justicereigns | [Audio]

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Nice of them to leave my jacket. [AWKWARD PAUSE. The voice coming from Smoker's journal account is not his usual. Or from a male at all.]

What's with my voice?! [That just squeaks there in high-pitched worry.]

Ah hell... I have boobs.

Fuck you Malnosso.

[He... she rather, clears her voice.]

S-Smoker is back... [That's a bit hesitant.] Ikki, he... he might need help. Jitte and kickboxing lessons will return to normal, sorry everyone about the delay. Could I have a headcount of everyone still wishing to take them? I might need to reorganize his schedules.

[The last part is muffled as he starts to shut the journal.]

Damn it! These jeans are way too big! Now what?!

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I haven't seen him around yet. I should make sure he's okay.

A boat race? [Thinks it over. It is actually not his forte, believe it or not. He doesn't know how to make ships, and while he can sail, he's nervous on small ships since he can't swim. So a single capsize would be instant death for him.] Only if we had teams... and then you'd have to best pirates who are very good at what they're doing. There's an actual pirate game involving that.

A way out... [Chews his cigars slowly.] You really think you could get complacent so easily? [Takes a drink and gives an extremely rare compliment, but mostly because he doesn't completely mean it that way. Then again, he doesn't NOT mean it that way either.] Someone as ambitious as you? Seems unlikely no matter how "distracted" you get. [Even if boobs distract Lupin easily :| Those are different. Because Boobs. That's why.] Besides. [Says this casually between finishing his drink and pouring more.] For someone so good at disguises and crap, I'd think you'd want to pretend a little complacency to surprise our captors so they don't see anything more coming.

I spoke with him last month. He was all excited to talk about the research topic our handlers gave him for a few weeks, which was dragons. He seemed pretty damn chipper about it too. [then again, who wouldn't be? It was dragons!

He watches Smoker witn unwavering eyes in consideration of the sport with a small smile and a shrug.] Anything, really. It doesn't have to be boats, but maybe organizing something like that in the summer might be fun. Just as a thing to do, really.

[Because veryone needed a diversion, from teenagers to geniuses. People needed a distraction. people needed something, anything.

being told those things by a man he barely knows is a really good ego booster. Not that he needed it, but hearing someone say it not in jest is refreshing. He can feel some of the tedium that had settled into his brain lifting.]

You know? I hadn't actually looked at it like that, Cap'. Got wrapped up in things and all. That's what I mean by distracted.

Have you ever considered life on the other side? You'd be damn good at it.

Dragons? [All the ear perking again. Definitely will have to ask Don in person about it.]

Like running? [This actually really does interest him. But he's normally six foot six and chases pirates all day like a dog. Why wouldn't it?] I meant to talk to Ginia and Selphie, if she's still here... [Damn it Selphie has to still be here. She's grown on him too much.] about having a baseball league. If we could get enough people. [Smoker. Loves. Baseball. He (canonically in games) plays Catcher with the marines.] Or even just having a couple of games would be good.

[Oh Lupin. You just lost Smoker's good side for now. Those words especially. That was Drake's reason for leaving the marines. "To see how the other side lived."] No. [Brief, but very firm. Closed discussion, not something you want to bring up again if you value your life and/or limbs in tact.]

[The brief, short syllable gives him pause. Oops--that was completely the wrong move. He bites down the urge to apologize in Japanese, 'honto ni sumimasen deshita' and instead chooses his words carefully.]

I didn't mean to imply you were a corrupt element. There's a lot of overlap in my world, and probably everywhere, but there are always a few honest-to-God cops that you just can't bend and whose minds are always surprising. Pops, for example. I respect him, and its rare that we do work together. He usually barks that he 'doesn't work with thieves'.

My bad. Sorry.

But yeah, maybe if we draw up some plans and bring them up to Ginia or Selphie or whomever, we can get something rolling sometime.[another shrug, another sip of rum.

Another moment of watching, like he always is anymore.]

I don't work with thieves either Lupin. Remember that.

[Lights up a fresh pair of cigars, his mouth is smaller, but he's had decades of experience, and he's too stubborn to stop now.]

[For all of Smoker's gruff though, he has been known on occasion to sort of work with them. If you can count very temporarily looking the other way. But he knows Lupin was... sadly... just doing the same thing Luffy did, in his own way. It's just not something Smoker will ever be happy or comfortable with. The marines are corrupt as hell, but he doesn't think they'll be changed from the outside. And just because it's corrupt doesn't mean they can't do good. Better than just giving up on them entirely. But that gets back into the whole not giving up on people in general, even some pirates and thieves have good in them that isn't worth tossing away.] I also have a lot of respect for Zenigata as you know. [Other than Ikki, Kohaku, and Ginia, Zenigata's pretty much Smoker's best friend in Luceti now. Seeing as Labrador and Grell are gone.]

[He waves a hand dismissing the worries on Lupin's behalf. Not like Lupin would know about Drake. Smoker just doesn't want the offer. Or would-be compliment, however the intent. But then Smoker is a rare man who deals better with insults than compliments really.]

Some form of sports would be nice anyway. Selphie would definitely get a kick out of it.

...I know you respect Pops, and that's part of why I respect you. [That, along with the firm but relaxed demeanor, the stern but well thought words, and the acceptance of their differences inherently without attendant lectures on laws and morality did much to Smoker's benefit. It was a simple misstep, really.

He was mentally kicking himself.]

That wasn't entirely why I wanted to talk to you though. I just...I'd rather go to someone like you than my direct friends, is all. I'm not gonna ask you to work with me, and there's nothing I can do to make you anyway.

[Smoker doesn't lecture on morality where it'd be wasted.]

[And he blinks in surprise. And blushes a little. He's respected? Oh, that's kind of nice actually. But the being talked to over friends...]

What is it you want help on? [Not that he will help, but he might. If it's a good cause. Which by the sounds of it, seemed likely if the not!pirate wasn't going to his not!nakama.]

...I'm thinking on getting some actual training, because I'm not very useful in a fight without my toys.

[He sets his tumbler aside and reaches for his Walther, setting it down on the table with a soft -clack-] I can do fine in a bar fight, but when the chips start flying I like to have this on hand...and--well. I only have a half a clip, four shots, left in there. That's my entire store.

[Hence the failed smoke bombs, hence the frustration, hence his impulsive decision to brawl in the tunnels in the first place.]

If I go to Pops, it'll turn into a game--it always does. Same with Jigen, but differently.

[He levels his gaze, completely serious.] I promised them I'd find a way out, and I don't want them to start losing faith if I start doing things a little differently.

Frankly, I was hoping you could help me.

[Nods his head. He will. He wouldn't normally be willing to train a pirate, but well... Smoker's been known to make exceptions]

[He has conditions for it, however. And holds up three fingers to count them off.]

I will depending on three things. First, Zenigata has to be all right with it. [Because teaching jitte to someone who regularly fights his bff: another jitte wielder seems unwise at best, dangerous at worst. And while Smoker assumes Lupin means regular hand to hand, Smoker's style is still straight-forward cop, and he doesn't want to overstep a line.] You can ask him in your own way, or I will. If he refuses then my hands are tied, but I'll try to find a way to teach you something to defend yourself against the other idiots. Secondly, while the Doctor might be overly concerned, I'm not a doctor, and I'm a devil fruit user besides. For some reason she likes you enough that she doesn't want to see you in pain or worse. Pushing the limits is fine, overstepping them isn't. So go see her to make sure you're in enough shape to handle the lessons.

And thirdly, you cross the line in this place once, and you're out. I don't mean the petty kid stuff -- [By which means blowing up your apartment or fight club.] -- I mean if you endanger my other students with something stupid we're through. [Crosses a finger over her neck in demonstration.] Kirimi's gone home so I don't have too many kids in the lessons now, but some of them are clutzes, and others are just starting. If you fool around and get them hurt or involve them in stupid antics, we're done.

[Offers a handshake.] Welcome aboard Lupin.

[The conditions were reasonable, no doubt. Lupin understood that Smoker had his reasons, but he couldn't fight the nagging discomfort. He accepts the handshake.]

I've no intention to get your students hurt. No reason too--and I can be serious, but...

I was kinda hoping to keep Pops and Dellie out of this. Pops because, well, we have this thing. We've worked with and against eachother at different times, and I know we do concern ourselves with eachother as more than just rivals. [Lupin's taken out men specifically because they hurt Zenigata, and don't think that he's unaware of Zenigata's priesthood. Praying for the soul of your deceased rival to be reborn as an honest man is touching indeed, even if the rival in question isn't as dead as he appears.] I don't want him getting concerned.

And Dellie? I don't want to involve her anymore than I must. She's only a New Feather, but uncomfortably sharp. She's onto my plan, and I've told her almost nothing. ...I may have to tell her more if she keeps involving herself, just to make sure she doesn't get herself killed as she noses around.

[He sighs, almost wearily.] It's tough, is all.

Edited 2012-02-16 14:30 (UTC)

You're too much like a pirate. [Folds his arms and explains.]

Both of them are more likely to get hurt the less you tell them. Like it or not, they're both already involved in being concerned about you.

[But he'll see what he can do about being vague. It's more Lupin's place to tell them in Smoker's opinion, even if he doesn't have too many qualms about discussing it over Lupin's head if he feels necessary..]

[It's the very idea of explaining himself that always gets him. He's notorious for playing his cards close to his chest, even with his friends. Being upfront didn't come easily--he was only able to do so with Smoker because there wasn't that history of games and mutual backstabbing. Smoker was upfront, and wasn't his eternal rival. It was only right to play the same.]

I'm a thief as well as a gentleman, Captain. Did you expect less? I know these things realistically, but what you're asking is a very hard thing for me to do.

[Shrugs.] Since when is getting stronger easy? Be vague if you have to, but the doctor is going to have a good inkling anyway since she also asked to attend my lessons. And Zenigata already takes part.

[Lupin's your official stalker, Smoker. Remember? He knows these things--in fact, he's the one who mentioned Smoker's defense lessons to Adele weeks ago, back at the Pool Party in the battle dome. He is unsurprised.

He sighs.] I see your point. Really. I'll give it a shot...but I have a feeling Dellie is gonna make me stay down for at least a few more weeks. She doesn't want me leaving my room all that much--can't see why. I've done more with worse injuries too. [Like take down a corrupt ruler who was also the head of an international counterfeiting ring at week after nearly dying from a bullet wound.]

Pops? He might find it funny, actually. Then ask why I didn't ask him to learn Judo.

Tell him because I'm stronger.

[Correction: More of an asshole. Moving on.]

And you can remind her that physical therapy is an important part of getting better.

For broken ribs? [asks the man who usually doctors himself, and who still finds that it hurts to laugh or even sometimes breathe.]

And I'm sure Pops would appreciate that. [He could almost hear the ever present refrain: 'LUUUPIIIINNN!!! TAIHOU DAAA!!']

[Chuckles just at Lupin's face. Which of course, fails at being manly in any way shape or form and winds up almost like a giggle, shaking her chest.]

You'll find a way.

[He discreetly looks away from the jiggling and, voice dripping with sarcasm, doesn't address it.]

Thanks for your vote of confidence there, Cap'.

[That just makes him laugh more. Basically he has his doubts that it'll work, but hey maybe he can give Lupin some stretches or mild toning exercises in the meanwhile. He'll go check out some books at the library.]

Hahaha... anytime.

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