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

[digiorno]

[Giorno doesn't respond visibly to Bruno's slight reaction. He doesn't say anything, either; just remains placid, self-assured, contained, neither smiling nor frowning, blinking and breathing evenly. Underneath, though . . .]

[Well. It's quite rare for him to get honestly, truly angry. Most of the time, he's able to stay composed even against the worst examples of humanity, to rein in his impulses in order to attain the best possible outcome for himself and those following him. But right now, he's angry. Not at anyone present - certainly not at Bruno - but at Diavolo, for what he did; at Kujo, for bringing it back; at his father, for everything, for existing; at himself and Gold Experience, for not being able to do better.]

[He can't hurt Diavolo any more than he's already hurt him. He won't hurt Kujo, because he doesn't deserve it. He can't hurt his father, and even if he were here, would he be able to? And he won't hurt himself, because he isn't stupid enough to be self-destructive.]

[Which leaves only the option for a different kind of leadership - one that suits him better anyway. His voice is perfectly even when he speaks again, as though they're discussing the weather.]

Yes, that's a good assessment. Kakyoin is . . . clever. Canny. But he's had more time to come to terms with what happened. Kujo is raw. He's the one who almost attacked me. He will do anything to protect a friend, I think.

[I would do anything to protect you. He doesn't say it, not aloud, but lets his gaze linger for a long moment before he stands, resting his fingertips on the table.]

Excuse me for a moment. I have to get another cappuccino, this one's cold.

[Without waiting for permission - because permission isn't Bruno's to give anymore - he picks up his cup and brushes past him to the counter. On the way, for the barest of seconds, he lets his hand rest on Bruno's shoulder, pressure light and quickly let up - but undeniable.]

[He lingers at the counter for longer than necessary, making friendly conversation with the barista, who seems thoroughly charmed by him already. She tells him what her favorite drink is on the menu, and he asks her if it's very sugary, then requests one of those and one cappuccino. He pays and lets her keep talking for a minute or two, then apologizes for his lack of tip and offers that instead, if there are any chores to be done around the shop, he might do them when he isn't otherwise occupied around the city. She accepts, a little astonished, and he smiles and makes his way back towards the window.]

[Setting the cappuccino in front of Bruno, he settles in across the table again and takes a sip of the recommended drink. It is, in fact, too sweet, but there are worse things in the world.]

[risorto]

[When Giorno rises from his seat, Bruno doesn't watch him get up or move around the table. Instead, he looks at the spot where Giorno was seated for just a second longer before turning his attention back out the window. Giorno might as well have not said anything and simply left his seat. It would have had about the same reaction.]

[The hand at his shoulder surprises him. He knows what Giorno is doing by creating this temporary space. The touch fits in with his intentions, but not his methods. Before it's gone, Bruno's hand lifts from his arm to wrap his fingers around Giorno's. It's only a light squeeze before they fall away again to rest back where they were before. A silent word of thanks, but also you don't need to worry about me. He knows the second part will likely go ignored and there's very little he can do to control that. But he makes a point of it all the same.]

[He lets Giorno go without saying a word, rubbing a finger on his sleeve in trying to keep hold of the warmth of Giorno's hand on his own for a little while longer. He listens for a few moments to the conversation Giorno is having with the girl behind the counter. Giorno really was the only one of the younger boys that knew how to talk to girls. It's not surprising to hear the girl's voice raise itself just a little higher in pitch, sounding a little more feminine and breathy when she's talking to Giorno. As the conversation goes on though, Bruno starts tuning it out. He's not even all that particularly focused on the world beyond the window either.]

[As he sits there on his own, he shifts his arms to fold them loosely across his middle. His pulse is slowing again. The air he draws in is warmer when it leaves him again. Until Giorno comes back and sets the cappuccino in front of him, he's content with focusing on only this and remaining perfectly still. He reaches with one hand, pulling it closer and picking it up. Bruno wraps both hands around it, the heat making his skin feel tight and pinched. It only makes him hold it tighter though. He hasn't touched many things and he finds with every familiar sensation he can find again, he's starved for more even when it's uncomfortable. He doesn't bother with blowing on it to cool it. He just takes a sip, his eyes closed to focus on the way it burns his lips, the inside of his mouth, and down along his throat. He's quiet for a few more moments, letting the silence settle comfortably between them.]

How are Mista and Trish? [Giorno said they're fine but that can mean any number of things. He wants to know more of them, of Giorno, of their lives that he will never otherwise know. He hesitates before asking,] Have you heard anything from Fugo?

[digiorno]

[There is a certain sensory satisfaction in a hot drink. Giorno knows this even for himself, although he has never lost the ability to taste or smell or see. He knows it because it's been a helpful way to ground himself through the worst times. When he was very small and his stepfather was being too much of himself, he would suck ice to feel the sharp cold against his teeth. And it's different, of course it's different, but the principle . . . the principle is the same. Find reality, find peace, wherever you can.]

[It's a leader's job to bring peace to his people. To his family. And Bruno is his.]

[The smile he gives Bruno now is wide, proud, one of those rare Giovanna smiles that is unrestrained and unrelentingly bright. These are questions he's happy to answer, the stories in his life that seem like happy endings, even if the rest of what he's been through hurts to recall. He rests his chin on his hand and talks about his family, the half that continues to strive for excellence despite all their losses; the half that will rule the world one day, if he has anything to say about it. Which, of course, he does.]

Fugo came to your funeral. Which was quiet, of course; I didn't think you'd want anything lavish. He isn't . . . happy about the new arrangements, but he's back. I'm giving him space for now, letting him work at some distance until he's ready to swallow his pride. But I believe he'll come around. [A brief pause, and his smile softens somewhat.] He misses you, more than he says. I don't think he regrets his choice, but if he could have been there at the end, I think he would have.

Trish is - Trish is amazing, Bruno. [Which is ridiculously effusive praise coming from Giorno.] She's taken over the books completely, identifying problem areas it would have taken me too long to find . . . She's a natural, and people trust her. Not the way they trust me - just because she tells them the truth. And they underestimate her, too. She's learning to take advantage of that. She's my right hand. I could do it without her, but not as well. And I wouldn't want to.

Mista . . . [He takes another sip of his cappuccino, but his eyes are warm over the rim, and he drums his fingers lightly on the edge of the table as he lowers it.] Mista doesn't deal with change as well as Trish does. He's not flexible. But I push him, and he learns, because it's me. And so he's adjusting. He'll do well. It's just a matter of time, and having patience and faith.

[Faith isn't exactly the word for what Giorno has, most of the time. Generally, it's drive. But for Mista, he allows himself faith.]

[risorto]

[He can't help it. The longer Giorno talks, the more a small smile edges out. He's proud of each of them in little ways. He's proud that Fugo is still trying to find his place again and hasn't simply allowed himself to float away into nothing. He's proud that Giorno hasn't spurned Fugo for his choice, understanding perfectly why Bruno never held it against Fugo for staying behind. He's proud of Trish, too, for not allowing everything that's happened to burn the kindness out of her but taught her smarter ways of thriving. And he's proud of Mista for being as ever predictable and stubborn as always, but still finding the room within himself to change.]

[He says none of this out loud, but he allows for it in his smile and his gaze out the window. He never expected that their lives would be what most considered easy or even relatively quiet. But he had hoped they would find happiness. It does strike a chord of melancholy within Bruno, of course. He may never necessarily be forgotten by any of them, living on through them. But it does stir feelings of being left behind. They're thankfully overshadowed by relief, happiness, and pride, easily ignored and pushed aside in favor of what really matters. But it doesn't make it any less true of a feeling.]

They're doing well then. I'm glad. [He sips his cappuccino, contemplating if he should say any further. He decides there's little harm in giving voice to things like this right now.] You've come a long way, Giorno Giovanna. That boy I found on the cable car that day would have never been able to become don let alone be effective even with all of his ambition.

You should be proud.

[As I am.]