Letter Bee

Rise of Rasalhague

Alvin Davion

Alvin blinked, sighed in acknowledgement, and promptly ignored everything Fuka had to say; for the very first time in forever, he found out that some people weren't worth his words. Now, they were going to a hangar and select BattleMechs?

Ankhanne, Mech Bay

When he saw the Hermes-II, Alvin fell, well, not in love, but definitely fond of the Medium Mech. So he went over it right away and spoke, "Can I be allowed to pilot the Hermes-II? I promise to treat it with all the respect and affection such a great mech deserves."

He was most proficient in piloting Medium Mechs; so there was that, and quite frankly, this BattleMech was the best one for someone who was average in everything. With this, he believed he can even beat Fuka, but he'll keep that a secret from her until they have simulator access. If anything, he knew this, that he could make a reliable scout, even though he wasn't sure the flamer would work in the oxygen-thin atmosphere.

Either way, if he was permitted to go near the Hermes-II, Alvin would eagerly get on the elevator platform so he can enter the cockpit, all the while musing on what Ulrik had said. Is that guy really going to accept us as family?

The young man felt a glimmer of hope at that. He had learned that Fuka wasn't worth his time; she'd be outraged anyway if he did something like save her life or perform better than her in the mission, so he'd probably let himself naturally do that, but not actively seek it out. He was not a glory hound like other Federated Suns members or Draconis Combine folk, after all.

If he had something to prove... Actions spoke louder.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Mission Two: Siege of Mischief Reef

BRP Ramon Alcaraz - 10/11/2022, 19:14 UTC+8

When Callie's Noble Arm, Charter, passed through where Sohrab's sword had turned intangible, sparks of electricity lit up the point of contact; enough of them flew to cause Callie to shake and recoil unless she was braced for that or some other move. The sword turned tangible again as Sohrab snarled audibly and shouted through the portal, "Are you suicidal?! By all means, throw your energy against my assault. It makes life so much easier for me. Your father was never this wasteful with his own reserves..."

Mei's voice then echoed through the portal, "Enough talk! Keep the sword inside the portal, Sohrab, I have a bargain to make while the rest of the crew is away."

She then talked further, "One of the members of the Foriegn Volunteers Battalion is Anui-El, Priest of Shadows, whose goal is to find Malik Kendrick's heir and rebuild the Hammer of Masters. In exchange for keeping him away from you, I want you to bring this message to your superiors: I am willing to defect for 20 Billion Dollars; it was originally 50 Billion but that's too high for you guys."

PLA 'Foriegn Volunteers' Division - 10/11/2022, 19:15 UTC+8

Anui-El's giant shadow bird, which was carrying several Arms Masters and normal folk, was soaring high, trying to reach the ASEAN Diversion Fleet. Despite the screen of lesser birds covering it, it was still a vulnerable target, and not fast enough to reach its targets in time...

Especially as he could see several squadrons of PLA Aircraft plummenting from the sky, their burning wrecks plunging into the sea. Vietnam's Lotus Squadron had a reputation for invincibility no Mortals should ever have, taking control of the skies away from the Chinese by bringing down three times their number of jet planes. For a moment, Anui-El thought of sending his shadow birds at them, but realizing this was suicide, lost his nerve and flew back to Mei Yuanyuan's flying ship, shouting so loud that Callie could hear it, "The Chinese Planes and their pilots are about to break before those Vietnamese dogs! Prime your cannons to defend against them now!"

((Written by Co-GM QJT.))

CNS Shangqiu - 10/11/2022, 19:13 UTC+8

"Yessir, I checked the pipes. I discussed this with the other engineers. None of us adjusted the pressure like this." Engineer Bai relayed to Field Officer Luo the recent anomalies onboard the boat. Luo was displeased that he needed to personally inspect it so closely after a call to battle stations, but these new vessels had strange kinks. Luo stroked his chin quietly, much slower than the urgent scene required of him. "Is there a risk of explosion?"

"It's just under its breaking point; I cannot tell for certain." Bai, mildly panicked, asked his superior. "What do you think it is, sir?"

Luo shook his head. "A ghost," he joked. "Let's hope it's benevolent." He'd exhausted his natural explanations, so the supernatural one was less farcical than Luo initially surmised. "Ring up the main line."

Bai walked over to electronics, picked up the phone, and listened in. His eyes widened. "Shouts, screams… some of them aren't Chinese."

Luo reached out his hand and received the phone. He picked it up and heard similarly:

"Larsdottir, Boarding team. Electronics in the bridge under remote, likely occult control. WOs got zapped, everything's inoperable, my radio's dead. Not sure whether to expect more of this, on this boat or others. Over."

"This is Milkfish. We read you, Boarding Team. The ship might be jerry-rigged; watch out for traps. We'll keep regular contact until you're safely back. Our closest bogey has been neutralized; we're heading to reinforce your position currently. Be advised, we notice a battle group directly southwest of your position, heading due east."

Spirits… He disconnected and reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a set of keys and fumbled his way to the correct one. "Bai, you are relieved of your current duty. Fetch all our comrades and tell them to meet me at the armory." If there was any sane answer to an insane occurrence, he'd be certain to fulfill his duty.

CNS Shangqiu - Engine Room - 10/11/2022, 19:18 UTC+8

The captain's quarters were empty, but clearly not abandoned. The bed was carefully made, and upon the desk was a small propped-up smartphone, whose camera was faced towards the door. Beside it was the captain's cap.

Immediately, the lights on the vessel all went dark: the blackness of night without the stars. Loud clanks came from nearby pipes, and suddenly the air became intensely humid; something scalding hot leaked nearby.

Down the hall came the battlecry: "Shāngqiū wànsuì!"

The shrill shriek of whistles sounded, filling the air. The screams of dozens of Chinese sailors drowned out the whistle as they charged forward to take the bridge. Luo steadily marched behind them. Whatever spirit haunted his ship, he prayed that it was on his side.

Municipality of Lingayen - 10/11/2022, 19:14 UTC+8

[N/A for now.]

@SkyHresvelg@Aisede@Lewascan2@Sniblet@Conscripts@Gerlando@Creative Chaos@Nimbus@QJT

The Long Afternoon of the Mojave (A Fallout Roleplay)

-Deleted-

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

@Aisede, Approval One Given.

@Gerlando, @QJT, your opinions?

The Long Afternoon of the Mojave (A Fallout Roleplay)

Andrew and Leonid

Andrew blinked as he and Leonid took the vouchers, then spoke bluntly to Lucy, "Thank you; I and my boyfriend will be going to the Ultra-Luxe, then - We're not risking even the slightest rumor that we're unfaithful to each other just because we can't reproduce."

A snub towards Gommorah, an establishment Andrew disliked by reputation alone, and one which his mother would not want him going to even at eighteen.

Leonid. meanwhile, looked at Lucy, then Andrew, before clearing his throat and saying, "We shouldn't be away from our our VIP, Andrew. Besides, Gommorah is for all sorts of enjoyment - Including between just the two of us."

Andrew caught the flicker in his boyfriend's eyes and said, "Change of plans; my boyfriend has decided that we should be as close to our VIP as possible. So we'll be going to Gommorah, then."

Despite his show of defiance at how sinful and exploitative Gommorah was, Andrew was curious about the place for reasons most eighteen-year olds should know. And Leonid seemed to want to be as close to Ambassaor Ben as possible - Had the two reached an agreement without his knowledge? Either way, Andrew Rivers wanted to enjoy life as much as possible and enjoy Leonid's presence before his inevitable death at the latter's hands, as they both had arranged.

As they wanted for the signal to disperse and enjoy the delights of New Vegas, Andrew looked at his boyfriend and knew that the latter would probably have tried to avert their fates by meeting with the Ambassador. He also knew enough to know that Leonid did not entirely fail or succeed; therefore his plan was still on...

------

Once they had a hotel room in Gommorah, paid for by the voucher, Andrew and Leonid had been quick to strip off their clothes, not just for purient purposes but also to distract any eavesdroppers who were probably sraight and thus would not enjoy the sight of naked men. Then Andrew whispered to Leonid, "All right; what did you and the ambassador talk about?"

He saw his sliver-haired boyfriend lean close and embrace him, before saying, "He agreed to help. But he's weaker than I expected, though a decent person inside. However... His bodyguard is a Van Graff through and through; booted me out but not before he said something about Khans tailing us. Ambassador covered for me, though."

Andrew sighed and said, "Guess there's no hope, then - Denver will have to die and you will have to kill me so you can get the power needed to fix things."

Leonid grit his teeth, bridling, and almost snapped back, "Andrew, you know how I feel about that plan. And have you no shame? Even though we're naked and whispering, the walls still have ears. I don't think it's wise to count on any eavesdropper to be as benevolent as the Ambassador."

His boyfriend grinned, and Leonid couldn't help but feel that he looked hotter than ever all naked and smug. Then Andrew leaned even closer and said, "Why don't we give them a good show? Then they'll be too disgusted to remember what we talked about..."

Okay, you know what? That gambit had a snowball's chance in hell of working. Either the Omertas were eavesdropping and they were about to be blackmailed or killed, or they weren't and they were actually safe, or the Omertas were eavesdropping but developed a benevolent interest in their plans; those were the three main options.

Leonid realized that right now, he didn't care. He and his boyfriend were undressed and between silk sheets courtesy of that voucher. He could not pass up this opportunity.

And so he and Andrew, unless they were suddenly interrupted, would prepare themselves for a night of 'exertions' and a few short hours of sleep after that...

@Andronicus23@tundrafrog1124

Fallout: The Vegas Affair

Raven Rivers

Did they win? Raven was uncertain at first, then as whoops of victory were heard from the NCR lines, the man crawled forward to where the Vertibird had left and the Brotherhood woman - Why was she silent? - was facing down NCR guns. That was strange; didn't the NCR and Brotherhood mend fences after the Courier set up The Regime? Either way, he waited for things to progress, not knowing what he could do to advance the situation without making things worse; he knew his luck.

Then he realized, and this realization prompted him to step forward, that this woman was seeking him out. So he lifted up his right hand and said, "Miss Sinclair; I'm Raven Rivers. What does the Brotherhood of Steel want with me and Albert here? Aren't we all enemies of the Big Guy in Vegas here, or is that why we've been called?"

He was not stupid, just traumatized, as he looked at Virgil and continued, "Virgil, right? Can you confirm this speculation as to why the Brotherhood is seeking me and Albert out? And if so, how exactly can I be useful? I'm a traumatized mess but Albert is one of the most competent people I'll ever meet."

A vision. A flash of that boy again; the son he could have had had he married a woman. The son there was a chance he could have had in Vegas; his time in Gommorah and the Gladiator Pits had plenty of encounters with the fairer sex. Why was it that almost anything reminded him of a hypothetical son? Did he really want children that badly?

The son I might never have or never meet. Andrew Rivers, were his thoughts. Am I self-centered or unfocused to keep thinking about him? There is a high chance he does not even exist.

"So," he continued, "You aren't hostile, right? Right?"

@DirtyDingo

Rise of Rasalhague

Alvin Davion

Alvin glared at Fuka, before saying, "We are not going to indulge our lowest proclivities on prisoners, Ex-Mistress. I have my lines."

As for his impression of Ulrik, good, he wasn't a pathological Davion-hater; still, a potential enemy who was also his superior, but not someone who was out to get him; not that Alvin wanted to keep being ignored. Either way, he faced the Commander again, not asking anything right now and instead taking him at his word. If he wanted the group to get along, they will. If he genuinely liked the group to succeed, then why not try one's best to make it accurate?

Nevertheless, he remarked as another minute ran out, "The Republic wanting people cleared out yet not telling us who they are - Worst case is that they might be a black ops division of the other Inner Sphere nations."

As he waited to be dismissed, Alvin Davion then remarked, "Or I could just be a pessimist."

@Smike

Genshin Impact - Eikons [Current Chapter: Geo]

The Fastest Gun in Uvera

"All right, I'll stay put," Ken said as he took yet another half-eaten fruit and threw it up in the air, turning it into healing spores that floated around the arena, rousing the unconscious back to full health and even curing any concussions or other head injuries they received. As half-eaten fruits, sticky burrs, or even clumps of dry weeds were now more common in the arena grounds, the young man decided to pick them up and play healer, not wandering too far off from his designated spot, but nevertheless finding enough to pick up, turn into healing spores, and let the wind carry them.

He then remarked to Takemura, "You know, for a slaving bastard, the Sand King can be a very affable fellow. Then again, that's probably why people tolerate him... Well, being a slaving asshole."

But Takemura didn't reply, and Ken could see that the Oni gladiator's expression was bored. So the young man decided not to annoy him and instead focused on trying to pass the time - Wait, was that a Cryptid?! Ken turned to Garrick's general direction and waved hi, shouting in Uveran, then Waltonian, "Honorable Scion of the Forest, you grace us with your presence! I am Bright Star in Uveran, while my Waltonian name is Ken Cooper - It is a very good omen to meet you!"

He then blinked and said, "Also, is that an Elf you're guarding? Is she okay? Does she need healing? She hasn't been enslaved, right? Mr. Cryptid, you wouldn't believe the barbarous customs of my fellow humans and other sapient beings here - Despite the advancements in technology and the numerous inventions that have occurred and been crafted over the past few decades, they still turn people into chattel!"

Then he remembered just what being from legend and myth the Cryptid before he resembled, but the young man decided not to broach the subject yet - That particular line will be said later when they know each other better.

@Renose@Sho Minazuki@Rezod92

The Long Afternoon of the Mojave (A Fallout Roleplay)

Leonid

Leonid realized that what he had done was probably the right thing, but it was too soon, too quickly. Nevertheless, he said, "My boyfriend is Andrew Rivers, my squadmate. He's currently at the bathhouse; he does not know I am talking to you about the information he and I have been collecting from his mother - A Follower - and which I've supplemented with everything I can talk or charm out from visiting members of other companies. Yes, I will admit to paying for the alcohol needed to loosen their tounges. As for our list of contacts... I need to know for sure if you'd really protect them - If you just wouldn't hand them over yourself. As some of the Colonel's men keep saying, 'They're not Citizens and they hate us anyway'."

That sentiment was understandable, but short-sighted and hypocritical. They weren't Mojave natives either, after all.

He then looked at Ambassador Ben, tempted to trust yet at the same time wary. Then Leonid continued, "Sorry; sorry about that earlier accusation, just... I should have been more careful. We've tried to be careful for a year or more now but I just..."

I just gave way, because I was tired of hiding it, tired of secrecy. I thought I was safe. Now everything is screwed up and screwed over and - Leonid stopped himself, and instead tried to assess Ambassador Ben, trying to find out if there was reason to trust the man. He then said, "I suppose I messed up anything you've been planning or at least pondering, I suppose. And put you at risk, not just myself?"

He already knew the answer, he just needed to confirm.

@tundrafrog1124

Rise of Rasalhague - A "mostly" canon BattleTech mercenary roleplay for mech enjoyers

@BigPapaBelial, there is already an OOC:

roleplayerguild.com/topics/190676-ris…