Familiar Faces (Haupian)

    He certainly wasn't too bothered by the denial. He was never a particular fan of drinking, despite partaking in it regularly. it was something to do. Something to pass the time between jobs. Something to heighten but also dampen the more mundane moments of his existence.

    He raised a questioning eyebrow at Raiya. "You asking me mysterious questions in Sadala. Where have I heard that one before?" Atleast the answers weren't being beaten out of him this time. He was reluctant to offer his cooperation, but it didn't hurt to answer questions anyone could respond to. At the very least, it could extend this conversation to get a better idea of what was going on.

    "Lottus. Crazy bastard, first of many so called legendary Super Saiyans. Tried to blow up Hatch, or the Tuffles, or the planet, or the galaxy. A demon, an angel, or just something Hell spat out. Lots of things people say. Can't tell you much myself, but hard not to hear about him. Plenty of people will tell you they've seen him flying about the city, despite the claims that he was either pulled out of the rubble one piece at a time, or that he's kept under every lock and guard the kingdom has to offer."


TWC: 736

    Follow him? Into the alley? He couldn't believe he was actually considering the notion. He wondered if some Kai was watching the tale with amusement, shouting at him not to fall for the obvious trap. He shrugged his shoulders, finally relenting. If he was here to attack him, he would have to deal with it one way or another. He would be able to find him again easily enough, especially if he took the mission to Ko- to offworld. He quickly moved forward, maneuvering through the crowd to get ahead of Raiya, although making sure to not alter his pace as to appear fleeing. He spotted the alley, and made sure to enter first, positioning himself so that he could better see their meeting place, and finding a spot near the shadows that he could escape into it. He tried to make it appear as if he was taking quick glances upwards, as if to look for escape routes through the air. He couldn't fly, but if Raiya thought he could then he may as well feed that notion. It would make it all the easier to escape.

    "Any more grand theatrics? Or are you finally going to say something non cryptic. I think I've yet to hear a sentence from you that wasn't a mystery." He casually placed his hand on the sheathed sword, not as a threat, but as a comfort to himself. As he did so, he felt an odd sensation. A trickle of power... and he remembered waking up after their fight, the odd sensation of increased power despite his general feeling of pain and misery. He had grown from the encounter, and he had felt as if the weapon had somehow drawn strength into him, as if fed by the pain he had inflicted. He wondered for a moment... could he feel that again?

TWC: 1075

    He tried to decide if the constant use of "boy" bothered him. He was young, and that didn't particularly bother, but it was the implication- that he was something lesser, something inexperienced. But he was no Saiyan- he could bear with it for now. He listened to what the bounty hunter had to say, ideas swirling withn him. He noted the hint ot derison, the not so subtle mention of it being the minimum requirement, but nonetheless there was a hunger inside of him.

    "You're certainly not wrong there. If it's in the empire's interests, a serious payout is in store. Apparently even better than the price of bounties," he responded, referencing their last encounter. He had already made clear his intention to work for the Saiyans, and was only in the city to prepare for his venture to Konats under the leadership of a private in the Saiyan kingdom. He was all but a sworn soldier of the Saiyans for the forseeable future. And yet...

    "We can negotiate the specifics of it at a later time, but there's some prerequesites," he quickly responded as if it had never been a question. It wasn't the answer of someone desperate, but someone in firm decision. "I have prior engagements with the Saiyans. I need to be free to continue these engagements- the two aren't at war, and as far as I know won't be anytime soon- so it shouldn't be a problem. But of course, I'm sure Ticago will have plenty of insight about the best way to serve the Saiyans. Nothing but friendly advice from an experienced ally. This relationship will of course need to be... discrete. Even though we all, of course, have the best of intentions, others may not be so inclined to see it this way." Inside, he was brimming- with exactly what emotion he couldn't quite pin down. It wasn't for money- it had never really been for money- although it was atleast partially for money. The job had always been something to do. Someone raised by baker's who were the sons of bakers would be a baker, and that's what they did. He had been raised to the blade and to fight for pay, and that's what he did. But that did not usually entail what could only generously be thought of as "working two jobs." An empire, a kingdom. Whatever grand plans both groups were running, he would be a part of. And no matter how it ended, he was not going to fade into the background again.


TWC: 1499

    He was undeterred by Raiya's strained response. He didn't consider this to be a misstep, like his conversation with Vocado where he had overextended. The Arcosian Empire was recruiting, and they would pay for those they thought best suited for. If his situation hadn't been tenable, then there was no point revealing it after his "application"- and he was determined to ensure that his application was going to leave no question.

    He nodded at Raiya's own set of demands. "I get paid, I do what I'm told. There's no question of that. As for teamwork, while my primary experience is alone, wars and battles are fought side by side with others more often than not," he answered, thinking particularly of his battles where he had shed blood besides Mayze. At this point, all signs of distress had vanished. If this was a trick, it was one entirely more complicated than it needed to be. As strange as it was, the hulking man that had tried to end his life was now offering a job. "What did you have in mind?" he asked, inquiring about how he could "prove himself." The last offer to prove himself was by sending him off world, but he doubted that's what Raiya had planned. He was already begginning to make plans, despite the claim that he had yet to apply. He'd have to mind his step. Working openly with agents of Arcose could quickly spell his doom.


TWC: 1741