I Want To Protect My Dreams! (Orous & Magnus)

[mildofthewild]

The warmth beaming down from the sun overhead was a calming reminder of where he had come from. The thin film of salt coating his skin from the crashing sea foam was like a home-knit blanket, caressing the large Fishman as the civilian vessel pulls into port. There were many islands he wanted to visit, but this was at the top of the list:

The Holy Remunun Empire.

Arts and Craftsmanship are regarded with utmost respect in these waters, the stonework legendary among anyone hoping to make it as an architect. Orous had studied the island's history and work ethic when he was a child, back when he had the notion that a ship made out of rocks was possible. He chuckles lightly at the thought, surprising himself with how fondly he could look back on the moment. Back then, the dream was just a twinkle in his eye; but after what he and Rince went through on Notice Island, he was ready to make that a reality.

His sandles creak as he makes his way along the dock, noticing the lack of any prolonged glares or looks. Maybe Fishman weren't so feared in these waters; he did notice the more he traveled, the stronger people seemed to be. Maybe out here he's not much of a threat.

Well, that ought to be a good thing, but another thought had been weighing on his mind; how beaten and broken he had been after his fight with the Stone Scale Pirates. If that took a lot out of him, he couldn't imagine how he would square up against people on the Grand Line. If he couldn't at least protect himself, his dream might be over before it begins, no matter how much he learns. Which is why this trip had another purpose...to learn how to fight.

While pacifism was well in concept, Orous couldn't stand the thought of watching his ships get torn apart again. If he could help it, nothing would happen to his ships again...

Until he finds a suitable teacher, however, he would at least enjoy some sightseeing. It's not often he could revel in artistry, especially on this scale.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #1 

Morning was slowly turning itself into noon as the large hand on the clocks on the top of the nearby tower was slowly approaching twelve. For Magnus it was long day as every Monday. He woke up with the sunrise to do at least quick workout before heading downstairs for his firs hour and from then it was monotonous job as the Monday morning was dedicated to the beginners and even through the people were changing, their mistakes didn´t.

“Hands up Caliban! You have to use your hands to block the incoming attack, not your head! Don´t stand there like that Sirius! What am I telling you guys over and over? Once you´ll get rid of one guy, step back, to or three steps and look around, there can be his friend sneaking on your back!”

Long day indeed. If they were at least true martial artists, but no, these guys didn´t care about being able to fight. They cared about being able to protect themselves and so, instead of teaching them the Imperial Fists he was drilling them with the basics again and again and again, until they became their second nature.

“Hmmm roast beef”
Magnus slightly smiled as the aroma of the lunch his wife was preparing upstairs reached his nose. He was lucky when he moved back to the Empire as he found this house in an auction to settle the debts of the previous owner, otherwise he wouldn´t be able to allow it. Big two-storey house on the outskirt of the city with large yard, that served as his training grounds together with the ground floor, while he and his family were living upstairs.

“Alright, alright, good job everyone, no on the ground and show me your push ups. Come one, the sooner you´ll start the sooner you´ll finish. One for each of you, that´s twenty!”

As far as Magnus was concerned the oldest rule of fighting still hold true. If everything else is equal in a fight, bet on the bigger and stronger guy and so when he started training even people from general public he made sure to make them as strong as possible.

A twenty minutes later, when he finally said goodbye to the last member of his group Magnus headed to the main doors to lock them so he could finally get his well deserved meal.

[mildofthewild]

Breathtaking is an understatement for the sheer majesty that was on display in the Holy Remeunen Empire, Orous barely able to speak as he gazes over the structures towering over him. The sheer integrity, stonework, and artistry on display...he'd never been able to pay witness to such loving devotion to a craft, and sure enough, this was the place to learn how it all comes together. 

Most of the day was spent with hasty notes and sketches, Orous watching in on merchants and construction alike before being chased off for scaring away customers and workers respectively. How much of this could he apply to a ship? He wasn't entirely sure, but it was beautiful to look at; sure beat waiting on drunks in a tavern, that's for sure. For the first time, Orous feels as if he found a haven away from Notice Island. A place where he could really learn what it takes to move forward with his dream...

But then he hears the training. 

Orous's tourist like travels brings him to the very outskirts of the empire; not even a fraction of the city was charted, but that could be accomplished later. Here, he sees another type of craft at work, a type of sculpting he was eager to know more about: defense. 

In the shower of an orange glow peeking from behind immaculate towers, Orous sees a master hard at work with his students, pushing them to the brink of their ability and then some. 

This was what he was looking for. The sheer authority and wisdom the man exudes, the devotion of his clearly fatigued students...if Orous was going to survive from here on out, he needs to learn from this man...

But actually summoning the courage to ask was a different matter, something he was restlessly turning in his mind as he makes the slow, deliberate walk to the master's back. 

What if he has enough students already? Hates Fishmen? Oh, how does this even work, do I even have enough money to pay him? Jeeze, you're almost there, just...just say something...

"...U-uh, excuse me? That was a class, right? A...a, you know, fighting class? I um...I'm Orous. I don't mean to interrupt...whatever you got goin' on, but I just...can I train with you? I was just over there watching...not that I was stalking or anything, I just came into this place! Not a stalker, I just...well, it's what I think I need. Defense, you know? Uh...are there slots available?" 

The worst opening ever....

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #2 

Just as Alexander grabbed the doors to finally close them, he noticed huge fishman looking at him with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

“May I help you?”

As he didn´t know who is in from of him, Magnus didn´t feel any need to tone down his stern voice or face, but if he knew beforehand how nervous that guy will be, he would probably tried to look nicer, even through he knew better than anyone else that it wouldn´t work.

“No, that was self defense class, my martial arts students will arrive after the lunch.”
The instructor corrected Orous, before he continued.

“And yes, if you are interesting to become my student I still have a free spot, it´s just that right now...”
He stopped as his stomach growled so laud it alerted half of the street.

Magnus sighed.

“Hey why don´t you come inside? We are just going to have a lunch so you can join us and we can discuss the details about you and your needs?”

Stepping back to make enough space for him to actually come in, Magnus pointed his hand towards the staircase behind him, which led to the upper floor, from where the strong aroma of freshly finished roastbeef was coming.

Unlike many other people from the North Blue, Alexander couldn´t care less if the man in front of him was a human or fishman as he was dealing with them back in his Marine days so he had the opportunity to find out that they are no monsters but your regular folks who just happened to be born underwater. He knew that the same was true for his wife and kids, so he didn´t have to worry about some incident.

“By the way, I am Magnus Romanus Augustus, but you can call me Magnus for a short and your name?”

He asked as he headed upstairs. His wife was excellent woman, but if she hated something it was him coming late for a lunch or dinner.

[mildofthewild]

Magnus's response, curt and flat, was almost a relief to Orous; he had mentally prepared for something of the sort, and to see his mind play out in that way meant he could keep it going as he planned-

Wait...did he just invite him in?

"Oh, n-no I don't want to..." 

Another growl only serves to punctuate the time of day, as Orous himself has yet to eat. The Fishman fumbles with his bandana covering, weighing his options as he looks up the stairs to the meal there. Well...if it was free, how could he really pass that up...

"O-okay, yeah..." He says, quietly, ducking underneath the door frame and making his way to the stairs. It was actually funny how the houses and interiors got bigger and bigger the closer he made it to Reverse Mountain; almost as if the world was opening itself up for him, daring him for the challenges ahead. 

"Uh, Orous, my name is Orous. I'm a shipwright...w-well, gonna be a shipwright. You have to actually have built a ship for that." He winces, realizing Magnus hadn't asked him about his life story; a name would've been fine, idiot...

"I really appreciate this, Magnus, but I didn't mean to take up your evening. I'm just sort of new here and all..."

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #3 

The fishman tried to resist Magnus´s invitation, however his own stomach betrayed him with single loud growl.

“Hmmm, shipwright, that´s nice, honest work. Good for you Orus.”

Said Magnus without any sign of sarcasm or mockery. He was honest after all, as he sincerely respected all craftsmen and their work.

“Hey, don´t fret so much about it. My wife cooks always too much anyway.”

The instructor said, as he was leading his potential student upstairs to the dining room. Small, yet tidy room, where his family already gathered.

“Your new student honey?”
Asked Christina, petite and vivacious woman in her late twenties, with long ginger hair and emerald green eyes.

“Oh, he looks funny, will he eat with us father?”

Asked Sophie, three years old girl who unlike her older sister inherited both her mother´s eyes and hair color.

“Sophie, that wasn´t very polite, apologize.”

Christina scolded her daughter, who lowered her head in repentance.

“I am sorry.”
She muttered.

“I am really sorry for her behavior. She is still young and this is the first time she saw fishman. Come sit.”
Magnus offered Orus one of the “ordinary” wooden chairs while he himself sat down on massive steel chair, that looked more like throne than chair.

“My dad is too heavy for ordinary chair, you know!”
Said Elena, five years old girl with shoulder length white hair and green eyes proudly.

“And he is super strong too!”

“Elena, hush, don´t bother our guest.”
This time it was Magnus himself who scolded his daughter, as Elena started putting food on the table.

“So, Orus...”
Magnus turned to his guest.

“Are you interested more in Martial Arts classes or rather self defense?”

[mildofthewild]

The home was lively, warm and inviting. Rather than the usual jeering he had come to understand, Orous was met with a barrage of greetings from Magnus's family, from his wife Christina to his daughters. Of course, the first real subject of conversation was his appearance. He had to smile lightly at Sophie, wondering how she might have reacted had his bandana been down..

"Oh, n-no it's okay, it's okay! I do like kind of funny, don't I? Not like you, sweetie; you're a very pretty young lady, but I bet you get that a lot, hehehe." It felt good to play along for once in a long while; conversation like this might be sparse once he leaves the Blues behind. 

Orous lowers himself into the wooden chair, his own eyes marveling at the steel craftsmanship of Magnus's own chair, looking over the framework and metalworking techniques. 

"Wow, thats some craftsmanship...and please, please, they're not bothering me! In fact, thats what I wanna hear! If I'm learning from anybody, I want it to be the guy that needs an iron throne, hehehe." 

Orous stares down at the plate, his bravado replaced with some trepidation as he glances at the others at the table. His brow slickens with sweat as he tentatively looks at it, wondering how he'll be able to keep his face hidden. He could worry about that later, however; Magnus's question was an important one. 

"Uh...s-self defense, sir. I uh...I mean, maybe it's silly, but I dont really like fighting people. I'm a pacifist...the one time I did fight someone, i...I did something...really bad..." The words catch in his throat as he remembers back to that night...the crackle of flames licking at the night sky and the cackle that followed shortly after. The jeers and raucous shouting of pirate vandals...and the metallic taste of blood as his jaws sank into terrified flesh...

"B-but...in spite of that, im gonna be heading to the Grand Line. I need to get to Water 7...I made a promise that I would be the world's greatest shipwright. But, the closer I get, the stronger people seem...and that's why I need to know at least how to protect my ships. I want to learn how to defend myself so I can chase after that dream."

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #4 

Elena , Magnus´s older daughter was nothing like her mother, or sister for the matter. Although pretty in the face, she had, for a girl, rather robust build and shoulder length ashen gray hair coupled with serious blue eyes.

“You have to put it down if you want to eat something you silly, no one told you that?”
She asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Elena!”

Magnus scolded his second daughter too.

“Mind your manners or you will be the one without meal, understood?”

She nodded, waiting for her father to looking back on his guest before making a face. Unfortunately for her, she inherited not only her fathers peculiar body, but also his headstrong nature.

“Well, it´s actually nothing special really.”
Magnus tried his best to pretend he didn´t see Elena´s face and went back to answer Orous´s question.

“To put it simply, I was born with...very dense body. I may look like your average tall guy, but in fact I am probably the heaviest human in the North Blue, if not in the whole world. That´s why I have to sit on this thing, because regular chair simply can not support my weight.”

He than listened to Orous´s answer for his question, paying extra attention to the look of his eyes as the bandana covered much of his face. What he saw there didn´t put his mind at easy as the deep sadness together with his words was pointing towards someone, who was strong, yet at the same time afraid of using his full power because of some deep trauma.

“That´s a worthy goal.”

The instructor nodded.

“However also extremely dangerous. Even the first half of the Grand Line is very dangerous. Maybe too dangerous for someone who isn´t willing to use his full power. How much time can you spend here, training with me?”

[mildofthewild]

Orous flinches slightly at Magnus's own biting tone, though he can't help but be amazed at Elena's own tongue. Seems like the whole family had immense reserves of will, even in the face of each other. Still, the girl's remark reminded him of the current dilemma, the Fishman unsure if how they would react to his rather unsightly maw...

The large man saved him again, however, changing the subject to how long he could stay. He had pictured a few months, but Magnus's remarks make him think twice; was it really that dangerous to travel out there without being willing to fight?

"I uh...I was imagining staying for about 6 months. I wanted to study all of the different crafts, at least, though I don't know where I'll stay. I figure I can find a space on the port, I'm used to tight squeezes...

"I know it sounds crazy, I just...I've never liked fightin'. Even recently, when I had to protect my home, I hated having to put everyone through that ordeal. But if I'm gonna make it, I gotta keep my ships safe. I don't wanna go back to that time when I couldn't do anythin' about it. So I'll do whatever you need me to. I just need to know that I can protect my dreams when I get there."

Orous shifts slightly in his chair. The words spilling from his mouth were acting on their own, the Fishman unable to hold himself back as he thinks back on the day his dreams were crushed...over and over again...

In the midst of remembering, Orous's bandanna shifted loose, the fabric billowing forth from each breath before falling from his face. The fishman is pulled from his thoughts and makes a mad grab for it, but misses completely, the cloth bunching together onto the ground. 

Teeth. From his visage juts a number of pointed, jagged, needle like teeth, rubbing against each other like bristles on a hair brush and painting a new, monstrous image of Magnus and his family's dinner guest. Quickly ducking, Orous snatches the bandana up, frantically tying it back around his jaws, his trembling hands causing the covering to slip and reveal his monstrous maw over and over again. 

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #5 

Magnus got lost in his thoughts for a moment as he was calculating something, after which he nodded.

“Sounds about right. In three months I can teach you the basics, so in six months you will be pretty much able to protect yourself from your ordinary thug and maybe we will be able to create one or two special techniques just for you.”

The white haired man became silent afterwards and started eating as he noticed Christina´s warning look about her home cooked meal turning cold.

“Hmmm, if you have no place to stay, I can let you sleep downstairs. There are few unused rooms next to the gym, that can be locked from inside. It won´t be the most comfortable room on the island, but you will have a roof above your head. And don´t worry, there is nothing crazy about not liking fighting. After all, every fight is incredibly scary and dangerous thing that hardly can end differently than with one party terribly hurt. That´s why the most important part of all my self defense classes is learning how to avoid fighting if possible.”

With the corner of his eye, Magnus noticed Orous bandana falling, revealing his teeth.

“Hmmmm, that´s it?”

He muttered for himself without any change of expression. For someone who sailed one the Grand Line, Orous with his look was just another oddity in this wast world. And as for his kids.

“Ooooh, mister, your teeth are big!”

Said Sophie avidly.

“Can I see them again please! I never saw someone I never saw someone with such cool teeth.”

Magnus sighed. At first he wanted to scold his daughter, but than he changed his mind as sooner or later, Orous will have to put that thing off anyway.

“Sorry for my daughter, but in a way she is right. You should put it down already. Otherwise your meal will get cold and that´s something my wife is taking pretty personally.”
The wife in mention made offended face.

“That´s not true! I won´t get offended, just because someone will let meal I prepared for six hours to get cold!”

Magnus smirked while his daughters started laughing.

[mildofthewild]

Orous trembles as he waits for the inevitable silence, the piercing gasps that would signal his time to leave, to look somewhere else and never-

"Eh? M...my teeth?" 

Orous turns to Sophie, shaken at the girl's demand to see his maw...calling them cool. 

Of course, everyone else chimes in as well, each one only further encouraging the Fishman to let his bandanna fall. Was this real? Was this truly okay? Could he really feel so safe, so secure with it off...could he live with how they see it? 

"O-oh, n-no no, I don't mean to offend! I uh...okay, yeah..." Orous stumbles over his words as he lays the cloth down in his lap, fresh air lighting on his upper lip once more as he looks down to the plate. He takes one of his utensils, holding it by the tip  so as not to eclipse it within his meaty grasp, and dips it into the concoction. 

Careful to move it past his lips, he swallows...

"...Holy crap that's good..." 

And he digs in. The power of food is a curious thing, but is there really much that needs to be said or discovered? It helps tie threads between people...and that's all a Fishman like Orous needs. 

"I'm sorry about that, I just...I've had a lot of bad experiences when people see my real face...I never even really thought of 'em as cool." he says, turning to Sophie and smiling broadly, giving her a full view of his chompers. "Thanks, kid."

"And that'd be perfect, actually, if you can spare it! And no worries, I lived in a shack for most of my life, a stable roof is like a goldmine for me! Thank you! I can help out around the place too, if need be. Earn my keep and all." Thankful for a small gesture of acceptance, Orous didn't want to see it taken for granted. Perhaps not many on the high seas would be as understanding as Magnus. 

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #6  

With her eyes fixated on Orous, Sophia observed as the fishman released his bandana that was covering his face.

“Wow”

She sighed admiringly when the fishman showcased his teeth to her.

“They are so cool! ”

Magnus cleared his throat.

“Alright young lady, that´s enough. Focus on your meal alright?”

Said the white haired fighter. After that he wanted to assure his guest, that there is no need for him to work in the household, but he only got to

“Nah, that´s al...”

But his wife was faster.

“That would be wonderful, thank you. There is plenty of work to do.”

Magnus looked on his wife disapprovingly, but said nothing and so everyone could finally focus on their meal.

After finishing their dinner his daughters helped their mother to clean the table and so Magnus took his guest downstairs where were several rooms that the previous owner was using as a bedrooms for his servants. They were small chambers 2x2 meters with single bed and small closet for clothes.

“Pick whichever you want and change into something that can get dirty. When you´ll be ready we will meet in the yard I want to test your skills a bit.”

With that Magnus went outside, leaving Orous alone.



Although the summer was slowly coming to its end the waning sunlight was still providing enough warmth and light for a short sparing. Waiting for Orous´s arrival, the white haired fighter was warming himself up with some ground based mobility drills. When his new student finally arrived he got back on his feet and welcomed him with a short nod.

“Alright, I promised the children that I´ll read them a bedtime story, so let´s not waste any time. Attack me with everything you got. I want to see how well you can move.”

With that being said, Alexander took his unique stance, with one arm in front of his body, the fist clenched and pointed to the sky like if he wanted to use his forearm as an improvised shield, with the second arm down at the waist level.

[mildofthewild]

"You think so?" Orous says, still taken aback by such interest in his appearance. His teeth usually brought on a quick revulsion, but everyone here was fine with it...hell, the girls seemed to think it was cool.

"And yeah, of course! I ain't no stranger to work, you can count on me," He says to Christina, draining the rest of his plate and dabbing at his face, his skillful maneuvering around his teeth all the more comfortable now that he could just show it off in the open. While initially wanting to prove his devotion to work, Orous is taken aside by Magnus, the Fishman taking a rather nervous look back at the rest of the family washing dishes. Something told him this was going to be brutal...

"Y-yeah, sure thing." Orous says, taking a glance around the room and breathing in the homely air, smiling inwardly as he unpacks a few things from his rather large rucksack. Something that could get dirty...

"...Yeah, this'll be just the thing..."

---

Moments later, Orous arrives...in a rather ill-fitting pajama set. A garish pink assaults Magnus's eyes along with the assorted pattern of smiling teddy bears that crossed over the cloth. The shirt barely covered the top of Orous's chest, while the pants were comically too big, almost resembling clown pants with how they ballooned near the ankles. 

"...Sorry, Miss Buncle packed these before I left Notice...I didn't have the heart to tell her they didn't fit..." But, at least I can tell her they got shredded in some dangerous fight...

"Wait, really? I...uh, sure. Sure, okay," Orous says, slightly nervous about the invitation. Sure, this guy looked strong, but didn't he know Fishmen were above humans in that category? Well, he said everything he had...

Rushing forward, hands outstretched, Orous makes his move, as according to his new master's orders. The aim was to grab a hold of Magnus; Orous never was able to learn Fishman Karate considering his rather pitful strength and endurance as a child, so he had to make do with something else: grappling. 

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #7 

Orous arrived, wearing something, that could be called set of pajamas with a bit of imagination. Although the sun was almost gone, the bright pink shirt full of teddy bears hit his eyes so hard that he almost didn´t noticed the oversize pants of his.

“It´s...ehm”

Magnus cleared his throat to hide his surprise.

“It´s alright for now, but please remind me tomorrow, to borrow you something, because if you´ll arrive on tomorrow training wearing this, the guys will die laughing.”

There was nothing mean hidden behind his words, the white haired fighter was just stating the facts as he saw them.

Magnus then waited for Orous to take his stance and attack him as requested.

“Grappling?”

That was surprising as all the fishman he met in the past were strikers not grapplers, however he quickly adapted to this situation by lowering his center of mass and firmly rooting his legs into the ground. Usually his incredible weight was giving him great advantage against regular grapplers who quickly found out that he was too heavy for them to take down or throw. But Orous wasn´t ordinary human. All fishmen were notorious for their incredible strength and Magnus himself could attest to that. However he never met with fishmen using grappling and was curious how these two things will mix together and so just for now, he decided to keep his stance and put only passive resistance.

[mildofthewild]

Orous reaches his hands out to grab onto Magnus, his body charged to pull the man into a bear hug. Grappling was the one fighting prowess he leaned towards; not to really to hurt anyone, though. Orous never really wanted to hurt anybody...but he never wanted to see other people hurt someone.

As Orous reaches forward, however, Magnus can see what the true problem was...Orous has no form. No grace. He's practically begging to be decked in the chin by how wide open he is. With a form like that, it won't take long for Orous's dreams to get crushed on the Grand Line. Hell, it won't take long before he'd lose his life on these waters!