POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 2, 2022 10:58:40 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 2, 2022 10:58:40 GMT -5
DidgeridooPL: 3,809
Fairgrounds(?), East City
Eveningtime
WC: 1,273 | TWC: 1,273
Ayu The fair's in town! Why? Who knows! Who cares! Come one, come all! Didgeridoo told himself he wouldn't fall for the tricks and pitfalls at the fair. Hearing that there would be various booths with games that could yield special prizes, the Namekian marked his calendar and anxiously awaited the days to pass. In the meantime, he'd done all kinds of research on what to expect. If there were special prizes to be had, there may have been something worthy of going in his collection of randomly assorted items that he found intriguing or interesting for one reason or another. Prizes weren't just given out, though, so he had to be prepared for anything. Apparently, fairground games tended to be rigged in favor of the showrunners rather than the players. Calling it a 'fair' and offering up big prizes were their way of sucking in hopeless suckers who wanted to win big. Upon learning of this, Didgeri made it his mission to overcome the rigged games, so that he could win every special prize available. Turns out, his research paid off. Big time. Immediately, he knew to avoid the games of chance, since he had no control over whether or not he could win. Didgeri knew if he saw a prize there that he wanted, he would drive himself crazy until he won it. Instead, he had his full focus on the games of "skill". There, he had full control over the outcome, even in the games that were supposedly rigged. With his days of research and practice to work on, Didgeridoo absolutely cleaned up shop throughout the fairground. Games, rigged or not, were no match for the Namekian's preparation. Giant stuffed animals, inflatable balloons depicting various characters from popular movies, foam fingers, and all sorts of other top prizes all belonged to Didgeridoo. Before long, he was mulling around through the crowd of fairgoers with a giant burlap sack - which he also won in a game - full of his winnings. He even tried a few of the games of chance just for the heck of it, only to win even more of the prizes. In spite of his accomplishments, Didgeridoo still felt unfulfilled. He'd swept through the entire fair, collecting every top prize available, yet not of them scratched his collector itch. They were merely superficial rewards with no real substance to them. Didgeridoo popped three balloons in a row at a booth called 'Balloon-N-Pop', which won him his third stuffed lion, but as he turned to leave, a glimmer from the booth's countertop caught his eye and heart. The Namekian dropped his bag and newly acquired plushie to stop and gawk at the item shining back at him. There, on the countertop, a bucket of bright iridescent rubber balls glistened in the setting sunlight. Didgeridoo barely managed to snap himself out of his daze by turning to the showrunner and asking, "Can I trade in my lion for a ball?"The showrunner stared at Didgeri with a bewildered look for a second before asking, "Why? Do you know how hard it is to win one of those things?"Both men looked down at Didgeri's bag, which had two other lions, "Not very," Didgeri quipped, "Especially not here, even if your balloons are slightly deflated and the darts are dull,"A few other fairgoers looked shocked to hear the secrets of the game, likely because they fell victim to the trick, causing a bead of sweat to roll down the showrunner's face, "Well, now, let's not jump to conclusions or make any crazy accusations alright," He maintained his fake smile, but his enraged eyes told a different story, "Look, hear me out. If you only pop one balloon in three tries - only ONE - then, I will let you take one of the bouncy balls, alright?"Fair enough. Didgeri accepted the challenged and paid to receive his three new darts. Only one balloon. That was what most people were capable of, hence why the prize for popping only one was so minor compared to popping all three. Based on what he'd just played, Didgeridoo figured the showrunner typically provided one sharp dart and one fully inflated balloon to subconsciously psyche up players before they crash and burn. As for the rest of the darts and balloons, they'd be harder to pop. Didgeridoo took aim with his first dart, threw it, and POP!Just like that, he'd completed his challenge. He looked at the showrunner and cheered, "That's one balloon popped," He slowly reached towards the bucket with the rubber balls, but the showrunner snatched it away. "Not so fast. You still have two tries left," He reminded, nodding at the other two darts sitting in front of Didgeri. He looked down at the darts, then tossed them both forward without much thought. Being stronger than the common man, Didgeri's mindless toss packed a much bigger punch than someone else's might have. One of the darts just so happened to careen through the air and pierce right through another balloon. POP!What? Didgeridoo stared at the balloons blankly, seeing that now two of them had popped instead of the required one. The showrunner ticked his tongue and antagonized, "Oh, darn, looks like you got two. Go ahead and pick out a medium-level prize,"Didgeri held his cold stare at the balloons for a while before reaching into his pocket and brandishing more money, "I'm going again,""Go for it," The showrunner allowed as he provided three more darts. This time, Didgeridoo inverted his order. He carefully, but purposefully, tossed two darts at the ground in front of the balloon board, then he took aim with the third dart. He inhaled a deep breath of fairground air, then threw his dart at one of the balloons. dink...?Instead of popping the balloon, the dart just fell to the ground and landed on top of the other two. The darts on the ground were lucky Didgeri didn't have laser vision, because his blank eyes bored into them in confusion. Apparently, the showrunner seemed to be enjoying the scene unfolding in front of him, "No prize for you this time. But, you're still due a medium-level prize, so, go ahead and pick-"More money found its way onto the countertop, so more darts were provided to the Namekian. This time he tried to play the game how ordinary people would, throwing all three darts at balloons with a relatively weak toss. POP! POP! POP!Maybe his own mind was the biggest pitfall of all. All of the research and practice had made it impossible for Didgeridoo to fail, which now was directly interfering with his goal of succeeding. He spent more money on the game, but every outcome was the same. Two balloons, three balloons, no balloons. He was either too good or he wasn't trying hard enough. The low-level prize, the rubber balls, were more elusive than anything else had been all day. After many more failed attempted, Didgeridoo reached into his pocket to pull out more money, but he came up with nothing but fabric. He was out. In a frenzy, Didgeridoo's mind raced with worries and concerns. He needed that rubber ball, but with no more money to play the game, it seemed like his window of opportunity had closed. He turned around in a panic, which is when he realized the sea of opportunity all around him. He was at a fair. With dozens, maybe even hundreds, of fairgoers hustling and bustling between rides and games, surely someone could be his hero and help him win the illustrious prize. |
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 3, 2022 6:14:46 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 3, 2022 6:14:46 GMT -5
During her, not exactly short but also not too long, life, Ayu never went out of her house to strictly have fun. She never had the money to do so, it was always strictly school or work or errands... And her definition of fun wasn't something corresponding to the modern trends, because of how entertaining a walk in the forest or reading in the lea during a quiet evening can be? When she was younger her classmates were talking about movies, karaoke bars, amusement parks, and all the things that cost more than she was able to scrap from her savings. So, basically, to the world Ayu was a boring person. She couldn't have done much about it and being frugal was essential to keep things going with what she got from Zhang and was able to secure herself... And now, things have changed. Thanks to selling flowers, fruits, and vegetables around the neighborhood, Ayu was able to put aside more zeni than ever before. She always did it, but being able to grow a perfect patch of zucchinis in a matter of seconds, out of the season to top that, was a great boost for her wallet.
Ayu decided to leave her house, catch a bus and take a stroll around the East City. She was trying to convince herself that a walk was in order to raise her spirit and clear her head, but she couldn't help but try to sense familiar energy. Someone she knew maybe could be nearby... Yet Zhang has disappeared like a pebble thrown into the ocean. Liari was out of her reach and when it comes to Saiyans, the situation was already complicated. Each time Ayu thought about it, she could feel her heavy heart sinking deeper into her chest. Maybe it was a pointless ordeal after all, instead of getting relaxed, she was again lost in her thoughts... Ayu was starting to miss the days when her biggest concerns were doing well enough on tests to apply to University - not worrying about people she cared about going on a rampage and destroying Cities. To say that she wasn't in the best mood was a misunderstanding. Ayu could feel grey clouds gathering above her head, even if the sky up high was pretty and blue.
Pensively she was walking around the area until the sound of music and laughter piqued her attention. On the grounds near the area with fewer buildings, something was happening. Colorful booths, merry-go-round, cotton candy, and lots of balloons... A fair! People were throwing confetti in the air and some even danced on a special platform where musicians were playing. She never had a chance to take part in this... Celebration of fun, if that was only the right choice of words. Maybe it was the atmosphere here, this casual amusement by the smallest thing but the mood changed and Ayu could feel herself smiling. Why shouldn't she take a break while she was at it?
Instead of running around the place and peeking in every corner, Ayu treated herself to a cup of actually not-so-overpriced lemonade and found a spot on a bench. From this place with a soft smile, she was observing children pulling their parents into another booth, lured by colorful plushies or couples playing games together. People were dancing to the catchy music and there was a spot for a couple of food trucks. Some teens were extremely competitive about game booths, being loud and absorptive with their behavior as they were bragging about their victory or yelling about scams if they have lost. Not only Earthlings were here... She was sure she saw a Saiyan dancing on the stage. There was a passing Namekian with a sack stuffed with goods - it was filled to the brim to the point of mascots peeking out of the opening. It must have been heavy too, but the green-skinned person walked around with it casually, walking towards the other booths. Ayu smiled to herself. Sometimes luck was also a skill. She has never tried any game herself, so she was curious about how it looked, but for now, she was perfectly content with sitting on the bench.
The young woman didn't even have to take part in any fun herself. It was alright while she was sitting there, soaking in the atmosphere, happily listening and watching what was happening all around her. The lights, the music, the laughter - this place was so full of people... Normally Ayu was feeling sick with anxiety at the sole idea of standing in the middle of a crowd, but no one paid her any attention. People's signatures here were carefree, sympathetic, and easygoing... It put her mind at ease. She could just sit there forever, sipping lemonade and enjoying the day at the fair.
That was what she thought... Ayu felt the sensation of panic. A very mild one, it was practically a distress rather than a feeling of being frightened. She blinked, a little startled to sense someone's Ki tinting with that hue out of nowhere... Was there something happening with the booth with balloons? The Ki she sensed was around there. After a second of pondering, she stood up. Ayu placed the empty cup in the trash bin, smoothed her skirt, and decided to have a look. Just in case. While walking towards the booth, she was greeted with quite the unusual sight - lots of darts laying around, a man was preparing more balloons to tie to the wall for this game, and there was a Namekian, frantically looking around for... Something? She saw him earlier, didn't she? Ayu glanced at the sack that he was carrying, the one that was about to burst at the seems from the abundance of prizes. Her initial thought was that he has lost one of his trophies, that might have fallen from the overfilled bag, but she wasn't sure.
"Excuse me..." she walked up, standing two feet away from the Namekian. "I-Is everything alright..?"
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 1,001 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 3, 2022 19:03:57 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 3, 2022 19:03:57 GMT -5
A pit started to form in his stomach as he realized how hopeless his situation was. Even if he could get someone to fall into the mental trap that was the showrunner's booth, they still had to be willing to part with their glorious prize, a task that no sane person would do. On top of that, he still had to find someone willing to play.
Didgeridoo's eyes bounced around the fair. He couldn't ask the cute couple holding hands at a cotton candy stand; they were too busy fawning over each other to care about anybody else. There were some teenage boys who seemed competent enough to pop a balloon, especially after he'd seen them at other booths, but there was no telling if they'd be willing to share their winnings. In fact, they'd probably just taunt him for being such a failure. One of the kids at the fair may have shared with him, but they probably wouldn't even be able to hit a balloon on the board at all, let alone pop one.
The joyful mood of the fair seemed to completely elude the Namekian after his discovery of the rubber balls. Not even the smell of various fried snacks or happy music muffled by the murmur of fairgoers could distract him from the thought of imminent failure. Losing out on such a prize was something that'd haunt his nightmares for months, and even years of therapy would still never fix the hole in his heart from such a blunder.
He was ready to sulk away with his bag full of prizes when a voice sounded over the fairground ambience, directed towards him. Didgeridoo was taken out of his state of despair as he turned and looked at the owner of the voice. It was a girl, or maybe she was a woman, he couldn't really tell. Human ages were still confusing to Didgeridoo, so he typically judged a person's age and wisdom based on their height. Regardless, her soft-spoken question showed some concern for his situation.
Her question distracted Digeridoo's train of thought, snapping him out of his spell. His face grew confused at the question as he rhetorically spouted back, "Does it look like everything's alright?" Before Ayu could get in another word, Didgeri pointed back at the balloon pop booth and continued, "That game is an absolute scam! The gamer uses deflated balloons and dull darts to keep people away from the big prizes. The best prizes. Prizes people could only dream of having," The showrunner looked behind him to see what Didgeri was pointing at, only to realize the point was directed at him.
Suddenly, Didgeri remembered why he'd stepped away from the booth. He snapped his attention back to Ayu and blurted out, "You! You're the perfect person to take on his scam. One balloon shouldn't be so hard, right?" Subtlety was not Didgeridoo's strong suit, but he truly had the best intentions with his backhanded compliment. He dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together to plead, "Please, pop just one balloon so I can get the prize from that booth,"
The sudden outburst drew the attention of some of the fairgoers, confused at what was going on, but most continued on with their happy business. Didgeri did not care. The entire world could see him begging, but as long as he wound up with the rubber ball, it'd all be worth it.
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 5, 2022 14:48:20 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 5, 2022 14:48:20 GMT -5
The fair was full of different people. There were individuals thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere and having a good time just strolling around - and Ayu was one of those. On the other hand, there were highly competitive spirits trying to show off at the booths, playing every game there is... Some of them liked to gamble at the games of chance. Others were only looking for a possibility to earn money, operating said machines and stands, selling overpriced food, and charging people for having fun.
In a place like this, many things could have happened.
Let's be clear about one thing here. Asking this simple question, Ayu never expected to get such an emotional and full of distress answer.
To her surprise, Namekian went into a full speech about how unfair the game in the booth was and that the prizes were impossible to win... And here she thought that he lost one of his rewards. Which sounded a little ironic considering that his bag was full of goods he got from all other places. It seemed that this man was unable to win another one. Ayu saw the sack being stacked to the brim and couldn't exactly comprehend why was it such a big deal if he already had won over dozens of times? Maybe it was this competitive spirit that didn't allow people to give up even in the slightest. Or perhaps this person was sensitive to failure... His Ki did feel genuinely troubled by this whole ordeal. She felt bad, but she wasn't sure if there was anything she could do for the green-skinned individual. After all, people were influenced by all kinds of things, it didn't feel right to diminish his problems because they sounded too trivial for some. But how could she comply here? She didn't have a clue... Now troubled herself, she stroked her cheek with her finger. Well, Ayu had never before been at the fair, how should she know any better? As Namekian's dramatic tone made it clear that he was the person in despair, unable to win because of the scams, her eyes focused on the place he pointed at.
The man behind the counter got flushed with irritation and maybe there was some truth to Namekian's words. He... Didn't feel too honest or clear, so Ayu tilted her head gazing at the content of the booth. It looked like a simple game with balloons and darts, so putting one and one together she deduced that the task here was pretty easy. Yet, if the balloons were deflated and if the darts were dull, it all made it a lot more difficult. A scam. She felt sorry for people feeling the need to deceive others like that... But on the other hand, how could she know about this man's situation? Maybe it wasn't his choice - the only thing he knew was how to earn money for a living in a shady way. And if he only knew this one path... Morality and ethics weren't easy topics to talk about. Ayu sighed a little, wondering if there was anything to be done here, but she wasn't so sure...
The next shout made her jump in place. Ayu blinked, looking back at the man in front of her who started very enthusiastically unraveling his master plan - which was her taking on the booth to win the prize? W-wait, did she hear that right? She blinked a little startled, feeling how shy blush started to appear on her face. Ayu raised both of her hands defensively, trying to explain that she has never played any game at the fair, but Namkeian fell to his knee without letting her say a word. She took a step back, now confused and concerned. Was he serious about it... Seeing how he joined his hands and implored her to grant his wish, Ayu felt suddenly bashful and both her cheeks were now flushing with dark rose color. She was utterly abashed right now.
"P-P-Please, s-stand up," she walked to him perplexed and blushed. The gazes of others didn't help, making her even more anxious. She glanced at the individual in front of her and at the booth, and then back at him. It won't be hard to play this game, right? ... Right? "I'll do m-my best to help you, so p-please, stand up..." she offered him her hand to help him get back on his feet. His seriousness about the whole thing startled her a little, but there was no way she was able to leave him alone... "There w-was no reason for you to kneel..." she explained softly, an honest concern in her eyes. "I'm Ayu. What's your name..?"
Hopefully, she'd be able to calm down agitated Namekian. She'd hate to see him pleading like that on his knees - the reason for his stubbornness was pretty unclear, but she could guess that winning and prizes were important for him. There was something in his energy that was quite whimsical, but she wasn't sure she felt that right. Anyway... The whole thing started because of a game. Ayu walked up to the booth, pensively scratching her cheek and looking down at the row of darts on the counter. Balloons, lots of balloons, and lots of different prizes were displayed next to them.
"Excuse me... Mister, could you please explain what should I do here?" she asked the man standing near, who was operating the stand. "Do I have to pop balloons in order or a certain number of them..?"
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 920
Total Word Count - 1,921 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 8, 2022 12:26:21 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 8, 2022 12:26:21 GMT -5
When Didgeri dropped to his knees to beg the woman to help him, she oddly seemed quite flustered by the ordeal. It wasn't his first time begging and pleading for something he wanted, but it was the first time somebody fell for the guilt trip. Most people just scoffed and left him sitting on the ground looking like an idiot. Some even slapped him. Having someone seem genuinely concerned for his wellbeing was a nice change of pace for the Namekian, and more importantly, it seemed to ensure his victory. His final prize awaited.
Mentally, he had to remind himself not to get too far ahead of himself. This woman still had to overcome the real challenge: the balloon pop game and its showrunner. Based on Didgeri's own experience at the booth, that was a lot easier said than done.
Despite her soft spoken demeanor, Ayu introduced herself and helped Didgeridoo back to his feet. He introduced himself without much thought, "Didgeridoo. Let's win this game!" He tried to sound upbeat and supportive of his new acquaintance, but he was still quite angry that he'd wasted all his money to no avail. He started back towards the booth, but then he realized the showrunner may try to rig the game against them if he figured out that the two of them were working together. He seemed like the type to take advantage of Ayu's kind heart. What kind of monster would do something like that?
Instead, Didgeri stayed back and let Ayu walk up to the booth alone, so she could hopefully seem like any ordinary fairgoer. When she arrived, she asked the showrunner how to play, so he explained like he would with any player, "To win the big prize, all you have to do is pop three balloons with three darts! It's that easy- hey!" He looked at Ayu, then over at Didgeridoo, who was standing in the middle of the fairgrounds whistling 'nonchalantly' next to his bag stuffed with goodies, doing his best to inconspicuously keep an eye on the situation. The showrunner pointed at the Namekian and asked, "Are you with him?"
Behind Ayu, Didgeridoo shook his head, waved his hand in front of his throat, and did anything else he could to gesture 'no', hoping Ayu would get the message if she happened to look. Even if she didn't look, Didgeri covered his mouth and cough-spoke, "Nope. Nuh uh. No way," Though, the words likely got lost in translation thanks to his overexaggerated coughs.
Regardless of how Ayu explained her relation - or lack thereof - to Didgeri, the game operator clearly saw what was going on, "Well. Whatever," He brandished three darts and asked, "So what do you say? Are you willing to attempt the challenge for the greatest prize this fair has to offer?" The man smiled mischievously, knowing full well that all three of the darts he had were very pointy and could easily pop any of his balloons. Didgeri knew the stipulations that were needed to win the rubber ball, but neither him nor the showrunner made it obvious which prize the Namekian wanted so badly.
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 9, 2022 3:22:27 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 9, 2022 3:22:27 GMT -5
The situation was a little strange, but who was she to judge like that? Didgeridoo stayed back for whatever reason, his Ki stopped right in the spot when he knelt a moment ago. Well, before Ayu realized she was standing next to the counter, trying to see if any of the balloons were deflated, but it didn't work exactly as planned. How could she even begin to see through a scam? A drop of sweat appeared on her temple. The Namekian wasn't by her side, and Ayu was too busy pondering about this booth to hear both of their voices. The green-skinned man behind her started coughing. Maybe he got too worked up with shouting about the unfairness of the booth and it hurt his throat? She should remember to tell him to get something to drink. The showrunner was telling her something too - but Ayu got lost in her thoughts for a second - she just blinked, and before she could ask if he could repeat what he said, he already presented her with three darts. What to do now? She paid for the game and realized, well, that she was pretty much stuck. Was throwing the dart the only rule here?
"I... I don't know what that prize is," Ayu blinked and gazed at the display in front of her, scratching her cheek while the faint blush bloomed on her face. Her eyes were jumping from one thing to another. There were a lot of different rewards laying around, some mascots, toys, figurines, boxes of sweets perhaps? Hair accessories and rubber balls, keychains, and more... But Didgeridoo never mentioned what he wanted her to do. Ah, no, wait, he wanted her to pop one balloon, right? Was that really it? One balloon? She looked slightly confused while gazing at the inflated balls fixed to the wall and labeled as targets. Maybe it would be much clearer for her if he'd taken a bit more time in explaining what she should do now because Ayu was getting a little lost in her thoughts. While the showrunner explained the rules, she was racking her brain about this one. One balloon, not three? But what if the Namekian wasn't able to pop the last balloon out of three and that was it? Ah, she really didn't know any better... But it wasn't so bad. It was only a game at a fair, nor a life-threatening situation. "I g-guess then I should try winning one of each..?" Ayu mumbled to herself and raised her hand with a dart between her two fingers. A quick touch to the tip told her that it was pointy and would easily stab anything in the path.
"What will happen if I won't pop all three ballons?" She studied the board in front of her for a moment, waiting for the answer and spinning the dart in her fingers. Well, here's go nothing, right?
The young woman raised her hand and as subtly as she could, she throw the dart... It flew like it was shot from a sling with an impressive whistle, and right there was a dull clang, as the half of the dart sunk deeply into the back of the booth right between two balloons. Most likely she pierced through the board with ballons and into the wooden boards of the stand. The showrunner is going to have a hard time pulling that thing from the wall.
Ayu felt how her face was turning into one big flustered blush. W-Well, maybe she didn't know her own strength, she never thought that her aim would need practice too...
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 608
Total Word Count - 2,529 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 10, 2022 12:52:14 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 10, 2022 12:52:14 GMT -5
With her payment made, the game operator handed over his three darts and turned to set up the balloon board. When Ayu asked what the prizes were, he pointed up at the collection of giant stuffed lion plushies at the top of his booth, "All three balloons'll get you one of these puppies," Poking out of the top of Didgeridoo's bag was an identical stuffed lion, one of the three he'd already won from his gauntlet of fairground games. The showrunner waved his hand at the rest of his prizes, "Anything less'll get you a smaller prize," First, at some assorted goodies hanging on the sides of the booth, many of which were already jutting out of various pockets on Didgeri's bag, "Two get you a medium prize," Then, at the small toys sitting next to Ayu on the countertop, "One gets you a small prize. If you don't hit any, I give out a participation ribbon," He seemed to snicker at that one, especially because of the crumpled-up ribbons littering the ground from Didgeridoo's many failed attempts.
Seeing that explanations were finished, the showrunner pinned the last of the balloons up and took a step back. He turned to watch Ayu and announced, "Good l-..." WHEEEEW! CLUNK! "-....uck?" The speed and force in which the woman threw the dart surprised both the showrunner and Didgeridoo, who immediately realized he may have picked the wrong person as his rubber ball-winning champion.
The game operator slowly turned to see if she'd popped any balloons, but they all seemed to be intact. Between two of them, a dart-sized hole had been drilled, and when the showrunner looked through it, he noticed the dart had been embedded in the back of his stand itself. Didgeridoo ran over and sputtered out attempts at words while pointing at the board, "Wh-? How-? Th-!?" He was just too shocked to form a complete thought. It seemed like he was shocked at her strength, but he was more shocked that she hadn't even gotten one balloon! Sure, her strength was a surprise, and it explained that nagging feeling he'd had for his entire time at the fair, like something or someone important was nearby, but he had no interest in things like that. All he wanted was to win the bouncy ball, and this cut her chances of winning the bouncy ball down significantly, especially with the shady showrunner at the helm.
While the game operator tried with all his might to remove the dart wedged into the wooden plank at the back of his booth, Didgeridoo took a deep breath to collect himself before speaking, "That was amazing, now just do that again to a balloon! You got this!" After seeing Ayu's display of strength, Didgeri was confident that she could easily pop a balloon, even if the darts were dull or if the balloons were deflated.
With the help of another game operator, the two fairground hosts managed to yank the first dart out of the wall. The balloon pop operator hurried back to the side, halfway considering ducking behind something before Ayu's next attempt. He held a thumbs up to signal the all-clear, then clenched his teeth and anxiously waited for the next missile launch. Didgeri clasped his hands together and twiddled his thumbs while he waited for the next toss, holding his breath all the while. Just one balloon, Ayu, you can do it.
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 11, 2022 12:04:04 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 11, 2022 12:04:04 GMT -5
"I-I am s-s-sorry, I didn't mean t-to..." Ayu bashfully raised her hands in a defensive gesture, trying to explain herself. But what there was to explain? Seemed that on regular basis the growing energy in her didn't influence how she performed mundane tasks, but it clearly shone through when she was focused like that... It was supposed to be a fun game of throwing darts, not launching missiles at top speed - because that's how it felt like. And she wasn't trying to do anything, just aim at the balloon! Oh, it was hopeless, her aim wasn't the greatest... Embarrassed, she felt a drop of sweat forming on her temple, as Ayu scratched her cheek. At first, the young woman was shocked to see what she did, but, well, it did make lots of sense. Her energy was out of control, so it wouldn't that farfetched if her physical strength followed that pattern. She would need to be more careful in the future... She still felt bad about frightening the showrunner though. She didn't mean it.
It was just a game... So why did she feel pressure? Was it to help the Namekian win the prize and show that the booth was just a scam? Or was she now up for the challenge, to check if she could keep her control in check?
"I'm sorry," she muttered again with a gentle sigh. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to take part in this game... Ayu got lost in her thoughts too easily and Didgeridoo voice's startled her a little. She blinked, looking at the shocked green-skinned man, mumbling to himself as he was staring at two men trying to pry the dart from the wooden wall. She did make a tiny bit of mess here... And hearing the praise, Ayu's face flushed with the dark rose color and she felt herself bashfully playing with the tip of her braid. "T-thank you, b-but I don't know how I did it..." she mumbled unsure of what to do now. Right. Play the game. Ayu glanced now at the two of the people pulling and pushing the dart, the looked like they were very close to getting a crowbar to that. She felt guilty, but at the same Ayu wanted to see if she would be able to win. The competitive spirit wasn't her thing, but she did want to help Didgeridoo... "I'll try my best," she smiled at him, reaching for another dart.
She nodded when the showrunner gave her a sign and raised her hand. The young woman twirled the dart between her fingers, assessing where should she aim her projectile. That was a tough nut to crack... She wanted to hit the balloon and do as little damage as possible with her lack of control. Now she was getting nervous and she felt her hand tremble. She closed one of her eyes and decided to move only her writs, letting go of the dart she held. It soared in the air nearly as fast as before. There was a wheeze, a pop, and another metallic clinking sound...
"I did it?" surprised Ayu stared at the miserable remains of a red balloon, laying on the floor and partially still hanging from the board. There now was another dart-shaped hole in the wood... Yes. She did it.
She popped a balloon! And the dart sunk into the wall of the booth again, but this time only with the tip of the needle. Ayu didn't know if she should be proud of herself or embarrassed... So of course she felt both of those emotions at once. Her face flushed with a shy blush, but she happily joined her hands together, pressing fingertips against her lips to chuckle softly. This... Actually, this was fun!
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 629
Total Word Count - 3,158 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 15, 2022 12:10:10 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 15, 2022 12:10:10 GMT -5
Ayu apologized multiple times for drilling a hole through the booth operator's board, which confused the Namekian. He just didn't understand feeling shame - about anything, really - but particularly in Ayu's case. She could literally obliterate anybody in her path with an arm like that! Some people might've given Ayu a better pep talk, but that just wasn't in Didgeridoo's nature. As long as she could get him that rubber ball, nothing else mattered.
Both Didgeridoo and the game operator held their breath as Ayu picked up her second dart and prepared to throw it at the board. Time seemed to slow down. This was the moment of truth. Sure, Ayu had another shot at a balloon even if this one failed, but mental struggles were harder to overcome than physical ones. Based on his short interaction with her so far, Didgeridoo had already written off the third dart as a scratch. The pressure of needing to pop one balloon with only one try may have been too much for the poor lady to overcome, at least in Didgeri's very one-track mind.
Fortunately, that scenario never had the chance to play out. Just as quickly as she'd thrown, the dart hit its mark. Bullseye. Right through one of the balloons, and the board again, into one of the posts at the back of the booth. Didgeri jumped up and cheered like he'd just witnessed one of the greatest events in human history, once again drawing unnecessary attention from fairgoers because of how loud he was. He didn't care. Ayu had really done it! She popped one of the balloons!
Didgeri was over the moon, but one small detail remained. Ayu still had a dart left. She was owed a third attempt at the board; a chance at a medium prize. The showrunner knew this and decided to play into it, even if he was still shaken by the unreal strength of the woman. He'd observed how happy Ayu seemed about her success and jumped at an opportunity, "Nice job, miss. You still got one more dart though! Why not capture your excitement in one of these medium-level prizes?"
It was an honest question, and one that most- "No!" Didgeridoo interjected with absolute certainty.
Taken aback briefly, the game operator smirked and countered, "What? You don't want her to reach for the stars? You really want her to settle for one of the low-level prizes that anybody can win?"
Questioning someone's morals seemed like a surefire way to get anybody to back down, but Didgeridoo was adamant, "Yes!" He turned to Ayu, grabbed her by the shoulders with a firm grip, then pointed at the small rubber balls in the bucket on the counter, "Ayu, don't listen to him! He's trying to trick you, and if he does, the butterfly effect will alter the course of your entire life. You'll fall into a deep state of despair and anguish for months, YEARS, if you don't win me that bouncy ball!" Didgeri released his grip, took a deep breath, and stepped back to give his new ally some space. Then he added, "No pressure,"
While the game operator took cover again, before the final toss, he chimed in one last time, "Do what you feel is right, ma'am. If you want to overcome expectations, then you have every right. Good luck!" Didgeridoo glared at the showrunner, but he didn't want Ayu to accidentally pop one of the balloons in a panic, so he maintained his composure. It was all up to Ayu now.
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 16, 2022 14:16:45 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 16, 2022 14:16:45 GMT -5
"Oh, I-" Ayu was about to answer the showrunner when she was unexpectedly cut off by Didgeri, who jumped at the man with the confidence worth of someone who was on the streak of three wins - not a passive observer at all. In a matter of seconds, they both started a quarrel about...
Well, what it was all about anyway? It's not like the dispute was hard to follow, just the subject was somewhat abstract. She took a step to the side, raising her hands while listening to an argument about medium-level prizes. Ayu's expression was growing more flustered and concerned, she even felt genuine amusement on top of all things. It was funny in this innocent kind of way to see someone so worked up about winning a prize in a game booth... And what was that about the stars just now? Wasn't it a simple round of throwing darts at a fair? Because of the way both Namekian and human phrased it, it looked more like a death match. Even the dramatic and emotional response of Didgeridoo made her think that it was a little redundant. It all seemed... Well... Silly? And confusing too. Ayu stroked her blushed cheek with her finger, wondering what she should do about it, but one thing was still standing - she said she would help him. In response to his heated lecture, she softly patted his arm and nodded.
"Alright," she chuckled with a soft smile. All this situation that started to be fun now turned into expectations... It still was fun, though. Ayu nodded, picking up the third dart. She shouldn't pop any more balloons if she wanted to obtain the rubber ball Didgerdioo wanted so badly. She didn't have the heart to go against his eager wishes. And besides, winning a prize of her own wasn't as pleasing as seeing someone being genuinely happy, right? It did sound a little cheesy... Well, even if the Namekian was calculating and trying to push her to get what he wanted to have - it was just a ball. Ayu would be more than glad to aid him in this tiny ordeal. At least he didn't try to steal it, right?
The young woman pondered about it all for a moment, trying to find a spot on the board that would be the safest bet to throw the dart. It will be tricky... She glanced at the corners, cork surface adorned with dozens of stab marks - well, some people had less luck. But the young woman was going exactly there. Ayu took a deep breath, raised her hand, and with a gentle move of her wrist, she send the dart soaring into the air... The metallic, piercing clink sounded almost like someone was scratching two pieces of metal against the other one. Or tried to saw through an iron, rusted pipe. A shiver galloped on her spine and she had to cover her ears and close her eyes. After that, she glanced carefully at the board. Oh, she might have thrown it a little too hard again... Ayu looked concerned.
The dart landed on the screw that was keeping the board in place. Not exactly as it landed on it, the long needle sunk into the big, metallic pin, creating that shivering noise. But the screw was still a few centimeters away from the border of the panel for balloons! Seems that Ayu hasn't missed the board, even if she didn't hit the mark. That was a relief... She sighed with a smile, pulling behind the ear a green lock of hair.
"It's still on the board, so it counts," after regaining her voice from the bewilderment, Ayu looked at the showrunner. "It should c-count, even if I didn't pop another balloon, right?" she asked carefully, gazing back at the board. Good luck getting that dart out of the screw... She felt a little bad about it though, maybe she should pull it off herself? Ayu's eyes focused on the bucket with rubber balls in front of her. "Please mister, I'd like one of those," she pointed at the prize.
This ordeal was wild from start to finish.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 693
Total Word Count - 3,851 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 20, 2022 16:15:26 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 20, 2022 16:15:26 GMT -5
Didgeridoo crossed his arms, effectively as a way to hold him back from lashing out and distracting Ayu, but also to give off the impression that he would be satisfied with any result. To say Didgeri struggled to read people would have been putting it lightly, as social cues eluded him in essentially every context. Ayu seemed timid and noncompetitive, so she'd surely fulfill his wish and win a ball for him, right? Well, at the same time, the showrunner's words were a bit encouraging. It was entirely possible she'd play for glory... whatever glory a medium-level prize beheld. Either way, Didgeridoo ultimately had no impact on what happened in the end. That belonged to Ayu and Ayu alone.
The idea of startling her at the last second to throw off her aim did come to mind, but Didgeri quickly dismissed it. With his luck, Ayu would wind up obliterating the entire board with her monstrous strength, which would mean she'd pop at least three balloons and win a stuffed lion. Fortunately, Ayu had nothing to worry about in that regard. Instead of focusing on her, Didgeridoo kept his eyes locked on the showrunner, who did his best to avoid making eye contact with his newfound Namekian enemy. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of the man's head as he anxiously waited for Ayu to make her decision. Poor guy, he just wanted to make some money at the fair. Or was he...
Unbeknownst to the participant and her loudmouthed fan, the game operator had one last trick up his sleeve. Despite his efforts to make as much money as possible by making his game nearly impossible to win, he did have a failsafe in mind to help entice more people to try the game. By pushing a button hidden beneath the counter of his booth, he could tighten the holes in which the balloons were placed, and if he held the button for long enough, the balloons would pop on their own. He used it to help younger contestants win one of the small prizes or to show that anybody can pop a balloon with ease! Of course, the physics and logistics behind a 'tightening' dart board should have been on the cutting edge of modern technological feats, yet-
DING!
Somehow, after drilling two holes through the board, she'd managed to keep her dart on the board this time. More like in the board, actually, and with incredible precision, no less. Her dart dug right through the center of a screw. Apparently, the darts were on the cutting edge of modern technology, since it somehow didn't even break. Both the game operator and Didgeridoo stared in awe for a while, neither one moving or speaking. No matter what, it was impossible to say Ayu had popped more than one balloon. She'd done more damage to the booth than anybody every thought imaginable and proven that she was well above silly fair games when it came to any type of competition. More importantly:
"YES!!!!!!!!"
She'd done it! Ayu, against all odds, only managed to pop one measly balloon! He gave her a big bear hug to show his gratitude, then turned to take one of the rubber balls, but the game operator had taken the bucket off the counter. Instead of allowing Didgeridoo to take one, he extended the bucket towards Ayu so she could claim her prize. The operator mumbled, "Enjoy your prize, girlie. You earned it,"
"I knew I made the right choice with you," Didgeridoo cheered in an effort to overshadow the showrunner's obvious attempt to sway Ayu, "We did it! We won the ball!" He was practically drooling over the iridescent rubber sphere that Ayu had earned. It easily overshadowed the rest of the stupid prizes he'd won throughout his time at the fair. They were all cheap prizes anyway, if he really wanted those he could have just bought them and saved the time.
The rubber bouncy ball, though. That was different. It had true value behind it, and now, a story. Didgeri gave Ayu a coy look and held an open palm towards her, signaling that he wanted her to hand over the prize. In all fairness, she did win it, so whether or not she wanted to keep it was up to her.
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 21, 2022 18:52:13 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 21, 2022 18:52:13 GMT -5
Ayu expected many things to happen, but a euphoric yell right behind her wasn't one of those predictions. She jumped in place and turned around to see that Didgeridoo opened his arms and trapped her for a moment in a strong, honest hug. A bashful blush bloomed on her face. His energy signature oozed gladness, though she wasn't used to gestures like that... Yet, it didn't feel bad. After the first sensation of shy awkwardness passed, Ayu chuckled happily and patted his shoulder, so he'd let her go. It was actually heartwarming to see him being so genuine with his feelings, even if sometimes they were far from selfless. Like, right now, his rivalry with a showrunner was obvious, and Ayu send the man an apologetic smile on Namekian's behalf. Hopefully, the holes she created in the booth will be easy to repair and won't cost that much. She didn't have any cash to pay back the price of fixing the gaps... The last Zeni bill was for the ticket back home, other than that, she had no penny more to spare.
"Thank you, Mister, and, well..." she shyly scratched her cheek. Ayu felt bad about the outcome, but at this point, there was nothing she could do... "I'm s-sorry about the damage. And again, thank you for the game," the young woman smiled brightly, albeit a little concerned about her actions from before. She needs to learn more self-control... It wasn't only about the chlorokinesis, seems that her senses and reflexes were affected by her ever-growing energy. Things weren't going to get easier, were they? Ayu reached towards the bucket, picking up one smooth, rubbery ball. Didgeridoo was glaring at it with hunger like he was starved for days and the humble, little ball was the last piece of bread present. She sighed a little and looked at him serenely.
Despite everything, Ayu wasn't ignorant. She knew all too well that since the beginning Didgeridoo wanted to get a prize he couldn't win himself. He said so too. It wasn't that bad actually, because his energy betrayed his feelings, though betrayed wasn't the word. Every flush of excitement, hope, and irritation towards the showrunner trying to pull her mind away from helping the green-skinned man was honest. He didn't try to hide them, or at least was doing so poorly - Ayu could kind of relate to that, with her face being like an open book. But he was sincere when he asked her for help - a little too dramatically though - and she agreed. One could perhaps say that she let him take advantage of her soft heart, and maybe there was some truth to that... For her, it was only a rubbery ball. The Namekian with child-like impulses would have way more fun and use from this toy than her. Ayu chuckled lightly, since the beginning her mind was set on handing over the prize. She gently placed it in the Namekian's open palm and smiled.
"Here you go. It was my first time at the fair... I-It was a little..." She hesitated while trying to pick the right word that would describe everything that happened so far. "Frantic, but it was fun." It was her turn to beam with a genuine smile.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 544
Total Word Count - 4,395 |
|
POWER LEVEL
20,203
Tech Points
4/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
12,070
UNSORTED
|
Jul 23, 2022 1:01:51 GMT -5
Post by Didgeri on Jul 23, 2022 1:01:51 GMT -5
For someone who was used to having people take things from him, Didgeridoo couldn't help but squeal in excitement as the rubber ball fell into the palm of his hand. This kind soul took time out of her fairgoing experience to help little ol' Didgeri win something that seemed fairly mundane, and that was putting it lightly. She'd put up with his outbursts, his overdramatic pleadings, and his banter with the game operator all in the name of good fun.
To go from losing it all to holding the prize he wanted the most, it almost made him get a little teary eyed. The legend and infinite value of the rubber ball only grew because of the hand Ayu played in helping obtain it. He'd never say it, but Didgeri was eternally grateful to her for such an endeavor. It was a rarity to have someone help him for a change.
Meanwhile, the showrunner tried his best to patch up the holes and fix up his game so other people could participate. He waved off Ayu's apology, showing that he was frustrated but not too upset. Besides, a line started to form after Ayu's last dart rung a metaphorical bell. Everybody wanted a piece of the super board, even though none of them even held a fraction of the power Ayu did.
She explained how her first experience at the fair was fun and frantic, which pretty much summed things up well. Didgeridoo barely managed to take his eyes off his newfound prize to respond, "Huh? Wha-? Oh! Yeah! Really frantic!" He pointed off towards one of the spinning fairground rides, "If you like frantic, you'll really like those things," He moved his point to a food stand offering fried ice cream, "That's pretty frantic, too. It's cold, but they're able to cook it. Weird. Frantic. Right?" Didgeridoo rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, mumbling to himself, "I dunno if I know what frantic means..."
He slung his bag over his shoulder and adjusted it so it sat comfortably. It had been an interesting time, that was for sure. Didgeridoo glanced up at the stuffed animals spilling out of the top of his bag, then down at his rubber ball with a smile. It took a little bit more help than he'd wanted, but overall he did what he'd set out to do. Before their meeting came to an end, Didgeri realized he needed to repay Ayu somehow. He reached into his pockets to withdraw some cash, but then he remembered that he'd spent it all trying to win the ball.
His mind raced with what to do. This woman just won him one of his now most-prized possessions. There was no way Didgeri could- "Woah! Look at that!" He pointed at something over Ayu's shoulder, hoping she'd turn and look. Then, he turned and booked it towards the entrance/exit of the fairgrounds. He moved so fast, it was almost assured a few of his other prizes slipped out of his bag and onto the ground. For all he cared, she could have those as consolations for just winning him the ball - which he kept an iron grasp on the whole way home. All thanks to Ayu for a great time at the fair!
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jul 24, 2022 2:43:10 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jul 24, 2022 2:43:10 GMT -5
That was probably the weirdest encounter Ayu had in her life. And at the fair that is! After the first chaotic emotions started to settle down, looking back at what has just happened, she was able to fully grasp how abstract this situation was. The prize? A simple toy, one that could be bought for pennies at any market. The booth perhaps was a shady place, but the ordeal to win the reward was real. She couldn't help but smile a little seeing how content Didgeridoo was with a little rubbery ball. For some people, treasures were born from gold and gems, for others they were mundane objects with history. It might have been a whim that ordered Namekian to focus on this modest toy, but the glee that she could sense was real. He was genuinely happy to have it and that was more than enough for her.
"Ah, w-well... Frantic means that it was somewhat wild and exciting and a little... Chaotic?" Did she explain it right to the Namekian? Hopefully. Today's trip that ended with Ayu strolling into the fair was just that. Chaotic with Didgeridoo's pledge and his encouragement to win the rubbery ball, wild with his beef with the showrunner and this overdramatic approach to everything that was happening. But she didn't dislike this part about him. No. If anything, it put a gentle smile on her face. With the understanding of Ki-sensing came the ability to read some of the emotions and traits of any individual. She couldn't deny that Namekian's feelings were at times only... A tiny bit too excessive, but they were genuine. They were sincere. He was honest to a fault, and with people saying one thing and their Ki telling Ayu something else, she could respect that. "And to be honest with you, I-I had no idea what was I doing there... But it was fun, so thank you again." Ayu stroked her blushed cheek and smiled, chuckling with amusement as she could never suspect that she would have fun here, at the fair. It was exciting! And yeah, she had no clue what she has done aside from throwing darts at the board in the booth they just left.
Didgeridoo was smiling and Ayu was more than content. She has been a simple soul that didn't need much, so she gave away the prize without a second thought. It was worth it though. Yet, after a second she realized that the man grew quiet. Noticing that he was reaching into his pockets, Ayu raised her hand and a little abashed tried to stop him.
"It's alright, you d-" she didn't have a chance to finish telling him that he doesn't have to pay anything back... Because Didgeridoo abruptly exclaimed his wonder while pointing at something behind her. Ayu blinked and turned her head, but of course, nothing was there. Only a handful of people looking back in her direction, to gaze at - as she saw herself when she turned back her head - Namekian hastily running away. Now a little puzzled, the young woman stroke her cheek, not bothering to chase after him. Why should she? She would prefer him to stay and listen to what she wanted to say, rather than see Didgeriddo skedaddle as if she would roar fire at him. Well... At least he was happy and she had a great time at the fair, so with a soft sigh, Ayu decided to be satisfied with that.
Now it was time to dust her skirt, leave the fair and go back home. It was fun, that was the truth, but there were pressing matters to attend to...
Thread Finished
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 75,291
PL with SWC - 18,822
Word Count - 610
Total Word Count - 5,005 |
|
POWER LEVEL
354,508
Tech Points
28/75
Forms
Epic Majin [x34]
Zeni
23,106
Majin
|
Jul 24, 2022 12:30:12 GMT -5
Post by Majin Liari on Jul 24, 2022 12:30:12 GMT -5
Didgeri PL gains: 6756
Didgeri Zeni gains: 5182
Didgeri TP gains: 1
Ayu PL gains: 6111
Ayu Zeni gains: 3363
Ayu TP gains: 1
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