Pacifista

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Revolutionary Army Vessel

"Oh, Vice, you're...what?" Alzac blinked at her suggestion, eyes shrinking as he stared for a few moments. Brow furrowing under the lip of his cap, he shook his head before replying, "I'll ask about that later."

He began to open his mouth to speak again, but there were footsteps from behind Vice. Stepping forward was a man a good foot or so taller than Alzac, his pale blue hair and stubble scraggly, his white, sleeveless shirt and dull green shorts bridged by a red sash, a pistol held within. Fukubei asked, "Yo, what's happening?"

Taking a breath, Alzac began, "Morning to you two too. Anyway, let's get to the point: yesterday was a mess. I already sent a report to the top brass over in the East, so I should get word back later today. They might send reinforcements, but in the worst case we'll be pulling out of Topelia for now. With that in mind, we need to recover as fast as possible either way."

Pointing a finger at Fukubei, he said, "I found out the other day that there's a warehouse near here that has some extra supplies. As in, criminals hiding their crap with the help of some bribed officials." With a grin, he added, "Well, we can't stand for such blatant corruption, can we? Livian's sent someone to mark the crates we're taking, so round up anyone fit to do some lifting and get on that. Not all of it is useful to us, but we should be getting some stolen medications and substances that can be converted into something we can use. It should help us get back on our feet. It's not the most moral thing, but we're in no position to just return it..."

Fukubei nodded, rolling his shoulder as he said, "Alright, sounds like a plan."

Turning to Vice, Alzac began, "As for you, as much as I'd like to have you there in case there's trouble, I need your help with something else. Jolyne and Jakellian have been working their hearts out, but we're still critically understaffed as far as doctors go. And of course, between that newspaper article and the public's opinion on us, it's not going to be easy to just hire one. Still, could you give it a look? It's kind of a longshot, but you're really honest..." Edges of his mouth twitching, he repeated, "Really honest. Tricking a doctor into helping us won't do us any good Just be careful about what you tell people..." Suddenly having a couple doubts, Alzac reconsidered, but as it was out there, he felt it would be cheap to turn back now.

Clearing his throat, he finished, "Also, Vice, if Fukubei runs in to trouble, you'll be around as backup. You two have got your Baby Den Den Mushis, right? If anything's up, let each other know before giving me some word."

Adjusting the lip of his cap, he concluded, "Well, that should cover it. Good luck." With that, he allowed the two to leave, before glancing over the edge of the boat, anxiety rising as he considered the call he was going to get later...

---

Central District

Alexander entered the office, the waiting room clean and homey, but the benches and chairs rather empty. Behind the desk, a light haired woman in a white lab coat looked up, sitting up straighter before beginning, "Oh, greetings! This is where Doctor Simmons practices, however, he is not in at the moment." Shaking her head, she explained, "Er, well, he hasn't been in for a few months now." Gasping, she added, "I mean, he's fine! He's not hurt or in danger. He's just in Lillicoa." Hair starting to get frazzled, she stammered, "A-ah, y-you look new here, so you probably don't know where it is, but you can find a map at...city hall?"

After a moment of awkward silence, the woman, admitted, "S-sorry, we haven't gotten a lot of people here since Dr. Simmons left... I can send a letter to him if you'd like though. Unless you need medical attention, then we have someone here! Who...oh, wait, it's me!" At that, the woman tightly pursed her lips, as if trying to keep more words from escaping.

---

Front edge of the Back District

Once Kohl found his way, arriving at the designated alleyway in due time. It was on the dingier side, but otherwise quiet, with no supposed 'employer' in sight. However, from back door of the bar came a noise, before it opened up, someone coming through, the large man squeezing through the opening with a bit of difficulty. Standing tall, he closed the door before looking over Kohl, scratching at his red beard. Cracking his neck, he began, "Alright, alright...ya looking for some work?"

"Ain't gonna be a walk in the park, you know. Yer gonna go with..." Stopping, he glanced around, before grumbling, "Huh!? Where the hell...what was his name. Cheese? Cheese! OI CHEESE! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO!?"

---

Back District

With no idea how long she'd been walking Claribel readily assumed she hadn't bumped in to anyone yet. But her walking had backfired, as now she had no idea where she was.

Finally, something caught her eye. Approaching, she saw a young boy, his eyes sternly locked on her. Not backing down, Claribel walked over, eyes locked. The green haired lad flinched as she reached him, stooping down so that they were at eye level. Raising her fist, Claribel held true to her promise, shooting it out. She bopped him in the forehead lightly, proclaiming, "Boop."

The child continued to stare. Claribel frowned, "That usually gets a laugh. What's up?" On a closer look, while his hair was a bit unkempt and his clothes slightly ratty, he wasn't filthy like some sort of street urchin.

Finally, the child spoke, wondering aloud, "Why...why are you walking in circles?"

Bowing her head, Claribel let out a short groan, before admitting, "Oh, I just...forgot where I was going, maybe?" The child was silent, which Claribel took to mean he wasn't interested. Raising her hands, she grabbed his face, squashing his cheeks as she wondered, "But what're you doing in this scummy looking place? There could be criminals doing shady stuff, like, right over there, you know?"

Getting a little frustrated, the child managed to mutter, "Then what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm a pirate! Yup, even a cute girl like me can be a scummy pirate!"

The boy's face tightened before he wrested Claribel's hands away from his face, before crying, "But they aren't scummy! In my house! They...they're in my house and acting like they own the place." Looking aside, he admitted, "Not that we do own it, but..."

"Oh, that's parents for you."

"No! They're a bunch of guys who keep stomping around and bragging to each other!"

Thinking back to the sailors she grew up alongside, Claribel laughed, "Still sounds like home to me." Standing straight, she stretched before saying, "Tell someone in a uniform about it, like a cop or a Marine."

"They're soldiers! No one can do anything about it...."

Claribel stopped blinking for a moment. Putting a finger to her lip, she had to think. Soldiers shacking up in the house of a quasi-street urchin in the worst part of town...

Claribel grinned, giggling, "Now that is in-ter-es-ting~"

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Oh my god Lion you're such a goof. :B

But anyway, I posted! Wanted to get that up. Unfortunately, @Aldridge, if you want to post anything meaningful, you'll have to wait for Hillan, who is still being a butt distracted. Maybe you could fix some of the code tags on your current post in the meantime though. :B

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

So, I'm done with most of my post, but I need to work with Hillan on it for one part, so it'll probably be on hold until tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience~

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Maybe! I'll try to work the journalism aspect in to some of the later acts. ;o

Also now everyone's doing the color so I guess I gotta do the color too. x:

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

No, we're good!

My post should be up tomorrow~

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Creating minor NPCs is perfectly okay!

Once Aldridge gets a post up I'll work on getting mine up. o:

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Pol Stictid

---

As the light of dawn began to shine on Pol Topelia's capitol, cries of gulls and crows began to echo down from above. Birds laden with precious news began to filter across the city, making their deliveries. But while the News Coos delivered stories from other islands, the crows were garnering more buzz as they delivered their own papers: the local rag, 'Topelia Times'.

At the highest point of the city, in one of several turrets reaching towards the sky in a fortress-like castle, man sat at his desk in a clean office, window open, letting light pour on to the large potted plant flanking an organized desk. Silently dropping the paper, the man, his well built figure fitting into a dark brown military uniform, a blonde goatee around his mouth under a bald head, rubbed his forehead for a moment. The headline read 'Revolutionaries Attack Boat Carrying Medical Supplies for Epidemic! Dozens Endangered!'

Gritting his teeth, Dario Capper's sigh transformed into a snarl as he slammed his fist on his desk, snapping, "Damn them! They don't even know what they want anymore!" Ever since he'd first gotten the report, it was all that was on his mind: this was sheer terrorism! He couldn't just say nothing.

The door cracking open, a voice called, "You rang, sir?"

Dario blinked, before taking a breath, replying, "Well, I was...come in." Door opening, a man with short red hair, glasses, and a brown suit walked in. Dario said, "Nopalé, I want to give a statement to the public regarding the incident yesterday."

Nopalé confirmed, "I'll send for preparations at once."

Dario nodded, "Very good. And the Marines?"

"They're not pleased, but they've agreed not to land until we give the order," Nopalé explained.

Dario huffed, "Well, they'll just have to deal with it: we can handle this ourselves!" Bringing a hand to his beard thoughtfully, he suggested, "Have the speechwriter put in something along those lines."

"As you wish," Nopalé stated, before being waved away.

Now alone again, Dario stood, moving towards the wide window, looking out and over the city, streets only just beginning to move. As he imagined it devastated by the Revolutionary Army, he could only slam his fist into the frame, gritting his teeth.

"Not my country you animals..."

---

Ostropa

---

"Commander? Sir? Are you awake?"

There was a snort, then a grunt, before the answer came, "I am now..."

Throwing his legs off the edge of his bunk and sitting up with a groan, Alzac rubbed his head, scratching at his curly, pale brown hair. Stopping, he looked at his hand, which still had faint stains of blood. Cringing, he stood, stretching his sore limbs, before moving from his bunk, grabbing a black coat and throwing it over his bare torso. Finishing up with a hat fanged to look like a wolf, he asked, "What's the damage?"

The junior Revolutionary with short dark hair and glasses began, "Er, well, most everyone who was injured's been stabilized, but there's this..."

The younger girl held up a newspaper, Alzac taking it, his face contorting to anger at the headline. Throwing it aside, he grumbled, "Medical supplies!? My ass!"

That ship had been loaded with weapons, and far too many of them were primed and ready by the time the Revolutionaries had gotten there. The battle was devastating on both sides, but at the very least what weapons the Revolutionaries hadn't recovered were resting on the bottom of the ocean. The aftermath though...

Even aside from the battle, things hadn't been going well: while elsewhere, underworlds were well aware of the strange and shifty trades going down on Pol Topelia, but here? No one seemed the wiser. And since the island appeared squeaky clean, approval of Dario Capper was at a high. As far as the public knew, the only major threat was the 'evil, monstrous, Revolutionaries', while the average criminal was just waiting to be busted.

Alzac didn't want that to stand, but as things were...

Shaking his head, he pushed that thought from his mind before moving from his cabin, taking to the common area of their rather large boat, currently moored in a hidden spot on the rocky coastline nearby Ostropa. Weaving his way through the resting and wound men, he called, "Vice! Fukubei! Where..." Turning to his junior, he asked, "Livian, send someone to get them." With a nod, she headed off, Alzac continuing on, heading to the deck of the ship to await them.

---

As the morning went on, the docks of Ostropa continued to buzz with activity, ships leaving with the island's quality ore and minerals while more came in with a variety of goods from all over the South Blue and beyond.

Bumming around the alleyways a ways away from the docks, however, was a lone girl. Her shoulders were slumped, pink hair flowing over them. Her purple eyes were lidded, her face sunken as she shambled. She wore a light white coat with red trim and cuffs over a short-sleeved white shirt and blue shorts, while an iron rod was kept across her back.

Looking to the sky, she took a breath, before grumbling, "What did I do earlier today again..?"

Letting out a cry of frustration, Claribel Donner moaned, "I don't remember anything! Have I even eaten yet!? Today is so boring!" Poking at her stomach, it didn't answer her back, so apparently she had indeed eaten.

Then maybe...it was her that was boring? As if to try and answer her own question, she suggested, "Maybe I should punch the next person I see." She then mumbled, "No, that wouldn't work..." Letting out a sigh, she continued on her aimless path.

As she moved on, a watching eye peered from beyond a cracked open door...

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

IC is up! O:

@Tendo and @Crimson Lion, I'm not sure exactly how you want Alex and Vice to meet, so feel free to come up with something together or wing it!

@Aldridge, since the employer character is a little bit more important now, I'll be playing him, but you can have Kohl get word of a job! Some shifty fellow pointing him along or some such. o:

And yeah, feel free to ask if you have any questions or concerns, or give me any ideas you have.

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

I have work the next two days, but I'll do what I can to get it done. I managed one part of it earlier before work so yeah. o:

One Piece: Blighted Seas and Thundering Skies

Yeah, I agree, that makes more sense!