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"Big Fish, Small Barrel"
Topic Started: Feb 11 2015, 03:51 PM (454 Views)
Rounin
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[ *  * ]
He stretched his legs as he stepped from the ship's gangplank. He still hadn't quite managed to get used to the feel of the swaying ships beneath his feet, even after the last few years of adventure he had experienced since leaving his home on the Hitsuji Archipelago. Every time he stepped off a ship, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

It hadn't been a particularly long trip. Nowhere in the West Blue was too terribly far from one another, and the man had made his living hopping from island to island, taking jobs where they came along. As a result of this, he had never gotten around to purchasing his own ship. That was the reason for this detour, after all. A new ship was going to be a necessity in the immediate future.

He had gotten in touch with a carpenter who ran a brisk business from this island, and he had agreed to furnish him with a ship. He had accumulated some modicum of fame around the West Blue for his strength and skill, and the man said he was happy to supply him with a vessel worthy of his name, and at a discount. Alistair couldn't help but feel like his name was worth roughly a dingy, but he had money to pay, and was sure that the businessman would squeeze him for every beli he could get.

He had arrived a full three days before the ship would be ready though according to the carpenter's most liberal estimates. Still, Alistair had no jobs, no immediate engagements, and no reason to not head to a bustling metropolis of a city like this. Perhaps he could find a job while he waited for his ship to be finished. Alternatively, maybe it would just be a miniature vacation. He hoisted the bags, a great many more than one man could need, and headed for the nearest inn.

After some pleasant dickering with the man who ran the fine establishment, Alistair had procured the room, dumped the bags, and found his way back down to the tavern beneath. Not many people had arrived yet, it still being so early in the evening, but unless Alistair's days had gotten mixed up out at sea, tonight should be the first night of the weekend. People should start pouring in around dark.

Alistair called over a pleasant enough looking serving girl and ordered a mug of ale. She flashed him a flirty smile before walking away, which Alistair returned in kind. She lingered at his table after bringing him his beer, looking him up and down and taking in the measure of him. He didn't try to hide himself like others who might be in at this hour. He was not ashamed to be having a drink so early in the day, nor was he a seedy individual. He sat straight-backed, shoulders pulled back and head held high as he sipped his mug.

"You don't look like most who are in at this hour," she said at last, her voice soft as she leaned against the table, resting her hip on the thick wood. Alistair's eyes started at her midriff, which was revealed by a triangular shaped cut in the bottom of her shirt, leaving two tails that extended down to her hips but left her bellybutton bare. His eyes traveled slowly up her well proportioned body, and landed on her face where her eyes challenged him to look away. Clearly a woman used to turning the type of men who frequented establishments such as these away. Frequently.

Alistair was not one of these men though. His mouth quirked into a grin as he locked eyes with her. She stared him down for what felt like more than simply a few moments before blushing and averting her eyes. She was exceptionally pretty, with tanned skin, dark hair tied into a bun, pretty green eyes. Alistair lifted his mug once again and took a sip without lowering his eyes.

"Nope. Sure not," he said as he lowered the mug once more. She hesitated as she looked him over once more and seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but a yell from a nearby table caught her attention. She glanced at his face and his hair one more time, before going to the table to answer the patron's summons.

Alistair glanced out a nearby window, watching the slow trek of the sun across the sky. Maybe there was more to his fame than he had initially realized. The way that her eyes had lingered on his hair, which was admittedly distinctive, was telling. Who could know? He lost himself in his thoughts as he stared out the window.

The rustle of fabric on the bench across from him brought him back to reality. He looked across the table, and the serving girl had settled down and was looking pointedly across the table at him. She had brought two more mugs of ale, and only then did Alistair notice that while he had been spacing out, he had drank all the way to the dregs. Looking out the window, he realized at least an hour had passed since he had been given his drink. Huh.

"Looked like you were gone for a minute there, stranger. Not like most of the boys who come in here though, down in the bottles and trying to forget about the hard hands life tossed 'em." she said and slid one of the mugs across the table to me while raising the other to her own ruby lips. Alistair raised his mug appreciatively and took a sip before setting it on the table.

"Not that I don't appreciate the refill, but is there a reason that you've joined me? Not that I don't also mind attractive company," he said with a sly smile. The woman blushed lightly again, but she was obviously used to casual flattery. She didn't lock eyes with him again, didn't challenge his gaze, but instead studied him.

Alistair wanted to fidget. He was accustom to uncomfortable situations, but there was something particularly embarrassing about being inspected. Still, he managed to stay still, and sipped his drink once more before resting it on the table. He folded his hands over and rested his chin on his knuckles, letting her get her look.

"You're him," she said, seeming to have finally concluded her investigation. It couldn't have taken more than a few moments. It felt as if it had taken weeks. Alistair merely nodded his consensus. He supposed if anyone would have heard rumors of a bounty hunter, it would be the workers at a dockside inn, where pirates were most apt to frequent. "I've been hearing some bad things about you lately."

Alistair shrugged off her comment. He was fairly certain that no pirate had ever said anything positive about him. At best they had admired his strength, but even then he was just a dog, out for the money. Perhaps even worse than a marine to most. He didn't uphold justice; he didn't sail for freedom; he was a bounty hunter, the worst of the worst. Still, he knew that word going around would be worse lately. Much worse.

"Had some good times, having some bad times; ain't that life?" he said at last. He had no particular inflection in his voice as he spoke, no regret or fear or remorse. Just a practiced detachment. As if these bad times couldn't really matter any less to him.

"Word is that you're being for- she began, but Alistair's eyes darkened and she stopped as suddenly as if she'd been slapped. She lowered her eyes to her mug and took a long pull from her drink. She started to stand from the bench, but Alistair held his hand up and she halted.

"Sorry, I don't mean to seem cold. Just- some of the more recent stories aren't exactly the most pleasant, you know?" he said with a smile. It wasn't like his other smiles though; the well dressed, unabashed man from before seemed to have shrunken a bit somehow. His eyes were no longer strong and penetrating; they were sad, and far away as if lost in another place. "What about something a bit further back? How about I tell you a story about one of my early adventures in all its gory details."

The woman paused, seeming to think this over. It wasn't what she had come over for. Alistair couldn't say for certain if she came to try and trip him, or if she had wanted to get the latest gossip on an apparently popular character in the West Blue. Either way, she seemed to settle for what he was offering; a story from him, in all sorts of rich detail would wet her appetite for gossip just the same as the most recent escapades. She nodded.

"Excellent. What about my very first adventure then? No, that won't do- there's no fanfare in that adventure. Red Sand or Gunsmoke? Popular and interesting, but they're missing something," he said as he called forth memories of his various adventures. He bit his lip as he pondered, and then snapped his fingers. "I know! Wild Wild West Island! The first adventure with myself and her."

When the last word left his lips, his eyes were far away again, but they didn't linger this time. He collected himself, wetting his throat with another sip from his mug before replacing it on the table. He leaned forward on his elbows, his face alive with excitement as he called forth the old memories.

_________________________________________________________

Hmm, now where to begin is the question. The boat when I got off? No, that's not really where the story begins. Though I suppose it would do to mention my intent for coming to the island. I had gotten a job from a friend of mine in the marines; a pretty high level pirate for the Blues had left the Grand Line and then dropped off the radar upon entering the West Blue. I was already on the map as a Bounty Hunter just because of where I grew up, and was on the rise for having accomplished several jobs in short order. Everyone ahead of me in line for this job was already working, so he convinced his higher ups to toss me this bone.

I managed to get wind of him through my modest network of contacts. They didn't know exactly what he was doing on Wild Wild West, but that was where he had last been sighted. That he had gotten there and not been spotted anywhere else said a lot about the job; while he wasn't a particularly highly regarded pirate in the Grand Line, stepping back into the Blues he was an impressively high bounty. To me, it said that he had sailed straight for Wild Wild West.

I booked passage to Wild Wild West as soon as I found out, and was there within three days. At worst he had already left, but that he had gone straight implied that he had some sort of business to take care of. Perhaps he was hoping to use the lands lack of gun control to establish it as his first stronghold. A great many before him had tried, but he was fresh from the Grand Line and full of himself. Maybe he could be the one to succeed where they failed.

I suppose that sets the scene for the way that my mind was working going into the job, but perhaps I've said too much. Lets begin, shall we? The story begins in Ant Ma'am's Saloon.

"Tumble of whiskey," I said as I hooked my foot on one of the bar stools and slipped it out, catching the rounded seat before it tipped over. I planted myself down in front of the bar and looked across to the owner of the establishment, a tough woman, grey hair, perhaps in her mid-40's but with the kind of hard-eyes that were so common back in my home on Hitsuji Archipelago.

She smiled that sort of motherly way you'll see from older women working in taverns. I'm sure you know the type. Friendly enough to make you comfortable, but without all the judgment that you see from certain younger women working in similar positions. Still, the smile never reached her eyes as she reached beneath the bar and grabbed a glass with a rounded bottom and reached for one of the whiskeys on a lower shelf.

"A little closer to the top, actually," I said with a grin. She froze in the act of grabbing, then shrugged and stretched up to the top shelf and pulled down a bottle that might have cost half as much as the establishment for all I knew. She handed it to me before reaching down and retrieving a pristine glass and clean dishrag, wiping away at imaginary filth.

I knocked the drink back in a single swallow, the burn going down my throat was incredible. I'd been drinking for years by that point, and having looted hundreds of pirate ships, our island had had a slew of different alcohols to choose from. I barely managed to suppress a shudder as the liquid fire raced down my throat. I dutifully flipped the glass and set it lip down on the clean bar.

"Fine establishment you have here, ma'am" I said with a smile, taking in the empty bar. It was still early in the day, and most of the people were busy working the ranches or whatever other miscellaneous jobs they had. The place was decked out in World Government colors, their flag hung above the shelves of multicolored bottles, and a well cared for shotgun rested on a plaque beneath them. It looked decorative. It was probably in reach, in case the old woman needed it in a pinch. The safety, I noticed, was off.

"Well thank you kindly, deary," she said and continued to wipe away at the glass. I had only just arrived, but I had already gathered that the island, while not necessarily hostile toward strangers, wasn't exactly what one might call friendly either. Suspicious was perhaps the best word. Too many times, criminals had tried to come along and use the island for their own gain. While these people had handled those problems as they came, it had left a nasty taste in their mouth toward strangers.

"Had anyone new round about these parts?" I asked casually.

"Oh, you know a few people here and there," she said dismissively.

"Anyone interesting?"

"Hm, none that hop to mind."

My target, I assumed, would stand out and that these people would be glad to be rid of him. What I hadn't immediately thought of, was that perhaps they would be equally happy to be rid of me. So even though this woman might be happy to serve me, and would offer me smiles and a few placating words, it would seem she might not be so willing to be drawn into spilling the latest gossip. Delightful.

Little did I know that meanwhile...
Edited by Rounin, Feb 12 2015, 06:46 AM.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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ItsSnarf
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"Tired...so very tired"

Kana whined as softly as she dared, only speaking out to hear a voice amidst the constant silence. Her eyes held dark bags under them as she neared close to a day and a half of being awake. She would have slept had the situation been different but she had to keep herself awake and alert. She was stowed away in the back of the cargo hold after deciding that it was the only way to leave her home. The girl refused to hang around any longer as a sheltered wallflower, she needed to be free. Oh how she was regretting that already.

It wasn't like she had any experience doing this sort of thing. Kana was a good kid growing up, if not too curious for her own good. Any trouble that she got into was assuredly by her own hand. There was a long list of the inventions and contraptions she built and at least half of them involved dangerous components. Still, each incident in the lab was still in the lab. It was controlled and prepared for. Looking through the dusty air she quickly realized that the world outside of her lab would not be so forgiving. She was a smart girl though, no getting caught off guard for her.

As time dragged on it became increasingly obvious that she might have to drop her guard. Her eyes were heavy and her head ripped with a wicked pain, not to mention most of her body ached. The easy thing to do would be to simply nod off. Only for a while she thought, it couldn't be that bad...Try as she might her eyes began to close as if against her will. The Sandman was sprinkling his dust over her until eventually she just drifted away...

"C'mere you!"

"Huh!?" her eyes shot open as a strange hand took hold of her, roughly dragging her out of the small crevice she had hidden in. Kana tried to get her bearings while she was seemingly dragged along the ship's innards. She tried to fight against him, kicking and screaming all the way, but there was little a ninety-nine pound teen could do against a large and muscular man like this one. He must have done all the heavy lifting for the ship. Her eyes trailed up as she was easily carried along, catching sight of a hatch on the ceiling. Their ascension began, against her will, and she was unceremoniously dumped onto the deck.

"Look boys, I found a mouse in the cargo hold!"

The light of the sun was nearly blinding. Kana moved to block the sun's rays out of her sensitive eyes as she slowly adjusted. Okay this is bad, really bad, like super bad. What do they do to people who try to get a free ride? I'm in so much trouble- Her mind was racing until she looked up, catching an older looking man who stood at the helm of the ship. A scowl was under his graying mustache and his arms were crossed indignantly. "Oh boy" she finally squeaked.

The rest of the crew ceased what they were doing, reducing their banter to a mere murmur. "Captain don't like mice on his ship" the burly stranger next to her said. From the way the old man was glaring at her she was inclined to believe him. The Merchant Captain tilted his hat and raised an annoyed eyebrow at the brightly colored stowaway.

"What are you doing on my ship kid?" he said gruffly.

"Oh y'know..." her eyes drifted to the side "Just trying to see the world." He grimaced at her response "Although I'm guessing a jail cell in nice this time of year." Kana sighed at her own foolishness. She wasn't careful and now it was likely her journey would end before it even began.

"You aren't one of those pirate types now are ya?"

What? She picked her head up, shaking it vehemently "No sir, in fact I wanna hunt pirates."

The Captain's face dropped as did the rest of the crew's. Had she said something to offend them? What kind of horrible thing must have been going on through their minds? Her gaze darted around to catch the blank and uneven stares of the crew, their eyes looking right back at her. She pushed herself up with her arms, before resting on her knees. Just when it seemed as though she couldn't bear the silence any longer the Captain grinned.

That's when the laughter started.

In one glorious uproar the entirety of the ship's crew had begun to bellow and guffaw as heartily as they could. Kana's look turned from one of confusion to one of anger, or at least the anger of a child. She frowned as crossed her arms, making a sour face to the man who was so proudly standing above her. "It's not funny!"she cried out. Finally the old captain wiped a tear from his face, clutching his belly in what appeared to be pain.

"You're right mouse, it's hilarious. Little thing like you taking on pirates? That's cute" he playfully uttered. "Tell ya what" he added somberly "Just for that little joke I'll take you to the nearest Island and let you off. But that's your last free ride"

---

The gangplank was lowered onto the docks. A large sign that read 'Welcome to the Wild Wild West' hung at the farthest end of the docks just before the entrance to the town. The crew of the ship began hauling the boxes full of goods off the ship while Kana hung back with the Captain, an amused smirk plastered on his visage. Kana on the other hand was not so happy. Although there was no one that bothered her more in the current moment she begrudgingly told the man "Thank you."

"Oh don't worry about it Mouse" he said, ruffling her hair "Just thought I'd let you know that you should be careful out here, it's a big world." Despite her current feelings she was sincerely grateful for the advice. She was about to leave before he shot her a sly look "And by the way, if you're gonna be sneaking on board ships be sure to be quick about it. Captains see everything." He winked and then nudged her forward.

She stood at the top of the gangplank, her heart fluttering in anticipation. All it took was a few steps and then she'd be on the first Island that wasn't her home. How utterly terrifying. The warmth of the sun was beating down on her and a calm breeze swept through the air. It did nothing to calm her nerves. One step, she nervously bit at her lip, two steps now and she was feeling confident, the rest of the steps followed and she was finally on the docks. Her nervousness turned into an outright look of defiance and she marched her way off the docks. The crew took their time to wave her goodbye.

As the pink haired girl made her way to the edge of the docks she was set to blast right on through...until a hand grabbed at her shoulder. She was firmly held in place and a customs officer looked down at her with indifference. "Excuse me Miss, but I have to ask, do you own a firearm?" he waited patiently, only to be met with a shake of the head. "Ah, very well" and with that he produced a small pistol, placing it into Kana's hands.

"Woah! What are you doing?" she exclaimed, attempting to push it back to him.

"Everyone at Wild Wild West gets a gun" the officer huffed, "Don't you know the rules?" His remark left her dumbstruck to the point that he easily left the gun in her possession. She stood alone staring at the weapon in her hand, making sure to observe it with caution. In what kind of mixed up place did everyone need a gun? The thought was more than disconcerting, and it didn't bode well. If everyone was armed...Kana was besides herself. Her father would be outraged. She had only seen his guns that were hung up on the wall from his military days and it was made explicitly clear that she was not to touch them. There was a silver lining though, she was free to do whatever she wanted. Who cares if he's outraged? I'm on my own!

With no small amount of satisfaction she strapped the gun to her belt and gleefully entered the town. How could something be so frightening and exciting all at once? She strolled in and took note of the various shops that made up the boulevard. There were all sorts of items that were on display in the windows. With catlike curiosity she sidled over to one of the stores and cupped her hands over her eyes, peering inside. The shop was full of beautiful tableware, nothing that interested her save for that it was different. Back at home the only thing to look at was art, and it filled nearly every shop. With her curiosity thoroughly satiated she continued on.

So how exactly did one start a career in bounty hunting? Probably the first step would be to find a target. "So how do you find a target?" she hummed aloud. It was then that her eyes caught a nearby saloon, making her remember that her mouth was rather dry. With a shrug she headed on in, hearsay and a drink all in one place.

The doors to the establishment kicked open and Kana hurried in. The place was practically empty on this warm day, most likely due to the usual patrons being out at work. She silently shuffled her way to an empty table without a clue on who to ask, and more importantly what to ask. She nervously rapped her fingers against the wooden table, being careful not to stare at anyone for too long.

This was going to be a nightmare.
Kana Ueda • N/A • Inventor/Doctor • N/A • Threat: 0 • SD Earned: 0 • Beli: 0 • L: West Blue
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Rounin
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"How about a bottle of beer?" I asked with a smile as I tried to figure out how to work information out of the older woman. She opened a cold box and pulled a brown glass bottle out, sliding it across the bar to me without flourish. I caught it and brought it down to my side. Slipping one of my swords a few inches out of its sheathe, I used the edge to hook beneath the cap and snap the top off, then released the sword to fall back into place, and catching the cap before it could fall. I dropped the cap onto the bar and the door to the saloon knocked open.

I turned when she walked into the saloon. She was a pretty thing, but frail and slight. Like a flower that's just starting to bloom that a strong wind might knock over. Her hair stood out; it was a lovely two-tone pink, darker toward the edges but brighter and lighter toward the top. I didn't give her much thought. She was probably a rancher's daughter, or maybe a young wife.

As I turned back, I noticed that her clothing was different. She wasn't dressed like any of the people I had seen here so far. She didn't wear the tanned leather boots or the cowboy hats and vests that were so popular. Then again, that made sense since I had only seen men wearing these things. She wasn't wearing a flowery, airy dress either though which seemed to be most of the local fashion for women. She was dressed reasonably for travel, I supposed; maybe she was new to the island as well.

I turned back to Ant Ma'am without comment. She was looking over my shoulder at the girl, smiling pleasantly enough, but with the same sort of semi-indifference that she gave me. Probably not a local then, otherwise Ant Ma'am here was just kind of distant. I wasn't banking on it though, given the general air of the community I had seen in my day since arriving.

I heard the girl's knuckles rap on the table and Ant Ma'am's expression became perceptively darker. Evidently she did not appreciate being called like a dog within a moment of a customer walking in. Rather than walking over to the table, she continued polishing the already spotless glass, and instead elected to walk through a door behind the counter and into a backroom. From where I sat, only a few feet away a delightful aroma wafted from it, beef cooking, blended with an array of seasonings too jumbled to pick out any one almost made my mouth water. The door shut behind her though, and she was gone.

I sighed. I had gotten in late last night and had booked a room at an inn not too far away. Calling it an inn might give you the wrong impression of the place actually, as it was nothing like this place here. It was more of a home, where a family had two extra bedrooms that they would rent to travelers. The rates were neither staggeringly high nor particularly cheap, but for your money you got the comfort of a room that could be almost like a home, and a meal in the morning. That meal had been a steak, eggs, and bacon and was quite possibly the most quality meal I'd ever had.

That, unfortunately, was something resembling six hours ago, which the smell of the kitchen had so dutifully reminded me. I grumbled and took a sip of the beer, taking my mind off the pangs of hunger grumbling in my stomach. There wasn't much that could be done right now; Ant Ma'am was gone, no one else was here right now, so I decided I might as well go and talk to her.

I took another sip, the chill running down my throat as I stood from the bar, and walked over to the table at which the young woman sat. I hadn't noticed before, but her skin was extremely pale even in the shadowy lights of the saloon. There were no windows and only a fire in a hearth across the room and a chandelier hanging in the center which gave light to the establishment and still her skin was stark white.

I pulled a chair out across from her and dropped down into the seat with a thump. I took another sip of my beer and then rested an edge of the rounded bottom on the table, keeping my finger on the tip and started rolling the bottom while keeping it balanced with my finger. Just something to keep my hands busy while my mind wandered, really.

"Seems you've gone and upset Ma'am there," I said with a casual smile. I wasn't shy or nervous, of course. I had been away from home for something like two years at that point, and had spoken to hundreds of strangers. Chasing down leads on early jobs, picking up women after successful jobs. If I had known just how important she would be, I might have said something different. Something profound that would have shown her a piece of my soul. Maybe I would have said something more clever that would have made her laugh. Maybe I would have told her that she needed to leave now, before her life ended up ruined. You know what they say about hindsight though.

I flicked my wrist so that the bottle would drop off the table into my waiting hand, my hands talented as always the bottle rolled without falling and dropped into my waiting hand. I extended my now-free right hand across the table, not for a handshake but an offer for her to give me her hand. Like a gentleman at a fine ball, or a knight to a princess maybe. He had been told that it was charming, flattering, or annoying depending on the company he was in. Still, it was his preferred greeting for women.

"I'm Alistair Solaris, if it pleases you," I said, my smile having turned into a playful smirk. Something about her expression spoke of displeasure. While I may have had no idea what was going wrong in her life at that particular moment, it was my experience that a bit of casual flirting could always brighten a woman's day. And if there's one thing that Alistair Solaris has never backed down from, it's flirting with a pretty young woman.
Edited by Rounin, Feb 18 2015, 09:50 AM.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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ItsSnarf
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You know that moment where you feel like you are simply out of your element? Kana was feeling that but about ten times worse. She was completely and utterly unfamiliar with this area and the world itself seemed to be much bigger than she could have ever anticipated. She would have whimpered at the very moment but that would have been admitting that perhaps her father was right to keep her sheltered. Her repeated tapping on the table stopped and she looked up in time to see what she assumed to be the bartender leave in a huff. The brightly colored girl failed to notice the annoyed expression on the woman's face, instead only seeing her quickly retreat into the back of the house where a wonderful scent came wafting from.

She looked over to the only other patron in the bar and bit her lip. She had never seen someone quite like him before. From where she hailed the men were either ex-marines or the artsy types that loved to show their true emotion by wearing dark colors and generally looking miserable. But yet here was a silver haired man with youth in his eyes and a certain kind of control over himself. He sat coolly at his table and quietly sipped on his drink.

Unlike Kana who painted a picture of nervousness, he lacked the anxious ticks that would betray his discomfort. It meant that either the man was simply a good actor, or more likely he was simply not a complete wreck as the teenage girl was. She would have given anything to have even a slight inkling of his...whatever he had. The worst part was that he was probably just a normal guy. From what her father had told her of the outside world there were those that exerted some great force of will. It was indescribable apparently, both amazing and terrifying all at once. Of course as a young girl she pictured a large hulking man who stood unflinching in the midst of a raging thunderstorm. The silver haired gentleman was definitely an impressive specimen, but she wasn't sure that he'd be able to shoot fire from his mouth, fly, anything else that the 'impressive folk' did.

Or maybe she just sucked at reading people.

And then he stood as though he were about to leave. Yet instead of walking towards the door he moved clearly and directly towards her own table. He plopped himself down without so much as a greeting. Kana took one look at him with a raised eyebrow and her lips slightly parted. She looked to her left and then to her right, wondering if this was some kind of prank. It wasn't that she really minded his presence, in fact she could be looking at a much uglier mug than the one that sat across from her, but it was still a bit off putting. Perhaps this was an ordinary custom outside of her home town? "Um..."

Before she could inquire as to why he was sitting down next to her he explained that she had gone and ticked off the older woman who was working the store. She flinched then looked to the back of the kitchen with a concerned look on her face. "Oh! I didn't mean to. I'm just new and...well you probably don't care" she tried to explain herself but she really didn't have a proper one. Not even a minute in the store and she had already offended someone. Apparently not this guy though, so she at least had something good going for her.

She could not have known now how this simple mistake would have led to the great journey of her life, it was just a fleeting moment at the present. It was funny how these small things all added up in life. All she knew now was that a man with no shyness in his tone had brought to her attention that she had messed up.

He held his hand and offered a name: Alistair Solaris. She stared blankly at him for a moment without just realizing how distracted she was. The girl took his hand quickly and returned his smile in kind. "It does please me, very much..." she said almost absent mindedly, but soon realized how that might have been taken "Uh, what I meant to say was my name is Kana, Kana Ueda. Not that I'm not pleased to have you here. Well-...I mean-...I'm gonna stop talking now." If smooth was rated from one to ten with one being the smoothest and ten being not so smooth, she was sitting at about sandpaper.

Sandpaper covering a bunch of jagged rocks in the middle of a desert.

There was no recovering from whatever that was, so instead she just decided to press the conversation forward. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just a little bit out of it today. New town and all that" she retreated to a calmer tone of voice and slumped back in her chair. Perhaps she was hoping the further she slunk down, the more likely it was that she'd be swallowed up whole, but there was no such luck today. Whatever it was about her that brought him over to her table she didn't imagine that it could keep him from ignoring her little outburst. But still, he must have sat down for some reason. As to what that reason was? Kana was just as clueless in that regard as she was in everything else.

"Alistair. Right. Nice to meet you."
Kana Ueda • N/A • Inventor/Doctor • N/A • Threat: 0 • SD Earned: 0 • Beli: 0 • L: West Blue
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Rounin
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[ *  * ]
The pinkish haired woman, who had seemed to have begun only absently rapping her knuckles on the table started as I told her about Auntie's annoyance. A smile tugged at my lips as she started stammering out her innocence, ignorance, and eventually her inaneness. It was a quick transgression, and the woman seemed miserably resigned to Ma'am's response.

She stared blankly across the table, seemingly lost in her own thoughts as my proffered hand remained, supported by my elbow now resting on the table. At last, she seemed to shake off her daze, snapping to attention as she dropped her hand into mine, just the way that a lady should and accepted my introduction.

Then, just like when she had spoken the first time she started rambling. This time I couldn't keep the smile from my face as she stammered out her response, followed by her corrections to her original response. I wasn't sure if she was shy or touched, but it was cute. Mostly in a way that wasn't condescending. I'd have told her it was 95% not condescending, but between you and me it was probably closer to 75.

Finally she got a hold of herself, and things became a bit clearer to me. If she was new to the island, that ruled out asking her for information, which was a bit of a problem. The entire reason that I had come to the table had been to see if I could glean any information from her about my target's whereabouts. I could feel my eyes narrow every so slightly at that, but I fought the annoyance back and kept the rest of my expression pleasant, the narrowness in my eyes slipping away so fast that if she had even seen it, she probably would have thought it only a trick of the flickering fireplace.

When finally she stopped talking, I nodded leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before releasing it and raising the bottle in my left hand to my lips, taking a quick pull of the beer before setting it back on the table where it made an empty thud before coming to rest. I pulled my hands together, clasping my fingers and resting my chin over top the bridge they formed and considered her, a smirk plain on my face.

"Well," I began but was quickly interrupted by Ma'am's return. I say return, but I should really be saying appearance. I have sharp eyes and ears, but that woman appeared from the kitchen like a ghost. She put another beer on the table, scooping up my bottle before giving Kana a quick look and disappearing back to the bar before either of us could say another word. Apparently Ant Ma'am didn't tolerate anything she perceived as rude. I twisted the cap off the bottle and slid it across the table to to rest in front of Kana.

"Had enough to drink already. Got work to do today. Also, it's rare I pass up an opportunity to get a lady drunk," I said with a laugh. "Spooky though. I didn't hear her at all. You wouldn't think a lady her age would be able to get around as fast or as quiet as she does."

I quickly glanced around to make sure she hadn't reappeared just in time to hear me making jokes about her. She hadn't. Which you should know is probably the only reason I'm still alive today. I also made sure to keep my voice low. Y'know. Just in case.

I opened my mouth, preparing to speak again, but suddenly there was a shout from outside the saloon. The double doors were small swinging wooden things that more closely resembled the shutters of my old home than an honest door, so the noise carried in from much further than it otherwise would have. Iremained silent, listening as the two voices walked past the saloon.

"Why'n tarnation would I be poisonin' yer cattle?!" a voice demanded, though it was a voice that didn't sound like it belonged to a man accustom to making demands. Or perhaps it was a man who once made them. Now it sounded raspy, time having weakened a voice that was perhaps once proud.

"Why would I know anything about your motives? All I know is that I'm the fourth farm larger than yours to be hit by this, and yet your cattle haven't had a hair out of place?" a second voice replied, this one crisp and cold, carrying with it the cold authority of a man who was quite used to giving orders, making demands, and getting his way. I bristled instinctively. A voice so grating that just the sound of it was enough to piss me off. Lovely.

I strained his ears to hear anything further, but they were too far past the door now and I could only make out the echoes of their conversation from this distance, which sounded more like a jumble of syllables than actual words. I let the brief snippet of conversation run through my head and tried to figure out why it felt familiar. Like it tickled some part of my brain that felt like it was an inch away from the surface. I bit the inside of my cheek and chewed at it as I stared down at the table and tried to figure out why this felt like a piece of a puzzle.

Then I realized I was being really fucking rude and that I had been staring off into space for what might have been seconds or might have been minutes. My eyes darted back up to Kana's face, before quickly dipping back down to the table as I dipped my head in an apologetic bow.

"I'm sorry, I just- I dunno. I spaced out for a second there, I guess. I was going to ask you how you wound up on this island though," I said raising my head back from the table. My face felt a little warm, but I'm pretty sure that I wasn't blushing. Men of my infamy don't blush, right?
Edited by Rounin, Apr 23 2015, 06:36 PM.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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[ * ]
He was correct in assuming that she didn't notice the subtle drop of his charming visage. It was so quick a flicker of disappointment which inevitably lead to her obliviousness on the matter. Instead he kept himself at a state of calm in her eyes. She would have figured that by now most people would have left after such an interesting first impression. Yet he didn't seem at all phased by her response. In fact if anything he seemed to be amused. Oh how silly he must have thought her in that moment. He may have been expecting some kind of elegant and composed young woman, yet here was just a girl who must have come off as, for lack of a better term, a spaz.

When Kana finally managed to calm down from her somewhat coherent rambling he dutifully nodded...a pressed his lips to her small, delicate hands. If not for the faint lighting of the room Alistair surely would have seen the faintest hint of red in her pale cheeks. Thankfully there was nothing to betray her save for the small 'o' she made with her mouth before nodding back his way. He pulled away from the handheld embrace and she slowly withdrew her hand back into her lap. She reckoned that things could only improve from here on out.

That was why she felt a sense of joy run through her as he shot a confident grin her way. Clearly he wasn't quite yet willing to turn away from the girl. It wasn't exactly on the level of, say, a prince finding his princess but at least he was friendly. Quite unlike Ma'am who had taken to simply ignoring Kana. Unfortunately Kana's perceived rudeness was in fact her own ignorance of social graces. Though she didn't quite understand how something as simple as rattling her fingers on a table was enough to garner ire...such was life. Normally she'd be profusely apologizing to the elderly woman but there was someone a bit more pleasant that was distracting her.

The woman left the two alone to their own devices, and Alistair thought it best to pass the next drink to Kana. His day was apparently one with a busy schedule. Getting a bit tipsy just wasn't in the cards for him. Although she looked nervously at the drink when he voiced his desire to see her drunk. An outright giggle came from her when he mentioned Ma'am again, although she tried to keep her laughter to a minimum. No telling what could happen next if the lady heard the two of them having a laugh at her expense. "Who knows? Maybe there's more to her than meets the eye" she said with a shrug.

The silver haired fellow seemed distracted by something outside, some voices that were speaking about who knows what. Kana could barely make out what they were saying. She wasn't sure what to ask, which left Kana to the drink in front of her. If her father knew she was out drinking then he would likely be blowing actual steam from his ears. She hadn't tasted the stuff once in her life and quite frankly she never wanted too. Of course it would have been rude to refuse the man's offer even if his intentions were dubious at best.

She wrapped her fingers around the cold bottle, the condensation being brushed away by the girl's hand. She brought the drink to her nose and took a sniff, quizzically examining it as though it were some sort of strange creature. She tilted her head and then shrugged, saying to herself "What could one sip hurt?" With that she gave herself a mental cheers and downed a mighty gulp of the drink. Tasteless at first, a look of disgust came over the girl's face as it went down. She hadn't expected it to be that bad. She placed the bottle back down with a clink and stuck her tongue out in displeasure. Only an hour on a new island and she had her first drink as well as her first firearm. What would happen next?

Perhaps it was the action of placing the bottle down, or maybe whatever he was focusing on just went out of reach, but he snapped back to attention just as she had moments before. He bowed in an apologetic manner, told her that he was just victim to a blackout for a moment. She just hoped that meant he didn't notice her pitiful attempt at her first beer.

"No worries" she assured him "I go missing in my head for hours. Lots of ideas up there." Kana spoke earnestly. An inventor like herself spent good parts of the day just dreaming up what to make next. It was much easier than all this conversing, especially with someone like Alistair who had no problems talking. She may have been embarrassed but she wasn't dissuaded. "On this island?" she repeated the question and placed a finger on her lip.

"Well I'm a-" she paused before uttering her status as a bounty hunter. She nodded and smiled "I'm a traveler. Wanted to get away from home for a while." She was content with her tale. It wasn't as if she was being entirely dishonest, Kana wanted nothing more than to get away from her small workshop on Karaoke Island. This was also easier than getting laughed at for claiming to be a hunter, she learned that much from the captain and his crew.

"Anyways, I met an interesting group of fellows and they agreed to take me along on their ship after some careful negotiating" well, more like out of pity, "So I got dropped off here and they shoved a gun into my hands. All in all it's been kind of crazy, but then again I'm pretty wild myself." She tried to play it off nonchalantly, to salvage some bit of coolness, but her failing chuckle probably revealed that she was full of shit.

"So that's my story. What's yours?"
Kana Ueda • N/A • Inventor/Doctor • N/A • Threat: 0 • SD Earned: 0 • Beli: 0 • L: West Blue
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[ *  * ]
She reassured me that it didn't matter that I had gone back into my own head. I'd come to find out that she did the same herself quite often. It was the strangest thing; it was like one second we would be having a conversation, and then all at once she would just stop talking and stare off into space. Okay, to be fair that only happened two or three times, and normally it only happened if there was a lapse in the conversation, but still. Those few times it did happen amused me.

She reiterated his question, and then paused as she thought it through. I sat quietly and waited for her answer. Most people had a ready answer for why they went somewhere. A transfer with their job, need for a change, family woes, that kind of thing was usually the culprit. I wondered if she even knew why she had decided to come to an island with so little to really offer other than a Hell of a plate of beef.

After some consideration, she finally began. She was a- something? I arced my brow as she paused mid-sentence and smiled before beginning again.

"So she does know why she's here, but doesn't want to tell me," I thought as she completed her thought, revealing herself as a traveler. It was a casual omission; an evasion of why she had actually come here, but it suppose it didn't bother me so much. If I had known at the time that she was a Hunter, I might have wondered if she had gotten the same tip that I had, and had come to try to collect his bounty as well.

She explained how she had negotiated passage on a ship to get here. Something in her eyes made it seem like there was more to the story, but it was far beyond me to guess at what it might be. Dropped off was another odd choice of phrasing. The way that she said it made it seem like perhaps it wasn't necessarily her choice. The alternative being that she was just visiting Wild Wild West for the Hell of it, which most people didn't do. The people who did do it at least knew that the town had a strict policy of gun ownership.

When she said she was wild, something inside me snapped. I tried to hold it in, and managed to until she asked me what my story was, but the dam had already burst. I laughed. I couldn't help it, it just rolled out of me. Not the reserved chuckle that I sometimes gave just to be polite. Not the kind of laugh you give when someone makes a joke. This was the full, belly laugh that you give when something so completely unexpected absolutely floors you. The shy and almost mousy persona the girl had shown me so far had been the furthest thing from "wild" I'd ever seen.

"Oh God, thank you. It's been awhile since I've laughed like that. I've been on job after job for a few months now, and haven't had time to sit down and chat with anyone," I said with a smile that was broadened by the laughter whose last bits were leaking out. I drew a deep breath and managed to regain my calm as I looked across the table to her. I knew that she had chosen to omit things, but she seemed like a good girl, and if she wanted to have secrets that was her right. Didn't stop me from liking her one bit.

"As far as my story goes, how about a little background? I'm a bounty hunter, scum of the seas hated by pirate and marine alike. Doing all the good deeds of the marines, but getting paid like the pirates for doing it, and willing to do anything to get their man or some ridiculous saying like that. Fact is that acting with autonomy, and sometimes outside of legal channels gets the job done, and that's what I'm in the business of; getting jobs done," I began, reaching across the table to the bottle that had sat neglected since her first pull. I wouldn't want it to get the wrong idea, or to feel neglected. I took a pull to wet my throat and then continued.

"Since I left my home island, I've been working hard to make a name for myself as a Hunter. I'm only into my second year as an independent Hunter, but I've closed more cases than most men who have been working the trade for ten years and more. All the while, I've stayed inside the law for the most part, excluding ruffling a few feathers that would lose a whole lot more than I did by going to any kind of authorities.

"A few months ago, I was closing in on a bounty but found a Marine division who was working under the command of a young officer who went by the name of Alex. Most Hunters would have tried to beat them to the punch, but I saw the way these guys were working and was already pretty well set up. I decided to throw in and helped them catch the guy and take all the credit. I figured that he'd be a worthwhile contact to have at some point. Since then we've kept in fairly regular contact, he giving me jobs that might normally be better than my current station would get."


I paused and took another pull of the beer before setting it back down on the table and sliding it back toward her. It came to a stop a little more than halfway between us in front of her as I thought back on the bust. I was keeping a bit of a secret here too, though I don't think even Alex knew it. The truth was that I knew there had been more than a dozen men inside of the compound where the bounty was held up, and while I was confident in my ability to take them all on, I wasn't confident that I could do so and catch Willy 3 Guns, as he had taken to being called. Most ridiculous thing I'd ever seen, shooting a gun in each hand and one with his foot, but he had created a network of drug trafficking over a pretty large swath of the West Blue. Alex and I had cornered him, and I had appealed to his pride by letting him have the final blow. I shook my head.

"Anyway, that's what this is. A pirate left the Grand Line about a month ago, and while he was a pretty small fish there, compared to the guys who tend to set up shop here, he's a legitimate threat to the stability of the West Blue. Big Fish, Small Barrel and such," I said completing my story and giving a flourishing, albeit seated bow. "And that, m'lady, is my story."
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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She noticed the quizzical look he shot her way when she paused. He showed that either he had a way of reading people or Kana was just a terrible liar despite her best efforts. Whatever the case may be he didn't seem keen on pushing the issue and let her finish her little tale. Her new friend remained stone faced up until she passed the conversation back his way, at which point she could notice his lips slowly curling their way up into a smile. "Is something funn-" she began to ask but was cut off by his laughter.

Yes, she had attempted to make a joke, though not one that she thought was super humorous. Surely the guffaw that erupted from the table would have gotten the attention of the staff in the back of the house. Despite being the only ones in the room Kana looked a bit discouraged and once again sank into her seat. It seemed that in her attempt to avoid being mocked once again she inadvertently brought to attention her obvious lack of a wild bone in her body. The only thing that bothered her more than his laughter was her apparent transparency.

When he was done laughing, and on the verge of tearing of from it, he seemed at the very least undeterred by her timid attempt at humor. "Well, glad to help" she replied at his mention of his work. She sat straight up once again now that his uproar had subsided, and she was curious as to how this man ended up talking to her. One thing that she would come to learn was that everyone had a story out on the blue. Alistair was no exception, though from his youthful features she wouldn't have ever guessed his was so extensive.

Kana's face fell flat when she realized he was a bounty hunter. Her heart sank like a stone, her shoulders somewhat tensing. To him it would seem as though she were a bit taken aback by his comment. Something stirring her to sit at attention. In this lighting he'd even be able to see her pursed lips for a moment, but only for a quick flash. Bounty hunters, in his own words, were considered the scum of the world. Not exactly the picture she had built up in her mind but there it was. The curious thing though: He wasn't at all ashamed of who he was. That in itself was commendable. Kana definitely reckoned herself as a bit of a unique person, and she already felt there were similarities between the two.

Alistair Solaris was aesthetically exotic like herself. They happened to share the odd two-toned hair that seemed uncommon to her. But their appearances weren't really the aspect of him that she focused on. It was his brief point on acting with freedom from government interference that piqued her interest. Autonomy was the word he had used. It meant quite literally 'self government'. She had lived her whole life dictated by either her illness or her father. Now here was someone who said that a bounty hunter could control their own actions and live the life they desired. If it meant being considered scum by marines and pirates alike? It seemed like a fair trade off.

She perked up as he reached for the bottle in front of her, slightly edging it closer his way. The sooner that gross concoction was away from her the better. She nodded here and there, doing a bit of active listening one might say. When his story finally concluded and he stopped to take a drink she was just stuck in a dreamy haze. Alistair seemed already on the path of a wonderful adventure, and she envied him. A small smile came on her face, happy that his tale affirmed what she had expected. The young inventor wasn't stupid by any means. The life of a bounty hunter may not have been glamorous, and although he illuminated some of the harsher aspects of the career it did nothing to break her admiration of the lifestyle.

With a bow to signal the true end of his tale, she expressed her feelings by clapping. "That sounds wonderful, being able to do whatever you want..." her voice trailed off. She propped her head up on her hands, letting her fingers lock under her chin. "It's funny, I spent most of my childhood on Karaoke Island holed up in my room. I didn't know people lived such interesting lives" she mused happily. She was a kid who spent her time always looking outside the window from her four walls. But now she was outside in the world, she didn't have to 'look but not touch' anymore.

"So..." she continued, nonchalantly gazing at the table, "Do you bounty hunter types keep company? Someone who checks out the town while you converse with young ladies who come into the bar?" She trailed circles in the air with her fingers and glanced back up into his green eyes, "Or are you one of those lone wolf types? Do it yourself sort of guy."

Her question was innocent sounding, just the kind of thing you'd expect from a girl who was naive about the way the world worked. Yet even a good girl such as herself could see that there may be something to gain here. It was a sort of monkey see, monkey do kind of process. Maybe if I could follow him around for just a bit she thought, then I could be like him. Was it a long shot? Yes. Coincidentally long shots were all she had to work with now.
Kana Ueda • N/A • Inventor/Doctor • N/A • Threat: 0 • SD Earned: 0 • Beli: 0 • L: West Blue
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[ *  * ]
I almost slipped the beer back in front of her before I noticed the way her expression shifted when she saw me reaching for it. Clearly the taste hadn't been to her liking. More's the pity and whatnot, but fuck it. I'd only said I didn't want the drink so that she could lubricate her throat. It'd take more than two beers and a tumble of whiskey to get Alistair Solaris drunk.

When my story had finished, and I had taken my bow she clapped animatedly. Her face was alight with excitement, despite the more bare bones nature of the story. I couldn't tell what, but if her reaction was anything to go by something in it had gotten to her. I had thought it my daring adventures, because what kind of woman doesn't love a man's tales of daring adventures?

Then she spoke and told me a bit more of her story. She didn't say much, just a few words about the freedom that I lived with. The way she had been stuck in her room on Karaoke Island. It wasn't much, but it did give me a bit more insight into what made the girl tick. It was hard to tell in the dim lighting of the room but she did seem paler than most girls her age. Then there were her social skills, which while pleasant enough were certainly unrefined.

That said, she seemed nice enough and while she had been a bit flustered when I came over, it wasn't enough to dismiss her natural charm and she had gotten over her spazzing quickly enough. Strict parentage, or something kept her abed? That she left altogether suggested maybe the former, but in addition to her paleness she seemed a bit frail. Maybe the latter, or even both? I'd have to wait for her to divulge more of her story to me. No need to jump to wild conclusions.

I sipped my newly reacquired beer.

When she asked me about whether or not I had someone who went out to scout the town, try and gossip, find out whatever they could she was- transparent is the best way to put it. I narrowed my eyes as I leaned back in my chair, giving her another look over. The guy I was here looking for was a dangerous man. His bounty was low, but he had come from the Grand Line, and from everything I had ever heard life out there was rough. Even the small fish out there were sharks compared to the Blues, where only minnows swam.

Still...

"Typically, I have no problems doing my own reconnaissance work," I said slowly, feeling the words out as I spoke. Bring her along didn't really have any benefits to it, aside from a bit of company and maybe a roll later. Still, if there was anyone I trusted in the Blues to keep her safe, it was me. To that point, I had a pretty sterling record. "But..."

I began right before the sound of a squeaky hinge resonated through the air, and the door slid open to the saloon. I was facing the door and saw as a large man, easily over six foot and weighing somewhere north of 300 pounds stepped through the door. His clothes, a white suit despite the dusty streets of the town with a crisp baby blue lining, and a black belt to contrast the suit and the two guns, flashy pieces that probably cost more than all the money I had put back from the dozens of jobs I had done, all of it wreaked of wealth. Then there was the fucking white cowboy hat that sat ostentatiously atop his head. It was a great ugly thing, with the bill of the hat seeming to reach out almost two full feet in all directions.

As he stepped inside and out of the door, and the sun no longer had entry to the saloon I was able to make out his face. His lips were curled around a cigar and adorned with an obnoxious mustache, which seemed about 3 nibbles away from breaking where his teeth had warn a groove into it. His nose was sharp and angled like a bird of prey as he glanced around the room and spotted the two of us.

Then I saw his eyes.

They were sharp and clear, penetrating as our eyes met. He held my stare for a full three seconds before breaking the eye contact, though not submissively, and walked to the bar. I turned my attention back to Kana, realizing that I had been in the middle of saying something, but for the life of me not being able to remember what. I mentally replayed the conversation up until the man had entered the room.

"But uh, I might be able to bring you along today if that's what you're getting at," I said after what seemed like a very long time, smiling and shaking my head. Something about that man was bad news and it made me uncomfortable to have him behind me. I was far too experienced to let that show though, and I knew that he was probably just some crooked rancher, or whatever they had around here.

Still, that fucking feeling.

I heard him rap twice on the counter behind me, and unlike when Kana had done it I heard the door to the kitchen opening. Ant Ma'am's footsteps shuffled along behind the bar with none of the silent grace that she had shown before. I chewed my lip and thought that maybe it was her son. From what I understood this business thrived during the later hours of the evening, and she had been quick to come when he had given a knock.

"Scotch, and don't give me any of that ice bullshit old woman," he said with such a powerful sneer that even with my back turned to him I could feel it. So he certainly wasn't a son, just a wealthy customer. Then I remembered the conversation that had passed by the door and I remembered the cold voice with its self-assurance and contempt for the person he had been talking to. I bit the inside of my lip and took another pull from my beer before putting it on the table, perhaps a bit harder than I might have needed to.

"So, why the interest?" I asked Kana, trying to put the discomfort out of my mind.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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It was funny that despite Kana's best efforts she seemed to be an open book to Mr . Solaris. Maybe it was her lack of depth or it was just that every bone in her body was as sincere as they could come. Whether that was a positive trait or a negative one would come to light in the coming days, but for now glee filled her every thought as he seemed intrigued by the proposition of her following him along. Thankfully she managed to contain her enthusiasm to a simple smirk, starting the moment he informed her that he did his own detective work.

Of course that was about as far as he got until his voice trailed off, intrigued by the man who walked in. The rusted hinges of the old establishment groaned as they swung open, catching the pink haired girl's attention so much as it did her friend's. She turned her head just in time to catch a glimpse of him. It was plain to see why someone would be thrown off by him. If looks could kill everyone present would most likely be dead. But it was not just his appearance that was unsettling, it was the nature of Alistair's reaction that really stood out to her. It gave an ominous foreboding of what may be to come. She wondered if this was simply how bounty hunter's lives had to be. The girl kept steady, though looked on with foreboding eyes.

She found it a surprise that someone as big as that man could even fit through the door but he stomped on through. Her tablemate was currently locked into an intense glare at the man, and Kana raised an eyebrow as the period of silence between them grew. "But?" she repeated back, trying to break him out of whatever trance he got swept into. Although at this point who could blame her for wondering if he would ever come back to his senses?

But he did, and with not a second to spare, finishing his offer for her to tag along. She tilted her head as the man in white sat down at the bar but turned her gaze back onto Alistair saying "Uh, yeah. Good. Okay." He tried to put on a smile and act like the past few seconds didn't happen but Kana was no fool. Her naivete didn't run so deep that she couldn't spot something so blatantly obvious. Here she had been berating herself for being so transparent, yet Alistair himself had some things he just couldn't hide. She wouldn't push the issue for now if only out of courtesy since he had done the same.

Kana would come to know some pretty unsavory folk. Her preconceptions of bad people were formed on her own little secluded island. Today that was going to change. Her eyes couldn't help but trail over to the counter once more as the man in white showed he was as brutish as he looked. Any imagined sleights that Ma'am could have had against Kana could not have been nearly as bad compared to what this guy was doing. Nonetheless the owner came from the back as though she were his servant. The inventor held no ill will towards the elderly woman, and she quietly wished that Ma'am didn't have to wait on this brutish newcomer.

The reality was that he was a customer, and although a look of dissatisfaction was plastered on Ma'am's face, she was still working. An unappealing voice came droning out of the man's mouth. It was enough to make Kana wince at the mere sound of it. Who did he think he was to be going around and talking to other's like that? Kana's face went flush with annoyance but she managed to hold her tongue. Whoever he was he didn't seem worth the trouble to tell him off.

So far, the girl managed to keep her attention between Solaris and the man in white. She was less distracted then she showed herself to be earlier. Instead her concern was apparent but for the most part she looked as though she had it under control. The only thing completely pulling her back was the sound of glass hitting the table and Alistair's voice. Whatever it was that she was feeling, the silver haired man across the table from her must have been feeling it too. The diminutive girl must have looked quite silly with her fists balled, and an annoyed look on her face.

"Well" she began, finally looking away from the man with the foolish hat, "As an inventor I'm always exploring all of my options. I couldn't really call myself a woman of science if I didn't examine the unknowns of the world right? It also helps that you've piqued my interest. Also if I'm being quite frank I'm tired of being cooped up in my own little world, turns out there is a lot more of it than I ever suspected. I'm guessing someone like yourself can appreciate that."

If her earnest response seemed particularly apparent it was because Kana really meant it. For all the stumbling around her words Kana could be fairly eloquent if it was something she felt strongly about. Her convictions about freedom and life were the only things she had at this point. She knew what she wanted, or at least what she thought she wanted, and nothing short of the hand of a god would stop her.

"So, what do we do first?"
Kana Ueda • N/A • Inventor/Doctor • N/A • Threat: 0 • SD Earned: 0 • Beli: 0 • L: West Blue
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If anything, Kana seemed to be even more displeased about the man's presence than I was. His voice, cold and harsh seemed the perfect companion to sneers of contempt. I heard Ma'am rustling behind the bar and pouring the man's drink without any fuss. It was hard for me to reconcile that with the woman who had refused to even acknowledge Kana for a minor slight.

"Why does it seem this place only serves the piss from my herd?" he asked with a heavy sigh. I stiffened and it took every ounce of restraint to keep myself from flying across the bar and humbling the man. If I were in another town, or if I weren't on a job, or if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that I was going to need him I would have. All of those things were not the case though. I hadn't lost my composure, but I drew my next breath methodically, finding my center as my dad had taught me years ago.

I turned my attention fully back to Kana. Whose face was a snarl of annoyance. I noticed that her fists were drawn so tight that even on her pale skin, the whites of her knuckles stood out. She managed to pull her attention away from the exchange though, and she gave me the answer to my question.

Her answers were simple enough. Freedom and curiosity were probably two of the most powerful motivators in the world, and they were forces that I understood quite well. I had felt stifled back at home, where I was always part of a team in apprehending pirates even though I felt I could do more, and with even more efficiency. The entire village had known my skill before I had left, but even then they wouldn't let me face pirates without a team. It had led to distractions in fighting that I hadn't needed, and even a death or two where there needn't have been any. It was a big part of why I had left.

Curiosity though...

Curiosity had been an even bigger part of my leaving. I had spent hundreds of hours over my last several years on the island with my old mentor, asking him a thousand thousand questions about the ways of the world, different aspects of science and technology, and trying to learn everything about everything. Despite answering all of my questions to the best of his ability, I realized that I was fast approaching the limits of his knowledge and that to continue to learn and grow as a person I would need to leave the island.

Bounty hunting had been a convenience. A practical application of the skills that I had learned and applied all my life that paid remarkably well, and allowed my freedom to travel the world as I saw fit. Now, here Kana stood much like me in some ways, but so much more naive. I smiled at her, a genuine thing that was more than just a flirty smirk, and more than just the smile that accompanied raucous laughter.

"I think I understand quite well what you mean," I said as the smile faded from my lips. During all this, my mind had continued working on the problem of discovering how I was going to find my mark on the island. She had asked a very important question; what do we do first?

It wasn't an easy thing to answer. In most villages where a pirate had decided to show up, the locals wanted them gone. The typical pirate was brazen and did their fair share of pillage, plunder, and the like. That wasn't my mark's style though. From what Alex had told me about his approach in the Grand Line, he had been more of a subversive kind of guy. More of an assassin than a...

Could it be?

The cattle of several large farms had been growing sick. Could they have been poisoned? If ever there were a tool most belonging to an assassin, it was most certainly poison. It'd take a lot, but if the man had made a name for himself in the Grand Line I had little doubt that he had come prepared to take over wherever he chose. Perhaps he had approached the man who had been shouting at the slime at the bar with an offer of partnership, so that he could establish a base of operations while offering up a larger slice of the pie that Wild Wild West island offered.

I grit my teeth when I realized what I would have to do next.

"What you're going to do next is stay here. What I'm going to do next isn't going to be altogether too pleasant," I said with a heavy sigh. I stood up from the table and turned, fingering the hilt of the sword on my right hip. The two swords were well cared for; prizes that I had taken from pirate vessels I had had a heavy hand in detaining back home. The one that I wore on my right was my favorite, even though the swords were twins of one another.

I blew out a breath and walked across the room toward the bar. Ma'am saw me coming and nodded, quietly pouring me another shot of the whiskey I had been drinking earlier. She was quite generous with her portion. Clearly she realized that if I was coming to the bar, it would be to talk to the man, and she understood fully well that if I were coming to talk to him, I was going to wish I were drunk.

I snatched up the drink and plopped down onto a stool next to the man. He didn't even look my way when I sat down, just nursed his drink, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Maybe he wasn't so bad; maybe he and ma'am just had a history of some sort that made her dislike him, and vice versa. Maybe people were jealous of his wealth. Maybe I could befriend the man, and life would be a whole lot easier.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, friend" I said amiably.

"Fuck off," the man said without even glancing my way. Certainly not the start I had been hoping for.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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But of course, I wasn't going to be deterred by some asshole with manner problems. Honestly, if that was the worst that he could throw at me then he had a thing or two to learn about dickery. I'd been doing this for a long time, gotten into bed with haughty women and gotten paid from thickheaded men, and I'd be Goddamned if this asshole snapping at my introduction was gonna send me running for the hills.

"Maybe I gave the wrong first impression. What I meant to say was, 'So I hear you're having a problem,'" I say without missing a beat. He puffed on his cigar again not looking my way, rolling the smoke in his mouth before blowing it in a perfect circle up around the brim of his oversized hat. He didn't say anything.

I didn't say anything.

He didn't say anything.

"Usually people have something to say after that," I said, my voice ever so uncertain. He took another puff of his cigar in response, blowing out another perfect O before turning his black eyes on me, an absolute lack of regard his prevailing manner.

"Didn't I tell you to fuck off?" he said after another moment of consideration. I bit the inside of my cheek but quirked my lips into a half-smile. If he was talking, then he was listening. Probably. Either that, or I was about to waste my time here.

"You did, you did," I began amiably, my half-smile dialing down into a hard expression as I locked eyes with him. "And about that. See, you can piss off as far as I'm concerned. But I figure you have a problem, you look like a well off man with your giant hat and your expensive clothes, and I'd rather like it to not piss off."

He regarded me again, seeming to really take me in for the first time. Saw the swords strapped down at my waist, their hilts popping up between my hips and the holsters for my pistols; saw the scars on my hands and arms from years of training with the tools of my craft. He puffed that cigar again, holding it in for a moment before simply letting it rush out in a single cloud into the air.

"You got stones talking to John Tito like that. Makes it pretty clear you're not from around here. Under other circumstances, I'd pull my gun and put you on the ground for that line of bullshit, but you're actually exactly what I'm looking for this time," he said with apparent disdain. "I have a job, sure, but before I tell you shit why should I tell you anything?"

Just like that, I had him. He was testing me, trying to figure out what it was that made me tick; wanted to know who I was that I would talk to a stranger, and a massive one at that, as I had. There were only two plausible reasons, and anyone who knew character knew it. I could be an idiot. Some brash motherfucker who just showed up in town and thought I was hot shit. Or I could be hot shit. Time to put up or shut up as far as he was concerned.

"Name's Alistair Solaris," I said, letting it hang in the air. It wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I was a moderately well respected bounty hunter at the time, but I was hardly renowned. I was in the West Blue though, where the bulk of my deeds and captures had taken place. I was where my fame was at its peak. I raised the glass to my lips and snapped my head back, sending the whiskey tumbling down my throat, letting the warmth flow through my veins. "I solve problems."

The pieces seemed to have fit together in his head. He was nodding as he glanced down to my swords again. My description wasn't so widely circulated that he would know me on sight, but the presence of a pair of swords and a pair of guns were a pretty good indicator to anyone who paid attention to rising stars in the area. Hopefully he didn't ask about the hammer. Sure, it was just over behind the door but I didn't feel like going to get it, dammit.

"Very well then," he said at last. "You want to help me with my problems? Alright. See, my ranch has been suffering of late. One head of every six of my cattle have fallen ill over the last few months, and no one seems to be able to do a damn thing to fix them. Half of that number have died, and the other half are getting no better. I've gone to the local marines with my complaints, and despite their responsibility to protect the herd, they've not done a damn thing. "

I thought on that as he spoke. One out of every six? That kind of loss would put most ranches out of business. Tito's ranch, from my limited knowledge of the island, was the largest and most successful ranch on the island. He wouldn't go out of business from that number, but damn if it wouldn't hurt even his profit margins dramatically.

Then there was what he had said earlier, outside as he walked past.

"Lemme guess, you don't think that your herd is just falling ill. You think that someone's causing it. Someone here, a competitor maybe?" I said. He nodded.

Well that certainly made things interesting. I had some limited knowledge of poisons from my mother's teaching when I was younger, and from secondhand knowledge I'd picked up on the job over the years, but I was far from an expert. Then again, the odds of someone picking up something completely exotic were slim. Odds were good that it was a standard poison, if someone was poisoning them at all.

I created a mental list of poisons that I knew were readily available in the West Blue, composing a list of perhaps a dozen or so that I knew were common enough to move in quantity that wouldn't attract attention. I could readily identify maybe nine of the dozen on a good day, so the odds were in my favor, at least.

"Gonna need to look around your property, see if I can find the poison. After that, I'll see if I can't find anything that'll lead me to the person who's poisoning them. Might help to have a look at the cattle too, if I can tell what their symptoms are I might be able to figure out whats been used to poison them and get a better idea of what to look for," I chewed the inside of my lip as I considered what else I might need.

"I think that's all. The only thing now we have to discuss is compensation," I said with a grin. His eyes darkened but he didn't say anything. "Now, my flat rate is pretty steep. Cost of a professional, you understand. A man like yourself though, a man of means I'm sure that'll be no tr--"

"We can discuss your payment after you learn what's troubling my herd. Before then, I won't have you breathe a word about another beli, am I clear?" he said, cutting me right the fuck off. I grit my teeth and resisted the urge to tell him a thousand ways he could fuck each individual one of his cattle, instead offering only a tight nod which he returned, knocking back the rest of his own drink and setting it on the counter. He slipped his wallet from his pants pocket and pulled free several bills, dropping them on the counter without a backward glance.

I turned away from the bar only to notice that Kana was gone. Maybe she had hated this guy more than I initially realized. Couldn't blame her. It had felt like two months passed just talking to the asshole. Or maybe she had decided that the bounty hunting life just wasn't for her. I wouldn't find out, but I still wish her the best of luck in her life. My time on Wild Wild West Island was getting ready to pick up though.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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After maybe an hour and a half of riding in a horse drawn carriage, we arrived at his ranch, which more closely resembled a mansion than any ranch I've ever seen. Hey, who am I to judge though? Though maybe it's considered a ranch just because of the property its sits on instead of because of the style of housing. I'm not entirely sure, I'm not a carpenter.

Anyway, the house was gorgeous. White paint on the outside that, despite the arid conditions, seemed to have nary a crack. Black trimmings with golden shutters around the windows because if you're going to build a house like a prick, you go all out on your color scheme. So much so that I'm still not entirely certain if the shutters were real gold or just painted to look like it, because I can confidently say after knowing the guy for a few hours that if someone was going to put gold shutters on their house, it was gonna be this guy.

Then I saw why the outside looked so pristine. There was a small army of cowboys - yes, real and genuine cowboys - climbing ladders to touch up the paint. God, even now when I think back on it, that feels like such an absurd display of wealth, and I'm not hurting for moeny by any stretch of the imagination. There looked to be a corner of a barn peaking around from behind the house, though I couldn't make out any details at the time.

"Sick ones kept in the barn?" I asked glancing over to the big man as he unfurled his massive body from the carriage, his hat catching the sides of the door before bending and slipping through. He nodded which was all the signal I needed to walk away from this insufferable man and his obnoxious holier than thou art attitude.

He called something after me, but I was already too far gone to hear it. I thought about going back and finding out what he wanted but decided that if it were really important, he would send someone to let me know what he wanted. When I didn't hear the metal clang of one of his henchman's cowboy boots, I figured I was in the clear and slipped around the edge of the house.

The barn was red and white like the classic image of a barn should be, but that was where the similarities ended. Where most barns you imagine are older, sometimes a little dilapidated, this one was almost as pristeenly well kept as the house. It looked like it had just been built and painted yesterday, so new did it look. Rather than gawk at the barn though, I tugged open a small door next to the big double doors and slipped inside.

There were several heads of cattle lying in pens on the far wall, none of them seeming particularly interested in the person having just walked in. Or maybe they just didn't notice, so consumed were they in their unwellness. As I approached them, one on the left wall and one close to the middle gave the faintest moo of alert to my approach. The rest lay there and did their best impression of a rug.

I walked the cage line, picking out symptoms as best I could but the only one that was manifesting in all of them was their shared weakness. When I got to the cow on the far right, I was met greeted by a swarm of flies buzzing around a cow laying on its side. Yet another casualty it would seem.

"Hm... Weakness and death are the only two common threads. Not the best to go on, but it does eliminate some of the ones with other prominent side effects," I said to myself cupping my chin as I walked out of the barn. On the ride over I had asked if there had been one particular place they'd all been grazing, but Tito had said there had been no such luck. I had a long day ahead of me, filled with lots of checking all the potentially abnormal vegetation on the property.

I looked up at the sun, guessing that it was maybe ten in the morning. Early enough that I could probably cover a majority of the property before sundown. Tito had been kind enough to offer me the use of his mansion until I had completed my investigation. And by kindly offered, I mean that I told him that if I had to go back and forth between his property and the room I was renting, that he was going to be paying me double what I thought was fair.

I sighed and got to work.

7:30 hours later

I was walking past a watering hole checking to see if there were any shrubs that could hide poisons when I noticed the grass, brown and dying on the edge of the hole. That struck me as odd; the weather here was dry sure, but it rained often enough and the grass was sitting right on the edge of a watering hole. Sure it was one of the lesser used holes being further away than a half dozen or so others, but that just meant that fewer animals would trample the grass flat. Almost the exact opposite of the grass dying.

I chewed the inside of my lip, considering that as I kneeled down to the water. As I did, I saw something that chilled my blood. The water was moving. Or to put it more accurately, the water gave the appearance of moving, so filled was it with snakes. I took a step backward, my professional cool suddenly overcome by a sudden and massive stroke of fear. I don't have a thing about snakes, you understand. Just that much venomous death a hair's breadth away puts a person on edge.

It was a strange sight to say the least. Even if there were tens of thousands of snakes swimming in that mess, they shouldn't have been doing anything wayward though. Still, their presence and the dead grass bore mentioning to Tito. Maybe there was infighting among the snakes and a massive excess of venom was spilling into the watering hole. Thus far, it was my best lead.

I walked the several miles back to the ranch. It was a hot day, I had drank the last of my water an hour previous, I had just seen quite possibly a billion fucking snakes who might be poisoning a water supply just by being there, and this long walk was pissing me off. I was just glad that I had decided to leave my hammer back at the fucking ranch.

When the back of the sprawling house came into view I felt like I very well may have been dying from dehydration. So rather than going right to the big guy, I grabbed up a hose and decided to pour as much water down my throat as I could. Probably not my proudest moment, standing there with a hose chugging like a teenager with his first beer funnel but dammit I was thirsty.

I then promptly lost that water in an explosion of coughing fits when I saw the snake curled around the spicket a few feet away. I considered pulling my gun and shooting it in the head but decided that might be a touch on the dramatic side. Instead, I threw the hose down and stomped inside through the backdoor of the house. A snake infestation wasn't something he could handle himself, not conveniently anyway. If that was what it was though, then he'd get a finder's fee at least.

After bullying a member of the house staff into telling him where Tito's office was, I found myself on the third floor of the manor, facing a massive door with a painting of Tito's head on it complete with that giant hat of his. I didn't bother knocking, was in no mood for him to try and turn me away like we were having some sort of pissing contest. What I found behind that door threw me for quite a fucking loop though.

I recognized the face from the poster that my friend had sent me. The man that I had come here to find in the first place. The man from the Grand Line who had come back to be a big fish in a small barrel.

A man who was known to have a thing for snakes.

"Oh shit," I said as they turned to face me.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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The pirate's face was aghast for a second before a wicked smile spread across his face. Before I knew it, he had a pair of long knives drawn from leather sheathes at his sides. The handles of those blades were in the shape of serpent heads. Of course they were.

Before I had gathered myself enough to draw my own weapons, he had already lunged at me, his blades aimed right for my chest. The door was still open behind me, I could back up and regroup but damn was this guy moving fast. I wasn't going to have a whole lot in the way of immediate advantage, but my best bet of taking him in right here and now was going to be to hit hard and fast.

And so it was time to attack.

I lunged forward and caught his wrists in a move that caught him off guard. I followed it up by twisting my hips and snapping a kick into his ribs that would have sent grown men to the ground in pain. As it was he grunted and leaned with the kick. Fortunately, the kick had only been meant to put him off balance as I snapped to the side, using my hold on his wrists to send him crashing into the wall behind me.

He let out an oomph of pain but was already back on his feet. Still, the move had done what I had needed. It had bought me enough space to rip my swords out of their sheathes. Their metallic whine cried through the air as they slid free of their captors once more, tasting the open air and asking to taste blood next. Gluttenous bitches. Still, I intended to oblige.

He charged at me. I met him in the middle of the open expanse of floor. Our blades crashed into one another with a thunderous but distinctly metallic crash. The carpet under our feet bunched as we tried to push against one another but failed to gain real traction. Finally he disengaged faster than I would have realized possible, even with knives, and went for a quick low sweep.

I thought I had plenty of time to avoid it. Thought I would jump over his legs and slash down for a quick victory. Thought that I would step backward and then rush forward to push him against the wall. Thought that this would be the easiest and most lucrative cash-in of my career thus far. I thought all of these things as his leg hooked behind my knees and sent me sprawling to the ground.

Fortunately my instincts were faster when he went to stab me on the floor. I rolled away and he all but chased me across the floor with his knives leading in an almost comical crawl. Lemme tell you though, at the time it didn't seem funn. It seemed fucking terrifying.

When I was midroll I shoved my hand into the floor and sent myself into the air. Unfortunately, he had been stabbing right where I had pushed my hand into the ground. I managed to get off the ground but I had a new piece of hand jewlery that I hadn't been expecting. It took a second for the pain to register but when it did- holy shit did it hurt.

I ripped the knife out of my hand, knowing it wasn't necessarily what I was supposed to do, but not particularly giving a fuck at that moment. Instead I hurled the knife end over end at his head, which he caught in a graceful turn, as if it were a practiced move done a thousand times. I was right behind the knife though, my blades a blur as they sought any opening in his guard. He was faster than me though and managed to get his knife between each incoming blow from my sword.

I drew a deep breath, blocking out as much of the pain as I could and letting myself be taken over by the rhythym of my blades. I had just been chopping at him a moment before, but now my movements were elegant; a dance. I moved seemlessly from movement to movement,- blow to blow as if I could see what he would do even before he did. I still couldn't quite manage to get inside his guard, but he was being pushed back with each blow, and the twisted smirk on his face seemed to be sinking further away as it dawned on him that he might not win.

That was my thought as suddenly a monstrous force sent me crashing through the wall, over the balcony, and down three stories to the ground where I finally came to a halt. I lay there with my back to the ground, panting in between groans of pain as every bone in my body cried out at once to be acknowledged. I wanted to lay there in a heap, wanted to jsut stop moving, but I knew that I was tougher than that. I tested out my body and felt no broken bones. I was gonna be black and blue tomorrow, but for now I was alright.

Then the fucking cowboys showed up. Then that fucking pompous voice carried down from the stairs all the way up on the second floor.

"Real shame you walked in on that. Knew it was a bit of a gamble bringing you in, but I figured that tomorrow I would plant some evidence to lead you back to that old jackass Jebodiah and I could kill a couple birds with one big stone," he said with a mock sigh as he got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Y-yeah, real shame" I wheezed as I squeezed my hands. I realized suddenly that my swords were very much gone now. I groaned and sat up, shifting my legs so that they brushed up against - yes, the blocky hard frames of my pistols were still there. So I wasn't unarmed at least. I hacked out a cough, spitting onto the floor next to me as I stood up, seeing that the half-dozen cowboys in the room had already drawn their guns and were giving me a Hell of a mean look. "Thanks for filling in the last blank for me though, asshole. When I turn you in to the marines here and give them the whole story, I'm sure they'll pay out a bounty for your capture. You know how sensitive they are about the cattle around here."

I meant it to sound cool, but the coughs that wracked my body ruined that illusion. Forutnately, it also covered me ripping my guns out of their holsters and firing off the first round in each gun. Before anyone could react I was moving. My first two shots had taken out two of the cowboys, but the other four still had me surrounded, and I wasn't going to shoot them all down before one of them got off a lucky shot. I dove over a table just as the gunfire started behind me in earnest.

I manage to hook a leg of the massive metal table with my foot and overturn it with a great heave. The moment's reprieve isn't going to last long. If Tito's size is any indicator he's a monster of a man, and the Grand Line pirate is still in the manor somewhere. Not to mention the four jackasses unloading their guns into the table. Forutnately, they're easily taken care of.

"Five, and six, I thought as the last of the bullets in their reovolvers leave their guns. They started fumbling at their guns, trying to reload. Apparently the notion of running out of ammo was a foreign concept to them. What do you expect from mooks though?

I hopped up from behind the table and fire four more bullets for four more kills. I didn't see the Grand Line pirate, but Tito is still standing across the room from me, only I see why he hadn't been firing with his men. He was holding a massive shotgun with a big cheese-eating grin plastered across his face.

"Oh shit," I said as he squeezed the trigger. I'm fast, and I managed to drop back down behind the table, but not before a ball of buckshot buried itself in my shoulder. My eyes rolled back in my head and I grit my teeth so hard I thought they were going to snap, but I managed to stifle a scream. Tito seemed to be having a good time at least, judging by the sound of his laughter. I lean around the side of the table and fire three rounds from each gun into his gut before sliding back behind the table. He keeps laughing though.

"You think you're gonna turn me in? You think the Marines will side with you? I own this town, you worthless Hunter! You've got no pull like John Tito does!" he said with another howl of laughter. My left arm, where I was stabbed and shot suddenly went limp at my side. The gun I was holding clatters to the floor. Fuck me.

I jam my remaining gun into the holster before picking up the fallen gun and holstering it too. My left arm was gone, there was a giant of a man with a monster of a shotgun hunting me, somewhere in the house was a man who had sailed the Grand Line and survived, and there I was just trying to figure out how the fuck to stay alive for another ten minutes.

"Hey Tito, you aren't gonna mind if I crash here after I kick your ass, are you?" I called out from behind the table. Tito didn't deign to laugh at that. Humorless prick. And then I caught a glimpse of movement through a door in front of me. A door was opening with Tito's massive form emerging from within. The bastard had snuck around to flank me. Fortunately though, he had the gun down as he entered the room. I took advantage of the situation by promptly running through a door into the hallway, and away from Tito's approach.

I stumbled through the house, finally emerging into the backyard near the barn. I could hear Tito coming for me, maybe a dozen feet behind but I see something on the ground in front of the barn that filled my heart with joy. I hefted my hammer up in my right hand, testing the weight as best I can, feeling at it to see if I would even be able to wield it for now. I gave it a test swing and found that, though I wasn't at a hundred percent it'd be enough.

Tito came through the backdoor, the shotgun up and ready to fire this time. I wasn't where he expected me to be though. As soon as the door opened, I had leapt into the air, catching the top of the barn's door with the tips of my toes and then launching off of that as well. I didn't have any more witty banter for him- no more distractions. Instead, I brought the hammer down, one-handed, atop the man's head. The massive, precious hat he was wearing crumpled and the rest of hsi body sank six inches into the ground.

He stood there, motionless for a moment before his gun clattered to the ground, followed by him collapsing to the ground.

I drew in a deep breath and smiled. Then suddenly all the fight left my body, and I found that I was falling.

Two days later

"Hey, I think he's waking up!"

"A-are you sure? He was hurt pretty bad, and that cut on his hand... I'm pretty sure he was poisoned by some kind of snake venom. Same kind we found on Tito's ranch."

"Yeah, but Aunt Ma'am whipped up a cure for him. Woman very well be a miracle worker."

"Hard to believe that John Tito would kill his own cattle just to control a little more of the cattle trade. It's harder still to believe that he'd be dumb enough to leave signed payments to a known pirate and poison specialist."

"Son, I know you just got stationed here but we all knew that John Tito was a slimeball. We're just lucky that this kid took him down before he could pin it on innocent old man Jebodiah. And he's lucky that some kid heard the commotion from Tito's place. Anyway, Tito's cattle and pastures will probably be divided among the farms remaining. His mansion, well. Next of kin probably, otherwise it'll get torn down or sold to the highest bidder. We're better off with him gone though."

"Couldn't agree more," I said with a smile without ever having opened my eyes. Then I drifted back off to sleep for another full day, letting all of my injuries and hurts recover as Wild Wild West Island sorted itself out.
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Alistair Solaris • Weapon Specialist • Marksman • Inventor • Smith
Threat: 15 • SD Earned: 138 • Beli: 16,150,000 • Location: West Blue
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LEXINGTON ADAMS JR. • CAPTAIN • TACTICIAN • SHOCK TROOPERSCommendations: 76 • SD Earned: 526 • ID: 37894-209 • Location: Grand Line
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