video;

[starguy]

[ The video comes on easy, Peter's perfectly in frame and everything. He knows how to do a holo-call. Here's a blond-haired, blue-eyed Earther that you may have seen either helping at the inn's bar or wandering around town without much of a clear goal. He looks excited now. ]

Hey there, fellow off-worlders! How's everybody doing? The name's Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord. [ For drama's sake, he flashes his visor on. ] Former space pirate and current, uh... ad... venturer? Beast hunter? I'm actually thinking of starting up a monster-hunting venture-thing, so if anybody else wants to try out monster hunting with me, let me know!

You gotta prove your creds before we get started though -- I don't want anybody hurting themselves on my watch. [ He flips his mask back off, revealing his cheery face once again. ] So, how about to start, you can join me and explore those caves I keep hearing about? It's up north of town, Lorentia Cave. No pressure on joining, but if nothing else, there's supposed to be gems and treasure in there. And I dunno about you guys, but I never turn down a chance to find treasure.

Plus, hey, if we're really lucky, we might get to see a dragon! At least, that's what they say...

[ He's being more ominous than strictly necessary, but he's just trying to sell this idea, see, sometimes that means a little showmanship. ]

Anyway, that's pretty much all I had. Star-Lord out!

Comments

[incessantness]

(it's video. again, just a little game. they're going to do this until all forms are exhausted, but it's a fun thing to see if their closest friend could recognize them in every way. so, it's tonari this time.)

How do we even prove our... Creds?

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[grappler]

[Vi rolls her eyes a little bit, and shakes her head.]

And what kind of creds do you have? I don't wanna have to be dragging your lame ass around if we get into trouble, either.

[starguy]

[ Peter squints at the video. Is this a new person? No, they don't have their necklaces yet, right? Hmmmmmmmmm. ]

You can join me in the caves, and I'll see how you do!

[ It's a toss-up on whether this is Fushi or not, but he'll be nice either way. ]

"Creds" is short for credentials, by the way.

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[starguy]

Wow, you don't think I have the skills to back it up? I'm hurt.

[ He's kidding, of course, but he also answers her question, because she's right. ]

I know creds don't mean scut here. I mean, I could tell you I was in the Ravagers for ten years, but nobody else knows who they are. And me and my friends killed a space dragon once, but all I've got is my word to prove it. But I'm not worried about watching my own back, I just need to know how much I gotta watch anyone else's.

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[touchofcashmere]

[you had him at treasure and gems. though he's not really good at video so what you get is a nice view up his nose] I'll be there with bells on. I'm a bit of an old hand at adventure myself. Beat off a whole Navy crew once. It was hard, but someone had to show them who was boss.

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[usarinpa]

[ Oh, hey, it's Peter. She'd almost forgotten he'd said he was going to do this eventually... ]

You gonna give me a superhero name, too?

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[theleadingman]

[Balthier has seen this gentleman in passing more than a few times since their arrival, though they've not had cause to properly cross paths just yet. Immediately, there's a great deal about this message of his that catches the sky pirate's interest, and he does little to veil his intrigue when he answers.]

Former pirate, you say?

[Where he comes from, pirate and adventurer are rather synonymous, though the former certainl has more style.]

Far be it from me to say no to an opportunity for treasure. It would seem we have that in common.

[A pause.]

Do you really ask people to call you Star-Lord?

[starguy]

[ Peter laughs at the shoddy video. It adds character, really. ]

Awesome! I'm sure you know your way around treasure, huh?

[ And with credentials like those, who can say no? ]

[starguy]

[ See! Look at that follow-through, Mizuki! ]

Hey, if you want one! Pick a theme and I'll see what I can cook up.

[starguy]

[ Peter, meanwhile, has been so busy trying to figure out what to do with his time that he's mostly been paying attention to the locals... but Balthier has his attention instantly. Now here's a guy who sounds like he know what he's doing.

Yep! Had about ten years of active piracy before I split from my crew. I know that itch for treasure never really lets up.

[ He knows name dropping doesn't work here, but he itches for it so bad. So bad. But onto the questions, that seems more pertinent. ]

Hey, if the title fits. [ Just for show, he's gives his blasters a twirl. ] I did say I was a pirate in space, right?

[ He laughs. Okay, no, he can't back it up in a place like this. ]

Peter's fine, really. But I do all my work under the name Star-Lord. Feels more exciting that way, you know?

[enactors]

and if the dragon sees you?

[grappler]

If [and that's a big if,] I go with you, then you don't have to watch my back. But riches and treasure don't mean shit to me -- what I wanna find is something that might tell us what the hell we're doing here.

[but he's right, because she doesn't exactly believe him. just the price of getting thrown together with strangers, she guesses...]

You think we might find a lead in there?

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[parasaito]

Star-Lord?

[Seriously, even if Peter comes from a world where space travel is a thing, the name sounds more like a username some sci-fi nerd would use on the internet...]

Did you come up with that name?

[usarinpa]

. . . [ And now he's going to make her think! How dare. ] Dunno yet, but I should definitely be the lord of something.

Maybe I'll figure it out in our first excursion. [ Because she's definitely proven her creds already!!! Right? ]

[starguy]

that depends. if it can talk, we can talk

if it attacks then we fight back

[ Simple! If a dragon attacks you, just kill it, right? ]

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[starguy]

Yeah, seriously!

[ He does not experience cringe for this. He is smiling as bright as ever. ]

It's actually the name of my favorite band from back home. But I kinda made it my own once I was out in space.

[starguy]

Hey, that works for me. I dunno if the people or whoever's in charge has anything to do with dragons or caves, but I'm willing to take a chance!

[ He does pause to think about her question, though. His answer might make her not want to come along... ]

I mean, maybe? If we cause some trouble and get their attention. Personally, I'm guessing they're observing us from space, I doubt they're hiding in caves or under dragons.

[starguy]

[ Cruel fate, but also pretty typical for Peter to outsource ideas when he can't think of any himself... ]

Oh, totally! You can be whatever lord you want. Hell, we can sew it on the back of your jacket, too!

[ "Pipe Lord" is maybe not as cool as anything she could come up with, so he's gonna leave that in her wheelhouse. But he's saying he can sew, and he'd be willing to do that for her. Because he's a big nerd. ]

Yeah! I always like to think that adventure makes for the best inspiration. You'll have time to figure it out.

[ She's got super-strength, she's got the creds in spades. ]

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[faeshim]

Hmm...I do enjoy a nice cave. But dragons are quite cranky, my Lord.

[incessantness]

Why do you have to see how I do in the caves if you're going to see how I do in order to take me to the caves?

(PETER!!!!!!!!!)

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[starguy]

[ Don't bring logic into this, Fushi!!! ]

Uh.

[ There's a moment where he looks up, like he's thinking very hard about his response, or like, any kind of witty comeback he can make. Peter.exe is still running, please wait.... ]

[starguy]

[ Yep, he's just gonna bluff and say he did this on purpose! ]

It's all part of the process. Like a training mission, you know? You gotta go through an easy one, to see how you handle it, before you can join the crew.

[ Fingerguns. ]

You're already on the crew though, don't worry about it.

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[starguy]

[ "My Lord" legitimately makes him chortle. ]

Star-Lord. Lord of the stars, but not like, in a legal sense.

[ Gosh, imagine getting a legal title to own the stars. Wild. ]

Anyway, you're totally welcome to come, dude! Dragons are usually pretty easy to spot, so if we have to run, we'll run. And if we have to fight, then we'll fight!

[incessantness]

(it's on the inflation that peter might notice this is fushi, because she's just looking at him with that confused expression, the blinking, the head tilt, and the--)

... Peter?

[starguy]

[ Yes, his suspicions were correct!!!!! And not that he was blindly guessing and hoping he was right.

Sometimes you take a gamble and get it right, very rarely that's the way!! He fist-pumps in the air. ]

I totally knew it was you, Fushi!