Post by Baalbatos on Feb 20, 2016 8:56:31 GMT -5
(PL: 7,314)
(Heavy weights on!)
In what seemed like a moment of deja vu, Baalbatos ducked beneath the fist of the Brenchian woman Gouta. Elegantly, he rolled backwards and back flipped to his feet. The Brenchian laughed. “That old trick again?” She asked, her voice full of mirth.
“What's the matter, Gouta?” Asked Baalbatos incredulously, “I'm not boring you am I?”
“Not at all. I don't think you ever could. But do you remember the last time you tried that?” Asked Gouta, a wide grin on her face.
“Only bits and pieces,” admitted Baalbatos, “But I seem to remember my head hitting the ground. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you Gouta?” Baalbatos laughed, but on the inside he burned. Never again would he let that happen. By Hell, he could not. His pride would not allow him to fall to her again.
“No, nothing at all,” she beamed,”Still, I'm impressed that you can move so nimbly in those weights of yours.”
“Oh?” He mused, “These weights are nothing to someone as strong as me. A cakewalk really.”
In truth, they made his body ache and they were the source of most of his discomfort these days. But they were good for training. And he needed that. Baalbatos’s encounters with Gouta and Lord Qrowen had proven that much.
“Maybe there's some truth in that, Baalbatos,” said Gouta earnestly, “You definitely seem stronger lately. You're definitely stronger than me now. Though maybe not as fast.” Gouta added a smile to that last part, one that Baalbatos returned. Her smiles were quite pleasant.
“My dear Gouta,” began Baalbatos, “I like to think that I was this strong all along. I just had no reason to show my true power before.” But she was right, and Baalbatos was glad she had noticed, that somebody had noticed. He took a certain pride in his newfound strength.
“So,” began Gouta, almost nervously, “Who is stronger? You or Lord Qrowen?”
Baalbatos barked with short laughter, a derisive laugh. A silly question, in his mind, and one that he did not like the answer too.
“Lord Qrowen,” answered Baalbatos, his voice low and begrudging, “I might be strong, but the Kold Demons as a whole are a very powerful race. I still find it a wonder your people managed to defeat them. They are, quite possibly, the strongest race in the universe.”
Gouta looked at him with narrowed eyes and confusion. “How do you mean? The Planet Trade Organization won a great victory over them. The-”
Baalbatos held up a hand to stop her, annoyed. “I know my history, Gouta. Somehow the Brenchians and their allies defeated the Kold Demons. Color me surprised, though. And that's not to say that your kind are weak. Quite the opposite, in fact. But the Kold Demons are inherently very powerful. They have layers upon layers of power, hidden beneath the surface. And you have not seen all of Lord Qrowen’s.”
The Brenchian woman seemed to pout as she considered this. She's young, he realized. She could not be more than twenty-five. And while that might be an adult to the people of this world, it was young to a demon. And Baalbatos still considered himself a very young demon, compared to those he would call his elders. But even in he knew the world was not cut and dry. That was the difference between them. He had hard won wisdom of the Demon Realm at his back. And while she was not stupid, not at all, there was a certain short sightedness there, especially for someone trained for soldiering. And, he thought, it was almost adorable. That kind of thinking… To be like that again.
“But,” said Baalbatos with a sigh and a shake of his head, “I suppose that does not matter. The Kold Demons have been brought low, though perhaps our dear Lord Qrowen might change that soon enough. But the point is: Lord Qrowen is stronger. But maybe not for long.” Baalbatos winked. He was making rapid progress after all.
Gouta gave a weak smile. “If you say so, Baalbatos. I suppose that means we should get back to training, doesn't it?”
“Why indeed it does, Gouta,” confirmed Baalbatos, raising his fists, “Now where were we?”
The two sparred for a while longer, and indeed it was true: Baalbatos had already surpassed Gouta and was on the fast track
to leaving her in the dust. The lilac skinned demon’s pride grew with every passing moment, just like his power. As time went on, it was increasingly obvious that he had turned the tables on her completely. The only thing she had was her speed, but even that was not enough. Finally, they came to a stop, both of them panting for breath.
“Well, Gouta” he said, his breath heavy, “I think that we are done here. It seems that I have gone and worn myself out “
“Me too,” she agreed with breathey laughter, “I don't think I can keep up with you at this rate, Baalbatos.”
Baalbatos grinned. “I hope that isn't the case. You better keep your own training up when I'm away or else I might just leave you behind completely.”
Gouta raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Are you going somewhere?” She asked, curiosity in her voice.
“Did I not tell you already?” Asked Baalbatos, feigning confusion. But he knew exactly what he was doing.
“No,” said Gouta with a slow shake of her head, “You didn’t. Where are you going?”
Baalbatos laughed, “Well, it’s a good thing I said something. Lord Qrowen and I are going to be going to Earth. We have a bit of business to attend too. Call it a business trip, I suppose.”
“But what are you doing there, Baalbatos? Come on, tell me. I can keep a secret,” she said with a coy smile and a tilted head.
“Oh, it’s nothing important,” began Baalbatos, “Just drumming up some support for the cause, you know. Be it money, people, equipment… You know, the usual.”
“Oh, I see. But who is going to take care of things around here? I image people will be lost without you two,” mused Gouta.
Baalbatos smiled. Yes, people who be lost without him. He did so much for these people. But he had a plan.
“Why, that’s where you come in, Gouta. I need you to manage this place in my stead,” explained Baalbatos, a sly grin on his face, like a fox.
“Me?” Asked Gouta, “Why me?”
“Because I need someone that I can trust here, doing things for me. It’s a very important job, and I understand if you don’t want to have to deal with it,” he explained, frowning slightly.
“Oh no!” She exclaimed, “I’ll do it! I was just wondering why me, of all people?”
Baalbatos smile again, a wide and broad and smile. He stepped closer to her as he spoke, making pains to look into her eyes “Because I trust you, that’s why. I trust you most of all. And trust is the most important thing to me.”
“Thank you, Baalbatos,” she said softly, “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. I have the utmost faith in you,” said Baalbatos.
“Thank you again,” she enthused, nodding, “So, when do you and Lord Qrowen leave for Earth.”
Baalbatos shrugged. “Whenever our ship arrives. I have already put the order in for one. It should be here within a few days. I’ll try to set things up so that our departure is easier on you. I’ll have a list of things that need done, and I’ll leave you my comms information so that you can reach my data pad.”
“You got it, Baalbatos,” she exclaimed, “I’ll take great care of the place.”
“I trust you, Gouta. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to get some work done before Lord Qrowen and I leave.”
And with that, Baalbatos took his leave of the Brenchian woman. Yes, he had much work to do indeed. He had reports to check, messages to send, and propaganda to distribute. Boring to be sure, but someone had to do it. At least Gouta would be taking on some of it soon, while he and Lord Qrowen took care of business on Earth. Somehow, he was not sure who had the harder job.
(I'll take PL for this, with heavy weights and LMB please! Thank you!)
(Heavy weights on!)
In what seemed like a moment of deja vu, Baalbatos ducked beneath the fist of the Brenchian woman Gouta. Elegantly, he rolled backwards and back flipped to his feet. The Brenchian laughed. “That old trick again?” She asked, her voice full of mirth.
“What's the matter, Gouta?” Asked Baalbatos incredulously, “I'm not boring you am I?”
“Not at all. I don't think you ever could. But do you remember the last time you tried that?” Asked Gouta, a wide grin on her face.
“Only bits and pieces,” admitted Baalbatos, “But I seem to remember my head hitting the ground. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you Gouta?” Baalbatos laughed, but on the inside he burned. Never again would he let that happen. By Hell, he could not. His pride would not allow him to fall to her again.
“No, nothing at all,” she beamed,”Still, I'm impressed that you can move so nimbly in those weights of yours.”
“Oh?” He mused, “These weights are nothing to someone as strong as me. A cakewalk really.”
In truth, they made his body ache and they were the source of most of his discomfort these days. But they were good for training. And he needed that. Baalbatos’s encounters with Gouta and Lord Qrowen had proven that much.
“Maybe there's some truth in that, Baalbatos,” said Gouta earnestly, “You definitely seem stronger lately. You're definitely stronger than me now. Though maybe not as fast.” Gouta added a smile to that last part, one that Baalbatos returned. Her smiles were quite pleasant.
“My dear Gouta,” began Baalbatos, “I like to think that I was this strong all along. I just had no reason to show my true power before.” But she was right, and Baalbatos was glad she had noticed, that somebody had noticed. He took a certain pride in his newfound strength.
“So,” began Gouta, almost nervously, “Who is stronger? You or Lord Qrowen?”
Baalbatos barked with short laughter, a derisive laugh. A silly question, in his mind, and one that he did not like the answer too.
“Lord Qrowen,” answered Baalbatos, his voice low and begrudging, “I might be strong, but the Kold Demons as a whole are a very powerful race. I still find it a wonder your people managed to defeat them. They are, quite possibly, the strongest race in the universe.”
Gouta looked at him with narrowed eyes and confusion. “How do you mean? The Planet Trade Organization won a great victory over them. The-”
Baalbatos held up a hand to stop her, annoyed. “I know my history, Gouta. Somehow the Brenchians and their allies defeated the Kold Demons. Color me surprised, though. And that's not to say that your kind are weak. Quite the opposite, in fact. But the Kold Demons are inherently very powerful. They have layers upon layers of power, hidden beneath the surface. And you have not seen all of Lord Qrowen’s.”
The Brenchian woman seemed to pout as she considered this. She's young, he realized. She could not be more than twenty-five. And while that might be an adult to the people of this world, it was young to a demon. And Baalbatos still considered himself a very young demon, compared to those he would call his elders. But even in he knew the world was not cut and dry. That was the difference between them. He had hard won wisdom of the Demon Realm at his back. And while she was not stupid, not at all, there was a certain short sightedness there, especially for someone trained for soldiering. And, he thought, it was almost adorable. That kind of thinking… To be like that again.
“But,” said Baalbatos with a sigh and a shake of his head, “I suppose that does not matter. The Kold Demons have been brought low, though perhaps our dear Lord Qrowen might change that soon enough. But the point is: Lord Qrowen is stronger. But maybe not for long.” Baalbatos winked. He was making rapid progress after all.
Gouta gave a weak smile. “If you say so, Baalbatos. I suppose that means we should get back to training, doesn't it?”
“Why indeed it does, Gouta,” confirmed Baalbatos, raising his fists, “Now where were we?”
The two sparred for a while longer, and indeed it was true: Baalbatos had already surpassed Gouta and was on the fast track
to leaving her in the dust. The lilac skinned demon’s pride grew with every passing moment, just like his power. As time went on, it was increasingly obvious that he had turned the tables on her completely. The only thing she had was her speed, but even that was not enough. Finally, they came to a stop, both of them panting for breath.
“Well, Gouta” he said, his breath heavy, “I think that we are done here. It seems that I have gone and worn myself out “
“Me too,” she agreed with breathey laughter, “I don't think I can keep up with you at this rate, Baalbatos.”
Baalbatos grinned. “I hope that isn't the case. You better keep your own training up when I'm away or else I might just leave you behind completely.”
Gouta raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Are you going somewhere?” She asked, curiosity in her voice.
“Did I not tell you already?” Asked Baalbatos, feigning confusion. But he knew exactly what he was doing.
“No,” said Gouta with a slow shake of her head, “You didn’t. Where are you going?”
Baalbatos laughed, “Well, it’s a good thing I said something. Lord Qrowen and I are going to be going to Earth. We have a bit of business to attend too. Call it a business trip, I suppose.”
“But what are you doing there, Baalbatos? Come on, tell me. I can keep a secret,” she said with a coy smile and a tilted head.
“Oh, it’s nothing important,” began Baalbatos, “Just drumming up some support for the cause, you know. Be it money, people, equipment… You know, the usual.”
“Oh, I see. But who is going to take care of things around here? I image people will be lost without you two,” mused Gouta.
Baalbatos smiled. Yes, people who be lost without him. He did so much for these people. But he had a plan.
“Why, that’s where you come in, Gouta. I need you to manage this place in my stead,” explained Baalbatos, a sly grin on his face, like a fox.
“Me?” Asked Gouta, “Why me?”
“Because I need someone that I can trust here, doing things for me. It’s a very important job, and I understand if you don’t want to have to deal with it,” he explained, frowning slightly.
“Oh no!” She exclaimed, “I’ll do it! I was just wondering why me, of all people?”
Baalbatos smile again, a wide and broad and smile. He stepped closer to her as he spoke, making pains to look into her eyes “Because I trust you, that’s why. I trust you most of all. And trust is the most important thing to me.”
“Thank you, Baalbatos,” she said softly, “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. I have the utmost faith in you,” said Baalbatos.
“Thank you again,” she enthused, nodding, “So, when do you and Lord Qrowen leave for Earth.”
Baalbatos shrugged. “Whenever our ship arrives. I have already put the order in for one. It should be here within a few days. I’ll try to set things up so that our departure is easier on you. I’ll have a list of things that need done, and I’ll leave you my comms information so that you can reach my data pad.”
“You got it, Baalbatos,” she exclaimed, “I’ll take great care of the place.”
“I trust you, Gouta. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to get some work done before Lord Qrowen and I leave.”
And with that, Baalbatos took his leave of the Brenchian woman. Yes, he had much work to do indeed. He had reports to check, messages to send, and propaganda to distribute. Boring to be sure, but someone had to do it. At least Gouta would be taking on some of it soon, while he and Lord Qrowen took care of business on Earth. Somehow, he was not sure who had the harder job.
(I'll take PL for this, with heavy weights and LMB please! Thank you!)