justicereigns | [Audio]

Rhum? Yeah. I've never heard of the brand...

[Pardon Lupin if he doesn't stand. Pardon him more if he more than takes advantage of the free view, thoroughly impressed with the Malnosso's handiwork this time around. He'd like to comment, but he figures that 'damn, you're hot!' will only earn him a sharp kick and the open possibility of breaking his healing ribs again.

--no. focus. He didn't ask for drinks just to stare. They both have some kind of physical damage--maybe a mutual assessment was in order. But first:]

Uh, Cap'? Aren't you cold in that?

[Yes, that would get him kicked. In the face, even if Smoker doesn't know where Lupin's hurt. His face is annoying.]

No. [Pours himself a drink. What are manners? Actually for Smoker, this is polite, since he'd usually drink straight from the bottle.] I still have my devil fruit so cold and heat don't affect me much. [Drinks his rum and sighs happily, grabbing a seat.] All right, talk you. [Treating Lupin like a prisoner. Or an informant. Maybe some cross of both.]

[No worries about politeness--Lupin is imitating the man who's nickname is 'the Lounge King' after all. He kicks his feet off the table and sits properly, pouring himself a glass of the Rhum as he speaks.]

That's a pretty handy trick then--too bad it's not easy to replicate, devil fruit and all. [He takes a sip and smiles briefly--it was really damn good rum!]

...but, that's not why I wanted to talk really. It was partly to warn you that the idiot Tony Stark recently had a bunch of people in the tunnels under the excuse to train. The reality? Trained military personelle and rough kids brawling.

[He glances away, taking another sip.] I got pissed off and cocky, so I joined in too. It..well. It was a mess. You might have a bunch of students coming in this time around. Just give it a few weeks, because we all smacked eachother around.

[Smoker doesn't even notice; that's how his posture usually is at his desk. Boots on the table or desk, and leaning back in the chair reading the paper.]

Impossible to replicate. [Try to take his devil fruit and he'll kill you. Not that Lupin would want it.]

I see... should I thank him then? [Arches an eyebrow. He's hardly Tony Stark's biggest fan, but Smoker doesn't exactly have a problem with a fight club in existence. If a bunch of idiots want to get together to beat each silly, more power to them. He's all for criminals killing each other. Even if Tony professes to be a superhero.] Tsk. How many people got hurt? Is Ginia -- [Pauses, it's Alice now, but Smoker doesn't know if Lupin knows her enough for that.] -- aware of what happened?

[He gives a half-hearted, stiff shrug in responce.] Your choice. I was just informing you of something recent that could effect you. There were...what, twenty of us? This includes people like Daisy and Firo--yeah people got hurt.

...And Ginia should know about what happened down there, Cap'. [Don't think he didn't catch that pause. Was something up? He'd only met Alice once, and even then it was more of a snowball fight with random flirting than actual conversation. Was something up?] Her new housemate, a New Feather called Adele Leblanc, was down there patching people up.

Twenty??

Well, it sounds supervised at least. [If the doctor you're complaining is too bossy was down there, it couldn't be too bad, could it?]

I guess people got cooped up here. No Shift to distract them?

No shifts; just snow. [Unfortunately, they're in the middle of one now--Lupin just doesn't realize it yet.] You could say that restlessness was the cause...but it might also just have been people wanting to punch Tonton. Which, unfortunately, only some Japanese guy did. I hear he won a dislocated shoulder from his own game.

Tonton? Which Japanese guy?

[The names have him lost.]

Tony Stark. Bastard called me 'loopy' and said it was a nickname; Tonton was my revenge.

...and I think the guy's name was Kaburagi Kotetsu. I think. [Japanese name order right there, Smoker. Sorry. The thief has spent considerable amount of time in that country, and old habits die hard.]

[That's okay. While Smoker has only one name, plenty of others in his world use the Japanese order; Monkey D. Luffy, Portgas D. Ace, Roronoa Zoro, and so forth.]

Tonton. [Stares at. THIS IS completely ineffectual as a female. Since he has giant eyes and not so much a piercing/withering glare of doom. It just looks kind of moe all told.] Sounds like he got the better of you.

Hm... Kaburagi. I'll have to keep that in mind then. People really despise Tony Stark that much then?

[He doesn't blame them, but fighting each other just to get a chance to punch the man seems ridiculous.]

[discreetly. looking. away. from. MOE.]

...He's a fratboy with a big gun. What's there to like?

[Awesome. Now Smoker thinks it totally worked. See? He IS still terrifying as a woman damn it! And he has to hide a grin at being able to make Lupin look away from his withering gaze of terror. If only he knew the real reason...]

Fratboy? [Unfamiliar with this term.]

He has the mentality of a cocky young guy who parties and carouses way too much, with the overinflated ego of a man who has everything and none of the tact.

[he hasn't thought that he's also describing himself once he gets really rolling.

He downs another swig of rum and returns his gaze to the undeniable moe that is the Marine.]

...you're not going to kill me if I tell you something honest but useful, will you?

Yeah, well too many people here are like that. [Waves a hand. But seriously, have you met Jack Sparrow? Because clearly that is who just described. Only nicer because you left out scurvy and fleas.]

What? Why would I kill you for that?

[He probably will Lupin, he probably will. Tread carefully.]

[He has met Jack. They got drunk on wassail and destroyed a pillory--all this, after bonding over hunting down Sith Turkeys.

Lupin cracks a smile, but braces himself all the same. The Marine who only thought she was big and scary wasn't going to take this lightly.]

You...kinda don't have the same oomph that you did back in December. It's your...uh, size and ...'assets' really. They...

[Pause.]

Dammit, Cap', you're pretty hot and you'll want to cover yourself better if you want every straight man in the vicinity to not oogle and take you seriously!

[Opens his mouth at not having the same "oomph" as he does as a man -- Ikki said the same thing, but didn't that just prove Lupin was sexist? Women are fucking dangerous too! There's no difference in terms of overall strength just because of size and -- wait. WAIT. WHAT? So Smoker promptly chomps down on the cigars and growls furiously.]

FOR YOUR INFORMATION--!

[AND THEN BLUSHES BRIGHT RED. He doesn't want to zip up just because Lupin's a pervert, BUT EW. So he attempts another withering glare and growling tone; which is just as damn ineffectual as before for all the reasons Lupin said and more.] You're not my type.

[AND THEN EVEN MORE RED BECAUSE WHAT THE HELL. He meant it to be insulting but that sort of implies he has a type and FUCK HIS LIFE. And so, despite the refusal to let the Malnosso "win," Smoker zips his jacket right up. And turns around with his arms folded across his chest.] Women are more than just their bodies. Prat. [You know what? He's going to back-kick Lupin's knees for that like a mule. Don't tell him it's only a third the strength of his usual rib-crushing kicks.] Keep your eyes on business!

Cap?! You--I--!

[he doesn't get words out before Smoker kicks his knees, the sudden jolt has him hissing as he exhales. He pushes the chair away, hoping that the distance and the Marine's shortened reach will keep him relatively safe from further mayhem.]

I didn't mean like that--I-- [pout] I know women are more than their bodies!

[case in point: Fujiko. Daisy.]

I was trying to let you know that you were distracting, is all.

THEN STOP BEING DISTRACTED!

What kind of a man are you?! You can't think as long as a woman is half naked in front of you?

[TO BE FAIR TO LUPIN, most men would have this problem. Especially with the Valentine's event going on. Smoker just prides himself on justice first, sex later. Even if it's more like smokes first, justice just barely under that then everything else... point is. He wasn't distracted by Boa Hancock's sex appeal, so surely Lupin should be able to avoid being distracted by Smoker's newfound... whateverness. Boobs. Clearly not sex appeal, because he's sure it can't be as bad as all that.] Just drink your drink.

How badly were you hurt anyway? By the brawl in the tunnels I mean. [Not that he cares.]

[he OBEYS. It's mostly to save some of his pride in the eyes of Smoker rather than genuine fear, but he downs the rest of his tumbler as a means of quelling his protest. It could have been worse for Smoker. Much worse.

They could have not even gotten very far in their conversation. Lupin could have broken out into reckless flirting.

He breathes, collects himself, and straightens his posture, eyes firmly on Smoker's face than any...assets.]

Broke a few ribs. It's not terrible, just annoying as hell. I've really had a lot worse, but it makes telling jokes and fun conversation a bitch and a half.

[more rum.] Gunshot wounds at least keep you down for a while from bloodloss, or they can be bandaged properly and slinged. This? It's just a pain in the ass.

Edited 2012-02-16 01:58 (UTC)

[It seriously could have been worse, and would have with most. And Smoker shouldn't have been walking around shirtless if he didn't want this kind of attention. Moron.]

[Although he appreciates the not flirting. Even if he doesn't know it yet. He turns back around, just sits crosslegged and grumpy-ish and drinks his own rhum. Mmmm rhum...]

I see. [Arches an eyebrow.] And Adele's your doctor? [Better than Law, in Smoker's pirate hating opinion.] She seems like a smart woman at least. [And nice. Not bossy. But then, Smoker's not the one with the cracked ribs, and she hasn't told him to stop smoking yet so...] Who broke them?

Yeah, she is. Has already threatened to sedate me too, and whacked me across the head a few times.. [But she was smart. Uncomfortably so.

He watches Smoker get comfortable again, lounging on the furniture in a way that would please Jigen to no end. Despite his misgivngs, he cracks a smile.]

Do you want the long version, or the short version?

[Smirks at Adele smacking him. He's sure Lupin deserved it. Obviously.]

Long. [He doesn't explain why, but again it's the whole solitude for a month and a half thing. Besides, the more information the better. He's already learning a lot from this discussion with Lupin; which after so long of not being able to himself, is rather nice.]

[That makes him lift his brows, though he doesn't voice his surprise at this. Explain he does though, with no guile or games. It wasn't giving up; it was regrouping.]

Well, like with Stark and his grand idea for a little fight club in the tunnels, I've been getting restless too. I've tried little projects here or there--journal stalking, costuming...

I tried to make smoke bombs too. I haven't found any of my tools aside from my gun here, so I figured I'd try to rig some together. Lockpicks...are easy. Just get to the right shops, find the right set of pliers...

But smoke bombs? Not so much. I--well. I kinda set my room on fire. Pissed off several people, including my neighbor above my room.

She is very tall, very strong, very beautiful, and was very angry. We had a little 'altercation', lets just say, and she kicked me pretty damn hard. Cracked a few ribs.

But the restlessness didn't go away, so when Tony made his announcement and we talked, he kinda pissed me off, so I wasn't really thinking when I jumped in. Then...[shrug] I was in. No fighting it, except obviously to fight.

If you're looking for names, the woman was Daisy, and my opponent was a kid called Spada. Seemed like a trained fighter--and I just wanted to blow steam.

It was stupid, in hind sight.

Edited 2012-02-16 03:06 (UTC)

Costuming? [That sounded weird. Why would you want to do that to yourself? But Smoker is thinking of a certain Halloween Shift where he was basically stuck in a Winnie-The-Pooh costume.] Oh. Like disguises. [Nods for Lupin to carry on. The lockpicks comment certainly gets a disapproving eyebrow arch though. Bad thief.]

So you see it as more your fault? [WELL so did Smoker, but he's surprised that Lupin has that wisdom or depth to him. There might be a slight shift in respect. It's fine to make mistakes as long as you get stronger from it and learn better, which can't be done by simply blaming others.] I am familiar with Daisy. [By reputation mostly.] Though not Spada. Has it really been that quiet? [This makes Smoker edgy. It should mean that the Malnosso are plotting something huge... but Ikki mentioned that everyone lost an entire weekend. Are they having problems themselves???]

I see it as me being stupid, not thinking. [He sighs at this.] The one thing I fear in this life is boredom. Not doing anything. I don't do well with it even normally, but its not like I can go woo college girls and promise them the world here. I can only just be here.

I don't like it. It's been waaaaay too quiet for my tastes.

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