justicereigns | Rock Stacking at the River / Action & Picture

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Rock Stacking at the River / Action & Picture

[Smoker might have gone a bit on a bender. One of those "everything is wrong, let's just drink into oblivion" kinds. Justice isn't what it ought to be, pirates are turning into heroes and even Smoker isn't as good at hunting through people's hearts as he thought. Vergo was adjusting his newspapers and Smoker didn't even catch on. That was why he needed Tashigi, and she wasn't here. So here in Luceti, Smoker couldn't tell enemy from from friend anymore. At least not on a grand scale. Malnosso? Third Party? Too many factions, too many wildcards. He thought he could just ignore those factions and focus on what was directly at hand, but that's becoming less and less of an option. Option? What options?]

[So he's drinking.]

[And you know what Smoker does when he drinks? He stacks rocks.]

[Sure, that sounds benign enough, but that would be a serious underestimation of Smoker's love for going overboard.]

Now this is what you can do with non-defective rocks! [He is just so proud.]

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[Smoker should have never called Selphie a pipsqueak. It's a golden rule of living with a short person and the duo will likely hear Hyoga barking in the background before the wolf and Selphie happen upon the location of their roommates. She skids to a halt before putting her hands on her knees to catch her breath before thrusting a hand at the grumps with the intent of using some of the small amount of magic she has from home.]

WATER!

[YOU PUT OUT HIS CIGARS!]

[Fizzle.]

[Fizzle.]

[Dead.]

I don't think I deserved that.

[Sulk.]

[Ikki doesn't have cigars to put out. And his Cosmo flames don't even flail at the water spell, so he takes the sudden "rain" like a boss. Arms crossed and glaring at Smoker.]

You did.

[And then he glares at Selphie.]

I'm not sure why I deserved it too, though.

For kicking over Justice city.

[Two grumpy men really know how to bring out Selphie's deadpan bluntness, don't they?]

Because you're both being idiots. So it's time to stop ruining everybody's fun, quit acting like five years olds and let's go home already.

I don't wanna.

Justice City won't just rebuilt itself after the great phoenix attack of '93.

Says the one who came and threw a water bucket at us.

[Kicking another stack, see what he does with your Justice city.]

That was magic, dummy and if you keep kicking those rocks over, there's gonna be a blizzard spell with your name on it.

[Selphie's wondering why she's being the mature one here. Boys.]

Smoker, get up. That's an order.

I DON'T TAKE ORDERS.

[Gawd Selphie. Worst words you could use with Smoker. Smoker talks back to his bosses. In the marines. Guess how well he's taking to it now.]

[Yup. Stubbornly sitting there. You can't make him move!]

What, would you prefer me joining the drunk ranks? Because that's where I was heading before this happened.

[Also a blizzard hardly worries him.]

I'd rather that neither of you drink yourselves stupid.

[And then she focuses on Smoker with an impish grin in place.]

Well then. I guess you really do want me to pour all the rum down the drain.

[Arm fold.] No I don't.

But I could get more.

Somewhere.

[Clearly the solution is to make Selphie join in their fights.]

Or he could just go to the bar and drink there. Pouring the rum down the drain won't serve for much to keep him from drinking.

[Or to keep Ikki from drinking either.]

[Ikki, why are you undermining her methods of getting Smoker home to sober up? Hyne you two are impossible. Why is she living you two again?

She gives the Saint a kick to the shin and a death glare before walking over to the stubborn-drunk-known-as-Smoker and crouching down in front of him.]

Ignore Mr. Fluffy Unicorn there. It's been a couple weeks, isn't that enough?

[Because they didn't give her an option. And because if not for her they would have collapsed completely drunk long ago.

Had Ikki been drunk he would have actually looked around to check if Jabu was there, as he's not he knows that the comment goes for him and just glares at the girl.]

Don't be ridiculous, Selphie. It's never enough in this place.

[He himself would have been drunk since his birthday had it not been because somehow he's so done that he can't even bring himself to care to get drunk.]

Two weeks of binge drinking is plenty regardless of where we are.

Well, besides pouring all the rum down the drain, I guess the only other option is to wait here until you're done working out whatever's bugging you, right Smoker?

[Her personal feelings on the shift aside, she'd rather have Ikki and Smoker deadpanning each other than arguing like they were.]

It was hard on everybody, so don't think that it's something you have to go through by yourself.

[True enough.]

[But the latter comment from Selphie snaps Smoker out of it enough to stand up and pat her head. He's still way too fucking tsun-tsun to give her a hug, even with all the parental feels that refuse to quit.] Oi oi.

It has nothing to do with you two being my kids for that week. I couldn't have asked for better family, got it? [He's actually quite stern about that. He really does love them, and he appreciates both of them, even if he'll never be able to say it.]

[He rolls his eyes instead and grunts, giving a tsundere grunt and looking away.] It's just politics back in my world, and for the first time here [It might be over his head. Nope, can't say that, won't say that. He refuses to admit he might not be invincible about something.] It's actually starting to get to me. The politics in this place.

[His eyes narrow and focus back on the two of them, betraying the idea that he's drunk.] There's a lot more going on than just two Malnosso factions and the Third Party.

[Ikki was about to tell Selphie that it had nothing to do with the memory alteration thing, but Smoker manages to snap out of it quickly enough for him to not need to.

He listens to Smoker in silence, not finding himself surprised at all by learning what exactly the problem is. He really expected that given the conversation they had when Smoker had just returned. Ikki has a comment for it, regarding politics back at Smoker's world, but he decides against voicing it, another time, maybe.]

Getting drunk will only make you see double and add even more to the already large number of issues going on in this place, you know. None of it is going to go away while you drink, and some of that shit may come and get us with our guards down while you're busy killing your liver.

Do you want to add that to the list you're dragging already? Having been too drunk to help or react properly when that stuff happens and gets Selphie and me?

If you want to get drunk, at least do it for a good reason, not because politics are finally getting to you.

[Ikki is such an empathic, kind, polite and loving friend...]

[Selphie hops up and catches Smoker's hand with hers, gripping it tightly and refusing to let go. She let's Ikki say what he wants, understanding what he's getting at from the blunt speaking and merely nods.]

I don't get politics either but I won't let it keep me down and it shouldn't be keeping you down either. Besides, we're all in this together and sometimes a friend needs someone to tell them when to stop.

[She smiles kindly and squeezes his hand.]

So it's time to stop Smoker.

[That does kind of get to him. The idea that he needs to be on guard. Not so much the acknowledging the friends who try to help him though, since even back home his friends always tried. And he's mad at them for it. Oops.]

[Smoker just grunts and hands Selphie the corked bottle, an empty one he fills with water and rests against his forehead.]

Fine. But I'm not leaving Justice Rock City yet.

[Smoker and Ikki aren't people normally moved by "friends are here" speeches or arguments, on the contrary those things may end having the opposite effect at times. That's why Ikki didn't even bother to think of that and almost rolls his eyes at Selphie's two cents, they aren't bad cents but if that was all they had on their side he doubts it would work.

Then again, he knows exactly what is bothering Smoker, more or less. So he knows that now more than ever a friendship speech won't help the man who has been forced to question his own judgement regarding the people he trusts in back home.]

Do as you wish, I personally have no intention of leaving Justice Rock City either.

[At least he's not causing more mayhem there?]

[Selphie accepts the bottle happily and holds onto it as she moves to sit on a rock that's out of Smoker's creative path.]

You're not getting rid of me now.

[But she's curious about something. She pulls the cork out of the bottle and takes a sniff at the contents before smacking it back into place and scrunching her eyes shut in disgust.]

Man, how do you drink this stuff? It stinks!

I actually prefer harder stuff when I can get it.

[Just saying.]

[And awwww you two. He loves you. In his tsun-tsun way.]

Are we supposed to be thankful you weren't trying to get yourself drunk too fast?

[Ikki approaches to where Selphie is to try and grab the bottle to take a sip, curious to see how "bland" it really is.]

[Selphie sees Ikki coming toward her and frowns a bit before popping off the cork and tilting the bottle slightly.]

One more move and the rum goes to the ground, Ikki. If Smoker's not having any then neither are you.

Rock Stacking at the River / Action & Picture

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