Post by zachrin on Aug 10, 2020 18:13:06 GMT -5
In the stands of the arena, a gold trimmed blob stood observing the ring below, their black form completely still besides their golden eyes. Parabellum watched the sparring blobs below, unflinching as blows landed and blood splattered onto the rainbow stained floor.
One could see the smallest smile creep onto his face once it was over. The ferocity and adaptiveness of the victor, and the determination of the defeated...if more were like them, he thought, then Onixya would have nothing to worry about. Alas, filling the arena had been a consistent struggle, and his golden tail flicked behind him in an annoyed twitch. The regal looking blobs smile disappeared, his usual stoic expression taking over once again.
The lower pair of eyes glanced over to the figure approaching from the stands: he could recognize those colors anywhere. "...Sakana." Parabellum's commanding voice could be heard from the opposite end of the arena, the tone sounding somewhat indifferent to the untrained ear. "Will you finally be joining us in the ring?"
The colorful lady-blob waved off the two blobs that were flanking her as she approached the arena master. Her hips swayed as she walked sending her frills dancing. A pleasant smile crossed her face as she greeted the arena master with a delicately executed curtsy. "Now you know I'm not suited to such a thing dear Bella."
Almost on queue her legs vanished as if to prove her point. Left with just her long flowing fish-like tail for support she fell a short distance before she caught herself in a hover. With a practiced ease she lowered herself the rest of the way gently into a nearby seat. Unfazed by the whole transition she gave Parabellum a helpless shrug and a sympathetic smile. "If you were anyone else I'd think you were trying to take advantage of me."
Parabellum offered a nod towards Sakana as she gracefully greeted him. "Everyone is suited to such things, they only need to try." Though the catlike blobs black and gold face remained stoic, the faintest hint of fondness peeked out through his voice. He didn't even correct her on the nickname she chose to use: these were visits the taskmaster looked forward to. He watched her legs vanish as her more 'normal' form took shape with his lower set of eyes, the larger ones still focused on the ring.
"Were I trying to take advantage, sweet priestess, I would ask you to petition your goddess for her thoughts on the Friendzy fiasco recently." The tall taskmaster referred to the rush of blobs mentioning Vermin: it seemed Parabellum talked of little else as of late. It had caused him to redouble his efforts in the ring, calling on blobs far and wide to train...to prepare. "Do you think she's enough power for that, yet? Or does she intend to create some new creature or floating sphere while turning a blind eye to her previous creations?" His voice hadn't changed from the commanding, confident tone he always spoke in, but it was unlike him to be so accusatory. At least, to anyone besides Sakana and her pursuits.
For her part Sakana merely smiled pleasantly at the jabs. "Perhaps you would also like a scratch behind the ear and a belly rub while she solves all of the problems we create for ourselves?" She extended a hand like she expected him to rub up against it and wiggled her fingers at him. "I can certainly see the appeal, but then all this training would be for nothing. Surely you have faith in what you're teaching them."
"Tempting, to be sure." Parabellum replied without an ounce of sarcasm, locking both sets of eyes on her. "But what problems do we create for ourselves?" His tail whipped out towards the outstretched hand, golden fur streaking behind. It wouldn't hurt if it hit, but was firm in its message.
"A force threatens this city. Something she created, or other gods placed and she allows to exist. It threatens all of her children, yet she does not seem to care." The black and gold blob shifted their gaze back to the ring: the previous match had ended, but none stepped up to take their place for some time. "I have faith that my efforts will help enough of our brothers and sisters. I only wish we could have faith in her."
"A force threatens this city. Something she created, or other gods placed and she allows to exist. It threatens all of her children, yet she does not seem to care." The black and gold blob shifted their gaze back to the ring: the previous match had ended, but none stepped up to take their place for some time. "I have faith that my efforts will help enough of our brothers and sisters. I only wish we could have faith in her."
With a quick twist of her wrist she snatched the offending tail before letting it slide back out between her fingers. "Well, this Vermin individual is likely a fellow blob. Their force is apparently made of feral blobs. It's hardly a divine problem and at this point it's hard to say they're truly a threat." With a dainty shrug she added, "That doesn't mean we should do nothing ourselves of course."
"This city, this world, each new thing she creates is for us." Voice bordering on wistful her eyes finally followed his back to the ring. "You wouldn't give one of them a weapon or armor and then expect them not to take care of it themselves would you? She didn't have to give us anything. You were here when everything was sand where you not?"
Parabellum's tail swished gently behind him after Sakana released it, taking a long moment to consider her words. His top set of eyes closed, and his voice took on the same wistful tone as hers for but a moment."Yes, I was here when the soaking swamps erupted from the sand. And I was here when Eris designed to create those death traps we call the tar pits, and Ichor sees fit to leave them be. Just as it is now...it's a pattern that can be traced to the beginning of our history, and that is how I know petitioning Ichor will get us nowhere."
"And you are correct," Parabellum continued, not giving Sakana a chance to reply yet. His voice was, once again, its usual authoritative tone that carried across the arena, speaking as though his words were law. "I would train and equip my charges, and expect them to defend themselves. But I also would not create or allow the existence of an opposing army to make the effort worthwhile."
"However..." The cat nodded towards the rainbow mermaid, his voice softening. "I admit she can be more generous than I characterized. And though I can see plenty of issues that the goddess could return to correct, I must meditate on this current one further. As always, Sakana, you give me something to think about."
"And you are correct," Parabellum continued, not giving Sakana a chance to reply yet. His voice was, once again, its usual authoritative tone that carried across the arena, speaking as though his words were law. "I would train and equip my charges, and expect them to defend themselves. But I also would not create or allow the existence of an opposing army to make the effort worthwhile."
"However..." The cat nodded towards the rainbow mermaid, his voice softening. "I admit she can be more generous than I characterized. And though I can see plenty of issues that the goddess could return to correct, I must meditate on this current one further. As always, Sakana, you give me something to think about."
"It's always a pleasure. I do quite enjoy our talks." Sakana's softly spoken words stopped for a moment as her rainbow eyes trailed to the side. One of the blobs she had entered with was trying to get her attention. With a silent nod in their direction she continued, "Just keep in mind, she allows us our own will. Don't you think it would be shameful of us to use it in an attempt to restrict her own?"
Picking herself back up into a hover the mermaid uncoiled her tail behind herself with a flourish, "Besides, if you really wanted to garner favor with her, regardless of your faith in her, you're perfectly situated to do so." Her lips quirked as she gestured to the ring itself. "Then you could also be assured that each new born was adequately trained as well." With a coy wink at the arena master she added, "And of course Bella, I'd always be willing to help you in such an endeavor."
Parabellum nodded as the mermaid picked herself up, letting out a low 'hmm' as his eyes focused on two other regulars entered the ring. Still no new faces yet...but the arena master still had plenty of ideas. "I haven't needed divine favor as of yet, priestess, but it's not an option I'll dismiss." Though he would dismiss the overly friendly nickname, his stoic expression breaking once again as a sly smile crept across his face. "Shame you have somewhere to be. To be continued, Sakana?"
With a tail flourish Sakana managed a graceful curtsy without her legs. "Mmm" Sakana agreed as her smile widened at Parabellum's, "There is not yet enough blood in Terrea, but I would not neglect you so. Until next time, Bella." Tail swaying as if she were swimming through the air she glided away from the arena master. Rejoined promptly by the others she had arrived with they left the arena behind.
