Faustina cen Rutilus
It'd be easy to mistake Faustina for a guarded brood, but she's far more the former than the latter. Should she be approached, it is clear as day that she is a cautious, reticent young woman with a penchant for relying on her dry, witty humor. Were she observed instead however, it is equally as clear that she is observing everyone else too-- eyes scanning her surroundings like she were forever and always on the back foot in any given public space. There is a palpable aura of fear to her, and for it she never strays too far without a good hat, a good gun, or a good set of tools strapped tightly to her hip.While Garlemald may be her nation of birth, Faustina has taken a bold--if not forced-- new stride into Eorzea and the many foreign lands that stretch malms and malms beyond.
HOOKS.
The very pride and joy of the Rutilus family, Faustina was the eldest daughter and second-in-line to their magitek business.
From the time she was a child, an imperial education was pressed upon her. While she wasn't the most sociable much to the chagrin of her classmates, she flourished academically and oft spent her mornings and late nights studying as passionately as she could.
A known businessman within the artisan district, Faustina's father Emilian was praised for his philanthropy. His prime goal was to boost the accessibility of everyday magitek to even the lowest rung castes within Garlemald's society in the name of true unification. From kettles to cars, the Rutilus family only wished for everyone to be able to live in the same relative comfort regardless of their background.
A keen eye and an even keener shot, Faustina can be hired for work. Additionally, if there is magitek to be tinkered with, repaired, or built, you can find no Garlean more hardworking and determined to get a job done.
history.
The Thanalan sun-- oppressive and unerring as it was even in the shade of the caravan-- gummed Faustina's mouth, leaving her parched and dry. The foreign lands she was now beholden as refuge to sought fit to mock her and her plight it seemed, and it was all she could do to sink further in her seat and bide her time the further she neared Ul'dah. Tightly she closed her eyes in the vain attempt to find even a sliver of rest, only to find herself ground into the reality of it all. The smell of the chocobos that guided the way, the uneven bounce of the ride along the roughly carved path, the barren air that choked her throat... it all felt like it should have been temporary, little more than a brief interlude between the hum of her regular life. Instead, the truth she now begrudgingly faced was that what once was could never be again. The memory of Garlemald was loathe to fade away so readily, and yet it thawed all the same."Don't fall asleep girl," suddenly called from the corner of the caravan, gruff and stern in its command. Eyes fluttering open, her gaze now settled squarely on the person who broke the silence across from her. A lalafellan gentleman met her eyes with the kind of concern a father might have, face worn with age and grey hairs peppered with a seniorly ivory. This Eorzean kindness, she wondered, would it be short-lived? How long would it be before she'd be met with the scorn and vitriol she'd been warned about by her countrymen? Surely, the shoe was bound to drop inevitably. "You don't want to miss your stop. It won't be long now until we reach Ul'dah, and it is a sight you should not miss.""Thank you sir," uttered Faustina gratefully, gloved hand sweeping along the bottom of her eyes now that they were open. "I very well may have missed it altogether had I dozed off." There'd been a certain amusement at herself woven into her tone, voice wry as she earnestly smiled. This felt what had to be the most normal conversation she'd had in a countless amount of moons."Sir? Ohohoh, please!" chuckled the lalafell with an earthy rumble from deep within his chest, his hand centered flat on his belly. "I may proudly stand for coin and country, but I am no nobleman to demand such platitudes be thrown my way. I only wished to ensure you made it safely and soundly."Compulsively she wanted to say something along the lines of 'sorry sir', but that scant bit of embarrassment prompted her instead to tip her hat as though to try and save face. It... didn't work. Of course it didn't work. The sight of her slightly flushed cheeks alone was enough cause for the man to spill out into further laughter, hearty as it bellowed. Idle chatter between the two now filled their time, the remaining bell of the journey whittled down to what felt like a mere tenth.It was sooner rather than later when that proud city loomed far above their little caravan, its dome towers jutting sharply into the blue, blue sky. Inevitably the two exchanged their goodbyes as the coachman halted the caravan at the end of the long road, the shorter between them plodding up and far past the entrance.Lost in equal parts awe and trepidation at the city's gates for a time, it wasn't much longer before Faustina steeled her nerves and stepped forward.
OOC.
Hi! Thank you for taking the time to check my carrd out. I genuinely appreciate it and hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!
Casual RP is all well and good but I prefer long-term RP the most; let's write stories together!
DO'S.
I am open to walk-ups and tells. If you’re unsure how to have your character approach, feel free to ask! RP tag = IC. As is tradition, IC ≠ OOC. That said, I expect those who RP with me to be 18+ bare minimum. I am 21+. I am also LGBTQ+ friendly!
No, seriously, I love walk-ups. I genuinely do not care if you approach while I'm rping with other folks. In fact, I encourage it. /Leaning in the Quicksand while you stare at people for hours gets really boring really fast, so jump on in!
Please remember that there is a person behind this character. Respect my time and boundaries, and we'll get along great. If you need my discord, please reach out to me in-game.
DONT'S.
Don't be cringe, don't be weird. It's really simple. Exercise basic social etiquette. In the same vein, I am extremely uncomfortable with OOC overfamiliarity if I don't know you.
While romance RP itself isn't necessarily off the table, it cannot be forced. Chemistry built between our characters over time is a must.
Lorebreaking is a hard no for me. Write what you want, but please find other like-minded people for RP.
Fascists and their enabler ilk need not apply. I am not interested if you RP a Garlean only for it to be just a thinly veiled dog whistle that glorifies or justifies the imperialist and nationalist aspect of the Garlean Empire. I am not interested in bootlickers who use RP as a proxy to live out their Waffen-SS fantasies. I will not bend on this rule.
HOME
HOME
HOME
HOME BEYOND THE HORIZON
In spite of Faustina's best efforts to place her baby sister's needs above her own, the minutes blended into hours and hours blended into days and days blended into weeks. Or... had it been months? Anything tangible since the civil war erupted within Garlemald's capital long since slipped through her mind, and her priorities now lied firm in the realm of simplicity. As the eldest Rutilus daughter it was always a responsibility she bore with pride to look after her family, and that millionth cold, grey day was no different. In between her two younger sisters and a sickly, aging father, they all had mouths to feed and there was not nearly enough food or supplies to go around. Still, she sacrificed her very own needs and went without for the sake of the others so they could see it through the night. Even amongst the newfound uncertainty of their lives, her love for her family shone brighter than her fear of the unknown."When do we get to go home, Faustina?" asked the youngest of her two little sisters, those bright blue eyes peering up to her with a waxing curiosity. Cassia had been no older than nine summers, having celebrated the latest just six moons prior that dreary afternoon. There'd been a certain zest to the child's step in spite of their fruitless search admist the rubble of Garlemald's capital, hopscotching about and wholly ignorant to the danger freely littered about. She'd almost been too slippery for Faustina to catch, darting in and around chunks of what used to be a proudly standing building-- but that sisterly concern bid her to stick close behind her heels and catch her by the shoulders. The younger of the two whined at her being caught in her step, being swiveled to properly face the elder."Soon," she warmly smiled in spite of her tired, worn eyes. A pale, frigid hand sought to reach up and tuck a strand of auburn hair behind Cassia's ear with a set of stiff fingers. "We'll get to go home soon. Just promise me you won't run off like that again, okay? It's dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt." Briefly her eyes flitted behind her younger sister, the sight engorged in horror.As was the birthright of every Rutilus, Cassia had been stubborn to a fault and there'd been a lengthy pause before she so much as brought her to solemnly nod. Satisfied, the big sister's gaunt cheeks spread wide into a smile. Cassia had been starving for days, but Faustina had been starving for nearly two weeks. "Good. We can play a game togetherthis isn't done lmao don't look