When asked what is most important to him Ruggie responds “money”, but then follows up with a “warthog bank” that he found “abandoned on the ground outside some rich people’s house”.
He says that he decided to keep it after he couldn’t get anything for it from pawn shops, but now he is kind of attached to it and is thinking of buying a meerkat version from the same toy line so that it will have a buddy. (This coin bank is mentioned again in Book 3, a Chat, and the Cloudcalling event.)
Ruggie auditions for the VDC in Book 5 for the prize money (rejected for having poor singing and dancing skills).
He offers the prefect help with stitching on their clothes “for a price, of course”, and to do their laundry for “only 50 thaumarks per load.” Ruggie tells the prefect that if they are willing to drink expensive coffee at a museum cafe, he will make coffee for them so they can pay him, instead.
Ruggie says that, for his birthday, he went with members of the spelldrive club to a cafe. He says that while it was the kind of place he would usually never go near (“Every drink there was like 10 thaumarks at least”) he got a blended café au lait drink with whipped cream, since he wasn’t the one paying.
Ruggie says, “I’d never buy somethin’ like that for myself. Hopefully I can get someone to treat me to it again one day.”
Ruggie says that he would never be found in an art museum (“Gotta pay to get in and there isn’t even any food!”), but he does end up in one for his fifth birthday vignette, much to his surprise.
Ruggie refuses to help Leona and Jack during Phantom Bride and Silver in a vignette because he has no interest in doing thing when there is nothing in it for himself.
When called in to help for Fairy Gala Ruggie tells Leona, “If you want me in, give me at least ten thaumarks an hour for my time. Then we can talk.”
We see Ruggie haggle with Jade in a vignette, Deuce and Kalim during New Year’s and Sam on a day when he has gone to the school store without Leona’s wallet.
His PE vignette consists almost entirely of his efforts to talk Sam into selling him a 7-mark drink for 3.5 marks (though he says he probably could’ve gotten Sam to go as low as three drinks for 7 marks), but in another vignette we see that Ruggie has the authority to charge school store expenses to Leona’s account, so he doesn’t always need Leona’s wallet.
Sebek has a Glorious Masquerade line of, “I saw Ruggie haggling at a festival booth. Really now, must he always do that, even in another country?”
When spelldrive club members talk about taking the bus into town Ruggie asks them to pick up 20 boxes of drink powder for the club, as it is 6 madol more expensive to buy it from the school store despite how it is not Ruggie’s money—it is the school’s—with Leona saying that their club is well funded.
Ruggie says, “I pretty much only use hand-me-downs and freebies,” and the shirt in his fifth birthday vignette is apparently one that he picked up from somewhere rather than bought.
In the vignette itself we see Ruggie getting empty snack packaging from a classmate to use the code for a gift card lottery and using soap that was left behind in the Savanaclaw washrooms by someone else.
Ruggie says that he usually just washes his face with water, but using soap sometimes can feel refreshing.
One thing that is not a hand-me-down that Ruggie uses seems to be a brand of oil for his skin, hair and ears, that he invests 300 madol (3 thaumarks) in because it is better to prevent problems in advance than end up in the hospital later.
Ruggie will often mention reselling things to earn money: he says that Leona giving away things that he doesn’t want any more is a gold mine, and he will keep anything he can use while selling (“ah, DONATE”) anything he can’t.
He mentions possibly selling his outfit from Vargas Camp, purchased with Leona’s money.
Ruggie owns luxury-brand eye shadow from Leona that he had been unable to sell after it fell on the floor and broke into pieces.
He uses eyeliner that he got from a classmate for his birthday, also because he had been unable to sell it.
Ruggie says that one of the things he does when he is unable to find a side job is doing chores for dormmates, classmates and club members, as sometimes they will feed him or let him take things that they do not want: “Honestly I can usually sell that stuff for a decent chunk. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and all that!”
Floyd gives what he perceives to be trash to Ruggie for his birthday in the form of an outdated fashion magazine and is surprised when Ruggie is delighted to receive it. It seems Floyd was unaware that the issue happens to have pre-debut photos of a now-popular idol, which Ruggie says he should be able to sell for 10,000 madol or more (100 thaumarks).
Ruggie also comments that he will be busy on his birthday because he needs to hit up people he has gotten gifts for in the past so that they will reciprocate, which he also mentions in his first birthday vignette, saying, “I make it a point to give lots of others presents on their birthday. Not out of any charitable birthday sentiment— at least, not for them. It’s more like a charitable sentiment for ME. The more presents I get in return, the better!”
It is for that purpose that Ruggie approaches Floyd, saying that Floyd had better bring him a present in exchange for Ruggie doing his chores for his birthday, leading to the fashion magazine gift from Floyd. In the same vignette Ruggie also approaches a classmate, saying outright that he expects something in return for a gift he gave them.
Ruggie says, “it was nice to get presents from folks returnin’ the favor for a gift l’d given ’em before, or as thanks for cleanin’ their room,” and that one of the things he received was an expensive hamburger.
Misunderstanding Crewel’s instructions during Fairy Gala Ruggie encourages Kalim to dress him up in the most expensive looking accessories available, intending to “make a fortune” through reselling it all after the event. He then learns that he will not be allowed to keep any part of the outfit.
During Vargas Camp it is revealed that Ruggie had been hiding a magestone from the group even when they were facing down the Vargas Monster, as he “would’ve made bank selling it!” and “Why would I willingly give up a moneymaker like that?…magestones make money. Admiration doesn’t. It’s not a hard choice.”
When Ruggie refuses to go into the mines to find Deuce Jack successfully tempts him into joining the search by assuring him that “there are tons of big magestones in the tunnel where Deuce went missing. I bet they’d go for a lot of thaumarks.”
When facing another monster in the mines it is revealed that Ruggie had been hiding yet another magestone from the group, refusing to reveal it “even in this moment of dire peril”, but it seems Leona had been aware of it all along.
Ruggie refuses to leave the mines after the monster’s defeat. When Jack asks, “So you’d be okay with your club getting shut down AND losing out on the prize?” Ruggie responds, “…Yeah. I could live with that. Sure, our club might get disbanded, but if I dug up a decent number of magestones and sold ‘em…My return would more than make up for it!”
Ruggie is eventually forced out of the mines without his magestones by Floyd, in accordance with a deal the two had made earlier in the event.
Ruggie shares his plan to sell or trade things that he receives in the new year’s mystery bags, and says that he will accept the grown-out hair of the lantern event group if they don’t need it, as he can sell it to a wig shop.
Leona turns down Jack’s idea to invite others to Playfulland because of Ruggie: “Tickets to an illusionary amusement park? All provided free of charge? What do you think would happen if HE caught wind of that? He’d swipe your ticket and re-sell it to some poor sucker at an exorbitant markup, guaranteed. People off-campus with no other options for getting in would pay any price he cared to name. If a dispute broke out, there’d be no sweeping it under the rug. And Crowley would pin all the responsibility on me as housewarden.”
Jack agrees in order to not “spark some sort of huge fight.”
During New Year’s Ruggie expresses interest in buying kitchenware for cheap to “flip it to some bonehead rich guy,” but after he hears about the Sam’s Golden Ticket system he shifts his sights to a luxury carpet that he could sell for much more. After losing out on the ticket Ruggie says, “Just thinking about the pile of cash I coulda made is making me feel faint,” and Leona has Jack drag Ruggie back to Savanaclaw.
Ruggie mentions reselling a spelldrive disc as a child that he’d found lying in the street, and “When I was a little kid, l’d head out into the streets and sell the rare bugs I caught.”
Ruggie wonders if he could get Idia’s tsum to make things for him that he could then sell.
Ruggie prepares a large, empty backpack for the social at Noble Bell College so that he will be able to bring things back with him: “Way I figure, if I can pick up some cheap souvenirs over there, and then pitch ’em right when I get back…I can smell the money already!”
Ruggie is intrigued by the cost of the clothes that they receive in Fleur City (Jamil: “You’re not supposed to ask how much a present costs!”), and his priority is seeing local handicrafts and specialty goods. He is unimpressed by old-fashioned wooden figures (“If it’s not valuable, I’m not interested”) until Idia tells him that they could easily be resold at high prices because of the quality.
Ruggie is very interested (“Are you saying I could get a hundred times that on resale? Or even more?!”) but it was maybe never confirmed if he ended up investing in the figures.
Ruggie has a voice line about getting “too greedy” during alchemy classes and messing things up, possibly implying that he sells his alchemy assignment failures.
Talking about his childhood Ruggie says that he would dig through thorny bushes in a restricted area at the base of a lookout point in Sunset Savannah that is popular with tourists, who would sometimes drop snacks, watches, accessories or coin purses.
Ruggie says that while he only got lucky once a week or so it was a great way to make money as a child, but once he got too big he had to retire.
Ruggie volunteers to buy snacks from the school store on a classmate’s behalf, insinuating that he intends to take the opportunity to pocket some of their change.
We learn that Ruggie keeps the cash he receives from such tasks under his pillow that he wraps in a towel, and he will count the money at night, saying that staring at his bankbook makes him happy.
Silver says that he once saw Ruggie searching under a vending machine for loose change.
Ruggie reacts immediately to a shiny object during Spectral Soiree that he believed to be a coin, surprising Riddle and Ortho with his reflexes, and is disappointed when it is only a piece of mirror.
In Book 7 we learn that Ruggie is capable of identifying the denominations of coins by the sound they make when they fall on the floor, an ability that Azul discovered when a Mostro Lounge employee dropped seven 753 madol worth of coins that Ruggie was able to identify based on sound alone.
After gathering the coins for his coworker, Ruggie asks to receive “an extra-generous comp meal” for his efforts.
Azul wakes up Ruggie from his dream world by dropping coins on the ground, and Ruggie describes the sound as “like a bell…except more beautiful and exciting!” Upon discovering the coin he wonders why he is so happy about loose change, which threatens the stability of his dream.
When Azul explains his intention to throw a 500 madol (5 thaumark) coin into a fountain Ruggie is shocked that he would throw so much money away, but then confused by why he cares so much.
When Azul tosses the coin Ruggie follows it into the fountain. Azul mocks him for his unhealthy self restraint, successfully awakening Ruggie.
It is from Ruggie that we learn that NRC “isn’t some national or royal academy. You have to pay outta pocket for anything beyond basic menu items. They’re cheapskates. And they’ll give you your first uniform and PE wear and stuff for free, but you gotta buy replacements yourself if you ruin em.”
Ruggie says that he likes his NRC uniform more than the uniform of his dream, as “stains and scuffs aren’t as prominent.”
Ruggie is upset by the revelation of what it is that Malleus has done, saying, “If he wants to impose on my time, he better offer me a fair hourly rate! THEN we can talk!”
Idia asks if it is okay to trap him in a dream world of his own making as long as he is paid for it and Ruggie responds, “Well, sure. What could be better than getting paid to sleep? Obviously I wouldn’t wanna do that my whole life, but still.”
Ruggie declares that Malleus is “definitely gonna fold…to Leona!,” as he himself is too much of a “minor mage” to be any sort of threat. “If you’re asking me to hunt quarry that dangerous, I better get some generous compensation when the job’s done!”
Ruggie is not pleased when his plot for Port Fest ends up with him assigned to the Steering Committee, saying, “But the whole reason I’m doing this is for the cash…I didn’t sign up for busywork.”
Ruggie says that, even if he’d had the time to learn how to play an instrument, he would’ve had to spend it finding ways to earn cash instead.
A festival attendee falsely accuses Ruggie of stealing his wallet, and after his name has been cleared Ruggie says, “To make it up to me, you can come to our food stand and buy some waffles! You’ll need a waffle for now, and a waffle for later— oh, and some for your family and friends, too!”
Leona observes, “That guy’s been nothing but trouble for me today. Once Port Fest’s over, I’m gonna work him to the bone.”
When trying to decide on a menu for their food stall Ruggie tells his group mates, “You’re forgetting the most important thing: making MONEY!…Forget that nonsense about making memories or whatever!”
Ruggie is put in charge of getting supplies, and during the festival he encourages everyone to promote plain waffles without any toppings: “We can make way more cash if we sell plain waffles. Listen up, team! If anybody asks for a recommendation, you tell ’em to go plain all the way!”
Later Ruggie says that no one is ordering plain waffles, but he “set the prices figuring this would happen” and haggled the cost of their supplies down “like a champ.”
Ruggie and Cater happen upon two lost children during the festival, and their mother both gives treats to Ruggie to thank him and buys waffles from his stand. Cater wonders how it was that their mother knew where he and Ruggie were working and Ruggie says he gave her a flyer when she picked up her kids. Cater asks, “Did you help those kids specifically so she’d reward you?.” Ruggie responds, “Of course. We sold a few waffles AND got treats out of it. That’s what helpin’ folks is all about!”
At the end of the event Jack declares that the festival was a success, and Azul and Ruggie both seem pleased to expect decent profits as a result.
Ruggie says that if he were paying for a date he would prefer to go somewhere free, like a park, but if his date is paying then he would be willing to “go wherever. Like a buffet!”
Ruggie’s new year’s resolution is to “make a buncha money,” and he applies to work at the school store during new year it pays well and does not require a commute, “Which means I could spend all my free time makin’ money!”
When Vil begins explaining to Kalim that he will be able to participate in a challenge if he spends 50 thaumarks, Ruggie interjects to say he actually needs to spend 500.
Ruggie then immediately sells 600 thaumarks worth of merchandise to Kalim, claiming to Sebek that he must have made a mistake, “But it all worked out in the end, since I was able to contribute big-time to the store’s sales!”
Sebek asks if that is how he has been acting with customers the entire time but Ruggie assures him, “it’s not every day such a mark—| mean, such a valued customer waltzes into the store. Isn’t it our solemn duty as store clerks to persuade customers to buy tons of stuff? It’s called ‘upselling!’”
Vil observes, “He’s a born salesman.”
Ruggie and his tsum get into a disagreement on how to split earnings from jobs they work during the Tsumsted event, with Ruggie dividing their profits 80% for himself and 20% for the tsum, to the tsum’s displeasure.
Ruggie agrees to a 70/30 split until the tsum headbutts him, at which point he refuses to share with the tsum at all, leading to a physical confrontation.
While Ruggie does end up splitting their profits between them it is not disclosed who received what percentage. He sees the tsum off with the farewell of, “I hope you never come back!”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 