No you take it! (Farris/Doflo/invite only.)

[Farris (Kuro)]

It was a bright, warm sunny day as Farris strode of the ferry and into the city of Port Raffael. The blue haired woman breath in the sea breeze with a smile. The city wasn't a Tourist spot so to speak but was normally a first stop for anyone visiting so it has a few fancy hotels and the like for those coming through.

That was all well and nice, but the dark clad beauty didn't plan to stay too long. She had to meet a broker in town about getting some information on a rare seastone ore. Farris had seen far too often how devastating a fruit user could be, but one ore was hardly enough to fashion a weapon. Not that the pirate-looking lass intended to make a weapon. no she wanted to fashion a flute from the stuff. If it worked how she hoped, it would provide an excellent defense against a devil fruit user if she found herself in a pinch.

But even more immediate than that, she was hungry. There were a few places off the port but they hadn't looked or even smelled right, making her wrinkle her nose. This drove the Musician deeper into the city until she found this somewhat flashy large bar. Normally Farris wouldn't even peek into such a place, but the smell of that fresh, baked Yellowtail coming from inside was enough to make her mouth water. Before she knew it she was walking right into the place despite the protests of her brain. After a moment she reached the bar table and caved. "One baked Yellowtail!" She said, licking her lips like a cat in anticipation.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] It’s nice to take a vacation every now and then; to get away from the stresses of the day job... A slow, steady chuckle was produced from the throat of a blonde as he swaggered his way through the streets of Port Raffael, his eyes darting around his environment with a plain sense of intrigue and amusement emanating from their keen shine, he made no effort to mask the enjoyment with which he was navigating this unfamiliar locale; a man who was avidly enjoying the new sights and experiences that a holiday could bring. For his time on the island, the touring male had decided to go by the name of ‘Alonso Quijano’, which was a name that wouldn’t be easily associated with him; something that on this little getaway he was rather keen on maintaining. ‘Alonso’ had sought to misidentify himself in ways outside of a simple use of pseudonym, as any sort of character with superstar status like his true identity would perhaps seek to when avoiding any great degree of the spotlight; no longer dressed in bright pink feathers and gaudy shirts, instead ‘Mr Quijano’ happened to be styled in rather a plain way, wearing a simple olive coloured shirt and tan shorts, with sandles. Perhaps aiming to hide in plain sight, so to speak, Alonso had gone against convention and actually ditched his sunglasses whilst acting incognito, knowing that those signature shades would be more identifiable for himself than the simple presence of the eyes that were so often hidden behind them. Overall, it wasn’t really the case that Alonso Quijano sought to avoid the attention that his actual identity would provide, but he did find it somewhat amusing to be temporarily amusing, and they always said that a change was as good as a rest, so surely a rest and a change would have twice the effect? Getting kind of hungry though… I wonder where’s good to eat? Hand on stomach, Alonso rolled his mitt around the hard abs underneath his rather plain looking piece of apparel a few times, the anxiety of wanting appetite apparently doing little to alleviate the bright beam born from his face. Ceasing that almost constantly chiming chuckle of his, the tourist lifted his head into the air for a few seconds, jaw easing upwards and eyes closing to permit the scents of his surroundings fill his body and mind, seeking to find a particular fragrance that might promise something substantially satisfying for himself to devour. Many might look to a tourist’s guide, or ask the locals, but as far as one’s taste was concerned, Alonso elected to believe it was best to rely on one’s own senses and instincts to sate the hunger within; the likes and dislikes of one or any other person may not be the same as your own, and it was always more rewarding to hunt your own prizes. Ultimately, the only thing you could truly rely on was yourself. There we go; something that draws me in… The chiming chuckle retuning, Mr Quijano’s eyes opened once more, and within the space of a few dozen steps taken, he was stooping through the doorway of a small bar, from which that alluring aroma was aerating. “Ah, hello sir, can we offer you a table?” Greeted by an attendant who had dressed himself rather smartly, Alonso smiled to the man, not out of any sort of sense of politeness or sense of sociability, but rather from amusement. ’Sir’, it always seems nice to be called that, for some reason. Appreciative of the man’s professionalism, Quijano began to get the impression that following his nose had indeed led him to the right place to dine; if only for the sense of satisfaction that the staff had given him. “Fuffuffuffuffu… The bar’s fine, on my own, a table would make me feel lonely…” Giving the room a quick scan, Alonso elected to seat himself at the room’s bar; hoping to take advantage of the sense of hospitality it offered, rather than the predominantly shut off nature of the table. Having elected to go on holiday by himself, Mr Quijano knew that fun things like companions and the events that might be born from them would have to be developed on the fly; who knows? He might find someone fun in this very bar. “Ah, very good, sir…” Passing by the greeter, Alonso swaggered across the room and slid onto a seat at its bar, where he scanned the menu over for a few seconds, while making a decision on the meal to sate the pangs of hunger within him. “I think I’ll have fish, the baked yellowtail maybe? With a bourbon on the rocks?” Waving to the barman, Quijano scanned around the bar as he waited for his meal to be ready, sizing up the people who had entered before him. Not feeling it… None of them seem like wild guys… There weren’t many in here of course, given the time of day; most looked like people similar to himself, tourists who wanted the chance to fill their bellies before returning to their adventures; but the blonde holidaymaker found none of them particularly appealing partners for adventure, instead nursing his drink and simply wandering around his environment while he awaited either the arrival of his meal or the presence of interesting parties. “Ah, looks good, Fuffuffuffuffu… Itadaki-“ His food finally having arrived, Alonso scooped up his knife and fork to prepare to eat, but never got the chance. Thrust into his distant company was someone different to the types he had already encountered within the bar; an attractive girl had planted herself in a seat near his own. Mmmm… Not too bad. Generally preferring women who showed a bit more of their skin, Mr Quijano could see from her figure that the treasure hidden away by clothing was indeed worth a chance at winning, should he see the chance. He wasn’t the type of person who was desperate for attention, of course; the person behind the persona of Alonso Quijano was not particularly wanting for female company, but that didn’t mean that his libido was particularly disinclined towards expanding the range of companions available. “Oh, sorry miss, we’re fresh out of the yellowtail… Can we offer you something else?” His admiration of the girls fine frame having distracted him from his meal, Alonso’s attention moved briefly to that of the man behind the bar, and the sad situation that seemed to have befallen the girl. Seems there’s been a stroke of look in this encounter… With a chuckle, Mr Quijano ran the flat of this thumb down his temple and around the tip of his jaw, looking from the portion on his plate and then on the proportions of the disappointed diner a few seats along from him; a possible chance had emerged for ‘Alonso Quijano’. “Oh, looks like I’ve nearly made a fool of myself in front of a pretty girl, Fuffuffuffu… That won’t do, here, you have the fish, I insist.” Sliding his plate along the bar towards the girl had entered the bar, the blonde diner graciously offered the woman a chance to dine on her desired meal, at his expense of course. [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

“Oh, sorry miss, we’re fresh out of the yellowtail… Can we offer you something else?” Came the very disappointing reply from the waiter. The vixen's expression fell, that fish had smelt so good, if not for that she wouldn't was entered such a place. The musician's pride had be sacrificed for that delicious scent, and they were out? Just like that? She felt like a fool and was instantly starting to feel embarrassed and might have tried to back petal out to save more of her pride from embarrassing situation. At least no one she knew had seen her... yet, and no one potentially important. Someone with her sense of style really clashed with a scene like this and being there was already very awkward.

Before the blue hair beauty could escape, it seemed that she had caught someone's attention. A rather plan looking blond haired tourist, with a breaming smile and some of the most brilliant eyes she'd have ever seen. “Oh, looks like I’ve nearly made a fool of myself in front of a pretty girl, Fuffuffuffu… That won’t do, here, you have the fish, I insist.” He said which made her turn her own feline-like yellow eyes downward to the plate he slid in front of her. Now she was in the spotlight as a few of the other diners paused to watch the exchange. Farris' face stated to heat up and she shook her head. "Oh, no, no, no, no,... I couldn't take your food from you, I-I don't even know you." She said a bit nervously, trying to seem polite and humble. "Here, you take it back, I insist!" She said a tad forcefully as sliding the plate back. It was obvious that the blue haired woman was fighter, she wasn't one to take hand outs or charity, especially from strangers.

Thinking that to be the end of it, Farris picked up a menu and started to browse, wrinkling her nose at what was available, indeed the baked yellowtail was the best thing on the menu. He stomach also complained, as if to say she should have taken the offered fish, meanwhile her pride was telling her that she made the right choice. A little hunger and bad food never hurt anybody! - it seemed to tell her as she struggled not to think about it or look at the blond again.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] Women look even better when abashed… It was nice to see the world with a naked eye every now and then, ‘Alonso Quijano’ considered, seeing the reddening face of the beauty in front of him, which on this occasion was no tinted by the translucent shade of coloured lens. Some might have been drawn to the brazen types of women who bore every part of themselves with no sort of shame or embarrassment, but there was a somewhat satisfying allure in the more modest and shy ones; an appeal in that sense of pride and humility that was often ignored by those who sought out the accessibility of exposed flesh and intentions. The attentions of Mr Quijano were not particularly geared in either direction; there were interesting people who acted unashamedly, whose boldness gave them an almost predictable sense of surprise; the wonder of the unknown boundary that they may never cross, or you may never reach. The shyer types could also be fun as well, in a completely different way of course; the fun of finding the ideal way to coax them out of the shell, and discover all of the things that were guarded within those firm walls once you did. People on the whole, for Alonso, were an endless source of amusement and at times entertainment, provided they were guided in a direction that could display it. Oh? Playing hard to get? It wasn’t particularly disappointing to Alonso that the young woman so profusely spurned his offer, in fact, it was perhaps something more of a draw; while not all of the enjoyment that could be had with a woman was found within ‘the chase’ as it were, there was certainly a lot of fun in it anyway. Being refused, particularly in such a cute way, only made Mr Quijano more determined to win this woman over, as the greatest sorts of prizes were the ones that you had to work hard to find. “Oh, no, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffu… There’s not a need to be proud or shy; they say ladies first, after all.” His hand on the rim of the plated that held the returned meal, once again Alonso slid it over to the attractive young woman, this time making sure that it was right in front of her, to let her get a full taste of the fragrances exuding from the dish; to allow the meal a chance to seize a full grip on the woman’s senses. Ultimately, the blonde wasn’t hugely concerned as to whether the woman would eat this dish or not, as it had already served a purpose for him, being a handy little thing to allow him access into her senses. However, at the moment, the bond between them was as weak as it could be; the threads that bound them could easily be broken by the simple action of her choosing to brush off the encounter and ignore him, which he couldn’t let happen. “Besides, Fuffuffuffu, if we get to know each other a little better, it won’t be food from a stranger, now will it?” Wrapping his hand around the glass that contained the last of his liquor, Alonso moved from his position and instead sank into the chair next to the cyan haired seductress with whom an acquaintance he was seeking to create. “So, in the spirit of acquaintance, permit me to introduce myself as… Alonso Quijano. The pleasure, I must say, is all mine…” Pausing slightly in his thickly charmed introduction, the cause being the blonde’s mind summoning up the pseudonym with which he was touring the island, eagerly awaiting the girl’s response. There was a lot to be said for names, the ‘power’ that they hold, it was perhaps why ‘Alonso’ was so fond of making up new ones for himself, and also why he was keen to discover the moniker that he lovely companion had thus far kept from him… [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

“Oh, no, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffu… There’s not a need to be proud or shy; they say ladies first, after all.” Was the reply she was met with, as the plate was now directly beneath her with it's delicious aroma that was enough to make her mouth water. But it wouldn't be that easy, she wouldn't cave, even as she breathed in that succulent aroma... Damn those cooks knew how to cook a perfect yellowtail.

“Besides, Fuffuffuffu, if we get to know each other a little better, it won’t be food from a stranger, now will it?” He said as he moved beside her, making it impossible to avoid his gaze, and near impossible to ignore him. Not that it was her style to do so, Farris liked to face problems and obstacles rather than run away from them. This man seemed quiet persistent and the blue haired vixen felt the rush of a challenge in this new little game. Something she half blamed her time running around with Kaku on, but all things happened for a reason.

“So, in the spirit of acquaintance, permit me to introduce myself as… Alonso Quijano. The pleasure, I must say, is all mine…” He said finally. It wasn't as though the man was unfriendly to her, but the pause made her suspect that he wasn't going by his actually name. Which was fine she supposed, there were many reason to not give your real name out, especially if had a reputation that drew unwanted attention. Well, Farris had no such reasons herself. "Farris, nothing fancy, just Farris, Mr. Quijano. I'm a wondering musician, and yourself?" She asked seeing as the man was so intent on getting to know her she'd reward him with that much. "And still! It's your meal, you paid for it. I can't just take money out of your pocket." Farris persisted sliding the plate gently before the blond. It was a sign that the game wasn't over so easily, that she accepted this new challenge 'Alonso' presented, be it intentional or not. A cat-like smile gracing her lips... Game on.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] Ah, there we go, a strengthening connection… A small, subtle motion accompanied this thought as it ran through the mind of Alonso Quijano; the slightest of twitches affecting the hand of his which was closest to the companion that he sat with. Finger giving the briefest of tugs at the air, it was unnoticed by the man that performed the action for the most part; a small physical toying of the invisible and insubstantial bond that was being forged between himself and the woman in front of him, which would likely go unnoticed to all others. His digit barely even moving at all, the action could have easily been dismissed as something inconsequential, and of course Alonso himself was not totally aware that he had made it, but perhaps this subtle and near-secret sleight spoke more of his being than any of the information that the man was prepared to give the girl through verbal means; he wasn’t in the habit of handing out a copy of his life story, regardless of the recipient. “Ah, Miss Farris, is it? Fuffuffuffuffu… It’s a pretty name, in many ways I suppose it suits the owner.” Flattery, of course, as Mr Quijano honestly had no real clue as to any sort of special meaning behind the name he was given. Alonso did however, display some sincerity in the later stages of his comment, as this girl certainly was a beauty; hair shining with cyan like a bright summer’s day, and eyes which shone with golden light a little bit like a cats. The girl, this ‘Farris’, was certainly a prize to be had. A musician as well? Wonder what her music is like…? Always a fan of all things entertaining, the iota of informing upon the woman’s profession was definitely a further draw for Alonso, who was a man who loved all sorts of sounds and symphonies. “Fuffuffu, me? Well, Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I suppose you could say what I do is a bit difficult to describe; it’s rather varied work. I tend to get around a lot, and there always seems to be something for me to do. Fuffuffuffuffuffu… Since my employer is the World Government, I can’t go into specific details. A ‘Contractor’, might be the most appropriate thing you could say… Fuffuffuffuffu!” Of course, Alonso had by no means told the young lady who served as his companion the complete truth about his line of employment; after all, it wasn’t really that easy to tell someone who was unfamiliar with you that you were one of the Shichibukai, among other things. Had he not been making an effort to obscure his identity, it would likely have been easy for the man going by the pseudonym of ‘Alonso Quijano’ to have himself recognised for the true identity that lie hidden under his alias; something that would have likely been the provocation for a reaction that would be wildly different to the one he received. Things were boring though, when one was greeted with the same old reactions in the same old circumstances; letting a lie become the truth for a while was liberating, it allowed him the freedom to relax and explore the curiosity of the everyday, and also take a step or two toward discovering who ‘Alonso Quijano’ was. “And the meal? Fuffuffuffuffu… It's no good to be denying what you want; with such an eager way that you announced your desire for it, I’d say you showed a far greater want for baked yellowtail than my own passing fancy...” Again, there was a sense of truth in the words that Alonso wove for the woman; he had entered with the intention of eating the yellowtail, which was still exuding such mouth-watering fragrances, but now it was no longer the prime ‘dish’ within the bar. No, that particular title had been passed along with the entrance of the fine female who sat next to Mr Quijano right now, who had also gained the keen interest of the blonde along with the designation that she had earned. “But I suppose you have your pride, fuffuffuffuffu, and it would do not good to get in the way of that. How about a trade?” Plainly, the approach of charm and generosity was not one that would wash with this woman right away, so it was time to change the tactics. As he had commented, pride was now the problem that faced Alonso, rather than appetite or interest. The cunning strategist was the one who turned an enemy into an ally, so in this ‘battle’, it was plain to Quijano that ‘pride’ would work far better on his side than his ‘opponents’. “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I entered this place on the lookout for a little entertainment, so wouldn’t a musician’s song make up for the money from my pocket? C’mon, it’ll be fun for both of us, wouldn’t it? Fuffuffuffu…” With their encounter taking a turn such as this, Alonso opted to metaphorically murder a pair of avians in exchange for a single spent stone, attempting to twist the situation into a direction that would both provide an avenue for further action, and also satisfy his own curiosity about the standard of skill in sound that the girl possessed. “From the silky soft tones I’ve heard from you, fuffuffuffuffuffu, I can already tell that you’d have a lovely singing voice...” Once again, the blonde gently pushed the plated fish over to his female friend, offering her the chance to not only impress him, but also fill her stomach with the meal she desired… [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

Farris paid little mind to the comment on her name, it was something she had heard in the past a few times, but she at least looked him in the eye and smiled politely. “Fuffuffu, me? Well, Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I suppose you could say what I do is a bit difficult to describe; it’s rather varied work. I tend to get around a lot, and there always seems to be something for me to do. Fuffuffuffuffuffu… Since my employer is the World Government, I can’t go into specific details. A ‘Contractor’, might be the most appropriate thing you could say… Fuffuffuffuffu!” He answered, and Farris arched her brows, showing she was indeed impressed by the little tidbit. The world government was something she neither loved nor hated, but she was aware it wasn't easy to get a job with them, specially if it was something you couldn't talk a lot about. This was the second time she had met someone that had worked high up on the ladder of the World Government, perhaps this man was part of the Ciper Pol, or the person who assigned them missions? "Oh? I see, and is this a business trip for you then?" The cyan haired woman asked a bit more openly.

“And the meal? Fuffuffuffuffu… It's no good to be denying what you want; with such an eager way that you announced your desire for it, I’d say you showed a far greater want for baked yellowtail than my own passing fancy...” He started and Farris was about to object once more, even as she found herself locked into this man's gaze. Before she could get a word in however he continued, “But I suppose you have your pride, fuffuffuffuffu, and it would do not good to get in the way of that. How about a trade?” The dark clad musician smirked, a trade? "Go on..." She stated as she was now interested in the blonde's proposal. “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I entered this place on the lookout for a little entertainment, so wouldn’t a musician’s song make up for the money from my pocket? C’mon, it’ll be fun for both of us, wouldn’t it? Fuffuffuffu…” The musician seemed to ponder this a moment. She wasn't sure this man would like what he heard, not everyone was a fan of her music after all. Then he said, “From the silky soft tones I’ve heard from you, fuffuffuffuffuffu, I can already tell that you’d have a lovely singing voice...” And that decided it. Farris seemed to puff-up like a bird and blush a bit with a broad proud smile. Well, she couldn't disappoint someone with an ear for good sound and talent, could she? "Very well, I supose it's a fair trade." She stated before withdrawing her Violin and starting to play a simple melody.

OOC: Link to Song.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] “Ah, excellent, Fuffuffuffuffu… Let’s see what you can do…?” At the acquiescence of Miss Farris to Alonso Quijano’s suggestion, the man turned his chair around to get a good look at the woman as she performed, leaning on his elbow as the long and agile fingers wrapped around his smiling face. Bearing that almost immovable array of pearly-white teeth, Alonso studied every single facet of the performance that he could, those usually concealed eyes of his scanning over the features and motions of the young woman as she began her song. Mr Quijano watched as the young woman pulled a violin from heaven knows where and rested the instrument upon her arm, rather than against her neck, something which drew the attention of the observing man. Clever… Must be hard to sing with a violin under your chin, after all. The blonde was impressed with the woman already; her head ordinarily being needed as something of a root from under which a violin might bloom, it would have no doubt served as a disadvantage when trying to play and sing at the same time, with the instrument serving as a cumbersome obstruction to the motions of one’s head, but apparently not for this girl. With an ingenious form of attachment for her arm and violin, this young woman had found a way to overcome this disadvantage, which was an act that had earned her more admiration from Alonso Quijano; the blonde man was a fan of the creative and the crazy. Oh? Not bad; apparently there’s more to this one than a pretty face… Drawn in by the first draw of the woman’s hair across the finely tightened strings of sheep stomach, for the few minutes that the woman in front of him played her violin and sang the sweet words that accompanied it, Alonso was enraptured within the performance. Not once did Mr Quijano show any sign of being anything other than entranced by the concert unfolding in front of his eyes and ears, surveying the scene with all the senses that he could. Not only was he listening carefully to the notes that were produced from the string-instrument and the vocal range of the woman, as well as the movements and motions required to produce these, Alonso’s perception of the entertainment was not so simple as to be limited to the use of only a pair of his senses, instead he sought to engage all of them. His elbow on the wooden bar next to him, flowing through the air and then the lumber were the sometimes subtle, and sometimes less so, shakings that the music carried to Quijano; the vibrations of the song being an important property in the performance which he received, something that only a fool would waste. Scents of the woman’s perfume creating an olfactory presence to tease at Alonso, it was somewhat of an irony that the only sense of his not engaged was that of taste, which would most readily be associated with one’s meal, which was perhaps as something of an exchange; giving up the enjoyment of one’s taste buds for the satisfaction of the remainder of the primary sensory systems. “Fuffuffuffuffu… Outstanding, Miss Farris; even better than I had expected!” Extending his hands at the end of the song to applaud the musician’s rendition, Alonso Quijano was definitely not put off by the performance that he had been given by the woman in front him, who had certainly earned the price of the meal. “You’ve absolutely earned your taste of the last yellowtail, if not more, Fuffuffuffuffuffu…” Tipping his hand to the plate on the table in front of the pair, Quijano relinquished any right to it in full, as both gratitude for the performance, and investment for the future; she’d certainly have to stay in his company a little while longer in order to eat her meal, which offered Alonso even more of a chance to tighten his hold on her. Perhaps it’s time to bring in some new talent? Having grown weary of the minstrels and bards that were currently within his rather considerable sphere of influence, the revelation that had been revealed within this small bar on his holiday had prompted the blonde to consider a little more than his initial intent for this woman; while she seemed an interesting person to engage with on his little getaway, with the strength of her performance, this young lady was certainly well on her way toward earning a longer spell in the company of the blonde holidaymaker, provided he could ensure her own continued interest. “Fuffuffuffuffu… So, do you always travel alone like this, Miss Farris?” Chuckling as he looked over the menu for a suitable replacement for his gifted fish dish, Alonso Quijano continued his verbal dance with the woman at his side, still keen on getting her hooked onto his line; the matter of the meal being settled, meant that his ‘side’ had overcome the first challenge. [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

“Fuffuffuffuffu… Outstanding, Miss Farris; even better than I had expected!” “You’ve absolutely earned your taste of the last yellowtail, if not more, Fuffuffuffuffuffu…” was the reply from her one man audience, but much to Farris' surprise and delight, others in the bar applauded her performance as well. The dark clad musician smiled and gave a bow, before returning her Violin to a small case by her feet, that had remained unnoticed as it was mostly hidden by her long frock coat. "Oh? Well, you've been a pleasant audience to entertain Mr. Quijano." She said before taking her prize and savoring each bite as had no qualms about eating a meal she had earned with her trade. That was the idea of having a job after all, to feed and clothe oneself.

“Fuffuffuffuffu… So, do you always travel alone like this, Miss Farris?” Alonso asked, making her pause in her meal. He was trying to learn more about her obviously, and a more paranoid side of her thought she was being investigated, but she wrote this off quickly. It wasn't like the World Government had a reason to investigate her, her ties to Kaku were small and it wasn't like the CP9 agent was in any trouble... least not to her knowledge... though there was that little trip though Impel Down that she amazingly made her way through without getting a wanted poster posted all over the known world. Thus she felt it was safe enough to answer. "No, Sometimes I end up working or traveling with all sorts of people... but I'm never with them for too long." She explained frankly, already half way through the fish and proving how hungry she was.

"Be it a conflict of interests down the road, or simply or paths going separate ways, I usually end up splitting off and going my own way." She added that it wasn't really anything wrong with those she traveled with before, simply that their goals didn't always coincide with her own, so she'd end up traveling her own way alone in such cases. "And What about you? Are you here alone, Mr. Quijano?" She asked back casually, intent on finishing her meal before it was time to meet with her 'broker' about that bit of business she had come here on.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] Ah, good … No chance of nosy friends interrupting us then! Relieved that his current quarry seemed to be on the island alone, Alonso Quijano’s smile widened just that little bit more, if it were possible. There was no need for Alonso to be concerned about the belle before his eyes being blocked or whisked away by existing companions, what with this girl not only being on her own in the bar, but also in a way, ‘her world’; Mr Quijano was provided with a nice little corner that, with the right moves and words, could be sneaked into. “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I bet more than a few broken hearts have been left in the wake of a beauty like yours!” Of course, it was important to make sure that the piece of the woman’s heart that Alonso stole away was the right one; subtle flirting was necessary to prod him into the direction of the potential lover, rather than the dreaded zone for friends. After all, there was no real point in being close to a beauty without the capacity to take it ‘all the way’, so to speak; if that couldn’t be achieved, it was better to have her hate him for being too forward, than be cast into the dead space designed to contain ‘friends’. “Ah, me? Fuffuffuffuffuffu, this time, I also happen to be alone.” Probed by the woman’s question, Alonso knew that he would have to tread a fine line with his answer; he couldn’t say too much without risking the reveal of his identity, but at the same time, too shy an answer would be too suspicious, and also a waste of potential. Brushing off a question like this too easily, with too vague and abrupt and answer would no doubt show a lacking interest on his part, and as Mr Quijano was looking to continue this seemingly small and innocent conversation, bringing it to and end with insubstantial breadcrumbs of interest for her was not an option. The payoff was big, however; managing to maintain an air of mystery about himself would no doubt prove a greater allure, since few seem to seek out forms of ‘adventure’ with the boring and predictable person, and at the same time adding an element of accessibility to himself through conversation… Mr Qujiano certainly was employing some of his most devilish tactics for this particular prize. “I thought it would be more fun to make my friends on vacation, Fuffuffuffuffu, it’s nice to move in a new circle sometimes, wouldn’t you say?” Mixing in a little bit of truth was a tried and tested way to weave the greatest of deceptions of course, after all, what more convincing thing was there than the truth? Alonso was telling the truth with his intent; the principle reason he had arrived was to seek the entertainment on the island, but he did choose to omit the fact that the girl in front of him was shaping up to be that very thing he had described. “I suppose I do a lot of my work alone; though I have many ‘associates’ in all corners of the world.” Again, without getting too specific, Quijano managed to sprinkle his words with a little bit of truth; it seemed to have become a habit of his to travel alone, despite the many, many numbers of alliances and underlings that he had developed during his days is business, the blonde tended to operate alone, particularly in the weak seas of paradise. Counted amongst his companions, of course, were also the fellow ‘knights’ who sat in the seats of the Shichibukai, even if they tended to not always see things the same way. Their background might not have been one of treasured nakama, and at times they were more like mortal enemies, but for the real identity behind the mask of ‘Alonso Quijano’, the warlords of the sea were one big, if dysfunctional, family. “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… We do occasionally get together; it’s fun times when a bunch of us are in one place!” Speaking both of the times when he had gathered a group of his personal cohorts, and his ‘kin’ in the seven knights, Alonso reflected on all the fun times that had occurred at the various ‘get-togethers’. Many things stuck out in his mind; the old days when he and a bunch of guys had a rowdy ‘party’ across an island or two, all the faces at the death of the pirate king were pretty amusing to see, and then the War at Marineford! That was a day which was hard for him to top in excitement; that crazy old man’s tricks, turning the island over and almost the world before he kicked it. That Straw Hat kid’s near win when he got a hold of Ace, it was a bit of a shame that the angry volcano messed up that happy ending, as things could’ve got pretty interesting with the two of them tearing across the world; the children of Roger and Dragon tearing across the world… It seemed like the stuff of legend. And then Red Hair showing up at the end! It was a day that anyone present would have regretted not bringing their autograph book; a star studded party like that was difficult to beat. “Oh, I shouldn’t tell you too much though! Fuffuffuffuffu! Since it’s secret stuff, it’s pretty naughty of me to tease you with it!” Of course, these little details of his adventures were not the stuff that could readily be said, not without giving too much of ‘himself’ away at any rate. It was good though, that little breadcrumb of his true identity would be plenty to get someone curious, to feel the need to try and seek more; it certainly was a naughty tease. “Ah, I think I’ll go for the steak instead… Fuffuffuffuffu, how’s the Yellowtail, in the end?” Slapping the menu back onto the bar’s countertop, Mr Quijano queried the girl now out of both curiosity, and his intent to keep her engaged. “Fuffuffuffuffu… Worth the price that was paid? Given the strength of your performance, I might have to give a little something extra, so we’re all square….” Yes, the tally could never be equal; if everything was truly square between them then there would be chance for a clean break between the two. No, things needed to be as uneven as possible, they needed to jut out between the pair and entangle them together… [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

“Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I bet more than a few broken hearts have been left in the wake of a beauty like yours!” Another flattering comment, Alonso was certainly the charmer and of course Farris only smirked. "I'm not so sure, but I've had my share of a few romantic relationships in the past, but isn't this what traveling is about? Seeing new places, meeting new people and sharing new experiences as you carve your way what you want most?" The cyan haired woman replied. "It's all a romantic experience in some way, I just try to have fun while I'm at it." She added conversationally, becoming more comfortable with the blond.

“Ah, me? Fuffuffuffuffuffu, this time, I also happen to be alone.” The smiling man said and it peaked her interest a bit, "This time? So he normally prefers company... Farris noted to herself in thought. Not that this was a bad thing, it just suggested that if they traveled together she'd meet a lot of other World Government agents and it could prove good for her entertainment business if played right. “I thought it would be more fun to make my friends on vacation, Fuffuffuffuffu, it’s nice to move in a new circle sometimes, wouldn’t you say?” He asked and she nodded. "An old friend once said that sometimes we have to give something up to gain something new." She replied in agreement.

“I suppose I do a lot of my work alone; though I have many ‘associates’ in all corners of the world.” “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… We do occasionally get together; it’s fun times when a bunch of us are in one place!” Alonso explained and Farris listened intently. "You seem very fond of them, as well as enjoying a good time... I had a friend a lot like you, but... We lead very different lives." She said putting it mildly when referring to Kaku. The former Cp9 agent was an assassin that needed to stay out of the spotlight, while Farris was a musician that needed to be in the spotlight.

“Oh, I shouldn’t tell you too much though! Fuffuffuffuffu! Since it’s secret stuff, it’s pretty naughty of me to tease you with it!” He stated and Farris was a bit disappointed, Alonso was shaping up to be an interesting, albeit, secretive man. "Well we all have our secrets I suppose, I won't go digging out of respect though." The dark clad musician stated even if she wanted to know more. She wasn't a busybody after all and in he couldn't discuss it, she didn't want to get him in trouble with his higher ups.

“Ah, I think I’ll go for the steak instead… Fuffuffuffuffu, how’s the Yellowtail, in the end?” “Fuffuffuffuffu… Worth the price that was paid? Given the strength of your performance, I might have to give a little something extra, so we’re all square….” He asked as she licked her lips. "It's cooked perfectly, the flavors are even better than the smell." She told him impressed with the cooking more than trying to rub it in. "I don't think you owe me anything, if anything I owe you." She stated. "Sadly I'm not here on vacation, I have a bit of business on this Island." She stated, not minding sharing the bit of information.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] “Nah, nah, nah, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffuffu… If I bought a ticket to see a concert or something, it would be a lot more expensive than the simple price of a meal, wouldn’t it?” Sliding his finger onto the menu over the steak in a silent indication towards the chef, and also tipping his hand towards the by now empty glass of bourbon for a refill, Alonso Quijano was quite animated and adamant at the tally being stacked within the favour of his female friend. Waving his hand from side to side like a fan, the smiling face of the blonde man also shook to deny the very idea of him being owed anything by the young woman, and was as unyielding as he could be in fact the reverse being the most true of any statement. “If we go by that reckoning, I’d say I got a pretty cheap performance; I mean that ‘Soul King’ guy? Fuffuffuffuffuffu, you’d have to spend a small fortune to get tickets to his last event!” While it was ultimate Alonso’s goal to get most of those whom he wished to ensnare within his woven net as deeply in his pocket as possible; so deep that they would never find a way to drag themselves out, it was more amusing and more of a challenge to achieve that far more subtly than with any sort of declared disadvantage on their part. As far as Quijano was concerned, it was most fun for everything to seem innocent, to be natural, up until the point that they realized the true scope of their status, the real level to which they had been sunk; a game in a way for Alonso that he rarely grew tired of playing, even if it was a twisted one. This girl might be a good player as well; strong enough to make it this far into the Grand Line while maintaining her sense of independence. And her pride… The stubborn way in which he had been refused so simple a gesture as offering a meal spoke volumes of the potential this woman held; Strong and full of pride in herself, they were the hardest and most worthwhile types to toy with. Someone who gives you what you want easily can also be forgotten quite easily, but someone whose skin you have to drag yourself under, and by the same measure bear them under your own flesh; they became an obsession, and few things were as occupying and amusing to this man than obsessions. “Oh, business? Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I’d have to guess from the talents I’ve seen that it’s of a melodic variety?” In all honesty, the woman’s business on the island wasn’t particularly high up in the list of priorities for Alonso’s curiosity, but as a point raised, it was of course a good way to keep the trickling trail of spall talk going between the pair. “Or maybe I’m wrong? There could be plenty more of you than what meets the eye; things that are teasingly hidden away from a first impression, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffu!” Poked and prodded with verbal means, the girl would be provoked to respond to him, and that meant he could sneak deeper into her mind, and garner more from it. They say that all if fair in love and war, and in many regards, they weren’t very different; knowledge and experience were key in both, and with the right kind of information gathered, Mr Quijano knew he was competent enough to breach any kind of defence, be it those of an enemy or a love interest. It was odd for him to regard things this way, never having been a soldier in any shape or form, but he had indeed seen his way through a fair number of horrendous conflicts; conflicts that once remembered, helped to keep that broad grin on his face. “Secrets are exiting! Though; I suppose if you’re being kind enough to not dig deeper into my own profile, Fuffuffuffuffu, it wouldn’t be in a sense of fair play to pry into yours…” Despite his lacking interest in the events which had demanded her presence on the island at this time, Alonso did have a great deal of curiosity about this woman’s other concealed details, both metaphorically and physically; the latter being shown as he found his eyes once again surveying the ‘scenery’ which she displayed. Lingering for only a little over a second over the features of the woman, Quijano’s stare was partially broken by the chime of the alcohol alarm; his new drink having been brought to him by the bartender, and the icy ‘rocks’ within it chirping as it the glass was placed on the bar. “Fuffuffuffu, not thirsty yourself?” Lifting brown liquid up to his mouth and taking a small sip of the smoky flavoured liquor within the pristinely transparent tumbler, Alonso tipped his drink toward the girl at his side in a sort of one sided toast, before placing it back down and waving to the barkeep once more to beckon him over. “I suppose if you really are feeling indebted to me, you could let me buy you a drink…?” Ah, the gift of fluid sustenance; a tried and tested method of procuring the interest of one’s companion in a bar… [/style]

[Farris (Kuro)]

“Nah, nah, nah, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffuffu… If I bought a ticket to see a concert or something, it would be a lot more expensive than the simple price of a meal, wouldn’t it?” Alonso seemed to suggest as Farris arched her brow at him, watching him finger the menu. Was he… trying to get in debt to her? Well she certainly couldn’t deny that it would give him a chance to hang around her more. She was just more used to those that tried to skip out on paying her and found themselves at the end of her saber instead. “If we go by that reckoning, I’d say I got a pretty cheap performance; I mean that ‘Soul King’ guy? Fuffuffuffuffuffu, you’d have to spend a small fortune to get tickets to his last event!” A flash emotion flicked of yellow feline-like eyes, a sign of challenge and passion. “That guy… I’m going to beat him! I’m going to be better than the ‘Soul King’…!” The Cyan haired beauty said slamming a palm on the counter and it was almost as if a raging fire of rivalry was lit behind her, burning brightly so that all could see Farris’ resolve… To be the best musician the world would ever know.

“Oh, business? Fuffuffuffuffuffu… I’d have to guess from the talents I’ve seen that it’s of a melodic variety?”“Or maybe I’m wrong? There could be plenty more of you than what meets the eye; things that are teasingly hidden away from a first impression, Fuffuffuffuffuffuffu!” He seemed to be both flirting and inquiring. “In part, I’m meeting someone about some information on where to find something… Special.” Farris said with as smirk being careful not to give her World Government acquaintance too much information. If they knew she was after seastone, the Government might be none-too-pleased about it.

“Secrets are exiting! Though; I suppose if you’re being kind enough to not dig deeper into my own profile, Fuffuffuffuffu, it wouldn’t be in a sense of fair play to pry into yours…” To this the dark clad woman smiled, “I appreciate that, I don’t think you’d find it much to your liking anyway… They don’t smile much.” Farris half joked with a smirk as the waiter brought Alonso another drink. “Fuffuffuffu, not thirsty yourself?” “I suppose if you really are feeling indebted to me, you could let me buy you a drink…?” She heard him ask and suggest while toasting to her. “Another time perhaps, I need to keep my mind sharp for this bit of business. Though your welcome to come with me.” Farris stated in jest at the latter half of her statement. She was fairly certain that the most the man wanted was an evening with her, getting into what might be considered someone’s shady business or boring business wasn’t likely anywhere on his list. That being said Farris was ready to head out, she would settle her dept or his debt to her or however this confusing mess was after getting what she came for.

[EriChar]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#F763cB;] [/style][style=margin-left:15px; margin-top:-110px; height:100px; width:100px; background-image:url(http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/100733742/27565465); border:10px solid #eee;] [style=text-align:justify; font-family:tahoma; color:#2b2b2b; font-size:10px; padding:10px;] “You’re inviting me along to find your special thing, eh?” Disappointment turned to opportunity for Alonso Quijano; where he had been found wanting more when the woman in front of him had rebuffed his attempt to buy a drink and extend their encounter; she had instead offered him an even better chance to creep into her company, by accompanying her on her journey this day. It might have been an effort on the woman’s part to be polite, to offer some sort of olive branch that would likely be batted away, but who doesn’t love to snatch out at something dangled in front? Where’s the fun in doing what was expected? If he didn’t know better, Alonso would’ve sworn that that this girl was working as hard to keep his company as he was to cling onto her own; laying out these pieces of tasty bait and waiting for him to bite onto them. Usually he was the hunter, after all; what treats would the day have in store if he found himself as the prey? And to what sort of predator? Things were definitely getting interesting. “Fuffuffuffuffu, I suppose I had no plans for today anyway…” So far, this was perhaps one of the most honest and untainted of the words that Mr Quijano had passed on to his cyan-haired companion; Alonso’s only plan for the day had been to find someone or something amusing to keep him occupied with, and in the day of the feline-featured female, the blonde man expected that he had found just what he was searching for. “…Besides, I’m sure it never hurts to have a ‘friend’ in these types of things, eh?” While he was interested in the girl, of course, Mr Quijano also had his curiosities as to the nature of her visit here. From what he’d picked up on, she was by no means a simple travelling minstrel; no, there was definitely something else at work here, and Alonso wanted to find out what it was. Something she needs to be ‘sharp’ for? Of course, in one of his various enterprises, the man behind the mask of Mr Alonso Quijano had caught wind of certain dealings that might have occurred on the island named ‘Coast Nostra’; and happened to wonder if these were the sorts of dealings that this woman was caught up in. Like so many places, this island was not without its back alleys and street corners where items of interest and rarity might be happened upon, if one had the right connections and the right money to find them, of course. While not currently active within this island, the blonde had often found himself being the person who possessed that which was interesting and uncommon, and very much the type of person who could benefit from the right sort of benefits from their exchange, and so it had him a little bit piqued to see how ‘business’ was conducted here on this island, if only from the perspective of a strict professional. Following this young lady meant that he could not only continue his courtship of her, but also find out a little bit better how this corner of the world worked, so it was surely a good idea. “Oh, but I haven’t finished my dinner yet…” The arrival of a plated piece of seared animal flesh put hold, at least temporarily, on the designs of the dazzling-haired man to make a fast getaway with the woman. Scents dancing in the air, as much as he wanted to skip out with this girl, a growl from his stomach also forced Alonso to remembered the reason he had ducked into the bar in the first place; his hunger. While he wasn’t so starving for a meal that he couldn’t stand to ignore one or two, the blonde man was conscious that he was supposed to be on holiday; relaxing, and it also wouldn’t be very natural for him to suddenly skip off without eating to chase after a skirt. Couldn’t he just have this piece of cake, and still eat his steak? “Fuffuffuffuffuffu… If you wanna get off, I can get mine to go?” Snatching the fork from his meal and slamming it into the plate, Mr Quijano skewered the slab of meat on the plate and lifted it up, like a sort of large, blood-dripping lollypop. “There we go…!” It could probably be called ‘innovative’, finding a way to eat a meal on the go that wasn’t wrapped in some sort of bread, but there was also an element of crude savagery about the move of the man with blonde hair; a piece of steel replacing the bone in a drumstick, to those attuned to these sorts of things, it was like he had become a table-mannered caveman. Not that Mr Alonso Quijano gave a great deal of importance to the impressions people received of him, his ‘usual’ style of dress might have told you that the only person he attempted to make happy with his appearance was himself, had he been wearing it and not his ‘disguise’. “So, Fuffuffuffuffu, where are you leading me off to?” Stuffing his non meat-bearing mitt into his pocket and throwing out a handful of notes onto the bar, notes that if he actually had the inclination to count would probably have bought him the whole menu several times over, with his usual grinning chuckle, Alonso awaited the departure of his female companion, tearing a chunk of meat from his makeshift drumstick and chewing it contentedly as he did… [/style]