|
|
Post by Majin Mumbo on Sept 1, 2020 1:27:09 GMT -6
Dang. Talk about being thrown for a loop! Mumbo expected the guy to have at least one recognizable name in his top fave list, but not a one? Taiga sorta-kinda sounded familiar to some of his absorbed brains, but not enough to really stand out. The Majin's face scrunched up like he smelled something beyond nasty, but the face faded soon enough. He had to keep up appearances. Not like this meant anything, really. He still had some time to suss out the truth about this guy.
"Oh, squid guy again? Dat's easy." Mumbo swiped the hourglass as he answered. "Yeah I'm still woikin' for 'im. Hasn't asked much of us yet, but he just wanted us on da payroll for... Iunno. Sometin' big I'm guessin'. Guy like him usually has like, fifty plots in his head, and only tree of 'em evah go anywhere's. Right now, I'm on... Break. Da rest of da goons would be able ta tells ya some real details."
Mumbo had to think for a second on this next one. He was taking a leap with his turn. If Ticoga was lacking in information, or just really good at lying, he'd probably miss out on a turn for no good reason. Surely he'd been keeping up with all the hub-bub surrounding the stupid Dragon Balls, though. If he hadn't, then this guy would be a terrible employer.
"'Kay. I got it." Setting the hourglass down, he began. "If you could get hold of da Dragon Balls, what would you wish for?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ticoga on Sept 1, 2020 11:20:15 GMT -6
Ticoga listens to Mumbo's answer, and slightly frowns - the contract appeared to be a vague I'll call you when I need you type of agreement. Not the most efficient, but it did tie the Stargoons' hands in a few situations. If they started helping someone that Kraktus was in conflict with, he could call on their contract to push the situation to his favor.
Not that an agreement mattered - if Mumbo's words hold truth, then being a group of self styled villains, they have no need to maintain appearances or honor such contracts. They could choose to do whatever they wished, to hell with the contract. At the very least, Mumbo sounded convinced that other members of the Stargoons would provide better information.
But Mumbo's next question momentarily perplexes Ticoga. He'd heard of the so-called wishing orbs, the Dragon Balls. He'd heard of the legends that made Namek and the Earth unique in their possession of these things. He'd disregarded them, as they were something sought after by far more powerful beings - to even entertain the thought of pursuing the orbs, with more powerful opportunists laying in wait to kill the summoner and take the wish for themselves. It was too ludicrous to even bother thinking about.
But now that the hypothetical question was posed...
"...The Dragon Balls... and a wish..." Ticoga mutters, thinking for a moment. He shakes his head and picks up the hourglass. "There is nothing I can wish for that cannot be achieved through my own efforts."
Ticoga looks at the Majin, his eyes burrowing into Mumbo's own.
"I have no regard for those who need such a handicap." Ticoga continues, his tone almost undertoned with a growl. "Why waste the effort to collect a handicap, when one can simply work to achieve their needs and goals, and grow stronger from the experience? No, I would have no wish. I would sooner see the wishing orbs destroyed, and end their influence on the universe altogether."
And with Namek destroyed, at least one set of those orbs had been dealt with. Earth's legendary set would still need to be dealt with, and that likely mean't fighting through the planet's slew of so-called heroes before the planet can be obliterated. Ticoga flips the hourglass in his hand, and sets it back on the table.
"In this regard, I return the question," Ticoga says to the Majin. "If you were to obtain the wishing orbs, what would you use them for?"
It was a loaded question, and Ticoga knew it. After renouncing the Dragon Balls as a cheap handicap tactic, Ticoga was also calling out those who used them as, in a sense, weaklings who weren't capable enough to achieve their goals with their own strength and intelligence. Essentially; powerful beings with no clue how to use their power, and too stupid to plan their efforts properly.
Majin Mumbo
|
|
|
|
Post by Majin Mumbo on Sept 3, 2020 0:01:48 GMT -6
Definitely a determined guy.
Mumbo found the answer enlightening. Most everyone he'd met wanted the balls for one thing or another. Usually it was power, but sometimes the ideas turned to something a bit more altruistic. Finding someone in the galactic race for supremacy who didn't care for the balls was a new twist for sure, and one the Majin could respect. He personally wouldn't mind using them, if only to piss off the infinite waves of goodie-goods who clamored for them each and every time they awoke.
Funny, then, that the same question was turned back on him.
This one really stumped him at first. Part of him wanted to denounce them as well; act all tough and such. But that aspect of evil never really worked for him. Lying in a general sense was fine, but when it came to personal matters, he was usually pretty transparent. The hourglass lost over half of its sand before he said anything, and even then he only started with a sigh. Mournful, regretful, disappointed, or somewhere in-between, the expression gave way to Mumbo's answer.
"Well, I've got two jinglin' around in my brain. Evah since da last time dey've been used I was thinkin' about wat ta wish foah. Me and da Goons kinda figya if everybody else wants 'em, might as well trow a wrench in da woiks and steal 'em, right? Anyways..."
He waited again, but tried to hurry himself. The timer was running low.
"...I'd prolly wish fer my friends back. Dere's dis girl, Chamil. She was a great kid; real crack-shot wit magic, y'see? Well, she was one of da foist Goons, and uh... She uh... Didn't get very far." The Black Stargoon swallowed hard, holding back tears with exceptional willpower. "She died in a fight against dis real good apple. Gave him a real run for his money, but in the end, she had ta sacrifice herself ta win."
He looked away, reliving the memories of her final moments in his head. Remembering just how helpless he felt then was sour. It felt worse than losing to Cress.
"I'd wanna bring her back. And Dosu, too. And, if he's dead, my old boss-- my REAL boss-- Maple. He made me, sorta, and I miss him a lot. He left a while ago, and no matta where I search, I haven't seen a hint of 'im. He's real good at bein' bad."
Swiping the hourglass, he explained his second wish. "If dat failed, I'd prolly just wish to be invincible or sometin'. Gotta make shoah no moah Goons die on my watch."
He took a long look at the device in his hands, and tossed it sidelong into the kitchen area. It shattered on the back wall, and Mumbo shrugged. "Alright, well, I tink I'm done wit dis game. I loined a bit about you, you loined a bit about me, and I'm pretty shoah nobody lied. Game ova. We both win!"
turning to Marma, he raised a finger. "Since I ended the game early, I will let yer friend here ask one question. She didn't get ta play at awl, so I feel its only fair. You can ask either of us one ting. Sound cool?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ticoga on Sept 4, 2020 9:24:20 GMT -6
Ticoga watches Mumbo intently as the Majin explains that he does indeed desire something. One of them being the revival of someone he cared about - which baffles Ticoga. It sounded a lot like what was described as loving someone, but Ticoga had nothing to compare to understand how that would feel. Ticoga glances at Marma, but what he felt when he saved her was more akin to an understanding than anything like love. In the moment, he had chosen the most violent resolution to Marma's predicament, slaughtering her pursuers.
There was a kinship to their mutual suffering, and that is what prompted him to help her. Mumbo, on the other hand, clearly formed some kind of bond with this person he wishes to see again. That was something Ticoga did not understand. What was gone was gone. Right? But if the wishing orbs could bring the dead back to life, then that makes them an abomination to the natural order of the universe.
The Dragon Balls, which are fought over, planets destroyed for... were a form of chaos. No matter the intentions of those seeking them, the Dragon Balls undeniably created terrible conflict. ...And so must be destroyed. Mumbo's other wish, was more typical of warriors, but Ticoga grins and shakes his head.
"Invincibility would certainly be beneficial, but that would take all the fun out of the fight, no?" Ticoga replies, grinning. "The possibility of failure is what drives a warrior's motivation. If you can never fail, you would soon find the thing you enjoy no longer interesting, no longer worth your time. But I understand your sentiment."
The Majin chooses to end their game, likely incensed by the thought of his fallen comrade and wanted to keep Ticoga from prying further; but Ticoga learned a considerable amount from this. Far more, he feels, than Mumbo learned from him. There were critical questions that the Majin did not ask, or did not think to ask. Another time, perhaps.
When Mumbo turns to Marma, she seems taken by surprise, and sets her drink down. She seems to think for a moment, her brows furrowing, and finally looks at them after a couple minutes.
"I do have one question, for both of you actually." Marma begins. "...Both of you kill and destroy as a part of what you do and what you are... Do you ever get tired of it?"
Ticoga's brows rise, but he doesn't seem to need much time to answer.
"I was raised as a weapon by the World Trade Fleet, albeit told that I am a weak weapon." Ticoga replies. "The Arcosian nobles made certain to let me know that I am of a lower caste, a slave essentially. And now Queen Kayen has accepted me as a part of her combat forces. I am, and most likely will always be, someone else's weapon of war."
Ticoga looks at his food, his expression somewhat drooping.
"Until I am powerful enough that I cannot be beaten down, I will always be someone's slave. And those with greater power will always use it to beat me down." Ticoga continues, his voice losing some of its vigor. It was the tone of a slave who had most of life's ambition tortured out of him. Ticoga had been broken by the Fleet, the Arcosian nobility, and now served the Saiyans. "If I am not someone's slave, then I am someone's enemy. My life, unfortunately, will never be without war. If I should stop fighting, I will be destroyed without mercy."
Majin Mumbo
|
|
|
|
Post by Majin Mumbo on Sept 9, 2020 5:38:51 GMT -6
"I mean da fight is fun and awl, but I care moah about my friends den fun. I can't also be invincible in like, a video game er sumtin, so I could find fun somehow."
Mumbo placed his hands on his hips, proud of his response. Though the game was over, he was confident he'd learned enough to get a decent feel for the guy. Not exact details, though a good sense of the kinda person he saw himself as. Was he worth working alongside? Working under? Maybe one day. For now he was too focused on being an underling himself. Laying low was good and all, but the Stargoons preferred loud and flashy. Either way, he'd keep this guy on his contact list. He'd make a good warlord one day!
Turning to Marma, he listened to her question with serious interest. It was a tough question to answer, almost more so than any of the ones Ticoga threw at him. Questioning his affiliations was one thing, but his moral standing? He was glad Ticoga's answer took a bit, because finding the right words for his own was going to take a second.
"Well, iunno. I was born dis way... Kinda. I don't mind killin' cuz I usually don't like da people I kill. If somebody ain't doin' me wrong, and dey ain't too goodie-two-shoes, I'll prolly leave 'em alone, feel me?" Mumbo tapped a finger to his chin. Technically that hadn't answered Marma's question. How could he properly convey himself?
"It's not so much that I could get bored, but uhhh... It's just normal, I guess. Like if some chump was gonna go buy eggs and milk cuz he ran out? Dat's like me crushin' dat chumps head cuz he took too long when I was tryna pick my own eggs out in the same aisle. Just makes sense ta me."
Shrugging, Mumbo turned on a heel and walked toward the door. "Alllrighty den, I tink I'm ready fer bed. I'm stealin' one of yer beds as payment fer botherin' me back dere." As he spoke, the ship rumbled. The pirate frigate he'd attacked earlier had just exploded, though luckily Ticoga's own craft had flown far enough away that no problems occured. "I tink imma stick wit you guys fer a week or so. Don't tink of me as a freeloader, though. Consida me a uh... Rent-free bodyguard. Keep me fed and we're good ta go. Sound good?"
Regardless of their answers, Mumbo would walk out and head for the nearest place to lay his head down to sleep.
Thread exit unless you got somethin else planned!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ticoga on Sept 11, 2020 2:01:00 GMT -6
When Mumbo stands, so too do Ticoga and Marma.
"I see, well, I hope the two of you work out what you want for yourselves in time." Marma says broadly to them both.
"Thank you for your consideration, Miss Marma." Ticoga replies. He turns to Mumbo as the Majin expresses his desire to rest. "By all means, Mister Mumbo. Our destination next is Arcose - I have found some courage in your words. I have enjoyed this discussion greatly, and hope that you have as well."
Ticoga offers a polite bow, with Marma following his example. Marma jumps when the room suddenly lights up, looking out through the view port and seeing the remains of the massive derelict starship in its last throes on eruption.
"I was beginning to wonder when that would happen." Ticoga says in an offhanded tone, clearly uncaring for the lives lost. He looks back at Mumbo. "I will direct you to the officer quarters. No one is using them currently, and I feel that the military bunks may be too small for you to rest comfortably. Miss Marma, please return to the bridge and set our new course. I will deliver Mister Mumbo to his quarters, and clean up."
"Ah - o-okay then." Marma replies, heading off towards a different door.
Ticoga turns back to Mumbo and smiles.
"Now then, this way, Mister Mumbo."
|
|
