|
Post by hoodwink on Feb 28, 2019 11:46:32 GMT -5
Bang! Bang!
Gunfire echoed throughout the night sky, rupturing what would have been a peaceful scene against the calm tides. Amidst the waters was a large port, one which was backed by the Imperial Army, littered with red and blue colors of the army flags. The large town was always packed with ships docked at bay, the town within built of cobblestone and wood. It was a modest town with limited technology. Most ships were run with sails and crew, guns packed with powder and dim flickering lights were all that gave refuge for the wary traveler seeking shelter. Many in town were locals, though many others travelers, passerby or pirates.
Pirates had been the livelier sort on this world, giving the Imperial Army a consistent list of things to do. Many who associated with the pirates were jailed, others hanged or exiled from the city itself. Many were at the mercy of the sea, which surrounded this port, giving those who controlled it the advantage. The army was not lacking in ships, many of their fleet some of the swiftest on the high seas. Many rumors passed through this port, of pirates or other vagabonds who had eluded the army's grasp, though non could be open supporters of such criminals, less they were openly used as examples.
It was because of this many of the locals lived in fear of pirates, afraid to be associated with them less they be persecuted by the army themselves. Luckily, Law's ship wasn't bound to the same laws as this worlds, The Harpy being a swift predator of the skies, his prized airship. The sky pirate had sailed to this world from a tip he had heard on Traverse Town, of a world filled with islands and hidden treasure. Of course, he was excited for a chance to line his pockets! Imagine, a world just lying around lousy with treasure ripe for the taking! It was the chance of a lifetime.
Or so he had thought. Currently crouched behind a flipped table, the pilot wondered how he got to this point, hiding from gunfire while the bar around him erupted with action. There was an immense brawl going on, mainly started by a card game he had been running. I was just the dealer! A grimace marked the tan face stained with worry. One of the players had been goaded into a higher bid (his idea, mind you) against a player that had been counting cards. Law had known the other player was counting cards, as that was the whole gambit. Law would act as the dealer, fair and just in his dealing, while another player previously in on the know would play against everyone else and clean house. The dealer, himself, would back the cheating player, assuring everyone that the cards were dealt fairly, and the two would split the profit.
Unfortunately, many of the other players this night had happened to be pirates, who are not known to lose their treasure so easily. Being a pirate himself, Law had anticipated such an occurrence. What he hadn't anticipated were that said pirates had been a notoriously dangerous bunch, cursed by Aztec gold.
Extraordinarily tough due to the undead curse, the pirates had quickly began to push him and the card player against a wall. Luckily for Law, he was an opportunist, getting others involved by means of ducking at the right moments. An entire brawl had broken out throughout the pub, many citizens beginning to participate rather than evacuate. "I think it's time for me to go." The sky pirate holstered his gun, which he had recently fired back at some of the lousy bastards that had drawn weapons. "Cowards! Whatever happened to fistfights!" It was a meaningless sentiment, given the brass knuckles the pirate kept nestled in his coat pocket.
With a swift roll out from the cover of the table, the airship pilot bolted for the door, running incredibly fast for an ordinary man. Especially one in steel toed boots.
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 1, 2019 18:59:55 GMT -5
From somewhere nearby, one of the town drunks had just passed out in a cozy alley; a bottle clutched in his hand. To no one but the current audience watching from the beyond the 4th wall, he would stir once or twice. Muttering in his sleep with a very content look on his face. And then a moment later, a red headed woman would literally emerge from him- or from an opening that had come from him. Charlotte stretched and also seemed to have quite the satisfied look on her face. In truth she was totally refreshed, it had been too long in her opinion to be able to leave the dream of a sentient creature. She left the alleyway and started to have a look around. Now this was something she was more familiar with.
Also based on the dress of the gentleman behind her, she'd fit in here quite nicely. And it was night! Which meant she should be able to find some fun in a tavern and learn more about where she was. Until she heard another sound that sounded familiar. Gunfire? She had seen such weapons before but they were still an oddity to her. But it'd fit with the apparent era of this world. In any case, a lady such as herself had no place in a firefight. So she'd try to keep her distance from it if she was able to. Besides, it looked like the town guards were already on their way to deal with the situation at hand.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 2, 2019 2:50:06 GMT -5
Chaos erupted from the small and crowded tavern pub, the sound of broken glass shattering mixing with hollers and yells and gunfire. The ocean of sound was thick and heavy, Law found it easy for it all to become a dull roar in the back of his head as he dashed for the door. The moment he opened the tavern door and stumbled out into the night he realized the difference. Stark, stunning silence. Other than the occasional night stroller or carriage being pulled there was almost no sound at all other than the lapping of the ocean waves against the port's shore. It's relaxing...
For a moment the pirate stood there in the alleyway, just outside the wooden tavern door that kept the sound at bay, inhaling the fresh night air deeply. There was a light warmth in his stomach from the rum, a pleasant buzz interrupting his thoughts. Just as he was readying himself to head back to his ship for the night, the pilot heard the sound of heavy footfalls approaching his direction. It sounded like people running. What the hell...? Just as he glanced in the sounds direction, he noticed the colors two individuals wore as they sprinted towards the rowdy tavern he now stood outside of. Red and blue, Imperial colors. He was warned to be wary of these colors while here, the tip head at the docks didn't care much for the army, speaking of their nasty reputation and warning him to steer clear.
"Halt! State your business!" One of the guards had drawn an old flintlock pistol, the most advanced form of handheld gun technology on this world, aiming it at the tipsy man. Law wore a scowl, he hated cops of any kind, from any world. The other guard was already pushing his way into the tavern, drawing his pistol and billy club to prepare for the onslaught of rabble-rousers that awaited him. Just as Law was contemplating whether or not to draw his weapon and blow this government official away, a striking woman with vibrant hair appeared out from one of the many side streets. Her garb seemed similar to the style of this worlds, but reeked of a higher class than he thought possible to find in these alleyways.
"Ah, yes~ There you are, darling, I've been looking all over for you!" The pirate side-stepped the officer, waving down the woman who had just emerged from the alleyway. "You see, officer, I was merely trying to find my wife. We got separated when those ruffians inside went mad! I tell you, a wild lot in there, really bad show! Ought to clean 'em up a bit, dontcha think?" As he spun his tall tale, the blonde man waltzed over towards the woman as if he had known her all his life. The officer raised a brow at the man, surprised to find someone that looked the part of a ruffian on Port Royale with the company of someone... well, let's just say who looked more refined.
"Ah... well..." The officer didn't look wholly convinced until Law had made it over to the woman's side and had placed an arm around her shoulders, giving an air as though the two had been close for most of their life. For a moment, Law gave the officer the best award winning smile he could muster, though he was grateful for the night time, remembering many of his golden teeth. Quickly the pirate spun on his heels, turning the woman now at his side with him as he began to march forward.
"Come, dearest, less these vagabonds rob us!" His voice was loud, so the officer could hear him as he spoke to the woman, though the pirate lowered his voice a bit as he led them down the street. "Well, you've got perfect timing if I've ever seen it. Thanks~" He led the two down the street until they were far enough away to where he didn't think the officers couldn't see or hear them anymore. He turned to the woman who he had had to commandeer for his escape, giving a sheepish grin as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, to just rope you in like that..."
|
|
|
Post by straxeragous on Mar 2, 2019 6:37:05 GMT -5
Strax stood atop a rooftop nearby the tavern, snickering at the ruckus. "Always a rowdy crew here..." he spoke aloud to no one. He noticed a man exit the tavern. He didn't quite look the part of the world, though he was close. He jumped down into another street and tapped a guard on the shoulder "Excuse me kind sir, there sounds to be fighting in the tavern nearby, could you check? It sounds like gunshots, which is very indicative of Pirates" Strax's eyes glowed dimly in the moonlight. "I know that they reward you handsomely for each pirate you bring in, and I could rest easy tonight if I knew even one pirate was arrested" Strax flashed a smile as he patted the Soldier on the arm. He was apparently convincing enough. The guard and his fellow friend made their way towards the tavern.
"Halt! state your business!" Strax overhears the guard talking to the strange man. Strax turns the corner and sees the vagabond start charismatic-ally convincing the guard that a nearby woman was his wife. "Too bad. These guards are barely competent to even hold a gun. They will believe any lie." Strax sighs heavily and watches as the guards walk into the tavern. He decides to follow the man and his "wife". Strax made no attempt to hide himself, actually welcoming a bit of a conversation with the man.
After they were out of earshot of the tavern, and the sounds of fighting faded into the background, Strax spoke up. "Excuse me! Sir and Madam!" He called out, hoping they were the friendly kind of people.
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 2, 2019 12:42:07 GMT -5
Charlotte definitely did not want any part in whatever was going on, and was content to go on her way when she suddenly heard someone call to her. And then she suddenly found herself dragged into some hair-brained scheme. "Wha- Oh! Yes Darling there you are!" Charlotte said after a second or two after noticing WHO was calling out to her. She didn't get swept up into situations like this often and he wasn't half bad looking either. And she did want to have some fun in one way or another.
"I was so scared at what those men would have done to me. Yes, let us depart!" She continued to placate the guard before she went away with Law, trying not to giggle or crack a smile until they were out of earshot. He had a lot of accessories- it was a good thing one of her sisters wasn't around. She'd be tempted to take them all for herself. "Then you can buy me a drink, and introduce yourself as compensation~" She replied with an impish smile. And then someone else joined them. This town sure was lively. "Evening. Do you require something?" Charlotte asked curiously. She was alittle less pleased by the look of this one. But he looked... odd. And that meant interesting atleast.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 2, 2019 12:49:10 GMT -5
Neku groaned as he walked down the road, trying to soothe his head. It felt like something had forcefully tossed him out of nowhere. Not only that, but he'd find himself alone. Where was Tori? Or his home? That place was definitely NOT his home world, but he couldn't say anything about it. Otherwise, he'd break the World Order, and he was strictly told back home that he MUST NOT do that.
He heard gunfire, which startled him a bit. That sound was a rarity back home, a sound one could only relate to Headhunters. In a quick thought, Neku held his sword's handle firmly, gritting his teeth. If there were Headhunters, and if Tori was there... It didn't mean any good for either of them.
Neku then noticed a group at a distance, and saw a pair of soldiers going inside what looked to be a tavern, and let a sigh of relief, seeing that the gunfire came from within the tavern. Looked like a battle was brewing...
"Maybe... Uhh... 'Scuse me..." Neku raised his voice, running towards the group, "I hate to be the one asking, but... D'you know... Where this is?"
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 2, 2019 13:46:43 GMT -5
For the moment, the alleyway was quiet. The two had managed to escape the lively tavern brawl and avoid getting arrested. Well, Law avoided getting arrested. It didn't seem like the woman he had run into was the type to trifle with jail cells. She played along well, though. Given the fact he was a stranger, he had truly gambled on whether or not she would blow his cover. He was thankful the woman seemed sly. At the mention of buying her a drink as compensation, Law's eyes seemed to twinkle with a mischievous grin. "I'm Law, captain of the skies and seas! And you are...?" Just then, a loud holler broke through the quiet alleyway.
"Excuse me! Sir and madame!"
Damn! Were we followed!? He had been sure that the officers had seized their suspicion. Spinning on his heels, the sky pirate stepped in front of the woman he had just met, unsheathing his sophisticated gun that looked too advanced for this world. It was a dark steel, one that looked black, lined with brass and gold. The hilt glinted under the dim street lamps as he took in the stranger that had emerged.
He was a tall man, dressed in a humble yet classy demeanor. The clothes were plain but of high quality, making him unsure if the man was a local or not. Green hair littered the top of his head, golden eyes peering out through the night sky. Who's he...? Law had not seen this man before in his life, though he wasn't adorning the Imperial Army colors, nor did he seem to have a weapon drawn. Not an enemy? Holstering his gun, Law hollered out to the man that had addressed them. "Ahoy, mate! Just who might you be?" Law glanced over his shoulder at the woman he had stumbled upon, giving her a quizzical look. "He with you?" He was starting to grow lost, as a lot seemed to happen at once.
Before the mysterious man that had appeared could answer his question, another individual popped out from one of the cobblestone roads. It seemed this night was lively. He was a tall boy with spiky brown hair. His clothes certainly didn't seem to fit in with this world. Who's this guy? There were a lot of people converging at once. Normally flying solo, Law was growing slightly uncomfortable. The teenager asked if anyone knew what this place was, and Law nearly groaned out loud. This was not a world someone just wanted to stumble into. It was dangerous and lively, with vicious pirates and corrupted governments. "Who're you, kid?" His question wasn't rude, just honest and blunt. He held up a hand, pointing around them. "This is Port Royale, one of the finest ports in the high seas, supposedly. Though to tell you the truth, so far I think it could use some sprucing up."
Glancing over at the woman who had saved him from the guards, he raised an eyebrow at her. "Either of these guys with you?" Neither of the strangers seemed to be enemies, though they were also strangers. The mysterious man with the green hair and the young woman next to him may certainly be from this world, but the young teenager certainly wasn't.
Well... I suppose the port is known for the amount of travelers that pass through... He hadn't realized just how true that statement was.
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 2, 2019 17:26:36 GMT -5
Before introductions could be properly made, there was yet another visitor. Very lively indeed. Charlotte blinked and noted at how this rugged rogue seemed to have an itchy trigger finger. She wasn't averse to danger. And then she started to consider whether or not this was playing out like a romance novel she had read once. A noble woman gets kidnapped by a sea-faring pirate, she tries to change him for the better but in the end he leaves her to spare her the heartache from the disapproval of her friends and family. She day dreamed for a moment, only a moment before she snapped back to the situation at hand. This could have been like that if not for all of these people appearing out of thin air! Oh well, it couldn't be helped right now. "First time seeing them," Charlotte replied when asked about them being with her.
"I am Charlotte Dèsirèe. Is this town always so lively? Or did I just have perfect timing?~" She introduced herself to everyone, giving Law a smirk.
|
|
|
Post by straxeragous on Mar 2, 2019 18:43:01 GMT -5
Strax noticed the man pull out a strange gun and holster it again soon after. "Ahoy, I mean you no harm!" Strax's eyes glowed dimly in the nighttime. "I simply know you aren't from Port Royal, and was honestly looking for a traveling companion. It seems I found..." Strax was cut off by the young strange looking person. -This one is definitely not from here.- Strax thought to himself.
"Child, you shouldn't be here, where are your companions?" Strax's thoughts turned to protection. "I am Strax Aerio Eragous." He announced to the group. "We really shouldn't loiter here in the open." He turned to the blond haired vagabond. "Law is it? will you bring us to where you are staying so we may all talk in private?"
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 2, 2019 18:54:01 GMT -5
Neku nodded as he got the name of the place, but quickly froze in place as both Law and Strax dissed him as a "kid" and "child". That instantly got him boiling, and grabbed his sword's handle even tighter, glaring at the two of them.
"I ain't a kid, mind you!" he yelled back, "I'm Neku, Mercenary Trainee. And I'm damn sure I can give you two a beating without breaking a sweat! Y'all look like weak-ass half-pints to me, anyway... Probably unable to hold your ground without running away."
Neku pouted, holding his sword firmly and frowning. The word "kid" definitely pissed him off, as he'd heard it most of his life, being treated as someone unable to fight. Someone weak. Neku was certainly NOT weak, and he was going to prove them.
"So, if either of you keep calling me 'kid', expect an as-beating from my part!" he threatened, "I ain't scared of you half-pints."
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 3, 2019 0:41:53 GMT -5
Hearing Charlotte’s admission of not knowing either of the strangers, Law furrowed his brow a bit. Just who are these people...? The woman introduced herself to the man, hearing her question caused him to chuckle and shake his head. ”This is certainly as lively as I’ve seen it. You do have perfect timing.”
The green haired man introduced himself as “Strax”, a name the pirate found rather peculiar. Apparently the man was not of this world, a fact he was very open about. It seemed somehow that this odd man also knew he himself was not of this world, which surprised Law. So far out of all of his travels, this world was where he seemed to stick out the least. ”How did you—“ Just as he was going to ask the man how he knew so much, the teenager began to shout at the mention of “kid”.
Apparently the boys name was ‘Neku’, and boy was he loud. Law was beginning to grow a headache, rubbing his temples as the boy loudly shouted about beating both him and the strange green haired man up.
BRRRRRAAAAAT
Being a semi-automatic weapon, the gun in Laws hand released a spray of bullets into the air. Smoke seeped out from the long barrel and rose to disappear in the night sky. His hope was to make everyone shut up for a second.
”Oi, I can barely hear myself think!” His buzz had mostly worn off, which he wasn’t pleased about. Strax mentioned gathering everyone at his residence, causing Law to laugh loudly before shaking his head. ”The only one I’d invite over out of you lot is her.” He gestured at Charlotte with his last comment, giving the woman a sly smile before continuing.
”Strax and Neku, was it?” The pirate eyed the man and teenager not from this world. ”Interesting... I suppose I do have some questions... but we aren’t going to my place.” Holstering his gun, Law pointed at a nearby pub, a different one than the one he had escaped from. ”Let’s go there.” With that, he set off for the pub, not really looking to see who chose to follow him.
Once he reached the entrance, Law burst his way through the doors, reaching over and grabbing a drink from a random table. Ignoring the shouts and hollers from the group he had just stolen the drink from, Law sat at a nearby table, loudly throwing his gun on the table with a loud thump, silencing protests from the other table. Taking a swig of the drink he had taken, Law waited for the others to gather.
IF everyone followed and takes a seat as well, Law will look at everyone while taking a swig of his drink. "So, I guess it's safe to assume no one here is from this world. That's something we should keep quiet." There was one thing nagging at him. He had never come across another world traveler on his other voyages so far. Something was different about this world, the way people gathered. "I suppose I should start by asking everyone what you're all doing here... so let's get to it." It was evident the man had little patience and wasn't used to addressing a gathering. His time plundering had certainly caused him to be a bit abrasive and unfamiliar with navigating larger social circles than two to three people. Ah, there it is... The buzz had returned, his shoulders slumping slightly as a rose hue cast over his cheeks. Leaning back in his chair, he suddenly seemed more patient, waiting for everyone to speak.
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 3, 2019 12:13:54 GMT -5
"Strax" suddenly reminded her of one of her sisters- only because of the hair. It wasn't a common color even for her world. And Neku didn't make himself any more endearing with his "childish" tantrum. "That's an interesting hair color," she said to Strax before Law interrupted with a shot into the air. Charlotte winced simply because of the sound. Well, that was rude. But for now she'd forgive his transgression if he kept giving her special treatment, as he seemed to imply; to a point anyway. "Well- if you can behave, you may accompany us," she said haughtily. That comment was clearly directed at Neku.
Charlotte would follow after Law, since she had no where else to actually be. And it'd be smart to pick the brains of other world travelers like herself. Who knows? Maybe she could find her sisters on another world if she knew more about one. Her dreamwalking ability was useful for getting to other worlds. But it wasn't completely reliable as she had surmised. It was like being on a raft that had a sail but no rudder to steer with. In other words, when she went into the realm of sleep, she was at the whimsy of the powers that be for determining where she ended up. She lucked out this time.
But did they have to talk at a place like this? She already didn't have a great first impression of the taverns in this world, noting the incident not even a few minutes ago. Plus she may as well been drinking water. The stuff she had found in taverns or inns before never seemed to be strong enough to really give her a "buzz" she had seen in the other patrons. Charlotte sat down at Law's table, had a quick glance around the room and so far was assured of her suspicions.
"Personally, I don't have any control of where I go when I choose to leave. I just leave and find myself somewhere else without any rhyme or reason," Charlotte replied as to why she was here. She had no specific reason. Was there actually a reason for it? She didn't know. She liked to think that there wasn't some all knowing and powerful force that was selectively choosing where she went based on it's own preferences.
|
|
|
Post by straxeragous on Mar 3, 2019 17:01:35 GMT -5
The irritation was present in Straxs eyes as the boy named "Neku" started to spout off nonsense about defeating Strax. Straxs hand started to glow green, until Law decided to end the brawl before it started. Strax came back to his senses and simply turned and followed law into the tavern. Along the way he thought on the moments prior and turned to the Lady Charlotte. "Yes, my hair is unusual, and very natural." He smirked. When they made their way into the tavern he went over, dropped a few coins on the bar and ordered a round of drinks for everyone, including the obnoxious Neku.
When Strax came back, he set a drink down in front of everyone and sat down. "You are correct, I am not from this world. I am from one called 'Okamigimi', which is no longer a world in the realm of light. I am what is known as a Nobody." Strax explained wearily. "As it stands, I've been traveling the worlds by myself and I am honestly tired of doing so. Judging by your clothing and your guns, which clearly fire more than one bullet before needing to be reloaded, I surmised that you were not of this world. I figured your wife was the same." Strax said, gesturing to Charlotte. "So upon seeing you, I decided I would try to travel along with you, provided you would enjoy the company." Strax finished his explanation with a swig of his drink. It was disgusting, obviously just regular grog. "Gross... sea water and beer...." Strax mumbled before dumping it on the floor and holding his hand in front of him. A flask appears in his hand in a dim flash of green light and with a minor popping noise. He looked around to make sure no one from the world itself had seen. He smiles to himself as he seems to have gotten away with it and starts drinking from the flask. "Ah, good vodka."
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 3, 2019 17:18:12 GMT -5
Neku simply groaned, letting his hold on the handle loose, and seeing that, as the "entitled" adults they seemed to be, didn't really mind him. Especially when Law just shot up in the air to avoid the commotion from even starting. He was itching for a fight... But he guessed it had to wait. Besides, seeing his chances alone and his chances in a team (albeit with people he didn't really like first-glance), he knew it'd be best to be in a group. So he just resigned and followed them, trying to "behave", as Charlotte has suggested to do.
"Hopefully they at least know what the hell they're doing... And also, they better not be killers or the like..." he thought to himself, frowning.
That thought was dismissed as he perked up to see that they were also not from that world. Intrigued, Neku decided to stick with them a little longer, while at the same time trying to pass unnoticed by them. At the tavern, Neku simply sat down, and refused the drink he'd been bought. He wasn't legally allowed to drink just yet, and, in his opinion, alcohol clouded one's judgement. And he didn't like the taste, either.
"Huh, so I'm not the only one lost around here... That's reassuring..." he smirked, sarcastic, "Although... I'm not even sure why I'm here to begin with. I'm most certain I didn't come here on my own will... But eh" Neku shrugged, crossing his arms above the table, and letting his head rest, although not tiresome, "Works for experience later in life. Bein' a Mercenary's all about making deals with people, after all..."
Neku frowned a bit more, but then perked back up, and looked at the others, more directly at Law. He had a stern look as he glanced over the man drinking in bliss, but he wasn't one to judge. Rather, he wanted to know something else.
"By the looks of things, you're a pirate, right?" he asked out of the blue, "I mean, you strike as much. Despite being a half-pint" Neku added teasingly, "But you're not that kinda pirate, are ya? The one's that steal and kill, I mean."
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 3, 2019 21:49:14 GMT -5
He hadn't thought that his weapon would be what gave him away. It was quite the observation. Law listened to each individual explanation, slowly swigging his drink as he did so. The most peculiar explanation was that of the green haired man named Strax. What’s a...’nobody’? Having never heard of such a thing, Law assumed that perhaps the man simply had low self esteem, considering himself to be nobody special. He was more surprised with the fact that it seemed both Charlotte and Neku hadn’t chosen to come here, nor did they seem to have any real reason for being here. Law thought it peculiar, though wondered if the two of them had lost their worlds to Darkness as well. A lot of that going around these days... The thought made him bitter.
The only one that seemed to have a purpose on this world was the green haired man, though even his purpose was vague at most. Travel companions, eh? He couldn’t remember the last time he had traveled with anyone, let alone a group. The pirate leaned back in his chair, mulling over this information as Neku asked him if he were a pirate. At the mention of “killing and robbing”, Law looked at the kid with a slightly serious gaze, his crystal blue eyes piercing.
”That’s the name of the game, k—Neku.” He quickly corrected himself, he didn’t need the young teen erupting with his tantrums in the tavern—he didn’t want to have to flee two bars. With a shrug, the pirate finished his drink, leaning over the table to grab Strax’s, who had discarded his in favor of a mystical flask he seemed to conjure out of thin air. ”Finder's keepers—the fast man wins the draw.” His tone was flat, almost bored. It certainly had seemed that he wasn’t remotely remorseful in the slightest for his moral compass.
”Basically, if someone draws a weapon, they’ve decided to put their life on the line. That’s their choice.” He had never slain anyone in cold blood, though if he were honest with himself, he'd admit that he would if the pay was high enough. The grog he had swigged tasted foul in the back of his throat but the warmth it sent through him was worth it. ”As for me, yes, I’m a pirate. One of the best, if I do say so myself~” He cleared his throat. Feeling conflicted, he fell silent, staring into his mug as though suddenly he forgot he had been talking. More heads means less treasure...
Law wasn’t sure what to tell them. Should he tell them about the island he was searching for, or the item he was seeking? Normally he plundered best by himself, but he had already been on this world for a few days and had run in to some trouble with a certain group of pirates. On this world, there seemed to be a crew of pirates gifted with immortality. Rumors he had heard made it sound like this was a curse, as the pirates were doomed to walk the earth forever. Law thought immortality sounded incredible and had sought out this fabled 'Aztec Gold' he had heard of from a few of the locals, but when he had stumbled upon some of the pirates, he had found them to be immune to his weapons and attacks.
They're around here, too... He had run into a few of them at the earlier tavern he had visited this very evening, finding that bullets and blades had little effect on the cursed undead, just like last time. Maybe having more firepower would be a good thing... The pirate furrowed his brow before scratching his head furiously in frustration. Gazing at the other world travelers around the table, his face was flushed with the rose hues of a lush, the pirate made his choice. "I originally came here for any old treasure I could find. But this world has something special on it. There's this gold, see, that makes someone immortal if they have it. Right now most of this 'gold' is in possession of other pirates. Their crew is vast, spanning across the seas of this world, the immortality they're granted making them nigh impossible to kill." The pirate flashed a broad smile at the three, gold teeth glinting in his teeth, his blue eyes betraying a burning passion. "So, I'm gonna rob those fools~"
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 4, 2019 21:42:20 GMT -5
Charlotte listened to everyone go around saying why they were here, or admitting they just randomly appeared here. She wasn't going to divulge the specifics of how she got around just yet. Law was painting himself as quite the rogue as she had originally thought. She vaguely remembered some men washing up on the shores of her homeland, claiming to be pirates. As it turned out, that was exaggerated. They were more akin to fools braving the treacherous waters to The Land Of Monsters because of the alleged "attractive" women one of the MANY MANY stories that circulated. Yeah, there were. Charlotte was living proof, and liked to think that she was the most attractive. She'd yet to find evidence otherwise.
"It sounds like you live quite the dangerous life," she commented to Law with a smile. That did sound very exciting. But she didn't think she'd be cut out for that kind of life. Pirates didn't live in luxury after all and even now, she was still used to that kind of lifestyle. She was still adjusting. But maybe this would be good for her. Even if she missed the wealth, the comfort, her servants... the real estate- Charlotte sighed heavily and felt a huge longing. She was starting to think like Diana, her youngest sister. Then again, that one never had luxury to begin with so her hunger for it was understandable.
"I find it kind of funny that no matter where I've been, people have always obsessed over how long they live," Charlotte said offhandedly.She noted that this behavior was only majorly present in the shorter lifespan races like humans- which she shared heritage with. Demons were basically immortal though, so if nothing else she'd probably be around for quite a long time- she hoped. Getting involved with dangerous men like Law could very well cut that short if she wasn't careful. Still, what was the point of living if you didn't have some fun every once in awhile? "Doesn't it strike you as odd that this gold just makes someone immortal? I'd assume there had to be some kind of catch."
|
|
|
Post by straxeragous on Mar 5, 2019 2:47:59 GMT -5
Straxs face turns quizzical. Immortality? That's never cheap... Strax smirked and looked to Law. "Nothing is truly immortal, have you tried magic?" To further illustrate Strax casts Fire onto a small portion of the table before snuffing it back out with his hand. "Everything has a weakness, and if its not physical, its usually magical, or Elemental. I want to study some of these medallions if you don't mind the company. I want to see what about them gives the blessing of immortality. Further, you should be careful, because even if it does make you invulnerable to damage, you might still be able to feel pain." Strax quickly goes silent as he continues to think about the repercussions that could come from this alleged curse. Part of him wanted to find the source, and remove it completely to help avoid a world catastrophe. But then again, he wasn't a guardian of the world order, so he didn't really have to do anything.
Strax stands up and walks over to the bar, tossing a few gold coins onto the counter and reaching under the bar for something non alcoholic. He ends up with a large bottle of orange juice before he walks back over to the group. He sets down the juice in front of Neku. "Drink up, we don't want you getting scurvy" Strax turns to Charlotte. "You're being rather quiet about where you're from. Any reason why? I mean, other than than the strangers you are sharing a table with..." Strax smirks.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Mar 5, 2019 13:08:10 GMT -5
"Well, not what I was expecting for you to reply, but... I guess I wasn't too implicit, so I'll let it slide" Neku said, leaning back on his chair after hearing Law's reply to his question, "At least you ain't a cold-blooded murderer..."
Neku closed his eyes as he heard the others talking, opening one of them and looking once again at Law after hearing about this Aztec gold and how possessing it made one immortal. He agreed with the other two, in thought, that it was extremely fishy. For it to be so simple... Something was definitely amiss.
"Heh, I guess you are an all brawn, no brain kinda guy, huh, Law?" Neku teased, "I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm like that, too. But even I can tell there's somethin' fishy about that gold, man. Everything has its catch, y'know? Can't be simple as you're saying it is. Besides, how do ya plan on stealing it? Right under their noses? Who's to say they won't have it guarded? Even if there's a catch, they'll protect it with tooth and nail."
Neku smirked with a sarcastic amusement, like he would usually do with others as naive as Law. He then heard Strax asking Charlotte about why she kept quiet about herself, and frowned. While he wasn't really liking any of them, he had the decency to have respect towards them. Grabbing the orange juice bottle Strax had bought for him, with the excuse being scurvy, Neku hit Strax's head slightly, trying to catch his attention off of Charlotte.
"Oi, if she wants to keep quiet, her problem, dude" he said, smirking, "Everyone's got secrets, or reasons to keep quiet. She ain't a threat, and she's definitely not gonna stab ya in the back. I can tell from just a glance. And... FYI, but I'm not a poor guy who needs someone to buy them stuff. Besides, scurvy? Ya think I'd get a stupid illness like that? You're not my dad, last I checked. And I keep watch on myself, no need for your watch, too. So knock it off, will ya?"
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 5, 2019 13:33:55 GMT -5
Law felt his face form a slight frown, it seemed many around the table were skeptical around the Aztec treasure he told them about. Yeesh... what a bunch of stick in the muds... His mood dampened a little, of course he had thought that there may be some sort of drawback for immortality, but that wasn't the point. Nothing in this world (or any other world, for that matter) was free, everything had a price. He wasn't really concerned with such things, or rather figured he could deal with it later if it posed a problem. At Charlotte's comment, Law's brows perked up a little, his expression showing that of curiosity. "Don't you wanna live as long as you can?" There was a new passion in his voice, his face still glowing a faint red from the alcohol. He had been sure a woman of her caliber would be interested in keeping that youthful grace about herself.
"I'm a rather huge fan of Life, and would like to have it accompany me for as long as I can." He took another swig of his drink, not even noticing the fowl aftertaste anymore. Hearing Strax and Neku both chime in in agreement with Charlotte's skepticism only worsened his mood. With a sigh, the pirate leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling as Strax asked Charlotte about her home world, much to Neku's chagrin. He found the company he was surrounded by to be peculiar. There was a mystifying woman from an unknown world who seemingly showed up here at random; An eccentric yet seemingly thoughtful fellow with interesting hair and magic; and a young brute who seemed to dislike a lot of what was going on around them.
Neku actually made Law smile, he reminded him a little bit of himself when he was younger. Rash and blunt with others without having much remorse for their words or actions. There was a refreshing honesty about it, he supposed. Unfortunately for him however, it seemed like everyone was rather fishy about this Aztec gold. Law sighed, crossing his arms as he tilted his head a bit in thought. "I don't really care about any cons or drawbacks. I'll deal with that noise later if I have to. Immortality seems like too good a chance to pass up." Neku's question of how he planned on stealing the treasure caused the pirate to grin. He loved elaborating on his plans. Reaching into his pilot's jacket, Law pulled out an old tattered piece of parchment, rolled up like a scroll and tied with a faded red thread. He waved the scroll a bit in his hands as though it were a wand, holding it in front of him with a look of satisfaction.
"Though the island I seek isn't on any map, I did manage to lift a map of most of the seas charted on this world. There are tons of islands marked, but one area in particular always stands out." He placed the parchment back into his jacket, patting it lightly. "There's this Isle see, one shrouded in mist and fog that's so thick you can't even see your own hand. Many who sail there suddenly wind up turned around, going back to where they came from. Nobody I've talked to on this world has been able to get to it." A mischievous grin emerged on the mans face, giving him a rather menacing sly persona.
"But luckily, I ain't any average pirate from this world. I got a special ship, one that'll let me get through that mist. I'm sure that's where the pirates are keeping their magical treasure."
|
|
Mega
Dream Eaters
Posts: 145
Gender: Male
|
Post by Mega on Mar 5, 2019 15:07:26 GMT -5
Charlotte had plenty of reason to be skeptical. Prior to her suddenly ending up on another world, she had read plenty on the subject of curses or "boons." She had not learned of any recent cases of such. But generally she knew enough to know that no one would not create this miraculous thing without some kind of catch. If it even was miraculous, she had not seen any of these "immortal" pirates. And Strax made a decent enough point. That described her world very aptly before the rise of technology.
Speaking of, Strax commented that she hadn't said anything about her world. She simply smiled playfully as Neku cut him off. "It's fine. But you've neglected to talk much about yours apart from stating it's name, and that it is no longer part of the realm of light. That last bit interests me. But it's not a pressing enough question that needs answering," she continued to smile as Law went about his "plan" to find it. The island he was describing did happen to remind her of home- unintentionally to be sure. Did it end up here? Was that even possible? It was incredibly unlikely that she had somehow returned home, only because it just didn't... feel like home. It was hard to explain why.
She was otherwise quiet and thinking when Law mentioned he had a special ship. Special how? If the issue was mist that made it impossible for other ships to find the island... that either meant the ship could go UNDER the water, or fly above it. Charlotte vaguely remembered hearing something about one of the various peoples of her world working on something that could fly. But she never found out what became of it. "Everyone wants to live as long as they can, and fun as it might be, we just want to make sure our quality of life doesn't suffer for any rash decisions we may regret later," Charlotte said only subtly hinting that she was concerned for what the drawback would be if Law took this "immortal gold." Strax and Neku didn't seem too keen on the idea so she didn't have to worry as much about them taking it- right? "In any case, you've caught my fancy. And I'm interested in seeing this ship of yours, and also would love to go out on this adventure with you if you'll have me~"
|
|