[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]

The word he'd had in mind was more specific, but the kid isn't wrong. Akira tugs his bangs sheepishly and shrugs--as good as a confession, without dragging the subject out.

"You get along better now, I take it?"

[fogboundcrow]

"Yes. He can still be a ridiculous nuisance at points, but it's... tolerable now. If nothing else, it keeps me on my toes." There's a hint of something more, though. A soft longing for someone he hasn't seen in quite some time.

[captainkurusu]

"It's remarkable how stealthily a dedicated nuisance can grow on you," Akira says, amused. "I'm certain most of Captain Igor's crew saw me that way at first, Yu included. But I like to think I won most of them over before I left."

There's a wistful quality to his voice, too, as he talks about his old crew. No doubt he'll get an earful from them about his recent misadventures the next time they gather for Christmas Eve.

[fogboundcrow]

"So Igor-san's a pirate captain in your world? That's quite a departure from the version of him I know." Not specifically the version here. There are differences he's noticed over the last year.

Still, his voice remains light and curious, eyes focused. The surrounding weapons barely register by comparison.

[captainkurusu]

"So he is. Quite a successful one, too. I don't know how he got his start, but he's been captain of the Yaldabaoth for quite some time. He's no pushover--one can't be, not in our profession--but he treats his crew with far more respect and dignity than most purportedly lawful captains can claim." Akira plucks at his bangs again, his voice becoming more serious. "It was pure chance I ended up on his ship, really. Two of his officers found me passed out naked on a beach, and he took pity on me and let them bring me aboard. I still can't imagine how he saw potential in the sort of rash, trouble-making fool I was back then. But he saw something, and he convinced me to try to live up to whatever he saw. Even if he hadn't given me my ship, I'd still owe him a great debt, just for that."

[fogboundcrow]

"The Yaldabaoth." That's...

Of all the names, that's the name his ship has? Raven gawks at the prospect, simply dude to what he's learned by proxy. "The Yaldabaoth I'm familiar with is a false god disguised as a holy grail. ...Or, rather, I've heard about it through word of mouth."

Is it purely coincidence? An odd eccentricity of this pirate-themed world?