entranceway | 002 | Even Bad Wolves Can Be Good

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

[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!]

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[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.]

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.]

[He doesn't bother sending another reply, just heads straight for the gardens. It's the first time he's done more than just pass through- flowers really aren't his thing, with the exception of the one which brings him more heartache than anything else now- but he doesn't have time to fuck around; when he arrives, he finds Ruby already waiting.

She looks awful, and he frowns as he makes his way over to her.]

What's up?

[He crosses his arms, but for once it's not a defensive gesture; he's worried.]

[Ruby opens her mouth, looks at Daryl and falters. Maybe asking him to meet in person wasn't such a good idea. She wraps her arms around herself as if shielding herself off, but the gesture serves to make her look smaller rather than steadfast and defensive. It's in the way her shoulders hunch, in the way she can't quite look him in the eyes.

He won't believe her.

Or worse, he'll believe her, and once the weekend rolls around she has one friend less, maybe even one enemy more.

Or he'll think her just plain crazy, laugh it off and walk away.

Why did she think this was a good idea? She actually remembers when she looks into his eyes, though. She thought this was a good idea because she knows that Daryl's a good man. Not a fairy tale prince, but hey, no offense to David, but personally she has little use for those either way.]

During the three nights around the full moon, I transform into a wolf. I mean that literally. I... I know it must sound crazy... but... whether you believe me or not, I need your help...

[Yeah, she kind of sucks at explaining that, and Ruby realizes that. She shakes her head a little.]

It's... you know me, a little, right? You know I wouldn't tell you lies or mess with you. I'm a monster on the inside, and not... not in the figurative way. I used to be in control, I used to be able to remain lucid, but it's been years and I don't think I can control it anymore...

[Yeah. Good luck making any sense of that.]

[As curious as he is, as ominous as this entire situation is, and as much as he wants to get this over with, he doesn't push her. He waits, stock-still (except for the way he's worrying at his lip, a nervous gesture, a habit he can't seem to get rid of) and silent while she composes herself.

And when she finally does come out with it, he's still quiet for a few moments more as he tries to wrap his head around this. To process this. Back in Georgia, that kind of thing is nothing but a child's story, some campfire shit the older kids would make up to weed out the pussies out in the woods. Bullshit, basically, and there was a time when he probably wouldn't have believed it no matter who was telling him.

But now? With the dead walking back home and the kind of crazy shit he's seen here? Kids turning into animals right in front of his face, the entire world shifting around him while he sleeps... Yeah, he's a little more open to bullshit stories at this point. Stories gotta come from somewhere, right? And he's fucking positive he'd seen that goddamn chupacabra no matter what National Geographic has to say on the matter.

But more than all of that... He trusts Ruby, at least enough to know that she wouldn't fuck with him like this. What could she possibly gain from it?]

..You're the wolfman. [It sounds... Completely retarded is how it sounds. Just... Give him a minute here.] ...Wolfwoman. That what you're tellin' me?

[Well, she had mentioned "faries" in that video when she'd arrived... Lord have mercy.]

Edited (edited 'cause I think he'd use "wolfman" instead haha he's old) 2013-04-23 18:28 (UTC)

[Ruby bites her lip when he says it. The term is not entirely accurate, but hey. Different cultures and all. Slowly, she nods. Hey, maybe Daryl will shoot her right where she stands, who knows. He wouldn't be the first friend or acquaintance to turn on her once they find out.]

I'm... I'm a wolf, yes.

[And human. She's both, but people rarely care about that once they know about her other form. She needs to ask favors of Daryl, and they are... they're too big, too important, but right now he's the only one she knows she can count on, both to help and to perform a mercy killing if all else fails.]

I learned control, once, but... I haven't transformed in a long, time.

[28 years. She's not even going to bother explaining the curse right now, because why add chaos to confusion.]

So... I'm afraid I'll lose control. And... and I need you to chain me to a tree or something, in case. I... I need you to not let me hurt anyone.

[It's a lot to ask, a lot to take in - and Ruby's fully prepared for him to back out, call her crazy, yell in her face, or just kill her and be done with it.]

[A wolf... In sheep's clothing, literally. Yeah, this is a lot to take in.

He makes no move to shoot her, though, nor does he back away or even move at all. This is so far out of his depth that he doesn't even consider being pissed off about it- he's just kind of lost, at this point. He knew the people here came from all over, but damn. This isn't what he'd expected, and certainly not from Ruby.

Once it settles in- somewhat, at least- he frowns, shifts his weight from one foot to the other, and looks off to the side.]

You want me to take you out if I gotta.

[Out of everything she's said, he's choosing that part to discuss. He doesn't understand any of the rest of it, and the way he sees it, he doesn't have to. Not wanting to hurt anyone when you're not in control anymore... Didn't he tell the group he wanted the same thing, way back when? There's an unspoken agreement back home: you don't let your friends turn. You don't let them become a danger to the group. He gets that, and he suppose in its own fucked up way, this is the same thing. It ain't that much weirder than the walkers, in the grand scheme of things.

There's a bit more silence, as he gathers his thoughts, and then:]

I understand about half of what you're sayin' to me, the details... Shit, I got nothin' to say about the rest of it... [Not yet, anyway, and he chews at his lip again.] But if you're dangerous when you... When you turn, I'll do what I can.

[He looks her over, and while his glance isn't quite skeptical... He really isn't sure what to make of this. You've thrown him, Ruby, and that's not something he's used to.]

[Ruby nods. What else is there to say, really? This is a lot to ask of someone she's barely met, someone who's a hunting buddy and good company but has no obligation to her emotional or otherwise at all. They barely know anything about one another, and now he's gonna know... this.

Not only that, she's putting him in a position of having to actually do something about... well, this.

It's simple, though. Chain her up outside, and if the wolf acts aggressive, put it down. If it's not... well, she won't even consider that possibility. It's too unlikely at this point.]

I'm... sorry for asking this of you. Being a monster hasn't been an issue in... in a long time.

[It's not said to garner sympathy. She applies the term monster to herself with an ease as if she believes it, takes it for a simple fact and is alright with it. She's a monster - just not willing to act like one.]

[He frowns slightly at her wording. Being a monster... He can't see her that way, with her (usually) smiling face and general cheery demeanor... He's having a real hard time reconciling that with what she's telling him.

Still, he nods. He's pretty good at being able to pick up on people bullshitting him, and that isn't the impression he's getting. Looking over at her, all he can see is fear, and maybe resignation. It looks out of place on her; he doesn't like it.

Unsure of what to say to that apology (other than "it's alright" because it really, really isn't), he's just gonna do what he always does and weed the important bits out of the rest of the stuff he can't deal with.]

There any of you left when it happens? ["Blissfully ignorant" isn't gonna fly with him- he wants to know exactly what he's getting into, exactly what he's agreeing to do.] Or are you checked out?

[Frankly, he isn't sure which is worse.]

Unless I manage to get back in control, I'll be... checked out.

[It would be horrible to watch everything the wolf does, trapped behind its yellow eyes, screaming while he kills. But she can say from experience that waking up after a night of unawareness, not knowing what you might have done, or seeing the bloody remains of a loved one and slowly realizing just what happened and how high your body count really is...

It's a horror all on its own.]

I won't be wounded by what you do to the wolf either. You could cut it open in the middle and by sunrise I'd be whole.

[He's relieved to hear that, and it probably shows on his face. It makes things a little easier- at least this way he can liken it to taking out a walker... And it won't be wearing her face, which doesn't hurt either.

Still... He's not thrilled about this.]

And if I kill it? What happens to you then?

[If he kills the wolf... well.]

Then I hope you'll remember me well.

[That's a tear threatening to spill from her wide, wet eyes, and she stubbornly wipes it away in order to let Daryl see a determined, brave face instead. If he needs to kill the wolf, that'll be it for Ruby, too. The thought scares her.

But it doesn't scare her nearly as much as being a killer again.]

[Oh hell no. He shakes his head.]

That's out, then. Gotta be another way.

[And god damn is he grateful for her attempts at keeping composed; asking him to shoot her if she puts people at risk is one thing, but tears? Lord have mercy, he wouldn't have any idea where to even start with those. That's one hell of a silver lining, that brave face...]

Couldn't we just lock you- it up somewhere? One of them empty rooms?

[Part of her wants to protest the call he makes - she's not scared of dying, and part of her will always know it's what she deserves. He shouldn't refuse her like that, but... then again, all he sees right now is Ruby, the girl. He doesn't know that she might well be a killer, a monster.

Ruby dares not hope that he won't find out.]

I thought about it. But what if I get out? Imagine a really hungry, really pissed off, really strong wolf on the loose in the mansion. There are. [She falters.] There are children in the building... If I get loose outside, at least I won't be a danger to anyone on the inside...

[All he sees is someone trying to do right by the rest of the people here, and he respects that. Killing should be the last option; this ain't Georgia and he ain't about to treat it like it is.

He does agree with her on the kids, though, and his expression darkens; locked room's out now, too.]

Don't leave too many options... Guess we're goin' with the tree, then. [He frowns.] You get bit? That how it happened?

[That makes him think of Georgia... And he needs to know if there's the danger of this spreading.]

[If only she can actually do right by them. Should she lose all control, she won't be able to do right by anyone, and she's willing to face the consequences for that.

Ruby shakes her head.]

For me, it's genetics. My mother was a wolf, my grandfather on her side, too. The curse can be transferred through a bite, but those wolves are weaker, and the curse fades away with years.

Genetics? [Never heard of that before... He isn't sure if that's better or worse.] Raw deal.

[Either way, it looks like on top of the obvious hungry wolf prowling around, now there's the added worry of it being passed along. Great. He frowns, and if he's not mistaken that's definitely the beginning of a massive headache coming on.

He narrows his eyes.] You ain't just fuckin' with my head, are you?

[He isn't getting that feeling but he feels like he should ask anyway. It's a lot to take on faith and it's only because of the shit he's seen at home that he's taking it even remotely seriously.] Look, just tell give me a time and place and I'll be there. I'll try to keep people inside. Can't promise I won't tell 'em what's gonna be out there, though.

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

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