video; un: resolver

[gunmettle]

[ For a second it might seem like someone is holding a gun up to the camera, but then it pulls back a little to reveal that while, yes, there is a gun pointed at the camera, that gun has teeth, with a smoking cigarette clamped between them.

The gun also talks. ]

The name’s Juzo, and I’ve got an… odd request.

[ Juzo’s hand comes up into view to take the cigarette out of his mouth, holding it up for the camera. ]

These are a special brand from home, so I’m looking for someone who might know how to reverse-engineer ‘em and produce more. I’m not exactly rollin’ in money here since I just arrived, but I’ll find a way to repay the favor. Odd jobs are a specialty of mine.

And I don’t wanna hear any talk about how smoking is gonna kill me. Running out will kill me quicker.

[ That seems to be the end of it, with Juzo sticking the cigarette back between his teeth and exhaling a plume of smoke. Then, as an afterthought, he adds: ]

Before anyone jumps the gun, yes, this is my real head. No, I don’t wanna talk about it.

Comments

video | un: flamehero8

[devilsfootprints]

Heheh, "jumps the gun." Was that on purpose?

[gunmettle]

What do you mean?

[ Completely deadpan. Was it on purpose? The world may never know. ]

[devilsfootprints]

[Juzo's tone makes Shinra second-guess himself. Now he feels awkward.]

That pun. It was on purpose, right? 'Cause of your head.

[gunmettle]

Oh that.

[ A beat, as Juzo awkwardly scratches the side of his head a moment. ]

It just kinda came out. I always say things like that.

[ Weird how no one has drawn attention to it until now. ]

video; un:Rinea_378

[silvergarden]

Greetings, mister Juzo.

[Rinea has never seen a gun in her life, so she honestly has No Earthly Idea what this man's head is. Is it... armor? Maybe he has an armor helmet for a head??? Guess that explains his sensitivity... But the voice that came out of it is persony enough!]

My name is Rinea. I study alchemy here, which involves breaking down and recreating items from provided components. Um... while I have not studied cigars specifically, I have had success with creating other items from organic materials. So-- If you are interested, I would be happy to assist with your request...

[gunmettle]

Just Juzo is fine. If you have to call me "Mister", Mister Inui'll work.

[ Something in his tone seems to soften since he's speaking with a young lady. He's aware of just how scary he can come off as, and does his best to temper it a little. ]

Thanks for your offer. I dunno much about this magic stuff, but if you think you can do it, I'd be happy to take you up on that.

[silvergarden]

[Oh.. he's not so bad, is he? The distance through video is probably helping mediate the fright factor, but his will to curtail it is also pretty clear.]

Certainly! [On a personal level, the request sounds interesting; it's something to occupy her time, and helpful for someone else besides.]

Then-- whenever you have time, mister Inui-- please bring the items to this address; I have an outbuilding there in which to do my work.

[It takes a few moments-- her grasp on technology is not the greatest-- but Rinea privately sends him the address of her house, located in one of Camelot's quiet, tree-studded residential districts.]

I may not be able to recreate it right away, but we can at least determine your cigar's composition and plan for gathering the proper materials!

voice; un: rokumon

[garyoutensei]

Ever thought about taking up a pipe?

[ Surprisingly, for her, this was an earnest question. ]

[gunmettle]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it's not really about what I smoke with. The ingredients in these particular cigarettes are what I need.

[ Plus the cigarettes just make him look cool. ]

[garyoutensei]

True, but odds are you'll have to start rolling your own if you need a specialized ingredient. Pipes could save you some trouble.

[ And she'd argue pipes are way, way cooler. ]

text; un: tacobell

[itsjiaheng]

how are you gonna just
show up
with like
the coolest shit ever
and then be like
"nah don't wanna talk about it"
like
?????????
BRUH

[gunmettle]

[ There is a moment of consideration, Juzo blowing smoke at the camera. ]

'Cause I've already explained it a dozen times since I got here. Can't blame me for wanting a break, can you?

[itsjiaheng]

hmmmmm
i guess not
but
how about this
i have another question

if guns don't kill people
because people kill people
and you're both a gun
and a people
does that mean if you killed somebody
it doesn't count?

video; un: aubrey

[brutalizer]

How... HOW ARE YOU TALKING?!

[ she practically yells it, completely stupefied until that moment at the fact that a man with a gun for a head is talking! what the hell! ]

[gunmettle]

[The sudden volume surprises him, and he jerks the phone away. Hell. ]

I've got a mouth, don't I?

[brutalizer]

[ she's about to sputter out a scream again, but manages to swallow it down and try to collect herself. it... doesn't work, but at least her next words don't get shouted- ]

Yeah, but! How?! It's... it's not like a Halloween costume?

[gundhamster]

[Gundham's first instinct is to ask about the head. Having a gun for a head seems like it would be something of a difficulty. Still, the way he talks, Gundham can't help but sense something of a kindred spirit, especially in the way he talks about the cigarette.]

Given the way you speak about it, am I correct in assuming that it is not tobacco? If that is the case I would be willing to see what I could do considering I do have plant-based magic in this place.

[gunmettle]

That's right. [ A pause as he takes drag of his cigarette, smoke seeping through steel teeth. ] These contain sedatives for Extended like me, so my machine parts don't fry my nerves.

Not sure if they can be recreated solely with plants, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

[gundhamster]

Sedatives, hmm?

[Gundham goes quiet as he thinks for a moment.]

I realize this is not generally a subject that one would discuss with strangers, especially in a place such as this. However, if you feel comfortable in doing so, any information you can share about just how your body interfaces with such devices could help.

[This would likely be out of his realm of expertise. If only he had Mikan here to assist him, but he'd try to apply what he did know of biology here. He just couldn't turn a blind eye to someone that at first glance would seem as much an outcast as he imagined himself to be.]

video | un: arcturus

[theleadingman]

[Everything about this video is fascinating to Balthier, quite honestly, and he finds his inclination to respect the wishes of others to immediately be at war with his intense desire to absolutely talk about the fact that this gentleman's head is a firearm.

He's never seen anything like it. It is, truly, incredible, especially to someone with his particular interests.

For now, he manages to keep himself together and composed, as he so often does.]

If you haven't already found the assistance you need, I may be able to aid with that reverse-engineering problem of yours— being an engineer, myself. Also something of an alchemist, thanks to this place, which may be a boon in this particular situation.

[gunmettle]

I got a young lady named Rinea helpin' me out, but if the two of you wanna put your heads together, I won't say no. I'm a heavy smoker.

[ He probably single-handedly kept his favorite brand in business back home. ]

[theleadingman]

I'm curious— what is it about them that's so beneficial? Clearly, it's for more than recreational enjoyment.

[He half-expects Juzo not to answer, but he's always been the questioning sort. He can't not ask.]

That aside, if Rinea is interested in an extra pair of hands, I would be happy to offer mine.

text; un: smoking_bomb

[bakudan_bambino]

Is there anything else on your body besides your head that may not seem real?

[gunmettle]

What do you mean "real"? Like organic? 'Cause I'm more machine than man if that's what you wanna know.

[bakudan_bambino]

That is what I meant, yes. I guess the question is more… what other inorganic parts of you do you think most people would find astounding? Clearly your head is not up for discussion, and I’ve been through some light augmentation… so I’m just curious.