Post by Flame on Nov 12, 2015 14:03:20 GMT -5
The first one through the door was the white-haired kid. If Merle remembered correctly his name was Kenny, giving him a half smile she watched him raise his hand into the air between himself and her. Was he giving her the, oh god what was it called? Merle paused, 'talk to the hand' was that it? Or perhaps a high five? Merle frowned slightly giving the swordsman a bemused look. Finally deciding she raised an eyebrow at him waiting for a moment before simply looking away, moving her chin up slightly, it was her spunk talking. She didn't need to deal with him more than necessary, what exactly did he think their relationship was anyways. With that twist of her head her eyes immediately saw Marlus enter the corridor. Realizing how her movements must have been she paused.
The need to laugh rose within her, her actions were just so amusing. Pressing her lips against each other she fought to muffle the laughter. It was completely inappropriate for the situation especially with what they were about to go to do. Come on now ... control yourself. A voice inside her began to speak, its voice inside her head of course was of little to no help as she found its pleas amusing in their own causing her to force herself to bite down on her lip harder.
"This is like something out of a book. Good work in finding this one, Merle" Marl's voice invaded her thoughts, "Yeahh, thanks." She smiled at him, all the while a new thought popped into her mind. What books was Marlus reading exactly? She at the least had never read any books that, not that she had read many books at all, there were some, she had skimmed through. A few she had actually read but the majority were just books on fish, they were mostly pictures, names, and perhaps a small blurb on said fish. They were very helpful given her current occupation as a hunter/cook. In any case, these 'trap doors' were never in any of the books she had read so she was if only a little curious as to what kind of books Marl was reading. What were the different genres? Merle was amused by her total lack of knowledge on the subject and thus threw away the thought.
Pulling herself into reality the room she was in was empty, looking around she caught the back of heads spiraling away down the stairwell. In a rush, Merle took off after them coming in line into that narrow corridor the stairs were locked into. It was thankfully high enough that it proved inconsequential for her height. As she came into line she slowed her pace so she followed them step by step descending beneath the manor. Anticipating that she would not have time later one of her arms reached over her back and latched onto her only weapon. Pulling it over her back she carefully so as to not bang the weapon against the stone walls brought it before her. Her trusty harpoon had been with her for quite a while, so much so that much of its surface had been dulled over time. Not to matter, the important part, the tip she kept nice and sharp so it could pierce the at times tough scales that formed the armor of the fish she hunted.
It was sudden but soon they came to a halt, at the bottom of the stairwell. Paying attention as she was Merle stopped before she took the next step and perhaps went careening into the white haired kid. A light source from somewhere within the room plastered shadows within view of them. Whose shadows they were was still unknown but, Merle definitely had an idea at this point. Her ideas were only confirmed as voices were heard throughout the room. At the signal Marlus moved forward passing from object to object always trying to keep themselves with something to obscure them from the view of those who were talking. It was then that the mayor spoke up again, immediately he confronted his intruders even though they did not have direct line of sight.
At once he called on Sebastian and Barrows to take up arms, and more lights doused out the shadows fully revealing where they were standing. The mayor atop a wooden stage beside him his two cohorts. At his right Merle saw Sebastian, the butler she had made friends with earlier, in his hand a beautiful sword lay at the ready. To his right, the captain of the guard, held a rifle with an unnecessarily large barrel. And of course in the center was the mayor, in his hand with its vibrant colors was the fruit. So he was telling the truth, he did have a Devil Fruit. She recognized the oddity more by its characteristics than any actual knowledge of it.
In any case they were revealed, Merle tightened her grip upon her weapon, looking to Marl quickly she nodded at him. Her eyes swung around the room looking for anything she might be able to use. The crates everywhere provided little in terms of options for her, but not too far away she did notice a barrel, she could only hope that it had what she was looking for. Making a break for it she dashed out of cover for it, immediately Barrows was at the ready, his rifle already loaded its point swung around towards Merle. Sebastian however seemed to hesitate slightly and that was all Merle needed. Diving towards the barrel a rifle shot barely missed her instead slamming itself into the barrel creating a hole which some liquid began to flow out of. Merle only hoped this risk she was taking would pay off both as a distraction and for her own sake.
Placing the barrel safely between her and the rifle-wielding captain of arms she carefully snuck her free hand around and soaked it in the liquid that was pouring out. Even if it was not water, she hoped that it would be enough. She had not really tried this move on an actual enemy yet. A water bullet, one of the most common moves of a practitioner of fishman karate. Now all she needed was for the captain to have his attention pulled elsewhere. And hopefully, for Sebastian to not advance on her. It was a lot to ask for.