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… A what?

[ The Swede held out this ugly little rope bracelet, smiling toothily. ]

[ Her wary gaze flicks from his face to his hands, back up to his face. Yep, that sure is a grown ass man offering her a trinket.

But never let it be said that she’s cold enough to ignore a gift when it’s being handed to her… ] Yea, sure. Whatever.

[ He is a fully grown man and a pirate. But that doesn't mean he's not worked hard on these friendship bracelets, which he hopes to use to make friends. ] Oh-oh... please take it! Then we are friends?

[ Inwardly, she recoils. What is it with people wanting to be her friend all of a sudden? It’s a trap. A TRAP. ]

Look, I’ll take it, but I’m pretty sure that ain’t how friendships work. [ Although it is in the name, friendship-bracelets, so she could see how he might think that was heavily implied. ]

[ The Swede is very very shy and this is the only way he can try to befriend new people, he's still fidgeting with the bracelet as he's offering it. ]

B... but the Captain said I had make friends with new people... but I am shy? [ His heavily Swedish-accented little voice doesn't help... and the scurvy, he's missing two teeth and a bunch of fingernails. He's so timid talking to her at all is hard for him. ]

[ Why is he touching it like that? Relax, Oni. It’s just a bit of rope, slowly fingered by an odd man with missing teeth. Typical day in the city. ]

Funny. You don’t strike me as a military man, but… Okay, so your Captain said y’had t’make friends— [ Now watch it turn out to be Captain Crunch. Fuck her life. ] —And you saw me and thought ‘there’s the person I’m gonna get chummy with’?

N... no... I am a pirate... [ Oh, wait no. ] I am not a pirate...

[ He just smiles nervously, still fidgeting with the bracelet. ]

Yes... I thought you will like to be friends with me. [ He explains, softly. ] I hope... you are not angry? That I am not pretty... b... because... when you are not pretty, nobody wants your friendship bracelet. [ It is difficult for him, especially now he had scurvy! His crewmates thought they'd catch it from the bracelet and a lot of sadness happened before the Captain advised him to make friends with new people. ]

Oh… ‘Kay…

Darlin’, I was suggestin’ you mayn’t like to be friends with me. [ Usually, it’s right about now that images of the Big Bad Wolf start rising out of the collective consciousness from somewhere in a normal human being’s primitive back-brain.

But maybe a life of piracy has suffiently dulled that instinct. Or maybe he never had it to begin with, she’s come across people like that before. ] I’m always angry, cher, but not at you. Lemme show you somethin’— [ She opened her mouth wide, not to eat him but to show him the gaps in her own teeth. Life as a bonafide monster isn’t all roses. ]

[ No, Swede just doesn't have that. He got startled by a trick another pirate played on him once and just jumped overboard, even though he can't swim. They had to fish him up! ]

Oh........ what happened with your teeth... d... did you have scurvy as well? [ For someone that is so scared of everything he doesn't really have much understanding of life and death or anything really. He just smiles and shyly twirls his hair. ]

Why are you sooo angry? Maybe my bracelet will make you happier? [ He's holding it out again. This is a very dumb blond. ]

Scurvy…? Pfff, non. I, uh— [ Her face went blank and she struggled to come up with a convincing lie. ] —It was an accident.

I reckon it’s just th’way I was made. [ A gallic shrug. Then, losing her patience a little, she snagged the bracelet out of his hands, shoving it onto her wrist. ] Oh, for chrissakes, just gimme th’fucking thing. There. Happy? [ She held her hand up for his inspection. ]

Oh ja! Are you happy as well? Are... are we friends now? [ It is obvious he didn't follow anything to do with her warning, he can only think about one thing at a time and right now that thing is making friends, just like his Captain advised him to do. ]

I hope... you won't be sad about your accident... you are a nice lady. [ Now that they are friends, he wants her to be happy too. ]

[She looks to the nervous man, and then to what he's handing out.]

Alright. I guess so.

[Why not, Mari figures, as she opens her hand to receive what looks like a poor quality rope looking thing of a handmade braclet. Yet, she won't judge. It's the thought that really counts, right?]

[ He shyly hands it over, nervously twirling his hair with his free hand. ] P... please be my friend... [ There's no helping it all comes off strange and even a little creepy but the Swede doesn't know how he's coming across. ]

[Upon taking the bracelet in her open palm, Mari doesn't find him creepy. He doesn't seem dangerous to her. Actual creeps who mean to harm and frighten people don't typically friendship bracelets.

Noticing his shyness causes her to smile a little and think, Awww... Is he really that lonely?

Mari kindly gestures to an unoccupied chair nearby. He's welcome to sit there if he wants.]

We could be, while we introduce and say a little about ourselves. What's your name? I'm Mari.

[ The Swede is pretty lonely, his crewmates just aren't that interested in him and though he liked to be a part of the crew he doesn't have a real friend. Now he is trying but he is so shy eye contact is hard. ] I sit?

[ He smiles nervously and sits down, still twirling his hair but then, lowers his hands to try and actually look at her. ]

I am the Swede... [ He doesn't have a name but he is from Sweden. ] I am a pirate but I am not a very scary pirate? [ ...he's mostly a swabs the deck pirate. ]

[She nodded to him, smiling.] Yeah, go ahead.

[There's something a bit amusing and so innocent all at once about Swede's introduction. She chuckles softly, and smiles.]

A non-scary pirate? That's pretty good to know. Nice to meet you, Swede.

[Now, her turn to say a little about herself...]

I'm a world traveler.

I used to have a very normal and ordinary life. But then a lot had happened when my parents, some friends of mine, and I found out about the existence of other worlds, and met people who came from them.

[Her friendly smile shifts to a slightly awkward one.] This would be the really basic and short version about who I am.

Edited 2022-09-13 12:05 (UTC)

Y...yes... I just clean and... swab... but I like to cheer when there is fighting so maybe I am not always good. [ He has to be honest to his new friend! It does get rowdy sometimes.

He nervously twirls his hair, trying to understand everything she is saying. Trying. ]

Oh... s... so... you are an angel? Can you tell my Mama that I did not mean to become a pirate, I just missed her food... and I was hungry?

Me…? Happy? Uh, s-sure. [ Admitting to any such thing rubbed her the wrong way, like if somebody were petting her against the grain. The feeling only got worse when he called her “A nice lady.” WHAT? ]

I’ve been accused of many things over th’course of my life, cher. Nice has never been one of ‘em.

[ She dismissed his worry with a wave of one hand. ] ‘Not sad at all. If anything, I had it comin’.

B... but you are nice... you did not hit me. [ The Swede just doesn't understand anything, you'd think he would understand people caring about their reputation since he is a pirate and half his ship is scary men being scary but no. ]

Oh... it is ok... [ He does get a little sniffly now. No one deserves to lose their teeth! ]

D... do you know... which road I came from? [ Because he is very lost. He has no idea where his crewmates are anymore. ]

[This doesn't seem to suprise Mari.] Well, not everyone can be good all the time.

[Honestly, she's met worse people. One in particular had come close to killing her, twice. But she never lets herself dwell over any memories of him.

At Swede's assumption, her smile shrinks some.]

I'm just a human caught up in the middle of some various and complicated circumstances, alongside other friends of mine.

I never met any angels, but I've known about what you may call demons... Some of my other friends and I are trying to get rid of them.

[Mind wraiths are certainly demonic in some ways. Possessing people, and making them go crazy, she keeps to herself.]

Have you been far from your home? Have you been close with your mother? [Is his mom dead?]

Oh....... [ It's obvious this all too confusing for him, he's a very simple pirate from the 1700s. But he wants to try to understand this nice lady. ]

Demons are scary... I am not a demon? [ He wants to make sure she knows that! ] My teeth... are funny... sometimes I can't close my mouth all the way but that doesn't mean I am a demon. [ He is just a funny looking Swede. Nothing to worry about. He ducks his head at her question about his Mama. ] She went to sleep when I was younger. A long time ago.

[ Then, he suddenly smiles. ] If... if a demon shows up, I will hit him with my chair for you! Ja?

[There's just something innocent about Swede. She's capable of being at ease around him.

An amused bit of laughter comes as she knows he's not at all an enemy of hers. His appearance doesn't at all match to the descriptions her friends from home had told her.]

I know you aren't one. Don't worry!

To slow down any demon in general, I heard that you can hurt them with holy water. Don't just use a chair.

[Not I believe there's a chance for holy water to hurt the creeps I know about most. But it'd make more sense to use whole lot more than a chair to hurt any demon.]

Sorry about your mom though. [Her smile becomes lop-sided as she says this.] I'm sure she's watching over you, in spirit.

Edited 2022-09-15 04:11 (UTC)

Oh... it... it is okej... I think she is an angel now? [ He doesn't know much about religion but that is how he feels about it. He smiles shyly at her, completely unaware that he's not much like how pirates should be. He fits in better than his Captain, at least! Captain is very foppish and wears frilly shirts and all that. They're not the best pirates... this is the worst pirate on the worst pirate ship. But he sure is happy he managed to make a new friend. ]

I... I didn't see a demon here... yet... a... aren't you afraid of them?

[ She looks like such a sweet lady and so frail and little! It seems like... fighting demons would be very scary for her. Swede is worried, in his time period demons were very feared and- and what if she doesn't have the special water? ]

I guess she would be. You're probably right about that.

[Her smile is itty bitty as she listens to the kind blonde pirate's concerns.]

I've been terrified of this small group of them. I won't lie about that... They've caused so much trouble where I came from. Not just around me, either.

I'm not alone in this fight though. Far from it. [She calmly assures him--as well as herself, while not mentioning anything about her PTSD issues.]

I have some friends who are strong, and more experienced than I am in the not so normal stuff.

[ Though he doesn't understand much about all she is going through... or- or anything, maybe just having him sit and listen can be soothing. ]

M... maybe you should hide from them... if you want you can hide in my barrel. [ He smiles toothily, thinking that is probably a very good idea. ]

Or... you can get your own barrel to sleep in and then when the demons show up, you get in your barrel... that is what I do when the scary English come aboard to hang and shoot everyone, then I go in my barrel.

[So, there are angry English people who go after pirates? And are there no beds available on the pirate ship he's from?

Mari's smile looks a little sad, as she politely replies.]

That's nice of you to offer, Swede, but I know hiding from them won't work at all. They know where I am, all the time. [Sigh.] In fact, it's more that they like to be really sneaky when hiding from me.

I don't know why they hide what they look like. They didn't towards my friends from home. I'll never understand that, but I guess it's just the kind of games they like to play.

[A bit of frustration can be heard and seen as she openly admits this.]

[Childe's amused as he laughs.]

Looks like that bracelet could come apart at any minute.

[It's a little strange in seeing the blonde approaching strangers and openly giving gifts. Is the man that desperate to seek out a companion?]

If you truly want to be my friend, then it can be arranged on one condition.

[Just after he says this, he starts to look the other man over. He looks fit, but doesn't seem to be armed at all... How good is he in his movement?

Childe is armed with a very fancy looking bow, and a quiver of arrows.]

Oh... t... they know where you are? And... you don't know what they look like?

Am I one? [ .. ...his bottom lip starts to quiver. He just told her she wasn't a demon but how does he really know? He sometimes kind of hides what he looks like when he hides behind his hair... and... he definitely knows where Mari is! She is right next to him. Oh no...

They don't have any beds, well, they do but only for the Captain. They all sleep in a heap on the deck for- for some reason. ]

I... I hope I am not a demon. I want to be a pretty angel after I die.

M... maybe... it is going to come apart... I never make them before.

Oh... ja! What do I have to do? [ He isn't much of a fighter, he is pretty muscular but that is just from swabbing the deck, climbing the rigging and such.

He's very desperate to make friends, he is lonely and very shy and offering these poorly made little bracelets seems to help. ] I will do it, then I am your friend?

[Unfortunately, Childe doesn't know he could be facing a weak fighter as he replies.]

How about a duel? People I call friends are those I can strengthen and improve on my skills with.

[He unhooks his bow from his back.] I won't stop you from coming at me on with your bare fists, but I'd still suggest you get yourself a weapon.

M... me...? [ He goes to grab his knife, which is the only weapon he has but he always just hides in his barrel during raids and fights. He sniffs. ]

...o... okej... I never did a duel... [ He's seen a lot of them but they often ended with someone dead or seriously injured. But he's too nervous to say no. ]

I will try...

[She'll calmly reassure him.]

I remember what my friends told me about their appearances. I know you're not a threat. [She softly smiles.] It's been obvious enough for me to tell.

[I would have already been in danger if you were a Wraith.]

Oh... I am happy! I don't really know... sometimes, I don't know who I am. [ The Swede shyly admits, looking at her and smiling big again. Not a demon! Just a silly Swedish pirate. ]

M... miss... now we are friends... do you want one of my potatoes when I get dinner later? [ He will bring it back to her from the ship. He wants to share so she also has a potato. ]

You seem about as human as I am.

[Mari's own smile is soft and sincere as she's thoughtful about his offer.]

How about I cut up that potato into slices, and put it in a stew for us to share? With beef and cooked carrots in there.

I could bring biscuits and butter too.

[Just a knife? That's a little disappointing, since there's no challenge in this that he'd ever see. A pirate such as this one could never be well matched against a warrior and military commander.

However, as Childe speaks, he's formulating another plan in mind.]

A sparring duel is simply two people who engage in combat, showing off the way they move in evading, and striking.

Unfortunately it would be a really short one, with you. You'd lose.

So, instead... Let's see how close you can come towards me, while dodging my arrows.

[He smiles a little in delight of this idea. It could be entertaining to see how successful the blonde would be in this challenge he just thought up.] If you're able to stand right in front of me, then perhaps I could help you not only get a better weapon. I could train you to be good at combat.

We could become comrades in the process! How does that sound?

[For Childe, this is more worthwhile than receiving any friendship bracelet, no matter how poorly or well it's made. Actual children would enjoy and be impressed by such gifts, not him.]

T... that sounds so yummy! I don't think I have beef many times. [ That is very fancy for him. Miss Mari is so kind to him, he almost can't believe it. ]

I may come with you, to your house? It is safe, I won't steal any- any of your nice things... I promise. Not even the pink things.

My house... [She lets out a breath as she forms the thoughts in her mind. Oh, how to simply explain...]

It's actually a small apartment, within a really big building. Someplace far away. But, I have something that would allow for us to get there really quickly.

[She smiles a bit nervously to Swede.] There's a somewhat negative and bad reaction to this really fast travel. Especially on the first time, so I'm not sure if you'd be up for that...

I've had to do it a lot of times, so it's not that bad for me. It took a while to adjust though.

[Mari is very sure he wouldn't know what advanced tech is in general, so she'll dumb it down and simplify for him the best she can.]

Edited 2022-09-22 02:45 (UTC)

Oh... what is fast travel? [ Swede is from a time where you had horse-drawn carriages but most people just walked everywhere. He fidgets nervously because she looks nervous but he's, so he thinks, not afraid to go a little faster. After all, he always climbs up the rigging quickly! ]

M... maybe... we can walk? Or it is very, very far away? I... if you promise there'll be all those tasty things, I will be... very brave and not be scared. [ He'll try! He really wants to go to her house and have a tasty male with her. That is what... what you do with friends, ja? And now he has a friend. ]

Fast travel is just that. Going from one place to another as fast as it does for anyone to blink.

[Mari got out her world travel device. She highly doubts he has ever seen a cellular phone. That's bascially the shape and accessibility of one, only it works more like a mini computer than an actual phone.]

I can take us to my apartment really, really quickly with this thing. Though, I think you might recover from the nausea you might get by the time I've finished cooking the stew. [She smiles to Swede apologetically.] It's a mildly bad side effect, but I could help you get some medicine to recover from that faster.

I... I will try to be brave... it is okej, I have been sick before, on the ship. [ He trusts her and sweetly offers his smudged hand, without hand holding it will be too scary but with hand holding, he will be very brave! He usually hides in his barrel but- but. It is time to be good now and listen to his new friend.

He'd never even seen an electric lamp, let alone a cell phone or a device like that, ]

Is that little box magic?

My travel device? [She pauses to figure out how to dumb it down for Swede.] It's actually more like a very advanced machine, from further ahead of either of our times.

But if it's easier for you to think of it as magic, then I won't press on the issue.

[Mari indeed does take his hand in hers, for it's required to touch someone to be able to take someone with her to teleport anywhere. With her free hand, she navigates from the home screen (that has a lot of stars in the background) to a very short list of names Swede most likely doesn't recognize.

She taps with her thumb on where it reads "Multiverse Complex", and then looks over the digital map of the interior of this very massive building she's been inside of, several times.]

Excuse me, what? [ Record scratch. Congratulations, The Swede, you’ve just unlocked Oni’s mile-wide protective streak. ] Somebody hit you?

Who?! [ She casts a suspicious glare around. He’s a few seconds away from seeing what it looks like when she makes someone eat their own teeth. ]

Do I what? …Oh. ‘Fraid I can’t help you there, cher. [ But it’s a point of professional pride that she never gets lost, so ] Whereabouts are y’headed?

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lol I got what you meant but the typo is still funny. No, she's NOT a cannibal XD

He's so relieved! :(

She'd feel too disturbed and creeped out to ever try to be.

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