🌷 Delicate Flower 🌷

Indie Ask/RP blog for a 2003 version of the Astro Boy character Livian.

[mechaniclivian]

Well, that had not been expected.  It threw Atlas off so much that he forgot to slow down and ended up ramming into the dome wall.  He got up as soon as he landed, making sure to keep his back from facing Deadcross.  He held up fists in front of his chest.

Maybe he should play this defensively instead.  He may have never beaten Deadcross but he had always survived.  His career might not though.

Deadcross laughed, holding a hand up to his mouth to make it even more obvious.  The audience was stunned, seeing the champion of this contest getting beaten by an anonymous robot, even if it was still the beginning of the fight.  Livian’s face had gone pale, recognizing the robot and knowing how much trouble this was bound to cause.

Jacques, however, was glad for the opportunity of everyone being enthralled by this new fighter.  He nudged Artemis, motioning with his head.  Wordlessly, he started walking, expecting Artemis to follow.

[mechaniclivian]

Certain that there was no other choice, Atlas fired up his jets and charged forward as hard as he could.  If he hit Deadcross hard enough, maybe he could jar his circuits enough to disorient him.  Atlas would have to pull back just before Deadcross impacted the dome so that he would ram straight into it as well.

Deadcross remained unmovable until Atlas was practically on top of him.  Then, without warning, he dodged out of the way, moving so fast that he looked like a blur.  He stopped almost as quickly as he had dodged, watching Atlas in amusement as he flew past him.

[mechaniclivian]

Any scrap of joy fled Atlas’s body.  He became stiff and serious.  This was who Rag meant?  How’d he know about this?  Why couldn’t he just tell him?  Atlas probably wouldn’t have believed him anyway.

What should he do?  Fighting Deadcross was the last thing he wanted to do.  Yet he couldn’t find a reason to justify throwing in the towel.  No one would probably believe Atlas about what Deadcross has done.  He’d just have to fight harder than ever before.  He had been getting better.  Maybe he could win this time.

                                                            …

Artemis focused on Deadcross almost instinctively.  Didn’t everyone who faced the champion boast that?

Deadcross didn't say anything.  As the crowd cheered on Atlas, he merely stood there.  He held out his arms, beckoning Atlas to attack.  He didn't even make a move.  He hoped his mere presence mocked Atlas.  He wasn't going to lose; that was impossible.

[mechaniclivian]

That only annoyed Artemis more.  Why couldn’t Jacques tell him earlier?  His eyes just moved from person to person, looking for anything suspicious.  He could care less about watching the match.

                                                            …

Atlas stashed away he thoughts as he entered the ring.  He had to put on his public face, to wave and a smile at the crowd.  It’s part of what kept him there, besides the money.  People cheering him, wanting to see him; coming just to see him.

"And his opponent for tonight's game," the announcer declared.  "Is a new robot you've probably never heard of before.  But, he claims he has more than enough power to overcome Atlas the Destruction Robot!  Let's see if he's right, or if he's just another competitor.  Please welcome to the arena - Deadcross!"

Promptly, Deadcross left his gateway, entering the ring.  A smile was plastered on his face, but it wasn't like Atlas's.  Already, his looked malicious as he stared down Atlas from the other side, standing proudly with his arms folded across his chest.  From her spot in the audience, Livian sat straight up.  She knew Deadcross from anywhere, and seeing him in the ring with Atlas filled her with an indescribable dread.

[mechaniclivian]

Atlas was standing, hovering in the doorway before the ring.  He couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.  If there was even a modicum of truth to what Rag was trying to tell him, things could go very wrong.  But he couldn’t justify calling a match on something someone who didn’t even like him said.  It’d be an embarrassment.

                                                            …

“Why are we here?” Artemis asked, an anger like a low-burning flame within him at the thought of Atlas being here.  Why didn’t Jacques let him finish him off?  It was his job.  Atlas was the enemy.

Jacques knew Artemis wouldn't be happy to be here, but he didn't care.  He had more pressing things to deal with.  If he didn't, he wouldn't have come here willingly either.

"We won't be watching the match for long," Jacques promised.  "Be patient for now.  I'd tell you why we are here, but not while so many people can hear us."

Then, the announcer promptly cut Jacques off.  With his overly-enthusiastic voice, he called Atlas out onto the playing ground, since he was the Champion of the RFT.  Jacques settled in his seat, visibly nervous.  He just hoped Artemis didn't try anything rash while they were trying to act inconspicuous.

[mechaniclivian]

“The only thing I regret is ever meeting you and putting up with you for so long.  Soon enough, I won’t have to.”  Just what was this about?  Was there even a small chance Rag was telling the truth?  Well, he couldn’t throw in the towel for such a stupid reason.  How’d he explain?  He didn’t want people thinking he was a push over.

The ten minutes before the match passed by without Rag coming back.  The warning he had tried to get across had no effect, which meant the finale would take place in the ring.

Livian was indeed in the audience, Rosie sitting next to her.  Tokugawa was also in the audience, though he was in a box above, away from the rest of the crowd.  There were two more people in the audience, Jacques being among them.  The last was Lux, though compared to when Atlas had last seen him, he was much worse.  Besides the visible black eye he had, his right arm was also in a sling.  Instead of sitting down, Lux was frantically talking to some security guards, though the two robots seemed to pay no heed to what he was trying to tell them.  In fact, they seemed more annoyed by him than anything.

[mechaniclivian]

“You still think you can get me to believe you?”  Rag didn’t care about Atlas.  So why would he genuinely warn him.

Atlas’s frown became deeper and his nose crinkled.  “What?  You think you can scare me?  I know people know about Livian.  It’s all over the ‘net.  Nothing’s a secret when everyone has cameras in their pocket.  Especially when you’re as infamous as me.  As for my father, he knows better than to actually hurt Livian because he knows what I’ll do.  Jacques does too, if he’s smart.”

Rag just growled under his breath.  He looked to the clock; only ten minutes until the match started.  It was already too late.  If he had really thought he could have stopped Atlas from doing this, he should have asked him the day before.

He merely shook his head, turning and walking out the exit.  "You're going to regret this."

[mechaniclivian]

“Yeah, it is.”  Atlas wrapped his arm around Livian.  “And you don’t have to put too much toward it.  You have college to pay for, unless you have scholarships.  Even then, there’s the books and whatever else.  I have barely any overhead right now.  I’ve been able to save a fair amount.”

"Oh, but I still want to help."  Sure, she didn't need to chip in as much money, but it only seemed fair since they were buying the house together.  "Sure, college is expensive, but it's not forever either.  I may not have that many scholarships, but I'm doing fine."

[mechaniclivian]

“Busy, huh?  Something tells me you had something to do with that.  Doesn’t matter.  I can be my own security.”  It was just better from a PR standpoint to have the actual security deal with him.

“Why can’t you say?  And do you really think I’m calling a match just because you told me to?!  Ha!  It would be a career disaster!  I’m not giving it up because of you.  For all I know, it’s just a trick that my father put you up to.”

"This isn't a trick," Rag growled.  He knew he couldn't convince Atlas otherwise; why was he even here?  He had to think of something that might convince him to drop out.  An idea flashed in his mind, and while he doubted it would work, he thought it would maybe disturb Atlas, at least.

"You're fiancé's here tonight, just so you know.  And you haven't done exactly a good job of keeping that a secret.  You're father also decided to show up.  He probably plans to meet the girl you plan on marrying.  And it gets worse.  You know who else I saw?  Jacques, back from Germany.  I'm sure he's found out about the engagement as well."

[d-cookie-deactivated20210317]

Important news…

Atlas and Livian are adorable together

That is all

[mechaniclivian]

“What?  You’re not making sense.  Who could’ve found out about that?  Only Livian and Lux…  Arg, he’s probably behind this somehow.”  Why did he trust him, again?  “And how did you-?  You were listening, weren’t you?  Look, you better start explaining things or I’m going to call security.”

"They won't come.  They're busy," Rag said, referring to security.  He had a point to make, and so far, it wasn't working.  "Did you think I wouldn't listen?  You came into my house at a horrible time in the morning.  But, that's not the point.  Someone else heard you, and I can't say who.  Just know that you stand no chance against them, and the easiest way for you to get out of this is if you call the match off.  They certainly won't ..."

[mechaniclivian]

“Yeah, I guess so.  Guess my scale’s just off because I’m more used to mansions.”  Even his mother’s house was quite grand.  “It’s probably best to get it.  Houses in the better parts of Metro City don’t stay on the market for too long.  We could get a much cheaper house but then we’d have to deal with gangs.  Not that anyone would probably rob a house I live in.”

"I sure hope no one would."  Anyone who tried to rob the destruction robot had to be crazy.  "I think it's a good decision.  We'll both chip in money.  We'll be together, and that's the most important thing."

[mechaniclivian]

“Why not?  And why should I trust you?”  He was already not liking this.  “I’ll remind you I’m the undefeated champion.  Who could I possibly have to worry about?  It’s not like Pluto’s here.”  He had no clue where he was.  He hoped he was doing okay.

Rag didn't know what to say.  He wanted to be blunt, but knew he couldn't be too much.  That would give his secret away.  Still, he figured he would get right to the point.

"Atlas.  The other night, you came to my apartment to see Livian.  You were carrying a shoebox, remember?  Well, someone saw what was in that box, and they weren't too happy to see what it was.  They're fighting you tonight."

[mechaniclivian]

Atlas sighed.  “I doubt they’ll go down any anyway.  The listing showed that they already had.  It’s not like we have to pay it all at once.”  Though he did have a good amount of money saved up, from the RFT and collecting diamonds Jupiter.

"It's not like we don't have money, Atlas.  We'd have to pay a lot no matter what.  Besides, I thought it was a good house.  We might not live there our entire lives, but it's a good starter home."  She thought it was great.  It would be a house all to them, not having to live somewhere else.

[mechaniclivian]

It was a while before the fight but Atlas never showed up last minute for one.  He needed time to get ready, to make sure everything was in order.  He worked out in the training room to make sure everything was moving properly.  It would do no good to incur mechanical failure in the ring.

“Ugh, not you.  How’d you get past security?”

Rag frowned.  At least it wasn't too horrible of a reaction, though he knew the longer he stayed, the more agitated Atlas would become.  It didn't help that he was already frustrated himself.

"It's a long story."  One he didn't want Atlas figuring out.  "I'm here to warn you, Atlas.  Don't go into the ring tonight."

[mechaniclivian]

@electronic-souls

Rag was already having a rough day.

He hovered in the doorway of the locker room for the RFT, knowing he had to speak to Atlas.  The only thing was, he didn't want to.  Atlas already wasn't fond of him, and if he figured out who Rag was, he would hate him more.  If Atlas went to fight his opponent that day, Rag just knew his secret would get out, and that was not something he wanted.

So, he waited for Atlas, knowing he would be at the locker room anytime now.  Though there was plenty of time before his next fight, Rag wanted to make sure he caught him way before it started, so they could talk.

[mechaniclivian]

“Yes,” Atlas agreed, ignoring her outburst.  He didn’t want anything even similar to an argument in front of the agent.

“We’ll think more about it and get back to you,” he told the agent, who agreed.  Atlas started walking out so the agent could lock the house back up and get onto other things.

She almost felt bad for her outburst, but not too much so.  She smiled politely to the agent, agreeing with Atlas before they exited the house.

It didn't take long for the agent to lock up, and soon they were parting ways.  Once the agent was gone and they were walking alone, she apologized, saying, "Sorry about that.  I guess I was excited."