The Worst of the Worst [Gideon, Lloyd]

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 1 // THE WORST OF THE WORST

Brightnight, the island of eternal dusk, twinkling stars and glowing fireflies.

Gideon woke up to the sound of the waves gently crashing on the shore. Where he was, and what happened to him, he couldn't remember. He could only remember his last conversation, and the brief moments that led to the loss of consciousness. He remembered the prison, and someone coming back from the dead to free him.

"I want it all back. Our crew, our bonds. I changed my mind, the way I used to think fits me no longer. I won't take no for an answer."

"I need to take my revenge, Gideon. My parting gift is your freedom."

"Wahahaha! You'd leave everything behind for petty revenge! You really deserve the title of..."

He remembered a loud bang. Then nothing more.

The silence was interrupted by a frightening roar. Gideon looked around, startled, before realizing that the roar had come from inside - his stomach asked for sacrifice. Just how much did he spend lying down like that?...

Every bone in his body aching, he pushed himself standing; his bare feet on the sand felt oddly comfortable, and he took the time to enjoy the feeling of touching something that wasn't cold hard stone or wood for the first time in months.
That brief moment was interrupted instantly by a flash of light hitting him right in the eye. "Hey!" yelled a man, "What are you doing here?"

"Don't you know this is Baron Keane's private shore? You're trespassing!". Gideon covered his eyes in confusion. "For trespassing, that'll be a fine of two thousand Belly!" The man illuminated Gideon's body up and down with his flashlight.
Gideon didn't answer, still processing the event. The constant screaming was already getting on his nerves. "So? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Who..."
"Huh?"
"Who are you..."

The man chuckled. "You don't know the Red Sparrow Trading Company? Are you a foreigner?" the man asked, shaking his head. Gideon extended his hand against the light source, and took a better look at the man. He was wearing what looked like a uniform, with red accents so bright they could be seen even in the faint light of the moon. "I suppose so. Either that or you're high on Fairy Dusk."
"We keep the order here in Bupae. Now you follow mph-" and before he could finish, the man found an open palm wrapped around his mouth.

"Who are you... to tell me what to do?" Gideon said. "You come in, blind me, and order me around like you have any authority?..."

"Do you have any idea how screwed you are?"

The pale light of the moon reflected against Gideon's ice blue eyes. "You and your blabbering...!" Gideon lifted the poor guy up, and in one fluid motion slammed his head into the ground; the guy's entire upper half got buried in the sand, leaving his legs comically sticking out.

Gideon's stomach grumbled again, and he grumbled at it right back. "God, I'm hungry..." he whispered; his attention was drawn to the glow of the lights coming from the nearby city. It made sense: the annoying little bug had to come from somewhere after all. And where there were people, there was food, he thought.
And where there was food... there was Gideon.

A few minutes later...

"Yes! I'm telling you" - puah! The Red Sparrow spat out a mouthful of sand - "this guy is on some serious Dusk. He didn't even" - puah! - "hesitate and just assaulted me. Yeah..."

"... I don't know, maybe send a merc after him!"

-- NAME // Gideon Brandwen

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Fennec]

Bupae was a cesspool to Lloyd… but it was his kind of cesspool. Just like his homeland before the WG incursion this jungle nation was an independent sovereign state. Meaning anything that the rulers desired was fair game and in this island corruption was the name of said game. For this reason he saw it fit to ally himself even if tenuous with the local Red Sparrow gang portraying himself as a mercenary bodyguard of sorts. He really doubted anyone ones stupid enough to start rousing the local crimelords so this was an easy peasy job. For now he’d enjoy his time with some drinks and maybe get a walk around the city to sight see. As much as the ever looming smog would allow for sightseeing. After a few days he’d sneak into the Baron’s Palace and steal a Devil Fruit the man was supposedly hoarding.

Llody furrowed his brow as the bartender of the ‘Mighty Tiger’ served him a clear white liquor he’d never seen before but had been told was good stuff by a few of the locals. The bartender placed the dark green bottle on the table with a drooping wrag around it still. Mint eyes scanned the clear liquid inside the shot glass holding it up to the light. With a shrug, the horned young man downed the entire shot. It was neutral, with a slight burn, sweet taste, and a nice clean finish. In fact, the finish was a lot cleaner than that of sake which is what he’d most closely compare it to. Lloyd tilted his head looking at the shot glass with curiosity. Not bad.

*SLAM*

A door swung open with a tall sultry woman with sunkissed skin and dark brown hair making her way into the would be lounge. She wore dark clothing and held a smoking pipe in one hand which she occasionally took a huff of. Behind her were two guardsmen toting spears around, held in their black gloved hands. Their faces were covered by ivory masks that shined against neon lights of the room. Lloyd immediately turned around, he saw the matriarch coming in and stood up. This was his ‘boss’ for this escapade. He lifted a brow wondering what exactly she was after.

“Mr. Eldon? Yes?”

Lloyd bowed respectfully as was the custom of greetings for Bupae. The woman looked down at him with slight contempt in her blood red eyes.

“At your service, Lady Tokki.”

She smiled at this smugly before taking a huff of her pipe and blowing it on his face. Lloyd was unphased by it however, awaiting his orders. Honestly if things got too rough he would probably just fuck off and do the stealing now. The gig was good but dealing with something too troublesome wasn’t worth wasting time to him. Lloyd sighed at his own impatience.

“Well… we have an intruder which needs to be dealt with… he was last seen on the beach to the west by one of the patrol officers. Baron Keane’s beach is to not be tainted by unwanted trespassers after all.”

That seemed simple enough? Lloyd was confident most intruders of that sort were usually lousy teenagers looking for fun. He could probably scare them off fairly easily. Well, maybe it wasn’t a bother after all. He was looking to stretch his legs and doing so on a nice beach sounded rather pleasant to say the least.

---

Lloyd | #AEF395 | (Post Count: 1)
Lady Tokki | #555D50 

[pepsi]

The city was nothing like Gideon had seen before, but at the same time it felt oddly familiar. Used to living in squalor and among thieves, Bupae looked like it was crushed between two weights: on the one hand, the large buildings with bright flashing lights where countless nobles had their fun; on the other, the homeless and the drug addict living in the alleys, the poor markets sprawling where the opulent didn't decide to plant their house. It felt completely uneven, chaotic, like an unstable experiment that developed into too many directions too quickly.

But as he walked down the streets, little of the city actually made an impression on him. Barefoot, merely a linen shirt and pants covering him, he blended perfectly in the poor outskirts - but stuck out like a sore thumb in the main roads. And yet, he couldn't care less about it.

Seven Deadly Sins. It was his project, once his time with the Steel Talon had come to an end. It felt great to be the leader of a crew, and what a crew he had found - each and every one of them down on their luck, until he extended a hand to lift them up.

But something felt off. Some of them got along great. Some others couldn't stand their company. The crew ripped itself apart from the inside before it could be ripped apart from the outside. They were split, at sea out there, and he knew that what was broken would never be put back together.

And he couldn't stop blaming himself for it. He wanted to have his crew back more than anything in the world, but he simply couldn't pick sides. And just like that, Gideon convinced himself that he wasn't fit to be a leader.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and when that link is broken...

He didn't realize he had been staring at the display of a little pawn shop for the past fifteen minutes, absorbed in thought. His eyes picked up on the features of some beautiful masks: a traditional one, plain, with slits for eyes and mouth; an eye mask, with a sharp design around the eyes that resembled fangs; a half-mask for the mouth, decorated with the teeth of an Oni.
Without a second thought, he plucked the half-mask from the display, and moved on.

His stomach had not for one second stopped growling. Gideon decided it was about time to break the fast, and decided to head into the nearest restaurant to get a refill.
How he would do that when he had absolutely no money, was not even a question in his mind.

-- NAME // Gideon Brandwen

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Fennec]

Much like Bupae, Lloyd was a walking contradiction to those who laid eyes upon him. He was dressed finely like a nobleman foreign to this land but carried a large ax slung over his shoulder. A weapon that was traditionally used by brutish sorts who never wore such tasteful attire. His dragon-like horns only added to that air of mystery and oddity… a devilish moniker of sorts or perhaps something else. Either way it branded him eccentric as did his height that matched a small lamp post. The eyes of those poor and rich often found themselves staring at his intrigue before turning away once Lloyd made stern eye contact.

Lloyd didn’t mind this sort of attention if anything this was preferable to the blues where he stuck out like a sore thumb. In the East Blue he truly was a freak and they’d sometimes point it out. At least in the Grand Line there were other freaks like him who were about. It wasn’t out of line. Either way, Lloyd was making his way toward the beach… in the back of his head he was reminded of the description Lady Tokki had given him of the individual in question. A fair skinned man with glacial eyes and of height. Certainly someone that would stand out in Bupae’s predominantly dark-haired population.

“Oh brother…”

Just when he thought over that description his verdant eyes locked onto the target. Or at least who he assumed was the target which to his dismay had already made it well into the city and in fact was not a teenager he could scare off. The last thing he wanted was to cause a ruckus here. Even if that was within his jurisdiction working under the Red Sparrow. Lloyd watched the man like a panther ready to pounce studying him as he stole a mask off a pawn shop. Stepping into the crowd with his stone cold face he attempted his best to blend in and act as if he’d seen nothing. But the moment Gideon went on his way he’d begin to shadow him until they were somewhere a bit more isolated.

---

Lloyd | #AEF395 | (Post Count: 2)

[pepsi]

[Thud.]

Gideon threw his entire bodyweight at the first chair he could find, making it scream in pain. The waiter at the entrance of the restaurant had probably asked him something, but he ignored him. He simply wanted to sit down, and be given food. Thinking of anything else meant thinking of the way he failed at pursuing his dream, and he wouldn't allow that to happen until he was fed.
He looked up to meet the same waiter's gaze again, ready with a little notebook and a pen.

"Okay mister, today we have..." the waiter said, a perplexed expression on his face. It was kind of odd, to say the least; the Iron Spade was host to low-income citizens, but didn't shoo away homeless people and drug addicts if they could afford a meal. It wasn't a fancy restaurant by any means, but it survived.
But there was something else going on with that strange man with ice-blue eyes, sitting on that chair with such a thousand-yard stare in his eyes. He did not look just like a man down on his luck, despite the salt-crusted clothes.

"... and that's all of our options for today."

Gideon waited for a second. "Okay, you can start." The waiter's expression morphed into surprise. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"All of the things you just said. I want them."

The waiter was visibly confused at Gideon's request. "Y-you mean you'll eat the entire menu? Mister, I-" "Yes. That's what I said" Gideon remarked, interrupting him. The waiter decided not to confront him on the matter, and simply paced towards the kitchen to inform them of the massive order.

-- NAME // Gideon Brandwen

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Fennec]

The man walked into a local restaurant. Another public establishment much to Lloyd's personal annoyance. But at least he had him on lockdown. He followed him into the restaurant and promptly took a seat in a shaded corner angled perfectly so he had the man in line of sight. Lloyd allowed himself to relax a bit. The way he saw it he should have a bit more fun with this right? Besides, he was getting hungry. Right?

“Oi waitress.”

In an instance the waitress, a short pale skinned woman with brown hair tied in a bun. Lloyd removed his lime colored eyes from the man for just an instance to speak with the waitress.

“Welcome!! What can I get for you sir?”

The horned man hadn’t considered what exactly he wanted to eat yet. But perhaps something local would do. He’d seen some local dockworkers eating a dish; jjajangmyeon. It seemed like a simple yet hearty meal the working class of the island had a particular preference for. Lloyd was meaning to try it over the more lavish meals that were served for him as a merc working for the red sparrow.

“Give me a jjajangmyeon and a local beer please.”

With a nod the woman wrote down the order in her notebook. “Will that be all sir?” She inquired one final time. Lloyd nodded at her, allowing the waitress to dismiss herself from the area. With the woman gone, Lloyd returned his attention to his target.

---

Lloyd | #AEF395 | (Post Count: 3)

[pepsi]

Tangy and spicy fermented cabbage. Delicate omelette rolls with savory fillings. Crispy deep-fried vegetables. Dumplings filled with savory meat and vegetables. Mixed rice with assorted veggies, meat, and a fried egg. Bibimbap served in a hot stone pot. Noodles in black bean sauce with veggies and pork. Spicy soft tofu stew with meat or seafood. Stir-fried spicy chicken with veggies. Marinated beef slices, grilled to perfection. Grilled pork intestines. Stew made from soybean paste with veggies and tofu. Spicy beef soup with veggies. Nourishing seaweed soup. Kimchi fried rice with veggies and meat. Stir-fried sweet potato starch noodles with veggies. Spicy rice cakes simmered in chili paste sauce. Shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. Sweet pancakes filled with brown sugar and cinnamon. Honey-infused fried cookies.

The kitchen was working overtime to cook nearly every single thing they had to offer. The waiters ran back and forth between Gideon's table and the kitchen, taking empty plates away and putting full ones in their place. One after the other, Gideon ate everything without fail, not stopping for even a moment. In at least two instances, he complained that the plates weren't big enough, and demanded more.

The pirate enjoyed and savoured each and every one of those dishes, humming in pleasure for every new flavour he encountered along the way. He was clearly enjoying and savouring everything, even though his indomitable hunger was simply superhuman. The patrons at the restaurant turned their eyes towards the strange man with increasing curiosity, and soon, he was the center of attention. That didn't seem to bother Gideon one bit, as he continued to savour his long and abundant meal.

"Ahhh!" Gideon sighed, finally satisfied. He patted his stomach, a blissful expression on his face. "Good! That was really good!" he chirped, that imposing presence he carried almost entirely wiped. A waiter, still impressed by Gideon's appetite, shyly approached him, and handed him a written piece of paper. "Huh?" Gideon vocalized. "What's that? I can't eat that."
"No, sir" the waiter said, "this is the bill." Gideon had heard of bills, and never in his life did he ever have a penny to his name. Of course, having lived the life of a marauder, pillager and gangster for his entire life, he also never felt the need to pay for anything. "And why should I care?" Gideon asked, as he dusted off a few crumbles from his shirt, "it's not like you'll get a coin out of me."

Gideon stood up from his seat, his height towering over the poor waiter. "M-Mister, if you don't pay, we'll be forced to call law enforcement!..."
Gideon gave him the raised eyebrow, and let out a soft chuckle. "Law enforcement? Call them. The last 'law enforcement' I met is still lying in the sand."

-- NAME // Gideon Brandwen

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Fennec]

Lloyd received his meal… It was a simple dish. But it smelled great, the pork seasoned with sesame was sliced alongside onions on the bean paste sauce which coated the udon noodles. It wasn’t the fanciest of dishes and Lloyd for his part was skeptical at first but using his chopsticks he gave it a try. The flavorful meat and beans complimented the slightly sweetened noodles for the perfect blend of umami which coated his pallet in utter delight. The simplicity of the dish really was deceiving to the flavor it packed.

Upon finishing his meal however, his lime-green eyes were pulled toward the man he had been following. Currently making a ruckus. If there was any doubt this man had been the one he’d been sent after there wasn’t any doubt now. The man himself admitted to assaulting an officer at the beach. Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, Lloyd walked towards Gideon and stood between him and the waitress.

“Put the check on the Red Sparrow’s tab.”

He simply said as he showcased the company’s red pin which he wore on his jacket. This was hilarious to Lloyd who had to contain his laughter. The shock on Lady Toki’s face once she saw the paycheck would be priceless… but hopefully Lloyd would be far away with his Devil Fruit in hand. So long, lousy island! He’d be halfway through paradise before they’d even be aware of his disappearance. He just needed to take care of this idiot first. Lloyd turned around and extended his pale hand toward the man… his demeanor very formal like a businessman.

“Salutations, my name is Lloyd… I see you’re new around here. What would you say if I give you a tour?”

---

Lloyd | #aef395 | Post Count: 4

[pepsi]

Gideon's brows furrowed, his stare growing increasingly hostile as the seconds ticked away. Then, out of the blue, a new figure intervened; he broke the tension between Gideon and the scared waiter with grace and elegance. He was a pale man with silky dark hair and a pair of black horns on his head; just like himself, Gideon thought, though his horns were prettier. "O-oh" the waiter cooed, "I didn't know you were with the Red Sparrow!" he said, referring to Gideon. "It's all right then! We understand!"

Gideon's lips curled into a sly smirk as he heard the whole exchange. "See? All solved." And as he said that, he rose from his chair and almost turned to leave the place; the man's voice stopped him, and made him turn around again. Gideon's eyes immediately fell on the man's badge, identifying it as the very same badge that idiot on the beach had. "Lloyd," he repeated, his gaze darting between the man's neon green eyes and his badge, "so you're with the Red Sparrow, huh?". Gideon was understandably on high alert, knowing that despite having paid for his meal, he had made an enemy with the Red Sparrow not too long prior. He wanted to let Lloyd know that he was perfectly aware of why he was there, but in somewhat of a truthful jest, he simply said: "Must be apologies for troubling me earlier."

"Mph..." Gideon scoffed, "a tour. Yeah, sure." He didn't trust the man one bit, but at the same time, he was simply too full to pick a fight. As his food was being digested in his body - which shouldn't have taken more than a few minutes anyways - and then he'd be able to protect himself once more if the Red Sparrow was trying to inconvenience him again. "Lead the way."

-- NAME // Gideon D. Brandwen

-- TECHS USED // None.