Snow — Roleplayer Guild

Televised Broadcast of King William IV

The camera's flicked on, and all channels switched their video to what was being shown. The British flag sat as the backdrop for an ornate podium, atop a stage. Seconds later, a greying old man with a gaunt face, large nose and grey eyes like a hawk entered and sat down at the desk, folding his hands over one another, and looking into the camera.

"People of Great Britain. As many of you may have noticed, a slightly large amount of young men of our armed forces said their goodbyes a few nights ago. Many of them had been instructed to not explain why when they left, but as your King, I feel it is now my duty to reveal that secret."

"As many of you know, Britain was once a strong, great country. We ruled more of the world than the Romans could have dreamed of. That was, until, the Great War, which single handedly led to the decline of our nation, and the end of our empire. However, many of us higher ups do not want to call that the end of the Great British Empire. No, we simply want to refer to it as a break. A challenge, if you will."

Clearing his throat and straightening his suit, the king continued on.

"As of this moment, we are formally going to war. With the Ethiopian army distracted by the Spanish, we have seen this as a golden opportunity to retake our rightful lands in South Africa without interference. This is just the first step. Before my death, I plan to restore the British Empire to it's former glory- no. That's not right. I plan to add even more glory, to it."

"Soon, the Governor-General of Australia will be arriving here in our country to formally enter a commonwealth agreement with us, essentially re-instating them as part of the empire, in all but the finest of details. Once South Africa falls, we will restore order to all former territories, either through the diplomatic route the Australians have taken, or through acts of war, as we have been forced to enter with the South Africans."

"People of Britain. We have been i the background for far too long. We have sat and watched as other nations rose to the spotlight. Rose to OUR spotlight. It's finally time for us to take action, and return to our rightful place in the world! Together, we will prevail. Together, we will retake what is rightfully ours. Together... We will restore our Empire!"

Following a brief burst of applause from the room the King had addressed the nation in, he stood from his seat, and exited the view of the camera, just before it blacked out, and the channels which had just been adorned with the face of the King returned to whatever programming had been there prior.

Southern Atlantic Ocean

As the British fleet made it's way South, many of the men who would soon enter combat for the first time sat in silence, listening to various officers bark orders, and repeat strategies at them.

One soldier in particular, a young Irish boy who looked more like a middle schooler than a soldier about to go into battle, sat alone, racking his brain trying to remember what his officer had said to him just moments prior. As he sat there, pulling at brown hair which wasn't actually there, he had caught the attention of somebody who looked almost the exact opposite of him. Tall, with strong features, and very muscular in comparison, the black haired Scottish man took a seat beside him, and leaned forward to speak with his friend.

"Forgot the plan again, Ian?" laughed the taller man, as he watched the Irish boy nearly jump out of his skin.

"No sir! I just-" the boy started, before realizing who he was speaking to.

"God damn it James, you just about gave me a heart attack! I thought I was seriously going to be in trouble!"

Still laughing, James clapped Ian on the back. "Not this time, young Ian. Not this time. Though if you ever do get yourself into any shit, don't worry. I'll have your back."

Having calmed down, the comment warranted a smile from Ian.

"By the way. Where did you end up? I remembering you were debating for a while whether you were going to be a medic or a pilot." James said.

"Well." replied Ian. "I put a lot of thought into it, and ended up becoming a medic."

Smiling smugly, and raising an eyebrow, James replied bluntly.

"So you failed the pilot exam, and went with your second choice?"

"Exactly." laughed Ian in response.

Just as James was about to speak again, an officer came into the room, urging everyone to their feet, at attention.

"Listen up! A broadcast just aired back home that you all should know about. The king has publicly announced what we are doing down here. Which means that, as of now, each and every one of you are at war with South Africa. What that means is that you all need to stop goofing off, start straightening up, and for the love of God, start paying some God damned attention to what I am saying! The time to be giddy about being a soldier in the first major war since the Anarchy ended is over. It's time to get serious, and get ready for the hell you are about to charge into. The fact we announced it preemptively means that they have a little time to prepare, so expect bullets flying over your heads the second you head for the shore.

Now, go get some damn sleep. When you wake up, it could very well be your last day among the living if you aren't in tip top shape, which I would like to prevent at all costs. Now get the hell to your rooms, or I might just have to do the Africans jobs for them!"

Breaking as quickly as possible, people scrambled for their rooms, not wanting to piss off the man known as the the meanest son of a bitch in the entire British Armed Forces.

Downtown London

A low, rumbling thunder rolled across the night sky of London, yet was completely drowned out by the sounds of civilization. People shouting, sirens, car horns... The usual. Yet every single person would complain the second it started to rain on them without warning. That was just life, and seconds after their complaints, they would get used to it, and move on, as they always do.

These were the thoughts of the foreign man sitting on a bench in the center of London, as he watched people go about their business, watching each and every one of them closely. He ran a hand through thick, black hair, pulling it back as whatever products he overkilled it with held the shape as he placed his hand in his front pocket, pulling out a cigarette and lighter. Lighting up, he sat back and relaxed, stretching an arm across the bench, much to the displeasure of an elderly woman who was sharing it with him.

"What?" He said, smirking and revealing pearly white teeth. "It's a public bench, if you can't deal with my hand being there, go sit at home, you hag."

Aghast, the old woman stood up, turned to the man, and swung her arm to slap him, only to have it caught.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." he said in a cocky tone, as he pulled her hand to his lips, and kissed. it, which was the final straw for her. She pulled her hand back violently, and stormed off, glaring at the Persian as she went.

Laughing to himself, the man relaxed once more, as he took another puff of his cigarette, and stroked his stubble-coated chin, before closing his eyes, and dropping the cigarette on the ground, still burning.

Moments later, he sat back up, and resumed his people watching, though not for long. Upon spotting a young blonde, he quickly stood up, and made his way over to her, while maintaining a short distance form her. Eventually, he saw her stop in front of a television shop, and saw that as his opportunity.

Moving beside her, he looked down at the television, and laughed. "They think this shit will sell televisions? Seeing some grey, wrinkly old bastard telling people how to live their lives?"

Looking up at the Persian with bright green eyes, the girl laughed nervously.

"No, really. This shit only appeals to people that look the exact same, and they more often then not already have a TV, yeah?"

"Yeah" the girl said shyly, causing the Persian man to laugh.

"Sorry, that's not exactly the best way to start a conversation, is it?" Extending a hand to the girl, the Persian smiled. "I'm Joseph. Well, Yousef, but I changed my name when I got here. Had to fit in, you know?"

The girl nodded, as she pulled an arm from inside of a ratty coat, meeting his hand and shaking it. "Catherine." She replied bluntly.

"Ah, what a beautiful name!" Joseph relied ecstatically. "A fitting one for a woman with as much beauty as yourself."

"Oh, shove it. I think we both know I'm not beautiful." replied Catherine, smiling at Joseph as she warmed up to him. "You know, you're not going to pick anyone up like that."

"Oh, really? Then, please. Tell me. How can I get you to let me take you somewhere?"

"Just ask." Catherine replied bluntly, once again.

Shrugging, Joseph replied equally as blunt. "Fine. Catherine, may I take you somewhere nice?"

"Sure, but I'm not paying." She said, causing Joseph to laugh.

"I thought that was already part of the deal." replied Joseph. "Now, shall we walk through this rain, or shall we hurry to my car?" He asked, causing Catherine to turn around.

"I didn't even notice it started to rain." she laughed. "Definitely the car, then."

Nodding, Joseph pulled out an umbrella, and pulled the woman close, as he escorted her to his car a few blocks away. Once they were both inside, he asked her if she had any preference as to where they should go. When she replied by shaking her head, he told her it would have to be a surprise, which she agreed to.

As they drove away, Catherine couldn't help but notice that they were leaving town.

"So... This place is outside of London, huh?"

"It's a surprise, remember?" Joseph said, with much less emotion than he had had earlier, which worried the girl.

"Um... On second thought, I need to get home by a certain time. If I'm not back by ten, my mother will kill me."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I don't think that will be a problem." Joseph said.

Scared now, Catherine reached for the door, as if to open it and jump out, but it locked with a click as she did.

"Hey, let me out! I said I changed my mind!" She shouted, pulling the door aggressively, and causing Joseph to stop short, sending her, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, flying forward and slamming her head into the dashboard, knocking her unconscious.

As she awoke, the first thing Catherine saw was iron bars under a dim light. As she came to, she also noticed a few other things. First of all, she was handcuffed to the back of the cage. Second, she noticed that she wasn't alone. There were three other women, and one male, in the exact same condition as her. Two of them were still unconscious, while the other two were frantically trying to get out of their handcuffs.

In a state of panic, and already in tears, Catherine hoarsely tried asking the woman closest to her where they were. Shaking her head, the other woman said she didn't know, and that the last thing she remembered was going into an alleyway to help a woman who said her child was bit by a dog. Immediately after, both of the women began to try getting out of the cuffs, as the other two int he room came to from the noise. But before they could join in the attempted escape, a heavy door opened, pouring bright light into the room, as the silhouette of a man entering the room froze them all, as their eyes glued to him out of fear.

Once her eyes had adjusted, Catherine realized who it was.

"Joseph! What the hell is this?! Please, let me out!" she shouted at him, her eyes welling with tears out of rage as she grit her teeth.

Smiling, the Persian man walked over to her, and crouched down next to the cage.

"Well, you see, dear. I can't exactly do that. Not yet, at least. Somebody has to purchase you before I can do that."

Catherine froze.

Purchase me? What the hell does that mean? What's going on?

Catherine's thoughts were interrupted by the woman in the cage next to her starting to shout.

"You disgusting piece of shit! Let me the fuck out of here, right now! I swear I will kill you!"

Still smiling, Joseph turned to her. "Well, if you swear you will kill me, I don't think I should let you out of there, now should I?"

Screaming, the woman began to frantically try breaking out of the cuffs, bloodying her wrists as she did so. Meanwhile, Catherine just completely broke down, wailing as the tears started to completely pour from her face.

"Oh, now none of that." Joseph said smugly. "Here, you know what..."

Moving to her cage, Joseph pulled out a key, unlocking her cage and opening the door, before moving behind it and undoing her cuffs.

"Since I feel bad for you, you can go. Just head straight through that door, and you'll be free. Now, hurry, before I change my mind."

Panicked, and without thinking, she ran straight though the door, as Joseph walked behind her, closing the heavy door behind them. As he turned from closing the door, he saw Catherine, completely frozen, as a spotlight focused on her. Laughing, he walked up to a podium next to her, and redid her handcuffs as she collapsed to her knees.

After standing again, he pulled a microphone close to his face, as he looked over a small crowd of people, all wearing elegant outfits, sitting at small tables and enjoying exquisite food and drink.

"Thank you all for coming to the first auction of the year! As usual, we are starting with our youngest item of the night. A beautiful, young blonde runaway, with emeralds for eyes that are just do die for! And for those of you that are here for the organ trade, I'll have you know that the doctor looked over her, and said she's a very healthy little thing. So... What's the first offer?"

Snow Member

Status

Bio

Most Recent Posts