Smoker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
justicereigns) wrote2009-08-21 08:21 am
justicereigns) wrote2009-08-21 08:21 am
ooc log
Who: Smoker and Allen
When: Sometime last night
Why: So Allen can join Smoker's ship and because Allen hasn't eaten in 4 days D:
Where: Smoker's kitchen + hallway + cabin boy room
Rating: G for vague commanding officer fluffyness and I forget if he swore much so pretend it's whatever rating it should be.
Smoker stalked to the kitchens on a midnight snack run. He was exhausted but couldn't sleep, too many things to deal with, too many things he was thinking over. Maybe he should stack some rocks. In the meanwhile he needed food. Maybejustice pie. As he got closer his ears perked up at the sounds of someone else awake in the refrigerator. Expecting one of his own men he walked in casually asking, "What are you having?" before seeing it wasn't one of his own men at all.
The kid with a star-shaped symbol over his eye was stuffing his face with some strange golden-colored thing also eating ravenously. A small thought about pirates flickered through his mind but he was Rinali, Lavi and Miranda's friend. Of sorts. So he refrained from going for his jitte, simply arching an eyebrow instead waiting for an explanation if any were forthcoming.
Discovering the Kitchen was one of Allen's biggest discoveries. His grumbling stomach had been screaming since he'd arrived, but this, this was heaven for it. Allen was stuffing himself fully, both hands full at the same time, and Timcanpi was doing exactly the same, only without fingers.
Allen was so consumed in his sneaky little meal that he hardly noticed the voice calling out, but as he registered it he turned around, food still dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes widened for just a moment before he dropped what he held, gave Smoker a cheesy, embarrassed grin, and grabbed Timcanpi out of the way.
"Relax kid," Smoker crouched down in an attempt to be less menacing with his height. "I'm not going to arrest you. You always eat this much? When was the last time you had a decent meal?" The words were worried but the tone of voice was still gruff and Smoker's face didn't completely soften the sharp angles, twin cigars still puffing away but away from the kid for now.
Allen continued to look guilty, though, and cringed backwards slightly when Smoker crouched down. Scratching at the back of his head with dirty fingers, he grinned wider and replied, "Now's the first since I arrived."
He kept his shoulders stiff in case he had to run.
Smoker's eyes widened in alarm, "That's at least what, 4 days?" He frowned, "How old are you anyway?" He couldn't judge the ages of these kids from other worlds, most of them looked young only to be older than giants. Still, too many orphans running hungry already in this world if they were going to get ones from other worlds, the least the world government could do was protect them. It was only justice.
Allen watched as Smoker's eyes widened, but he was used to it. He could go for days without eating, but when he finally did, he definitely wouldn't hold back.
"I-I'm 15," he said with a wary grab at Timcanpi's tail to bring him closer again. With one last look at the food he turned fully to Smoker, slapping his hands against each other to dust off the dirt.
"15," Smoker stated flatly. About the age he'd been when he first joined the academy. He'd been a scrawny kid unable to get much food himself until the marines let him in. The commodore stood and went into the fridge to pull out some food to give to the boy and the... toy? How did it eat? Whatever. "How's cherry pie sound to you?" he asked conversationally. He pulled out some for himself and went into a cabinet for plates and forks, half expecting the kid would eat it straight as it was.
Allen grinned as Smoker said his name, and nodded sheepishly. Then he noted how Timcanpi (who was devouring a plate) was being looked at, and he turned to grab at him again, but it was too late. Warming up to Smoker, Allen replied, "Sounds great." He eyed the cabinet, and wondered if they could speed up.
His Innocence arm hung limply at his side, but Allen hadn't realized it wasn't being very strong yet.
"Come take a seat with me," Smoker gestured leading out the kitchen doors and towards some tables you. "Your ah... toy? Will pie work for it too?" He eyed the gold thing warily. It looked like something Vegapunk would have made and wondered idly if Rinali's brother had anything to do with it.
"But it is mechanical..." Smoker blinked, taking a seat and laying out pie for the three of them. The not-toy was definitely reminding him of Vegapunk inventions now. "No matter," he shook his head clear, pulling out the cigars for a quick first bite. "On the Grand Line starvation gets to most pirates. I wish I could say marines were responsible for most of the pirates deaths but the truth is, they succumb to the natural hazards the Grand Line has to offer. Storms, heat stroke, starvation, illness, or violent death." He gave Allen a firm stare, asking importantly, "Where are you planning to go?" It was nothing short of criminal to let kids, actual kids rush off to their deaths without giving a chance for something better. No matter what pirates said, a life in the marines would always be better than that end. Especially for a kid.
Allen's smile fell a slight bit, but he hitched it back up again when the pie was laid out in front of him. Immediately, he wolfed it down, Timcanpi fluttering over to Smoker's with his mouth widening.
As he stuffed his mouth, Allen tried replying, but sprayed the table with chow. Swallowing, he thought for a moment and replied, "Wherever my friends go. I don't know where I can go in this place..." he looked up musingly before taking another large chomp.
"Rinali's in my crew already if she's one of your friends. She was apparently keeping the alien in a closet. I need to get him his own room still." Smoker pinched the bridge between his eyebrows. More things on his to-do list. "The marines is the best life I can offer you. You'll never... ever have to go hungry. Especially not on my ship. It's hard. There's training most hours of every day but it's to teach you how to survive, to defend yourself and protect others. Justice." His eyes glittered when he spoke of it, they probably always would. "You can have a life for yourself here."
Allen listened intently, nodding every now and then to show how he understood. He looked a little surprised at the "alien in a closet" bit, and wondered about it for a split second before focusing on Smoker's speech again. By then the pie of his was gone, of course, and his fingers were still closed over Timcanpi's tail to prevent him from eating Smoker's.
He cocked his head to the side in thought before saying carefully, "I don't want to sound rude, but... You sound really passionate about having people join the Marines. Are you afraid we'll become pirates...?"
Noticing the devoured pie Smoker passes his own slice and looks through whatever's in the foil wrapping. He tilted his head slightly at the question. "Partially and on the Grand Line your chance is pretty much nil as a pirate. As a marine, it's the best chance you or anyone has or living to see the rest of tomorrow or next year. If you were a pirate I'd have to arrest you of course but more than that... too many people wind up turning to piracy just thinking it's fun and games or that they have no other options. There are other options. If you want to work at a shop or as a fisherman or whatever suits you, that's fine. But marines give people a purpose, a goal, someplace to be. Makes you an important part of justice."
"Exorcists were... Born for justice," Allen mused to himself, his words almost impossible to hear. His grip on Timcanpi's tail loosened and immediately he surged forward for the remaining pie. The Marines seemed, to Allen, like the safest people to join. Also, it wouldn't be very different from being an Exorcist...
Allen looked into Smoker's eyes and asked firmly, "What'll I have to do?"
Allen cringed slightly. He remembered that he'd spoken to a wanted pirate once, and then another one, without much care. He reminded himself to be more careful the next time he met them.
Allen exclaimed, "Like that Mello-" he cringed at the smell of the cigar wafting over, being reminded of the reeking smell of General Cross' own cigars.
"I've fought Akuma before. I... Maybe I'd pick up reading. I don't know what else I can be useful for."
"Yeah," Smoker sighed, noticing the cringe and pulling the smoke back towards himself and turning away slightly. Smoke wasn't for everyone. "Like Mello. He's the kind of guy that under different circumstances would have made a great marine instead he's a serial killer and pirate and all that entails." He glanced back at Allen over his shoulder, "Be careful of that one. I'm not saying don't talk to him, I still do but he's likely to charm you where you don't expect it if you let your guard down. Don't forget he is a liar and a killer. If he tries to lure someplace it's a trap. So don't fall for it." Smoker sighed heavily, "Most pirates will probably seem like your demons. They're monsters. Some of them even have powers like mine that make them that way. But some pirates aren't what they seem. And those... be careful."
The marine elder pause to scratch the back of his neck thinking, "What kinds of things you like to read? I got a pretty full library if you want. Most of it is stuff from around here so I don't know if it'll interest you but offer stands." He shrugged casually.
Allen's eyes widened at the way the smoke moved but he stopped breathing in through his mouth, his face turning grateful. He nodded as he listened, but turning his eyes downwards he said, "That Matt person seemed so harmless, though. Until I found out he was the 'right-hand-man' person."
Allen thought for a moment.
"I think I can ask Lavi to give me a few good suggestions, if I want to read. What kinds of books are 'around here'?"
"Matt's not actually a bad person," noted the marine with a short nod. "He's actually a good detective just... Have you ever met someone who believed in loyalty above all else? When Mello and Matt were younger they were going to be detectives in their world. And Matt stuck by Mello through everything. He's not a bad guy. Orphe thinks; and I'm a little inclined to agree, he could still be brought back to justice. That does happen to pirates sometimes. Under a good person vouching for them and turning them back to justice they can even wind up working for the marines. My friend Hina has one like that in her crew. Matt isn't all bad. Neither are Akito and Agito." He almost paused, almost wincing. The young 15-year olds was a sore a subject. "But that's what pirates do. They don't just ruin their own lives they take down others with them."
Grabbing a small sip of coffee despite the late hour Smoker thought for a second. "Lavi would probably know. And I set him on the task of finding more about the history of your world if you want to help. Here there's... I assume all the same genres you have there. Mysteries, fiction, legends, history. Not too many books about the Grand Line survive. Journals and the like are rare and valuable resources but I have a few. I guess it depends on what you're interested there too. Most of my books are about this world's wars, history, politics, culture and development. Or tactics. I've got some leisure books though."
Allen felt better after hearing it. Matt really didn't seem that bad, and Allen hadn't wanted to think of him too badly. 'Hina', 'Akito and Agito' were unfamiliar names, but Allen thought it wouldn't really matter as long as they weren't dangerous.
"Lavi's good at that. He'll definitely find you something valuable," Allen said with a confident grin. "I suppose I'd read the books about the Grand Line. I want to know more about this place. As you said, we have to learn things to survive here." Allen inclined his head towards Smoker.
The older man nodded at that. "Right kid. And I trust Lavi. He's already gotten on the ball with it so he certainly seems competent enough." He tilted his head with a small pause, "So you'll definitely stay here then?"
Allen was happy that Smoker trusted Lavi. No matter how mischievous Lavi was, it was undeniable that he was a very reliable source of help and information. He wondered though, for a moment, about Kanda. Kanda would have a harder time if he ever joined, and even though Allen didn't have a strong liking for him, he acknowledged Kanda as a fellow Exorcist and hoped everyone could stick close.
"I guess I will!" Allen said, sounding optimistic.
Grinning happily at the enthusiasm Smoker stood up, "Okay. There's three meals served daily and food on the dining banquet tables during working hours. The kitchens are always open kid, just don't wake up the cooks if you can't find one, you'll just have to get something yourself. Don't make a mess of things. Here, I'll show you a room you can have."
Timcampi, Smoker committed the name to memory as best he could if just so he knew what to call the thing. He held up his hand in an old marine habit as if to say hold. "Don't fret it. Just do your best to learn what you can here. Any problems, come straight to me. And fencing is with Yachiru. It's mandatory unless you can defeat her. Don't think because of her size that she's easy."
Allen pursed his lips when Smoker help his hand up, straightening his back. He knew authority when it stood before him.
"Alright. I guess this Yachiru is pretty short?" He tried imagining the height of a shorter sparring partner and wondered if he could bear fighting her.
He chuckled shortly at that. "You could say that." Holds his hands up to how tall she is when she sits on his shoulders measuring before pulling away. "Like this when sitting. Pink hair, if you have candy on you she will pounce you and take it like a rabid monkey. Actually I better start you off against Tashigi first."
Allen peered at the measurements and mimicked them. He was going to fight a child? Allen felt a guilty squiggle in his stomach, but he was sure they had reasons letting a child fight with older people. Still, no matter how good a fighter, was it safe to let a child fight...? Allen mused over this for a moment before asking, "And Tashigi is...?"
Allen couldn't believe him, and he wouldn't until this Yachiru told him herself. Still, Smoker seemed right. People in this place did unexpectable things, and were different themselves.
Allen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Sounds pretty harmless."
Smoker snorted. "Feel free to tell her that too. She'll kick your ass. For all her faults she is a good swordswoman. Like I said, in this place, don't take anything for granted. You could still wake up one day to find down is up and up is down."
Allen grinned and crossed his arms. "I'm not actually good at using swords." Swords. Kanda. Damn, if Kanda beats me... Allen straightened his back. "I'll train as well as I can. E-even if everything goes vertigo-ish..."
Grinning wryly Smoker assured him, "Then you'll learn and get better. And if it's any consolation I've never seen it go vertigo on my ship yet. Just been told it can happen here. A lot of mysterious phenomenon on the Grand Line. Things that just shouldn't be possible."
Allen hoped he would. He had already been thinking if he could fight non-Akuma with his Innocence... He swung his left arm just because and felt something make a crumbly noise inside it, making him gasp in alarm. He tried to mask his worry and listen, but his Innocence didn't seem to be in good shape and he was occupied with it. "Things... That just shouldn't be possible?" He looked up at Smoker, looking away from his Innocence with a bit of willpower. "Got it."
Smoker turned sharply at both sounds and peered closer to the arm. "What just happened?" he asked intently in a tone that left no room for argument or lying. If he had to, he'd pick the kid up and carry him to the doctor on the 2nd floor even if he wasn't sure how much good it would do
Allen shook his head, hard. His gaze hardened and he stepped in a fashion that turned his left side further away. With a "keh" noise, Allen tried to breathe deeply and answer.
"This is a... Very normal occurrence," he lied, right hand cradling his left as he spoke.
"From the fight with an akuma," Smoker ground cigars in his teeth irritably thinking fast. "What do you do when this happens? Any way to fix it? You should at least see a doctor. Maybe there's something we can do here they couldn't do there. Different medical technology." He refused to ask how much it hurt figuring the kid was already putting on a brave face and mothering him would just make it that much worse. Still he worried.
Yes, Allen felt pain. But it was a different sort of pain - a pain connected to something in his chest more than just physical pain. Parasitic Innocence is more connected than Equipment-Type Innocence, and as Allen remembered this he released his left arm. The crumbling only happened when he'd moved it after a long while, and if he just allowed it to stay as it was, it seemed pretty alright. With a shake of his head, Allen replied, "I'm fine."
Allen gave Smoker a wide grin, and looked around for Timcanpi, casting for a change of topics at the same time. "So! What do I do tomorrow, other than sparring with Tashigi?" Allen took a few steps to his left in random, and grabbed at Tim at the same time.
"Am I sharing a room?"
"Tomorrow you can just acclimate yourself to the ship. Ever been on a boat before? It can take some getting used to. And your room is your own right now. A little on the small side but servicable." He led him passed various supply closets. "Uniforms, not required on my ship but recommended you wear something signifying you're a marine in town so civilians know. Towels. Sheets and crap. Pretty much anything you'll need we should have."
Allen nodded. Sure, he'd left the ship he was supposed to go to Edo on, but he could get used to it. Small rooms were fine to him; his time with his Master gave him no room and this room was obviously large enough. "Thanks. Is there a specific time I'm going to wake up at tomorrow?" he asked, as Timcanpi burrowed into sheets.
"Since it's your first night here and you're up late just get up whenever you feel ready. You can ease into the schedule over the next couple of days." Smoker arched an amused eyebrow as Timcanpi snuggled into the sheets. "All the watch hour shifts will be posted in the halls. Just look at the next two weeks as a tutorial, it'll get explained as you go and become second nature before you know it."
Allen wondered if he was being tested. To be safe, he reckoned he should wake up earlier the next day. With a smile he sat down on the sheets, cocking his head to the side, allowing his fringe to cover half of his face. "I'll remember all this," Allen said, trying as hard as he could to remember where the information was.
"If you forget, just ask someone. They'll point you in the right direction. Anything else kid?" Smoker crossed his arms over his chest, get ready to leave.
Allen said No and stood up again, noting how Smoker was going to leave. "Thank you," Allen said, bowing slightly. It was a formality that not many people were used to, but he did it all the same.
Smoker blinked, used to a salute to be more formal. "Hah don't jump out of bed or anything kid. Just salute," he demonstrated, "It's easier. Night."
Allen relaxed himself a little more and saluted awkwardly (first using the wrong hand, before correcting himself).
"Good night."
When: Sometime last night
Why: So Allen can join Smoker's ship and because Allen hasn't eaten in 4 days D:
Where: Smoker's kitchen + hallway + cabin boy room
Rating: G for vague commanding officer fluffyness and I forget if he swore much so pretend it's whatever rating it should be.
Smoker stalked to the kitchens on a midnight snack run. He was exhausted but couldn't sleep, too many things to deal with, too many things he was thinking over. Maybe he should stack some rocks. In the meanwhile he needed food. Maybe
The kid with a star-shaped symbol over his eye was stuffing his face with some strange golden-colored thing also eating ravenously. A small thought about pirates flickered through his mind but he was Rinali, Lavi and Miranda's friend. Of sorts. So he refrained from going for his jitte, simply arching an eyebrow instead waiting for an explanation if any were forthcoming.
Discovering the Kitchen was one of Allen's biggest discoveries. His grumbling stomach had been screaming since he'd arrived, but this, this was heaven for it. Allen was stuffing himself fully, both hands full at the same time, and Timcanpi was doing exactly the same, only without fingers.
Allen was so consumed in his sneaky little meal that he hardly noticed the voice calling out, but as he registered it he turned around, food still dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes widened for just a moment before he dropped what he held, gave Smoker a cheesy, embarrassed grin, and grabbed Timcanpi out of the way.
"Relax kid," Smoker crouched down in an attempt to be less menacing with his height. "I'm not going to arrest you. You always eat this much? When was the last time you had a decent meal?" The words were worried but the tone of voice was still gruff and Smoker's face didn't completely soften the sharp angles, twin cigars still puffing away but away from the kid for now.
Allen continued to look guilty, though, and cringed backwards slightly when Smoker crouched down. Scratching at the back of his head with dirty fingers, he grinned wider and replied, "Now's the first since I arrived."
He kept his shoulders stiff in case he had to run.
Smoker's eyes widened in alarm, "That's at least what, 4 days?" He frowned, "How old are you anyway?" He couldn't judge the ages of these kids from other worlds, most of them looked young only to be older than giants. Still, too many orphans running hungry already in this world if they were going to get ones from other worlds, the least the world government could do was protect them. It was only justice.
Allen watched as Smoker's eyes widened, but he was used to it. He could go for days without eating, but when he finally did, he definitely wouldn't hold back.
"I-I'm 15," he said with a wary grab at Timcanpi's tail to bring him closer again. With one last look at the food he turned fully to Smoker, slapping his hands against each other to dust off the dirt.
"15," Smoker stated flatly. About the age he'd been when he first joined the academy. He'd been a scrawny kid unable to get much food himself until the marines let him in. The commodore stood and went into the fridge to pull out some food to give to the boy and the... toy? How did it eat? Whatever. "How's cherry pie sound to you?" he asked conversationally. He pulled out some for himself and went into a cabinet for plates and forks, half expecting the kid would eat it straight as it was.
Allen grinned as Smoker said his name, and nodded sheepishly. Then he noted how Timcanpi (who was devouring a plate) was being looked at, and he turned to grab at him again, but it was too late. Warming up to Smoker, Allen replied, "Sounds great." He eyed the cabinet, and wondered if they could speed up.
His Innocence arm hung limply at his side, but Allen hadn't realized it wasn't being very strong yet.
"Come take a seat with me," Smoker gestured leading out the kitchen doors and towards some tables you. "Your ah... toy? Will pie work for it too?" He eyed the gold thing warily. It looked like something Vegapunk would have made and wondered idly if Rinali's brother had anything to do with it.
"But it is mechanical..." Smoker blinked, taking a seat and laying out pie for the three of them. The not-toy was definitely reminding him of Vegapunk inventions now. "No matter," he shook his head clear, pulling out the cigars for a quick first bite. "On the Grand Line starvation gets to most pirates. I wish I could say marines were responsible for most of the pirates deaths but the truth is, they succumb to the natural hazards the Grand Line has to offer. Storms, heat stroke, starvation, illness, or violent death." He gave Allen a firm stare, asking importantly, "Where are you planning to go?" It was nothing short of criminal to let kids, actual kids rush off to their deaths without giving a chance for something better. No matter what pirates said, a life in the marines would always be better than that end. Especially for a kid.
Allen's smile fell a slight bit, but he hitched it back up again when the pie was laid out in front of him. Immediately, he wolfed it down, Timcanpi fluttering over to Smoker's with his mouth widening.
As he stuffed his mouth, Allen tried replying, but sprayed the table with chow. Swallowing, he thought for a moment and replied, "Wherever my friends go. I don't know where I can go in this place..." he looked up musingly before taking another large chomp.
"Rinali's in my crew already if she's one of your friends. She was apparently keeping the alien in a closet. I need to get him his own room still." Smoker pinched the bridge between his eyebrows. More things on his to-do list. "The marines is the best life I can offer you. You'll never... ever have to go hungry. Especially not on my ship. It's hard. There's training most hours of every day but it's to teach you how to survive, to defend yourself and protect others. Justice." His eyes glittered when he spoke of it, they probably always would. "You can have a life for yourself here."
Allen listened intently, nodding every now and then to show how he understood. He looked a little surprised at the "alien in a closet" bit, and wondered about it for a split second before focusing on Smoker's speech again. By then the pie of his was gone, of course, and his fingers were still closed over Timcanpi's tail to prevent him from eating Smoker's.
He cocked his head to the side in thought before saying carefully, "I don't want to sound rude, but... You sound really passionate about having people join the Marines. Are you afraid we'll become pirates...?"
Noticing the devoured pie Smoker passes his own slice and looks through whatever's in the foil wrapping. He tilted his head slightly at the question. "Partially and on the Grand Line your chance is pretty much nil as a pirate. As a marine, it's the best chance you or anyone has or living to see the rest of tomorrow or next year. If you were a pirate I'd have to arrest you of course but more than that... too many people wind up turning to piracy just thinking it's fun and games or that they have no other options. There are other options. If you want to work at a shop or as a fisherman or whatever suits you, that's fine. But marines give people a purpose, a goal, someplace to be. Makes you an important part of justice."
"Exorcists were... Born for justice," Allen mused to himself, his words almost impossible to hear. His grip on Timcanpi's tail loosened and immediately he surged forward for the remaining pie. The Marines seemed, to Allen, like the safest people to join. Also, it wouldn't be very different from being an Exorcist...
Allen looked into Smoker's eyes and asked firmly, "What'll I have to do?"
Allen cringed slightly. He remembered that he'd spoken to a wanted pirate once, and then another one, without much care. He reminded himself to be more careful the next time he met them.
Allen exclaimed, "Like that Mello-" he cringed at the smell of the cigar wafting over, being reminded of the reeking smell of General Cross' own cigars.
"I've fought Akuma before. I... Maybe I'd pick up reading. I don't know what else I can be useful for."
"Yeah," Smoker sighed, noticing the cringe and pulling the smoke back towards himself and turning away slightly. Smoke wasn't for everyone. "Like Mello. He's the kind of guy that under different circumstances would have made a great marine instead he's a serial killer and pirate and all that entails." He glanced back at Allen over his shoulder, "Be careful of that one. I'm not saying don't talk to him, I still do but he's likely to charm you where you don't expect it if you let your guard down. Don't forget he is a liar and a killer. If he tries to lure someplace it's a trap. So don't fall for it." Smoker sighed heavily, "Most pirates will probably seem like your demons. They're monsters. Some of them even have powers like mine that make them that way. But some pirates aren't what they seem. And those... be careful."
The marine elder pause to scratch the back of his neck thinking, "What kinds of things you like to read? I got a pretty full library if you want. Most of it is stuff from around here so I don't know if it'll interest you but offer stands." He shrugged casually.
Allen's eyes widened at the way the smoke moved but he stopped breathing in through his mouth, his face turning grateful. He nodded as he listened, but turning his eyes downwards he said, "That Matt person seemed so harmless, though. Until I found out he was the 'right-hand-man' person."
Allen thought for a moment.
"I think I can ask Lavi to give me a few good suggestions, if I want to read. What kinds of books are 'around here'?"
"Matt's not actually a bad person," noted the marine with a short nod. "He's actually a good detective just... Have you ever met someone who believed in loyalty above all else? When Mello and Matt were younger they were going to be detectives in their world. And Matt stuck by Mello through everything. He's not a bad guy. Orphe thinks; and I'm a little inclined to agree, he could still be brought back to justice. That does happen to pirates sometimes. Under a good person vouching for them and turning them back to justice they can even wind up working for the marines. My friend Hina has one like that in her crew. Matt isn't all bad. Neither are Akito and Agito." He almost paused, almost wincing. The young 15-year olds was a sore a subject. "But that's what pirates do. They don't just ruin their own lives they take down others with them."
Grabbing a small sip of coffee despite the late hour Smoker thought for a second. "Lavi would probably know. And I set him on the task of finding more about the history of your world if you want to help. Here there's... I assume all the same genres you have there. Mysteries, fiction, legends, history. Not too many books about the Grand Line survive. Journals and the like are rare and valuable resources but I have a few. I guess it depends on what you're interested there too. Most of my books are about this world's wars, history, politics, culture and development. Or tactics. I've got some leisure books though."
Allen felt better after hearing it. Matt really didn't seem that bad, and Allen hadn't wanted to think of him too badly. 'Hina', 'Akito and Agito' were unfamiliar names, but Allen thought it wouldn't really matter as long as they weren't dangerous.
"Lavi's good at that. He'll definitely find you something valuable," Allen said with a confident grin. "I suppose I'd read the books about the Grand Line. I want to know more about this place. As you said, we have to learn things to survive here." Allen inclined his head towards Smoker.
The older man nodded at that. "Right kid. And I trust Lavi. He's already gotten on the ball with it so he certainly seems competent enough." He tilted his head with a small pause, "So you'll definitely stay here then?"
Allen was happy that Smoker trusted Lavi. No matter how mischievous Lavi was, it was undeniable that he was a very reliable source of help and information. He wondered though, for a moment, about Kanda. Kanda would have a harder time if he ever joined, and even though Allen didn't have a strong liking for him, he acknowledged Kanda as a fellow Exorcist and hoped everyone could stick close.
"I guess I will!" Allen said, sounding optimistic.
Grinning happily at the enthusiasm Smoker stood up, "Okay. There's three meals served daily and food on the dining banquet tables during working hours. The kitchens are always open kid, just don't wake up the cooks if you can't find one, you'll just have to get something yourself. Don't make a mess of things. Here, I'll show you a room you can have."
Timcampi, Smoker committed the name to memory as best he could if just so he knew what to call the thing. He held up his hand in an old marine habit as if to say hold. "Don't fret it. Just do your best to learn what you can here. Any problems, come straight to me. And fencing is with Yachiru. It's mandatory unless you can defeat her. Don't think because of her size that she's easy."
Allen pursed his lips when Smoker help his hand up, straightening his back. He knew authority when it stood before him.
"Alright. I guess this Yachiru is pretty short?" He tried imagining the height of a shorter sparring partner and wondered if he could bear fighting her.
He chuckled shortly at that. "You could say that." Holds his hands up to how tall she is when she sits on his shoulders measuring before pulling away. "Like this when sitting. Pink hair, if you have candy on you she will pounce you and take it like a rabid monkey. Actually I better start you off against Tashigi first."
Allen peered at the measurements and mimicked them. He was going to fight a child? Allen felt a guilty squiggle in his stomach, but he was sure they had reasons letting a child fight with older people. Still, no matter how good a fighter, was it safe to let a child fight...? Allen mused over this for a moment before asking, "And Tashigi is...?"
Allen couldn't believe him, and he wouldn't until this Yachiru told him herself. Still, Smoker seemed right. People in this place did unexpectable things, and were different themselves.
Allen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Sounds pretty harmless."
Smoker snorted. "Feel free to tell her that too. She'll kick your ass. For all her faults she is a good swordswoman. Like I said, in this place, don't take anything for granted. You could still wake up one day to find down is up and up is down."
Allen grinned and crossed his arms. "I'm not actually good at using swords." Swords. Kanda. Damn, if Kanda beats me... Allen straightened his back. "I'll train as well as I can. E-even if everything goes vertigo-ish..."
Grinning wryly Smoker assured him, "Then you'll learn and get better. And if it's any consolation I've never seen it go vertigo on my ship yet. Just been told it can happen here. A lot of mysterious phenomenon on the Grand Line. Things that just shouldn't be possible."
Allen hoped he would. He had already been thinking if he could fight non-Akuma with his Innocence... He swung his left arm just because and felt something make a crumbly noise inside it, making him gasp in alarm. He tried to mask his worry and listen, but his Innocence didn't seem to be in good shape and he was occupied with it. "Things... That just shouldn't be possible?" He looked up at Smoker, looking away from his Innocence with a bit of willpower. "Got it."
Smoker turned sharply at both sounds and peered closer to the arm. "What just happened?" he asked intently in a tone that left no room for argument or lying. If he had to, he'd pick the kid up and carry him to the doctor on the 2nd floor even if he wasn't sure how much good it would do
Allen shook his head, hard. His gaze hardened and he stepped in a fashion that turned his left side further away. With a "keh" noise, Allen tried to breathe deeply and answer.
"This is a... Very normal occurrence," he lied, right hand cradling his left as he spoke.
"From the fight with an akuma," Smoker ground cigars in his teeth irritably thinking fast. "What do you do when this happens? Any way to fix it? You should at least see a doctor. Maybe there's something we can do here they couldn't do there. Different medical technology." He refused to ask how much it hurt figuring the kid was already putting on a brave face and mothering him would just make it that much worse. Still he worried.
Yes, Allen felt pain. But it was a different sort of pain - a pain connected to something in his chest more than just physical pain. Parasitic Innocence is more connected than Equipment-Type Innocence, and as Allen remembered this he released his left arm. The crumbling only happened when he'd moved it after a long while, and if he just allowed it to stay as it was, it seemed pretty alright. With a shake of his head, Allen replied, "I'm fine."
Allen gave Smoker a wide grin, and looked around for Timcanpi, casting for a change of topics at the same time. "So! What do I do tomorrow, other than sparring with Tashigi?" Allen took a few steps to his left in random, and grabbed at Tim at the same time.
"Am I sharing a room?"
"Tomorrow you can just acclimate yourself to the ship. Ever been on a boat before? It can take some getting used to. And your room is your own right now. A little on the small side but servicable." He led him passed various supply closets. "Uniforms, not required on my ship but recommended you wear something signifying you're a marine in town so civilians know. Towels. Sheets and crap. Pretty much anything you'll need we should have."
Allen nodded. Sure, he'd left the ship he was supposed to go to Edo on, but he could get used to it. Small rooms were fine to him; his time with his Master gave him no room and this room was obviously large enough. "Thanks. Is there a specific time I'm going to wake up at tomorrow?" he asked, as Timcanpi burrowed into sheets.
"Since it's your first night here and you're up late just get up whenever you feel ready. You can ease into the schedule over the next couple of days." Smoker arched an amused eyebrow as Timcanpi snuggled into the sheets. "All the watch hour shifts will be posted in the halls. Just look at the next two weeks as a tutorial, it'll get explained as you go and become second nature before you know it."
Allen wondered if he was being tested. To be safe, he reckoned he should wake up earlier the next day. With a smile he sat down on the sheets, cocking his head to the side, allowing his fringe to cover half of his face. "I'll remember all this," Allen said, trying as hard as he could to remember where the information was.
"If you forget, just ask someone. They'll point you in the right direction. Anything else kid?" Smoker crossed his arms over his chest, get ready to leave.
Allen said No and stood up again, noting how Smoker was going to leave. "Thank you," Allen said, bowing slightly. It was a formality that not many people were used to, but he did it all the same.
Smoker blinked, used to a salute to be more formal. "Hah don't jump out of bed or anything kid. Just salute," he demonstrated, "It's easier. Night."
Allen relaxed himself a little more and saluted awkwardly (first using the wrong hand, before correcting himself).
"Good night."
no subject
Commodore you better take care of my friends or Imma bite you >:K
no subject
fft he will bby~
no subject
no subject