RE: The Damnable Fisticuffs (Round One: Kingdom of Giam)
11-30-2012, 06:26 AM
Nurrkel was lost. There had been no forests on Ver homeworld, or at least none that Ve had ever seen. The strange green woodlands of this world were very disorienting.
And yet, Nurrkel still seemed to have a better idea of where Ve was headed than the bear rider staring at a tree.
"You, there!" Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov shouted at Ver. "Where can I find base of operations?"
Nurrkel was confused. So obviously, Shingles the Myrrhman would be even more confused, lacking the benefits of a V'kkrn education.
"Many apologies, Superior," Ve said. "I am but a lowly v'kkrn. I know nothing of this world. In fact, I am somewhat lost myself."
Ivanov was baffled for a moment, but then he laughed. Nurrkel, for Ver part, found that Ve was surprisingly comfortable taking a subservient tone; Ve had expected it to feel far more humiliating.
"Oh, yes! You are opponent, yes? I remember. What was name, Nurrky?"
Nurrkel tried Ver best to avoid showing indignance at the insult. Ve knew Shingles, as a v'kkrn, would be ashamed by the comparison. In fact, Ve felt very sure of it; Ve was feeling ashamed Verself.
"Superior, you must be mistaken," "Shingles" said calmly. "Nurrky sounds much like the House of Nurrkel. A mere v'kkrn such as myself should never be compared to one of the glorious V'kkrn we are born to serve."
Ivanov had never expected anyone to call him "Superior", and it was more than a little off-putting. Nurrkel's terminology only served to confuse him more.
"Wait, wait. So you are not opponent? You are other, er, V'kkrn?"
"Not V'kkrn, Superior. v'kkrn. I am a ve, not a Ve. It is crucial that you understand the difference, should you ever have occasion to speak with a V'kkrn."
Ivanov's expression made it clear that he didn't understand the difference at all.
"In any case, Superior, I, the lowly Shingles the Myrrhman, have a meager request. I am sure it is not worth your valuable time to hear my miserable words, but I do not know where else to turn."
Ivanov shrugged.
"All right. What is request?"
"A moment ago, I heard someone shout the name of Nurrkel the Fifth. I am curious as to why someone has called out the name of one of my superiors, and even more baffled as to the fact that you appear to be aware of the same name. And given that I lack the intelligence to grasp how I arrived her from my duties gathering myrrh, I was hoping that perhaps a Superior could explain it to me."
Ivanov scratched his head.
"I did hear voice shouting some time ago," he mused. "At first, thought it was Commander with new orders. Maybe I can find voice? Yes, that is good idea, voice may know where to find base of operations. Onward, Nikita! We find voice!"
He rode off on his bear before "Shingles" could thank him, or say anything at all.
Fortunately, he left a trail of pawprints behind, easy enough for Nurrkel to follow. Perhaps he would lead Ver to some interesting information.
And yet, Nurrkel still seemed to have a better idea of where Ve was headed than the bear rider staring at a tree.
"You, there!" Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov shouted at Ver. "Where can I find base of operations?"
Nurrkel was confused. So obviously, Shingles the Myrrhman would be even more confused, lacking the benefits of a V'kkrn education.
"Many apologies, Superior," Ve said. "I am but a lowly v'kkrn. I know nothing of this world. In fact, I am somewhat lost myself."
Ivanov was baffled for a moment, but then he laughed. Nurrkel, for Ver part, found that Ve was surprisingly comfortable taking a subservient tone; Ve had expected it to feel far more humiliating.
"Oh, yes! You are opponent, yes? I remember. What was name, Nurrky?"
Nurrkel tried Ver best to avoid showing indignance at the insult. Ve knew Shingles, as a v'kkrn, would be ashamed by the comparison. In fact, Ve felt very sure of it; Ve was feeling ashamed Verself.
"Superior, you must be mistaken," "Shingles" said calmly. "Nurrky sounds much like the House of Nurrkel. A mere v'kkrn such as myself should never be compared to one of the glorious V'kkrn we are born to serve."
Ivanov had never expected anyone to call him "Superior", and it was more than a little off-putting. Nurrkel's terminology only served to confuse him more.
"Wait, wait. So you are not opponent? You are other, er, V'kkrn?"
"Not V'kkrn, Superior. v'kkrn. I am a ve, not a Ve. It is crucial that you understand the difference, should you ever have occasion to speak with a V'kkrn."
Ivanov's expression made it clear that he didn't understand the difference at all.
"In any case, Superior, I, the lowly Shingles the Myrrhman, have a meager request. I am sure it is not worth your valuable time to hear my miserable words, but I do not know where else to turn."
Ivanov shrugged.
"All right. What is request?"
"A moment ago, I heard someone shout the name of Nurrkel the Fifth. I am curious as to why someone has called out the name of one of my superiors, and even more baffled as to the fact that you appear to be aware of the same name. And given that I lack the intelligence to grasp how I arrived her from my duties gathering myrrh, I was hoping that perhaps a Superior could explain it to me."
Ivanov scratched his head.
"I did hear voice shouting some time ago," he mused. "At first, thought it was Commander with new orders. Maybe I can find voice? Yes, that is good idea, voice may know where to find base of operations. Onward, Nikita! We find voice!"
He rode off on his bear before "Shingles" could thank him, or say anything at all.
Fortunately, he left a trail of pawprints behind, easy enough for Nurrkel to follow. Perhaps he would lead Ver to some interesting information.