August 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

Jonathan Joestar | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | 1-1

[beatofmyblood]

T...This can't be...just what sort of trickery is this?

[There's a British-sounding man built like an absolute giant standing baffled at the train station. He must have just stepped off.]

There's no way. If I was just in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, how could I go from a ship to a train without remembering a thing?! Not only that, how have my wounds healed so swiftly without the use of Hamon?

[Especially with the circumstances he was in - oh good god, no.]

Erina...Erina!

[Whereas before he was just warily glancing around, now he's actively searching for something, anything to take him back to that hell his honeymoon had become. In spite of his frantic shouting, Jonathan doesn't seem to have noticed the person that's approached him in his panic.]

Where is she? No matter what this place is, an illusion or a dream, I have to return and save Erina!

[breathes on]

[lapidarius]

[Every so often, Kakyoin made a point of wandering past the train station. He hadn't forgotten that Diarmuid's habit of doing the same had been immeasurably helpful in a very confusing and upsetting time, so it felt right for him to do the same.]

[And today it seemed that was a damn good habit to have, as the teenager came across someone that looked...oddly familiar, having one hell of a crisis that he could definitely recognize.]

It's-...no, 'it's fine' is a little inaccurate with all things considered, but please try to stay calm. I can try to explain the situation.

[starmark]

[Coincidentally, the absolute giant British man isn't the only one in the train station at that time, though he is the only one in present company thrashing around and working himself up; it makes the contrast between himself and his stoic, unflinching company (who happened to be examining the informational posters at the moment) striking.]

Shut up. You're making too much damn noise.

[But despite his apparent indifference, the young man reading the posters was paying more attention to his companion than he was willing to let on — because he wasn't positive, but the word "Hamon" had been thrown around, and frankly that was an unusual enough term that it wasn't something he could let pass lightly.

Hamon gave me some trouble a hundred years ago, after all.]

Jotaro Kujo | Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders | SPOILERS LIKELY FOR THE WHOLE SERIES

[starmark]

1. TRAIN STATION

[The last thing he wants right now, frankly, is to be traveling again, and yet here he is on a train.

It doesn't feel right. He's alone here; the car is deserted and a desolate plain is skimming by at high speeds outside the window he's sitting next to, and he doesn't know how he got here or where he's going but he knows full well that this is wrong. He's not supposed to be traveling alone; he hasn't in the past fifty days, and even at death-whittled numbers, it's still wrong to be going on his own, wherever this is.

There ought to be someone across from him, and chatter in the next seats over; there ought to be an old man laughing and a younger one complaining, and a third one exasperated with all of them, and there ought to be cherries left sitting on his plate that he's not going to eat because they're someone else's favorite.

But there's not, and he's alone, and if there's one thing that the past fifty days have instilled in him, it's that when inexplicable things happen, it's probably the fault of an enemy Stand — and this is supposed to be over, but apparently it's never going to be over, is it.

What a fucking pain.

Consequently, when they pull into the station and he's compelled out onto the platform proper, he's adopted a stance that all but projects an aura of "don't fuck with me": his shoulders are slightly raised, the collar of his gakuran yanked up high and obscuring the lower half of his face, and his hands are firmly sunken into his pockets as he stalks around examining the informational posters in an attempt to accomplish one of two things.

Either he'll find out more about where he is, or the Stand user will make their move and attack him. And that's fine; either way it'll mean he's one step closer to getting to the bottom of all this.]

2. EN ROUTE TO THE CLOCKTOWER

[He's been watching the face of the clocktower from a distance for what seems like a long time. Maybe it is.

It's stupid to feel...weirdly drawn to it, somehow. He's not here for that kind of sentimental bullshit. And yet it seems like every so often, without meaning to, his gaze goes drifting back there — to the face, to the hands, to check what time it is. It's not the sort of thing he can just leave alone, even if it's the sort of thing he absolutely wants to.

As he weaves his way through the streets, looking for the right sequence of turns that will take him to the clocktower, he seems to have some sort of misty purplish humanoid tagging along with him, sticking close and seemingly acting like a watchdog for his companion's surroundings, while the aforementioned companion just squares his shoulders and walks with deliberate steps toward his goal like he thinks he's some kind of anime protagonist.

What a stupid thought that would be.]

3. POCKETWATCH SHITPOSTING

[Eventually, when Our Hero™ decides to get around to actually trying out his pocketwatch, he sits down and stares at it for a while before eventually settling on a plan of action. He doesn't particularly want to put his face out for everyone to see if he can help it, considering the fact that there's still that Enemy Stand User issue in play, and audio is pretty much out for the same reason.

That leaves text, and so after a while, he settles on a satisfactory test post and types it in, sending it out to the network at large mostly just to see what happens.]

Dolphins have to consciously control their breathing, which means that they can only turn off half their brains when they sleep, or else they'll lose their ability to breathe and drown.

[#NailedIt]

2 OH BOY SHITS UP THIS WHOLE POST WITH JOJOS

[lapidarius]

[Kakyoin really hated that clocktower.]

[It wasn't the clocktower's fault that he hated it, and really he knew it was a baseless hatred to have. He didn't like the pocketwatch he carried either, and by now Kakyoin just suspected his whole completely irrational stance was 'fuck clocks in particular'.]

[But he could see it too clearly from Spiral's rooftop (where he was commonly found when he preferred to be left alone) and every so often his wandering through the city led him past it. And on occasions like this, the student in dark sunglasses merely stopped and stared at it in a very similar manner...but he really wasn't seeing it at all. On those occasions, his mind was somewhere very distant from that city and that time.]

[So distant, in fact, that even Kakyoin might not even be aware another Stand user was within his range.]

Yuuta Matsukawa | Original Character | 1-3

[meitori]

[Oh, wow. Yuuta jumped when a huge crack of thunder let out. Looking out the train window, he hesitated when the train slowed and stopped. He had no choice to get off then, but it would be just his luck: he didn't have an umbrella or a decent jacket with him.

He quickly darts under some awning.]

What is this place?

[witchwaynow]

[He'd arrived on an earlier train and was still trying to figure out the direction he was going in himself. Erin turned when he heard someone exit the latest train roll in. Erin huffed warm air into his hands, used to such weather. Poor thing looked almost soaked through the bone. Himself, he was dressed warmly in his wool coat, worn thick jeans, and solid shoes. The neck of his coat turned up as an added layer to the thick scarf he wore and his flatcap kept him warm. This one though, he chuckled, clearly from somewhere much warmer than he was]

Ruby City, looks like.

[He canted his head at the new arrival.]

Mild out.

Amelia Jessica Pond | Train Station | OTA | I am a horrible person

[still_waiting]

She had started sleeping with the suitcase. The crack had only gotten scarier. The suitcase had less and less in the way of clothing now, and more and more of her art. Pictures of her raggedy man, a stuffed toy of his police box - even though he was not police - and little dolls she made of him, and one of herself, so that she and Rory could play pretend.

She dreamed of the adventures they'd go on. Far from the cracks in her wall. Far from England which she hated. Far from Aunt Sharon who wouldn't miss her anyway.

So she slept with the suitcase, and as weird as it might have been to have fallen asleep in bed and have woken up on a train... this is the child who fell asleep in her back yard and woke up in her bed when no one else was home, not even a year ago. The night she first heard of fish fingers and custard... and libraries with swimming pools.

So she shrugged as the train stopped, pulled her suitcase along, and headed out to see where she was now. An adventure, she hoped. But she'd be happy just to have a bedroom wall without a crack in it.

[bythewaves]

There's a bard on the platform of the station, playing songs of long ago and far away, and he looks up when she appears and crooks her a small smile, the song on his harp changing to one better suited for dancing

Merida - Brave - New Arrival - Watch Talk

[bearanbow]

Hallo?

[She clears her throat again, but it's only her voice that filters through; a strong Glaswegian sounding voice at that. There's a few tinks as the watch is being tapped and prodded]

Hallooo?

[Slightly less howling:]

Right, if the dodgy signs are ta be believed then that means this wee thing'll send my voice out to someone out there to speak back to me.

Ahem, can anyone hear me? Are any of you affiliated with the Witch? She's got a habit of turnin' people intae bears but i'm not sure if she's got the power to send people all over creation. I am Merida of Clan Dun Broch. I don't know where I am nor where my horse has run off to.

MERIDA!

[cursedtosleep]

I can hear you, yes, though I am no witch. [She giggled.]

I am Princess Aurora, daughter of King Stefan and Queen Leah, a pleasure to meet you. As for where you are, this is Ruby City. If you like, I would be willing to help you find your horse.

Madame de Pompadour || Doctor Who || 8-8

[adooronceopened]

She kept her face schooled even as she wandered such plebeian streets. She wasn't quite sure how this was possible. Was this heaven? Was this hell? She could only remember passing her last breath and not yet having gotten a chance to see the stars up close with the Doctor. How was this possible?

Reinette was quite sure she should be dead, and more importantly, that this was not heaven nor hell. She continued to walk the streets, gazing at those around her. With memories of another, as well as with her encounter with Rose, she realized that most of those around her were dressed in 20th century clothing. Was she in the future? What was happening?

For all her questions, Reinette let nothing show on her face, a lifetime as a courtier and mistress to the king taught her well how to school her face and manner.

She kept walking until she realized there was another set of footsteps behind her and no matter where she turned, what path she took, the sound did not disappear. Reinette frowned, only for a moment, before stopping suddenly and turning to gaze at whomever had been following her all this time. She should have been used to it, she supposed, but the fact that she should be dead was making this all very unsettling.

"If you are endeavoring to be my traveling companion, I would suggest introducing yourself," she said with neither malice nor eagerness, keeping her tone as calm as her expression.

[childofthemusic]

Following her is a tiny child, long dark hair falling out of a messy ponytail, clothes fine but simple and now, in the manner of children every where, quite messy, eyes bright with curiousity.

"H'lo lady, I's Ca... Makalaure Canafinwe." He pronounces his proper name carefully, since he asked, and even manages a bow before edging closer to her again. "Your dress is very pretty!"

[letxequalnull]

The figure following her is, quite probably, entirely unlike many she has seen before. The coat alone would most likely see to that, but even beyond what he's chosen to wear, the contrast of silver hair and dark skin is not one that is particularly common besides, especially on someone who dosn't look particularly old besides.

"It was not my intention to do so. However, should a name be required, you may call me Xemnas."

[missrosetyler]

Rose was following behind Reinette. It was mild curiosity really. She had thought that her mind might have been playing tricks on her. She needed to make sure.

"Reinette?" She asked looking slightly surprised. But then again maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

[reallygreathair]

Ten thought he recognized the figure who was walking but could scarcely believe it. He followed closely and stopped at her statement. He took on a casual air.

"Just a nightmare, Reinette, nothing to afraid of."

couldn't help myself

[omnomgalaxies]

"Oh, I know you. Or I don't, I know of you." Sort of. Time was a funny thing, and the Moment always had a hard time when it came to past and future. For some people something might be in the past and others the future. It was always moving around in odd directions. What was it that the Doctor said, or would say? Time was a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey-wimey stuff.

That was as good an explanation as anything else. Especially for her, for whom time had no real meaning. She could open up holes in time easily. Had done so. Would?

"I have a few names. Bad Wolf. The Galaxy Eater. The Moment. I rather like the Moment."

Arwen Undómiel | Tolkien | 8-1/Wildcard available

[wayofluthien]

There was an elf woman walking the streets of Ruby City. One of several, though she walked alone. Her long black hair spilled down her back, framing her pale face and delicate ears. Unlike some elves, her dark blue dress was fairly thick, as if partially to help keep her warm. The effect was only doubled by the black cloth she had wrapped around her shoulders - that of a banner, for those who looked close enough and recognized the pattern of Aragorn's standard.

There was an air of poise and grace to her, even with the hints of unease and possible exhaustion in her slow pace. Even with all the subtle signs of less than perfect health, there was a genuine curiosity and wonder in her grey eyes, and if she came across someone or a creature in need of help, she didn't hesitate to stop and do what she could.

<3333333333333333333333333333333333333 /huffpantswheeze

[rangerandking]

He wasn't expecting to see her. How many dreams had he had of her resting at his side? His bed seemed woefully empty without her and he never managed the deep sleep he experienced in Minas Tirith. Of course the days without her were harder. The oddities of the city weighed on his heart and he needed her.

She was his stability. At least at night he could imagine -

Though it seemed that he need not imagine anymore. His legs felt weak upon seeing her - who else could it be? - and he nearly lost his footing, eyes wide in wonder.

"Arwen!" he felt his heart soar and ache all at once. She was so pale. Had she been taken from before...?

It mattered little to him in the moment. He would care for her. Regaining the strength in his legs, he closed the space between them hurriedly, coming to a halt before her. A closer look was all he needed to realize his fears. Sauron still weighed heavily upon her.

Tears stung his eyes and he drew her, protectively, into an embrace, eyes closed tightly.

1-5

[icediving]

Cold, so cold.

Cold like ice, like knives. Cold enough to numb even the very beat of your heart, to steal the breath from your lungs, to make limbs leaden, to make ears deaf to even the pleas of your most precious person.

Elenwë is so very, very cold. And so very, very tired. Turukano is calling but she cannot answer, voice stolen, and the darkness beckons (it's alright, it's fine - she saw them pull Itarildë from the water, her daughter is safe, it is well).

The ground beneath her is cold and hard, and does not feel like ice, but Elenwë is too cold to care. At the train station, collapsed on the platform, is an elven lady whose golden hair is water logged and heavy, in clothes soaking wet and crusted in ice, so cold she can no longer even shiver, lips already turning blue.

[hiddencrown]

He'd call again. And again - forever, if it would help or bring her back to him. It hadn't before, and in his dreams - when he dared let himself sleep - were even worse than the reality.

In short, Turgon believed he was hallucinating as he saw her laying there. But it hadn't mattered even in his dreams, he'd always kept trying to get to her - to reach her and keep her with him. He threw himself forward, crying her name, begging her to stay with him as he gently wrapped her up in the cloak he pulled off himself.

This...was more than anything had happened since they'd rescued her frozen, lifeless body. Heart thudding in his chest, he picked her up and held her to him, looking up and around frantically for any sign of where to take her. He was no healer, and it was a healer's hands that was needed.

...A literal sign finally caught his attention and he followed those directions to the first aid station, praying with all his might that Elenwe wouldn't die this time. He wouldn't survive it a second time.

giorno giovanna | jjba ( vento aureo ) | various scenarios!

[digiorno]

A. TRAIN STATION.

[By all appearances, Giorno is perfectly calm upon arrival to the train station. He stands up straight as he steps out of his car (without having to be coerced, because, although he may not like it, there is really only one way to go at this point); his gaze is clear as he crosses the platform, arms loose at his sides. While he doesn't precisely look older than his age, he does look grave and serious - at least until he begins to read over the informational posters. And then a smile forms on his lips that does look significantly more mature than a fifteen-year-old's might ordinarily, and not entirely pleasant.]

[For the moment, without really thinking about it, he has his father's smile, sharp and dangerous and a touch magnetic. Then his expression goes neutral again, despite the occasional flicker of the corners of his lips.]

[It's work of a few moments to glance around the station and realize that he is alone - or at least alone in all the ways that matter. His family, such as it is, hasn't come with him. He could waste time and energy hoping to find them in the city, or he could simply make his way through the streets as he sees fit and wait. If they're here, they will find him. That's how it always is and how it ought to be.]

[So he makes his way to the exit briskly, his movements crisp and efficient - though he will stop along the way to ask questions of anyone who's still on the platform, more out of curiosity than any real belief they'll be able to help him. He's always been able to help himself best, after all.]

B. OBELISK.

[He hasn't quite figured out the point of the obelisk by the time he comes across it, though he's absolutely heard of it. It's quite possibly the most-discussed landmark in the city, and people speak of it in rumors and whispers, which Giorno finds frustrating. As expected, when he gets closer to it, he finds a simple ornament, beautiful enough, but not particularly eldritch.]

[It isn't until he gets close enough to see the beating black heart of it that his calm demeanor shifts slightly, one eyebrow raising with his growing curiosity. Without a single movement on his part, a second form shifts from nothingness to stand behind him, more a precaution than anything. A few steps later, and he's inches from the thing, absorbing every detail: its shifting color, its utter lack of scent, how it looks alive from this close.]

[He lifts one hand and pushes forward as if to touch the obelisk - but he doesn't, quite, letting his hand rest palm-out perhaps an inch from its surface. The figure behind him, taller and broader and longer-limbed, brackets his body with its arms and mirrors his motion, one hand an inch from the obelisk's surface. Giorno hums contemplatively and simply lets his hand hang there, surrounded by his Stand, waiting for something to happen.]

C. COFFEE JOINT.

[As soon as Giorno gets to the shop, he decides he'll take the advice of the advertisements at the train station and choose lodging above it. Before he even opens the door, the air smells pleasantly of coffee, good coffee, and he can imagine it drifting through the ceiling to the floors above. It's a matter of quick, hushed conversation with the young woman behind the counter for him to make the arrangement; he smiles at her, she smiles at him, and it's more or less done.]

[A few minutes later and he's seated by the window, brushing his hair behind his ears as he watches the slow trickle of passersby outside the window. His fingers curl around the cappuccino in front of him, soaking in its warmth; he flashes a bright, sweet smile at everyone who steps through the door, as if this is his shop and he's personally welcoming them inside.]

[When no one's looking at him, though, something like displeasure passes across his face. He hasn't found anyone from home yet. No Mista, no Trish, no Polnareff; no contacts, well-liked or inconsequential; no familiar faces at all. Which shouldn't trouble him. He's been alone before. But . . . maybe he got used to support. Maybe he shouldn't have.]

[He stirs the foam on his cappuccino instead of actually drinking it, then bites down on the end of the spoon, feeling bubbles burst under his tongue. He has to be careful; he isn't the don here. Or is he? Does it actually make a difference, here or there, with what he can do, what he has done, the power he's capable of holding and controlling?]

[His shoulders set. He'll have to decide quickly. The longer he stays uncertain, the more vulnerable he is, and he has absolutely no time for any bullshit from anyone.]

B

[lapidarius]

[Kakyoin was having a pretty normal day. This city was peaceful enough when one thing or another wasn't going completely insane, which was more often than he'd like. But even though today was normal enough, there had been a nagging sensation in the back of his mind all day. Something he couldn't quite place, but which left him restless and uncertain...no, it was probably nothing. He just needed some air, so he left the training school to wander around the city for a while.]

[...And that was how he found a Stand user he didn't recognize. (Didn't he? He seemed oddly familiar, somehow.) Part of him instantly prepared for a fight, but Hierophant didn't make an appearance yet. This wasn't someone they'd met between Japan and Cairo--it was entirely possible this was just someone like Kakyoin himself, born with a Stand for no apparent reason at all.]

I'm afraid I've never seen it do very much. Actually, I don't even know what it is.

[But somehow, he didn't think it would be that simple. Still, he kept his tone light and casual, wary of the other Stand but pointedly not acknowledging it. First he'd try to get a decent impression of whoever this person was, and work out everything else as he went along.]

I don't think I've seen you before--are you new around here?

Donna Noble | Doctor Who | 9-7

[not_drifting]

[The trees weren't remotely holding Donna's attention as she wandered into the park. Instead, her focus was on the brass watch she'd felt in her pocket. She'd pulled it out, turning it around and around as she recalled the informational posters on the walls where she'd come out.]

So you're... what? A new phone? They're starting to have some of you back home. Bit ridiculous, really. A proper phone works just as well.

[Donna sighed sharply, tucking the phone back into her pocket and looking up just in time to see... Was that...?]

Doctor?! I've been looking all over for you.

[Relieved, Donna picked up the pace, starting to jog toward the figure far in front of her. Who else could it be but the Doctor? Strange place, missing Doctor... of course it would be him. Nodding to herself, Donna opened her mouth to call out again, then closed it as she heard the crack of a dry branch off behind her. Slowing to a stop, she twisted to look, and her eyes widened. Wolves?! In a park?!]

DOCTOR! RUN!

[Before she'd even finished the screamed warning, she was off as well, running toward the figure in the distance.]

Re: Donna Noble | Doctor Who | 9-7

[reallygreathair]

The sound of the voice was so familiar, it made Ten's hearts stop for a moment. His eyes widened at the figure who was running towards him.

"Donna?"

Louis de Pointe du Lac | The Vampire Chronicles | 3 & 6 (lol)

[mortalheart]

There were no powers under God that could break them, some would say, and yet Louis saw otherwise. Their hunger would break their free will and their nature. Hunger would twist the nature of anyone, God-fearing or not, the fear of death was stronger. For a vampire, there would never be any death but there would be a walking hell. The fear of pain, weakness, of barely living like a wight adrift: not living, not dead, not feeling anything but that hunger.

Louis had learned long ago not to let himself get to that point, thanks to hard lessons fought and struggled for. He had not yet fed upon the flesh of any of those in Ruby City but tonight he found himself drawn to The Black Stallion like a sailor, lost and yearning, towards the siren call. The smell of them, the living, was intoxicating to him and as he entered, he felt surely like the fox does in the chicken pen.

He had a tight-lipped smile for any who looked his way. Louis did not plan to feed but he would torture himself again tonight in looking, in smelling, in feeling the warmth of all those around him. He moved to a corner table and sat himself down, ordered a glass of wine he would not drink, and watched.

Not tonight, but soon, he would have to sate his hunger. When he sees you, he nods politely with that same small smile.

[adooronceopened]

The French kingdom for good wine. Still, she had been informed that anything of quality was at, heaven help her, a tavern. The very idea of her being in one. Well, she had little choice in the matter? Reinette knew she would have to adjust to life in Ruby City. Being the King's Mistress mattered little here, in fact, there seemed to be a startling amount of royalty.

Hopefully the Black Stallion had a startling amount of decent wine. Her eyes browsed over the patrons and locked with Louis. She offered him a smile in return and nodded her head.

bruno buccellati | jojo's bizarre adventure (vento aureo) | you got choices

[risorto]

1. TRAIN STATION

[Bruno disembarks from the train willingly. He doesn't seem to have a great deal of options left to him anyway. So, for the most part, he's fine with seeing where this will lead. Of course, just because he steps off the train doesn't mean he leaves the station immediately. He takes a few moments to look at the posters posted around, but he's not really reading any of them the first few times. Bruno's attention is elsewhere.]

[First and foremost, his heart is beating again. It's not something most people would probably notice unless they were worked up about something, but Bruno has gone days and days without a pulse. Tentatively, he brings two fingers to an opposite wrist. His skin is warm and he can feel the steady beat through his fingertips. He leaves his fingers there as he looks back at the posters to read them properly. Not all of it makes sense, but Abbacchio and Narancia could be here as well. (He worries less for Abbacchio and more for Narancia.) He doesn't want to entertain the possibility of the others.]

[Bruno heads toward the exit. His eyes pass over anyone else who might be hanging around the station, but beyond that he makes no motion to acknowledge them further. He'll stop if stopped, but otherwise, he moves like he has somewhere else to be.]

2. CLOCKTOWER

[Knowing one's surroundings is almost always first priority for Bruno. He doesn't like walking into any situation blind. He'll probably end up spending hours wandering the streets, learning where everything is, but there is an easier way to observe everything that's around. It seems the clocktower is the tallest building that he might have access to, so it's there that he begins making his way. He's still scanning faces as he makes his way there, looking for familiar faces, and even stops and lingers outside of it for a while.]

[He's starting to worry a little that he hasn't seen Abbacchio or Narancia. Bruno's fine on his own, he can adapt. But he knows Abbacchio and Narancia. They're both people who need someone to follow. He can only hope that if they're not here, they're at least together.]

[After a few moments longer, he'll begin the climb up the stairs. It's a long climb, but he continues on even as his legs start to cramp and ache, and then begin to feel like jelly. Bruno eventually has to put a hand on the railing and he slouches a little further as he continues to climb, but he's happy to feel the discomfort and push through it even if it doesn't show on his face. He'll take a break once he's reached the top, but not a moment sooner.]

3. BEACH

[Bruno finds a rock to lean on and closes his eyes, drawing a deep breath. There's something comforting about being near the ocean, the smell of the brine and the sound of the waves crashing in and out in a steady rhythm. It doesn't exactly remind him of home--that's a concept that's found its definition in being in the presence of certain people--but it does remind him of simpler, quieter times in his life.]

[Bruno hasn't forgotten any of it, but he doesn't think of it often. There's never been much point in sentimentality and it's only been through looking forward that he managed to ever get as far as he had. It's hard to know now if he should still be looking forward or if all he has left is looking back. But he's setting a question like that aside for now. He's fine with looking back for a few minutes, finding a little comfort in something familiar with everything else that doesn't seem to make that much sense.]

[When he's ready, he opens his eyes again and pushes off the rock to go for a walk along the shore.]

2

[lapidarius]

[As it happened, Bruno wasn't the only one that sought out a high vantage point.]

[He was also not the one standing on the very top of the clocktower like the world's most casual balancing act. As it happened, there was a redhead in sunglasses and a Japanese school uniform, having chosen that particular vantage point because it was the only one from which he couldn't actually see the clocktower itself.]

[...'Weird' didn't really begin to describe this, and it also didn't cover the reaction he had upon seeing Bruno emerge from the stairs, which was 'act like nothing out of the ordinary was going on at all'.]

Good afternoon. I didn't know there were even stairs in there...

[How in the hell did he get up there.]

Naomi Mikano / Original Character / 4-2

[serenesuccessor]

Okay, so, like, does someone wanna explain what the heck is going on here?

[A young girl no older then sixteen looks into the watch, blonde and black hair pulled up into a messy bun. She's standing in front of the obelisk, watch held out in front of her with one hand while the other rests on her hip. She raises an eyebrow, with an almost expectant that is 100% an imitation of the look her older brother gives people. She's learned that sometimes if she tries to channel her older brother she gets answers quicker. Sometimes.

She's actually not as good at it as Kou, but it was still worth a shot. Plus, trying to imitate him keeps her from panicking completely, because in reality, Naomi was terrified.]

Look, I mean, I have a math test next period that I really need to take? Can you kidnap me during my Spanish class instead? [A nervousness begins to tug at her expression. She takes a breath, shifting before she continues, a bit of fear entering her voice and she looks as though she's blinking back tears.] Okay! But for real, whoever did this, my big brother's gonna kick your butts when he finds me and then you'll be sorry!

[scary_music]

You've been kidnapped by ruffians! But nobody's a bad enough dude to rescue us!

[...]

But guess what? While you're here, school is out for-ev-er!! Ibuki hasn't had to touch a book ever since showing up here!

[... she's helping, right?]