Letter Bee

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken to Dr. Nightman

The glow faded as Ken looked once more at Dr. Nightman’s eyes and listened to the tone of his voice… And found the truth (or what seemed to be). The boy tried to keep his shoulders upright, not slumping them, before he said, “If you’re willing to take the risk of me killing you, as you trust me enough to be a good person at heart, someone who won’t kill an innocent person, then I suppose I should take the risk of this being some sort of nefarious plan, which it might not be.”

Finally relaxing, Ken said to the doctor, “All right, now that we’ve established tentative grounds for cooperation and collaboration, what’s the first order of business? Which one of my issues do you want to tackle first?”

This would be the optimal moment for a trap, part of Ken’s mind whispered, but the confrontation had drained him of his mental energy and he found that he rather admired ‘Dr. Nightman’s’ bravery…

@KillamriX88@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken to Dr. Nightman

“It’s the latter,” Ken said, “And you still have not explained why your reviews have the tone they did, which adds fuel to the fire that is already there. And no, I do not see enemies hiding behind every shadow, I see enemies hiding behind the most… suitable shadows from whence they can strike. As it is, while I am technically an Imperial Prince or even an Imperial Claimant, that’s not the only reason why I feel so paranoid.”

He then fixed a glare at Dr. Nightman, even as he measured the distance between his fist and the man’s face and whether the desk proved to be any obstruction. He also thought of tipping over the desk to unbalance the other man if he proved to be hostile. Nevertheless, Ken felt a need to talk about his psyche and its inner workings anyway, just in case the ‘therapist’ proved to be genuine or knew enough psychology that he can trick some actual advice from the guy. So the boy continued.

“I have ‘Main Protagonist Syndrome’, or rather, I suspect I have it. This is basically an unrecognized variant of ‘Narcissistic Personality Syndrome’, but the effects are the same: I see myself as a protagonist in a story centered around me but I am self-aware enough to know that it is a bad thing. I see myself acting out and trying to be ‘top dog’ in my group of friends or trying to ‘fix’ problems they are capable of fixing on their own or even trying to make their own problems all about myself and how I am affected.”

The boy shuddered with self-loathing. “And I don’t want that. I don’t want to harm my friends just because I want greatness or the feeling of greatness and I’d rather cut out my own heart than hurt them. So fraud or not, I know full well you know enough psychology or just ‘raw people skills’ to either one: Help anyway, or two, take advantage of this tendency to further some sort of ulterior agenda. For example, offering me a Quest to fight an ‘Evil Greater than the Ancient Evil’ or telling me about someone with a tragic backstory I can’t help but want to fix. After that, whether I succeed or fail, you gain something even if it is amusement.”

He then paused for a few seconds before saying, “Of course, it could be that the fact I think I’m important enough for someone to manipulate in such a long convoluted way means that I am a narcissist and the fact that I think in terms of tropes is evidence of much deeper mental issues than I already have. But enough about me - Please answer why your reviews are the way they are and present proof you’re not a threat to me or furthering some plot which will eventually harm my friends or die right now.”

Ken activated Gimlé then, and the ring cloaked him in a golden aura which when amplified by his real Blessing, ought to protect him from magical and physical counterattacks. Of course, he didn’t have a weapon, but he can always smash ‘Dr. Nightman’s’ head with the nameplate he had on his desk… Unless Dr. Nightman gave proof that he was sincere, of course.

@KillamriX88@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Potential Iliad City Rework

-Moved to PMs-

Innocence Lost - A Science Fantasy RP [v.03]

Natasha Zhang

Natasha Zhang didn’t know what had gone wrong, and she was honest enough to admit that arrogance and overconfidence, and being inflexible had something to do with it. Same for being inconsiderate. Either way, she tried to make up for lost time and opportunities as best as she could by saying, “All right, folks, I guess it's time to see those of you who aren’t going on the stealth mission off - Make sure to come back and come back safe.”

She didn’t mention the families of the Star Marines, nor did she mention her own in Quingdao; Natasha already had a suspicion that the Ascendancy would do more than take or harm them, they’d try their best to turn them against their own lost children. Cruelty was not to be underestimated, nor an arrogant insistence that a dramatic plot was a clever plot - Kherol was immune to that impulse, but Laguna and her ilk were not.

But Natasha knew that she could not protect her crew from emotional pain, so she decided not to try. It was cruel of her, but also a concession to cold hard reality she did not want to make. So her last action was to look at Maria and Laurey the moment their ‘team’ was able to meet in the cockpit, and joke, “So, Ladies’ night out?”

Chuckling, the Captain then sighed and said, “We’ll be meeting the snitch in some sort of nature reserve planet, according to the notes Joey gave me; and by a nature reserve, basically one of the planets so beautiful that not even the Ascendancy wants to ‘Do a GIll’home’ on them… Yet.”

Ashton and Flame

“So…” Ashton said awkwardly to Flame as the two stood on the hangar, waiting for departure time and their separation, “It seems they’re splitting us up?”

Ashton did not say that perhaps this should have been Joey’s punishment for their attempt to attack the Ascendancy’s economy. Nor that it felt like a punishment. That made him sound like a needy guy, and not only did he not want to look like that to Flame, but he had an image to maintain; both of them did.

For he knew, and he thought Flame also knew, that the two needed to project the image that they were geniuses, that what their kidnappers had told them about their ‘gifts’ was true. That they and the other kids were better off thinking that the Ascendancy had a coherent reason for taking them away from their homes and lives and families, even if it was not a rational reason.

The boy felt a sudden warmth; Flame had embraced him impulsively. For a brief moment, Ashton felt the urge to cry but suppressed it as he brushed the back of Flame’s head, smiling as he did so. All thoughts of pretense left him at that.

“Flame,” Ashton worked up the courage to say, “Do you think it’s okay if we’re not geniuses?”

Flame slumped his shoulders, ended the hug, and said, “I’ve been waiting for you to say it, Ashton.”

Ashton staggered back, shocked, as his boyfriend continued.

“Ashton, I don’t want to pretend anymore. Oh, sure, there’s a chance we’re still geniuses or savants or whatever,” Flame was gesturing around wildly, not caring whoever saw him, “But I am tired of going around telling everybody, ‘we’re geniuses, we’re geniuses!’. Time to face it, Ashton; we don’t need to feel good about being Star Marines - I just want to retire and plant a garden when it’s all over.”

Flame looked at him a while longer, saw him smile and hug him back, and then say with tears in his eyes:

“You’re right; dad always told me to be myself,” Ashton said. “Once I meet him again, I’ll tell him all about you… If you want.”

“Just knock my asshole of a sperm donor out if you’re saving him too,” Flame interrupted before giving him one last kiss. “And now, goodbye. I love you.”

“Same,” Ashton said as he and his boyfriend turned to leave…

@Letter Bee@Landaus Five-One@FalloutJack@Conscripts@Starlance@jdh97@Smike@Senhara

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken to Reverio

"Indeed," Ken said to Reverio. "So, it seems that you got the message as well? By the way, what should I call you? Prince, Your Highness, or just Reverio or 'Rev'?"

He knew of Reverio's life before coming to Rhea; the other youth might be older than him, but Ken was still his academic senior plus interested in the lives of his fellow students. Well, most of them. To be honest, the boy suspected his fellow student of hiding the very mental issues that Dr. Nightman had said he had, and 'Rev's' appearance in this clinic provided circumstantial proof of that.

Or was he just being judgemental? His parents always said that he failed to consider multiple angles and the 'human factor' in strategy and tactics and management. Maybe Reverio was the kind and good and fun-loving person he always seemed like; maybe the trauma of his family's death and his own exile hadn't actually made him a worse person or driven him to self-destructive tendencies. Maybe Ken Illustrious Ikari was being paranoid or even projecting his own issues onto someone in similar circumstances.

Maybe. But he had to admit, he doubted...

Ken to Dr. Nightman

Ken was upfront as he said, "I've done my background check on you; absolutely no one has your level of unreasonably good reviews unless bribery, coercion, and fraud or any combination of such are used. Nevertheless, on the off-chance you are sincere, I'll share a few things about myself which will only harm me in the long run, not the short term."

He then breathed in and out, "I'm an arrogant asshole deep inside. I like thinking of myself as a genius, a prodigy, and using big words to make myself look intelligent. I also want the throne of Izumo even if my parents do not want to have it or are perfectly willing to stay in Rhea, which, granted, is one of the best cities in the world."

The boy then took a few moment's pauses before continuing, "But I value my friends to try and curb that truth about myself. I support them and their goals and try and help them as much as possible. So if you, and this is only speculation, want to brainwash me into turning against said friends, I am ready to fight."

Ken then looked at the Doctor's eyes as he tried to assess the impact of his words, "But if you're actually sincere about wanting to help me, present proof now or I will have your corpse cooling on the ground, damn the consequences before you get to Prince Galand..."

@KillamriX88@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

I don't need therapy, was Ken's first thought when receiving the letter from 'Dr. Nightman's clinic. His next one was, That's what someone who does need therapy would say.

He was in the family home when he received the letter, a comfortable apartment that contained four rooms, including one for himself. This was an apartment that combined Izumo and Rhean aesthetics, with modern chairs surrounding a traditional kotatsu table with a heavy blanket underneath the tabletop. There was also a television with the latest videogame consoles, although the boy preferred the computer in his room for videogames and online conversations.

His parents and he had a warm relationship, and he knew they all loved each other - That's why they would insist that he do a background check on 'Dr. Nightman' first and take every possible security precaution which did not involve taking out the Ame-no-Murakumo, which was to be used only in Vigilante work and even then only when there was no other way to deal with a problem other than quick and (relatively) clean violence. If he was to walk outside of the apartment for any other reason, he was to leave it behind, and if he believed he was in any risk of danger, he was to write a note saying to exchange the Imperial Heirloom in exchange for his safety.

Despite realizing that he did need therapy, Ken was still suspicious of Dr. Nightman's offer, and so wrote that note in Izumo Kanji and set it on the Kotatsu, before taking Gimlé and the Ankh of Life with him. He would not need offensive capabilities to save his own life, after all, even if he did feel 'nerfed' by not taking the heirloom. As an added precaution, he made sure to record a message on his computer and on his school notebook detailing the offer of therapy, Dr. Nightman's clinic's address, and their knowledge of himself and the family 'issues'. He also composed a timed email to be sent to his friends in the Vigilantes in 24 hours telling them all about the 'Therapy'.

Was such paranoia proof that he needed it? Yes. But that paranoia was merited, considering how much 'Dr. Nightman', if that was ever his real name, knew. But Ken was still coming because one, the Doctor evidently had subtle means of coercion at his disposal, and two, he genuinely needed someone to talk to about his troubles, even though the chances of the offer being genuine were vanishingly slim. So the boy got his wallet, a small bag of snacks, and went off to the Nightman Clinic early enough to get to his appointment in time - But not before he did what background checks he could of the place and its resident doctor...

-------

Ken arrived at the clinic more suspicious than ever; he still didn't bring the Ame-no-Murakumo, but that was only because he valued the relic and the heritage it represented more than he did his life; an observation which prompted him to seek therapy from a more reputable institution once this mess was done. But unlike Chinami, he had no knowledge of traps and how to disarm them except for what he read in books or watched in shows or played in videogames, and so he went inside, checked himself in, and then took a seat, ready to coat himself in Gimlé's magical shield should things get too spicy.

It seemed he was alone, so the boy made sure to measure the distance between his seat and the door and hoped the latter didn't self-lock.

@Lewascan2@KillamriX88@Dezuel

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

I will be in charge of #3... I'll attempt to get it out tonight, but I have long since stopped trying to make promises for this stuff.

@KillamriX88

Give me a bit; just finished my IRL job shift.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

I'm in, too; I presume I need an invite to the RR Discord?

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

@Scarifar, I am here.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Oh hoh? A little thread resurrection? Neato. I'm unfortunately still too busy to add another RP onto my plate, but this seems like a good one to lurk around until I potentially do.

@Lewascan2

We're just waiting for more players.