A Fateful Encounter: (darthcryo04, grim)

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Zen's hair rippled in the wind as he struggled to keep control of his makeshift raft.
'I really wish I had a better boat,' he thought.
The sky was bright and cloudless as he sailed through the choppy water, towards the speck in land that had doubled, no tripled in size since he first saw it. He was close. Zen could feel it in his bones. Oh, wait that was just his sore muscles.

He arrived at the bustling port of Tora-o? Troa? Toroa. The sign which he had read the name off was mollusc eaten and mossy, making it unclear, but Zen had a good grasp on West Blue's geography, so once he recognised the name he knew that was it. He made his gloved hand into a fist, and relaxed it. Then he walked up into the main body of the city, his shoes clanking on the cobblestones. He stumbled around, turning one way then another, attempting to find a source of information. Then he found it. The local tavern. This time he really would need his glove. He could already feel it growling, hungering for blood. He strode in calmly.
'Oi, looks like we got fresh meat!' one of the rowdy bunch near the bar yelled as he looked into the doorway.
'That ain't fresh meat, Dave. That's just a little kid.' another replied, who looked a little bit more civil and less drunk.
'This early in the morning, and you're already drunk?  asked Zenith coolly. I'm not here for a drink. I'm here for information. Maps of Toroa.'
'Down the road, turn left after you leave the tavern. I'm Higgins in case you wanted to know, but my friends call me Higgs. the man who had spoken earlier said. 'If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask.'

[grim]

Salty waves brushed against the firm wood of a small boat, a heavy progression through the pastoral sea. A small boy, feet on the hull of the boat while his body laid slanted inside, his arms hanging from the sides. An audible snore began to ring from the boys mouth, head tilting back as a small slew of drool ran from the cuts of his mouth. The tempo of the waves drawing him to the island grew tranquil as he came upon the stone crafted dock. A shifting waves heaving motion sending him towards it in an instant, bashing the side of the dock with a concussive knock. The tremble dancing through the wood and shaking the boy. With a snap he awakened with a strong, short, in-take a wind, making a slight snort sound. Dulling scanning the area, sleep still dreading his eyes. Motioning his hand up towards the back of his head, digging his fingers into the skin and hair and small flakes of dirt of skin began to flake off from back and forth motion he sustained. A signature sound of finger nails and skin filled the area as he stood up from his boat. Tipping of the edge of the boat with an assortment of scratching, yawns, and stretches. A bright demeanor consuming his face as he began to eye the islands initial surrounding's, being that of a town. Wasting no moment, he sprinted down the walk way. His face etched into an eccentric smile.


"Adventure!"

The boy shouted as he raised his arms into the air, soon interrupted by another force. Bumping solidly into another person as he ran, falling back onto his backside. Physical damage as weak as this didn't really effect Eden, popping back to his feet in an instant as he'd directed his attention to the person he'd run into (darth).


"S-sorry..."

He said bowing lightly, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward fashion

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

The bustling city seemed to have quieted down a bit more, and the paved walkways of Toroa seemed less rough. The street was quiet, although it was the middle of the day. The sun, blocked by clouds, shone down on the buildings, which shadowed the tavern. The door swung open from the inside, and a short teen stood on the edge between the inside of the tavern, and the busy city. He walked out of the bar with a smile, and as he did he was roughly shoved by a young jittery man who shouted out with no regard for his surroundings
"Adventure!"
"Watch where you're going." he said coolly. Then he examined his arms. "Whoa! What are you made of!" Zen's arms were covered in scratches like he'd just tumbled through the undergrowth of a forest. He scratched his head lightly, then quickly put it down again. His glove roared loudly. 'Yeah, sorry, probably not a good idea.' Zen rubbed his fingers together absentmindedly, examining the dark haired teen. I need allies, and this guy looks friendly enough. Maybe he's got more experience at travelling the seas? he thought. Well, what's the worst that could happen?  He strode towards the teen and offered his hand.

[grim]

With a mouth slightly ajar, he noticed the extended hand. What a bizarre gesture for someone who had just been slammed into, especially with the physical properties Eden had. His eyebrow shot up in a questioning manner. "You aren't from around here are you?" He said extending his hand anxiously, not sure if the man would trick him or not. Gripping the hand tightly, shifting it up and down before retracting it back to his body. "Well, See'ya later stranger, I'm ganna go run in the forest!" Thrusting both hands into the air, unable to contain the excitement of adventuring into a stationary stance. In a sudden burst of unsure thought, his hand shot towards his own chin, grasping it between his finger and thumb. "I actually might need some stuff...but i have no money."

Slouching down in a defeated manner, as he announced his bankruptcy. He began to shrug away in some distant direction. Shuffling with the demeanor of a zombie. Though his previous statement stood his ghoulish motion still pointed towards the direction of the forest. "Hey, wanna come on an adventure with me!" He said in an excited manner. It would be the first time he had an adventure buddy in a long time, at least since the incident.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Zen watched as the boy went from state to state of indecision. It was kinda like watching a side show clown. Then the guy went and asked for some money. He wasn't sure if the teen was crazy or not. Eh, whatever. As long as he doesn't go on a crazy killing spree and he's not some kind of master criminal, I'm down with teaming.  Zen thought. He contemplated the thought for a while longer, and then he was shocked out of his thoughts by a rushing stampede of port workers. They charged through Zen and the boy, sweeping them up back towards the port. As he was pushed into the crowd, he saw glimpses of the teen. Suddenly, the rampage stopped, and it seemed for a second it was all for nothing. Then a figure appeared. A pirate, it seemed. He was holding a pistol in one hand, and a bottle of rum in the other. On his belt was a humongous saw, and he had a necklace of teeth around his neck. 
'Scared already? But we haven't even gotten started!'  He had a kind of psychotic glee and a real dangerous glint in his eye. Then he fired his pistol and a worker to the right of Zen dropped. The crowd dispersed around the body. Without knowing what he was doing. Zen had started to walk towards the stocky figure.
'Get away from them. Now,'
'Make me. Wahaahahahahahah!'
Zen drew a dagger and threw down his gauntlet. It instantly transformed into a sleek Sabertooth. Then he charged.

[grim]

Eden's banter had quickly been interrupted by a crowd of workers rushing towards him in a frenzy, unable to detect the cause of the panic at first glance assumed it was some type of celebration. Mimicking the fashion they had there hands raised, omitting the cheerful smile and audible laughed that hummed from his throat. "Heh, Yah! He bounced joyfully in the crowd. Just before breaking into dance a violent hammering erupted in the space. Eyes forced open, Eden quickly turned to the noise. There he saw a man fall, a bullet wound on his body, and obviously what was a pirate. Eden's eyes filled with with anger in an instant, his fist gripped tightly.


Without the slightly gesture he burst into action, with his small high and enhanced agility, he began to grab on the bodies of random people swinging from there limbs and torso with the greatest of ease. His mannerisms that of a monkeys as he swung from person to person. With his navigation quickly through the crowd he'd made it to Zen, grabbing on his shoulders and leaping over his head. Tilting his head down to make eye contact with Zen for a brief moment as he soared by, shifting a smile his way before his focus was by on the pirate.

Cocking his right arm backwards as a brownish growth began to cover it. It had been covered in a large amount of wood as he soared in a semi-flight towards the figure. Sending a jarring right straight for the chest of the man, calling out "Shotgun!" as the fist was thrown.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

As Zen watched his split second partner charge into battle with leafy protuberances poking out of his now bark like arm, he himself ran down, his Sabertooth following him into the heat of battle. It looked like the pirate was weakened by the teen's blow, but didn't seem fazed by the two boys rushing him wildly. The Sabertooth darted from side to side in an attempt to distract the pirate as Zen swept his dagger to and fro, connecting with the man's armour. It didn't seem like there were many exploitable chinks. Unless... he thought to himself I get a vial smash off into his armour. No matter the toughness, he can't withstand a gas bomb.  His Sabertooth leapt onto his arm, changing in a moment from robust beast to unassuming glove. Zen grasped the vial and brought it down hard on the pirate's armour. He reacted instantly, coughing and rubbing his eyes. Zen nodded to the other boy. Now's your chance...he thought. Then the glove turned furry and grew up his arm, claws snaking out of the knuckles like Wolverine. 
'Ken Ha no Flurry!'  he yelled in a frenzy. The strength of his blows vastly enhanced by the lethal weapon, he struck sparks off the pirate's armour, grazing his face and causing him to stumble. The pirate drew the saw and said dangerously, 'That's enough playing around. You guys caught me by surprise. Be glad you even managed that. ' The saw glinted menacingly in the bracing sea breeze coming out from the water. 'Time to die, kids!'

[grim]

  "Mmm" He murmured to the boy with a rush towards the pirate. Large masses of full arm shaped wood lugged, holding them in the air plane position. His steps pressing with more force from the sheer size and weight of the bark, his movements had been slowed to a degree. The wood-cutter pirate posed a massive threat to Eden, he acknowledged this but was not fearful. The distance between the two was fleeting. The pirate braced his saw in a upwards motion, still and arranged for the coming of Eden. A wild smile plastered his face as the saw cleaved the air on it's way directly towards the head of Eden. In an instant, the wood that wrapped his arms was shed. The saw sliding passed his temple, even grazing a bit of saw dust off of him.

  His palm forced outwards and onto the hip of the man. Gripping his side and swinging around his body. With this he landed upon his back, his left hand on the man's lower torso, the other arm wrapped around the top of his head with his hand locked directly under his jaw. His feet placed on his lower back and shoulder. Tucking forward with enough power to raise them both completely off the ground, veering forward. With a sudden shift in power Eden flipped the man fixed on his feet onto his head. A powerful clacking sound with the skull and the stone ground rung out. Eden looking to Zen, giving him the look to attack now. Eden, now atop the man, was holding him down for Zen's next attack.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

As the boy ran towards the pirate, Zen realised in horror he had probably sent him to his doom. He was wood, damnit! Wood plus saw equals little pieces of wood! But despite his arm literally being a tree, his agility was no joke. He weaved his way around the pirate and then took him down with a swift blow to the head. It didn't look like it would be that way for long though. Zen had to take the initiative. Okay, I gotta disable this guy.  he thought. I should probably go for the legs, incapacitate him. He used his dagger to cut right below his thighs, into a pressure point deep within the joint between the kneecap and the other parts of the leg. The wind was howling faster and faster, swirling up leaves and discarded bits of paper everywhere. What had began as a nice afternoon was turning into a not so nice one.
'Doesnt look like he'll be getting up for a long time.' Zen said. 'By the way, I'm Zenith. Zenith Rauner. But friends call me Zen. Just then, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. The docks. I could probably buy a ship there... he thought. 'Well, how about that adventure?'

[grim]

Cringing slightly before the work Zen has did to the man's leg, such a laceration would leave anyone uncomfortable at the sight. Shifting his attention to his new friend, letting a smile over-throw his shocked state. I'm Eden Cainhurst, but you can call me anything you'd like" He said shrugging his shoulders accompanied with the upwards hand gesture. Looking down at the incapacitated man, lifting his hand a pointing a finger. I'm a pirate, but I'm not like him. I like to just adventure!" He said with a wide smile, throwing his hands up to his sides and leaning onto one foot. A small chuckle escaped from behind his teeth. I'd like for you to join my crew, Zen He said with a hearty smile upon his face.

The towns people began to return from the sheltered hiding places, some coming and standing over the Wood-Cutter pirate. Some moving towards both Eden and Zen. And even some just returning to there day, as if nothing happened. Come to think of it, Eden hadn't noticed how classy everyone had looked. It seemed like everyone here was one of those rich snooty people with a bunch of ships, and that go to concerts and look at art. This wasn't Eden's kind of place so he'd began to hurry his pace. Well, what do you say?" He said looking towards Zen, a slight bit of panic in his eyes. His body desperately needed to start an adventure, less he explode.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

((Sorry for the late post, had some stuff on Friday night))

Zen noticed Eden's uncomfortableness with the town. He realised this was one of the rich towns. No chance of getting a ship with the amount of cash in his pocket. 'You have a ship right?'  Zen said warily, scratching his head absentmindedly. 'I mean, if you don't, we could always steal one, cause the prices here are outrageous. On a side note, is there anyone else in your crew? Zen looked around. Eden seemed to be alone. No matter, we'll just have to recruit some more to our crew. he thought. A crowd was beginning to form around the pirate's unconscious body, and some of them looked pretty unsavoury. More of the pirate's nakama? Whatever it was, the makeshift band would have to get out of here before they figured out who had put the axe cutter pirate out of action. Eden? We've got to get out of here, and fast! See those guys over there? They're the pirate's crew. They'll all be after us if we don't get sailing! Zen made a beeline for the docks, hoping Eden would follow. Down by the port was a variety of boats. They didn't have time to be picky. The guards were lurking around. Whatever boat they stole, it would have to be fast enough to get away. The pirates had begun spreading from the body, and were questioning all those in sight. How are we gonna get out of this...

[grim]

With what had seemed to be his new Nakama, Eden smiled as the boys hotfooted efforts to escape had began. Striding towards the dock had definatly caught the attention of the Wood-Cutter pirates. Eden felt that the pirates chasing them were at a fight-able amount, but he was a pirate now. Rather using his intellect than pure brawn's to over-come this ordeal. Forming the theory that the man they defeated could very well not be the captain, and that the others were more or less equal to his strength. Shifting his vision back to his front, the lot of ships resting at docks ensured a warm feeling in his chest. The distance between them and the ships depleted rather quickly, and to make a decision at such a pressured time, Eden could do with very little stress due to his sharp thinking skills of adventuring. Eyeing a ship fit for a situation such as this one, it seemed small enough for two men to easily handle, but big enough for it to actually last them a while, at least before they go to the grand line.

Zen had been in the lead towards the docks, Eden stretched his left hand out. A limb of bark consumed his biological arm while the hand grasped the boys waste. Throwing Zen diagonal from himself his an upwards swinging motion. With this Zen soared through the air lowly onto a medium sized ship that would possibly take to long for him to get onto regularly. Eden jumping upwards, using the en-longed wooden limb to grip the side of the boat before lifting himself up. Seeing two seemingly noble men standing on the ship, his right arm now mimicked the left as he grasped both men by the wasted, setting them off the boat.

"We'll come back one day and make up for taking your ship, I promise with my life we will!"

He screamed out as he began to ready the boat for departure. As the sails flung down and the boat began to mossy off the land, two woodcutter pirates jumped up the ship, and climbed the sides to the hull, pulling themselves up and standing on the very edge. Eden made quick work of one of them, sending a jarring left punch and knocking him into the water.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

The mad dash into the docks had ended with being catapulted towards a biggish ship, more big then he was used to. At least there'll be more space...  Zen gave himself a moment to contemplate before he realised the magnitude of the task at hand. He rushed towards the sails and quickly hoisted them. There was no time to spare. How was Eden going to get on the boat? If he had to catapult me, then he must be able to spring up. This thought was interrupted by the clunking of Eden onto the boat. He threw a punch at an intruder that had made it on, and it connected with a sickening crack, sending the man flying into the water. Another clambered up, leering hungrily at Zen. Come at me... he thought before activating his glove's devil fruit. Throwing it off, the black leather morphed into fur, and nasty long teeth grew from its slowly enlargening snout. Claws emerged, sharp and lusting for blood. The beast roared, a terrific sound that resonated through the boat, then charged, it's claws and teeth sinking in and lacerating the other man. Then it grabbed his neck like a scruff, and threw him off the boat.

Zen grabbed the anchor and quickly sliced it with a serrated dagger. The vessel rocked, drifting away with the wind. 'Yahoo!' Zen yelled as the boat floated through the waves.

[grim]

Arms crossed, gazing at the departed dock. A snarky grin painted his face while the winds vigorously pushed his clothes and what little hair he had. Doe eyed and still full of energy, Eden spun into the air with a flicking motion. Landing onto his feet with a bounce and a grunt. His rounded eyes now pointed towards Zen as a smile wilder than ever had lurk onto his face. "You're my first Nakama, hehehe!" He said bubbling with bliss. Moving in the same excited manner as a kid would have moved. "Well I don't know how to navigate, so next course, anywhere we see land!" He said thrusting a finger forth. At that moment his stomach began to howl boorishly. Placing a single hand on his stomach.

His whole demeanor changed. "Let's go eat..." He said with a firm opposition, it'd actually been quite comical how his priories were set. Walk towards the small hatch before flinging it open and jumping down.

Below there was a small kitchen style area along with just a couple of small bedrooms, a bathroom, basic survival needs. It didn't seem in any kind of way like a ship fit for pirates, more like a rich guys ship. Something that would usually bother Eden but the roaring tides of his stomach forced him to only see one thing, the fridge. Leaping inside, he mulled out a whole tankard of a light yellow liquid and a hand full of what seemed to bread. Finishing the liquid at an amazing rate while working on the bread now in generous bites as he walk along exploring the ship.