Post by Zyren on Aug 21, 2023 1:26:57 GMT -5
Zyren:
A man laid sprawled out in a field of lush grass, eyes closed as he basked in the plentiful sunlight. The location itself was very reminiscent of Earth and especially of a place he knew well on it, but that Earth wasn't one people knew of. No, this was, in a way, where his life began. Funny how every time something happened that made him question his choices or served to validate a new track for him how his mind would think of this place.
WC: 85
Uub:
Uub closed his eyes and let a gentle breeze roll over his skin, appreciating the sensation. Physically, he was visiting the village he was born in, where it was dry and hot year-round. He had come to appreciate the power of the mind, an important part of his growth as a martial artist, and its ability to transport him to realms of pure imagination.
Opening his eyes, he saw a man laying lazily in the swaying grass. He didn't wish to disturb the strangers relaxation, but he was surprised to see someone else in his little dream world. Approaching cautiously, Uub stopped and sat crisscross a few meters away.
"I don't mean to bother you, but I'd love to chat if you don't mind," he said softly, hoping not to startle the stranger.
WC: 133
Zyren:
The man didn't open his eyes when the world trembled for only a moment, the reason being something simple and part of the reason why the Astral plane existed. Someone, it seemed, had decided to join his little excursion and he was fine with that. It bespoke great qualities of the stranger when he asked, quietly to not disturb the Saiyan, if they could talk.
That brought a smile to his face, albeit a light and small one.
"Of course, stranger." He said easily, "I hope you don't mind that I'd prefer to keep sunbathing while we chat, of course."
WC: 100/185
Uub:
Uub nodded in response, though the man wasn't looking at him anyways. The grass looked to be pretty comfortable so, feeling as if the stranger was no immediate threat, he laid back in it himself. The sun felt warm across the front of his body, immediately helping him relax.
"Wow, I could take a great nap here," he said out loud, though not to anyone in particular. "My name is Uub. Thanks for letting me join you. I... didn't know that there could be other people here."
Thus far, Uub had only experienced that realm of meditiation solo, that was why he considered it a dream world, thinking it was less of an actual place and more of a state of mind. It seemed he was wrong, unless the stranger was also a device of his own imagination.
WC: 138/271
Zyren: The silver-haired man would've felt the subtle shift in the earth and grass to his left signified the stranger joining him, and he smiled further at his compliment of the best spot to get a nap.
"Nice to meet you, Uub. I am Soul." He paused then, but whether it was to think or that he was enjoying the sun was up to Uub.
"Sometimes people will join, sometimes they won't. The Astral Realm is fickle about such matters."
Another soak in the sun later, and he added softly: "I'd like to think when it matches you with someone, it's a guide to new horizons."
"However, don't let me assume for you."
WC: 112/297
Uub:
Soul.
Uub let silence sit over them for awhile, the only sound the soft rustling of the tall grasses as the gentle breeze swayed them. It was as peaceful as anything the young earthling could remember.
"Are you from Earth, Soul?" Uub finally asked. "I am. I'm from a small village in the far east. I've never left the planet before."
Though he knew that there were other people - many of them - that traveled freely through the stars, visiting different planets as they pleased, that was not a possibility he'd thought he'd have growing up. People from his village were usually lucky to travel to any of the big cities during their life, and he'd already been fortunate enough to do that thanks to his growing martial arts prowess. Could it take him further?
136/407
Zyren:
Memories flashed by at his question, some good, some bad, and Soul was remiss to cut any of them short as the winds gently fanned over them both. A sad smile bloomed, and he finally answered; "Yes, I am from Earth. Leaving your home can be scary, but there are many benefits to doing so. New places, people, and events that can be prosperous or disastrous...especially if you're on the cultivator's path." He paused then, his own bout with lady luck over the years bringing to mind a few choice examples, some great, many bad.
"However, if you always stay in your comfort zone, Uub, will you ever truly find out the type of person you are, or what you can become?" He asked, quizically and gently to not disturb the fine day while also offering up a fresh perspective for the stranger.
WC: 143/440
Uub:
As with the wind and the sun, Uub allowed the man's words to wash over him. He couldn't deny the wisdom that they carried. It had only been a few months since he'd set out from his village - no... it had been a year. In that time he'd become a Provincial Martial Arts Champion. In that time he'd trained under the famous Master Roshi. In that time he'd befriended a Saiyan and a Fae.
"You're right, Soul. My life has changed so much just in a year of venturing outside my village. Who knows what could become of me if I left Earth?" he mused back, grinning at the idea. Truthfully, he didn't know much about space, aliens, or other planets, but suddenly there was a spark within him that longed to learn more.
"Are you... still on Earth?" He asked, curiosity hanging on his breath.
WC: 147/554
Zyren
His smile faded as a cloud passed over and briefly shielded them from the sun, a brief breeze taking the opportunity to pass them by. Would it be his imagination the it felt colder than it should be, or was it just because it lacked the sun?
He didn't ask about the man's past, nor did he ask where wanted to go. No, instead the Hybrid took about a minute to answer the question as his tail gently moved within his robes as it stretched. In this realm, he could barely sense his aches and pains from the brutal thrashing he just got.
"No, not yet but I feel like I'll be there soon. I'm currently recovering on Kelioux, the home of the Scholars. Maybe a week or two? I require more of the Turtle Hermit's tuteluge."
WC: 137/577
Uub:
Kelioux
Uub played with the word in his head. He'd never heard of that one before - in fact, he'd only heard of Avalon and Vegeta, the two planets that had played a role in Earth's politics during his lifetime. "You say Scholars as if they are some kind of group, but I've never heard of them. Are... you part of their group?"
WC: 63/617
Zyren:
"Aye," Soul said, "Imagine a massive city that's just for nerds that contains a massive amount of knowledge of a lot of things in our galaxy."
He smiled, "Its not for everyone but I'd daresay its one of the places meant to help everyone in the event of knowledge being lost. They'll have it more often than not."
WC: 58/635
Uub:
Nodding, Uub couldn't help but to grin. Somewhere out there, there was an entire organization dedicated to preserving the knowledge of an entire galaxy. If there was that, what else could he find out there in the stars?
"That's so cool," he finally replied. "You said you were recovering... did you get into a fight or something?"
WC: 57/674
Zyren:
He gave a wry smile at that and finally opened his eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight: "Yeah. I uh...well, kinda got into a fight because it involved a girl I liked and the fact that I'm weak."
He slowly sat up and stretched, "Her teacher and mine by extension kind of...taught me a lesson to try and help me."
He gave a grin full of chagrun at the stranger, "I'm smart, but sometimes I act so dumb that I question it.
WC: 82/717
Uub:
Uub sensed the other man moving and sat up to match. He had a sense of utter ease, sitting in the grass with a stranger, drinking in the sunlight. Whether it was the place, or the person he was with, that allowed him to feel so relaxed, he wasn't sure.
"I think that's just being a person," he replied with a genuine laugh. "It goes hand in hand with accidentally hurting the people we care about, being a jerk to people that don't deserve it, and doing the things we want to do rather than the ones we know we need to do."
WC: 103/777
Zyren:
"I suppose that's true," he said after a moment, then laughed lightly as he rubbed his head and looked away, "I'm supposed to be better than that. Isnt it funny how when you strive to protect someone, it ends up usually hurting them too?" He shook his head after a moment as if to clear the melancholy, then added; "Either way, enough about me. What's your deal? Why are you trying to become strong?"
WC: 74/791
Uub:
Uub crossed his legs and thoughtfully scratched his chin. "Well... I grew up in a very small village. It was the kind of place you lived and died, your whole life passing you by. One time, a man came to our village and said he was looking for a dragonball, which I guess are these magical artifacts that can grant wishes."
Pausing only to take a breath, Uub dove back into his tale. "We didn't have what he was looking for, but he stayed to recover from his long journey. That night, he told us lots of stories about his adventures. He was a martial artist, and he'd spent most of his life traveling and competing in tournaments all over the world."
As he approached the end of the story, Uub's face hardened in an expression of determination. "I decided I wanted to get strong, so that I could travel the world too."
WC: 153/930
Zyren:
Soul scratched his chin and noticed a bit of fuzz, offhandedly deciding that he needed to shave again as he listened to the man's story. "I see, it's not often that someone has the urge to get strong because of wanderlust," the hybrid noted. "However, that's good on you. How strong are you now? How much experience have you gained in your travels?"
He gave the man a soft grin; "If you dont mind me asking, of course."
WC: 78/869
Uub:
Uub considered the question for a few seconds. How strong had he become? How did he answer that? "Well... not so long ago I became the Kanto Province Martial Arts Champion. Not the most notorious of provinces to be the best in, but it's a start," he said. Then he brightened, "But lately I have been training at the Kame School under the Turtle Hermit! I think I've grown a lot, and Master Roshi seems impressed."
WC: 76/1,006
Zyren:
The Scholar studied the boy as he mulled over the man's words; chewing on the region and the fact it was a tourney. That meant he had some strength and skill, but how much? Did strong fighters attend that time, or only the ones eager to make a name for themselves like Uub? "If Roshi says you're doing good, that's good for me. The Turtle hermit doesn't lie."
He slowly stood up then, wincing as ghost pain shot through his Astral body. "However, I do have an idea to figure it out. Show me your strength and I can show you mine, or I can do mine first."
WC: 108/978
Uub:
Uub leapt to his feet, his earnest smile widening. "Great idea! I'll go first!" he babbled with excitement. He walked a few paces away and turned back to face Soul. "Here goes!" Widening his stance, Uub referred back to Form 1 of his poses. He brought his palms together flat and held them near near his chest, and he breathed deeply.
Veins jumped out as the boy's muscles bulged and his skin went tight. A faint, violet steam rose from his body. He held the pose for several seconds, then relaxed, returning to normal. "That was my full power," he said calmly. "What do you think?"
WC: 106/1,112
Zyren:
Soul stood back expectantly, figuring that the man had power but not much if his place on the planet was any indication. That changed almost immediately as his Sense blew back into his face and he stared, slackjawed, then tried to cover it up almost immediately. He couldnt help the surge of envy that came with the man's power...nor the sense of self-pity.
"Wow," He instead covered up his shock with a smile tinged with chagrin; "I'd be lying if I thought you'd be a lot weaker. You're stronger than me."
Still, true to his word, he took a step forward and suddenly grew serious; intent sharpening from easy going to battlelust. His muscles also surged with Ki and grew a tad bigger, yet unlike Uub he didn't have the muscle definition that the man had and instead had a leaner physique. Either way, he held the power for a moment and then breathed out, silver-white Ki fading in a wisp as he too followed suite as he returned to his suppressed base. "Id wager Im about...hmm. Eighty-seven...no...five percent of your max? Not counting what else I can do, of course."
WC: 191/1,169
Uub:
Heat rose to Uub's face and chest as the man complimented his strength. He was confident in his abilities, yet surprised that someone that freely traveled the galaxy was so impressed by him.
When Soul showed off his own capabilities, Uub was floored. It was all he could do to keep his mouth from hanging open. Soul was, by a sight, the strongest fighter the boy had met. Comparing himself, a sense that he had yet to fully comprehend, to Soul, he couldn't believe that what the man said was true.
"Are you for real? You think I'm stronger than you?" he blurted out, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
WC: 109/1,221
Zyren:
Soul still struggled to keep up praise, to not let the chains of self-loathing and pity that he had managed to shake off in his fight to wrap around him once more. He partially succeeded, yet his mood still dampened from sadness and loss.
"I dont think so, I know so, Mister Uub," he said, grinning, "If we throw in transformations--a races ability to break their limiters or burrow into their bloodlines..."
His grin faltered a tad as he grew pensive, calculations and prior studying flashing through his mind, "We might be even? You'd still probably outrank me, but itd be close."
Soul waved a hand dismissively: "Hard to tell, but I believe you have enough strength to defend yourself or run, as long as you're smart and pick your battles.
WC: 131/1,300
Uub:
Uub clenched his fist, pride flooding through him. He'd had no idea that he'd gotten so strong. It crossed his mind that maybe he needed a better self-image, but confidence wasn't a weakness for him. He just hadn't had a good look at the measuring stick yet.
"Thank you, Soul," he replied, smiling. "Coming from a small, remote village... getting strong seemed like the only way out. Even then, I was shooting so low. I just wanted to travel Earth. I had no idea that if I wanted, I could travel the stars."
He looked longingly into the sky, even though he knew it was just a mimicry of the real thing, for a few seconds, then returned his gaze to Soul. "Where do I start? How do I get out there? Where did you start?"
WC: 136/1,357
A man laid sprawled out in a field of lush grass, eyes closed as he basked in the plentiful sunlight. The location itself was very reminiscent of Earth and especially of a place he knew well on it, but that Earth wasn't one people knew of. No, this was, in a way, where his life began. Funny how every time something happened that made him question his choices or served to validate a new track for him how his mind would think of this place.
WC: 85
Uub:
Uub closed his eyes and let a gentle breeze roll over his skin, appreciating the sensation. Physically, he was visiting the village he was born in, where it was dry and hot year-round. He had come to appreciate the power of the mind, an important part of his growth as a martial artist, and its ability to transport him to realms of pure imagination.
Opening his eyes, he saw a man laying lazily in the swaying grass. He didn't wish to disturb the strangers relaxation, but he was surprised to see someone else in his little dream world. Approaching cautiously, Uub stopped and sat crisscross a few meters away.
"I don't mean to bother you, but I'd love to chat if you don't mind," he said softly, hoping not to startle the stranger.
WC: 133
Zyren:
The man didn't open his eyes when the world trembled for only a moment, the reason being something simple and part of the reason why the Astral plane existed. Someone, it seemed, had decided to join his little excursion and he was fine with that. It bespoke great qualities of the stranger when he asked, quietly to not disturb the Saiyan, if they could talk.
That brought a smile to his face, albeit a light and small one.
"Of course, stranger." He said easily, "I hope you don't mind that I'd prefer to keep sunbathing while we chat, of course."
WC: 100/185
Uub:
Uub nodded in response, though the man wasn't looking at him anyways. The grass looked to be pretty comfortable so, feeling as if the stranger was no immediate threat, he laid back in it himself. The sun felt warm across the front of his body, immediately helping him relax.
"Wow, I could take a great nap here," he said out loud, though not to anyone in particular. "My name is Uub. Thanks for letting me join you. I... didn't know that there could be other people here."
Thus far, Uub had only experienced that realm of meditiation solo, that was why he considered it a dream world, thinking it was less of an actual place and more of a state of mind. It seemed he was wrong, unless the stranger was also a device of his own imagination.
WC: 138/271
Zyren: The silver-haired man would've felt the subtle shift in the earth and grass to his left signified the stranger joining him, and he smiled further at his compliment of the best spot to get a nap.
"Nice to meet you, Uub. I am Soul." He paused then, but whether it was to think or that he was enjoying the sun was up to Uub.
"Sometimes people will join, sometimes they won't. The Astral Realm is fickle about such matters."
Another soak in the sun later, and he added softly: "I'd like to think when it matches you with someone, it's a guide to new horizons."
"However, don't let me assume for you."
WC: 112/297
Uub:
Soul.
Uub let silence sit over them for awhile, the only sound the soft rustling of the tall grasses as the gentle breeze swayed them. It was as peaceful as anything the young earthling could remember.
"Are you from Earth, Soul?" Uub finally asked. "I am. I'm from a small village in the far east. I've never left the planet before."
Though he knew that there were other people - many of them - that traveled freely through the stars, visiting different planets as they pleased, that was not a possibility he'd thought he'd have growing up. People from his village were usually lucky to travel to any of the big cities during their life, and he'd already been fortunate enough to do that thanks to his growing martial arts prowess. Could it take him further?
136/407
Zyren:
Memories flashed by at his question, some good, some bad, and Soul was remiss to cut any of them short as the winds gently fanned over them both. A sad smile bloomed, and he finally answered; "Yes, I am from Earth. Leaving your home can be scary, but there are many benefits to doing so. New places, people, and events that can be prosperous or disastrous...especially if you're on the cultivator's path." He paused then, his own bout with lady luck over the years bringing to mind a few choice examples, some great, many bad.
"However, if you always stay in your comfort zone, Uub, will you ever truly find out the type of person you are, or what you can become?" He asked, quizically and gently to not disturb the fine day while also offering up a fresh perspective for the stranger.
WC: 143/440
Uub:
As with the wind and the sun, Uub allowed the man's words to wash over him. He couldn't deny the wisdom that they carried. It had only been a few months since he'd set out from his village - no... it had been a year. In that time he'd become a Provincial Martial Arts Champion. In that time he'd trained under the famous Master Roshi. In that time he'd befriended a Saiyan and a Fae.
"You're right, Soul. My life has changed so much just in a year of venturing outside my village. Who knows what could become of me if I left Earth?" he mused back, grinning at the idea. Truthfully, he didn't know much about space, aliens, or other planets, but suddenly there was a spark within him that longed to learn more.
"Are you... still on Earth?" He asked, curiosity hanging on his breath.
WC: 147/554
Zyren
His smile faded as a cloud passed over and briefly shielded them from the sun, a brief breeze taking the opportunity to pass them by. Would it be his imagination the it felt colder than it should be, or was it just because it lacked the sun?
He didn't ask about the man's past, nor did he ask where wanted to go. No, instead the Hybrid took about a minute to answer the question as his tail gently moved within his robes as it stretched. In this realm, he could barely sense his aches and pains from the brutal thrashing he just got.
"No, not yet but I feel like I'll be there soon. I'm currently recovering on Kelioux, the home of the Scholars. Maybe a week or two? I require more of the Turtle Hermit's tuteluge."
WC: 137/577
Uub:
Kelioux
Uub played with the word in his head. He'd never heard of that one before - in fact, he'd only heard of Avalon and Vegeta, the two planets that had played a role in Earth's politics during his lifetime. "You say Scholars as if they are some kind of group, but I've never heard of them. Are... you part of their group?"
WC: 63/617
Zyren:
"Aye," Soul said, "Imagine a massive city that's just for nerds that contains a massive amount of knowledge of a lot of things in our galaxy."
He smiled, "Its not for everyone but I'd daresay its one of the places meant to help everyone in the event of knowledge being lost. They'll have it more often than not."
WC: 58/635
Uub:
Nodding, Uub couldn't help but to grin. Somewhere out there, there was an entire organization dedicated to preserving the knowledge of an entire galaxy. If there was that, what else could he find out there in the stars?
"That's so cool," he finally replied. "You said you were recovering... did you get into a fight or something?"
WC: 57/674
Zyren:
He gave a wry smile at that and finally opened his eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight: "Yeah. I uh...well, kinda got into a fight because it involved a girl I liked and the fact that I'm weak."
He slowly sat up and stretched, "Her teacher and mine by extension kind of...taught me a lesson to try and help me."
He gave a grin full of chagrun at the stranger, "I'm smart, but sometimes I act so dumb that I question it.
WC: 82/717
Uub:
Uub sensed the other man moving and sat up to match. He had a sense of utter ease, sitting in the grass with a stranger, drinking in the sunlight. Whether it was the place, or the person he was with, that allowed him to feel so relaxed, he wasn't sure.
"I think that's just being a person," he replied with a genuine laugh. "It goes hand in hand with accidentally hurting the people we care about, being a jerk to people that don't deserve it, and doing the things we want to do rather than the ones we know we need to do."
WC: 103/777
Zyren:
"I suppose that's true," he said after a moment, then laughed lightly as he rubbed his head and looked away, "I'm supposed to be better than that. Isnt it funny how when you strive to protect someone, it ends up usually hurting them too?" He shook his head after a moment as if to clear the melancholy, then added; "Either way, enough about me. What's your deal? Why are you trying to become strong?"
WC: 74/791
Uub:
Uub crossed his legs and thoughtfully scratched his chin. "Well... I grew up in a very small village. It was the kind of place you lived and died, your whole life passing you by. One time, a man came to our village and said he was looking for a dragonball, which I guess are these magical artifacts that can grant wishes."
Pausing only to take a breath, Uub dove back into his tale. "We didn't have what he was looking for, but he stayed to recover from his long journey. That night, he told us lots of stories about his adventures. He was a martial artist, and he'd spent most of his life traveling and competing in tournaments all over the world."
As he approached the end of the story, Uub's face hardened in an expression of determination. "I decided I wanted to get strong, so that I could travel the world too."
WC: 153/930
Zyren:
Soul scratched his chin and noticed a bit of fuzz, offhandedly deciding that he needed to shave again as he listened to the man's story. "I see, it's not often that someone has the urge to get strong because of wanderlust," the hybrid noted. "However, that's good on you. How strong are you now? How much experience have you gained in your travels?"
He gave the man a soft grin; "If you dont mind me asking, of course."
WC: 78/869
Uub:
Uub considered the question for a few seconds. How strong had he become? How did he answer that? "Well... not so long ago I became the Kanto Province Martial Arts Champion. Not the most notorious of provinces to be the best in, but it's a start," he said. Then he brightened, "But lately I have been training at the Kame School under the Turtle Hermit! I think I've grown a lot, and Master Roshi seems impressed."
WC: 76/1,006
Zyren:
The Scholar studied the boy as he mulled over the man's words; chewing on the region and the fact it was a tourney. That meant he had some strength and skill, but how much? Did strong fighters attend that time, or only the ones eager to make a name for themselves like Uub? "If Roshi says you're doing good, that's good for me. The Turtle hermit doesn't lie."
He slowly stood up then, wincing as ghost pain shot through his Astral body. "However, I do have an idea to figure it out. Show me your strength and I can show you mine, or I can do mine first."
WC: 108/978
Uub:
Uub leapt to his feet, his earnest smile widening. "Great idea! I'll go first!" he babbled with excitement. He walked a few paces away and turned back to face Soul. "Here goes!" Widening his stance, Uub referred back to Form 1 of his poses. He brought his palms together flat and held them near near his chest, and he breathed deeply.
Veins jumped out as the boy's muscles bulged and his skin went tight. A faint, violet steam rose from his body. He held the pose for several seconds, then relaxed, returning to normal. "That was my full power," he said calmly. "What do you think?"
WC: 106/1,112
Zyren:
Soul stood back expectantly, figuring that the man had power but not much if his place on the planet was any indication. That changed almost immediately as his Sense blew back into his face and he stared, slackjawed, then tried to cover it up almost immediately. He couldnt help the surge of envy that came with the man's power...nor the sense of self-pity.
"Wow," He instead covered up his shock with a smile tinged with chagrin; "I'd be lying if I thought you'd be a lot weaker. You're stronger than me."
Still, true to his word, he took a step forward and suddenly grew serious; intent sharpening from easy going to battlelust. His muscles also surged with Ki and grew a tad bigger, yet unlike Uub he didn't have the muscle definition that the man had and instead had a leaner physique. Either way, he held the power for a moment and then breathed out, silver-white Ki fading in a wisp as he too followed suite as he returned to his suppressed base. "Id wager Im about...hmm. Eighty-seven...no...five percent of your max? Not counting what else I can do, of course."
WC: 191/1,169
Uub:
Heat rose to Uub's face and chest as the man complimented his strength. He was confident in his abilities, yet surprised that someone that freely traveled the galaxy was so impressed by him.
When Soul showed off his own capabilities, Uub was floored. It was all he could do to keep his mouth from hanging open. Soul was, by a sight, the strongest fighter the boy had met. Comparing himself, a sense that he had yet to fully comprehend, to Soul, he couldn't believe that what the man said was true.
"Are you for real? You think I'm stronger than you?" he blurted out, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
WC: 109/1,221
Zyren:
Soul still struggled to keep up praise, to not let the chains of self-loathing and pity that he had managed to shake off in his fight to wrap around him once more. He partially succeeded, yet his mood still dampened from sadness and loss.
"I dont think so, I know so, Mister Uub," he said, grinning, "If we throw in transformations--a races ability to break their limiters or burrow into their bloodlines..."
His grin faltered a tad as he grew pensive, calculations and prior studying flashing through his mind, "We might be even? You'd still probably outrank me, but itd be close."
Soul waved a hand dismissively: "Hard to tell, but I believe you have enough strength to defend yourself or run, as long as you're smart and pick your battles.
WC: 131/1,300
Uub:
Uub clenched his fist, pride flooding through him. He'd had no idea that he'd gotten so strong. It crossed his mind that maybe he needed a better self-image, but confidence wasn't a weakness for him. He just hadn't had a good look at the measuring stick yet.
"Thank you, Soul," he replied, smiling. "Coming from a small, remote village... getting strong seemed like the only way out. Even then, I was shooting so low. I just wanted to travel Earth. I had no idea that if I wanted, I could travel the stars."
He looked longingly into the sky, even though he knew it was just a mimicry of the real thing, for a few seconds, then returned his gaze to Soul. "Where do I start? How do I get out there? Where did you start?"
WC: 136/1,357
