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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3654849" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-seventy-nine, “Jane’s Confession”, Friday, June 16th, 9:30 A.M. Nana asked Ruby, “What exactly are your plans? From what Jane said earlier you now own part of two saloons." Ruby answers, "Exact plans? Well, that's hard to say. I'm used to going where the wind blows me. But these past six months have really changed me, I yearn for something more than what I had. I mean, I think inside I really didn't like the life I was living and wanted to be different I just didn't know if I could do it or how. Promise City, and my friends, helped changed that. So now I'm going to go back home and try to make it there on my own, on my terms. I own one-quarter of a Saloon, Dance Hall and Hotel there. The hotel part might even be open by now. I sing there, I'm the main entertainment and I really enjoy it. I have a lot of fans and people who come to see me. Eventually I'd like to own more of it. I told you about Niles, our partner, he was murdered and now his nephew own his share. Maybe I can do something with that." "Now I also own a small part of a Saloon and Hotel in Tucson too, it was a gift from Jane and her boyfriend who is Jake's best friend. That was really a big surprise. But I don't think they need me there for anything, for decision making or anything so I'll stay in Promise City. I guess I'll just return there and try to make it like a normal person. The truth is it's very rough and dangerous out there. My life has been in danger more than one, I was shot a few times and almost died twice. I‘m hoping things will be a little more settled than that," Ruby laughs. "And I hope you'll come and visit soon but with that testimony I'm not sure you'll want to!" Nana laughs, "You know Ruby, most people would start to choke if you extended an invitation to them after explaining the deadly dangers of the place! But you know I always look for adventure, as does my spouse. We may take you up on that offer once he manages to convince those people after us to leave us alone. After all, it wouldn't do to have you safely bring the items there only to have us follow with the villains in tow." Ruby returns the laugh, "I know, I know, I should be the tourist poster for Promise City! I do understand about coming to visit and hopefully you can get rid of those pesky people soon so you can come. If you need any other help with that Nana I hope you'll contact me. I have friends too who would be willing to help." Nana answers, "Thank you dear, you're already doing enough." Ruby stands and hugs her grandmother tightly, "I'm so glad I found you. As a child I used to dream you were out there somewhere having adventures but always thinking of me. And it turns out you were." She squeezes her grandmother, "I love you Nana." Ruby releases her grandmother from the hug. “Alright Nana, I need to get dressed. I’ll see you in a bit.” Ruby returns to her room and takes her time choosing a dress. She can’t decide what to wear, nothing seems appropriate; nothing seems to be just what she is looking for. She isn’t even sure what that is or why she cared that much. Finally she chooses a cream colored skirt and top. The top is a satiny plum corset over a sheer blouse with a low squared neckline showing off just enough cleavage. The skirt is long and snug with a slit up the side, cream with plum accents. There is a matching jacket but she keeps that off for now. She chooses her favorite pair of boots, shoes that have been neglected lately. She didn’t like to wear them as they made her taller than Jake. But Jake wasn’t here today and she pulled them on with a smile. She adds a black velvet choker before deciding she is finished getting ready. She heads back downstairs. Ruby hears sounds in the main room and go out to see that both James and Richard are up and in the next room engaged in a discussion about European politics. "Morning gentlemen, I trust you slept well?" Ruby asks. "Like a log," Richard replies. "Not I," says James, "I was worried about intruders again. I will be relieved when those documents are out of this house." Ruby sighs. "That stinks James. Well, it won't be long until we take the papers out of here and hopefully you'll be more safe. Not long at all actually. Time seems to fly by so fast here. Richard, is Jane awake yet? I really need to talk to her." "She was still sleeping when I checked earlier," he replies. Turning back towards James he says, "So you think that Queen Victoria was actually responsible?" James replies, "I see no other possibility, clever of her wasn't it?" "Responsible for what?" Ruby butts in. Richard says, "The overthrown of the French Government earlier this year." James says, "Yes, a powerful nature priestess who had opposed the government was freed from a remote prison. She then raised a small army of followers and persuaded them to do a bloodless overthrow of the government that was in power. I believe that the priestess was rescued by Royal Army soldiers under orders from the Queen." [DM’s Note: This transpired in the Arcade’s Gang module “League of Extraordinary Cowboys”] Ruby asks "What's her name? The priestess?" He replies, "Her name is Louise Michel She is a French author, poet, revolutionary and anarchist. She was born in 1830 and has had a very colorful life. She was a French patriot who helped fight in the wars against Germany. When Paris surrendered to the Prussian Army in 1871 she helped to lead the insurgency against the occupying army. After the war she was a founder of the French Commune, which strongly opposed the Versailles Government." Ruby exclaims, "My goodness, that certainly is a lot for me to digest this early in the morning. I admit to being terribly uneducated about history. I think I'll leave the world politics discussions to the men." With a smile and a small curtsey Ruby excuses herself and heads to Jane's room. She knocks softly on the door. Not getting an answer she enters the room anyway, finding Jane asleep. Ruby approaches the bed and sits next to Jane. She pushes some hair off her sleeping friend's face and speaks quietly. "Janie, Janie wake up." Jane slowly awakens. Her eyes are all red and her hair is an unkempt mess. She looks at Ruby and says, "Just let me sleep." "No Jane, I won't," Ruby says sternly. "I let you be last night but now you have to tell me what's going on. You wanted to train me, you wanted me to be able to speak to the goddess. And she comes, but I don't know what she is talking about. And you... you leave me alone just when I need you." Ruby's voice grows softer and she looks down at her friend with much concern in her eyes. "Tell me what's wrong. We're supposed to be friends, you're one of me BEST friends and friends confide in each other. Talk to me now Janie." Jane yells back "I don't want to be your friend! I mean, I do, but I don't just want to be friends. I love you Ruby, I'm totally in love with you. I thought this trip would bring us together, but it hasn't. The Goddess has finally showed that to me. You don't share my feelings and one-sided love is not true love." Ruby sits for a few long moments before she realizes her mouth is hanging wide open in shock. Finally she speaks, keeping her voice as soothing as she can. "Janie, I had NO idea about this. None at all. I mean, I was with Jake... you were with Red... what about Red? I thought you loved him?" Jane begins to cry and exclaims, "I like Red a lot, but it is not true love either. You are the one who I have fallen in love with." Well crap, Ruby thinks but the actress in her doesn't let it show on her face. She takes her friends hand in hers. "Jane, you know that I love you too. I'm sure that you know I've been very focused on Jake, and everything that goes with that. I've loved him and haven't really been open to anything else." Or I might have realized this was coming... "You once told me that you let the goddess guide you... That night, when we did the dance together... did she guide you to Red?" Jane replies in a half-speak, half-cry manner "No...just away from you. She showed me that my feelings were not mutual and that I had to get beyond them in order to properly train you." "I'm so sorry, I really am. I do love you Jane, don't think that I don't." Ruby pushes back away from Jane a bit and looks at her friend with compassion. "What do you want me to do Jane? I'll do whatever you ask." "Just leave me alone for now," is Jane's reply. "Alright Jane, I will." Ruby stands and heads to the door, stopping a moment to look over her shoulder at her still crying friend. Ruby felt horrible that Jane was in so much pain because of her. She quietly closes the door behind her and returns downstairs. "Richard, I need to speak to you for a moment. Would you please take a walk with me outside?" "Of course Ruby," he replies and follows her out back into the gardens. Ruby takes his arm and walks them away from the house. Finally Ruby speaks. "Richard, I really think you need to take Jane home now." Before Richard can interrupt she puts a finger on his lips, "Let me finish please. Jane has been too long away from the West. She needs the comfort of home. As for me, I'll be fine, I've been on my own for five years now and I think I can manage a couple more days without having a tragedy occur. I'm positive I'll be alright. I really think Jane needs to get away..." Ruby pauses and looks up at a bird singing in the nearby tree. "From me." Richard states, "This seems rather sudden. Did the two of you have another argument?" "Not really an argument per say...." Ruby's voice trails off. She looks Richard in the eyes, "Let's just say it's for the best." Richard says, "Well I for one am not allowing you to go up to Rochester without me. That is where the potential danger lies and I was sent along on this journey to keep you safe." Ruby exclaims, "Richard, I am sure you realize that I am not a child, I am a woman and can take care of myself. Jane's well being is very important to me and I think she really needs this. Besides, who sent you to keep me safe anyway? If you're talking about Jake, he doesn't even care I'm gone. He hasn't even tried to contact me, not once." Ruby shrugs, "And Red will be much happier with Janie back. I know everyone is trying to be nice... in light of new circumstances it just doesn't make sense to drag her along." Richard replies, "Miss Boag is also a grown woman, quite capable to making a railroad trip by herself. The concern was from Red that your parents might attempt to force you to stay here and nothing your Grandmother has stated has led me to think otherwise. I take my charge quite seriously, I am to protect the Partners of the Meeting House to which you are now one." "Alright Richard," Ruby sighs, "I see that you aren't going to let me go alone. I am just worried about Jane, I'm sure you understand. I don't know what else to do." He states, "Jane can take care of herself. We will leave a little earlier than we planned and I will make sure she gets herself safely aboard a train west and also telegram the Three Gods Meeting House with her itinerary. I also have some things I can give her to further help protect herself. But it does mean that we will need to bring James's documents with us, I wouldn't want to put Jane in any further danger." Ruby states, "Richard, I need you to understand something though. I don't want Jane to leave and if she doesn't want to, I don't want to force her. It should be up to her. But I can't see her not choosing to leave. Maybe you should speak to her and see what she wants to do. And then we have to get the documents together to take with us, although I think Nana and James already did that." Ruby sighs again and looks to the sky. "It's pretty cloudy out. I wonder what the weather will be like in Rochester. I just want to get there." Richard says, "I can go talk to her. Care to tell me what you two fought about?" Ruby ponders for a moment. "I shouldn't say anything but it's probably going to come out eventually." Pauses again. "Jane is attracted to me." Richard replies, "So are half the men on the continent from what I can tell, and as a Priestess of Aphrodite she' has indicated before that she doesn't limit herself to a single gender. So what? Are you saying that she's jealous of you?" "I might not have been entirely truthful with my last statement." Ruby pauses again. "She thinks she's in love with me." Richard laughs, "Of course she is, she's a Priestess of Aphrodite! Last week she was in love with Patrick, today you, tomorrow somebody else. You're worrying yourself over nothing." "Perhaps. I hope so." Ruby looks up to the sky again and sighs. "You don't think I've been though this before? And how many times? I don't like losing friends like this. And I care about her, I don't want her to be hurt. I hope you're right. Well, if you could offer her to stay or go, it's up to her. And I guess we should get ready to go, it's almost time." Richard says, "I'll go speak to her now. Enjoy your time with your grandmother." "Thanks Richard." Ruby gives him a little kiss on the cheek before bouncing back into the house and finding Nana. "So...," Ruby teases, "Any other burning secrets I should know before I have to leave?" Nana states, "Yes Ruby, please follow me." She leads her into James's study and over to his desk. Atop it is a leather-bound book that looks to be rather old. She says, "This book about the Glydenlove War with the painting by Claus Msinichen that James referenced yesterday. Ruby notes that the entire book is written in a foreign language. On one page intermixed with a group of dwarven warriors is a human military officer. While it isn't an exact match of the man today, appearing to be perhaps five years younger, it is the unmistakable portrait of Richard. Ruby studies the picture for a long moment. "How could this be? I mean, could it really be him and not a relative? You said this was... how many years ago?" Nana replies, "That battle took place over two centuries ago, in 1675. And the Czar who he said his family fled Russia to escape, that would have been Ivan the Terrible, who ruled in the mid-1500's." Ruby says, "There must be some mistake then, it can't be him. He looks human, I mean, not some other long lived race... What do you think is going on? Do you think he's dangerous? He's been protecting us all along." Thoughts of Colin Turner come to Ruby's mind but she quickly pushes them away. Nana replies, "I think he is one of the most honest and honorable men I have ever had the pleasure to have met. If he were intent on keeping his secrets he wouldn't have answered us when we questioned him about his past. Ruby, there are a number of magics that can extend a human lifespan, how old do you think that I am?" Ruby answers, "Well, you are my grandmother, but you look like you could be my mother really. I don't know, maybe sixty? I don't know how old you were when you had mother." Nana replies, "Ruby, I'm ninety-six. And James is one-hundred-and-two." Ruby tries to keep her mouth from dropping open. "Are you teasing me? I know there are magics but... how is it possible? I haven't seen anything like it..." Nana says, "Of course not Ruby, up to now your body has still been growing. You are almost at your full adult development, at which point we can then consider utilizing some magics to slow down your physical aging." Ruby's eyes widen. "That would be... amazing. I have to admit that I dread getting old. Well, not to much getting old but turning ugly. How do you do it?" she asks with much curiosity. Nana says, She says, "It's a lengthy process actually, a collaboration of spells, potions and being in places with high concentrations of both earth and wizard magics. We can start when I visit you out in Arizona." Ruby ask, "Does it hurt? How long does it last? I mean, how long can you live?" Nana replies, She replies, "Usually somewhere in the neighborhood of one-twenty-to-one-fifty, in generally twice as long as normal from approximately your twentieth year on. Richard obviously has something else working for him, possibly a magical artifact although I haven't detected one on him. Then again, most artifacts are immune from normal detection. " Ruby's eyes almost pop out of her head. "One hundred and fifty years? Oh my ....." She stops the expletives from coming out of her mouth. "Artifact?" Ruby shakes her head. "I have learned so much in the past six months, about so many things I didn't know were possible. It's been an eventful year." Ruby's lips turn upward into a huge grin. "I can't say I'm not excited at the thought of staying beautiful for a hundred years! Plus that means you and have have lots of time to spend together." Nana replies, "Yes, probably another half-century or so for me. Although the extended life is linked to the areas where the ley-lines of the earth intersect, where wizard and earth magics are strongest. There are some two-dozen such places on the world, still allowing plenty of choices of places to live, but limiting none-the-less. New York City is one such place. Fortunately for you another one lies in southeastern Arizona." The younger woman replies, "This is pretty... I don't even know the word. Amazing like I said before. And exciting." Ruby shrugs, "I won't spend my life in Arizona, I want to see the world. I guess I have plenty of time to figure out where these other places are. Course, it'll depend too on what my partner wants... but for now I'll be there, proving I can make it on my own." Nana states, "That is a good attitude to have. You are only nineteen, no reason to make major life decisions right now, especially since you now know that the life going forward will probably be twice as long as what you had expected when you woke up this morning." Ruby grins again before jumping into her grandmother's arm. She excitedly babbles, "Think of all the adventuring I can do! All the things I can see! All the loves I can have! Oh, it's all going to be so wonderful. Thank you Nana, you've made my... well, more than my day. Meeting you has changed everything!" She squeezes her Nana, genuinely happy. "Now I have to make sure I make enough money so I can do the things I want to." Ruby releases her grandmother and looks around the house. "You look like you've done alright. How did you do it? Until Promise City I was just making money as I could. And sometimes in unsavory ways that I'd rather not have to revert to anymore." Nana states, "One thing I have learned about money my dear is that if you chase after it too badly it passes you by. Instead of having the money itself be the goal you should instead make it one of many components towards a greater goal, then the resources will find themselves to you one way or another." Ruby states, "Well, I haven't really concerned myself that much with money, it always seems to fall into my lap somehow. But since I've changed my life I'm not so sure I can count on that method anymore." Ruby laughs, "You know, the rich old men method. I don't think my boyfriend would like it." Nana replies, She replies, "Given what I know of rich old men I wouldn't imagine that you really like it either." The smile falls off Ruby's face. "No, you're right. I don't really like it." Ruby states, "You're right, I should set some goals. I mean, I've just been wandering where the wind takes me up until now but maybe I should decide what I really want to do. I know I want to travel all over, just like you Nana." Ruby shrugs, "Not today though. Today I have to see George. And that will take enough of my thoughts to figure out." Nana says, "That is a good attitude to have." She forces the smile on her face until it turns genuine. "Enough of that. Off to see George today. Another day, another man in love with me. I wonder if he still is? In love with me that is. After all that happened." She shrugs, "I guess I'll find out. So Nana, what are your future plans? Have any adventures coming up? Or just dealing with this 'what's in the crate' mess?" Nana replies, "My plan? Whatever project James decides to throw himself into next to distract our pursuers I imagine. Probably archeology again, that would have nothing to do with current century American politics." Ruby answers, "Sounds exciting. Maybe one day I'll be able to accompany you on one of your trips. Well Nana, I can't believe our time is almost over. Any words of wisdom for me before I go? You can guarantee that I'll be wearing your dress on a regular basis to remind me of you. I'm rather sad to be leaving." Nana replies, "And I will miss you too Ruby, but under the circumstances with those after the documents it is probably safer for everyone."</blockquote>

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