about him, it's that he didn't abandon Rhea. He worships her and the ground she walks on more than any fucking priest worships Aidios. Whatever unholy reasoning he had for doing what he did, he genuinely believed it was for her sake."

"And Rhea him. I just hope she sees it that way," Rose whispered. "I really do. Because her mind is telling her something different."

"Oh, no, I'm totally still ragging on his ass. It's just that I actually spent time with the fucker and know what is and isn't uncalled for."

"...What can I rag on him for???"

"...I know what he did. And I know what he's like. You can be pissed all you want, but if you're shit-talking him just for the sake of it, the only thing you'll do is make Rhea even more upset."

"Thank you," Emma said. "For Rhea's sake, we shouldn't impugn Rufus."

"...If you're ready to fully commit to that thought, I'll let it slide. But you also have to go and get to know him more."

"Eeeep!"

"That's MY brother and I'll fight you over it!!"

"Rufus may have been an untrustworthy fucking asshole but I'M the only one allowed to insult him, got it?!"