AUDIENCE FOR: Rupert

[guestservices]

Comments

[guestservices]

[...there's an "oh" of understanding under their breath.]

I'm okay if that's what you're trying to ask. These things happen. It was kind of a mess, but things can't be changed now.

[agleam]

[after a pause, he laughs, a little bit surprised in tone rather than amused.]

Of course I was wondering if you're okay, I asked if you were alright earlier...

[he nods, though.]

It'd be nice if things hurt less just because you can't change them, right? [...] But, can I ask you something?

[guestservices]

Hey, some people are just polite. [but they move on with a nod. sure, that would be nice, but it's not likely anytime soon.] I can't promise an answer. What is it?

[agleam]

Right, I get it. I was just wondering... If this kind of thing bothers you, then why are you here?

[guestservices]

[they tilt their head.]

A job's a job. Does it seem like it bothers me?

[agleam]

Yeah, but you seem smart. I'm sure you could find a job where this kind of thing doesn't happen... You said it was a mess.

[guestservices]

Well yeah. A man came back to life post-autopsy and then beheaded a teenage girl in front of an audience. What part of that isn't messy?

[agleam]

[closes his eyes for a second]

And as for what I said before that...?

[guestservices]

...I think you're always going to have parts of your job you don't like but you still have to work with. That's all.

[agleam]

Yeah, but normally that should be, like, paperwork. Not murder.

[guestservices]

[a pause.]

Rupert, are you trying to bait me into a specific answer by chance?

[agleam]

No. I just - don't understand why you don't seem to care about this more, I guess.

[guestservices]

A person's reactions, or lack thereof, doesn't exactly show whether they do or don't care about things. And anyway, maybe it's not really something you're meant to understand or worry about when there's a lot of other stuff happening here.

[agleam]

I know it doesn't. That's why I said you don't seem to, not that you don't.

[...]

Do you not have a choice but to be here?

[guestservices]

I'm not being held against my will or anything if that's what you mean.

[agleam]

Right, but... Technically, all of us came here by our own choice. That doesn't mean we weren't coerced, though.

[guestservices]

If you feel like you were coerced then doesn't it make sense to focus more on your terms than on what my job is...?

[agleam]

I can multitask.

[guestservices]

Okay, well...multitask on something else. It's okay.

[agleam]

I think I'm pretty satisfied with my choices of what to divide my attention between.

[guestservices]

[there's just a very blank stare, probably. hard to say since there's a veil. rupert?]

[agleam]

Your face is covered, so you're going to have to tell me what look you're giving me right now.

[guestservices]

Exasperation, Rupert. I am exasperated.

[they like. don't sound upset though.]

[agleam]

I don't think it's a bad thing to want to get to know you!

[guestservices]

It is. [this is said almost automatically, but then they pause.] ...there's plenty of other people you should get to know instead of the staff that's only here to serve you.