Letter Bee

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

Ken ended up behind the mysterious girl and concentrated on empowering her and Reverio, although he made sure to boost the latter more as it was his call and his show. He then shouted, “Once the enemy is subdued or dead, make sure to see if he has any weapons on him or magical items which aren’t cursed! That may give us a boost!”

It seemed his newfound morality was still flexible enough to condone murder and theft (or was it looting as the guy would be already dead)? Then again, extreme measures were sometimes - sometimes, and never with glee - needed to protect the smiles of his people, which did not necessarily rest on his shoulders, but… Actually, some of it did. Izumo needed someone who knew what a Constitutional Monarchy was in order to make sure that its smiles cannot be undone by a future Emperor.

Either way, the boy watched Reverio as the latter handled the darkness-wielder, confident that the former would win against the latter… If only because he saw in Reverio’s eyes someone who had killed before, someone who had taken on the burden of taking life. Or was he just misunderstanding? After all, he wasn’t experienced or omniscient… He just had a gut feeling that Rev and the strange girl were more ‘worldly-wise’ than he was, and for now, all he can do was support them while waiting for their victory.

This man Rev is fighting is an experienced murderer - But we are prodigies and thus have the element of surprise. We will prevail.

And it was thus that Ken discovered something he had long disregarded and even dismissed: Faith. Not faith in the Gods, although he had a conventional amount of that, but rather Faith in other people. Don't get him wrong, he liked other people, maybe even loved them and definitely felt fondness too easily, but he didn't have faith in them to come through for him when needed or their justifications for not coming through when he felt he needed it. But now, when he hadn't even asked, people were coming to his aid, and while their reasons weren't completely selfless, they were, impressively, not selfish as well.

Even among the Vigilantes, Ken had not allowed himself to feel like he was fighting by others' side; he had thought of his previous battles as a way to show off how valuable and special he was. But now, without his magic items and with only his support Gift, Ken was able to put the needs of the group first, to put others' needs and time in the 'spotlight' first.

And it was liberating.

I'm learning to trust, I'm learning to shrug off the chains I put on myself. Now that I can put myself second and let others have the center of attention... I know we can prevail.

@KillamriX88@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Kakumei First Cour

Kyros Keahi

Kyros had managed to gain entrance into the western-style Imperial Palace by hiring himself out as a bodyguard to one of the delegates, a mid-ranking functionary who nevertheless had enough 'pull' to get him and his wife expedited 'permanent residency visas' in Hizuru and the rest of the Kou Empire. Nevertheless, he stuck out like a sore thumb in his foreign armor, which led to him being sent out to the roof along with whatever 'Gaijin trash' various other delegates had brought with them. Even then, there were Samurai nearby just as in the rest of the area.

It didn't matter; Kyros was just there to collect information, and what he found was interesting enough. Apparently, the loyalty of NInja/Shinobi was not to be counted on despite the Basaranoō's bluster, the Uchiha were at the forefront of the insurrection, and now the stakes were rising.

The warring sides will be too busy with one another, thought the former Knight, That will allow... Us to come in when both sides are exhausted, and finally, reverse the consequences of a century filled with blood. Then we will reverse the recent course of history and take it anew.

The Rumbling and the victory of Alvarez, Eldia, and Hizuru in the Second Great War was a calamity for the world. The cycle of reincarnation lightened the resulting torment, but it was a calamity nonetheless. He and his wife agreed on that, considering the fact that Alvarez's continued aggression against lesser nations was the reason he had spent a decade in chains metaphorical and literal; his youth was over now and he was unprepared for the demands of maturity due to things he did not want to think about.

Augusta had rescued him, had needed him to provide something he had to be willing to give. A secretly lonely woman, one prepared to endure a husband who might suddenly turn around and resent her for her nationality and her once owning him if it meant that he would not see her as an object less than a tool.

He was prepared to accept that, and even the prospect of mutually owning each other, but there was a whispered agreement between them, spoken only in low tones in their airship's private chambers: That their children, the twins, would rule the nation which had enslaved him and lead it down a better path, a path where his other former masters would pay for what they have done to him and so many other slaves. He chuckled at the prospect; Half-Ishgarian children ruling over the Alvarez Empire - How ironic.

The sun shone brightly on the roof as his fellow mercenaries, men and women of much magical talent but little scruples gave him a suspicious glance. But they had nothing to fear; Kyros would play his part as a bodyguard and fight against whatever reaction the Anti-Accords planned next. After that, once he had pocketed his payment, he had a meeting to go to; he was sure the other members of his real side had finished regrouping.

Make sure not to kill any Anti-Accord person you fight, Kyros thought to himself, Let them escape but not after you showed these pricks here you can fight well. And above all... Don't get caught in too deeply into the Pro-Accord's affairs; you're not the most reticent person, after all.

@Floch

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken Illustrious Ikari

Ken took Chinami's hand quickly, not bothering to take more than a second's look at her face or Rev's; it won't do to be distracted by his teenage hormones when around people his own age. He reached out to boost her powers as well, drawing power from his blessing from the heavens themselves to increase his new companions' strength. As he could feel whatever enchantment the girl cast wash over him as well, the boy said, "So, what exactly happened and is happening? The 'Good Doctor' betrayed us and weakened our powers, but what are he and his presumed minions trying to do?"

He then looked around and said, "And can you get us to a safer place where we can talk? I can share details of my powers once we're not in a place where the Doctor can burst in."

Presuming that the girl demonstrated her 'teleportation' (or had she just turned invisible?) power again, Ken waited until he was sure they were truly safe, before opening his mouth to say, "Now, my power can boost all Magic and Blessings; basically, I'm a battery of supernatural energies which can and does overflow to empower people and items and can also choose who to empower. But right now, I am not at full strength; I presume the Doctor was behind that?"

His eyes flashed with reflected light, but he waited for either Chinami or Reverio to give an explanation, ready to suggest a potential battle plan once they were done. It was clear that Doctor Nightman could not be allowed to get out of the building, much less give the Rhean Authorities his own version of events. Like it or not, such a well-connected figure as the Good Doctor seemed to be would be able to cast them as the criminals unless they dealt with him fast, and even then... He was the type to have contingencies.

"I made a timed email to everyone I was acquainted with before going to this clinic," Ken said when given the first opportunity. "I also made sure to record a message in my computer and write in my school notebook about Dr. Nightman's offer and my suspicions about him. Even then, though, we should prepare to get in trouble with any 'Friends in High Places' Nightman has; people like him don't get this much traction unless they have people in authority behind his back..."

@Dezuel@KillamriX88@Lewascan2

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

I'd also be interested in joining, if there's still room.

And I know that technically the Wards team has already been chosen, but I might have an idea or two around it.

Speaking of which, what's your stance on a PC that's older and more experienced?

Or for a recently captured delinquent given an option to turn life around.

@Chiro

We have those. Also, this is an AU where the Wards are just being founded.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Andrew Bennett/Hope

The other kids at the orphanage had some inkling about what had happened, and so did the caretakers, but they also knew Andrew had done what he had done to protect them from... Something. Nevertheless, his departure to The Wards could only have been a relief, considering the likely consequences of his rash actions. Same for his willingness to arrange a permanent stay in The Wards' own building.

So what happened was bittersweet, even to the boy himself, as the latter took public transport (paying for it, of course) to the bus stop closest to the PRT HQ, seeing a glimpse of who he thought was Overclock helping a lost child half his age (he couldn't be sure, though). Despite the bite of his parting and the awareness that some people wished it was permanent which now coursed through him, Andrew smiled as the vehicle he was in zoomed past shops and residences, places of worship, and entertainment.

This was the city he was going to protect, the city people like Overclock fought to keep hope alive. He believed in them; would they believe in him? Would he give them a reason to?

After all, he didn't come by his powers through innocent means; maybe he was just pretending at being a hero. Maybe he wasn't actually as kind and selfless as he thought he was.

The bus stopped; he didn't notice until he was loudly called down by the bus driver. Paying the fare, the boy set himself down on the sidewalk, momentarily basking in the hope coursing through the city in Overclock's wake. Then he walked towards the PRT building, which he had approached before, and this time, the brutalist (?) architectural style didn't give him pause. Walking towards the entrance and approaching the receptionist, the boy was asked what he was doing here, and the response was:

"I'm a concerned citizen. I'm here to report superpowered members of the Merchants loitering at the local retirement home."

He was promptly escorted to the retinal scanner which led to the HQ, which, to a lower-class orphan like him who was currently in a faded blue shirt and jeans and secondhand sneakers, was positively luxurious. Walking over to the Director, Andrew said, "Andrew Bennett here, codename 'Hope'. I'm happy to serve under you in an official capacity from now on - Wait, Overclock is here?!"

After taking a few seconds to confirm that it was Overclock who was standing before him, Andrew hopped over and said, "Overclock! I didn't know you joined The Wards! It seems we're in good hands, right, if you're here?" Then he noticed Levin and the two Tinkers, before waving hi to them all and saying enthusiastically:

"Hello! My name is Hope and I'm happy to work with you guys!" He then walked over to Levin and took a chair beside him before saying, "So, what's your name? Mine's Andrew, but you can call me Andy!"

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken’s Mindscape

Ken Illustrious Ikari was at peace.

The sky in his dreamscape was clear, a blue expanse dotted with wispy white clouds illuminated by bright sunlight which brought everything to full relief. He looked down and saw a field of tall green grass that waved softly as a breeze wafted through it. In this unnatural calm, the boy looked through his memories without the crippling effects of his ego and internal expectations coloring his perceptions.

The people of Izumo used to smile, his father had said to him, Like they do in Rhea when things are good, which is almost all the time.

Kindness. Love. How could he have forgotten his first experiences of life in Rhea, of the hard fight his parents waged to lift themselves out of poverty? He had not forgotten being weak before, the sight of others’ suffering, but he had forgotten happiness, the smiles of people, and the love and kindness of everyone but his parents.

He had forgotten how in Rhea, smiling was a right, not a privilege for the rich and powerful and the extremely lucky. Why had he forgotten? Because of the allure of the Imperial Throne. The allure of having an Empire of his own. When in fact, what he should have remembered, what he should be fighting for... Was the right of his people to smile like the citizens of Rhea did, to believe that happiness and its pursuit were their birthright and not just a grant by the cruel usurper calling himself 'their' Emperor.

In this unnatural calm, Ken found out why he had kept that truth away from himself - He was a coward, choosing to be selfish in order to avoid making the sacrifices that his real goal demanded. He was afraid of making the sacrifices of himself in order to make his dream, his dream for his people, come true. He wanted someone else to pay the cost or inure himself to making others sacrifice themselves for his goals; he was that afraid. But now he knew that, and he also knew that he was going to keep being afraid unless he faced that fear and continued on no matter how long it scourged him.

There are some dreams worth fighting for, his mother had said, Your father risked his life and his place on the throne to spirit the Ame-no-Murakumo away from Izumo so that the usurpers cannot use it for their foul ends. We believe that you should not have to go through such trouble... But if you want to, do it for your own reasons.

I want my people to smile! he thought as the calm began to fade. In the real world, his body began to tremble, as the boy anticipated the sacrifices he was going to need to make, the pain and sorrow and grief he was going to go through for his dream. I saw their haggard faces, the fire and slaugther and hunger as one of the first things I remember!

The Imperial Throne was only an instrument. A way to guarantee that his people never had to suffer like that again, that they smiled like the people in Rhea did. But oh gods! His ego! His pride! His desire to be important!

Ken to Reverio

Meaningless, he thought to himself as he forced himself awake, his eyes opening then almost closing again as he felt the vertigo from his power being sapped, and he had enough presence of mind to see that his magic items were gone, presumably stolen.

He said weakly to the person who woke him up, "Rev... Let's save them."

The other Prince might notice that his powers were getting stronger again, that Ken was somehow able to boost them with what he had left.

"You strike him from behind, I'll strengthen you and whoever else can fight. If there's a sharp object around, I'll stab him in the spinal cord; no one deprives my people of their smiles," Ken's voice took on a sharp edge, "Now let's go!"

@KillamriX88@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Kakumei First Cour

Accepted on Discord

Augusta Dragneel Keahi

Kakumei First Cour

@Floch, I made a second character!

Augusta Dragneel Keahi

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

@TruthHurts22, Your character is interesting and needs a hug, it seems.

Kakumei First Cour

Kyros Keahi - Indra Encouraged This

Kyros Keahi