#rubywings

OC RP Blog | Ruby | F | 22 | Ghost Bat | Technophile

[lovelylittleweed]

hashtag-ruby-wings

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.” She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well… people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like… werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

-Ruby was…bright. Comforting, cute…Mint felt their nerves begin to ease. She was kind. Although the concept of shifters was strange-

Shifters…? S-so…you can t-turn into a bat?

-That would explain the ears. They were thin, and covered in a soft velvety fur. Now that Mint looked at them, they did look like bat ears. Somehow, it wasn’t the strangest thing Mint had encountered-

I g-guess that is…p-pretty hard to talk about. S-so are there a lot of…of shifters? U-um, I guess just…the idea of t-turning into an animal is…p-pretty amazing.

-Mint fidgeted, their hands half-signing words as the concept really struck them-

Then…c-can you fly? What is it like?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Yeah!” Ruby peeked out from behind the pillow a little more, lowering it slightly. “I can show you, once I’m feeling a little better from almost knocking my own block off. A ghost bat to be precise. They’re local to where I’m from. Three guesses as to where that is,” she added with a cheeky wink.

As her confidence seeped back in, Ruby lowered the pillow further, meeting Mint’s gaze as she continued with her explanation. “There are a good deal of us, although we do our best to keep it under wraps. Some humans know about our existence, but very few. It could be really dangerous if too many people knew. Especially for shifters that are mythical creatures instead of just animals. They run the risk of actively being hunted, so they keep to themselves and keep a very low profile.” She sighed. “Not everyone is as nice as you are.”

That was straying into unpleasant territory, so Ruby was glad to hear Mint’s next question. “That’s how I ended up in the graveyard, actually! I was taking a break from work and decided to nip out for a quick flight, and an owl decided to make me its dinner.” She glanced toward the window, still feeling more than just a touch of animosity towards owls in general. “Flying is… amazing. It’s my favorite part of being a shifter. It’s so much fun seeing the ground pass by below when you’re high enough for the air to be just a little thin, with a huge silver moon as your backdrop.” She sighed happily, then realized how much she’d been talking and flushed lightly. “Sorry, I hope I haven’t talked your ear off.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint watched Ruby, enraptured as she spoke. A small, shy smile formed on their face-

That s-sounds…amazing. I um, I g-guess not the whole “almost g-getting eaten” thing, but…I w-would give anything to fly. I r-really don’t mind…I’d love t-to hear more. B-besides…my ears aren’t…aren’t that great.

-Their hand went up to tug at a strand of hair, gesturing at their hearing aid. It wasn’t usually something they liked to bring up, but…it was already a much smaller secret than Ruby’s. A small giggle bubbled up in Mint’s throat-

Ghosts and bats…and a g-graveyard. It’s…the whole package. Ah…m-maybe I shouldn’t laugh. You’re h-here because you got hurt…b-but you can stay as long as you like, until y-your head feels better. Um, just let me know if…if you need anything, alright?

-Honestly, they wouldn’t mind if Ruby stayed even longer. It was nice having someone to talk to. She wasn’t scary. She wouldn’t hurt them-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby shrugged, smiling ruefully. “It comes with the territory, I guess. No one’s made a snack out of me yet, though. I wish I could take you with me on a flight somehow.” 

After they pointed its existence out, Ruby looked up at Mint’s hearing aid in surprise; she hadn’t suspected that. She wondered how good of a model it was; clearly they weren’t haven’t any trouble hearing her. It was something she could ask about later. 

She giggled as well after they pointed out the aesthetic that she seemed to fit rather nicely into. “We do have sort of a theme going on here, huh? Actually, how far from the graveyard are we? Were you just in the area when you found me? And I appreciate the offer.” She pressed a hand against her head, wincing lightly. “The pain medicine is starting to help some. I hate to be a freeloader, and I’ll see what I can do to help out once I’m good again, but…” At that moment her stomach rumbled, speaking for her. “Sorry! I think I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, maybe. But I can wash dishes or something to make up for it!”

[lovelylittleweed]

Um, we’re s-still in it, actually. I uh…own the p-property. I w-was walking home when…when I found you.

-Mint signed fragments of words as they explained, almost unconsciously-

You r-really don’t have to worry about it. You’re not f-freeloading. I don’t…don’t get a lot of company…It’s n-nice, having someone to talk to. And I c-couldn’t possibly ask you t-to help out when you’re hurt. You should rest more.

-At Ruby’s awkward request, Mint smiled-

I’ll go make you s-some food. If you need anything, you c-can just call. Um, you might n-need to be a bit…loud, f-for me to hear you. I’ll be b-back in a little bit. I’ll bring s-some ice, too…for your head.

-Mint turned to go, leaving the door open behind them so sound could travel. Distant sounds of working in the kitchen could soon be heard-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Oh!” Ruby glanced over towards the window, wondering if she’d find herself looking out over the assortment of gravestones once she had the energy to stand up without keeling over. “Cripes, I really did get lucky.”

She noticed Mint’s hands weaving amongst themselves as they spoke, bewildered for a brief moment before it dawned on her that it must have sign language - American, to be precise, as opposed to the Auslan she was more used to seeing. Ruby made a note of it, intending to take a look at it later…

…and it occurred to her in that moment that she was completely unwired, having left everything back at her apartment prior to going out for what was supposed to just be a short flight.

That fact in particular was more jarring and troubling than anything else that had happened so far.

She smiled gratefully at Mint as they departed to go make much-needed food, although the moment they were out of sight her face fell. This… was bad. She had a couple of ongoing assignments and things to monitor, and without as much as her phone there was no way to keep track of any of it. Maybe Mint had one? Although she was already asking way too much of them already. Worrying seemed to be making her head hurt worse, and Ruby lay back, staring at the ceiling while clutching the pillow to her chest. Going anywhere was out of the question, especially since she couldn’t hide her ears at the moment, either. For better or worse, she would have to deal with being offline for a couple of days at least. The most she could hope for was being able to alert her current clients that there would be delays.

Ruby sighed glumly, allowing her eyes to slip shut.

At least Mint was nice. It didn’t seem like the worst place to be stranded in for a bit, and definitely not the worst person to be stranded with.

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint returned a while later, carrying a tray of food with them. Ruby was resting, right where they left her. The sight calmed down their oversensitive nerves, that she has stayed in one place while they were gone. Gently, Mint knocked on the open door to alert their presence-

Ruby…? Are you sleeping?

-Cautiously, they made their way in, balancing the tray in their hands. They set it down on the side table, picking something off of it. An ice pack, wrapped up in a towel-

Um, I b-brought you some ice. S-sorry if I woke you…Uh, are you okay? Y-you look worried.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby was dozing, lightly enough that she’d fully woken up before Mint actually addressed her. She opened one eye, stretching as she sat up in bed. “I’m up!” She exclaimed, albeit a little less energetically than before. She inhaled the aroma of food - it really had been a full day since her last meal, hadn’t it? - and beamed at Mint. “Thank you! I’ll make it up to you once I’m good again, I promise.” The ice pack was tempting, but quieting her stomach was a more pressing matter, and Ruby set it aside in favor of reaching for the tray.

After the first couple of bites - nothing gourmet but it might as well have been as far as Ruby was concerned - she addressed Mint’s question, feeling rather guilty for having to ask anything else of them. “I’m… sorry, I know you said you didn’t mind, with me asking for things, but I’m not really used to it so it’s hard not to feel bad. I live alone and have ever since I left home, and I don’t really have any family over here, either, so… I rely on myself, for the most part. But. This is kind of important; the work I do requires me being able to stay in contact with clients, and I left everything back at my apartment before I left last night. Do you have a phone or a laptop or anything? Even if I can just use it briefly to tell them it’ll be a few days before I’m available again.” She sighed, wincing at how acute that sense of guilt was; was she really this out of practice with interacting with other people (in person, at least)?

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint watched her eat awkwardly, unsure of where to look. It was probably rude to stare, but Mint couldn’t help glancing up to her ears every few seconds. They looked so soft and delicate, sprouting from Ruby’s silky blonde hair. They were almost grateful when Ruby addressed them again-

Um…I do h-have a laptop, but…it’s pretty old. O-of course you can use my phone if y-you want. Or if…if you’re okay with it, I c-could go…get your things f-for you. Since you p-probably can’t g-go out for a while.

-Mint’s gaze flicked up to her ears once again. They shifted awkwardly. Was that too weird to offer? They were practically strangers-

It’s really okay. I d-don’t want you to…to have to s-stop your work because y-you’re here. Uh, if y-you just tell me the address, I c-can go get anything y-you need. Do you…maybe have a s-spare key hidden somewhere?

-’If not, I can pick the lock.’ Mint kept silent about that last part. Explaining that particular skillset probably wouldn’t go over well-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby faltered between bites at the reminder that, for the time being, she was completely grounded; she felt another surge of bitterness towards that stupid owl, but forced herself to keep from scowling. She didn't want to alarm Mint, who seemed to be particularly rattled at the moment (although she wasn't sure why). She also wasn't sure how to tell Mint that she didn't really carry anything with her when she went out on flights for safety reasons, nor did she risk leaving a spare key around with all of the gadgets she'd either acquired or lovingly pieced together over the past couple of years. It was just as easy to engage the lock before shutting the door and pick the damn thing with a hairpin when she got back.

She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Mint that, nor explain why she'd acquired that particular talent in the first place.

Ruby mulled over her options for a minute before speaking again, pensive expression brightening into a smile again. "No, that's okay, I can just use what you have here. It's no big deal, I'll probably just have to make a few updates, and I can just order a couple of things. You've done enough for me already, Mint," she added, gratefully. "If I had to almost crack my head open on a headstone in a cemetery, I'm glad it just happened to be yours."

[inefekt69]

Akihabara - Tokyo, Japan

[lovelylittleweed]

hashtag-ruby-wings

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.” She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well… people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like… werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

-Ruby was…bright. Comforting, cute…Mint felt their nerves begin to ease. She was kind. Although the concept of shifters was strange-

Shifters…? S-so…you can t-turn into a bat?

-That would explain the ears. They were thin, and covered in a soft velvety fur. Now that Mint looked at them, they did look like bat ears. Somehow, it wasn’t the strangest thing Mint had encountered-

I g-guess that is…p-pretty hard to talk about. S-so are there a lot of…of shifters? U-um, I guess just…the idea of t-turning into an animal is…p-pretty amazing.

-Mint fidgeted, their hands half-signing words as the concept really struck them-

Then…c-can you fly? What is it like?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Yeah!” Ruby peeked out from behind the pillow a little more, lowering it slightly. “I can show you, once I’m feeling a little better from almost knocking my own block off. A ghost bat to be precise. They’re local to where I’m from. Three guesses as to where that is,” she added with a cheeky wink.

As her confidence seeped back in, Ruby lowered the pillow further, meeting Mint’s gaze as she continued with her explanation. “There are a good deal of us, although we do our best to keep it under wraps. Some humans know about our existence, but very few. It could be really dangerous if too many people knew. Especially for shifters that are mythical creatures instead of just animals. They run the risk of actively being hunted, so they keep to themselves and keep a very low profile.” She sighed. “Not everyone is as nice as you are.”

That was straying into unpleasant territory, so Ruby was glad to hear Mint’s next question. “That’s how I ended up in the graveyard, actually! I was taking a break from work and decided to nip out for a quick flight, and an owl decided to make me its dinner.” She glanced toward the window, still feeling more than just a touch of animosity towards owls in general. “Flying is… amazing. It’s my favorite part of being a shifter. It’s so much fun seeing the ground pass by below when you’re high enough for the air to be just a little thin, with a huge silver moon as your backdrop.” She sighed happily, then realized how much she’d been talking and flushed lightly. “Sorry, I hope I haven’t talked your ear off.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint watched Ruby, enraptured as she spoke. A small, shy smile formed on their face-

That s-sounds…amazing. I um, I g-guess not the whole “almost g-getting eaten” thing, but…I w-would give anything to fly. I r-really don’t mind…I’d love t-to hear more. B-besides…my ears aren’t…aren’t that great.

-Their hand went up to tug at a strand of hair, gesturing at their hearing aid. It wasn’t usually something they liked to bring up, but…it was already a much smaller secret than Ruby’s. A small giggle bubbled up in Mint’s throat-

Ghosts and bats…and a g-graveyard. It’s…the whole package. Ah…m-maybe I shouldn’t laugh. You’re h-here because you got hurt…b-but you can stay as long as you like, until y-your head feels better. Um, just let me know if…if you need anything, alright?

-Honestly, they wouldn’t mind if Ruby stayed even longer. It was nice having someone to talk to. She wasn’t scary. She wouldn’t hurt them-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby shrugged, smiling ruefully. “It comes with the territory, I guess. No one’s made a snack out of me yet, though. I wish I could take you with me on a flight somehow.” 

After they pointed its existence out, Ruby looked up at Mint’s hearing aid in surprise; she hadn’t suspected that. She wondered how good of a model it was; clearly they weren’t haven’t any trouble hearing her. It was something she could ask about later. 

She giggled as well after they pointed out the aesthetic that she seemed to fit rather nicely into. “We do have sort of a theme going on here, huh? Actually, how far from the graveyard are we? Were you just in the area when you found me? And I appreciate the offer.” She pressed a hand against her head, wincing lightly. “The pain medicine is starting to help some. I hate to be a freeloader, and I’ll see what I can do to help out once I’m good again, but…” At that moment her stomach rumbled, speaking for her. “Sorry! I think I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, maybe. But I can wash dishes or something to make up for it!”

[lovelylittleweed]

Um, we’re s-still in it, actually. I uh…own the p-property. I w-was walking home when…when I found you.

-Mint signed fragments of words as they explained, almost unconsciously-

You r-really don’t have to worry about it. You’re not f-freeloading. I don’t…don’t get a lot of company…It’s n-nice, having someone to talk to. And I c-couldn’t possibly ask you t-to help out when you’re hurt. You should rest more.

-At Ruby’s awkward request, Mint smiled-

I’ll go make you s-some food. If you need anything, you c-can just call. Um, you might n-need to be a bit…loud, f-for me to hear you. I’ll be b-back in a little bit. I’ll bring s-some ice, too…for your head.

-Mint turned to go, leaving the door open behind them so sound could travel. Distant sounds of working in the kitchen could soon be heard-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Oh!” Ruby glanced over towards the window, wondering if she’d find herself looking out over the assortment of gravestones once she had the energy to stand up without keeling over. “Cripes, I really did get lucky.”

She noticed Mint’s hands weaving amongst themselves as they spoke, bewildered for a brief moment before it dawned on her that it must have sign language - American, to be precise, as opposed to the Auslan she was more used to seeing. Ruby made a note of it, intending to take a look at it later…

…and it occurred to her in that moment that she was completely unwired, having left everything back at her apartment prior to going out for what was supposed to just be a short flight.

That fact in particular was more jarring and troubling than anything else that had happened so far.

She smiled gratefully at Mint as they departed to go make much-needed food, although the moment they were out of sight her face fell. This… was bad. She had a couple of ongoing assignments and things to monitor, and without as much as her phone there was no way to keep track of any of it. Maybe Mint had one? Although she was already asking way too much of them already. Worrying seemed to be making her head hurt worse, and Ruby lay back, staring at the ceiling while clutching the pillow to her chest. Going anywhere was out of the question, especially since she couldn’t hide her ears at the moment, either. For better or worse, she would have to deal with being offline for a couple of days at least. The most she could hope for was being able to alert her current clients that there would be delays.

Ruby sighed glumly, allowing her eyes to slip shut.

At least Mint was nice. It didn’t seem like the worst place to be stranded in for a bit, and definitely not the worst person to be stranded with.

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint returned a while later, carrying a tray of food with them. Ruby was resting, right where they left her. The sight calmed down their oversensitive nerves, that she has stayed in one place while they were gone. Gently, Mint knocked on the open door to alert their presence-

Ruby…? Are you sleeping?

-Cautiously, they made their way in, balancing the tray in their hands. They set it down on the side table, picking something off of it. An ice pack, wrapped up in a towel-

Um, I b-brought you some ice. S-sorry if I woke you…Uh, are you okay? Y-you look worried.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby was dozing, lightly enough that she'd fully woken up before Mint actually addressed her. She opened one eye, stretching as she sat up in bed. "I'm up!" She exclaimed, albeit a little less energetically than before. She inhaled the aroma of food - it really had been a full day since her last meal, hadn't it? - and beamed at Mint. "Thank you! I'll make it up to you once I'm good again, I promise." The ice pack was tempting, but quieting her stomach was a more pressing matter, and Ruby set it aside in favor of reaching for the tray.

After the first couple of bites - nothing gourmet but it might as well have been as far as Ruby was concerned - she addressed Mint's question, feeling rather guilty for having to ask anything else of them. "I'm... sorry, I know you said you didn't mind, with me asking for things, but I'm not really used to it so it's hard not to feel bad. I live alone and have ever since I left home, and I don't really have any family over here, either, so... I rely on myself, for the most part. But. This is kind of important; the work I do requires me being able to stay in contact with clients, and I left everything back at my apartment before I left last night. Do you have a phone or a laptop or anything? Even if I can just use it briefly to tell them it'll be a few days before I'm available again." She sighed, wincing at how acute that sense of guilt was; was she really this out of practice with interacting with other people (in person, at least)?

[lovelylittleweed]

hashtag-ruby-wings

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.” She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well… people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like… werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

-Ruby was…bright. Comforting, cute…Mint felt their nerves begin to ease. She was kind. Although the concept of shifters was strange-

Shifters…? S-so…you can t-turn into a bat?

-That would explain the ears. They were thin, and covered in a soft velvety fur. Now that Mint looked at them, they did look like bat ears. Somehow, it wasn’t the strangest thing Mint had encountered-

I g-guess that is…p-pretty hard to talk about. S-so are there a lot of…of shifters? U-um, I guess just…the idea of t-turning into an animal is…p-pretty amazing.

-Mint fidgeted, their hands half-signing words as the concept really struck them-

Then…c-can you fly? What is it like?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Yeah!” Ruby peeked out from behind the pillow a little more, lowering it slightly. “I can show you, once I’m feeling a little better from almost knocking my own block off. A ghost bat to be precise. They’re local to where I’m from. Three guesses as to where that is,” she added with a cheeky wink.

As her confidence seeped back in, Ruby lowered the pillow further, meeting Mint’s gaze as she continued with her explanation. “There are a good deal of us, although we do our best to keep it under wraps. Some humans know about our existence, but very few. It could be really dangerous if too many people knew. Especially for shifters that are mythical creatures instead of just animals. They run the risk of actively being hunted, so they keep to themselves and keep a very low profile.” She sighed. “Not everyone is as nice as you are.”

That was straying into unpleasant territory, so Ruby was glad to hear Mint’s next question. “That’s how I ended up in the graveyard, actually! I was taking a break from work and decided to nip out for a quick flight, and an owl decided to make me its dinner.” She glanced toward the window, still feeling more than just a touch of animosity towards owls in general. “Flying is… amazing. It’s my favorite part of being a shifter. It’s so much fun seeing the ground pass by below when you’re high enough for the air to be just a little thin, with a huge silver moon as your backdrop.” She sighed happily, then realized how much she’d been talking and flushed lightly. “Sorry, I hope I haven’t talked your ear off.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint watched Ruby, enraptured as she spoke. A small, shy smile formed on their face-

That s-sounds…amazing. I um, I g-guess not the whole “almost g-getting eaten” thing, but…I w-would give anything to fly. I r-really don’t mind…I’d love t-to hear more. B-besides…my ears aren’t…aren’t that great.

-Their hand went up to tug at a strand of hair, gesturing at their hearing aid. It wasn’t usually something they liked to bring up, but…it was already a much smaller secret than Ruby’s. A small giggle bubbled up in Mint’s throat-

Ghosts and bats…and a g-graveyard. It’s…the whole package. Ah…m-maybe I shouldn’t laugh. You’re h-here because you got hurt…b-but you can stay as long as you like, until y-your head feels better. Um, just let me know if…if you need anything, alright?

-Honestly, they wouldn’t mind if Ruby stayed even longer. It was nice having someone to talk to. She wasn’t scary. She wouldn’t hurt them-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby shrugged, smiling ruefully. “It comes with the territory, I guess. No one’s made a snack out of me yet, though. I wish I could take you with me on a flight somehow.” 

After they pointed its existence out, Ruby looked up at Mint’s hearing aid in surprise; she hadn’t suspected that. She wondered how good of a model it was; clearly they weren’t haven’t any trouble hearing her. It was something she could ask about later. 

She giggled as well after they pointed out the aesthetic that she seemed to fit rather nicely into. “We do have sort of a theme going on here, huh? Actually, how far from the graveyard are we? Were you just in the area when you found me? And I appreciate the offer.” She pressed a hand against her head, wincing lightly. “The pain medicine is starting to help some. I hate to be a freeloader, and I’ll see what I can do to help out once I’m good again, but…” At that moment her stomach rumbled, speaking for her. “Sorry! I think I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, maybe. But I can wash dishes or something to make up for it!”

[lovelylittleweed]

Um, we’re s-still in it, actually. I uh…own the p-property. I w-was walking home when…when I found you.

-Mint signed fragments of words as they explained, almost unconsciously-

You r-really don’t have to worry about it. You’re not f-freeloading. I don’t…don’t get a lot of company…It’s n-nice, having someone to talk to. And I c-couldn’t possibly ask you t-to help out when you’re hurt. You should rest more.

-At Ruby’s awkward request, Mint smiled-

I’ll go make you s-some food. If you need anything, you c-can just call. Um, you might n-need to be a bit…loud, f-for me to hear you. I’ll be b-back in a little bit. I’ll bring s-some ice, too…for your head.

-Mint turned to go, leaving the door open behind them so sound could travel. Distant sounds of working in the kitchen could soon be heard-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

"Oh!" Ruby glanced over towards the window, wondering if she'd find herself looking out over the assortment of gravestones once she had the energy to stand up without keeling over. "Cripes, I really did get lucky."

She noticed Mint's hands weaving amongst themselves as they spoke, bewildered for a brief moment before it dawned on her that it must have sign language - American, to be precise, as opposed to the Auslan she was more used to seeing. Ruby made a note of it, intending to take a look at it later...

...and it occurred to her in that moment that she was completely unwired, having left everything back at her apartment prior to going out for what was supposed to just be a short flight.

That fact in particular was more jarring and troubling than anything else that had happened so far.

She smiled gratefully at Mint as they departed to go make much-needed food, although the moment they were out of sight her face fell. This... was bad. She had a couple of ongoing assignments and things to monitor, and without as much as her phone there was no way to keep track of any of it. Maybe Mint had one? Although she was already asking way too much of them already. Worrying seemed to be making her head hurt worse, and Ruby lay back, staring at the ceiling while clutching the pillow to her chest. Going anywhere was out of the question, especially since she couldn't hide her ears at the moment, either. For better or worse, she would have to deal with being offline for a couple of days at least. The most she could hope for was being able to alert her current clients that there would be delays.

Ruby sighed glumly, allowing her eyes to slip shut.

At least Mint was nice. It didn't seem like the worst place to be stranded in for a bit, and definitely not the worst person to be stranded with.

[lovelylittleweed]

hashtag-ruby-wings

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.” She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well… people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like… werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

-Ruby was…bright. Comforting, cute…Mint felt their nerves begin to ease. She was kind. Although the concept of shifters was strange-

Shifters…? S-so…you can t-turn into a bat?

-That would explain the ears. They were thin, and covered in a soft velvety fur. Now that Mint looked at them, they did look like bat ears. Somehow, it wasn’t the strangest thing Mint had encountered-

I g-guess that is…p-pretty hard to talk about. S-so are there a lot of…of shifters? U-um, I guess just…the idea of t-turning into an animal is…p-pretty amazing.

-Mint fidgeted, their hands half-signing words as the concept really struck them-

Then…c-can you fly? What is it like?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

“Yeah!” Ruby peeked out from behind the pillow a little more, lowering it slightly. “I can show you, once I’m feeling a little better from almost knocking my own block off. A ghost bat to be precise. They’re local to where I’m from. Three guesses as to where that is,” she added with a cheeky wink.

As her confidence seeped back in, Ruby lowered the pillow further, meeting Mint’s gaze as she continued with her explanation. “There are a good deal of us, although we do our best to keep it under wraps. Some humans know about our existence, but very few. It could be really dangerous if too many people knew. Especially for shifters that are mythical creatures instead of just animals. They run the risk of actively being hunted, so they keep to themselves and keep a very low profile.” She sighed. “Not everyone is as nice as you are.”

That was straying into unpleasant territory, so Ruby was glad to hear Mint’s next question. “That’s how I ended up in the graveyard, actually! I was taking a break from work and decided to nip out for a quick flight, and an owl decided to make me its dinner.” She glanced toward the window, still feeling more than just a touch of animosity towards owls in general. “Flying is… amazing. It’s my favorite part of being a shifter. It’s so much fun seeing the ground pass by below when you’re high enough for the air to be just a little thin, with a huge silver moon as your backdrop.” She sighed happily, then realized how much she’d been talking and flushed lightly. “Sorry, I hope I haven’t talked your ear off.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint watched Ruby, enraptured as she spoke. A small, shy smile formed on their face-

That s-sounds…amazing. I um, I g-guess not the whole “almost g-getting eaten” thing, but…I w-would give anything to fly. I r-really don’t mind…I’d love t-to hear more. B-besides…my ears aren’t…aren’t that great.

-Their hand went up to tug at a strand of hair, gesturing at their hearing aid. It wasn’t usually something they liked to bring up, but…it was already a much smaller secret than Ruby’s. A small giggle bubbled up in Mint’s throat-

Ghosts and bats…and a g-graveyard. It’s…the whole package. Ah…m-maybe I shouldn’t laugh. You’re h-here because you got hurt…b-but you can stay as long as you like, until y-your head feels better. Um, just let me know if…if you need anything, alright?

-Honestly, they wouldn’t mind if Ruby stayed even longer. It was nice having someone to talk to. She wasn’t scary. She wouldn’t hurt them-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby shrugged, smiling ruefully. “It comes with the territory, I guess. No one’s made a snack out of me yet, though. I wish I could take you with me on a flight somehow.” 

After they pointed its existence out, Ruby looked up at Mint’s hearing aid in surprise; she hadn’t suspected that. She wondered how good of a model it was; clearly they weren’t haven’t any trouble hearing her. It was something she could ask about later. 

She giggled as well after they pointed out the aesthetic that she seemed to fit rather nicely into. “We do have sort of a theme going on here, huh? Actually, how far from the graveyard are we? Were you just in the area when you found me? And I appreciate the offer.” She pressed a hand against her head, wincing lightly. “The pain medicine is starting to help some. I hate to be a freeloader, and I’ll see what I can do to help out once I’m good again, but...” At that moment her stomach rumbled, speaking for her. “Sorry! I think I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, maybe. But I can wash dishes or something to make up for it!”

[lovelylittleweed]

hashtag-ruby-wings

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.” She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well… people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like… werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

-Ruby was…bright. Comforting, cute…Mint felt their nerves begin to ease. She was kind. Although the concept of shifters was strange-

Shifters…? S-so…you can t-turn into a bat?

-That would explain the ears. They were thin, and covered in a soft velvety fur. Now that Mint looked at them, they did look like bat ears. Somehow, it wasn’t the strangest thing Mint had encountered-

I g-guess that is…p-pretty hard to talk about. S-so are there a lot of…of shifters? U-um, I guess just…the idea of t-turning into an animal is…p-pretty amazing.

-Mint fidgeted, their hands half-signing words as the concept really struck them-

Then…c-can you fly? What is it like?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

"Yeah!" Ruby peeked out from behind the pillow a little more, lowering it slightly. "I can show you, once I'm feeling a little better from almost knocking my own block off. A ghost bat to be precise. They're local to where I'm from. Three guesses as to where that is," she added with a cheeky wink.

As her confidence seeped back in, Ruby lowered the pillow further, meeting Mint's gaze as she continued with her explanation. "There are a good deal of us, although we do our best to keep it under wraps. Some humans know about our existence, but very few. It could be really dangerous if too many people knew. Especially for shifters that are mythical creatures instead of just animals. They run the risk of actively being hunted, so they keep to themselves and keep a very low profile." She sighed. "Not everyone is as nice as you are."

That was straying into unpleasant territory, so Ruby was glad to hear Mint's next question. "That's how I ended up in the graveyard, actually! I was taking a break from work and decided to nip out for a quick flight, and an owl decided to make me its dinner." She glanced toward the window, still feeling more than just a touch of animosity towards owls in general. "Flying is... amazing. It's my favorite part of being a shifter. It's so much fun seeing the ground pass by below when you're high enough for the air to be just a little thin, with a huge silver moon as your backdrop." She sighed happily, then realized how much she'd been talking and flushed lightly. "Sorry, I hope I haven't talked your ear off."

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

(Starter for @lovelylittleweed)

The thing about Mondays, Ruby realized, mere seconds before colliding with the surface of a large tombstone, was that they always came back to bite you in the end. What had started out as a ‘cheer up’ flight after a very long day (resulting in two blacklisted clients, a fried external hard drive, and the depletion of her entire stock of energy drinks) had ultimately turned into a race for her life against a large owl who had decided a flying mouse would have to do for the night. Ruby beat her wings as fast as her tiny frame would allow for, swooping among branches and diving haphazardly in an attempt to shake the bloody bastard off, but the owl persisted, hot on her trail. Tosser. This owl was a straight up tosser. Owls were banned. If she had any belongings with an owl on them they were going out into the rubbish bin as soon as she managed to extricate herself from this situation and make it back to her apartment. These thoughts occupied her mind as she broke free of the woods. A graveyard, rows of tombstones and memorials outlined in pale moonlight loomed ahead; if she could just make it into the shelter of one perhaps she could buy herself enough time to shift back into a body that was considerably larger than an owl - or at least too big to devour in a single gulp. She swooped low, owl growing dangerously close… and then sharply banked left, inwardly cheering at the sound of the owl clipping its wing on a gravestone. ‘Get stuffed, wanker,’ Ruby thought murderously - - and realized, much too late to swerve, that she’d incidentally put herself right in the path of another gravestone. She let out a nearly inaudible squeak as she hit the surface dead on, blinding pain washing over her as she fell the remaining couple of feet and landed in the soft grass surrounding the plot. Ruby lay gasping; the world was rapidly darkening, and she retained just enough of her mental faculties to transform most of the way back, at least - save for the pair of soft, velvet-furred ears nestled into her hair. “Bloody hell,” she whispered. And then the lights went out.

[lovelylittleweed]

-It was early when Mint found her. Before dawn even brightened the horizon, Mint was tending the cemetery. They found her sprawled on the ground, unconscious and bloodied at the scalp. Panicked, Mint checked her pulse, letting out a sigh of relief when they felt that steady heartbeat-

Miss? Miss, p-please wake up. A-are you okay?

-They shook her, trying to rouse her with little success. They considered their options. They hated hospitals, but they couldn’t just leave the girl here. She was clearly hurt. Mint’s hand trailed up to her bloodied head, pausing when their fingers brushed against something soft. They almost seemed like…animal ears?-

What…? Are these…r-real?

-There was no answer. The girl was fully unconscious. The ears were firmly attached, so somehow Mint got the feeling this girl wouldn’t want to go to the hospital either. Without any other options, Mint scooped her up carefully and took her back to their small cottage on the edge of the property. She could stay in the guest room until she woke up-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Regaining consciousness was gradual. She felt as if she were drifting on a vast, dark sea, buoyed upon the waves with no sense of direction. 

Her head was killing her. 

Slowly Ruby became aware of the fact that she was lying on something soft, warmed beneath some equally soft material; she sat up, grimacing at how much pain the simple motion caused. Her eyes fluttered open, expecting to see her familiar spread of posters lining the walls and the smattering of star stickers lining the ceiling; the stark, bare surfaces staring back at her led to the immediate realization that she was not, in fact, at her apartment, and she was also not in her own bed. The memories from just before she’d passed out came back in a rush - the owl, the madcap dash through the woods, flying into the graveyard. Slamming into the surface of the gravestone at full speed, just barely managing to shift back before everything went dark for good. Her eyes widened, and her hand shot up, brushing against the bandage around her head briefly before seeking out the ears that she’d failed to hide properly. She attempted to do so then, but the action made the pain in her head spike, leaving her panting; well, that sucked. It looked as if she was stuck that way for the moment, at least until she healed a little further. It also meant that there was no way whoever had brought her here hadn’t noticed. 

Ruby groaned, burying her face in her hands lightly. At least they hadn’t taken her to the hospital in such a state. And they had been kind enough to tend to her head, as well. She cleared her throat, wincing at how dry and raspy her voice sounded as she called out towards the door. “Hello?”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint heard a faint call. It was barely audible with their hearing aid, but it definitely sounded like a voice. That girl must have woken up. Mint grabbed a bottle of painkillers and some water before heading to the room. They knocked politely before entering-

U-um, excuse me…I’m g-glad you’re awake. I w-was really worried. I wanted to t-take you to a hospital, b-but…

-They glanced at Ruby’s ears, their expression equal parts nervous and curious-

…I, um…I thought that m-might not be the b-best idea. I w-wanted to..ask about those.

-Mint realized they were staring, and quickly averted their gaze. They moved closer to the bed cautiously-

Uh, I b-brought you some painkillers. H-how do you f-feel?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby watched, with just a hint of tension, as a wiry figure with dark hair entered, with a bottle of pills and a glass of water in tow. She reflexively clutched the blanket tightly as they approached (she wasn’t sure of gender; they were a good half a foot taller than she was, but that was pretty much the norm for someone that had never managed to break 5'0") - if she was wrong about their intentions she was in no shape to fight back with as much pain as she was in. However, the moment they began to speak her nerves loosened a good bit; their voice was soft, marked by an obvious hesitant stutter, as if they were just as nervous as she was.

And of course they’d noticed her ears. How could they not? Ruby sighed lightly, wondering how screwed she was - if only she could just shift and make a break for it! Although she did owe them an explanation…

Ruby smiled faintly, although not without wincing. “Gotta say I’ve been better, mate.” She graciously accepted the pills, taking a couple and draining the glass of water in its entirety. “Thanks.” She lightly touched the bandage around her head. “And for not taking me to the hospital. Especially since…” Her hand moved to poke at one of her ears. “Since I can’t shift back just yet.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-The girl seemed nervous. That was understandable, given the situation. Mint was nervous, too. Usually the people who stayed in their house were planned guests. This girl was a mystery-

…Um, what…what exactly d-do you mean by “shift”? I’m–sorry, just…are you…human? I h-had to touch them a little when I w-was bandaging your head. Those are r-real, aren’t they? They’re–

-Mint paused, unsure of how to continue. Those ears poking out were delicate, and warm, and just slightly fuzzy. They were honestly…-

…cute.

-They froze, realizing they had said that out loud. Their cheeks tinged with shame, anxiety creeping over them-

Ah, I’m s-sorry! I w-wasn’t thinking. Um, oh…right, what’s y-your name? Y-you can call me Mint.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Oh. That was… not what she was expecting Mint to say. Weird, maybe, but not cute. She realized she was staring at them and ducked her head to hide the slight flush - and her smile. “Yeah, they’re real. And it’s okay - thank you.” She lifted her head slightly, no longer blushing but with the soft smile still on display. “Nice to meet ya, Mint. I’m Ruby.”

She poked at one of her ears again, thinking for a second before addressing their first question. “I’m not exactly human, I guess. Um… I know this is a lot to ask, especially since I already owe you for helping me earlier, but if I explain things can you promise you’ll keep it to yourself? Please? I’m… not sure what would happen if a lot of people knew.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-That soft smile was hard to look at. She was too pretty. Mint’s ears turned pink as they tried to organize their frazzled thoughts-

I’m g-good with secrets. Everyone has things they w-want to hide…yours is just…s-special. I p-promise I won’t tell. I d-don’t…really t-talk to many people, anyway. And y-you don’t owe m-me anything…all I did was t-take you home.

-They didn’t mention that it was already a lot for them to let anyone in their house. All they could do was make sure that Ruby didn’t poke around while she was here-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby suppressed a giggle at the sight of Mint flushing further; they were so anxious! Far more than she was, and her initial inclination had been to shift and fold herself into a corner somewhere. Not only was it cute in its own right, but Mint’s demeanor went a long way in easing her nerves. “Don’t sell yourself short, mate!” She said brightly, beaming at them. “Anyone could have found me out there, and they might not have been as kind about not outing me like you were. I’m just really glad you found me first. Thanks, Mint.”  She readjusted herself, clutching one of the pillows to her chest and peeking out from behind it (and wincing again as the splitting headache reasserted itself). “Sorry - I’m not used to talking about this to other people in person. Well... people who aren’t shifters, too. That’s what they call people like me. You’re probably familiar with like... werewolves or something, right? Sort of like that, but without the full moon thing, and more control. And I’m not a wolf, obviously. I’m a bat.” Ruby reached up, pressing a fingertip against one of her ears. “Bat ears.” She paused, still peeking at Mint from behind the pillow while waiting to hear what they would say in response.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

(Starter for @lovelylittleweed)

The thing about Mondays, Ruby realized, mere seconds before colliding with the surface of a large tombstone, was that they always came back to bite you in the end. What had started out as a ‘cheer up’ flight after a very long day (resulting in two blacklisted clients, a fried external hard drive, and the depletion of her entire stock of energy drinks) had ultimately turned into a race for her life against a large owl who had decided a flying mouse would have to do for the night. Ruby beat her wings as fast as her tiny frame would allow for, swooping among branches and diving haphazardly in an attempt to shake the bloody bastard off, but the owl persisted, hot on her trail. Tosser. This owl was a straight up tosser. Owls were banned. If she had any belongings with an owl on them they were going out into the rubbish bin as soon as she managed to extricate herself from this situation and make it back to her apartment. These thoughts occupied her mind as she broke free of the woods. A graveyard, rows of tombstones and memorials outlined in pale moonlight loomed ahead; if she could just make it into the shelter of one perhaps she could buy herself enough time to shift back into a body that was considerably larger than an owl - or at least too big to devour in a single gulp. She swooped low, owl growing dangerously close… and then sharply banked left, inwardly cheering at the sound of the owl clipping its wing on a gravestone. ‘Get stuffed, wanker,’ Ruby thought murderously - - and realized, much too late to swerve, that she’d incidentally put herself right in the path of another gravestone. She let out a nearly inaudible squeak as she hit the surface dead on, blinding pain washing over her as she fell the remaining couple of feet and landed in the soft grass surrounding the plot. Ruby lay gasping; the world was rapidly darkening, and she retained just enough of her mental faculties to transform most of the way back, at least - save for the pair of soft, velvet-furred ears nestled into her hair. “Bloody hell,” she whispered. And then the lights went out.

[lovelylittleweed]

-It was early when Mint found her. Before dawn even brightened the horizon, Mint was tending the cemetery. They found her sprawled on the ground, unconscious and bloodied at the scalp. Panicked, Mint checked her pulse, letting out a sigh of relief when they felt that steady heartbeat-

Miss? Miss, p-please wake up. A-are you okay?

-They shook her, trying to rouse her with little success. They considered their options. They hated hospitals, but they couldn’t just leave the girl here. She was clearly hurt. Mint’s hand trailed up to her bloodied head, pausing when their fingers brushed against something soft. They almost seemed like…animal ears?-

What…? Are these…r-real?

-There was no answer. The girl was fully unconscious. The ears were firmly attached, so somehow Mint got the feeling this girl wouldn’t want to go to the hospital either. Without any other options, Mint scooped her up carefully and took her back to their small cottage on the edge of the property. She could stay in the guest room until she woke up-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Regaining consciousness was gradual. She felt as if she were drifting on a vast, dark sea, buoyed upon the waves with no sense of direction. 

Her head was killing her. 

Slowly Ruby became aware of the fact that she was lying on something soft, warmed beneath some equally soft material; she sat up, grimacing at how much pain the simple motion caused. Her eyes fluttered open, expecting to see her familiar spread of posters lining the walls and the smattering of star stickers lining the ceiling; the stark, bare surfaces staring back at her led to the immediate realization that she was not, in fact, at her apartment, and she was also not in her own bed. The memories from just before she’d passed out came back in a rush - the owl, the madcap dash through the woods, flying into the graveyard. Slamming into the surface of the gravestone at full speed, just barely managing to shift back before everything went dark for good. Her eyes widened, and her hand shot up, brushing against the bandage around her head briefly before seeking out the ears that she’d failed to hide properly. She attempted to do so then, but the action made the pain in her head spike, leaving her panting; well, that sucked. It looked as if she was stuck that way for the moment, at least until she healed a little further. It also meant that there was no way whoever had brought her here hadn’t noticed. 

Ruby groaned, burying her face in her hands lightly. At least they hadn’t taken her to the hospital in such a state. And they had been kind enough to tend to her head, as well. She cleared her throat, wincing at how dry and raspy her voice sounded as she called out towards the door. “Hello?”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint heard a faint call. It was barely audible with their hearing aid, but it definitely sounded like a voice. That girl must have woken up. Mint grabbed a bottle of painkillers and some water before heading to the room. They knocked politely before entering-

U-um, excuse me…I’m g-glad you’re awake. I w-was really worried. I wanted to t-take you to a hospital, b-but…

-They glanced at Ruby’s ears, their expression equal parts nervous and curious-

…I, um…I thought that m-might not be the b-best idea. I w-wanted to..ask about those.

-Mint realized they were staring, and quickly averted their gaze. They moved closer to the bed cautiously-

Uh, I b-brought you some painkillers. H-how do you f-feel?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby watched, with just a hint of tension, as a wiry figure with dark hair entered, with a bottle of pills and a glass of water in tow. She reflexively clutched the blanket tightly as they approached (she wasn’t sure of gender; they were a good half a foot taller than she was, but that was pretty much the norm for someone that had never managed to break 5'0") - if she was wrong about their intentions she was in no shape to fight back with as much pain as she was in. However, the moment they began to speak her nerves loosened a good bit; their voice was soft, marked by an obvious hesitant stutter, as if they were just as nervous as she was.

And of course they’d noticed her ears. How could they not? Ruby sighed lightly, wondering how screwed she was - if only she could just shift and make a break for it! Although she did owe them an explanation…

Ruby smiled faintly, although not without wincing. “Gotta say I’ve been better, mate.” She graciously accepted the pills, taking a couple and draining the glass of water in its entirety. “Thanks.” She lightly touched the bandage around her head. “And for not taking me to the hospital. Especially since…” Her hand moved to poke at one of her ears. “Since I can’t shift back just yet.”

[lovelylittleweed]

-The girl seemed nervous. That was understandable, given the situation. Mint was nervous, too. Usually the people who stayed in their house were planned guests. This girl was a mystery-

…Um, what…what exactly d-do you mean by “shift”? I’m–sorry, just…are you…human? I h-had to touch them a little when I w-was bandaging your head. Those are r-real, aren’t they? They’re–

-Mint paused, unsure of how to continue. Those ears poking out were delicate, and warm, and just slightly fuzzy. They were honestly…-

…cute.

-They froze, realizing they had said that out loud. Their cheeks tinged with shame, anxiety creeping over them-

Ah, I’m s-sorry! I w-wasn’t thinking. Um, oh…right, what’s y-your name? Y-you can call me Mint.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Oh. That was... not what she was expecting Mint to say. Weird, maybe, but not cute. She realized she was staring at them and ducked her head to hide the slight flush - and her smile. "Yeah, they're real. And it's okay - thank you." She lifted her head slightly, no longer blushing but with the soft smile still on display. "Nice to meet ya, Mint. I'm Ruby."

She poked at one of her ears again, thinking for a second before addressing their first question. "I'm not exactly human, I guess. Um... I know this is a lot to ask, especially since I already owe you for helping me earlier, but if I explain things can you promise you'll keep it to yourself? Please? I'm... not sure what would happen if a lot of people knew."

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

[Admin: My Live Portrait Maker obsession continues.]

[highbrasshighkass]

[retroactivebakeries]

i’m gonna make so many new friends

[fulifuli]

Tiny bat for Drawlloween day 9.

[ainawgsd]

Australian Ghost Bats

The ghost bat is Australia’s largest micro-bat. Other distinct features of this species are its very large oval ended ears, which are joined together above the head, and the light-coloured fur and wing membranes. The colour of ghost bat fur varies with increasing distance from the coastline. Those populations closer to the coast tend to be pale grey or light brown, while populations further inland are almost white. This species also has relatively large eyes, a long, simple noseleaf, and no tail.

Keep reading

[weremagnus]

Week one of my Batober Inktober!

[bigdyl18-blog]

Haven’t posted in a long time but heres another galaxy.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

(Starter for @lovelylittleweed)

The thing about Mondays, Ruby realized, mere seconds before colliding with the surface of a large tombstone, was that they always came back to bite you in the end. What had started out as a ‘cheer up’ flight after a very long day (resulting in two blacklisted clients, a fried external hard drive, and the depletion of her entire stock of energy drinks) had ultimately turned into a race for her life against a large owl who had decided a flying mouse would have to do for the night. Ruby beat her wings as fast as her tiny frame would allow for, swooping among branches and diving haphazardly in an attempt to shake the bloody bastard off, but the owl persisted, hot on her trail. Tosser. This owl was a straight up tosser. Owls were banned. If she had any belongings with an owl on them they were going out into the rubbish bin as soon as she managed to extricate herself from this situation and make it back to her apartment. These thoughts occupied her mind as she broke free of the woods. A graveyard, rows of tombstones and memorials outlined in pale moonlight loomed ahead; if she could just make it into the shelter of one perhaps she could buy herself enough time to shift back into a body that was considerably larger than an owl - or at least too big to devour in a single gulp. She swooped low, owl growing dangerously close… and then sharply banked left, inwardly cheering at the sound of the owl clipping its wing on a gravestone. ‘Get stuffed, wanker,’ Ruby thought murderously - - and realized, much too late to swerve, that she’d incidentally put herself right in the path of another gravestone. She let out a nearly inaudible squeak as she hit the surface dead on, blinding pain washing over her as she fell the remaining couple of feet and landed in the soft grass surrounding the plot. Ruby lay gasping; the world was rapidly darkening, and she retained just enough of her mental faculties to transform most of the way back, at least - save for the pair of soft, velvet-furred ears nestled into her hair. “Bloody hell,” she whispered. And then the lights went out.

[lovelylittleweed]

-It was early when Mint found her. Before dawn even brightened the horizon, Mint was tending the cemetery. They found her sprawled on the ground, unconscious and bloodied at the scalp. Panicked, Mint checked her pulse, letting out a sigh of relief when they felt that steady heartbeat-

Miss? Miss, p-please wake up. A-are you okay?

-They shook her, trying to rouse her with little success. They considered their options. They hated hospitals, but they couldn’t just leave the girl here. She was clearly hurt. Mint’s hand trailed up to her bloodied head, pausing when their fingers brushed against something soft. They almost seemed like…animal ears?-

What…? Are these…r-real?

-There was no answer. The girl was fully unconscious. The ears were firmly attached, so somehow Mint got the feeling this girl wouldn’t want to go to the hospital either. Without any other options, Mint scooped her up carefully and took her back to their small cottage on the edge of the property. She could stay in the guest room until she woke up-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Regaining consciousness was gradual. She felt as if she were drifting on a vast, dark sea, buoyed upon the waves with no sense of direction. 

Her head was killing her. 

Slowly Ruby became aware of the fact that she was lying on something soft, warmed beneath some equally soft material; she sat up, grimacing at how much pain the simple motion caused. Her eyes fluttered open, expecting to see her familiar spread of posters lining the walls and the smattering of star stickers lining the ceiling; the stark, bare surfaces staring back at her led to the immediate realization that she was not, in fact, at her apartment, and she was also not in her own bed. The memories from just before she’d passed out came back in a rush - the owl, the madcap dash through the woods, flying into the graveyard. Slamming into the surface of the gravestone at full speed, just barely managing to shift back before everything went dark for good. Her eyes widened, and her hand shot up, brushing against the bandage around her head briefly before seeking out the ears that she’d failed to hide properly. She attempted to do so then, but the action made the pain in her head spike, leaving her panting; well, that sucked. It looked as if she was stuck that way for the moment, at least until she healed a little further. It also meant that there was no way whoever had brought her here hadn’t noticed. 

Ruby groaned, burying her face in her hands lightly. At least they hadn’t taken her to the hospital in such a state. And they had been kind enough to tend to her head, as well. She cleared her throat, wincing at how dry and raspy her voice sounded as she called out towards the door. “Hello?”

[lovelylittleweed]

-Mint heard a faint call. It was barely audible with their hearing aid, but it definitely sounded like a voice. That girl must have woken up. Mint grabbed a bottle of painkillers and some water before heading to the room. They knocked politely before entering-

U-um, excuse me…I’m g-glad you’re awake. I w-was really worried. I wanted to t-take you to a hospital, b-but…

-They glanced at Ruby’s ears, their expression equal parts nervous and curious-

…I, um…I thought that m-might not be the b-best idea. I w-wanted to..ask about those.

-Mint realized they were staring, and quickly averted their gaze. They moved closer to the bed cautiously-

Uh, I b-brought you some painkillers. H-how do you f-feel?

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Ruby watched, with just a hint of tension, as a wiry figure with dark hair entered, with a bottle of pills and a glass of water in tow. She reflexively clutched the blanket tightly as they approached (she wasn't sure of gender; they were a good half a foot taller than she was, but that was pretty much the norm for someone that had never managed to break 5'0") - if she was wrong about their intentions she was in no shape to fight back with as much pain as she was in. However, the moment they began to speak her nerves loosened a good bit; their voice was soft, marked by an obvious hesitant stutter, as if they were just as nervous as she was.

And of course they'd noticed her ears. How could they not? Ruby sighed lightly, wondering how screwed she was - if only she could just shift and make a break for it! Although she did owe them an explanation...

Ruby smiled faintly, although not without wincing. "Gotta say I've been better, mate." She graciously accepted the pills, taking a couple and draining the glass of water in its entirety. "Thanks." She lightly touched the bandage around her head. "And for not taking me to the hospital. Especially since..." Her hand moved to poke at one of her ears. "Since I can't shift back just yet."

[rrhart]

when summer starts to slowly turn to autumn, the mellow peaceful nights are perfect for being alone without being lonely.

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

(Starter for @lovelylittleweed)

The thing about Mondays, Ruby realized, mere seconds before colliding with the surface of a large tombstone, was that they always came back to bite you in the end. What had started out as a ‘cheer up’ flight after a very long day (resulting in two blacklisted clients, a fried external hard drive, and the depletion of her entire stock of energy drinks) had ultimately turned into a race for her life against a large owl who had decided a flying mouse would have to do for the night. Ruby beat her wings as fast as her tiny frame would allow for, swooping among branches and diving haphazardly in an attempt to shake the bloody bastard off, but the owl persisted, hot on her trail. Tosser. This owl was a straight up tosser. Owls were banned. If she had any belongings with an owl on them they were going out into the rubbish bin as soon as she managed to extricate herself from this situation and make it back to her apartment. These thoughts occupied her mind as she broke free of the woods. A graveyard, rows of tombstones and memorials outlined in pale moonlight loomed ahead; if she could just make it into the shelter of one perhaps she could buy herself enough time to shift back into a body that was considerably larger than an owl - or at least too big to devour in a single gulp. She swooped low, owl growing dangerously close… and then sharply banked left, inwardly cheering at the sound of the owl clipping its wing on a gravestone. ‘Get stuffed, wanker,’ Ruby thought murderously - - and realized, much too late to swerve, that she’d incidentally put herself right in the path of another gravestone. She let out a nearly inaudible squeak as she hit the surface dead on, blinding pain washing over her as she fell the remaining couple of feet and landed in the soft grass surrounding the plot. Ruby lay gasping; the world was rapidly darkening, and she retained just enough of her mental faculties to transform most of the way back, at least - save for the pair of soft, velvet-furred ears nestled into her hair. “Bloody hell,” she whispered. And then the lights went out.

[lovelylittleweed]

-It was early when Mint found her. Before dawn even brightened the horizon, Mint was tending the cemetery. They found her sprawled on the ground, unconscious and bloodied at the scalp. Panicked, Mint checked her pulse, letting out a sigh of relief when they felt that steady heartbeat-

Miss? Miss, p-please wake up. A-are you okay?

-They shook her, trying to rouse her with little success. They considered their options. They hated hospitals, but they couldn’t just leave the girl here. She was clearly hurt. Mint’s hand trailed up to her bloodied head, pausing when their fingers brushed against something soft. They almost seemed like…animal ears?-

What…? Are these…r-real?

-There was no answer. The girl was fully unconscious. The ears were firmly attached, so somehow Mint got the feeling this girl wouldn’t want to go to the hospital either. Without any other options, Mint scooped her up carefully and took her back to their small cottage on the edge of the property. She could stay in the guest room until she woke up-

[hashtag-ruby-wings]

Regaining consciousness was gradual. She felt as if she were drifting on a vast, dark sea, buoyed upon the waves with no sense of direction. 

Her head was killing her. 

Slowly Ruby became aware of the fact that she was lying on something soft, warmed beneath some equally soft material; she sat up, grimacing at how much pain the simple motion caused. Her eyes fluttered open, expecting to see her familiar spread of posters lining the walls and the smattering of star stickers lining the ceiling; the stark, bare surfaces staring back at her led to the immediate realization that she was not, in fact, at her apartment, and she was also not in her own bed. The memories from just before she’d passed out came back in a rush - the owl, the madcap dash through the woods, flying into the graveyard. Slamming into the surface of the gravestone at full speed, just barely managing to shift back before everything went dark for good. Her eyes widened, and her hand shot up, brushing against the bandage around her head briefly before seeking out the ears that she’d failed to hide properly. She attempted to do so then, but the action made the pain in her head spike, leaving her panting; well, that sucked. It looked as if she was stuck that way for the moment, at least until she healed a little further. It also meant that there was no way whoever had brought her here hadn’t noticed. 

Ruby groaned, burying her face in her hands lightly. At least they hadn’t taken her to the hospital in such a state. And they had been kind enough to tend to her head, as well. She cleared her throat, wincing at how dry and raspy her voice sounded as she called out towards the door. “Hello?”