action /video

[orangeoutlaw]

[dogs. dogs everywhere. Genessia, Attleton, Nova City, Everglades, Fayren, wherever there is a pound or animal shelter, they've been sprung from them and are now baying through the streets or sleeping on doorsteps or rummaging through trash.

Through Genessia proper though, there is a pack of them, charging through the streets, baying excitedly. In the middle of them is one shirtless hat less pirate, rolling along on a skateboard despite the fact that his hands are cuffed behind him. At intervals, he'll throw back his head and howl as he goes along]

[a little later, he's sitting against a wall, breathless and excited, comm propped between his knees as he grins wildly at the camera though it, dogs sleeping all around him and a pooped pug on his head, snoring upside down with her legs twitching in the air]

Yo! I'm here. I'm back. Anyone got food? Or a key? Marco? Namur? Adela? [his grin widens] Taisa? Come find me. I'm free.


[Locked to whoever is in Namur's apartment]

[at some point, at Namur's apartment, this same certain pirate may be seen sleeping against the outside of the window, as if he was trying to jimmy it open with his teeth and conked out during the attempt]

Comments

[kurobakeneko]

[Once the man complies, Nao gets into stance. He has to put some distance between them because this no ordinary sword. It's a greatsword that is mirrors that of a katana. How in the world Nao managed to claim such a sword is virtually unknown but it may hsve something to do with his bloodline. The Fujiwara Family can trace their roots back to the alleged Gods of Heaven, one such deity being the former God of the Moon.]

I'll be swift. [He murmurs as he falls into intense concentration. The tip of his sword taps the middle part of the cuffs causing a slight vibration to travel along the blade. Nao closes his eyes briefly and grips the sword tightly with both hands. Once the last of the vibration ends, he lifts his sword and quickly cuts through the seastone with mild effort.]

It's much harder than it seemed initally. [Nao mentions as he sheathes his sword. It seems that the ruffian still have both his life an his limbs. That is good.]

I fear you might have bracelets now.

[orangeoutlaw]

[he visibly relaxes when he can move his hands freely though he still feels like trying to swim through glue. But that's just the seastone]

Thanks. I owe you one. [or maybe two as his stomach growls again] I have some red bills if you want to trade me the onigiri for them?

[kurobakeneko]

[Nao visibly relaxes once he manages to free the man. He's just glad that he didn't nick him with that sword. That would've been one hell of a disaster.]

Forgive me but what's a "red bill"? [He says as he offers a small pink and white furoshiki bag that has little white cherryblossoms etched upon it. There's a full box filled with tuna rice balls. It might not be enough to fill the man but still good enough.]

Is that the currency here? I literally washed up ashore.

[orangeoutlaw]

Yeah it's money. [he hands over a fistful, delicately takes the box out then opens it, dumping all the onigiri into his mouth at once]

Fiff freffy foof ffof foemf foo fiff foo fum. [swallow] You should have some money too. [licks the grains off the inside of the box]

[kurobakeneko]

[He takes the money and eyes it strangely for a moment. It looks quite different than the currency he's used to but this should do. When Nao turns his gaze towards the ruffian again, he nearly gasps once the man dumps all of the rice balls into his mouth at once.]

H-How unsightly. [He comments with a slight hint of disgust in his tone. Honestly, man. Chew with your mouth closed!]

Ah, yes! I remember taking everything that came inside of the pod. I'm grateful for the starter money and now for extra bit.

[orangeoutlaw]

That's great! Did you make those? [he wipes his mouth with his arm and then presents the box back with both hands, bowing deeply] Thank you for the food.

[kurobakeneko]

That I did. [He accepts the box back with a slight smile as h bows in return.] While traveling on the road, one doesn't have much luxury. I had to learn how to fix my own food.

[The cat is feeling smug.]

You're welcome but now what what shall you do? Those cuffs need to come off but I hesitate to attempt any further.

Do you have friends here?

[orangeoutlaw]

You're really good. Hey! If my brother's cook isn't here, you should come be mine! I can get red bills for you somehow.

[he doesn't work because that's icky but he would find a way to pay the guy. Probably bountying]

I think they're still around. If not I'll figure it out. Want to come see the tree house?

[kurobakeneko]

[Nao can't help but look a tad surprised at the offer. He has had many odd jobs over the years to support his travels but never in culinary. The closest he ever had was as a server in a teahouse.]

Is that a true offer? I just may consider it. [He says as he neatly wraps up his bento box within its bag.]

A tree house? As in an actual house within a tree? [He never ever seen a tree house before. His people tend to live in ornate homes like most other races.] Well, you've won my curiosity. Lead the way.

[orangeoutlaw]

Yeah it's great. [he gets on his skateboard] Hop on!

[kurobakeneko]

Hop on? [Oh, Nao almost forgot about that skateboard. He gives it a quick glance before stepping onto it cautiously from behind. It's better this way so this guy can see where he's going.]

I trust you don't mind the contact. [He mutters as he hesitantly as he places his arms around the man's torso.] I'm simply not keen on falling.

[orangeoutlaw]

Nah you won't fall. [he's kind of overpolite but Ace likes him. He waits until they're both balanced before kicking off and moving at an easier pace, the dogs trotting obediently around them. The one on his head farts quietly in the other's general direction. Sorry about that]

Where you from?

[kurobakeneko]

[The formalness in his speech and mannerisms is a nod to his noble upbringing. Even though he left the Fujiwara Family years ago, he still acts like a noble. It's an odd quirk of his that he hasn't let go yet.]

I would hope so. [His grip around this kind ruffian tightens a little once they take off. So far so good except for the mutt upon the man's ahead. Nao huffs a little as he glares at the pup. This is why he doesn't like dogs you know.] You're pardoned.

[His attention rests on Ace again.]

Mizugakure. [Nao smiles somewhat.] It's a sleepy village off the White Coast shrouded in mist. Quite tropical during the summers thanks to the rains but rather cold during the winter.

And yourself? You seem like the adventurous type.

[orangeoutlaw]

[he chuckles a little at the offended tone, but then his smile softens]

Sounds like a peaceful place.

I'm a Whitebeard Pirate, second division commander. I go wherever Pops goes usually so I guess you could say I'm from everywhere. Mostly on the Grand Line. [though not currently but he tries not to think about that too much]

[kurobakeneko]

A pirate? [There's a notable hint of awe in his tone.] You don't say? Not too many pirates visited the White Coast. We don't have much in riches but we are rich in resources. Plenty of fish of all colors and sizes.

[The tattoo upon the man's back should've given a way his occupation. Isn't that a skull and cross bones brand? Looks like it.]

Pray forgive me for not asking sooner but what is your name?

[orangeoutlaw]

Good sake?

[Pops might like it there]

Ace. Yours?

[kurobakeneko]

Very good sake. [Nao says with a proud grin.] Smooth and crisp with a hint of peach, the best in the land.

[Guess what? They both share a fondness for sake.]

Nao Fujiwara but please, simply call me "Nao". It's a pleasure, Ace.

[orangeoutlaw]

Pops would love that. [he would too, actually]

Maybe we can find something like it here.

[he grins at the name]

Same, Nao. [they start going down a bit of an incline and picking up speed as they do but it's not a problem.]

If I had my fire we'd get there in no time.

[kurobakeneko]

I'm not opposed to us drinking together.

[A faint chuckle escapes him. How long has it been since he shared a bottle of sake with a fellow comrade? Regrettably, it's been years. Nao often drinks alone these days.]

"Your fire?" [He questions once Ace starts to speed up. His grip upon the man tightens some. The poor cat is afraid of falling.]

As in...actual fire?

[orangeoutlaw]

[if he's gonna cook them drinking together is inevitable]

Yeah I'm a fire man! [he banks a bit sharper, putting a hand on the other guy's so he wouldn't fall off] Except with these cuffs I can't do any of that.

[kurobakeneko]

[Here comes the drunken evenings.]

You mean to say that "seastone" possesses a natural ward against of magic?

[He blinks his eyes curiously at Ace before eyeing the sea green hue of those stone-like cuffs. Maybe he should try cutting those off the pirate again so he could store them for later. Nao could use a substance like this for a weapon.]

Do you of anyone who could assist you?

[Nao is grateful Ace is attentive. The both of them could've went flying off the skateboard a moment ago.]

[orangeoutlaw]

I don't know anything about magic. [he scratches his head]

But yeah I might know a guy or two if--

[oop. down another incline surrounded by excitable dogs is probably not the best time to find out Ace is extremely slightly narcoleptic. Hope you've got good balance]

[kurobakeneko]

Eh? [Nao blinks his eyes rapidly when Ace suddenly falls quiet.] You might know a guy or two? Whom? Ace?

[Wait a second, did this scrawny bastard just fall asleep?]

...Nani!?

[Suddenly now the one steering this skateboard, Nao is grateful for his fast reflexes and his somewhat decent balance. He's a cat after all. Well, not an literal cat but close enough. The ninja somehow manages to steer this ridiculous skateboard well enough down the incline while holding onto Ace for dear life. He all but glares at the pirate once he realizes just how knocked out he is and thinks of pinching him awake.]

You must be a handful for all your poor colleagues.

[He grumbles a little as he purposely twists Ace's ear backwards in between those sharp nails.]

Wake up.

[orangeoutlaw]

Ow! Damnit, Izou! I didn't touch--!

[oh wait. blink blink]

Oh it's you. [yawn] What were we talking about?

[kurobakeneko]

[The beastkin's eyes narrow into slits briefly. There's something foul that Nao wants to say but instead, he simply hoists this man off his feet in an impressive show of strength and literally carries him. Nao doesn't trust this idiot to transport them there safely, so he's going to take charge here.

Have fun with being bridal carried by someone shorter than you, Ace.]

A pirate with narcolepsy. [He huffs dramatically.] How is that even remotely feasible?

I swear I have a knack for finding troublesome people! Perhaps I scorned someone in my past life.