Fish Out of Water! Loki's Adventure Begins! (Open)

[Fennec]

((Yes this is open for anyone who wishes to join.))

The sun was high in the sky scorching the sandy ground of the island. Cracks where visible in the nearby rocks sign of the dryness and the almost eternal draught that plagued this land. Everyone in town seemed hard at work too busy to notice the stranger.

Loki was wearing a long brown coat the collar of which obscured his face and a cowboy hat all in an effort to hide his appearance from the citizens of the island. Being noticed was the last thing he wanted... it had been three weeks since his escape and the marines had yet to publish a bounty poster so he was safe... for now. He noticed a small hut that roughly resembled a Teepee... smoke came from the hut and a sign with a wide open eye was visible over it.

A fortune teller's place... Loki wasn't much of a believer in that sort of stuff... he didn't believe in ghosts and spirits either to him it was a whole load of tales made up by superstitious sailors. But... at the same time seeking knowledge at the fortune teller's hut was of interest to him. After all he was on his way to the local saloon to gamble for some money. So maybe having his fortune being told wasn't so bad... hey... maybe it was real? Right? At least good fortunes? Loki shook his head and took a deep breathe.

He went for the hut, the smell of tobacco mixed with the aroma of wild flowers came out of the hut's dark shady entrance. Loki took another deep breath and entered the hut. Inside it looked much bigger than the outside... it was quite surprising actually. It was adorned with animal bones, furs, and various tapestries that depicted the sun. In the center was a giant bear rug over which was a spruce brown low table. On the other side of the table sat an old man around 70 years old... he had thick straight white hair around shoulder length but he kept it braided with some turkey feathers attached to the end. The man wore a colorful poncho, some brown pants, and tan colored moccasins. One key of interest was the man's eyes... they where a milky white... he was blind.

"Hail traveler!" The man spoke in a deep voice. "Lost with the wind... I see it has brought you to me." He kept speaking. "Now sit... I invite you truely... so I may tell your fortune." Loki sat down.
"Thanks..." Loki said, the man ignored this and pulled out a large black platter he put a handful of animal bones and black oil on it. "The bones shall foretell your future." The man said, he pulled some red dust from his pocket and poured it into the platter like salt.

A fume of blue flames flashed before Loki who flinched, the man on the other hand was motionless. The flames calmed down into a calm swaying flames... light smoke began to rise and exist the hut slowly. The man pulled out some peacock plumes and began to sway them over the fire as he closed his eyes. "You're a traveler from afar... a foriegner..
Not human... worry not that secret is safe... your name is Loki and although you are considered a criminal... you have honor and a hero's heart." The man spoke
softly.

Loki was perplexed. "How..." He muttered before being interrupted.
"Your gambling will go well friend... but shortly trouble shall ensue... be watchful." The man spoke.

Loki blinked. "Eh... ok." He simply muttered. "That'll be 150 Beri please." The man said. "Oh... yes." Loki paid the man who pocketed the money and later poured a black dust over the flames putting them out.

[hunchback]

The hot sun bore down on Oswald, as he waited outside of town. As much as he would love to come in for some shade, he knew full well that his appearance would attract some unwanted attention. Even in places like this, Oswald knew people would see him as some sort of monster. But places like this also attracted criminals, thinking to keep away from marines, so Oswald figured it would be a good place to find some bounties.

So, Oswald sat quietly on the outskirts of town, looking down from the tall, hot cliff he sat on. Thankfully, his wide brimmed hat kept the shade off of his head, but it was rather hot for him.

Oh well. Monsters must suffer I guess.

[Dandead10]

Nihi Lista had left Sedna with some difficulties, winding up in the West Blue it would seem after she had found the lifestyle she desired was unsustainable in the island she had known. What she most realized when arriving on this cattle ranching island was that it was warm. It was far warmer than Sedna Island, the island of ice. It was literally what it was most well known for other than the lack of interaction with the world government and the overall xenophobia of the peoples of the island. Why had she arrived here? For work for the most part. To live her life of hedonistic pleasures and blindness. However, she found her energy was running short without cigarettes, and her mind was easily aggravated without booze to keep her mellow. She felt as if she was dying.

Jittering as she rested along the ship, it seemed someone had pity on her. "Need a light?" A slow drawl Sundance accent had caressed her ears, and she could see a man with a finely trimmed beard, and the dress of a marine soldier. Standing nearly 5'9", a well toned form, dark hair, and soft chestnut eyes. She slowly nodded her head. "It's been too long." Taking a sip from the man's canteen for a small buzz, taking a cigarette from the man, she let out a sigh of relief, and with that, she learned the man came from Sundance. He had enlisted in the marines as was some sort of island tradition, and he had informed her Sundance while having various choices for work? Joining the marine core was the best solution.

Her only response? "I'll consider it..." She likely wouldn't, but it was an option to fall back on if there was nothing else for her. Her red eyes glistened in the dancing sunlight as she arrived in the island of hills, cattle, and gunslingers. With that, she was off, looking around herself for work of various kinds to fill and line her pockets. The saloon, where she had bought a drink and opened a tab for herself, the town board for job advertisements, and from there, she considered her options. "Ttaemae. Killing foxes I suppose is something I can do. Or getting the Kenpo Fish. What a bother. Why is the sharpshooter job the one that pays the damn most?" Grounded in reality with a strong sense of nihilism, she gave a soft sigh as she smoked her cigarette to the bottom bud, exhaling a small puff of ashen smoke. She was going through a lot right now.

"Not like any of this matters anyways..." With another huff of air, she figured she'd do all of the jobs possible and collect the maximum amount of payment. It might be considered pocket change in retrospect, but it could be worth something. Besides...daresay it, it might even be fun to pursue such things? The money was just an added bonus. Besides, it wasn't as if she couldn't make profit from the dead coyotes themselves. Maybe their fur or their meat could be worth something. Though she doubted it.  However, she didn't care about just luxury. Survival was something she pursued, even though she felt as if its pursuit was meaningless? Why? Even she didn't know that answer all the way, an unresolved inner conflict.

[Fennec]

Loki walked out of the cool shade of the Teepee, the the sun instantly scorched any exposed skin he had. He winced slightly not expecting it to burn him that much, he slowly walked back on the dirt path. It seemed people where still busy as they where before... that was... until a carriage pulled by a Chesnut Horse pulled up in the middle of town and a bald little man popped out. He had two skinny tall men pull out a foldable table and set up in front of his carriage with various bottles of 'hair growth elixirs'. "BUY YOU'RE HAIR GROWTH EXILIRS NOW FOLKS! JUST 800 BERI EACH BOTTLE! GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW BACK!" The little bald man bellowed, he tapped the table with his cane as he spoke. "That's right! Just 800 beri! The cheapest price this side of the West Blue! You won't get a price better than this!" He rambled on and on about his product.

Loki rolled his eyes, 'How typical.' He thought to himself he wouldn't believe it if people actually rushed in to buy the product... how stupid could they possibly be? Buy hair growth products from a bald man? Too ironic... too stupid for...
As soon as Loki was about to finish his thought an entire mob rushed to listen to what the little bald man.
Loki sighed and moved on with his day. "Unbelievable." He muttered to himself, Loki continued on his way heading out toward the saloon. Some horses where tied to the posts waiting for their riders under this intense heat, one of the horses collapsed from a heat stroke.
Loki simply stared at the poor creature in dismay... and humans said that Fishmen where animals... Loki sighed and walked into the saloon. It was dimly lit inside and people seemed to be at their thing you know... gambling, drinking, fighting, and watching the well dressed women dance on stage lifting their legs up in unison as the lanky piano man played an upbeat tune.

Upon Loki finally entering the Saloon... everything went silent... everyone stopped... it was as if the world had suddenly stopped. They stopped and stared at him, a stranger, a new commer, and an odd one at that. They couldn't really make out his face out since the long coat he wore had its collar popped out and the cowboy hat did a good job at creating a shadow that mostly obscured his face... only his red sunglasses where visible.
Loki walked slowly through the middle of the saloon, the sound of clinking chains was heard as he walked. Finally he sat at the bar where a bar tender wearing a white shirt with black stripes and a red bowtie stood. He twirled his brown handlebar mustache a little before finally speaking. "How can I help you stranger?" He asked with a thick vague Southern accent.
"I'd like a shot of tequila please." Loki responded. "Oh, and where can I play a good solid game I am looking to gamble." The bartender nodded and served up Loki's drink, as this happened everyone returned to what they where doing seeing as this stranger seemed to pose little to no threat.

"The next game of Poker will happen in 45 minutes..." The bartender said, he leaned in closely. "I hear a local goon... Fredrick... has something huge to offer... sounds like bait if you ask me." The bartender whispered, before turning around and cleaning out an empty glass.
Loki smirked, his shark-like teeth being visible through the shadow that obscured his face. "Goooooood." He said before chugging the shot of tequila.

[Dandead10]

Ultimately, after looking everywhere around this backwater island in search of work, she had found several areas of note, but the only real interesting one to her was bounty posters. The easiest and quickest of work which only depended on how lucky she felt like and how swift her blade could swing in the simplest of occasions. Slowly, as she stepped ahead, she looked at the swinging doors of the saloon, the simple establishment fit for finding drink and smoke. Nihi Lista had no money, though it itself was a viable way to find and make some. Clutching a white sheet of paper in hand, she stepped in, stepping through the entryway with not so much as a glance caressing her form as she noticed almost immediately the offputting appearance of a Fishman in this business. Scanning her eyes, she had taken casual step by step before scooting a seat out, sitting herself along the black leather chair.

"How can I help you stranger?" A moment's pause before she gazed upward at the man with a neutral expression. "Food. Drink. Smoke." A moment's pause as the bartender raised his eyebrow. "Got any money for that food, and drink, and smoke?" A drawn out southern drawl as he wiped his glass. "No. Not yet. Though...I will once I collect the bounty of the man behind me." There was pause for a moment or so at those words, three men standing up with a scoot of their own seats as Nihi turned to greet the fellows, having been lucky enough to recognize only the face of one of the men along her poster. A man with a slash wound across his chest with blonde hair, brown honey suckle eyes, and a silver cross worn around his neck like some special treasure wanting to be taken. Only fools and or the strong held such distinctive and open features. 

"Is that so lil lady? Now just who do you think you are?" Standing now, kicking her seat to the floor, she held firm in her stance as she watched the men approach, all of them owning a gun of some sort. Wasn't uncommon. "Yoti. Wanted Dead Or Alive. Wanted for theft, extortion, armed robbery, resistance of the law, and several acts of vandalism. A total bounty of sixteen-million." With that said, the man didn't deny his crimes as he firmly twitched in annoyance. "Just who do you think you are?!" Reaching for the firearm by his side, Nihi immediately already went into action. Why would she ever let the fool draw his firearm and even put her into risk?

Leaping, pressing her feet against the countertop, she kicked forward in a burst of speed as her hand flew to the handle of her blade, spinning as she slammed the man straight in the head with her foot, sending him practically flying as he skid into the center of the room, slamming into a pool table, his head practically cracking the wood on a corner. As she landed, she immediately pushed forward, her eyes darkening as she drew her blade in an upward slash, ripping into a man's stomach upward as she immediately followed into a pivot motion with an almost glide to the next target. There was a pause as she entered a crouching motion, having swung twice in almost a mere instant. In her arch, her left fist pressed against the ground, her sword held in her palm flat, and the two men before her had their eyes turn white as dishplates as blood dripped from their wounds. They collapsed, for they never stood a chance.

"Kuroryuu: Sekkai..."  

[Fennec]

Loki took off his hood revealing his Fishman appearance... his pale blue face glistening in the light of the oil lanterns adorning the shady interior of the Saloon. He watched intently as an odd girl entered and sat not too far from him. She was quite small... tiny even when compared to Loki who was practically a monster to the simple folk of the West Blue.

Yet there was something about her red eyes... a coldness... it was intimidating. The sword at her side didn't help at all! Loki watched her his eyes going over her completely. No, he wasn't admiring her physique more like taking in this person and how imposing they seemed. Loki simply smiled with his big pointy teeth that seemed like steel kitchen knives that had just recently been sharpened.

He listened closely as her and the barkeep exchanged words. When suddenly there was a shift in tone... the young woman stood up and began to threaten a group of local ruffians... something about collecting their bounties. The lanterns seemed to dim and the room went cold... soon people began to leave and only the most unsavory of folk were left behind to see the mess. The music stopped and the dancers ran off stage to hide.

The barkeep kept at his job cleaning the glass he seemed quite unamused at the whole situation. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a metal container filled with dried chewing tobacco and put a huge wad of the stuff in his mouth. Then he continued to clean the glass he had been cleaning. "Will you have anything else?" He asked Loki in a rather calm tone.

Loki nodded. "Give me a whole bottle of rum! Chahahahahaha! Serve some up for the radical dudette! Chahaha!"  he laughed placing a handful of beri on the table.

The barkeep brought out a cup and a bottle, he served some rum in the cup then gave the bottle to Loki who just started drinking straight out of the bottle. The fight was rather one-sided honestly but it was still amusing to see the girl move with such deadly elegance. "That's pretty gnarly dude! Ha, where did you get such radical moves man?" Loki asked as he pushed up his sunglasses with his fingertips. This scary girl had not let him down she lived up to his expectations... Loki thought he might need some help with his treasure. It might not be a bad idea to ask this unsavory girl for assistance... With precaution and money on the table of course.

The barkeep looked at the destruction caused by the red-eyed girl and simply sighed. "I'll be sure to add the destruction of property to the tab lil miss." He said rather nonchalantly.