05-24-2006, 12:59 PM
?So, Pops, got any brilliant ideas for this little shin-dig??
Bardock refocused his attention on his son, having occupied himself with watching new fighters arrive. Any intimacy between his two companions wasn?t any of his business. He?d found it more amusing watching Raditzu?s nervous twitches. There was always fun to be had when it wasn?t you in the doghouse.
?By the way?they have anything to eat around here??
The elder saiyan broke into a laugh?a sad, ironic laugh.
?What?s so funny? There?s nothing funny about a man and his food,? Rad insisted, patting his stomach.
?Hate to break it to you, son, but there ain?t going to be any waffles for you,? Bardock shrugged. He nodded his chin over to his son?s bag. ?Bread and water for two days. That?s it.?
?Madness!? the younger roared, outraged.
Unfortunately, the father missed the rest of what was surely a comedic reaction, because a familiar presence of energy alerted his senses. It wasn?t really that specific body of ki that made him turn his head, more the feeling that came with it. A raving mad Raditzu in the background, Bar searched for the source of the unsettling sensation. His eyes narrowed as they came across that of Prince Vegeta, whom he had recently learned had been crowned king in the recent stepping down of the royalty?s father. Vegeta was glaring at Raditzu malevolently, exuding nothing but pure enmity, even as his dark eyes traveled from the longhaired saiyan to the androidess lying next to him. He didn?t seem to notice the fellow patriarch looking back at him. Bardock?s face turned serious, because the expression on the new king?s face was one that wanted to start something. That presented a minor conflict: Bardock retained a shred of loyalty to the monarchy that ruled his homeworld, while feeling a sense of duty to protect his family. Bar had no personal argument with Vegeta, and preferred it to stay that way. Fortunately, nothing came of the venomous glower, as the monarch turned away, presumably to find his comrades and family. The seasoned warrior took into serious consideration that by allying himself with Raditzu and Android 18, he would also be putting forth a hand in association to any vendettas called against the pair. It was a risk he was willing to take; although he was a small fish in a big pond, he would make anyone sorry they laid a hand on his children while he was around. Putting them in their place was his job.
Just then, the room they were presently in rocked violently, startling Bardock from his thoughts. He had completely zoned out, ignoring those nearby. The evolved ape stumbled a bit, trying to regain his balance.
?Forget your walker, old man?? Raditzu jested, although he too swayed a bit from his seated position.
Bardock?s head wordlessly spun to meet his offspring?s look, and then turned in another direction to allow full view of what was happening.
It should have been obvious: they had departed for Dante?s Abyss, an island of no return. Then he was reminded of the fact that killing wasn?t really killing, a tweak in the game-play that took most of the thrill out of it. What risk was there, now that there wasn?t anything precious at stake? It defeated the purpose of a death tournament to remove actual death as a possible consequence. He supposed there were always bragging rights and a sense of competition, but that could be had in an everyday street brawl. This was supposed to be the pinnacle of the fight, regressed to its most primal form of treachery and bloody mayhem. Such a thought also brought to light a very neglected prospect: if any of the family was forced to eliminate each other. It was an unlikely but very possible event that could come to pass and left a sour taste in Bardock?s mouth. He?d been through that before, and wasn?t so eager to relive the experience. His own personal code demanded that it be done if necessary: the weaker must be punished. Unfortunately, he was the short stack of the hand, every time. Even so, he wasn?t the type of guy to give up, no matter the odds. He would fight with everything he had to his last breath.
?Looks like it?s almost game time. I prefer good ol? fashioned fist to face. Strategy isn?t really my strongpoint, so there?s no point in going with anything else but beating the shit out of people,? Bardock smirked, answering the previous question that had been left hanging. ?I don?t know about you two, but that?s my bright idea.?
The black-haired bruiser faced Eighteen. ?I?m not going to lie: I wanna finish what we started, so if it ever comes down to that, you can be sure I?m all in. Seems only right for DA. But I give my word I won?t start anything unless you do first.? Then he looked at his son, a glint of crazy thrill in his eyes. ?That goes for you, too.?
With that, he cast his lot.
Bardock refocused his attention on his son, having occupied himself with watching new fighters arrive. Any intimacy between his two companions wasn?t any of his business. He?d found it more amusing watching Raditzu?s nervous twitches. There was always fun to be had when it wasn?t you in the doghouse.
?By the way?they have anything to eat around here??
The elder saiyan broke into a laugh?a sad, ironic laugh.
?What?s so funny? There?s nothing funny about a man and his food,? Rad insisted, patting his stomach.
?Hate to break it to you, son, but there ain?t going to be any waffles for you,? Bardock shrugged. He nodded his chin over to his son?s bag. ?Bread and water for two days. That?s it.?
?Madness!? the younger roared, outraged.
Unfortunately, the father missed the rest of what was surely a comedic reaction, because a familiar presence of energy alerted his senses. It wasn?t really that specific body of ki that made him turn his head, more the feeling that came with it. A raving mad Raditzu in the background, Bar searched for the source of the unsettling sensation. His eyes narrowed as they came across that of Prince Vegeta, whom he had recently learned had been crowned king in the recent stepping down of the royalty?s father. Vegeta was glaring at Raditzu malevolently, exuding nothing but pure enmity, even as his dark eyes traveled from the longhaired saiyan to the androidess lying next to him. He didn?t seem to notice the fellow patriarch looking back at him. Bardock?s face turned serious, because the expression on the new king?s face was one that wanted to start something. That presented a minor conflict: Bardock retained a shred of loyalty to the monarchy that ruled his homeworld, while feeling a sense of duty to protect his family. Bar had no personal argument with Vegeta, and preferred it to stay that way. Fortunately, nothing came of the venomous glower, as the monarch turned away, presumably to find his comrades and family. The seasoned warrior took into serious consideration that by allying himself with Raditzu and Android 18, he would also be putting forth a hand in association to any vendettas called against the pair. It was a risk he was willing to take; although he was a small fish in a big pond, he would make anyone sorry they laid a hand on his children while he was around. Putting them in their place was his job.
Just then, the room they were presently in rocked violently, startling Bardock from his thoughts. He had completely zoned out, ignoring those nearby. The evolved ape stumbled a bit, trying to regain his balance.
?Forget your walker, old man?? Raditzu jested, although he too swayed a bit from his seated position.
Bardock?s head wordlessly spun to meet his offspring?s look, and then turned in another direction to allow full view of what was happening.
It should have been obvious: they had departed for Dante?s Abyss, an island of no return. Then he was reminded of the fact that killing wasn?t really killing, a tweak in the game-play that took most of the thrill out of it. What risk was there, now that there wasn?t anything precious at stake? It defeated the purpose of a death tournament to remove actual death as a possible consequence. He supposed there were always bragging rights and a sense of competition, but that could be had in an everyday street brawl. This was supposed to be the pinnacle of the fight, regressed to its most primal form of treachery and bloody mayhem. Such a thought also brought to light a very neglected prospect: if any of the family was forced to eliminate each other. It was an unlikely but very possible event that could come to pass and left a sour taste in Bardock?s mouth. He?d been through that before, and wasn?t so eager to relive the experience. His own personal code demanded that it be done if necessary: the weaker must be punished. Unfortunately, he was the short stack of the hand, every time. Even so, he wasn?t the type of guy to give up, no matter the odds. He would fight with everything he had to his last breath.
?Looks like it?s almost game time. I prefer good ol? fashioned fist to face. Strategy isn?t really my strongpoint, so there?s no point in going with anything else but beating the shit out of people,? Bardock smirked, answering the previous question that had been left hanging. ?I don?t know about you two, but that?s my bright idea.?
The black-haired bruiser faced Eighteen. ?I?m not going to lie: I wanna finish what we started, so if it ever comes down to that, you can be sure I?m all in. Seems only right for DA. But I give my word I won?t start anything unless you do first.? Then he looked at his son, a glint of crazy thrill in his eyes. ?That goes for you, too.?
With that, he cast his lot.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
_=Pass you by, it's all in this life you have
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_