[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GWCYoab.png[/img][/center] [color=c4df9b][hr][/color] The family call was lots of screaming, yelling, and a few ‘I told you so’s’ on her father’s part. Though Beatriz had to remind him not to take credit for [i]her[/i] hard earned victory, world-class encouragement be damned. Well, that’s all a part of being a parent, she supposed. Beatriz was still in her fighter’s outfit, and she was raiding the buffet line. She was so eager to eat she nearly forgot to take out her tooth guard. Singing and rapping to herself, she bounced down the line, bobbing her head around. No one had interviewed her, but she hadn’t sought one out; the thought of interviewing hadn’t really crossed her mind. If she had been paying attention this was probably proof that she didn’t really care about fame. But she wasn’t really paying attention to much at all- she was still riding her victory high. So when she turned she bumped into someone who was much more likely to both receive and participate in an interview. [color=c4df9b]”Shit, s-sorry-”[/color] Bea said moving her plate to prevent most of her food from falling off. Fortunately the five second rule meant that Bea was quick enough to put her chicken wing back on her plate after brushing it off. Phew! [color=olivedrab]“… Awww you nasty as [i]fuck[/i],”[/color] None other than Jaden Raldo spoke. He teleport in a puff of smoke and appeared to the side as he continued, [color=olivedrab]“Know the five-second rule is bullshit, right? There’s dookie on the flo’.”[/color] Beatriz jumped, her face flushing red. [color=c4df9b]”Huh, what?”[/color] She moved her plate away from Jaden so he couldn’t see it anymore. She looked at him and worse, recognized him. Eyes wide, she froze and then laughed uncomfortably. [color=c4df9b]”M-me?”[/color] Jaden looked to the left, then to the right, before focusing on Beatriz, [color=olivedrab]“Yeah, who els-”[/color] He paused when he finally realized something. [color=olivedrab]“... You’re a fuckin’ [i]kid![/i] Oh lord, they let [i]everyone[/i] in this tournament, don’t they?”[/color] Beatriz quickly turned and slid her chicken wing into a nearby trash can. [color=c4df9b]”U-um, I- y-yeah, it's an open bracket.”[/color] She replied, still too shocked about the food situation and Jaden’s general force of personality to reply to him in anything other than the most literal way. [color=olivedrab]“... And you expect to win? Bruh, some of the Nomads here,”[/color] He spread his arms out, turning his torso from the left and to the right. [color=olivedrab]“They been training they whole lives just for this tournament.[/color] One could almost hear the gears shifting back into motion in Bea’s head. [color=c4df9b]”So? Me, too.”[/color] She said, the first signs of defensiveness in her voice. “All fourteen years?” [color=c4df9b]”All seventeen!”[/color] Beatriz protested, and then realized how childish that sounded. [color=c4df9b]”Fuck man, whatever! You’re not that much older than me.”[/color] She said. She wanted to cross her arms or gesture in some way, but she was still just holding this plate of food. [color=olivedrab]“What do you think will happen if you somehow… lord lemme stop. Somehow, by some miracle, get the Power Stone? Err’body gonna be on yo ass!”[/color] [color=c4df9b]”What? I- I dunno. It’s just a stupid rock, who gives a shit?”[/color] Bea asked defensively, turning away slightly. She took a bite of one of her remaining chicken wings in protest. [color=olivedrab]“Not just any stupid rock, but one of THE most saught after artifact in the whole world.”[/color] [color=c4df9b]”Then I’ll put it in a fuckin’ museum- or better yet go chuck it in the landfill. What do you think about that?”[/color] Beatriz said as she chewed, raising her eyebrows Jaden shrugged. [color=olivedrab]“Hey, if you’re gonna do all that, might as well give it to ol’ dude!”[/color] [color=c4df9b]”Huh?”[/color] Bea squinted. [color=c4df9b]”Old dude? [i]Meu pai?”[/i][/color] Jaden facepalmed. [color=olivedrab]”I’m talking about me, ya’ di-”[/color] “Jaden.” He heard a voice behind him, and looked over his shoulder to see Captain Cole, with his number two Violet next to him. Her robotic hands dangling down. “Don’t you have better things to do than harass kids? God, I can see why I threw you off my ship.” Captain Cole facepalmed. [color=olivedrab]“I didn’t want to be apart of yo’ little ass pirates anyway,”[/color] Jaden responded to Cole. “You see a child, I see potential…” Captain Cole walked past Jaden and walked over to Beatriz and he extended a hand to her. “Hello, I am [i]Captain Cole[/i], leader of the Cole pirates, and I’ll have you know you don’t want to be associating with riff-raff like him.” He spot a sharp gaze to Jaden. [color=olivedrab]“Riff-raff? [i]Ninja[/i] please,”[/color] Jaden threw his hands down as he added on, [color=olivedrab]“Don’t you got a million dollar bounty on yo’ head? Surprised they ain’t tried to cut ya’ down the second ya’ walked through the door!”[/color] Beatriz was feeling smaller by the second, as she was dwarfed by two more larger-than-life personalities. It didn’t help that she was also physically the shortest. Captain Cole- [i]the[/i] Captain Cole, of (nearly) moon-theft fame, walked up to her and offered to shake her hand. Her mouth open, she reached out and shook his hand. Her eyes flitted over to Violet, looked away, flitted back, and then made extra sure not to look back a third time. “You can look, sweetie,” Violet laughed, “It’s only natural, you’re in awe of this much woman.” [color=olivedrab]”... Or crazy.”[/color] Jaden added. [color=c4df9b]”Uhhh…h-hi…I’m Beatriz.”[/color] She responded to Captain Cole, star struck. Again. Jaden might not have noticed but Beatriz definitely recognized him from his career as a musician as well. She wiped the crumbs off her lips. “Beatriz… it’s great to meet you,” Captain Cole softly spoke as he firmly shook her hand. “Yes, the Power Stone is just a rock, but one that many eyes are on… primarily because currently it’s the only Power Stone in play.” Beatriz shook her head, electing to focus on Captain Cole and not the scary pretty lady behind him. [color=c4df9b]”Y-yeah, great to meet you, too.”[/color] There was no way, of course, that it was great to meet [i]her[/i]. It was nice, at best. [color=c4df9b]”Look, man, uh, sir, I don’t know nothin’ about no power stone. I’m just here for the tournament.”[/color] Beatriz explained, rubbing the back of her head, giggling sheepishly. “You’re a fighter I see… and just a fighter,” Captain Cole said, “There’s a lot of your types in the tournament.” [color=c4df9b]”Shit, I’d hope so. It’s a fighting tournament, after all. I thought there’d be [i]more[/i] just fighters. If I’m being honest.”[/color] She said. [color=c4df9b]”I didn’t even know there was more than one. Can a rock really make you more powerful? Just a plain old rock?”[/color] She asked. He was here, talking to her about it. She felt compelled to try and participate in the conversation, somehow. Though she realized she might just be making herself look stupid by asking basic questions. [color=c4df9b]”Seems like cheating.”[/color] She said, still with a nervous smile. “It’s less of a rock and more of a gem… nobody knows how it works, it just output extreme amounts of ki, mad scientists fight over them so they can power their doomsday weapons,” Captain Cole shrugged, “And there were nine of them… but hundreds of years ago; two Nomads gathered four of the Power Stones each and they couldn’t decide who the last Power Stone went to….” He placed a hand on his chin as he continued, “So, on a place known as [i]Dinosaur Island,[/i] the two battled for the final stone… unfortunately, nobody told those idiots to be careful: they accidentally destroyed each other’s Power Stones and here we are: fighting over one.” Beatriz took in the tale. [color=c4df9b]”D-dinosaur Island…y-yeah that seems like a pretty bad call on their part.”[/color] She laughed. [color=olivedrab]”They say Dinosaur Island is an island… of Dinosaurs. And treasures. Riches far as the eye can see, yo!“[/color] Jaden injected. [color=olivedrab]”Dinosaur island is just a myth, no one has ever found it![/color] [color=c4df9b]”So after all that, it just ends up as a prize in an annual fighting tournament? After all that doomsday shit?”[/color] She scratched the back of her head. Captain Cole shrugged. “The Power Stone changes hands a lot, it’s [i]always[/i] been that way…” [color=olivedrab]”This dickhead tried to use it to steal the moon with it one time![/color] Jaden laughed. [color=olivedrab]”He got stopped by MAVERICK, and I think the Justice Riders, too!”[/color] Captain Cole groaned, “But, how about this, Beat - mind if I call you that? - I seen your fight with Brenda…” Captain Cole started, “... I see a place for you on my ship.” [color=olivedrab]”Don’t do it, bro![/color] Jaden started off with a smile, [color=olivedrab]”They gon’ put a price on yo’ head![/color]” [color=c4df9b]”Oh-”[/color] Bea was startled by the offer, glancing over at Jaden before looking back at Cole. [color=c4df9b]”Oh, no, no fucking way, dude!”[/color] She exclaimed, in a tone that was only half-humorous. [color=c4df9b]”My mom would kill me!”[/color] She shook her head rapidly. [color=c4df9b]”B-but thank you?”[/color] She added, still quite flattered by the offer and what it said about how he perceived her combat skills. Bea let out a little laugh. “HAHAHAHA!” Violet vociferously laughed as she clutched her stomach and wiped a tear away. “You’re still worried about [i]mommy?[/i]” Violet raised both of her claws, “You have to carve your [i]own[/i] path, sweetie. You won’t be hanging off her teat forever!” Bea was startled by the laugh, but the follow-up comments caused her eyes to narrow. [color=c4df9b]”Did I ask? No. Was I even talkin’ to you? No.”[/color] She held her plate in one hand. [color=c4df9b]”[i]Definitely[/i] not joining.”[/color] She said to Cole, like Violet’s existence just confirmed it for her. Violet stepped forward to say something else but Captain Cole raised his hand to silence her. Only to point towards the stage, which the Announcer was already on. [h1]”.... ARRRE YOU READY FIIIIIIGHTERS? THE NEXT ROUND BEGINS NOW!”[/h1] “… we have more important matters to attend to,” Captain Cole said as he adjusted his suit. “Such as acquiring the Power Stone.” Captain Cole took a step away, but gave Bea a look as he said, “… My offer still stands.” Then they walked away. Which left Jaden shrugging with that cocky grin on his face, [color=olivedrab]”Duty calls! But it’s great ta’ see that ya’ got pluck!”[/color] Jaden started,, [color=olivedrab]”Maybe one day, when ya’ grow up, you’ll be close to the mighty Jaden, Raldo! Ha!”[/color]” Then he teleported in a cloud of smoke. Bea blinked and let out a breath. [color=c4df9b]”Man, what the fuck. Just trying to eat.”[/color]