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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 20, 2013 3:50:49 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... T he dark veil of night had covered Karate Island some hours ago. Countless stars and the moon were sharing their light with the empty streets of a quiet town. Not even the wind whispered to break the silence. Most of the residents were enjoying a deep, peaceful rest after a busy day. It seemed like a perfectly average night, with no trouble in sight. After all, between all the local martial artists and the marines occasionally stopping by, this island was a dangerous place for criminals and troublemakers. However, that didn’t mean all was well. In the only inn of the town, packed full of tired travelers, someone was quite busy. A dark, suspicious figure was sneaking around the place. As it moved past an open window, the moonlight briefly revealed a lanky form in brown attire. The shady person moved from room to room, careful not to make any sounds. While the sleeping guests were blissfully unaware what was going on, the figure rustled through their bags and clothes. Everything of a value, from money to medicine bottles, disappeared into the maw of a black suitcase. A quiet chuckle crept through the darkness as the figure moved on. This was just so amusingly easy. Very few of the doors here had any kind of locks. Perhaps it was arrogance, or simply naivety, but the residents of this quaint little island didn’t seem to think anyone would just walk in and steal what little valuables they owned. While there was no question about their physical prowess, wariness clearly wasn’t their strong point. Well, in their defense, it would’ve taken an awfully cold and greedy criminal to even consider robbing a bunch of modestly living, friendly and proud martial artists... And Richard Maxwell was exactly that kind of man. He had stayed on this island for few weeks, working as a doctor. It had been profitable enough and quite safe, but that had been ruined when yet another squad of marines had entered the island few days ago. He didn’t know what had brought them here and quite frankly he didn’t care. The less he associated with marines, the better. It was time to change locations, but before that, he had decided to see if the travelers around here had anything worth stealing. So far he hadn’t been disappointed. The dishonest doctor silently pushed yet another door open and peeked in to check if there was anything interesting inside. Just few more profitable rooms and he could- Suddenly, Richard’s thoughts slipped aside and it felt like his heart had frozen for a moment. It might’ve been just his imagination, but... He could’ve sworn he heard the all too unnerving creak of a bad floorboard... and he was absolutely certain he didn’t cause it. Was someone else also up? Had someone noticed him and was now stalking him from the shadows? The thought made him shudder nervously. Guessing wouldn’t do him much good, but running away might’ve also ended badly. After a brief moment of pondering, he took a chance and whispered into the darkness. "Who’s there?"Needless to say, he dearly hoped no one would answer... Notes: Come one, come all. Words: 525 Tagged: Open [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 20, 2013 23:16:19 GMT -6
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[/u] 949 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] Figured I have Rei drop in here XD [/div] No one had ever really been sure about the reasons or knew when the Captain had become a chronic insomniac, but the dark circles that always seemed to linger under her eyes were proof enough that rest seemed to come secondary to everything else. Worse, Rei was a light sleeper, so when she'd heard the faint rustling from several doors down from their room, it was obvious something was wrong. The Captain's hand moved silently to retrieve the nodachi and quietly slipped her way over to the couch, where one of the crew was sleeping after a night of drinking. He had barely begun to stir and attempted to ask a question, before Rei slapped a hand over his mouth and motioned for him to be quiet. With a flick of the wrist, she motioned for them to leave, out the window and head back to the ship. Wisely, the sailor didn't attempt to protest the order, since the Captain rarely acted so cautiously.
Then again, considering the rumors of Marine activity in the area, Rei had been somewhat on edge already. Marines or not, the Captain had no intention of risking her crew's safety. It was a plan they had pulled many times over the past several months and part of the reason they had remained so elusive, but there was one different. Instead of following them out, Rei turned and headed to the door with sword in hand. She wanted to confirm the source, just to be safe. If it was a false alarm, then they wouldn't have to leave immediately, though they had already gathered more than enough supplies to reach the next island. However, if Rei was wrong, then it was her duty to buy them time and possibly silence them before they could raise an alarm.
Slipping out the door, careful to avoid any unnecessary noise, Rei tugged the hood up and over, slowly making her way down the hall and using the shadows to her advantage. It was then that she spotted the older man coming out from one of the rooms. He appeared to be looking for something, but then it hit Rei what he was doing. Oh no, he wasn't looking for pirates, but inns like this were perfect places for thieves and it was one of the reasons why the crew had carried very little with them, aside from the money for the rooms, drinks, and a spare change of clothes for in the morning. In some sense, there was some amount of relief with the discovery as a common bandits hardly posed a threat to a crew of pirates, which meant they would still be able to relax and leave in the morning as planned.
However, the longer Rei observed, the more curious she became about the matter. Why did he look familiar? Wait.... Wasn't the man suppose to be a doctor or something like that? Then again, the Captain had heard more tales on this island than even she could remember. She had intentionally come here to locate strong fighters, but was soon disappointed when it was discovered that those claims were little more than big men blowing around a lot of hot air. In fact, Rei had almost given up completely and leaving this island with little more than supplies, but perhaps fate had turned in her favor. Perhaps was she needed wasn't simply physical strength.
Before she could approach though, her right foot dropped back onto a loose board and to her irritation caused the wood to let out a painful creek. Had the pirate been a lesser person, she might have let a curse word slip. Fortunately, instead of fleeing for the hills, the man waited and soon called out in a whisper... Well, now seemed as good a time as any to make an introduction, though she would probably never hear the end of it when she went back to the ship. "The Wind..." Rei answered seriously in a hushed tone, moving forward cautiously from the shadows toward the window, where the moonlight cast an illuminating light and shadow that could have made many mistake the woman as the grim reaper rather than some common pirate.
"Although, I suppose, it's more like the North Wind actually." She finished with an amused chuckle, leaning lightly on the wall next to her in a fashion that seemed far to relaxed for the situation. The nodachi remained at her side, appearing more curious and observant than that of someone attempting to stop what the stranger was doing or desiring a fight. Besides, what did Rei care that he was robbing a bunch of people, pirates weren't heroes and who was she suppose to report him to - the Marines? Not a chance! She had no intention of sticking her neck out for anyone on this island, but the man had managed to catch her interest, though it seemed time would tell if that was a good thing or a horrible mistake on his part.
"In any case, it seems I stumbled onto something interesting. Tell me, do you always steal from other patrons or is this more of a one time run of bad luck kind of thing?" Rei questioned calmly, not bothering to much with introductions, since she had already introduced herself, though not in a form most would be familiar with unless they were keen to reading the wanted posters. No matter how cheerful that tone though, there was something ominous to the glimmer of red that peered out from beneath that hood. Not that the Captain had ever had the most normal or settling appearance, but it seemed so much worse in the mix of poor lighting and shadows.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 21, 2013 4:49:27 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... M uch to Richard’s horror, someone actually answered from the shadow. Shivers ran down his spine and made his knees tremble. Someone had caught him red-handed... On an island where most people could’ve beaten him into a bloody pulp... Wonderful... He slowly turned his head towards "The Wind" and only barely managed to swallow a terrified squeak upon seeing the figure. Droplets of cold sweat ran down his neck as he stared at what he could’ve sworn was the Death itself. Was this real or just a bad dream? Oh how he wished it would’ve been the latter and he could’ve just woken up in the safety of his comfortable bed. Unfortunately, the cruel reality persisted as the dark figure kept talking. However, the tone and the relaxed stance made Richard lift an eyebrow. There was something off with this... girl. Yes, he was positive she was a young female, well younger than him at least. She seemed bit too confident and curious to be a simple troublemaker. The epithet sounded somewhat familiar as well. It might’ve belonged to an elusive pirate captain... or a dangerous bounty hunter. That line of thought snapped Richard right back into the state of fearful wariness. Of course she would pretend to be friendly if she was a bounty hunter. There was also a brief glimmer of hope in the dark corner of his mind. Perhaps she hadn’t actually seen him ste- The blunt question coupled with the glare of red was enough to stomp that hope outright. Richard’s eyes went wide and he recoiled backwards. She had definitely seen him and now she was toying with her prey. Still, what kind of criminal would’ve he been if he had simply admitted defeat? No, his greed wouldn’t allow that. The frightened thief tried to smile and nervously adjusted his tie. Keeping his voice down was somewhat of a challenge, but he managed. "Ah... haha... I... don’t know what you are talking about, Miss..." With each word, he carefully inched backwards, trying to get any amount of distance between him and the figure. It would pay off when he made a break for it, or at least so he hoped. "I’m just a humble doctor looking for..." He had to pause for a moment to find the right words. It was difficult to think straight while fear was poisoning his mind. "Erm... the men’s room, yes..." Well, it was slightly better than what he usually blurted out while scared. Taking a deep breath, Richard struggled to gather his focus and confidence. It worked, for a short moment at least. "I mean... Your accusation wounds me, Miss. Do I really look like the kind of person who would steal from innocent people? The kind of dishonest person who would lie and cheat? Me?" However, when he reached into his pocket for a smoke bomb, his shivering hand simply couldn’t grab one. They kept slipping between his fingers. His trembling knees weren’t quite up for a quick escape either. This unnerving girl was destroying his focus. The biggest problem was those red eyes and the sense of dread emanating from them... Sighing, the criminal gave up on the smoke bomb plan and adjusted his tie again out of nervous habit. His sickly green eyes darted from the girl to the floor, to the window, to the darkness of the hallway and finally back to the girl. While he was desperately trying to form an escape plan, a devious idea suddenly popped into his fear-riddled mind. A sly smile slowly appeared on his lips as he kept talking. "Let’s pretend... That this is more of a trend than simply a one time run... Would that be a problem?" It was his idea of testing if this girl really was some dog of justice hunting for criminals, or actually someone interesting. If nothing else, a little chitchat could at least buy him more time to think. Notes: Richard, the master of first impressions... Words: 656 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 22, 2013 1:39:32 GMT -6
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[/u] 531 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] Rei = dark & blunt as a baseball bat. [/div] No sooner had the man turned to glanced up than he seemed to recoil in shock at the sight before him and with good reason. The Captain was not the biggest or most physically intimidating person around, but that aura she gave off was capable of unnerving anyone with half an ounce of sense. Those crimson eyes had never helped, with a piercing gaze that always seemed to be looking through someone rather that at them directly. It was as though every good and evil thought of the soul were suddenly laid bare before those eyes, though such was far from the truth, it always seemed to cause two different reactions - fight or flight.
Rei watched quietly as the man attempted to flash a nervous smile, despite being caught red handed with who knew how many treasures and an assortment of cash. Even as he began to speak, the cold sweat, nervous hand movements, and changing gaze as he attempted to form some kind of excuse were obvious indicators of a lie. Now the pirate was many things, but blind was not one of them, though his vain attempt did manage to earn a faint smirk in amusement.
However, his attempt to shift blame based on his appearance was one that Rei was one that caused the Captain to cock her head as a faint knowing smile crossed her lips. "A great swordsman once said, to trust the eyes alone is a fool's mistake. Rather the greatest and most dangerous evils of this world hide not behind the evil you can see, but behind the masks of righteousness." Rei explained in a calm and cryptic wisdom. The words seemed to more to refute his claim rather than stop him though, as he suddenly admitted that this was, in fact, a common trend and proceed to question if there would be a problem.
"No. I owe nothing to the other patrons or this town, so your free to do as you like. Had you stolen from me personally, that would have been a different matter, but I can assure you, we would not be talking if that were the case." The Captain answered somewhat bluntly, making clear that she had no intention of stepping into his business. That last sentence though, seemed to speak volumes about the pirates views on the world and possibly a much more ruthless side. For Rei, little loyalty existed outside of the crew and yet... She had chosen to confront on what seemed to be purely for the sake of curiosity?
"So, your a doctor, huh?... You any good?" Rei questioned curiously, still leaning on the wall as though she didn't have a care in the world. "You intend to leave when this is over, right? I mean, if you hang around and they discover the truth, the Marines will probably string you up." She explained in a straight manner, though it was hard to believe anyone could be that dark or blunt when it came to such scenarios. Not that the Captain had ever been a ray of sunshine, mind you, but speaking about hangings and execution in such a lax manner was hardly normal by any standard.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 22, 2013 9:15:34 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... F inally, Richard could allow himself a short breath of relief when the girl revealed she wasn’t here to stop him. He admittedly felt like he had just gotten out of a minefield unscathed. Perhaps he should’ve just counted himself very lucky and moved on, but he couldn’t help stopping for a moment to ponder what the girl meant by the last part. It sounded like she would’ve just attacked and -gulp- dealt with him outright... Were her belongings really that valuable? Intriguing... Luckily, his common sense managed to push that aside despite the protests from his greedy side. He had already gotten what he came for, so there was no sense in pushing his luck. Upon hearing the question, the dishonest doctor suddenly wiped away the nervousness for with a smile, if only ever so slight one. The shaking stopped and he straightened his back. This was one topic that always got him confident. So much he liked his job. "Hm, an amusing word choice..." He glanced aside, stopping to think. Was he any good? The words of his dear wife, ah sorry, ex-wife echoed in his head, mixed with the countless similar ones from all bounty hunters he had met. A no-good, twisted, lying thief... That was pretty much the popular opinion among the few people who knew his criminal reputation. And it was so very accurate. After a moment of silence, Richard shifted his focus back on the girl and smiled bit wider, with certain, honest pride seeping into his words. "Well, if you pardon my brief bragging, I have been titled one of the most skilled doctors in all of East Blue. Civilians, marines and even pirates trusted their lives in my hands." As soon as he had said that, his smile faded and he pulled the brim of his hat down, hiding his eyes underneath a shadow. "But that was a long time ago..." As jaded as he was, he still missed those days on rare occasions. There simply wouldn’t be such titles or trust for criminals. Such a sad little thought... Lifting his head, the dishonest doctor hid his thoughts behind a carefree smirk. "These days... Who knows?" He shrugged, indifference creeping into his tone. "I might’ve gotten rusty over the years and forgotten how to handle things properly..." As soon as he had said that, however, the indifference had to make way for a quick and devious little comment. Unsurprisingly, he just couldn’t give a straight answer. "Or perhaps my experience and skills have grown even more. You never know." In reality, he’d ever allow himself to simply lose anything he had gained. Medical skills were no exception. More than simple greed, it was professional pride. His experience was something that couldn’t be learned from books. Just as Richard thought he had managed to calm down, his train of thought finally stopped on the harsh, but fair point the girl brought up. He still needed to find a way off the island before people figured out who had robbed them. Some... quite unpleasant scenarios flashed before his eyes and he swallowed nervously. The helpless shivering and cold sweat were his companions again. "Eh... heheh... Of course, I don’t intend to overstay my welcome..." Luckily, now that he didn’t see the girl as an immediate threat, his legs no longer tried to imitate noodles. "So, if you excuse me, Miss..." Tipping his hat with a polite nod, he started slowly retreating into the shadows. "I’ll be off to find a suitable ship and a captain who doesn’t ask too many questions." Notes: His imagination is vivid. It's not always a good thing. Words: 596 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 23, 2013 5:10:31 GMT -6
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[/u] 681 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] Sales pitch, anyone? [/div] Like any pirate, Rei maintained a certain amount of treasure on her ship. Unfortunately, for once this was less about greed than it was about personal pride and the deeply protective nature she possessed when it came to her comrades. A crew needed to be funded, after all. Food, medicine, clothing, and even weapons were expensive. Theft could have serious consequences for sailors and to make matters worse, pirates often risked life and limb to gather such wealth. To have those actions soiled by a single person was something that the Captain could not simply allow to slide, so with the intent to protect their reputation, developing a nasty habit for making an example out of anyone that was fool enough to cross them.
It seemed fortunate favored the doctor, however, as something seemed to change and it immediately sparked curiosity from the Captain. This was something Rei recognized very well - pride. Whatever his past was, the man was confident in his own abilities, even admitting to being one of the most skilled doctors in the East Blue. Better still, he never wavered or hesitated, indicating that unlike before, he was not lying. Even so, as he continued seemed to question if his skills had grown rusty, a matter that Rei seriously doubted.
As a swordsman, Rei had learned early on that there were two types of memory in the human body. The sort that existed in the mind and the kind that was stored into the very muscles themselves. It was this memory that allowed a fighter's honed skills to become second-nature, a type of instinct that prevented the tedious time it took to come up with a plan and to react in a split second to obtain victory. However, such abilities were not limited to fighting. Even those struck with conditions such as amnesia that affected the memory were occasionally capable of demonstrating acts that they had preformed prior to their incidents with no re-training, based solely on their muscle memory alone. The man may have turned thief, but that his skills had deteriorated even a little, Rei seriously doubted.
Before Rei could say another word though, the man had gathered up his ill-gotten treasures and agreed that he had no intention of hanging around. As he made mention of finding a ship and captain that would ask few questions, the pirate was more than ready to chime in with the solution. "I might know of a ship.... It leaves early in morning and is actually in need of a good ship's doctor. Considering their pirates, no one will bother you with unnecessary questions and you'll be handsomely compensated for your work.... There's also a cut of whatever treasure we find on the way, if your interested in that sort of thing." Rei explained, unable to hide a faint smirk in amusement as she glanced over her shoulder at the doctor.
Then again, the Captain was no fool. She knew better than anyone that it was a good deal, especially for a criminal that was no on the run. Of course, most sailors would have jumped at the chance, but Rei wasn't interested in just the common fodder. She was aiming to be the best and to do that, the Captain needed the best at her disposal. Fate had practically handed her one of the finest doctors to ever come out of the East Blue and she had no intention of letting it slip through her fingers.
Of course, there was some danger in asking a thief to join your crew, but for Rei the gains far outweighed the risk. Besides, while she couldn't explain it exactly, the doctor didn't seem like a completely bad person. "Just so you know,... the prize were aiming for could make your entire nights haul look like pocket change in comparison. Freedom, fame, fortune... All ours for the taking. So, what do you say, Doc?... Want to come with me?" Rei asked seriously, flashing a confident smile as she turned back to face the man, still leaning on the wall calmly as she awaited his answer.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 23, 2013 14:15:47 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... R ichard stopped on his tracks and gave the girl a curious glance when she mentioned knowing a ship. Now, he was admittedly suspicious about the sudden mention. He rarely had this kind of luck, what with having to escape opportunistic bounty hunters and overeager marines in nearly every town he visited. Was this girl trying to make a fool out of him or even lure him into a trap? Well... Perhaps not. Marines would’ve never been able to pretend to be pirates. So pitifully toxic was their stubborn attitude towards anyone who raised a jolly roger. So, either this girl was the sneakiest bounty hunter he had ever met, or actually a pirate captain... However, as soon as the mysterious girl mentioned handsome compensation and treasure, Richard’s greedy mind immediately latched onto the words, pushing all the "useless" thoughts aside. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite mean that he was paying attention. His sickly green eyes usually had black swirls where pupils were supposed to be, but at times like these something changed quite drastically. It might’ve just been a combination of active imagination and tricky shadows, but the swirls seemed to twist into perfect beli symbols. Needless to say, Richard could almost see the money he could gain from this deal, one way or another. Cash... gold... gems... All his for the taking... Simply magnificent. It wasn’t until the girl addressed him as "Doc" and summarized the question into one line that Richard snapped back into reality. He blinked and in an instant his eyes were normal. Well, as normal as eyes transformed by chemical exposure could be anyway. "Huh? Oh... Right..." He shook his head lightly and cleared his throat, mildly embarrassed by the little blackout. "Ahem, sorry, I might’ve gotten lost in thought there for a moment." Luckily, he had been listening enough to know what he had to think about. "I hope you won’t mind if I... consider my options." Then, he directed his gaze at the empty darkness and fell silent. Beneath the quiet exterior, the criminal was quite busy going through the possibilities. Right now, he had very little to lose, even if this turned out to be a trap. He was quite confident that after chatting with the girl like this, he wasn’t afraid of her anymore. ...At least not as much as earlier. Some nervousness was still lingering within, but tossing out some smoke bombs and running for his life would most likely work this time. On the other hand, if she was telling the truth, there would be so much he could gain from this. Best case scenario, he could get loot and protection. That kind of opportunity didn’t present itself often. After a moment of silent pondering, Richard lifted his gaze back onto the girl and nodded. "Very well, I accept your offer." He removed his hat and bowed in a little display of his respect. "Lead the way..." As his head dipped down, a sneaky smirk crept on his lips. "Captain." Despite the hints of deviousness in his voice, he was ready to follow the captain and respect her orders... for now. He was a long way from trusting her, but he wouldn’t ever say that out loud. No, any chance of betrayal was best kept a surprise. Only time would tell if she would just get stabbed in the back like many before her. Or if she could actually gain the loyalty of the dishonest doctor... Notes: And so it begins... Words: 576 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 25, 2013 2:33:53 GMT -6
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[/u] 633 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] Who's using who, I wonder? [/div] When the doctor stammered a bit, seeming drawn back to the conversation, the Captain didn't bother to ask what had distracted him so. Rei hadn't been born yesterday. Few understood the appeal of greed and manipulation better than the pirate did, and it was why she had chosen to play on that weakness. Of course, she failed to mention that her intent was to sail to the most dangerous place on the planet, to search for a treasure that many believed did not even exist. No, chances were he would find that part out soon enough. By the time the doctor realized the truth though, they would be miles away from this island and chances were he would have no choice, except to forgive her little indiscretion.
"Take your time." Rei answered back with a calm smile, as he explained that he would need to think the matter over. That was certainly the most sensible thing to do, though the Captain was more than aware of what his answer would be. Even a saint could not hide from the such temptation and this doctor was clearly a long way from being considered a holy man. No, this was checkmate! Rei was a difficult person to turn down, not because she had to use, but because she understood the mind of people like the doctor far better than she cared to admit.
When he spoke up in agreement to the deal, the Captain finally leaned up from the wall, flashing a satisfied and confident smirk. Her crimson eyes dropped to him in surprise though as he removed his hat and bowed in such a regal manner to a pirate of all things. It was enough to earn a small amount of amusement, though Rei was quick to wave off the matter. "There's no need for formalities, Mister... Hm, I suppose I never did catch your full name, did I?" She questioned, suddenly remembering her error. "Seems I shall have to remedy that, perhaps on the way to the docks then? I sent the crew ahead, so the ship should be prepared to leave upon our arrival, well ahead of the Marines." The Captain added calmly, masking just how effectively she had managed to do so without waking most of the occupants and alerting the thief.
Then again, Rei wasn't one to brag about such feats and turning to go, motioned with a slight gesture of the hand for him to come along. Moving cautiously to avoid incurring any attention, the Captain waited until they were headed downstairs. "As I was saying... My name is Rei Kirisaki, though everyone tends to call me Rei or Captain. I've been called lots of other things, but most of those aren't proper to say in public." Rei explained, flashing a smirk at the last sentence, making something of a joke at the various curses and slurs some of the Marines had used in the past.
"Since I said that I would not ask many questions, I shall reserve it to this - what's your name and what do you prefer to be called?" The Captain asked, figuring it was best to sort out these little matters ahead of time. Although, there was a good chance that he'd be called 'doctor' or 'doc' at least a few times before the crew managed to learn his name. It may have seemed overly simple to know little more than a person's name, but Rei wasn't exactly interested in people's past. No, what defined a person was their actions in the present and while she was aware enough to keep an eye on him, Rei hoped that his actions would not disappoint her. It would have been a real shame to waste so much talent simply because he could not resist a few extra coins.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 27, 2013 14:36:26 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... S traightening his back, Richard slipped the hat back on. His devious smirk melted to a friendly smile he often used to hide his intentions. "My name is hardly important anyway." However, when the last part registered in his mind, the smile wavered slightly and a streak of worry tainted his thoughts. He was certain the girl hadn’t given anyone any signals while chatting with him, so how on earth...? Did she do it before confronting him? That would be quite bad, because it meant that she had heard him coming, so... He wasn’t as stealthy as he liked to think. If she had been a Marine... Pushing the line of thought aside for the time being, Richard quietly followed the Captain’s lead. Much to his relief, they managed to sneak downstairs without waking anyone up. He glanced at her when she introduced herself, memorizing both the name and the face. Rei Kirisaki, the North Wind... Knowing that name would certainly prove useful someday. The note on what she had been called got a quiet snicker out of the man. "I can only imagine, Captain." Even when he knew someone’s name, he preferred to call them something else. It allowed him to keep people emotionally at a certain distance, namely the distance at which he wouldn’t get too attached to them. When the Captain asked about his name, Richard simply smiled. "I am Jonathan Davidson. Many people tend to twist my name into Davy Jones. Truth to be told, I don’t really have a preference, so feel free to call me whatever you find convenient." It was just a casual, well-practiced lie. Giving away his real name was a sign of trust reserved only for the people he could truly respect. These days, such people were very few and far between. His cynical side already anticipated that his new captain wouldn’t be an exception. She was a pirate after all, a cheating, heartless criminal who only looked out for number one. Just like him. Staying always few steps behind the Captain, the dishonest doctor was trying his hardest to jog his memory. He had the nagging feeling that he was supposed to know something about her, like a news story or a rumor, but it kept escaping him. After a moment of fruitless pondering, he whispered again. "So, Captain..." He paused for a moment to search for the right question. "What brought you here anyway? With all the Marines around, this island isn’t exactly a paradise for pirates, especially not for the famous ones." It was mostly just a shot in the dark, a test to see how she would react. With any luck, he could learn something useful about her. When they got out of the inn, Richard stopped for a moment to listen. The night was still pleasantly quiet and only a cool breeze whistled in the streets. Once again, he had managed to pull off the perfect crime. Smiling at his luck, the dishonest doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, the cheapest brand available. However, before he could light one, he remembered his company and shifted his focus onto the Captain. "Ah, do you mind if I smoke?" Of course, he could easily do without a cigarette, but it would’ve been nice to soothe his nerves while they headed towards the docks. Notes: A wary fellow, isn't he? Words: 560 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 27, 2013 16:48:57 GMT -6
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[/u] 753 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] In contrast to Rei, who is WAY to relaxed about this. [/div] Rei offered little resistance at first when he admitted that his name was of little importance. She normally had no desire to learn of a person's past and they could call themselves whatever they wanted for all the Captain cared, but something about it seemed to tug silently at the back of their mind. There were very few times most people were hesitant to state there name, but with criminals, that habit always indicated something one should be wary. Even so, Rei said nothing on the matter and allowed him to kick the subject under the rug for now. Although, it was good to see that at the very least, the man had a good sense of humor.
"Jonathan... Davidson?..." The Captain repeated curiously, in a manner that seemed to be testing the name out as her crimson eyes settled onto him silently in thought. One could have almost assume with that deep torn gaze that she had picked up that there was something wrong with his words, least until she flashed a cheerful smile. "Doc, it is then!" Rei decided simply, though the truth seemed painfully apparent - the Captain wasn't capable of remembering that long a name and therefore wasn't about to shout it across the deck at someone. Instead, she preferred a simpler cop out and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he'd lied about his name.
She continued to keep a steady pace, glancing over once more when he question why the crew had come to the island. It was true that this place wasn't exactly pirate friendly, no one could argue the fact that there was some risk involved. "I suppose your right, but this island also offers something few others can. Aside from accessed to skilled fighters that come from all over the four Blues, it offers something just as important to a pirate - knowledge." She explained seriously, lifting a finger to tap the nodachi that rested on her shoulder. Then again, Rei saw little point in disguising her reasons for being here.
"There is a saying that warfare is as much about mental as physical, the way I see it, piracy isn't much different. Aside from being able to test my own abilities against some of the fighters on this island, I was able to personally witness and gain knowledge of techniques and abilities that weren't common in the North Blue, where I'm originally from. With such experience, I'll be better suited to protecting my crew on our journey, plus... There was the added potential of finding new crew members." She admitted with a knowing smile, in some sense making reference to the doctor.
"So, the way I see things, such actions were more than worth the risk... Not to mention the trouble of keeping a close eye on the Marine's movements." Rei explained calmly, allowing a steady and relaxed smile to cross her face, though her words spoke volumes about the young Captain. Because behind that cheerful and honest expression hid someone with abilities that had the potential to make her a very dangerous individual.
Indeed, Rei could have rushed into the Grand Line, but to rush into danger was a fool's errand and while the Captain was many things, she was not suicidal. All things considered, it was the lesser of two evil to venture into the South Blue for such a purpose. It demonstrated an ability to think ahead, a very unique talent for a pirate her age. However, such actions also revealed a secondary motive. The simple truth was it had been decades since the death of the last Pirate King and One Piece wasn't going anywhere so quickly. However, to reach the end of the Grand Line, she would need a crew and it was her priority as Captain to gather enough strength and protect them until they could achieve that goal.
Glancing over at his question, the Captain flashed another calm smile in approval. "Nah, go ahead." She answered simply, though it was becoming more apparent just how laid-back Rei really was as they moved through the darkness. "My, my.... It's such a nice moon tonight." Rei spoke, thinking aloud as she headed for the docks. One could have easily been fooled into thinking this was some common midnight stroll, if not for the young woman's curious appearance. Whatever the reason, the Captain wasn't asking many questions, but seemed rather content to simply enjoy the cooler night air, despite the unnerving silence of what seemed like a ghost town at such a late hour.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 28, 2013 9:01:02 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... A tiny flame briefly flickered in the darkness as Richard lit up his personal vice. Having been given the permission so easily was admittedly a relief. It would’ve been quite a problem if the Captain hadn’t allowed his bad habit. The tip glowed faintly as he took a long drag and sighed contently. Thin wisps of smoke danced away from him. The doctor could simply feel his head clearing up, muscles relaxing and the last traces of nervous trembling vanishing with the wisps. The relaxation was quite evident on his face as well, but the sneaky smirk still remained, like a small warning of what was going through his head. Her answer on his test question had been quite curious. Well, she was certainly right about the value of knowledge. However, her take on it was fascinating. She wanted to gain experience... to better protect her crew... No, there was something more behind it. There had to be. Richard couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something more about this girl than eye could see. Something terrifying. It was all the more reason for him to stay on his toes. Another interesting little bit was her place of origin, North Blue. That would help him narrow down his search when he inevitably tried to find out all about her. Now that Richard had gotten a chance to listen to the Captain, he was already forming his own opinions and conclusions on her. So, it sounded like she was quite protective of her crew... Or at least that was the kind of image she was trying to establish. The dishonest doctor was too cynical to buy it. Either she was trying to fool him into lowering his guard, or she was simply too naïve to understand the world. The first one seemed far more likely. This odd pirate was obviously far smarter than she let on, but she was just wasting her breath if she thought she could trick him. In a world where everyone wanted something, loyalty and friendship were just convenient lies. Pretending to care about one’s crew didn’t change that. Betrayal was inevitable, given the chance. Those lessons Richard had witnessed more times than he cared to count. As usual, he would play his cards carefully and see how far this confident Captain could take him before losing her focus. Then, he would take everything from her and find a new target. For a short moment, his smirk flashed into a dangerous grin and the venomously green eyes focused on the Captain. Be careful, Miss Reaper... You have no idea what you are dealing with... The dark line of thought was his final opinion on the matter. He couldn’t have even fathomed how much better it would’ve fit his personal situation. When the Captain mentioned the moon, Richard nodded in agreement. "Indeed." He looked up at the jewel of the sky. His follow up started off as a quick, passing comment, but quickly slipped into a description of fantasy. "It’s much like a priceless orb of pure gold... on an expensive satin pillow... surrounded by countless tiny diamonds..." His swirly pupils turned into Beli symbols again as he gazed into nothingness, blissfully oblivious of what was going around him. It was a small miracle that he managed to keep following the Captain while so lost in greedy dreams. However, it wasn’t the moon he was after. No, it had simply sparked a memory of a little plan... Snapping out of it, the greedy criminal took another long drag of his cigarette and glanced at the Captain. Had she said anything while he had spaced out? He hoped not, because he would’ve certainly missed it completely. That would’ve been quite awkward, not to mention the suspicion it could cause. Luckily, Richard barely managed to stop himself from drifting into paranoid thoughts. He breathed out a stream of smoke and spoke up. "So, Captain..." It was quickly becoming a habit, starting his questions like that. While the silence didn’t really bother him, quite the opposite really, he was still a chatty person. This time, however, his question was oddly specific. "You have any plans to visit North Blue again? Perhaps stop by Lvneel Kingdom someday?"Notes: For a doctor, he sure has many unhealthy habits, like smoking and prying into other people's business. Words: 707 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 29, 2013 4:29:14 GMT -6
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[/u] 826 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] Rei's so contrasting at time. [/div] As a pirate, Rei knew a little something about vices like smoking and drinking, though it was rare to see her do either very often and certainly not in excess. She wasn't prone to preventing her crew from doing so though, so long as they performed their duties and she didn't have to hear about it personally later, then they were free to do whatever they wanted. While there was certainly more reasons behind the Captain's protectiveness when it came to her crew, assuming that such notions were based on inexperience or some naive nature though, were dangerous assumptions. Even so, there seemed little gain in explaining all the dirty details of her past, especially when his presumptions would speak so much more loudly.
Glancing back as he spoke of the moon, Rei could only listen in curiosity. Gold... silk... diamonds. Well, she couldn't certainly see why the doctor had become a thief. The man had some very expensive tastes, though the pirate knew that no matter their value, a diamond was still just a rock in many senses. It wasn't nearly as comfortable to sleep on as the man made it sound, but until now, she'd never heard anyone openly admit to a fantasy of trying it. Perhaps keeping an eye on him for now really was the best options, especially when it came to any valuables on the ship.
Not saying much, the Captain continued a steady pace until the doctor seemed to snap out of his greed induced hallucination and started to question whether she had any intention of returning to the North Blue. In particular, Lvneel Kingdom, which immediately caught Rei's curiosity as to the reason for his specifics. "I don't have any plans to visit at the moment, but I suppose should opportunity or the crew have reason to go there, a small side trip wouldn't hurt." The Captain explained calmly, showing little reaction to the idea, though soon glanced over at the doctor curiously.
"Why do you ask? Got someone you want see there?... Or maybe, your just prying for information?" Rei asking, flashing a faint and knowing smirk. The pirate could be called a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them. Anyone that could trust someone so complete was a fool and while Rei may not have shown it, that didn't mean she wasn't curious, she simply had no intention of rushing information that she'd likely find out anyway. Whatever the case, the whole matter seemed to earn a faint chuckle from the Captain, who didn't appear to be taking the offense seriously.
"I can tell you my life story, if it'll make you feel more comfortable? I don't normally dig into my crew's past, because to be honest, I don't care." She admitted, though it sounded almost a little cold, Rei had her reasons. "The sins one committed in their past, their status, none of that really matters as a pirate. However, since I'm not much for sentiments, I've only ever made only two promises to my crew. The first being that as long as I am Captain, I can guarantee that I'll protect my crew, even at the cost of my own life... I have no intention loosing anything that's important. You can call it being selfish, but as a pirate I think I'm allowed a few bad habits." Rei continued calmly, though there was a curious intensity to her words that seemed to indicate the young woman was not joking.
Lifting a hand with two fingers raised to indicate the second promise. "The other is that if for any reason someone betrays me or the crew, there is no sea, no island, no depths of hell, that they can hide to protect themselves. I will hunt them down and make death seem like an act of mercy in comparison to what I will do." The Captain added seriously, though for a brief moment there was a dark flicker in those crimson eyes. If she had been sincere about the first promise, then this was as good as a binding contract.
As calm and easy-going as Rei seemed, it was evident in that brief look at she had killed before and bore no qualms about doing it again, even if it was only to settle a score. If the doctor believe that it would so easy to pull a fast one on Rei and get away scot-free, he really had no idea who he was dealing with. "Looks like the docks are just ahead. Coming, doc?" Rei called back, her lax demeanor seeming to have returned to normal as she flashed a cheerful smile. It seemed obvious that if she had wanted to drop his guard, that warning was the last thing she should have said, but Rei preferred to nip the problem in the tail before hand. At least, if the doctor did anything stupid, no one could ever say that she hadn't warned him of the consequences.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on Apr 29, 2013 13:06:35 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... H earing the answer created some mixed thoughts within the criminal’s mind. So, it wasn’t on the schedule, but not out of question either. Interesting. When the Captain sniped back with her joking comment, Richard chuckled with no small amount of nervousness in his voice. "Heh, you could say that..." Of course, she had been spot on with both guesses. The criminal did have a something specific planned for Lvneel, but he also had wanted to see how she reacted to the question. He pulled the brim of his hat and adopted a more serious tone for a moment. "There is... something I want to do there..." If they ever visited Lvneel, it certainly wouldn’t be a vacation. Before Richard could dwell on it any longer, however, the Captain really caught him off-guard by offering to share her story. What kind of plan was that? More than that, she openly told about her views and promises. The dishonest man couldn’t wrap his mind around it at all. He listened carefully, making no attempt to hide his surprise. His smile was gone and questions bubbled in his mind, but he remained silent. There it was again, the will to protect her crew, no matter what. She didn’t show any signs of hesitation, only honesty. If she was trying to deceive him somehow, she wasn’t doing a very good job at it, so why...? When the Captain brought up the second point, Richard was quickly stunned and just stopped moving. With each word, he could feel a chilling sensation creeping across his skin, making his hair stand out. His jaw dropped from the shock and the glowing cigarette stump fell. For a moment, he couldn’t even breathe. It felt like the cold claw of death was slowly tightening around his throat, while countless needles were sinking into his chest. Staring speechlessly into those piercing, red eyes, the shivering doctor looked just like he had seen a ghost... or a demon. Well, perhaps that wasn’t very far from the truth... After what felt like a small eternity, Richard managed to snap back into reality, mostly thanks to the Captain regaining her cheerful disposition. The stunned criminal blinked few times, desperately trying to get a grip. Who and what in the heaven and hell was this girl? He only managed to squeak a small and overly respectful answer. "Y-yes, Ma’am..." Much like a terrified rat, Richard scurried after her while watching her every move carefully. He instinctively held his suitcase closer, having one hand near the locks for faster opening. While he had never been the kind of man to have any illusions about his survival chances, he was still ready to fight for his life. And for his beloved treasures of course. While still following the scary Captain, the distrusting doctor was devoting all his brainpower to answering one very important question. Should he still follow her, a pirate closer to a terrifying phantom than a human, who almost made him lose control of his bladder? She was dangerous, no question about that. Seeing as they were pirates, promises and deals had little meaning, well, to him anyway. He could still just turn around, run and vanish into the dark streets. The sneaky criminal glanced around, clearly searching for an escape route from the surrounding shadows. He knew this city quite well and the girl probably wouldn’t pursue him. At least not for very long. Maybe. Hopefully... On the other hand... What if she was telling the truth? Again, the green eyes focused on the girl, but this time with open curiosity, reevaluating her. What if she really protected her crew? Even at the risk of injury and death? Well, with him around, injuries wouldn’t be a problem and death would have to wait until his big bag, or suitcase, of tricks ran out. Together they could easily handle gigs that were too big for him alone and get more loot than he had ever seen. In addition, she seemed like the type to attract powerful people. With them around, Marines and Bounty Hunters would surely seem insignificant. It would be... nice. However, if he wanted to get along with the crew without constantly fearing for his life, he would have to trust the Captain and her decisions. Not just respect her but actually trust her. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night for the fear that she would kill him. Stopping to light another cigarette, Richard sighed. It was time to make the decision. After a short moment of pondering, he lifted his eyes, seeming finally cheery again, though his shaken voice revealed it was just a façade. Still, his words were honest. "I’m ready to go, Captain, wherever you are headed." Perhaps he could trust her. For now. Even if it was just a tiny bit of trust. Notes: And so, even the stubborn doctor gives in. Words: 808 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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Post by REI KIRISAKI on Apr 30, 2013 7:16:37 GMT -6
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[/u] 524 words • TAGS •[/u] Richard Maxwell • NOTES •[/u] So short, sorry. >< [/div] It seemed strange to believe someone who seemed so lax by nature could revert to something so cold-blooded and almost demonic with the snap of a finger. However, most of the crew normally learned very quickly that there were reasons not to toy with the Captain's patience, even if they did not completely understand how such traits developed or how she managed to hide that almost split personality a majority of the time. Fact was, crossing someone like Rei came with risks, but while she could clearly be frightening, there was also something strangely admirable about someone who would go so far to protect their crew. Not that the Captain would ever be considered a saint, but it was something very unique and one that needed to be understood if the doctor intended to travel with them.
While he admitted some hope of seeing Lvneel Kingdom, Rei made no comment or attempt to pry into his business. If the winds favored them, then perhaps the doctor would see his chance and while the Captain would make no attempt to interfere, wouldn't hesitate to offer any assistance he might have needed during their stay. It was obvious the next words words, however, were not what he expected to hear. Although, he managed to take them in stride and not run at the obvious knowledge of what he had stepped into, which was a good sign. There weren't many with the nerves to serve under someone who would so easily threaten a fate worse than death to those that thought about betraying them.
Of course, as long as the former thief understood that consequences of any funny business, then Rei seemed content enough with the simple warning. After all, as Captain, she held a great deal of responsibility for dragging him back to the ship and wasn't about to hear a lecture from her own crew. The doctor soon picked up the pace behind her, as Rei pressed her free hand into her coat pocket, keeping the other on the nodachi as a faint yawn managed to escape. Then again, it was still quite late and considering her sleep had been interrupted, the doctor was probably fortunate he had managed to catch Rei is such a good mood.
After a few minutes, the doctor seemed to steady himself as Rei stepped out onto the docks, glancing back at the man who seemed to have recollected his nerves and was ready to go. "Good. We'll be making a couple more stops and then it's on to the Grand Line. If there's anywhere you'd like to go before then, let me know and we'll see about making a side trip." She explained in a steady tone, as though the Grand Line were merely another port to stop off in, rather than a graveyard of ships and final resting place for many a pirate's dreams. Then again, the Captain never seemed to have much of a sense of danger or at least, not an outright fear of it. Although, if Rei had been wiser, she probably would have waited until they were already on the ship before announcing that little footnote.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 1, 2013 14:01:38 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy... And death's a bit too much... A t first, Richard thought, or hoped, he had misheard her, because for a moment it sounded like she had said "Grand Line", as in "the place where overconfident adventurers go to die". Tiny droplets of frigid sweat formed on his temples. Surely she didn’t actually mean that Grand line? No, he knew better than to hope for that. She was exactly the type who would head for such a dangerous route. Swallowing nervously, the cowardly criminal tried desperately to get his fear under control. No, there was no reason to panic just yet. If it seemed that she wasn’t capable of protecting him after all, he would just sneak away before things could get too dangerous. Yes, that was a solid plan. He could hold onto that. Still, the mention of a side trip got Richard thinking. Perhaps he was just getting sentimental, but after all these years there was indeed one more place he wanted to visit before entering a high-risk life, a place far more important than Lvneel. "Loguetown..." Snapping out of this thoughts, the doctor returned his focus onto the Captain and hid his thoughts behind the usual, smooth-talker’s smile. "It would be nice to visit Loguetown once more. I happen to know an excellent little bar there." Of course, there was far more to it than he was willing to admit, but if he played his cards right, no one on the ship would ever know the real reason. Having successfully bottled his fear from the Grand Line scare, the secretive doctor was quick to change the subject. "So, Captain..." His eyes wandered around the docks, obviously searching for something. "This ship of yours..." It was the next natural question, but as usual, he had to go about it in a slightly roundabout way. "Are you going to show me around, introduce me to the rest of the crew perhaps?" He glanced at the Captain. "Or should I simply look around on my own and find some peaceful cabin to set up my office?" Understandably, he didn’t want to bother her any more than absolutely necessary, thanks to the recent death threat still fresh in his mind. Even if it came to the latter option, Richard wouldn’t have minded at all, quite to opposite in fact. He had plenty of experience wandering around new places and memorizing everything important and then stealing anything that wasn’t bolted to the floor. An undeniably mischievous idea twinkled in the corner of his eye and a greedy smile crept across his lips. He would’ve gladly had a moment alone in the ship’s treasure room before quietly vanishing into some dark corner to count his precious loot. It would’ve also given him an excellent chance to observe the rest of the crew and see if he needed to start making medicine. ...Or escape plans. However, the greedy criminal was getting ahead of himself. He hadn’t even stepped onboard yet and already he had slipped into thoughts of freeing the crew from their valuables. Richard adjusted his tie and took a deep drag from his cigarette in effort to restrain himself before the Captain got suspicious. He didn’t want to push his luck, especially not when he felt like he had been dodging bullets all night. Unfortunately, controlling old habits was difficult. Even the soothing smoke and creeping fear weren’t always match for his unbelievable greed. While wrestling with that troublesome notion, the dishonest doctor was blissfully unaware of how much the Captain already knew about his little problem. Notes: Once a thief, always a thief. Words: 587 Tagged: Rei Kirisaki [/div] [/center]
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