Its Shell in Claw [Clawdia(Claudia)]

[MaybeMike]

The cries of the small ones and the cries of battle and victory from his smaller kin echoed through the Crab Cove Cave. They mixed into a cacophony of battle and war eternal. The picture was bleak, as for generations these strange creatures came to these waters to capture and enslave us. They take us beyond the Horizon, to be used and made into the most devlish of all torture methods. 'Crab Butt-her'. Truly, these creatures knew only the worst of torments! He may not know what this 'Crab Butt-her' may be, but he had come to this cave to defend his poor subjects!!!

"Stop! You have Violated the law! Your kidnapped innocents are now forfeit!!! Surrender yourselves! Pay the court a fine or serve your sentence. Do so and I shall make sure you return to your families alive, unlike what you have done to so many of my subjects!!!"

The Force of his voice silenced all, no doubt stunned by his stunning and beautiful voice, the glean of his shell from the reflective waters! His physique shocking them dumb most of all!

It only took him five minutes to realize he spoke in proper High Tongue of the crabs! These brutish invaders cannot speak that tongue!

"Stop! You have Violated the law! Your kidnapped innocents are now forfeit!!! Surrender yourselves! Pay the court a fine or serve your sentence. Do so and I shall make sure you return to your families alive, unlike what you have done to so many of my subjects!!!"

Truly, it was better the SECOND TIME!!!

Their devilishly good looking leader with his rolled up pants and his browned wrinkled shell (what weird invaders, truly!) and his white beard that hang to his two scuttling legs! Even his waist wear the Inconquerable-Woman-Of-Beauty-Grace-And-Unbeatability called 'Pants' were up to his neck! HE TRULY WAS THE MOST DEVILISH OF DEVILISH PEOPLE!!!

"Look 'ere Mrn Giant, S'rry fer spukin' ya', but m'ah bo'y's an' I' be grab'bin' crabs in d'ese 'ere parts sence time o' mah Pa! Crab Grabbin' be a time 'on'er'd tradition round 'ese 'ere parts!"

This man spoke the strangest language he had ever heard. He almost didn't understand it. BUT HE WAS CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY!!! There was no challenge he could not overcome!

"So, you refuse my, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY's generous offer?!"

the Crab's booming voice sent the man's hair flying backwards over his hunched back. He should molt in a bigger shell, in Crabamemnon the 1st and Only's grand and wise opinion.

"I tol' y'er-"

"THEN I, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, SHALL TAKE ACTION AGAINST YOU FOUL INVADERS!!!"

Taking a big steppy, Crabamemnon the 1st and Only stepped over the man, the cries of these invaders resounding out beneath him. No doubt the strength of his stride scared them mightily!

In a burst of raw MUSCLE, his Shell's shell emerged from within, as his upper body grew. HE WAS NOW IN TRUE POWER TIME!

"RAAAAAAAGH!"

In a great flex of his MIGHT, Crabamemnon the 1st and Only lifted the ship that came to below his waist over his head, held in his two great pincers.

More of the smaller invades came pouring out of the ship and landing into the water below with their fellows. With a great grip of his pincers, the ship's bottom creaked, before two great holes were wrent into its frame! The very long wood along its bottom was crushed before his, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY'S, strength!

The cries of grief and Anguish below him from the Invaders was punctuated by the cries of joy from his smaller crab-ling subjects.

Yes, the Crab King has arrived! No more, shall invaders invade these crab lands!

[Jess]

Surrender yourself for my love~

Tch. Barely enough crew to get the ship moving, and now this? Certainly in no kind of good mood given what she seemed to have had the misfortune of finding, Claudia Carbone lifted one of her dainty and dextrous digits to her forehead to massage the knot which had formed between her shapely brows in irritation, and as she did so looked between the deckhands she had scrambling around her and then toward an island which was rapidly starting to dominate the horizon.
While I wouldn't mind another feather in my cap, with the state we're in, one can't help but want for this to be a molehill rather than a mountain… Clicking her tongue as the sense of annoyance continued unabated in spite of her action, while it was perhaps considered lucky that she had happened to be scouring the local area for smugglers and sea dogs, the vixen was vexed to have been ordered to respond to a local distress call involving some supposed 'sea monster' attacking the harbour given the inadequacy that she saw in both ship and crew, and with that wished that this would turn out to be a frenzied fishman or even better fool wearing too much kelp or something. Though today, it seemed that fate was wholly intent on conspiring against her.

"Ma'am, I can see…
Oh my god, it's huuuuuuuuge?
Is that a giant?!"

The mood of the minx in no way helped as she found her attention drawn to a figure who stood atop the rigging to best exploit their set of binoculars, the lookout called down to Claudia as they cleared a cliff and in doing so began to reveal something hulking behind it which only appeared to confirm the veracity of the account they had received, and the need to intervene as well for that matter. After all, simple fishermen and local marshals were all too easily found out of their depth when colossal crawdads were involved, weren't they?

No molehills today, it seems… At least it's going to be easy to hit, with that kind of size! Shaking her head and letting out a sigh as she too locked eyes upon the landmark-sized lobster in the distance, the lip of the lass curled into about half of a sneer as she decided to take action because of this, and as she marched across the deck the dark dish began waving her men to different stations as she readied for a battle that would by this stage seem a forgone conclusion. Though the result, well that was still very much up in the air, wasn't it?
“Keep us around ready for a full broadside, and ready everything we have… Cannons, rifles, kitchenwear…” Directing her ramshackle collection of soldiers toward the guns of the small vessel that was largely used for scouting an interception, and leaving only the barest essentials left to make sure that they didn't run aground either, Claudia knew that she was more than lacking the firepower of a proper marine battleship, and had to admit to no shortage of doubt about the chances that this speedy but under armed craft would have in a direct conflict. And that was without even considering the fact that they seemed to be going up against what looked like the Stevie the shrimps badass grandma. This was going to be a messy one, wasn't it?

“If I give the signal, I want to hit this thing with all we've got. The kitchen sink included!” Waving to her executive officer and guessing that she might have to get involved in this fight personally given what they had and what they were up against, Miss Carbone threw the man the white coat of command she was wearing and loosened her shoulders up a little, then waved one of her men over as she readied herself for something that felt inevitable.
“Now…” Taking up a small and snail-like creature which was offered by him, and fitted with what looked like a transceiver on his back, she lifted the mouthpiece and used the telephonic snail to connect with the ships announcement system as she opted to start with diplomacy rather than aggression in spite of her mood, both in the hope of talking the situation down and giving her men more time to prepare their craft for battle.

“This is Commander Claudia Carbone of Illusia's B-4, I suggest that you stand down and explain yourself, before anyone else gets hurt…!” The result helping her voice to pipe up across the speakers which were attached to her masts, the sound of the siren echoed across the harbour as she cruised close enough that the amplification would allow the sound to carry to the 'monster' if he cared to listen, and as she spoke and scoured this bizarre beast was left to weigh up just how effective even her own lofty devil fruit powers would be on such a large and capable enemy.
“You will not get a second warning!” Not about to broadcast that absence of confidence however, she barks into the mic firmly, guessing that any inch she gave a brute like this would easily stretch to a mile in his hands, and all the while wondering why he seemed to be doing this. After all, giants weren't usually seen this far out of the grand line, and usually when they were, they came as officers of their marine force…

	Claudia Carbone	### words
	@tag, All Business

[MaybeMike]

Yessss, the cries of anguish and the defeat of the Invaders spurred the glee within his shell! Their will to fight has no doubt shattered into a thousand shells! The Crab King looked upon his beaten foes, and laughed hearily. Even now, the cries of his subjects filled is ears!

'Win' 'Win' 'Glory' 'Glory' 'Glory'

"Cra-ababababab, see now your folly, Invaders! See how I crush your Palm Tree creation, and send your wills scattering like the sand it is! Your punishment for daring to invade these lands and steal away my subjects is as inevitable as it is true! Now make your decision! Will you face me and die like a barnacle, or pay your fine and live like a crab?!"

The invader's leader began to rise from where he had fallen to his knees in the rock filled water. The wrinkled shell of the invader leader turned a shade of red that looked correct to the Crab King. It was good to see the invaders molted properly. They would of been extra weird if they didn't!

"Y-ya' bas'ard! 'At was mah pa's ship! D'AT 'AS 'IS PA'S SHIP! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

The Old Man was in the process of grabbing something from his belt when he was tackled by one of the other invaders. Curious that they would have an honor duel at this time, but who was he to judge? He did it with the Hermit Crab King when he was having dinner. Good guy that Hermit Crab King! He knew how to throw a good defeat party!

><><><><><><><><><><

It was a good time later where he, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, was scratching into the side of the wall with his pincer how much the fine on the invaders was in totality.

You see, he knew his cursemultiplication squares!

It took a full wall of the cave, and a great many confusions before he finally came to his final count of how much was owed.

"With the final count made, for two thousand and eighty-six years, seventeen months, and 34 days, I, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, declare the owed fine is seventy-two million, six hundred and ninty three thousand, six hundred and five coconuts. They are to be delivered to this cave within ninty days, or face death!"

his cheery grin did not beget the same response from these invaders, who instead seem both confused and downright surprised. He did not understand why. His math was 'passable'! Inconquerable-Woman-Of-Beauty-Grace-And-Unbeatability said so!

Yet, before he could even hear their response, a voice loud and mighty indeed interrupted proceedings! All heads, save his crab subjects who were still repeating their cries of 'Win' and 'Glory', towards the voice. Very happy crabs them crab-lings! From the distance, a blue Bamboo creation came through the water.

But he was the Crab King! He shall not be defeated in volume of voice!

Squaring his shoulders, crossing his arms and putting his feet shoulder's length apart, he took a great breath and SPOKE!

"I HAIL YOU INVADERS OF THIS CRAB KINGDOM!"

The crab-lings were sent scattering as the men cried while grasping their ears, unable to handle the brilliance of his voice no doubt! He was not to be out-louded by anyone!

"I AM CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY! I AM KING OF ALL CRABS ON THE HEAVENS AND ABOVE THE EARTH! HEAR ME AND MARK MY NAME!"

He realized that he felt a bit bad for his Crab-lings. He didn't ask them if they wanted any coconuts! He should see if they would like some coconut milk whenever the invades paid their fines! He was sure they would love it! Coconut was everyone's favorite meal and drink!

"COME BEFORE ME AND PAY TRIBUTE FOR I, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, HAVE DEFEATED YOUR INVADER KIN IN BATTLE AND LAID UPON THEM THE DEMANDED REPARATIONS! COME, FOR I SHALL DO THE SAME SHOULD YOU INVADE THESE LANDS!"

Yes! He, Crabamemnon the 1st and Only, was truly a master of diplomacy! He even allowed them to come to his lands! Generosity was truly a King's greatest gift!

[Jess]

Surrender yourself for my love~

Wow, he actually can talk after all? Or shout, at least… Forced to push her finger into her ear at the booming voice to get rid of a little ringing that was caused by the cacophony of the crabomination, Claudia found the speakers on her ship wholly overshadowed by the large and lofty creature, but at least pleased to open a line of dialogue with the thing, given how she had not even been wholly convinced it had the intelligence needed to achieve even this act.
King of All Crabs? Fishmen and Mermaids and now Crab people? Good grief… Resting a hand on her hip as she took a moment of quietness to analyse the situation she found herself in, the brunette tilted her head and frowned as she ruminated over his declaration of sovereignty, and couldn't help but feel like the ranks of the races beneath the sea were starting to swell to a size that seemed like it was almost as crowded as the scant masses of land the rest had.

“Invaders?” Nodding and then taking issue with something that he had said however first and foremost, the confusion of the commander seemed to stall her for a second more, and then she looks between her microphone and the distance to shore and sighed as she decided that the situation was almost wholly unsatisfactory as a result.
“Actually, wait a second…” Shaking her head and pocketing the item she had in her hand once she had placed her receiver back on its shell, Miss Carbone took a few steps back and then dashes forward since she had decided that issues of regality should be dictated in a more up front fashion, and then flung herself at the sea because of that as if she was going to swim the distance that seperated them.

“Hupmh!” That not an option for her however given the special ability she possessed and as such the temptress exploiting that same slick skill to transpose herself into a mass of blackness as she kicked off the deck, the entirety of her mass was replaced by something that looked like it should have been set alight and flung from a catapult in a seige or something, but proved surprisingly agile and able as it bounced off what was left of the back of a dislodged craft and then exploited a rocky outcrop for further footing.
“That's better. Dignitaries like us shouldn’t be shouting across the harbour, no?” Skipping along as if she was a stone cast across a calm lake and then reforming herself on stabler ground when she reached it, Claudia dusted herself off and smoothing her hair out before producing a compact mirror from her pocket to further scrutinize her image, and only clapped that item shut when she was sure she was presenting her usual flawless visage.

“Now, what’s this about invaders?” Clapping that hand back on her hip once she had settled and then shrugging as she addressed the so called monster more directly, and with little intimidation in spite of the difference in size one might add, the ravishing raven repeated the assumption made by her counterpoint that he had quelled some supposed invaders for the sake of clarification, since all she sees is him trying to stomp a village and very little otherwise.
“It looks like you're the one invading here?” Spreading her arms because of this as she gestured to the destruction that abounded all around them, it was plain to any observer that there could only be one person here who was responsible for an act of transgression, and yet because of that obvious fact she was only further confused both by the opinion and the righteous note he seemed to eschew. After all, while many beasts went on rampages, few seemed to take the time to dictate the constitutional right when doing so, didn't they? He was almost sophisticated, in fact, at least in an odd kind of way…

	Claudia Carbone	### words
	@tag, All Business

[MaybeMike]

Crabamemnon stood with his arms crossed for some time. It appeared his voice was to strong for the poor Invader on the other end. He did not fret, for his smile and his shells and his resplendent MUSCLES would broker a response no matter the form it would take! For he, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, refused any refusal that would refuse responding to HIM, CRABAMEMON THE 1ST AND ONLY! Such was his power as King of all Crabs under the Heavens and above the earth!

...Were invaders crabs?

He, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, was caught in a mighty mental war as he pondered this startling thought. IF Invaders were crabs, and they were invading and eating his own crab-ling subjects, would this mean they were cannibals? Cannibalism was practiced amongst some crabs... It was not specifically outlawed either... But surely the way they went about, not even allowing Crab single combat, was no doubt outlawed?

He would have to ponder this deeply when he, CRABAMEMON THE 1ST AND ONLY, sat down to eat the coconut reparations... And ask the Crab-ling if they wanted some. He didn't doubt they would love some coconuts! They were everyone's favorite!

All of a sudden a reply did indeed come towards he, CRABAMEMON THE 1ST AND ONLY! A great ball of black inkiness that dripped and oozed as it sailed over the sea.

His many crab-ling subjects gathered around his legs to watch in amazement with him as it sailed closer and closer upon the winds. To many, including the Crab King, it was a very strange experience to watch. None had ever seen such an object before, and it, to the Crab King at least, looked like a giant black coconut. Such thoughts soon led the Crab King down the thoughts of wanting to know what the juice of the Coconut would taste like.

Then it landed, formed into the very form of an invader! The crabs were stunned in amazement, their king both baffled and astonished. Then the invader pulled out some small thingy mc-bobber from within her strange garments and corrected herself.

The diligence and self care on display made the Crab King shocked. Never before had he seen someone take such care of themselves like this invader was! Let along right before a possible enemy!!! This Invader had won the Crab King's respect this day!!!

The Crab-lings, just as impressed, held up palm tree leaves with various scores, mainly eight and nines, with the Crab King's own score being a solid '10'. There was one crab, however, who rated it a 6.5 so not the greatest score. Not all crabs could be pleased in such a manner.

"CRAB-AB-AB-AB-AB-AB-AB-AB-AB! WELL SPOKEN INVADER!"

Crabamemnon the 1st and only crosses his legs as he shrunk once more to his PRISTINE self, falling to the ground with a large THUMP while the crabs are sent scuttling out of the way.

Never having uncrossed his arms, the Crab King raised his head as to make a great decree to the invader and their invader kin.

"I, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, have come to this Crab land to tour my Kingdom! I, CRABAMEMON THE 1ST AND ONLY, came upon a great many of my crab-ling subjects being kidnapped from their homes to an unknown fate! As crab King, the retaliation was swift and judgement final! The Invaders were given the chance to submit and pay the fine or face me in GLORIOUS COMBAT!"

The Crab King's arms uncrossed long enough to flex his giant, literal, muscles. They bulged and looked like they very wished to break through his skin to be seen by all!

"Once defeated in honorable single combat, these Invaders and I sat down to truly see what ammount of reparations they would be forced to pay or face their untimely deaths at the hands of I, CRABAMEMON THE 1ST AND ONLY, with execution!"

The Crab King looked down upon the Invader and grinned.

"If you have come to avenger or even free your Invader comrades, You shall feel the end of my WROTH! For I, CRABAMEMNON THE 1ST AND ONLY, Have never been defeated in single and honorable CRAB COMBAT!"

His arms once move grabbed each other as his shoulders and arms bulged into a flexing pose.

[Jess]

Surrender yourself for my love~

Are they… Grading me? Unable to do much other than cast an increduous glance toward the group of crabs who seemed to have taken a moment to grade the efficacy of her entry, the ebony enchantress ran her icily coloured eyes over the positive reception that her arrival had garnered before clicking her tongue at the low score, and couldn't help but note as she did so that they looked decidedly humanesque in spirit even if not body. It seemed these crabs were quite the contrary creatures when it came to convention, weren't they?
Though I suppose it shows that they're more civilized than one would expect? Frowning because of that fact but also feeling the vaguest note of fascination even if she did not show it, Claudia was left to look over the oddness which abounded within the scene, and felt that her day was turning into a very strange one in a number of ways because of it. However, one would be remiss if they assumed all of them were bad, given how it was breaking up a series of days spent idly in pursuit of dull rewards on even duller seas.

Multiple forms… A Zoan type? Batting her lashes as his highness seemed to thump to the ground and appeared to change size as he did so, Miss Carbone brushed away the resulting sand he kicked up because of this large and heavy impact, and narrowed her eyes as she guessed that he has some manner of devil fruit to achieve such a startling transition.
“I see… Kidnappings, huh?” Turning her attention back to the situation at hand however rather than probing that issue verbally, though she could do without the boisterous attitude which she seemed to show and once more prompt her to poke a pinky into her ear, she at least seemed to take a moment to analyse his testimony and realize the confusion and contradiction which was inherent in the assumptions therein.

“You'll forgive me then, it seems there is a source of confusion since, I was summoned here by these people to quell an invader?” Quickly able to note that as far as she was aware this village and the island it stands upon was a distinctly human site, there was no real record of there being some odd duck crab community in charge here as far as she is aware, otherwise she would have turned up without quite as much of a chance of being surprised by their large and loud leader and the plucky individuals who followed him.
“They seem to think that this is their land, not yours?” IT Obvious in fact that their surrounding was dominated by those of sapient inclination in fact, any observer could see that the structures which remained of the settlement post rampage appeared human built and purposed, and so Claudia couldn't help but point out that their seems an error of perception or communication at the very least going on here. I mean usually she'd probably just throw some tar around and be done with the matter, but hey, a woman like her had to respect that kingly bearing, and staggering stature to boot, didn't she?

	Claudia Carbone	### words
	@tag, All Business