[Video]

[justicereigns]

[Smoker's not sure how much he believes any of this, it all could be an elaborate plot by one of the pirate emperors on one of their islands further on the Grand Line, though, he very much doubts any of them would be foolhardy enough to kidnap him, and still leave him a pair of seastone cuffs and his jitte. And if it was Kaidou, there's no way X Drake would leave Smoker running free and unhindered. But any of the Emperors usually felt most secure on their own islands, surrounded by their own people, so it could just be arrogance to sell the illusion. Still, whether fake or not, best to play along for now until he could prove otherwise.]

[And the best way to get information? Was to ask as bluntly as Smoker ever did. You'd be amazed at what pirates would give away if you just asked.]

Three things. [He holds up 3 fingers.] One, where can I get an endless supply of good cigars? [And he means good. And endless. He's smoking two at a time, they'll go quickly.] Secondly, what's the nearest bar? And thirdly, what is there for law enforcement or bounty hunting opportunities around here? [Because if he was kidnapped to play toy hunter for someone....]

[Might as well see what or who they wanted him to hunt, really.]

[And the idea that he might just be announcing to all the criminals that he was coming? Yeah, he knows, he prefers it that way.]

Comments

[justicereigns]

[F R O W N S.]

[How is that...]

[If he remembers Loguetown...]

[Something no one else should know about....]

[Smoker furrows his brow completely.]

You were there looking for your brother, Straw Hat Luffy. I was there looking for him too. He sent us through about a dozen brick buildings. And then we fought fire to smoke in the sky so you could let him get away.

You don't remember?

[... but then....????]

[Smoker doesn't get it. Why instill not!Ace with a memory no one had, and leave out something so obvious. Why even have Ace here at all? What purpose did it all serve?]

Portgas...

[He's using the name because he can, because it's been so long, because even if it's not, as it surely can't be, what else is he going to use?]

What is this place?

[orangeoutlaw]

[you are seriously cracked. He's a little taken aback with Smoker knowing Luffy but then Luffy would have left by now and would have to pass through Loguetown to get on the Grandline. He's surprised and impressed he has an epithet already but..

As for the rest of it]

You must be infected by Marco's dream. I've never been to Alabasta I said. [and even if he had and did't know it, which was probable, he would have remembered meeting Luffy]

How should I know what this place is? [He wants to tell him to ask Marco but then remembers that Marco would either lie to him or shred him or probably shred him and lie at his corpse --if Smoker even went there.

Maybe he can ask Marco later]

Anyway don't worry about it.

[justicereigns]

Yeah....

Okay.

[Time. Has. Gone. PCHOO.]

[And he doesn't know what to do about it.]

[Maybe nothing, maybe he must simply embrace the fact that it is dead. Dead like Ace should be, but isn't.]

So is the rum here any good? You'd be amazed how hard it is to get good East Blue rum in the New World. Actually maybe you wouldn't. But Whitebeard's crew is more partial to sake, I believe?

[orangeoutlaw]

Yeah it's good. Not as good as you'd get elsewhere but it's kind of civilized around here. [the best rum came from the wild places he found]

We drink anything we want. We're not stick in the mud Marines. [he sticks his tongue out at Smoker. Anyway he's particular about who he'll drink sake with but he's not going to share that with him]

So you dreamed you saw Luffy, huh? What was he like?

[justicereigns]

[Rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue back out at Ace, because he really doesn't give a fuck what Ace or anyone else thinks of him.]

I didn't dream it, Portgas. [Points at the scars to his eye and chest respectively.] Surely you don't think I've gotten so weak that someone in the East Blue could do this.

[But.... fine.]

[He'll play along with the delusion.]

He wanted to see Roger's execution stand. [CAUTIOUSLY TAKES A STEP SIDEWAYS FROM ACE, STILL WALKING CASUALLY THOUGH.] I even gave him directions before I found out he was the 30 million bounty rookie. Even then, I thought HQ was just giving out bounties like water, that it had to be a mistake. He got away though. No one's ever done that before. I thought I had him but his father rescued him. Not that I'm sure he has any idea that he's related to Dragon.

[Sidelong.] That's why I thought you might have picked Drunken Monkey. [Small quirk to his lips, almost grinning.]

[orangeoutlaw]

[he doesn't really know how strong Smoker is or isn't but if it's a dream anything can happen.

He twitches at the mention of the execution stand but it sounds like a very Luffy thing to do and Ace is glad they didn't set off together because Lu would want to visit it and Ace would want to --

want to something.

Bastard.

He tries not to think about it though because that'll get him really pissed.

He tilts his head]

Dragon the Revolutionary?

[ . . .

Proccessing...

Jiijii
v
v
v
Dragon the Revolutionary
v
v
v
stupid little brother]

Nah you're high.

[justicereigns]

[Stares at.]

Are you telling me you don't even know that?

[orangeoutlaw]

I'm telling you it's a dream. [digs finger in ear]

[justicereigns]

[DOUBLE FACEPALMS.]

[THIS MIGHT BE A DREAM.]

[THAT WAS NOT.]

[WHAT DOES HE DO NOW?]

[HE DOESN'T KNOOOOOW.]

What do you even do here? Other than hunting, fishing, and setting fires I guess.

[orangeoutlaw]

That. [B|] Not much to do.

[justicereigns]

That's pathetic, Portgas.

[Fresh pair of cigar light up.] Do you simply no longer care about getting stronger without your father around to coddle you?

[orangeoutlaw]

Ehh it's a dream. [he could but most people were marshmallows also what's the point?]

[justicereigns]

And you're content with that?

I shouldn't expect you to be placid just because it's a dream.

[orangeoutlaw]

So you're telling me to be a pirate?

[justicereigns]

No.

Fuck no.

[orangeoutlaw]

Sounds like that's what you're saying.

[justicereigns]

That is NOT what I'm saying.

[orangeoutlaw]

It's okay, Smoker. I get it. [head ruffle!]

[justicereigns]

[Alarmed.]

Don't touch me.

[PIRATE COOTIES AHHH!]

[orangeoutlaw]

Not even like this? [pokes him in the ribs]

Or this? [tries to flick his hear again]

[justicereigns]

Why can't you just keep your hands to yourself?

[orangeoutlaw]

Because it annoys you.

[tickles under chin]

[justicereigns]

[He's mentally screaming.]

[But he grabs Ace's wrist hard enough to break it. Fire though.]

Don't.

[orangeoutlaw]

[grins]

You know if you wanted to hold hands, you could have just said so.

[justicereigns]

[MENTAL SCREAMING INTENSIFIES AND HE ALMOST LETS GO LIKE HE'S BEEN BURNED BUT THAT IS WHAT PORTGAS WANTS SO HE WILL NOT PLAY THAT GAME.]

[>:| >:| >:| >:(]

I really hate you.

[H u h. That has 99% less conviction than it needs to.]