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"Do you know the captain of "Arahabaki"?".
He can't even take a deep breath. His voice comes out hushed and high at the same time. He knows that he probably already looks out of place.
The tavern is filled with smoke, the smell of liquor being poured, sweat, and this one specific aroma of ocean water. More and more people come inside although it seems like every possible table and chair is occupied.
The one that Atsushi is standing next to is taken only by one man. There's a single bottle on it and a black hat with a few coins and feathers sewn into the side of it. In the dim light of candles and lamps, he sees small red stones next to the feathers - probably rubies, though Atsushi knows them only from the stories about wealth.
About rich people from the city and courts, about those that don't know what hunger is, those that can eat everything they want in the amount they want.
They also have all the colorful stones, all the gold, and all the liquor.
But so do the pirates.
When he doesn't get an answer right away, he looks away for a moment. At the bar a group of men starts singing louder and louder, two girls squished between them, happily letting them look and grab what they want, knowing well that they'll get their money soon.
The heavy sigh he hears, makes him turn his head. The man in front of him stretches and after a moment pours himself a glass of ruby liquor from the bottle.
"Haven't you heard, kid? "Arahabaki" sank more than a month ago".
"It did not!" he feels his cheeks get redder and redder as he continues. His heart stammers in his chest. "I heard about the recruitment barely a week ago! And heard that the captain might try and dissuade people from trying!".
He then observes a slim hand with golden rings on the fingers start playing with the booze in the glass. It sways right with his movements. Atsushi could swear that he's heard "that damn bastard" muttered under his breath, but continued to wait for the answer to what he said.
"And what do you exactly want from "Arahabaki"? If it didn't sink...".
"Join the crew, sir".
Atsushi knows he's not exactly... fit for that. Lanky, young boy. He knows his cheeks are still slightly round, big eyes, white hair... In the past, he had offers of working differently but then... why not on the ship?
Why not try and do something? /See/ something outside of the small port city he's in? He's been listening to all the stories about pirates from the time he could understand anything. He knew when they would come to the city, every tavern filled to the brim with people. Every pantry packed with rum, sugar, or tea thanks to them...
"Aren't you too young? What are you, fourteen?".
Such a question seems to make the boy happy on the spot, realizing that he's maybe being considered.
"Sixteen, sir".
There's a noise when the man in front of him moves the chair. As he leans over the table, Atsushi feels his heart stop for a moment.
The man in front of him has eyes as clear as a sky, the bluest blue of the ocean that Atsushi could imagine. He's tanned from the sun, his hair in a low ponytail over his shoulder. When he moves his head, Atsushi catches a glimpse of golden earrings with even bigger rubies nestled in them. Similar ones are on his neck right next to various golden and string necklaces getting tangled underneath his white shirt.
"Family? Not every mother wishes for her son to be a pirate".
"Don't have one, sir. I'm an orphan".
There's a quiet hum and maybe that's just a reckless wish but he thinks that he saw those blue eyes soften for a moment.
"Been on a ship before?".
"Smaller one to fish" and feeling like it's not enough, he continues: "But I can cook a little. Swimming's not a problem either. I learn quite fast too".
The man in front of him takes a solid sip from his glass, his other hand playing now with one of the loosened-up rings in the shape of a sheep's head.
"You know that it's not a cruise, right? Nothing easy, nothing simple, and surely nothing for those afraid of death... Get to think about it, you're still young enough to try somewhere else"
"No, sir-- I-- I do not care for it. I wouldn't ask if I didn't make up my mind already".
It seems like the place is packed and everyone is getting drunk at their own tables around them, but it takes only a swift of the man's hand and a figure appears next to him.
"Get him to me, right now" is muttered before another sip of wine.
The guy Atsushi just saw disappears in a crowd and he feels now observed even more.
"So you're the captain..?" Atsushi asks once their eyes meet, but before the redhead can answer another person is appearing out of nowhere behind the man's chair.
"What is it, Chu-uya?" the man sing-songs, sitting on the armrest of the chair.
Even more golden rings catch the light as he moves his hand with a bottle of rum in it.
"Do you have a new friend?" he smiles at Atsushi, dark brown eyes looking him up and down glistening with curiosity. "Not your type, really..." right after that he yelps in pain as the man called "Chuuya" hits him at the back of his head.
"A new recruit for you, you good-for-nothing jar of dirt" though he says it, right after that the man lazily moves his weight and half-lays on the other man, second hand playing with the red hair.
"Ah! A recruit! Your name, kid?".
"Atsushi, sir. Nakajima Atsushi".
The tall man smiles before taking a big gulp straight from the bottle.
"Well... Atsushi" he sighs, sliding his hand to the pocket and finding a small pouch. He takes out a golden coin and sends it flying toward him. Atsushi catches it, slightly confused.
He looks at both men before focusing on the taller one.
"Buy yourself something nice. A drink, a girl, a boy, whatever it is. Enjoy the night. We leave tomorrow".
"What he's trying to say... welcome onboard, Atsushi. "Arahabaki" welcomes you" he moves the glass of wine in a small toast towards the kid, a light smile dancing on his lips. "I'm second in command, Nakahara Chuuya. And this excuse of a man is your captain - Dazai Osamu".
Atsushi once at the bar, looking at the gold coin he got, doesn't see them. Doesn't see as they exchange a few words, doesn't hear the short conversation.
"It's just a damn kid, Dazai".
The bastard has the nerve to smile, his hand in Chuuya's hair slowing down, being more delicate, more... affectionate.
"He'll grow up" he shrugs, looking towards Atsushi. He already looks like a lost kid, quite small and thin in the crowd next to the bartender. "Like we did".
"Not sure if it's a good life for him then".
Dazai doesn't answer, taking another swing from his bottle.
"He'll be alright. Gonna teach him everything".
"Whatever you say, shitty captain".
Dazai laughs at that, the similar ruby nestled in one of his earrings as well dangles as he turns his head to look into blue eyes.
Not even the ocean could compare.
"/Your/ captain".