rubycity_ooc | Test Drive Meme!

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Test Drive Meme!

Test Drive Meme

That's right! A test drive meme! This meme serves several purpsoes!

- Test drive a new muse! -- If you are considering apping a new character to Ruby City, you can comment with them here to try their voice out. Others (currently played characters and other potential characters) can respond. The same deal as usual. Post ICly. Your character can be newly arrived, or you can treat the thread as though they've been in the city for a long while. It's up to you!

- Test drive DreamWidth! -- We realize DreamWidth is new, so feel free to jump in, even with your current RC characters to start a thread and get accustomed to how DreamWidth feels to RP on. But please remember, any interaction from this meme will not count towards in-game CR. What happens in memes stays in memes.

- Stop the withdrawal! -- We anticipate that the move will slow down posting between our announcement of moving and the opening of the DreamWidth communities. So if you need your fix of your RC characters, toss 'em here for fun and games.

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[Having been out scavenging for supplies, it's completely by chance that Souji had decided to swing by the train station today only to stop and blink a few times as he notices the very much enraged newcomer. Well, he gets being angry about suddenly being somewhere you're not supposed to though. Never a fun experience.

Taking a few more steps toward him, slow and hesitant so that he won't appear threatening, he stops at a reasonable distance.]

I don't think they're so easily found. [He'd heard of one of them, but that was about it... Nothing about their captors going out of their way to interact in person with people though...]

[Calgara whirls around at the sound; he'd heard movement distantly outside the building and had followed it. There is a massive longspear in one hand; he is gripping it so tightly that his knuckles are white where the rest of his skin is the tan of a man from a tropical island. He notes the way this stranger keeps a broad distance; he is wise, then. Still, Calgara prowls around him slowly, not unlike a large cat stalking his prey. As he moves, the feathered white wings on his back become evident past the mass of red hair]

Not easily found?! [It's a snarl of outrage] And why should I believe a stranger like you?

[He's a little bit wary, silver eyes following the man's movements, even as his posture stayed relaxed, one hand hanging down his side, the other planted against his hip, expression unchanging. The wings don't really surprise him- He's seen stranger things- has stranger things living within his own mind even.

Even if his Personae kind of object to being called weird.]

I don't have anything to gain from lying to you. [His voice is even as he says this, sincere, though quiet. Acting rashly here or appearing nervous just seems like a bad idea.]

[His relaxed posture in the face of possible death reminds him of someone who was also not afraid of him...though it had been five years since he'd last seen that man's face. Narrowing his eyes a bit further, he prowled closer, assessing him]

Don't you? You could easily be one of my captors, in which case, you would have every reason to lie! [He grins a bit, but it's more of an insane looking grin than anything friendly] You're not afraid of me.

I'm actually a very bad liar though; you'd know if I was.

[Everyone and their mother seemed to know when he was lying in Inaba at least. He always got skittish and kind of uncomfortable when he had to and he honestly didn't enjoy lying to anyone. It just didn't feel right at all and he preferred always telling the truth as much as he could, unless he was covering for a friend anyway.

He doesn't move further away even as the other prowls closer, even if there's a slight hint of alarm from his Personae in the back of his mind. They're easily ignored though, and he offers a slight, friendly smile in return to that insane looking grin and a nod to confirm what he'd said.] You haven't given me a reason to be.

[Calgara is not swayed so easily; despite looking primitive and being from a primitive tribal culture, he is quite intelligent] You could be lying in this very moment; I do not trust outsiders save one, and you are not that man. [His voice is a growl; he almost feels as though this man is mocking him with that slight smile, a fact which stings his immense pride and causes his eyes to widen]

You are lucky this is not my island, or would have been long dead by now. Why should I trust you?

[The smile is gone about as quickly as it had appeared though- He's not a particularly emotional person when he first gets to know someone, preferring to stay neutral, impersonal, though he tilts his head a little. Well, disbelief isn't exactly uncommon, so he's not particularly surprised or anything.]

Had our roles been reversed right now, what reason would you have given me to trust you? [It was a rhetorical question of course and it reminded him a little bit of when he'd first promised to solve the murders back in Inaba, when Teddie had told him and Yosuke to prove their innocence, but...] How does an innocent man prove his innocence when the one demanding answers has no way of telling if the truth is being told or if it's a lie?

[Calgara does pause at his words, and narrows his eyes. It reminds him of something the Elder had told him once, when Norland had come to save them all. 'I can hear the words of a wise man'. Hrm. If this man had knowledge...Norland had once spoke of trampling on advancement and knowledge. To kill this man would also kill any information or knowledge he might have...

Calgara growls a little at the logic of it all, and straightens, standing fully and no longer in an offensive position. His eyes never leave Souji, however, and he continues to pace about him]

I will not kill you just yet, outsider. You will tell me about this place now and how I can return home.

Thanks. [Just a smidge of sarcasm there, though it's good-natured rather than mocking. Honestly, he's just odd like that. Of course, that calm and collected attitude was one he'd taken upon himself more than ever lately and adapted well to during his time in Inaba, being so used to being everyone's rock in stormy oceans. Right now he had to function as his own he supposed and try his best to get by while also giving a helping hand the best he could.]

It's called Ruby City. [There's a hint of a frown.] I don't really know its location, [Or if it's in any particular world at all for that matter,] only that all the people here were brought here against their will on the train and so far, no way to leave has been found.

[A hand to his chin in a contemplative pose then, he glanced to the side as he thought about what else to mention.]

The town itself seems abandoned besides its prisoners though I've heard mention of a "Temper Vale" as one of the people pulling the strings... [Though that was about all he'd heard...]

Other than that, any open house is free for the taking, food is free and shops that are not tended to can be scavenged for items...

[What else... Oh right. Pulling the communicator out of his pocket then, he holds the silver watch up for him to see.] And this is a communicator. It allows you to stay in contact with the other captives here. You should have one of your own with you already.

Ruby City...No such place exists on Jaya! This is the work of witchcraft or the gods!

[Calgara recalls the strange box that he had arrived in this place in, and turned to regard with suspicious eyes. His eyes widen when he notices that the train is gone, and turns angry, but unstartled eyes onto Souji]

It is gone! That box that brought me to this place! And you say that a person named Temper Vale is responsible? [His grip tightens on his spear; he is a very volatile man in this moment]

I cannot stay here! I must return to protect my village! I will find this man, even if he is a God, and he will pay for his conceit in thinking that he can hold me captive!

[He notices the silver watch with a wary eye, but stops, the anger fading somewhat. It finally seems something that startles him, and he grasps it in a hand that is surprisingly gentle. He turns it over in his hand; it is not gold, but silver, which is different that what he is used to, but...]

This...device. [Norland had a pocket watch; he had brought it from his home far across the seas. Such technology was unheard of to Calgara's people, but he never forgot the many things the botanist, his dearest friend, taught him]

Gods? [Well, he wasn't above believing in them, considering how he'd recently defeated a Goddess with the help of his friends. He did not, however, think any Gods had a hand in this, but who knew...] ... Maybe. Maybe not.

That's what I've been told. If not responsible, at least part of everything. [He hadn't seen him around yet though, though he'd been told he sometimes spoke to people over the communicators.

At the mention of 'the box' he's momentarily confused until he realizes he's talking about the train and looks toward where it was. It was typical really, gone as soon as it had arrived and always only to let people off.] It's called a train, and.... I think a lot of people would like to do that, honestly.

[Not just the Temper Vale person, but all of the others too. If they truly are responsible that it- Personally he would add some questioning before the whole making them pay thing... He wasn't so quick to accept everything he heard as truth.]

Communicator. [He flicks his open to show the inside.] You can use it to talk to the other captives that choose to use theirs. [And then he went on to showing him how exactly to use it, explaining the text, voice and video functions in the most simplistic manner he can think of, taking a breath when he's done with the explanation.]

Got it, or should I explain it again?

What other beings aside from the Gods could spirit me away from my island by use of this...train? [Calgara's eyes were still wild, but he was far from panicking. A part of him was curious, but it was still small compared to the rage that he felt at being taken hostage. When Souji shows him the watch, he gestures to it with his free hand]

My old friend showed me one of those; a watch, he called it. [However, when Souji explained it to him, Calgara leaned in and regarded it with narrowed eyes. It was fascinating; a device that allowed him to speak to others who were captive here? He glances at his own, still a bit suspiscious, and frowns]

Then we are being watched constantly; not just by each other, but by those who created all this technology for us to use. [It is not a thought that he enjoys at all; his eyes are still filled with defiant fury]

I just wouldn't be so quick to call any being with that sort of power a God. [Any power at all, really. He and his friends had powers that were beyond what could be explained too, but they certainly weren't anything more than human, even with the ability to enter another world and open the door to it for those without the ability to do so themselves as well...]

And I don't think there's anything strange about the train itself; it's actually a pretty popular mode of transportation where I'm from.

[And then a nod.] These watches are somewhat different though. Usually they'd only be able to tell the time. That's weird technological progress for you, I guess...

[In terms of functionality, Souji would probably liken it to a cellphone or computer. He didn't think he'd ever understand why a watch of all things was used as communicators though. Maybe because it would be easier to accept for those who came from other times...?

He'd have to make a note of asking should he ever get the chance to talk to their captors.] I'd say only when people choose to use it... As for our captors, I'm not entire sure if they'd have other ways of observing or if they're just not that interested...

[Once again, this fellow's words remind him of Norland. Calgara regards him with a frown, though it's not the angry one of before. He's more assessing, and a bit curious]

You remind me of someone. Someone I've not seen...in a long time. [There's a strange distant tone to his voice, and he looks away, still frowning] He was not so quick to name things the power of the Gods as well. Perhaps you are right.

Where I am from...we do not have things called 'trains'. [He glares suspisciously at the train depot once more, where the shattered glass and metal remain from his abrupt exit] We have boats, and some sail in large ships, but we travel by foot.

A friend of yours I take it? [Souji assumes that's it, judging by his tone of voice and body language, not to mention it reminds him a bit of how he'd act, should he talk about any of his friends after not seeing them in a long time- His own expression would be a lot more blank though. A bad habit of his that, to disconnect completely from how he felt whenever he was separated from friends for longer periods of time...

Shifting his focus then, he tilts his head.] I see...

Where I come from we have lots of different modes of transportation. Traveling long distances by foot isn't all that normal any more.... Or sailing when I think about it. There are ships, but they have engines that drive them forward so it's not like they need wind to move. Or sails for that matter. [He shrugs a little. He figures his world is just pretty technologically advanced compared to the world this man comes from.]

[Calgara doesn't answer his question; the thought that he might not be able to honor his promise to his old friend is a point of shame and regret for him. He looks away sharply, concern flooding his senses]

I cannot linger here; I have to return to my village - the warriors can't repel the outsiders without my strength!

[He falls quiet when he sees that look of concern, and turns a bit more serious, lips in a tight line, silver gray eyes focused on the other. He can understand his concern, if his village is under attack. His situation might not be quite the same, but he does have people waiting for him... Well, sort of.

Sometimes he wonders if his parents would ever even notice if he was gone...

But that's not important now, what is important is to give a helping hand to someone who needs it.]

This is just a rumor, but... [And he's not even sure he believes it himself..]

I've been told that time stands still while we're here. Which makes it likely that you'd be sent back to the very moment you were taken from....

[Calgara fixes this fellow with another look, though it's not a glare so much as it is frustration] How can you speak of such things and not think them the work of gods or demons?

[Growling, he begins to pace the terminal in a restless sort of way for a few minutes, trying to grasp the whole of what had befallen him. His hand grips his spear in growing rage at his inability to understand]

It doesn't matter that time stops; I will not be able to rest until those invaders are driven from my island and I know that my daughter and my village is safe! I have many promises to keep that cannot ever be abandoned!

... I've just seen a few things before, I suppose. [He shrugs, face blank. Really though. The idea of other worlds, of human beings with supernatural powers-- They're not exactly foreign to him. He's not going to say that he doesn't mind being here because he does mind. He wants to get on with his life- Go home and study, decide on a path in life... Move out on his own and do all those things that people his age do. But still, this place's existence...

The powers their captors had...

He's not so quick to blame gods or demons for all of this. Anyone could do that and be happy to live with it, but he wasn't just anyone. The truth behind everything, the complete story... Those things were important to him. More so than your average person.]

... Sorry. There isn't really anything I can say that will make you feel better about being here. [His words are sincere, voice soft, even if his expression remains mostly unchanged.]

For now I can't really do anything but tell you to hang in there. None of us really have any choice in the matter.

Edited 2012-01-18 07:26 (UTC)

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Test Drive Meme!

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