{ app @ bravenewworld }

[sewingbox]

PLAYER INFO

Name: nor
Contact Information: PM!
Time Zone: EST
Characters Played: Luke fon Fabre (tracedarte)

CHARACTER INFO

Character Name: Ruby
Character Canon: Pokemon Special

History: Wikia!

AU History:

Much like in his canon, Ruby grew up with his mother and an inattentive father. When he was six years old, Ruby was injured badly by a Salamence while playing with his childhood friend, leaving two huge gashes on the right side of his forehead. He hides the scars under a hat that's often mistaken for white hair. Because of this battle Ruby vowed to stop using his battling prowess to its full potential and focused on making his Pokemon beautiful instead. This strained his relationship with his father further and eventually Ruby ran away from their home in the upper class quarter of Union to get a job at the theatre. Luckily for him, those at the theatre were understanding of his situation and let him stay in one of the empty storage rooms up in the wings. While he's only eleven, Ruby makes up for this with hard work and determination, brushing off those who think he's just a kid and proving them wrong. Multiple times, his father has come to drag him home and Ruby has refused. Eventually, after a long fight that almost got them both killed, his father reluctantly agreed to let him do whatever he wanted.

His Ralts Ruru and his Skitty Coco were both gifts from his father and have won many a contest at the theatre already in their short career there. His room may be small, but he sews to make covers for the ugly furniture and wall paneling, which he decorates with his contest winning ribbons. To make money to afford his Pokemon and upkeep of the room, he works in the theatre but also at Pokeco part time, helping to groom and pamper the Pokemon as an apprentice groomer on the second floor. He also uses his sewing skills to make things for other people for either free or for a little money to get by. (For emergencies, he keeps the money sent to him by his mother just in case but has avidly refused to touch it so far.)

Updated for Reapp

In the time that Ruby has been dropped, he's struggled a bit. His parents forced him to come home from the theatre and he's been living in the upper quarter of Union. The whole time, he's been planning another escape. His Pokemon have been with him, and he's worked at making them (Cool, Clever, Beautiful, Cute, Tough,) over time. At least when he was able to get berries to make Pokeblocks. He continued his job at Pokeco on days his mother went out to keep an eye on him, but otherwise he hasn't talk to anyone. He misses the other people in the theatre, but he's worried they're upset or disappointed in him for leaving.

Canon Personality:

At first Ruby is a vain boy who's pretty shallow about how things look and act. He spends most of his days making sure his Pokemon look in top form for their presentation and that they're comfortable and happy. He frequently gives his Pokemon massages and does their hair/fur and make up. He's also very against his own outfit getting ruined or getting dirty at all. This doesn't count when a situation is dire however, where Ruby will in fact act and defend himself and his Pokemon without fear of the muck they could get themselves in (even if he still laments them getting dirty during the battle.) Despite that, Ruby is very pretentious in how well kept and beautiful his Pokemon are. He's constantly calling them cute and beautiful and making sure they're perfect, quite akin to a dog show person pursuing their dreams. Of course, that's basically what a Pokemon Contest is so it's a pretty good comparison. He's so focused on his Pokemon's beauty that he dislikes battling with them for fear that they'll become dirty and "grossly muscular." When they evolve, he panics until he sees that they're still as cute and beautiful as before.

He won't pick out Pokemon he thinks are ugly (unless they're forced on him like his Mudkip and his Feebas) and he dislikes anything strange or plain looking. He doesn't like fish type Water Pokemon at all until he sees Wallace's beautiful Whiscash and Luvdisc and realizes that they can be beautiful too if raised correctly (in particular he remembers what Mr Briney's Whiscash looks like compared to Wallace's own.) Over time though, Ruby learns that all Pokemon can be beautiful. He yells at his Feebas for not winning the contest, calling her ugly and that he never wanted her, causing Mimi to run away in shame from her trainer. He feels so terrible about this that he goes off in search for her to no avail, crying himself unconscious over how bad he feels for what he said after Wallace tells him off for treating his Pokemon badly. Realizing that it was his own fault for not winning the contest and not Mimi's, he comes to understand that she is beautiful and that it's he who's ugly. When reunited with Mimi later and she evolves into Milotic, the Pokemon he's coveted for so long, he comes to understand his mistakes and that what he had was what he needed all along.

Sapphire says it best, "initially I found you (Ruby) rude, pretentious, twisted, a liar and a fashion freak full of hot air. But after going through so much [...] you're actually a nice guy underneath. You proved yourself to be a capable fighter."

While Ruby starts out as a vain baby, he learns that he has to be responsible for what he's done. Beyond what happened with Mimi, he realizes that he's treated people poorly too. He refuses to help Sapphire and the gym leaders defeat Team Magma and Team Aqua because "it has nothing to do with him" and she shouts at him for even daring to speak to her if he was that selfish. After this, he realizes that he really is far too selfish and self absorbed for his own good and only then does he realize that he has to stop and focus on the people around him instead of how he thinks of himself all the time. She gets him to realize that he's not the only person that matters and he really takes what she says to heart. When he comes back from crying himself unconscious and getting told off by Wallace he's determined to help Hoenn and the world from what Kyogre and Groudon are doing. After neutralizing Archie and Maxie and they go to Mirage Island, Ruby figures out that he and Sapphire have absorbed the Red and Blue Orbs, he waits until he thinks Sapphire is asleep to ask Juan about it because he doesn't want to scare her. This shows that he's finally thinking of other people, Juan even comments that he'd been told that Ruby was incredibly selfish and his awareness of the situation surprises the gym leader.

Ruby has a very strained relationship with his father, to the point where his worst memory of his father is what pushes him to keep going as he rebels against him. He's determined to a fault to get what he wants even if it means pushing himself to the limit. Because he uses his memories of his father to push himself, Ruby is almost always afraid of seeing him and facing him in person. Whenever Norman is near (or even might be near,) Ruby tends to hide until the threat of being found is gone. When he's with Wally trying to capture Kecleon and Norman comes to train Wally Ruby hides them both in a bush and pretends to be a Pokemon when Norman is suspicious. This probably stems from both his bad memories and his knowledge of Norman being none too gentle with him. During their fight at the Weather Institute, it really seems like Norman is willing to kill Ruby if he won't come home with him. He nearly forces him to walk off of a broken fire escape, and only grabs him at the last moment when they both start to fall. Even when Norman's given Ruby permission to do his contests, Ruby is frightened of seeing him at the gym leader meeting: he hides behind Wallace's car in fear that Norman might be there. All of this plays a part in how cooly standoffish Ruby can be perceived as. He's determined with his Pokemon to win contests (and battles when nobody is looking,) but his attitude still gets in the way even after he's made his choices to fight alongside Sapphire, the gym leaders, and Steven Stone.

AU Deviation:

Since there's less of an emphasis on battling in Union, Ruby is less fearful of it (though his experience as a child still makes him hold back when it comes to dangerous wild Pokemon,) even if he still argues with his father about it. Most of their animosities stem from him being focused on more girl oriented things like sewing and contests instead of not battling like him. Because of this, Ruby might be a little more shameless about his skills than in canon (if that's possible,) just out of spite. I also plan on having him getting a Feebas and doing a canon parallel with it in game canon so he'll reach his developmental peak a little later and may seem totally vain and dumb at first.

Canon Abilities:

Ruby is a talented seamster, make up artist, and skilled in bringing out a Pokemon's natural beauty and talents. He makes clothing for his Pokemon as well as grooms them, gives them massages, and is very talented at deciding on what berries to use to make Pokeblocks. On the flip side, Ruby is also an extremely talented, aggressive battler, though he doesn't like to make his Pokemon battle and especially hates anyone finding out about it.

Enlightened Abilities: Far From Ordinary and Mastery of Battle with a specialization in Fairy Type.

Starter Pokémon: Pokemon!

Notes/Special Considerations: As previously discussed, he'll be joining the Divine Defense Force!

SAMPLES

First-Person:

Remember to look your best for the camera! Three, two, one...!

[The feed opens pointing at Ruby's Pokemon; a Ralts, Skitty, and Sewaddle, all of them fashioned in little clothes. He reaches to adjust Ruru, the Ralt's, little hat before speaking.]

They really need to add color to the Warp Bands! I can't show off the true beauty of my Pokemon in black and white, not when they're so cute.

[The Skitty rolls over onto her back to show off, cuddling her tail cutely and wriggling. Ruby smiles, reaching to pet her head.]

I know, you're cute enough already in black and white Coco. It'd be much better in color though, don't you think? They can't see your shiny coat! I wonder if I should share the secret...

[When she gets back up, he fixes her crooked sweater and strokes behind her ears.]

The trick to getting a short haired Pokemon's coat shiny is daily massages. Keep their fur trimmed so there's no dead ends and brush it until it's gleaming. It's the same for Pokemon with soft skin like Ralts, it might not be fur but exfoliating it is really important.

[Ruru and Coco look very important while he talks, loving to show off. Sewaddle comes over too for some attention, hoping she looks shiny enough in her cute bonnet and big pink bow. Ruby pets her too.]

I came up with a great poffin recipe for Bug Type Pokemon if anyone wants it. It really brings out the shine on their skin and eyes and keeps their string webs in good condition! Wawa is looking great. I wasn't sure about raising a Bug Type, but she's getting cuter and cuter... Maybe I'll put her in a contest after all.

[The Pokemon looks so happy at that, hopping up onto his lap out of frame excitedly and Ruby just gives her a smile and a snuggle.]

You're supposed to stay in position! You have to learn that if you want to be on stage.

Third-Person:

What would you say the role of Pokémon is in your life?

'Their role is to show me the beauty of this world,' Ruby writes, his glasses sliding down his face as he sits in the classroom. This is the last exam before he's free and can leave school in favor of Pokemon. That meant he'd been free to leave the watchful eye of his parents too. Tonight, he would run away. He had it all planned out, and he was determined to finish the last six questions in record time and go home to prepare his precious Pokemon. 'They inspire me every day to better myself, and practice my skills to help better them too. Life would be dull and boring without the colors and life and bring to the world... Work or play, Pokemon are essential to all of us.'

What do you look for in the Pokémon with whom you bond?

Ruby scoffs a little, looking down at the question. He can't believe that this is even on the test, and he knows what most people would put. Their strength or their muscles or their battle prowess. How boring. Every boy he knew wanted brutish Pokemon they would overpower others with, Pokemon that could hurt with no finesse or beauty to them. He thinks about Ruru and Coco at home, smiles, and puts his pencil to the paper. 'Their beauty, of course. Only a beautiful Pokemon is worth raising to its full potential. Even a cute or strong or smart Pokemon has to be beautiful to reach its peak. A delicate Pokemon with grace and wonder about it, that's the Pokemon for me. Everyone else can have the strong weird ones.' It's... a bit different than his more poetic first question, but he thinks it'll pass. He looks up at the time on the wall then gets back to work.

The gods of old have returned. How would you be judged if you were chosen as a representative of humanity?

'Seeing the Savior and the other Gods would be gorgeous and awe inspiring I think.' That's all Ruby can really think about. 'Just imagine their power and integrity and their supreme grace! Even if I was judged poorly I know it would be worth seeing them just once. I really wouldn't like being chosen as our representative though, that sounds like it'd have nothing to do with me. I'm sure I'd get to see them even if I declined the position. I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility. Leave that up to someone more interested in those sorts of things.' Really, who could blame him? He was only interested in contests and performing... 'If it had to be me... I don't know what I would do. To be judged for all of humanity? I wouldn't wish that on anyone.' At least he's honest. Ruby doesn't know what kind of person that would take, but it isn't something he'd want anyone to have to face.

What would you say is your greatest duty, and why?

This one was easy. Ruby grins, putting his pencil to the paper and writing furiously, 'My greatest duty is to bring out the beauty in all Pokemon! I don't know what else I'd do if I couldn't work to bring out their full potential as stars. Even if the Pokemon was ugly, I think I could manage it if I really tried. I only want to see my Pokemon succeed in theatre and Contests.' It's straight forward, but he thinks it's satisfactory. 'That's really how I feel, I want to make all Pokemon feel beautiful.'

In your eyes, what is absolutely unforgivable.

'Keeping someone from their dream is absolutely unforgivable. No matter what someone believes, I think you should go after your dreams 100%! Even if you don't agree with someone, you should let them do what they think is right.' Maybe he felt a little spiteful... But it was how he felt. He looked up at the clock, picturing his father once he'd run away. He'd be angry, sure, but that was half the reason in the first place. His mom would be sad, but that was just how it had to be. He thought of all the stuff he'd be able to do in town, feeling excited and nervous. He'd find somewhere to live, he'd saved up his money for an entire year. They wouldn't find him right away. 'Keeping someone from what they really want to do is unforgivable because you're losing any trust or respect they had for you. It's not fair for anyone.

No Enlightened chooses their abilities - and not all are Enlightened. What type abilities would you most desire to manifest and why?

Ruby thinks about this one a while before he answers. It seemed obvious but... 'Anything but,' and he underlines this a few times for emphasis, 'Mastery of Battle. Inheriting my father's skill was the last thing I needed. I'd be much happier just being ordinary! If I had to pick however...' He tapped his lip with his eraser, thinking it over... Hm, he wondered how easily he could get a job working at the theatre. That would be his favorite thing to do, and he knew he would be perfect at it. Becoming a groomer in the city would be amazing too! Ugh, there was so much to choose from... no, wait! He had to focus and stop day dreaming already! 'Perhaps I would want to be able to shift into a beautiful Pokemon! Or possess Kindred Soul to converse with Pokemon and be able to know their truest natures.'

Putting down his pencil, Ruby looked pleased with himself. Raising his hand to signal he was done the teacher collected his paper. Finally, he wouldn't need to be in school anymore. All he had to do now was go get Ruru and Coco before his dad came home from work and he was free.