[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]

"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?"

[fogboundcrow]

"I believe it's styled after authentic armor, but a more modern creation." Raven still looks over the armor with a grin. It's polished to a shine, certainly well cared for. "Daidara-san creates for the love of the craft. Every piece of weapon and armor is a work of art in his eyes."

[captainkurusu]

Akira smiles. "The blacksmith I knew as a boy was much the same way. He did more trade in nails and horseshoes than weapons, but he insisted on perfection in everything he made."

And speaking of weapons...

Akira gives the interior of the shop an intrigued look-over.

[fogboundcrow]

There's quite a lot to choose from. Swords, shields, kunai and daggers, claw weapons, combat fans, and even shoes and boots span the shelves. Each item is finely crafted. Armor, such as breastplates and smaller accessories shine in the firelight cast by the forge behind the counter.

Raven follows along, curious to gauge Akira's reactions.

"They're strikingly similar to the real Daidara-san's work. I've gotten some decent results with the sabers, for instance."

[captainkurusu]

Akira selects a saber off the shelf and partially unsheathes it, examining the edge and temper with a knowledgeable eye. "You weren't exaggerating," he says, drawing it the rest of the way to admire the full length. "This is excellent craftsmanship. The steel quality is better than I'm used to, as well; I suppose that's to be expected, given two centuries of advancement in the art of smithing..."

He runs through an agile, controlled practice regimen of swings and jabs, careful to stop just short of hitting anything in the shop. For the first time since he entered the Velvet Room, he looks completely in his element.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven watches intently, unable to hide his smile. This is a pirate. A real pirate using a sword so gracefully. His inner child is screaming with excitement.

He, of course, needs to retain his composure. "You make it look so natural."

[captainkurusu]

Well, there's only one proper response to that kind of flattery. Akira takes a few more steps, checking his clearance, then launches himself off the counter into an athletic backflip. It's a useless trick in battle, but it rarely fails to impress.

"Practice," he says cheerfully. "Besides, it's easy to look good without an opponent. Fighting for your life is always a much less elegant beast."

[fogboundcrow]

Oh.

It's just like in an action movie. Such an effortless leap...

Raven's left speechless for a few seconds before words finally form. "Ah. Yes. I imagine real fights are less flashy and more visceral." That makes sense.

[captainkurusu]

"Much." Akira sheathes the sword with a flourish, as if to underscore the point. "Narukami--a man I used to sail with--told me that I could study strategy and fighting styles all I liked, but a fight has only one rule: don't die. The more I see of battle, the more I've come to agree."