Exit the Cocksure Braggart

[DoS Archive]

From: karnafexx@aol.com (Karnafexx)
Date: 28 May 1998 15:32:05 EDT

There are some things that are always taken for granted. Breathing, waking up every morning, love, friendship. By now anyone reading this letter has a good idea of what the gist is all about so I'll spare anyone a long winded goodbye.::Smirks knowing he's never done anything "Shortwinded". Every good thing must come to an end. I'm not good but my time has come too.
A long time ago I entered a smoky back room called the Duel of Swords, it was a small, closeknit group of people who beat each other up and then bought drinks. It was something right up my alley. From the start I'd like to think I had a heavy impact on the lives of everyone else in the sport. I like to think that back then I gave people a good reason to come and enjoy themselves. I made myself a big target and happily invited anyone and everyone
to throw a dart or two. At least that's what I like to think, every braggart has to have something to shoot for. You'd have to ask the older duelers to know if that's correct or not.
I had visions of leaving a legacy of some kind, something that people would remember me for long after the Duel of Swords itself is gone. Again I'm not sure if I've done that or not, but every braggart has to have something to strive for.
Sure, I was the first to do alot of things and I'll agree that my main reason was pure pride in myself but there's always been a part of me that does what I do because I love the DoS. ::He laughs slightly as he writes:: Boy I used to salivate every night before I came in the room because I knew...I KNEW it was going to be not only a war of swords but a war of words too. You could always count on me taking on one or more people in verbal duels
while trying to beat the crud out of another one physically. Times do change and so did I I suppose.
As I prepare to leave, I have one big regret and it's something that's bothered me for a long time. I meet alot of newer duelers that (Newer meaning anyone less than two years of dueling) that sometimes comment about how they don't want to have to duel me in a tournament or something along the lines of "Oh great, I have to duel Billy Ray?!"...for the longest time things like that have been a thorn in my side. You see, I'm not the dueler I used to
be. I've been a pale shadow of what I was and it's always bothered me. The closest time in recent memory I've been up to par was during my renegade que matches, and I felt lucky to win those.
I remember the first time I lost a match in the DoS. It was a crowded night, I seem to remember Amaltea most of all being there, I was dueling MadMadMax. I had come to the arena throwing challenges around like rice at a wedding and had been handily beating everyone. To make a long story short, Max slapped me around like I'd never entered the ring and you should have *heard* the room! You'd have though Max had grown an extra head, and even uglier
one at that. The were stunned for a moment, someone asked "Did Billy lose?" and then it was like freakin' New years 1999. I swear I hear champagne corks poppin'. I just wish most have you could have seen old Billy Ray then, when they actually called me the "executioner". I feel old now, I feel like I'm cheating the newer generation by not being what I was, by not entertaining them like I think I did for everyone else.
I won't stand here and write that I'm the best of all time, even though *I* know I am, because noone is ever best for long....that's why I fell in love with it all. Everyone could be the best at one time in their lives.
I could make a list of people who've touched me and that I've touched but noone wants to read that much of my writing and half the names would have been forgotten or never known by most here. Let's just say that it's been fun and leave it at that.


Am I ever coming back? Well, Ionce made a promise that I wouldn't leave the DoS for good until I'd been Overlord and felt my time was up. Have I been overlord lately?......
Hey, Every Braggart needs something to live for.


I'm leaving this unsigned because the story of this cocksure braggarts life has just started and I'm sure our paths are going to cross again.....none of you are *that* lucky.

::Posts the message and turns to leave::

::Pauses and slides something from his back pocket which he tacks to the cork, pens a short note to them and gives one last lopsided grin before walking off into the sunset::

::The note reads::

"Take care of these for me, the've been through alot."

::The note is attached to a worn pair of black sap gloves::

[DoS Archive]

From: missliiy@aol.com (Miss LiIy)
Date: 28 May 1998 15:58:30 EDT

::not sure what to say or write, so she doesn't do anything::

[DoS Archive]

From: dukeuziei@aol.com (Duke UzieI)
Date: 28 May 1998 16:09:29 EDT

::frowns slightly, and reaches up and untacks the sap gloves, turning them over in his hands for a moment while looking over the post::

::tucks the gloves down through the belt of his black leather pants::

::takes up the stub of red crayola that was left there::

I got your back Diablo, might have stepped on each others toes a time or two....but they'll be here when ya need em.

Try not to wander to far off bro. See ya when ya get back.

~Uzi

[DoS Archive]

From: evanfaline@aol.com (EvanFaline)
Date: 28 May 1998 16:31:00 EDT

:: Wonders what was tacked up and if he knew he would have jumped on the chance to have them. When rumor heads his way he might just wager a duel over the items to get them ::

[DoS Archive]

From: lrdprefect@aol.com (LrdPrefect)
Date: 28 May 1998 16:56:45 EDT

::strolls up to the message boards outside the arena after a long absence, flipping idly through the pages. Pauses a long minute at Billy's message and sighs, then traces down to his final note and Adonai's reply. sighs again::



::pens a few thoughts, adding them to the cluttered board::



So the reason I achieved what I did when I did has left our ranks. . . such is life I suppose. But with out ol' Billy Ray hackling and prodding me, I would never have challenged for his ring. I was lucky enough to get past Athlstan to get to Billy . . .and luck shined more brightly on me as proved in my winning my first and only challenge for a Baronship.



But that is past history. All I can say is I miss getting pounded by Billy and his sap gloves. At the very least, every duel with him was an interesting challenge. Travel well m'friend.



::scans a copy of the original note and the responses into his portable pad, whizzing the messages off to "The Guide" for printing in the next update.::



~Ford

[DoS Archive]

From: elemcbride@aol.com (EleMcBride)
Date: 28 May 1998 17:04:33 EDT

Billy-boy,

We'll miss you. Don't stray too far or too long.

~ Elle.
Resident Redhead ~

[DoS Archive]

From: xvevan@aol.com (XvEvan)
Date: 28 May 1998 17:26:42 EDT



::posts::


Billy,

As we all know, I am not one for words, but this time I feel to speak out. Dueling such as yours, is truely missed. I have been in this arena almost a year now and it has even changed since I first steped in here. But there was always *that* dueler every one had in mind. Unlike some of the old and most the new, you abused poeple with words and weapons in the way of the sport. ::chuckles, myself included:: You backed up your words, and made a
impresion unlike any dueler before you and after. What stunts and challenges you have pulled off are amazing and well, it pains me to see someone like you to go. But I do wish you well and hey, take care. And make sure to come back.

-Evan Rush Rynth

::walks off, placing a dagger beside the gloves::

[DoS Archive]

From: sidarthae@aol.com (Sidartha E)
Date: 28 May 1998 18:07:53 EDT

<w> Ah Billy...it's been the best of times, and the worst of times.

::takes up the pen and writes, sending a copy into the winds to make sure he gets it::

Billy-boy~

What a loooong strange trip it's been. I know I am more of an emotion driven person than most, but know that these words come from deep within my heart.

I love you. Not a romantic sort of love, but the love from friend to friend, sister to brother in spirit. I love you for being a cocksure braggart, I love you for standing for what you believe in, right or wrong. I love you for putting me in my place, though sometimes I didn't need it. We've had our knock down, drag out fights, and even though I don't always admit it, I've always come out the better for it.

I know you'll return. You love this place too much to leave for good. And when you do, I have a bottle of Yukon waiting.

Take care of yourself, and listen to Kappy, she knows what's good for ya.

Always,
~Sidartha Elgarette~
Swordslady (again)
All-Star, TDL
Dracoern Highlands

[DoS Archive]

From: reaperarkn@aol.com (ReaperArkn)
Date: 28 May 1998 23:01:55 EDT

:::walks up and reads Billy's letter with a sad sigh:::: :::takes pen to paper once more and pens a reply, probably unexpected::::

Billy,

Many years ago, a guy named Billy Ray came to the Arena. At the time, the Brother's Grimm had just came to the sport and found it interesting for one major reason. Him. As the last Grim Brother remaining in the lands of RhyDin, I state simply that you will be sorely missed. We've all been through changes, and some of us can't even be recognized for what we were, but you have always stayed on the path. Or should I say, you made your own path.
Well, keep blazin' those trails Billy and come back soon.


Big Brother Grim (though I ain't been caled that in years), GReaper
aka Krollon Orak Arkanan, the Reaper

[DoS Archive]

From: occurs@aol.com (Occurs)
Date: 29 May 1998 04:01:21 EDT

Fair winds, be well and come back soon.

Summer

[DoS Archive]

From: cygnetsera@aol.com (CygnetSera)
Date: 29 May 1998 09:31:45 EDT

::sniffles::



Cygnet Seraphin
Redeemed1st of the 9 Orders
Keeper of the Queue, ad call, DoS
Swordsman, DoS
Veteran, Jade Gryphons, TDL
~cs~

[DoS Archive]

From: sartanz@aol.com (Sartan Z)
Date: 29 May 1998 09:52:13 EDT

Billy Ray,

Two things...first off, if you're not as good now as you were in the old days, I'm real glad I'm a new duelist, because in our one match, you simply dominated me.

Second, when you do come back, I want a rematch.

Sartan

P.S. Almost forgot, good luck to you.

[DoS Archive]

From: takcouma@aol.com (Takcouma)
Date: 29 May 1998 14:25:13 EDT

Billy,



What? noone to slam those doors? No scar to look at and lopsided grin?



::chuckles::



Your simply one of the best and certainly 'ave made an impression.



I wish yer travels well and pleasant and verra much safe.



See ya next year? <vsw> hope so.



Tacky



but to all others......Marit. ::grins::

.

[DoS Archive]

From: jonalyn@aol.com (Jonalyn)
Date: 29 May 1998 14:27:47 EDT

The commoner pauses a long moment before the corkboard, reading Billy's letter, her thoughts drifting to those heady halcyon days so long ago. To the commoners mind there is not a duelist walking the realms today who comes close to having accomplished what the cocksure braggart has accomplished in his time, both in and out of the rings. She's seen plenty of cocky, brash, outspoken commoners rise in the ranks, the Billy wannabes. She
knows there was more to Billy than just his cocksure attitude and those sap gloves of his. She places a calloused palm against the short note at the bottom then vanishes before the tears she so stubbornly refuses to shed publicly blur her vision completely.

[DoS Archive]

From: onyxsolari@aol.com (OnyxSolari)
Date: 29 May 1998 23:51:27 EDT

::is just......inconsolable::

(m) What will I do without my Brudda? ::feline ears bend, looking wilted, defeated::
::swipes at her nose, sniffing hard::
::stalking out, away from the corkboard:: I swear to you, my Brudda!, I'll do you proud till you come back again!

Onyx Solari
Problem maker, solver, and always the missus' with the kisses