Action // Journal || Ocean Guide; to the end of the world

[justicereigns]

[As Smoker moves through the village of Luceti, checking old haunts, and getting his things, he catches himself up in his usual way of stalking the journal before heading to the barracks.]

[As he wanders, he sings quietly in a deep voice.]

♫The ocean sees the beginning of the world,
And the ocean knows the end of the world.
Thus, it calls us towards the way we must take.
Thus, it leads us towards a just world.
Enveloping pain and suffering,
greatly and kindly wrapping them up.

[It's ironic actually. Aokiji, no Kuzan, (how many times must he remind himself of that?) loathed that song. A marine's dirge.]

♫The ocean sees the beginning of the world,
And the ocean knows the end of the world.
Even if I were to disappear,
The omniscent ocean leads the way.

[Was Justice really like that? So omnipotent that even after Smoker died, people would fight on for her? For a just world, by traveling to the end of the world to fight for justice. Smoker usually believed he had to do it because if he didn't, who else would? But these days, it seemed more and more like marines weren't the ones fighting for that just world after all. What was Kuzan? What was Doflamingo? Tch.]

♫I must not fear, because you are here.
I must not be timid, because my comrades wait for me.
We must advance towards the blue horizon.

[And so Smoker carried on, but he no longer fought just for justice. He also did it for his friends. For the G-5 marines, who without Smoker, really had no one. For the kids who were going to grow up viewing pirates as heroes. For those like Kuzan who fought to protect him and save the world with justice even when Justice seemed to fail.]

[Smoker falls into old habits like riding a bike. Even if he doesn't have his Billower Bike here. He has something better. He has friends. Still, he doesn't check up on them first, he goes through old motions with his jitte, old routines, and ignores his own whistles of pain from air sucked quickly through teeth. Yes, Law had done a good job of patching him up back in their world, but then he got beaten an inch from death by Doflamingo. Fucking shichibukai, Smoker was so done with the lot of them. Done with the brass, done with politics -- no. He wasn't. Not yet. He wouldn't fall yet. Because it wasn't just for the ideal of justice that he kept fighting. The ideal of true justice bound him together, bound him to his friends, but those people needed him and he wouldn't fail them. Kuzan was so much smarter than he let on, but did he know how deep the course of corruption ran? It seemed that every time Smoker found one rabbit hole, the warren turned out bigger than an entire island worth.]

[Sometime when it's all over, he walks around at night, singing again and looking at houses.] [That's when he makes the journal post in voice.]

I'm back. Ikki, get your ass back to the village if you left. [An irritable huff.] And I need to see a doctor. [He can't bring himself to say please. Can't bring himself to mention Law by name either.] Whoever's available, it's important. [He probably shouldn't have been exercising in this condition, but whatever. He goes at his own pace.]

For New Feathers, I'm Smoker. [A marine. Vice Admiral of G-5, it means nothing to no one, except a few, and to G-5, he's their last savior. Traitors everywhere.] I intend to pick up teaching basic self-defense, kickboxing, and jitte outside the barracks, daily. If you haven't been told yet, there are Drafts rather frequently and the Malnosso have no qualms about taking noncombatants.

And to anyone a little more battle-hardened... [Where does he even begin? "Hey have you ever had one day where everything you ever knew about right and wrong were turned inside out, only that day then sort of became the story of your life? Oh and my best friend is currently a badass hobo who saved my life from a good guy traitor. Not really sure how to take that...."]

I just had a very long day that lasted about twenty years of my life. I need a drink. [And a friend. A pair of ears. Someone to talk to him and tell him he wasn't going nuts. Or maybe just tell him the truth... whatever that was at this point.] That's meant to be an invitation. Open to anyone. For one night only, that includes pirates.

Comments

[toujoursfluer]

[that song stirs something melancholy in her. She knows it, of course. It's difficult not to. And she's always had a secret fondness for it even if 'justice' is not a concept which she has fond memories towards. Above all...

she is somewhat glad to hear Smoker's voice. He is a marine, true. But he is familiar and moreso than Law is. Besides, if he needs an ear or five, she's certainly the best candidate to lend them]

Very well. Where shall we meet?

[justicereigns]

[He has to think first. He's still in a bit of pain and needs to get treated. But fuck that. Smoker's a rebel. And by rebel, we mean teenager idiot at heart.]

Barracks or you can pick someplace you feel comfortable. [Because honestly, whatever. Intellectually, yes, Smoker is well aware of the dangers of meeting along with Nico Robin anywhere, but he still remembers her laugh about them all being trapped together, still remembers how she fought to save him and his men even when they were idiots, even when they were pathetic, even when they worse to her than she was to them.]

[Yeah, he needs a huge drink.]

[toujoursfluer]

You're being accommodating. [she wondered why] Did you miss me that much? How sweet.

[justicereigns]

What can I say? I'm usually surrounded by idiots, and you're slightly less idiotic than the rest. [Is that even a compliment?]

[amberguardian]

Why do you need to see a doctor? Are you alright?

[She's ready to fly out the window!]

[justicereigns]

[Kohaku...]

[How much can he hide...]

The Malnosso patched me up some.

[When the Malnosso are healing you...]

[amberguardian]

But you said you needed a doctor.

[Can't hide much. She's lived with a doctor for a few hundred years.]

[voice]

[selphie_t]

[Wait a second.

This voice, gruff manner... it's too familiar for words. She hasn't been back all that long and the holes in her memory makes it akin to swiss cheese. She can't not respond to this. Besides, he sounds like he needs help and she'll do whatever she can to do so.

So Smoker is about to get one very worried sounding Selphie speaking to him.]

I'm not a doctor but I found a couple of restorative items from my world. They taste bad but they'll help patch you up?

[voice] 1/2

[justicereigns]

How bad? [Because this is a man who lives on cigars. But he is damned particular about his cigars. And coffee. And rum. He doesn't mind bitter things though.]

[voice] 2/2

[justicereigns]

Wait. Selphie?

[Smoker has the perfect ear for voices. He can even tell apart banadile growls for crying out loud! And even if it's a doppleganger thing like Kotetsu and Sanji, he'll take the chance.]

[voice]

[selphie_t]

Hi hi! You'll have to forgive me though, my memories aren't fully back yet but I can totally find my way around no problemo!

And potions? Depends.

Action

[hero_of_smiles]

[Cross was doing his usual stroll around the village. Since there was very little to do, this would be one of the many things he'd do when he ran out of activities to do.

He chose a good day to go out. There's the same hulking figure, the one who introduced himself the first day he came here. There was Smoker, singing. WELL. That was something he never expected out of such a large man or serious one to boot.

Doing the most practical thing, Cross just follows the man a distance. He didn't want to interrupt the little song and he just wanted to keep listening. He just sneaks along listening, and once it seems like it's all over he was about to approach. He overhears Smoker making his Journal post. It sounded like someone could use some cheering up.

And when he finally approaches he does it in the most eloquent of ways.

Jumping into the trees, moving to the one closest to Smoker that he would be able to face him, and drop down hanging upside down on a branch, facing the man face to face.]

Helloooooooooooooooooooo, Smoker! Nice night, huh?

[Sometimes spontaneous action was good medicine.]

Action 1/3

[justicereigns]

[YUP THAT WOULD BE GOOD....]

[If Smoker wasn't a little paranoid and recently beaten to a pulp by a man who travels on wires and shows up just like that.]

Action 2/3

[justicereigns]

[But Smoker isn't a man know for rash action.]

[So he just twitches while he figures out who it is and why.]

[Fortunately, he has also mellowed considerably thanks to G-5, the New World, and Tashigi.]

Action 3/3

[justicereigns]

[So he just pokes Cross's forehead. It's semi-affectionate, honestly.]

Are you always this loud?

[Just because he has mellowed does not mean he is any less tsundere.]

Action

[hero_of_smiles]

[Yeah, now he can see the beaten to the pulp thing. Aaaand shit...he really should've thought of this better. He's really not sure how to take that reaction Smoker's giving him. Was he angry? Would he hate him? His own little paranoia sets in; until the poke in the head.

That's when he's completely relieved and he gives the man a smile, before jumping down onto his feet.]

Mmm...not always. Just felt like it.

[And now he jabs Smoker's chest.]

And where've you been? Been lookin' for ya everywhere.

[Voice]

[uccellodifuoco]

Selphie is back. She remembers, more or less. Kotomi is gone.

[And wherever she is she doesn't remember them, obviously.]

I'm a fucking phoenix bird. Literally.

What the fuck has happened to you to need a doctor?

[Warmest welcome ever, but Ikki's actually relieved of having Smoker back. Really. It's just that it's not being one of his best times specially so close to August -less than a month for his birthday, he hasn't wanted to kill someone as much as he does now-.]

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

[Actually for Ikki, he seems to be doing really well! Smoker doesn't know whether to be proud of him or suspicious.]

[Let's go with pride.]

Oh, nothing. [Heavy sarcasm.] Two shichibukai, a logia user, and the other commanding vice admiral of my base took offense to my face. I took offense with their lack of justice.

[Voice]

[uccellodifuoco]

Hn, about time someone took offense to your face.

[Not, but given Smoker's job and character it doesn't surprise Ikki that much that he ends having to deal with so much crap.]

How long has it been for you? I lost count here.

[Here's Ikki expecting Smoker to say something close to several years.]

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

I'm not a doctor, but I could give you some of my ki.

[Video]

[justicereigns]

It works like that? [He's fairly surprised since haki does not.]

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla nods.]

Yeah, it can be used to make other people stronger. I don't mind sharing some with you to help you feel better.

[Action]

[daisy023]

[Sometime after Smoker's announcement, the Spartan comes to seek for him, having returned to her demeanor before Keimi's departure, thanks to Saori, Twilight, and Ami.

She opens the door of the bar. Sitting close to him, with stealth now instinctive for Spartans to move about even within armor, she speaks.]

Is that offer still standing, sir?

[Action]

[justicereigns]

For you? Always.

[Gestures.]

[He misses Keimi. He was looking forward to seeing her smile when he came back, but he can't tell anyone, can't explain it.]

[It'll go unspoken, but he's got a feeling, Daisy already understands.]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[She tries giving the Vice-Admiral a smile, but the two of them know this is a reason he is here. With Saori's help, Daisy was getting to cope. But didn't mean she didn't miss her a lot.

At least, in that new bed, she doesn't have to wake up expecting keimi to be there.

When she sits bending her legs sideways, Daisy doesn't even get the idea for a beer or anything alcoholic, but simply takes a vanilla milkshake. The girl remains silent, looking down. Smoker's was a look of emotional exhaustion, and she recognized it. Not just for Keimi, but... something else.]

I'm sorry, sir. [She mutters.] For Keimi. For whatever else might've happened.