-@knight-of-the-thorn

Ty for the ask! I went with Commander Ruby Aenn for this one!

10. Would/does knowing their backstory change how people (in general but also Tyria at large) view them?

Oh yeah for sure, short red plant does have some parts to her backstory that would make people raise an eyebrow at her and treat her differently. For instance, she very nearly joined the Nightmare Court as a sapling, she desired to feel needed and have community and was willing to go NM to get that.

I think most people don't realize that being Commander isn't actually her Wyld Hunt and her calling. Her calling/purpose is to teach saplings on the Ranger path. So the whole 'divinely guided/fate guided' aspect that a lot of the Commanders have she does not. She was the only one left to be able to pick up the pieces when Riaghael was made to retire. If given the chance and knowing that someone else could take over, she would absolutely drop the role and go do what she would like to.

11. How accurate is their reputation/image compared to how they really are?

Fairly accurate I would say. She is bubbly and light-hearted very often but she puts on airs of it for display to try to keep peoples moral up. The smiling face and optimism of the Pact, who keeps everyone looking on the bright side of things.

But she considers it a duty - she HAS to or people will panic. So it's a naturally kind and bubbly person forcing herself to be Extra Happy for others.

12. Have they "completed" the map? What does that look like in your canon?

To date Ruby is the only one of my kids that has 100% map comp. It looks like to me that no matter where one goes - someone, somewhere has heard of her. For good or ill!

13. What is the worst/funniest/dumbest article that could be written about them in Tyria's trashiest gossip mag?

She does deal with scandal articles of people jumping the gun whenever she's hanging out with someone - they automatically assume 'relationship'. As for funniest, I think since she's a well known cook they would have a dumb add about her cooking with choya spines and just have it labels "CANNIBALISM?!"

14. Biggest misconception about them?

That she's a push over. She will always take talking over fighting and discussion over conflict. She'd even be willing to lose small fights to avoid bigger issues. But she is no wilted daisy when it comes to standing her ground. At just 4'9 she's tiny, round, and often her voice sounds more out of place around the others she's with (happy, bouncy sounding voice that can be a little shrill at times).

Commander Ruby will absolutely wreck someone's shit though, because they assume an easy fight. She uses 2 handed weapons exclusively (Greatsword) and when she merges with her pet her entirely battle style shifts.

She's happy, bubbly, and willing to be everyone's best friend but she's not a doormat and people will regret thinking she is one.

15. What is their favorite and least favorite part of being the commander (or whatever role they play in your canon)?

Oh hands down her favorite part is being able to be a part of Aurene's life. Ruby's a big nurturing type (seen by her many pets and her insistence of trying to tame hydra). It helped give her that need for community and closeness that she's always desired. Not fully completed it but greatly helped it.

Ty for the ask!

(Ruby bounces on the tips of her feet for minute in thought.)

"It depends on who it's with. Aeren for instance," (she gestures to a large fernhound who is scratching at his ear) "it feels very comfortable, very cozy. He's been with me the longest so it feels rather like wearing a very worn in and cozy sweater. Only mentally, and internally, as well as externally. If that makes much sense."

"There's also a feeling of oh what-do-you-call-it. "

(She wrinkles her nose in thought)

"Like - like an accompanying perspective. So I would see you, yes? And know you Ruby side of things! But there'd be an overlaying element of seeing you from how Aeren sees you. Think of when the sun is making shade on something with its leaves, how the original shape is sometimes a little harder to see because of the leaf shadows? Something like that.

Now with Arura, my iboga, it's very different. Arura operates more on instinct and hunting than Aeren, who knows people very well and is friendly with other Sylvari. Arura isn't, they're just themselves. Instead small pieces from another perspective which can accent or obscure, a color has been added to the whole scene.

Yes, I would see you, but say if the color was red, you would look very different! Everything looks different. And it's not cozy. I feel more capable with Arura, to be honest with you, but it's not a relaxed capable. It's sharper. Less personal. More instinct and less thought. And so it's nice in a way, I don't over think. But everything gets put into 'threat' or 'not threat' and that can get tiring."

(Ruby shrugs)

Short red dottir! Ty for the ask!

🍒 What kind of things do they expect from their relationships? Does this differ between platonic relationships and romantic ones? Is your OC “demanding” or a door mat? What kinds of things do people expect from them in a relationship?

Ruby is pretty easy to get along with but her tendency to be a little bombastic means she expects people to be onboard with her idea. She sort of assumes everyone is at the same level she is, and while she won't be rude if they aren't, doesn't get it. What do you mean you don't want to go out and try to watch the for opossums right now? Who cares if it's four thirty in the morning? Since the red bean is aro and ace, all her relationships are platonic but in various degrees.

So her relationship with Trahearne is very much younger sibling looking up to older sibling. Her relationship with Riag is deeper than friendship and approaching family, but also friendship. Her relationship to Sigilis is friendship, but there's an element of being coworkers as well. She's only really demanding about things where she thinks the person is not taking care of themselves right, like trying to get Sigilis to not get blackout drunk all the time or trying to get Riag to remember to eat. Then she's demanding and won't take no for an answer.

I think people expect her to be the cheerful, positive energy in their life so she feels she can't express sadness or despair. She had to be the motivation, the upbeat, the silver lining, so she does. But it does way on her sometimes.

⭐ What is your OC afraid of? Any crippling phobias or some such? How do they act when scared and what helps them calm down? Does anyone ever find your OC scary? Why?

Ruby is afraid of being the last one standing. Of upon another world ending event, being the only one left alive, or losing everyone to age, sickness, or malice. She doesn't have any major phobias but getting lost bothers her a lost and makes her panic, it comes from getting lost as a sapling and having to wait until a Warden happened upon her.

Ruby hardens when scared, she stands straighter, and tenses. As though whatever the source was could be a person she is about to argue with. That's really how she sees fear, she personifies it, and makes it into a shape she can fight/argue/reckon with instead of an intangible force.

Her pets calm her down and are about the only thing that can. Especially those she's soulbonded with they can communicate wordlessly and it settles her.

🧡 Who is your OC’s favourite person? Why is this person the top of their list and have they actually met them (an idol or rolemodel or celeb can be someone’s favourite after all!).

I had to ask her about this, she found the notion of having a 'favorite person' like a favorite color to be strange. She admired Almorra and sees the Firstborn as important voices on the Sylvari narrative. But she doesn't have a 'favorite'.