Collab with Windel
The Green King shrugged to Jukebox's rather annoying upbeat response. True, a King had the right to do what they wanted to their subjects but there was a difference between proving a point and being a dick about it. Grin grinned as he helped to haul Jukebox back to a standing position, crossing his arms as he gave the lower Player a good look over.
"From your health I can only assume you visited the Black Kingdom, right? So mind telling me what I sent there for in the first place? You didn't forget your assigned mission from me, did you?"
Jukebox always felt nervous in the presence of a King. sure he had only met the Green King, but the spur of the moment nature he seemed to have unsettled Jukebox. As he was helped he could only think of how close he was to this powerful figure, he was a King and with a swipe of his hand he would be respawning without knowing what happened.
"No, no I didn't forget. I was to get information. I was hoping to spend more time there, but a level 5 Dissolution showed up and then it was announced that an army of Sweepers now make up the bulk of the new Black Guild. I'm just a lowly level 3 and I don't think the Sweepers would appreciate another guild member being in their turf. Lynching would be an awful way to go..."
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time."
"Oh I'm sure of it," Verdant Grin said with such an enthusiasm that didn't seem to be too healthy for any sane being. Flicking his knife out, he casually twirled it deftly between his fingers as he sized up Jukebox. Of course, he didn't ask about the Ebony Strykers, now did he? As he recalled, the mission was on another subject entirely.
"See, that's all fine and dandy Jukey, but you didn't tell me about Moon Bitch. Mind speeding up to that part before I let the Sweepers handle your corpse?"
The green light flashes, the flags go up, churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
All of a sudden Jukebox understood, he had been a bit too preoccupied with the Guild and didn't pay enoguh attention to the King, thinking fast Jukebox wracked his brain for important information as he slightly panicked.
"Th-there was a high level Sweeper that the Black King had do the announcements after her. The relationship can't be a brand new one if such a level of trust is between them. It was rather far, so I didn't catch her full name, but she looked to be a Warlock going by the equipment she had. Dark... Wrath? Wraith? Something like that. There wasn't an opportunity for me to walk up and introduce my self, sorry."
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up, and long ago somebody left with the cup.
"Oh? Well I suppose that does count as dirt on the Black King. And I suppose any other leader would be satisfied with that kind of answer...right?"
Tsking to himself, the Green King snapped his fingers as thick, crimson tendrils of energy suddenly sprang from the ground, holding Jukebox in place. That's right. The Green King was a Mage, specifically of the Warlock breed who specialized in black magics and demonic attacks. That meant only something truly gruesome could come out of this situation.
"Well Jukey old buddy, I do sincerely appreciate your willingness in becoming both a spy and a hefty sacrifice! No hard feelings friend, but I just lost a bet to the old Red King, know what I'm saying? Just have to blow off some steam, yeah? Nothing personal-seriously, what the hell is that noise?"
Grin's grin momentarily subsided, the knife held down as he listened to the sound getting louder and louder. He had assumed it was just Jukebox's ability again but the other Player shouldn't be playing something like this when his life was about to be ended by a hissy King. So where the-
But she's driving and striving and hugging the turns, and thinking of someone for whom she still burns.
The ground rumbled underfoot and Verdant Grin turned to see the source of the obnoxious music. What he saw made him sigh in annoyance because yet another person had come to ruin his life. Oh well. Just someone more to trample upon. For Jukebox, it was a sign of hope from this situation he had gotten himself in. And that beacon of hope came in the form of a giant blue tank.
Mercury Titania grinned, spinning the wheel as her battle tank flipped on its side and seemed to be driving upside down. It continued moving forward as it drove above them and she hung down to give Jukebox a high five. All with the music from her speakers blaring out as she landed back on the tank's treads with a skid.
She's going the distance. She's going for speed. He's all alone, all alone, in his time of need.
Jukebox's heart fell as soon as the words "any other King" left Verdant Grin's mouth. Then he felt as if his body had turned into jelly as the red tendrils held him in place.
"C-cmon Grin! Is killing a level 3 really gonna satisfy you? Dammit man! I worked real hard for this EXP! My abilities are bullshit! I have to throw people off buildings!"
As he complained in vain the music grew louder, before realising it wasn't him. Turning his head, Jukebox saw a giant blue tank and the Blue King riding in like the cavalry. He was surprised when he saw the tank actually flip and Titania gave him a high-five given his suspended state. When the tank skidded to a halt it was silent apart from the song blaring out of speakers.
"Ummm, hello Blue King. I would bow, but I'm a little... tied up~?" unable to stop himself he started giggling like mad at the awful joke, fear, hope and surprise mixing withing him.
"Oh Jukey, have you been leaking our private activities to the other Kings~?" the Blue King replied, taking in his bound state. With a flick of her finger, she cut the power to the music, leaving the area in silence. Verdant Grin watched with an annoyed expression as she stepped out, hauling her massive gunblade and pointing it at him.
"What's up Green King? Been a while, am I right? Mind letting my new friend go before I have to really get ugly?"
"Ugly? I assume you mean something out of the ordinary because the mere sight of you makes me want to hurl," he said with a smirk. "What, he your new boyfriend or something?"
"Nah. I sort of kicked his ass in DDR IRL so he kind of owes me. Can't have you go around breaking my toys~"
Jukebox silently listened to the Kings argue as he fell to the ground after Titania freed him. Their history obviously causing animosity. However he really couldn't stay quiet.
"I'm sorry, you kicked my ass at DDR? I had to go easy on you as soon as I saw you falling asleep on the pad! How could I maintain any sort of rep at the game if I humiliated a girl who obviously couldn't dance to save their life~♪"
Getting to his feet, Jukebox wisely took a few steps back. Not wanting to be accidentally hit by Titania's blade.
"Oh hush you," the Blue King said as she lightly kicked him back down. Just to ensure that he was her property now, she gently placed a booted foot on his chest while grinning at the master of grinning. The Green King never wavered in his expression, although his smirk did twitch.
"Well isn't this a nice development. Honestly Jukey, I never thought you'd openly betray me in this manner. But I suppose it now all makes sense! The late arrivals to every game, the fact that you're never logged on...it's cause you went up and betrayed me! Am I getting this right?"
Jukebox was stunned as he was kicked back to the ground and was pinned by Titania. He really just wanted to get away before the situation became explosive, but that seemed impossible. Especially since he was now being accused of betrayal.
"Me? Betray? Are you crazy?! How could I do that? I'm late? I'm a student! I don't play? Well that’s because I can’t level up! Not without a rediculous amount of effort or being babysitted! Fanged Rangers help players level up? Don’t make me laugh! I haven’t leveled up at all! My dumbass abilities make others look down and see me as not worth the effort! To even leave the damn city it has to be for some ‘mission’. You think I like being weak?!”
Exhausted, Jukebox just rested under Titania’s boot, strangely comforted by the fact a King was actually protecting him instead of trying to kill him.That comfort would soon be compromised as a knife landed near his head, almost hitting Mercury's boot. For once the Blue King frowned as she swung her blade outward, ready to challenge the Green King. But Verdant Grin was already turning away, sheathing his other knife away and out of sight.
"Screw it, you know? I'll let you slide this time Jukey. But if you hang around that bitch any longer, I might really start to consider you a traitor. Until next time losers."
With that, Verdant Green promptly logged out, the urge to stomp Jukebox's face in practically seeping out of his motions. Mercury Titania watched him go before hefting her mighty blade to the side. A heavy sigh escaped as she moved off of Jukebox, looking down at him.
"I hate it when he does that...you alright Jukey?"
Surprised that Verdant Grin just walked away Jukebox got to his feet and looked at Mercury Titania with a thankful grin before jumping into her arms.
"Well, aren't you my hero? I'm certain I would have been killed. A Knight in shining blue armour. I should reward you somehow, but I'm not all that strong and have little assets to speak of..." with a sigh Jukebox rested his head on Titania's shoulder
"Name your prize brave knight~♪"
"Heh, assets are only for those who can't rely on their own strength. Or...something like that," Titania said with a playful shrug. "But seriously, it's not good for anyone's health to go around picking fights with the Green King. What'd you do to piss him off?"
"Well no one gets strong on their own... well, that 's me the weak guy who goes around picking fights with Kings. I pissed him off by talking to him on a day he lost a bet to the Red King. It is truly awful of me to use my telepathic skills to know that he lost a bet~♪” With a quick peck on her cheek, Jukebox leaped out of her arms and span on his heel to face Titania.
“So, will this be a continuation of the date? Or am I just a a guy whose ass you kicked at DDR~?”
"Hmm, that all depends on how much paper work I have for you to do," she answered with a wink, blowing him a mock g him a mock kiss before logging out. Well then. That certainly held promise for the future.
Catching the mock kiss as it was blown he jokingly held it to his heart as Titania logged out. With a sigh Jukebox looked around and couldn't see anything else to do so he
followed the Kings example and logged out.