Ruby things

ruby thing pt.1

"Aw, fuck, I did it again. Sorry." She takes her hand off my knee. "This is what happens when I get too comfortable..."

"No, no, it's fine, really. I liked it." I'm not sure she believes me. "What's wrong?"

"I killed the mood again. I got...nostalgic, I guess."

"For Rick?"

"I don't know." She knew. "I just...I want to do well by the people I like. You know?"

"You didn't breach a layer of trust or anything. I was just confused, I guess. Nobody does the hand-on-the-knee thing to me."

"...You serious? God, guy like you, I'd think you'd have no problems at all."

"You know how I operate. It doesn't get chicks."

"You have one of those faces, though, y'know? The kind that'd be handsome if it were just...attached to anybody else."

"Oh. Thanks."

"Look, I'm not good at...words. You know that."

"Don't deny yourself. You work at a newspaper. You wouldn't be an associate editor if you weren't good at words."

"I mean, that's fair, but...I have white-out at work. You can't white-out something you've said."

"Maybe that's what makes talking to you so damn interesting. I get the real, unfiltered you, unedited, unrevised. The first thing to your mind is the thing you say. You don't spend hours revising and changing it first."

"...Y'know, Bass, I don't think you really grasp it."

"Grasp what?"

"I don't...look, this isn't easy. The revising and shit? THat still happens, it just happens in my head, really fast, and I don't get to write it down first. You ever try to do math in your head? It's kinda like that."

"...I guess."

"So don't go...fooling yourself...or whatever."

ruby thing pt.2: the fashioning

Ruby's manner of dress:

1. Tank tops. Always has one on, because she's more comfortable using that for support than a bra, half the time.

2. The white blouse she wears is a men's small long-sleeved shirt. She prefers neutral colors; white works best, light grey works better.

3. The vest is also a men's vest; she doesn't like the snug fit of vests meant for women. The overall effect is that her top looks a little baggy, but not by much. It's not flattering to her form, but she doesn't have a lot of form to begin with.

3. Her slacks are women's slacks; she prefers browns and tans for that. Never pressed, because she wears them all the time anyway.

4. Socks: Ankle socks, generally black. Buys them in bulk and uses them for everything. Has a hell of a time getting the black marks off her feet in the shower.

5. Shoes: Loafers. She can't stand heels, and sneakers aren't professional enough. Loafers work because they work almost eerywhere. Such is the motivation behind most of her outfit, really.

6. Hair: Low-maintenance. She'd cut it short if she thought she could get away with it; she usually has it loosely pony-tailed because a tighter tail hurts her head and she's never been that great at hair tying.

7. Hat: Dark brown argyle cnap-brim hat. Technically a man's hat, but it fits her just fine. It used to be Rick's, but he gave it to her as a keepsake not long before they cut all contact. It's kind of amazing that she keeps it despite not acknowledging that they broke their elationship on good terms, but it's the only hat she really owns, and it's nice for the rainier days (which is 75% of the year in the Pacific Southeast).

?. Overwear: The nicest article of clothing she owns is a grey wool pea coat. It's very slightly tight on her, but it works.

rick ruby thing

Rick looked as if he wanted to say something. I guess he was waiting to see what Ruby did first. All I could really do was watch. It was a bit like...introducing two cats to each other, really. On a good day, they'd just sniff and be cautious. If you're not lucky, you get hissing and clawing. I'd hoped it'd be the former.

Ruby was the first to talk. "Rick. I, uh, have things I gotta say to you." I've never known Ruby to be this careful with her words.

"I think I do too, but you prob'ly better go first."

"Was hoping you'd say that. If I know you like I think I used to, you're probably wondering which version to give me, depending on how I make my approach. Right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, this oughta make it easier on you. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? ...Wait, huh? I didn't plan for that..."

"Or...maybe I just made it way harder for you. Damn it." She takes off the snap-brim hat. "Y'know, I've had a dam long time to mull over the way our relationship turned out. Who was at fault, or even IF anybody was. All I can really figure is that it doesn't matter who did what or even anything at all. I just want to give you a damn apology."

"What are you even apologizing for? I was the asshole back then. It oughta be me."

"And I'm not sayin' it can't be you who says he's sorry. I just...I feel like I was definitely not as innocent as I wanted to feel like, y'know?" Ruby scratches the back of her neck with her free hand. "Whatever you're guilty of, I went right along with it. And whether that's from me being young and gullible or if I just had a void I needed filling...and I know what joke you're wanting to make, so just get it out of your system."

"I kinda don't want to now that you've said that." Rick's eyes are wide open for once. I don't usually see him NOT squinting.

"Dammit, you're the one that was always going on about shooting blanks..."

"I know, Ruby, but I also know now's not the time."

"...I'm sorry. I never seem to remember you have a serious side." She sniffs a bit. "Maybe that's where I fucked up."

"Nah, going by your logic, it was both of us. Remember the time we got caught by that beat cop?"

"Seem to remember it was your idea to park there."

"Yeah, yeah, my idea entirely..." He barely holds in a chuckle. "Y'know, we had some great times. What happened to that?"

"I think that's exactly why I wanted to come apologize to you, Rick. I'm the reason that those times stopped. I got selfish."

"No, the Ruby I know was *always* selfish. This wasn't selfishness. This was you trying to be responsible for yourself."

"I think you might be right. But I do still think I was the one that fucked up."

"No, we both did. But y'know, even after you quit seeing me, that didn't mean I wasn't still rootin' for you."

"How's that?"

"A few well-placed favors here and there, a few elements at play, a bit of careful reconnaissance..."

"You've been spying on me?"

"Nah, not as such. I just know a few people in a few places, just by happenstance. Principal among them of course is this guy right here." Rick points right at me. "On that note, how ya doin', Bass?"

"Bass, you're spying on me?"

"No no no, Ruby, not spying," Rick bounces back. "More like...you know that taxi cab guru thing you said about me?"

"Huh. I always wondered if you kept doing that."

"He's been askin' for advice here and there. It's uh, I don't think he ever mentioned your name. Just talked about you. Kinda vague but I knew it was you."

I felt a bit less on-the-spot now. I had a feeling Rick was a guy I could trust, and even though he did just blow my cover, he somehow did it in a way that...made me look better than I really was?

Ruby, meanwhile, was giving me that confused look. Like she couldn't quite tell if I could be trusted. "Come to think of it, I always wondered if you were really acting on your own whims. Some of the shit you were doing for me at the office was, well, pretty Rick-like."

"I dunno what you're talking about." I pleaded the fifth.