we, proud children of man, are vain poor sinners.

[eisenhardt]

WIE IST DIE WELT SO STILLE, UND IN DER DäMM'RUNG HüLLE SO TRAULICH UND SO HOLD ALS EINE STILLE KAMMER, WO IHR DES TAGES JAMMER VERSCHLAFEN UND VERGESSEN SOLLT. HOW STILL IS THE WORLD AND, WRAPPED IN DUSK, AS INTIMATE AND LOVELY AS A STILL CHAMBER WHERE YOU CAN SLEEP WHILE FORGETTING THE DAY'S GRIEF.

personality & interpretation .                   Emotionally subdued, Ruth keeps her composure under most conditions due to her unwillingness to react openly. Simply put, she's covetous of her own honesty, but will betray her feelings in gentler and more patient expressions (for example, a slight grin from her could mean as much as a wide open smile from someone else). She isn't the type to often be found laughing, yelling, crying, though she doesn't find the sincerity of others untoward or obnoxious -- in small doses. Ruth is insular and finds the company of others, especially in large quantities, exhausting. She prefers solitary hobbies and does not initiate friendships. The few that she does are hard-earned as Ruth has a habit of speaking frankly while being emotionally withholding. Sometimes this will prohibit her from desiring reciprocity, apprehensive of social exchange; most others she is negligent of conversational expectations and assumes her unfairness will drive the other person away. It is dependent on whom she is speaking to. As she doesn't care to have strangers be able to tell personal details at a glance -- and also because her husband is still alive somewhere -- when not wearing long-sleeved shirts she covers her tattoo (201582) with makeup.                   Slow to trust everyone, she's more likely to be aggressive or hostile toward Germans, Americans, the opulently wealthy, or anyone in military service. She's also something of a misandrist and takes especially poorly to men who suggest a romantic or sexual interest in her. Essentially she's acutely aware of privilege and inherently resentful of it. These are the judgments she draws on when making cruel or testing remarks, and it is difficult to sway her in these opinions.                   Ruth's war didn't leave her vengeful. The key to her survival was not anger, but apathy and emotional disseverance. She wishes no ill will on the innocent but the punishment of the wicked she accepts easily. With the means, opportunity, and motive, it would be possible for her to commit a premeditated or spur of the moment act of violence, but only against someone who has wronged her or another she considers guiltless. However a number of specific circumstances would have to lead to this as Ruth prefers avoidance to engagement, out of fright in the case of violence, or guilt in the case of emotion. She considers her presence a burden on others even when she is not deliberately making it so by testing them. That kind of ugliness is acceptable to her, but there is much related to her trauma as a teenager that remains unresolved as she will not acknowledge it, and chooses to live in denial of it even while subtly sabotaging herself as a means of penance.                   Tragically, she considers herself a participant in her own abuse. This is partly cultural (she never quite "asked for it" but she was never able to say no, however she feels she had the opportunity to at the cost of her own safety and likely her survival) and partly transference of her other guilt. As the older sibiling, she was unable to protect her brother, or even help their family after she fell ill in the Warsaw ghetto, and she's reminded of this when meeting her brother again and beholding the man, and the monster, he's become. At her core Ruth doesn't believe she deserves meaningful relationships and doesn't want to impress what emotions she does admit to upon anyone lest they find them sufficient -- and challenge her stubbornly repulsive self-concept.                   Unlike her brother, Ruth has no ability, though she is a carrier of the x-gene. She is accepting of mutations and keeps their existence a secret in order to protect her family. Likewise she admits no relations or living blood relatives in order to remain disassociated for both their sakes. She is extremely reluctant to become involved in mutant politics and finds both Charles' and Erik's views distasteful, for their idealism and cruelty respectively. Because she feels obligated to support Erik after all her years of absence, she attempts to do so, but ultimately agrees with Charles' approach over her brother's. The nature of mutations themselves does not bother her but certain specific mutations do, especially those which allow mutants control over other people. She would never willingly invite a telepath into her mind, even for harmless wandering, and any breach of her thoughts will be treated as an intense violation. (Telepathic characters are free to ignore or breach this as they see fit at the consequence of negative CR. And a firm slap in the face. )                   Self-reliant as she is introverted, Ruth refuses to be dependent on anyone, especially her brother, and proudly cultivates her own life separately. Most of the time she is a few countries to half a world away, living and working in Switzerland as a museum curator. In the interest of professional versatility, Ruth speaks German, French, and English fluently, with smatterings of Hebrew (the majority of it recited prayer). She keeps a one-bedroom apartment no bigger than she needs within the city where she can remain comfortably anonymous. To call the decor inside understated would itself be an understatement. There are no personal accents to be found anywhere, but a clear, mindful taste in the furniture and paintings. The scent of cigarette smoke permanently permeates the fibres. Ruth does not drink overly and has never had any type of illicit drug, but she does enjoy smoking, aware as she is of the health detriments. Four cigarettes a day is her normal limit, increasing in times of stress or depression. Like she won't allow a telepath into her mind, she also refuses to attempt therapy or submit to mood-altering medication.                   Certain situations will cause Ruth to feel unusually anxious or frightened, or to revert to an earlier emotional state. These include: unbidden intimate contact (especially male), public displays of affection (directed toward her), small enclosed spaces or cellars, scents reminiscent of white musk and/or mint, and "I love you" or permutations thereupon (presently an unknown trigger to her as no one has said it to her since her husband). As one could likely surmise, she is terminally single. She did attempt some dating in her twenties but found it too difficult to reciprocate her interest's feelings, especially when physical contact and sex was expected of her. In her thirties she no longer dates and has no desire to ever be married again. The thought of being in love frightens her, but being loved is much more terrifying. She keeps physical contact to a minimum and engages it in professional situations only. ( Shipping preferences here. )                   Ruth is Jewish, as she was raised. She celebrates and observes Jewish holidays, traditions, and prayers. Despite this, and rejoicing in the birthdays of her family or friends (if she has any), she does not like to give gifts, and she hates receiving them even more, especially if they're thoughtful. Nor does she like favours done for her, will never accept money being spent on her, and doesn't even particularly like having the door held open for her. There are very few cases in which she will thank someone for providing her with a service or item she did not request herself. She equates this with the giver flaunting their familiarity with her or deliberately accruing an emotional debt. canon & play notes . ⋅ Canon up to the Warsaw escape from Magneto: Testament. ⋅ Always flexible when playing with Eriks and any other Marvel characters. Ruth will never tag anyone with the expectation that their canon histories will sync, that there will be immediate recognition of her on the part of the other party, or that the thread need even continue. Every tag comes with an unspoken "out" and no offence is taken to those who wish not to reply.