dear_mun | Apping to high

You finally decide to send me somewhere, and this is what you pick? Two perfectly fine suggestions cast aside, because you want to turn me into a pirate. Not really my forte, wouldn't you say? It's a little more hands-on than I like to get on a daily basis.

But all right, all right... I'm glad to get out there at all.

Even you know that your motivation is a little twisted, though, right? From a big maybe to instant decision - over what? An app that will probably not happen. After all, she's already very busy - and it's not like I want Shizu-chan around. As for Akabayashi-san -... Well, you know my opinion of him.

I admit that I'm curious, though... How would Shizu-chan take a direct hit from a cannonball? Oh, I'm sure he'd sit still for it... if someone tied him over the cannon. [Izaya's smile widens and he ~~finally~~ falls silent, considering ways to achieve this.]

...

Hah? Still here? Shouldn't you start preparing for this game? You remember the questions you wanted to ask the mods, right?
You don't...
I can see this is going to go just fine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Akabayashi tilts his head at that, a very subtle gesture, almost questioning. He twirls the cane, then settles it against his shoulder, idly.]

Perhaps. Oi-chan wouldn't presume to know what goes on behind that smile of yours.

[The cane taps against his shoulder.]

Perhaps before considering what will happen if we come up against each other, we should consider how we might work together. Oi-chan is going to want to have a nice little tour of the islands, but I might be willing to make it a working vacation.

[It shouldn't be so satisfying to hear; after all, it may well be an act. Izaya may not have talked to Akabayashi much, but he knows that the man is annoyingly clever, in addition to being able to hold his own in a fight. But it is satisfying to get a confession like that, even if it may not be sincere. They're on their own, in this world; Akabayashi has no Awakusu-kai behind him, and Izaya doesn't have to play nice.

Of course, that means Akabayashi doesn't have to play nice, either. That makes it all the more entertaining to see how their voluntary cooperation will work out.]

All right... We keep each other posted on our respective locations and any plans our captains may have. [Which probably won't be a mystery, with people chatting away in journals, but you never know.] Should we end up going after the same target, the one furthest away will convince their captain to back off. Since Akabayashi-san is such a pacifist of late, it would be a shame to make unnecessary victims, right?

[More importantly, Izaya isn't looking to be blown to pieces just yet.]

Good so far?

Ah, well, those do sound like very fair terms.

[Akabayashi smiles, suddenly.]

Oi-chan shall certainly show how much of a pacifist he can be if they are broken, of course. Until then, perhaps a heads-up on any islands you might find that have useful resources on them would also be a very friendly thing to do...

Now who's assuming the worst?

[Izaya is anything but afraid, even giving a light laugh; he knew what to expect the moment he learned that Akabayashi was going to this pirate place as well. It's kind of entertaining that the man would bother to threaten him, though.]

All right. Islands encountered, with coordinates and a brief description.

I can tell that we're going to work together wonderfully.

[Between one death threat and the other, things were bound to get interesting.]

I believe that we'll get along just fine, that's so.

[Akabayashi leans back, as if he can relax now that such a thing is all settled. He's still on his guard, of course, but he doesn't really look like it.]

The only other thing I need you to do for me... ah, well I'm sure you already know.

[Someone's forgetting that Izaya isn't currently on his payroll... but with phrasing like that, Izaya's curious. There's a few things he could guess at - but he's hardly going to suggest anything.]

If it's so important to Akabayashi-san, maybe it's best that you make it absolutely clear.

Oi-chan won't talk to anyone about you, as long as you do the same in return.

[He says the words casually, even goes as far as to laugh.]

After all, it would be sort of inconvenient to have people get the idea some old fellow just taking a little tour is dangerous, don't you think?

I'm not sure that's a fair exchange.

[As it happens, Izaya isn't planning anything just yet; Akabayashi will be far more useful as an ally. But Izaya doesn't believe for a moment that the man's opinion on him has changed, and Akabayashi is dangerous enough. If Izaya is to play nice, a little prodding is the least Akabayashi deserves.

And if Izaya can possibly win some information while he's at it...]

After all, what could you tell them about me? My service are available to anybody willing to pay for them. If a few of my clients weren't strictly speaking good people [here's looking at you, gaki] that's really no fault of mine.

Ah, of course.

[Akabayashi waves his hand, as if dismissing the issue entirely. When he speaks again, his voice is very light.]

An individual not aware of the political climate of our little world will of course understand such matters intrinsically, without possibly jumping to the conclusion that a fellow like you stirs the pot a little too much himself.

If Akabayashi-san's wild suspicions weren't able to convince anyone in our own world, I don't see how they'll fare much better among people not aware of that political climate.

[But that's all hypothetical, of course; Izaya will gladly honor such a request for the sake of an esteemed customer! ... maybe. He gives a light laugh, barely more than a syllable.]

Ah - that's not to say I'd share your secrets, of course. Not without reason...

You say such things as if you think Oi-chan tried to sell you out in our own world, which was certainly never the case.

[He laughs, softly, then shifts his cane idly from one hand to the other, pops it up onto a shoulder.]

Perhaps it's best we work together after all. I think it would come out badly for us both if we started that kind of war, don't you think?

Of course not.

[But Izaya is convinced that he would have if he could have. Not that Akabayashi was the only one, of course; Shiki never liked him much, either. Really, Izaya much preferred Kine, back in the day... but then, his own goals had been simpler then, too. He's not sure the man likes him all that much now, but at least he seems happy enough to work together.]

I agree. I'm not planning to get involved in any war, if I can help it. [Not personally; not there.] I'd much prefer to work together. It would be a shame to start out with enemies in an unfamiliar world when we could have allies, after all.

Very good, very good.

[Akabayashi steps past Izaya, then gives a little wave of the cane over his shoulder.]

In that case, I'll see you around. Try not to drown, will you? Wouldn't be much use if that happened.

Apping to high_seas

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