justicereigns | [Voice] Jitte, Self-Defense, and Executions

Entry tags:

[Voice] Jitte, Self-Defense, and Executions

Hello New Feathers and old, I'm Cap-- Err Smoker. [Wow Proof he has done this message way too many times, he momentarily forgot his own rank. Woops. Not that it even matters here.]

I teach jitte, kickboxing, and basic self-defense outside the barracks, and it's open to anyone, no matter how inexperienced. As you may have heard by now, every so often the Malnosso take people at random for drafts, and while non-combatants have other opportunities to help support, any self defense can help.

For others, I wanted to ask about other world's or country's history regarding executions. Are there any that changed the world, or have other people here seen them personally?

Thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Welcome back Ikki. [Which he probably should have said before, but hey he's saying it now.]

Does that work? No break-outs or people demanding the release of the prisoners or they'll enact more violence in protest?

[Wait. He's asking a child this. Oops?]

Thanks, Smoker!

[ She's seriously considering this question. She's...actually heard a lot about politics, just because her father is on the council, but understanding them is another matter entirely. ]

...Well, breakin' out of the metalbender jails is pretty hard to do! I don't think anyone has done it recently? Like, while I've been alive! An' the most recent problem we had criminal-wise was someone who sorta took over Republic City but that didn't last too long, and we didn't lock him up 'cause he flat out disappeared I think so I'm not clear on what we would've done if we'd actually caught 'im, but I think probably we'd've locked him up!

Um, the Avatar can sorta deal with dangerous benders by just up an' taking their bending away, so that's how that is normally dealt with?

Interested in starting up lessons again? [Since they'd spoken about it awhile ago, but it was awhile and things might have changed.]

[And there's a bit of a pause.] I see. We have seastone to cut off devil fruit powers in my world, but it's rarely enough. Determined criminals tend to find a way to bust loose. Or they get a lot of help.

Yep! It should be fun! [ Ikki will always sign up for all the things ever. This will never change. ]

Ah, seastone? Soooooo that's something that makes devil fruit stuff not work? [ ...She might've heard something about it, but she's not sure. People tell her a lot of things. ]

Great, bright and early then, don't forget. [The only reason Smoker will do his workouts before 12 is for a kid.]

Correct. It's also the hardest substance in the world. Even more than diamonds. [Ikki you are the most prolific conversationalist in Luceti and you should feel proud.]

Yep! I always get up really early. Grandpa has firebending before airbending, so that's when I can come see you.

Huh. And it comes from the sea? ...That'd make sense, I guess! [ Seeing as how the sea = bad for devil fruit users, something she's had explained to her a few times. ]

Understood. Same time as discussed before?

Right. [Aw all of Luceti is filled with smart kids. That and he's getting too used to explaining things to his idiots at G-5 and Luffy. Seriously, that will rot your opinion of other people's intelligence fast.] It's a form of solidified ocean.

Yes, sir! [ ...seems an appropriate title right now. ]

Woooooooow, I bet they really don't like that. [ But, well. CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. Although since she's actually friendly with basically all of those criminals she really can't decide what to think. ]

[Small grin. It's been awhile since he's gotten that kidn of formal address, but it's actually nice to hear from Ikki so he appreciates it and gives a salute back for the journal to take a picture of. He won't salute the brass, but hey for little kids...]

No, they don't. But that's the consequence to piracy. [Sometimes anyway.]

Or in some rare cases, the consequence of chasing idiots into a trap with seastone bars. [... Not that he has personal experience with that totally absurd circumstance, nope.]

[ She giggles, just a little, and copies the salute. She's actually learned to do that from her Uncle Bumi. ]

...What do the pirates in your world do, anyway? [ She's not...totally clear on what piracy is entirely. It seems to involve treasure and sailing??? And also eating odd fruit? ]

Oooooh, that doesn't sound fun!!!

[He remember about that. And daw, so cute.]

Pirates... [Murder, rape, steal, pillage, destroy islands, disrupt shipping -- no wait, he can't/won't say any of these things to a kid.] Most of them do some really bad things. They're criminals in the truest sense of the word. If there's a crime you can think of, then at least one pirate has done it. But not all pirates are the same, so that's hard to answer. [For instance if he has to explain what the pirates in Luceti have done back home, he could do it, but he'd still have to explain as bad as those things are, the ones back home are much worse usually.]

And no. [Small grin in spite of himself.] It wasn't much fun. No regrets though, I learned a lot from it. [Not the least of which about Straw-Hat and himself.]

What do the Strawhats and the Whitebeards do? [ the two names she actually knows. She's vaguely aware Trafalgar isn't either of them, but she's forgotten what he is, if he ever told her. ]

So you got caught in a cage??

[Sighs.]

Straw Hat Luffy has declared war on the government, punched a world noble, broke into the most heavily guarded prison in the world and broke out several hundred pirates. He's also saved entire countries and he punched the noble in order to rescue Keimi, who is my daughter here. And he saved my life. He's the most complicated pirate there is. Even if as an individual he seems rather simple.

The Whitebeards... are equally complicated. They've committed a fair number of murders and disrupted trade flows, but until very recently, they kept it to other pirates. Their captain had a moral opposition to slavery so he took over islands to protect the inhabitants from it. That doesn't mean he wasn't also a pirate in every sense of the word, but he didn't have a fight with the government until they took one of his sons. He had a very big reputation for vengeance and... it's complicated. Suffice to say there was a very big war. [What's wrong with the Whitebeard pirates? Everything.... and yet still less than the other pirate crews except Luffy's. Hell, the Whitebeard pirates vs most of the shichibukai? Smoker would rather fight the shichibukai who at least pretend to be on the marine's side. Tch. A mess all around.]

To explain: there was one Pirate King, and four pirate emperors. The pirate king was executed 24 years ago, but the pirate emperors rose in his place. Whitebeard was the only man strong enough told hold his own in a fight with Roger and live, and indeed Whitebeard was the strongest man in the world. However, like the other pirate emperors, he carved out a pirate empire of islands and enforced his own notions of order and vengeance instead of justice. His crimes aren't as bad compared to Kaidou or some of the other pirates, hell, half of the pirates he defeated were a lot worse than him. You could ask Portgas or the phoenix more about him on a personal level. As for Portgas and the phoenix, they each have their fair share of violent crimes to their name. Portgas was nearly as infamous as his father and became a commander at an extremely young age, and the phoenix is one of the big reasons the Whitebeard pirates are so infamous for vengeance.

And yeah. I got caught when I was chasing a pirate. Crocodile laid a seastone trap for the other pirate and got caught up in it.

Have you met Nico Robin here? She's in Straw Hat's crew and never lets me live it down.

Do you want to know about the Heart Pirates, Akagami Pirates, or shichibukai as well? We have one of all three of those here now.

[Pro-tip: when it comes to stalking pirates; Smoker is the finest.]

[ As someone who frequently word-dumps on people, Ikki's not at all opposed to the opposite. Especially because she does still like to hear about other worlds, in particular the ones people she likes are from. Vivi's explained a bit about the pirate-fruit world, and Trafalgar outlined some other things, but this is the most she's ever gotten all at once.

By the time it's done, she definitely has questions and comments, and takes a single breath before getting straight into them. ]

Why'd he declare war on a government? Did the Pirate King used to be in charge of the places the Pirate Emperors are in charge of? Are you supposed to catch the emperors? Did something happen to their captain, 'cause you're talkin' about him like he's not there anymore! What were the islands he commanded like? Were they bad?

Ummmm Portgas is Ace? I juuuuuust met him. Who was his father who was infamous? Also Marco is actually in the art club! Or, well, he came to our first meeting so he's definitely a member now 'cause he'll definitely want to come back!

What pirate groups are Kaidou and Crocodile from? Are they from the Heart or Akagami or shi-chi-boo-kai?

Ummm I have not met Nico Robin! Of the Straw Hats I have met Luffy and Nami and Vivi and Sanji and Zoro once, and Vivi is who I know best!

I would like to hear about all three of those, please! Vivi's told me some about Alabasta, but all of this is new! I mean, I knew there were pirates buuuuuuut no one really says what they were doing or why or anything except that they sail on the sea which is sort of what pirates are supposed to do, I guess!

[Curse his weakness for kids. He actually kind of appreciates how brilliant she is, and completely unabashed about asking all these questions. This is why kids are awesome. All right, where to begin?]

I hope you like history, because this requires a bit.

Portgas is Ace, yes. Full name Fire-Fist Portgas D. Ace. I don't call him Ace. [Obviously.] His father was Whitebeard, the pirate emperor and strongest man in the world. His little brother is Straw Hat Luffy, and his big brother is Marco the Phoenix. They also have one other brother here, but he's not someone with a bounty.

The Pirate King didn't rule over anything, but he was called that because he was, in a sense, the "ultimate pirate." He had everything a pirate seeks; freedom, money, fame, power or strength. One Piece was the treasure he left behind. At his execution he told everyone to search for it if they wanted to take his place. So the next person to find One Piece, will become the Pirate King. As such, the World Government and all the marines are supposed to do stop that. I know that of every in the world, Straw Hat has the best shot of it, so I'm going to catch him and stop him first.

The islands the pirate emperors rule over are in the New World, which is the second half of the Grand Line. The Pirate King, Gold Roger, became so famous because was the first person to ever make it all the way to the end of the New Word, the second half of the Grand Line and back. After Roger's death, millions of pirates started flooding the Grand Line trying to get to Raftel where they believe One Piece must be located, and that is what gave rise to the pirate emperors. They're four impossibly strong pirates who took up where the marines and world government were at their weakest and carved a special niche into the world's political power for themselves. Shanks, the captain of the Akagami pirates, is actually one of the four pirate emperors. Kaidou and Big Mam are the other two.

Crocodile was defeated in the New World while trying to become Pirate King, probably by Whitebeard as he holds a huge grudge against him. The shichibukai are pirates that the World Government has removed the bounty from in exchange for being able to call on them in times of need to fight other pirates. Likewise, they are allowed to continue piracy and generally "illegal" things but only to other pirates. Crocodile tried to take over Princess Vivi's Kingdom using Nico Robin's help, and a secret organization he created called "Baroque Works." I ran afoul of a few of the members while chasing Straw Hat from Loguetown where I was based.

In Alabasta, Crocodile laid a trap for Straw hat and that's where we got caught. It's how I "met" Princess Vivi, though we never spoke one-on-one until Luceti. If you know her best, she could probably explain that situation better than me. I'm still unclear how Nico Robin came to be one of Straw Hat's crew members, but he has a knack for that, seeing as Crocodile himself, whom Straw Hat defeated in order to save Alabasta, then showed up at Marineford to fight the marines on Whitebeard's side. Even though Crocodile holds a grudge on Whitebeard, and has no reason to be an ally of Straw Hat's either. Seeing as he tried to kill im. More than once.

I don't know the Straw Hat's side of what happened in Enies Lobby, and I wasn't there personally. Long story short, Nico Robin was taken by the World Government for her own crimes of privacy and some things from before she even met Crocodile, but Straw Hat and his crew declared war on the World Government to get her back. And the entirety of Enies Lobby, an island where it's always sunny and judgement is based, was destroyed in the process. Though, I've heard from people there that this was more due to something incredibly stupid than Straw Hat individually running a rampage on the island.

This was a feat that was nearly repeated when Straw Hat showed up in the war on Marineford between Whitebeard and the marines. As previously mentioned, he had Crocodile on his side, though not the rest of the Straw Hat crew.

In the most basic of terms, pirates are criminals on the sea. What crimes they break and how they do it is different. However, they all have to have a pirate flag. Crocodile, for instance, had his secret organization; Baroque Works, and while they were certainly international criminals, they can't really be called pirates, though they do have their own flag and emblem. This is because despite being international, they started off as bounty hunters catching pirates in order to raise money to try to fund a rebellion in Alabasta. Most pirates are not at war with any one particular country, just as Dragon's Rebellion are not considered pirates, despite having declared war on the World Government as well.

Pirates generally do not seek specific goals like overthrowing a crowned royal, but instead, they have a general unwillingness to abide by any laws. Someone who declares themselves a pirate is laying down the stance that they would rather be an outlaw and hunted for their bounty, than be someone who will accept the laws and authorities of the various different governments. Pirates are a really big problem in my world. Most of them are murderers and thieves, and Straw Hat's crew is not the norm. Most of them fall closer on the spectrum to Crocodile, truth be told. There are some pirates who focus their attentions on other pirates, but then there are also pirates who specifically hunt and kill marines in order to make their bounty higher. For the reputation.

Trafalgar Law of the Heart Pirates is known as the Death Surgeon. He helped rescue Straw Hat at Marineford, and was last seen -- the last time I was in my world -- on an island no one's supposed to be on. [... Including Smoker, but justice calls. ~~Aka he was chasing pirates there. You know. Exactly like the situation with Crocodile. Right down to getting trapped in a cell. Yeah sure "he learned a lot." Uh-huh.~~] He's incredibly dangerous and well-known for his violence, thus the nickname. [Oh yeah, and he steals hearts. Nah, Smoker won't mention that. Law's not updated, and frankly Smoker thinks it might just give him ideas.]

We also have Hawk-Eyes Mihawk of the shichibukai here. He's the world's strongest swordsman and fought the Whitebeard pirates at Marineford, but refused to fight Shanks when the Akagami pirates arrived to help the Whitebeards. He's best known as completely neutral because of that, seeing as he's not a fan of most of the pirates, nor is he on the marines' side completely either. Neutral. Most of the shichibukai have a record of turning on marines however. Boa Hancock fought me at Marineford to protect Straw Hat, Jinbei's always been more on Whitebeard's side than not so he refused to fight the Whitebeard pirates at Marineford when ordered. Crocodile was just using his shichibukai position to try to take over Alabasta and then the world, and Blackbeard was hired to replace Crocodile and just used his position to break into Impel Down and break out even worse criminals than the ones Straw Hat broke out. Then he showed up at Marineford to fight... everyone, and took out giant chunks of the island. Garp the Fist, and Sengoku the Buddha -- the two strongest marines in the world at the time, had try to hold him back. And he only stopped because, like Mihawk, he didn't wish to face Shanks either.

Suffice to say, I don't trust any of the shichibukai. They're pirates. They started off pirates and they haven't changed from that. They exist to keep the pirate emperors in check, in case a situation like Marineford ever happened, but more headaches have been caused than stopped by it.

[You know what? The only good thing about just straight out explaining all that? He doubts most of the pirates will have the patience to listen through it. But yeah, Smoker knows things. Lots of things. So many things. He is like the Harriet the Spy of One Piece. That said, if you ask him intelligent questions, you will get answers. Long ones when it all adds up. Also someone should admire how skilled he was at avoiding specifically mentioning that Ace was the catalyst for Marineford. Skills. ~~Even if it took extra paragraphs to do it.~~]

[ How would she ever learn anything if she didn't ask questions? Ikki usually runs up agains the wall of people not answering more than she does her not asking. She does tend to ask pretty personal things at times, but she figures if someone minds they just won't tell her.

And oh gosh words. This is what it must be like on the other side of conversations at dinner with her, although that doesn't occur to Ikki. She just settles down on the couch and listens to Smoker talking through her journal, a serious little frown on her face as she tries to take it all in. ...She'll probably have to replay all this at some point, just to make sure she has it right.

Luckily for Ikki, she's got a good memory for any questions that pop into her mind. ]

I like history! Mm, I've always had to learn a lot of it, because, well, air nomad. [ It's a casual aside explanation, because she rarely gets into the genocide of her people over a century ago and the whole rebuilding their race thing unless asked. 8|a ]

Fire-fist? What was One Piece? I mean, I know you said it was a treasure, but what was it? Is it a place or a sword or a book or what? [ ONE WHAT? ] What happens if someone becomes Pirate King? Something bad?

Okay! I know a bit about the Grand Line. It's got looooooots of islands on it, right? And Alabasta is a kingdom on one of those islands.

[ Some of this she's listening to and is letting pass without comment. it's only when something sticks out or needs more to make sense that Ikki pipes up, trying to make the pieces of the story fit. ]

Why does Whitebeard not like Crocodile? ...Um, so the World Goverment lets people do all the things you talked about? [ THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE SKEEVY. Although she likes all the pirates she's met! ...But she's got the inkling none of them are in this shichibukai. ] Mm, I'll ask Vivi about it later! Maybe she knows about Nico Robin! If not, I'll ask Nami!

...Well, Luffy is really nice! I mean, when you say he has a "knack for that". [ That might be a simple view of things, but she'd liked that woman. ]

"Something incredibly stupid"? ...Like what? Did anyone tell you?

Wait, wait, wait - why's there a war in Marineford? ...Wait, you said before they took one of his sons an' that's when he fought with the government? What's "Dragon's Rebellion"? Why did they declare war on the World Government? ...What's the World Government? Your world has one big government? Um, 'cause I know Vivi's a princess and stuff and there are other countries?

[ Listening some more. Okay, pirates are sounding less cool, although she's been explicitly told by Katara she can trust the Straw Hats and Trafalgar. ] But the Straw Hats don't do things like hunt and kill marines.

...Trafalgar is known as the "Death Surgeon"? Ummm, what island was he seen on? Wait, how was he seen there if no one was supposed to be on it? If he wasn't supposed to be on it and no one else was, there shouldn't've been anyone to see him, right? [ RIGHT? ]

Why'd so many people not want to fight Shanks?

...Mmm, hey, but you said the shichibukai were allowed to do pirate things if they helped the Marines when they were supposed to, but if they didn't do that, why're they still shichibukai?

[ this is all so exciting ]

The air nomads were nearly all destroyed, correct? [See Ikki, you're not the only one who asks a billion questions and sometimes even gets information from it! Information gatherers unite! That being said, if she ever wants, Smoker will literally draw her a chart. Mostly because he feels visual aids will further the understanding of their insanity, and explaining how everyone is connected is practically becoming a hobby.]

Fire Fist is Portgas' bounty name. Any pirate or marine who makes a big name for themselves gets one to help others remember who they are and what to be wary of. I'm the White Hunter because of my devil fruit and because I hunt criminals, Portgas is Fire Fist because of his flames and he prefers to punch as his main attack. Trafalgar Law is the Death Surgeon because he's a doctor who's very good at killing people if need be. Shanks is Akagami because of his red hair. Straw hat is famous for his Straw Hat. Marco as a phoenix, Cat Burglar Nami because she steals. The Demon Woman of Ohara Nico Robin should be renamed, but they don't bother with that. Once a name's made, it sticks usually.

No one's completely sure what One Piece. I'm sure it exists, but neither Gold Roger nor Whitebeard were particularly interested in treasure like money. And each would have left it to their crew, not leave it stashed away for a treasure hunt. I'm not sure what it is either. I have some guesses. [There's not a lot that would genuinely scare Sengoku and the World Government, after all. But the fact that Gold Roger and Whitebeard both wanted it found? That it would change the world when it was found...] But certainly not something I can say where any pirates might overhear it. [Suck on that all you pirates with very long attention spans for eavesdropping!] I know Blackbeard must think it's related to power, which means it's likely not that. In any case, the only people who do know what it is, aren't talking. You could ask Shanks sometimes. Maybe he'll drop a clue.

However, since simply finding One Piece makes someone pirate king, everyone wants it. And then yes, something bad happens. Whitebeard himself called it a battle that would engulf the whole world, it's not something I want to see happen. [Phoenix Ikki's words still echo in his brain as much as Whitebeard's though. That maybe it'd be better to start fresh then keep on letting people like Akainu run the show. But no, Smoker doesn't believe that. Refuses to believe that. And Kotomi-chan's own words about the revolutions in her world only solidifies him on this. That kind of chaos would kill millions of innocents... and for what?]

Straw Hat's not bad for a pirate. But he's still a pirate. He broke out prisoners for his own goals, and didn't think about the consequences it could have. He instigates a lot of things like that. It's complicated. Sometimes you can be "nice" and still do some things that are really bad for a lot of people. And his motives might even be good things, but it doesn't stop those actions from happening. I won't arrest him in Luceti because he protects the village and forest here more by being free. [Just like with Alabasta, Straw Hat could do more good by being free. At least a little longer.] But back in our world, I will stop him, to prevent that war and that chaos.

[He chews it over a bit, trying to weigh how much it'll be a pain if Law, the Straw Hat crew, Shanks, Whitebeards, and Mihawk learn about this, but he decides it's fine.] I caught Straw Hat saying he'd going to Punk Hazard, where no one's allowed to go. No one's supposed to be there because it's a wasteland from a chemical explosion several years ago. Since then, two logia users fought over who would be the next leader of the marines, so half of the island is now magma, and the other half is ice. While investigating to search for Straw Hat, me and my men came across Trafalgar instead. Normally I'd say you could ask him about it, but it's before his time in this case, so you'd have to ask Straw Hat instead. [Frown frown frown. And according to Straw Hat, Smoker got put into Tashigi's body?! The hell is THAT about!? He was too amused to be lying though... and Luffy doesn't lie besides. TCH. Joy. Something to look forward to.]

In any case, that's the kind of "knack" I mean. Wherever he goes, Straw Hat changes everything. Just by being there. He's constantly writing history without even trying. It's unsettling. [... Actually Smoker finds it exciting too. More than unsettling. He likes it. It's why he chases Luffy so hard. But there isn't anyone who will ever get him to admit that out loud.]

The Straw Hats have never killed a marine to my knowledge. And Straw Hat himself was raised by his grandfather who's a marine; the Hero Garp. Cat Burglar Nami also had a marine hero for a mother. But they are a very atypical crew.

You're correct about the Grand Line. It's an ocean shaped in a line where the currents and magnetic patterns lead everyone sailing it to generally always go in one direction. Forward. It's divided from the rest of the world with Calm Belts and the Red Line, which is a group of islands squished together in a line that loops around the world. It's the closest thing we have to a "continent." And the New World is the second half of the Grand Line. Alabasta, Vivi's Kingdom, is in the first half. The pirate emperors are all located in the New World, but they call the first half "Paradise" because of how many pirates die in the New World trying to become the next King.

The World Government is a presiding government. Each country allied within the government still retains its autonomy, but there are certain laws they all have to abide by. The leaders of each country meet every seven years for something called "Reverie" where they discuss international issues like Dragon and work to cooperate to find solutions. It helps prevent wars between countries, and primarily deals with pirates. No one individual country is completely capable of warding off pirates usually -- I'll bring up exceptions in a bit -- because most countries are only one island big. Once the pirates hit one place, they move onto the next. Without the marines or world government to deal with it, it'd be nearly impossible.

The New World used to have a lot more countries who weren't allied with the World Government, but they also used to be a lot more capable of holding off pirates on their own. However, thanks to the pirate surge of those searching for One Piece, that no longer remained the case, and that's how the Pirate Emperors were able to offer their protection where the World Government couldn't or wouldn't. The newest marine fleet admiral Sakazuki, is trying to change this and moved his base into the New World to be more in the thick of it.

Dragon declared war on the World Government and threatens to throw the whole world into rebellion -- enough that some people thought the rebellion in Alabasta might be his fault, not Crocodile's, and stayed clear of it. As for why... That wasn't exactly the question on my mind the one time I met him. [Also... Smoker was kind of shocked to meet the most wanted man in the world saving a nothing rookie in the middle of nowhere in the weakest ocean for no reason. He had priorities.] Ostensibly to get rid of the inequality and corruption, I assume. He's a very mysterious person.

The Government lets their shichibukai get away with a lot so long as they pretend to keep obeying the government. It's... [All kinds of skeevy. Wait, that is just unprofessional to say. You know what? He's saying it anyway.] a recipe for disaster. They've already had several disobey them, and pirates just use it as stepping stone for their own goals. Same as anything else. [He'd say they were desperate, but that is definitely not something he's going to let on to the pirates here.] They're afraid of the pirate emperors enough to make some dumb mistakes. And this is the price they're paying for it. And frankly I can't see it getting worse. [Kuma used to work for the Revolution for crying out loud. How long before his cyborg brain shorts out or something?! And fuck knows what Doflamingo's deal is. And all this without bringing up some of the new shichibukai.]

That's why when Crocodile tried to drown Straw Hat and I, I went to get proof of what Crocodile was up to. Since there wasn't any other way the government would acknowledge it. [Grumbles.] Fat lot of good it did anyway... Once the shichibukai are proven to be opposing the government, they're kicked out. Crocodile was arrested, brought to trial and put in Impel Down. [Ugh, it still leaves a bad taste in his mouth that they made him take the promotion though.] Jinbei was also put in Impel Down with him. And Blackbeard was chased by currently the strongest man in the marines until something came up. [Fighting Aokiji =\ Way to have priorities Sakazuki.] Hancock hasn't been dealt with, but that's --

[Okay ready to see something hilarious Ikki?]

[Because Smoker will never do this again.]

[Everyone? Ready?]

[He leans back and points his his finger out, looking up and doing the pose.]

"Because she's beautiful." [Can you just feel his disgust? Either way it's hilarious. More if you know Boa Hancock herself, or at least that she says exactly that as her excuse.] Tsk.

And... correct. The War of Marineford was when one of Whitebeard's sons got held by the World Government. Whitebeard and all his allies fought to get him back. The shichibukai were called in to help on the side of the marines -- which is when Boa Hancock broke my jitte. [Mutters that she's something not very nice.] Jinbei refused to help due to his loyalty to Whitebeard and that's why he was put in Impel Down. Straw Hat broke into the prison, broke out Jinbei and Crocodile and they wound up helping him at Marineford. Crocodile tried to assassinate Whitebeard, so I know that's why Whitebeard didn't like Crocodile, Crocodile's grudge for Whitebeard has to do with getting crushed in the New World a long time ago. It's a fairly common occurrence. Most pirates die or never make it. That's why only Gold Roger and his crew reached the end of it, after all.

Actually it still surprises me that Nico Robin is a Straw Hat now. She was working with Crocodile in Baroque Works initially, and I warned Straw Hat personally that with her by his side, it was a war that threatened the whole world, not just Alabasta. Neither of them have seen fit to explain it however, and at this rate I'm ready to give up trying. [Even stuck in Robin's body for a week he couldn't figure it out :|] That said, I doubt she would be willing to talk about Mr. 0 -- Crocodile codename in Baroque Works, but you might have more luck.

As for the incredibly stupid thing that destroyed Enies Lobby, you'll have to ask Cat Burglar Nami. Assuming her answer isn't just that the government took their nakama in the first place, maybe she can explain it. But my guesses get into a territory of marine secrets. The past can't be undone, but at lot of idiocy went down from it I've heard. I'd say "And no one got promoted for it," but it's a little bittersweet, as my boss and friend almost did until he got pushed out instead.

[ they can start their own detective agency. also at this point she is considering asking for a map at least. ] Yep! Grandpa was the only air nomad to escape the genocide, 'cause of being stuck in ice. After the war, he had to start everything over from scratch. Really really scratch 'cause the Fire Nation kinda demolished all our scrolls and artifacts and things, too. ...Anyway, learning history is important 'cause there're four airbenders in the world, and I'm one of them. Well, at home, anyway!

...How many of the pirates here have eaten fruits, anyway? Also why should Nico Robin be renamed?

Sooooooo Shanks knows what it is? ...But if almost no one knows what it is, how's anyone going to know for sure someone found it? Has anyone tried saying they found it already? [ Not something she would personally attempt because HOW DO I LIE? but it seems like there is a lot of lying and not telling people things going on in this story. ] How would anyone know for sure?

"A battle that would engulf the whole world"...With more'n two sides, 'cause you've named lots, right? Why would a pirate king cause that, though?

Nice people can definitely do bad things! And people can do bad things because they think it's for a good thing. Like the equalists, right? I...definitely don't think the things they were doing were okay. ...'Cause being tied up was pretty not okay, an' also they invaded our island. But they thought they were doing something...good. I guess.

Punk Hazard? ...Hey, d'you have a map for all these islands?

Hmmm. He's kinda like an Avatar, then! Straw Hat, I mean! [ she's using Smoker's name for him now just because it's been used so much in this conversation, without really thinking about it. ]

So the World Government is kinda like the Republic City Council - there're representatives in a big group. [ Likening these things to her own world is helping her sort through it, although it sounds much, much more complex than the politics her father has talked about at home. ]

You met Dragon? [ interest piqued ] What was on your mind at the time?

...but didn't they not pretend if they didn't help out? What's Impel Down? Is that another island?

[ Okay she would have asked more there but she got a little distracted by serious giggles when that pose happened.

What. Was that.

It doesn't fit at all with Smoker's face or tone, and what sort of excuse is that for anything what. Okay no she's getting back under control now, promise. ]

So - the shichibukai areeeee Crocodile who isn't anymore, Jinbei, Blackbeard, Boa Hancock, and Hawk-Eyes Mihawk? Are there other ones? ...How do you become one, anyway?

Pushed out for what?

I see. Only four of you? And I take it you're all descendants of Aang? Are you trying to restore the scrolls and history?

And who are the Equalists, why did they tie you up and invade?

All right, of all the people in Luceti who've eaten devil fruits... First you have to know there are three types. Zoans can turn into an additional animal species, Logia are elements like fire and smoke, magma, or ice, and paramecia are the most diverse and there are lots of them.

White Hunter Smoker, myself, marine vice admiral: Smoke Logia.
Fire-Fist Portgas D. Ace, 2nd division commander of the Whitebeard pirates: Fire Logia.
Phoenix Marco, first division commander of the Whitebeard pirates*: Mythical zoan phoenix.
Death Surgeon Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates*: Operating Room paramecia
Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates: Rubber paramecia.
Demon Woman of Ohara Nico Robin, archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates: Blossom paramecia -- it means she can duplicate body parts like flower petals.
Humming Brook, musician of the Straw Hat Pirates: Revival paramecia -- Actually I'm not completely certain on his. He's a skeleton now though.
Ghost Princess Perona, formerly of Gecko Moria's crew: Ghosts or "hollow" paramecia.

[**Notes! Smoker is aware of Marco's recent upgrade in leadership since Whitebeard's death, but with Ace around, he's unwilling to flaunt that, just as Marco doesn't introduce himself as a captain either. He's also aware of Law's move from pirate to shichibukai, but Law's not updated and he doesn't want to be the one to give it away.]

However, many strong pirates do not have devil fruits at all, such as Mihawk, Shanks, and the rest of Straw Hat's crew here. Nico Robin should be renamed because politically making her the survivor of Ohara just strengthens the Revolution's cause, and for bounty hunters or marines it does nothing to explain her devil fruit.

In Luceti of shichibukai we only have Mihawk right now. We had Hancock and Blackbeard in the past, however. [Which is what gave him time to work on that awesome impression ;)]

Hawk-eyes Mihawk, Bartholomew Kuma, Boa Hancock, and Don Quixote Doflamingo are still in the shichibukai. Gecko Moria died, and Crocodile, Jinbei, and Blackbeard defected, so their bounties are reinstated -- and added to now -- and they're considered as much an enemy of the World Government as all the other pirates, maybe more. There are three more shichibukai now, but I can't say who they are yet. [Half because ooc his mun doesn't know yet, and half because ICly, he doesn't want to give it away for people two years behind.] You become a shichibukai by being a strong infamous pirate captain and they send a letter. I've heard Portgas was offered the position multiple times, but sent back the messages on fire when he refused. At any given time there can only be seven. Which is what the "shichi" stands for.

Some of them helped a little at Marineford, but not because they wanted to help defend the world or protect it. Boa Hancock destroyed more marines than pirates, and Gecko Moria used marines' shadows -- that was his devil fruit. Crocodile and Jinbei wound up helping Whitebeard of all things, Blackbeard was just a complete wild card. No sides expected him to do what he did. Kuma did help against Whitebeard, but that's complicated, because he's sort of a robot now, and I still think he's more allied with Dragon's Revolution than not.

Shanks might know what One Piece is, but no guarantees there. No one's found it yet, because no one's reached Raftel since Roger did it. If someone succeeded, the whole world would know about it. And that's where the war comes in. Whatever they find, they're going to have to fight for, every bit as much as just getting there. And yes, all sides would probably be involved. It would get extremely messy. And hopefully won't ever happen.

I wouldn't say Straw Hat's like an Avatar. His goal isn't to restore peace or balance, and he's not a hero. He's just the man who wants to become the next Pirate King. That alone has a lot entailed. [He totally approves of her calling Luffy by his bounty name though. Now if he can just corrupt others into it...]

Impel Down is pirate prison. There are several prisons throughout the world, but the worst offenders go to Impel Down. It used to be impenetrable. It even held Colossal Battleship Sanjuan Wolf -- a giant about the size of a mountain -- until Blackbeard broke him free.

Punk Hazard is an island in the New World. It's off-limits because it was destroyed and still has some poison from the explosion left over. It was used as the site for Aokiji and Akainu to fight over who would be the next marine fleet admiral. That's what happened to Aokiji, my former boss. He was in line to become the next fleet admiral, but Akainu -- also known as Sakazuki, did really well at Marineford. There was a strong push for more Absolute Justice, something stronger to deal with the pirates who are getting more out of control every year, and especially in Whitebeard's absence. [Up to now, Smoker's been pretty factual, no emotions about most of it, just stating facts. Here, it's still factual, but a lot sadder sounding.] They decided to duel over who would be the next Fleet Admiral and run the marines. Over which kind of justice which rule the new era. Sakazuki won, Kuzan lost. And yes, I think the Republic City Council sounds a bit like the World Government. They were the ones supporting Sakazuki in this case.

[Shakes his head, rolling back the history dial about two and a half years.] I met Dragon at Loguetown when he stopped me from arresting a small-name rookie pirate. At the time, I just wanted to know why the most wanted man in the world was even taking an interest in something so out of the way and obscure. I didn't find out until Marineford that Straw Hat is Dragon's son. That tends to be a pattern with Straw Hat and I. I cornered him in Loguetown, he got rescued by Dragon. I cornered him in Alabasta, he got rescued by Portgas. I cornered him in Marineford, he got rescued by Boa Hancock.

As for maps, the world isn't all mapped yet, even if it was, you can't sail the Grand Line with normal compasses because each island has its own magnetic field. But let me see what I can do to explain some of it...

[He starts sketching a bunch of stuff into the journal (see next comment)]

[First we start with: Picture one!]

The world is divided into four oceans by the Red Line -- which are those islands squished together I mentioned, and the Grand Line. Both the Red Line and Grand Line intersect each other at Reverse Mountain and Mariejois or Fishman Island. Mariejois is the Holy City of the World Government, so pirates are obviously not allowed through. However, the can go under the Red Line through Fishman Island, which the World Government marines can't police.

The Clam Belts which I drew with the yellow dotted lines, are areas of ocean with no winds, no storms, no weather. As such, they're perfect breeding grounds for seakings, and nearly impossible for most people to get through. The tracts of ocean create extra turbulent currents for the Grand Line, and the weather is notoriously insane, even without each island creating its own weather system.

Straw Hat, Roronoa Zoro, and Cat Burglar Nami, and I are all from the East Blue. Black-Leg Sanji was at least in the East Blue for quite some time, but I'm not sure if he's a native. In any case, Loguetown is my home island and where Gold Roger was born and executed. It's the last stop for any East Blue pirates before they can go to Reverse Mountain and into the Grand Line. Reverse Mountain uses the chaotic currents to create rivers or pathways that flow up from each of the four blues, and then down into the Grand Line.

I was a Captain in Loguetown at the time with a perfect track record, so when Straw Hat showed up, I almost had him arrested, until Dragon stopped me. East Blue is the weakest of the four Blues, and generally pretty boring. Loguetown itself is pretty dull and its only real claim to fame is Roger. So having Dragon show up definitely took me by surprise.

[Now to map two!]

Alabasta is further along the Grand Line, it's very big and one of the oldest countries in the whole world. You should probably ask Vivi about more than that however. Impel Down is in one of the Calm Belts, underwater. Punk Hazard is after Fishman Island in the New World. Marineford is the fort along the Red Line that also protects Mariejois -- though they're far enough apart to be safe even from Earthquakes. Sabaody is an archipelago of mangrove trees where the pirates get their ships coated by the sap of the trees so that they go underwater to Fishman Island.

In the New World there are about 3 islands starting off, one with lightning rain. [Which he tried to draw.] But Punk Hazard is off the usual compass directions. It's nearly on the direct opposite side of the world from Alabasta, as you can see. [Ish. Kind of. Again, no maps means accuracy is not a sticking point.] I also drew G5 as the grey dot. That was my new base. My men there are pyromaniac idiots. [But he loves them. In his super tsundere way.]

From there the islands are various different emperors' territories or No-Man's Land. Wano doesn't have any world Government involvement, and Foodvalten used to be a Whitebeard territory. I don't really remember which islands are in Shanks territory or not. I knew Kaidou has a bunch. Big Mam has even more, including Fishman Island now. And Elbaf is somewhere out there. Maybe in the sky. And there's some famous island with sakura growing... Either way, at the far far end of the New World is Raftel. No one's reached it since Gold Roger. Anyone trying has died along the way.

But that's the basics of the world's geography. Oh and Enies Lobby is always sunny, and the Florian Triangle is always dark. There's also a train that connects Enies Lobby, Water 7, Pucci, St. Poplar, and San Faldo, but I have no idea how to draw those connecting, and other than Enies Lobby, they haven't come up.

We are! There's my daddy, who was the first airbender born after grandpa - he's the youngest of three children, Aunt Kya and Uncle Bumi being older, an' they're a waterbender and a non-bender respectively. Ummm, you know about the genocide, then? ...But, anyway, the other ones besides daddy and me are my big sister Jinora - she's ten - and my little brother Meelo, who is five. I have a new baby brother called Rohan who might be a bender, but we don't know for sure yet.

When my grandfather was much, much younger - ...actually, when he was about his age right now! - there were people who, after the war, really admired the peaceful ways of the air nomads who had died before any of these people were born. Grandpa decided that he would need help to restore our people, sooooo he called them the air acolytes and taught them everything he remembered. The air nomads as they are now are made up of the air acolytes and the airbenders. Before, when grandpa was a kid, all air nomads were airbenders, but the air acolytes came from alllllll the other nations. The air acolytes wrote down a lot of what grandpa told them, and we...actually we write a lot down now, probably 'cause of what happened, and there are air acolytes living in some of the original Air Temples now. They've restored them in some ways and changed them in others, 'cause originally only airbenders could get to the air temples, and since so many air nomads aren't airbenders now...

The thing about the air acolytes is that while they are definitely, definitely my people, they don't have the air nomad blood in them. So only my daddy and my family has that, and so...we're the last-first airbenders. It's our responsibility to make sure we're not the last-last. An' there are parts of our culture that require you to be an airbender - instruments and things that play different when you're an airbender - an'...well, yep, more or less?

[ Oh geez Equalists. She doesn't look bothered by the question, but it's definitely going to require a bit of exposition. ] How much d'you know about my world? So that I know where to start to answer 'bout the Equalists and being tied up and the invasion thing?

Mmm, yep! I do know a bit about the different types. Vivi told me a little bit. [ Also she's sort of completely aware of the whole "swimming failure" part of devil fruits. Vivi was, in her defense, six when she let Ikki in on all these secrets. She's learned a few of the fruits people have had, too, but this is the most comprehensive list by far, including a few names that are new to her. ] ...A skeleton?

The survivor of Ohara? What happened at Ohara?

Oooooooooh. [ Shichi means seven. She files that away, noting it sounds like some of the other words she's learned from other people. ]

So, why did Blackbeard break people out? That's what he did that no one expected, right? ...Wait Kuma is sort of a robot? How are you sort of a robot?

The thing about Avatars is that even though that's their job, history normally happens around them. ...Or they have to go where it's happening, hahah. That's the way it's kinda similar, right?

[ Ikki notes the change in tone when Smoker talks about Akainu and Aokiji's duel, but she just nods, thoughtfully. ] How was Aokiji's justice different from Akainu's?

[ GEOGRAPHY. She doesn't actually ask for clarification here, since it just helps her to figure out all these places, or at least how they're working. The divide between the two worlds makes a lot more sense now, and it's clear that oceans just work differently in Smoker's world than they do in her own. She leans in to see the drawings and traces the lines a little bit, mouthing the names, and nods finally after a little while.

...WAIT no one definite question. ] ...How's a train connect islands?

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice; 1/2 oh god this is long apologies in advance

voice; 2/2

voice; never apologize

voice; Nooooope still have to apologize for this. One Piece Politics 101 as viewed by Smoker: ahoy!

voice; IT'S STILL COOL

video; And thus a beautiful friendship was born

video; she tends to swap with whatever people do. 8|

video; 1/2 -- fufufu XD /educates all of Luceti by teaching one B)

video; 2/2

video;

[nothing in here, aka giving Smoker a /you tried/ star]

[nothing in here, Smoker's /you tried/ star]

[nothing in here, looks good on you, man]