A new Month, a new Test drive! Happy Early April.

[rubycitymods]

Thinking of apping a character but not sure they'll fit in the city walls?

Have no fear, a meme for you is here.


Directions:

Post with your character with their name and canon on top!

Choose a location and prompt or wait for someone else to tag.

If you'd like, leave contact info for people to get in contact for plotting and other such shenans.

Tag around! Make friends. Don't be afraid to chat OOC while tagging.



Locations:

1. Train Station: New arrival, or waiting to welcome people? Either way, the train comes in, but you still can't ride it out.

2. Cathedral: Looking for redemption? Just doing a little sight-seeing? Or just getting a little shelter?

3. The Clocktower: You can see the whole city from here!

4. The Black Stallion Saloon: You were told the burgers were great here-- but maybe you just came for the beer.

5. The Library: You came to do a little research, but it looks like all of the information's just out of your reach. Though, you can always find a way to pass the time here.

6. The Coffee Joint: A lovely place to have a chat and a bite to eat.

7. Le Cafe Anglais: A Parisian-British fusion that's as charming as it sounds and serves the best tea around.


Scenarios

1. Just walked in: You intended to get here, and you made your way in; but now someone's caught your eye and you'd like to have a chat.

2. Been here all day: You've been sitting around minding the time. Maybe you didn't notice them at first or maybe you were just working up the courage to talk-- either way, they know you're here and you know it too.

3. Bad weather: You're here because you've gotten rained in. This wasn't your choice, but at least it's dry-- right?

4. Wild card: Got something better in mind? Well screw these prompts, try it out yourself!


Have fun, guys!

Comments

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve dives off the top of a pew, rolling and covered by the wood, at least a bit. He's still too far from the shield to risk exposing himself, and he crawls between two pews, cursing inwardly. What the hell is going on here?]

Look, can you stop shooting at me for a second so I can explain?

[He exclaims. This guy is obviously new - too new to realize what has happened to him - but if that is the case, then was he hired to take out Captain America before coming here? That's a chilling thought]

[zastyvshiy]

[ He pauses for a second. Obviously things are worse than he thought they were. ]

2 minutes.

[ His hand drops to his side, still holding the gun. If the captain decided to go for his weapon, then he'd start shooting again. But until then--

He'd listen. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve rose to his feet, hands visible but not held up. He studied the dead, cold eyes of his attacker, but couldn't get anything from them.]

First of all, you've been brought to a city in another world. If you've really been hired to murder Captain America, then you're from Earth, right? Well, this isn't Earth. We're in another place, and we can't escape. People from all kinds of other worlds have been brought here, and other versions of Earth as well. There are monsters, witches, vampires, and humans like us, and the people who brought us here make weird stuff happen to us, like turning us into animals temporarily, for their own amusement.

[He draws a breath, aware of the time running out] So here's the thing. Whatever you've got against me, it's meaningless here. We have a common enemy, and we need to deal with that. After that, if you want to kill me, fine, we can fight this out. But even if you do kill me, you won't be able to collect on the bounty or whatever your reasons are, until we get out, so there's no point in any of this.

[zastyvshiy]

[ He's silent all the way through the Captain's speech. It sounded-- unbelievable. Impossible. But there's truth written all over the man's face and there's sound logic in his words. ]

There is no bounty.

[ There is no tactical advantage to killing him now. So he puts the gun away. ]

The seven you mentioned? They are the common enemy?

[ Kidnapping people from different worlds? Sounded like a bad idea to him. They either don't have a shred of self-preservation to kidnap powerful people like Captain Rogers. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve lets out a breath as the masked man puts his gun away. He nods at the question]

That's right. We don't know much about them, as of yet, and all of the people who've been here a long time have warned me they're powerful and dangerous. We don't know why we've been brought here, or how to get home, but I've been working on those problems best I can.

[He gives the man a searching look] Why are you trying to kill me?

[zastyvshiy]

Is there anyone else working towards this-- problem?

[ He doesn't move from his spot. At this point, he doesn't really know what to do. He can feel a throbbing in his shoulder from that trick with the candelabra/spear but he ignores it. It's disturbingly easy to just pretend its not there. ]

I had orders.

[captain_asthmatic]

Sure, quite a few. Some of them are working with me. Others on their own in their own ways.

[He frowns a little] Orders from whom?

[zastyvshiy]

My higher ups.

[ Mater of Vague Answers, the Winter Soldier.

There was no telling how long he'd be here, but in the end it was the same. It was time for the mask to come off. He really only ever kept it on for missions, from what he could remember. Reaching back behind him, he pulled it off, breathing cool air. That felt good. (It was the little things.) ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[Yeah real helpful. Steve sighed and gave that up for now. If killing Steve wasn't important right now, the person this stranger was working for was also not important at the moment.

But then the stranger took off his mask and Steve's heart nearly stopped. He stared at him for a long, horrified minute]

Bucky?

I couldn't resist.

[zastyvshiy]

[ Though his face doesn't change much-- or at all, really-- he gives Steve a look of confusion. ]

Who the hell is Bucky?

cryyyyyy

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve took a couple of steps forward, rounding the pew and moving towards Bucky. There was no question whatsoever. That face was as familiar to him as the one in the mirror. But that confusion was genuine. What was going on?]

Buck... what is going on? Why...? What happened to you?

no regrets

[zastyvshiy]

I'm not him.

[ It's a flat reply. He straight up isn't (to his knowledge). There's something tickling the back of his brain though-- and it hurts. He ignores it. ]

Delicious manpain

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve got close to Bucky, nearly within arm's reach - a dangerous prospect, given his metal arm.]

How can you say that? Who are you, then?

Tastes so good

[zastyvshiy]

I--

[ He cuts off. Takes a step back. ]

I don't have a name.

[ He thinks. He's heard the term Winter Soldier but-- he doesn't think that qualifies as a name. Like Captain America isn't really this man's name. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve takes a step forward as Bucky retreats, his heart squeezing with pain at the words]

Your name is James Buchanan Barnes. Everyone calls you Bucky. [He pulls off his cowl, letting it hang back and baring his face] Do you at least recognize me? We've been friends since we were little kids, Buck. You've got to remember!

[zastyvshiy]

[ A fine sheen of sweat appears on his brow and he feels a pulse of something in the back of his skull. It-- hurts. He feels something here, for this man. He knows this man. He knows him. He's not sure what to do with that. ]

I don't-- [ He holds out a hand, a silent demand to back off. He swallows thickly. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[The conflict is, in a way, encouraging. Steve is utterly horrified by what he's seeing, but if Bucky is confused, then at least he must remember something on some level.]

If you don't remember, then I'll help you. I'll tell you everything, if that's what it takes. Our whole lives, we were together.

[zastyvshiy]

I'm leaving.

[ He's got to get away from this man. The pounding in his skull is not encouraging in the slightest, obviously he should have left already because this is a SNAFU if he's ever seen one.

Where did he learn that term.

--Nevermind. ]

Don't follow.

[captain_asthmatic]

Wait, please. [Steve doesn't move after him just yet.] Please, Buck... it doesn't matter if you go. It doesn't change who you are. Let me help you figure it out.

[zastyvshiy]

Stop calling me that.

[ He snaps. He's started moving, edging towards the door. ]

Don't follow me. [ He says, for extra emphasis. If this place is as small as Steve makes it sound, then this won't be the last time they see each other. It'll make it harder for him to hide-- but it'll also make Steve easier to find. If he decides he wants to find Steve, anyway. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[It is a small city. Steve is sure even if Bucky leaves now, he won't have much trouble finding him again. But the pain isn't lessened by that knowledge.]

Don't leave me.

[zastyvshiy]

[ He narrows his eyes at Steve. Steve. Steve, please. ]

You're clingy.

[ It's annoyed but fond at the same time, in a very subtle and bizarre kind of way. He is just full of surprises today. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

[Steve shrugs helplessly, raising his hands] You've been dead for seventy years. I don't want to lose you again.

[zastyvshiy]

I am not your friend. I have not been dead.

[ That's his story and he's sticking to it. ]

[captain_asthmatic]

Obviously you weren't dead. [He sighs and moves to the wall, yanking his shield out of it and putting it on his back] But you will always be my friend, whether you remember it or not.