Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 20, 2024 22:59:17 GMT -5
The wind picked up and the normally somewhat fragrant air was mudied by the mingling of the scents of garbage, good food, booze, and unwashed bodies. A hooded figure huddled in a dark alley. Red eyes peered from beneath the hood. A scaley hand pulls the cloak tighter. Thoughts are at work under that cloak. Lady Scarlet garbed as she was withinin that cloak and hood, thought to herself, This is taking too long, but these saiyans are more resilent than they look. Lady Scarlet was forced to be careful with the use of her charming wave. She had hoped to have an army of thralls by now and well on her way to getting her revenge, but she had enthralled one saiyan for mere moments... and she had no idea where that Al fellow had gotten off to. He was supposed to be her "guide" for heaven's sake. In truth she wanted to use him to secure some slaves. She had also been present at a gathering of saiyans, looking interest, and waiting for her oportunity to act. The oportunity never came, or else she had never seen it. She was becoming more and more frustrated. Perhaps people would help her if she asked. She shook her head almost immediately. Trust was a commodity that was non-existant in this universe. People didn't help each other for the goodness of their hearts. Perhaps a tournament. These saiyans would surely eat that up, but how was she supposed to set that up?
Rhuba's steps echoed through the vibrant streets of the Sadala Capital. The bustling city was a symphony of Saiyan life, each individual moving with a purpose. Rhuba, clad in his patched-up kimono-like attire, reveled in the feeling of freedom. His recent past as a slaver seemed like a distant nightmare, and he embraced the adventure that each new day on Planet Plant brought.
The air carried a unique blend of scents – garbage, good food, booze, and the earthy essence of Saiyan bodies. Amidst this sensory tapestry, Rhuba's senses detected something out of the ordinary. A hooded figure, concealed in the shadows of a dark alley, drew his attention. As he approached, he noted the distinct red eyes peering from beneath the hood and a scaly hand that tightened the cloak around the mysterious figure.
Without hesitation, Rhuba stood in front of the cloaked stranger, maintaining a respectful distance. The curiosity etched across his face mirrored the questions forming in his mind. The scaly hand intrigued him, a stark contrast to the typical features of Saiyans. "Oh, you're not Saiyan, are yah?" he inquired, head tilting slightly as he attempted to catch a glimpse under the hood. "Or are you...?" The pondering expression on his face reflected genuine curiosity.
Rhuba's lack of knowledge about Saiyan genealogy played into his fascination. Could Saiyans develop such unique characteristics, or was it a result of an external influence? The mysteries of the universe unfolded before him, and the encounter with this enigmatic figure ignited a spark of intrigue within Rhuba.
As he stood there in front of the hooded figure, Rhuba's mind raced with possibilities. Was this stranger a creature from a distant planet, or perhaps a Saiyan with an extraordinary lineage? The lack of trust in the vast universe made Rhuba cautious, yet his curiosity urged him to explore the unknown.
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 22, 2024 22:23:59 GMT -5
As you get closer, it becomes apparent that the figure was watching the crowds intently. She watched the "symphony of Saiyan life" as you put it and every one she could see was moving with a purpose. If you could only see her face, you would notice that her face has a deep look like she was calculating something.
"Oh, you're not Saiyan, are yah?" you inquired, later adding: "Or are you...?" Your expression and voice suggest curiosity and fascination. The figure turns to face you. The figure keeps its face out of view but you notice red eyes gazing at you. You are dressed in patch work kimono style outfit. "Wha? oh... I need to get some gloves." and there was no point in denying it. "No... I'm not a saiyan. I'm from a far away planet. The name's Scarlet. You can call me that; or Lady Scarlet. And you are...?" Her voice is dry, logical sounding almost... and undeniably feminine. Scarlet decided that she likes you. I might not use my technique on this one.
As you take a closer look, there are two mounds under her cloak where wings would be. Curiouser and curioser, as they would say on Earth.
The air in the bustling Saiyan city felt charged with energy as Rhuba, with wide-eyed curiosity, stood conversing with an Alien to this planet. Her concealed face held an air of calculation, observing the Saiyan life around her like a silent spectator. The city's symphony played, Saiyans moving with purpose, and Rhuba couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the organized chaos whenever he would do the same as her right now.
His inquiry about her Saiyan status was met with a slight turn of her face, revealing the red eyes he glimpsed previously that seemed to hold secrets. Clad in a patchwork kimono, Rhuba's fascination grew. "Wha? oh... I need to get some gloves," she responded casually. The dry, logical tone in her voice hinted at an otherworldly demeanor, adding to the enigma.
"I'm not a Saiyan. I'm from a faraway planet," she revealed, introducing herself as Lady Scarlet. The air shifted as Rhuba's mind connected the dots – she must be royalty. Without a second thought, he knelt and bowed, his fantasy novel-induced instincts kicking in. "A-are you royalty?" he stammered, his mind racing with tales of overthrown princesses, as her appearance and isolated position would imply.
The cloak concealed more than just her face, as Rhuba noticed two mounds beneath it. Curiosity bubbled within him as he envisioned her as a displaced princess, seeking refuge. His past interactions had often been marred by violence, but this encounter felt different – an opportunity to play the knight in shining armor, perhaps?
In his excitement, Rhuba's past, tainted by morally skewed opinions, seemed to fade momentarily. The prospect of meeting royalty ignited a flame of innocence and hope within him, a stark contrast to the chaotic life he had known.
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 23, 2024 0:01:03 GMT -5
Lady Scarlet too felt the energy in the air. It made gave her a kind of hunger that could only be sated by feeding off some of these people. "A-are you royalty?" Oops, I mispoke. I meant to keep the Lady part to myself. Now I must explain and risk giving myself away. "Of a sort... dreams of the future and a reminder of the past... and of tasks... no, responsibilities of the present. As well as a promise. My apologies if that was overly cryptic." Again... she felt a connection to this man. Perhaps he had similar tales of misfortune. He walkeed with it on his sleeve earlier. Just now she was realizing what it was. However now, he seemed to be unburdoned by it. Maybe this man posessed a degree of trustworthiness. Perhaps he would rule by her side, helping with her task... her responsibility... her revenge. A knight in shining armor... no, a king. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Far, far ahead.
"Lady" Scarlet came out of the shadows. The deep blood red of her cloak and hood could be seen but she made no move to remove her coverings. "You haven't introduced yourself, Sir. You have me at a disadvantage."
Rhuba had already adorned her as a princess, and that image persisted despite her attempts to downplay it with cryptic words. "I didn't understand any of that, but... Wow, most people I meet hit me by now," he remarked, his light-hearted smile contrasting with his recent words. It was a refreshing change, and though Rhuba's body often propelled him into scuffles, he strangely enjoyed them in a mentally unstable way.
Despite his instability, Rhuba managed to keep it well-hidden. Nothing about him seemed out of place, and he appeared more like an adopted child among the other Saiyans, in stark contrast to their rowdy behavior. As Lady Scarlet stood, Rhuba followed suit, giving her some space out of respect and a misplaced sense of her elevated position due to his misunderstanding.
Her tale fascinated him, and this encounter marked his first 'real' meeting with a princess. Unknowingly, he fell into the trap, one that Lady Scarlet had never overtly set for him. "You haven't introduced yourself, Sir. You have me at a disadvantage," Lady Scarlet noted. Rhuba's eyes widened at the implied slight to his honor. A knight would never allow such a disgrace! Dropping down to one knee once again, he placed his fist squarely over his chest and proclaimed, "I am Rh--Sir Rhuba, of Hurtless, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, Lady Scarlet." While his exterior projected stoicism, inside, he was filled with giddy child-like wonder, as if he never grew up—which, in a sense, he hadn't.
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 23, 2024 12:24:27 GMT -5
"I am Rh--Sir Rhuba, of Hurtless, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, Lady Scarlet." "Rise Sir Rhuba and hear my tale that I feel I can trust you with. No one outside of my people have ever heard this tale...about a week ago I was born soley to serve the needs of a sentient planet. It made the mistake of giving me a greater fraction of its power than it had given any other of my people. I used that power to escape its clutches to a nearby planet where a number of my people had done similar." She paused, noting that you were determined to stick with this royalty fantasy. So she thought no harm in playing into it. "It was there my people made me their queen...but the planet we were on was not safe. My progenitor... you know the word progenitor? It is how I refer to the planet of my origin... My progenitor could not simply re-enslave all of us. We were damaged goods so it sought to kill each and everyone that had escaped. One of my subjects had a power to send us across the galaxy, or perhaps intergalactically. He created a portal and we enterred one by one. Then he was run through by a construct of my progenitor and his portal went awry. It sent us to different planets when the plan was to find a suitable planet so I could rule my people properly. I was the only one to end up here one Plant." She left out bits like killing her own adoptive mother in the name of her progenitor, how she ended up inheriting some of the planet's evil, how she left some of her people behind when it came to her turn to use the portal, how the creator of the portal died after transporting Lady Scarlet. There was just enough truth to make it believable and she tried to make it more heroic. "So by right and by vote, you kneel not before a princess, but a queen! I know now the only way I can have a peaceful kingdom is to kill the living planet of my birth!"
Rhuba rose to his feet as Lady Scarlet commanded, meeting her icy red gaze with a sense of curiosity. He was eager to hear her story, though a half-formed exclamation about her age was quickly stifled out of respect. As Lady Scarlet began narrating her tale, Rhuba listened intently, his eyes gradually lighting up with excitement. Her escape from confinement due to immense power resonated with him, and he found her tale intriguing.
In Rhuba's mind, it felt like fate had brought them together at this moment. He blinked, realizing he had almost forgotten to do so while absorbed in her narrative. He saw a connection – both of them breaking free from something trying to harness their power. Regardless of the authenticity of her royal title, Rhuba deemed her worthy. "I was a slave guard," he spoke with a coarse voice, not out of anger but as memories from his past brought him further into his indoctrination. "I killed slaves who tried to escape. They told me they were weak, and I was strong. If they didn't do their job, mine was to force them." Unaware of the smile creeping onto his face, Rhuba continued in a near-trance. "Until some Saiyans came. They were just as strong as me, and I was losing. The Grandmaster offered me up to leave the slave mine alone, said I was a strong Saiyan."
As Rhuba shared his story, his smile faded, replaced by pain glimpsed in his eyes. He lowered his gaze, fixating on a broken piece of glass on the ground behind Lady Scarlet. "They lied and told me as a kid that I was a failed clone of The Grandmaster, my tail was a sign of said defect. They'd cut it off every time I grew it back, then it stopped growing back." he paused, his voice almost monotone as the smile slowly returned, "I killed the Saiyans. I don't remember how. There were three of them; next, there was none." Rhuba's tail coiled tighter around his waist as he approached the conclusion of his tragic narrative. "I killed The Grandmaster next," he continued, now speaking through clenched teeth, his smile turned anger. "I found out my real name and took the Saiyan's ship, telling it to go home."
Returning his hazy eyes to their innocent sparkle, Rhuba pointed toward the sky with determination. "Let's do it. I'll kill that planet, he declared. Though aware that flying through space without dying was impossible, he still considered the Saiyan pod essentially his. Rhuba began winding his arm in a stretching posture, as if preparing for a fight. "I might not be as strong as I once thought, but I'll kill that planet for you—or with you," he smiled at Lady Scarlet, the innocence of his expression contrasting with the gravity of his words, reminiscent of a child offering a compliment just to see a smile.
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 24, 2024 16:35:11 GMT -5
Lady Scarlet took off her hood slowly, watching your eyes for affirmation. Her blood red eyes were not the weirdest part of her head. She had dreadlock-like tendrils adorning the top of her head! They were 3 feet in length. Her skin was slick, but not quite slimy, greenish yellow where not covered by red brown scales. Lady Scarlet watched carefully for any hint of revulsion as she unbuttoned her robe-like cloak and let it fall from her shoulders onto the dry dirt road. She showed no care for the state of it for the dirtier her cloak the more inconspicuous it made her... at least unless her surroundings were more official. She must have looked like something out of a horror movie, not that she knew what one looked like! Her skin was much the same, only with more of the thickish scales. Whitish yellow wings that looked like bone jutted out from her back. Most of the bones were covered in reddish brown leathery skin, for lack of a better word. The covering skin was also stretched between the long bone spikes. The covering skin only went half way down from her back. Her five fingers each ended in a claw and each of her 3 toes each ended in a talon.
"I was a slave guard..." "Thank you for telling me. I do not know how many times you told it, but it seems to me to have been difficult yet freeing."
"I might not be as strong as I once thought, but I'll kill that planet for you—or with you..." "With me," as if echoing your thoughts, she added, "We need to find a real ship, one that could hold half a dozen to a dozen people. I would be glad of your company. Oh and just so you know, some of my recruitment methods are less than scrupulous. It's unfortunate and i get no joy from it but as time is of the essence, it cannot be avoided." The truth is Lady Scarlet enjoyed every minute of it! "But not with you," she hastily added. "I've been straight with you." another lie.
Rhuba's eyes gleamed with childlike wonder as Lady Scarlet unveiled her true form. To him, there was no concept of revulsion; rather, he found her appearance utterly fascinating. Scarlet's dreadlock-like tendrils, scales, wings, and claws were like an exotic spectacle that fueled his imagination. For someone who had spent most of his life confined in a slave mine with books as his only companions, this revelation opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
"Wow, that's so cool," he exclaimed, his head tilted as he tried to absorb the intricacies of her unique anatomy. Scarlet, however, seemed to be cautiously gauging his reaction, as if expecting repulsion or fear. Little did she know that Rhuba lacked the frame of reference for such emotions.
As Scarlet delved into the topic of recruitment methods, mentioning less than scrupulous ways, Rhuba's innocent curiosity shone through. "What do you mean by less than scrupulous?" he asked, his lack of understanding evident. To him, morality was a vague concept, and he cared more about the adventure than the means to get there. The intricacies of ethical nuances were lost on him.
The discussion then turned to spaceships, a realm that Rhuba had some familiarity with. "I don't have a real ship that can hold more than a person," he admitted, his mind whirring with thoughts. A fleeting idea crossed his mind, but he dismissed it with a slight disappointment. "I guess you don't either, huh?" he concluded, acknowledging the shared limitation.
In that moment, as they faced the prospect of an uncertain cosmic journey together, Rhuba's heart swelled with the thrill of the unknown. The lack of a spaceship, far from being a hindrance. The unknown possibilities ahead only added to Rhuba's wide-eyed anticipation. What awaited them beyond the horizon of known space was uncertain, but in this moment, Rhuba's excitement was palpable, if not plastered all over him. Really, he just wanted to be able to tell people that he killed a sentient planet with a Queen! How cool is that?
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 30, 2024 16:38:46 GMT -5
Lady Scarlet smirked. She understood the irony of having to explain the concept of morality as a villain, but it needed to be done as part of her plan to slowly introduce Rhuba into her world rather than throwing him in to sink or swim. "I mean the kind of things a bad person might do. I can fire a wave in all directions that may or may not make people hit by it more loyal to me. It would hit you too if you were near me. If I were to guess, it wouldn't affect you. However, it is up to you if you want to take the chance or decide not to be anywhere around if I am forced to use it. There are so many unknowns like: How long will it last?How strong will the effect be. These things may be influenced by luck, spirit, will power, etc."
"Anyways, what should be our first move as at least temperary partners in this endeavor. Even a queen needs to listen to her advisers, for not even She knows everything. I was thinking of holding a tournament and the winner gets somethinmg that puts them close to me...like maybe a kiss. Do you think thats enough of a draw for really strong people? Do you think strength affects mind control of the sort I can do?"PL: 24,000 WC: 230 TWC: 1614
Rhuba's mind, while processing Lady Scarlet's revelations, navigated through a labyrinth of ethical considerations. The concept of bad people seemed entangled with his past role as a slave guard. For him, the dichotomy was stark—either one was a slave or not. His moral compass, shaped by indoctrination, struggled to comprehend the nuances of Lady Scarlet's situation. "Bad people? Like slaves?" he questioned, his head tilting in curiosity. The dichotomy lingered in his perception, marking a boundary between normalcy and servitude.
With a certitude born from his own experience, Rhuba asserted, "I mean, you're not a slave anymore so you aren't a bad person..." His moral standards, however, were visibly crooked, a testament to the complexity of his worldview. The notion of Lady Scarlet being a queen seemed to align more with his ingrained understanding of social hierarchy than with her past actions.
Leaning against the wall, Rhuba's beard-scratching gesture mirrored the contemplation within. The idea of a queen having servants appeared normal to him, fitting seamlessly into his constructed narrative of royalty. "I think that's right, I mean, isn't it just natural for a Queen to have servants?" he mused, a reflection of his simplistic perspective.
Contemplating the potential impact of Lady Scarlet's mind-control abilities, Rhuba's thoughts meandered. "If you used it on me, strength might not matter. I'm not the strongest, but from sensing most of the Saiyans nearby, I'm way stronger than them..." His gaze shifted toward the streets, as if confirming his assessment of the random Saiyans strewn about Sadala.
Yet, a caveat entered his musings. "If you didn't... Then I'd say probably... My sensei told me that if you reinforce your mind with ki, you can protect against mental attacks... But I've never had to deal with that..." Rhuba admitted, his disappointment evident in his lowered gaze. The uncertainty of navigating these unfamiliar territories weighed on him.
When Lady Scarlet sought his input on their next move, Rhuba flexed his biceps, a gesture mixing determination and overconfidence. "I thought we just go and destroy that planet. Do we really need more? If so, we can always fly around just asking people... or you can use that ability you said you had..." His proposal, while echoing the simplicity of his childhood tales, laid bare his eagerness to embark on a quest to save the queen and obliterate the oppressive planet.
Post by ladyscarlet on Jan 31, 2024 21:58:11 GMT -5
"Bad people? Like slaves?" "I mean, you're not a slave anymore so you aren't a bad person..." "I guess you are right. Does that mean the planet's mistake was letting a slave get away?"
"I think that's right, I mean, isn't it just natural for a Queen to have servants?" "Exactly! I thought u might have a problem with a Queen getting advice from a servant is all."
"I thought we just go and destroy that planet. Do we really need more? If so, we can always fly around just asking people... or you can use that ability you said you had..." "I'm afraid that we will only get only one chance at this, plus, if we end up underestimating our opponent and go at it with too few of numbers, we might die... and i have a kingdom to worry about. The tournament is to gather strong people together so maybe i can affect multiple people with one shot. It is not just about the winner, but having tghe main target in such close proximity couldn't hurt my chances of getting at least one."
"By the way, how do you sense power levels so easily? That would come in handy for me."
PL: 24,000 WC: 203 TWC: 1,816
THREAD EXIT (details in next post by Rhuba)
Last Edit: Feb 4, 2024 21:53:12 GMT -5 by ladyscarlet
"I guess you are right. Does that mean the planet's mistake was letting a slave get away?"
Rhuba contemplated Lady Scarlet's question about whether the planet's mistake was letting a slave like her get away. It brought him face to face with a perspective he hadn't considered before. The concept of weakness and strength played a pivotal role in his understanding.
"It means the planet was weak, and you were stronger or smarter," he mused, a smile breaking across his face. In his mind, the distinction between the oppressed and the liberator was a testament to strength and resilience. "If you couldn't get away with your own abilities, you would not be worth the title of Queen, or leaving at all."
"Exactly! I thought you might have a problem with a Queen getting advice from a servant is all."
The notion of a Queen seeking advice from a servant seemed to concern her, but Rhuba dismissed any hierarchical concerns. "No, all the stories I read, it seems like if royalty listened to their people, they would have avoided their demise at the end of the story," he reassured her. His experience with stories, though limited to books, shaped his understanding of real leadership dynamics.
As Lady Scarlet emphasized the importance of the upcoming mission and the potential risks, Rhuba's thoughts delved into the complexities of the plan. "Well, what if they realize what you're doing? I can probably fight off a single strong person, but based on past experiences... even two people I'm stronger than might prove a little difficult." Concerns about the inherent dangers of their mission began to surface. However, Lady Scarlet's focus shifted to a different skill set – the ability to sense power levels.
"By the way, how do you sense power levels so easily? That would come in handy for me,"
Rhuba, momentarily surprised by the question, assumed that everyone possessed this ability. "Wait, you can't sense their power?" he queried, genuinely puzzled. He proceeded to explain his sensory perception, likening it to the intuitive understanding of weight when lifting a bottle. "I can feel the power emanating from people like how heavy a bottle is when you try to lift it. I can also make it where I seem to have no power at all." Demonstrating his ability, he briefly concealed his energy, although he realized after his attempt to show her, that Lady Scarlet likely lacked the ability to perceive such changes.
"Yeah, I can feel how strong someone is just by seeing them. Sometimes they seem too weak to tell, but they're probably doing the same thing I do," he concluded, unable to elaborate further, the intricacies of his ability lost on him.
"You coming, royal advisor?" Lady Scarlet asked, as she walked toward the setting sun, almost as if the sky knew their encounter was coming to a close. As she gestured for him to follow, he pushed off the wall he was leaning on and followed behind her.