Post by Ruby on Dec 10, 2015 22:59:38 GMT -5
___ S H I N I G A M I ___
Recruit, Fifth Division
On The Surface__
Name: Rubianca "Ruby" Oukami
Born: April 1, 1988
Horoscope: Aries
Age / Apparent Age: 27 [21 Soul, 6 Academy] / 22
Gender: Female
Loyalty: The Shinigami
Ethnicity: Japanese
Languages Spoken: Japanese, American English, Spanish
MBTI Personality: INFJ
Vision: 20/20
Blood Type: O
Hand Preference: Right
Known Proficiencies: Zanjutsu, Hohō
The Face: Ruby's hair is of dark-brown color; it reaches down to her lower back and she typically wears it in a ponytail, of which she ties with a small, black-colored silk ribbon. She also maintains bangs that curve outward from her center hair-line. Her eyes are a light-hazel that at times can burn bright red; they are of medium-size and are slightly slanted. She has a symmetrical, round face that curves into a fine, feminine chin. Her dark brows are kept clean and thin, a subtle sign of her disciplined nature. Her lips are small yet succulent, a beautiful light pink
The Body: Ruby is a woman built for battle: she stands at roughly 5'7" and weighs approximately 138 lbs. Her measurements are 36C-24-35. She's young, compact, and curvaceous. When you look her way, there's simply something about her physical prowess that draws you in. She's got strong yet feminine shoulders that provide support for her lean arms. Her waist is as sturdy as stone, her abdomen outlined with a light touch of muscle. Her thighs are proportionally sized to her frame and they provide her with the strength she requires for everyday Shinigami life. She's got an eye-catching rear, exercised back, and powerful calves.
The Spiritual: Ruby exudes an aura of tranquility that extinguishes that greatest of fires. When in her presence, it seems that all one wants to do is smile; the white light that radiates off of the surface of her skin is almost saintly, a soft brightness that soothes the soul to the very core. The warm hum of her spiritual energy flows outward like a tidal wave of positivity that brings up the spirits of those that find themselves in the way. She is, like the sun, an epicenter of warmth--but only on the surface. Over the decades, Ruby has done well to mask her true nature, a part of her that she wishes did not exist.
When the floodgates open to Ruby's deepest soul, those around her go on a journey of suffering and pain. The screams of dying shadows reverberate through the land, causing the world to bleed from the eyes, ears, and nose. Creatures fall from the skies like rain, and the smell of sulfur becomes overbearing. The taste of blood is inescapable, all-consuming, maddening. Bloodshed is all anyone will ever see. Bloodlust is the essence of Ruby's fractured soul.
Idiosyncrasy and other things: Ruby is a woman of strong discipline and high class, a mixture of traits that leads her to come off as both resolute and gentle at the same time. She goes about her business with an air of integrity that elicits unwavering respect, and at the same time she exhibits a quietness that allows her the freedom to go unnoticed when necessary. She moves about with grace, flowing from place to place like a quiet breeze. There is never a moment of displayed weakness, never a moment where she isn't sitting with perfect posture, never a moment where her attention isn't where it should be. She is as outwardly collected of a person as anyone could ever be.
When she speaks--and she doesn't open her mouth often--her words are chosen carefully, specifically, for a purpose. She isn't one to overindulge in conversation, instead opting to listen to the world around her. Her lips, like the rest of her persona, moves with a softness that soothes the mind, like a melody of classical music that illicit introspection. Even in the face of higher authority, Ruby never loses her self-possessed exterior, and responds in kind with deserving respect.
Ruby prefers the dignity of her Shinigami uniform over the free-spirit of casual clothing. She wears the standard black kimono, wrapped around her in conservative fashion, and she fastens her waist with a silk white sash that is relaxing to touch. White socks cover her feet, as she prefers not to show her toes in public. Her sandals are the standard straw.
The taste and smell of sweet plums follows her everywhere she goes, and it lingers for some time as a reminder to her existence. She wears blood-red, diamond earrings that brings vibrancy to her tranquil face.
One of Ruby's most distinctive features is a large tribal tattoo that stretches from the right side of her neck all the way down to her elbow. The marking is an expression of respect towards someone from her past whom she killed. Also of note is her passion for rolling her own herbal smokes; she uses a mixture of sage and plum skin, and the resulting experience works to accentuate her already calm demeanor.
Behind The Eyes__
Personality
Code of Conduct
Ruby posses a personal code of ethics that she stands by. It is, in essence, the foundation of her personality.
Do assume positive intent.
Do forgive.
Do seek the truth.
Do fight for what you believe.
Do the right thing.
Do not turn away those in genuine need.
Do not lose control.
Do not harbor malicious intent.
Do not harm others.
Do not kill.
Fears
Ruby's fears are what drive her motivations.
Fear of losing control (Subconscious): Ruby's greatest fear is of losing herself to the darkness that resides within her soul. Her character when unreleased is completely instinctual, as the evil aspects of her persona is personified in her inner spirit.
Fear of hurting others (Conscious): Ruby makes a conscious effort not to hurt the world around her. So ashamed she is of her inner spirit that she has taken this aspect of herself to the extreme, opting to express her emotions inward rather than outward.
Goals
Become stronger in order to protect those that cannot protect themselves.
Lead by example so that those that are lost may find their way.
Erase her sins so that she may shed the shame of her evil soul.
Thoughts on the different races
Shinigami are born good, but they may lose their way.
Hollow-breeds are born evil, but they may find their way.
Humans are irrelevant. They should be left to their own device.
Psychology
Ruby is the mother that few have and many yearn for. She is, like nature is for many of her children, a gifted protector and nurturer; the urge to help others stems from an uncontrollable need to be witness to the good side of life: to see the ill be healed, to see the weak become strong, to see the evils of the world perish. She thrives in the presence of tranquility, where the sun shines bright and creatures of the world grow strong and become more than they were born to be. And when times become too hard to bear, when the night becomes too dark to see, Ruby is the warmth that comes to take the pain away. She puts others before herself, and gives without asking in return. This desire to give, and to help, and to bring good to the world stems from her need to atone for her own sins.
To be in her presence means peace of mind. Ruby approaches social interaction with an open heart, wearing her ideals of a virtue on her sleeves. Relationships are essential to her purpose, though due to her strong focus on the individual and passion to give her all, ends each interaction drained. This is where her introverted side takes hold; Ruby withdraws to isolation in order to recharge: to reignite the warmth of her heart, to regain clarity of mind, to wash away the pain of her emotions. To take the world's suffering and make it one's own is a debilitating endeavor, and Ruby--being as human as any other--needs distance from the chaos to build herself back up. Generosity can be a personality flaw, and for Ruby, it simply is; she doesn't know when to say no, which usually leads her down the road of benefiting others at her own expense.
Her focus towards her Shinigami duties is rivaled by few; she takes her work seriously, an effort that has led her to gain the respect of both peers and superiors alike. She's always the first to wake and the last to leave, and some say that she doesn't ever really leave work; she's at the ready to be where she needs to be at any time of day. Ruby offers her heart on a silver-platter to her peers, showering them with an open mind and the warmth of kindness. There wouldn't be a situation in the world where Ruby wouldn't be there to help her comrades. Her respect for authority is reserved for her superiors, and she follows orders to the best of her ability--unless those orders go against her own code of ethics. There's a fine line that separates naivety and neglect, and Ruby is well aware of when things aren't right. Again, though, Ruby is far from perfect, and she's been known to fall for words of persuasion.
Under the pressure of confrontation, Ruby leans on the side of composure: it is a response to danger so subconscious that she doesn't know any other way. Decisions are meticulously constructed--a trait that can make her seem unresponsive to the appropriate urgency--and the actions thereafter executed with absolute intent. More often than not, Ruby will choose the path that will harm herself most and those around her least. The essence of her personality, then, is that she processes her, and everyone else's frustrations, inward.
Positive Qualities:
- Motherly: To be motherly is to nurture and protect those that cannot protect themselves. It is the art of being available, without reciprocated condition, for those that need your help: help with overcoming grief, help with advice on how to approach a situation, help with healing both physical and emotional wounds, help with leaning on someone for protection from the evils of the world. Ruby finds a deep satisfaction in uplifting the fallen and nurturing the weak.
- Tranquil: A smile that never fades, eyes that say everything's gonna be all right, an aura that gives life instead of taking it away; that is what it means to posses tranquility. Imagine an enormous boulder--resolute and utterly peaceful--resting on its own in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the chaos of a powerful storm. The boulder fights against the storm, but in no way adds to the chaos, and always maintains its peaceful integrity: that boulder is Ruby.
- Brave: Standing firm against impending danger and pain--especially if that danger and pain is originally directed at another person--is what Ruby lives for. Though she may experience fear, she will endure the pain so that someone else won't have to. Selflessness seems to accompany bravery, and Ruby demonstrates these qualities in how she rises to every challenge, no matter how dangerous.
- Gentle: Fingers that touch like feathers, feet that glide over the nightingale floors, a mouth that speaks the language of angels; to say that Ruby approaches her environment with calculated delicacy is an understatement. When verbal altercations arise, Ruby listens before she speaks, and when it's her turn, she uses non-inflammatory verbiage. In the face of physical conflict, Ruby takes a least to most invasive approach.
- Dignified: For all of Ruby's kindness and good-natured behavior, there is a seriousness about her that cannot be shaken. There's a time and place for everything, and one must adhere to such parameters when in the line of duty. In the face of danger, there is no room for comedy. In the face of authority, there is no room for indignation. In the face of humility, there is no room for degradation. Each situation has an appropriate response, and Ruby is someone that responds appropriately.
Negative Qualities:
- Ashamed: The evil that resides within is too dark to bear. How can someone be so deranged, so destructive, deep down inside? To fear oneself elicits an inner battle that can never be won, for one cannot escape who s/he is; and that is what shames Ruby most, is that she is, to the very core, bad. This leads her to hide her true nature from everyone, even from the people she bonds with most. It is a painful existence, but one she has learned to live with.
- Naive: With age comes wisdom, and Ruby hasn't lived long. The lack of experiences in life has led her to be overly virtuous, to the point that she goes about her life worrying about others when she should be working on herself. She makes mistakes, misjudges character, and she tends to get herself into harmful situations.
- Private: To experience the world inward is to trap those thoughts and feelings inside. So twisted those thoughts and feelings become that they go deeper and deeper, twisting even more. Eventually they fall into a hole that cannot be reached, and life becomes okay again. Some things are best left unsaid.
- Sensitive: When someone gives their all, it's normal for them to be overly sensitive towards those they have given. Ruby doesn't understand restraint when it comes to helping others, and the result can lead to a world of hurt. Even if pain builds up to astronomical levels, she won't display them in public; instead, she will withdraw to her quarters and cry for hours at a time.
- Gullible: It is difficult to argue fact, even when lies are masked so well to resemble fact. For someone who assumes positive intent, it can be difficult not to be persuaded. That is Ruby's defect: she wants to trust everyone, at all times. She makes herself believe that the world is inherently good.
- Mad: This personality trait is the embodiment of Ruby's inner spirit's personality. She assumes this crazed state when she releases her true Shikai, and it is a state of being rooted in absolute destruction. More will be discussed in her Shikai section.
"Fifth's Finest" Radio Interview
December, 2015
Hello, hello! Welcome back to our next installment of Fifth’s Finest, based right out of the heart of the Fighting Fifth Division! I’m your long-time host and today I have with me a new, up-and-coming name here in the Seireitei: Rubianca Oukami! Care to say hello to our listeners?
Hello. My name is Rubianca, and it's a pleasure to be here.
And we’re happy to have you! Though, let me tell you, we've been fighting hard to get you to come on the show! I've heard you go by Ruby, Is it okay if I call you that?
Absolutely.
Splendid! That's what we like to hear! So, Ruby, you're a Recruit Shinigami who's been getting a lot of recognition for your support off the field. Care to talk about what your motivation is to help your fellow men?
Absolutely. Have you ever come across a wounded friend, and felt this stomach-churning urge to ease their suffering?
I don't think anyone can say they haven't!
Precisely. That is how I feel towards people in general. We all experience the world differently, and that means people need help in different ways.
Wow, that's something you don't hear everyday in the Fifth! You sound like such a sweetheart. I'm sure our listeners are as interested in hearing about this as I am: have you ever been in a fight before?
Haha, of course I have. I try my best to resolve conflict through conversation, but sometimes that is not enough.
That's especially true for the kind of work we do. So, when you're faced with a physical altercation, how do you go about dealing with it?
I am glad you asked. I approach combat in a manner that can be best described as least harmful to most harmful. So in the heat of battle, I tend to ask myself, "Can I immobilize this individual? Is there a way for me to end the confrontation without harming my opponent?" I draw my sword as a last resort.
I see, does that kind of approach ever get you into dangerous situations?
Sometimes.
Who would have thought that we had such a daring member!?
I am not daring!
Haha, sure, sure! Stop being so modest! Anyways, let's talk about something that I'm sure everyone's been dying to know: have you acquired Shikai yet?
No, I have not.
Oh, that's okay! I haven't myself, so don't worry about it! I'm sure you're going to learn your Zanpakutō's name soon!
I am sure as well.
Ruby, you're a very quiet person. Has anyone ever told you that?
Oh yes, I get that a lot! I apologize if I have offended you during this interview.
Oh no, not at all! I'm just not used to someone so soft-spoken on air! Anyways, tell me more about yourself: what do you like to do during your time away from work? Any hobbies?
Outside of work, I like to keep to myself and relax. Going outside and enjoying the beauty and calmness of nature is simply rejuvenating. I am also a big fan of smoking herbs, though a very specific mixture that I gather myself. I do enjoy tea as well: chai hibiscus is my favorite.
I am also a practitioner of meditative martial arts, especially those that deal with the sword.
The sword, huh? That sounds like something someone from the Fifth would say! I'm glad to hear it. You sound like you know what you want. What are your aspirations for the future? Are you looking to move up the ranks?
Thank you. I do plan to petition to become an Officer soon. I have many talented peers, so we will see where I land.
Ah, Ruby, I think I speak for everyone listening when I say that you'd be an amazing Officer!
Thank you very much.
Of course, of course. Since our time together is coming to a close, I've got one last question for you: Who's your favorite Captain?
The classic, I almost forgot you would ask. Captain Aizawa has done well leading his men, but I have to go with someone else: Shun Minamoto. He has risen to the occasion numerous times, and his hard work has paid him dividends. I have this strange belief that he will be doing so again very soon. He also seems like someone who cares about the people he leads.
Captain Minamoto? He's become quite popular these days! On that note, Ruby, I want to thank you for joining us! Talking to you was plenty of fun, I hope we get to do it again in the future!
As do I. Thank you for having me on the show.
Strength Of The World__
In order to hide the truth about her evil soul, Ruby has vowed to never release her power.
Zanpakutō Unreleased Appearance: Ruby's weapon is a standard-looking katana. Its handle is wrapped in a delicate red silk, its ball-shaped pummel and circular guard a solid black, and its 36 in. blade a glimmering silver. It's evident that even after her weapon's evolution from a mere asauchi, the aesthetic difference is minor. She wears the sword over her left thigh, sheathed deep into the blackest of scabbards.
Zanpakutō Name: Chi ni ueta joō: 血に飢えた女王 (Bloodthirsty Queen)
Zanpakutō Spirit & Inner World: Her favorite flavor is blood. She gets a skull-tingling high when she inflicts pain on others. The sound of suffering is her favorite tune. The sight of anguish makes her lips shake with ecstasy. These qualities describe Aka, Ruby's inner spirit. Aka exists because Ruby's soul was fractured in two: Ruby embodies the "good" aspect of herself, while Aka is the manifestation of the "bad". The result of this split is that Aka only knows the destructive and painful side of life.
The Bloodthirsty Queen, as she calls herself, is a demon born under the pale skin of female beauty. She exudes a femininity that rivals Ruby's, both in appearance and demeanor. Her white, round face holds two almond-shaped, blood-filled eyes, a smooth nose, and succulent red lips. Two large horns--also colored white--rise from the height of her forehead, curling back until they disappear into her long, raven black hair. Her body is seductive with curves in all the right places, and to accentuate her sex-appeal, she wears a revealing one-piece outfit made out of solidified blood. She's much taller than Ruby, standing at a full height of six feet four inches.
The relationship between Ruby and Aka is non-existent because after their initial communion, Ruby decided to seal away her inner spirit. It had been a traumatizing confrontation, both within Ruby's inner world and during the aftermath in the real world, for all involved except Aka: she was the cause of the suffering after all.
Aka is a creature of pure and unrefined hostility, born with the need to be destructive toward her environment. She is verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive--deriving the most pleasure from spilling blood--and she is quite good at getting under Ruby's skin. The following personality traits best describe Aka.
- Sadistic: As previously stated, Aka possesses a one-track reward system. The only action that brings her joy is causing pain.
- Fearless: The absolute absence of fear can lead someone to act recklessly, and Aka cares little for the consequences of her actions.
- Masochistic: When you derive pleasure from experiencing pain, there's literally nothing you fear.
- Bloodthirsty: Blood to Aka is like paint to an artist; the sight and scent of it speaks to her creativity, and the more she spills, the more excited she becomes.
- Inflammatory: Aka has no regard for sensitivity--or rather, she enjoys birthing negativity--so she acts and speaks with the intent to make others suffer.
All of these traits combine to create an unstoppably violent persona, one that Ruby fully intends to keep hidden deep within the black walls of her soul. Since Ruby is out of the picture, Aka has taken to occupying her own time by tormenting the physical manifestations of her past victims' memories.
The suffocating world within which Aka resides was squeezed into an iron chamber filled with bodied guillotines, boiling cauldrons, and rusted traps. She possesses the largest collection of torture instruments that hang on the four walls of her domain; the smell of iron is so strong--in part because Aka doesn't always clean her utensils--that it becomes a form of torture. The ceiling lights go off and on, not staying on for more than a few minutes; this tends to cause confusion and disorientation, adding an edge of anxiety to the already fearful setting.
There is a single door fitted behind the numerous contraptions Aka uses to inflict pain on her victims; Ruby does not know to where the door leads, nor does she care to find out.
Shikai Release: By uttering the phrase "Unleash, Bloodthirsty Queen", the gates that restrain Ruby's dark side open. The evil inside her manifests into literal shadows, a blanket of darkness that emerges from beneath her feet and spreads to cover the land. The environment begins to rot: trees wither and grow hollow, and they almost seem as if they're frowning. Street lights dim, and some even burn out. Birds fall from the sky out of the sheer weight of her intent to kill. With the release comes a change to her spiritual energy, which takes on its true nature: a dark velvet outline that replaces her fake white. Her eyes burn bright red.
Her sturdy katana liquifies into blood that spills into the shadows until there is nothing left; from the blackness emerges her new weapon, Ketsueki Ryūsei (Blood Meteor), a meteor hammer. Ketsueki Ryūsei in simple terms is a solid, black sphere attached to a long, black chain; the sphere is no larger than a man's head and the chain's length is limited only by the blackness that lives under Ruby.
Shikai Power: Kurutta chi ni uemasu: 狂った血に飢えます (Crazed Bloodlust)
Bloodthirsty Queen's power--aside from the aesthetic changes of the weapon--is to force Ruby's inner demons out. Ruby takes on Aka's destructive traits, becoming mad and driven to shed blood. The world to her becomes black and white: a dull plane inhabited by dull creatures. The only color she can see is the red of blood, and so she seeks to bring life back into the emptiness. From the moment she releases, Ruby lets go and loses herself to the bloodthirstiness; all of the pain she pushed deep down inside explodes out of her, forcing the world to experience her suffering. Her killing intent grows so powerful that it becomes a weapon itself; the intensity of her spirit is so great that her thoughts cut and slice flesh and the glare of her reiatsu weakens the knees.
There is no reasoning with her, for her madness in this state becomes absolute. Inflicting pain on others drives her madder, and when she experiences pain, even madder. She cannot distinguish between friend and foe; everyone becomes a target for her bloodlust. She is completely fearless, not inhibited by the physical, emotional, or mental. She will fight to her last breath. The only way to stop her is to immobilize her or to kill her: there is no other way.
The most disappointing aspects of her power is that she remembers everything she did while released: she will never be able to forget how much of a monster she truly is.
Legacy Created__
Current Division: Fifth Division
Previous Divisions: N/A
Snapshots
1988 / North Rukongai, District 10 / Born
1998 / North Rukongai, District 10 / Mother dies
1998 / North Rukongai, District 10 / Adopted by an herb gardener
2002 / North Rukongai, District 10 / Finds out her father was a Shinigami
2009 / Seireitei / Joins Shinigami Arts Academy
2015 / Seireitei / Graduates and joins the Fifth Division
History
Birth - 1988
The screams of a woman were followed by the cries of a newborn. This child was a beautiful as any other, tiny and pale and full of life. Her father--a tall man dressed in black robes--held her close, her bloodied frame comforting to his arms. A single look into her bright red eyes, and the word Ruby escaped his lips. The child's mother--drenched in sweat--seemed relieved. "Is that her name?" she asked as she exhaled deeply. The man looked into his daugher's eyes once more, and replied, "yes."
Childhood - 1988 to 1998
"What do you mean he's dead?!" Ruby's mother cried, tears running down her cheeks. "How can he be dead?! How?! How?! How?! He was the strongest person I've ever known!"
Ruby was only four when her father died, and she didn't truly understand the finality of what had happened. All she knew was the emotional hurt that came from her mother's suffering, and the confusion of fear thereof. She went to her mother side and wrapped her arms around her mother's leg.
"We're sorry, Hana," replied a large man wrapped in black. "We were deployed to Hueco Mundo by orders of the Captain Commander. As soon as we put our feet on the sands, we were ambushed by a wave of powerful Hollows." The man's words came with the shakiness of a soldier who had seen too much. "Most of our squadron fell. We're sorry."
"Fuck if you're sorry! All you Shinigami are the same! Send your men to die for nothing! Nothing ever changes!"
Ruby squeezed her mother's leg tighter, her eyes starting to water as well. "Mommy, please stop yelling! Please!" She was frightened, and she didn't even know why. Hana fell to her knees, lost to deep sobs. The men stood with solemn faces briefly before turning their backs on both Ruby and her mother. That was the day when Ruby's life took a turn.
Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and all Ruby's mother could do was wallow in her depression. She took to alcohol to dull the pain of losing the man she loved, but in the end, it was Ruby that suffered most. Evenings of alcohol abuse led to verbal and physical abuse directed at Ruby; she quickly learned that her mother's personality was to express emotional pain outward. So Ruby learned to take as her own the suffering that her mother tried to get rid of. She made herself believe that she was strong enough to put the world on her shoulders; she took on both her and her mother's burdens, and because of it, she grew up quickly. She found work at a local herb garden at the age of eight to pay for their beds, but her mother took most of that money and spent it on liquor. Ruby cried every day as her soul was torn to pieces.
This cycle continued until one day, Ruby came home to find her mother dead, body limp and mouth full of vomit.
Ruby was only four when her father died, and she didn't truly understand the finality of what had happened. All she knew was the emotional hurt that came from her mother's suffering, and the confusion of fear thereof. She went to her mother side and wrapped her arms around her mother's leg.
"We're sorry, Hana," replied a large man wrapped in black. "We were deployed to Hueco Mundo by orders of the Captain Commander. As soon as we put our feet on the sands, we were ambushed by a wave of powerful Hollows." The man's words came with the shakiness of a soldier who had seen too much. "Most of our squadron fell. We're sorry."
"Fuck if you're sorry! All you Shinigami are the same! Send your men to die for nothing! Nothing ever changes!"
Ruby squeezed her mother's leg tighter, her eyes starting to water as well. "Mommy, please stop yelling! Please!" She was frightened, and she didn't even know why. Hana fell to her knees, lost to deep sobs. The men stood with solemn faces briefly before turning their backs on both Ruby and her mother. That was the day when Ruby's life took a turn.
Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and all Ruby's mother could do was wallow in her depression. She took to alcohol to dull the pain of losing the man she loved, but in the end, it was Ruby that suffered most. Evenings of alcohol abuse led to verbal and physical abuse directed at Ruby; she quickly learned that her mother's personality was to express emotional pain outward. So Ruby learned to take as her own the suffering that her mother tried to get rid of. She made herself believe that she was strong enough to put the world on her shoulders; she took on both her and her mother's burdens, and because of it, she grew up quickly. She found work at a local herb garden at the age of eight to pay for their beds, but her mother took most of that money and spent it on liquor. Ruby cried every day as her soul was torn to pieces.
This cycle continued until one day, Ruby came home to find her mother dead, body limp and mouth full of vomit.
Adoption and a New Hope - 1998 to 2009
The death of her blood mother devastated her, but she pushed that pain deep down and kept it from her adopted mother, Rey.
Rey was an elderly woman who owned an herb shop in the 10th District, not far from Ruby's home. Rey's patience and kindness was renowned across the District, and it was her personality in part that led her business to thrive. Over the years, Ruby learned that patience and kindness from Rey, and also learned to like the scent of burning herbs.
"Why sage?" Ruby asked. "Cannot we use something else?"
Rey's wisdom spoke through her eyes, and she smiled. "Sage, my dear, is a gift from the Spirit King. It helps to cleanse both the mind and the heart of all ailments."
Ruby gave Rey a warm smile, and shook her head laughingly. "Oh mother, you''re always so quick to correct my wrongs. All right, Sage it is."
Years passed and Ruby's bond to Rey grew strong, so strong even, that she began to experience hunger for the first time.
"Mother, I have this strange feeling," Ruby said, a hint of worry in her soft voice. She rubbed at her belly as she walked into the garden. "I do not know what it is."
Rey looked up at Ruby, and pushed her falling glasses back up her sweated nose. "You're hungry?" The question was asked with a hint of surprise, something Ruby thought she would never fall witness to in her lifetime. Rey looked down at the rosemary plant she had been working on. "I thought this day would never come," she whispered, though loud enough for Ruby to hear.
"This day? What do you mean?" Her sound was unsteady. Her heart raced.
Rey looked back up at Ruby. "Your father," she said as she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, one that to Ruby, seemed to take forever. "Was a Shinigami."
The news of her father's identity shook her world. It almost felt like an empty part of her had finally been filled; it was like she had just remembered something that she had forgotten for so long. Rey, being the wonderful mother she was, helped to guide Ruby to the right conclusion: Ruby would follow in her father's footsteps, and fulfill her destiny as a Shinigami. For the years leading up to her Entrance Examination for placement into the Shinigami Arts Academy, Ruby sought the guidance of one of Rey's good friends: an elder man who was versed in the ways of martial arts. Ruby learned the basics of both hand-to-hand and weapon-based combat, and she also learned the importance of meditation.
On her twenty-first birthday, she said her farewells--and promised Rey that she would visit one day--and embarked on an adventure that would change her forever.
Rey was an elderly woman who owned an herb shop in the 10th District, not far from Ruby's home. Rey's patience and kindness was renowned across the District, and it was her personality in part that led her business to thrive. Over the years, Ruby learned that patience and kindness from Rey, and also learned to like the scent of burning herbs.
"Why sage?" Ruby asked. "Cannot we use something else?"
Rey's wisdom spoke through her eyes, and she smiled. "Sage, my dear, is a gift from the Spirit King. It helps to cleanse both the mind and the heart of all ailments."
Ruby gave Rey a warm smile, and shook her head laughingly. "Oh mother, you''re always so quick to correct my wrongs. All right, Sage it is."
Years passed and Ruby's bond to Rey grew strong, so strong even, that she began to experience hunger for the first time.
"Mother, I have this strange feeling," Ruby said, a hint of worry in her soft voice. She rubbed at her belly as she walked into the garden. "I do not know what it is."
Rey looked up at Ruby, and pushed her falling glasses back up her sweated nose. "You're hungry?" The question was asked with a hint of surprise, something Ruby thought she would never fall witness to in her lifetime. Rey looked down at the rosemary plant she had been working on. "I thought this day would never come," she whispered, though loud enough for Ruby to hear.
"This day? What do you mean?" Her sound was unsteady. Her heart raced.
Rey looked back up at Ruby. "Your father," she said as she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, one that to Ruby, seemed to take forever. "Was a Shinigami."
The news of her father's identity shook her world. It almost felt like an empty part of her had finally been filled; it was like she had just remembered something that she had forgotten for so long. Rey, being the wonderful mother she was, helped to guide Ruby to the right conclusion: Ruby would follow in her father's footsteps, and fulfill her destiny as a Shinigami. For the years leading up to her Entrance Examination for placement into the Shinigami Arts Academy, Ruby sought the guidance of one of Rey's good friends: an elder man who was versed in the ways of martial arts. Ruby learned the basics of both hand-to-hand and weapon-based combat, and she also learned the importance of meditation.
On her twenty-first birthday, she said her farewells--and promised Rey that she would visit one day--and embarked on an adventure that would change her forever.
Shinigami Arts Academy - 2009 to 2015
Ruby's Entrance Examination had been straightforward: answer some questions in a face-to-face interview and punch and kick her way through an obstacle course. She was then assigned basic courses, given her student wears, and bestowed to her the most important item in a Shinigami student's arsenal--her asauchi.
From the very beginning, Ruby discovered that she preferred the quiet of isolation over the hustle-and-busle of socialization. She spent the majority of her initial year at the Academy going from her quarters to her classes with very little in between, primarily due to her strong interest in learning all that could be learned about the Shinigami--and about her father. Her foray into the Arts was met with astounding success; her ability within the Zanjutsu and Hohō competencies were so proficient that she gained recognition by her instructors, and thereafter, rumors led her popularity to rise with her peers. Her attempts at acquiring information about her father were fruitless, and all she ended up learning was that he had been an officer of the Fifth.
"Ruby?"
Ruby heard her name as she walked out of her recently-ended Hohō class, her arms full of books. She glanced back to find an overly tanned man with a tribal design etched across his left arm. He was rather attractive, so she blushed and looked down at the floor. "Yes?" Her reply was soft and feminine.
"Hey! Wait up for me!" he replied, rushing to her side. "I heard you were really good at this Shunpo stuff..." His mannerisms were rather raw. One could say goofy, and it made Ruby blush even more. "...and well, I wanted to ask you if you..." It seemed as if there was something he wanted to say, but could not. "...Honestly, I came over because I thought you were really cute and wanted to ask you if you wanted to go on a date."
Ruby's heart was literally doing Shunpo itself. She had never been approached by a boy before, and the rush she felt--especially the anxiety--was completely new to her. So she said the only thing that came to mind. "With me?"
The man laughed excitedly. "Of course with you! Who else would I be asking? There's no one else around."
Ruby could not help the smile that crept on her lips, and the red of her cheeks was now beyond recovery. "Yes, I would like that." She whispered, eyes still locked onto the floor. "And now I must go," she said abruptly as she turned and rushed down the hall. She needed to scream out the joyful adrenaline that pushed at her insides. She also really needed to use the bathroom.
"Hey, wait!" He yelled after her. "When are we going on that date?!"
"Room 25, second floor, farthest quarters!" she yelled back in the softest voice she could as she rounded the corner. "Tomorrow!"
Tomorrow came quickly, and Ruby spent the night with the man she would love for the next two years. Daigo was his name, and he was a man of action; he was bold and brave, standing up to the world's wrongs with an inner strength as solid as a stone. He taught her much about the power of will and the impact that an action can have on others. He taught her that when one wants to see change, one must become that change. And of course, she taught him much in return. It had been true that he lacked skill in both Hohō and Zanjutsu, and so she mentored him in the ways of the physical arts. Daigo and Ruby complimented one another, and she experienced two of her best years with him...until that fateful day.
The King of Hueco Mundo invaded Soul Society, and the students of the Shinigami Academy were not safe from the onslaught. The school grounds were flooded with Hollows of all kinds; both instructors and students united in an attempt to fight off the horde.
"Everyone, stay close!" Daigo commanded to the small group of students that had gathered. "Keep your weapons at the ready! Don't be afraid! We're going to make it through this together!" The group was made up of Daigo, Ruby and a handful of their classmates, but none of them had real battle experience. "Come on, keep moving!" They pushed forward through the open-aired courtyards of the Academy grounds as Hollow and Shinigami died alike.
Daigo led the way, his weapon at the ready, cutting through anything that came at them. Ruby kept to the back to ensure that no one fell behind. And then they came across an immovable wall of a Hollow. "Shit!" Daigo yelled, coughing blood. He was on his knees, the tip of his sword stuck into the stone ground. He had released his Shikai, but he was no match for the monster before them. No one else in their group--of those that were left--had yet achieved Shikai...and none would, save for Ruby. She snapped, for she could no longer hold onto the pain. She had kept it down for so long, but it was time to let go.
Name's Aka, baby doll.
Ruby, for the first time in her life, screamed at the top of her lungs. "Unleash, Bloodthirsty Queen!"
Ruby was overtaken by bloodlust, and the change in her demeanor was palpable. With the chains of her transformed weapon in hand, Ruby went on a frenzied onslaught, crushing limb and skull alike, until the only living souls were her and Daigo.
"Ruby," he said through ragged breaths. "You killed...everyone." The blood of both Hollow and Shinigami drenched the sphere of her meteor hammer. "You killed your friends!"
Ruby's grin made him shudder; he was defenseless, weak and unable to move. She paced toward him wearing that maniacal grin, her face covered in blood.
"Please, Ruby!"
Her grin widened as she cocked back her arm.
"What are you doing?! Ruby!"
She swung her arm up, and the chain followed.
"Stop! Please!"
The chain pulled the ball up high into the sky. Before she swung down, her grin widened to the point that only a madman's could. The ball came down onto Daigo's head, shattering his brain into a thousand pieces. In that moment, somewhere inside, the Ruby that loved him screamed in pain.
They found her unconscious body during the aftermath, and rushed her to the schools clinic--or what was left of it--for emergency care. When she woke, she immediately attempted suicide, for she had remembered her sins; the medical personnel sedated her every night for an entire month, and she was ordered to house arrest indefinitely until graduation. Over time she learned to heal, but only because she remembered the resolve of the man she loved. She meditated about what he would do in her shoes, what Rey would do, and in the end she found her way again. She made a promise to herself to never again unleash the evil that lived within.
During her final years at the Academy, Ruby kept to herself in the pursuit of forgiveness, peace of mind, and inner strength. She used her growing expertise in the physical arts to create a new identity for herself, one that would forever mask the truth that lay beneath. Eventually she graduated, and chose to join the Fifth: the "Fighting Division". Her reason for the decision was simple: be amongst those that needed her support the most.
From the very beginning, Ruby discovered that she preferred the quiet of isolation over the hustle-and-busle of socialization. She spent the majority of her initial year at the Academy going from her quarters to her classes with very little in between, primarily due to her strong interest in learning all that could be learned about the Shinigami--and about her father. Her foray into the Arts was met with astounding success; her ability within the Zanjutsu and Hohō competencies were so proficient that she gained recognition by her instructors, and thereafter, rumors led her popularity to rise with her peers. Her attempts at acquiring information about her father were fruitless, and all she ended up learning was that he had been an officer of the Fifth.
"Ruby?"
Ruby heard her name as she walked out of her recently-ended Hohō class, her arms full of books. She glanced back to find an overly tanned man with a tribal design etched across his left arm. He was rather attractive, so she blushed and looked down at the floor. "Yes?" Her reply was soft and feminine.
"Hey! Wait up for me!" he replied, rushing to her side. "I heard you were really good at this Shunpo stuff..." His mannerisms were rather raw. One could say goofy, and it made Ruby blush even more. "...and well, I wanted to ask you if you..." It seemed as if there was something he wanted to say, but could not. "...Honestly, I came over because I thought you were really cute and wanted to ask you if you wanted to go on a date."
Ruby's heart was literally doing Shunpo itself. She had never been approached by a boy before, and the rush she felt--especially the anxiety--was completely new to her. So she said the only thing that came to mind. "With me?"
The man laughed excitedly. "Of course with you! Who else would I be asking? There's no one else around."
Ruby could not help the smile that crept on her lips, and the red of her cheeks was now beyond recovery. "Yes, I would like that." She whispered, eyes still locked onto the floor. "And now I must go," she said abruptly as she turned and rushed down the hall. She needed to scream out the joyful adrenaline that pushed at her insides. She also really needed to use the bathroom.
"Hey, wait!" He yelled after her. "When are we going on that date?!"
"Room 25, second floor, farthest quarters!" she yelled back in the softest voice she could as she rounded the corner. "Tomorrow!"
Tomorrow came quickly, and Ruby spent the night with the man she would love for the next two years. Daigo was his name, and he was a man of action; he was bold and brave, standing up to the world's wrongs with an inner strength as solid as a stone. He taught her much about the power of will and the impact that an action can have on others. He taught her that when one wants to see change, one must become that change. And of course, she taught him much in return. It had been true that he lacked skill in both Hohō and Zanjutsu, and so she mentored him in the ways of the physical arts. Daigo and Ruby complimented one another, and she experienced two of her best years with him...until that fateful day.
The King of Hueco Mundo invaded Soul Society, and the students of the Shinigami Academy were not safe from the onslaught. The school grounds were flooded with Hollows of all kinds; both instructors and students united in an attempt to fight off the horde.
"Everyone, stay close!" Daigo commanded to the small group of students that had gathered. "Keep your weapons at the ready! Don't be afraid! We're going to make it through this together!" The group was made up of Daigo, Ruby and a handful of their classmates, but none of them had real battle experience. "Come on, keep moving!" They pushed forward through the open-aired courtyards of the Academy grounds as Hollow and Shinigami died alike.
Daigo led the way, his weapon at the ready, cutting through anything that came at them. Ruby kept to the back to ensure that no one fell behind. And then they came across an immovable wall of a Hollow. "Shit!" Daigo yelled, coughing blood. He was on his knees, the tip of his sword stuck into the stone ground. He had released his Shikai, but he was no match for the monster before them. No one else in their group--of those that were left--had yet achieved Shikai...and none would, save for Ruby. She snapped, for she could no longer hold onto the pain. She had kept it down for so long, but it was time to let go.
Name's Aka, baby doll.
Ruby, for the first time in her life, screamed at the top of her lungs. "Unleash, Bloodthirsty Queen!"
Ruby was overtaken by bloodlust, and the change in her demeanor was palpable. With the chains of her transformed weapon in hand, Ruby went on a frenzied onslaught, crushing limb and skull alike, until the only living souls were her and Daigo.
"Ruby," he said through ragged breaths. "You killed...everyone." The blood of both Hollow and Shinigami drenched the sphere of her meteor hammer. "You killed your friends!"
Ruby's grin made him shudder; he was defenseless, weak and unable to move. She paced toward him wearing that maniacal grin, her face covered in blood.
"Please, Ruby!"
Her grin widened as she cocked back her arm.
"What are you doing?! Ruby!"
She swung her arm up, and the chain followed.
"Stop! Please!"
The chain pulled the ball up high into the sky. Before she swung down, her grin widened to the point that only a madman's could. The ball came down onto Daigo's head, shattering his brain into a thousand pieces. In that moment, somewhere inside, the Ruby that loved him screamed in pain.
---
They found her unconscious body during the aftermath, and rushed her to the schools clinic--or what was left of it--for emergency care. When she woke, she immediately attempted suicide, for she had remembered her sins; the medical personnel sedated her every night for an entire month, and she was ordered to house arrest indefinitely until graduation. Over time she learned to heal, but only because she remembered the resolve of the man she loved. She meditated about what he would do in her shoes, what Rey would do, and in the end she found her way again. She made a promise to herself to never again unleash the evil that lived within.
During her final years at the Academy, Ruby kept to herself in the pursuit of forgiveness, peace of mind, and inner strength. She used her growing expertise in the physical arts to create a new identity for herself, one that would forever mask the truth that lay beneath. Eventually she graduated, and chose to join the Fifth: the "Fighting Division". Her reason for the decision was simple: be amongst those that needed her support the most.
Roleplay Sample
A small hand fell through the reishi-thick air ever so gently until calculated fingers touched the smooth edge of a teacup. The steam of boiling water rose up in an attempt to reach the room's wooden ceiling, but in the end, that had proven a feat too great; the scent of chai filled the room, followed by the gulping sound of someone drinking. A sigh of satisfaction escaped the confines of pink lips; this was what she needed after a long day's work.
Ruby brought down the cup to rest atop her lap, her hands reveling in the warmth of the tea. She felt drained, her energy sapped right out from her veins, but it was a familiar feeling. She felt this way every day, no matter who she spoke to or what she did; she was sure she would go mad if she had to be out-and-about all day. That was why she enjoyed time to herself, because it helped her recharge.
She took another sip of the honey-sweetened tea, inhaling a whiff of the relaxing scent as she did. Her thoughts were in so many different places with all that had and was happening within Seireitei. Captain Commander Chinda's announcement regarding half-hollows--Vaizards, as she called them--had made quite the ruckus. In all honesty, Ruby felt indifferent about allowing the half-breeds to stay within the Seireitei, though under the condition that they truly were in control of their own power.
Ruby glanced over at her Zanpakutō that was resting on the table, but she quickly looked away in shame. Who am I to talk.
And then there was the general state of the Gotei. Ever since her arrival to the Fifth, the Divisions--all of them--went through drastic changes like it was the norm. She had not known how volatile the primary force of the Shinigami truly was, and there were times she wished she had not thrown herself into the chaos. But there were still some people that showed promise for a better Gotei; they shined brightly against the darkness that shrouded Soul Society. Shun Minamoto...
A sound akin to the roar of thunder assaulted her ears, and her body shook from the aftermath. Her stomach rose to her throat, and the hairs on her body stood as straight they could. She put the cup down next to her on the nightingale floor and paced toward the paper door facing the maze that was the Seireitei. When she slid open the door, she could not believe both her eyes and her senses: the Captain Commander, and the Captain of the Fourth, were fighting to the death.
OOC__
Player Alias: Ruby
Do you want a grade?: Yes! 750-1000.
Were you referred by anyone?: Kyousuke
Other Characters: Shushana Senganza (Deceased)
