Taste of Solitude(Open)

[hewhostandsalone]

Gerrek had peeked his head out of the bathroom doorway and presented a legitimate query to his host. "Do you have something for me to change in to? If I put my bodysuit back on I may as well have been rolling in a dumpster, yes?" He gave a light chuckle as he finished his question. "Sadly that's the only clothing I have at the moment, too."

He waited at the door to the bathroom, not sure what to do at this point. He had a towel wrapped around himself to keep his decency, naturally, and he was mostly dry, too. Not having hair made drying after a shower an almost immediate process unlike for humans and other haired beings.

He took the time while he was waiting to take some toothpaste on his finger and scrub his teeth with it. He didn't want to risk using someone else's toothbrush, so his finger would have to do. He gargled a little and then spit what was left in the sink. This was turning out to be a pretty good day. If all went well he would look like a civilized person again by the end of the day.

[Orenji]

Orenji stood in the kitchen listening to Drexx talk, Orenjis mind eventually began to drift away and Drexx's voice began to fade in the background. Orenji was standing looking out the window, watching several people walk by some with kids others by themselves.

["I wonder what would happen if i just walked outside right now and some of those people saw me. Would they turn me in? Or would they lust ignore me and go on with their own business?]

Orenji has been asking himself those questions for several days now. But there were still no answers to these questions. Orenji continued to think about those questions, but was quickly snapped back into reality when eh heard Gerrek talk from down the hallway.

""Do you have something for me to change in to? If I put my bodysuit back on I may as well have been rolling in a dumpster, yes?"

"Did he just make a joke? Well alright then Drexx I think you might want to go get him something else to wear." Orenji said sitting back down at the table

""Sadly that's the only clothing I have at the moment, too."

"See so it looks like your new big red friend is going to need a new change of clothes. Good luck finding some that fit his size." Orenji said leaning back in the chair

[Deleted]

"See so it looks like your new big red friend is going to need a new change of clothes. Good luck finding some that fit his size."

Drexx walked over to a storage closet and opened it up. He rummaged around in it for a while and eventually found what he was looking for. Extra large sweat pants and a x-large tank-top. Orenji raise an eyebrow and Drexx could only shrug.

"I like to be prepared."

Orenji just shook his head and chuckled to himself. Drexx walked over to the door and put the clothes on a chair next to the door.

"There's clothes for you on the chair outside the door, when you're done changing come into the kitchen your food is ready."

Drexx walked back into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

"I think I may invite Gerrek to stay here for a while. It just doesn't seem right that he should have to live in such conditions. He seems like a perfectly good being and..."

And your heart won't let you let him. Tara said materializing in front of them. She rested a hand on Drexx's shoulder and just sighed. Orenji's right you know, someday your bleeding heart may be the death of you.

Drexx shrugged "Perhaps, but I don't think it will be because of Gerrek Zig."

Tara looked over at Orenji, who just shook his head. I hope not.

[hewhostandsalone]

Zig happily took the outfit as it was given to him, snatching it from the chair and carefully slipping it on. To his surprise it fit rather well. The shirt and pants were even a little loose. He'd have to clean up his boots from his old close a little. A run through the washing machine should get the smell out for the most part. They'd need to be bleached, too. He comes out of the shower completely dry and looking rather relaxed.

"Thanks a bunch for that, Drexx. You really don't know how much it means to me." The big red alien grins with a toothy, goofy looking smile before sitting down at the table and glancing around the kitchen. The food smelled amazing. If it tasted half that good it'd still be the best meal he'd eaten in a couple of years. "Of all the people on Earth to have show me a little respect and kindness I never would have guessed it would be an android and a Namekian." He chuckled and glanced over at Orenji. "What was it you were wanting to ask me anyway, Brother?" Zig used the term that Namekians often did when referring to one another. If not for the mass of landscape on Namek that was all the same, he'd have picked that as his all time favorite planet. A simple life, no authority looming over your head, and plenty of friendly companions to talk to...Namek was, for the most part, an ideal place to live. It was just a bit boring for the Mercenary Alien compared to what he was used to.

All in all Zig was almost as trusting of these two, particularly Drexx, as Drexx was of him. They had earned that much if anything at all from the reptilian mercenary.

[Orenji]

Orenji still sitting at the table watched Gerrek enter in the new outfit that Drexx had gotten for him. It was a bit shicking that Drexx had clothes on hadn to fit someone of that size. Orenji sat there and listened to Gerrek talk and thank Drexx the new clothes. Also Gerrek thanked the two of them for showing him kidness and respect.

"What was it you were wanting to ask me anyway, Brother?"

Brother? it appears that Gerrek does in face know about Namekian culture and how one would address another. This was a bit surprising to Orenji but something that wasn't uncommen, several people since coming to earth have talked to hiom in that manner. Orenji stood up from his seat and took a few steps forward.

"There are many things that I would like to know about you, but first why were you sitting in an ally way? For someone of your size that doesn't seem like a good place to try and hide, if that was what you were even doing asnyways." Orenji said looking Gerrek in the eyes

Depending on the answer that Gerrek would give would detemine how Orenji would continue the conversation. Orenji didn't yet completly trust Gerrek, but he wasn't going to tell him that yet. Gerrek was going to have to prove himself somehow or someway to gain Orenji's trust

[Deleted]

"It's nothing Gerrek, you needed help and I'm just glad I could be of some assistance." Drexx watched with eagerness as Gerrek began to eat. He seemed to be enjoying the meal, which made Drexx glad. He enjoyed helping others, and Gerrek seemed to earnestly need it when Drexx had found him. Now the big red alien was bathed, fed and looked to be in an all around better mood.

Drexx listened on as Orenji and Gerrek talked, he could still sense Orenji's distrust of the man and Drexx couldn't fully understand why. Why was Orenji so quick to distrust? What had happened to him in the past that led to this distrust of others? Drexx had skeletons in his closet too, but they didn't lead him to distrust. If anything he put more faith in others as a result.

"Gerrek... I know things are bad outside for Aliens and thus... well if you'd like to stay here you can for as long as you need. You're welcome here friend. There's plenty of room and food, I don't eat and Orenji only needs water. Like I said, you're welcome as long as you want."

Drexx knew what to expect from Orenji on the subject, but it was Drexx's house after all, and Orenji would just have to deal with that.

[hewhostandsalone]

Gerrek listened to Orenji's question carefully. If he didn't know any better he'd think the man held some sort of contempt for him. Still, he'd let that thought slide passed him for now. The red alien set down his fork for a moment and swallowed the bite of food he had taken. "I'll be honest with you, though you may not like my answer, Orenji. Before things here on Earth got to the state they're in now, this was one of my favorite planets. I'd come here in the past and done all sorts of work aiding the police force by bounty hunting, simple jobs as a bouncer, and occasional security work for special events in the larger cities here on Earth. I'm a Mercenary by trade and a Drifter by nature. Since getting stuck here I've had no jobs, no home, no money, and no way to get off this planet. I've scrimped, scrounged, hunted, and gathered to keep myself alive. And what had I gotten for being the peaceful alien who just wants to help or be left alone? I get spat at, insulted, denied services or sales by the establishments here, and even detained or arrested by police for no reason. I'd not been inside a city for quite some time and I'd barely visited the smaller towns because it sickened me how much this WHOLE PLANET suddenly changed. But I've gotten tired of living that fringe life and barely getting by. One way or another, I've got to either leave this place or change it back to how it used to be. I can't handle it like it is now. I'll do whatever it takes."

Gerrek's little speech was stern, direct, and clearly full of feeling. Gerrek was the type to live and let live. Lately he hadn't been able to do much living at all and he was barely able to even exist. After saying his peace he looked over to Drexx and responded, "I appreciate the offer, Drexx, and I'll probably stick around here for a while just so I don't have to live in a cave or under a well arranged pile of logs and leaves, but like I just told Orenji...I'm not staying on Earth another year with it in this condition. I'll scavenged the scrap to build a ship myself if I have to."

[Orenji]

Orenji still sitting down in Drexx's house listening to Gerrek talk to him and Drexx. It appeared that Gerrek's speech had a lot of emotion behind it. Orenji sat quietly and listened to Gerrek talk about his life and how he doesn't want to live on this planet anymore. Orenji let him finish before standing back up, looking Gerrek right in the eyes.

"Gerrek obviously I can't say I know what you have gone through because I haven't. But it seems to me that you are giving up/ If that is true I don't blame you but i pity you, the only people i know that give up are cowards. Now i don't know a lot about you so you can just ignore all of this if you want and tell me to back off. I will have you know you seem like a person to me who likes to help people who can't help themselves. If this planet is in as bad shape as you put it then wouldn't you want to help make it right? Maybe you do have to leave for a time, I can't blame you for that, but I think you would want to return as soon as you could if this was once your favorite place to visit. I would think so." Orenji said still starring into the eyes of Gerrek

Orenji wasn't trying to offend Gerrek or start any violence, be was just speaking the truth. Or at least what he thought was the truth in this situation because that is exactly what Orenji would have done. Orenji was sure to be ready if Gerrek would happen to lash out violently against him, but for some reason Orenji thought Gerrek wouldn't do that.

"So Gerrek you do what you have to do, but it sounds like to me that you are another person like Drexx and myself. You seem like the person who wants to protect the weak form people that would take advantage of them. I'll let my friend here explain what i am talking about in greater detail, but to me you seem like the type of person that our group could use." Orenji said turning his back to Gerrek and returning to his seat.

Orenji looked back at Drexx and Gerrek waiting for Drexx to further explain what he was talking about. Orenji looked over to Gerrek once again waiting for a response for what he had just said to him. It was going to be interesting to see how Gerrek took what Orenji had said. Orenji wanted to see how Gerrek would act, because Orenji still didn't fully trust Gerrek, hopefully that would change soon.

[Deleted]

"Orenji and I belong to a group of like-minded warriors and protectors whose goals in life are to protect those who can't protect themselves." He spread his arms wide and then gripped the table edge in front of him.

"I think you know exactly what injustice feels like. What it feels like to be kicked around, to never be safe, even on a planet you once considered akin to home." Drexx gestured all around him, getting wrapped up in the intensity of the speech he was giving. He walked over to a window and stared out of it, his eyes looking sadly out into the forest a place where it used to be safe for beings of all kinds.

"We're the Protectorate. We're a group that operates as a cohesive unit. I think Orenji's right, I would love to have you join. We're a tight-nit group, but don't worry we take to others very quickly and you'd have an equal say in the group decisions. Think it over you don't have to answer right away. But Gerrek, whether you choose to be in The Protectorate or not... Well you always have a friend in me." Drexx left it at that, for he didn't know what else to say. He leaned against the wall looking from his large Red friend to his large green friend and back.

[hewhostandsalone]

Orenji's first few words in his speech stabbed Gerrek right in his pride. But the saddest part was that he could not offer a retort. He was afraid. Not of Earth or its people, but of what may be the cause of all this. He knew fighting had taken place multiple times here recently and he had a feeling the fighters were of similar caliber to the ones he witnessed five years ago on Vegeta. Or at least they were close. That tremendous clash of powers...he still couldn't fathom what it would take to obtain such strength.

He remained silent as the Namekian spoke, letting him have his peace. After basically calling him a coward and telling him he was wrong to even consider running away, the Namekian did something that Gerrek didn't expect. He offered him an opportunity. Almost without a second thought Drexx began explaining more about their group and its purpose. The goal seemed simple enough on the surface, but with the kinds of fighters Gerrek knew of he had no doubt that the goal would be harder than ever to reach. And yet these two had already given him hope once. Now they had done it again. When both of the two Protectorate members stopped talking, Zig smirked and closed his eyes for a moment. A low chuckled escaped his lips before his eyes opened again and he looked at them both one at a time for a few moments. They weren't joking around.

"I'll join your group. I've been running away from something that happened five years ago, but the changes on Earth have made it painfully clear that this is one problem that you can't run from. It's a long road for me, but I'll face it with you. I just need you to promise me two things. First, that you'll beat my ass every time we train together. And second, that you make sure I can get access to a VERY stiff drink...at least once a week...I think I can handle not doing it every day of the week now that I'm used to not having it for months at a time." He took a large mouthful of his dinner after that, letting them process his response. They probably thought he was going to be a drunkard or something. Maybe he should have worded that better. Still, he'd explain later. After this delicious steak and bacon were gone.

OOC: Zenni. Also thread ends on Drexx's post, to confirm the end of the thread.

[Orenji]

Orenji was surprised that Gerrek didn't yell back at him form what Orenji had said. What Orenji had said must have been true, That is why Gerrek said nothing back at him. Orenji just sat down and listened to Drexx go on and on about the Protectorate. Drexx was talking about the protectorate like everyone was around, but the truth is that they haven't seen two of their members for over 5 years. Orenji was going to say something after Drexx had finished bu Gerrek began to speak.

""I'll join your group. I've been running away from something that happened five years ago, but the changes on Earth have made it painfully clear that this is one problem that you can't run from. It's a long road for me, but I'll face it with you. I just need you to promise me two things. First, that you'll beat my ass every time we train together. And second, that you make sure I can get access to a VERY stiff drink...at least once a week...I think I can handle not doing it every day of the week now that I'm used to not having it for months at a time."

"Well that's good, Now you have no reason for running anymore. There is a job that we all have to do. As for the drink comment, that isn't going to be a problem there is another person we know that drinks." Orenji said standing up

Orenji walked around stretching his legs because he had been sitting down for so long, with only brief moments of standing. Orenji looked at the newest member of the Protectorate and extended his arm waiting to shake Gerrek hand

"Oh and as for that training comment, you aren't going to have to worry about that. We won't go easy on you when we are training." Orenji said looking right st Gerrek

[Deleted]

"Speaking of which, let's adjourn to the gravity chamber. I'm interested in seeing your fighting prowess Gerrek."

Drexx walked out of the room and down the hallway towards the gravity chamber. He smiled to himself as he walked. It had been a good day, he had helped someone in need and even recruited another member in to the Protectorate. Sohko and Kazama might have something to say about it, but Drexx didn't care, it was a democracy and Zig was now apart of that.

(Thread to be continued in Drexx vs Gerrek Zig)

PL please, light weights in effect.

[Orenji]

Pl for me and medium weights in effect

[Gray Callahan]

2250 zenni for Zig.
1800 PL for Drexx.
1875 PL for Orenji.