You'll miss the birds completely. You're traveling so fleetly.

[hark_and_hush]

Who: Ruby and OPEN
Where: Various locations around the edge of town
When: The late evening of day 19
What: Ruby woke up and went exploring instead of playing with the communicator.
Notes: Feel free to intercept her at any point on her journey.


Ruby listened to the voice coming from the little device on her wrist. She listened, but she didn't really accept. She pulled her cloak tightly around herself as she stood, looking around at the sleepy-looking town and the strange little fountain.

She huffed a heavy breath in the cool night air, picked a direction and started to walk. She stopped to eye the pile of rubble that used to be the diner before following the road further towards the forest.

She spied an empty house and pushed the door open gently. "Hello?" It was seeming more and more like this was another curse and she wasn't so sure that she wanted to go in.

Comments

[primogen_vampirate]

"You have no idea," Mina murmured.

She glanced around the house. "I suppose," she murmured, "we should probably scrounge some things for you, as long as we're here. After all, it's so hard to pack for an impromptu kidnapping these days." She clucked her tongue. "And people simply don't have the manners to send you any kind of packing list."

[hark_and_hush]

"I could certainly use a change of clothes, I guess." And a place to keep them. She'd need a place to sleep to sleep, too. She couldn't be the only person from Storybrooke here, right?

She started to take a closer look around the house. There was a thin layer of dust on most of the flat surfaces. "So no one lives in this house?"

[primogen_vampirate]

"Doesn't appear that way," Mina replied, looking around. Although it wouldn't bother her that much if someone did. She had few qualms about scrounging these days. Especially considering the way these people had treated her.

Or rather, the way the Queen felt these people had treated her.

That was a problem she had not yet reconciled. And call it pride or arrogance or even fear, she simply couldn't bring herself to talk to anyone about it. Even Anna. Especially Anna.

Mina smiled through the pain. "I suppose you should stake your claim. Claim the land in the name of Maine, as it were."

[hark_and_hush]

She looked around. It really wouldn't be too bad for a few days, at least. She would figure things out, but it was sounding like she would at least need a place to sleep for now.

"Maybe I will. It could use a good cleaning, but it's not so bad under the dust." She could cook something to make it smell like home, at least, and it was removed enough from others, it seemed.

She noticed a few little animal figures on the mantle and walked towards them, picking one up. It was a tiny wolf. She smiled at it before putting it back in its place. "I think I will stay here."

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina clapped her hands together, her rings flashing in the dim light. "Excellent. I like a person who makes up her mind. Says she has a great deal of character."

She glanced around. "A quick inventory, perhaps? Hmm? If you're missing any essentials, I'll see what I can do about providing them."

[hark_and_hush]

"Oh, I don't need too much." She started to step into the kitchen. "As long as I've got a roof over my head and some food to cook, I can get by. I've had to rough it more than once." Even if there isn't food, she can always hunt if she needs to. She just has to be careful about anyone seeing her.

[primogen_vampirate]

"Food might be a bit of a problem," Mina admitted. She wasn't one to sugarcoat things. And frankly, she thought the girl more than capable of handling the truth. "For awhile, we were being supplied, but that line seems to have dried up."

It wasn't as much of a concern for Mina. At least, she hadn't felt so at first. But being the practical soul that she was, she supposed it was in her best interest to have a healthy, thriving human population. Even if Pendragon was providing for her current dietary needs.

People had a tendency to disappear around here.

[hark_and_hush]

Ruby tried to look more put out than she was. It would be annoying, but as long as there were plants and animals, she would keep herself fed.

"I think I can remember how to set up a few traps. Granny taught me how to catch small animals as a kid. I should be okay." She frowned. "Are other people going hungry? I can try to make enough to share. I work at a diner, so cooking in big portions aren't a problems for me."

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina looked at Ruby in what could only be described as unabashed admiration. "You're a huntress?" she asked. "That's certainly a valuable skill to have."

It was important. Proving oneself valuable to the group. Mina had blown her chance, but she was better able to survive without people than this girl would be.

"You must make that known," she advised her. "You'll be invaluable before you know it."

[hark_and_hush]

"Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea. It's just little traps. I'd be happy to barter for other things, but I'm more of a..." She grinned, almost secretively. "More of a lone wolf, I guess."

She had to play down her abilities. The last thing she wanted was villagers with pitchforks and torches coming after her.

[primogen_vampirate]

"Well, I'm not telling you to become a braggart," Mina said. She started to open the cupboards, examining what was inside with grim determination. "But these people are wolves. And if they don't see you has having a purpose that suits them, then you will be ostracized."

And she made no attempts to obfuscate the bitterness in her tone.

[hark_and_hush]

Ruby winced a little at the comparison to wolves. "I can handle a little cold shoulder treatment. I've had worse. I'm not sure I want much to do with people who might just want to use me, anyway."

She wanted to ask after that bitter tone, but she didn't think it was welcome. Obviously people hadn't been very kind to Mina and that put Ruby on guard. "I guess I can tell them about my cooking, though."

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina forced herself to temper her anger. Too much of it and she would start sparkling again. And she didn't want to startle the girl. After all, it wasn't her fault. And truth be told, Mina rather liked her so far.

She took a bit of a breath, unnecessary though it was, and nodded slightly. "There's a boy you might contact," she said. "Kurt Hummel. He's been putting himself in charge of baked goods. All very well and good, but people do need some calories apart from sugar to survive. I imagine he would welcome the help."

First, she tapped on the damned communicator on her wrist, then she pointed to the one on Ruby's. "You can use this...thing...to communicate with others in the village."

[hark_and_hush]

"Well, I guess that's better than it just being a tracker." She was beginning to feel like a caged animal and that wasn't good for anyone. "At least it's useful, too."

She made a mental note to contact the boy. It might be nice to have someone to cook with. If she was a little uneasy at the fact that he was a boy, she couldn't really help that, though. After what she'd done, she didn't want to be around anyone for too long, but especially not anyone who might remind her of Billy or Peter.

She gave Mina a warm smile. "Thanks for all the help. I'll be sure to .let you know when I'm cooking, okay?"

[primogen_vampirate]

As food was highly unnecessary, the offer was meaningless. Well, the product of it, anyway. The offer itself was somewhat touching, in light of the recent treatment she'd been receiving.

"That's very kind of you, Ruby," she said.

[hark_and_hush]

This place was just a temporary stop. She needed to get home, but at least while she was here, she could maybe make a few friends, even if she really did need to keep them at an arm's length.

"It's no trouble. You helped me out, so I'll help you sometimes, too."

[primogen_vampirate]

A bit of a smile curled her lips. Yes. Perhaps the girl would do just that. She seemed Amazon-worthy.

Mina would have to make a point of watching her carefully. And fortunately, with limited obligations, she had ample time to do nothing other than watch.

"Thank you."