Romeo (Minecraft: Story Mode)

"Losers… are supposed to lose, Jesse."

- Romeo's most infamous quote as (while disguised as Vos) he tells Jesse he should let losers lose and die.

Romeo, also known as "The Admin", is the main antagonist-turned-supporting protagonist in Minecraft: Story Mode, though only appearing in Season 2.

In his true form (both as an Admin and as a normal human), his Vos disguise, and his Snowman form, he is voiced by Jean-Benoît "J.B." Blanc. While disguised as Jesse, he is either voiced by Patton Oswalt or Catherine Taber, depending on the gender the player chooses Jesse to be. In his Jack form, he is voiced by Fred Tatasciore, and in his Petra form, he is voiced by Ashley Johnson.

Appearance
He is the most powerful and dangerous enemy that Jesse and the gang have ever come across, though not quite the evilest. He is also an evil powerful human who used his extraordinary powers for his own sadistic pleasure, and when he heard that a new hero has risen (Jesse), he returned to the world, intending on challenging said hero for his own entertainment.

Romeo also disguised himself as an old man named Vos, who was one of Jack's old friends, alongside Sammy. However, at the end of the story, he found his redemption. Romeo is a powerful being with gray skin, and red lines all over his dark-gray clothing. (It's unknown what these red lines are.) His scleras are blazing red, with yellow pupils. His hair is also red, and has a long beard.

Personality
"I wonder if he even had a heart at all, or if he was a monster just pretending to play along."

- Xara (determinantly) about Romeo's personality.

Romeo was a dark lord. He was known to be intelligent, arrogant, manipulative, selfish, and cruel, and was (at several times) shown to be quick to anger. His primary body speaks in an informal and sometimes sassy manner, showing enthusiasm and pride in the challenges he sets up for heroes. However, one of his secondary bodies, the prismarine colossus, speaks slowly, deliberately and condescendingly, while another of his secondary bodies, disguised as a snowman, behaves in a more approachable, lighthearted manner, while showing a more jovial side; this is probably to manipulate Jesse and his/her friends.

Going along with this, he also shows flamboyance and showmanship, using his Prismarine Colossus form to change the time of day to night in order to add some drama to his fight with Jesse at the start of Epiosde 2, as well as adding fireworks to his "Awesome, Fantastic, Super-Deadly Icy Palace of Despair", as well as in Beacontown when he is ruling it while disguised as Jesse.

Romeo was also very intimidating as well, willing to kill Jesse and his/her friends, despite seeing them for the first time. He was also highly disrespectful, asinine, and crass towards the deaths and tragedies of others, as seen when he sadistically used one of his secondary bodies, disguised as the giant prismarine statue, to destroy the memorial of Reuben, Jesse's beloved late pet pig.

Worse, Romeo was proven to be sadistic and cruel, clearly not caring if Jesse died in any of Romeo's challenges. This is shown when he is seen smiling when he created a more dangerous challenge for Jesse. Even after Jesse completed a challenge, Romeo, in his Snowman form, made an even more dangerous challenge. He kept making more challenges for Jesse to join him and test his/her skills.

He is also very rude, obnoxious, and vituperative, as seen when he insults the group a couple times, and even insulted Radar/Jack by calling him a "baggage" while at Romeo's icy palace. In addition to this, he is also a xenophobic and racist individual, as shown by his opprobrious comment, "I'm trying to separate the diamonds from the gravel here! Rubbish, gets, dumped!".

Much like Hadrian and Mevia from Season 1, Romeo's primary motives for his evil deeds are for his own enjoyment. Similarly, he has no regard for the lives of others and even has fun toying around with said lives. Like Hadrian, Romeo is a hypocrite who criticizes Jesse over his/her friendships, believing said friendships to hold him/her back. However, this trait is more prominent in Romeo.

As Vos, he seemingly cared deeply for his "friends", as seen when he gets worried for Jack after he gets hit in the eye by one of the statues who are controlled by "the Admin" (determinant). "Vos" is also cowardly; this is shown when he runs away from battles, most of the time.

When Romeo reveals that he was masquerading as Vos, he is frustrated with Jesse, ranting that he had made his challenge just for him/her, and he/she cheated. He does show interest in Stella, respecting her attitude and willingnesss to work with him. If Jesse calls him a loser, he shows immence anger. Regardless, he states that he is tired of Jesse making him feel bad, and that he will feel good when he sends Jesse and Jack/Petra to a place where "they'll never see the light of day ever again", before banishing them.

Romeo has no qualms with identity theft, as confirmed when he disguises himself as Jesse, goes to Beacontown and rules it as an opressive tyrant, thus tarnishing Jesse’s reputation as a hero.

In Below the Bedrock, it's revealed that Romeo "liked toying with the basic order of things". However, Fred wrote about Romeo just wanting to keep him and Xara together, and Fred even considered Romeo as a friend, meaning that Romeo could be redeemable. However, Fred may have wrote this before Romeo's betrayal, which could prove otherwise. With everything that Romeo has caused (killing, torturing and oppressing innocent people), Fred might have been wrong about Romeo's true nature. Xara claims that before his betrayal, Romeo was just as arrogant and rude as he is now, he always took credit for Xara's creations, just to gain more attention.

However, despite all of this, Romeo is not pure evil. Despite his resentment towards his former friends Xara and Fred, the Cabin where the three once lived together, Romeo not only left it untouched, but preserved it completely, even planting a huge birch tree outside as a memorial for Fred, possibly hinting at his remorse (birch was Fred's favorite type of wood). Romeo was wracked with guild after killing Fred and, as such, spared Xara, imprisoning her instead. If Jesse didn’t give Xara her bed, she confronts Romeo and attacks him, only for him to murder her too, although he will show sadness, obviously upset at his murder of his old friend. After his powers are taken away, Romeo loses his intensive megalomania and eventually redeems himself in Above and Beyond, the Season 2 finale, even though Xara believed Romeo is completely irredeemable. So, even though Romeo was redeemed, it took the loss of his powers for him to realize the error of his ways.

Powers and Abilities
"Wait! Do I have this right? Are you telling me that this "Admin" is so powerful he built ALL of this INSTANTLY?"

- Stella being amazed at Romeo's abilities of building things instantly.

Romeo was incredibly powerful, able to build or destroy anything in a short amount of time. He is shown to be able to shape-shift into different people and other creatures, and can also control giant statues in his Sea Temple, as well as virtually any lifeform. He himself implies in his dialogue that he can construct bodies for himself to inhabit. He also possesses the ability to levitate himself and other people.

It is later confirmed by Xara that Romeo actually does have a weakness. An Admin can be stripped of his powers, yet it isn't easy. An Admin's weakness is a special word called "Word of Passage", that will shut down their powers if taken to the "primary terminal". The word to defeat Romeo is #POTATO451 according to Fred's journal. It's later revealed that the actual weapon is a golden gauntlet Fred made, which can take away Romeo's powers if he's being hit by it a couple of times.

Other powers of Romeo include, electrokinesis, telekinesis, telepathy, mind control, gravity alteration, creation of clothing, matter, objects and organisms out of thin air, teleportation, apportation, indestructibility, immortality and super strength. Through electrokinesis, Romeo can strike organisms with red electric shocks and generate torrents of red lightning to attack victims. He can also force the Gauntlet onto victims to gain influence on and control over them. Romeo even has fragmentalism, and is able to create secondary bodies for himself, two of which have known to be disguised as a prismarine colossus and a snowman. However, this is very tiring for him.

Romeo also seems to be a skilled actor. This is evidenced by his portrayal of "Vos", when he feigns fear and concern, even outright deeming himself insane (with one of his secondary bodies disguised as a Snowman), and (determinantly) angrily complains that the Admin (himself in one of his secondary bodies) just can't stop putting him in cages.

Quotes
"Perhaps… they went away?"

- Romeo (disguised as Vos) to Jesse, Petra, Jack, and Nurm.

"Now! Please?!"

- Romeo (disguised as Vos) begging Jesse to use the Structure Block.

"Why, hello. (Jesse: Uh, hi.) Die now."

- One of Romeo's secondary bodies (the prismarine colossus) trying to kill Jesse and his/her friends, despite seeing them for the first time.

"You are resilient, though sadly… still MORTAL!!!!!"

- Romeo to Jesse, proving himself to be immortal with his powers.

"Oh, dear! Is there a leak in here?"

- Romeo while attempting to kill Jesse.

"Jesse… You thought you could just run away from the Admin!?! (laughs evilly) You've really got my attention now."

- Romeo at the end of Hero in Residence.

"Greetings, tiny people. I… am the Admin. Sorry, that was probably really loud to your pathetic, tiny ears."

- Romeo's secondary body (the prismarine colossus) insulting the residents of Beacontown.

"I wish to speak with Jesse, the Gauntlet-bearer."

- Romeo about Jesse.

"I loved what you did with the Wither Storm. Awesome stuff. Ohh, this is going to be perfect. You've got the knack."

- Romeo speaking to Jesse about his/her battle with the Wither Storm.

"But now… your true test begins. It is time you fight… (smashes into Beacontown) me. Fight me, "champion", unless you would like to see that happen to your entire town."

- Romeo intimidating Jesse and attacking the Beacontowners.

"Well… fought… my… champion."

- One of Romeo's secondary bodies, the Prismarine Colossus, before it finally dies.

"(Jesse: The Admin.) The one and only! I had so much fun during our last little battle, super epic! Just couldn't stay away. (Jesse: Wait… you're the Admin?) That giant prismarine colossus? (chuckles) Just a construct. Rolled it up for the occasion. Pretty fun, right? I just thought it'd be a little easier to talk like this."

- Romeo's introduction (disguised as a snowman) while speaking to Jesse, Petra, Jack, and the fake Vos (Romeo's primary body).

"See, you four went into my temple, back out alive. Heroes! You're perfect for my creations! Perfect! (Jesse: Where are you going with this?) Got a new challenge for ya. You're gonna love it! (changes the time from day to night)"

- Romeo's Snowman form, excited that the new heroes are perfect to test for his deadly challenges.

"I'm glad you asked. It's at the tippy top of my awesome, fantastic, super-deadly icy palace of despair."

- Romeo to Jack, about the Awesome, Fantastic, Super-Deadly Icy Palace of Despair.

"No, Never. It's actually perfect, Champion. I can see you all have dreams of greatness. It's... very cute."

- Romeo insulting the group. (Stella doesn't even know Romeo is being rude.)

"Not bad, not bad. You're a fine shot! Almost feels like I made this challenge too easy for you. Oh, wait! Nope! I'm totally messing with you! Time for LEVEL TWO!"

- Romeo creating a more dangerous challenge for Jesse. (This is also the scene where the fake Vos (Romeo's primary body) and the Snowman (one of Romeo's secondary bodies) appear if Jesse chose to go with Lukas.)

"Okay, no. No, no, no, no, no. This is all wrong, people. WRONG! You're not supposed to help each other! The losers are supposed to LOSE!"

- Another of Romeo's secondary bodies, the Snowman, making a xenophobic comment on "weaklings".

"Like this guy! (referring to Radar/Jack) There is no way he would have made it out if you weren't giving him the intellectual assist! You should've just CUT HIM LOOSE! Jettisoned that baggage."

- Romeo yelling at Jesse, and then insulting Radar/Jack by calling him a "baggage".

"You don't get it! I'm trying to separate the diamonds from the gravel here! Rubbish, gets, dumped!"

- Romeo (determinantly) talking to Jesse.

"Oh, Jesse. Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. I just don't understand you! Letting your friends go? Radar? He clearly wasn't supposed to make it, despite you dragging him along."

- "Vos" mocking Jesse about saving others in need.

"Haven't you figured it out yet, you DOLT!?!"

- "Vos" insulting Jack before revealing himself to be "the Admin".

"(Jesse: He's the Admin.) Ohh… you are a smart cookie, Jesse. Of course I am! (Jack: Vos? The whole time?) No, not the whole time, you nitwit. The real Vos would've never survived in my sea temple that long."

- "The Admin" proving that the real Vos died after revealing himself.

"I am disappointed, Jesse. You obviously just don't have what it takes to really be my friend. My partner. Such a pity, such a waste."

- "The Admin" to Jesse.

"(Stella: Ah, oh, excuse me? Mr. Admin? Yoohoo! Uh, those fools might not want to be your partner, but I will!) But you… lost."

- "The Admin" and Stella if Jesse left her behind in the ice.

"(Stella: Ah, excuse me, Mr. Admin, sir. I just wanted to say that I would love to be your partner.) But you… lost. (Stella: Technically, yes, but unlike them, I actually appreciate what you're offering.) You don't say."

- "The Admin" and Stella if Jesse chose to thaw her from the ice.

"See, she may not have the skills, but that is a terrific attitude."

- "The Admin" about Stella if Jesse chose to free her.

"You really do have a thing or two you could learn from Stella here. Skill's lacking, but… she's got a terrific attitude."

- "The Admin" if Jesse chose to leave Stella earlier.

"I gave you so many chances! (shows evil grin, and lifts Jesse and his/her friends into the air) But, haha, it hasn't been all to waste. No, no. You might not be worthy. (puts gauntlet on Petra/Jack; the gauntlet turns red) Technically here, Petra/Jack here was the winner. Oh, don't get me wrong. There are quite a few flaws that we'll have to get through, but we'll get there, in time."

- "The Admin" before banishing either Petra or Jack.

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's not for a loser like you to worry about where the cool people go."

- "The Admin" insulting Jesse.

"Ugh… you REALLY ARE JUST HOPELESS!!!"

- "The Admin" if Jesse tried to reason with him.

"What… WHAT?!!?"

- "The Admin" if Jesse insulted him.

"I'm done letting YOU make ME feel bad! I prefer to feel good, and I'm gonna feel real good when I send you two to a place where you'll never see the light of day ever again!"

- "The Admin" before banishing Jesse and his/her friends.

"I hope you're learning how to become a cooperative champion! You are all here to be reminded of your potential, and I hope you'll see it in yourself, as I do, because if you don't, well… we'll cross that bridge when you come to it, 'ey? In the meantime, demonstrate your cooperate potential and you just may become the ULTIMATE CHAMPION!!"

- Romeo's recording in the Mush Room about becoming a "champion".

"Hello, guests and associates! Admin here with a reminder: helping others will only drag you down. Losers are SUPOSSED to lose! Say it with me now: losers are SUPPOSED to lose! Right! Let this be your watchword. Good day!"

- Another recording of Romeo's about helping others and losers being "supposed" to lose.

"(The Warden: Ah! Admin! Sir!) I'm very disappointed in you, Warden. (The Warden: I'm… I'm, uh… I'm just a nervous eater. I'm sorry.)"

- Romeo scolding the Warden.

"Oh, for the love of… ENOUGH!!! I'm through letting you disappoint me."

- Romeo firing the Warden.

"And as for you, I've been looking for an opportunity to prove your loyalty, to prove your worth as my champion. (to Petra/Jack) So, unless you want to be added to my naughty list, I suggest you pull out your sword, and attack Jesse. (to Jesse) And for you, Jesse, don't think I don't believe in fair play. (chuckles sinisterly) Now we'll have some real fun."

- Romeo forcing Jesse and Petra/Jack to fight each other while also proving himself further to be a cheater.

"(chuckles) You're… you're joking, right? THAT'S your big idea! Swords can't hurt me! (lifts Jesse and Petra/Jack into the air, and groans) All I asked you to do is fight your friend to the death, and you can't… even… do… THAT?!? I don't even want you to be my friend anymore. (to Petra/Jack) And I don't want YOU to be my friend either. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, this whole place can BURN TO THE GROUND!!! (The Warden: What about Prisoner X? What about all of us?) The Institute remains inescapable, so what do I care? I'm leaving! I'm never thinking about any of you EVER AGAIN! Guess I'll just be my own friend now. Can't dwell on the setbacks, gonna have to keep looking forward!!"

- Romeo faking innocence, throwing a tantrum to Jesse and Petra/Jack, and betraying the Warden.

"Heh. I'm gonna have LOADS of friends soon! After all… (voice changes) …everyone loves Jesse, right? (Jesse: No.) (Radar: No way.) (Romeo turns to Stella) YOU COMING!?!"

- Romeo disguises himself as Jesse.

"Stella is just the beginning. Your other friends will fall in line, too: Lukas, Axel, Olivia, all of them. Don't worry. I'll take "good" care of Beacontown."

- Romeo (disguised as Jesse) revealing his sinister plans about ruling Beacontown and corrupting Stella and Jesse's friends.

"I can't let anyone run around disguised as me or my "friends". The amount of chaos they could cause is… well it's unthinkable. (turns to bounty hunter, who is Ivor) That's why I summoned you! (tosses the Amulet to Ivor) Track them down. Make sure they're… behaving themselves. (Ivor makes smoke) Man… oh, geez. (Ivor leaves in a puff of smoke) Run, run, run, Jesse… as fast as you can. (laughs sinisterly; his eyes turn into their true color)"

- Romeo (disguised as Jesse) about his plans while Ivor becomes his bounty hunter.

"Welcome, challengers: Xara, Fred, and me, Romeo! Are you rrady for the most thrilling, death-defying, heart-pounding challenge you've ever experienced!? Stage 1: BEGIN!"

- One of Romeo's recordings in Romeosburg.

"Oooh! WOW! What a showdown, folks! We're having the TIME OF OUR LIVES, aren't we!?!"

- Another Romeo's recording at the challenge.

"Congratulations, challengers! Stage 1 of 600 (laughs) COMPLETE! STAGE 2! AAAAND… BEGIN!!"

- Romeo's recording after Stage 1 is completed and Stage 2 starts.

"Now, brirr! NOW, prepare yourselves for… (*voice changes to low tone*) STAGE 600!!!!!"

- Romeo's recording as Stage 600 starts, and the Giant Magma Golem emerges.

"I see your smiles… now, now, I'm not a monster. There is a crafting table nearby!!! (cackles wickedly) (Radar: This guy has a twisted way of playing with his friends!)"

- Another one of Romeo's recordings and Radar's response.

"Oh! You've done it! Ohhhh, YYYEEESSS! The power of our friendship prevailed!"

- Romeo's final recording in the competition after the Giant Magma Golem is killed. (This is likely his recording for the player becoming a champion, as Romeo is not honorable.)

"(Olivia: Why exactly are we having a festival devoted solely to you?) (Axel: Do we really have to go up in stage in front of everyone?) Enough! You two are going to need to do lot less talking and a lot more agreeing if you want to be a part of Beacontown! (Olivia: I'm not so sure, actually. In fact, we were  just about to head home.) I'd be very careful if I were you guys, or there might not be a home to go back to at all! It's just so easy for something bad happens to a town! Like Champion City for example…"

- Romeo (disguised as Jesse) threatening to destroy Boom Town and Redstonia if Axel and Olivia leave Beacontown, about to use Champion City as their example.

"And boop! (Stella, Axel, and Olivia watch in horror as Champion City explodes) (Stella: My… no!) Now… how about you run along and get the fireworks show ready for the big keynote, eh? (Stella: (* in fear*) Yes, Admin… Jesse.) What!?! You were so worried about Champion City and now, one less thing to worry about. (Stella: My friends and… my people, they're… gone.)"

- Romeo (dependently on player's choice) destroys Champion City.

"(Stella: What! What are you…) (Xara: (*shoots arrows as Romeo dodges them*) PUT THAT HAND DOWN, ROMEO!) Xar… eh… I mean… do I know you? (Xara: Don't play dumb with me, Romeo! Whatever "Jesse" told you, IT'S ALL A LIE!) No, no, no, no, I'm afraid that's where you stop talking! (Xara charges at Romeo with a diamond sword, but he suffocates her in the air) Goodbye, old friend. (*turns toward Axel and Oivia*) I think I've proven my point. You WILL stay in Beacontown and you WILL continue to be my friends. Got it?!? (Olivia: You… you…) Don't answer. I know you do. Now, we have a festival to prepare for. Speaking of, Stella, you're going to have my fireworks display ready, yes? (Stella: Yes, Admin… Jesse.) (*looks at Xara's remains*) Oh, Xara. How I wish it didn't have to end that way. (*turns to one of his golems*) Get over here, you iron simpleton! This was YOUR fault, you hear? If you were any good in your job, you wouldn't have allowed someone like HER in here! Because of YOUR incompetence, I had to go… had to go and do that!"

- Romeo (dependently on player's choice) about to destroy Champion City. However, Xara appears in the scene, and he kills her instead.

"What do you think you're doing? (Jesse: We're here to stop you, Romeo. Once and for all.) I told you: YOUR WORLD'S DONE! NO TAKEBACKS!"

- Romeo to Jesse, announcing the end of the latter's world.

"Callou calley, Jesse. Remember when we first met? (*chuckles*) That was when we thought we could still be friends. This temple, this challenge, was my FIRST gift to you. Now, (*becomes bigger and voice changes*) it's going to be where I bury you."

- Romeo intimidating Jesse and harassing him.

Trivia

 * Romeo is currently the only dark lord in Minecraft: Story Mode. This is because he is the only one in the game who lives in his own realm, and seeks to corrupt the world that Jesse lives in. He is also much more powerful than the rest of the villains in the game. However, despite being the Dark Lord, he is never referred to as a dark lord; instead, he is called "the Admin".
 * It's possible that Romeo grabbing all the power for himself resulted in him having glowing eyes and body in his Admin form.
 * Romeo is the third antagonist in Minecraft: Story Mode, to have an antagonistic role in more than one episode, the first two being the Wither Storm and Ivor.
 * It turns out Romeo disguised himself as a snowman and a prismarine colossus. Even though in the first scene the Snowman appears, he is talking to Jesse, Petra, Nurm, and the fake Vos (Romeo). Also, if Jesse chooses to go with Lukas, the fake Vos (who is Romeo) and the Snowman can both be seen in the same scene. It can be explained Romeo's main body was disguised as Vos while his secondary bodies were disguised as a prismarine colossus and a snowman, ultimately making Romeo fragmental.
 * Romeo being a fragmental being is hinted further where there are even parts saying "The Admin will remember that" and "You've challenged the Admin." This is obviously talking about Romeo because one of aliases is "the Admin".
 * Despite this, Romeo creating multiple secondary bodies for himself is very tiring. This is why his primary body, the "Vos" disguise, was not around during the fight with one of his secondary bodies, disguised as a Prismarine Colossus form, and why his other secondary body, the Snowman, only appeared at key moments.
 * It is interesting, though, that his Snowman form did not merge with Vos to reveal "the Admin". Romeo likely did this right after Giant Consequences, and it could be because he did not want Jesse to know he is fragmental, possibly because he didn't want Jesse to be more aware of him.
 * It's possible that Romeo, Xara, and Fred's powers were the result of science experiments, but this is yet to be confirmed, as the three could've been born with their powers (though it's also possible that it's the result of both). There is no evidence of this whatsoeve.
 * Romeo's origins have been revealed in Episode 4 of Season 2, Below the Bedrock, where the plotline states, "After narrowly escaping from the Admin’s twisted prison, Jesse and the remaining fugitives discover not just a forgotten city but an entire hidden world buried beneath the bedrock. Though largely in ruin, the gang quickly learns it’s not entirely abandoned, leaving them to win over wary inhabitants, face unexpected challenges, and pursue the real truth about the Admin’s origins..." This is because "the Admin" is Romeo; this is also the episode which revealed Xara's origins as well, since she was also an Admin.
 * It is unclear why Romeo chose to disguise himself as Vos, and not Sammy.
 * Vos is not Romeo's true identity, as the real Vos, who was one of Jack's best friends, died in the Sea Temple. Romeo also confirms this when he states that the real Vos would never have survived in the Sea Temple for so long. He also complains that he had to waste so much time looking like "that crusty old adventurer", who was Vos.
 * Despite Vos not being Romeo's true identity, they both share the same voice actor: J.B. Blanc.
 * Interestingly, at the end of Episode 2, even after Romeo reveals that he had been masquerading as Vos, his newly revealed appearance still bore similar hair features to the real Vos. His voice also sounded similar to Vos's. It turns out in Jailhouse Block that Romeo stole great power, and used it for his own sadistic entertainment.
 * Romeo serves as Jesse's archenemy in the game because he had more screentime than the other villains (including the Wither Storm), and he is what causes Jesse's adventure in Season 2. Although the Wither Storm ultimately led to Jesse's adventures, it wasn't as villainous as Romeo. Unlike Romeo, the Wither Storm had no moral agency.
 * Despite Romeo’s near-infinite power, he doesn’t seem to be able to read the minds of others (at least, in his Snow Golem form), as evidenced by his quote if Jesse stays silent and stares angrily druing the introduction of his snow golem form: “Ah, now, now I can tell you’re... Actually, I can’t tell how you’re feeling. Anger? Joy? Petite ennui? Help me to help you.”
 * Much like the other Admins, Romeo shares similarities with a member of Jesse’s Gang, being Petra: both are hotheaded thrill seekers with an affinity for combat and a competitive streak. Notably, both wanted to keep their friends together, more than anything.