[Voice]

[lonelygod]

[It's been a day or so since the battle and the Doctor has had time to calm down and get his head together. Everyone is relatively alright, sure, and the Navy fortress has been reduced to a smoldering heap by Ace, Ikki, and his own inventions. But he's got a few thoughts about all of this, and as usual he's not terribly good at the whole staying quiet thing.]

Right, so, I've got a bit of a question. Aside from the whole...stereotypical law thing...does anyone know exactly why the Navy of this world is out to get us? Most of us aren't really out to overthrow governments, steal things, and plunder ships.

'Course, that doesn't seem to matter much, does it? No, not really. And it sort of makes one wonder what sort of nonsense assumptions they're working under. At least, it does me.

Anyway. Guess that's a moot point for me. [His voice gets a bit colder.] Magnets, it seems, are a wonderful tool for causing all kinds of mayhem with their forts. So, I guess if any of you listening to this are Navy types, I'd appreciate it if you'd not give me cause to come up with something new. Next time I won't be so forgiving.

[And it softens again as his warning is delivered.]

Oh, right. And also if anyone knows where I can find a few well polished bits of quartz, well...I need them for a bit of a project.

[And with that random barrage of information, the Doctor closes the book, apparently already distracted by something else.]

Comments

[Voice]

[rosettawall]

My suspicion, sir, would be our presence as outsiders.

All things told, we are not entities that seem to really belong in this world. Somehow, this Navy would appear to know that.

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

And that's what I can't figure. Why would they want to fight, knowing full well we are outsiders, and...well, that we all want to leave? Doesn't make much sense to me, miss. Why pick a fight you can't win with people who don't really want to fight you?

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

Outsiders are scary, pirates are scary. Ergo, outsiders are pirates. Or that's the best I can come up with based on what I've heard.

Now...magnets, you say? And what fort are we talking about here? [A beat.] ...Or were talking about, if I'm reading you correctly.

[voice]

[lonelygod]

Magnets, yes, magnets. Brilliant things.

[He laughs bitterly at that.]

And I'm talking about the fort on Nuevo Empiera. It's gone. Won't be coming back.

Voice.

[hero_complexed]

[ Wow sir. you talk alarmingly fast ]

Dunno. I guess because they don't understand us? Same reason some wizards look down on muggles?

Voice.

[lonelygod]

[Yes, yes he does!]

What's to understand? Honestly, we're really only here to find this crystal and go home. I suppose there have been some...disruptive types, but that shouldn't warrant arresting young women and beating them senseless before a hanging without trial, now does it?

[Voice]

[thefoglies]

It would seem that our mere presence is an offense to them, good Doctor.

[Long time no hear.]

I suppose we are a disruption to the natural order of things. Of course, there would be some natives against our presence here.

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

And yet, we so very clearly want to leave. How...frustratingly primitive of them.

[Voice]

[orderispeace]

Do I understand you correctly, you managed to destroy a fort with only a magnet?

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

Yes. Yes you have the right of it.

[It's just a matter of fact tone.]

[voice]

[darknessinside]

I think they must see us as a threat. And an unknown one, at that.

[voice]

[lonelygod]

And why do you suppose that is, Riku? After all, we came in just as confused and threatened as they did. You'd think it'd be in their best interests to want to work with us.

[Voice]

[jadethenecromancer]

It could be simply how the society works here. You see someone who doesn't fit in the familiar hierarchy, you assume the worst.

...Of course, they might also know something we don't.

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

Humans...

[He clicks his tongue.]

Yes, that could be it. It's more likely that they know something, but getting one to sit still long enough to ask questions before he's ranting about piracy and trying to stab you is a bit of a challenge.

[Voice]

[uccellodifuoco]

I still say that it's because we're after the jewel, they probably don't want to risk having someone that isn't them, or someone approved by the governments, finding it. What if we wish for the destruction of this world?

[The question is mostly rhetoric and said in a mocking tone.]

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

Oh, well naturally we all want to blow up the planet. OF course...

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

[Ugh Smoker... does not want to get into politics. AGAIN. But you know, it is his thing. And he is a navy-type.]

Granted, it doesn't help anything to force people into desperate situations or corner them so that they begin to think piracy is their only option.

However, we were all brought here by a notorious pirate himself for the sole purpose of trying to help him regain something, probably quite powerful and subsequently quite feared, so that he'll send us back. Here's a better question for you. Why does he want the shard pieces so badly? If the marines don't want him to have it, they're scared of what he'll do with them. And whether we individually or even entire ships of us don't intend to hurt anyone, that certainly doesn't stop our summoner from doing so, now does it?

So if you ask me, it's not what we do that they have a problem with, it's what they fear we will do no matter what our good intentions are.

That's my guess anyway. [Just like killing Ace. It wasn't about Ace, wasn't about who he was, or what he did, it was about his mere existence all along. It wasn't about Ace, but it was about what others would make him no matter what he wanted. And that included the marines.] It's not justice, but I won't pretend my world's marines would be any better.

[Snorts.] I'm lying. They'd be a lot worse in my world. [Because if someone like Nico Robin teamed up with someone like Crocodile to retrieve all the weapons to destroy the world? Yeah, the government wouldn't hesitate to kill people they knew damn well to be innocent. Sakazuki himself would freely blow up a whole island before letting that happen. And Smoker has seem some of that aftermath already.]

[Voice]

[lonelygod]

I've been trying to figure that out, y'know. Why does he want the shards? I assume it's some ephemeral...pirate-y ghost thing. Probably just wants his body back. That's pretty common with psychic impressions.

But then your guess is as good as mine. Could be anything. Could be nothing. Could be we just tipped some sort of political scale. But frankly, I don't care. They hurt children. They enslave people. And I think that's reason enough now to take an active hand, don't you? Hardly justice, but I've half a mind to give them a bit of justice, show them what it's really like.

Voice

[exceptionallybright]

We're outside of their jurisdiction. It's simple logic that they'd extend their reach to bring us under their hand. [Sarcastically.] Perhaps there's some papers we could have filled out to receive a warmer welcome.

Voice

[lonelygod]

Yeah, no kidding.

[He scoffs]

Bureaucrats.

voice;

[goldcomplex]

They are rather suspicious, though any law-abiding group would be of strangers traveling around in ships looking for a specific treasure. At least, that's what we're meant to believe.

voice;

[lonelygod]

And you think, sir, that it's the treasure's fault?

[voice]

[yatagarasu]

Someone once said it's 'cause we don't have permission and paperwork to sail, I think -

Wait, magnets?

[voice]

[lonelygod]

Honestly, wouldn't be surprised at this point.

[And since he's repeating himself.]

Yes, magnets. Small, round, attract ferrous materials?

voice;

[havesomedeath]

It is a little weird, huh? I get that they don't like strangers, but even then it doesn't really make sense! Some people [like himself] really like to fight, so if it was that it'd make sense, but I don't think that's it.

Maybe they're just jerks.

voice;

[lonelygod]

That's always possible, certainly. The universe has no shortage of those.

[abundantlove]

... Magnets? Really?

That's quite interesting... and uhm, I'd suggest the shop on Isla Impieza for finding quartz, but that port's closed down at the moment...

[lonelygod]

Yes, really.

[Gosh, why was everyone stuck on the magnets?]

And yes, I suppose it is. Guess I'll just have to stop by when we go free it up.