01. The Pirate

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

[In a less-in-the-way spot in the city, there was one more person that had no idea what was going on. And yet, it didn't seem like they were confused, either.]

[So she'd fallen through the Interdimensional Rift into another world entirely. Into a city that definitely had some sort of fascination with water, although quite possibly not as much as Walse.]

[But the different clothes and sudden lack of anything valuable?]

[No true pirate could stand for that. At least this had happened after saving all of existence.]

[Approach the ambiguously-gendered captain?]

Comments

[splinterself]

[Hell fucking yes. Bothering is a go.

After having wandered through the city for an undetermined amount of time (boggling a little at the sheer glut of people and the general lack of purple, and hiding his boggling behind a pair of sweet shades and a monotone expression) Dirk found himself in a convenient less-in-the-way spot there.

The pirate's aura of competency drew Dirk's attention. There was something about the (probable) buccaneer which spoke of serenity (kind of), calmness, a sort of nonchalant attitude about the entire affair which made him pause. He considered his options, mentally gave a sort of broshrug, physically didn't really do much, detoured over, and said:]

Hey.

[Pause.]

Looking for a puppet. Seen him around? Dressed in purple, wearing a hat. I was carrying him when I ended up in wherever this place is. [This was the closest he'd get to a plea for help and/or directions.]

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Nah, nothing like that. You know a way into the Rift from here?

[splinterself]

Never heard of it. [There is a pause. While he is definitely down with this entire face-to-face interaction thing, it's kinda weird talking to someone without using a screen.] I was facing some drones the Batterwitch sent when I ended up here. You heard of her?

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

[wait forget not knowing about the Rift what was that second thing.]

...

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, boy.

[splinterself]

Yeah. Welcome to my life.

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

And just who are you then?

[splinterself]

[There is an eyebrow. It's ever so slightly arched, faintly raised, vaguely inching upward. It's like an indecisive bird pondering flight and yet fond of the ground, so the end result is it hopping along.

...meh.] Dirk Strider. You?

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Just call me Faris.

[splinterself]

Hey. [Decides to chillax unless the seafaring scallywag drives him off in favor of swashing some buckles.



...still.] Been here long?

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Nah. Just drifted in.

[Rift physics are weird.]

[splinterself]

I see. Same here.

[Everything about this place is weird, man. It's weird and nobody understands.]

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

[Some silence. All is still for the space of a few seconds.]

...What's a kid your age doing traveling like this, anyway?

[splinterself]

'Like me'? Shit, I never thought I'd hear someone ask that.

The usual, bro. The Batterwitch killed my Bro and now me and my three friends are trying to find a way to thwart her malevolence and save humanity. Ain't much to it.

[brightfuture]

[ Just passing by...

... or not. Because you're bound to attract some attention with this clear dissatisfaction of yours.

Maybe not approaching directly, because why would you put your life at such risk, but staring sounds like a valid option. If caught, he'll instantly divert his gaze away, not that it'll change much. ]

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Oi! You, there!

Where is this?

[Too late. There is no escape, and you must face the gazebo warrior alone.]

[brightfuture]

... Eh? Where is what?

[ Sorry. Busy cursing at himself (mentally) for being so stupid, he's probably not so quick at thinking as you'd like him to be. ]

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

The city, of course. Not like I've seen much of anything else the past few minutes.

[brightfuture]

So you're new. [ and that explains everything. ]

We're in Mac Anu. I can't tell you where it is, exactly... nobody really knows. Otherwise, maybe we would be able to get out.

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Well it's in another world, I can tell you that much.

[brightfuture]

[ He honestly thought it'd require more explanation than that, but someone's fast to catch up. ]

Yes, it... is, indeed. "The World" is how this one's called. Kinda ironic, isn't it.

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

Well, no one ever really thinks about that, do they?

[brightfuture]

[ snort. ] Right.

[ And then, when he's fulfilled his duties as a helpful citizen of Mac Anu, he falls silent and studies the stranger once again. This time, however, more tenatively, more carefully. The boy darts his eyes upwards only to drop them to the ground after a brief moment, and should the pirate look away, he'll use this chance to repeat the process.

Yes, you guessed right. There's something strange about this guy... ]

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

And what are you so interested in me for?

[brightfuture]

N-nothing!

[ ... uh. ]

So, um... need anything else?

[ladieswhodresslikemen]

You're not that good a liar. If you weren't interested you'd lave left already.