seasonsrpg | Rui's October Catchall

[One thing Rui has always been good at is running. Running from security, running from his problems. Currently, he's running from dealing with his newfound memories by throwing himself into his work. The homesickness and frustration pushed aside in favor of tools and machines. Thankfully, there wasn't a show going on at the moment, so he could overwork himself and call it "necessary maintenance". He pauses in his work making sure one of the moving props wasn't going to break down next time it was used when he hears the door open. He's clearly tired, but he puts on a smile as he greets whoever it is.]

Hello, and welcome to Wonder✩Blooming Stage. What's brings you this way? There aren't any performances for today.

[He has to go home sometime, and on his way home, he stops by the theater in Sunwaning. Perhaps there's a show today? That might take his mind off of things. But as he looks at what shows are playing, he's hit with with another pang of loneliness. If he had never come here, he could've been performing in a troupe. He has to remind himself that he's starting to grow his troupe again. He's not completely alone in that theater. But he still has to wonder.]

...Is there even a point to keeping it?

[Rui, along with his darling robot actors, are performing. The story is of an eccentric alchemist who wants to put on shows that the townsfolk could love. After being shunned for his creations, he gets sought out by a travelling troupe, and the four of them put on wonderful shows together for a time. Eventually, they make it back to the town the alchemist was shunned from, and, despite the alchemist's concerns, they were welcomed. The end.

Rui makes a show of packing his stuff away to leave, but he'll greet anyone who approaches him.]

Well? How did you like it? It's a new take on one of the scripts I performed here awhile back~

Edited 2025-10-02 04:23 (UTC)

[Not everyone is a fan of Rui's performances...or where he holds them, and he is, once again getting chased. It's towards the end of his run, when he's checking to make sure he's in the clear, that he runs into someone.]

Ah. Sorry about that. I wasn't looking where I was going.

[He doesn't seem sorry, he seems almost excited. He has healthy coping mechanisms.]

[Stelle finds herself clapping at the end, having enjoyed the show that Rui had just performed.]

That was a really good performance, Rui! Do you often do solo performances around here?

I wanted to visit, Rui-kun!

[She had wanted to arrange another date, but the whole fallout of the mission is still echoing around and inside her, making her sick. Maybe seeing him anyway would help. It had last year, after she felt helpless and made that deal that ended in a horrific fight with some Dark Fae. Friends always made her smile, even when the horrors found their way into her heart.

But seeing him now, it looks like they're in his too. Did the demons get him?]

Rui-kun, what happened? Did you get hurt? I'm sorry, I tried my best, we all did, but that mist followed us home...

Thank you, Stelle-kun.

[Rui finishes putting everything away and stands up.]

I do. There's a lot of foot traffic around here, so it's great for small performances like these. The ones that are put on in my theater are, of course, longer and with more staging and effects. But I like to go back to my roots on occasion.

[He is happy to see Rinku, though he had thought she would still be on the mission. Had he holed himself away here so long? That wasn't important right now, she was upset. He sets down his tools and makes his way over to Rinku.]

I'm fine. See, Rinku-kun, I'm not hurt at all. You have no reason to be sorry. I've...I've simply lost track of time working on theater upkeep. I'm more concerned about you.

[He tries guiding her so that they can sit down in the theater seats.]

What happened?

[He didn't even know.

Thoughts fly through her, worry, but also relief, he's been here the whole time, he's safe --

Rinku hugs Rui suddenly and tightly.]

You're okay... This mist got past the barrier, it made monsters show up and control people. It -- it followed us home. It's gone now, they're gone now, but it followed us home!

[Rui hugs her back. He feels bad worrying over himself when Rinku has clearly been struggling out there.]

That...sounds scary. You've been through a lot.

[He's not sure how to properly comfort her, so he just holds onto her for a couple of moments.]

Hey. Let's go back to my place, okay? I have snacks and movies, and we can curl up under blankets? It may be good to take your mind off of things for a little bit.

You were great! And your robots were incredible, too.

[Despite everything that happened last month, Evangeline smiles as brightly as ever when she approaches Rui.]

[Rui smiles like he's unbothered as well.]

Thank you. I wasn't sure how well this script would do since I rushed to get it done.

[He had no reason to rush, he just wanted to perform, and his usual eccentric alchemist fallback seemed far too sad now. The robots dance in place as if they understand Evangeline and are happy for the praise.]

I'm glad you could see one of my shows, Evangeline-san.

Oh, that's right... you have a theater, don't you? If you ever need help with advertising to get fresh faces in, I can always let my night crew know at work!

I do~ I'm still rebuilding my troupe, but we put on shows enough to keep the doors open. Any advertising would be appreciated. Thank you.

[It's far more exhausting running a theater and troupe than he had realized, especially when people can just...completely disappear from the world, but he keeps a smile on his face, like it's not an issue for him.]

What is it you do again, I've forgotten.

Of course! I'm always willing to help out friends.

[She smiles so proudly, practically sparkling.]

I'm an owner of a pawn shop and night bar, actually!

[Rinku hugs him tighter for a moment. She nods and reluctantly lets go.]

Okay. I wanted to see you, anyway. You're a nice person, you know that?

[Cuddling and movies sounds like a great idea.]

I'd love to see more! Do you perform anywhere regularly, or do I just have to get lucky again?

Performances like this I do on the street, however, my bigger productions are held at my theater, Wonder✩Blooming Stage. You've been there before actually, during my birthday party.

[Rui thinks for a moment.]

I will warn that at the moment, aside from fuller stories, I can't put on the level of show I used to, as I'm still rebuilding my troupe. However, those of use that are still here are dedicated to putting on the best shows possible.

[Rui chuckles, and rubs the back of his head sheepishly at the compliment.]

I appreciate you saying that.

[He looks back at his tools, before deciding they can stay there, he'll be back tomorrow anyway.]

Let's go. There's a teleport node not far from here.

[He starts making his way out of the theater.]

Oh, how wonderful. Perhaps I'll stop by sometime.

[He's never really been interested in alcohol, but he may find something he could use in a show at the pawnshop.]

I bet you get a lot of interesting items in your shop.

[Rinku gets up out of the seat and follows Rui.]

I'm glad you were safe in here. You've been eating, right? Do you have any food or should we get some?

Feel free to stop by whenever we're open -- we got a lot of really neat items occasionally.

I have been. I keep some food in my office for when I end up staying over.

[It's mainly protein bars and the like, but Rinku doesn't need to know that. Rui pauses at the question. He doesn't cook, so he doesn't have real food at home, just snacks and instant meals.]

We should probably get some food on the way if you'd like a meal. I haven't been shopping since...

[He doesn't remember when he shut himself in here after gaining those memories. Oops.]

...Before the expedition.

'Kay.

[She looks up at Rui. Seeing his face, she grabs his hand and squeezes it.]

I can help if you want. I didn't really wanna cook when Neechan went missing, I get if you don't wanna right now.

[A quiet "you look sad too," in her own way.]

[Oops, he hasn't been covering up his sad well enough. He squeezes her hand back.]

Maybe we should just pick something up for now? That way neither of us have to cook today. I think we could use the break, don't you?

[He wants to ask about Evangeline, but he doesn't want to upset her when he's trying to cheer her up.]

Rui's October Catchall

Early Oct - Stormreach - Wonder✩Blooming Stage - Working Hard - OTA

Early Oct - Sunwaning - Theater - OTA

Early Oct - Nightwake - Near a streetcorner somewhere - Street Act - OTA

Early Oct - Nightwake - Running - OTA

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