[Closed - Faye and Smoker]

[myfayevalentine]

Who: Faye and Smoker
What: Pizza Dinner
Where: Sycamore Cycles
When: After the virus did its thing.
Warnings: Definitely language. Probably sexy flirting. And maybe then some. Who knows?

 Luck had never been so good to Faye: a chance meeting at the masquerade, a virus that sent a message to the wrong intended person but, in the end, the right one. Now, Faye was on her way to Genessia to visit Smoker for pizza that he was actually even making himself. It was a date, and she was all too excited for it.

Of course, Faye arrived by bike. Why not, when she knows that's a thing he likes? Her leather jacket and biker boots were of a higher, and prettier, standard than what she wore on the day to day. She'd stop for a crate of some good bottled beer closer to Smoker's. And a cheesecake too. That was the polite thing to do when invited for dinner, no? Bring drinks and some kind of dessert? When she arrived, Faye parked her bike, unzipped her jacket, and looked for a surface to check her full appearance.

The trouble was, when they last met it was the masquerade ball. She'd been beautifully made up and wore a stunning gown. For this event, Faye had gone for casual, but pretty. She wore a pair of tight black skinny jeans, and a delicate cream vest top. The outfit was designed to show off her curves without revealing them. Not too much, anyway. But there was a chance he wouldn't like that. Maybe he only wanted her the way she had appeared at the ball and the spell would be broken when he looked at her like this and he'd think, "Oh. Is that it?" But she couldn't let nerves get the better of her.

So after another check of her soft lipstick and of her hair, Faye took a breath and finally approached Smoker's door to be let in. While she silently reminded herself not to fuck things up, she was excited to see what the night might have in store for them.

Comments

[justicereigns]

He dashed back downstairs at the sound of the bike, the dogs barking and following along, like it was some game now. And it might as well be, he usually had someone man the shop while he did bike repairs or customized upgrades, so it wasn't like anyone on a bike usually rode it to his shop for repairs, or to get another, but he was a little on edge waiting for her. Which meant pretty much every motorcycle he heard he was jumping down the stairs, just in case, for the last couple of hours, in case she was early, or someone did stop in the shop. Or whatever. The dogs, at least, were enjoying this new game, puzzlement aside.

Smoker wasn't sure about setting the pizza to be on in advance of her arrival, in case he missed the timing, and she was late or early, or something came up. And there was only so much he could keep an eye on the dogs not to jump the ingredients. So it was in the oven, just waiting to go on. Since cooking it in front of her was probably weird, and having her help was just... no. Fuck no.

Lalala... he opened the door with a grin and held the dogs back with a leg. A samoyed and Tibetan Mastiff, they were both pretty big and since Smoker didn't let them run around the shop, they were always shocked and excited to meet more people.

"Faye," a grin. And he looked over, suddenly worried about the usual lack of his clothes. She'd last seen him dressed up and played with the tie... was his usual self -- eh well she could just. Say so then. Fuck it. "Come on in," he grabbed both dogs by the scruff so they couldn't overwhelm her. "Ash, Sami, heel," he growled, as the dogs sulked, but calmed down enough he could set them down without them misbehaving. Back to grinning, "I was right, you definitely look better out of the dress," he teased.

[myfayevalentine]

Dogs. Of course they were the first to hear hee arrival. Dogs loved Faye, always eager for her attention, but she never would reciprocate. Or so she will tell you.

"Hi," she said simply, her smile giving away something of how pleased she was to be there. "Thank ypu." Faye entered and walked past the dogs - at least he had them well trained. Still, she carried the crate of beer and the box of cheesecake aloft just in case. Faye couldn't playfully hit him as she was carrying so much, so instead she had to nudge at him with her hip. "Flattery will get you nowhere." Lies.

[justicereigns]

"Yeah? I'll just have to try harder then," Smoker smirked and tucked the dogs away so Faye could grab a seat in peace. "I wasn't sure about how fast you'd get here so..." Smoker turned the oven on to let the rest finish. "Hope you don't mind a little wait."

Oh God. Smalltalk. His worst enemy. How's the weather? How was the drive? "How's the bike holding up?"

He has interests outside of work.... just not many.

[myfayevalentine]

Faye took a seat and shrugged off her jacket, looking around the place as she put down the items she had brought. "Did I turn up too early?" Oops. She shook her head, because she didn't mind the wait. "I brought the beers. And cheesecake. I don't even know if that's a thing you like but, well, it's here now."

Faye watched as he got things prepared, "Yeah, it's good. Haven't had any real faults with it in a while. Though she doesn't like the cold weather." In a few days or a week's time, suddenly there will be something wrong with it. It will require her visiting his shop quite frequently. "How's the shop doing?"

[justicereigns]

"Nah, you're right on time, I was a bit eager." Who cares that he's not supposed to admit that? "I fucking love cheesecake. One of my biggest vices. Don't tell," he waved a hand, trying to make her laugh a little.

"Yeah?" His ears perked like a dog's. "Maybe I should look at the ignition with winter coming. Wouldn't want you to get stranded." A beat, "Again." Secretly, he was of two minds about it since that was how he started falling harder for her, and wouldn't mind the excuse to rescue her, but no no, safety first.

He rubbed his chin in thought. "Business actually slowed a little, I was hoping it'd pick up enough I could go back to policing or hunting..." a shrug. "Maybe everyone's just waiting for Christmas."

[myfayevalentine]

Excuse her while she smiled to herself at the idea of him being eager. But that only grew brighter at his comments about cheesecake; she was feeling pretty pleased with herself for the decision, and she made a mental note. "I won't tell a soul." She held a finger to her lips and winked at him.

"Thanks. I'd appreciate that. Definitely don't wanna get stranded if it gets as cold as last year." Her bike probably needed new tyres too, but that would happen on a separate occasion - just an excuse to see him multiple times.

"Oh, really?" Faye sounded sympathetic about the shop. "Policing and hunting? As a job...?"

[justicereigns]

A distracted grin back at the wink. It was a good thing no one else was around to catch this or they could have blown him away with a feather.

"Yeah, stay warm, or you can always stop by for hot chocolate." That sounded less stupid in his head.

"Mm right yeah," he jerked a thumb to the red writing on the back of his jacket. The kanji for justice. "Back in my world, that's all I did. Hunt pirates and other criminals for justice. I've just been slacking here ever since I arrived, but if things are going to keep heating up, I can't sit by idly and do nothing."

[myfayevalentine]

This was fun, just observing how he reacted to her smiles and winks. But not just because his reactions amused her, but because they seemed to warm her somehow too. Speaking of, Faye tilted her head at his hot chocolate suggestion and smiled in her amusement. "With little marshmallows too? If there are marshmallows, I might take you up on that offer."

"Mhm. I get that." Faye reached into her jacket locket to fetch her keys on which, of course, there was a keychain bottle opener. She took a couple of beers from the small crate, glad they were still quite cold, and popped open a couple. "That's why I quit the casino. You know I'm a deputy guardian now, right...?" Faye held a beer out to him but was watching his face, unsure of what his reaction to that might be.

[justicereigns]

"Yeah, you can't have hot chocolate without the marshmallows," thank you Portgas, Adela, and Tashigi for that one, because Smoker was more the type to prefer coffee with whiskey. Just add caramel if he needs sweet. This the hot cocoa has been largely unused for awhile.

"Yeah," he grinned, and apologetically rubbed the back of his neck. Even he knew it was probably a bit weird and possibly uncomfortable that he kept tabs 9n everything without saying anything. "I try to pay attention to such things. Gotta admit, you were hot before, but that skyrocketed it for me. How are you finding it so far?"

[myfayevalentine]

If he offered her coffee and whiskey, there is no way she would say no to that one either. As it was, she listened and, when he was done, she smiled at him and slowly shook her head - how could someone so big and strong and hot also be so adorable, standing around talking about hot cocoa and marshmallows?

Faye drew her bottle of beer close, holding it for the sake of holding onto something. She didn't know what he thought of her career change, but worried that he wouldn't like it. But she was not prepared for what he said, her eyes widening and cheeks flaring. She took a small but very slow sip of beer, hoping that it would give her cheeks time to be less pink. "Hm? Oh. I like it. A lot. It's a good job and I feel more...useful now, I guess."

[justicereigns]

"Good!" more grins.

He debated whether to tell her of his idea. Not even a fully formed ambition yet. If he didn't have conviction behind it...

No, that wasn't true. His conviction was strong, but so was his desire not to get in the way. "I've been thinking... rather than just being a police, maybe if things keep heating up I should run in Genessia." He grabbed one of her beers, and a seat across the table from her, keeping an eye on the oven and an ear for the timer. "I'm not really good with people though," a wry grin all the same. "Up to now it seems like everyone always had things under control, but fighting explosions and criminal underground rings is literally all I've done for decades. All I ever thought I would be doing. There's not much else to do in my world. You've met Namur. Most pirates aren't like his family, they're more like the slavers that fucked up Fishman Island." A shrug. "Not that all marines are better. A lot of them can be brutally psycho and even the best look the other way for the sake of planet. Or so they say."

[myfayevalentine]

When he started speaking, Faye understood what he meant about that increase of hotness. Maybe it was his desire for justice, his conviction, his ambition, maybe all of it. But she was taking him seriously too, listening carefully and nodding in response to his explanation. "Then you should run. Absolutely. And you're a lot better with people than you think you are..." She winked at him, proof herself of that. "But really...if that's what you're concerned about, then just make sure your deputies have got that covered."

[justicereigns]

His ears reddened at her faith in him. Pssh.

"I haven't even figured out who I'd have as deputies," he admitted with a slight tsuntsun scoff. "Mostly just want to run open interviews. That way if criminals do try to take position under me, then I'll be able to spot them, maybe even turn them around. It's what I did with G5. It's got the reputation in my world for being the worst. Basically where the marines send all their problem children like me. But I'll admit, it was a lot easier with Tashigi there. I don't think anyone worth two berri is ever at odds with her." A quiet hum. "When did Gale ask you on board?"

Zoo Date - 30th November

[myfayevalentine]

A whole week. A whole week without seeing Smoker, but it felt a whole lot longer. She had been good, she felt, only messaging him that one day when she couldn't stand it. But he was on her mind constantly. Finally, the time had come for them to meet, and again she had to agonise over what to wear. And again she went for casual, but pretty. She had wrapped up against the cold, and opted for a denim mini skirt and some knee high boots. Faye took herself to the zoo, actually punctual and on time.

Faye walked up to the entrance and waited there, among families with kids, couples holding hands. It occured to her then that this was a date. Not just meeting and sex, but actual time spent together...in public. Really, though, with them it wasn't just meeting and sex either. There was a lot of talk too, and a lot of feeling behind the time they spent together. At least, there was on her part for sure.

So Faye would wait, looking through the crowds, playing every part the sweet young woman waiting to meet her lover. How different. How exciting!

[justicereigns]

It's a good thing Faye is calm about it, because Smoker is anything but. Inside, he's a total catastrophe. When was the last time he did something like this? When was the last time it meant something? Oh right fucking never, because he never gave a fuck about much before. This was a mess. He was a mess. Okay. It was fine. She was going to get fed up with him like Hina shortly and realize what a pain in the ass he usually was and that would be just business as usual.

No biggie.

"Hey," he couldn't help grinning at the sight of her all the same. And then because he couldn't figure out what to do next: kissing her cheek was weird, he always wanted his hands free to punch or arrest pirates (even now), and .... before his mind could completely BSOD, he just grabbed her by the shoulders in a one-armed hug. In his head this was more dramatic than bending her over backwards and giving her a kiss like he hadn't seen her in ten years. In his head.

"Hope you weren't waiting long..." and pirates be damned, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along like he totally knew what the fuck he was doing.

Which he didn't. At all.

[myfayevalentine]

Calm? She might look calm, but inside she was telling herself over and over just to relax, to be normal. No, not normal - sweet and cute. That's guys wanted on a date like this. Because this was a date, right? That was the whole idea of spending the day together.

When hr arrived, Faye took a few steps to quicker close the gap between them, grinning up at him likewise. "Hey yourself." It felt so good to see him. But then there was that one armed hug. That was...friendly. They are friends after all. Aren't they? But it was enough of a gesture that she decided to calm herself down - no sense being all excited if he was going to treat her so platonically all day. Cause yeah, Smoker, the drama of that is all in your head.

But then he held her hand. She blushed, but tried to squash any feelings that might get the better of her. "Not long." She would let herself be pulled around because she had no real idea what she was doing either. "So...the zoo. Anything in particular you wanted to see?"

[justicereigns]

"Nah, everything. I grew up on a city island. There were some usual stuff in the mountains, tigers, lions, bears, like that. But everything in the my world is different one island to another. Sphinx, dinosaurs, and lapahn are equally as rare or common to each other. Loguetown's aquarium and fishmarket had a little more variety than usual, because we were close to Reverse Mountain and the Grand Line so sometimes things drifted over from other oceans, but after living in the New World, everything seems rare. Besides, what about you, any annimals space and other planets didn't have?"

Whoa, that's the most Smoker's said at one time in almost a year. Even when Rip and Aizawa and Augustine got him talking about Justice.

[myfayevalentine]

Okay, that was a lot of information. Maybe he was a lot more excited about this than she had realised. Faye kept pace with him, just behind him as she looked around. She laughed at his question, "If they didn't have them or they didn't exist, how would I know what they are?"

[justicereigns]

"Exactly," Smoker grinned back at her. "So pick a direction, and we'll just have to make sure to see it all."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye really didn't have a preference. She was just there to spend some time with him, rather than figure what animals she wanted to see, so she went for the direction where most couples seemed to be wandering down from. Who knows what cute things they've seen to make them so cuddly? "Let's go this way to start."

[justicereigns]

"You got it," Smoker's oblivious to her reasoning. He's just taking note there's less wind, so that helps him control his smoke better, so he's not about to complain.

Enjoy your reindeer, Faye.

Smoker doesn't seem terribly impressed, not saying anything.

[myfayevalentine]

Okay. Well. That didn't work out. The reindeer were cute, but Faye didn't quite get the fuss being made over them. Besides, Smoker was just...standing there. "...what next?" Maybe she was supposed to be more like the girl standing nearby who was squeeing in delight and making her boyfriend take cute pictures.

[justicereigns]

He takes her hand and leads her to the next exhibit. "Ever seen reindeer before?" A quiet question.

[myfayevalentine]

As they walk along she just...looks at him. "Only ever in malls. They seem to appear at Christmas, but I have no idea where they go the rest of the year." There, have some light hearted chat. But then, maybe he's quiet because something is wrong and not because her banter is bad.

[justicereigns]

"Malls?" A blink and then a laugh, "Oh right, yeah. Christmas. Forgot about that. Hah. I wonder what Chopper..." a headshake and he explained, "The Straw Hats are the pirate crew I left Loguetown to catch. Straw Hat, their captain, intends to be the next pirate King, and my ambition is to stop that." Sort of. Not exactly. Long story. "His crew's Doctor is a reindeer named Tony Tony Chopper that ate a human devil fruit, so he can talk, and transform, similar to how I'm made of smoke."

At the elephants, Smoker tugged Faye in front of him, leaning around her to keep her warm. Not quite a hug, but close to one.

"I can't hate them though. Chopper and Law, another pirate..." sigh. "Stopped the co-commander I was working my last base with. G-5. Vergo was working for an infamous underground pirate dealer by the name of Joker all along. Law had a lengthy history with him, infiltrated, and was the one to reveal that Vergo was helping kidnap children to experiment on them right under my nose." A small angry snort, and Smoker just breathed in the scent of Faye's hair to keep calm. "Then when all said and done, the pirates rescued the children and were the heroes, Chopper and Law did their best to repair the medical damage, and then they both helped Adela get her fake leg. They never make it easy to hate them, those pirates. Only those crews though. Pretty much any others from my world would get arrested on the spot."