personavelvetroomdr | [Open Intro] a pirate's life for me

I. In the Velvet Room

The sight of an Akira in a long black coat and a high-necked gray vest is no rarity around these parts, but the one currently studying the conspiracy board is different. He has gold earrings, for one thing, and his clothes have a different style: hand-sewn wool and linen, not the slick, modern leather of Metaverse garb. His casual, hands-in-pockets slouch as he studies the conspiracy board, however, should look familiar to almost anyone.

Well. Anyone who knows an Akiren, anyway.

At the sound of anyone approaching him, Captain Akira turns sharply, his right hand flying to the hilt of the cutlass hanging from his belt. Depending on who he sees, he’ll say one of the following things:

If the character approaching him is an Akiren, his eyes widen briefly in surprise. Then he puts his hands on his hips, studying his double with interest. “You look oddly familiar, somehow,” he quips. “I’m afraid I can’t place you, though.”

If the character approaching him is an Akechi, the choked syllable “Go–” escapes him before he can stop it. Then he cuts himself off, smiling in apology. “Excuse me. I mistook you for someone else.”

If the character approaching him is anyone else, he nods a polite greeting and points at the conspiracy board. “Did you write this?” he asks cheerfully. “ ‘For mine own part, it is Greek to me.’ ”

Whether the character he addresses recognizes the quote or not, Akira’s puzzled expression translates its meaning clearly: Hey. What the hell is this?

II. In Tokyo

Tokyo is the last place Akira ought to set foot in--so of course, it’s the first place he does. To his disappointment, the city beyond the door is all but unrecognizable, full of bright lights and strange buildings and marvels Akira can’t begin to puzzle out. Even so, a vague familiarity remains, an instinct leading him deeper and deeper into the urban sprawl.

Any character passing through Shibuya can find Akira just off of Center Street, standing outside the door to Untouchable with a bemused expression on his face. He runs a hand through his messy hair and sighs, turning to smile at whoever is watching him.

“This place has changed a great deal since I saw it last,” he jokes. “Then again, I was a bit preoccupied the last time I was here.”

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"Hmm, I can understand not having heard about Personas, but TV screens?"

He takes a closer look at the newest arrival's getup. It's quite unusual, almost if...

"Oh, are you perhaps from the past? There has been a variation of a few years between the arrivals here, but I guess nothing prevents much larger time differences."

Now, how am I meant to answer that? "It's possible. What year is it for you?"

"Well, I personally come from the year 2010. And you?"

Huh.

"Bunka 5. 1809, by the foreign count."

"I could have told you Heisei 22, but it wouldn't have meant anything to you. The traditional era calendar isn't very useful for comparisons like this."

1809...

"If you are from that along ago, you have a lot of catchup to do indeed. But I'm curious too: what even is life back then?"

"That's a rather broad question, wouldn't you say? You live in a future I've never dreamed of, let alone experienced. I have no way to know what distinguishes my life from yours."

"That's true," he admits. "Maybe you could start by your occupation?"

"Pirate captain," Akira says. "I've worked aboard some ship or other since I was sixteen, but I've been in command of the pirate sloop Phantom for about two years."

"P-pirate captain..." he repeats, in a rare loss of composure. "That's pretty cool," he mumbles.

Akira grins, buoyed by Ken's enthusiasm. "You'd make a good pirate yourself, I suspect. Back when I sailed with Captain Igor, one of my crewmates was the spitting image of you."

"So there's a pirate Ken somewhere... what were his duties on board?"

"During battle, he was a powder boy. That's the person who fetches gunpowder for the cannon crews so they can keep firing on the enemy. It's harder and more dangerous than it sounds: powder boys have to run back and forth through the heat of battle, trying not to be seen by the enemy ship. Being short is an advantage, and courage is essential--both traits you have, I expect."

Despite the pirate captain's attempt at making it sound awesome, Ken shows a little disappointment at the not very glamorous role; but only a little, as he also shows understanding.

"I see. Well, I hope he was good at his job! What did he do outside of battle?"

Sorry, Ken. He tried.

"Why, lots of things. Keeping a lookout from the crow's nest, unloading cargo from captured ships, helping Koromaru and Nanako battle the rats in the cargo hold--ah, excuse me. Koromaru is the ship's dog, and Nanako is another young pirate...though I guess you may have already known that." Akira casts around, trying to think of a more exciting answer. "Ken was training with swords and pistols when I knew him--we were sparring partners a few times when I started out. It's been almost two years since I left the Yaldabaoth, so I imagine he's quite deadly in a duel by now."

Akira's answer is enough to make him a little dreamy again.

"The life of a pirate does sound so interesting... I hope that he enjoys it."

He lets out a small sigh.

"You know, I admire pirates. They are the embodiment of freedom! They reject a stifling society, live life how they see fit, make their own laws..."

Ken's expression grows a little sinister as he speaks.

"That's the kind of ideal I'm striving for! The abolishment of the old system, the taking back of our own lives! A new era of freedom!"

Ken's sudden shift in demeanor is uncomfortable, but Akira doesn't let it show. He's young and enthusiastic, that's all. Most likely, he's just trying a little too hard to impress.

"Sounds like you've given the future a lot of thought," says Akira. "What is the world like, where you come from? I imagine it must be far different than mine."

"It's a little difficult to summarize two centuries of progress in a few sentences. What would you like to know about most?"

"Why not start with you? What is your life like, day to day?"

"Since your goal is to learn about my world, I suppose you mean before all the supernatural elements hit, right? Well, it was pretty ordinary. I went to school, like all kids. Then the evening I did homework, played soccer - that's a sport, by the way - or watched TV."

He holds his chin.

"Oh right, I should explain what a TV is. It's like... a technological device that shows images on a screen. It plays sounds too. Basically, you can use it to watch and hear things from another place as if you were there. Or completely fabricated things. Does that make sense?"

All kids Ken's age are going to school? Times truly have changed for the better. "I think so. It sounds like a device that shows you theater, just from wherever you happen to be. Is that the gist of it?"

Akira hopes he has this correct. Not only to avoid looking foolish, but because he now wants a device like that of his own.

"...kinda? But it can also show other things than theater. Like, what's currently happening in a certain location, if a device called a camera is setup there. Or drawings that are animated. The possibilities are endless."

O brave new world, that has such marvels in it. "That's remarkable. And anyone can watch these things? Or is it limited to a select few?"

"Pretty much everyone has them nowadays, at least in Japan. If anything, the concern is about it making people dumber or something."

"And corrupting the morals of the youth, I'm sure." Akira shakes his head, amused. "That's nothing new, at least. In my time, they say the same of theater and playing cards."

"No matter how much time passes, some things truly never change, do they?"

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captainkurusu - 2025-02-03 03:53 (UTC) - Expand