It had become far more often lately to find some random stranger staring at her across the tables in her favorite bar. Or even across the way at some looking game store. Far less often when she was out riding but that came with a different brand of staring altogether.
Tying her hair back, she pulled the cap over and fished her hair through the back. An already exhausted sigh coming from her as the jacket slid over her arms and covered what felt cute to wear. But what felt cute meant she would encounter those laser-brained dullards asking for an autograph on some poster she has never even seen before.
Would mean she would have to listen to people comment how she should be nicer. Call her by a name that wasn't hers trying get her attention. Or stars forbid attempt to compare her to a picture on a card and wonder why she didn't smile. Her hand shot up to her head, a sharp pain beginning beginning already behind her eyes at the thought of that wretched woman that wielded Ruby's face so flagrantly.
Made existing so much more exhausting trying to explain that she was not, in fact, the model for Locke and Key Mechanics. She just. Worked. There. The scant few coworkers she had always got a good chuckle out of it. Ribbing her on how many times she had seen paparazzi that day.
If it weren't for the near constant migraine the cursed name brought with it, Ruby might have at least counted one blessing for seeing her face plastered across the screen of certain Locke and Key products.
She was at least pretty, and someone was capitalizing on it.
Pulling the cloth mask over to cover the lower half was the final piece of her disguise as she shouldered the door of her apartment. Something she had achieved on her own after being sent out on her own into the world.
Stewjon wasn't perfect from her perspective. A lot of things weren't. But that was being ungrateful some said. Namely those 'oh so caring and generous' people that opened their homes to the unfortunate orphaned children of catastrophic events. Her eyes lolled the to the back of her head at the memory, annoyed at the strictness she had been placed in.
She bet the face-stealer hadn't had so many worries in her life.
She could have been wrong though. Wasn't everyday she was right as her hand rifled through the pocket of her jacket for the credit stick and nodded to herself when it was felt in the hidden pocket of her own design. People always tried snagging things off her for some reason when they didn't get their autograph or picture with her.
Those ones made her worry.
The beings that didn't relent with a simple no. The ones that earned her a stop in the local authorities office with paperwork to do and curious looks abound. They'd almost gotten on a first name basis now though. Half the time only needing to hit the fourth button on her speed dial to share her headache with the officer they had seen fit to assign to her growing pile of least favorite people in the galaxy.
It was better than the other stack though.
But that's what happened when people tried to break in and find her. A subtle hint by the authorities to keep a ball, glove, and bat out in the open.
Plausible deniability.
Ruby just enjoyed sports, and kept them close for quick access when her friends called.
Her hand pulled on the handle, the public comute short to her favorite hole in the wall on her days off as the tender snorted to her. Even behind the mask he could see the smile as she shrugged.
A bottle of Corellian Whiskey and a single glass. A small blessing for the drum beating in the back of her brain as she slid a finger behind her ear and let the cloth fall to the counter. Her seat caught as it scooted closer to the bar, no one bothering to raise a grievance as she flicked the lid off and snatched it before it could fly behind the bar.
Liquid sloshed before emptying into her glass. Tossed back quickly as she cringed and blew out a sharp breath. She felt like a dragon in those brief moments between. Breath like fire as she blindly poured another drink into the glass. Her nose demanded attention as she sniffed harshly to keep herself from rubbing it.
It was pleasant in her opinion. The invigorating burn as she continued this process until the bottle was empty and the drumming a long forgotten thought that settled into a pleasant buzz.
Another drink slammed as she made to pour another as those already present cast a glance to the door opening again. She shook the now empty bottle, hearing with alarming clarity as another was drug across the counter. Her eyes squinted at the sound, a dull ringing in her ears as she fumbled with the top of the new bottle.
Mumbled voices and excited gasps found her gaze and the bartenders meeting as he flipped a towel over his shoulder. The top eventually, though slowly, seemed to remove itself as she lost the thing. Her eyes lazily searched before she clicked the neck of the bottle against the glass with a small giggle to herself while watching it pour.
The tender bothered to ask what the little group wanted as they settled a few seats down from her. The glass rose as they murmured something and he shook a hand at them. Ruby watched in blissful awe at the sight of the liquor casting the light in different ways.
The hand of the bartender quickly pointed to the door as they griped about something. She tossed the drink back after she quit staring at it. The drink burned all the way down. Comfortable for her as she heard shuffled steps towards her.
"Uhm, hello. I was wonder if you would sign-"
"D'you know. Any good hills. Around here?" Ruby cut them off, swirling the glass. She hadn't remembered leaning into the bar so much, finding it hard to clearly speak as she looked down. Her stomach was pressed against the counter, heaving a breath as she carefully pushed herself back.
"Pardon?"
"I. I said. D'you know. Any good. Hills. Round 'ere?" The words were slow, ponderous as the stranger seemed to grasp at straws and looked to their group for help.
"Noooo?" She giggled to herself before turning and smiling. "Then go find one. An lean into the wind real. Real hard. Right? And then relieve yourself. Jus' straight in'o the wind. Jus-" They made a disgusted sound before waving her off and gathering their group.
More angry sounds, sharp barbed words directed at her which she blissfully ignored as the glass clicked against the counter top and wobbled dangerously before slowly stopping the twisting circles and settling.
"Exaust sniffing nerf herders." She grumbled before lifting the bottle once more.
Tying her hair back, she pulled the cap over and fished her hair through the back. An already exhausted sigh coming from her as the jacket slid over her arms and covered what felt cute to wear. But what felt cute meant she would encounter those laser-brained dullards asking for an autograph on some poster she has never even seen before.
Would mean she would have to listen to people comment how she should be nicer. Call her by a name that wasn't hers trying get her attention. Or stars forbid attempt to compare her to a picture on a card and wonder why she didn't smile. Her hand shot up to her head, a sharp pain beginning beginning already behind her eyes at the thought of that wretched woman that wielded Ruby's face so flagrantly.
Made existing so much more exhausting trying to explain that she was not, in fact, the model for Locke and Key Mechanics. She just. Worked. There. The scant few coworkers she had always got a good chuckle out of it. Ribbing her on how many times she had seen paparazzi that day.
If it weren't for the near constant migraine the cursed name brought with it, Ruby might have at least counted one blessing for seeing her face plastered across the screen of certain Locke and Key products.
She was at least pretty, and someone was capitalizing on it.
Pulling the cloth mask over to cover the lower half was the final piece of her disguise as she shouldered the door of her apartment. Something she had achieved on her own after being sent out on her own into the world.
Stewjon wasn't perfect from her perspective. A lot of things weren't. But that was being ungrateful some said. Namely those 'oh so caring and generous' people that opened their homes to the unfortunate orphaned children of catastrophic events. Her eyes lolled the to the back of her head at the memory, annoyed at the strictness she had been placed in.
She bet the face-stealer hadn't had so many worries in her life.
She could have been wrong though. Wasn't everyday she was right as her hand rifled through the pocket of her jacket for the credit stick and nodded to herself when it was felt in the hidden pocket of her own design. People always tried snagging things off her for some reason when they didn't get their autograph or picture with her.
Those ones made her worry.
The beings that didn't relent with a simple no. The ones that earned her a stop in the local authorities office with paperwork to do and curious looks abound. They'd almost gotten on a first name basis now though. Half the time only needing to hit the fourth button on her speed dial to share her headache with the officer they had seen fit to assign to her growing pile of least favorite people in the galaxy.
It was better than the other stack though.
But that's what happened when people tried to break in and find her. A subtle hint by the authorities to keep a ball, glove, and bat out in the open.
Plausible deniability.
Ruby just enjoyed sports, and kept them close for quick access when her friends called.
Her hand pulled on the handle, the public comute short to her favorite hole in the wall on her days off as the tender snorted to her. Even behind the mask he could see the smile as she shrugged.
A bottle of Corellian Whiskey and a single glass. A small blessing for the drum beating in the back of her brain as she slid a finger behind her ear and let the cloth fall to the counter. Her seat caught as it scooted closer to the bar, no one bothering to raise a grievance as she flicked the lid off and snatched it before it could fly behind the bar.
Liquid sloshed before emptying into her glass. Tossed back quickly as she cringed and blew out a sharp breath. She felt like a dragon in those brief moments between. Breath like fire as she blindly poured another drink into the glass. Her nose demanded attention as she sniffed harshly to keep herself from rubbing it.
It was pleasant in her opinion. The invigorating burn as she continued this process until the bottle was empty and the drumming a long forgotten thought that settled into a pleasant buzz.
Another drink slammed as she made to pour another as those already present cast a glance to the door opening again. She shook the now empty bottle, hearing with alarming clarity as another was drug across the counter. Her eyes squinted at the sound, a dull ringing in her ears as she fumbled with the top of the new bottle.
Mumbled voices and excited gasps found her gaze and the bartenders meeting as he flipped a towel over his shoulder. The top eventually, though slowly, seemed to remove itself as she lost the thing. Her eyes lazily searched before she clicked the neck of the bottle against the glass with a small giggle to herself while watching it pour.
The tender bothered to ask what the little group wanted as they settled a few seats down from her. The glass rose as they murmured something and he shook a hand at them. Ruby watched in blissful awe at the sight of the liquor casting the light in different ways.
The hand of the bartender quickly pointed to the door as they griped about something. She tossed the drink back after she quit staring at it. The drink burned all the way down. Comfortable for her as she heard shuffled steps towards her.
"Uhm, hello. I was wonder if you would sign-"
"D'you know. Any good hills. Around here?" Ruby cut them off, swirling the glass. She hadn't remembered leaning into the bar so much, finding it hard to clearly speak as she looked down. Her stomach was pressed against the counter, heaving a breath as she carefully pushed herself back.
"Pardon?"
"I. I said. D'you know. Any good. Hills. Round 'ere?" The words were slow, ponderous as the stranger seemed to grasp at straws and looked to their group for help.
"Noooo?" She giggled to herself before turning and smiling. "Then go find one. An lean into the wind real. Real hard. Right? And then relieve yourself. Jus' straight in'o the wind. Jus-" They made a disgusted sound before waving her off and gathering their group.
More angry sounds, sharp barbed words directed at her which she blissfully ignored as the glass clicked against the counter top and wobbled dangerously before slowly stopping the twisting circles and settling.
"Exaust sniffing nerf herders." She grumbled before lifting the bottle once more.
SOTLL - Dance of the Load Lifter
Vernon stood silently, arms above his head and mouth hanging open in abject horror as he watched Ruby operate the yard's best loadlifter. The overhead claw had picked up the top cargo crate, but it was restricted by being a mobile overhead gurney system. Leaving little more than enough space for a finger to squeeze in between the cargo deck and the bottom of the hanging container.
She usually got her choice of lifters anyway, but it had been a malicious sort of glee to kick the assistant manager out of his favorite toy.
Her hands glided over the controls, the soft hiss of hydraulic shifts a sort of strange song for her as she concentrated on the task at hand with everything she had. Having shut off the visor of her helmet, she was operating sensor blind for this lift. Even Vernon had complained about her choice when he noticed the HUD system hadn't been visible to warn her of the distance between the crate she was holding and the one overhead.
After a brief but curse-filled exchange, she bet him a free lunch that it could be done without a scratch to anything. A grumbled acceptance of the bet had his eyes set on the whole scene like a hawk, waiting for her to trip up and hear the whine of metal grinding.
Not something she noticed while concentrating so intently, her hands on the controls of the lifter and feet operating the pedals as a strange feeling of removal from the seat slowly ebbed in. The more she focused, the more it felt as though the load lifter was more an extension of herself.
Her perception suddenly felt as though she was looking through the machine rather than her spot inside the heavy equipment.
The arms of the lifter mimicking the feel of her own arms bearing the load. The liquid smooth state of operation was not uncommon when she focused so sharply. With no explanation for it to make sense however, it unnerved her when the sensation was present. The cargo container slowly and readily slid into place. Like pressing a book carefully between two others until it met the backside of the shelf. The solid pressure against the palms of her hand reassured her that the container was in place.
And with a forceful reminder, she did not give it a further shove to make sure it was on square. She blinked and stared at the load lifter controls before the sensation faded from her limbs and felt in control of her body once more. She eyed her hand all the while, her perception slowly returning to normal instead of the awkward over the shoulder feel that had been present only a minute ago.
The wave of exhaustion that followed wasn't uncommon in these moments. The first time it happened nearly making her black out after taking a P-GLE for an expeditionary whirl on her first day in the yard. After about half an hour she had the whole crew watching her make the exoskeleton dance along with her practice tasks.
To everyone's surprise she had made the rig move with near gliding precision. A few even asked exactly how old she was and if she might give them some pointers in operating the suit. The whole rig was like moving a sluggish boat that could crush most anything in its way. For her though, it felt like donning a large set of clothes rather than an exoskeleton for heavy lifting.
The frequency of her focus making her attune to machinery was alarming though as she sat back with a huff and set her gaze on the yard manager.
Vernon stood there, examining the scene before him with a critical eye and glancing at her. Whistling and shaking his head, he held the overhead claw remote with a slowly relaxing white knuckled grip and gave an exhausted sigh.
"Guess I'll give you my credit chit then. And maybe a raise."
She usually got her choice of lifters anyway, but it had been a malicious sort of glee to kick the assistant manager out of his favorite toy.
Her hands glided over the controls, the soft hiss of hydraulic shifts a sort of strange song for her as she concentrated on the task at hand with everything she had. Having shut off the visor of her helmet, she was operating sensor blind for this lift. Even Vernon had complained about her choice when he noticed the HUD system hadn't been visible to warn her of the distance between the crate she was holding and the one overhead.
After a brief but curse-filled exchange, she bet him a free lunch that it could be done without a scratch to anything. A grumbled acceptance of the bet had his eyes set on the whole scene like a hawk, waiting for her to trip up and hear the whine of metal grinding.
Not something she noticed while concentrating so intently, her hands on the controls of the lifter and feet operating the pedals as a strange feeling of removal from the seat slowly ebbed in. The more she focused, the more it felt as though the load lifter was more an extension of herself.
Her perception suddenly felt as though she was looking through the machine rather than her spot inside the heavy equipment.
The arms of the lifter mimicking the feel of her own arms bearing the load. The liquid smooth state of operation was not uncommon when she focused so sharply. With no explanation for it to make sense however, it unnerved her when the sensation was present. The cargo container slowly and readily slid into place. Like pressing a book carefully between two others until it met the backside of the shelf. The solid pressure against the palms of her hand reassured her that the container was in place.
And with a forceful reminder, she did not give it a further shove to make sure it was on square. She blinked and stared at the load lifter controls before the sensation faded from her limbs and felt in control of her body once more. She eyed her hand all the while, her perception slowly returning to normal instead of the awkward over the shoulder feel that had been present only a minute ago.
The wave of exhaustion that followed wasn't uncommon in these moments. The first time it happened nearly making her black out after taking a P-GLE for an expeditionary whirl on her first day in the yard. After about half an hour she had the whole crew watching her make the exoskeleton dance along with her practice tasks.
To everyone's surprise she had made the rig move with near gliding precision. A few even asked exactly how old she was and if she might give them some pointers in operating the suit. The whole rig was like moving a sluggish boat that could crush most anything in its way. For her though, it felt like donning a large set of clothes rather than an exoskeleton for heavy lifting.
The frequency of her focus making her attune to machinery was alarming though as she sat back with a huff and set her gaze on the yard manager.
Vernon stood there, examining the scene before him with a critical eye and glancing at her. Whistling and shaking his head, he held the overhead claw remote with a slowly relaxing white knuckled grip and gave an exhausted sigh.
"Guess I'll give you my credit chit then. And maybe a raise."
