Mission 77B: Wine, women and songs (Farris, Asian, Roin)

[Farris (Kuro)]

The sun was shining, birds were singing and a gentle breeze was blowing. It was a recipe for a perfect day, so why then did the people look so miserable? Not that Dr. Victorson didn't think that people always looked miserable, sick or not, but this was decidedly a very different type of misery from the common. A knew disease perhaps? Something new to study as he moved from place to place.
Faust was not much of a people person, he'd never found much use for them with the exceptions to those that showed more of an intellectual mind. Other than that there were patients, a nicer word for test subjects really. These he tended to treat professionally, picking out the most unique cases to study thoroughly. Needless to say not all his patients survived, but it was for the sake of science and greater understanding. One day the world would thank him for the knowledge he'd gained. In the meantime he was resigned to merely accept that he was a head of his time and needed to dodge the Government and Navy while he continued his research.

The clatter of the tip of his cane against the stone walkways as he made his way to the mayor's office was consistent. The white haired doctor cloaked in red intended to inquire about the state of things in the town. Perhaps he could learn more about the disease if there was one, or if it was something else entirely. That's when he saw the man himself addressing a few others. "It's regretful but we need outside help dealing with these bandits or we'll all go broke and hungry!" The older man stated in distraught. Faust arched a brow, So it was not a disease then. A pity, he didn't normally get involved with such things, but Depression and Misery were mental diseases in a way. It wouldn't hurt to expand his horizons a bit with some study into the matter.

That in mind, Faust took a look at those that the mayor was addressing, gauging potential allies that he might have in this task...

[aslan]

"What?!" There was a clear tone of disbelief laced in Shun's voice.

"Shhh. I said it costs 100,000 beri." In return, the merchant repeated the price, if only slightly louder than before. A heavy dose of fear was sprinkled in the words, though seemingly not towards the cook but to some unknown circumstance. "It's the going price these days. If I sell it for any less, I'll starve!"

Shun frowned, confused by the turn of events. He had came to this place hearing of its abundant and cultivated alcoholic beverages, instead what he found was the exact opposite of that. In fact, he was turned away from the last three shop he had visited, all proclaiming that there was no wine to be sold. "You're kidding right? This wine wouldn't cost more than ten thousand beri. And why are you whispering anyways? It's not as if it's illegal to sell wine."

The merchant sniffed indignantly, then edged closer to the adventuring chef. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. There's been robberies, see? The local factories were all hit, their wine stolen - and I'm not about to call attention to my stock any time soon! It didn't have much of an effect at first, but then reality came crashing down. After we sold the wine we had, it became apparent that stock was quickly running out and prices started surging up. We've even had to start shipping in alcohol from other Islands to keep up with the demand. It's shameful!"

"Well... that sucks?" An apprehensive reply came from his mouth, unfamiliar in dealing with such elated emotions. "Aren't the marines going to do anything about it?"

"They tried, even locked up a bunch of bandits for a while too. In the end, they didn't find the wine that was stolen. Look, the mayor's rounding up folks who might want to help and you seem like an able guy... tell you what, if you lend a hand, I'll give you this bottle for free. Heck, if you solve it, I'll even give you a whole case."

"Deal!" Shun didn't let the merchant finish, least the man changed minds about it. A case of expensive wine for free? Worth it. Hurriedly, the chef jogged off towards the Mayor's office, nearly bumping into a rather pale man holding a cane on his way in.

[Roin]

[/a], a wide-brimmed hat sitting atop his head and a large cloak-like poncho draped over his figure. The man, at least one could assume from size and width with some reasonable amount of safety, looked over toward the group with hardly a raise of the head. After all, one didn't need eyes to see the scene going on... only the sound and a glance.

"Truthfully, it is impressive how people... ch-change when they get desperate."

The entirely-hidden man began to walk, first off the doorway of the place he'd been staying. No one had so far looked under the brim of the man's hat. No one had seen anything besides the boots that appeared to be made of steel that he walked with. The only thing most people had to see was a harness worn over his attire that held two pistols, a shotgun, and even a specialized rifle to the mysterious gunslinger's form. Each step, the rattle of ammunition and the weight of steel shifting made it obvious he was on his way over to the crowd. Even before the man reached it, some people were turning back and paling at the very idea of messing with someone loaded to the teeth. And as they parted and left only the brave, the man walked forward just enough to stand among them. It was only among the crowd that long, almost dreadlock-like tubes seemed to dangle behind the man to imitate hair.

"Who are-"

"Truthfully... does it matter? If you need a name, it's Mister Shinjitsu. I... will take care of... your problem."

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The more scared of the bunch that had gathered seemed to gasp or look to one another in worry. Even as they did, however, the man finally raised his head just enough to look toward the Mayor, his vision flickering an image of the area and broadcasting what could only be called "sight" to the machine man. Many people seemed horrified as the realization began to sink in that the individual wasn't just some average bounty hunter or run-of-the-mill mercenary. Standing before them, moving his gloved hands to rest gently on his sidearms in a passive manner, the gun-slinging robot spoke once more.

"I'll make sure justice is carried out... and that's the truth, I assure you. Or I'm not a human stuck in a machine. If there's one thing I... hate... it's people who commit crimes of such petty degrees."

SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC}
Sorry about the short wait. Bringing in the robot-programmed to try and be a human, Zombie/Akitaki!

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[Farris (Kuro)]

Faust was careful to move his cane as the younger man passed by him, likely the first volunteer for solving the town's woes. The next was a rather intimidating looking man with a good amount of cybernetic alterations to his body. The doctor's interest was peaked, always a fan of the unusual. The scientist wondered how he worked? Perhaps he would have the chance to study him in more detail as this man openly opted to solve the peoples' Bandit problem.

A "Mister Shinjitsu" as he called himself seemed very much a law man, yet not a marine. Dr. Victorson would have to take care in his studying this man not to cross any lines this time. "Well said Mister Shinjitsu, but this is dangerous work... Perhaps I can lend my services as well?" Faust offered before stepping forward. "I'm a traveling doctor and scientist, Dr. Victorson, at your service." He introduced with a polite and well mannered bow. He was nothing if not professional, but hardly was the social type.

He did however cast a glance at the youth from earlier to see if he too would pipe in and offer to join their odd little band. The Mayor seemed relieved at the offer, but also intimidated by the clearly inhuman appearance of the mercenary. "I would be most grateful Both of you! We can't offer you much in the way of Beri, but we can reward you with some of our finest stocks of wine once it's recovered!" He offered graceously to the two that had already offered to aid them.

[Roin]

[/b][/font]"

Carefully shifting and letting the cloak draped around his body return to its concealing position, the machine took a moment more to gauge the area. An island like this, with little wind blowing, was ideal for a shoot-out. Even if he hadn't been an expert at close-range shootouts, Akitaki would have an easy time firing on the move. The bandits he'd heard of were no doubt aware of fighting in such conditions due to the fact that most of them tended to field firearms in his experience. But, at the same time, very few of them were expecting to face-off with a machine capable of shrugging off low caliber bullets on his hardened points.

But the robot didn't have much more time to think, the sound of a distant call snapping through the air.

"Th-the guy they send to take our tr-tribute! He's c-coming!"

---

Micqueot was quiet as the doors remained closed and people tried to stay out of sight of a burly man walking down the road. With a large club in his right hand and an ogre-like face, it was hard to believe the man was simply a large Human. With each step, the ground shook equally as well as his belly, the man's tusk-like teeth vanishing behind a hand as he picked at his nose. Closing one of his big green eyes as he pulled the finger free of his pale-skinned nose, the bandit hid the delicacy away in his mouth with a chuckle that shook the heavy, black monobrow above his eyes.

"Hurkhurk~, boss want wine... me get him wine! Puny weak-heads not scare Thud!"

Bringing his picking hand back and over his bald head, the man continued trodding along in his rather rough looking attire, a bear pelt wrapped around his jeans at the waist and falling down to his knees like a skirt. Metal scrap, clumped together and strung along, adorned much of his upper half in a protective shell, locking his belly safely within. With such an assortment, it forced the man to walk around shirtless in the sun of Micqueot... but as he ambled almost distantly toward the square and turned the corner, plenty of people seemed far more fearful than disgusted by one of the wine-stealing bandits.

SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC}
08ffb0 = Town Crier
24b91d = Thud
Edit: Farris (Kuro)

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