|
Post by Yajirobe on Dec 3, 2023 3:43:56 GMT -5
As expected Tarble spoke with a sense of understanding and relatability. It was refreshing for Gier to get the weight off of his chest, for it was one that he bore that little in the galaxy could carry along with him. In his many travels around the wide expanse of the galaxy he met many beings with their own troubled histories, they had backgrounds that he did not envy, but few had the pressure he felt. In spite of his carefree and cavalier attitude within him laid dormant seeds of anxiety and doubt that he veiled with his cheerful facade. If he were to stand before his father and grandfather now, would he crack under the pressure and revert back to that scared, diligent child? Or would the man he had become now, the man not known only as Gier, but as Terry Bogard, emerge?
"Hmmm. I honestly haven't thought about it," Gier spoke truthfully. His azure eyes laid upon a shelf of antique weaponry. Blades of folklore, scrolls of secret techniques - such was the way of the Zane Clan. Might, strength, efficiency and economy of movement and strikes, the tenets that he was taught as a child stuck with him even now. It wouldn't be easy to change his habits, and it would be harder still to shift the paradigm of those among his clan.
"I want to reform it, but I don't know how I could. My clan has close ties with the Shadowguard, they always have since even my grandfather was a child. I would have to learn more about the Shadowguard first. And to become the next Head of my clan. I can't simply defeat my father. I would have to kill him." Gier revealed. His tone was far more nonchalant than perhaps one would expect.
"I say that only because my father instated the rule when I was young. They say a father knows his son, and my father knew that it wasn't in my nature to kill. So he told me that he wouldn't relinquish his position unless I killed him with my own bare hands. Even my grandfather was on board with it," Gier turned to Tarble and flashed him a half-hearted smile.
"But I guess it makes sense in a way. My grandfather didn't have to push my father to kill him. My old man was even more vicious than he was. Though I think if I were to kill my father I would make my mom cry in the afterlife." Gier raised his hat and ran his hand through his blonde hair.
"Speaking of which, you mentioned that you had a brother. Do you have any more siblings? Do you have a mother?" Gier asked.
454
|
|
Tarble
Grizzled Veteran
Posts: 598
Organization: Saiyan Empire
Race: Saiyan
Status: Contact Me
Soul: Main
|
Post by Tarble on Dec 4, 2023 21:16:23 GMT -5
The Forgotten Saiyan 1.110/1.110 In the remnants of what was once Grier's home, the warriors lingered. Tarble surveyed the room, spotting a lone table adorned with two chairs. Without hesitation, he approached, drawing out a chair and settling into its embrace. On the weathered surface of the table stood a glass bottle, its contents a rich amber hue. Adjacent, two empty glasses awaited companionship. Tarble opened the bottle and filled both glasses up. He slid one glass across the table to where the other chair stood silent and empty. Tarble took a sip, as he listened to what Grier had to say. “He is an interesting individual. I never knew there would be someone else who had similar family problems like me. I can see that you were brought up in an environment were warriors where trained at a young age. I can sense good energy from him”In a solemn exchange, Grier unveiled the intricate web of clan politics, describing reforming the clan and that his clan mirrored the ways of the elusive Shadowguard. Yet, the gravity of Grier's dilemma was he would have to kill his father to become the head of the clan. “Wow… I have never thought to kill my father but to only show him how strong I have become in the time I have been away. Grier has known his family his entire life and he would have to kill them to become the head of the clan. I have never had a single conversation with my real father. Families seem to be more problem than they are worth”
Grier delved further, revealing the familial dynamics that underscored his predicament, even detailing the alignment of his grandfather with the radical shift his father had orchestrated. As Tarble savored the whisky, each sip seemed to carry the weight of Grier's familial turmoil, imposing a contemplative air upon him. Despite his eagerness to offer guidance, Tarble found himself ensnared in the tendrils of his own unresolved familial complexities. Caught between the desire to provide solace and the haunting echoes of his own familial discord, he grappled with the wisdom to share. In the wake of Grier's revelations, the conversation pivoted, probing into Tarble's own family. Grier's inquiry about Tarble's brother and the potential presence of other siblings. “My brother… my brother… since learning that I had a brother I haven’t really thought much about him. We could probably pass each other and would never know who we are. This whole time I have been fixated on my father and not once have I thought about my brother. I wonder if he will be there when I finally meet my father in a battle. Would he defend him or would he back me up…”
In a reflective pause, Tarble finished his glass of whisky, its warmth offering a fleeting comfort before he set the glass back down, reflexively refilling it. With a pensive air about him, he embarked on a tale shrouded in the shadows of uncertainty. "Where should I begin?" he mused aloud, his voice carrying the weight of fragmented memories and a tenuous sense of identity. "What I once believed to be my past... was an illusion. My recollections weave a tale of a life lived with a family I assumed was my own."Tarble's narrative unfurled like the tendrils of a long-forgotten saga. "On my tenth year, I made a decision; a divergence from the Saiyan code. I flew aboard a Saiyan pod bound for planet Earth, feeling an intrinsic wrongness in the act of destruction. And on my sixteenth birthday, I emerged from the sheltering embrace of the woods, seeking someone to train me." He paused, a reverent silence enveloping him, punctuated only by the whisper of liquid meeting glass as he indulged in another sip of whisky. “Thinking back, I have come a long way in such a short timeline. Who would have thought that I Tarble, would have been able to survive this long on my own” "As I crossed paths with Master Roshi and Master Kami, my journey as a warrior began to take root and flourish," Tarble recounted with a sense of gratitude laced into his words. "Master Kami, atop his transcendent lookout tower, unveiled a sanctuary known as the Pendulum Room; a space that would come to define a pivotal moment in my existence." Leaning into the tale, he continued, his voice tinged with both wonder and sorrow. "Unbeknownst to me, within those sacred confines, an irrevocable shift awaited. It was there that King Vegeta materialized in front of me as a ghost. He unraveled a truth that shattered my existence and had carried me the last couple of months. He revealed himself as my father, an enigmatic figure who, in a heart-wrenching twist, gave me away when I was a young boy."
Another sip of whisky followed, as silence weighed the air. Tarble's gaze drifted downward, his eyes momentarily veiled in reflection, each blink a silent acknowledgement of the emotions churning within. "In the Pendulum room is where I learned the exact truth," Tarble confessed, the weight of his words carrying a profound sense of resignation. "I was born into this world as one deemed among the weakest of Saiyan’s, a designation that barred me from the sanctity of the royal palace. The mirage's revelation concluded with the mention of a brother, an enigmatic figure whose existence I've never met. His name was never mentioned to me, so I still have no idea who he is."He paused for a moment to think of his next statement. "As for my mother," Tarble continued with a solemn tone, "she remains unknown. There is no shred of information about her. Her absence is an unanswered question, and no words have ever been spoken about her on the planet Vegeta.” With a sense of quiet determination, he added, "Perhaps, when the time finally allows, I'll confront my father with this unanswered inquiry. The mystery of her identity may find its resolution then." Another final sip from the empty glass of whisky punctuated his contemplation, signaling both the end of the drink and the quiet resolve simmering within him. “It seems we both have family problems. Maybe we both can help each other out in the near future with these issues” "Considering the circumstance, would you be willing to confront your father, even if it means his demise is the sole path to the clan's betterment?" inquired Tarble, the weight of the question hanging heavy in the air. As he refilled his glass with more whiskey, he pivoted to another avenue of inquiry. "Do you have siblings, or do you stand as an only child?" Actions1. N/A 2. N/A
|
|
|
Post by Yajirobe on Dec 5, 2023 23:55:30 GMT -5
There was a moment when Gier's mind floated to his journey. It had taken him around the Galaxy, to the fringes of Pefu to the metropolises of Avalon, but one planet that he settled on was Earth. There was a tranquility to it that he couldn't describe. The natives of the planet were diverse yet tribal, and their outlook on life was simplistic and unique. There was an individual he met that changed the trajectory of his life forever.
Tarble began to speak to answer Gier's question, and when he did so, his choice of words were eerily relatable to Gier and his own past. Past...an illusion. Life lived with a family assumed to be his own. Right, he could relate, more so in a metaphorical sense. Perhaps not in a literal sense.
Earth huh? I was on that planet too. Interesting. Gier thought to himself. It seemed as if the Universe had a sense of humor of its own, a comedy weaved into a tragedy. An intrinsic wrongness in the act of destruction, of taking and killing - very relatable. Many beings had the power and the capacity to take life. But there was true strength in forgoing such a route and instead relying on the power of mercy. Mercy brought about change, that's how Gier saw it anyways during his limited experience throughout his journey.
A special someone had taught him such.
There was a pregnant pause that occurred, and Gier's mind shifted to the Earthling that changed everything for him - Esmerelda. She was a vibrant being with a fluorescent smile and a glow about her that shamed the stars themselves.
Tarble spoke once more, and he mentioned the name of two masters that were instrumental on his journey to becoming a warrior. Master Roshi and Master Kami? Gier had never heard of them during his time on Earth. However, Tarble seemed to have held them in high regard. So perhaps he should take some time to seek these masters out as well? It certainly wouldn't hurt if he chose to. Gier's time on Namek was fruitful under the tutelage of Master Guru. His training was more on spiritual growth and to build a foundation of self that he hadn't had since the passing of Esmerelda. It was a much needed retreat for him and his mind to take the next step.
Tarble elaborated further, explaining that his master Kami had a room known as the Pendulum Room, that seemed to have been spiritual in nature. It reminded him of the Ancient Cave on Namek that he stumbled on. Within the cave he faced his past, not of the Zane Clan, but of his time with Esmerelda. Her premature death had haunted him for a great deal of time, and he took the name that she bestowed upon him, the name of Terry. However, even now he was hesitant to call himself such. It was a name that he had earned, though he began to believe that it was a premature act of recognition.
His father gave him away? Gier wondered what his life would have been like if his father had done the same to him. Ship him away from the Zane Clan manor and send him to a backwater world, or perhaps a low status Damaskian family. He couldn't imagine how his life would turn out under such circumstances.
What made him intrigued as well was when Tarble illuminated Gier on his mother, and he mentioned that he didn't have any shred of information on her, or about her. Again that was an ordeal that resonated with Gier and his experience growing up on the Zane Clan manor. His father never talked about his mother. He never knew her, he never saw a picture of her, and his grandfather wasn't forthcoming of such information either. The heir of the Zane Clan didn't know if his mother was still alive or not either. However Gier didn't question it - nor did he opt to seek her out on his own. Wherever she was, whoever she was, he figured that she would find him if all else failed.
Maybe it's time for me to do the same and confront my father about my mother. Gier thought to himself.
However, Tarble asked Gier a question that stunned him for a moment. His azure eyes scanned the sanctimonious halls and the dojo of the Zane Clan manor. If such an event were to pass, if he were to kill his father with his own hands, it would have to be in the dojo. Was he ready for such a task? His father was a fierce warrior whose power was heralded within the Zane Clan. It was the stuff of legends, and he was the one who taught Gier everything he knew. Then mentally, to be prepared to murder one own's father...it would be quite an undertaking. Would it truly be better for him to forcefully overtake a Clan that he was not prepared to lead? Directionless leadership could lead them to ruin.
"I won't lie and say that the thought hadn't occurred to me. But even if I were to kill my father and lead my clan, I wouldn't know what to do with them, or how to lead them. Besides, I'm more of a lone wolf anyways. I can't imagine being confined to this stuffy place. I'd go crazy," Gier spoke truthfully.
"No, no siblings, just me and members of my clan. I didn't socialize much outside of my father and grandfather though," Gier explained.
"So, how about you? Have you ever thought about taking your old man's spot on the line of succession? Usurp him for the crown? Or would you have to go through one of your siblings first?" Gier asked him with a curious gaze.
969 1423
|
|
Tarble
Grizzled Veteran
Posts: 598
Organization: Saiyan Empire
Race: Saiyan
Status: Contact Me
Soul: Main
|
Post by Tarble on Dec 6, 2023 21:15:35 GMT -5
The Forgotten Saiyan 780/1.890 Tarble, whiskey swirling in his glass, took a measured sip, attentive to Grier's impending response. Observing Grier's brief pause before articulating his thoughts, Tarble sensed the weight of the conversation. Grier acknowledged the challenge of assuming leadership within the clan, citing the complexities of improving its state. An inherent loner, Grier expressed his apprehension about anchoring himself in a singular role, hinting at the difficulties he foresaw in maintaining such a commitment. “I understand where he is coming from when being a lone wolf. I too have a hard time working with others. I can do minor assignments or tasks with other individuals but to have to stay in one place or be a part of something bigger would be difficult to me. I am the type of person to act and not think. Having to worry about others in the heat of a battle or wonder where those people want to go takes too much energy. When I am ready to make a move from one planet to the next, or switch master I have no issues doing so. I can fully understand where Grier is coming from”
As Tarble delved deeper into understanding Grier, he uncovered striking parallels between their personalities. Their shared pasts seemed to intertwine, guiding them along analogous paths. During their conversation, Grier disclosed his solitary upbringing, revealing a familial landscape devoid of siblings. He recounted spending the majority of his formative years in the company of his father and grandfather, fostering a penchant for independence and self-reliance. “Yet another similar tale as mine. I clearly did not have the opportunity to be around any of my family members and the ones that I thought were my family treated me as an outcast. Lately, I have wondered if King Vegeta told them to treat me like that. As if he my life was supposed to be hard the day, I took my first breath on the universe”
Grier posed a question that had never once crossed Tarble's mind. “Would I take my father’s seat at the throne. Could I be the king of all saiyan’s. Why has this never crossed my mind yet. Would all saiyan’s across the universe listen to the youngest son of King Vegeta. Would my brother who is older than me step in on this. What is the process of becoming the King of all Saiyan’s. As of now I have gone as the lost prince, so could that title change with one battle”
With another sip of whiskey, Tarble sought to gather his thoughts, feeling the alcohol's effect settling in. The weight of Grier's inquiry began to evoke a profound introspection in the prince who felt adrift. Taking a deliberate pause, Tarble aimed to articulate his response with precision, ensuring his words conveyed the intended meaning. Slowly and deliberately, he commenced explaining his thoughts on the question posed by Grier. "I've never contemplated the idea of ascending to the position of King of all Saiyans. It's only been two months since I discovered my lineage ties to King Vegeta. In truth, my elder brother would logically be the next in line, if such a notion were to arise. Moreover, I doubt any Saiyan would rally behind me for the throne. Our race thrives on conflict and combat. Were I to claim that seat, I'd likely face constant challenges from fellow Saiyans. Perhaps when I confront my father, more clarity will emerge regarding this matter. But for now, that's the most insight I can offer,"
Tarble concluded, drawing in a deep breath as he finished his thoughts. “I hope that was a good answer. I do not want any words to fall back that I was talking bad about the saiyan race or King Vegeta. He would put a bounty on my head”
Tarble was cautious not to utter anything that might cast a shadow on his future. When navigating the complex dynamics with a King as formidable as Vegeta, one had to proceed with utmost care. Whispers of Vegeta's ruthlessness circulated among Saiyans who dared oppose his might. Tales of other Saiyan infants, born with powers that rivaled his sons', disappearing were shared by Tarble's stepfather, underscoring the high stakes involved in confronting someone of Vegeta's stature. With the last drop of whiskey vanishing from his glass, Tarble cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "It appears we're both grappling with issues that stem from our fathers, a situation that shouldn't define us," he began, choosing his words carefully. "If your path doesn't involve seizing power by ending your father's life and assuming control of the clan, what then is your aspiration? What drives you in this vast universe we inhabit?" Actions1. N/A 2. N/A
|
|
|
Post by Yajirobe on Dec 10, 2023 18:56:42 GMT -5
Tarble appeared to have been in deep thought when he contemplated Gier's question. Perhaps it was one that the young Prince hadn't thought of before? It could surely be the case for him. Tarble didn't strike Gier as the ambitious type. The kind of person that wanted to crave power and authority over others...no he had not shown Gier to be a man that sought such. Though what if that was what made him the right Saiyan for the job? The one who didn't seek the crown perhaps was the one that was the most deserving of it? That was certainly a school of thought that philosophers ruminated over time and time again. A benevolent king who would answer to the whims and the wills of the people, who would seek peace and harmony over strength and might, that was the kind of King that Gier envisioned Tarble to be.
This thought also made him believe that if he were to lead the Zane Clan that maybe he could reform it and turn it into something better. A clan that was open to teaching martial artists a far more harmonious path to self discovery not through strength and servitude but honor and nobility.
But alas, Tarble answered Gier's question by remarking how intricate and delicate the situation would be. Such a notion hadn't been lost of Gier either mind you. Although the intricates of politics wasn't his forte, when it came to royalty and the line of succession, as well as bringing peace and stability to a race of people, Tarble would certainly have his work cut out for him. It couldn't be a path that he would tread lightly.
Now it was Tarble's turn to ask Gier a profound question. One that gave him goosebumps.
His azure eyes flashed as he stared upon the Saiyan boy hauntingly, for a moment the figure of his late friend, Esmerelda, stood before him, flashing him a glowing smile while asking him what he sought. What was his future? What did he wish to obtain?
Gier didn't have an answer then.
And even now after her death...
...he still didn't know.
"You're pretty spooky, you know that?" Gier couldn't help but offer a soft smile, adjusting his hat, the very memento that his friend had given him.
"All I've ever known is to fight. But there was a time when I met a woman on Earth. Her name was Esmerelda. She was a simple farm girl, but she taught me so much about life, much more than I would have ever learned back home. When you're training to be a martial artist, to be the best, it's easy to look past what's in front of you. But she taught me to slow down and smell the roses. To enjoy the journey," Gier looked upward, envisioning his friend smiling down upon him as he envisioned the sacred words that she spoke to him.
"The destination is the journey. That's the motto I live by now. That's what she taught me," Gier revealed to him.
"It sounded a little corny when I first heard her say it, but it made more sense the more I thought about it. Just the little time I spent with her before she passed had such a profound affect on me and my life, more so than anything else." Gier remembered when Esmerelda confided in him about her illness, and how her time would soon come to an end. That was how she managed to learn to enjoy life to the fullest, and she also learned how precious time was for everyone. Regardless of the path one choose, both good and ill, those who took every moment, every second, and lived it to the fullest, they were the ones who found fulfillment.
"How about you Tarble? You're a Prince, but you're traveling around the galaxy, and you have a lot of life to live ahead of you. Have you ever thought about finding a wholesome Saiyan woman to settle down with? Maybe even have a few kids?"
679 2102
|
|