[Voice/Action for peeps on the Million Merry]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Really? Really? We're all just gonna' jump right into the abyss, huh? Why not? I hope everyone gets as spun up as possible and this turns into an even bigger fiasco. Let's go all out. Why not sink a few Navy vessels while you're at it? Make some more fireworks, so they know where to find you.

Let's face it, life here isn't complicated enough, yet. What we need is more random acts of destruction. I'm quite sure that'll make everyone's lives so much better, and won't bite people in the ass in any way.

[Akira actually has to take a minute to suppress his temper, centering himself as best he can.]

Maybe I'm over-reacting. Who knows, could be stress. Perhaps the air on these islands is just too thin. Still, I've never been more glad to not be on the ocean, than right now. Damn it, I'm so frazzled by all this, I think I'm shedding...

Oh! Luffy, if you're hearin' this, we'll have a guest for a little while. I'll take responsibility for her, so you guys have fun with whatever.

Comments

[alwaysgrumpy]

Way it goes, I guess. The strong and dumb always wield a lot of power.

[myfayevalentine]

*She rubbed the centre of her forehead a second*

Pricks. Treating women like shit for the kick of it. You know, the ring leader of that gang at Gun Frontier, he actually wanted to kill me and then -

*It had just sort of tumbled out, but she didn't really know what to say then. Was it still rape if she was dead?*

[alwaysgrumpy]

Well, at least the only dead who come back are outsiders, as far as I know.

[myfayevalentine]

*She gives a snort as she glares at her iced tea*

No matter. I'd kill him again if I could.

[alwaysgrumpy]

So would I, believe me. Nobody is every gonna' fuck with people I love, again.

[myfayevalentine]

Creeps. That's what they are. Just a bunch of fucked up creeps.

*But still, she gives Akira a small, curious smile*

This teacher of yours meant a lot to you, then?

[alwaysgrumpy]

She was...

[He leans back in his chair, lost in thought. He looks like he's working really hard to think of a word for it.]

...the first person to understand me in a very long time. I loved her. I'm just not sure what kind of love it is. She was a good decade older and she certainly doted on me in an almost maternal way. I just know that on a deep level we were connected.

[myfayevalentine]

*Faye watched him for a moment, casually observing and listening, and she sipped from her glass. Thens he smiled a slow smile and inclined her head*

That's sweet. You miss her a lot?

[alwaysgrumpy]

I do. I know she's out there, somewhere. Back home, I mean.

[myfayevalentine]

People are dropping into this world all the time. You never know when she might just pop up someday.

[alwaysgrumpy]

I'd really rather she didn't. She's been through enough.

[myfayevalentine]

Well, I guess in the meantime you're stuck with me.

[alwaysgrumpy]

That's certainly not a bad thing. If it means I can keep you safe when it counts, then that's fine.

[myfayevalentine]

Much as I appreciate it, you do know that you shouldn't feel in any way responsible for me, don't you?

[alwaysgrumpy]

You're my friend, though.

[myfayevalentine]

And I'm glad. I like to have friends that treat me to dinner.

[alwaysgrumpy]

Speakin' of which...

*He rises from the table to check on the meat, putting a thermometer in to check the core temperature. After putting out some plates and utensils, he hauls the sizzling meat to the table.*

Perfect. Hope you like medium-rare. Cut off what you want.

[myfayevalentine]

This looks and smells delicious.

*Faye grinned at him, then her eyes eagerly looked over the meat. She took her knife and cut a reasonably sizeable chunk from the meat on the table, and put it onto her plate*

Medium rare is perfect.

*She licked her lips, then happily went about cutting and trying the meat*

[alwaysgrumpy]

Nice to see someone with a big appetite.

[myfayevalentine]

Sorry. Were you expecting a dainty eater? Picking at a side salad?

*Because, from the rate that she was getting through that meat, it was obviously clear that that wasn't Faye. She did seem to remain somewhat ladylike with her cutlery, though, and she didn't make a mess*

[alwaysgrumpy]

It's refreshin' to see a lady who doesn't hold back.

[myfayevalentine]

*Faye winked at him and paused in her eating for a moment*

Why hold yourself back from what you enjoy? This is delicious.

[alwaysgrumpy]

A lot of people feel self-conscious about it.

[myfayevalentine]

Probably because they have people who end up suggesting that they're fat.

*Faye points across the table at him with her fork*

[alwaysgrumpy]

I'm pretty sure no one could accuse you of that, Faye.