The path to be a hero

[SakuraAlkaid]

"True, and true," Luca agreed with a nod. He could play the part of the typical man on the street in a way that some professional actors would be envious of. It comes with practice, however. "But the city makes a great amount of money off of it, so they wouldn't give it up for anything. What can you do? The current King is one of the people you mentioned, so hopefully this year he will be replaced by someone more...befitting of the title." He paused a moment, his gaze falling onto the crowd of people around them before he continued.

"Another round of the games should be starting soon, speaking of which. If you get a chance, watch a round. Perhaps you'll change your mind a little once you see it for yourself."

[kai the pkk]

Alex: sure if im not too busy i'll give it a try let me guess your gonna turn out to be one of those caped crusaders arent you { he grins causing air of serious tension around them between the two unintentionally} ......Bwahahahahaha!!! { he starts laughing} i]im sorry i almost couldnt even say that with a traight face ahahahaaha { any sort of seriousness just vanishes and its back to normal as Alex pats luca shoullder} what are the chances of that actually happeneing

[SakuraAlkaid]

"Very slim, I can assure you of that," Luca answered, laughing away the remaining tension in the air. The few knots that had began forming in his stomach finally untangled. That had been more intimidating than he had expected. "The things they do... It's far beyond anything someone like myself could ever dream of doing. I do like to observe them in the games, though. It's an interesting show, that's for sure."

"I need to get back home. I've found out all I'm going to about this kid today, and he's starting to really get to me, which is surprising in itself... Before I end up slipping up, I should call it a day and watch this kid from a distance for a little while.."

"Anyway, I have to get to work now. It's been nice meeting you, and again, welcome to Sternbuild," Luca said, extending his hand to Alex with a light smile.

[kai the pkk]

Alex: { he shakes lucas hand} I'll see you around then { he smiles playfully as he walks off} *YAwn* its time to get home its getting alittle too late for me...{ he glances at his watch as he heads back to his apartment}


{ a Masked man appears before X-zepher and his pursuer and he stays silent but it looks like hes there to help as he cuts off his pursuer and blocks her path}

Masked man: .....

[SakuraAlkaid]

"That kid... Something about him bothers me more than it should... I'll get Damien to watch him as best as he can, so that I can keep my little Mariah on the new hero. And if he happens to turn out to be the same person... Well, little Mariah will be in a lot of trouble for one, but I'll have everything I need regardless..."

Luca left as soon as Alex was out of sight, returning home with a lot on his mind and new plans forming.

[grave robbing adept rogue]

Evan looked around himself, realizing how much time had past during the contest. With what little intelligence he has left he spits out a strangely understandable sentence. "Crrraaaaap... the hangover is gonna suck." Evan drinks from a newly filled mug and puts it down halfway. "Bwugh..." Evan gags, appearing like he's about to puke, the bartender picks up a bucket and throws it at Evan, hitting him right in the head. "Oooooogh!" Evan lays down on the floor rubbing his head, then he lets out a groan. "I need more alcohol..." Evan raises the bucket to his lips and tries to drink from it but it's empty. However Evan doesn't seem aware of it. He continues trying to drink from the bucket. Eventually he gives up and raises it. "I need a refill." Evan sits up but his vision is blurred and he can't tell if his opponent is still there. "Aaron... hellllloooo?" The bartender pours alcohol into the bucket while chuckling. He hands it to Evan who's arms shake so wildly that the liquid is splashing everywhere. "Urrrghh, Why is it so heavy? And why is it raining inside?" Evan starts drinking from the bucket still splashing it everywhere.

[kai the pkk]

Aarron: ( it appears he's passed out) enough allready you truely are a worthy opponent ( he looks out the window) looks like a storms coming ( he leaves money to cover for his drinks) I'll see you around champion maybe I'll come by more often


-----( next morning)----

Alex: ( he stretches out as he begins his morning routine and be heads outside as he throws on a t-short and a pair of cargo pants and a sweatshirt) What the weird dude said yesterday is still bothering me "when the clock strikes 11" did he mean today?!

[SakuraAlkaid]

After making sure that the man in the alleyway was alright, Mariah had headed straight home, locking her door behind her. She went to bed early that night, and because of it, she woke up earlier than usual the following morning. She took a little longer getting ready than she normally would, but only because she was lost in thought the entire time. When she was finally ready, dressed in jeans and a navy long sleeved top, she sat on the edge of her bed and tried to clear her thoughts.

"Come on Mariah, get it together. You can't let Luca and Damien worry you into staying home all of the time again. It's not worth it. Besides, for all you know, another group of villains will act out today, and you need to be out there to help people..." She sighed, but stood. It was a start. She slipped into a pair of black, low-cut boots, tucking the ends of her jeans into them, and headed toward the shopping center of the city.

[kai the pkk]

Alex:( he found himself wandering through the city after he got himself some breakfast he all found his way towards the shopping center as he looks around and actually finds himself in a music store and he begins to looks around at the different CDs)...Damn it's really bothersome ( he actually ends up buying a CD as he walks out and he sits on a near by bench) what to do now

---
???: all preparations are set

????: we shall get ready to begin the operation get everything in place...

????: yes sir

[grave robbing adept rogue]

Evan wakes up to pitch black darkness. He tries to rub his eyes but winds up hitting something off his own head, light shines in and Evan screams. "Ahhhh crap, too much light!" Evan closes his eyes and sits up, but only to be knocked down again by an overwhelmingly strong headache. "Uuuugh..." he opens his eyes very slowly and stops when he realizes where he is. The object he hit off his head must have been the bucket from last night, he didn't finish all of it because the shirt he passed out on was soaked in booze. He must have fainted right after Aaron left. "I... am freakin' magical sometimes." A large grin covers Evans face and he jumps to his feet ignoring the horrible feeling he has in both his guy and head. "Undefeated!!! Can no one stop this single man?" Evan beats his chest in triumph, then almost immediately his cheeks puff up and he runs to the bathroom with his clothes and vomits in the nearest stall. After a few minutes of puking he pulls himself to his feet and walks back to the entrance of the bar, he looks around and the bar is completely empty. Even the bartender isn't there. Evan puts on his wet clothes and walks out of the bar slouched over and obviously in pain.

[SakuraAlkaid]

Once in the main shopping area of the city, Mariah walked into a bookstore that featured older novels and guides, although she knew there was nothing in there that would interest her that she hadn't already read. She may not look it, but she was quite the bookworm when she had the time. She began looking at the section of new books beside the tall street-front windows, while mentally searching the minds of anyone close enough for her to be able to read. Yesterday had reminded her just how much she needed to keep up her job, so she had decided to try to find at least one thing out today, no matter what it took.

"Nothing... Nothing... Nothing... Sigh. No one around here knows anything useful about any of the possible heroes..." she thought to herself while browsing the spines of one of the higher shelves. "Maybe I should head to some of the restaurants next. Certainly someone will know something about one of the higher ranked heroes..."

[kai the pkk]

Alex:( he notices a old book store as he walks inside and he looks at different books really classics that people wouldn't think someone like him would be interested in though he spots a old book as his face becomes sort of happy as he smiles to himsel though something seems lonely about him)

[SakuraAlkaid]

Just as Mariah was about to leave, she noticed a familiar mental tone. "Alex?" she thought, her stomach tightening at the thought. "Damn... Luca has me so worried about meeting with him in case I'm being watched, but still... I want to see him..." She clenched her fists so tightly that small crescents formed where her nails met skin, and she ultimately decided to try to avoid him if at all possible.

"If I could just sneak out of here while he's distracted..." she thought to herself as she peaked around the corner of the shelves, searching for his exact location in the store.

[kai the pkk]

Alex:( almost if he's in his own little world he open a book and he begins reading but again there's almost this sort or calm about him) This is the book mom used to read me... Why she was reading a classic complicated book such as this one to her children is beyond me ( he shuts the book) as he goes to place it on the shelf but he stops momentarily as he clenches his fist tightly) I couldn't do anything I was powerless... ( he goes to buy the book as he turns around like someone's watching him but he doesn't notice anyone there)...I guess I'm just tired

[SakuraAlkaid]

"He looks so... emotional... I wonder what he found that made him look that way..." Mariah thought to herself, her back pressed against the store-front shelf of books. "I wonder... Could it be something related to that memory he accidentally showed me in the park? I don't want to get in his thoughts without his permission, but I am curious... No. I owe him that much. With what I'm doing to him anyway, I won't do that to him..." She sighed softly, hoping he wouldn't hear her and somehow recognize the sound. Still, part of her somewhat wished he would...

She gave the store one final scan, and after realizing that she didn't feel another familiar tone, she felt she was at least safe to talk to him in the store. If he wanted them to leave, she would have to scan the area outside, but for now, she was safe. She turned and began heading toward the front of the store, walking up behind him slowly. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I would say you're following me, Romeo," she called softly as she stopped just short of him, a faint smile lighting her face.

[kai the pkk]

Alex: ( he takes a minute to compose himself as he turns around to face Miri) really? It's funny I was just about to say the same thing it's a big city and yet we somehow keep bumping into each other ( he stuffs his dog tags into his shirt) so what brings you to this store you abit of a reader yourself? It was just miri I guess ( he quickly let's his thoughts travel as his thoughts from earlier start to leave his mind) so then you can't stop thinking about yesterday can you? ( he laughs playfully making ligh othe fact they keep bumping Ito each other)

[SakuraAlkaid]

"And I thought I was the mind reader," she teased back, although the knots in her stomach tightened almost painfully as he reminded her of the previous day. So much had happened that she had somehow almost forgotten...

"How could I have forgotten that... Maybe it was a mistake to approach him today. I should have just waited..."

"But since you asked, yes, I do like a good book every now and then," she replied as she leaned around him ever so slightly, trying to see the name of the book he purchased. "I see you do too, though. Any specific interests that you would like to suggest to me, or do you just go for whatever peaks your interests at the time?"

[kai the pkk]

Alex: hmm Im really more of a reader who reads whatever peaks my interest to explai it better I go to book stores with no specific book in mind if I see a book that is interesting i'll read it sorry thats weird I know ( he scratches his head embarrassingly ( he notices her trying to look at his book as he turns around to show it to her) if your so curious you could of just asked you better not laugh

[SakuraAlkaid]

When Mariah could finally see the book in question, she studied the cover for a moment and then looked back to Alex. "That's an interesting book to just stumble upon. I've only read it once, which is kind of a rarity as far as most of the books in here are concerned, but I will admit that it was a lot deeper than I ever anticipated it to be based on what the shop owner told me. What about it sparked your interest, if you don't mind me asking?"

Being able to finally talk to someone about books that were complicated, deep, or both was something Mariah hadn't known in years. Since her sister, really. It loosened the knots in her stomach a surprising bit, but did slightly tug at her heartstrings in return. It was a fair trade, however, and one that she would happily take.

[kai the pkk]

Alex: hmm you really want to know? ( he smiles playfully) it's a book from my past...( in truth he was hesitant at first but something about her made him feel relaxed like he could tell her anything) just I usually allways found stories fascinating especially the classics I guess you could say its my m-( he laughs slightly because he doesn't want to bring back any bad memories ) the rest is a secret ( he laughs teasing her lightly) wouldn't expect that from me huh? a person who enjoys the classics? Romeo has a intelligent and mature side to him