This is Smoker: AMA / voice

[justicereigns]

Right. I just remembered being unapproachable has been kind of my life-long style, and while my backup always made sure people came to her with their problems, she's not here. So this is an open anon warm-up before the actual guardians debate. Anon so if you're too chickenshit or your question is too stupid to put in front of everyone, do it now, relatively free of consequence.

This is Smoker, ask me anything. Or fling your insults this way, I don't really give a shit.

Comments

[Video]

[youfool]

Do you support vigilantism in the event of corruption of authority?

Should the election prove a farce, how much respect would you accord it anyhow?

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Yes.

Though likely I have a stricter definition of the corruption of authority than you expect, given the World Government in my world is obscenely corrupt, and vigilante-ism is nearly impossible, so I continue to work from the inside. [But he's not going to pretend he doesn't specifically look the other way when it comes to the Straw Hats and Law, and that it warmed his heart that Fujitora did too and more brazenly, having his and Tashigi's backs.] Folllowing the law is easy. Breaking the law for justice is extraordinarily difficult, and not a road to be taken lightly.

Define "farce." What would make you think it's farcical, and what makes you think I'd think it was farcical and still run?

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Glad to hear it!

[it's not hard to guess why]

Oh, from what I've heard of them, that all sounds very plausible.

The standard definition works. If I were to discover that, hypothetically, half or so of the ballots cast were from robots, or something else that had no power to really choose at all, that would do it. But then, even farcical things have their uses, which you might not object to.

[His dogs are farces, for example, so he clearly has the tolerance.]

[justicereigns]

[DRIER THAN THE DRIEST DESERT MARTINI IN THIS PLACE:] Given that you work for Namur, I doubt you've heard of anything generous of them.

Be specific, Ted.

My world doesn't have voting. That's actually something pirates do. And even then, there's usually a chunk more of hierarchy, and might decides through sheer force, or test of skill.

If you mean those without pendants shouldn't be allowed to decide, I think you're falling into an enemy trap, and I'd suggest caution. Though I'm wary of saying more out loud.

As for whether I'll accept the outcome, I assume so, yes. In that I'll always follow my justice, no matter what. And Katsuki and Satou are somewhat bright kids, who I hope would be willing to listen to my advice, even should they win. Honestly, I assume they will win, because I'm not exactly a people person, as you know. Would I accept it if it simply defaulted to someone not in the running, because some higher power deemed it so?

Well. Did I ever tell you about the fight between my best friend against Portgas' murderer for who would become the next leader of the marines?

[youfool]

Can hardly blame him, eh? But I've spoken with you and Kuzan too, and neither of you were particularly aglow with praise.

[Sorry Smoker, it's an image problem. Maybe if he spoke with that wonderful Akainu person, he'd get better reviews.]

All right, don't be coy: what's the trap? Encrypt the answer as you please. And who's the enemy, while you're at it?

You didn't, but I'd fain hear if you'll fain tell.

[Was it murder tho]

[justicereigns]

Kuzan was supposed to become the next leader of the marines. After the failures at Marineford, Sengoku was obligated to retire, and nominated Kuzan for his tactical genius and sense of justice.

Kuzan was the logical heir, but because Sakazuki was Portgas' killer, many felt that proved his strength, and willingness to be harsh to do what he felt was justice, and that in such a cruel world, such a cruel person was more necessary.

[Ted, even SMOKER considers it murder. Re-evalutate yourself!]

[Also note, he is literally only telling the story as sidestepping the rest... this asshole.] Kuzan and Sakazuki could hardly duel like mortal humans. They set upon a deserted island that had a chemical hazard destroy it a couple years back, and whoever could morph the island into more of their element would win the position. Sakazuki's ruthlessness took it a bit further, and he took Kuzan's arm and leg in an added show of power, and forced Kuzan out of the marines entirely to ensure there would be no uprising politically from Kuzan's friends like myself.

My boss is Akainu. He murders marines, and if he was here, he'd kill me in a heartbeat over just the rumor, ludicrous and pointless as it is.

I'll always follow my justice, no matter how difficult that route. But I'm not willing to go as far as Kuzan and work outside the law yet. I hope I never am forced to make that choice.

When he last saved my life in our world he told me he was still him, I could still trust his justice. I certainly don't trust Akainu's, but Kuzan's maneuvering through politics, even pretending to deal with pirates, that's not something I'll ever do easily.

So will I accept a ruthless murderous dictator as the rule of law simply to cause less chaos in the universe? Yup. Guess so.

[youfool]

[Look Smoker, if someone's put to death after trial, it's called execution, gosh. Must Ted explain justice to you?]

I wish you'd not tarnish Lady Justice with "my". Rather makes a virgin a courtesan, eh? Forgive my comparatively novice view, but I thought her impartiality and sameness to all was among her virtues.

[But for Ted's usual air of frivolity, he does listen. He's mostly serious, as he supposes one should be when hearing a sad backstory. There's so many, and he seems to keep earning them, becoming calloused each time. He wonders whether he's being wicked in thinking them more like dusty relics than emotional-heartbreakers. Well, Smoker seems to have digested it enough. No sense opening old wounds, right?

The end makes him concerned.]

How old are you, Smoker? You sound very tired.

[Like he'd thrown in the towel before the game even started. Perhaps justice is a young man's game. Hey, he'll liven up the mood by accusing him of trying to be slick.]

Don't think I didn't catch your dodge of the present with the past. That sort of evasion might help with the debates, but it may not be so endearing to voters, stupid as you might suppose them.

[justicereigns]

[But there was no trial. Pay attention! Ace was sentenced before he was born for his blood, he was trapped by a pirate, used as bait, and then escaped the trap and THEN was murdered for pride of the marines because they didn't want anyone to know the truth, especially about Blackbeard. That's pretty bad!]

Forty. And she's my justice. Get your own.

[Snorts.] It's a common marine tactic, Ted. The trap I was avoiding talking about openly. Play pirates against each other and wait for them to eat each other alive, as long as they don't destroy the planet in the process. Don't you think the constant emphasis from Guardians and rumors on in-fighting and racial differences is a bit curious? Humans, non-humans, Nova vs. Fayren. Don't be fooled by appearances. If everyone without a pendant is just an illusion, the question isn't how to dispel them. The real question is who is their maker, and what truth are they hiding?

[youfool]

I'll not see you make a strumpet out of her, churl! Any unjust bond must be justly annulled. Haha, goodness, I hope this campaign isn't solely a mid-life crisis playing out.

[It's nice to be so friendly and abuse all day.]

Mm, no, I don't think it's as sinister as all that. People making mountains out of molehills and talking about superficial differences is the morality play that seems to amuse the most. That there's nothing in it is no discouragement.

Haha, goodness, Smoker, no one's talking of dispelling. Removing franchise, perhaps, but not sheer removal en toto. As I said, farcical things have their uses.

...need they be hiding? If truths untold are hard ones to swallow, they needn't be subtle. People will ignore them all on their own, if not hate you for the telling. Such has been my experience. Most, I've found, would rather feel than think. It finds no purchase. Truth cannot grow in barren soil.

[Anon Text]

[myfayevalentine]

*Super important anon text*

if u won how would u celebrate?

Text

[justicereigns]

[WOULD IT BE A CELEBRATION THOUGH??? WOULD IT?]

A lot of drinks, asking Katsuki and Satou to be deputies and help me with the plans they wanted, like the hero/vigilante incorporation, and taking Faye Valentine wherever she wanted and showing her my Christmas spirit.

[By which he means... well, only Faye knows, and that's the point.]

Anon Text

[myfayevalentine]

sounds busy

lucky lady

hope u will have time - u will have loadZ of new fans!

[justicereigns]

What makes you say that?

[myfayevalentine]

guardians always have fans

role models for the ppl!

handsome role models for the ppl!

Private / video

[justicereigns]

Faye, no one but you thinks I'm handsome.

And I didn't even have fans back in Loguetown. Remember? The monster thing?

Private / video

[myfayevalentine]

*And here's Faye just lounging around on her bed, actually happily laughing, holding the phone outstretched above her*

Boo, baby, you spoiled my fun...

Private / video

[justicereigns]

[Grins back!] Told you I'm one of the world's best detectives.

Video

[immortalsoul]

Hello there! Mr Smoker, you said?

Forgive me, I'm still getting my bearings about this guardian stuff... How did the Creator tell you to run for office? Was it a vision in your sleep?

Video

[justicereigns]

Creator?

No one told me to run. I'm bad at taking orders. Even though I'm a marine.

I'm running because I spent the last few years following my friend's laissez faire justice, but recent events, and how divided the cities are currently run reminds me too much of how marines divide and conquer pirates in my world, which makes me suspicious about who could benefit from such a thing -- other than criminals themselves, who already are.

[immortalsoul]

They're divided...?

[Silicon shakes her head, trying not to think about it too deeply. That's not the point here:]

I'm afraid that I don't understand. If not for a divine signal, why would you have any authority to run for a position of power here?

[justicereigns]

[Snort.] So that's the kind of system you come from then. That bodes well.

I'm running, because I have more experience than anyone else, and more obsession with justice and perfecting a better form of government. I don't believe Satou or Bakugo, my opponents, heard a divine spark either. Why don't you tell me about your worod, and I'll tell you about mine, this one, and the ones I've read books on here.

[Video]

[sunny_pirate]

Do you actually have an underground railroad for pirates?

[He's heard that rumour going around a lot lately - sure, Smoker seems nothing like Akainu, but it still sounds weird.]

I've heard of Water Seven's sea train, but building a train underground doesn't sound very useful.

[Video]

[justicereigns]

No.

[Facepalms.]

[E TU JINBE?!]

Apparently they're called subways in another world. Ask someone to take you to the New York subarchway and they have the underground trains.

It's also called a freedom express, to liberate people from the south to the north. I assume it's a metaphor here, or that it's supposed to be like the pirate underground which is all black market. And I'm not part of that either. Joker tried to kill me for fucking up his supply. [And also he wouldn't tell him where Law and Luffy were so... maybe that's where the rumor came from?!]

None of the rumors -- [Pause. Twitch. Ew. Lydia. Gross.] Almost none of them are ever of any substance, Jinbei. There's no sewer monster with mind control, and Katsuki isn't a murderer of anyone.

[Video]

[sunny_pirate]

I figured I should ask. I learned the hard way that I should have paid closer attention to rumours back home.

[Maybe he would have caught wind of Arlong's actions sooner.]

A sewer monster with mind control sounds possible, [Wouldn't be the strangest thing he's seen] but I'll take your word for it.

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Yeah, I know the feeling. [Crocodile, Vergo, etc.]

Nah, if Satou was being mind-controlled she wouldn't be so lucid, and even if she was, if the plans for the city are good enough for people to vote for them, does it matter who it's from? It's not like we could rescue her if it was all willing.

Besides, where'd the monster come from, why only now? Why with economic development plans instead of dumping more bodies into the sewer? It leaves too many questions unanswered.