Late on the 6th [Voice]

[justicereigns]

Right, this is Smoker. I'm back in my own body, thanks to everyone who helped when I was a kid, and you know... during the shift.

Jitte and kickboxing lessons will be delayed until the 10th, but that doesn't mean stop practicing. Keep up the exercises, because I'll be very disappointed if any of you start slipping.

For anyone else interested in joining in, I teach basic self defense, kickboxing, and jitte. There are one-on-one sessions and group sessions, feel free to ask about a schedule because with the drafts ongoing, at least you can learn something to get a fighting chance for survival.

And who still here in the village knows anything about motorcycles? A friend recently reminded me life can be too short not to pursue some things.

Lupin, if you still remember the thing I asked Red about, I'd like to discuss it.

Kotomi-chan, if it's not a bad memory, whatever did happen with the paper your father was writing?

Comments

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

As Nico Robin I had extra arms. As myself I control smoke.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

But this devil fruit, is it a physical object?

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

It was. It got eaten.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

And by consuming it you would develop different abilities?

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

Right. Each devil fruit has a different ability, though the same curse. Once eaten the person is stuck with it for life. No going back.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

That sounds more dangerous.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

It is, but quite a few people consider it worth it.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

I see. [ he'd ask more but...again, not prying. ]

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

[Prying works best on Smoker, he's a wealth of information... but people have to ask.]

In any case, I'm glad to have my own back, as I'm sure you are with your Cosmos.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

[ someday, maybe. partly because if he pries other people it's kind of like giving them permission to pry at him. ]

I am but surprisingly the experiment wasn't as unpleasant as Ikki made it sound for me.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

[Smoker will pry anyway. He's an investigator... he has basically three stages of conversation. Listening, lecturing/answering questions (sometimes without being asked but rarely) and asking a lot of questions. It drives Ikki crazy. Good luck Hyoga.]

No? Hm. Well, you survived your first shift. Some are crazier than others, but that was sort of a combination of a bunch of them.

Plus, Ikki went through about 5 things in that one shift.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

I got off easy I guess.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

Enjoy it while it lasts. Some people never get shifted despite being here for years. I guess the Malnosso have to keep some control subjects for their experiments.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

I'm guessing Ikki has pretty poor luck with the experiments.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

[Thinks that over. Not as bad as a lot of people in Luceti?]

He deals better with them than most.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

[ by being the same bitter, angry, bastard Hyoga remembers? Then again since he hasn't gone crazy or become hopelessly warped that counts as dealing. ]

It's good to know.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

So I take it you didn't mind it too much yourself?

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

Whether I mind or not wouldn't change what happens.

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

Correct, but you can still control your reaction to it. At least to some degree.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

Yes. [ which is what he's doing. Staying calm and avoiding giving a shit. ]

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

Smart man. Or is this more experience from dealing with worse in your own world?

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

You've heard from Ikki, haven't you? [ because if he doesn't have to explain he won't. ]

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

Quite a bit, yes. I'm surprised he doesn't enjoy this place more given all that.

[ voice ]

[kyknus]

Maybe because he feels like he has no control here. [ even if they were facing actual gods in their world they could still push through with their own strengths... here it may just be meaningless given that the barrier can apparently withstand absolute zero.

But Hyoga on the other hand is much more used to feeling powerless. He doesn't like it but it doesn't piss him off the same way it might Ikki. ]

[ voice ]

[justicereigns]

True control is an illusion no matter what world or circumstances.