1st Course [Written // Action]

[redfootzeff]

[The script that starts appearing on the page is neat and precise if a bit dark, the pressure being applied getting across extreme irritation which would undoubtedly be in the writer's voice if he were talking.]

Other worlds. Magic journals and gems. The Grand Line made more sense even on its craziest days. Even the Devil Fruits follow more logic than this whole mess.

Seeing as how finding one of these gems is the only way back and those idiots are more likely to sink my restaurant the longer they run it without me, I'm looking to sign on as a ship's cook. Sooner rather than later.

[And the writing stops as Zeff snaps the book closed and tucks it under one arm, hobbling along on his peg leg towards the market. He may as well scope out what's available so that way he doesn't have to waste quite so much time before his ship has to sail.]

[He's getting too old for this mess.]

Comments

voice

[thatched]

Devil Fruit...follows no damn logic at all lemme tell ya. You think it does but then it doesn't. Not a damn picnic.

[he may be very drunk, why do you ask?]

Where is it you hail from o crotchety one?

voice

[redfootzeff]

They follow their own set of rules but at least you can get the basic idea of how they work and how to fight them if necessary. Here? I'm talking to a book and somehow we can hear each other.

East Blue. The Baratie. Who're you?

voice

[thatched]

You can call me...Sally. [he rests his chin on his hands, not that Zeff can see it] I was in the Eas Blue once. Didn' like it much. Kind'a boring if you cattch my drift.

And this book... this book... this book...is important... Though, gotta wonder...how did they get my name on it?

voice

[redfootzeff]

Fine. "Sally" it is. [And you're now stuck with that name for all eternity, you smartass.]

Don't know and I'm not sure I much care either.

voice

[thatched]

Well you'll care. This is...Well they don't gotta name for the ocean that I know of. Annoying ocean. And you gotta get this piece of shard thing. Not that it matters t' me, you unnderstand. Got nothin' waitin for me back home but a swift execution but that's how it goes on the seas.

[sloshing of liquid as if he's chugging a lot straight from the bottle]

But you can...get home to your barabara or whatever. Wind at your seas and calm sails... or...somethin'.

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

You're from the Grand Line?

And you're a cook?

OIIIIIIIIIII ACE! WE'VE GOT A LIVE ONE, EH! [Bursting your ear drums over with:]

Marco, first mate of the Spade pirates, previously first division commander of the Whitebeards. [You know. In case you've heard of him.] What part of the Grand Line are you from?

[Voice]

[redfootzeff]

That's what I said, isn't it?

[Kind of annoyed but at least you're more helpful than the other guy.]

I'm Zeff, formerly of the Cook Pirates and not actually from the Grand Line itself. I sailed it for a year ten years back. I run the Baratie now. Or at least I did until I got dragged here.

[He's heard of Whitebeard (seriously who of their world hasn't?) so he's going to give you the benefit of trying to take you seriously.]

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

Cook Pirates... Cook Pirates...

[Shit, you're making him feel old, trying to go back through a billion pirate crews, most of which Marco did his best to blatantly ignore for being pissants.] Right, I remember. A little. [Because no offense dude, small potatoes and all that, but it was a distinctive style that he remembers, because just as swordsmen keep tabs on other swordsmen, Marco keeps tabs on kickers.] Red Leg, aye?

Baratie's your restaurant?

[Voice]

[redfootzeff]

That's me. And, yes, that's my restaurant.

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

What ocean did you say it's in now? [Zeff didn't say, but you know, it's a round about way of asking.]




[ooc: also are you familiar with the Hand Island special and do you keep it as part of Zeff's canon so far as "yes he got that far and totally had that wax statue of him made by Diego" -- important because Whitebeards owned & protected the island so it forms the base of anything else Marco asks.]

[Voice]

[hiken]

Woah, Baratie!? Marco, I've heard of that place! It's a Fighting Restaurant!

[Out of nowhere, because Ace always liked news about his 'peaceful' little home sea.]

Yo, Mister Chef! Find a crew, yet!?

[Voice]

[redfootzeff]

Not yet though your crewmember's made an offer. You're the captain?

[Voice]

[hiken]

Yeah, that's right.

'Fire Fist' Ace, at your service. Let me be the first to apologize--a few years back, one of my crew-mates made an ass of himself tryin' to get a free meal and your chefs sent him back to me as bruised as his ego.

[Voice]

[song_princess]

[She can hardly read but from what Ed has taught her while he was here, she was able to pick up a few words here and there.]

A ship's cook, my lord? [A small hmmmmm can be heard as she ponders.]

I know that my ship doesn't have a cook but it is not my place to invite you though. [Such sadness! Even she knows that good food can raise morale better then any of her songs.]

[Voice]

[redfootzeff]

Not a lord. Just a cook.

[He's listening though.] Who's your captain?

[In other words, "What idiot goes to sea without a cook besides Chore Boy?"]

[Voice]

[song_princess]

But I do not know the name of my lord and being a cook is not a position to look down upon, if I may be bold to say.

[It's okay, she is safe through these journals.]

His name is Ace and our crew name is the Spade pirates.... Though he eats a lot so he might be a challenge. [The beorc boy eats like a hawk! She idly wonders who would win, Taibarn or Ace in a eating contest.]

[Voice]

[redfootzeff]

Alright then. My name's Zeff. Will that do?

[And gives a snort.] Can't be any worse than that chore boy we had a while back. I'm almost glad Krieg showed up before I had to feed him for a year.

[Especially since Luffy was so bad at his job.]

[voice] 1/2

[serving_love]

[Oh look. That is some damn familiar handwriting. Sanji has to just kind of stare at it for awhile because what the shit, man.]

...Oi. Ol' crap geezer?

[voice] 2/2

[serving_love]

[But then he recovers fast enough and promptly scowls.]

What the hell are you doing here, you shitty old man?

[Also whyyyyy, and when are you from, and how is the Baratie doing and those other asshole cooks, and how are you -- not that he cares, he definitely doesn't miss you or anything, it's not like it's been that long.]

[voice]

[redfootzeff]

If I knew that, you damn eggplant, I'd already be forcing who brought me here to send me home.

[Nice to see you, too, Sanji. He's missed you around the restaurant and has been keeping an eye on the papers since you left, not that he'll ever say it out loud.]

[voice]

[serving_love]

Tch, like you could. That asshole would laugh in your face.

[Grumble grumble. He's practically chewing on his cigarette over here.]

You know they'll probably sink the Baratie with you gone.

[voice]

[yourotherleft]

[honestly did not put two and two together until he heard Sanji yelling. So now he has to look at the journal and squint at the handwriting]

...well, at least it's somebody from home.

[voice]

[redfootzeff]

[That voice. He's heard it only a few times so he doesn't quite place it.]

I wouldn't see that as a good thing considering we're all stuck here.

[voice]

[yourotherleft]

[oh, but he does remember that one. Totally worth talking to a book, yep]

Oho...so that's why the damn cook is ranting and raving. What's up, old man?

[voice]

[redfootzeff]

Given how much the eggplant rants and raves on a regular basis, I'm surprised you could tell that there was any difference.

[Wait. Placing your voice now.]

You're the swordsman that went up against Mihawk, aren't you?