“Fuck me, you are fucking huge!” Kayel accidentally exclaimed, before swiftly apologizing. “I’m so sorry, you are… just way bigger than I expected. And I have met some pretty big folks.”
Abius stopped what they were doing, some simple weight-lifting, put the heavy dumbbells down and grinned.
“It is fine! Retvik, it is great to see you again! We have not spoken properly since your big win! And it is good to finally meet the rest of Xeno Dessaron One!”
Retvik smiled back as he approached. While Abius was a pretty popular gladiator, they had developed their own rather unique niche in fighting wild monsters, meaning they and Retvik didn’t often get to chat much.
“It is great to see you too, Abius, how are you doing?”
Abius glanced around, then shrugged. “Good, I guess. Same old. The Raptor still will not let me fight a terror-breast on my own though.”
“To be fair, the Raptor doesn’t let most people, us included, fight terror-beasts alone…” Nyssi tutted. “They’re called terror-beasts for a reason.”
Abius shrugged some more. “That is very true. Still, as happy as I am, I would like to try something new.”
“Well that’s perfect!” Tenuk beamed. “We got a new thing we want you to try! Also, can I shapeshift into someone as tall as you? Please?”
“Why… why are you asking?” Abius was clearly confused. Before Retvik got particularly famous, he and Abius used to chat on the regular, but after a series of unfortunate events back in December, Retvik had admittedly been busy with his Dessaron team, and Abius found it odd that Retvik was only now trying to catch up. That being said, Tenuk seemed like a curious individual and a very distracting one. Abius had never really met a Fluffyvok properly before and they could see why Retvik would be… blinded by the cutie.
“Um, some people find it freaky when I shapeshift in front of them.”
“Oh… Alright, I guess?” Abius shrugged yet again, before turning back to Retvik. However, they were immediately distracted by Tenuk doing as he said he would, turning into a two-tone blue version of Abius. Oddly, while Tenuk’s eyes were normally red, he had made his new giant Rethan form have green eyes, matching Abius’s. “Well… that… you are right, I am afraid. It is creepy when you shapeshift into a blue me…”
Tenuk shifted his weight. He’d made himself large before, but he felt somewhat top-heavy currently. Tenuk didn’t like that so he made himself less muscular. “Darn, you must really struggle.”
“Not really. I have always been massive. It has never been a struggle because it is all I know, I guess…” Abius glanced at Retvik. “I hate to sound awful, but is Tenuk shapeshifted into a large, muscular Rethan ever so slightly attractive to you too?”
“That is not something I have ever considered, but Tenuk and I have a sibling-like relationship. But I guess other Rethans might feel that way?”
“That Ritlir guy said it when we went to see your siblings, when you and Kuta picked me up from the Phos space port!” Tenuk smiled, before turning back to normal.
Abius turned to Tenuk, frowned, then turned back to Retvik.”Anyway… back to… this… Is something going on?”
Retvik’s shoulders immediately dropped. “Somewhat, yes. Tenuk and I had a conversation with the other top gladiators, mostly because I was upset that I am not allowed to play as a Big Bad, and that Rethans in general are apparently not popular as Big Bads. Tromos said that if I can convince you to put some armour on and perhaps offer yourself to play as a Big Bad, then there might be a chance that we can convince the Raptor to give Rethans in general another try.”
“Hm…” Abius thought to themselves. “Well… I mean, that is not the… most insane thing to suggest. Out of us remaining Rethan house fighters, I AM the biggest of us.”
“You’re an absolute unit!” Kayel butted in, before apologizing again. “Sorry… Just… Damn, my dude, you’re almost as awesome and unique as Retvik. An absolutely massive upper-caste Rethan with white and lime green plating? And you go around wrestling giant animals in nothing more than a loin cloth? Amazing.”
“Well, uh, I definitely appreciate the comment. Most Rethans think I am weird.”
Kayel snickered. “Dude, the least weird person here is Nyssi, and she also has a desire to do a nude gladiator battle.”
“You weren’t supposed to tell people about that…” Nyssi muttered. “It’s not feasible for me anyway. My tits would bounce around too much, and I don’t have natural armour like you. And, like who would I even fight?”
“Auction the opportunity off to the general public and make a fuckton of money for a charity or something? Either way, we’re totally getting distracted!” Kayel smiled. “Abius, you think you can act big and mean and nasty enough to be a Big Bad for a Thirteenth Night battle? I’m gonna say yes, because you’re not stupid.”
“I know I did say I wanted to do something new, but I am not sure about Thirteenth Night. Like Retvik, I do not really have predatory instincts. The last Rethan to play the Big Bad was Fekrim, and that was 1. two years ago, 2. not very popular and 3. Fekrim had a slight cruel streak, which made it work. I do not.”
“Neither does Tenuk, but he’s the Big Bad every fortnight now!” Nyssi countered. “Like Kayel said, you’re not stupid, you’re also not old either so you can learn new things, like learning how to act more aggressive and bloodlust-y. And appearance does a lot to help too. If we put some big, scary armour on you and covered you in gore and gave you a massive bloody hammer or something, half the job’s already done.”
Abius fell silent, yet again thinking to themselves. “Well… Is this mostly so I can be a test run, and if I am successful and do not make a fool of myself, then Retvik has a chance to play the Big Bad?”
Retvik nodded. “Yes, basically. I am considered far too much of a good guy, but if we can get you, someone who is even nicer than I am, to play a bad guy, then maybe the Raptor will change her mind and open up the Big Bad role to more Rethans and more vok in general.”
“Very well… I suppose I will give it a try, but… I have a large request of you too, Retvik.”
“You do?”
Abius nodded. “I will try and be a Big Bad. However, I have a very large desire, a bucket list item that you have suddenly made possible. I have never been a fan of 1v1 matches, but there is one single person I would love to wrestle: the Keeper. Your other boss.”
Retvik raised a finger in concern. “Uh… that is… a very large request…”
“I know, and I apologize. It was just a one in a million shot. I doubt the Keeper would agree to such a silly demand.”
“Um, well, I… I suppose I could… ask? General Gath though does not do much combat any more as they are in not the greatest of health.”
“I am aware, which is why I wanted to ask sooner rather than later.”
“I won’t lie, that’d be a bloody awesome fight…” Tenuk muttered. “I met General Gath, they are even more huge than you are.”
Retvik couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “Well, all I can do is ask. I cannot guarantee that General Gath will even consider it, but I will speak to General Gath and mention your desire to them. I do not know, maybe I can suggest it as part of a tour or vacation or something…”
Abius smiled, then bowed slightly. “A mention is all I can ask for! Thank you very much, Retvik. Please, tell House Master Tromos that I will put myself forth to play a bad guy.”
Retvik bowed back. “Thank you too, Abius.”
“Hey, mister awesome dude!” Kayel suddenly chirped. “Nyssi and Tenuk have got a silly bloodless capture-the-Thrack thing later, and I’ve got a solo match against some Temthan prick so we’re gonna get some drinks then go do some practice and training and stuff. You want to join us for a bit?”
Abius tilted their head to one side, then grinned. “Yes, sure, why not? I was only going to train on my own anyway…”