The Hunters for Warlord [Plot] (Oblivion)

[BEX]

Our story takes place in what is now known as Treegap island. Appropriately named given the endless seas of green that overran the island with sprinkles of humanity only marginally breaking the monotony of nature. A lone settlement provided shelter for the island’s natives as well as any seafaring adventurer though the buildings were often enough interrupted by seemingly misplaced trees that vegetation was quickly accepted as tolerated regularity even by the most urban cultured visitor.

While littered with towering oaks and swaying willows the land itself was modeled after the sea surrounding it; every so often a hill would rise from the earth only to slowly make its descent not long after. Some could hardly be called mounds while others could have been brothers to mountains, but it was not on these, the ‘Mountain Brothers’ that the people of Treegap lived on. Instead they made their establishment upon the branches of the mighty trees themselves! By using the differing elevations to delineate social status for themselves and the outside world, Treegap created its city completely at harmony with nature itself. At the bottom, closest to the ground, gnarled roots made the land a hellish maze for the clumsy footed, was the lowest class: beggars, local thieves, thugs, and those who held a general disdain for high class living. It was sometimes hard to look the dirty, smiling faces that resided in these parts. Like all of the people of Treegap they had a generally likeable disposition which most claimed had been cultivated by the earliest pioneers watching the trees.

‘All things balance out for the better in the end, the winds of change need only be waited upon’. This maxim quoted in times of trouble by the rich and poor alike—usually the poorer. Hearing the words quoted so many times by various tongues lent itself to become firstly and most markedly annoying, but there was something magical about this quality catchphrase that crafted people as tough as bark. Perhaps this was the reason they were so affable to the pirate movement which Gol D. Roger had started some years ago. So engrained was the tree based tradition that even the latest fashions were derived from the surrounding plant life. The richest donning floral cutouts that seemed to make them dancing, laughing human flowers while the poorer wore dirt colored patches that made them look like the mud through which they tread on a daily basis. In any case the unspoken edict was clear; the higher up you went upon the tree social ladder, the more well off you were.

Those who lived on the island generally spent their entire lives climbing from top to bottom and when a child became of age they were sent down to the bottom of the rungs of the forest to begin their life as an adult. The thought being that it matured a certain strength of character in a man or woman to rise from the bottom of the trees to the intricately connected forest canopies. Middle class was comprised mostly of business owners, traders, or merchants—those gifted with the wiles for money business; they were the next step above the paupers while the rich and famous lived in elegantly grown mansions at the very top of the tree; city hall and all its leaders rested here. It was the highest echelon of Treegap that met with World Nobles and had navy officers patrolling the street day and night. In short they had the best of the best at all times. Captains of note, ambitious Lieutenants seeking to make a name for themselves, and every so often the defamed Commodore who sought to reclaim past glory after a damning folly. Of these places, pirates and the like were received as if they were well acquainted merchants. Fiends and scourges as well as heroic conquerors were celebrated nightly for their accomplishments. Even if those accomplishments involved spitting in the eye of the World Government. It wasn’t uncommon to find a higher class member of society endorsing a particularly charismatic pirate captain or another, but generally the leader’s of Treegap tried to remain neutral of the pirate population while the rest of heralded the daring buccaneers as future leaders of the free world.

At least most pirates became overnight celebrities upon arriving at Treegap.

“Hey, c’mon. Gimme some food, lady.” groaned a gaunt, stilt-slim frame barely covered with a dirtied red coat and wearing obnoxious platform sandals. “I’m dyin’ here! You want that on your conscience? Huh?! Do ya?!”

The woman in question, a plump middle aged aunt with the tired look of a minimum wage laborer eyed the infamous Jack Dancer coolly—nose pointed upward mind you. Jack gnashed his teeth in the face of being discredited for what seemed the thousandth time since drifting ashore this crappy ass garden. “One day I’ll become one of the rich and famous. I can’t associate with bottom feeders like you.” the responded haughtily before making a show of brushing the slack jawed ex-captain off. Never one to take such open disrespect in stride the bony carcass of a man reached out with snake like quickness, snatching the woman’s collar with surprising strength that drew her nearly from her feet as he pulled her in to whisper into her ear, “I ain’t askin’ again bi—” Several events jumbled together into one reel of karmic punishment.

A pang hunger so strong that Jack was physically shaken lost him the firm grip he’d had on the bitter woman of notable size. In the same instant—or one shortly following—the relinquished lady made quick advantage of the other’s misstep. Dropping all her belongings and wrenching Jack’s extended arm over her shoulder, she slung the poor man into a nearby shaft. Which collapsed upon impact. If reincarnation was true then Jack was certain he’d be reborn as a fly. Giving the rubble of someone’s destroyed home a disparaging look the stately beggar with ambitions sniffed once before gathering her things and taking off with satisfaction very apparent in her stride.

This was how the 93 million bounty head Jack Dancer had been spending the last three weeks in Treegap. Hunger so leeching him of his health that he no longer even looked like himself, his strength coming in waning bouts, and worse yet the people believed him to be an outcast simply trying to pass himself off as a pirate!. Of all the goddamned things in the world to do…WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE PRETEND TO BE A PIRATE?! Apparently the people of Treegap believed it possible for no one gave him a moment’s thought now or any day prior.

At least no one until the owner of the now ruined shack came gliding over to examine the deed. It was this event that would spawn a series of chain reactions that would reverberate throughout the world. Or….more likely Jack might see his stomach filled after an impossibly long stretch of being famished.

[oblivion]

BOOM….BOOM

The huge explosions vibrated through the wooden floor of the sloop. One explosion appeared after another rising as high as the eye could see under the terrible weather. Fire could not spread through the ship because of how heavy the rain fell. However, the rain did provide Danny with great cover as he shoots each of the pirates down through the coverage of the storm. Not all of the pirates are taken down by him, though the few that remain alive are not so lucky either. SIX. Six pirates are what remain alive out of a crew that used to contain thirty members. Danny took out all but those six because he wants them to stir the ship to the island that awaits his arrival. He approaches the remaining six members who dropped their weapons in fear of the person who took out their captain and the rest of their nakama.

Rain covered the face of the six remaining pirates until Danny got so closed that he could see the white in their eyes. While pointing both of his guns at the remaining six, Danny says, “Congratulations, the six of you survived the onslaught that befell your crew. If you do not do as I say your blood will accompany those of your nakama.” Thunder roared through the heavens as Danny stood tall and strong over the wimpy six as he spook his mind. He could see the fear that towered over the pirates whose tears mixed with the rain as they pleaded for their life. What a bunch of cowards thought Danny, definitely death deserves to fall upon them for begging for their life, but he cannot kill them since he needs them to become his slaves for a short time. “Listen up cowards! You will stir the ship toward Treegap Island, or I SWEAR by the fury of God that I will strike you down!” The wimpy six rose to their trembling feet and agree to take him to Treegap. Before following the eternal pose that Danny stole from his home island, all of the dead bodies were thrown off the sloop to get rid of the stench that already covered the sloop.

For seven days the sloop fought bravely against the dangerous waters of the Grand Line. The ship fought bravely for those seven days, but the wimpy six could not rise to the occasion. Even though their skin was exposed to the sun it did not grow any darker, instead it got whiter with each day that passed as they served Danny. The fear that he has bestowed upon them cursed their blood. Danny sat on a chair at the highest point of the sloop to oversee the wimpy six and the course the sloop took. The seventh day marked the end of Danny’s voyage with the wimpy six, as before him stood island he craved for, Treegap Island.

The sloop made port at dawn. Danny stood up from his chair and gathered the wimpy six before him. “You did an excellent job in getting me here. For that I will spare your lives, now jump into the water before I reach the count of five.” SPLASH! All of the pirates made it into the water before Danny could reach the count of one. After taking care of the pirates Danny gets off the ship and makes his way toward the city that covered Treegap.

He walked around the lower part of the hill that covered Treegap as he munched on the last bit of food that he took from the ship before setting foot on the island. He enters a bar, not for food, but to find information on a man who he is looking for. The man is known as David Aristole the best sharpshooter in the region.

In the bar Danny goes from person to person asking everyone in it if they know the whereabouts of David. Despite his persistence to find information about David he came empty handed out of the bar. Disappointment fell upon Danny who had his hopes set high in finding David on Treegap. Still, giving up is not an option for him since he set sail to become the best sharpshooter that the world has seen and it all starts with the downfall of David. Nonetheless, his search continues for David as he moves around the lower hill.

By moving around the lower hill he finds out about a place named Oshio’ Shootout, a place for people who call themselves sharpshooters can go to practice their skills, as well as buy different type of weapons and equipment to help modify their gear into better armor and guns if the sharpshooter wished it so.

[BEX]

[[OOC: Hey, Obliv. The city rests in the branches of the island’s trees. So you’re probably located at the lower branches area where Jack is. Just letting you know.)

Groaning as he poked his head through the rubble of the shack, Jack paused a moment to take in the new comer peering down at the mess. What little bit of sunlight managed to brush past the thick leaves near the top of the forest outlined the filthy man in silvery morning light. At least it should have been morning. A few more moments of fruitless wrenching and the debased ‘Typhoon Swell’ managed to haul himself from the rotted wood and rusted nails. A blessing he hadn’t caught any malicious diseases. “What the hell are you lookin’ at?” he spat while checking for splinters. That really would have ruined his day.

The man cocked his head curiously as if the question was an oddity. Dressed in drabs of every shades of brown and gray with tattered sleeves that barely reached past his elbow the fellow looked every bit like the impoverished lower branch dweller. Only his bird-beak nose and large black eyes made him appeared…out of place. It was obvious the fellow wasn’t going to answer and Jack had taken enough ass kickings for one day that there was no will to start enough altercation. Since arriving at Treegap he quickly learned the Grand Line was no place for grandstanding or showoff notions without the means to back at up. Another thunderous stomach growl reminded him that he definitely did not have the means to back it up.

“You…you destroyed my home.” the man said as an enflamed Jack brushed past him hostilely. For some reason that staggered the one time pirate though he had no clue why. It was no skin off his back if some shit-crab got left homeless thanks to his doings—it wasn’t like anyone had given a damn when Jack was a homeless youth. The old man did… came that usual haunted whisper when he tried to brush his past off. This rebirth of a conscience was enough to make him want to punch someone all over again. “Look I—”

“Ha! Don’t worry about it! I just was shocked is all!” the man responded suddenly. Whirling around to face Jack, he outstretched his grubby hand—a gunner’s hand from the callous palm—and introduced himself. “I’m David Aristole. Nice to meet ya lad!” Sniffing Jack shook the man’s hand in return. There was a certain strength in the grip not to mention that despite the defeated smile and the obvious mud streaks from laboring endlessly at a dead-end job something about the man’s presence said that he was more than just a common peon. “Yea, well I’m Jack….D. Ancer”

Shooting a sidelong glance at David to see if any suspicion had been aroused by the obvious hesitation brought about by his lie, Jack found the man staring bright-eyed and as gullible as a school girl. A cruel sort of grin worked its way onto his lips as a plan formed in his mind—a crude plan mind you, but one none the less. “Ya know…we should tell someone ‘bout this right here,” he suggested while pointing a thumb towards the forgotten remains of the shack, “Someone should know what to do about this, right? Maybe talk to a rich friend or summthin like that?” His tones were as oily as his greasy skin. Hell, Jack Dancer would try to swindle, beat, and kill whoever he could at that moment just to get some food.

Unfortunately David seemed as dopey as could be found on the Grandline.

“No…I just moved here. I don’t really know anybody. I’ll just grow a new house next month.” Just like that! Rage rose up with white hot intensity, but hunger deflated Jack once again sending him collapsing to the ground. Blinking curiously again David seemed to come to a decision….it was a good thing because even from where he lay on the ground. The man’s bird like gaze made him feel like an insect being inspected for dinner. “I think I’ll take you out to eat at the Shopping District Branches. Two men drowning our troubles in some bad whiskey. Sound good?”

“Food first. Then whiskey.” Jack said rising to his feet. “And no funny business. I like woman. Women, ya feel me?”

David only laughed while patting his new friend on the back.

[oblivion]

Ding Dong, rang the doorbell to Oshio’s Shootout as Danny entered the shop.

Finding David for Danny is important, but he also has been searching for a rifle that fits his style, which is why he goes to the rifle section of the shop first. His in search of a rifle that contains a long range scoop, is able to shoot multiple bullets, and can be modified to his prefer use. He looks through all the rifles on the shelves, some are well developed, but none of them have any of the categories in his check list, which is why he leaves this section of the store and heads toward the counter where a man waited for him. The man is in his mid-forties and does not have any type of hair on his face or head. As Danny gets closer to the man he could see a creepy smile that stretched from one ear to the other.

“I saw you admiring those rifles back there, how many of them would you like to buy.” The man rubbed his hands rapidly with that creepy grin as he spoke. For a moment it seemed as the man started to day dream. “None,” said Danny as he wondered what is up with the weird man. The man’s attitude and facial expression quickly hit a 180. “GET OUT!!!” His face became a tomato as he yelled. “Where is David Aristole,” asked Danny. “I don’t give a sh*t, JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF MY STORE!!!,” screamed the store owner as he pointed toward the door.

BANG!

Blood spewed from the right shoulder blade of the store owner as he felled to the floor. Drips of blood strikes the floor from the counter top. The store owner rolled over the pool of blood as he tried to ease the pain.

“I don’t have time to waste, where is David Aristole?” Questioned Danny as his pistol aimed between the eyes of the store owner. “Please…don’t kill me…” Tears ran down his face as he pleaded for his life. “I’ll tell you what you want to know. Open the third drawer from the right, it contains a book. Look at the third page first line. The address will lead you to his closest friend; he will be able to tell you where David is at.” After checking the book to make sure that it led to an address Danny heads out. Before leaving the store, Danny says, “ If the address does not lead to what you said I will come back to kill you.”

Ding Dong, rang the doorbell to Oshio’s Shootout as Danny left the shop.

The address from the small brown book puts Danny in front of a yellow house. The house doesn’t look like much; it’s worn down and possesses a ton of patches. The window slots are covered with rusty metal plates. None of this does matter to Danny, his mind is focused on one thing only, find David Aristole so he can defeat him. Danny approaches the front door of the house and kicks it down while holding both of his pistols.

A shot fired in the direction of Danny as he tried to enter the house. The shot for sure came from somewhere in the house, but from what direction he has no idea. It will be extremely difficult to establish the location of the shooter from the position that Danny is in. Danny randomly shoots into the house with his pistols. He is clueless as to the location of the shooter, but he did this because it could possibly blind the shooter due to the flash dials installed in Danny’s guns. Danny flashes the house with his guns as he runs inside.

[BEX]

Whilst the shootout exploded a few levels below their location, Jack and David Aristole, the very man being sought out so vehemently, made their way towards the middling branch levels of Treegap. Shops of all shapes and professions bloomed into existence before there eyes. David ‘ooh’d’ and ‘ahh’d’ and every interesting sign that passed overhead, but Jack’s half open eyes followed only the scent of food—and there was a lot of food to be had up here!

Pies, meats, fresh fruits, gourmet meals made to look like Den Den Mushi, Den Den Mushi made to look like gourmet meals! The possibilities were endless and according to every vendor they were to-die-for. That’s exactly what Jack would do if he didn’t get some grub soon…die. “Hey man…when do get to eat?” he asked David while concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. Branches shifted unevenly beneath his feet making it imperative that he rehearse ‘left-right’ over and over again until his feet picked up the rhythm for themselves. Once a hawker waved a steaming bowl with a drum stick resting on it and the poor drifter nearly took flight in pursuit of the tasty morsel. That is until David brought him back to earth and insisted they move on with their tour. Whether the peculiar man heard Jack’s query or not he showed no signs of answering. Gray eyes flitting excitedly from a mom-n-pop clothing store to an equipment store that held many unearthly inventions in the window. A small child couldn’t have beaten him in the department of sheer excitement.

Finally enough was enough. “Listen bub, I ain’t got time to go sightseeing. I want my damn food and I want it now!” Jack snapped while roughly grabbing David by the shoulder. Strange emotion coursed through the man’s eyes and for a moment Jack could swear that malicious intent existed in the brief seconds of registering the hand and the harsh bite to the words he’d delivered. It wasn’t normal either. David had adopted the presence of a smoking gun picking its next target: him.

Just as quickly as it appeared the feeling evaporating leaving Jack with sweat shining his forehead and his hand instinctively falling to his waist though no pommel rose up to meet him. That was another thing he needed to get besides food. A sword. “I guess you’re right,” David said lightheartedly. Cheery obliviousness returned at the flick of the switch—so quick that Jack wondered if he’d imagined the premonition from before. “Ah! Here! We can stop at this inn. Usually there’re a few guests of honor so the food is primo~ Haha! We hit the jackpot…err…Jack? Whatever c’mon!” Tugged before he could comprehend the flood of information given to him a weary Jack simply followed to the best of his ability as the world suddenly overloaded with sights and sounds of joy.

Men laughed as they rose their mugs while woman in patched dressed and hair nets served the drunken louts with stern determination though the occasion drop of plates broke the monotony of voices. Usually the cause was a hand meeting a womanly body part where it ought not to have. Overall the inn very much resembled a tavern with a set of stairs. An elegantly dressed man danced in the middle of the floor. Tables had been pushed to all sides of the room to make space for his performance and everyone laughed when he made jokes and jeered when he made patronizing comments. The fellow owned that room. Jack felt a pang of envy for the man before David ushered him towards the counter. “I only have a few beri, but eat up lad! It’ll be good fer ya!”

Jack lazily eyed the bartender whose red face seemed to scrutinize him before bothering to ask if he would like anything to eat. While hunger held his attention curiosity forced him to ask, “Who’s that guy in the middle?” The beefy tender of the inn eyed him curiously before looking out to where the fur coat streamed around the man like a cape, “That’s Dolin Mellar. The man who’s gonna ta become Shichibukai and claim Treegap as his own territory.” There was a hint of pride in the bartender’s voice, but Jack’s face clouded as he puzzled out what one word meant. Shichibukai?

“You still haven’t ordered! Damn, boy I wanna join the fun! Get ‘im a roasted chicken, some brisket, and maybe some tangerines! The fruit on this island is great!” David said when Jack raised a wondering brow at him for mentioning tangerines. “Just put it on my tab, Wally!” Wally, the tender seemed to know David quite well because he simply nodded without questioning the integrity of the poverty stricken rail of a man. Thankfully so because soon Jack was biting into juicy meat that tantalized the senses and made his stomach jump for joy. He even laughed at one of Mellar’s jokes though the moment of joy quickly darkened into a bitter scowl as he worked on devouring the supplicated food.

He laughed at no one’s jokes except his own.

[oblivion]

Danny shots his way into the beat down house. As he stands in the middle of the room with his guns, Danny notices that the only bullets flying are the ones coming from his guns. “COME ON OUT COWARD!,” yelled Danny. No noise could be heard within the house. Instead of wondering why there is no movement Danny starts to walk around the house. In order to seek out the shooter Danny walks to one end of the house and moves toward the other. Along the route he notices the horrible condition of the house.

A twister appears to have struck the inside of the house. Clutter resides in every room of the first floor. Objects such as plates, candles, desks, chairs, and tables litter the creaky white color wooden floor. Scratches and holes fill the walls that make the house. Only destroyed objects live in the first floor of the house, which makes him move on to the second floor of the house where he figures that the shooter lies.

Cautiously Danny climbs every other step of the broken stair. Only one room makes up the second floor of the house. Just like the first floor the entrance of the room is cluttered with different objects. Danny tries to approach the entrance of the room quietly, but the floor made it impossible for him to remain quiet. Besides stumbling on the objects that filled the floor, the white wood creaked just like the first floor. Since he has made so much noise already Danny decides to go loud. He squares up to the door and uses his white and blue shoes to kick down the door. With his guns at hand he storms the room and is surprised by the discovery.

A man lay on a pool of blood. A grey gun lay beside the dead body of the tannish male with black hair. Carefully Danny made his way toward the lifeless body. Even though Danny never studied medicine he knows how to take a pulse on a person. After reaching down and taking the pulse of the neck Danny confirms that the body is spiritless. As he stands up Danny notes a circular wound in the middle of the chest. “A bullet must have done this,” thinks Danny as he holsters his twin pistols. “The random shooting I performed earlier probably did this,” thinks Danny as he knocks over a nightstand because he becomes infuriated with himself for killing his only lead to David. Danny knows that nothing can be done about it now since the man has moved on. Danny sits down and leans his head on the wall as he closes his eyes.

While on the floor he starts to think about other ways of getting information about a person. One thing he can do is go around the island and start asking around for David so much that he will eventually bump into him. Another idea could be falsified a letter to David in where the man pleads for help. His last idea is to pretend that he is holding this man as a hostage so David can come out of his hideaway. As the thoughts are being channeled a colossal growl causes an earthquake in his stomach. He starts to pet his stomach to try and relax it before it devours him. Realizing that his stomach could not be calm down Danny gets up and decides to find a tavern.

After leaving the slovenly house Danny starts to walk in search of a tavern which will quench his hunger. It only takes a few minutes for Danny to find a tavern. In a flash Danny finds himself inside the tavern.

Swiftly Danny finds a deserted table and sits down to place his order. A caucasian waitress with brunet hair and light brown eyes approach him with a pen and paper. “Welcome, what would you like to eat?” Danny looked through the cardboard menu display. “Let me get black beans with rice and chicken. Also, make sure to bring me at least a bottle of sake.” Danny’s mouth watered as he imagined the serving of food. Several minutes past by before the food arrives. Danny immediately stuffed his face with the chicken. Noise came from the collision of silverware and plates as well as from the snapping sound that his mouth made every time he chewed. Sake, black beans with rice and chicken at this point are all being digested by Danny who keeps talking about how exceptional the food is. Once his belly has been pleased Danny pays the beli that he owes for the food and then walks out from the tavern.

[BEX]

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!....MMMBURP~! That wasn’t half bad…” Jack murmured lazily while patting the ‘food child’ he was now nursing at the counter. Though it mattered little to him he could see David and Wally—the tender’s faces twisting in disgust for his apparently bad manners. The hell with them, they hadn’t gone three weeks without eating. Though glassy eyed he couldn’t help allowing his attention to be drawn toward the center of the common room which still buzzed with life. Life that centered around Mellar.

The man’s sweeping gestures and quick witted stories kept both his men along with any other passerby wholly entertained for the entire time that he’d taken center stage. Mesmerized was more the word for it. During the heartbroken tales of his failures sniffling and audacious tears flowed which were quickly forgotten whence the time for courageous successes led to a good many accolades. Undoubtedly the successes were having an envious effect on the partisans of the inn. Nearby another fattened pig of a man with a wisp of gray hair spiraling up in a corkscrew from his head beamed at the sheer volume of people in attendance today. Jealousy was not a comfortable feeling and Jack would sooner be rid of it. “Alright I’ve seen enough. Thanks fer for the meal, bub. I’ll do ya one right next time I see ya” Moving to leave, his hunger sated, the prideful warrior wished to get right back along his general goal of mayhem and anarchical destruction. Only David’s clamped hand on his shoulder pinned him to the cushy rotatable chair without him being able to do much to resist.

“Interesting. They said you were simple, but I didn’t really know how simple.” David whispered without looking at Jack. The man’s steel gray eyes peered out towards the frivolous scene of Mellar indulging the crowd’s request for a repeat performance. “You think it’s common courtesy to simply accept food from a stranger—without even knowing their agenda? Or that they knew who you were…Jack Dancer?”

Again that feeling that a loaded gun was being pressed to his throat sent Jack’s heart racing. Except it wasn’t fear. Not that he was entirely unafraid, but this was a dormant sensation that was…pleasant to revisit now in the state of things; excitement. Grinning a feral grin the wild ruffian simply scoffed and retorted in his usual belligerent manner, “Cut the crap, you can’t do sh*t to me. If you know who I am then ya know Imma whoop dat ass.” Behind him a glass clinked and he was suddenly aware that Wally had been watching this small parley unfold without giving the slightest indication of surprise. Jack tried to wrench himself free of David’s grasp, but suddenly he felt exhausted. Like he hadn’t slept in years. Shit! Wh..what the…mu—must be…

“Ah, so you do have brains. You’re right on the money. Poison,” David chimed with an easygoing smile that scrunched up his eyes until they appeared only slits. A foxy sort of smile that gave even the usually bold, in-your-face one time pirate a shiver. “Okay, so it’s not poison. It’s just tranquilizer…I need you for something later on, but not here so don’t make a fuss.” To hell with not making a fuss! Had he the strength Jack would have beaten the fuzzy chinned bastard six ways to Sunday, but even as things were even his visions of violent reconciliation grew hairy and distorted in his minds. Slowly his thoughts began to slip away from him and blackness rushed up from nowhere to blanket everything…

“David. Whatever you do make sure you get it done quickly, understand? I won’t have this Mister Figgs finding out I let you do this in his inn.”

“I know, I know…thank you Wally. You’re a good friend and a finer man. Perhaps one day we’ll be done with this distasteful business and be as regular friends once again.” Wally nodded without much faith, but it was a nod that David had been seeking for without another word he wrested Jack’s arm over his shoulder and would have left if not for a squirrely young man in tattered brown leggings and an acorn colored shirt that looked like a leaf wrapped around his body. “What in the—” David started to say, but the boy in the middle of one gulp of air and another cut him off.

“Someone killed Fiat earlier today.” Words like a hammer fell on David yet he remained firm…and even more precocious with his handling the limp lump of Jack’s flesh. Jack had been wrong. A gun didn’t go far enough. He was a semi-automatic warhead without a safety; he’d blow soon enough, but for now things had to be set up.

[[OOC: Just do whatever you want in the next post, but Jack and David are gonna start hunting for you after that so you don’t have to think too much on it.]]

[oblivion]

The trail that Danny followed has become cold. He has no more addresses or names that are connected to David. His last lead ended up dead, which has left Danny with no clue of how to trace David. He sits down on a brown wooden bench and starts to reflect on what has happened. If only he could go back in time so he would have prevented himself from killing that man in the house. However, he knows that dwindling in the past is bad, which is what makes him snap back to reality. “There has to be another way of locating David, I just have to think hard about it.” After working his brain into a crisp Danny is unable to come up with a solution. Since there is nothing else for him to do he figures that he will make a name for himself some other way so he gets up from the bench and starts to look for a pier where he could get a ride to the next island.

“Not much of a pier,” thinks Danny. A bunch of fishing boats is floating on the water. None of the ships are capable of navigating the treacherous waters of the Grand Line. Danny wonders what he can do now; he can’t get off the island apparently and cannot seem to find David. Since he cannot find a ship appropriate for the Grand Line, Danny decides to test his luck one more time and returns to the city.

Sneaky around is not an option though, which is why he must figure out another way to find David. As Danny walks back toward the city he does some extreme thinking and is able to come up with an idea. Instead of sneaky around he will find a way to alert the entire island as to what he is doing. If the whole island finds out about his actions then David shall find out about it too. However, simply screaming it from the roof won’t do. He needs to make sure that the people on the island take him seriously so he has to do something drastic.

He goes form one place to another and tries to find out some more information on David. Every single corner he turns to is empty though. “Either this guy is a ghost, or the people are protecting him,” thinks Danny as he exists a toy store. Just when it seemed hopeless Danny catches a break.

A couple of guys are talking about a named Fiat who was killed at his house earlier today. As Danny approaches them they become quiet. “I overheard you guys talking about a man who died earlier at his house today, the man you talking about, does he live at this address,” said Danny as he shows both of the men the address book. “Yes,” replied one of the man who is about seven feet tall with a white T-shirt and black pants. “Then…” Danny is cut off by the other man who is pale skin and wears a black shirt with blue lines and black shorts with blue circles. The black shirt man starts to pull the white shirt man away as he tells Danny that they have to go. “Hold up!” Danny moves toward the men who seem to be avoiding him. “David Aristole, any of you two know someone who knows him?” Danny questions the men. “What if we,” replied the white shirt man who ends up receiving a punch to the back of his head from the black shirt guy. “Don’t mind him, he is an idiot and doesn’t know what he is talking about.” Danny does not believe the words that are coming out of the mouth from the black shirt guy who seems a bit nervous as some sweat appears on his forehead.

BANG BANG

The man with a black shirt is shot on the femur of the left thigh and on his wrist of the right arm. “Tell me who knows everything about David, if you do not cooperate this guy here will receive a shoot to the head,” said Danny with a stern face. “A man named Wally in the tavern over there, he holds the answers to all of your questions, just please spare our lives.” Danny heads toward the tavern that the white shirt guy pointed too.

“Where is Wally!” Danny screams at the top of his lungs after he broke the door that led to the tavern. A man approached him saying, “I am Wally sir, but please lower your voice, you’re disturbing my customers.” The guy seems to be telling the truth from Danny’s point of view. “If you are Wally then tell David that I am the one who killed his friend earlier today at this address and that I want his head.” Danny sits down at one of the tables. “Get him now before I shoot you.” Wally grabbed a worker from the tavern and put him in charge as he stormed out of the place.

[BEX]

Wally’s large frame huffed and puffed as he willed his arms to work speedily towards the task of propelling up one branch and then the next. Sweat greased his face making him feel every bit the fattened pig that people accused him of being during his less successful years as a native of the island. No one had expected the attack on the bar and to make matters worse, that psycho was looking for David who was upstairs! The thought made the well-to-do tender shiver despite the heat that crawled through the leaves of the island’s treetops.

No matter.

David could handle himself—Wally was sure of that, but the issue lay with leaving David Aristole, Dolin Mellar, a happy fool with a trigger, and worse yet a pirate whose bounty just missed eclipsing 100 million beri in a cramped space where fuses were likely to ignite explosively. Wally’s eyes sunk into his head as he imagined what Master Figgs would say if the man ever managed to make it out of that beehive intact; he was fired for sure. Then it’d be back to the bottom rung of the tree society…again! Stifling a moan the porky man set to work to enlist the aid of Treegap’s lead Marine forces. In the Grand Line there were any number of men stationed where nobility believed they needed protecting and it might have helped the fact that a few of the wealthier individuals actually supported Mellar financially. Hoping it would be enough to keep the theatric maniac from going overboard; Wally pulled himself up yet another branch. One down…one million to go…

----

Meanwhile, back at the bar all had gone quiet. Eyes searched nervously for the brave soul who was willing to step to this young hopper who suddenly had demanded the attentions of everyone in the room by searching for David Aristole, a gunman that everyone knew well in this area. Most particular stray eyes gazed hopefully in the direction of Dolin Mellar.

Garbed in furs and silks fit for a king the bulk around his midsection seemed out of place when matched with his spindly limbs and beak like nose. He seemed more flamingo than human though his crooked stare in the direction of Danny hardly appeared anything like the bird which he so resembled. It lacked docility…it lacked humanity. Beady and black were the only words used to describe them, yet he moved with grace as he flourished the cape yet again while turning towards the newest entry of the building. Crimson darkened the man’s cheeks for while his stories flowed from the tongue easily he had been taking free drinks as they came and his benefits had been especially substantial today. “Soooooooooooooooooo—hic—you want Aristole, huh? Hic!” Mellar asked impudently, his voice dripping with arrogant indignation at the thought that someone had stolen command of his show.

Had there been anyway to leave the premises without either Danny catching sight of them nor Mellar for that matter the patrons who had been laughing heartily only moments ago would have slunk away shamelessly, leaving their hero to fight their battle for them. As it were they wilted wherever they crouched now. Under tables, behind walls, all of them staring breathlessly as the unfortunate chain of events slowly forged one cold link after another.

“It-It’s funny—hic!—caus-cause I wanna talk to-to David Aristole too. Hic!” slurred Mellar, eyes rolling dizzily as he swayed uncertainly first one way then the next. “H-he-he’s gonna be in me-me crew, yunno—hic!—so-so—hic!—I think you should just back off—hic!”

Any fool could tell Mellar was drunk, but then most of the men knew well that this man had earned enough reputation and political backing from this island alone to be considered as one of the Seven Warlords of the sea. At least that was what rumor said. Seven pirates given the right by the government to pillage as they wished without fear of having the might of the World Government after them—and it was said that it was out of respect for the pirate’s might and standing in the world. Even if a man was only being considered for the position many feared that Mellar was worth the tote as he had a knack for ruthlessness that spread from one end of the Grand Line to other; it was always prudent that he made the dramatic mark on his conquests. It was this person that now pointed a bony, shaky finger towards David. Face red and hollowed cheeks drawn tight over his skull making him look like a drunken corpse; an odd juxtapose if there ever was one.

“S-Say…you-you wanna kill Aristole—hic!—dontcha? Hic! I can’t—hic!—let you—hic!—do—hic!—th—hic!—at—hic! Hic! Hic! Hichichichichichichichichic!

A few sweaty goons in plain browns and obvious foreigner clothing stepped behind their acclaimed leader with worry creasing lines on their faces. “Hey, boss y—”

“SHADDAP AND KILL THAT GUY!...HIC!”

And just like that the order for Danny’s head had been given. Several men twirled guns in their hand while grinning at the outnumbered gunslinger. They were simply the upfront muscle, the men that Mellar called upon when he didn’t care one way or another how things turned out. Two shadowy figures rested their heads lazily on the back wall of a cleared out corner of the tavern. Smoke curled lethargically from one’s head while the other shadow strummed calmly on a guitar…Mellar’s ‘monsters’ always watched the shows until they were needed. Once called upon only bloody bedlam could wet their appetites enough to stop from burning everything in sight to the ground.

[oblivion]

With a gun gripped on his right hand Danny sits calmly on the wooden chair. He waits patiently for the arrival of David who should be informed of the events that transpired earlier today by Wally anytime soon. A man with a flamingo appearance approached Danny and disturbed his relaxation time, which angered him.

“Soooooooooooooooooo—hic—you want Aristole, huh? Hic!”

“Yes,” replied Danny as his eyes examined the man before him. Danny wondered who this man could possibly be and why he is interested in Aristole. “A person seeking Aristole’s head?” Wondered Danny and if that is the case then this man is an enemy from his point of view. The start of Danny’s legacy as the greatest sharpshooter in the universe will start here upon the blood of Aristole, so he cannot allow anybody else to take his head. Since the awkward man might be an adversary Danny keeps his eyes on him.

“H-he-he’s gonna be in me-me crew, yunno—hic!—so-so—hic!—I think you should just back off—hic!”

“HHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” His left arm set on the table slapped it as the laugh burst out from his body along with tears that watered his eyes from all the laughter. “Part… Part of your crew? HHHAHAHAHA! Before the day is over his head and body will part ways.” Danny’s anger from before has been washed away by his recent conversation with flamingo man. However, a hysterical moment cannot last forever and it’s time to get down to business. Definitely the drunken man is an enemy of Danny since he wants to become the captain of the man that Danny is seeking. “Since I consider Aristole an adversary then you are too.” The other pistol in Danny’s possession is removed from the left holster as Danny finished his sentence. An enemy is and enemy, even if the person is in a drunken state. Sympathy is something that he will not demonstrate no matter who the opponent may be.

“S-Say…you-you wanna kill Aristole—hic!—dontcha? Hic! I can’t—hic!—let you—hic!—do—hic!—th—hic!—at—hic! Hic! Hic! Hichichichichichichichichic!

Flamingo man has had too many drinks. The level of intoxication is beyond what the universe can grasp. He can barely squeeze out a sentence due to how messed up his system is at this point. His brain functions don’t appear to be doing much better since he asked Danny a questioned that has already been answered. “Of course I want to kill David, I already told you that id*ot.” His words seem to have sparked some men in plain brown clothes from their wooden chairs as a few sweaty figures appear behind the drunken fool.

Apparently his last comment toward flamingo man has angered him since he ordered the men in plain browns to take his life.

Guns appeared left and right from the sweaty figures as the aimed them at Danny. In order to avoid the bullets Danny leapfrogs out of the brown wooden chair and flips the round wooden table which held his left arm previously to provide him with cover. Some of the bullets whistled passed him as they pierced through the wood. Luckily none of them has hit him, but the position that he is currently holding cannot last forever because in a few minutes either the table will have exploded into a billion pieces taking away his cover, or at least one bullet will have penetrated his body. Clearly Danny is in a sticky situation and one that will be near impossible for him to get out of.

An opportunity grew for Danny as the sweaty guys caught a whiff from the flash dials installed in the guns that performed an aimless shooting. A chance felled upon him and he would not let it go to waste.

Click Click Click

The jetpack engines have been initiated allowing Danny to soar through the air at his whim. The crowd stood before him astonished at what they see. Even if it’s the Grand Line, people are still amazed sometimes, especially if a human glides through the air. A jetpack might be the cause of it, but it’s still an amazing feature. An opening has presented itself in front of him. With a distraction provided by his jetpack Danny has an opening on the entire sweaty group. Like domino pieces they start to fall one after the other. Blood spewed all over the tavern as it gushed out from the lifeless bodies of the sweaty group.

“Is that all you got?” Danny addressed flamingo man as he deactivated his jetpack and allowed his feet to touch the ground along with his cockiness.

[BEX]

As Danny technology drew gaggle-eyed stares another figure peeped just over the ridge leading to the upstairs rooms of the inn; David. The man’s eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized whose feet clicked to the ground as well as he recognized the scent of freshly oxidized gunpowder—it made him…itchy. What is that kid even doing here?! Damn…and it looks like he’s pissed Mellar off something fierce. Better go wake Dancer, can’t have him dying in the aftermath of this madness. Reconnaissance done David crept back up the stairs in hopes of spiriting his unconscious prize to safety. Only there would be no safety, no refuge.

Mellar and his prized war dogs were about to being their tear.

Speaking of Mellar, the man currently bristled with indescribable dislike as the blood of pawns splattered the floor and more importantly stained a priceless boot that had been imported from the high end Micquoet society. Inebriation slowly began to give way to slow embers of his anger as his swaying steadied and his eyes narrowed dangerously while quietly examining this most interesting adversary. “I can’t say I know your name…but then it won’t matter once you’re dead...” he hissed then spat.

“Genkakku. Nagi. You’re up.”

Those words brought about a flurry of motion as all the bystanders who had been waiting to see which way the tides would turn had thrown caution to the wind; apparently risking Mellar’s wrath dimmed in its danger to remaining a witness to the gory war of attrition that was slowly about to begin. Mellar said nothing, did nothing, only stood with his hands on his hips. He was quite pleased with the reaction, but he realized that he couldn’t hear the approaching footsteps of either man he’d called forth.

“Oi-oi! Get your asses up here! Both of you-hic!”

“C’mon boss, I was just saying a silent prayer for ‘im before I send him onto salvation. Kukuku” said one of the shadows as it rose lending further detail to the spindly man holding a…guitar? “I have to say…you do good work. All this salvation is making me fall in love with you…” Stepping into the light a rangy, tall rocker with oversized monk beads riding his neck formed from the darkness of the back corner. His eyes sunk into his paled face and tassels of stringy, shoulder length silver hair fell over his tattooed shoulders. Madness danced in that world weary face. Mellar’s nearest cronies, the nobodies, visibly shook while trying to avoid directly looking at the gruesome image that Genkakku cut as he stood by Mellar. A heavy beer scent clung to his skin and his black leather gripped him so tightly it behooved most men not to look for fear of feeling itchy all over.

Where Genkakku was gross, Nagi was almost handsome. At least he was more normal looking. A soft felt knee length jacket draped his shoulders and it swooned with each rigid step. Messy black hair cut just short of his shoulders threw lazy curls over those pretty emerald green eyes which only made the overall casualness of his demeanor and clothing that much more laidback. In fact the only thing that might have drawn question from the common man—outside of Treegap of course—was the red-orange scarf wrapped tightly around his neck and the odd choice of footwear the man wore. Platform sandals…as all real men sported. Nagi’s introduction was silent and cool. He said nothing, did nothing other than walk to the unoccupied side of Mellar though the occasional withering look in Genkakku’s direction said he was of the popular opinion the other man needed a shower.

“You’re gonna-hic!-die boy” Mellar cooed theatrically tossing his coat over his shoulder, “Go.”

Instantly Genkakku made as if he was about to strum his guitar. That is, until the hand of Nagi who had moved impossibly fast to intercept rolling beginning to what might have been a beautiful solo, “Wait, Genkakku.” droned a robotic voice. For those who knew little of Genkakku knew even less about Nagi so naturally they were perturbed by the fact that while the voice rung clearly through the room the handsome fellow’s lips hadn’t so much as twitched. “Do. Not interfere.” There it was again. Obviously whatever ethereal translator was present had Nagi’s intentions at heart for that lax emerald gaze suddenly sharpened to blade point tenseness. A fly on the wall to a mad man. Genkakku only responded by wagging his tongue at his partner-in-demolition,

“Heh…you’re gonna wild then, huh? Alright…THEN THIS SUPER MONK WILL DELIVER HIS EULOGY!” howled Genkakku excitedly, eyes widened until all the light in the room didn’t seem enough to catch his gaze. Nagi only nodded before releasing the vice grip he’d been holding—his eyelids were half closed like someone just waking for a dream. Turning slowly from Mellar and Genkakku, this stranger observed Danny coolly while more nervous shifting hinted at the men that wanted to bolt.

Too late.

Just as gradually as he’d turned Nagi lifted up the right left sleeve of his coat. Rather than the usual flesh and blood a metallic shine further illuminated the moderately tossed bar room as the cybernetic attachment slowly began to take hold in the minds of other men—the voice, now the arm. A little bit of the puzzle began to make sense. Too late though, much too late. At the end of this strange metal arm was a muzzle; one large enough to fit a….

“Little Boy.”

Out flashed a cannonball racing at speeds that rivaled might have bordered supersonic only it exploded with a great flash of fire and light halfway before it spanned the distance to Danny. Wood and steel were rent as the colossal structure of the Muscle Oak wavered ever so slightly from the destruction that singed nearly half the middle level branch structure. Landing safely on a limb just missing the path to the canopy, Mellar, Nagi, and Genkakku watched as the flames began to spread, feeding hungrily on the afternoon air. Mellar looked mildly annoyed and Genkakku was outright euphoric in reaction to the damage wreaked.

Nagi said nothing, showed nothing. He felt nothing.

[oblivion]

Flamingo man calls forth two persons by the name of Genkakku and Nagi. Never has Danny heard of them, but they must be his trump card if he calls them forth by their names.

From the depths of the shadows appears a man with a beer scent and a guitar gripped in his hands. He appears to be cocky since he prayed for Danny before admitting that he would defeat him. The other man he appeared differs completely from the previous one. This second man seems to be more clean and a nicer person. Of course in a fight it might make him the worst opponent since sometimes the quieter one is the most dangerous.

Acting upon flamingo’s orders the uglier looking man starts to move toward Danny. Before Danny reacts to this sudden movement Nagi stops Genkakku by putting his hand in the way. Danny remained puzzled when he heard a robotic sound coming from the mouth of Nagi. At first Danny thinks that his imagination is playing tricks on him, but he quickly realizes that his mind is not playing tricks on him once he hears Nagi speaking again.

Danny stood tall and proud as he waited to see what would happen. Both Genkakku and Nagi seemed to talk about who would have the first shot at him. Apparently Nagi won the toss as he stepped up and revealed a luminous metallic arm under his right sleeve. “A robot?” Questioned Danny inside his head as he is taken back by what is before him. Instead of metal fingers the end of the metallic arm possesses an enormous black hole.

Out of the black a cannonball appeared out of nowhere catching Danny off guard. Luckily for Danny the cannonball exploded before it reached him. However, the explosion sent Danny flying back and made him crash against a round wooden table that split in symmetry. Danny groans as he stood back up due to the impact of the explosion and the crash through the wooden table. Fortunately for Danny he’s not a normal human being because he would have probably died or suffered serious injuries from what recently happened.

Flames started to engulf certain parts of the tavern due to the explosion. Danny watched as the fire and smoke started to spread through some of the wood. “Nagi, lets battle in hell,” said Danny since hell is normally represented by fire.

Danny checks his jetpack for any sort of damage that would affect the interior. Such damage seems to have been avoided, which allows him to activate it still. Both of the pistols in his hands are functional as well. With everything ready the fight between Danny and Nagi can finally take place.

Apparently his opponent is a robot or a cyborg, which means that he has to be careful for any secret weapon or armor. However, the thing he has to worry about the most is the metallic right arm. His eyes will be focused on that arm, but he will not let himself become distracted by it because could lead to an opening. Also, it’s supposed to be a one on one fight, but it can easily become a three versus one fight since Genkakku and flamingo man are standing there. Unfortunately Danny only has two eyes and there are a lot of things he must keep an eye on. Even if the odds are stake up against him he will grind it out and will try to fight a way to come out victorious.

“Time to give them all a show Nagi.” Both of the twin pistols are lifted up by Danny and are fired along with their flash dial implements.

[BEX]

[[OOC: We’re on a branch just above the burning tavern since the tavern was destroyed—sorry if that wasn’t clear. I’ll just rp as if Danny is already up there if that’s alright with you.]

Dolin nearly squealed with delight as he watched the tongues of fire slowly licking away every stick of wood that had been the once respectable establishment. Consequences would come from above—the noble houses of Treegap would likely band against him, attempt to put him to trial and his status as the island’s hero might come to question. For a time. But Mellar knew how to spin a tale. In fact his tongue already twisted with serpent-like ease as it carefully punctuated every lie it would forge to aid him in escaping prosecution. Looking to Nagi he smiled inwardly again. Worse came to worse; he’d simply kill everyone that stood in his way. Right now the rush of warfare pushed away simple precautions such as tactfulness.

When the renegade gunman was produced from the flames, lifting to the branch that the mischievous trio had themselves taken perch upon, Dolin’s mood darkened a little while Genkkakku’s brightened at the prospect of more carnage, “Hmmmmmmmmmm? Lookit—the lil pup’s got some bite.” he chuckled, phlegm spraying into the heated air as the screams of the dying and the frightened rippled through the forest trees. “Nagi! HURRY UP AND KILL ‘EM SO I CAN GIVE MY ROSARY!”

If Nagi heard Genkkakku’s mad ranting he showed no signs of it as he stepped forward, separating himself from the two. Before nothing glittered behind those eyes. Killing had been a mundane task when it was someone weak, but seeing this child survive with nothing more than soot and a few burns for his troubles brought forth a more dangerous side of him. Not quite as boisterous as the rocker monk’s insanity, but there was certainly a screw or two loose within that machinist like veneer now. Before any words could be said two shots were fired accompanied by a swelling bright light making it impossible for anyone to see where the bullets were coming from. Twin impacts sent Nagi stammering backward as pieces of fabric, blown away by the bullets, twisted on the winds of destruction. Yet standing was the cyborg, as it came to be seen—his torn-away clothing revealing skin that suddenly gave way to cranking gears and sizzling gauges overcharged with mechanical might; all where his heart and internal organs should have been. Of course such sights were found rampant throughout the Grand Line. Technology had no monopoly in these waters.

Visibly unfazed by the attacks Nagi’s irises reddened as they appeared to rotate and peer through the haze of light that been caused by what he now knew to be ‘Flash Dials’. Skypiean technology had been one of his enterprises…in a life he’d lived so long ago. From behind Nagi, Mellar let his booming laughter cut into the noise of creaking wood. His howl enough to make a wolf want to cover its ears, “Guns?! GUNS?! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You can’t kill Nagi with guns! Want to know why, boy?” Before Mellar could explain his cryptic question, Nagi’s fist slammed into the branch causing to shake violently as something even more incredible began to happen—the ‘Muscle Oak’ began to splinter and crack!

People below pointed in disbelief which momentarily displaced the fear of what this event implied. Nothing human had ever been able to so much as dent ‘Muscle Oak’ yet here a simple man—from where they were standing—had broken it? It wasn’t until the thick body of the branch finally broke away from the tree and came crashing towards the lower level shops that the screaming resumed anew as did pandemonium, discourse, and outright chaos. Even Genkkaku and Mellar yelled as they were pitched uncertainly from the footing that had been given to them following the rash destruction of the pub which was now smashed and further destroyed by the detached limb of the towering Muscle Oak tree. Fleeting moments of comprehension offered only scenes of broken people, destroyed buildings, and utter despair as families huddled together with their eyes skyward seconds before the massive form of the Muscle Oak tree laid eternal blackness upon them. Elsewhere civilians scrambled to find shelter in the sturdiest buildings outside of the falling limb’s path. Some forsook their coworkers while others their lovers. Eventually the final CRACK! as the shorn branch hit the ground surrounding the tree’s base signaled that it was safe to once again move about.

Silence reined sovereign before groans and calls for loved ones cut through the cloud of debris hanging over the place. The tree itself still trembled as if afraid of the violence that was yet to come; Nagi and the others rose from the dust like zombies from a grave. By simply chopping one branch from the enormous tree which supported the life of a small village’s worth of people, the lives of many had been destroyed. In the face of this Nagi remained expressionless, the clockwork running behind that human face churning unhindered as his eyes shifted from one moving life form to the next in search of Danny’s body—or his corpse. Suddenly another explosion, from the direction of the bar sent a plum of splintered wood and a few maids’ dresses soaring into the sky…

“What the hell…?”

“Boss! Forget that, the boy is still alive!” Genkkakku laughed wildly, his tongue wagging happily despite the layer of filth that settled over his much manicured hair. “All this death! Yes! Buddha will be pleased! So much death! So much salvation!” he laughed, arms spread wide as he twirled in the midst of the anguished cries of the wounded and the somber silence of the deceased. Mellar wrinkled his nose at his crazed underling’s enjoyment; even he couldn’t deny Genkkaku was batshit crazy. Something tugged more prominently at his thoughts. That explosion bothered him still… I have a bad feeling about this…

[[OOC: Okay so now we’re at the base of the tree since the branch that Nagi broke off kinda crash landed at the bottom. Just FYI. The explosion was Jack and David—they’ll show up next post cuz I didn’t want to make this post three thousand words.]]

[oblivion]

The impact of the raging bullets brought Danny within reach of a victory, or so he thinks. Blood is what a human expects to see from a person who gets shot. Yet basic human logic doesn’t accompany this situation. Instead of squirting out red liquid, a bunch of metal objects such as gears and gauges can be seen through both holes. Danny’s theory is proven to be true. Nagi in fact is a cyborg. A person who sees a cyborg for the first time would be taken back by it, but in Danny is different because he had heard rumors about stuff like this in the Grand Line. One thing does bother him though. Normally technological knowledge this advance has been known to be displayed deeper in the Grand Line, or so heard. Whether it’s true or not is beyond him, but if it is then it means that Nagi comes from the deeper Grand Line along with flamingo man and Genkkakku to recruit David.

Before Danny has the opportunity to speak, a hideous laughter comes from behind Nagi. Flamingo man started to mock him for using guns against Nagi. Such mockery will not be tolerated by Danny, even if it’s true that his simple guns don’t work against Nagi. Danny tries to react to the insult that has fallen upon him. His movement is intercepted by the shaking of the tree branching. Danny looked up after he fell down to one knee because of the shaking and noticed Nagi’s fist buried into the ‘Muscle Oak’ branch. A denial state would have taken over a person’s body as to what has been witnessed. One with no clue of how the Grand Line works would fall under the previous category. Danny might not have experienced much in the Grand Line, especially since he was born and raised on the early part of the Grand Line, but his skypiean father had experienced unbelievable things and told him his tales. Even if Danny had never experienced something like this until today, he knows that such things are small compared to what others can do. The shaking didn’t impact him emotionally. The cracking on the other hand left him in shock mode for a few moments as he realized the true power behind Nagi’s punch. A phrase his father used to repeat sprung into his brain. “Tales are one thing and experiencing things are on a whole different level.” A few seconds after the cracks appeared the branch separated itself from the tree and plummet to the ground.

Below him people tried to maneuver out of the death road. Some have their prayers answer and survive the ordeal, while others are not so lucky. In order to prevent himself from joining the unlucky pile Danny presses the green button to ignite the jetpack. No flames shoot out from the cuffs and his fall continues. It worked perfectly a while ago, so he doesn’t understand what could have happened to it now. “The dials might need some juicing,” is a thought that ran through his mind. Even if it is true he does not have the luxury to do this because he is in midair and even if his feet touch the floor it would be impossible for him to restock the dials during a fight because it takes to time to disassemble and reassemble the jetpack. With no other options available, Danny continues to press the green button. His hopes lie upon the jetpack short circuiting for a brief moment. Apparently this is not the case since the fall of death continued. His life flash before his eyes as impact with the ground is seconds away. Still he hasn’t given up his strategy of pressing the green button endlessly. Fear of death is not the reason why he continues to push the button, it is the fact that his name has not been roared throughout the world as the best sharpshooter to have ever lived. Finally, after breaking out buckets of sweat the cuffs released flames and send him flying.

Danny hovered over the flames and destruction caused by the crash of the branch. His eyes scouted for Nagi, Genkkakku, and flamingo man. Unfortunately from the altitude he scouted from it made it hard to distinguish the people among the chaos, soon enough though a shine can be seen from the floor which attracted Danny’s attention. His attention has been reeled in by the exposed metallic arm of Nagi. With his target identified Danny rushes down with his twin pistols leading the way. One after another bullets are shot from his twin pistols striking down on Nagi. As he lands Danny notices that the bullets have not worked. In this instance he realizes that flamingo man might be right about guns not working on Nagi. Still he has no other weapons at his disposal so he must continue fighting with his twin pistols.

An explosion happened as a stare down took place between Danny and Nagi. Unlike flamingo man who acquired a bad vibe from the explosion Danny does not think much about it. His focus lies on defeating Nagi and he thinks that he has found a way in doing this as an idea popped into his head after witnessing the explosion.

Upon activation of his jetpack Danny flies toward the rumble where he acquires a piece of wood fit for his size. Afterwards, he ignites the wood with the flames his jetpack releases from the cuffs. Quickly before the fire reaches the handle of the wood and burning him in the process Danny flies toward Nagi with the burning wood in his right hand and one of his twin pistols on the other hand. Through his flight path Danny starts to shoot his pistol. The bullets might not provide any damage, but his hopes rely on the flash dial blinding Nagi. Once he finds himself within range of being burned he throws the burning wood toward Nagi.

The burning wood is supposed to either short circuit or melt the metal in Nagi’s body. However, he does not have control of whether this happens or not because if the heat of the fire is not high enough then it will not do anything.

[BEX]

Ten minutes ago…

“Jack! Jack!” Everything seemed foggy and in the distance. Images of a face with a gun barrel nose flashed to the forefront of memory from time to time, but the moments of recollection were fleeting—besides it was much easier simply resting than it was to have to endure the nuisances in the waking world. Still the beating on his chest was becoming irritating…maybe he should get up.

“Jack…um…two words: Double D’s”

Suddenly all notions of rest faded from thought and the sluggish effects of the drug dose faded into obscurity. “Where? WHERE?!” Fully functionalized by the thought of rubbing two human fun bags on either side of his face Jack Dancer barely felt the resistance of the straps that had bound him hands and feet to the slab hard bed. As it were, the bindings exploded to tiny, shorn leather strips that fluttered to the ground sadly as the person they held rose excitedly to his feet. “Well? C’mon, this ain’t somethin’ to joke about!”

David’s brow twitched with a nauseating combination of awe and disgust. That brew had been concocted with enough strength to put down a Seaking for an hour or two yet the female crazed vagrant had shrugged off its potency with the ease of a toddler brushing sleep from their eye.

“Hey-hey! Where is the…yunno…the…”

“Don’t be so energized by perverted things, you pig!” That remark with a strong conk to the head at least cleared the scraggly haired young man’s eyes of the lusty film that had been present before. Taking that window of opportunity David explained the situation below—and how he’d become involved with Dolin Mellar and his band of merry marauders. “…and so…basically we have to stop Mellar or he’s simply going to use the influence he has in City Hall to become Shichibukai and then from there he’ll pillage the town for whatever she’s worth from here until eternity. Never offering the least bit of protection from any other enemies—he’s that sort of man.”

For a long time only the shouting and fireworks from downstairs filled the room. Two men stared at each other, one set of eyes filled with the heat of patriotic passion while the other seemed devoid of anything at all. Cold to the humanity of the situation. Then again, apathy had never been a South Blue native’s strongest personality point—especially coming out of Saint Reia. “Nope.”

“What?! Why not?!”

“You lied about the double D’s you shitty old bastard…”

“HEH?! You’re really that petty?!”

“Yup.”

“Ah, well…guess I’ll have to do this alone. Maybe Wally wil—”

Before David could continue fire and heat swallowed the conversing pair whole as around them the bar was torn to nothingness by some an impressive blast. The sound swelled loudly in David’s ears and when he finally managed to gather his wits he was lying facedown with splintered wood all around him; the tavern had been utterly destroyed. On branches below and above people shouted in dismay. Treegap wasn’t known for its chaotic outbreaks of violence, but fear didn’t immediately take hold in the hearts of its citizens. Rather curiosity had many of them poking through the remains of poor Mister Figg’s ruined business establishment. A fine one it had been too. “Damn hoppers are always so ready to blow something up…” groaned the battered and bruised old man. At least he hadn’t nearly lost an arm or anything.

“Yo…”

Whirling around, David opened his mouth to greet the other survivor of the explosion when he realized his reluctant comrade was hunched over one knee holding what looked like….a charred hand?! “This ‘hand-beef’ is really…yum!” Jack purred between bites of the juicy delectable which had an eerily canny resembles of a human hand. Muttering sailor curses to describe Jack’s intellect level David scoured what he could see of the landscape in search of the boy—Danny was his name. “If yer lookin’ for where the fight went…” Jack trailed with one hand unenthusiastically indicating skyward.

They had moved the fight to one of the upper branches.

It looked like Mellar had two henchmen with him. Men of considerable skill if they survived the blast…or caused it.. Watching the more than mildly peculiar gunman-turned-local hero Jack sensed the shift in the air around him. Damn, it’s that feeling again. This crazy cook ain’t just some bum off the street…kinda curious what he’s gonna do now. However eager he was to see David’s fighting prowess, there was no ignoring the thunderous crack from above. Craning his head to peer into the canopy of the tree Jack only had time to gape slack jawed by the plummeting wooden structure that left decimation with each few feet that it careened. He could hear David yelling something, but as the branch collapsed over the smoldering bits of the tavern there was nothing to be done for it. Fate had finally found Jack Dancer and snuffed out his life as he’d always known it would…

Or not.

Present time…

Chips of wood stung at his cheeks as he shifted uncomfortably. Something was wedged between his butt cheeks—nothing pleasant either. “Ngh…ORAH!!” With a barbaric bellow the scabbed and wounded swordsman tore through a thick layer of Muscle Oak bark…before wildly scratching his posterior for any signs of the malevolent splinter that sought to ruin his rump. Emerging not far from where Dancer had ripped a fair sized hole in the rumble was David, his aged features looking more worn than before, but otherwise the old timer had escaped death. With Jack dancing around trying to fetch the current bane of his existence the gunslinger stared gloomily at the destruction wrought by Mellar and his men.

Many faces lay stilled forever in death while anguish and suffering weighed heavily upon the survivors of the aftermath. Birds squawked fearfully as a blanket of them flew the coop so to speak leaving the flightless humans to their fates. For all the damage done, the island of Treegap as a whole continued moving. Only one tree remained affected by the fighting and it was not exactly an important political structure; those were placed nearer the heart of the island. Still…many citizens now faced a long struggle to rebuild their lives once again. With a yelp Jack ripped free his problem, casting the nuisance aside before slanting his gaze towards where a boy miraculously floated several feet in the air with a flaming piece of wood in one hand and a pistol in the other. A fight.

That was all the confirmation Jack needed to justify his joining the fray. Without waiting for any further information on his enemy or who this Danny was, he rocketed from the remnants in the midst of the flash. Just when it seemed the crude strategy to burn the mechanical adversary would come to fruition something struck Nagi across the face with fury and speed that likened to a boom. A sonic boom. Away flew the dead-eyed half human-half robot hybrid, ripping through one piece of wood after another before finally finding his stopping place—three trees away. Mellar and Genkkakku stared saucer eyed at the impossible defeat of one of their ‘Doomsday Trio’. Slowly their heads turned from the path of wanton destruction back towards where Danny had been attacking. Where a new opponent now stood.

Barefoot and wild eyed, the reckless vagrant had a smug smile on his face even though his tattered shirt was splashed with filthy colors of many days-old food and he smelled much like a dump would. Yet he remained proud as he cracked his knuckles. In a fight Jack Dancer was glorious if he failed in all else. Dolin was the first to recover his tongue, “H-hey Flyboy! This-this-this *hic!* guy is a friend of yours?! *hic*”

A derisive snort from the ‘friend’ was likely enough to put down any further insinuation of the sort, but before Jack could further extrapolate using his ‘colorful’ way with words David also appeared beside Danny. His face crinkled in something of a smile as he looked upon the boy whom had hunted him from island to island, always just a step behind the crafty adventurer. Perhaps there was even something of respect in the old man’s gaze when he looked at his arch nemesis, “Finally nice to meet you young man…I’d say we should save the introductions for another time, wouldn’t you agree?” Agree or not Jack had already made his declaration with a thumbs down sign...just as Nagi returned the blind side assault that had sent the man flying earlier. This time it was the bounty head who split through the tree trunk after tree trunk before his head found a home in a knothole some three or four trees away.

“That idiot…” David muttered in disappointment, but already his hands were no longer empty. Pistols the like which had never been laid eyes upon shone brightly in the little light that was offered beneath the roof of trees above. Dial-activated much like Danny’s pistols, David’s flintlocks utilized ‘Impact Dial’ triggers with special barrels made especially for the unusually high velocity of his bullets. “Grudges aside kid,” he said turning to face Mellar and his cronies once again, “I think we’ve got a lot to talk about…”