It Started With A Smile, And A Wad Of Cash

[Kami-Gaz]

“That should do it R0y, we don’t want to nail it too high so shorter people cannot see it.” A soft male voice spoke, gentle and caring just like it’s owner. A sickly looking young red head of a man who leaned on his walking staff as he oversaw a lanky looking rusted iron robot with a name tag on his chest naming him ‘R0y’.

“Roy? Roooooy~.” The robot chirped as it started to hammer the job advert into the notice board of the bar in the seedier side of town. The red head smiled as he shuffled with his staff over to the side and sat in the booth that had his drink and a large bag full of tools and components.

“Sweetie, don’t you think that someone will see that poster and come and take advantage of you?” A husky ladies voice spoke from behind the bar. The voice belonged to an elder lady, with grey in her temples marring her raven black hair. Her face while aged retained a mature beauty that looked well maintained.

“I don’t think that will happen; I’ll find the right person to help me find what I’m after.” Al spoke with a soft smile as he peered over to the woman, his face doing it’s best to hide the chronic pain he is in. “Not everyone is bad, they just have rough circumstances, I’ll work with anyone willing to give me a shot.” Alphonse spoke before leaning back into his seat and letting his walking staff rest against the booth as he looked over to R0y.

The robot had finished hammering in the nails for his advert and had turned to walk back over to Al but as it did the feet got caught up in the fabric of a rug and he fell forward face first, throwing copies of the same job advert poster up into the air like confetti… it read:

“Bodyguard needed to escort and protect engineer seeking the lost lab of Doctor Honey. Accepted Applicant will get all their expenses paid for, an added bonus for difficult tasks and finders Keepers Reward whenever out exploring or scrapping. Upon job completion a handsome pay will be due, and a robotic companion will aide you in the future.”

“Rooooooooy.” The robot whined as it looked up from the floor, its bulbus head and painted on face looking cheery

---

Post: 1

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

[Bobbie]

Danielle was walking through the streets with an angry gait. She had just wasted precious time trying to locate a very valuable item of treasure and had to jump through hoops to finally reach it, only to have snatched out of her grasp.

What a waste of time! I don’t have this sort of time to throw away, I’m on a deadline!

She internally hissed as she vented her frustration out to herself in a form of an inward monologue. The tall woman with an eye-patch soon stormed into a bar, looking for a place to relax and ease her nerves, get her act together and figure out where she would be going next.

However, upon entering the bar, the blonde woman clad in black leather and a simple grey t-shirt was immediately met with a number of posters floating through the air at the mercy of gravity. Of course, one had to land right on her face and obstruct her vision, the momentum of her forward drive into the bar with such rage being enough to cut through the confetti that scattered through the air and take a one with her. In all the confusion and temporarily blinded by the advertisement that clung to her skin, there was no way for her to see the robot that was lying on the ground and so she tripped in poor R0y.

She hit the wooden floorboards face first with a loud thud. Although it was in no way a fun experience, she had to admit that lacking certain feminine qualities had its perks, especially when falling and landing on what would otherwise be sensitive area. Nevertheless, it hurt, and she let out a groan.

“Aaagh…”

I think I broke my nose… what did I trip in?

Rolling onto her side, she was still blinded and all she could see was a white screen. She soon realised it was because of a paper clung to the sweat on her forehead. Frustrated, she reached up and snatched the paper, before her ruby red eyes landed on R0y in the form of a furious glare. “What is this, and why is it in the way for anyone to trip over?” she snapped, now rubbing her bruised nose, which was thankfully not broken after all.

Taking a deep breath to try and calm herself, Danielle sat up and looked at the paper that had previously blocked her already-limited vision. “Bodyguard … engineer seeking lost lab… expenses paid… what kind of advertisement is this? Who would- finders keepers reward? Handsome pay… Hm…”

$ $ $   KA-CHING!   $ $ $

Rising to her feet, she took the paper with her and looked around for whoever made this ad. Again, her gaze fell on R0y. “You must have a creator who set the task of hanging these.” She walked to the robot and helped it back up onto its feet. “Take me to them. I would like to discuss my application for this job opening.” She demanded in a deep, matter-of-fact tone.

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

Alphonse was shifting in his seat to move closer to help the robot up from his predicament as a person walked in and tripped over R0y, landing face first as a poster got caught on them. It was amazing timing and hilarious to those that saw it happen, but Al only set his jaw and moved to push his hand forward to help. He stopped when the stranger spoke. Quickly sitting up right he gave the best smile he could in this situation.

“Hi… I asked Roy there to put the ad up.” He spoke with a meek wave. This was awkward and not the best foot forward, but the young man persevered and gestured for this newcomer to take a seat in the booth across from him. “Please, take a seat. Do you want a drink?” He asked before remembering his own thirst.

Roy had started to pick up the fallen posters with a careful hand, banding over his brassy metal form to do so. Each one he picked up he vocalised as if he were counting. “Roy, Rooy, Roooy, Rooooy.” Quiet enough to not really be heard but just there to be noticed by those of a keen ear. As the young man’s eyes peered over the robot he smiled.

“Miss, could we get some glasses of iced cola please?” He spoke before turning his attention back to this newcomer and getting a good look at them. Their face was softer than most males with the features that alluded them to be female but the manner in which they carried themselves was very masculine… the easiest thing to do to avoid causing offence was his first move. “I’m Alphonse. What’s your name?” His frail hand was pushed forward ready to shake the hand of the individual in front of him.

More people had started to filter into the bar now, some headed to the bar itself, some to other booths and a few to the notice board to look for anything new. It was getting close to happy hour for the locals, so this was to be expected.

---

Post: 2

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

[Bobbie]

Danielle watched the feeble frame of this man, who looked sickly. Of course, it made sense now why he would have a robot assistant - any assistant, really. It was enough to tickle her conscience and she felt bad for being so forward with her complaint, especially considering she knew where her frustration came from, and he had nothing to do with it.

Nodding, she obliged and took her seat in the booth across from him, “I see. I had a look at the ad, it’s... an interesting position to fill.” she said, her voice too soft to be of a maturing man, but not particularly melodic or of high enough pitch as was commonly be associated with women as it was deeper than most. This was Danielle’s reality, permanently stuck in a state of limbo between the two, but she had learnt to live with the moments that were irritating and enjoy those that turned out to be quite amusing. Where she believed herself to belong was another matter entirely, one that required more thought than she’d usually put into it. Man, woman, what did it matter? Rosalina mattered... and nothing else.

“Yes, please.” she humbly accepted his offer for a drink, but was ready to pay for it herself if it avoided a poor impression of already mooching off a potential employer, although she’d rather not be throwing around cash unnecessarily. Every small amount counted as she ran a tight schedule and only had six months since discussing taking Rosalina’s hand in marriage with the beautiful lady's father, and so much time had already been wasted chasing leads for buried treasure that took her nowhere. She glanced toward the little robot, picking up on the chirping sounds it made as it counted in the only currency it knew - its own name.

Danielle's gaze drifted toward the woman Alphonse so politely addressed, presumably the owner of this bar, she waited to begin their conversation. She was a mature lady who somehow found the perfect balance between a charm and brawn.

Turning back to Alphonse, she glanced at his hand, It looks like it could fall off in my own hand if I shake it too hard... she mused to herself. She didn’t know this man, but he didn't seem particularly old... younger people are not supposed to have hands that look so frail and brittle as this one. She reached out to take his hand in a firm grip, but she tried to be very careful not to squeeze too much in fear of his knuckles dislocating in her grasp. She did not have the gentlest of natures, but she tried...

“Danny.” she promptly gave the shortened version of her name, perhaps to distract him from her tight hold on his hand. She also assumed it would be easier this way, a part of her concern due to the ad requesting a body guard. Would she be seen as weaker if he knew she was a woman?

Withdrawing her hand, her gaze went to his own, silently assessing whether she had accidentally caused any damage to the delicate limb that she had just been holding, and then moved on to the topic at hand, getting straight to business. “You’re looking for a bodyguard to escort you and keep you safe as you search for Doctor Honey’s lab?” she asked, despite already knowing the answer. She had since dropped the paper upon which the vacancy was posted, but she didn’t need it. “I have experience with exploring new territories and I have been trained extensively in sword-fighting.” she rested her elbows on the table that separated the two, each hand gripping the elbow of the other’s arm. “As for scrapping... I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

The young man took the hand of his potential guard and held it as tight as his body could, he could give an impression of strength if he put more than he needed too in it, but that was energy he could not spare. He could feel this Danny’s strength in the shake and the fact she was taking care with his frail but rough hand, calloused and ragged from working on robots nearly all of his life.

After the handshake and her name was given Alphonse nodded with a warm smile. Madam Saleen walked by and placed a glass of pipsi by each other them, the carbonated bubbles fizzing away against the cubes of ice that floated near the top. It tinkled softly but was no distraction. Al listened patiently to the explanation of Danny’s skills and nodded with each point. She sounded like a good shout for what he wanted to do….

“So… I can assume you are happy with sailing with me to the Grandline to find the Lab of Doctor Honey?” He asked, knowing that this would be the make or break question to many people that would apply… the grand line was a scary place to those who were born and raised in the blues. They heard many stories of its perils, the tribulations of just existing there were said to break the best man who was the strongest of the blues.

As the question left his mouth a large muscular fellow who was approaching the table stopped in his tracks, the colour leaving his face as a cold sweat formed on his forehead. A dark patch started to form on his blue jeans and kept growing as he opened his mouth. One would expect a deep booming voice but all that came out was a high squeak. “The Grandline?! I can’t! I’m not going back there again!” He announced, causing a murmur to ripple through the locals as he turned about face and ran out of the entrance. “You’re insane! INSANE!” he shouted, his voice both getting quiet but more intense as he ran away a babbling mess. People all around the bar started to whisper…

That was the response Alphonse expected. R0y stopped by the new puddle that had formed on the cobbled floor a couple feet away from the table and made a mopping gesture to the barwoman who watched the entire scene with a sigh. “Rooy… Roy.” He spoke, slowly waddling his way to the bar to get the mop.

---

Post: 3

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

[Bobbie]

Danielle nodded to Madam Saleen, offering a silent thanks without letting that interrupt the flow of their conversation. As Alphonse put forward his question, she picked up the glass and moved it to her left side to be in her clear view.

For a moment, she grew silent, which would hardly be an issue at all, as it seemed everyone’s attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. Turning in her seat, Danielle watched the large man have such an unfortunate and involuntary reaction to the added information to this job - a position that this man, no doubt, was planning on applying for. Frowning, she watched the dark patch grow with a hint of disgust on her face. She had heard stories about the Grand Line being a terrifying place, but that... was just pathetic.

She narrowed her eye for a moment as her gaze remained fixed on the puddle on the floor long after its creator scurried away.

So... the Grand Line must really be as horrific as they say it is if a man of his calibre displays such a response to the news. Each route riddled with its own treelines of trauma, forest beasties, water monsters, and all sorts of tests to put the mind and spirit of any man under the duress that can crumble mountains. The question Danielle needed to pose to herself was a very simple and straightforward one. Was Rosalina worth it? Would this reap beneficial rewards, or will it simply be a waste of her time and result in the added stress that such a perilous journey brings with it?

Finally, she turned to face forward again, her eye locking onto Alphonse’s. For Rosalina...

“As I said, I have experience with exploring new territories... “ she understood why The Grandline would be different, but Danielle was a woman in love, ready to move mountains for her other half. This was no issue. She needed the money to ensure Rosalina’s hand in marriage. “I have no issues with including The Grandline to my list.”

Picking up her glass of pipsi, she took a sip, her gaze unwavering - on the contrary it was all the more determined as a new thought occurred to her. I wonder if The Grandline’s treasures match up to its horrors.

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

Al kept his gaze on the young adventurer before him as she thought, steeling herself to answer but never had a hint of judgement in his gaze. Only hope. He was hoping someone would be brave enough to accompany him on this journey, the last one he would ever take and one he most likely won’t ever return from. With a confidence he could tell this Danny was female, the way she carried herself and spoke only very slightly betrayed the image she was giving away to everyone.

“No Issues including the Grand Line?” Al asked pulling a folded-up set of papers out from a pocket on his jacket. He lay them all flat and smoothed them out with his hand before fishing out a pen. “Okay, one last thing to mention to you before you accept…” He spoke, all seriousness in his voice. It drew the attention of R0y who was happily mopping away the wet patch on the floor, all the while humming to himself.

“I… I don’t have long left to live. Doctors gave me six months to live three months ago.” Alphonse spoke frankly… a look of regret on his face. This was something he hated, he was dying and there was nothing anyone can do to help him. With a shudder her looked up and brought his kind smile back.

“You’re not just going to be a bodyguard… You’ll be a companion that helps me finish my bucket list too.” The red head spoke before flipping the paper to show a map with things circled on it. One was the reverse mountain that pirates usually used to enter the grand line. Then a series of islands that had activities with the final one being the lab that held the secret he was after. “Will you be able to do that for me? I’ve no family or other friends aside from R0y… so when im gone he will need to be looked after too.”

“Roooy!” The bot spoke after waddling up to the table and saluting to Al. His task of mopping complete and the posters piled on the end of the table. “Roy roy….” His voice modulated, knowing the sadness to come but keeping his brave face on.

---

Post: 4

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

[Bobbie]

As Alphonse indicated that there was more, Danielle frowned and watched him flatten the paper on their table. Eyeing the paper next, she remained silent and waited for him to explain what would be expected of her, at which point he revealed the heart-breaking news that he would be dead, and in six months, no less... what a coincidence...

For a moment, Danielle wondered if this was some sort of joke, and not a very funny one at that. Frowning, she stared at Alphonse, who seemed so genuine that her expression soon softened and her heart ached for this young fellow. The way he stuttered, the regret written all over his face, and the shudder that shook his bones before he managed to do the impossible... he smiled a smile so kind that it would bring a saint to shame. There was no faking it. Life is cruel.

She didn’t smile in return. She couldn’t bring herself to, not in the face of such wicked circumstances, so undeserved.

As Alphonse continued, it became clear that this man didn’t only want help with the task at hand, it seemed he wanted some form of companionship through his last moments. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly and calmly, her gaze fixed on the paper before her, the map that he displayed with specific locations circled. Next, he offered up what was revealed to be the only form of friend this man had, and she turned to look at the robot that waddled up beside them.

It's kind of cute... if it can say anything other than ‘Roy’...

She didn’t even know where to begin with her answer. Even if she did agree to this, how would she take care of a robot? What would looking after it consist of? She took another sip of her pipsi, staring at the wet ring that had formed at the base of her glass, then she finally began.

“It seems you and I have a similar deadline.” she uttered, her eye fixed on Alphonse once more. There was no point in hiding her true motives now. “I was given six months to gather as many riches as I possibly can to earn myself enough gold and trinkets to surpass the richest family I know, who must own millions of beri. Only then will my beautiful Rosalina’s father give his blessing for her hand in marriage.” she explained, leaning forward on her side of the table again. “I haven’t a single day to spare not pursuing my goal.” She gently slid the map out between them, turning it toward him. “These places. Will they help me achieve it?”

It felt horrible to be asking this question, to be putting forward such a condition to a dying lad, but without her Rosalina, she may as well be dead too. It was dramatic, she could admit that, but it was love and nobody was going to get in the way of that.

“For if they do not, then you won’t be stepping into a grave alone.”

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

This was a woman on a mission and her eyes reflected that, a determination the cut through the shock and sadness of hearing his news. Moments passed before she spoke of her own deadline, a time limit on which she had to meet. She was doing all of this in the pursuit of love for another woman, a noble and admirable quest. It gave Al a few internal questions and flashes of wants and experiences he would never have flashed through his mind only to be replaced by that same regret that he felt earlier.

That was all gone in a moment as he plastered a smile on his face and warmed his gaze with hope and the excitement for what was to come. “Danny, I am going to be cheesy first and then real second. The experiences you will get by visiting just one of these places is enough to fill a man’s coffers for a lifetime.” He spoke, absolutely being as cheesy as he warned he would be. Then his eyes softened and his smile became more natural and warm.

“You’ll have the rights to sell all treasure we find, even R0y if you want. And hell, if you really do stick with me to the end I’ll sign over all my assets over to you as well. That includes my scholarship fund, savings from selling robots…. Everything.” He spoke, making his small frame lean back into the chair he was on and resting his back against it. “What would I need it for any way? I’ll be dead and I don’t have family anymore.” Al spoke quite frankly, his life was coming to an end, all he wanted was to build something to be his legacy.

Madam Saleen’s arms came in from the side suddenly and wrapped themselves around the young man as tears streamed down her face, ruining her pristine makeup. “My Heart breaks boy! It does!” She sobbed as the sounds of others in the room sniffling and wiping away tears could be heard. Even some of the toughest looking customers had watery eyes with this story and turn of events.

Roy was doing his best to try and peel the woman away, but it was to no avail. "Roy..."

---

Post: 5

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

[Bobbie]

Danielle stared at Alphonse as he uttered the cheesiest of lines one could give in response to her question. However, she didn’t seem to see the cheesiness in this statement, simply taking it for what it was - the promise of enough riches to keep her satisfied for life. As he paused, she realised that this must have been the cheesy line, and she smiled awkwardly. Next, must be him being ‘real’.

She listened intently as he explained every bit of profit that she could be making from this journey - each bit of treasure, his very own robot, his asses, a scholarship fund... yes, this was definitely him being real. It was an incredible list that was extremely promising. This had to be enough for Rosalina’s father, surely they couldn’t be richer than that! However, it came at a heavy cost, as she was reminded with his rhetorical question. Lowering her gaze, Danielle may have been the only person in the room who showed no sign of sadness on the outside apart from her avoidance of eye contact, but her heart physically hurt for this young man.

As Madam Saleen seemed to come out of nowhere and wrap her arms around Alphonse, Danielle remained still, glancing at them and watching as the woman wept for him. It was touching, but it felt so... pointless. A hug, a pat on the back, sniffles from strangers, what good would such gestures bring to him now that his sentence has already been given? No, so much pain that this poor man was plagued with, forced to carry around with him every single day deserved more credit than that. He wanted something more than that, he seemed to want a real connection not just with this generation but with a future one. A visionary who wanted his vision to be seen. He wanted a bloodline. She glanced at R0y... this was the start of his quest. It couldn't be the end...

Choking back her own tears, she took a deep breath before she spoke. “Alphonse... If your word is what enables me to be with my Rosalina, I will personally make sure that you will have a family... even if it is one that you don’t get to meet.”

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

“Miss Saleen-” Al chocked as R0y managed to peel an arm that was wrapped around the young frail man that was just a bit too tight. “I- Miss Saleen.” He managed to finally say as he wiggled himself out of her grasp now that good old R0y had done his part to help. “Roy!” The robot said forcefully as he now stood between the boy and the rest of the world with his metal hands on his brass waist. Standing like a stalwart protector of his creator.

The young man did manage to hear what Danny said, she understood him. She managed to cut through the sadness of his situation and figure out what he really wanted, to see that what he wanted most of all before he left was to leave a legacy that would last far longer than he ever could. As he caught his breath a pure smile formed on his face, one that touched his eyes and brightened his entire face.

“Thank you, Danny, you are a kind person.” The young man spoke, putting his hand out towards the young woman. Calloused and rough skinned yet bony and thin, this hand still had a job to do to complete his dream. Despite the frailty of his form, he pushed through the pain of exertion to thank his new bodyguard for her commitment to him and his dream, especially with the little time he had left.

“Boy!” A gruff old man from nearby called, standing up. He was a man with short black hair that was dashed with the grey of age in all sorts of places. He had eyes that were sharp but full of life and adventure. As he finished his stand his old and worn dark navy-blue admiral coat flourished, revealing a button up cream vest. A tricorn hat was placed down on the table as he made his announcement. “It would by my honour to be the boat that carried you on your final adventure!” He called before sliding out from his table to stand beside R0y. “No payment necessary, I’ve been looking for a reason to sail again and you have sparked that need in me.” He spoke.

“Rooooy~” The robot chirped as he looked back to Danny and Alphonse. A buzz of quiet conversation was chirping in the bar now. Words could be heard here and there about how these people could offer support or what they can give to make this journey all the easier for the pair. Al was sat there with a look of surprise on his face… he had not expected people to actually care about a dying young man.

---

Post: 6

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

Willard Wellerfellar: d8b000

[Bobbie]

As the robot made its efforts to release the woman’s clutches from the dying man’s figure, Danielle watched on, not getting involved in any of that. Instead, she waited for her words to sink in, and it seemed they did soon enough, as once Alphonse was freed, he turned to her with such a glorious smile, that it touched her heart.

She smiled in return, but although she felt for him, there was no pity in her eyes. Taking his hand again, she shook it more firmly this time, seeing that perhaps he was not as frail as he appeared to be, although the simple task of extending a hand looked like it could have been quite a strain for him. In any case, she returned the gesture with a smile, though offered no verbal response. Whether she was kind or not was debatable - she did, after all, have her own selfish reasons for working for him, which she did lay out in the open very quickly. If this were simply a transaction - you make me rich, I give you a legacy - then kindness or selfishness should have no place in the equation, but only honesty and respect.

Retracting her hand once more, a gruff voice filled the air and she turned to look in the direction of its source, half of her vision blocked by the eyepatch. Instantly, she eyed the man down, wondering what was to come next. Will it be another pathetic display of cowardice, or perhaps a second waterfall of tears? He did not have the eyes of a coward, nor a posture that showed sympathy, as he stood tall in a grand admiral coat that offered and demanded equal respect.

The words that rolled off his tongue were a pleasant surprise to Danielle, as she was sure they must have been to Alphonse too. R0y certainly seemed delighted as he sang his own name for what might have been the hundredth time since the moment Danielle tripped over him.

Her new employer appeared to be stunned by the gesture, so Danielle sprang into action to begin to fill her role immediately. Seemingly by instinct, Danielle stood up at just over six feet and stepped out of the booth to meet the man. While her demeanour was friendly, she provided a barrier between the man and Alphonse with confidence as she nodded to him, extending a hand to man and buying time for the redhead to process what was happening.

“Danny.” she uttered in a masculine voice. “Pleasure to be working with you, if the boss says so.”

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

Alphonse was just staring out in a small state of shock at the outreach, a man was offering his services and his ship to carry him on the journey? That was far more than he could have ever hoped for. He was prepared to hire an entire crew and purchase a ship for it and leave the lot of them to who ever helped him the most… likely Danny. With a shake of his head, he looked up to see the capable body guard between himself and Willard Wellerfella. Her instincts to complete a job were good…

“Aye, that do be the case Young Miss.” Willard spoke, catching the fact Danny was Female from just the first look and hearing her first words to him. He took his hat off and offered a bow, more to Al that was rising to stand behind her than to her herself, but she was included. “Sir, will you be doing me the honour of letting me, my ship and my crew be the vessel for your final journey?” The elder spoke, his eyes never leaving the pair in his bow.

Alphonse nodded and smiled so wide that it touched his eyes, brightening an already luminescent face. “Yes Captain. You can take me on this journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” With a hand on the table and the other to his chest as a salute Al gave a bow that was just as deep for the man. Tears falling from his eyes as he looked to the floor. This was almost too much for him, he never expected kindness and decency form the people. He was just happy to get Danny aboard.

“Right Boy!” Willard spoke before standing up tall and proud and putting his hat on his head with a flourish. “We sail first thing in the morning. Meet me and my crew when you are ready. The Wellerman will carry you well, she has been aching for a grand journey.” Willard spoke with pride before shifting his gaze to where he sat. “Johnny! Let’s be off, we got prep to be doing.” The captain called before nodding his head to the pair and leaving.

“Aye Sir!” A young man replied before getting up, downing his pint and leaving a small sack of coins to tip Madam Saleen. As he ran he stopped by Al and Danny to offer his own flourishing bow, his brown shoulder length hair tied back in a bun under his beanie hat. “A pleasure to help you both.” He spoke quickly before donning the hat and running out after his captain.

“Roy!” The robot spoke with a wave as he watched the pair leave with purpose. A couple more men left, muttering about wanting to get involved in this journey. Something the robot took with happiness as he looked back to his creator and new best friend. “Rooo~ oooy~.”

Al nodded to his friend as he sat back down and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Yes Roy… this is very good. It looks like we set out far quicker than I thought we would.” He spoke before tugging on Danny’s Sleeve. “You’re already doing a good job, thanks.”

---

Post: 7

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

Willard Wellerfellar: d8b000
Johnny W. Hiskey: efff9b

[Bobbie]

Danielle’s attention was divided between Alphonse and Willard. It was nice to see more people come forward as the sick and dying young man’s wish was being fulfilled, one new participant in this journey at a time. A hint of a smile appeared on her face, her ruby eye glistening as she too found herself holding back tears - yet she seemed to be the only successful one at actually doing so in this entire bar.

The bodyguard’s gaze then followed Willard’s as she looked toward the young man who made an appearance. This was Johnny. It was cute, really, as she wondered if the pair were father and son. Once he stood before them and offered a courteous bow, she nodded to him, offering no verbal response, then she watched them both leave the bar together.

Lastly, of course, there was Roy! The cute little thing could certainly not go ignored, even if the only reason for that was because its incessant repetitive nature of speaking its own name with slightly different inflections each time was extremely irritating. Still... it had a certain charm to it, though that may simply be because of the implication that the robot brought with it by simply existing. A dying man’s last legacy. Had this ... creature ... been more of a living thing, perhaps Danielle would have been more inclined to pet it, but somehow, the cold metal frame was less appealing to her.

The tug on her sleeve caused her to look back at Alphonse, who was now a significant level lower than her as he was seated. With a nod, she too sat down, now sitting beside him, rather than opposite him once she was already on that side.

“If I were to hire anyone, I would like for them to do the job well from the very start,” she replied, perhaps a bit of a harsh expectation, but it was what motivated her to do a good job. That, and the secret truth that she felt for her employer more than she cared to make public in a showy display of sobs and tears. Yes, perhaps it was the latter more than anything else. Reaching across the table, she went for her drink, though the eyepatch that she wore resulted in rather poor depth perception. Her first swipe missed but the second was right on target and she dragged the glass over to her side before she took a sip.

“Are there any preparations that you’d need to make before setting sail tomorrow morning?” she asked, though her eyes were fixed on Roy once more, wondering if he offered enough assistance with any form of packing and carrying, but the more she thought about it, the deeper her brow furrowed. Did he have much to pack, anyway?

---

Danielle: #fffd17

[Kami-Gaz]

Al smiled as he watched Danny slide into the seat that was next to him, she was right. Doing a job well from the very start was a very admirable trait from anyone that was hired. Something that he wished the doctors did with him in the start, but they just didn’t know enough about his condition as it progressed through his life. Then she asked her next question.

“Well hiring a ship has been taken care of already… so we have the night to ourselves.” He spoke before leaning back and sighing in content, a small smile on his face. Everything was moving, his dreams were in arms reach… close enough to grasp already in some ways. With eyes closed he leaned his head back and relaxed for the first time in what felt like an age to his body.

“I need to repair Roy’s voice box, I based it on designs that I bought from a trader last year… Said it was originally built by a mermaid in the south blue.” He spoke, he knew how wild that was already but that was nothing too strange, he was born and raised on the grand line afterall. “It did work until a few days ago when he fell over and landed awkwardly on his neck.”

“Roooooy.” The robot spoke sadly as it gingerly sat into the booth on the other side of the pair. His metallic limbs gently clanging onto the table as he shuffled a bit more to be comfortable. “Roy roo.” He added with a bow of his head to Danny.

“I just put off fixing it because I found it kinda cute to hear him talk like that.” He spoked with a light chuckle before opening his eyes and looking to his glass of Pipsi. He carefully lifted it up and took a long drink. “My tinkering tools are all packed in my hotel room, so I don’t need to do anything. What about yourself?” Alphonsed asked before turning to look at the young woman who dressed masculine. There was a reason for it and it was her own so he wouldn’t pry.

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Post: 8

Alphonse: c81212

Madam Saleen:    ffd1f6

R0y: 818181

Big Baby Man:  8494dc

Willard Wellerfellar: d8b000
Johnny W. Hiskey: efff9b