DrakeXLucci - Tough Talk

[kiarus]

"Hmm... feels good~" The leader of The Creed sat in a chair, red and oak, and enjoyed the calm sailing that the Grand Line was not known for. He relished in it. A gentle smirk gracing his lips as him and the crew that he lead on their single ship sailed to a summer island. The waves were calm and the air was crisp. Drake himself was the ocean's natural contradiction. He wore colors that vied red.

He wore a fruit that bled like the devil.

Drake closed his eyes. Themselves red like the velvet jacket he wore over bare skin. His silver orbs overshadowed like the chrome belt that he wore over crimson pants. Such calm sailing deserved relaxation. The usual black metal gauntlets that adorned his legs and arms were nonexistent at the moment, locked up and tightly secured. The only weaponry that Drake carried at this point in time was his long sword, his favorite Supa - Tenka.

All in all, things were moving according to plan. His ears picked up the shuffling and moving of his crew mates that coexisted on the ship. Sparse talks about adventure and excitement filled the deck while others engaged in custodial work to keep everything up and running.

"Number 1, you have mail."A light female voice called out to him. Drake's eyes slowly opened, the deep cracks of red that surfaced on his eyes met the large olive orbs his intern held.

That Charlotte held.

"Who is it from?" Drake said, his vision slightly foggy after opening them. There was an apparent strain in the very action of focusing on the young woman in front of her and the bright sunlight did nothing but aid in his suffering. He needed to rest, hopefully he'd get some sleep before they reached the island.

Doubt it.

"It's from Mr. Lucci sir."

Drake's facial expression changed. A mood of seriousness filled the air. "And why was I not given this before we left?" Drake couldn't help but ask; he was a bit upset but it wasn't the end of the world. He figured.

"As your secretary it is my job to organize your time and information. I made the executive decision that it would be better to give it to you now." Charlotte told him. There was a long pause and Drake opened his mouth to speak, "And as your friend, I can tell that you were already under a lot of stress." Charlotte gave Drake a concerned look. She could tell that what he was doing wasn't an easy thing and sympathized greatly.

Drake smiled, "Thank you Charlotte." Drake reached out to accept the mail. Charlotte detached it from the clipboard that she always carried and handed it to her superior. "Did you read it?" He asked her. Drake trusted her; more than just about anyone at this time but...

"No, I haven't." She said as she stood up straight and turned around. "I'll give you some time alone. Oh and by the way, Drake. We have exactly ten hours before we arrive at Silvers island. I advise you to take that time to get some sleep.

You're tired."

Drake watched Charlotte walk away and left him, once again, alone on the deck. His fatigued eyes scanned the thin sheet. His eyes drifting over delicate information. It was then, that as he read this... He began to drift into deep thought.

Memory.

__________________//FlashBack\\__________________

It had been but three months since The Creed's conception. Drake sat in his office on the top floor of The Creed's main base. The main building was quite large and so was the room that Drake occupied. It was on the fifth floor and his room occupied the entire floor. In order to get to his office one would have to go from the first floor entrance and take the stairs or elevator to the fifth floor. The building was currently undergoing maintenance so one would have to excuse the many builders that ran amok.

Drake sat comfortably in his little swirling chair at his metal desk which laid in the center of the large room. The room was the same size as the room that the previous meeting was held so it was quite large, roughly five - hundred square feet.

Still, Drake wanted to expand. The building was large but he needed more space and that required more resources and that required more time. So there he sat in heavy thought, his mind wandering and his right, claw-like hand tapping mercilessly on the metal desk. His head rested in his left hand which was coated in a black metal gauntlet similar to that of his right hand. Eyes closed and hopes high, he waited for his special guest. He should be here very soon and when he comes they will both get very acquainted.

They'd both do a bit of bonding in a sense. Hopefully his vital guest wouldn't take offense to the construction.

Only time would tell.

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

-|| Rob Lucci ||-

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Lucci entered the room. Calm and composed as ever. His black top-hat was placed on his head with Hattori the pigeon on his shoulder. Dressed as slick as possible in his black suit and shoes, the former CP9 agent stopped just inside the room. Took a look in Drake's direction before sending a nod his way as if greeting his host and inviting himself in.

Lucci was a man that didn't really need an invitation for he could go where he wanted, when he wanted and nobody would be able to do much about it. Hell, they would struggle to notice he had been there but Lucci wasn't here to make trouble. He was here to make a proposition, an offer Drake couldn't refuse.

"Nice construction you got going on here. Being accustomed to building ships myself, I know good work when I see it. "Lucci compliments before asking. "Mind if I take a seat?" Lucci asked Drake in rhetorical fashion. He didn't need an answer for he could do as he pleased. Lucci usually made full use of being a guest in that way. Lucci didn't even bother waiting to see if Drake would actually answer for Lucci was seated before he even completed the question.

"I'm sure you know who I am. Or have done your research after I made contact with you. I'm not going to try and hide my identity. If I did, I would have come wearing a mask and introduce myself with an alias but I'm not here to deceive you... I'm here to make you an offer which I'm certain you will accept or else I wouldn't even be here." Lucci said, giving Drake some insight before their meeting began for Lucci was pretty sure these questions would pop up sooner or later so might as well get them dealt with sooner rather than later. "Considering I didn't see any signs of marine's, that means you don't plan on informing them of my whereabouts either which is a good start. Now is there anything you wanted to know before I put my offer on the table?" Lucci asked as he took a break from talking.

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[kiarus]

The sound of the door opening...

The sound of delinquent steps...

The sound of idle words, compliments.

All of these sounds warranted no response, warranted no immediate attention.

"Mind if I take a seat?"

Drake's eyes crept open at the sound of disrespect. Bloodshot eyes, red couldn't even begin to describe the color of these tired eyes. Chiseled veins etched their way across his red tinted orbs. Drake's palm opened allowing him to slowly rub the searing pain away. He ceased to batter the table with his silver, claw - like hand. He opened his mouth to speak but realized what he was going to say was inappropriate so he caught himself before he pushed the air through his vocal box to produce a sound. He closed his mouth and exhaled a strong sigh.

Hopefully one that Lucci wouldn't take as disappointment or discontent.

Drake straightened himself in his seat and looked intently at his guest as he continued to speak. His eyes then motioned themselves down to the wooden oak chair that Mr. Lucci found himself sitting in. Drake couldn't even be upset with him.

No.

Yes, his actions were slightly inconsiderate but Drake found it to resemble himself. He often engaged in such sarcastic sarcasm, such ironic irony, such unpleasant pleasantries.

Finding a more appropriate version of his previous attempt at speaking he finally said, "Sure."

Yes, it was a rather late response but it came with Drake's unusual character. He felt the need to answer even if it was just to prove a point to Mr. Lucci. "Well..." Drake let trail off as he took a short pause as if gathering his words even though he knew exactly what he wanted to say, "I'm not too fond of the marines. It's obvious that they are old news." Drake closed his scarlet red eyes and felt the sting as they settled behind his eyelids. "A thing of the past is what I want to make them." Drake let his head fall back into the black, metal head that was propped up against the arm of the chair he sat in.

A little unprofessional but he was sure Mr. Lucci wouldn't mind.

Shouldn't mind.

"Them and pirates and alike... I'm tired of them all."

He paused.

"I have no questions for you... Speak Rob Lucci."

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

-|| Rob Lucci ||-

[/center]

"Them and pirates and alike... I'm tired of them all."

"I have no questions for you... Speak Rob Lucci."

Lucci took in what he had said and could feel the truth behind it. It was also very interesting that his host had no questions to ask other than why he was here. Lucci didn't speak right away but rather paused a moment, testing the patient of a potential recruit in his plan. Lucci needed soldiers but more important than that, he needed a leader amongst his arsenal. One who could lead a group who would take care of any problems that may arise.

"The reason I am here is quite interesting and I'm sure you will have some opinion about it." Lucci told him. "I think I've wasted enough time already, beating around the bush, so I'll just come right out and tell you," Lucci said, but once again he took a small pause.

"I've come to make you a recruit in a project I'm running. I call it a project, others would see it as a 'Revolution'. In simple words, I plan to take apart the World Government. However, I'm not going to openly declare a war against the World Government just yet. Each step needs to be carried out at a time. Alone, there is a limit at what I can do. Even I know there are limitations in my abilities. I can't carry out more than one task at a time in two different places for instance. What I'm trying to say is, ... I need an army. And when you have an army, you need someone to lead them."

Lucci paused after saying this for he was looking at Drake and the message was quite clear. "You already have an army developing here. Yeah, it might not be very big at the moment but it has a lot of potential and they see you as their leader. I want you to become my ally and aid me in this project for I know you too have that vision of a world which has absolute justice. I have been wronged as have many others in this world by the World Government. They don't carry out true justice but a fabrication of what justice should be."

"I don't like pirates and neither am I fond of marine's. However, working with marine's is out of the question considering I'm now a fugitive so I have only men like yourself to work with, although I plan to use pirates as pawns in my efforts to take the World Government down but once that part of the plan is carried out, we will need our army to be strong enough to defeat the pirates as well. Do you think we can work something out here?" Lucci asked the leader of 'The Creed'.


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[kiarus]

OOC: Sorry for the late reply.

He listened.

Tired orbs behind white lids, he opened his ears to listen for key words. Everything else was irrelevant. He knew why Mr. Lucci was here... why else? What other possible business could he have?

"I've come to make you a recruit in a project I'm running."

It stung.

Like lethal literacy, the word 'recruit' burned as it pierced Mr. Lucci's chances of recruiting anyone. The leader of The Creed shifted in his seat. The fine wood that he sat in no longer comforted him. He frowned as if almost uninterested in the meeting anymore.

He sighed.

Drake knew he wasn't on Rob Lucci's level just yet. Though as a natural born leader, he wasn't particularly good at following anybody.

[Rob Lucci 0 - 1]

More words. Nonsense. Unimportant. Irrelevant.

"I want you to become my ally and aid me in this project for I know you too have that vision of a world which has absolute justice"

It soothed.

Like white magic, the word ally reassured Drake and aided Mr. Lucci's chances of gaining a new ally. The leader of The Creed shifted in his seat once again. Tired eyes opening to welcome the sight of a potential partner.

[Rob Lucci 1 - 1]

A quiet smirk played on his lips before turning into replying words, "Sure. I'm positive that in return for my services... You'd be willing to lend yours... That being in the form of Rokushiki." He said as he nodded. Drake didn't require much from Mr. Lucci. They both shared the same interests and visions and where Lucci required Drake to act as a figure head for a man in the shadows, all Drake required was training.

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

-|| Rob Lucci ||-

[/center]

"Sure. I'm positive that in return for my services... You'd be willing to lend yours... That being in the form of Rokushiki."

Lucci smiled to himself. It always came down to learning the Rokushiki. That was his biggest pulling factor. It was funny how people always wanted power more than wanting to use it for something. What the most important thing was how you can make a difference in this unjust world.

At least he was happy to work with Lucci. If he had said no, that would have been a bit of a problem for the Rokushiki Master.

"So you too, want to venture into the world of Rokushiki. You do realise the learning of such techniques isn't a walk in the park and I wouldn't be able to snap my fingers and teach you them at will. These techniques are top secret and part of the Cipher Pol and Marine training programme. It takes years of practice and honing to get to the highest level."

Lucci paused a moment, thinking the proposition at hand and wondering what would be the best way to explain it.

"I can teach you a technique or two if you like but you will have to do a lot of work for it. Even if you can manage to master two of the Rokushiki techniques whilst spending time with me, it will be a big accomplishment. Its not about how many techniques you know but how well you can carry them out. But to learn anything at all, you will have to travel with me for a while... Not right this moment for sometime in the future. At that time, you may have to put the Creed on hold or leave it in somebody else's hands. Do you reckon you can handle something like that?" Lucci asked Drake, explaining the situation. The proposal was still in the balance. Lucci wasn't sure if Drake would be up for something like that.
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[kiarus]

"No."

There was a strong pause. It was short, but the absence of words after the ambiguous statement made way for a powerful uncertainty.

"Keep it."

A slightly weaker pause with significantly more meaning. The pause was longer. It gave Drake time to reposition himself again, this warranting one to think he was uncomfortable. He sat up straight and crossed one metal leg over the other. His right, silver claw like hand rested in an open palm over his knee while his other hand rested on the arm of his chair.

"I just wanted to see what you would say. How adamant you were in having my as a partner and whether you'd give up your ace in the hole to have me.

Or in other words... Determining my worth to you."

He let a silent breathe of air escape him, "Rokushiki is your thing. Your good at that." He said, though found what he said to be offensive in the sense that it seemed like he was undervaluing it. "The best." He said in order to make up for it. "I don't want to go down that route. I don't want to learn. Though, I thank you for the opportunity."

He sighed.

"Mr. Lucci, I am well aware of the fact that at this point in time, you are stronger than me." His eyes closed as if out of exhaustion.

Hardly.

"Many times over. However, I am on a steady rise to power and there will come a time when we will see eye to eye in strength and because of it... I want you to see me not as a recruit, but as another individual with near identical goals.

As a partner. "

Drake opened his eyes in order to see Mr. Lucci's reaction. In order to wholeheartedly take in his response. These next few moments would decide whether or not a powerful union would be formed.

Rob Lucci had heard Drake's answer. Now the ball was in his court.

Drake patiently waited and to himself... In his mind few words traced his thoughts, "Speak Rob Lucci. "

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

A prideful young man, that's who Drake Mitibukai was. Suddenly, this whole task of recruiting him became that much more difficult but for this to work, Drake would have to swallow his pride. It was very important that he did so for it would be required of him should he become an important piece in this game of destruction and chaos.

"Speak Rob Lucci." Drake commanded to which Lucci responded with a smile. He didn't play to others commands, therefore pausing and delaying the reply. This was to test Drake's levels of frustration. Could he remain composed in front of a guest like Lucci. Would he make the mistake of upsetting someone as powerful of the former CP9 Agent.

"A partner you are Mr. Drake. You will be a very important part in this mission but for it to work, something will be kept in the dark until the moment is right. Everything will be revealed to you." Lucci informed the Creed boss. He then paused again for what he was about to say next could end up being crucial to this deal forming but Lucci knew it had to sink in to Drake what he was asking and what was being asked of him. "However, if you want to master the arts of the Rokushiki, you will have to accept to become my apprentice as that is the only way I am willing to teach you. This was the method I was taught by, this is the method that works and this is the only option on this matter."

Lucci brought his hands together on the desk as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wooden surface. He gave Drake a moment or so to think his options through. It was pretty obvious Lucci wasn't looking for a no and by doing so, it would only make life difficult for the leader of the Creed. "So what's it going to be Drake?" Lucci asked him, one final time.

[kiarus]

He sat there.

Thought.

Pros and cons fluttered through his head like locust. His scarlet flavored eyes rested on his guest and then at the desk that they sat at. His mind sifted between mental torpor and critical analysis as he took the time to think about the situation...

"A deal." Drake uncrossed his legs and scooted the chair back. Extending a hand, he offered Mr. Lucci a handshake expecting a returning gesture. "I'm sure you and I will do wonders for this world." He admitted.

He smirked.

He was slightly apathetic toward Mr. Lucci for wasting his time. Drake knew from the moment Rob Lucci walked in what was going to happen and there was a ninety percent chance that he would accept anything propose. Though he had to if not only for dramatic effect.

"Now, is there anything that I can do for you at the moment. Any plans you had in mind or....?" He let the words trail off for Rob Lucci to finish his statement. If Rob lucci didn't have anything in mind, anything planned Drake had a whole list of ideas just waiting to come into fruition.

Nevertheless, in this deal... at the moment, Drake would be getting the short end of the stick.

It was fine.

He knew his part in the grand scheme of things at present time was insignificant. Parts had to played, roles had to be filled. He understood that. Though with time and with help, he'd be the origin of a great change in this world.

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

"A deal." Drake said as he extended a hand. "I'm sure you and I will do wonders for this world." He added waiting for Lucci to return the gesture. Lucci met him in the eyes and shook his hand firmly.

Lucci spoke with assurance as if he could see into the future. "I'm sure you will Mr. Drake, should things go to plan. I would suggest you're ready to commit yourself to the cause from this point forward, thoroughly and completely. Only through complete devotion will we be able to conquer a force as large as the government." Lucci advised Drake without revealing too much information. It wasn't time for him to know yet.

"Now, is there anything that I can do for you at the moment. Any plans you had in mind or....?" Drake asked wondering if he could be of use right away. It was a good gesture. It showed he was committed right from the start. However in the current circumstances, it was not required.

"At the moment. I would not be able to make any better use of your time than what you will be able to do right here at the Creed Head-Quarters." Lucci informed Drake, placing his hand on the desk and leaning forward. "What I would suggest is that you work on your speed and stealth and make it the best they can be. In your current state, it would be difficult to keep up with me and I don't want you slowing me down.

Nothing personal but that's just the way it is. You need to show me you have the will to keep up before I can teach you the 'Rokushiki' technique known as 'Soru'. I think this meeting has run its course unless you have any questions remaining that I may be able to shed some light on. When the time is right I will contact you once again." Lucci said, pushing his seat back, preparing himself to take a leave.