expiationnet

I would say that it's illegal to charge and hold citizens with no form of warrant, but I doubt that's a matter our captors care about much.

[Eiji gives a small, charming grin as he speaks. It's a light joke, of course. Really, all of this is a joke. Eiji will admit that, of the abductions he has been subjected to so far, this is perhaps the most immediately pleasant. Mobius was perhaps more modern and had more to it, but Mobius also decided it would be wise to try and wipe his mind and all he was away. Eiji can accept, and even find charming, the more 'rustic' scenery of this place if the trade off is that he gets to keep his mind.

Don't even get him started on Hell. That little detour can be pushed aside for now. Back there, he would have kept all communication that he could to text. The less he let the lot there see him, or that he had to see them, the better. This place looks like it might be cut of a different cloth, at least.]

Please, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Biwasaka Eiji. It is a pleasure to meet you all.

[He gives a small bow as he introduces himself. He is a gentleman. He will do what he can to present and be a gentleman whenever possible.]

Back home, I'm a lawyer. I specialize in defense. If any of you are interested in one when 'sentencing' begins, please. I'd be happy to help you with your case.

[He gives a playful wink as he speaks.]

Still though...even if it's meant to hold us, and we've been accused of crimes, I don't think this place is meant to punish us. I wonder. What do you think?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not where I come from. Man! I don't know which of us is luckier, then, you for not having to deal with it or me for the extra money-making opportunity.

Eh, I guess it may not come up, then. This stupid piece of paper can't be enough of an arrest warrant anyway, can it?

Strictly speaking, no. Not only that, but they've done nothing that would go along with an actual arrest, such as a reading of rights or knowing who we're being held by, and what authority.

It's more kidnapping than it is arrest.

See? That's what I thought! I was like, there's no way this counts, right? When we're all runnin' around here doin' whatever we want, ain't seen a Marine or a cop anywhere.

Nice to have an expert opinion on that, at least.

You seem to live a colorful life.

[And a weird and dangerous one, even more so than Eiji has ever been used to. And Eiji has maintained retained relations with the Yakuza.]

Can I ask where you are from?

[you don't know the half of it, Eiji, although that yakuza experience could come in handy]

Little island called Loguetown, originally. Right now I live on a ship on account of, y'know, bein' a pirate and all. I mean, that's where I was before I got taken here, you get me.

[on the one hand, how do you explain where in the context of many worlds, but on the other, that's probably enough information to play with?]

[Certainly no place Eiji has heard of, that's for certain. In the end, Eiji doesn't really need to know, although he thought it might have helped him get a better read on Bartolomeo.]

You're a pirate?

[Interesting. And potentially useful. But it's better to react to it with more fear and apprehension than let that show immediately. He's a modern gentleman, after all.]

[Barto laughs anyway, because the reaction honestly never changes no matter where he is]

Sure am! Captain of the Barto Club and Second Commander of the Straw Hat [accidental audible squee] Grand Fleet! Not that it means jack and shit around here where there ain't even an ocean, but a pirate don't stop bein' a pirate when he's on land.

[the squee evaporates quickly, it was there for two or three words but his swagger comes back immediately] Pirates talkin' to lawyers, now that's funny!

[What an odd and definitely dangerous man. On one hand, Eiji pegs Bartolomeo as being a brash, dumb loudmouth from the current conversation. Not someone who would be particularly useful to manipulate or get in good with on finer affairs.

On the other hand, being able to manipulate someone as capable of violence and force as a pirate could be very useful, if Eiji ever needed it.]

It sounds like you're well-known where you're from. I must imagine there are few who wouldn't be afraid of you.

It's possible a lawyer might come in handy for you, if you're on that wrong a side of the law.

[to be fair, he is very much a dumb loudmouth. But he's also just a smidge street-wise, enough to assess Eiji in turn for usefulness. When things are so unknown and confusing, it's best not to make enemies yet]

And what happens when the lawyer appears to be accused of a crime as well? Unless you somehow escaped without a damning piece of shitty paper in your pocket.

[That was unexpected, but also a nice surprise.for the last couple years Eiji has found himself surrounded by some of the dumbest people who seemed to have no concept of survival on their own. Bart looks like a genius for actually questioning something, compared to the people in Mobius.]

I wonder if it would make much difference. Is there anyone who thinks a lawyer hasn’t committed a crime somewhere?

[He says it with a sly smile.]

[it's a sad day when Barty looks like a genius for any reason...

That makes him cackle loudly]

I like the way you think! You're all right, lawyer-boy. We're gonna get along real nice, I think.

Dunno what I can say right now, one way or the other. There's a lot to figure out, and maybe we just gotta wait a bit till someone explains themselves. We'll see.

[‘Get along real nice’. Not the way Eiji would put it, but he supposes it isn’t wrong. Having the goodwill of a man like Barty could be useful in many ways that Eiji could imagine.]

That is the worst part, but we do have to wait. There just seems to be too little to discover so far.

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