Night Patrol! A Small Navigational Error!

[Kami-Gaz]

Today was a good day, Rakka was assigned his first patrol with some other members of the squad. These two members being ones he had not spent any time with outside of basic routines, ceremonies and any PT they had done. It was going to be a good night, get to know some of his squad mates Daniel and Nora.

The young marine was the first to arrive at the meeting point by the barracks, he was in his already oil stained jacket that Reynard had acquired for him on Ensign Lovelace’s order. It was good to feel some semblance of warmth whilst performing his daily duties. If Rakka had the sense to ask more than just his mother what the climate was going to be on his first assignment he may have more than just this standard issue jacket.

The next to arrive were two of the more standard dressed recruits, Jonah Novajo and Eric Crendor. These two were older than Rakka, more experienced and well liked amongst most of the regular rank and fire of the overall division. They were just chattering away before they noticed the Stetson wearing. The pair moved forward to their new target, finally getting the new blood alone.

“Hey Rak, settling in well?” Jonah greeted, moving his thick red and white scarf away from his face to do so.

“I heard Ensign Lovelace beat you up for initiation, rough shit man.” Eric added, shifting his own cap mid-sentence to look a little cooler towards the younger Marine.

“Hey Jonah, Eric. I think so… ” The Stetson toting man started, looking up from the sleeves of his jacket, trying to rub some of the oil stains away. “And she did but me and Reynard got her back!” He replied, bringing a triumphant grin to his face. The memories of the great spar still fresh as were some of the bruises that were hidden under his clothes.

“I still had to clean up the dojo afterwards though… I don’t exactly have a clean fighting style.” Rakka tacked on, scratching the back of his head, stifling an awkward chuckle at his abilities. They were something that most people would kill to have, and others would kill just to keep away from them. Rakka saw them as his own blessing, an ability for him to mold into something that can make him an admiral of the World Governments Navy.

“I heard.” Jonah replied, looking his junior up and down trying to weigh up his ability from appearance alone. “Hopefully we don’t need you to use it tonight.” The man tacked on.

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 2 // NIGHT PATROL

After the meeting with the other members of the 22nd, she was informed that the HQ had assigned them some more members and that she, in particular, was to join them in their first patrol. A job like any other, Nora thought; as long as the new recruits didn't misbehave, it was bound to be an easy one too.

She looked at herself in the mirror in her room, checking out the status of her makeup. Dark red, a little too bland for her tastes; after all, if it was going to be a night patrol, then she needed something a little more bright. Gently brushing her index finger over her eyelid and cheeks, she covered the skin in some ice blue colour, contrasted with some sunset red to highlight it. She passed her fingers through her mohawk, turning the ends from red to a gradient of ice blue and white.
Smiling with satisfaction, her reflection smiling back at her, she drew a small heart by the side of the mirror. She always took pride in her makeup skills.

Nora arrived on time; not a minute earlier and not a minute later. She had learned her lesson: arriving late for her work was not worth the attention.
When she got there, she didn't recognize even one of the people present. Weird, she thought; squinting at the group of three, adjusting her hair, she asked: "I'm Nora Leblanc, from the 22nd. Anyone of you here for the patrol, hm?"

-- NAME // Nora Leblanc

-- CLASS // E

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Mr. Moon]

Daniel #1 

After that short introduction they had with Ensign Lovelance, Daniel returned back to his regular duties, or at least that was what he wanted to do before he was assigned to a night patrol with some fellow 22nd members. Usually this wouldn´t bother him, as patrols like that were bread and butter of his work, but this time he felt a bit uneasy about his orders as h remembered how many Devil Fruit users their division had.

“But hey, maybe it will be someone from the new guys.”

Daniel tried to comfort himself as he was sharpening his two long knives so they would be prepared for any possible obstacles. It wasn´t so unlike, after all, few hours after their first briefing he learned that several other people joined them so maybe...just maybe it will be someone from the new guys? After all, what are the chances that they will be ability users too?

When the appropriate time came, Daniel headed to their meeting place, arriving exactly on time. As he opened the doors he felt a hint of relief when he didn´t recognized the three marines waiting there. Than, he noticed that Nora arrived at the exact same time, just from different path. 
“Well, remember what you told yourself...it´s just weapon like any other. It can be used for good.”

Recruit Ortiz muttered for himself as he was walking to their group, wearing winter model of standard marine uniform, together with a pair of long knives that were replacing usually issued rifle and cutlass.

“Evening”
He greeted the group using very formal, almost detached voice.

“My name is Daniel Ortiz, 22nd division. I am supposed to join you during this mission. Who was entrusted with command?”

[Kami-Gaz]

As both Nora and Daniel arrived from different angles at the same time Rakka was done scratching the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle and had begun to outstretch his hand to the two that had arrived so they could shake. It was how he was taught to greet people so it was how he was going to handle this situation. The pair certainly looked like marines, they certainly acted like marines, being all formal like.

“I’m Rakka Hoshiko, Newest recruit and Yuu Yuu No Mi user… I’m an oil man.” He noted, his introduction being short and sweet. It was a common courtesy to let your allies know of any troublesome abilities that may help or hinder them in the future. His eyes shot between the four people who were stood around… Rakka had no idea who was in charge, he received his orders, read the first line and booked it straight here.

Jonah raised his hand and smiled. “That would be me. Jonah Novajo. Marksman, and senior of the group.” He noted calmly, looking to Daniel. “It’s a simple route, we are just going to go up and down a few supports and come back to hand off. I’ve never had any issues.” He explained, pulling his jacket and fingerless gloves on.

Rakka nodded at this information and grinned widely. “A nice easy patrol… It’s better than scrubbing the barracks down.” He cracked, doing his jacket up as well and making sure his Stetson was secure. His well built form seemed to barely fit the coat and the act of zipping it up was a bit of a struggle.

Eric stepped forward too. “Call me Eric, I’ve been here nearly as long as Jonah, you guys really got the short straw for tonight, huh? You’ll really enjoy your bunks when we get back.” The cap wearing marine joked, stepping forward to head out of the door with everyone. Doing this run so many times it was all muscle memory now.

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 2 // NIGHT PATROL

Nora greeted the arrival of Daniel with a fluid motion of her fingers. "Hey, Daniel." She tilted her head to the side, exposing the shave even more. "Come on, relax. Warm up a little."

Her attention was caught by Rakka as he mentioned a Devil Fruit. "Oh, you've eaten one too?" she asked, bringing a finger close to her lips. "Welcome to the club," she said, as her breath lifted a cloud of purple glittery dust into the air; she shot a sneaky smile at the man.
"Oh, Daniel" she said again at the formal Marine, "you're falling behind." Nora showed her tongue, making it clear that it was just a joke, as she stepped out the door after the other recruit. She hadn't given too much thought to the other Marines, primarily because they hadn't addressed her directly yet.

-- NAME // Nora Leblanc

-- CLASS // E

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Mr. Moon]

Daniel #2 

Out of courtesy, Daniel accepted Rakka´s handshake, only to regret it a second later when the new recruit introduced himself as an Oil Devil Fruit user.

“Another one”

He groaned for himself, while his face kept it´s completely neutral expression. And of course as if it wasn´t enough, Nora unintentionally rubbed a salt to his wound with her joke about falling behind.

“Yeah, don´t worry, I will catch up with you guys in no time.”

Recruit Ortiz replied with a smile on his face, making sure to erase all signs of bitterness from his voice.

After that, he turned to their appointed commander, greeting him with military salute. He already got the impression that their group will operate in more informal manner but still he wanted to behave according to the protocol until he could be sure.

As everyone was preparing to departure, Daniel checked his gear to make sure he won´t freeze out there, before following behind Nora outside.

[Kami-Gaz]

Rakka took to following Eric out of the building, looking back to his chatting team mates. The pair seemed to be at least acquainted, that was good. The Stetson wearing marine had only really spent time with Ensign Rosalyn and Recruit Reynard… and those interactions were of the training and personal variety, nothing as work related as this was.

The chill was immediate as everyone left to make a start on their patrol, Rakka in this moment pulled his jacket closed tight and instinctively shivered. His home being a tropical island in the south blue made this change in climate very startling.

“You don’t need a devil fruit to be better than us. My mother is a vice admiral and she kicked my ass in every sparing match” The recruit called back to Daniel to help prove his point, if it was needed Rakka knew a whole slew of stories that could be told to prove that devil fruits don’t mean everything in a fight.

The mans attention soon turned to Nora and with a quizzical expression he asked. “So… Nora. What is your Fruit Ability?” His eyes fixated on the woman as he walked backwards behind the two other recruits who were leading the way on this patrol and having a general chit chat. “Ohh ohh! Let me guess… You control your hair and use it like a super whip?”

Rakka started to imagine the scenario and other possibilities of this mysterious power that he was still yet to witness. Just the thought of this unknown excited him and gave him an urge to find out more so he could make combo moves like he did with Reynard.

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 2 // NIGHT PATROL

Nora felt her skin freeze over as soon as she got out of the cozy interior. She was well aware of the temperatures of Tequila Wolf, but nevertheless, one could never really get used to them; she got instant goosebumps, and started rubbing her arms against one another.
The motion of the hands, however, weren't exactly due to shivers: she mimicked the gesture of putting a pair of sleeves around her arms essentially coating her exposed skin in a white, powdery substance that faintly glimmered in the pale light. A second coat went to cover the first, this time in a much more bright and almost emissive shade of neon blue.

"Seguro," she agreed, looking towards Daniel, "it's what you do with it that counts." After all, her own power was just to produce glitter; a practically useless ability if one didn't count the amazing speed at which she could imitate a children''s letter. But then, with continued experimentation, she learned the many ways of employing the sparkly sand in combat - all the way up to distorting light itself to her advantage. All that, with some amazing style.
Her internal musings were interrupted by Rakka; his question was rather... common, given that not many had guessed her powers first try. Probably because a power like hers wasn't straightforwardly useful.
She placed her open palm on her chest: "Oh, it's much better than that" she chirped. "I am a glitter human" she explained, "I can make all the glitter I want, whenever I want."
A wagging finger followed her words, swinging from side to side; a trail of sparkling blue dust followed.

Her expression turned to a much cheekier smile. "And you're an... Oil man? So, you go up in flames easily?" The double entendre was pretty blatant.

-- NAME // Nora Leblanc

-- CLASS // E

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Mr. Moon]

Daniel #3 

Daniel was walking last, following the rest of their team in the freezing night. He had good gear yet still the omnipresent freezing cold was making him shiver. Being out there during night like that made him really appreciate his luck that he was there like a marine and not a slave, because he suspected that guards cared about their comfort and warmth less then his superiors cared about his.

As they were walking towards their ship, he noticed that both Nora and Rakka were talking to him. Hearing their words he had to smile for himself.

“Guys, I really appreciate what are you trying to do here, but I don´t need that.”

Seaman Ortiz said with hands deep inside the pockets of his coat.

“It´s not that I would feel inferior or something, it´s just that up until now, things like Devil Fruits and Rokushiki were stuffs from a legends for guy like me, so I am bit surprised seeing all this in one Division here in the Blues. But don´t worry, I am not intending to fall behind you. After all, when it comes to fighting, I am pretty confident with my knives you know.”

He smiled and clapped the two steel fangs he had on his belt. The two users then started discussing their individual powers with Nora bringing up very interesting topic.

“Hmmmmm, flames you say?”

Daniel smiled on Rakka´s back, before nodding towards one of the ship in the port.

“That one will be ours?”
He asked.

[Kami-Gaz]

The sky seemed clear and there was barely a sliver of the moon hanging in the star pricked sky... Tonight was going to be a long and dark one, the old snow was crunchy underfoot and the foot prints that were made by the members of this patrol squad would undoubtedly remain long into the night, maybe even the next day depending on when the next patrol would follow them.

Rakka smiled for Daniel’s confidence, he was happy to know that he didn’t consider having a Devil Fruit ability the be all and end all. The world really needed more people like that, people to count on using their wits and their own bodies and not some mistakenly eaten accident. Soon after his attention returned to Nora and her ability… Glitter… Wow.

“So… if im ever fighting or sparing with you… I will constantly find glitter everywhere for years afterwards?” The young man joked with a bright smile on his face, considering his fruit had a glaring weakness this one sounded like it needed more work to be used in strong ways. “Yeah, fire is a bit of trouble for me.” The Stetson wearing recruit noted after Nora brought it up.

“I think? I thought we were just going to walk along the bridge…” Rakka noted, trying to remember what Jonah had said earlier.

The marksman turned and began to walk backwards as he passed the entry way down to the dock. “That’s right Rakka. This should only take a few hours, so the walk will keep us nice and warm.” The man called out before returning his attention to the path he was walking.

“The boat patrol is for those who earned a reward from the captain.” Recruit Crendor added, not even looking back from his walk up ahead of the group. “Glitter Girl, can you make light with your ability or just reflect and refract?” Eric asked, finally turning to look at Nora. He seemed generally interested in such a strange ability.

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 2 // NIGHT PATROL

"Well, wherever I go, glitter follows, and that's true. But I decide where glitter goes and doesn't go, down to the single speck." Nora rested the index finger on her lips, and winked towards the Stetson boy. "So you'll be finding glitter in your everything for years if I'm in a bad mood."
Earlier, she had been asked to go all out by none other than their superior, Rosie herself. Nora made a tiny little scene, claiming she would have made a mess with her powers; in spite of that, she was quick in producing her glitter as she was in recalling it - in fact, she was the only one who could remove with perfect precision the glitter she made. Did she want to? That was a whole other story.

The girl's attention quickly turned to the other man, an eddy of sparkly dust following along with her hair. The question, in fact, was the same she had to ask herself once she understood what her powers were.
"Oh, glitter is like tiny... What's the name? Espejos?" Nora looked around, as if she could find the word written on the sea. "Mirrors", she completed, "just like tiny mirrors."
Having finally acknowledged the existence of at least one more person, the one that asked the question, she decided it was worth reciprocating the attention. "This is my first real patrol. Are you guys experts?"

-- NAME // Nora Leblanc

-- CLASS // E

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Mr. Moon]

Daniel #4 

“And there I thought we might be lucky, but guess not.”

Sighed Daniel when he learned that this patrol will be on feet, not on boat. Usually, he had nothing against foot patrols. After all he had many of these in his days, but they were usually in environment that was much warmer than this, and the look up in the sky didn´t really comfort him.

To keep his mind busy, he switched his attention to the debate between Nora and other members of their party, while routinely checking the space around them, just like the waters bellow.

Than, something in their conversation picked his interest and so he asked.

“Sorry to interrupt, but if your glitters works only like a mirror, how do you fight during the night?”

As they were speaking about lights and mirrors, Daniel could only imagine, that she is using her ability to blind or otherwise distract her opponents, aside from that whip attack he saw in her fight with Ensign Lovelace.

“Or are the moon and stars enough?”
This wasn´t a simple courtesy, Daniel really wanted to understand her power as much as possible. Not that he would be interested in Devil Fruits out of sudden, but being able to understand capabilities of your teammates was an important part of any battle and he had the feeling that they won´t be on this kind of peaceful patrols for much longer. Especially with the possibility of the Revolution Army coming their way.

[Kami-Gaz]

The group had trudged through the snow for quite a while now during these talks of devil fruit abilities and how they worked. Rakka had listened well to Nora, her power was strange… and that was coming from the man who could secret an oil from anywhere on his body. It was when the fruitless Daniel asked about the night and darkness affecting her powers did Rakka turn back to watch Nora for her answer.

The man took a few steps backwards before walking into a stopped Crendor, knocking the poor man to the floor as Rakka fell backwards onto him. “Oh sorry!” Rakka called out before he was even on the floor. The other recruit beneath him was holding his own mouth closed to stifle his grunts of discomfort from being knocked over.

“Shh Stop!” Jonah ordered, looking out over the water to see a dark shape drifting through the waters beneath them… it was a small ship with no lights on, but not anchored. It looked to be slowly drifting along with the currents. The recruit at the lead watched the ship for a few more moments as it drifted into the column that was beneath them, getting caught on the make shift docks that had been left around it to ferry materials.

“Let’s check it out before we send up a flare for help…” The self-designated leader said quietly, just so his patrol could hear. He headed for the stair case that was nearby and motioned for everyone else to join him.

Rakka made a quick roll to the side before pushing himself upright with one arm with a light crunch into the snow when he was ready. Offering a hand to Crendor who was still making his way to his own feet. “All good?” He asked quietly as the man took his hand. In one big heave they were both stood up, dusted in snow and making their way down the stairs.

[pepsi]

-- CHAPTER 2 // NIGHT PATROL

Nora was asked once again to explain how her powers worked. To be truthful, she never really thought of her glitter's interaction with light - be it sun or moon or stars - if not in the most basic possible way. And it was, after all, not a bad idea at all to start considering it.
"Never really thought of that," she said, giving physical reality to her thoughts, "but I never tried to blind anyone, moon or not. Sometimes I wish these were more than just for show..."

It was precisely when it started to look like the night could pass by without a hitch.
No, of course it couldn't: something had to happen on her patrol. The sudden realisation stopped the man in front of the group dead in his tracks: something had appeared above the water. Nora witnessed Rakka fall back, moving away at the last second; one moment too late and she would have been part of the falling dominoes.
The girl looked over the barrier, spotting the suspicious shadow for a fraction of a second before it disappeared; she sighed lightly, in disappointment: couldn't it just be a smooth ride from start to finish?
Collecting all of her spirit she proceeded to follow Jonah down the stairs.

-- NAME // Nora Leblanc

-- CLASS // E

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Mr. Moon]

Daniel #5 

Nora admitted that she had no idea how to answer his question and that she thought her abilities were just for show. This reaction puzzled Daniel who couldn´t imagine himself not exploring every corner of an ability that would influence his life so much. But maybe he was the weird one in this one as his obsession with Devil Fruits was clearly unusual even compared to their actual users.

As he was thinking about it he almost missed Crendor´s fall and almost became part of the mass collision if not for his fast reflexes that allowed him to quickly jump backwards. Even through he ended up on the ground as the snow on the ground betrayed him, forcing his rear knee down to regain whatever balance he was left with.

Because of that he was the last near the railing to watch the suspicious ship that was getting closer to the dock bellow them.

“Maybe they are just lost.”

The recruit muttered for himself as he followed the rest of his squat down the stairs. However the realist in him knew that the chances are slim. After all if they were lost, why would they travel with all their lights off?

As this thought passed through his head, Daniel´s hands instinctively reached to his belt to check the long knives that were there, releasing the loops that were keeping them in place. Just in case...