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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 5, 2021 8:35:57 GMT -8
Mizune stroked the fire with his stick, watching as the logs Vale had cut up with the help of his sword crackeld as they turned to ask. The young red fox had been walking around free for a few weeks now and was taking his first steps towards slowly getting accustomed to actual living standards. After spending so much time suspended in a tube he needed to get used to walking and doing other things, one of which was keeping his seemingly overflowing strenght in check. He also began to feel the need for clothes, food amongst other things, which in turn had him look around for assignments and jobs he could tackle. There was also that fighting tournament coming up eventually, where it was said there would be alot of money up for grabs. He sure wouldn't want to pass up that occasion. The only problem was actually getting in. He was pretty much unknown to the world and not particularly strong either, so he would have to get some training in for when the time came.
To that end, he had picked up a job as part of some sort. It was supposed to be easy, but what he did not know what the circumstances of it would be. Turned out he would have to share his bounty with a young looking boy named Valentus. Now that wouldn't mean much if the guy wasn't part of the group of people that supposedly were experimenting on him for whatever reason and kept him trapped in a tube for years afterwards. The first days together with Vale had been...tough. Mostly because he refused to allow him any closer than a good few feet, despite the guy showing no ill intention towards him. Mizune didn't like pushing people away, it was quite the opposite. After so much time in pain and alone, the young hybrid was basically begging for affection and connections. He could barely part ways with the cute saiyan girl that gave him freedom to even begin being an independent person. Yet he simply felt this urge to just... keep the guy at bay. He did not know if it was fear, anger or maybe both. He would just refuse to get along. They had even scuffled once or twice, mostly due to his bickering, but still even after seeing Vale acting and being considered a nice guy by everyone around, the red fox was too stubborn about the whole "tuffle are evil kind of thing".
So there they were, camping out for the night, the fox stubbornly sitting on the cold ground so that he could avoid being besides the young looking tuffle chilling on the log. It was looking like this was another one of those nights where they would just ingnore eachoter and then go sleep someplace away from him until the young saiyan fox suddenly mumbled something at the guy. Ever since he had been around him there was this nagging in the back of his head. This need to get answers. He was one of them. He probably knew others like him and what they were up to. The fox needed to know. He needed to know why was he held in a tube, why couldn't he remeber anything outside of the pain.
"Why." Mizune said, looking up at the other guy, stern. "Why do your people torture others?" He would add.
[570]
Timeskip thread leading to WMAT. Using the first 10.000 word coupon. Gains increased by 60% (25% new player x2, 10% additional player bonus)
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Post by Valentus on Jul 5, 2021 11:54:56 GMT -8
Days have passed. Weeks. At least a few months. Valentus' time in the ISLET program was becoming more and more of a distant memory. That did not mean he was able to just drop his guard, however - even if he hasn't clashed with any of his fellow Tuffles so far, he could never know when one of them might be lurking in the shadows. And besides, the Tuffle Science Executive has operated for eight hundred years, at least ten consecutive generations, and has yet to drop or forget its original intentions, so it should be safe to say that they think in a longer scale of time than the average person. A few months of a defector running around the boonies is merely a blip for them. When not worried over that... Valentus had a lot of other things to worry about. Living all by himself - Paizu, the little pixie forced to always float besides him, did not count, she couldn't provide him with much of anything - finding food, water, money, a shelter, and a way to get around were all important, but for the armored Tuffle, they were all ultimately secondary. He had a soldier's upbringing, after all, and ISLET considered survival skills a must for their front line operatives, such as what Valentus was intended to be, so he carried over quite a bit of knowledge in how to look after himself. No, he had a much greater worry in mind. How is he going to make the world a better place, now that he has both the strength and the freedom to do so? While travelling across the Northern Lands, visiting village after village to offer his services to the people and fight roaming monsters, Val also ended up contracted by the mayor of a large nearby town, Pepper Town. Their task was not merely to help keep the peace in their surrounding region, but also to put a stop to the activities to a large Wolf Claw Gang. These terrifying beastmen, inspired by a legendary bandit near Mount Paozu from almost a millennium ago, were extracting money and valuables from helpless villagers in a racket, and someone had to put a stop to them. "They", indeed. Valentus was not contracted for the bounty alone. And so, this evening he sat on the opposite sides of a campfire with Mizune Rooibos, a young beastman with red fur who was his partner for the mission. They have been travelling together, following the trail of the Wolf Claw Gang, for a few weeks, and Mizu left... an odd first impression. He was very withdrawn, conflictive, and clearly did not take well to the Tuffle - no matter what he did. Even a handshake was too much for him the first time they met, and Val trying to be talkative with the fellow usually only resulted in more arguing and a worse atmosphere in the end. Paizu, floating about and watching those sparks of conflict, muttered about how they need to just ditch the "furry dead weight", but the Tuffle always ignored her. Something about it went deeper than just his teammate being antisocial, and Valentus could already suspect something off about Mizune. The very specific suspicion towards him, the mention of having suffered some serious torture, growing more agitated during moonlit nights... On that evening, Valentus was sitting on a fallen log - it used to be rather dirty, but some quick brushing gave enough room to safely sit - and working on a small piece of wood with a knife in his hand. Cutting off bit by bit, sculpting the piece into something rog - he was imagining a statue, but he knew very well that he was not skilled enough to create something like that. Paizu was napping on the Tuffle's shoulder - she spent the evening flying across the nearby meadows and feeding on nectar, and her energy for the day was spent. When Mizu spoke up, Valentus raised his eyes - it was rare for the beast boy to raise his voice when in his company - and then stopped. Before the shocked Tuffle could respond, the pixie suddenly opened her eyes and called out: " Because why not? Sometimes death is too easy of an escape and-" she got stopped by a sudden flick across her head, sending Paizu tumbling down to the ground. " That's... a difficult question," Valentus answered after flicking the pixie away, his expression more somber. " We were not like that in the past, I can attest to that personally. But... everything changed when almost all of us perished, and those who picked up the pieces are... the type of people who believe that this is what the Tuffle people need. Even if it means causing just as much pain in the process." It was a very abstract reply, but without a deeper knowledge of the conflict between the Tuffles and the Saiyans, delving deeper than that would be fruitless. Although... maybe he can try. " If you want me to explain this more thoroughly... then tell me, what do you know about the Saiyans?" (845 words, total 845) Also using my 10 thousand word coupon.
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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 5, 2021 15:28:00 GMT -8
Mizune's ears flicked flat as his fur got puffier as soon as the pixie spoke. His snout raised up in a snarl at the creature, before the tuffle would flick her away. He did not like the little thing but he was able to bear her antics as the tuffle seemed to always keep it in check. He did not know what exactly the other guy meant with his cryptic response to his question. That was until he mentioned Saiyans. Mizune's silver slits narrowed as he locked his gaze with the Tuffle. He kind of brought this whole situation on himself by speaking up, but he really wanted to know and he couldn't really keep going all bottled up like that or he might explode. The fox sighed, slowly standing up on his paws.
"I don't know much. I do not remember much, thanks you you tuffles." He said, pacing around the fire as he spoke. The cat was out of the bag and he was getting more agitated. "The only thing I remember was the blurry face of someone looking at me, then nothing but pain and misery. Got a tube shoved down my throat. Got lots of needles jammed in my back. All in a mist, all just something out of a bad dream but feeling very much real."
The red fox stopped in front of the tuffle. "What if I am a Saiyan uh? Honestly, I don't know what I am. I don't even know what your people wanted me to be in the first place." He spatted, leaning in. "Does being one mean it's suddenly fine to do the things you do? Huh?" He growled. If the fairy would dare interrupt him at any point he would immediately snap a lout roar at her telling very kindly not so kindly to go fuck herself. "The first memory of my life is waking up in of your people's decrepid bunkers underground with no clue about myself and then having to fight two of your marvellous brethen to run. The saiyan girl who saved me says I am a Saiyan because my Ki is similar to hers, but I haven't seen saiyans with fur or paws around here. Not one."
He stepped even closer to the tuffle, his snout basically just one inch from Val's nose. "I did not know who you people were, yet here I am now with nothing in my head but the sound of a machine forcing my lungs to breathe and another one injecting me a burning liquid every so often for what could very well have been years. All that is left of what I could have been is just foggy visions of pain and a microchip in my neck. So is that it? You people took my life away just because I may have been a Saiyan?" The veiled anger and pain in the fox's eyes became more noticeable as he went on. The tension could be cut with a knife. A single wrong move and the fox was going to snap. Mizune suddenly grabbed Val by the breastplate so that he could pull the guy closer still.
With their forheads touching and their eyes as close as they could be, the fox spoke a single question. "I want you to look at me when you say it and I am going to ask only once, because ever since I awoke and had to fight your people to be free makes me believe that your good guy vibe just what your people do to backstab others later when they are not watching. Besides you said it yourself, all your remaining people like making others suffer. What about you..." He shook the tuffle lightly. "Do you?"
[1195]
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Post by Valentus on Jul 6, 2021 4:45:17 GMT -8
When the Saiyans were brought up, Mizu suddenly attached himself to the name and pulled the conversation into a different direction. As it turns out, Valentus' internal suspicions of Mizu's possible Saiyan origin were not merely in his mind - as it turns out, someone has pointed out the similarities of his ki signature to Saiyans before, and it did not leave the beastman happy. It was not even his possible Saiyan genes which bothered him - but rather, why would that possibly give justification for anyone to do the horrible things which the Tuffles did to him.
Ultimately, he went as far as to grab Valentus by the shoulders, shake him and demand him to explain himself - how could he be trusted as acting genuine? How could Mizu know if he really was trying to be a hero, or whether he was merely pretending, being used as a lure to bring the test subject wherever they want so he can be captured again? The sudden outflow of emotions left an atmosphere which was a single twitch away from exploding. Perhaps Mizu could just ditch him then and there, or even attack, believing it to be rightful self defense.
Valentus appeared young, probably even younger than Mizu did, but behind those youthful looks were several decades of life experience, both in the palace of House of Nectarine, in the Tuffle Armed Services, and finally in ISLET. This experience commanded him to stay disciplined and listen out his peer, no matter how many accusations of being two-faced, or being the same as every other Tuffle, he thus had to face. Those words hurt, but Valentus could understand them.
"Please, calm down..."
Carefully and gently, the Tuffle placed his hand on one of his hands currently shaking him by the shoulders, aiming to remove it from him.
"I never said that all Tuffles are like that. I never tried to say anything about it being justified. Don't put words in my mouth..."
Once they finally got more comfortable distance between each other, Valentus glanced to the side, his hand fiddling with the unfinished carving in his hand to help him focus on his memories.
"The Tuffle Science Executive, ISLET, they lead the Tuffles, they are not all of us. Eight hundred years ago, the Saiyans rebelled on our original planet, Planet Plant, and exterminated ninety nine percent of our people. The few who remained... were those who escaped in the last weeks of the war, and the Executive, led by Doctor Aspic, was among them. With no other reprieve left after so many losses, they've embraced an ideology of pure, blind revenge. They can talk big about needing to create a Universe without any Saiyans so the Tuffle race can thrive, they can be slow in their inevitable goals, but it is merely smoke and mirrors - all they seek is the destruction of the Saiyans. It doesn't matter to those commanding the Executive, or ISLET, whether you suffer, or someone else suffers, or millions of people suffer - none of you are Tuffles, so, in their eyes, you deserve what was coming for you."
Having explained himself further, Valentus took a sigh. Back when he was cloned by ISLET, and thus received a second chance at life after eight hundred years of nothingness, he expected the Tuffles to have gone a different direction. The Universe was vast, and planets which could harbor the Tuffle population numerous, some so far away from the Saiyans that the two species might never need to meet again. If their goal truly was to restore the Tuffle race from the brink of death, then what is the point with pursuing such mindless destruction?
"I am deeply sorry for what happened to you. If you want a blunt answer on where I stand - those Tuffles who experimented to you would despise me just as much. I defected from ISLET, for much of the reasons I described."
(655 words, total 1500)
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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 6, 2021 10:38:56 GMT -8
Mizune pretty much calmed down as the other guy decided to explain himself a little better. He made no attempt at keeping his grip on the other guy. At this point he could tell the tuffle was genuine from body language alone. He took a step back and listened in silence. He had a point. Not all people are born the same and overgeneralizing is what probably was going to perpetuate the cycle of hate and he did not want that. "I'm sorry." He said, his anger all but spent. "I shouldn't assume things, just turns me into the same kind of monster uuuh...ISLET are." He would add, sitting down besides the tuffle as he resumed doing the thing he was doing with knife. So he was an outcast, so he said. That meant he had a target on him just as much as the fox had. He could...understand how it felt. "I'm sorry I..." The fox mumbled. "You're a nice guy." Mizune stated with a nod. "Though your little friend drives me up a wall, sometimes." the fox would add, glancing at the floating familiar the tuffle had.
He guessed he could give the guy the benefit of the doubt even in the case he wasn't completely convinced. He couldn't tell if they had met before and he would never know if the guy was the guy who actually turned him into what he was. What he could base his opinion on was what he had seen the other guy do first person...and his actions were mostly helpful most of the time. He probably wouldn't be out there in the middle of the night with him doing that patrol job if he did not have good intentions. Still though. If they could change someone into something else...he wondered how the guy knew so much despite being basically the same age as him. "So uuuh." the half saiyan mumbled, looking at the other guy again. "Are you...uhm...well you seem to know alot of people and history...but you're about my size." Mizune reasoned, thinking about his next query. "If you said you betrayed ISLET...but that would mean you ran away as a kid? Or did you just run away little before getting this job?"
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Post by Valentus on Jul 7, 2021 9:35:06 GMT -8
Now that the tensions around the campfire were starting to die down, Valentus struck a smile to reassure his peer. It did not matter whether he was a beastman, Saiyan, a combination of both or any other species to him - right now, all he really saw in front of him was a victim of the degeneration of the Tuffle race. What happened to the peace and nobility of the time of Asbolus Nectarine and the great Tuffle Kings he fought under? A genocide happened, sure... but they're stronger than this, right? They can pull back to one piece and rebuild the life they truly want...
"She... can be hard to work with sometimes, yes, but she's not that bad once you get to know her..." the Tuffle tried to explain himself when Mizu brought up Paizu - to which the pixie, now sitting next to Valentus with her arms folded, scoffed and replied:
"That's just because I am not allowed to say anything bad to you..." Her voice was more of a murmur, however. The curse which bound her to Valentus during their first encounter in the Forest of Terror has a lot of these weird terms and quirks. The beast boy's next question left him in solemn mood again, however. He could not deny, it was reasonable for him to raise this question - after all, Valentus does look extremely young. Not as young as he used to be during ISLET training, or as young as some Tuffle operatives and even commanders can be, however. Colonel Pricota, for example - who actually served alongside Sergeant Nectarine during the fateful battle to defend their capital during the Night of the Full Moon, and died on the same night as well - looked no older than a child attending sixth grade. The mechanics of cloning as well as genetic manipulation meant that this was not an actual issue for ISLET units aside for occasional awkwardness.
"...yeah. I escaped from ISLET not that long ago, actually," Valentus replied after a second of thought. "We Tuffles do not have the same type of childhood as Saiyans or Earthlings. Even those who are outside of the armed services and merely inhabit our underground bunkers are observed and managed by the central command every day, while those who are designated as future operatives under the fold of ISLET... train for the job basically from the moment they are born."
Valentus looked down, to his palm, as he recalled his past. "It was... as I was entering the last years of my training, ready to be deployed as an officer in one of our fighting companies, possibly even in the Azure's Dragoons, that I finally realized that I'm not going to ever agree with their goals. So, I fled, and now I am here, where I can help those in need like I've always wanted."
The Tuffle then sighed. "I'd ask you how you ended up here in turn, but from the sounds of it... your story is abruptly incomplete, right?"
(501 words, total 2001)
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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 7, 2021 10:09:09 GMT -8
Mizune hummed as more things were said and more path was unearthed. The guy seemed to be genuine in his desires, further convincing the fox that maybe having someone as helpful as him would be more than a simple help. They were both refugees and they both wanted peace. What more could he ask out of the probably best tuffle alive.
Mizune wiggled closer and shook his head at the other. "My memory has been wiped or I simply wasn't created yet. Though I feel the latter is more true." He would say, leaning slightly on the Tuffle's shoulders. The only thing I have of my past are hazy moments of pain. Not aware enough to know the time or place, not sedated enough not to feel it."
The fox raised his right paw-hand and showed it to Val. "I have no clue exactly what has been done to me and I have no clue as to why it has been done." He explained. "I just know that my body feels incredibly powerful most of the time. My senses are super sharp and my body adapts almost instantly to things. To a point, my own ki does the same. A lil bit. Look..."
The fox hopped up in Valentus' lap and cuddled in a comfortable position. He closed his eyes and concentrated. In a matter of seconds, his aura's energy signature would gain a twinge of Val's own scent in it. "I could probably be an forgotten bioweapon. I...really don't know. I don't have anything to my name. Mizune is just the name I came up with after I awoke."
The more he remained in the tuffle's lap the more relaxed his muscles became. Being close to someone gave him a sense of safety and security he couldn't quite explain. It also happened with Ty and Rosemary, the two girls that had allowed him to wake up and escape. Despite all the scuffles, being around the Tuffle had done wonders in letting him get used to people again. "I just popped out of a bunker not too far from here and just went with the flow." He concluded, still cuddling with Val.
"Hey Val...do you...do you mind if I stay here a little more?" He mumbled.
[1955]
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Post by Valentus on Jul 8, 2021 7:00:01 GMT -8
Much like Valentus had predicted from what he has heard of Mizu's upbringing, the beast boy knew little, if anything, about his past. The most he could remember was a dull, hazy, yet seemingly constant memory of pain, inflicted upon him by the Tuffles until he finally managed to escape from their aegis. At the same time, Mizu explained what those years of experimentation have imprinted upon him - not only a constant surging feeling of strength, bubbling inside of him, but also incredibly sharp senses and a passive ability to adapt so swift in its action that that all he needed was just a slight touch.
Valentus was not going to protest to the claim of strength. Though he was not able to sense energy, and thus could only assume what he was dealing with from observation, he could tell from the past few weeks that the beast boy was stronger of the two. It wasn't particularly surprising. After all, in spite of his genetic modifications and training under the ISLET operative program, he was still merely a Tuffle, a member of a race more renown for their intellect and craftsmanship rather than physical strength. Being physically weaker than his competition was something the red haired boy had gotten used to ever since his time in the War against the Saiyans, it never dissuaded him before and it isn't going to dissuade him now.
To show off what he meant with his adaptation ability, Mizu made his way around the campfire and rest his head on Valentus' legs, laying down on the log and showing off how his energy signature started to turn more Tuffle-like. In spite of the close physical touch, the Tuffle did not appear bothered at all, and even reached forward to stoke the fire with a stick while the demonstration was taking place.
"The laboratories usually keep at least some data regarding their test subjects - where they were gotten from, what they were like before... I understand it if you aren't dying to get back to the lab you broke out from, but that's probably the only place you will be able to find anything about your past," Valentus explained. Perhaps he could go down to wherever Mizu used to be held and find the information for him. Though, he personally wasn't a fan of getting back in touch with ISLET, either... they would immediately puree him if they ever caught him.
Valentus wasn't even that bothered when Mizu asked to stay for longer, either. He flashed a smile and replied:
"Sure! As long as you want!"
(431 words, total 2432)
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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 8, 2021 7:33:50 GMT -8
Mizune happily wiggled himself even closer to the tuffle, settling himself down in his lap and cuddling as close as he could. There was something fuzzy about staying close to someone and he liked it very much. He was happy to just sit there, rest his back on the Tuffle's chest and his head under his chin.
"It was all rusted and decrepid in there." He explained. "My pod survived because it had another generator thingy with glowy stuff. If someone did not find me there I probably would've died soon without even realizing." He concluded. "Even if I could go there and find out about old me...it wouldn't feel real y'know. It'd just be like reading a story."
The fox squeezed closer to the tuffle, sighing. "Besides the past is the past. I heard most saiyans are mean and elitist people. I don't want to be mean or elitist." He concluded. He had heart most pure saiyans were ruthless people and it did not sound like anything he wanted to be. He was quite fine where he was. The more he could cuddle up to val the more relaxed he would feel too.
He watched as the redheat stroke the fire to a more lively state. Now that he was this close to him his nose could pick up the intricacies of Val's scent and his sixth sense could better pick up his energy signature. He was clearly less powerful than him, but that was a given considering how the fox was basically a supersoldier. Still he couldn't help but notice how warm and positive it was. His own energy was slowly adapting to his but now that he was actually being closer to Val without his stubborn anti tuffle behavior he could definitely say the blue armored tuffle actually had some sort of calming presence. Perhaps that was how he got a fairy by his side.
"Do you miss your family?" Mizune asked after a few minutes of silent contemplation. "If you ran away from the other tuffles it means you had to leave your family back. Do they hate you for that?" At this point it was just genuine curiosity about him. About what he knew and about his life. Mizune had nothing to share of his own so was seeking to fill the void with something else. "Is the sword an your blue armor agift from them?" He said, looking over to the weapon stashed not too far from their camp.
[2370]
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Post by Valentus on Jul 8, 2021 13:25:59 GMT -8
"Well, then there's no fault in trying to find your own way. I broke the mold of the Tuffles myself, too. We've become secluded, and secretive, and ruthless... and I don't want to be any of that," Valentus answered Mizu's mullings about his nature and what it meant for him to call himself a Saiyan in the first place. He had a point - after all, thanks to being so thoroughly severed from his past, mutated and transformed under the experiments of the TSE, granted extraordinary abilities, he shared little, if anything, with whatever his past self was. What would he find if he looked, except temporary satiation for his curiosity?
Mizu continued inching closer and closer to the Tuffle, wrapping tightly around his peer and huddling for warmth. Again, Valentus was not particularly bothered - what's the issue in it when it's merely a sign of friendship? - but Paizu, hiding herself way atop a branch on a nearby tree, was secretly laughing her butt off at the sight.
And once again, his peer's question left the Tuffle contemplative. He's escaped from ISLET, sure, and has chosen to seek a new life here on the surface of Earth, but what has happened to the family he surely had back underground? What do they think of his decision, will he be able to see them again, does he... miss them?
"I don't... have a family anymore," the Tuffle answered after a few seconds of pause. He was not sure how to explain the fact that his father, mother, brothers and cousins all lived eight hundred years ago, either during the final days of the battle for Planet Plant or far away in distant colonies, set up as the last habitats of their nearly extinct species. "I was brought up by ISLET almost since my birth. The closest thing I had was a guardian - Auritius Peach, or Prince Peach, who looked after me when I was not enrolled in training for the organization... he was a good man, he taught me everything I need to know about what happened to the Tuffles before and after our destruction - but I'd rather not think about what he thinks of me now. Loyalty and allegiance to the Tuffle cause, no matter what, was what he lived for..."
He did not need to explain how that clashed with what he has done. Gut wrenching to think of, perhaps, hence Valentus tried his best to keep that under locks. At least he could reveal a bit more about himself in trusted company, like here...
"The sword is his," the Tuffle continued, pointing at the weapon. "And so is the armor. They were ceremonial pieces, Peach said they were designed after one of our ancestors... He was a great hero, and so, when I got the chance to flee, I took them to carry his torch today." He then looked back at Mizu. "Y'know, just like I said! Try to find my own way!"
(494 words, total 2926)
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Post by Mizune Rooibos on Jul 9, 2021 17:05:35 GMT -8
Mizune nodded, definitely enjoying the intimacy of their current situation. The tuffle was much like him it seemed. Alone and on their own for the rest of their lives most probably, destined to wonder around and be hunted by a common foe.
"Well...I can be your family if you want." The fox stated, happily nuzzling the hugging tuffle. They were going to be out together at their job for a good long while so they would have all the time in the world to know eachother even better than what they knew now. "I'll be your cool little brother so that we won't have to be alone and you can be my big awesome brother!" He concluded, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the happy feeling Val's hug gave him. There was something so nice about sharing their sitting space together. He was not used to it but he really didn't want this to stop. Now that his energy had completely imprinted off of the Tuffle he was even feeling better. Perhaps it was a thing the others had shoved into him. This happiness to be around a Tuffle...even if it was a ploy to make an obedient little fox he could say this time it worked in his favour.
The red fox glanced at the sword and the armor. He and Val were basically the same height so he could probably wield the sword and wear the armor without problem. He leaned slightly to the side and used his paw to pick up the sword by the hilt. He would carefully examine it before taking it out of the sheath and observing the blade proper. It was well balanced. Probably something to do with Tuffle supertech. He would swing it around before settling it back down with care. "It's pretty cool! At least you have something to remember him by." Mizune concluded, nodding and cuddling back into Val's hands. Looking up at the dark sky he found that the fire they had prepared earlier was going out, meaning they would need to sleep soon.
[2720]
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Post by Valentus on Jul 10, 2021 3:18:20 GMT -8
"Family?"
Compared to how the Tuffle and the beast boy got to interact with each other for the days before this conversation, this has been a very big step in another direction. Hearing that Valentus had ended up severing himself from the last closest thing he had to "family", Mizu asserted that he can fill in that void. He can be that lesser brother who looks up to his cooler, bigger one! At the same time, the former test subject was practically glued to his torso, hugging him and nuzzling him without reprieve - had it not been for his armor enduring the squeeze, then Valentus wouldn't have been surprised if he started running out of breath.
"I don't know if that's the word I would use, but that sounds great! There's always new adventures for me to follow every day, and they're only going to be better with company."
Well, company which consisted of more than one somewhat rude and very impolite fairy who may or may not be only kept attached to him because of a mysterious ancient spell she cannot escape.
After the brotherhood proposal, the beast boy turned to Valentus' sword and have it a grip himself. Thankfully, he did not just suddenly stab it through the Tuffle's heart in his moment of weakness, merely asserted its strength and balance, and then assured that it can be a memento of his ancestry.
"That's what I was thinking, too... I can feel very lost in this world sometimes, and at least knowing where that sword came from reminds me that I still have something to hold on to." It was even worse than what he has let Mizu know, after all. He didn't ever reveal that he was a clone, not just any mere Tuffle who trained under the ISLET program, and that he was there, eight hundred years ago. He lived once and he died once, and the memory of being crushed underneath a gigantic ape's foot as he tried to get a handful of wounded comrades out of the area will always be imprinted in his mind.
But his second chance at life will be different.
As he leaned forward, resting more and more onto Mizu himself, Valentus grew more drowsy with the increasingly encroaching night. They were going to have to go to sleep soon. They still have missions to complete, a tournament to train for... and it's better to be well rested for it than not.
(412 words, total 3338)
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