mission24; Cross town Mafia

[The Shimmering Banana]

*3 weeks ago*

*Ding da ding*
The bell above the door rang as it rocked back and forth being pushed by the opening door. Three well dressed men in all black suits with red pin striped ties entering the mom and pop bar. “Welcome!” says the new young waitress as they walk towards the counter walking right past her. Only one man bothering to take a second look at her, a first for such a voluptuous girl at a bar. The leader of the bunch tossing his arms on the counter top propping himself up as he waved over the elderly owner. The old man trembling as he walked over to the bunch holding a manila envelope. “Hi again gentlemen” says the oosa as he places the envelope on the counter sliding it over to the man. “It's all there” continues the old man as the man looks in the envelope. “Good” replies the well dressed man “we wouldn't want any accidents around here”. The man pushes off from the bar top and snaps his fingers “let's go guys” he orders his men.

*1 week later*

*Ding da ding*
A sound that Shimmer had become accustomed to as this was her second week working at the old bar. The creaky wood floors were less annoying and more like a floor piano to the girl as she glided across the crowded walkway. It was friday and their usual after dinner rush was taking place, load of businessmen stopping in for a nite cap. The young woman twirled as she squeezed between two men using her lower set of arms to drop off their icy cold brews. Continuing her spin as she ten dropped off a whiskey and cola to another guest. Needles to say she was in a good mood. Good enough that she didn't even notice the pack of men when they walked passed her. It was the same men from last week their leader once again posting up at the bar as the old owner quickly made his way towards him with another manila envelope. The man looking through it as he did the previous week. Shimmer finally noticing the group for who they were as the man turned to exit. Those are the same jerk offs from last week she thought her photographic memory serving her well. At this point it was pretty obvious what was going on between this group and the owners. But she was new here and it wasn't her place to get involved in their dealings.

*The next week*

Things were becoming second nature to Shimmer a good sign that she should probably leave here soon. Maybe another week to gather more beri then she'll hit the road so to speak. Besides things around here were dying down, their usual busy rush coming to a halt this week. Today especially off all days it being friday. Wait what time is it thinks the beautiful fish woman as she checks the circular wall clock. Hmm 5:58 they should be here any second she thinks as she swept underneath an empty booth. And just like that there it was.
*Ding da ding*

Just like clock work every friday around 6 o'clock the bunch of mobsters came to the old bar seeking payment. The bunch .walk into the almost empty bar and walked over to the owner. The old man trembling as he rushed over to hand his weekly payment over. “Um..umm.. it's a little short this week” he states as the thug skimmed the beri in the envelope. “It was a bad week” proclaimed the old bar keep as the mobster calmly placed the money in his coat pocket. “It's ok..” he says with a cheerful grin on his face. “I'm a reasonable guy, it was slow I can understand that. But I’m sure next week will be better so next week you'll have double right?” he says picking bits of dust or perhaps lint of the old man's shirt. “Cause if not I’ll leave so sleeping so deep with the fishes that not even you pretty little waitress could save you.” threatened the thug.

With a large gulp and a head nod the old man understood the situation. Somehow he needed to come up with double the weekly payment or he’d be dead. Hopefully for his sake this next week would be a profitable one.

[Deleted]

It was four weeks since the Fortune Pirates had been separated. Started from when the martial artist was taking his midnight walks on the deck, when a thunder bolt had struck, causing him to go overboard with a piece of large wood to let himself rest on. Two weeks, until he landed on a island. However, the only person to find him was a young boy. His name was Christopher. Christopher Krickle. An average 10 year old, with a blue vest and long pants. A freckled boy, he was. The most noticeable thing was his pink hair. 'Runs in the family.' A mundane day for the child, just taking his daily walks when the kid found a washed up Dave.



Obviously, you would take him into your house and hide him in his room! Due to the fact that Chris's parent's was usually very busy with things, so it was easy to drag a very heavy martial artist to his room. In Krickle's bedroom was a pile of books, clothing neatly arranged and a bed. Oh, and some toys to keep him occupied. All in a very detailed wallpaper about dinosaurs. After spending almost 10 minutes carrying him unto the bed, the boy asked his mother if she could make him a sandwich. Of course, nothing was suspicious, and so he brought a sandwich for the stranger.



After waking up,
they both shared a moment of awkwardness. The 10 year old had his eyes shrunk, in fear of what this stranger could do. However, all that the chef did was take the sandwich and inspect it very quickly, before eating it in the same speed. The eating habit was new to the freckled man, thinking that Dave must be a monster. Now, Dave was hungry. So hungry was that when Chris caught the stare of desire. The lingering hands that grabbed his shoulders, caused him to almost shriek. But thanks to Dave closing his mouth, the only one word that flew from a tired eighteen year old was:

"Food. Please."

The pink haired boy quickly nodded and leaded him outside. The following week had them connect as friends, from Dave kicking him in the face every time he got woken up to giving a slight poke at the freckled kid's head. By the end of week, the parents had already noticed. But there was no problem, thank goodness. They was all friends, and their friendship even grew when the Grandest Chef introduced his own cooking however, there was one place that didn't feel right. The feeling of losing your crew. The two days, Saturday and Sunday was spent training instead of communicating, cause of course that is what he needed.

Walking through the door at 5:30pm, he ordered some beer. Never drinking beer before, he decided to make a start. The young waitress looked.. weird. As if she wasn't even human. Wondering if she was a potential threat, the young drinker was so focused on her that the time flew by, and when it was time to actually act against a mob of men, he didn't.

He was just too focused.

[The Shimmering Banana]

*10:42 P.M. Thursday Night*

“What are we going to do my love?” says a scared old woman to her husband as they sat huddled over a single light candle for light. The flickering candle providing just enough light for the pair to look at each other and the notes in front of them without disturbing their guest. In the room next to theirs was there current server a young fish woman by the name of Shimmer Isngol. Unknown to them the young woman was already awake at first she was packing her things but the light whispers of the old couple intrigued the girl causing her to eavesdrop. With her ear firmly pressed against a short glass that was pressed against the wall the girl continued to listen in on their conversation. “No matter how you look at it we didn't make enough to pay those men off this week.” continued the old woman flipping through all of their receipts. Her eyes watered at the thought of what those thugs might do to her beloved. Her husband unable to do nothing to comfort his wife but wrap his old wrinkled arms around her holding tightly. “It'll be alright mama. We'll figure something out we always do.” he says his arm soaked from the tears of his whimpering wife.

On the other side Shimmers own arms were now moist from falling tears hearing the cries of an old wife. “I know it's none of my business but I have to do something.” she says to herself as she lights her candle on the desk in the corner of the room. The girl then places her sack atop the wooden desk and gets to work. Shimmer brings out various different containers and an old newspaper. Each container well… containing either powders or liquids used for her explosive devices. And the newspaper was for something much more simple but used in a devious way. You see casing for bombs became expensive over time and sometimes you didn't need a large explosion. A light explosive mixture did not usually blow through the store bought metallic casings. So after much trial and error Shimmer came up with the perfect cheap and effective solution. Paper mache! It was easy to make and could be shaped in anyform and best off the casing could be made as thin or thick as she needed. Using the glass she used to eavesdrop, she makes the mold for the arsenal she was about to create.

*5:55 A.M.*

The floor to the old establishment creaked as the old woman rose from her bed as she did every morning at this time. The floors cry notifying the young girl the her generous employers were awake and it was time to get this plan in motion. “Shimmer! Time to get up.” calls an elderly voice through the walls as Shimmer places a dark purple hair tie around her tangled locks. “Be out in a second” she replies gazing in the mirror a young Ursula staring back.

[Deleted]

"Yo." The teen said while entering Chris's room. The parents had grown accustomed to David, even making a part of the freckled boy's home his. The latter didn't enjoy the fact, yet still remained friends with the new older person. A small discussion then transformed into a huge argument about what rocket car was the best. Sure, Dave was still immature yet he missed those simple times. When the world wasn't so complicated, and you could just play about, be as funny as you want and have no care in the world.


The heated argument went to kicking and punching.. well, the not so experienced quote unquote, 'pirate' taking the hits from a child eight years younger. After which, the older of the two recalled encountering what seemed to be like an alien. A fish-alien. Only that there was some parts of it's body that seemed to be contained with sacks. Sacks of water, to live on land? So, obviously curious Dave started to question Frickle-Boy.


"Can fish walk on land?" The question shook young Christopher, as the question was... *ahem* questionable about the older one's IQ.
However, the one that had requested the knowledge about a certain fish.. 'lady' that he encountered, was dead serious because of the fact that being born in a place that meeting the rarest of creature was almost 1/10. Nevertheless, the memory of seeing such a fishy person was cut out from his mind.

"Uh.. no.." Taking a quick think about what the teenager just said, Krickle's memory went down it's lane, to when fish-men was just arriving at the island. They had ugly features, like gills and fins and things that would be with a fi- oh. So that's what Dave meant. He actually thought that the colored man was a idiot. Making a phew, the story of fish men then came forth out of the pink haired boy's mouth. 

"Well, there are fishes that are really combined with humans." 

"Wait, what? How?"

"I don't know, ask my mom!" 

"Well, I could but aren't you telling me about them!?"

"YEAH BUT I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEM EITHER!"

"But you do know at least SOME information about them?"

"Yeah, so?!"

"THEN TELL ME, IDIOT!" David ended the argument with a knock on the boy's head.

An angry chef sat down and listened as information poured into his brain. It felt as if these fishmen was a race, that is supposedly ten times stronger then the average human. Well then, off to training. Getting up, all he had to say was:

"I'm off."

"You want to beat up fishmen easily, don't you?" If he wanted to become the Melee Conqueror, no matter how many times a race is stronger than a human, he would prove it wrong.

"How is it that you know me too well..." A smile was planted on his face. The next following three hours was spent punching walls, making a big enough of a hole to go through with at least 25% of his strength. Yet, there was one thing that was wrong with the training. His agility had became much more better, from dodging flower pots and rocks due to the fact that the neighbors really don't like a hole in their wall.

Yet, it was all for a good purpose. It had to be. A man's dream was-

"OW! KNOW WHAT YOUR THROWING, DUMBASS!"

(apologies for swearin or somethin)

[The Shimmering Banana]

The morning sun was well over head as the young woman turned the handle to the tin window shutters of the bar windows. A little natural light always made things seem a bit more cheery, something that was definitely need at this point. With the men due here by sundown and the old coupe barely having enough to stay afloat today was surely there reckoning day. That was unless someone or one’s were to intervene. A menacing smile stretching from ear to ear of the young womans face as she whipped the dust off the shutters. On the other side of the bar the old woman did the same wiping each window shutter until they both met in the center if the bar near the front entrance. Looking at her old fragile body reminded her of their first encounter. The day she came to this island and the fact that after all her searching this old woman was the only one that would hire a young fish woman from out of nowhere.

The way she instantly offered to allow Shimmer to stay in their extra room while she worked for them. She was truly a good kind hearted woman. That's why if Shimmer could she would stop these thugs and put an end to this thievery. “what is it girl?” questioned the old woman as Shimmer was zoning out remembering the woman's kindness. With a quick shake of her head the girl snapped back to reality. “huh! Oh nothing” she replies continuing her opening duties. And if she couldn't help stop them she would damn well die trying.

The rest of the day went as planned, the usual business from locals and visitors alike. Keeping the old couple busey enough to not even notice their new employee planting her traps. In various locations of the bar the young woman would place her bombs, resembling cups, awaiting for their detonation. Lacking a fuse these were made of a different chemical make up one that did not create your typical explosion more like a large initial bang followed by tons of smoke(tannerite). The fuse being a high intensity impact caused by her slingshot pulled back at full force. If one of the men was caught directly next to the explosive it was sure to hurt him in the very least the large plume of smoke would cause the man to choke in such a closed area. The girl continued her routine as usual making sure to not to arouse suspicion. By mid day Shimmer’s trap was completely set up it was the only plan she had but it had to work.

When the time came, 6:00 P.M., as it did every friday the men would enter the bar the young woman welcoming them as she did every other time. She will have already locked the old man and woman up stairs securing their safety away from this battle. Shell have the men sit in a booth as they await the couple with their payment. From their it will be left up to her best judgment what happens next.

[Deleted]

The next day, Dave had awakened early. A sudden itch to punch something was in him. From the fact that yesterdays training session had left him a victim from raining flower pots and other objects. A shudder came from the boy, as he felt that there was no mercy that day. Pink-haired kid had saved him, or what was left of him. Therefore, the training was cut short. However, it was early and the sunshine almost blinded his own eyes. The sun was really great, a reminder of life. Yet why did he have to think about the sun!? Wearing his gloves and then his purple vest, always sleeping in his short purple shorts. He always liked purple for a reason. The reason however.. was classified.

Alright. Time to do this. Striking punches on a tree, chips of wood started to come off. It felt like ages until he managed to punch a decent hole into a tree. Various trees looked pale, as their wood was violently punched off. Nearby people was concerned, and insulting words was faced towards the black male. But he didn't mind. When the teenage male was satisfied, he stopped abusing the poor trees and went back to Christopher's home. The parents was quite suspicious of Dave when they found that his hands was dripping blood. His own. Punching trees didn't really leave off you without pain. So his hands was bandaged and was told not to use them.

That didn't stop him from 'improving' his own feet. Putting himself until he could breath no more, the ex-first mate had ran miles, attempted to climb trees without using the aid of his own hands which had went terribly. Needless to say, it was hard to do so. Yet his record for running up the tree was at least four seconds. That was better from his last record which was.. zero. All the martial artist could do was run, run and run. It wasn't until he almost collapsed that Dave had figured out that he needed a break from training. So. Where was he now? There was still buildings, yet confusion roamed Dave's mind as he wasn't very familiar with his surroundings. Yet, a group of men started walking. There wasn't anything that stood out, except from the fact that they looked like THUGS. Yet Dave recognized those thugs. They was the ones from the bar, right? So they must be going to the bar!

Following them, he found his way into the bar. The fish-lady was there as well, yet something felt a bit off about her. The lady's behavior towards the regular group of thugs was indeed questionable. It felt weird. But why would he care? One of the 'muscular' men was tapping there fingers on the wooden table, as if they was waiting for something. Wait.. certain parts of his memory came to mind. Wait, wait of course! They must be waiting for some type of payment! Let's just see why exactly they are though. Unwrapping his own bandages, the urge to kick some ass was coming back. And Dave embraced it, and welcomed it. The question was.. when?