[Voice / Action]

[justicereigns]

[There is absolutely no preamble to this, Smoker just jumps straight into what he considers the most important part in his usual growling tone. And he might be a little extra ticked off with his justice bro being gone. So there's that.]

I'm not sure which of you idiot pirates has my cuffs or what you're planning to do with them, but rest assured if I do not get them returned immediately, I will hunt you down to find them. And I will not be happy when I do. [He says like he's ever happy.]

For the rest of Luceti, welcome new feathers.

My name is Smoker and I'm still offering a variety of self defense classes outside the barracks daily, rain or shine. Jitte, kickboxing, it doesn't matter if you have no experience, if you want to learn you can stop by. Just because you're stuck here doesn't mean you can't keep getting stronger.

[And just like that he slams the journal shut, back to practicing jitte over by the barracks if someone wants to find him in person. He'll also be at the bar later that night drinking alone and looking grumpy.]

Comments

[etudes]

T-there's bullies doing bad things?! [ her voice wibbles a little more at that, but at least it isn't at Smoker anymore.. ] N-no way, I didn't k-know the bullies were around Luceti again..

[justicereigns]

It's okay Kotomi-chan, they're only targeting me so I'm dealing with them.

[etudes]

But w-why are the bullies after Smoker-kun..? You didn't do a-anything wrong at all, right?

[justicereigns]

Because back home I'm going to put them all in jail.

[etudes]

But then they should be afraid of Smoker-kun..! Since Smoker-kun's so strong and can stop any bully at all and throw them in jail..

[justicereigns]

They're strong too.

[etudes]

...

I know bullies are strong, but.. they're not stronger than Smoker-kun is, right..? I-in the end, Smoker-kun will beat the bullies for sure, right?

[justicereigns]

They're definitely not stronger than me.

[Things he doesn't know about only a few hours into his future aside...]

I just haven't been arresting them here. Looks like they miss the attention.

[etudes]

So they're seeking out Smoker-kun since they want Smoker-kun to arrest them?

[justicereigns]

Not exactly. They either think I won't arrest them, or they think I can't.

[etudes]

But Smoker-kun can arrest them, right..? So.. they're just wrong. It's since they're bullies, those are always wrong and bad..

[justicereigns]

[Quiet for a bit and very very very very grudgingly, SLOWLY admits:]

Not always.

They're wrong on this though.

[etudes]

[ .. oh no, Smoker, what did you just do-- she wibbles a little, since she thought Smoker was invicible.. ]

S-Smoker-kun can't b-beat all bullies..?

[justicereigns]

Of course I can.

They're just idiots that think I can't.

[etudes]

Then Smoker-kun should show them that he can beat them..! If Smoker-kun beats those bullies, I'm sure they'll never dare to hurt other people again..

[Locked 65%]

[justicereigns]

Kotomi-chan...

Normally this is exactly how I think. But in this instance, that's not the case. They stole something of mine which I'm going to get back, but otherwise they aren't hurting anyone. And if they only person they're taunting is me, then I just need to have a thicker skin than their words. -- That's a metaphor, not literal.

If I beat them up now just for pissing me off, then I'll be the one in the wrong. And when I beat them up for an injustice it won't mean anything because I did it once before for selfish reasons.

If either of them lay a hand on me then I'll be glad to beat them up, but right now I have to be patient, even if I hate it. Understood?

[Locked 65%]

[etudes]

[ She doesn't really get it - her view is too black and white on that, at least when it comes to bullies - so she just gets a little quiet. She doesn't want to argue with Smoker, even if her voice is a little softer now. ]

.. Yes, I understand. I'm sorry, Smoker-kun..

[Locked 65%]

[justicereigns]

Kotomi-chan, there's nothing to apologize for.

If I'm wrong, or you think I'm wrong, then tell me.

[Locked 65%]

[etudes]

No, Smoker-kun is probably right. I'm just-- [ ... ] It's.. scary.

Bullies are stealing people's things, even Smoker-kun's things.. that's scary, right?

[Locked 65%]

[justicereigns]

No, not people's, just mine.

If they stole someone else's stuff I'd kick their asses. They only took my cuffs.

[Locked 65%]

[etudes]

.. But that's a bad thing too, isn't it..?

[Locked 65%]

[justicereigns]

Yes, but I think they only took it as an ill-conceived prank meant to irritate me. Or worry me.

Either way, it doesn't seem like they'll be bothering anyone else with it.

[Locked 65%]

[etudes]

But I know that if they did it to me, I would be really, really scared.. How does Smoker-kun know they won't take more from him later, for example?

[Locked 65%]

[justicereigns]

I don't, but if they do, I'll deal with it then.

I'm not going to be scared of pirates too weak to fight me face to face.

[Locked 65%]

[etudes]

T-.. the bullies who did this to Smoker-kun were pirates?