{Video; UN: gambler}

[thescorpionking]

{He looks like a shell of a man, pale and perfect, but...empty. Nearly empty. This is what happens when someone is used and used for years on end without a shred of gratitude or genuine affection thrown into the mix. And now...}

The thread that joins us has snapped. {Xie closes his eyes, privately mourning, before he focuses on the network, sharp and alert.} I am interested if anyone recognizes me?

{Or is this truly a new beginning? The Glazed Armor hangs heavy around his neck and he wants to laugh...and cry.}

What good are names anymore? I could call myself anything...

Comments

Video

[thescorpionking]

I was called Xie Wang or...Scorpion. {And "Xie Wang" just means Prince Xie.} It has never been complete.

[protectorofsmiles]

Scorpion huh...wow, that sounds cool! But I'm assumin' it's not a name ya wanna stick with...

Does it mean anythin'? This name...Scorpion?

[thescorpionking]

It was given to me for a purpose. {And it brings up old memories that cause him nothing but pain.}

Yes. {His smile is dangerous.} What do scorpions do?

[protectorofsmiles]

Erm...make high level intelligence potions?

I only ever hear of 'em in passin' mention by alchemists. Not sure what they even are! I know they're ain't plants, that's fer sure!

[thescorpionking]

Do those exist? {He is amused, but also: where can he get one?}

They are insects with poisonous barbs on their tails and claws at the front. Most of their body is encased in a sort of armor, too.

[protectorofsmiles]

[Genbu will explain about potions later. Right now his mind or pretty focused.

On bugs.]

Huh, sounds like a diremite! Nasty buggers, they are, but luckily not too tough to fight! Just a few swings of my axe and they go down easy!

[A few swings of his axe!?? How big are these things!?]

Did...you sting people previously? Well...for a lack of better words.

[thescorpionking]

I would rather you not swing your axe at me. {Imagine the diremites working for you, Genbu! Scorpions can surely be as useful.}

I did. {With poisoned daggers. (A better capture of said scene.)} I had to quiet any danger.

[protectorofsmiles]

...Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Depends.

[The air suddenly gets tense.]

What do you mean by quietin' danger? You didn't...harm innocents or anythin', did ya?

[thescorpionking]

On?

{Xie waits before arching a brow, his smile sad.}

Is anyone really innocent? If they involved themselves with me or my...foster-father...they should have known the game.

[protectorofsmiles]

Huh!? Whatever, yes, some people are innocent.

[Be simple. Genbu doesn't understand riddles.]

Look I...I recently known someone who seemed like a nice guy but he turned out to be a serial killer. Sure he says he stopped doing it, but he still killed innocent people. And where I come from, I'm relied on to stop murderers by any means necessary. ...anyways I'm still tryin' to process the whole situation. Others seem to be forgivin' him, and others seem to not rely care, but I just can't figure out what I should do.

Anyways, I'm askin' if you're a serial murderer or not.

[thescorpionking]

{A serial murderer. That isn't a title used in his world - unless someone is rampantly killing villagers or something. Oh wait, he did that too. Or, at least, he ordered it done. All for the sake of one man.}

I am. {Xie sees no reason to avoid the truth.} I am the Scorpion King, the head of the Scorpion sect. We are assassins.

[protectorofsmiles]

Assassin. So not only did ya kill innocents, but ya did so because some lunatic ordered ya to? Or someone offered a pretty coin?

[Genbu may be jumping to conclusions or assuming a lot of thing. But there is pain in his voice, indicating that this wouldn't be his first time dealing with assassins. He was the Warrior of Light after all. He watched so many women and children die, and young men who had dreams, their life stolen from Genbu's very eyes.

To think that Nippon was slowly bringing in danger like this...Genbu can't help but be angry.]

[thescorpionking]

...the first. I don't care about coin. {Zhao Jing always made sure he had what he wanted when it came to physical possessions. That had never been the problem.}

He isn't present. {So the danger is low. Besides...} I don't serve him anymore.

[protectorofsmiles]

[A sigh.]

How convenient. The guy who made you do bad things isn't here anymore so all is well, right? And now you're tryin' to call yerself a new name so ya can just forget the past?

...

Heh. Hien would probably eat that up. He always did forgive others too easily.

...

And you're lucky it's because of him that I'm decidin' not to do anythin' to you yet. But I've got my eye on you, diremite.

[Looks like Genbu already decided on a nickname. Before the other can ask any more questions, Genbu ends the feed. It's for the best. Genbu needed time to cool off if there's any chance of reasoning with him.]

[thescorpionking]

{He lowers his gaze, accustomed - too accustomed - to being berated. Perhaps he deserves it, too. Yet he does want to make something very clear:}

I will never forget. {Every moment of his past is tattooed on his brain. So much so that he isn't sure if he can move on. For his sanity, however, he must. Even if Genbu never hears those words, he says them in a clear voice.}