Corsica Station, Omicron-Phi, Outcast space. 10th February 827 AS, 20:20 SMT.
Ruby's Sabre just landed recently, as Enma was doing some paperwork at her office, this office was something special because some sections look like the bar. Some other corners had a look at some entertaining center. It indeed makes a mixed impression until one would get used to it and learn to use all the benefits of such office planning.
Loyola is wearing her traditional short black dress so she has to turn heating to maximum, wearing some custom shoes that look more like sneakers for greater comfort. As there's no need to wear high heels as she does not really believe that it's worth making that sort of impression on Ruby. Loyola then looks at notifications, it appears that Ruby has arrived, still dropping Core IFF now for simplicity of being a freelancer. Enma then moves the microphone closer to her mouth, contacting security.
— Yes, it's this Ruby Hydra I was talking about. My old friend from the Core, she was a Guildmaster just like me, so treat her with respect, please.
Loyola then finishing taking some notes at the documents, looking around if they have something to drink as well as some snacks. Proper dinner will be delivered only in one hour. Outcast sighs, hoping that the guest would be ascetic enough to be satisfied with what she has got now. Enma recently sponsored the re-opening of the local restaurant that used to deliver food to this office back in the day. By now Ruby should've been escorted right to her doorstep.
There she was. Standing in front of a door on a hidden base in a hidden system deep in Outcast space. It was pretty welcoming if not for the giant black hole just outside of the system. Ruby wasn't particularly worried about the people on the station though. Surely no other branch of the Outcasts would try and eliminate her, even if she's an ally...right? Slight shudders came over thinking about it, moments before an Outcast escort member opened the door for her.
Ruby looked back at the guard as he disappeared into the vast corridors. The tiniest sigh of relief escaped her as she stepped into Loyola's office. Hydra was dressed in a very casual attire along the lines of street-wear sneakers, black jeans and an oversized grey hoodie. Nobody could ever guess she once was a Guildmistress of the Core. The look on her melancholic face expressed insomnia. You could practically mistake her for a Kusarian if you just looked at the eyes alone. She looked around cleared her throat to attract Enma's attention.
Not much went on in her head. She was not surprised that Enma was back with the Outcasts nor the fact that a former Core member somehow found herself on a top-secret base. It almost entertained her stoic mind. Though Ruby still had no idea what it was that Enma wanted of her and so, she paid close attention to her surroundings as she scouted out the room with her eyes.
Enma raises her eyebrows for a bit, taking a look at Ruby, as she would just enter and look around without saying a word. Outcast sighs, standing up, and coming closer to Ruby. Moving her hand left and right against Ruby's face, checking if she got basic reactions or anything.
— H-hello? Is anybody home?
Not really waiting for a reply, Enma is heading to the bar area. If anything, she needs to drink herself, and if Ruby will get back to courteousness she would come and join. That was some cool brandy that she just pouring into her glass, for some reason looking like a half professional barista. And while Loyola did not look like an alcoholic, she somewhat perfected pouring alcohol into the glasses, Ruby could give her that.
"Hey." Ruby smiled lazily while looking at Enma pour a drink. "Nice pouring of the alcohol." She noted whilst making her way towards Enma. She did like a good drink and so, she joined the other woman in their totally wholesome pass-time drinking that would absolutely lead to nothing bad.
"Nice to meet you in person again." Her tone, much like always was rather monotonic. Without much thought, she sat down and kicked back her head after taking out a pack of "Gunning Sabre" cigarettes and lighting one. Puffing out a large amount of smoke she crossed her legs and glanced at Enma lazily with a small ever so slightly visible grin before taking another pull of the tobacco stick.
Loyola passes the first glass to Ruby, not even making eye contact. Just instantly starting to fill a second glass to herself. She still looked like she was in the workflow, thinking about something distant. Enma then turning to Ruby as she finishes to finish her glass and smiling lightly. Outcast takes the first sip and shortly nods a few times. She's sounding quite casually, but since she's a little tired, her Hispanic accent is a bit stronger than usual.
— Sure. It burns some oxygen, but supplies are stable, so no problem there..., sit down and relax, I will show you something I found. I think we lack some music.
She would walk towards the closet, it had something that looked like a safe. It immediately reacting to Enma standing in front of it, opening with a strange sound. Loyola is taking a purple cube and placing it at the coffee table in front of the sofa that Ruby decided to use. Outcast looks somewhat excited about that thing, though for now, it looks like just yet another inactive artifact. Enma is sitting down into the armchair to the side, she doesn't seem to have an intention to relax.
— This thing is able to play melodies, so it's basically a piece of very ancient musical art.
With a wide smile, Loyola touches it, and the thing starts filling a room with a blue light. The melody starts to play almost instantly, for Ruby it would cause a mixture of controversial emotions, but nevertheless it is somewhat charming and catchy. Enma is making a gesture to turn off the main light, letting a thing to light the room by itself. Now it looked like some really weird club that had its DJ playing some really progressive musical genre. Enma is now relaxing, finally leaning back against the armchair.
— So from our comm, I understand that you don't plan to return to the Core. What are your plans then? You are a talent and it would be a shame if you did absolutely nothing.
As the mystic music infiltrated their room, Ruby started feeling a lot more relaxed. It almost felt like she was forced into it, though she didn't mind it much. She kept observing the strange purple cube as it just stood there on the coffee table.. being a cube with some kind of powers. Judging by the light, she could have guessed it was something to do with Nomads, however, once again, her care was completely gone as the music mesmerized her completely. "Very... different from what I usually listen to." A slight remark escaped her, alongside a small cloud of grey smoke from the cigarette she still didn't finish.
Hearing the comment about Core she suddenly snapped back to her normal self, with small traces of the music lingering in her mind. "I have no plans. I am nothing but a free spirit nowadays." The small talent comment about her made Ruby somewhat happy that she was still remembered as a good pilot once upon a time.
Loyola nods, sliding down into the chair, she seemed to be overly relaxed and generally friendly. She listened to Ruby politely, trying to read her emotional state apparently too. It didn't seem like regular depression, but legitimate disappointment in everything. Loyola could play on that and probably make things easier for them both.
— Oh, I understand that it's hard to get motivated and be productive when you are surrounded by miserable idiots. I have one thing in mind that will give you a drive, but it will also lead you to be more... destructive I suppose? I mean, if you don't like things happening around you and want to have a revenge of sort, that thing might be just for you.
Loyola sighed, taking a sip of brandy that would slightly burn her mouth. Ruby could notice how strangely the voice of the Outcast was vibrating along with the music that was played. At some point, she could have start guessing what is going on here.
"More destructive?" A sudden expression change appeared on Ruby's face, from the bored stoic glare to the full-blown interest that consumed her entirely. It was something Enma has not witnessed from her in years. Her pretty grin crept up afterwards as she stared Enma down.
"Are you going to throw me back to my old self from years ago?" Her voice finally revealed a tone that did not resemble a text to speech application. Her voice non-monotonous voice sounded much different. It made her sound even a little younger. Enma was fully aware of what she meant when her old self was mentioned. This was possibly one of the only topics that sparked any resemblance of joy in Ruby. She took a heavy pull on her cigarette before releasing all of the smoke.
Hydra had noticed the voice shift from Enma but it didn't really bother her. She was used to all kinds of weird things and odd events occurring around her. This felt almost like a normal day to her. Besides being offered to become more destructive whilst a random relic jukebox was playing mystic tunes.
Loyola is making an unreasonably long pause, Ruby had to wait for a time before Outcast would reply or even make any motion. That looks just weird and even somewhat spooky. Loyola then starts moving her lips as long as some other muscules at her face and throat, committing a reply. Her voice now sounds a little scratchy after the pause, it looks more and more suspicious.
— Not like a few years back. It was your own drive and it made you burn out. And you burned out because of disappointment in people, most people do. I know very well what trash can happen when you are Core Guildmistress. And there's one thing that can motivate you from the inside, while not quite burning you out, it will have its own will. That's the trick. As for destructive potential, it will be enough to take revenge on whoever you hate, and I assume you hate most of the things about Sirius and people who populate it. Which is yet again, very natural and understandable. We usually don't ask, but knowing you, I think you are smart enough to make a choice on a volunteer basis so we can avoid violence.
Loyola fills another glass, and further she spoke more casually it sounded. Despite her speaking about things that usually horrify people and make them go at loud tones of voice.
— If you have any questions feel free to ask, we have a lot of time really. I'd not be surprised if you are confused. I am really up for clarifying all of the things. There's only one thing that would not be an option for you right now, and that option is leaving early. We can agree that it's just not polite, right?
"You are not wrong about the burning out part. It really was quite disappointing." She paused, before taking a sip from her glass full of alcoholic beverage that Enma handed to her. Ruby lazily shifted her eyes towards Enma once more, this time to see if something was wrong with her due to the seemingly rough voice. Nothing alerted her visually, besides the fact that she acted oddly compared to how she would normally act.
Ruby shrugged and indulged in the alcohol once more, "Will of its own...huh." It was clear. A sudden realisation struck Ruby as her eyes met with Enma's "Fuck." The same thought ricocheted off every wall of her mind like a small elastic rubber ball. Was it the end of her story or was it a start of a brand new volume? Ruby inhaled a great deal of air before exhaling all of it moments later - composed and calm as always. She was not scared, just puzzled.
"Eh. I didn't expect it to go like this." She paused, emptying the glass of alcohol and placing it on the table. "Fate has finally caught up to me. How ironic." She gave a saddened chuckle before kicking her head back on the couch, taking another deep breath moments prior to setting her gaze upon Loyola. "Will I remember anything from the past?" Ruby whistled as she looked at the ceiling while grabbing her pack of cigarettes and lighting one up afterwards.
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