Since her promotion, no, long since before that, Rue had started to grow silent inside Ofelia's mind. The weapon had been so eager before to constantly voiceher thoughts and opinions, cruel jests and shrieks continuing into the evening hours and into Ofelia's dreams, but after the incident with Jordan and the follow up in the bathroom, the words had stopped.

Rue had all but fallen silent. It might have been easier on Ofelia if she'd stopped talking and making noise all together but the weapon still screamed during spars, still chuckled at times of misfortune. There were periods of time where she left Ofelia know she was still there and times when she seemed to vanish entirely. Her commentary about Ofelia being a useless cripple was one of those times where it seemed like she'd just waited to speak, waited for the right chance to say something that stung.

And stung it had, almost ruining the teen's video watching time with Deryk. If it hadn't been for the red-head's wonderful ability to produce denial at the same speed the sun produces heat there might have been trouble. Rue had retreated back into silence after that, unsure if she'd had a victory or had laid seeds of doubt into her partner's ever paranoid and curious mind. In a way she'd done both, as evidence by the way her partner acted for the rest of the day, and even now as Ofelia paced down the commons to find a place to rest it was obvious she was uneasy.

"Rue, we need ta talk." It was stupid for Ofelia to speak aloud her thoughts, the weapon could pick up on every shred of mental sound possible, but even though they'd been together for several months the habit of using her mind, not her mouth, had not yet come into the red-head's grasp. As it was she spoke loudly every time she addressed her weapon and the boog hag, for her part, welcomed the stares that accompanied the stupidity of her partner. "Do ya hear me? Ah know yer in there, s'not like ya can go anywhere else." The teen leaned against a wall and slapped her hand to the side of her head, a clapping noise rocking into her ear that for a moment actually stole her balance.

Rue snickered. It was faint, quick, but Ofelia heard it and stood upright. "Ah-ha! Ah gotcha, yer really still in there, jus' bein' a brat an' pretendin' ta ignore me!" Rue snickered again, leaving the tones to drop off as she seemed to try and make her voice fade in and out. The end result was Ofelia slapping herself on the side of the head a few more times, eventually causing her cheek to redden even with the shield there to protect her. Her head was spinning, she was drizzy with how each impact had been stronger than before, and the teen swayed on her feet as she tried to make her way to the bathroom. No one really went to the bathroom around her, or at least no one was ever in there when she went in, and with a push of her hip she got the door open and went in to the area with the stalls and mirrors.

"Rue!"

There was no reply, not even a snicker at the redness that spread over the left side of Ofelia's face.

"Rue! Answer me dammit, Ah know yer there!" Ofelia was screaming at her reflection, feeling no shame in doing so. Her eye was watering, possibly more so from the pain and ringing in her ear than any frustration. A sigh echoed inside her head before Rue's velvet voice started in, the boo hag either tired of being screamed at or just ready to finally talk again.

Why are you trying so hard to get me to speak, hick? Are you lonely without me in your mind, without me there to constantly remind you of your failures and pathetic nature? Her words were soft and slow, and if she were visible it would likely be with her head tilted back, eyes narrowed and arms crossed over her chest. She would be looking down at Ofelia from somewhere high, though it was likely she was shorter in stature. Are you so much of a masochist that you enjoy people abusing you, cursing you with every ounce of their being? Or do you honestly want to try and get along with me, to have everyone stop calling you a liar?

Ofelia's cheeks turned red and Rue knew she'd stepped on the exact topic she needed to. Ofelia was so easy to read it wasn't even like Rue needed to be in her mind to know her thoughts. The teen was loud and proud, overly friendly and unashamed of everything. She didn't know when to take a hint and back off, and it was very easy to get her going into a potentially fatal situation.

I hate you, and always will hate you. Your very existance is an annoyance to me. The words came out one at a time, an empahsis on each one to drive home the point. Everyone always says a weapon must select their partner for a reason, yes?

Ofelia nodded her head. "Jerry said their must'a been sommin' in me ya liked or else ya wouldn'a called fer me."

He was right. There was a faint flicker of hope in Ofelia's eye. I picked you because you are worthless, useless, and best of all - someone no one would ever believe until the day you died. I hate every inch of you but I called to you for that reason. I can abuse you and you won't leave me. I can make it so you suffer in every way imaginable, I can make it so you wish you were dead. There was a purr to her words now, a delight seeping in. Best of all? I can keep you alive again and again when you want to die. I'll make sure you never perish because, even as much as a I want a new partner who is worthy of me, none will be like you. You are perfect for me in the way that you're too stupid to give up.

The teen looked at her reflection, at how pale her face had become as her weapon spoke inside her head. It wasn't like Rue was saying anything new, she'd always said she hated Ofelia, but to be told that she'd keep her alive just for the sake of making her wish she was dead was a bit. . . much. There'd always been an idea in her mind that Rue was that way, seeing as she survived many things that most people would crumble under, and the teen touched her chest before balling her hand into a fist.

We make a wonderful pair, you and I. You're the right kind of masocist, the one who doesn't know that they enjoy getting hurt. Your endless stream of denial is like a wonderful buffet for me, your emotions of doubt and dread just excellent perfumes. I chose you, Ofelia Tanner, because I am a sadist who wants nothing more than to have someone at my feet or beneath me feet at all times.

"But. . .we should work tagether, make all the great things. We're stronger now, ya helped me wit' mah promotion an' the duels, so. . . " Ofelia's words sounded weak, even to herself. "Why...why can' we jus' get along like 'erone else? It'd made things easier, an' then maybe Jordan an' them an' all the others would wanna be mah friend again."

Oh, my stupid, stupid, hick. No one wants to be your friend, they just pity you. You're like the retarded puppy who keeps getting kicked and comes back for more a few seconds later. Rue cackled, sending shivers down Ofelia's spine. Was the bathroom getting colder or was it all in her mind? You're the perfect dart board, the perfect form of release for aggression. My stupid, stupid hick, you're an unloveable being who isn't even worth my words most of the time.

"Yet yer talkin' ta me now, yanno." Ofelia tried to get a barb in but there was no heart there, both she and Rue knew it. The weapon's vemonous words were winning, slowly and surely. "Ah. . ."

Stop thinking, stop talking. Go out there, play your little 'hunter hero' games, and just remember one thing. I'm keeping you alive because you amuse me with your useless and pointless hopes and dreams. Cease to amuse me and who knows what might happen. The threat was firm and cold, and Ofelia knew her weapon wasn't joking. Was it possible for Rue to actually refuse to make a shield? Was it possible for Ofelia to be cut down because her weapon did nothing? Are you curious to try and find out?

Ofelia was not, so she shook her head and turned the tap on. A few splashes of lukewarm water on her face helped return some color, but it didn't quite the doubt in her mind. This conversation hadn't been anything good, Ofelia had learned nothing, and now she had more to lie about to both others and to herself. The faucet was turned off and the teen left the bathroom, wondering what she was going to do next. Where would she go from here?

Don't ask anymore. Rue's final whisper echoed in her head as the boo hag retreated once more into silence, leaving behind a wake of paranoia and fear.