Ruggie "Epiphany" Bucchi

Name: Ruggie Bucchi
Door: Door Pass

Canon: Twisted Wonderland
Canon Point: Book 7 Chapter 226

Age: physically and mentally 18
Appearance: a physically average teenage hyena boy

History: Wiki
CR AU (Optional): N/A

Personality:

He's sneaky, he's fast, he's always giggling and snickering about something. That's what being a hyena is all about! He'll nip at your ankles and try to get your goat, but he's really just messin' around, he swears.

While most wouldn't hesitate to say they think he's a shady guy, just as many would say he's totally legit and comes through with every promise he's ever made! (Which is probably why he doesn't go around making too many promises.) But to Ruggie, every job is a promise; a guarantee to see it through to the best of his ability from the moment he clocks in to the moment he clocks out. Just don't expect him to do much more outside of those hours! He has other priorities, mostly debts to be paid and children to take care of- no, not his own, just those in his hometown that he gathers leftovers from the school kitchen and (presumably) his jobs to feed. He can't physically take care of all of them, but he is always thinking of ways to contribute his village in any way he can. This has meant committing the occasional crime of pickpocketry here and there in the past, but nowadays-- serving the very prince of his nation and striving to keep that reputation clean --he'd rather work long hours or scavenge to provide than steal.

Frugal and resourceful by necessity, he isn't above scavenging food, clothing, skincare and makeup from the trash or abandoned on the dormitory bathroom sinks. He's the resident dumpster diver and doesn't care who knows, but it's better than being known as the local pickpocket and thief, right? He thinks so, too! Until they're down to the wire, on the verge of failure, THEN he'll throw morals and ethics out the window for the sake of survival.

Ruggie's friendliness is also by necessity but his discernment is high, which is to say that he's a perfectly pleasant guy to be around until he's gauged your vibe. If he thinks it would behoove him to stay in your good graces, in your good graces he will strive to stay. If he thinks your energy isn't worth keeping around, he'll hit the bricks! As a general rule, he keeps most people at an arms length when it comes to divulging deeper emotions. This doesn't mean that he won't tell you exactly how he feels when he feels it, it's just that emotional labor isn't exactly his strong suit. This of course leads to a few blind spots in his friendships, such as being entirely unaware that Leona was struggling so much with the issues surrounding the interdorm tournament earlier in the year.


(+)Diligent - Ruggie is, above all else, a hard worker. He has to be, because working hard is not just to guarantee his own survival but for those he cares for back home in the Sunset Savanna. That isn't to say that he's entirely selfless; even without the looming threat of starvation or homelessness he would be on the grind for the sake of getting and maintaining the life he wants. This means he's tirelessly tracking jobs online and in the papers, and getting paid for odd jobs and gofer duties on or off campus, seemingly set on ending the day with more money than he started with, regardless of how he obtains it. Coming from poverty, Ruggie has to work to stay above water whereas his peers tend to come from families with fancy jobs and rich histories or even royal blood lines. Whether or not he's bitter with this being his lot in life, he's learned that working alongside these folks benefits him more than meeting them all with vitriol or spite.

His position within his dorm is different from his peers as well, in that instead of being an official Vice Housewarden he has no responsibility to the direction of Savanaclaw itself, but to assisting its Housewarden alone. Instead of handling any decision-making within the house, he has simply taken on the retainer role for Leona Kingscholar, specifically on Night Raven College campus grounds. This is a position that he holds in high esteem despite all of it's exhausting daily requirements, working around the clock for his leader. He does Leona's laundry, cleans his bedroom, delivers his meals and keeps him abreast of his schedule (re: homework and sports) on top of Ruggie's personal upkeep. Despite this, it's probably the most respectable job he's ever had and will look absolutely sparkling on any resume he may have in the future!

(-)Shameless - When we first meet Ruggie in the main story, he uses his unique magic to switch lunches with another student so he can take that lunch to Leona. Straight up bullying a freshman in order to feed his upperclassman. Classic. Of course he didn't leave that student with nothing, he just traded a less-good lunch for a way better one for the prince!

Being the resident dumpster diver means that he has no shame either, and since it doesn't matter where he goes he'll be looked down upon, he's not afraid of being perceived as any worse than he already is. He likes a good head-pat for doing good, sure, but fully expects what he gets when he gets caught doing not-so-good things. Sometimes he'll simply ask for something that isn't being used anymore, like the Pomefiore Housewarden's old outfits and jewelry-- only to be turned down for not being "someone who’d look good wearing them, first." Rude, but smart, since Ruggie's only intention was to sell them since they are undoubtedly expensive.

(-)Manipulative - He has to be, and he stands behind it! Being nice is, in its own way, a type of manipulation. Whether or not he means it, things work out well when everyone gets what they want out of a conversation. Traded favors, relieved tasks, missed shifts covered, homework help, it doesn't matter! If you pat his back, he'll pat yours, but there will always be a price. This mindset is what helps him work well under the shrewd and slippery owner of the Mostro Lounge, but also only adds to the shadier side of his reputation.

In a more literal sense, his unique magical ability is the ultimate manipulation. With his incantation "Kings, hyenas -- Everyone is my friend! Laugh With Me!" he can control another person to follow his own movements for a short amount of time. Nothing says manipulation like somebody stealing your body for nefarious means!

(-)Enabler - As Leona's number one fan, he is also Leona's number one enabler. You could probably call him a sycophant, actually, but he would have to look up what that means to make sure he's right before he gets offended. The Savanaclaw boys tend to act as a unit and what's good for the pack is good for him. Whatever Leona thinks is good for the pack is good for all of them, and as such Ruggie follows Leona's leadership through thick and thin. However, leaving Leona's whims completely unchecked put the school, his classmates and friends as well as himself in danger. He had to learn the hard way that solely being a yes-man isn't the best way to handle a relationship with others, and that communication is essential for maintaining everyone's well-being. Since the incident, he has more open conversations with Leona and contributes more to decision-making within the dorm, though there is still no official vice housewarden for Savanaclaw.

This enabling isn't limited to Leona, though he gets away with far more than most. Ruggie will encourage anybody to do anything if he thinks it's going to be useful to him or the group as a whole, but especially if that thing is going to be funny. He'll do anything for a laugh. As long as he doesn't have to clean up after it, of course.

Powers and Abilities:
Unique Magic | "Laugh With Me!"
A short term puppeteering spell, lasting anywhere from 15-30seconds (untimed in canon, only mentioned as "a few seconds" and will be amenable to nerfing of this skill.)

Low-tier magic skills - Flying on a broom, changing clothes, simple levitation and elemental magic
Animal Linguistics - Can speak to and understand animals.
Polyglot - Can negotiate in 10 languages.

Inventory: Magical Pen

Samples: How he thinks and how he communicates.