[Open Intro] a pirate's life for me

[captainkurusu]

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.”

Comments

[captainkurusu]

"Indeed there is. He was a merchant sailor until recently, and a damnably good one at that. When my crew boarded his ship, I went to confront the captain and found Goro standing guard. I assumed I could fight my way past him. I regret to say I was wrong." Akira brushes his bangs aside, looking sheepish. "I took a liking to him at once."

[fogboundcrow]

Oh really? Raven chuckles. Very, very interesting. "So, effectively, you were star crossed lovers, divided by duties, and somehow you swayed him to your cause."

[captainkurusu]

"I took a liking to him, I said. It took him far longer to decide I was anything but a criminal and a nuisance. Which I am, to be fair, on both counts. But considering my life quite literally hung in the balance, he kept me waiting for a damned sight longer than I wanted."

Akira's laugh is slightly forced, but it's real enough. Despite all odds, the story has a happy ending. The middle doesn't matter. The middle doesn't count.

So he skips ahead, and hopes the gap will go unnoticed.

"As I stood on the gallows, he had the ship I'd been held captive on detonated as a distraction while three of my crewmates cut me loose and whisked me away to a hiding spot. From there, he took my place as a decoy to lead away the pursuit--he'd dyed his hair to match mine, and he confiscated my shirt--while I sneaked out to a getaway boat." He grows increasingly animated as the story goes on, his eyes alight with excitement. "That was his intention, anyway. Instead, I circled back to make sure he got out safely, too. We fought our way through the constables sent to catch us--I was still shirtless, mind you--but one of his crewmates shot him in the back as we ran to the boat. I killed the sorry bastard with his own gun and carried Goro to safety...though he was demanding I put him down most of the way."

[fogboundcrow]

It's quite the story, and Raven listens intently, swept up in the high stakes. There are so many questions that pop up like bubbles in his mind, but he tries to pop them before they leave his lips. Best to let the story unfold before he draws too many conclusions.

Gallows, execution... These things are a part of history and many a pirate tale, so it's not surprising to hear about them per se, and yet...

"So not only did he betray the law he once served, but he was willing to take your place." That's... impressive, actually, and after a moment, a smile returns to his lips. "I'd say it all sounds exciting, but hearing about an experience and living it are entirely different beasts."

[captainkurusu]

"Very different beasts," Akira agrees, amused. "Goro was laid up in sickbay for weeks after that, grumbling about how useless he felt. There's always a cost to excitement, I've found--whether it makes it into the stories or not."

[fogboundcrow]

"I imagine the medical treatment likely didn't help. These days, we have a wealth of technology, vaccines, and developments in medicine that have revolutionized people's lives, but back then..."

Hmm, what would they do? Raven squints, touching his chin. "I suppose alcohol could work as a disinfectant..."

[captainkurusu]

"Our ship's surgeon has some disinfectant of her own design that seems to work well enough. She's never told me how she makes it, though I'm fairly certain alcohol plays a part." Akira shrugs. "But most ships just use saltwater to wash any wounds--and to wash everything else, at that. It's the one supply no ship will ever have a shortage of, no matter how long the voyage lasts."

[fogboundcrow]

"Hmm... That's a fair point." Certainly not good to drink, but in a pinch, saltwater does still have its perks. And clearly, it got the job done. "Well, I imagine this place will be quite the culture shock. The centuries between us have led to many advancements beyond even guns."

And he knows that guns are, of course, one of the big game changers in human history.

[captainkurusu]

"I'm excited to see it. I doubt many men have ever been allowed to glimpse the future, let alone visit it." He gives Akechi a rather wicked grin. "And I'm very curious to try out these modern guns. Or modern cannon, if it won't cause too much of a stir."

[fogboundcrow]

Modern cannons... Uh. Raven stares for a moment. "Well, I'm not sure cannons are especially commonplace these days. There are tanks used by the military, but those aren't the sort of things you'll stumble into in passing."

But it's something, perhaps? Maybe he'll find a model, or a movie that demonstrates them.

...

Shit. That's an entirely different can of worms.

[captainkurusu]

Ah, right. Fewer ships would mean less need for cannon. He should have put that together on his own. Feeling a little deflated, Akira shakes his head. "Just the guns, then. I don't intend to start any battles here. A pistol should more than suffice."

[fogboundcrow]

"Well, if you're looking for real guns, you'll want to visit Daidara Metalworks in Inaba." He gestures to the fourth door to the right. "Untouchable in Tokyo carries model weapons, but those are really only worthwhile in cognitive spaces, like the Metaverse."

[captainkurusu]

Untouchable. Something rings a vague bell about that name. "I appreciate the tip. Do real guns not work in these 'cognitive spaces,' then?"

[fogboundcrow]

"It's less that they don't work and more that you can get away with models." He pauses, blowing a small sigh. "Back home, it's all I could work with, since Daidara-san wasn't eager to sell real weapons to a middle schooler."

[captainkurusu]

"Probably wise of him," says Akira, deducing the general meaning of 'middle schooler' from context. "But you seem mature and respectable for your age to me. I'd offer you one of mine, if it were any use."

He only has one visible pistol. Make of that what you will.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven chuckles at how casually Akira says that. "I'm not sure my guardians would be thrilled at me wielding an actual firearm. I do live with several younger children, and I barely got away with a real sword."

He looks to the Mikage-cho door, with its warnings and caution tape. "But, seeing how real demons lurk in some of the locations here, it was a matter of safety."

[captainkurusu]

Akira raises an eyebrow, glancing over at the door. So that note was true. It would be wise to avoid them entirely, but they would be an interesting sight... "Far be it from me to undermine your guardians. Though it seems to me that real demons would be far more of a concern than a properly handled pistol, all things considered."

[fogboundcrow]

"True, but I do have my Personas, so a firearm isn't strictly necessary." Raven shrugs his shoulders, smiling despite the inconvenience. "I suppose genuine firearms require more training than a toy laser gun turned real."

[captainkurusu]

"I wouldn't know; I've only ever fired the real ones. It did take a fair amount of practice to be a good shot, and even more practice to be quick at reloading, which I imagine a toy gun wouldn't need." He taps a finger on the butt of his pistol. "But since I don't have one of these Personas, I should probably stick to the real thing."

[fogboundcrow]

"To be fair, a gun can do quite well against Shadows. Shirogane-san got a lot of use out of his, along with the clever application of tools and trickery." Granted, it's also a gun. Of course it'd be more effective than something like a baseball bat.

Though, come to think of it... Raven eyes the Inaba door. "Actually, the Shiroku Store in Inaba has quite a number of items with surprising use in cognitive spaces, including elemental damage, healing, and escaping from dungeons."

[captainkurusu]

Shirogane. There's another familiar name. If Akechi's version is anything like Akira's, it's no surprise that he and Akechi would get on well. "Tools and trickery are a good approach to most dangers, I find. Is there a list anywhere of these items and perhaps how they work? Not that I plan to rush into any danger; I just feel I ought to catch up with what everyone else knows. To understand what people are talking about, if nothing else."

[fogboundcrow]

Raven smacks his palm over his face. "...I really ought to make one." He heaves a slow, aggravated sigh. "Well, perhaps I can at least point out the more useful options, if you've time to spare."

[captainkurusu]

Akira gestures around at the Velvet Room and shrugs. "I don't have a way to leave here, and no one's given me a job to do. Right now, I have nothing but time."

[fogboundcrow]

"Well then. Allow me to be your guide to the Inaba shopping district." With a dramatic flourish, he turns to the fourth door over, opening it to a rather narrow strip of shops and a gas station.

They're all modest buildings, from the bookstore to the weapons shop with its iconic samurai armor. A tofu shop stands next door, followed by a small general store. As they exit the Velvet Room door, Raven waves the Captain toward that weapons shop to start.

[captainkurusu]

Akira allows himself to be guided, but he does have to stop and admire the armor before going in. There's an almost childlike excitement on his face as he looks it over, whistling through his front teeth. Then he remembers what he came for, and drags himself away.

"Now there's a sight you don't see up close every day," he says, as he enters the shop. "Is it an antique, or is that sort of armor still in use?"