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Post by Nero on Feb 23, 2019 6:20:39 GMT -6
|| Nero’s PL: 17 ||
Another fantastic day on Earth. Well, fantastic in that nothing within Nero’s immediate field of perception was going wrong. Nobody was in grave danger, nothing was poised to explode, However... It was absolutely abysmal outside. By no means was it as severe as a thunderstorm, but it was definitely dreary and raining.
So people were safe and the weather was total garbage, but what was it that kept a good chunk of North City citizens in high spirits? Because of the local big arcade of course! It was one of the few businesses on the planet that had hardly changed within a few thousand years besides maybe in name, and the last time that changed was well over five hundred years ago. At the moment it was called ‘Button Smash’, the same as it had been for many generations. Anyone knowledgeable in the gaming scene knew it well… Perhaps even those with long lives could recognize it too?
Regardless of that particular possibility, the business still needed employees and patrons. Nero happened to be both of those things— though for the moment he was around for some fun rather than work. There were a few new games and such that had been released just today on one of Nero’s days off so he felt like looking at them from the customer’s perspective first before his next shift a few days from now.
Among the new machines were several faithful 3019 remakes of some classic games— most notably Blastguy, Combat-Frogs, Majin Kart II, Attac-Man, and Donkey Zaru Continent. Eventually Nero was satisfied, everything seemed to be working properly. He wasn’t by any means the best at these arcade games either, but he was good enough. His actual gaming talents lied in pinball and a few ‘pilot’ arcade games like Stellar Weasel.
In fact, he was inspired to get into those games after hearing something of a ‘legend’ and doing some research into the history of the arcade. Stopping by the main foyer, Nero looked over the arcade’s trophy cabinet. There was once a man around two hundred years back that was a total pro at those piloting games. Over time that individual was only known by a nickname that gaming enthusiasts gave him— “Amazing Gamer A, huh? I wonder what he was like.” Nero wondered aloud looking at the age old trophies within the cabinet.
>> Lord Algere |
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Lord Algere
Archived
PL: 16,000
Conqueror's Form (x2P) Draconic Form (x4P) True Form (x6P)
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Post by Lord Algere on Mar 5, 2019 8:36:00 GMT -6
Algere’s PL: 8,000
His personal affairs settled, Algere was attempting the journey back to the Fleet’s primary base of operations. Unfortunately, it seemed that the heavens had other ideas about his agenda. While in the past he might have powered through a mere storm, he didn’t want to chance his diminished health or have another episode that required him to rely on the kindness of strangers like Ima or Mr. Hofferson. Thankfully, he was at least somewhat familiar with North City. It hadn’t changed too drastically in the last two hundred years. He could find his way around the place. He even had an idea of where to wait out the storm. There was an old fashioned arcade by the name of Button Smash. As he landed outside of the building, he was pleased to see that it was still here even after all of these years. His wife had urged him to get out and find a hobby when they had lived together, and this had been his answer. He had even brought their daughter here a few times. Returning felt a little bittersweet. Stepping inside, he shook off the moisture from his cloak and glanced around at the interior. There were several newer games that he didn’t recognize, but he saw several of the old games that he played back in the day. As he passed by the trophy case, Algere paused to see that they still had the trophies that he had earned. That was a touch embarrassing. This was something of a guilty pleasure of his. Seeing it on display was… a bit shameful. He overhead a young looking alien remark on the trophies and an apparent nickname that he had earned. “Amazing Gamer A? How ridiculous…” If he had known that he would earn such a ridiculous moniker, he might have refused to even come, but as it was he was here. Might as well pass the time. Algere made his way over to the various older games, glancing around for the one that he would be able to warm up on. Ah, there it was. Stellar Weasel. Sliding into the game booth, he glanced for the coin slot only to see some sort of card reader in its place. “How does this thing work nowadays? I need a card?”
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Post by Nero on Mar 6, 2019 8:53:52 GMT -6
|| Nero’s PL: 17 ||
Nero continued to admire the various trophies within the case, he saw the reflection of someone behind him do the same— they didn’t seem to share the same sentiment on the nickname that the fabled legend of this arcade obtained. Sure enough, it might be a little silly to some, which was fair enough, but Nero was of a different mind. “Ehh, maybe a little goofy. I wouldn’t say ridiculous though. I dunno what to tell ya, the guy was an inspiration to many gamers that came through here, myself included. I dunno. I think it's less about the name and more the impact the guy himself made... Well, that's how I see it.” He shrugged, and didn’t look back to face the person that walked in just yet. Nero believed that he said his piece well enough. The other guy went over to one of the nearby games to have a go anyway...
Except it seemed as though they were having some sort of trouble! “Hmm?” Nero turned and blinked a few times, seeing a frustrated semi-cloaked man, he was sat at the refurbished classic Stellar Weasel machine. “Oh, uh, yeah we use card readers now, d’you need a hand? I do work here, I can sort something out for you even if I’m off shift.” Nero offered as he approached to see the person better, and he noticed this old guy was in fact an Arcosian who Nero could’ve sworn he had seen, or heard of or been given a description of. Everything made sense, but what truly pieced it together for Nero was the machine that the senior Arcosian chose to go to first; Stellar Weasel. “No way..” Nero spoke in awe. “You’re him. You’re really him, y-y-you’re the guy! Amazing Gamer A— f-for real!”
While he was still understandably stunned, Nero cleared his throat to center himself. “W-well, regardless, I could either get you a guest card or a proper one, your call.”
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Lord Algere
Archived
PL: 16,000
Conqueror's Form (x2P) Draconic Form (x4P) True Form (x6P)
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Post by Lord Algere on Mar 12, 2019 20:53:05 GMT -6
Algere didn’t know whether he was embarrassed or flattered that he had served as an inspiration to these… gamers. He was leaning embarrassed, but he let it go as he frowned at the machine. In his day, they took proper legal tender. None of those card nonsense. As much as technology hadn’t changed too drastically in two hundred years, the minutia were endlessly frustrating. He had fancied himself rather proficient with technology. Now, he just felt like an old man floundering about like a fish out of water. The young saiyan from earlier approached and offered his assistance. Rather than be stubborn about it like he wanted to, be heeded the advice of his dearly departed wife.
“Yes, I’m not quite used to these new card scanners.”
It was then that Algere saw something click in the youth’s mind. With no small amount of horror, he realized just what that was. Turning his face away, Algere tugged his cloak around himself a little more tightly to shield himself from the most embarrassing awe that the young boy had for him. His eyes darted around the arcade. Fortunately, no one had seemed to hear the boy. He turned to him hastily.
“D-Don’t call me that. My name is Algere. Let’s just keep this between us, shall we…?”
As for whether he wanted a proper card or a quest one, his thoughts turned to his daughter and how he had always imagined bringing her here for a birthday or special occasion. His face softened a bit and grew melancholy.
“I think a proper card would be fine.”
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Post by Nero on Mar 13, 2019 3:33:44 GMT -6
|| Nero’s PL: 17 ||
Nero shrugged, he wasn’t for or against the card readers by any means because either way he was able to play the games all the same. The higher ups just had some meeting and then everything was switched up for convenience’s sake. “Yeah, fair enough. I don’t really mind them too much, doesn’t make much of a difference to me I guess.”
Seeing what was essentially a legend around here look so nervous made Nero feel a little bad for the guy, he was old after all, and likely has not been around for a good while, more than a century at this point if Nero’s knowledge on the situation was correct. Algere made a simple request, and Nero made sure to respect it— nobody was here to be heckled or crowded around by a bunch of fans, they were here to have fun! “Alright, alright, I hear ya. Algere it is. Or is Al okay? Whatever, I’m Nero, by the way.”
Giving Algere a casual thumbs up, Nero looked around, making sure that nobody else overheard anything just as Algere did. The coast was clear! “Cool, I can get a blank one and bring it here, it should be easy to sort out, but I’ll help you out if you need any assistance.” Nero added with a smile before walking off to retrieve the item as promised. He returned only a few minutes later, offering a fancy little semi-clear card that had a few little flat light button pads on the bottom. “Here we go,” Nero handed it to Algere just so that he could get used to it for a moment. “I put the new member’s credit balance on it, twenty Zeni, which should be good for a bunch of games. As for the details for you to put in, the three squares there project a virtual keyboard for you to put in what you need to.” With his explanation done, he simply waited for any inquiry from Algere.
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Lord Algere
Archived
PL: 16,000
Conqueror's Form (x2P) Draconic Form (x4P) True Form (x6P)
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Post by Lord Algere on Mar 20, 2019 12:10:29 GMT -6
Set somewhat at ease by this Nero’s swift compliance with his wishes, Algere managed to relax just a tad. He blinked in surprise when Nero asked to call him Al. It was… informal, but it was also how Clair had referred to him in her many efforts to get him to loosen up as she put it. He merely nodded in response, that, yes, Al was an acceptable moniker. Nobody had overheard them. A cursory check was sufficient to determine that. He was safe. No one was going to call him by that ridiculous name. He nodded when Nero mentioned that he was off to fetch the card, grateful for the few moments alone to compose himself.
“Humph… Clair, are you laughing at me from where you are?”
Algere shook his head, knowing that she probably was. It wasn’t long before young Nero returned with a card. When he saw that buttons lined the bottom of it, one eyebrow shot up. This was no simple card. Curse technology. It had taken him ages to finally become accustomed to his scouter. Must every new technology be a challenge? There was a time when he could pick them quite easily. Taking the card, Algere fiddled with it for a moment before realizing that his fears were mostly unfounded. Well, that made sense in retrospect. Scouters were more sophisticated pieces of technology.
“I see.”
Algere typed in his old moniker, which was just an A in between two spaces. That done, he inserted the card into the slot, watching as the machine registered his credits. Ah, fairly simple then. As the first level began to boot up, he took the controls. They felt almost like old friends. His hands danced over the controls as the game started, glancing to Nero.
“You’re a saiyan, are you not? Were you born here on Earth? It is unusual that one of your kind is not hostile towards mine.”
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Post by Nero on Mar 22, 2019 7:34:32 GMT -6
|| Nero’s PL: 17 ||
Nero wasn’t holding onto hope that Algere would be okay with a shortening of his name, but he was pleasantly surprised when the old guy nodded and made no complaints about it. ’Man, I hope people don’t disrespect him and think he’s crabby like they do with most seniors.. Ugh thats so dumb.’ Nero idly mused while retrieving everything for Algere.
The old man figured things out quickly enough, it wasn’t nearly as daunting as he first seemed to think! That was good, excellent progress from what Nero could tell. “Not bad, huh?” Nero asked, with a slight smirk. He also noticed Algere input a nickname... Which explained absolutely everything regarding his more ‘legendary’ nickname. “Thats one mystery solved, I guess.” Nero chuckled.
With everything said and done, Nero simply watched Algere play, seeing the man in action was actually quite amazing— was every bit as good as he was said to be, maybe better? Algere posed a question and while Nero understood that the both of them effectively knew the game like the backs of their respective hands, the young Saiyan didn’t want to interrupt the flow the Arcosian had and instead opted to speak during easier moments in the game. “Yup. What gave it away? The battle scars, sharp features—” Nero revealed his tail by uncurling it, moving it from where it was hidden under his coat and waving with it. “Totally Saiyan tail?” He gave a little snort of laughter while once again hiding his tail.
“Wasn’t born on Earth. My home world is way more ‘out of the way’ than this one. Some think that Earth is a super backwater nothing tier planet— which is actually wrong, people are just dumb— Earth is...” Nero paused, looking around the place, people were having fun. People were happy, individuals of all sorts of races, all mmmmore or less in harmony. Even an old Arcosian and a Saiyan in his prime. “Special. Earth is special. It changes people, brings them together, yanno? Who cares what we are? Who we are is more important.” Nero shrugged his shoulders and continued to watch Algere play.
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