#tor: ruby

***

Nadia—

Overall/In Other Routes: Depending whether Lyra’s in an Upright or Reversed timeline, Lyra can be anywhere between having the utmost of respect for the Countess, to being totally neutral/indifferent. As a woman in her position, Nadia has a lot of responsibilities; Lyra doesn’t envy her in the slightest. If they’re friends, Lyra’s a visitor that Nadia looks forward to see. If they’re estranged or on hostile/unfriendly terms, at best it is awkward. At worst, it’s bitter and angry.

Upright (TOR: Emerald): Initially, Lyra only knew her as the widowed Countess. As she learned more about Nadia, she found a kindred spirit. While busy with their duties, they find each other—and their friends/loved ones—to lean on. The pair push each other to be better, and to do their best with whatever energies they have on a day to day basis.

Reversed (TOR: Ruby): With the new Devil being her significant other, Lyra’s found herself having many freedoms. Said freedoms, however, are at that the end of a very, very long leash. With the slightest sign of her Devil needing her presence, Lyra’s instantly transported back to the seat of Nadia’s throne. While free to do as she wishes, Lyra’s internal turmoil isn’t quelled in the least.

***

Julian—

Overall/In Other Routes: At best, she gets along with the fellow pun-loving doctor. At worst, interactions between the two of them can be either awkward or leave one or both of them completely and utterly exasperated. Julian isn’t the easiest person to be around, whether or not he does it intentionally. Lyra knows the man means well 89% of the time, but his flair for the dramatics makes her shake her head.

Upright (TOR: Voyager): Their relationship starts off not unlike a roller coaster. He’s wanted for murder, yet he doesn’t remember much from his time in the Red Plague. Lyra knows there’s more to the doctor than he lets on, especially when time and time again it seems like he’s a death seeker. After things are resolved, Lyra and Julian learn each other’s styles of affection. While Lyra is the more ‘serious’ of the pair, she’s not uptight to the point Julian’s shenanigans feel grating. Despite their very obvious differences, deep down beneath, they both care for the same things. They just go about it differently, especially when magic gets involved.

Reversed (TOR: Undertaker): They both have nightmares that feel endless. Both their bodies have changed, and they’re both doing their best to cope with it. Julian’s become something of a raven-based harpy, and Lyra’s shifting into a black sheep of sorts. Travelling together, Julian doesn’t pry much into what Lyra’s seen en route to finding him. It only comes up when Scout and Julian assist Lyra in sheering the excess amount of wool off of her skin and face. Despite it all, they’re together, and looking for their loved ones in their changed world. So long as they’re together, they can do anything.

A/N: It’s been taking longer than I would’ve liked to finish this, so I’m splitting this into two parts instead. If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Part 2 should be coming along soon enough.

[Apprentice!Timelines]

Reversed!Asra: A Plant-Based Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Elden Ring Boss.

Reversed!Nadia: The Devil’s Lap-Dog Is Spoiled But Has a Conscience.

Reversed!Julian: Local Sheep Woman Gives More Than Three Bags of Wool in X Amount of Time.

Reversed!Muriel: Depressed Archer Is Done™ With Everything.

Reversed!Portia: Vesuvian Attaché Becomes Her Past Life’s Worst Nightmare.

Reversed!Lucio: The Devil Is At War With Herself.

[Librarian!Timelines]

Option A: Anthropomorphic Spider Crab Searches Endlessly For Her Loved Ones.

Option B: Librarian Gives Up Job/Life On the Physical Plane(s) to Become A Ferryman in the Realms of the Arcana.

I must warn you though: don't call her by that affectionate nickname in the presence of the Devil herself. Devil prefers for her pet to be addressed by Lyra. That's her true name, some would say.

Ruby prefers to give out non-alcoholic drinks to people that ring the bell, but she won't say no to giving those fiery spirits to those that want it the most. Ruby never blames anyone for needing some liquid courage before going on to speak to her Devil.

Their symbol of matrimony is the choker that Ruby wears proudly. That was enough of a ring for the two of them, at the very least.

I know of a family that came through these parts once. A family of four. A Prakran-Vesuvian, her two husbands, and a young girl.

It wasn't to make a deal with the Devil. It was to see her pet.

Asra Alnazar, one of the most renowned of the magicians of Vesuvia, went with them to petition that particular audience with the Devil.

Devil was not happy to say the least, at least at first. I myself didn't hear much from that discussion, despite the petitioning process is public within her realm.

Where Ruby was in that instance, well, she could have been in a number of places. Despite being on an invisible leash, that leash ran long.

Ruby’s a happy little pet. She often explored areas of the Devil's realm even the most hardened explorers of the Arcane realms would not dare to go. Demons and hellish creatures of all shapes and sizes bow to her, giving her kind company or space, depending on Ruby’s mood.

As far as I recollect, there are two hard rules with interacting with Ruby. One: Never, ever, in your right mind, urge Ruby to have more freedoms from her Devil. Two: Don't dare proposition her. Don't dare to proposition the little Ruby outside of the Devil's presence, and without Devil's explicit permission first. Even then, Ruby is the Devil’s pet, wholly in heart and soul.

Luckily for the family of four, and their magician guide, they followed those two rules.

With a snap of her clawed fingers, the Devil beckons Lyra, her dear little pet, into the throne room.

One of the Prakran-Vesuvian's husbands, the one that had a familial resemblance to Lyra in another life, watches in horrified awe as Lyra dips her head into her Devil's palm, a purr of a hum escaping her at her Devil's affectionate smoothing-over of her horns. Once that customary greeting ritual is finished, Lyra settles down at the foot of the throne, settling the back of her head just under one of the armrests.

It was then that Lyra notices her beloved teacher. She always had a great big grin for him. Overall, her affection for others knew no bounds. As far as I knew, that never changed from her time from the mortal realm. 

Asra greets his former student kindly, taking his feathered cap off and placing it over his chest, playfully dipping into a bow. This garners a laugh from her.

“Who're these people you came with?” Lyra inquires, leaning forward a bit. She adjusts her crimson spectacles to get a better look at the four newcomers behind her teacher.

“Asra tells me that they're you're family,” the Devil explains, gently placing a hand over her pet's horned head.

“Family?” Lyra blinks, confused.

With an impatient look from the Devil, Asra immediately introduces the four people behind him.

The Prakran-Vesuvian is Walterine Aster. She was the aunt that ran the Magic Shop before Lyra, and in another time, ran it with her teacher. One of her husbands, a man with angled spectacles, is introduced as James Aster. With him, they had a child: Neha Aster. Her iridescent green hair stands out in this red and black realm. Walterine's other spouse is the one directly related to our little Ruby: Bảo Nguyen.

It was not until Lyra lays her eyes on her biological uncle that she actually looks pained.

The Devil was not quick to anger, as the Devils in the past always were. However, her little pet was in pain, clutching at her horned head. This was something that the former Prakran princess would not tolerate.

“Take them out,” Devil orders Asra.

“Wait, Nadi, please-”

“What did I say about addressing me as such, Alnazar?” Devil snarls.

The young magician backpedals into Ruby’s family, her uncles helping to support him as they quickly leave.

As the group of five exit the realm with haste, Neha audibly wept. Walterine had to pull her daughter away, before she could incite the Devil’s rage even further.

In the meanwhile, Ruby’s hands are forcefully pressed against the sides of her head. Black streaks of magic whorl around her temples as she whines. Ruby pleads with her Devil to make the pain stop.

The Devil rises out of her obsidian throne. She bent her knees, stooping to gently press the pad of her thumb over the center of her pet’s forehead.

“Forget, Lyra,” Devil murmured.

"Nadi, please-!"

“Forget.”

***

I wait a while. Eventually the faceless statues gently lead Ruby away, most likely to rest in her private chambers after that ordeal.

For a few moments, the Devil is still. With a wave of her hand, she summons a glass full of a black tinted liquor.

“Hierophant,” Devil addresses me as I approach her throne, “I am sorry for the delay of our appointment. I had some rather unpleasant business to attend to.”

“I understand,” I reply. “How is Lyra?”

Devil exhales, a faint flash of worry in her face before her expression hardens.

“She is much better now. Granted, I would have preferred for her condition to not have happened in the first place, but alas...”

I nod again.

“What news do you bring me from Valerius and the other Arcana?”

I summon a chair to sit upon, swirling my wine glass. I offer the Devil some, but she had her own in claw. Still, it was polite to offer.

After our meeting, I leave straight back toward my realm. No one should stay long in Devil’s realm. As much I know her to keep the aesthetic, I half hoped she would have redone the realm another way, but alas.

Upon returning to my realm, I am alerted that there is a human waiting for me at the doors. Strange that it wasn’t Valerius. More often than not these days he seeks advice from me...

I am answered when I open the door. There is a human male, with angled spectacles. He looks exhausted, eyes a bit red from what I assume is from crying.

“What brings you here?” I inquire.

 “I wish to make a deal wit’ you, sir,” the man replies. He seems nervous.

“...hmm. Let us talk over some drinks first,” I reply, beckoning him to come in with a hand. “I just returned from an appointment elsewhere and I need some refreshment.”

Muriel’s Upright: The Attuned (Receptive) Muriel’s Reversed: The Outcast (Forsaken)

Portia’s Upright: The Envoy (Illuminated) Portia’s Reversed: The Accomplice (Redacted)