rubyjonesing

[rubyjonesing]

sidjcmes‌:

Sid stood completely blanked at the counter, taking a moment to even think about following along the trail the woman was setting out. There was no way the woman actually thought she wanted a one-woman show, was there? The idea she’d had in mind for the pair of them was entirely separate to both of their artistic passions. If she were being romantic about it maybe it could be called something of a romantic tryst to bring them back to LA for a night, the reality was that Sid was forever interested in one and two night stands with beautiful women. 

The artist pushed herself off the counter and did everything she could to feign interest in music. Sid was much more visual than anything else but she needed something to get paint on her canvas in any kind of meaningful way. Trawling through Spotify had offered her nothing, no spark of divine inspiration. Ruby seemed to have a grand idea of what to send her on her way with and Sid was hopeful and grateful that the woman was at the very least helping her with her music woes. 

Sid nodded away and let the tune swell around them, glancing at the blonde. Her musical tastes were usually pacier to keep her interest. And Sid never wished to evoke a sense of haunting, rather she wished for realism and presentness; that all her pieces spoke for themselves there and then no harkening towards a past. “It’s uh… Listen it’s great but I think for me it’s a little too ‘Bambi’s mom just died’, you know?” 

Ruby considered herself no stranger to moments where others didn’t hear music in the way she did. Like mama, who would simply hear but not feel. Music was meant to be delightful, but it should make someone feel something, too. At least, that’s how Ruby Jones saw it. Perhaps in her teenaged years she would have forced countless hours of music onto Sid until she heard like Ruby, but aged tamed her restless, eager spirit and she now found herself accepting people for what they were, not what they could be. In a way, she had David to thank for that---even if she didn’t owe her ex-boyfriend anything.

“Yeah, I feel you.” Ruby didn’t, but that was neither here nor there. Her eyes scanned Sid and a smiled curved on her lips. She felt comfort around Sid, despite the pair viewing the complex, ever-spinning world in vastly different colors and strokes. Perhaps that was precisely why Ruby enjoyed her company; for a moment, she could forget about her own lens and view things completely different. 

“Actually, I was probably going to get something fruity, sugary, and filled with alcohol after I clock out.” Her icy blue eyes locked onto Sid’s face. “Know of any good places in town?”

[rubyjonesing]

masonash‌:

“I’m on a difficult mission.”

Chrissy’s words came out the same way she came into the shop: in a harried whirlwind of chaos. She spun in a full circle before she caught her balance, then taking a moment to situate the many bags in her hands so as not to knock anything off the shelves as she moved delicately between them.

“I’m looking for mood music. Something sort of invisible, but influential all the same.” She looked puzzled at her own words. “Restaurants do it all the time, I guess, but— Well, I’ve never worked at a restaurant. Coffee shop, sure, but I didn’t curate their playlists, so—”

Chrissy blew a puff of air through her lips. She felt even more hopeless now than she had when she’d entered the shop. “Can you help me?”

“Alright.” Ruby’s words were slow, emphasizing the ‘al’ in ‘alright’. She scanned the inventory mentally, already eliminating a few records that didn’t capture the vibe. Of course, Ruby’s next question would help narrow titles even further. 

“What’s the location?”

[rubyjonesing]

harperkellyxo‌:

                                    With a can of redbull in one hand and a packet of cigarettes in the other, Harper had pushed her way into the record store with her behind and spun around in place once inside. She shot a wry grin to Ruby and nodded. “More of a question really.” Harper said gesturing around at the array of records as she approached the counter. “How does someone go about making a record of their own? And what’s the process of you guys stocking it?” she shrugged her shoulders. “Just wondering if you’d have any idea how I could release an EP on vinyl.”

“Hmm...” Ruby pursed her lips as her head tilted to the side, certainly resembling a dog---not that she cared, anyway. Never had a patron inquired such a request, but there certainly had to some way, right? It was moments such as these when Ruby wished her boss, Norm, maintained a more active presence at Funkatorium Records. 

“Well, I’m not really sure, but I can text my boss. If anyone in this town will know, it’d be him.”

[rubyjonesing]

sidjcmes‌:

The question of what she wanted to feel fell on selectively deaf ears. “It’s like you don’t know me at all.” Sid moved to lean against the counter, the smirk on her lips focused on Ruby. “Feelings for me are like primary colors, darling. There’s three of them and beyond that I got nothing.” Being emotionally inept was somewhat of a talent in Sid’s eyes. A defense mechanism that allowed her to manage loneliness in a way that didn’t debilitate her. Happy, angry and flirty were her three modes of being and beyond that was an abyss that she didn’t care to wade through. There were depths in her that had been scarred by hurt that she wasn’t sure would ever heal, sadness offered no place in her everyday life. To her, it was pointless to be fraught by the negativity that could have easily overwhelmed her. 

 “See I really love live music, really has a way of making me want to be creative. But I don’t know if you guys have singers I can rent.” A spark of genius crossed her mind. “Maybe if you’re free later you could come over and we could figure something out?” 

Truthfully, Ruby knew very little about Sid and couldn’t tell anyone much beyond surface level information, and yet she felt comfortable around her, just relaxed enough to let her guard down halfway. Halfway. Enough to let the light in, but a prickly, wild bramble twisted around her heart. There was a time before any such guard existed, but it seemed like a slippery and distant memory.

Ruby pressed her lips together as she considered a number of different titles housed in the shop. She found herself decidedly determined to find something moving for Sid James, something beyond red, blue, or yellow. Not to mention, finding the perfect song meant Ruby could avoid responding to the invite for the time being, which had nothing to do with the company she would keep and everything to do with the fact she hadn’t desired to perform to any crowd, regardless of size, in well over a year.

Suddenly, it hit her. A wide smile didn’t have to curve her lips upward in order to reveal happiness, because her icy blue eyes beamed all the same. “Come with me. I might have something for you, I think. Maybe. Love it or hate it, maybe it’ll create something inside of you. Conjure a memory or something.” Ruby shuffled to the ‘E’ section and thumbed through the collection until she revealed a record by the Electric Light Orchestra. She scanned the song list until she found the object of her desire. “There you are,” she spoke aloud to herself. Fingers grazed the edge, she gently pulled out the record and nestled it onto a player. 

“This one, it’s---” How could she begin to describe it? For Ruby, it filled her to the brim with distant warmth that only summertime offered; sweet seventeen, a first kiss, coughing after puffs of marijuana, staying out well past curfew, driving full-speed with the windows down, and youthful banter. This song felt like all of that and more, but housed in the room next door. She could hear it clearly, it was just beyond the door, and yet Ruby could never find the key. Near but never within grasp. Certainly that feeling wasn’t a primary color. 

“It’s warm. Warm but haunting.” Within seconds, “One Summer Dream” played from the instrument and filled the entire shop. Ruby looked to Sid’s face, desperate for her reaction.

[rubyjonesing]

valeriefleming‌:

“Well, I’ve lived here all my life so it’d probably be more weird if you hadn’t seen me around at some point,” Valerie answered honestly, before taking a sip of her coffee. The mix up in drinks hadn’t been a big deal, but she was certainly glad to have her proper order. Coffee was what got her through most days. “Have you ever been over to Haven Indigo? It’s my family’s business, so you might have seen me lurking around there.”

Ruby eyed the girl and determined that she couldn’t be older than nineteen or twenty. Everything about her bursted with youth, and Ruby couldn’t help but recall what nineteen once felt like---freedom, invincibility, and trouble. Lots of trouble. She yearned for those days filled with endless potential and hope. It was funny how completely distant Ruby Jones felt from that chapter in her life. 

“Ummm...” The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “In Idlewild? Or am I totally making that up?”

[rubyjonesing]

sidjcmes‌:

“Yes and no.” That was the most honest answer she could give. Sid had been in a chasm of an artistic slump. Each time she sat at her canvas she stared at it so long she wouldn’t even have been surprised if two holes had been burned through the center. There was just nothing there. She knew she was talented and capable but there was nothing wishing to unearth itself, nothing that willed to be represented. It was strange and disheartening, usually never having many issues with muse. 

Arguably she stood in front of one of the Greecian muses, Sid surely would have argued that. Stunning to look at but the tattoo artist wished to avail of a backup plan in case Ruby’s striking beauty didn’t kick start her inspiration once she got back to her studio. It probably would have if there was a way to convince her to close up shop and join her for a beachside evening in. “I’m looking for a little inspiration. Would say I’ve certainly found some but I figure I should ask you about music too.” Sid eyed the woman, a familiar smirk perched gleefully on her lips. 

 “I gotta get a piece done, art piece, I actually also have to start it. But I got nothing, you know? I don’t know if I need a kind of tune that makes me feel something or if there’s a specific type of music that really gets creativity going but I’ll take whatever recommendations you have.” 

“Yes and no, hm?” A smile tugged on her lips, which were painted in her favorite shade: “Ruby Woo” by MAC. While many dubbed the shade a classic makeup staple, Ruby Jones couldn’t help but feel the blue-red lipstick was made her lips alone. She liked the way it made her feel, like an all-powerful being. As if Ruby could command armies with the click of her tongue and send foes to their death with a simple purse of her lips. Being on stage, performing her own songs, once made her feel similarly, but that chapter remained closed. Lipstick was far less complicated. 

“Okay, so. Important question. What do you want to feel? I’m not just talking about inspired. Tell me the feeling you want.” Ruby’s mind already launched into recollecting every titled carried in the store, even the ones collecting dust. Undoubtedly, she enjoyed finding music to evoke something inside a person. 

Songs had the ability to change the chemistry of one’s body, in a way; it could transfer someone to a completely different time and place, perhaps one never visited before. It was magic, the closest thing to magic on this stupid, sullen Earth.

[rubyjonesing]

chesterholliday‌:

Chester listened to Ruby with a smile, despite the names she was reeling off meaning nothing to him or even registering. “I…it’s for Harper.” Chester explained if it wasn’t already obvious. “All I know is it’s always shouty and really loud.” he laughed hopelessly. “I think she likes Janis Joplin, though. I know that one.” Chester added laughing.

“Well, in that case...” A smile tugged on Ruby’s lips. “I have a handful of mouthy broads she will love. Or at least tolerate.” She used her head to gesture down an aisle and led Chester to artists beginning with ‘A’. Thumbing through the records, Ruby hardly noticed she began humming a song from the exact album she sought. Finally, she pulled a record by Alanis Morissette.

“Please don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Alanis. I might have to kick you if so, and I really shouldn’t add assaulting a police office to my rap.”

[rubyjonesing]

valeriefleming‌:

Valerie sighed sympathetically. “The grandest,” she said, shaking her head, “Those nights when there’s too many thoughts roaming around your head are the worst.”

Ruby nodded wordlessly. The girl had precisely described her evening and, in a way, it made Ruby feel a little less alone to know others lay in bed for hours with thoughts spinning chaotically and restlessly. Something about the midnight hours always felt so isolating. 

Once the barista finally set out Ruby’s correct drink, she grabbed it and immediately brought the warm beverage to her lips. She relished in the feeling of her body waking.

“I feel like I’ve seen you around somewhere, but I can’t pin-point it.”

[rubyjonesing]

eleanoregardner‌:

There were still a few unopened cardboard boxes in the back of Nora’s closet since she’d moved into her new apartment six months ago, not quite sure what she wanted to do with them. Most of the vinyls she’d procured over the years had been from her parents’ collection of unheralded gems, and with the exception of the Josephine Baker and Charles Trenet records, she hadn’t found much use for most of them. After little deliberation, Nora decided to take them to the local record store in town. 

As she fumbled with the box in her arms, she pushed opened the door to the shop with her shoulder, causing the bell to chime. Once she was inside, Nora set the vinyls on the floor to smooth out her clothes and fix her hair before addressing the clerk. “Uh, I was just wondering if you accepted donations?” She hoped the answer was ‘yes’ because the thought of lugging everything back to her car made her regret being so eager.

Ruby’s brows furrowed as she took in the woman. She couldn’t recall a time when someone sought to donate records. Rather, she typically encountered souls desperate for nostalgia they never lived in the form of vinyl. “Donations?” The question poured from her lips before she could halt its exit. Ruby hoped she didn’t come across as judgmental---unless, of course, the box would include original copies. 

“Honestly? Not usually, but...” Her words trailed off as her eyes scanned the woman once more. “What do you have?”

[rubyjonesing]

chesterholliday‌:

All the musical talent of the family had gone to his sister as Chester couldn’t hold a note if his life depended on it. He was well aware of this and didn’t pretend for one second he was a musical genius. It was an odd occurrence to see the officer in the record store but it caught his attention when he was passing by. Harper was at the centre of most things he did and he decided to drop in and see if there was something he could get for her. “Hey, did I disturb your nap?” he asked wandering closer to the front desk and smiling. “Uh, I’m looking for a record. I have no idea what the genre is called. Grudge? Grunge? 90s… but not the obvious bands. Something with a female singer as well would be great.” he replied. “I’m a bit hopeless with this sort of thing. It’s for an angry woman that hates…everything. If that helps.”

“Not at all,” Ruby replied earnestly, quite grateful for a customer to walk through the doors of Funkatorium Records, especially a familiar face like Chester Holliday. She chuckled at his music request as a few artists came to mind. “Well, Alanis Morisette is a good place to start, although that’s probably a bit obvious. Is she a fan of Liz Phair? Garbage?” 

[rubyjonesing]

arizonajonesx‌:

“I am everybody’s favorite cousin.” She joked, it’s not like she would know that for sure. “I left work early today, since I don’t have anything else to do, I decided to see my favorite cousin.” There were moments Ari felt closer to Ruby than her own sister.

“How is everything going?” She chuckled. “This place looks busy.” That was her attempt to sound sarcastic. “On a second though, it’s actually better you know? I am dealing with enraged customers daily and let me tell you, it’s not great.”

Ruby singed with jealousy. She wished she could leave work early, especially on slow days like this, but her boss wouldn’t dream of such an act. “It’s, uh...” She struggled to find the right way to describe how things were going. Truthfully, life felt dull---it still felt dull. Like Ruby was plunged deep within a grey scale with no color in sight. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though; she found comfort in grey. 

“Things are good.” She internally cringed at what felt like filler words. “Oh yeah, I can barely keep up. You’re my third customer, if you can believe it.” Ruby pressed her lips together. “Enraged? Really? About clothes?”

[rubyjonesing]

valeriefleming‌:

Valerie laughed in a good natured sort of way, before taking her coffee from the blonde. “It’s not a big deal,” she replied, “No need to apologize. Still waking up?”

Ruby nodded drearily. “I’ll still be waking up an hour from now. Isn’t insomnia grand?”

[rubyjonesing]

arizonajonesx‌:

Unlike her siblings, Ari wasn’t blessed with a great taste in music, her Spotify playlist were full of Ariana Grande or Taylor Swift. Simply whatever was in the top 40. Obviously her only reason to be in a record store was visiting her cousin Ruby. Their personalities were different but the dislike they had for their hometown was the one thing they had in common. 

“I am looking for you.” She chuckled, walking towards the other blonde. “And I brought ice coffee.”

Tension released from Ruby at the sight of a familiar face with iced coffee in tow. She didn’t realize how much she needed a distraction until it came in the form of her cousin, Ari. Suddenly, the boring shift became far more interesting. 

“You know you’re my favorite cousin?”

[rubyjonesing]

Location: Funkatorium Records | OPEN

Ruby stared out the window and took in the bright, sunny sky. It was a perfect day to be outside, breathing in the fresh air, and yet she found herself with hours left of her shift at Funkatorium Records. It didn’t help that she helped less than five customers since opening. Slow days ought to be banned, she thought. 

Pressing her eyes closed, she imagined the salty smell of the ocean, sand crunching under her feet, and waves crashing over her body. Suddenly, the door opening sounded across the shop and brought Ruby back to reality. 

“Hey there. Anything you’re looking for?”

[rubyjonesing]

valeriefleming‌:

“Sorry, I, uh, I think that’s mine,” Valerie said, trying to keep her voice as polite as she could make it.

“Huh?” Ruby’s eyes widened as she glanced at the to-go coffee cup gripped in her palm. Clearly, her name was not Valerie, and clearly Ruby needed coffee more than she realized. 

“Er-- sorry.” She handed the cup over to the girl. “I didn’t sip out of it, promise.”

[rubyjonesing]

Helloooooo, it’s Nicole / Regan / Wes / “that chick” back with another trashy character. Buckle in, folks. It’s gonna get dramatic.

so you wanna know about ruby jones

29 years old; she/her pronouns 

Calderwood native and grew up in Rosmont, so locals would definitely know her! We would love connections too!! (Old friends can def call her “Rubes” or “Jonesy”.)

Her main passion in life is music, so if your character knew Ruby then they are definitely aware that her main goal in life was to be a famous musician.

She moved to LA shortly after graduating high school; she waitressed, wrote music, gigged, etc. 

Eventually met a guy named David Wilson, a fellow musician and fell in luuuurve. They decided to join together and create a duo called Wilson & Jones. 

In late 2017, they were approached by a music manager about recording a demo of their song “Cherry Cola” -- which Ruby wrote. 

A few weeks later, David moved out of their studio and completely cut ties; then two months later, Ruby is listening to the radio and hears David singin’!! her!! damn!! song!! Basically, he took the music they wrote together (i.e. mostly Ruby wrote) and went solo. RIP. 

Ruby defeatedly moved back to Calderwood in summer 2018. She hasn’t touched her guitar since :( and still isn’t in the best headspace. She currently works as a Clerk at Funkatorium Records in Calderwood Historic District. 

Important thing I want to establish: David Wilson is semi-famous and a new artist that your character may know of. So feel free to reference that! (Ruby may or may not scream, but shhh.) 

Check out her extended bio over here, about section here, and Pinterest here.

connections corner -- 

Friends from high school! If your character is a local, particularly the hell-raisers over in Rosmont, give us a holler. I’d love to establish friends, past romantic entanglements, enemies, etc! 

Family connections? Cousins? Second cousins? Honestly, we’re game for it all.

TBH open to everything so GET @ ME!!!