rubycity_ooc | NOVEMBER TEST DRIVE

NOVEMBER TEST DRIVE

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. EVENTS - 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!

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I do not know, or I would tell you. [ Maglor admits ]

We are all prisoners here, subject to the whims of the rulers, who seem themselves as trapped as we. We all arrive the same way - through the catacombs below the city or on the train that you just left. We vanish without warning, although those who go and return say that we are returned to the point in our own worlds and lives that we left, as if we were never gone.

[For a long while, Findekano doesn't anwer. Finally, he admits] I know you would.

How long have you been here?

Edited 2016-11-09 04:31 (UTC)

[ There, there was the crack he was looking for, and Maglor approaches now, shy and wary ]

Thank you for believing me.

[ He shrugs a little ] Long enough... a year, I think. Perhaps coming to two, by now. Long enough to become... accustomed, I suppose!

[It is really infuriating how hard it is to stay angry at Maglor for long. One day, they might have to talk about that].

Would there be a point to your lying? If you had something to gain from it, it would sound more reasonable. [Also, there's no mention of Feanor, the real warning sign of trouble, but who says that out loud?]

It seems a strange thing to be accustomed to being stolen.

[ It is a survival skill highly practiced? ]

That is true, but I know... how little you think of us, of me at this moment.

[ The furious words still linger, as Fingon voiced all the things that Maglor had been secretly flagellating himself with aloud about leaving his brother to Morgoth's care ]

So I am grateful, all the same.

And I suppose it does, but there is little else one can do, when one has no say in whether one stays or goes. And it is not... bad here. It is simply not home.

[It's manipulative and guilt-inducing.]

I'm angry because I care for you, you ridiculous fool, you and all your idiot siblings. If I didn't care, why would I bother? How do you not know that?

Which home are you talking about? Nothing will be Valinor, but even if we were there what we knew would have been lost.

Edited 2016-11-09 07:13 (UTC)

[ And it keeps him alive! ]

I know you do. [ Maglor says softly, and cannot hide the flash of guilt in his eyes, because it was that very caring that ended with Fingon's death. ]

I have none remaning, so all of them, I suppose.

[Against people who weren't planning on killing him in the first place?]

Well, now that you know you can't get rid of me that easily...[He trails off, shaking his head]

And here I was thinking you could not look more unhappy than you did at Mithrim. Does this lack of a home have something to do with the different times you mentioned, as well as the obvious?

Edited 2016-11-09 18:50 (UTC)

[ Well see the problem is that he's fairly certain that 99% of people who know him want to kill him so... ]

Apparently not! [ His tone is light, but there is another quiet flinch, at that ]

Sharp as ever - aye. I was not joking when I said it had been a long time for me, Findekano. It has been nearly four thousand years of the sun for me since Mithrim.

[Don't be paranoid, it's probably only 65% or so.]

And I had more reason than that to come, so you should have expected me regardless. [His voice is still sharp and irritated, but Findekano's losing the fight to stay that way. And he's noticing the winces, whether he wants to or not.] If I asked what exactly I'm saying distresses you, would you tell me?

Not sharp- simply a lucky guess. But four thousand years? What have you been doing, living in sackcloth and ashes all the while?

[Four thousand years? So if he asked about the next month or two...no, bad. Bad Findekano. One set of Feanorian problems at a time.]

[ Can't be, pretty much the only people who don't are family which makes it at a minimum 80% ]

I... if my king commands me to tell. [ So... yes. But he doesn't want to ]

Not quite. [ A quick, bitter smile ] We had joy and success, for a little while. But everything that was foretold was eventually fulfilled, down to the bitter dregs, and there is only ashes remaining for me.

[Some of them would settle for breaking his nose]

What? [Shock is not really a regal look-nor is realization, as he works out who must be dead for that to happen.] No, I'm not command...[He pauses, frowning] Whatever the story behind that may be, I have no interest in upsetting you. You don't need to shock me if you wish me to stop.

That is it, then? We all perish... I thought I might, but I assumed....

And you remain at the end.

[ He will happily hold still for that? ]

I will let you decide how much you want me to tell. [ Maglor says softly ] But it is not an easy or pleasant tale to tell, nor to hear. Even so... if you want to know, I promised that I would never refuse anyone our story.

And... not all. Galadariel... sorry, Artanis still lives. But she is the only one left, and she returns now to Valinor.

[ Maglor, clearly, does not ]

[*groans* this is past survival and heading straight into masochism, you know that right?]

And how much that has come before has been pleasant or easy? I do not think I wish to know, but if I need to then tell me what you can.

[Shaking his head] It would be Artanis. That she would wish to go back, though, that is a change.

[ But... if it makes you feel better......... ]

You can guess most, I think. But I suppose... do you want to know the details? You do rescue my brother, if that is any consolation.

[ A small wry smile ] She has grown. Wise and great, she is truly the greatest of us, now.

[Somehow the attraction's gone out of it. Couldn't think why.]

Now? If you dare to imply that she ever was not, then you are far braver than I.

Is there much else of relevance that will not pain you more to speak of? We have lost, though something must have come after. Everyone is dead but for you and Artanis. She has managed brilliantly, while your mother could use you as a model if she wished to sculpt misery. Only one of these things sits well with me.

[Quiet and hopeful] I misspoke. Two things.

He is well?

Edited 2016-11-13 02:36 (UTC)

[ oh...sorry? ]

Not to her face, certainly...[ Maglor acknowledges wryly ] Although she has matured quite a lot.

[ a soft chuff - half sad, half wry ]

Define "well". There was a reason, I told every one he was dead. But... he recovered, mostly, although he was never the same again.

[yes, that might have had something to do with it]

Who would? [Findekano tries to suppress a grin. And fails.] Someone in this family had to eventually; the numbers at least were in favor of it.

That is not what I would have wished for him. But none of us are who we were before, and I cannot count any recovery to be a small thing. Not even if it all come to naught in the end.

So you have lost him twice now. [And everyone else, of course, don't forget that.] I could not have borne that.

Edited 2016-11-13 05:11 (UTC)

[ ...he didn't mean to? ]

We all changed. But I am glad that she got to see victory and peace.

[ he shrugs tiredly ]

It ... I was too afraid to die. So I had little other choice. And besides...someone...has to remember. Perhaps this was why I was born to the bard's song.

[People not wanting to hurt you is a good thing. Unless you want people to want to hurt you, in which case he's very confused. And alarmed.]

That seems a cruel reason for the One to give a gift such as yours. [Trying desperately for a bit of levity.] And perhaps an indictment of His taste, if you are intended for only laments.

And how have you fared in this new place?

[ No! Of course not! But if people are angry at him it might make them feel better, so he doesn't mind so much? ]

[ he cannot help the smile at that ]

I do not only sing laments! Not... anymore, in any case. And I... do well enough here. There have been many unexpected blessings.

[That's...good. He thinks. But its hard to be angry with someone when they agree with you that you should be angry. ]

Good. [He moves to fidget with his hair for a moment, thinking.] I'm glad this place has done well by you. I...missed all of you. Even when I did not wish to.

[Smiling] Would you like to tell, or shall I spend my captivity nosing around to find out?

[ .... but... obviously you should be angry, and ... isn't it good that he acknowledges that? ]

I... we all missed you too, you know. Mae... Maitimo especially. [ So hard to think of his brother that way, when he has been Maedhros so long ] Losing you was... he did not cope well.

[ Shyly ] Artanis was kind to me, when she was here. Her daughter, also, and her husband, my foster son, who tells me he has forgiven me the hurts I dealt him. And... it has brought my brother back to me. Mae... Maitimo is here, and will be glad to see you. And... I ... there are people here who have been very kind.

[ An indignant chirp at being ignored, and a tiny blue lizard-like head pops over his shoulder, from where it was hiding under his hair, multi-faceted eyes whirling ]

And, [ Maglor says fondly, coaxing the little creature out of hiding ] but recently this little one has decided to keep me company. His name is Luin.

[He is gratified you acknowledge his right to anger now can he forgive you and can everyone get on with their lives?]

I did sometimes hope you all would. And feel tremendous guilt over it, of course. [He gives a dry smile at that.] Thank you for obliging.

[At the mention of Maedhros it's his turn to wince.] Parleying with Moringotto certainly isn't one of his most brilliant decisions, but I suppose it isn't fair to yell at him for it. But I would have thought looking after the rest of you would have been a higher priority than anything to do with me.

You have a son? [Blood son, foster son, details] That's wonderful-[wait a second, what did you do?] well, I'm glad the two of you are reconciled.

[A beat] He's here? Why didn't you tell me earlier? And this is the second time you've paused. What is the matter?

[Maedhros? Maedhros who? Aw, he's adorable.] He's lovely. And what a color! [Findekano puts out his hand toward the creature, fingers extended.] Hello, little one. It is a pleasure to meet you. [Back to Maglor] What is he?

Edited 2016-11-15 01:38 (UTC)

[ ..............uh... is it... really that easy? ]

He tried. But he... he blamed himself, when he wasn't blaming me. It was... very hard. And our brothers grew... more and more mad.

[ Except for Ambarussa, growing more and more sad, more and more ghostlike, without his twin ]

I... two. Yes. [ Uhhhh... kidnapping and driving their mom to jump off a cliff? ] Elrond is the one here.

I haven't had the opportunity. [ He points out dryly ] We... it is hard to use those names, now. I... he has been Maedhros to me for centuries, Findekano.

[ the fire lizard sniffs and Fingon's hand and deigns to allow pets, chirring happily ]

They are called "fire lizards", apparently - from a distant world. They may, I am told, breathe fire when fed with the appropriate substances, but mostly they serve as pets. They are quite intelligent - this one has attempted clumsy osanwe with me.

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utulien_aure - 2016-11-16 02:55 (UTC) - Expand

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