Letter Bee

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Greece could still exist, but the greek gods wouldn't necessarily be greek gods. Every culture probably has different names for all the gods. Though if the god was in greece then he'd probably refer to himself with a greek name.

@Spin The Wheel

I mean, this setting isn't Earth.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

@MagusDream, Greece does not exist in this setting.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

Something alarmed Ken about Rev just then, something in his words or his tone or how he looked at them now. He knew it, he wasn't the best at communicating, the best at socializing, but what Rev was manifesting right now was startling, a nigh-imperceptible but still existent change that brought a chill to the boy's heart.

Ken did not want to confront Rev in his own home, not after what had just passed between the three of them - Well now two if Chinami was leaving. But he could feel it, the beginnings of a chill borne out of disappointment which would eventually wither and pervert whatever had been formed by the battle against Nightman. If this chill was allowed to continue, to take root inside Reverio Galand's heart, it would cause not just the destruction of any chance of friendship, but it would turn them into enemies.

He didn't want that. But how would he stop it? Rev was a person who preferred his own opinions above all and obliviously distrusted others who thought differently, not getting the memo that other points of view were sometimes valid. Chinami was someone who was attached to her ordinary and secure life, someone whose strength was focused on her safety, both physical and psychological. As for himself... He shared the lack of social education and immense naivete which Rev was still showing now, but he had some of Chinami's insight and knowledge on how the world really worked.

As Rev and Chinami obviously waited to go to the door of the apartment, as they probably noticed him just standing there as though he was frozen onto the ground, Ken finally found his voice, and it was desperate, unfettered, its cadence high, almost shouting.

"Please!" the boy implored, putting his hands up in a placatory gesture, "I know what we all just said to each other, and how we've all made assumptions about the situation which turned out to be wrong, but we cannot just let this meeting end like this. I know I'm not the best socially; I know I am still a novice at how normal social interactions work. But I know deep in my heart that letting this meeting end on this note will just result in negativity for all of us and those around us."

Looking at both of their faces, letting them see the shock written on his own, Ken made his pitch, "Let's go to a flower garden like I brought up before. Let's enjoy the beauty which is still there in life, and delay talking about revolutions and tragic backstories and grand agendas for the rest of the day. We can eat and drink sweets and coffee, see the sights of Rhea's green spaces, take pictures of ourselves or have them taken for us. I'll even pay for everything. Everything. So please, let's just spend a while just being kids; we have that right, after all that we've gone through..."

He then looked at Chinami, his eyes carrying a silent plea.

@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

"Rev," Ken said sternly for once, "You should know from being in Rhea for years now that 'virtue' and 'courage' are not confined to those of 'royal blood'. For centuries, Rhea has achieved it's reputation as a center of advancement and the source of the best fighters in the world by allowing people from all backgrounds and walks of life a chance to earn their place up, under the recognition that 'a good birth' isn't the only thing which matters - How one's lives shape us as well, to be better or worse people, counts too."

The boy continued, "The nobility of various nations betrayed the people under them by believing that they are better; not just in looks or in smarts or in powers, but morally as well. Rhea proves that is wrong - This city is a beating heart of people of all attitudes, virtues, and vices and an ever-shifting cast of minor and major heroes and villains. And that is its strength." Then he sighed once more before finishing, "As for everything you just said about Nightman... Why are you not inclined to believe Chinami this time, considering your profession of trust in her?"

@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

Ken was surprisingly able to take Chinami's diatribe, and the valid points behind it, without feeling more than a pinprick of anger and hurt. Instead, he nodded and said, "I apologize; turning the conversation to myself was a most naive blunder - I'm sorry. As it is, it would be remiss of us not to give you a chance to back away from continuing to know us, given that we put your life in danger by revealing our backstories and goals. After all, you're right that we barely know each other, and a friendship cannot be built by forcing another person to accept a threat to their life and wellbeing."

Then the boy added a hint as to his true feelings, "Nevertheless, Rev is right that he sees many likable traits in you - I do too. And we three have kept each other from dying before; why can't that same success be repeated and refined? As it is, we offer our loyalty to you - You know how much that's worth..."

He then turned to Reverio and responded to the other boy's question, "Now, I'd love to stay over for dinner, yes. What are you cooking? Vanquelin cuisine is very well-known worldwide, with multiple restaurants in Rhea claiming to have a chef trained in that country."

All the while he glanced at Chinami as he waited for her to leave, or talk about leaving, or, and he secretly hoped for this, stay.

@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

"You hurt more than I do," Ken said. "Your brother loved you enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, but you feel unworthy of it, because from a certain point of view, an unbearably cynical and utilitarian one, he should have survived. That is not my point of view. My point of view is that people can change and do better, it just takes an uphill battle sometimes. He gave you this chance - You can live in a way that honors his memory, his sacrifice."

The words were wrenched out of his heart, of his psyche. Ken didn't know he had those words in him, Ken didn't know that he can express such sentiments. But more words kept on flowing as he said, "Rev, or if I can call you that in private, Mar, I bared what I thought was my heart and soul to Nightman; I told him what I thought were my issues, but were in fact only the very beginning of them."

Looking at both Reverio/Marlan and Chinami, his gaze lingering at the latter's face to see if she was skeptical as the boy continued, "I told Nightman I was afraid of my own arrogance, my own ego, my screwing myself over by acting like a 'Protagonist'. And this was true; I wanted my own throne so badly I lost sight of why. But when Nightman put me to sleep, I remembered my childhood, how my parents endured poverty due to having hidden their identities and the Ame-no-Murakumo to keep it away from the Emperor of that time, and how they went without so that they can feed me.

"I remember my parents finally finding jobs and a measure of money and security, and me growing old enough to see that Rhea is a city where the right to smile, the right to strive and work for one's own and others' happiness, was taken for granted. I remembered the haggard faces and hunger and slaughter present in my home country. But I was afraid of making the necessary sacrifices to make that dream come true - No, Mar, I wanted someone else to make the sacrifices for me; that's how warped I was."

He then finished his little speech, "I wanted to sate my ego and my pride and my desire to be important but lost sight of what I originally envisioned: An Izumo which is more like Rhea, but remains itself. An Izumo where people can smile without fear."

@Dezuel@Lewascan2

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Ken

You have friends now, Ken thought to himself. Now the hard part is keeping them as friends, especially when they have obvious romantic tension and look good together.

His parents had finally agreed to drive him to Reverio's apartment complex but told him in no uncertain terms that if the 'Nightman Incident' was repeated again, he was grounded. Either way, he arrived in the apartment room and knocked on the door, saying in a clear, but not loud tone, "It's me, Ken! I presume I was invited in, right?"

He had the feeling that this was more than a social call, that there was emotional baggage from their pasts to bring up and go through before being finally resolved.

Just because you know your true goals does not mean they'd be any easier. If anything, they'd probably bring up how naive and idealistic those goals are and urge me to find something else, those were Ken's private thoughts.

@Dezuel@Lewascan2

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

We are advancing this RP through collabs.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Freedom of Devils

Martyn/Martin

Martin knew that unless his plan succeeded, he would be nuking the human connections he had made over the years in the Mercurial Witch. What he had not counted on was the plain and simple chance that his plan would actually fail. He would have panicked more, if not for the fact that Thom had unexpectedly taken his side.

Then 'Uncle Charles' agreed. He actually agreed! Martin's next words were, "Thank you, Uncle Charles - I owe you!" Then to Holly, he said, "Holly, I'm sorry for taking command without your permission - Can I have it now? Also, once I get that DNA test and access to what my family once had, I'll get you something good to eat!"

He then pushed his Gundam to the rendezvous point, his Ahab Thrusters moving comparatively slowly. It didn't matter, especially when he picked up his Man Rodi's Hammer-Chopper and Submachine gun so that his new machine didn't have to fight unarmed; he also picked up a few grenades, just in case.

"All right, people!" he said, "Our objectives are simple, go to a designated zone, where I'll use a frequency to get us the help and repairs we need! Hopefully, we'll be drinking coffee better than what our former Captain has by tonight!"

Assuming that Uncle Charles is going to keep his word. Assuming that he's not sincerely serving those who disinherited my parents and me. And assuming that the Mercurial Witch's pilots don't get through Uncle Charles - Okay, that's ridiculous; Uncle Charles is a badass!

"Fox," Martin said to the pilot in question, "If we do win this, want to learn how to read? Trust me, it's pretty fun with the right books!" Then to Thom and Kurt, "Thom, Kurt, let's be friends for real once we get to safety! I can't come back to Earth after being forcibly implanted with the AV - They'll treat me as not worth anything - So want to start a farm on Mars or a Colony Ship together?"

Assuming Fox has made a decision to side with us. Assuming Thom and Kurt don't hate your guts. Assuming you'd get the family money when Rustal's new regime would have siezed it by now. 'Assume makes an ass of u and me'.

He couldn't help it; for once in his life, he felt unalloyed joy!

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

Andrew Rivers

TWO DAYS AGO

His 'feeder' opened the door to his room again, then said, "We've decided to move you to Yuzhny Portveyn, Merc Kid; this city is not safe anymore for the likes of you." Then he mused wryly, "I trust you'll be good?" He then mused wryly, "You might even get what you want there, if your family does something to impress the higher-ups."

Hope shone in Andrew's eyes; was his patience going to be rewarded? Seeing this, however, the other teen gave a dry smile and said, "However, you'll be interrogated and debriefed first; maybe even roughed up if you mouth off. But if you're good and your family doesn't do anything bad like side with what remains of Governor Xiu's thugs, again, you might be able to get what you want."

The dry smile turned into a smirk as the other youth continued, "You know, you had a lot of balls to come here and ask for an alliance without telling your precious Colonel first. He might be offended enough to throw you into a brig for doing that and worrying your father."

Andrew snapped a little, saying, "I was hoping it'd be a done deal." Then he admitted that, "but now it won't be, especially as apparently, some of the Governor's people actually held out."

As the ramifications flooded through him, Andrew began hyperventilating, "I was assuming they'd fall and you'd be the only viable option for allies. I was hoping that there'd be no one else but you guys and that an alliance beetween our groups would be the only viable option and that I'd be honored for helping broker it. Instead I got myself locked up and in trouble and now unless the holdouts don't renew their contract with the Green Knights, I'll be in trouble with both you and them!"

His eyes widened in shock as he said, "You'll either shoot me at the back of the head or the Colonel will."

The boy then sighed and as something inside him broke, he muttered, "I'll never see Mom and Dad ever again... I'll never see Tarak, or Ziska, or Reya, or even Hilda. I've destroyed every bond I valued just for an uncertain gamble." Tears fell from his eyes again as he whispered to himself, "I've failed... I've failed..."

He was interrupted by his 'feeder' coughing, and saying, "That was hilarious, Merc Kid! Now, what are you going to do about it? After all, you're an idiot, but an idiot who knows what a plan is. Are you going to suggest sabotaging the negotiations somehow?"

Andrew's brow furrowed to show that he was giving it due consideration, then he smiled, before he made his response, "We'll be in even more trouble if caught. Take me to Yuzhny Portveyn first, but my rough idea is to somehow make us a more attractive partner to the Green Knights than the holdouts. You have the love of the common people and few people value that nowadays. If we can get arms, ammo, and most importantly, military skill to match that love, we'd prove ourselves a better partner than Governor Xiu or his remaining officials..."

His feeder scoffed at him and interrupted, "You go from 0 to 180 then 0 again in no time flat!" He then presented a blindfold and cuffs and said, "Enough blather; put these on and just thank us for not gagging you - We're going."