ooc; open log because as I've said before the minute someone asks I go "SURE!"

[justicereigns]

Where: The train ride
Who: Smoker, Tashigi and ANYONE/EVERYONE (feel free to jump in the Tashigi/Smoker thread or make your own)
Why: I'm a sucker for logs and guuhhh cute stuff resolution
What: Taking the train from St. Poplar to Water 7, Smoker dealing with Tashigi's SECRET motion sickness
When: Thursday COMING BACK.
Rating: G for sweet and cute unless someone amps it <3



Smoker checked in on the separate bedroom car he'd gotten his Ensign. It figures. She would have motion sickness. Good thing he'd never dragged her along on his bike. And at the minimum she didn't get seasick because if there was marine in this world who would, just to frustrate him further, it would wind up being her. "Hey little lady," he joked knowing how much she hated being called that. "Have a drink." He didn't tell her what was in it. A combination of what Michiko had suggested.

Comments

OOC: Whoa jeez, Black Friday was pretty crazy today @_@;;

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

The familiar scent of cigars entered the room, followed by the familiar rough voice it was associated with. Zenigata turned, smiling as he took his cigarette from his lips and saluted.

"Yes, Smoker sir! I believe a drink would be a good opportunity to get to know each other better." He said, flicking his ashes in a seashell ash tray before drawing another drag.

OOC: :O You went too?

[justicereigns]

"There's a bar further down the train. Recently repaired when one of the Straw-Hats messed up the kitchen. I wasn't sure if you'd rather see it for yourself or not," Smoker stated quite simply. "Or I can go get us some and bring them back."

OOC: Yeah, went to get Christmas gifts for my sister and my dad's birthday gift... really busy!

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

"I think I'd like to take a look." The Inspector replied, snubbing his cigarette into the seashell tray. "This is my first ride on a Sea Train, after all."

OOC: YAY!!! Sounds awesome XD! I still have... tons left to do but I got good deals!! \o/

[justicereigns]

"And probably your last," Smoker sighed, "It's the only one in the world and with luck the Lady Justice will be repaired soon so we'll be leaving. Enjoy it while you can."

Smoker stepped back into the hallways and let the way down the cars to the bar where he signaled the bartender and ordered a rum with a small motion that he'd be paying for whatever Zenigata ordered as well. "And something sweet and fruity for a girl who doesn't do so great on... trains. Whatever you think is good."

OOC: Aw, I'm sure there'll be sale again once christmas approaches =) Glad you got some deals today!

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

"I'll take a beer."

Zenigata glanced over at the commodore as he sat down. "I didn't know Miss Tashigi had motion sickness," He said. "I hope the ride isn't too rough on her."

OOC: Ah yeah I'm not worried, most of the stuff I have to get online though, they're picky

[justicereigns]

"Any particular brand?" Smoker shot a sidelong glance at the Inspector. "She doesn't." It was obvious to everyone around Tashigi she wasn't handling the train well even if she was usually find on ships aside from clumsiness that could blow up the moon but obvious or not Tashigi had insisted he keep it as secret as possible so that no one thought she was weak or took the opportunity to laugh at her for it. And while he doubted Zenigata would do either, Smoker wasn't about to take advantage of her trust. "That's just the kind of drinks she likes." Lord he was a terrible liar when he was trying to bluff to friends.

OOC: Aww Smoker being a big bro to Tashigi ;_;

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

Zenigata took his hat off, setting it down next to him on the bar. "What brands are there here?"

The inspector looked over at Smoker. "Oh, she doesn't? I wonder if she ate something that didn't agree with her..." He mused, watching the bartender prepare their drinks. "Has she ever been on the Sea Train before?"

OOC: :3 I love them too much

[justicereigns]

Smoker lazily just ordered his own typical brand, an East Blue lager.

"Just on the way over to St. Poplar," Smoker answered with a small sigh. Now that they were on their way back to Water 7 Tashigi was stuck with him despite her pleas to return alone on a nice safe but slow ship. "And she slept the whole way over." Smoker shifted on his stool. "Ah well, it's not like it will ever be a future concern.

OOC: You two bonding is too adorable gaaah <3

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

"Oh, thanks."

Zenigata reached into his jacket for his cigarettes. He usually only smoked to calm down (especially when Lupin was driving him up the wall), but he felt like one at the moment. He shook the pack and drew one out with his teeth, returning them to his jacket as he patted himself for his lighter. "So, you said that Nico Robin woman is a member of the Straw-Hats?" He asked, deciding to change the subject.

OOC: GUH THANK YOU *FLAILY BLUSHING*

[justicereigns]

Just barely avoiding a wince Smoker sighed, "She is, yes," he growled roughly. Dealing with Robin was a mess. Too many surprises recently. He passed a set of bounty notices for the rest of the Straw-Hat crew who had them so to avoid discussing the devil woman alone. "Straw-Hat Luffy is the captain. Roronoa Zoro is his swordsman, Black-Leg Sanji is his cook, Cat Burglar Nami is their navigator and so forth." The marine drummed his fingers on the table thinking to himself. "Not included in the posters yet is that leopard bastard Lucci, Grim-Reaper George Lass, Michiko -- she just recently got caught trying to steal a marine ship --" Smoker trailed off to roll his eyes. They were all brazen idiots. "Cheshire this creepy... cat... thing... You kind of just have to meet him to understand."

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

The inspector raised an eyebrow. "Wow, sounds like a colorful cast..." He said, clicking his lighter as he cupped his hand around his cigarette. He slid his lighter back into his back pocket as smoke curled from his lower lip. "What was that thing that she mentioned? About the court house that blew up?"

ooc: I keep envisioning Blueno as the train bartender, not a good sign

[justicereigns]

Smoker dragged a gloved palm down his face. In order to get from Water 7 to St. Polar or vice versa, they had to go right by Enies Lobby. A reminder of brass stupidity. "Inspector," Smoker frowned glancing at the bartender. This was not a good place to have that discussion. Although to be fair, no place was a good place to have that discussion. The tall commodore got up and wandered to a window looking outside. In the distance he could see the rubble of Enies Lobby coming here. He signaled the older man over and pointed at it.

"That." To hell with how much trouble he might get in for it, the Straw-Hats were Smoker's prey and his crew needed to know. "Remember that leopard bastard I just mentioned?" It was nearly impossible for Smoker to call him anything else. "He was member of a government organization that is no more. He and the other CP9 captured Nico Robin and brought her back to Enies Lobby. Through those gates is the walkway to Impel Down. Pirate prison. The Straw-Hats came to rescue Nico Robin, defeated CP9 and in the ensuing chaos, SOMEONE activated a buster call." Once one was activated, it didn't matter on what island. It didn't matter who called it in or why, that island would be destroyed. "And that rubble you see? That's what happens when a buster call is destroyed."

It didn't explain enough. Nothing about Nico Robin's island of Ohara, nothing about the incompetency of brass who allowed such idiocy. "Absolute justice," Smoker growled, flipping his own lighter open and lighting up a pair of twin cigars, "Is absolute." No take-backs, no mercy, and as far as he was concerned, not justice either. Not true justice, not real justice. But it wasn't something to be said in this place with certain people around. God damn politics.

OOC: Pffft, who would be the honky tonk piano player? XD *shot*

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

Zenigata stood up, walking to and then looking out the window that Smoker was pointing to.

It was an island, or what was left of one. Rubble was piling in several places, with a few structures that were just barely standing, but were either missing several chunks or were crumbling as the inspector watched. As the commodore explained the cause of the disaster, he felt his hands in his pockets ball into fists. He had his own brush with ludicrous politics, and they also ended in ugly ways. It especially angered him how innocent people got mixed up in the mess. While Lupin was a criminal, the real monsters were sometimes the ones above him.

As Smoker lit another pair of cigars, Zenigata pulled a drag from his cigarette, then blew a stream of smoke into the air. "Sometimes, I wish justice could mean the same thing to everyone." He replied grimly. "That it meant the bad guys lose and the people who need saving are saved."

OOC: Hattori. For the lulz \o/

[justicereigns]

Smoker glanced sidelong about to say something rather dangerous but since when did that stop him. "Unfortunately," he rumbled very softly, "Sometimes it means letting the so-called bad guys go free in order to save the people who need saving." Alabasta's events drifted to mind. In the case of Enies Lobby, who were the real bad guys? The Straw-Hats? CP9? For the most part it seemed as though stupidity reigned all around. "Marines who believe in absolute justice believe killing two hundred innocents, or even two thousand civilians is justifiable to stop even just one criminal. Maybe they think that criminal will kill more than just those two thousand if left to roam but tch." His voice ended in a long growl, showing exactly what he thought of that.

OOC: Pfffft. XDD

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

The rubble of Enies Lobby stuck out against the shimmering ocean. It seemed like it was abandoned; tossed into the ocean like a piece of trash. It felt lonely to the Inspector.

"Ending lives to save lives...?" He said quietly, the ash of his cigarette flaking onto the window pane. He looked over at Smoker, who was staring at the island like it was someone he had known for years. "When I was first assigned to the Lupin case, I made a promise to myself," He said, taking his cigarette and flicking it into an ash tray on the window pane that resembled a whale. "Even if it meant losing Lupin... I would never let myself hurt anyone innocent."

[justicereigns]

Smoker instantly clapped a large hand to the man's shoulder. "You're a good man Zenigata. I wish all marines thought the way you did." Smoker hadn't vocalized a similar promise with Straw-Hat, he'd just vowed to always follow true justice and never regret the consequences that followed. He hadn't intended to bring anyone with him when he left, not Tashigi, not even the rest of his men. But he was glad they'd come. A show of their loyalty both to him, her and to true justice. Robin asked him on more than one occasion why he'd stayed in the marines. The answer was simple really. No matter how many corrupted officials there were in the brass, for all the idiots and morons he absolutely despised, as long as he could teach true justice to more marines, he could keep going. And so could true justice.

OOC: Justice Bros. *fist pound*

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

Zenigata smiled back at Smoker. "We could use more men like you in ICPO." He replied. "I thought I was the only nut case when it came to justice."

Three clinks from the bar interrupted them. Zenigata looked over, then blinked. "Ah, our drinks are ready."

ooc: OSSU!

[justicereigns]

Walking back to the bar and taking a long drink of his rum Smoker chuckled softly. "Likewise to you in the marines. My nickname is the White Hunter here but they call me a wild hound every so often because supposedly I'm so uncontrollable." It was an insult and Smoker could still hear Crocodile's dry cracking laugh when he'd had Smoker caught in the prison meant for the Straw-Hat crew and had called him just that as well, but Smoker liked it. It fit him and he hated the idea that his bosses who didn't understand true justice could control him.

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

The inspector followed him back to the bar, sitting down to take a swig of the beer placed in front of him. "ICPO doesn't have a nickname for me, or one that I'm aware of anyway, but Lupin does. He calls me 'Pops', because of my age probably." He said, gritting his teeth. He hated being reminded of his age, especially when Lupin uses it as a taunt.

[justicereigns]

"Pops huh?" Smoker mused over his drink, "That's what Whitebeard pirates call their captain. Idiots." He rested his head in his hand. "Straw-Hat just calls me 'That Smokey guy' I'm not sure if it's because he doesn't remember me fully or what. Only other person who calls me Smokey is my 'niece.'" Airquotes were visually included both times. "You got any family?"

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

"I did."

Zenigata set his mug down. It has been a while since he enjoyed a glass of beer, but this ale was a refreshing brew. However, the subject matter was something that made him feel uncomfortable, not to mention guilty. "When I was still in the Tokyo police department I got married to a really pretty girl, Keiko. She was the daughter of the chief and he introduced her to me at a Christmas party. We have a daughter together, her name's Toshiko. She takes after her mother mostly, but she really looked up to me. When I had to work late, I'd come home and she'd be asleep on the couch waiting for me, so I'd have to carry her to bed." He chuckled a little, recalling holding the dozing young girl in his arms as he stepped over the toys in her room to tuck her in.

[justicereigns]

"Hn, job's not an easy one," Smoker grunted with a short nod. Until Karen he hadn't had a very steady relationship because there wasn't much point when all he wanted to do was roam the seas hunting down pirates. Even Tashigi who'd been with him for years now found it rough sometimes that his time was so monopolized by work. It was the very reason Daddy the Father had taken an early retirement, preferring to bounty hunt instead so long as he got to be there for Carol. "She sounds cute," Smoker added softly.

"How long have you been chasing Lupin?"

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

Zenigata smiled. "She was... Hard to believe now she just got out of college. She's trying to become a defense attorney." He said, taking another swig. Even though he kept in touch with his daughter, he felt he was still far away from her. He wished it could have worked out be tween him and her mother, but wishing was much more different than actually making it work.

He groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Christ, it feels like decades..." He said, looking out towards the window they were at previously. "Toshiko had just started grade school when I was transferred to ICPO. I had longer hours but I still got to be with Keiko and her, that is until I was assigned to the Lupin case. I had to do a lot of traveling and my time with them became fewer, and eventually I barely couldn't go home at all. Going after that French prick took a lot out of me, and it effected my family... Eventually, Kekio called me and told me she was at a hotel with Toshiko. She didn't want to wait for me anymore, and a week later she sent me some paperwork to sign."

[justicereigns]

"Ouch..." Smoker winced, empathizing. How long was he going to chase Straw-Hat? He'd planned until the end of the world if need be but if that took ten or twenty more years how much would he really last? Would he too turn into one of the old fogeys in the brass he hated so much? Sacrificing everything. It had been difficult to even see Karen much of the last month, how much more strain would be added? Or even could be added before something broke. "All for justice," Smoker added grimly. What were personal wants compared with that? He sighed. Good soldiers like Tashigi and Zenigata suffered while bastards like Lupin and Blackbeard kept right on smiling. He ran a hand through his hair.

Even if he never officially caught Straw-Hat; the kid had an endless supply of family and allies and so it seemed energy as well, then at least Smoker knew he was still making the world a better place through the chase. And he had no doubts Zenigata was the same way. "I guess you should probably think of this whole thing as an extended vacation. A chance to recharge batteries before that obnoxious prick does show up."

[zenigata-icpo.livejournal.com]

The inspector looked over, smiling a tired smile. "I can't remember the last time I've been on a train to relax... I took them hundreds of times before for work, but I usually spent my time grumbling like a bear over how much of a pain in the ass Lupin is and figuring out how to jail the French bastard." He laughed a little. It had been a long time since he had someone to drink with, but it felt like he knew the smoking commodore for ages.