One Piece: Voyage Two

[Aerozord]

With everything settled they docked the ship. The town was booming, that status of the pirate protecting this city must be great as it was clearly a very tempting target. Amidst all the smiling faces was one face more serious. Easily eight feet tall, dark skin, and strong build. Looking around at the crew he took out a clipboard and pencil.

"Name and affiliation? Intended length of your stay?"

[Jagos]

"Sniper Pirates" thought Gunther. He didn't like Rugner coming with him but remained silent since he couldn't predict the loose cannon of the ship.

[mauve]

Affiliation? pondered Mikhail. Is he asking if we're pirates, or have we walked into some kind of turf war we don't know about?

He kept his mouth shut, figuring he aught to let Dorian field this question. At least if the captain said the wrong thing, it wouldn't be Mik's fault.

Mik was loyal and brave!

[krogothwolf]

"We be the Red Band Pirates! and I, I am Rugner the Bold!" Rugner proclaimed while striking a dramatic pose, "We be lookin for supplies to continue on our journey so no more then a day or two I would guess."

He was grinning proudly about what he did. He thought he handled himself well.

[Aerozord]

The man wrote something down and looked over the crew. "Shops are straight down this road. If you are suspected of any crime in the area you are not to resist arrest, doing so will result in you being targetted by the Caustic Pirates, who you might be aware is captained by one of the seven warlords. Docking fee is 1000 beri with 500 for each day. Log Pose resets after three days, have a nice day"

He ends the usual greeting and calmly walks away from them. "Oh and do not go near the cove, pirates" clearly spitting out the word 'pirate'

[Menarker]

Cyrano mentally added up the docking fee and looked toward the captain.

"If we want to continue on our journey, you'll need to save 2500 beri for 3 days docking fee to get the Log Pose set."

Cyrano's hand was held out greedily as he said this, expecting his cut of the treasure now so he could amuse himself in town.

[Premmy]

"Sniper Pirates" thought Gunther. He didn't like Rugner coming with him but remained silent since he couldn't predict the loose cannon of the ship.

A Shadow fell over Gunther's head. Shortly thereafter Captain Dorian Came plummeting down from the heavens,Swinging a hand down on the young man's skull

"THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YA, BOY!? WE'RE THE RED BAND PIRATES AND WE-"
He stopped to adjust his bandanna with two quick tugs

" Will be doing as we amn-well please for as long as we're here, Warlord or no!"
with that he clomped off to find some unsuspecting young ladies.

[Jagos]

Ah! Cap'n That hurt! Gunther had to wonder...

How the hell did he know what he was thinking?
Screw it, I need some specific wood and leather for a new invention

Gunther looked to Rugner. Can you at least behave for half the time that we're in town? The part where we don't have to run away from anything? I really don't want to tempt Mr. Winner again...

[mauve]

"I don't think it's humanly possible for him," Mikhail said flatly. "Sad, really. But I suppose we mustn't mock the afflicted." He shuffled his deck of cards, cutting it and displaying a jack of diamonds. He grinned and stuck the deck in his front jacket pocket, lucky card facing outwards like a medal of honor.

"Well!" He said, rubbing his hands together. "I'm off to a good start. I'll join you all, but the moment I see an opportunity to win some money off some poor sap, don't expect me to wait around for you to follow me. You're of course welcome to tag along, though." He looked out over the town. A casino, a boxing ring, a race track, anything would do. He'd worked the system enough times to know how to squeeze money out of all of them.

[Aerozord]

(sorry guys, internet died, back now)

Those that stayed on the boat had plenty of time to be bored out of their minds. That is, however, until the sun started to set. On the horizon they could just barely make out a small group of people heading towards the cove.

Meanwhile in town the place was alive and well. People drinking merrily in the tavern. Telling stories of their adventures so far. Mention of what sound like tall tales, of course you were almost eaten by an island. This tavern was also a one stop shop for travelers. Carrying a variety of, rather expensive, Eternal-poses and other naviagitional gear.

The casino was having a run of bad luck. Mikhail's supernaturally infused charm making quick work of the place. A man approached him with a small box. "Here at the Lucky Jackel we take care of our high rollers, please accept this gift" offering the pirate a ring

[Overcast]

Below decks there had been much pounding, churning, drying and baking. All unusually audible, especially the drying. At first the pull of the dessert had brought Vind to make a small batch of choux dough to perhaps use for little churros or something simple like that...but as time went on he began to spiral out of control. Soon each choux was filled with cream, they were being dipped in chocolate, in nuts, in caramel, they were being baked and stacked and strung together with more caramel. It grew into a large delight that was by all technical terms a cake, a pleasing image. A croquembouche. It was really so spur of the moment that when he forced it on the platter out the doorway he was keen to place it where everyone could see it, covered in flowers for decoration and smelling wonderfully sweet. A present for his shipmates that he had to resist picking at before they arrived.

He was captivated, it was his weakness sweets. Really he would blame his proficiency and addiction on his old master for loving the things as well. Now he was a sugar creep, and damn was he good at making them. He didn't exactly know how much he wasted in making the feast of sweets, but until he was making an actual meal he wouldn't even be halfway aware. He hadn't even been aware of the group heading into the cove, caught in the beauty of his creation.

[mauve]

Mikhail was in his happy place. As he expected, he was making a killing that night and having a hell of a good time doing so. He worked the table like a professional con artist, purposefully losing just enough hands to draw suspicion away from his victories. He even added a major loss of several hundred beri in one fell stroke, just to add to the drama. He knew he'd just win it all back, and nothing kept players at a table like seeing a man lose everything only to sit back down and be willing to lose even more. Of course, buying a round of drinks for his fellow players probably helped too.

He was even kind enough to share some of his luck with any of his crewmates who tagged along, either via a handshake to pass on his fortune or by planting a lucky card in their pocket. The rest of his own personal deck he kept hidden-- he didn't want anyone to think he'd been substituting cards in his hand with those in his pocket. He prided himself on his ability to cheat without having to stoop to such petty tricks.

"Oh, this surprises me as much as it does you, my friend," he laughed, bashfully revealing his winning hand. "Last time I played this game I lost everything, down to the very shoes I was wearing! I've been stuck wearing hand-me-downs for the past month!" He moved a foot out from under the table, revealing the worn boots he was forced to wear after a certain glue incident. "Suppose I'll finally be able to replace these now!"

Most of the spectators laughed, and a handful of the other players scowled. They were determined to win back their money from this loudmouthed idiot.

A hand gripped Mikhail's shoulder, and for a moment he almost panicked. Part of him always feared the moment when someone discovered his secret. It had happened to him before. It wasn't fun. But apparently this was not that moment. One of the casino employees congratulated him on his victory, offering a ring as a prize. Mikhail relaxed.

"Oh, that's indeed generous!" he said with a grin. Truth be told he was a bit wary of the gesture of apparent goodwill, but he didn't want to attract suspicion by refusing. "Eh, normally I try to keep my accessory count at a minimum," he said, tugging at the red bandana at his neck for emphasis, "but I think I can make an exception for such an honor, eh?"

He carefully took the ring, trying not to look as nervous under the employee's scrutiny as he felt. He weighed it in his hand. He supposed he could always pawn it, or play the role of mysterious gentleman and gallantly offer it to one of the more attractive female patrons on his way out. Otherwise, he'd take it back to the ship and brag about how awesome he was to the rest of the crew. He didn't see THEM winning rings.

He put the ring on.

"Classy, no?" he asked, showing it off to the rest of the table. Welp, back to winning!

[Menarker]

Cyrano strolled the streets with a jovial grin, which probably scared the more weakhearted souls with rows of jagged teeth, his share of the loot jealously guarded as the fishman let his mind explode with all the delights that his imagination could muster...

First, something delicious. None of that cabin food crap every day. He wanted a smattering of sliced grilled potatos, sprawling with melted cheese, butter and spices. Steak cooked warm but bloody juicy with tons of sizzled fat still attached to the meat that would practically burst in between his teeth and practically melt as it slid down his gullet. Invigoriatingly warm peach cobbler with the freshest fruit, glaze of caramel permeting the softest muffin bread base. Spiced apple cider to go with the entire feast... an orgy of sensation!

^_____^

Afterwards, he would peruse the weapon shop before checking for entertainment. He wasn't exactly after companionship of females, humans, fishmen, merfolk or otherwise... but it would make him grin broadly, preferably while watching performers or playing a game of some sort...

Hedonism, pleasure and sensation be praised!

[krogothwolf]

Rugner was drunk, it was shore leave and he had made a special fact to visit a tavern. He didn't think he would stay as long as he did, but the Ale had a good flavour to it for him, so he drank some more. After he figured he had a bit to much he finally exited the place, with a slight lurch to his steps he made his way to the Casino. He knew Mikhail would be there and he also figured he'd be winning significantly.

He noticed Cyrano walking around, he waved at the man! Though he noticed that he still had a mug glued to his hand. He always forgot about that when he got drunk, he hoped no one had noticed him do that. He pulled it off his hand and placed it down.

"Cyrano!!!!" He yelled, "Howz itz goin?"

He then stumbled before righting himself.

"Yous got to come to this tavy uh, tavern." He then waved in a direction of the place, swaying slightly as he did. "The beer, itz, uh, tassty."

[Menarker]

Cyrano peered at the stumbling Rugner with a slight tinge of disgrace as the clout could barely hold the content of liquor inside him without making a scene.

"It must be, since you had more than your fill of it. But I'll pass. Bein' plastered would ruin an entire evening's worth of finer entertainment that I have in mind."

[Aerozord]

Mikhail found his luck taking a sudden turn for the worse, as he began losing with the best of them. The manager approached him again, obvious suspicion on his face. "Seems your luck had taken a sudden turn, to bad. And right after you got our high roller ring. Incidently I hope you like it" the man's gaze narrowed "its real sea prism stone"

Cyrano saw another drunk walking towards him. A soldier judging by the uniform. "W-what are you doing up here fishy fishman. You know you aren't allowed out of the mine." Pulling out his rifle. "Gonna have to ask you to go back quietly"

[Jagos]

Gunther had just gotten away from getting a steal on a few tools he'd needed. He decided to go where the most excitement was, knowing that Mikhail would try his luck. As he stepped in the door, he saw Cyrano out of the corner of his eye with holding a gun out to him. Rugner stumbled close by and overall the scene hadn't escaped the notice of the patrons closest to everyone.

Quietly, Gunther lit a firecracker while he walked, shuffling it under one of the tables and walking casually. The wick was smokeless as he ambled along to talk to Cyrano.
Cyrano! There you are!

[mauve]

"...oh." Mikhail said weakly. He moved his hands under the table, trying to pull the ring off. "Is that so? Well... um... That's an interesting thing to make jewelry out of..."

Oh no oh no oh no everything was falling apart oh no oh no they knew oh no. He had to rebound, and fast. He had to get out of this alive. Change of tactics!

"Wait..." he said, raising his hand as though just remembering something. "Isn't that the stuff that negates devil fruit powers?" He stood up, crossing his arms.

"Are you accusing me of being a fruit user?!" his voice rose. "Are you, sir, accusing me of cheating?!? This is an outrage!"

He slammed his hand of cards down on the table.

"Is this how the Lucky Jackal treats its patrons?? By rigging their tables to bring losses to anyone who wins too much? And then setting them up to look like devil fruit users as soon as their luck changes?? That... That's just low!"

He pulled the ring off his finger and hurled it at the employee.

"Take that!" he said dramatically. "I am deeply and truly offended. I am leaving, and I suggest my fellow patrons do the same before this hell-hole tries the same stunt on them."

Exit: stage left. Mikhail made an angry march to the door, where he ran into some familiar faces.

"Oh, hello Cyrano, Gunther, Drunk Rugner....aaaaand intoxicated gun-weilding military gentleman." He casually patted Cyrano and Gunther on the shoulder, noting with some worry that the casino employee was getting closer.

"We need to leave. Now," he whispered. "This place is rigged with sea stone. Help me."

[krogothwolf]

"Now hold on there myz good frund." Rugner mumbled as he looked at the guy with the gun, "This here shark guy fisssh man is a mumber of the rung bung pirates! wait, I mean the Red Bead Pirates...uhh...yeah!"

He then stumbled foward bumping the guy and grabing the front of the gun to right himself, though clogging it with some glue.

"Sorry mate, I didn mean to do that!" Rugnar said smiling drunkingly, "But this guyy be our buddy, not a mminnner."

[Jagos]

Oh crap... Gunther must have put in the extra long wick by accident. And Rugnar gave him an idea.
Oh crap, he's drunk again. Come on, my good man, help me get the poor guy home. He's delirious. Gunther went to get one shoulder propped under Rugner, hoping Mikhail went to get the other one. Play drunk when you get over here. he whispered to Mikhail before going to Rugnar.

Blow up you damn flamer, hurry up...

Gunther's knees began to quake as he went to get Rugnar and tried to hobble towards the exit.

[Menarker]

Cyrano merely nodded and turned to walk with his partners with his massive blade held behind his back, as if a very passive silent warning to the soldier as well as a protection from being shot in the back via the thick metal blade. His allies timely arrival was perfect. Given how the soldier and seemingly the entire island was prejudiced against Fishmen and presumably Merfolks, any sort of persuasion or backtalk was sure to fail. So he let the others take command while seeming to behave subserviently for the sake of appearances. Violence would only amplify the situation. They still had to last 2 more days on the island after all... Sometimes, it's best to say nothing and do nothing.

[phil_]

Carapi lounged against the deck railing, admiring the mound of sweets Vind had created. Chewing a biscuit, he disinterestedly made an attempt at conversation with the only other person on deck. "Do you ever get the feeling that the other guys are out there, getting in trouble and dealing with mistaken identity crap?" He took a big bite of his snack. "I just get that feeling whenever most of'em are out of sight, you know?"

[krogothwolf]

"But Gunther friend buddy." Rugner slurred out, "We really out to be nice to this poor man, he obviously doesn't know the difference between a slave and a valued crew man."

He hiccuped the burped.

"Isn't that right mr gunman." He said as he looked over his shoulder. "We should go to that tavern over there when you're off shift, not like, you uh, uh...don't drink when on duty, uh, we can drink more off duty!"

He then waved his arm in the air as he pitched forward slightly.

"Oops, I forgot my balance on the ship." He said as he grinned sheepishly at Gunther before winking, letting him know he wasn't as drunk as he was letting on. Though, he was still drunk.

[Overcast]

Vind chewed on a piece himself since they had already decided to dig into the mass of masterpiece,

"Nope, but if they aren't already I can bet they are falling exactly into that. Only cause you said it though. That is exactly the way the world works."

And just for the the hell of it he took a breath and yelled out for everyone to hear,

"KNOCK IT OFF!"

[Aerozord]

The commotion began to draw attention. Though it wasn't purely them that was the cause. A man crashed through a few crates, his body bleeding, just barely conscious as he tried to stand up. The large man that registered you at the dock walking in from the direction the injured man flew from. "Co-operate, we know you were at the cove, just tell us who your accomplices were and your sentence will be light."

"Captain Armguard!" the drunkard yelled "This fishman escaped from the c-" smack, he was sent flying by his captain, unconscious in and instant. "Fool, cant even tell a pirate from a slave. I am sorry for the"

"Stop them, that man cheated the casino!" Another interupted, pointing to Mikhail. "but it seems there are other reasons for us to take you in for suspicion." Cracking his knuckles as his men begin surrounding the area. Leaving no room for escape "you will all be taken into custody"

[krogothwolf]

"But But ociffer!" Rugner said as he again started to stumble forward, bumping into the captain, "We don't even know what this there cove is, and you saw the fishy guy come off wifve us."

He grabbed the man's shirt and pulled himself up and drunkenly smiled at him.

"Honest, We're innocent!" He then delivered a massive headbutt to bride of the Captain's nose before kneeing him, not once, not twice, but three times right into his crotch followed by a punch into his throat.

He shrugged and looked around. "No one said I had to fight fair." He said before gluing the Captains clothes and tossing him into a group of 3 soldiers that were blocking the path to the ship.

"We should head to the ship for reinforcements!" Rugner told the others as he started fire Glue Bullets at those coming at them.

[Jagos]

Dammit, I didn't want a fight today, Gunther thought as he began to move out of Rugner's way. It wasn't the right time for Mr. Lucky so he pulled out his trusty rifle and aimed for that damned firework that didn't want to explode. Stupid thing...

Okay, time to get out of here! Not enough room in the casino! Gunther took a few chips off of a roulette table in the ensuing chaos, heading for the door and firing a few shots to let his comrades get through the soldiers.

He already had a plan to cash in the chips as he thought what could possibly be in the cove that mermen weren't allowed...

[mauve]

"Running sounds like a fine idea to me," Mikhail said, somewhat weakly. Now that his fear of being discovered was wearing off, he could feel the effects of the ring more clearly. Eeuugh. He hadn't kept it on for very long, but it still managed to leave him a feeling of lingering weakness and nausea as a goodbye present.

"For the record, I officially hate this stupid island," he declared, throwing a punch at the nearest enemy's face.

[Aerozord]

"Devil Fruit users eh?" said a calm voice. The captain got up, seemingly unphased both by the attack, and the fact three men were glued to him. With a single gesture he ripped off his shirt, freeing his men. "This as as good as an admition of guilt. Men you are now authorized to use lethal force if they continue to resist." Then he walked over to a near-by building and delivered a swift kick to it. The wall shattered and sent a cascade of stone shards towards the crew

[mauve]

Mikhail leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding the shower of debris the captain sent after them. Hm. Maybe his powers were starting to return? Pah. He didn't know; he still felt terrible and he didn't want to stick around and find out first-hand.

"Lethal force?" he echoed, ducking behind Cyrano for cover. "I get the feeling we're not much liked in this town. Can't imagine why."

He cast a glance in the direxction of the docks. With Rugnar drunk and himself left nauseous and without his powers, things didn't look good. Sure, Gunther and Cyrano were more than capable of taking out enough men to escape, but that still left the drunk and the gambler to either be dead weight to lug around, or left to fend for themselves, neither of which sounded particularly appealing.

If they could get a distraction, maybe they could make a run for the ship...? If only Gunther's grenade had gone off properly! And now Mik couldn't even use his powers to encourage it to detonate.

"Why does this keep happening to me....?" he grumbled. He turned to Gunther. "Uh, Gunther... I don't suppose Mr. Winner has anything to say about this?"

[krogothwolf]

"Gahahahaha" Rugner laughed as he was enjoying himself swaying somewhat. and stumbling over the debries. "This is awesome!"

he created a Gaint Glue bomb and held it over his head.

"Heads up." He then tossed it, forcing it to explode in front of the Captain sending chunks of glue everywhere. "Come on guys! Let's show them how the Red Band Pirates really fight!"

He then started firing Glue Bullets randomly about as he followed Gunther.

[Menarker]

"Uggh... This evening could not have gone any worse. I didn't even do anything to deserve this."

The sharkman heft the blade from behind him, and leapt powerfully from his standing point, bringing his sword down against a building wall and bouncing off as the portion of the structure rained down against those caught in the globs of glue, attaching them to the heavy obstructions. His spinning form bounced erractically from building to building, causing considerable property damage and raining debris as he aimed from foe to foe, each blow an attempt to at being a slicing bludgeoning force against their shoulder, chest and occasionally crushing a skull...

"We'd better get back to the ship. We need to warn the others that we are not welcome in this town. We need to find another place to dock this ship, even if its not near town."

[Jagos]

Gunther flattened himself against the floor in a mad race against the shards. The tip of a shard just barely knicked his chest as he muttered praise for Mikhail's luck slowly returning.

Gunther looked at Mikhail as he got up.
I want to live to see tomorrow. Closed place like this, do you really think the type of explosion Mr. Winner can do will stay in just this area? He aimed and took down a pistol holder's hand as they got to the door. He pulled out a wrench, slugging it into a rogue pirate that almost touched Mikhail. Maybe when we're leaving and we need some cover, I can do it, but as long as we're in town, it's rifle time. A quick reload as bullets whizzed by his head and Mikhail was leaving for the ship.

Gunther didn't want to kill the town but if all else failed, he knew what he had to do.

Note to self, he thought. We get out of this, I'm getting a faster loading weapon for fighting with. Sorry Mr. Winner but you are too touchy sometimes.

As glue began to harden, Gunther checked back on everyone else.
We get out of this alive, Mikhail is buying the rum!

[mauve]

"What?!? I'M buying?!?" Mikhail cried angrily, "Why me? It's not MY fault this happened!"

The incriminating silence from his crewmates forced him to reconsider.

"Well, not COMPLETELY my fault, anyway."

That was Mik's story and he was stickin' to it!

"We have to get back to the ship," Mikhail heard Cyrano say. Seeing that the fishman had a sword, Mik felt no urge to argue even if he hadn't agreed.

"I couldn't agree more," Mik said. He turned to Rugnar, who seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. Pfft. "Oy, Drunkard! You ready to go?" He yelped, dodging a glue ball. "Remember who's on your side, will you?!?"

[Aerozord]

Shots are fired and swords clank. For every man you take down two more come out to hem you in. Suddenly something tips the balance of power. A tidal wave of... bubbles wash over the area. Immediately obscuring everyone's sight. Within that sea of white you see a man with blond hair and tri-quarter hat. His cloak seemingly melting into the foam as he carries the man the militia captain was originally chasing. Trading your group a single glance he pointed, and the bubbles cleared forming an obvious open path. Then disappeared into the smoke screen.