April Test Drive

[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:

• Use an RNG to choose a location and prompt, or wait for someone else to tag.


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


• 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 - The place where everyone gets dumped off at. Your first view of Ruby City, complete with informational posters telling you all about where you've ended up.
2. THE BEACH - Lovely year-round, though in the winter months, you're probably not likely to dip your toes in.
3. THE BLACK STALLION - A rather quaint bar. Supposedly, the burgers are great, but you don't see anyone immediately who's willing to serve you. Maybe you're meant to get it yourself.
4. THE OBELISK - The tall monolith in the center of the city marks the gathering place of many events, though right now it seems to be cold and dark.
5. THE CLOCKTOWER - Offering an impressive view of the city, several residents come here to clear their heads, if they don't mind braving the narrow staircase.
6. THE COFFEE JOINT - the front windows are warm and welcoming, and it seems there's always someone friendly enough to fix you a cup when you wander through.
7. THE CATACOMBS - Intrepid, aren't you? Those weird holes may beg exploring, but go too deep and you're going to be in a lot of trouble, considering the viciousness of the creatures held within.
8. THE CITY STREETS - All told, Ruby City is a lovely place, once you get past the fact that several of the buildings look derelict and on the verge of falling down. There's no harm in doing a little sightseeing.
9. THE PARK - You thought it'd be a lovely stroll, but the park is anything but friendly, if those approaching wolf-like creatures are any indication.
10. CHOOSE YOUR OWN - Don't like what we've come up with? Feel like picking your own place? There's a whole host of lovely locations to choose from in the City.


Scenarios


1. NEW ARRIVAL - Step off that train, walk down the street. People usually latch on to newcomers to try and help them out. Even if you look shy, the other residents probably won't be!
2. WATCH TALK - Feeling lost? Disoriented? Don't worry, everyone feels that way on their first day. Fortunately - if the signs at the station are to believed - the watch in your pocket can be used to talk to whoever else might be here.
3. BAD WEATHER - Aw, man. Whether it's snow, or rain, or just plain cold, today was definitely the wrong day to get dumped off in a City in the middle of nowhere.
4. A RUN-IN - Maybe you weren't watching. Maybe they weren't. Either way, you just bumped into someone. Perhaps apologies are in order?
5. HELP, IT HURTS - Clumsy, aren't you? Perhaps wherever the train brought you from wasn't so friendly, or you just tripped and twisted your ankle. Either way, you're in a bit of pain. Hopefully someone will notice your booboos and help patch you up.
6. HUNGRY - It isn't very obvious sometimes that restaurants are what they are, especially in a place like Ruby City. Where can a person go to get a bite to eat around here?
7. MISTAKEN IDENTITY - Hey, there's someone you know! --Or maybe not.
8. BEING FOLLOWED - Maybe you're just being paranoid, or maybe you've got a reason to be afraid. Whatever it is, it feels like there's eyes on you...
9. CURRENT EVENTS - None at the moment, but feel free to look through our event tag!
10. CHOOSE YOUR OWN - Don't like any of these ideas? Feel free to come up with your own!

Comments

[silver_jewel]

She managed a smile when he took her hand. Stopped close to him, closer than she did with many. Miriel fought to keep from clutching his hand, though it took some effort. That was nothing new.

"I did more than merely watch, Canafinwë."

He deserved to know, even though she had kept to herself even after she returned from the Halls.

"When your grandfather passed, I was allowed to return so that I might weave our story. What happened will never be forgotten."

[bythewaves]

Shy fingers curl around hers, the hand scarred and the movements clumsy, and he ducks his head to look away.

"We... must have been a disappointment."

A startled blink and he looks at her sideways.

"You... left the Halls?"

[silver_jewel]

Miriel gently pulled his hand up so she could press a kiss to the scarred hand. She didn't look away so that she could hold her composure. Physical evidence to what she'd seen.

"No more than I myself."

She met his gaze with determination, some of her old fire returned.

"Yes. I see many things, including what you have done since the last Silmaril was lost to you." There was a certain pride in that. That the jewels that had caused such madness were lost, or as good as.

[bythewaves]

The hand trembles in hers, shy and embarrassed, but he does not pull away.

"No!" He protests immediately. "How could you be a disappointment! It wasn't your fault."

A flinch and he looks down and shuffles. "I was probably pretty boring" Weak attempt at a joke go?

[silver_jewel]

"Hush," she murmured gently. The smile that had started out so weak warmed, growing stronger as she saw his gentle spirit flare. Though it dimmed again as her thoughts drifted back to those days, her gaze flicked away. Out over the water.

"If I had been able to stay."

But she hadn't been able to. Her fire had waned, all had gone to her son. Perhaps, though, if she had known what would happen... Perhaps then she could have found the strength to remain.

His attempt at a joke threatened a faint twitch of pale lips and she focused back on him. Gave his fingers a squeeze.

"Never. You were the one I watched, that I listened to when I needed... light."

[bythewaves]

"I don't blame you." He lifts his chin to meet her eyes. "Father was... I love him, but he ... burnt everything in his path. You couldn't help it, any more than he could."

He blinks at her in surprise. "Me? But... I wasn't... I didn't do anything..."

[silver_jewel]

Her hand tightened in his then, clutching as her heart ached. He didn't blame her. Miriel drew in a breath that tried to be calming, the hand that clutched her cloak to her finally pulled away to dare to touch his face. To cup his cheek.

"As do I love him still. I love you all." She was just tired, still. But so long as there was a story to weave, she was resolved to remain so that she might weave it into memory.

"Your voice has always reached me. Does this surprise you so?"

[bythewaves]

He leans almost shyly into that hand.

"Thank you, Grandmother. But... I thought ... that our voices could not cross the sea?"

[silver_jewel]

Fingers gently brushed his face, traced familiar and new features. Miriel found a smile, strengthening just by this contact.

"I was permitted to hear you."

[bythewaves]

"....oh um." SUDDENLY REMEMBERING SOME OF THE MORE SALACIOUS SONGS.

"I... " Oh dear Eru the thought of her listening to him sing 'The Elf and the Fruit vendor'. Multiple times. In full. "I hope ... I did not disappoint."

[silver_jewel]

She could guess what he was thinking. Especially with that stutter! Miriel found a laugh whisper out and her hand gave his cheek a pat.

"Your songs have been inventive and full of light."

Even if some of them were... different.

[bythewaves]

"That one wasn't mine! Finrod got it from Beor!" He squawks and flushes, the denial automatic, despite knowing that his grandmother... probably wasn't referring to that song anyway.

"Um. Thank you?"

[silver_jewel]

The laugh strengthened and grew in volume a little. Brighter than it had been in centuries. Miriel found her fingers move to card through his hair, brushing it back from his face a little.

"So I see. And the others?"

[bythewaves]

He leans into her hand, getting used to her touch and song the way he never had a chance to.

"Um. Well some of them were mine, yes." Including some of the rude ones.

"I... got bored?"

[silver_jewel]

For this alone she could see this as something of a blessing. To speak with her grandson, know him as she hadn't before. Miriel let the light of his being soak in, and allowed a smile to shine.

"I never did, listening to you."

[bythewaves]

"Oh. Well. Um" He fidgets, shy. "I... I am glad you found them so. Are... you staying?"

[silver_jewel]

She calmed herself at his clear discomfort, though the smile remained. Miriel pulled her hand from his hair, fingers curling around the cloak's tie at her throat once more.

"Do you wish me to?"

[bythewaves]

"No" He shakes his head. "I... I would like to get to know you, Grandmother." He smiles at her shyly. "I never got a chance to, before."

[silver_jewel]

"Then I will, for as long as I can." Miriel couldn't, and wouldn't, promise more than that. Pushing for more, beyond that, had caused more grief the last time than she had thought possible.

"What would you like to know?"

[bythewaves]

"Anything." He grins at her shyly. "Everything. Father... did not like to talk about you much, except to remind us that you were our grandmother, and not Indis."

[silver_jewel]

The hand that still held onto his gave his fingers another squeeze. Understanding and apologizing all at once. Then tugged ever so slightly.

"Walk with me. I should see this place. And you will learn." In ways her son hadn't had the chance to - he'd been too young and she had been too filled with yearning.

"Do you know why?" Why she'd not been there to be the grandmother Maglor and his brothers deserved.

[bythewaves]

"Of course" He nods and falls in beside her, fingers shyly closing around hers.

"Father... said that you were too tired to stay. I think... he probably blamed himself, in part. Grandfather never spoke about it at all."

[silver_jewel]

Miriel started walking, keeping close to Maglor. Used him as an anchor.

She looked away from him with a breath of a sigh. "This does not surprise me," she finally responded.

[bythewaves]

He squeezes her hand in understanding and support.

"What... what was it like, grandmother? Before the Trees?"