03-04-2018, 03:20 PM
Ainz was silently cursing himself for two reasons: first, because he'd allowed his identity-concealing armor to dissolve. Whether in Yggdrasil or in New World, spells of that sort couldn't just be casted once and then forgotten about, they had to be maintained, and that seemed to hold true in this case as well. And second, because he'd lost his temper at the african-american human that'd introduced himself as Drake. Thankfully his emotions were forced back and the subsequent calmness of his mind let him analyze the situation from a more logical viewpoint.
First of, the man called Crocodile. He seemed almost as clueless as Ainz was, but wasn't letting that get to his head. He seemed like someone who was used to being in control of things... maybe he had been a company manager or director before being brought here? Or a pirate ship captain if he went by his looks? Of course, he could be a player too, who went for that sort of style. He wasn't familiar with the clothing options for human characters, as he'd never played one... wasn't "crocodile" the name of an animal of some kind? He vaguely remembered something from an old trip with his school class to a zoo, but that was long past now. Blue Planet would have known, he was an animal enthusiast like that, but Ainz hadn't seen him for ages. Pity, it might have given him an edge knowing that sort of thing.
Second, the one called Drake who'd appeared more recently. This one, as infuriating and crude as he was, was... interesting. He said that he was a native, yet he'd shown no hint of understanding when Ainz had brought up his real name. In other words he was someone with some amount of knowledge about this world, and he'd never heard of Ainz Ooal Gown... so he had been brought to an entirely new world altogether, huh? Somewhere that was neither Yggdrasil nor New World. In his wonderment he brought his hand up to his pointed chin to think.
Hm?
His rings were gone?
Another wave of fear and anger rose in him and was promptly forced back. No, he couldn't have lost or stolen them, and they hadn't been made invisible either, he would've detected that. Had they not come along when he'd been brought to this world? Then why had he been allowed to keep his academic gown? Maybe that Omni creature hadn't wanted him to appear naked...
Back to the matter at hand. He needed more information. Reaching out as if to extend his hands in a greeting gesture to both Drake and Crocodile, he tried to put on a friendlier face. "I've a question for you two... are you 'players', by any chance?"
Drake's grin behind that stick he was smoking broadened, as did Crocodile's, but the other man was first to respond. "Well, I wouldn't call myself a player, but if you want to compliment me that way..."
Had Ainz had skin on his skull it would have formed a frown. That had to be some misstep, but he took it as a no. "Primes then?"
"You've just arrived, huh? Met the Omni-man, heard his little intro speech and all?"
"So have I", Crocodile pointed out. "Do you know more about it?" That question was directed at Drake.
"Maybe." He shrugged. "What's it to you, Captain Hook?"
"You're one to talk", Crocodile retaliated.
"Well, the Elderly Lich still trumps us both, doesn't he."
Ainz would have rolled his eyes if he had any. "It's Elder Lich. You can think of me as a skeleton, if you prefer."
Crocodile crossed his arms. The cigar between his teeth bounced up and down. "Did you eat a Devil Fruit or something?"
Drake interjected a question before Ainz could answer. "Does that mean you're a skeleton head to toe? All skin and bones, you don't even have a- damn man, that sucks. Well not literally, but you know."
"... yes. It'd make little sense to show you what's under my robe." Don't dredge that subject up anymore, man. I was just starting to get habituated to the thought that I'd remain a virgin forever. "But I was about to say, if you're native to this world, perhaps you could explain where we are? I can't speak for the both of us, but I imagine that Mr. Crocodile is as curious about this as I am."
First of, the man called Crocodile. He seemed almost as clueless as Ainz was, but wasn't letting that get to his head. He seemed like someone who was used to being in control of things... maybe he had been a company manager or director before being brought here? Or a pirate ship captain if he went by his looks? Of course, he could be a player too, who went for that sort of style. He wasn't familiar with the clothing options for human characters, as he'd never played one... wasn't "crocodile" the name of an animal of some kind? He vaguely remembered something from an old trip with his school class to a zoo, but that was long past now. Blue Planet would have known, he was an animal enthusiast like that, but Ainz hadn't seen him for ages. Pity, it might have given him an edge knowing that sort of thing.
Second, the one called Drake who'd appeared more recently. This one, as infuriating and crude as he was, was... interesting. He said that he was a native, yet he'd shown no hint of understanding when Ainz had brought up his real name. In other words he was someone with some amount of knowledge about this world, and he'd never heard of Ainz Ooal Gown... so he had been brought to an entirely new world altogether, huh? Somewhere that was neither Yggdrasil nor New World. In his wonderment he brought his hand up to his pointed chin to think.
Hm?
His rings were gone?
Another wave of fear and anger rose in him and was promptly forced back. No, he couldn't have lost or stolen them, and they hadn't been made invisible either, he would've detected that. Had they not come along when he'd been brought to this world? Then why had he been allowed to keep his academic gown? Maybe that Omni creature hadn't wanted him to appear naked...
Back to the matter at hand. He needed more information. Reaching out as if to extend his hands in a greeting gesture to both Drake and Crocodile, he tried to put on a friendlier face. "I've a question for you two... are you 'players', by any chance?"
Drake's grin behind that stick he was smoking broadened, as did Crocodile's, but the other man was first to respond. "Well, I wouldn't call myself a player, but if you want to compliment me that way..."
Had Ainz had skin on his skull it would have formed a frown. That had to be some misstep, but he took it as a no. "Primes then?"
"You've just arrived, huh? Met the Omni-man, heard his little intro speech and all?"
"So have I", Crocodile pointed out. "Do you know more about it?" That question was directed at Drake.
"Maybe." He shrugged. "What's it to you, Captain Hook?"
"You're one to talk", Crocodile retaliated.
"Well, the Elderly Lich still trumps us both, doesn't he."
Ainz would have rolled his eyes if he had any. "It's Elder Lich. You can think of me as a skeleton, if you prefer."
Crocodile crossed his arms. The cigar between his teeth bounced up and down. "Did you eat a Devil Fruit or something?"
Drake interjected a question before Ainz could answer. "Does that mean you're a skeleton head to toe? All skin and bones, you don't even have a- damn man, that sucks. Well not literally, but you know."
"... yes. It'd make little sense to show you what's under my robe." Don't dredge that subject up anymore, man. I was just starting to get habituated to the thought that I'd remain a virgin forever. "But I was about to say, if you're native to this world, perhaps you could explain where we are? I can't speak for the both of us, but I imagine that Mr. Crocodile is as curious about this as I am."