Icy Woes, Mistakes Made Into Happy Accidents

[Kami-Gaz]

It was cold… so very cold… It was spring but it was still so damn cold! It was colder than every winter Veera had ever seen… almost as cold as some of the deep seas she had swam in. It was cold enough that Veera Falcone the Mermaid old enough to walk on a split tail was wearing a thick white winder jacket with a fluffy fur lining, her ‘legs’ were covered in at least three pairs of leggings and a thick pair of fur lined boots to keep her warm. It barely worked! The biting chill wind that carried a light snowfall felt like a sword piercing her skin. This was as Veera walked the docks with Newt, her companion and newest member to the Obsidian Queens.

“I hate how cold it is here!” Veera announced as she shifted her weight and began to walk backwards in the snow. As she did her eyes fell on her companion for this mission, the dependable Newt that Tia spoke highly of. “Why do people insist on living in the coldest places that have virtually ZERO VALUE!?” Veera asked before puffing up her cheeks in a pout, the annoyance she was experiencing was good to keep her blood flowing and hot.

She shifted back to keep her eyes forward on the path, stopping suddenly as she realised the door to the place she was taking the new member was right in front of her. “This place has no mines, no wood, no real fishing… just one stinking big marine base.” She spoke, more mumbled angrily as her gloved hand pressed down on the door handle to general store. The building itself was rather squat but it was attached to what seemed to be a small warehouse which must have been where he stored his stock.

As she pushed inside the wave of warmth was welcoming, more than welcoming it was inviting she never wanted to leave this haven of comfort! A few big steps were taken before she spun on her heel to watch the door being closed, after it was, she cracked a grin. “Hopefully, we can find your girl and get off of this frozen rock quick!” Veera spoke before shifting and turning to look at the shops cashier, pulling her fur lined hood down as she did.

Standing behind this counter was a taller man, standing nearly eleven feet, even when stooping his head, a little lower to avoid some of the lower hanging beams of this shop. The greying man had a mane like head of hair and a thick moustache that he was stroking in interest as he watched the mermaid and horned man enter. Under that bush of hair was a smile as he recognised features of the woman.

“Veera! You’ve changed missy. What happened to that creepy vocal modulator of yours and the horse legs you used to ride about in?” He asked with a grizzled voice full of mirth, shifting to spread his arms wide.

“Oh you know, I grew up! My tail split a year or so ago. I found my voice after pirates kidnapped my daughter and killed my husband… Ya know, girl stuff.” She spoke so casually as she pulled her gloves off and started to inspect some of the front of house stock the man held. “Oh, Kai, this is Newt! Me and a friend started a new organisation, he is our newest recruit!”

[Sam]

-- CHAPTER 5 // Icey Woes!

Wrapped in cloth knitted from a makeshift sweater from Tia's scarf Newton followed after Veera. Of course, the attire had been poorly made because of some bickering beforehand. So much for being the 'jade' champion or whatever. His emerald eyes scanned the rocky horizon covered in tufts of snow. It seemed like everywhere Newt went as of late simply had an inhospitable environment. From the ash lands of Burning Caldera, to the endless dunes of his home island, and now the freezing wastes of Viktas.

"I'm certain there is something of value here, Ms. Falcone. Knowing the Marines too well they don't just nab useless things."

Newt commented, Veera sure as hell didn't seem to enjoy the cold and she was better dressed than him for the weather. Probably even used to a more temperate environment than Newt who had lived in an arid landscape for much of his life. It really was cold, biting in fact. Chilling to the bone. But Newton would not admit that. No in fact he refused to think about the cold. To him not even thinking about it helped drastically.

"Yea... I hope she didn't leave... I mean there isn't any reason to stick around here, really."

Walking through the snow they entered a squat building. A market place of sorts, the place was honestly more of a dainty warehouse though. It had nothing on the massive market places back home with the scent of insence, spices, and many exotic goods. Still, it was better than nothing and the warmth inside was more than welcoming compared to the bitter cold outside.

"Hm..."

Newt hummed to himself as he pulled down his hood letting his blonde curls unfurl. Before them stood a large man, Newt's eyes looked over the figure. In the past men and women of such size were impressive sights... but after being in the presence of a giant... the awe he once felt was long gone. The man's smile did tell him something. He recognized Veera and what followed after confirmed it. However, he said some strange things about the mermaid. Vocal modulator? Horse legs? Newt side-eyed his companion with a quizzical expression. What the hell was he talking about? But before he could think anymore on the matter he was promptly introduced.

"Oh um... hello sir!"

-- NAME // Newton M. Icarus

-- CLASS // D

-- TECHS USED // None.

[Vio]

^{Edith #1}

---

^{“… … …?”
“Oar– Oar– Oar–”
“Stop mocking me…!!”
Thwomp!
“Oarfuuuu…!”}

Today was not Wieliczka Edith’s day. To be entirely fair, every day since her venture to the piratical shelter of Dermitt’s Landing had failed to be her day, all because of one soul-souring fact. The Devil Fruit she had consumed out of desire and desperation had been a cunning ruse set up by some sick b@$+@^d, leaving her both cursed by the ocean wide and in possession of an absolutely useless ability. Seriously! She’d gotten a little lucky in the heat of the moment, perhaps, but the power of salt failed to match up to the power of flame she had sought.

“F*¢<ing tusked a$$hole,” she began, falling into a muttered tirade of insults as she sat upon a rock overlooking the floes that decorated the calmer Viktasian sea. A loud splash in the vicinity indicated to her that the walrus had finally returned to sea level in the wake of the uppercut she’d given it, but she otherwise ignored it and perched with her face in her hands. “Hrrrrrm… Gee, if I was made of f*¢<ing fire I wouldn’t be so damn cold, would I? You little s#¡+s!” she snapped, cerulean eyes glaring at a cluster of penguins that had occupied a not too distant floe, who stopped their chattering for a second to give her what could only be described as a concerned look.

Usual punk attire concealed and replaced as necessary, the furious female had donned a thick, fur-lined parka of leafy green, with a pair of black padded pants to protect her legs from the wintry bite. A black beanie held tight to her head, allowing just a few strips of what was now brilliant orange hair to hang over the right side of her face, and a matching scarf poked out from under the hood and collar. Heavy boots afforded her grip on the slippery terrain this side of town, but she had little intent on going anywhere for a while, pulling out a pack of jerky from her pocket and chewing it aggressively…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:}
<sub>An annoyed Edith takes out her aggravation on the local fauna.

Notes: —</sub>

---

Wieliczka Edith | #007ba7

[Kami-Gaz]

Veera bombarded the man with a lot of information… like enough to cause an anxiety attack in lesser beings. He took it, chewed his lip for a moment and as newt broke the silence with his own greeting he nodded and smiled. Bringing back that warmth he was exuding just moments ago. Veera and her… girl stuff… were to be dealt with later in a deeper talk. Now was time for business and when Veera Falcone came to town, she always had a fat pocket of money to spend.

“Hello, my boy, a friend of Veera’s is a friend of mine! How can I help you both?” Kai asked, leaning his weight on his elbows on the counter both to rest himself and to get on a closer level to the horned man and the mermaid. His form more than accommodating for the situation despite being so big compared to those more normal people.

The electric woman nodded as she moved closer and leaned on the counter herself. Veera had her contacts from her days working as a shipwright sole trader on Silvers Island. “So, like I said, I’m out of the shipwright game. Have been for a long while.” She spoke, waving a hand around as she did so, always so energetic.

“Aye, I heard that back when you first tried you hand at bounty huntin’.” Kai replied.

“Well, this organisation is more than just for bounty hunting. I’m teamed up with a giantess called Tia, a beautiful b**ch she is. And ambitious too! We got our arses kicked going after a bounty together, it’s how I lost my eye.” She spoke, gesturing to her face before carrying on. “We decided to go real big. So for that reason we are recruiting… Newt here knows of a woman that would be a real good addition to our core crew. A lass going by the name of Edith. She’s a bitter piece of medicine that will shoot you a look that makes it look like she ate an entire barrel of lemons.” Veera explained before looking back to Newt to see if that was an apt description of the woman.

The man stood up and started to stroke his chin with consideration in his eyes, he was thinking hard on this one. Being the owner of the biggest and most varied general store most people passing through came here to gear up for the cold… most people never came prepared for the sheer biting cold of Viktas.

[Sam]

-- CHAPTER 5 // Icey Woes!

Newt waved at the large man and gave him a gentle smile showcasing his teeth with pointed canines. Sometimes it was inevitable to not think of Newton as some sort of sea devil spawn what with his horns, teeth, and dark sclera. Yet... he wasn't as weird as Veera with her supposed centaur legs and robotic voice from the past. Qualities that were more than strange.

"Its a pleasure sir!"

He rubbed his chin...

"Hmm, yes we're looking for Edith... umm she is about five foot something? On the taller end? With dark brown hair and fair skin. She wears these very 'punk' outfits too and like Veera says she has a bitter attitude."

Newton went on to explain he didn't believe he forgot much else about the woman. To him that was an apt physical description of her. The young devilish man rubbed his cheek pondering a bit more on the matter.

"I think she also carries a club around? Like a big metal one? Shes mean but I swear she has a good heart underneath it all haha."

He turned to Veera and shrugged. She hadn't met the woman first hand but... maybe she knew something else? Something Tia had told her perhaps that Newton had missed? Whatever the case he hoped the woman was still around that was for certain.

-- NAME // Newton M. Icarus

-- CLASS // D
-- TECHS USED // None.

[Vio]

^{Edith #2}

---

“Iru,” chirped something, distracting Edith from her near spaced out and frumious munching as she side-eyed the source. Had another of nature’s population come to mock her? It was a bird, a penguin — two of them — one very small and one abnormally large. The smaller was a mere two feet at most, feathers more of a blue colour than black, and it held a stick of twisted ice of clear blue marbled with more solid streaks of white in its flippers as if using it as a crutch. Very pale feathers protruded from around its beak and eyes, giving the impression a fu manchu moustache and bristly eyebrows.

Ede’s eyes were a little more focused on the other penguin, however, for it towered above her. At at least eight feet, if not larger, it was a rather rotund specimen — yet somehow did not seem ‘fat’. Glossy black feathers were broken by a white stomach and chest, though the pattern of feathers around its own face resembled a military helmet with a strap over the chip. Well and truly, the woman was surprised by the sheer size of the bird as it and its much smaller company waddled past at a slow pace.

First giant ants and lizards, now penguins? The f*¢< is this world… Odd it was of her to question nature’s choices, but she did so all the same, for it was only recently that her eyes had taken in such peculiar sights. Sights she just hadn’t considered until recently. But seeing the comparison between the miniature penguin and the massive one reminded her of the fact she, too, had met a person way larger than life — a redheaded woman by the name of Tia. An actual, honest to the heavens Giant…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:}
<sub>As Edith processes the abnormal fauna of Viktas, she is reminded of her previous meeting.

Notes: —</sub>

---

Wieliczka Edith | #007ba7

[Kami-Gaz]

The man, Kai, listened to Newt and his added description and nodded. That was something good to go off of. A moment passed then he turned around to start playing with some items on his stock, something he tended to do when he had the urge to start speaking… but he was a businessman, and he knew Veera knew that. Information was commodity to be sold.

The mermaid grinned; this was always a not so subtle tell the man had. She approached and leaned onto the counter with her elbows, looking at the man with sharp eyes. “Okay Kai~. I’ll play.” She spoke, trying to prod the man into action of making it known what he wanted. When he shuffled to the side and picked up a large thick winter coat Veera nodded. She could do with a new one and Newt really needed one. “Two of those jackets. And the promise that when we finish on Mt Obsidian, we use you to purchase all building materials for the fix up and renovation of the fort we’re going to keep.” She spoke, doing business like this was always invigorating. That was an amazing promise to make to the man. She knew he had the network to get basically anything they could need… at least in the south blue.

“Veera.” Kai spoke as he spun on the spot. “No negotiations? You wound me with this… No playing hardball.” The look of fake betrayal already slipping away as he started to chuckle and thrust out a hand to shake, it was so big that it could wrap around the lanky mermaid’s head with ease. “You must be in a rush if you throw about deals that lucrative Veebee.”

The mermaid winked as her small hand slapped into his and the pair shook, Veera did her best to not be lifted from the floor and be flailed about. When she shifted a spark of electricity danced over her skin and into the man, making him stiffen and let go of her hand with a chuckle. He had forgotten about her electricity. “Sorry Kai, but I really wanna find this Edith and bring her on board. And I trust you to deliver on everything we could ever need when the time comes.” Veera spoke

---

It was not long before the pair, Newt and Veera, were out in the snow and on the trail of Edith. The pair in a brand-new pair of coats and Veera’s pocket missing a little bit of money, at least the pair were warm now. “Ya know… Kai wasn’t wrong when he said follow the path of melted snow and ice. Even a blizzard would struggle to fill this in quickly.” Veera announced as they walked along the path towards one of the many beaches that covered the northern most coast of Vitkas.

“I always wanted to see the penguins that were out this way… but my walker would have never been able to get out here.” The one-eyed mermaid spoke with a sigh, almost reminiscing of an old life that felt so old it was led by a different person. That thought process stopped just as the sight of a person sitting on the beach between all of the penguins became apparent. “Perfect! Yer up Newty!” She spoke, almost too loud.

[Sam]

The merwoman ran a hard bargin against the man that was for sure. Newton remained silent looking up at the towering man as he seemed almost perturbed by Veera's shrewd nature. There was no doubting her determination. No wonder Tia had chosen her as a partner... she respected people like that didn't she? Determined folk who stopped at nothing until they got what they wanted.

It didn't take long before they were outside once more this time with thicker jackets to warm them up something Newt a man who was more accustomed the heat of a desert greatly appreciated. Newt let out a sigh letting a cloud of warm mist seep from his lips. He watched the comedic canal that had formed in the snow.

"Well if there was any doubt..."

Newt replied as he followed after Veera reaching the end of the snow canal only to spot two massive birds and a figure he could make no mistake. It was her salt woman herself with a bitter expression on her face as always. Although whether this was just her general mood or if it was genuinely an expression given by the god awful subpolar weather. Newton gulped as he shuffled toward the intimidating brunette taking a look at the eight foot mermaid just behind him, almost pleading for her not to abandon him. He finally turned his head as he approached Edith from a safe-ish distance.

“H-hey Ede, long time no see.”

---

Newton | Seafoam #3DED97 (Seafoam) 

[Vio]

^{Edith #3}

---

^{“H– Hey, Ede,” a voice said:
“Long time no see…”}

…? From her perch, Miss Wieliczka looked up, familiar enough with the tones to recognise their source. It just took her a second longer than she might have liked to process it. Sure enough, there he was, horns and all, keeping something of a distance between the two of them. Was it out of respect or fear? He certainly seemed a little anxious, but he wasn’t alone. A taller woman stood near him, one eye covered by a strip of black and hair of snowy hue upon her head, both dressed in jackets to protect themselves from the frigid climes.

“‘Sup, Newt,” she answered with a slight upward tilt of the head, standing up so she didn’t have to crane her neck. In most cases, the saline woman hated looking up at people anyway, but that was a very minor concern at this point in her life. A small attempt at a smile—quite stiff and neutralised by her sour mood—formed upon her face for the briefest moment as she raised a hand and offered a dismissive wave, swiftly returning fingers to her pockets. The aura of gloom and fury about her was almost tangible.

“Has it really been that long…? Doesn’t feel like it,” Ede grumbled, cheeks puffing slightly. It had been a while, but she hadn’t really done anything in those passing weeks other than mope around at her own misfortune and garner a local reputation as the irate b¡+¢# better avoided. “Anyway,” she continued, bitterness about her situation relaxing somewhat in favour of some attempt at sociability. “Who’s the chick? What do you want? And where’s Tia?” Cerulean eyes took another look at the young man’s companion, which perhaps didn’t do her mentality all too many favours when the spark of feminine envy took note of such a voluptuous figure prominent even beneath the thermal clothes…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:}
<sub>Edith is a little surprised to see Newt, but becomes curious.

Notes: —</sub>

---

Wieliczka Edith | #007ba7
Newt | #3ded97

[Kami-Gaz]

That… that was Newt’s greeting to an old friend? He barely moved forward! Veera softly shook her head as the woman looked over and then offered her a beaming smile. Once that was done and her presence was known… or rather asked about the Mermaid walked forwards and with a heavy thud in the snow sat beside Edith and held out a gloved hand to the woman. “Names Veera, Veera Falcone. I’m Newties boss.” She spoke with an energy and warmth to her voice that could melt the very snow if her words had actual temperature to them.

“Tia is not too far away; she is my business partner in all of this and is recruiting some others.” She explained, looking out to the sea as she did and seeing the roiling waves crash against the beach a little aways. This was a make-or-break moment for the Obsidian Queens Organisation.

“Let me cut to the chase. We have a giant, a cyborg, a stealth fighter and me. We need a heavy hitter, some one that can do some real work with minimum effort. When Tia and Newt recommended you, I jumped at the chance.” The disguised bipedal mermaid spoke as she turned around to ensure her eye met with Edith’s, the vibrant electric blue staring right into hers with a cold sincerity.

“We are going to raid Mount Obsidian, capture the bounties and claim it as our own. They have info I need and they wounded Tia’s pride… She isn’t letting that stand.” Veera continued, chattering away. “I also heard what your fruit does… I’ll give you an extra fifty percent pay as well as exclusive access to inventions I make for use in the future. If you work with me in some experiments.” She stopped just as one of the penguins waddled by behind her and fell forwards onto its belly and slid down the beach and into the icy cold waters below with a majestic splash.

[Sam]

Newt rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. It's been maybe three weeks? Almost a month? Guilt took over him as he felt a pit form in his gut. Well he thought things had been over? You know? She’d gotten the fruit she wanted so much.

“Well Veera explained what's up… hehe…”

The young man rubbed his arms applying friction to warm himself up in the cold. Watching the penguins waddle at a distance. His lips formed a frown. He felt bad. Like what he was doing here wasn’t good enough and like Veera’s well meaning wordiness was somehow going to get lost on someone like Edith.

“Ede… what you did back there was incredible. I’m not sure what you have planned but I think Tia wants to give you an opportunity.”

He sighed letting the mist of his breath billow out from between his lips.

“More importantly she sees you as a friend. I… see you as one…”

---

Newt | #3ded97

[Vio]

^{Edith #4}

---

“Mount Obsidian…?” Ede blinked.

They recommended me? Sounds like they’re just kissing my a$$…, she thought, not taking her eyes off of Miss Falcone, save for when Newt spoke. He certainly seemed nervous about the situation, a stark contrast from the forthright measures his ‘boss’ was taking. But she lacked things. She lacked a reason. That lack of reason had seen her sit and mope about Viktas, clinging to life with all the enthusiasm of an overworked single salaryman, while the world moved on.

A spark of hatred dwelt deep.

“I’m not some d@mn science project!” Miss Wieliczka exclaimed harshly, taking note of what seemed to be Veera’s sales pitch and exchange of ideologies. “And my ability’s s#¡+ty and worthless,” she added, less sharply but so much more venomously as she recalled the moment of discovery. It wasn’t what she was after, contrary to the opinions of most, and that boiled her blood inside her veins. At first, in the wake of what had happened in Dermitt’s Landing, she had seethed and raged. Now, it was an almost icy toxicity.

“It’s only good for melting ice, for f*¢<’s sake!” As if to demonstrate, crystalline white chunks emerged from a slightly crystallised palm, cast to the frozen snow a little ways away and allowed to slowly dissolve the powder and verglas in neat, minute craters. “Hrmm…,” she growled slowly, but this time her cerulean eyes shifted to Newt, observing him with a little more placidity. Why did he confide in her? Why did Tia? Just because they saw her as a ‘friend’ meant nothing, the feeling not entirely mutual. Or was it?

Eyes dropped to her feet as she set both hands upon her knees and sighed.

“F*¢<, I don’t know what I’m doing,” the roiling rebel remitted, returning her gaze to the electric hues of Veera. “I spent ages trying to find a Devil Fruit. And, when I thought I’d found the one I wanted,” she quivered, raising her hands punching into her palm with a tightly clenched fist in a mostly futile attempt at dispersing some of her ire. “It wasn’t it! B@$+@^ds said it was the ‘Blazing Fruit’ and it just turned me into a bloody condiment! What am I gonna do? Get a job at a f*¢<ing burger joint…?!”

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:}
<sub>Edith swiftly succumbs to her own ire (and explains it) while partially refuting the appeal.

Notes: —</sub>

---

Wieliczka Edith | #007ba7
Newt | #3ded97

[Kami-Gaz]

It was weird to hear Newt sound so… off when he spoke up around Edith. It was as if he was scared of the woman or something. That was ridicules, he had been around Tia AND Veera… Seen the inventions and had one of her explosive shells whiz by his head. Then again, he had not had one of her big zaps yet. Oh well he will get one eventually, everyone does. The reaction Edith gave made Veera frown.

The way Ede spat her anger out like a child who wanted chocolate that they were not allowed caused the mermaid to frown with a dissatisfaction. She was not the brightest spark indeed, with the explanation of the fruit she wanted not actually being what she wanted it caused the mermaid to chuckle, and then break out into a full on fit of laughter. It was a laughter that cackled and resembled the sounds of a massive amount electricity crackling from a transformer. Edith was a tool.

“Bavavavavava! You thought it was the Blazing Fruit!?” She slapped her covered tail leg as she walked closer and shook her head. “Devil fruits don’t work like that Sweetie, En En No Mi? That means Salt. The fire fruit you wanted is the Mera Mera No Mi. The Flame Flame.” She said before shaking her head and letting out a sigh to calm herself. In her reaction she had built quite the charge… if this tool of a woman was going to spit anger again she was going to get a nasty surprise back.

“You do not know that half of what salt can do. It is chemically fascinating. With a little help you can do amazing things.” Veera explained as she placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I’ll give you some science lessons, then tell me your ability is useless.”