piratejournal | Some asshole with a bike / Written & voiceover

Entry tags:

Some asshole with a bike / Written & voiceover

This is Kuzan. Better known as Aokiji to pirates in our world, because like most logia users, he has a signature fighting style that is based on his attacks.

Don't let the almost awesome afro hair fool you, however, he's as torpid as they come.

You see this fearsome would-be marine has a ten-speed bike he rides around over the ocean like the worst kind of MC loser there ever was. That's right. A ten speed bike. What the hell does it use ten speeds for? The only one he ever uses is a slow cruise that is like watching ice cubes thaw! It's not even a motorcycle! That's how useless it is.

He's got the gloves and boots like a real rider, but on a bicycle, he might as well just have the gear to deal with the cold.

So uncool.

He does make a mean ice cream though. So you know, if you're anywhere near the Friend Ship or Justice Penguin, get some. Unless you're a pirate. Then you're even more of a loser than him.

[Yup. That's it. This is a public service message brought to you by: Smoker, the worst friend ever. Carry on.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Back home she's considered a monster. You guys are something else... jesus]

I figure it's a practice thing, but it's still impressive. I know strong people back home, but I think even they would be out classes by you guys. Hellboy would get along with you well though, I think.

[As is Smoker though so...]

[He grunts quietly.]

Believe it or not, I still have a long way to go.

One of the biggest things you learn is that you can never stop getting stronger. It's like treading water. If you stop for even a second, you'll sink.

Edited 2014-06-24 01:35 (UTC)

Hmmm [she hummed softly, considering that.] Using water analogies with a fire elementalist. Cute. [she sounded amused is all.]

[He might hear the sounds of fire flicking on and off as she spoke.]

I used to try to hide it, partly because I couldn't control it. Mostly because it's... bad. Back home it is at least. I suppose you're right though. I was sinking for most that time. Here? Not so much.

[A small barking laugh.] I can't even swim to be honest, so I was half guessing on that analogy.

But yeah... you can't really hide devil fruits in our world. There are reasons to, and some people try, but it's too much part of who you are. Eventually you'll mess up and it'll show.

But if all you ever do is try to fight it, you won't learn how to use it either.

The offer still stands, you know. If you want to practice a little more safely.

My smoke can't completely choke out fire, they're too complementary, but it can neutralize the worst of it anyway.

[It's nice to hear any of this crew laugh. The gruff tones remind her of HB actually, so it was even more nice. Staring down at her hand set on fire, she frowned though.]

[It's a good offer.]

I've been practicing. Getting better at it. But... mmm, I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer, I think.

I have to admit, it's pretty refreshing to see a fire user who isn't a hothead.

Even our magma user in the marines is a lot more on the rash and vengeful side than not.

But seriously, don't worry about using it so much. Fire isn't all that more dangerous than size, or a sword, or a gun. Anything can be dangerous, but that doesn't mean it can't be used for good either, got it?

That's one thing I can say clearly that I am not. A hothead. That would be the guy I work with back home.

I think if I was I'd have burned the world down by now.

[a crackle of fire from her side of things...] I know it can be good, and I know it's useful. It's also refreshing to know people here are... okay with it. The danger comes from when it goes on too long, or gets too big. Not the fire itself though. The person that comes out when I lose it is the problem.

Yeah? What kind of things get you angry?

How do you know it's not just anger?

[Liz is a very calm person for a very good reason.]

It's more... emotional.

Anger at situations. People. Bullies. At being frustrated over small things.

Being pushed into situations I can't control.

Fear.

... [The sounds of the fire cut out suddenly, the more she talks the less even her voice is, so she kills the fires]

Pain. Draining emotions. Things outside of my control. Factors of each?

Last time I let myself go big, I was scared, for my friend. Had to ask another friend to hit me. It helped to trigger it. So... fear, pain, anger? I didn't want them to hurt Red, so I snapped. I thought I could control it but in the end I let the explosion happen.

It stopped because I blacked out. Stopped thinking. That's the trick. Stop my mind and it all goes away.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if being overly happy would trigger it as well. [after all, it feels so good once it gets going that it's hard to stop the power.]

I'm not an expert, but that sounds way too much like letting your power control you instead of the other way around.

[She kind of smiled at his statement, running both hands over her face, so her voice was muffled for part of her comment.] Yes, that's pretty much it. Not quite sure how to get around it is all. Trying to practice big just brings problems. Small stuff I can control.

I hate to use another swimming analogy since I haven't been swimming in over thirty years, but... they say if you fight riptide currents, it just makes it a lot worse. Yeah, you need to keep your head above water, but you can't go directly against it either. The way you get out is to go with the current so you can find where it levels out.

In other words; don't try to fight the fire so directly. Fear, anger, numbness, all of that is part of you. You can't eliminate it from yourself, and you shouldn't try to. Your fire is part of you too. So long as you fight it, you can't win. You can never get rid of a conscience forever, nor any other part inside of you.

All right, when you start getting afraid, and frustrated with yourself or bullies, try reminding yourself that you can't control them, but you can control yourself. Your flames are you. What you do with them, is up to you.

[A small sigh.] Yeah, I know that sounds easy, but it's damn well not that simple.

Controlling emotions and reactions is an art that even people who've been working at it for half a century don't often have mastered. Like I said, the marines' own magma user doesn't even have that much grip.

But it sounds like you're more scared of hurting than others than anything else. Believe it or not? That's a good start.

As a kid, I snapped hard, dealing with a lot of pirates and everything all the time. When I got my devil fruit, I wasn't as creative with it. I thought it could only choke someone, and that was it. The idea that I could make it into clouds or do anything I wanted with it instead, was actually pretty liberating.

I don't fight with a sword or a gun, or anything that's usually lethal, and I try to make all my attacks about capture instead. Because that's my choice. That's my way of proving to myself I'm stronger than that.

I don't know how Portgas, another fire user, gained some of the control over his fire powers. I know he had a lot of trial by fire practice though, since he learned it in the worst part of the world, the pirate's graveyard. But I think the first step is definitely not to fight it head on, so much. If you are your own worst enemy, every time you slip up, which you will, you won't be able to get over it.

[She's silent through all this. And for a short moment after it no less. A sound of a held breath being pushed out after a moment, and a sigh. It all made a lot of sense, and it's not like she hadn't heard it before.]

Professor Broom used to say some of the the same things. When I was younger. [she missed him. He died not long ago, for her.] I'm a pretty big runaway kind of person, generally. I can admit to it being mostly out of fear. I don't like being out of control.

I think I've been pretty good about not running so far. It's a start. [She gave a small puff or air after that. Hnng] It all sounds a lot easier said then done though. Others like you are the embodiment of elements? Like... you turn into what you control? It's not mental. Not the same in some ways. I get hit with something? Lose my temperament. There goes an entire city block, and countless lives.

If I don't control my emotions, how does one control the fires that follow? Or that sick, honest to god good feeling of burning everything down? I shouldn't want to let the fires take over, but every time I do, it's all I want to do.

Not to mention a 'slip up' tends to be pretty devastating to anyone around me.

[Her tone isn't argumentative, but more curious to what he thinks. Honestly trying to work this all out.]

Maybe you need to try working out some of the fires first.

You've never been around anyone who could handle it? Powers like ours are actually pretty rare in my world, it's only one section of the world that they become a little more common, and where I grew up, I was the only one with one of these. So it wasn't until I met someone stronger than me that I realized I even could work on getting stronger.

And it's what got me to start thinking more creatively.

Well, I have been working on smaller levels. Haven't managed to set the boat on fire either, so I call that a win.

But no, the closest thing to anyone who was like me? A telepathic, empathetic fishman with vast mind for smarts, and a rather tall red skinned demon with a stone hand and a resistance to fire. Neither of which looked human so they had to stay hidden, where as I look human and can hide in that world, but then I hurt someone and go back to square one. [And nope, not talking about having her self locked away in a loonie bin]

I'm curious on what you mean by creative...

I mean creative.

I stopped thinking of it as a weapon, and more like an extension of my arm that was made of cloud that I could do anything with.

Like I said, it was a lot more liberating.

Look, even though you know fire can warm and save lives too, or be used in cooking, what's the most fun thing you can think of to do with it?

[Uh......]

[She's gone silent for the moment. Because... this was a trick question. Right? There are a few Um's and hmms here and there. Clearly she's thinking.]

[After a moment she lets out a small huff] I don't think I've ever considered anything with it to be fun. Forming... figures in the flames? I suppose...

[she feels pretty lame right now. This is a girl who enjoys staring at white walls for hours, undisturbed. :| ]

Yeah, see? As long as you're scared of it, it'll be hard for you. Even if you use it to protect yourself and others close to you, it's still the lesser of two evils instead of your first choice.

How about fireworks? Or making different kinds of art like glass statues or melted wax? Or making your hair look like it's on fire. Normally you had to hide your ability, but at least around your friends, you could try to pretend to have fire nail polish, right?

There's got to be something about it you like, right?

[he's naming things she wouldn't have actually ever thought of, and now that he's said them, she feels mildly stupid for not having thought of them.]

[She's never had a reason to LIKE her powers though. They've been nothing but a pain. They killed her family. They broke her spirits. They killed children her age, and people she was trying to save. They hurt Abe as well.]

[She grunted, a small frustrated sound. She didn't want to tell him that. It would just make her look more pathetic, or so she thought. SO she's thinking on it.]

Something I like... [she repeated more to herself, considering. Why is this SO hard?] Smoker. I think I can truly say... I have never enjoyed my power. I don't... think I know how to. [a bit confused sounding.] While with the BPRD it was just... it's a weapon, or a defense. A help to the team.

It sounds... [she's getting up now, walking around with her journal in hand as she talks...] completely foolish to say that, huh? But I can't think of one time I've had fun with it.

[she might be looking for something to do now...]

That's not foolish, Liz. That's human.

Once burned, twice shy. Being fire yourself, how often does that even count for, right?

At least in my world there are enough people around to remind the others that strength takes a lot of different forms.

You just have to decide what you're willing to do to get over the block.

Like I said, I won't even use lethal weapons.

Are you willing to risk accepting a part of yourself the world might hate?

[There was a soft snort of something that could have been a laugh at his comment about once burned, twice shy.] Real cute, Smoker. [was all she commented on that.]

[The rest had her attention though. She as pacing around below deck now, thanks to this convo.]

In this world... that's a hell of a lot easier to say yes to. I'm not... alone here. I mean, I'm not there either, but this is... different. But... yeah. I want to get over the block. I'm just not sure how?

Then I'll do my best to help, all right?

When you don't have as much to lose, it's ironically a lot easier.

Some asshole with a bike / Written & voiceover

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice] 1/2

[voice] 2/2

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice] 1/2

[voice] 2/2

[voice]

[voice]

[voice] 1/2

[voice] 2/2

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]