002 | Even Bad Wolves Can Be Good | [video/action] Open

[childofthemoon]

[The camera flicks on to Ruby sitting in one of the diner booths, far to the back, almost tucket away. Those who know here will notice immediately that she has an unusually pensieve look about her. Sad almost, worried, maybe even a little resigned. Her shoulders are slumped, and she avoids looking right at the camera.

Considering how much she usually smiles, this is quite the change.

The thing is, she can feel the wolf rearing up within her, a separate entity from her entirely. She stands no chance of wrestling it under control through sheer force of will, not after 28 years and counting of not transforming, of being repressed by the curse.

Ruby shifts in her seat, nervous. Her hands clench, knuckles going white before she sighs and tries a weak smile for the camera. It's shaky, at best.]

Where I'm from, the three nights around the full moon are known as... wolf's time. That means Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night, this week.

[Ruby falters, licks her lips, looks at the camera, then slightly away again.]

Whatever happens, please, please don't leave the mansion on any of these nights. Between sunset and sunrise, just... just don't leave the building. Please. Bar the front door. Just... stay inside.

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[Private text to Daryl Dixon]

I need to talk to you, in person if possible. It's urgent. Please?

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[OOC: For details on what's to come and plotting shenanigans, please see here!]

Comments

[private text]

[jolting]

[he figured this was coming but something about it still seems off. She gained control as far as he knows, so why the urging to stay indoors? Is the magic of Wonderland affecting her poorly?]

Are you all right?

[private text]

[childofthemoon]

It's not my wellbeing I'm worried about.

action.

[selfrespecting]

[As someone who lives on the eighth floor, Martha's been well aware of the work that's been done to get a diner set up. She thinks it's a wonderful idea, not to mention it'll be nice to have such close access to a place that makes hot, delicious food.

But when she checks her mobile on this particular day and sees Ruby seated in the empty diner, looking nothing like her usual self, Martha almost immediately starts moving toward her. This doesn't look like it's the kind of conversation that should be had by phone, not when she can go straight to Ruby.

It's true that they haven't known each other long, but they're practically neighbors and she remembers that conversation from the sleepover perfectly well.

What Ruby has to say is nothing short of ominous, and seeing how Martha's been told about there being monsters around, everything from demons to angels, she can't help but wonder...

She isn't going to jump to conclusions, though, and so as she reaches the diner Martha rushes to Ruby's side, taking a seat next to her.] Ruby? What's this all about?

action.

[childofthemoon]

[Under any circumstances, Ruby is usually someone you can't surprised. No matter how stealthy, how light your tread, it's almost like she can smell you coming. Which happens to be the very literal case even for those so silent even her ears can't pick them up.

It's unusual, therefore, to see her jump a little when Martha rushes in - goes to show just how preoccupied with her own thoughts she is.

Ruby tries to smile reassuringly at Martha, unwilling to worry her more than she apparently has already, but it's straind at best.]

I don't want to hurt anyone.

[As if that explains anything. But it's on the forefront of her mind, it's the most important thought about all this.]

[Video]

[breakthecurse]

Ruby? ...are you okay?

[Tohru couldn't just watch a message like that and not say anything. She looks so sad, and upset. Maybe even a little tired?]

I mean, is something wrong? ...What do you mean by "wolf's time"? Something's going to happen outside?

[Over in Japan, or at least Tohru's Japan, werewolves aren't really common mythology. They have shapeshifter myths, like kitsune and tanuki, but not really people who turn into wolves on the full moon. She doesn't know anything about it, but she looks incredibly worried for Ruby's sake.]

[Video]

[childofthemoon]

Hey...

[Ruby's made friends, in the short time she's been here, and of those Tohru has managed to worm herself unusually deep into her heart. Oh, it's wide open for anyone, she will always welcome people in her heart, but it's few and far between that she makes a truly deep connection.

Now, her smile is endlessly sad.]

Just... there will be a monster outside.

[text]

[unsleeved]

[The Ruby on the video looks nothing like the one Daryl's grown so accustomed to, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't startled by it. Everything about her, her body language, that forced smile... Even her voice is different, and abysmal though Daryl's people skills undoubtedly are, he's always at least been good on picking up those kinds of cues: the unspoken kind, the tells that something is very, very wrong.

He doesn't understand why she's so worried about something that'd gone on back home, and had been planning on sending her a response to let her know that she doesn't have to be and that anything that didn't come with her on her person is back home where it belongs (he knows this from experience; there are no walkers here, that's proof enough for him), but that message she sends after the feed ends stops him. Whatever is going on is serious enough that she only wants to talk in person... He can do that, as uncomfortable (and worrying) as it is, and so he sends a quick response:]

where

[He has more questions obviously, but he'll wait to ask those.]

[text] -> [action]

[childofthemoon]

Gardens, by the pond? I'll meet you there. Thank you.

[Ruby is grateful for the fast, simple reply, already on the way down the stairs when she sends the message. She doesn't feel like discussing something like this in a confined space with nowhere to run, back against the wall. Not that she has any intentions to literally run away, but it's ingrained in her very being to seek open spaces. It'll make her feel better.

What she wants to ask of Daryl is dangerous, horrible, she can't being to picture how selfish it is. But at the same time, he's the only know she knows she can trust with this. Daryl will do what needs to be done... that is, if she can make him believe her at all.]

[video]

[cetra]

[ Aerith's actually getting ready to go down to the diner herself when she catches Ruby's message. She takes a moment to stop what she's doing, studying the woman's face. They aren't super close, having only met recently, but she can see the difference in Ruby's behavior.

And it worries her.

So, she won't even wait until she's down at the diner to talk to Ruby. ]

Are you all right? What's going on, Ruby?

[video]

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby smiles a little at Aerith, but it's strained at best. The fault hardly lies with Aerith, of course - it's Ruby who's so very emotionally drained, worried and afraid.]

I... just don't go outside on those nights, please?

[video]

[appealingavarice]

[Greed is never quite thrilled by people trying to tell him what to do. But she seems more worried than bossy, so he's going to start by asking questions instead of telling her where to stick it.]

Might've escaped your notice, but we're not where you're from, so what's the real problem?

[...that doesn't mean he's going to be terribly polite about it.]

[video]

[childofthemoon]

[She hasn't met him, but Ruby can tell the type. Sunshine and rainbows. Brat. She pinches the bridge of her nose a little before looking back at the video.]

Just. Please don't go outside on those nights.

[Video]

[neverbeamemory]

Oh come now, no details?

[This video is the most interesting thing that's come up on the network so far. Too curious to be ignored; she even seems suspicious on the feed, Sephiroth flicks his own camera feed on. Sephiroth regards Ruby with a fine, silver raised eyebrow, green eyes alert though it's only a small screen so there might be details off screen that he's missing. Still, it doesn't quash the intrigue.

Besides, no one tells him what to do. If he wants to go outside on those nights, then he will do.]

[Video]

[childofthemoon]

I'm sorry, no details.

[Ruby doesn't know him - at least, she's almost entirely sure that this is a man, she has little frame of reference here given the small screen, long hair, fine features and all. But that's not what's important right now, and she hardly takes any of it in.]

Just a... a request on my part.

Video

[willbegone]

[Valjean can't help but chime in with the others asking after Ruby's well-being. Something seems off about this particular warning.]

I am not sure what you mean when you speak of the wolf's time. Will you be all right?

Video

[childofthemoon]

I will be alright. Just... It's not my wellbeing I'm worried about. Please stay inside on those nights.

[They're not quite close enough that Ruby feels she should confide him in... and hey, being a werewolf is not exactly she can tell just anyone. Pitchforks and torches, she remembers them all too well.]

[ video | locked ]

[absolutelynot]

[ it's taken her a while to figure out the different functions here, but eventually she manages to work it. ]

Will you be all right?

[ bypassing everything else for the only thing that matters. ]

[ video | locked ]

[childofthemoon]

It's not my own well-being I'm concerned about.

[She can handle being chased with pitchforks and torches, after all. But the risk of hurting someone, should she lose control? She can't take it. Yeah, and that's shame in her downcast eyes.]

video; private;

[somethinglost]

[Wolf's time...full moon...urging to stay indoors. Yeah, Kirigiri can put those items together logically.]

Are you a werewolf, Ruby-san?

video; private;

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby stares at the screen in something like shock. There are people from all kinds of different worlds, so this shouldn't come as much of a surprise, maybe... but it's still shocking that a stranger could tell.]

How... how did you....

video;

[theshepherd]

[This... this isn't good. He remembers the time Ruby transformed in Storybrooke, and plenty of times beforehand.]

You think the moon's going to effect you the same here?

video;

[childofthemoon]

I... I can feel the wolf stirring.

[Yeah, that's shame alright, mixed in with the fear. Ruby's been able to accept who and what she is well enough once she learned to control herself - but the prospect of losing that control, of hurting people again...]

It will happen. And I don't think I can... control it.

[righteously]

Wolf's time? Why w-

[He falters, his eyes widen and realization dawns. He slumps a little in his chair.]

You're a werewolf.

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby's eyes widen in response, a quick succession of surprise, shock, shame and worry playing over her features. She's not usually ashamed of what she is, but right now she runs the very likely risk of losing control. She can't hurt anyone. She just can't.]

I... yes. I'm a werewolf.

video.

[blustery]

What do you mean... "wolf's time"?

[She's obviously implying that there's danger, but wolves shouldn't be that difficult to avoid with so many people in the house.]

video.

[childofthemoon]

There... will be a wolf outside. A dangerous one. No one's gonna be in danger inside the Mansion, though.

[She's never invaded buildings before when she lost control, and hopes it's reasonable to assume she won't start with that now.]

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Just be careful, okay?

[Henry knows exactly what's going on, for a change, and he doesn't want to lose anyone.]

[Text;Locked]

[childofthemoon]

I will be. I have a friend helping me out. Just need to make sure no one will be outside, just in case.

[Her text is more optimistic than she is, but she can't exactly let Henry in on just how worried she is.]